editorial
note
Bhagat Singh and his relevance today
Bhagat Singh is indubitably one of the most charismatic
revolutionaries in the history of India's Independence
movement. He did not merely take a vigorous role in the
freedom struggle but also motivated many other youths to
join the same not only while he was alive but even after his
death.
Bhagat Singh went to the gallows, along with two of his
comrades, Sukhdev and Rajguru, on March 23, 1931.
Bhagat Singh stands out in bold relief as someone who, at a
young age, defined nation and nationalism for us. He had
an alternative framework of governance, which is strongly
reflected in the writings that he has left behind. Sadly, we
hardly care to revisit this serious intellectual inheritance
and only venerate him as a martyr. This veneration is
laudable but incomplete.
He was barely 17 when he published his first article, in 1924,
in Matwala, a Hindi magazine from Calcutta. The subject
was 'Universal Brotherhood', which was not a very easy
issue to write on at such a young age. He imagined a world
where “all of us being one and none is the other. It will
really be a comforting time when the world will have no
strangers.” All those who are busy “othering” and creating
strangers out of their own fellow citizens need to grapple
with Bhagat Singh's views, instead of merely glorifying him
as a martyr. He emphatically exclaimed that as long as
words like black and white, civilized and uncivilized, ruler
and the ruled, rich and poor, touchable and untouchable,
etc., are in vogue there was no scope for universal
brotherhood. He went on to say, “We will have to campaign
for equality and equity. Will have to punish those who
oppose the creation of such a world.” Among the heroes of
our freedom struggle, he was perhaps the only one who
had this vision at such a young age.
His strongest critique was of untouchability and
communalism, which continue to torment us as a nation.
He was fiercely frank and bold enough to critically
comment on the politics of senior leaders such as Lala
Lajpat Rai and express his differences.
The decade of the 1920s saw a rise in communal politics,
from both Hindu and Muslim groups. However, Bhagat
Singh steadfastly remained committed to the idea of a
plural and inclusive India. He founded the Naujawan
Bharat Sabha in Lahore in 1926, whose manifesto said,
“Religious superstitions and bigotry are a great hindrance in
our progress. They have proved an obstacle in our way and
we must do away with them. The thing that cannot bear free
thought must perish.”
In 1928, Bhagat Singh was acutely conscious of the
divisiveness of mixing religion with politics and he
wrote, “If religion is separated from politics, then all of us
can jointly initiate political activities, even though in
matters of religion we might have many differences with
each other. We feel that the true well-wishers of India
would follow these principles and save India.” None
cared to listen to this voice of sanity then. Even now,
many of us continue to peddle religion to promote
political prospects.
He was aware of international revolutionary struggles as
well. His three-part article on anarchism (1928),
appeared before he authored his masterly essay, 'Why I
am an Atheist'. Thus we can see here the evolution of his
ideas on politics, society, religion and even faith in god.
The lessons from his life remain as relevant today as they
were during the independence movement. It is a proof
that one is never too young to be politically aware, to
educate oneself about the truth of the world at large, and
to actively play a role in shaping the society one wants to
live in. Bhagat Singh the thinker, the revolutionary, and
the philosopher continues to be a shining beacon for
young people in India, and indeed, the rest of the world.
Today, we need to remember his revolutionary ideas.
Mere valorisation of his nationalism and ultimate
sacrifice is true but sadly incomplete. Today, his
intellectual bequest should be a beacon to build a new
India.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part ONE
Current Affairs Analysis
01
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
# G S P a p e r ( P r e l i m s ) & G S Pa p e r I I ( M a i n )
WEST ASIA PEACE PLAN
#Geopolitics 02
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO)
# International Organisations 03
FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE
#International Organisations 04
US AND CHINA
# Geopolitics 05
OPERATION VANILLA
# India and the World #IOR #Bilateral Relations 06
AIR CORRIDORS WITH CENTRAL ASIA
#India and the World 07
INDIA-AFRICA (LUCKNOW DECLARATION)
#India and the World 08
CHANGING TRENDS IN GEOPOLITICS
#Geopolitics #India and its Neighbourhood 09
REFUGEE CRISIS
#International Conventions and Agreements 10
INDIA-SRI LANKA
#Bilateral relations 11
INDIA AND USA
#Bilateral relations 13
4th EAS CONFERENCE ON MARITIME SECURITY
COOPERATION # India and the World 13
BBIN MVA
# India and its Neighbourhood 14
INDIA-MYANMAR
# Bilateral Relations 14
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 15
16
CONSTITUTION, POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
# G S Pa p er ( P r e l i m s ) & G S P a p e r I I ( M a i n )
NEED FOR AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY
# Judicial Reforms 16
S.C. ASKS TO PUBLISH CRIMINAL HISTORY OF
CANDIDATES # Electoral Reform 18
LOKPAL - NEED & ISSUES IN IMPLEMENTATION
# Ombudsman 20
POWER OF SPEAKER AND 10th SCHEDULE
# Legislature 22
nd
22 LAW COMMISSION
# Commission 23
EXECUTIVE DOMINANCE IN TRIBUNALS IN INDIA
# Judiciary # Tribunals 25
THE JAMMU & KASHMIR PUBLIC SAFETY ACT, 1978
# Legislation 27
SC - RESERVATION IN JOBS & PROMOTION NOT A
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT # Rights 28
AADHAAR HAS NOT REDUCED PDS LEAKAGES IN
JHARKHAND # Biometrics #Implementation 29
RAJASTHAN SEEKS CHANGES IN NORMS FOR CENTRAL
ASSISTANCE FOR JAL JEEVEN MISSION # Scheme 31
AADHAAR LINKED ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM
# Electoral Reforms 31
SEDITION LAW
# Sedition 33
RE-REGISTRATION WITH THE INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT
# Compliance 34
BILL TO INCLUDE MORE TRIBES IN ST CATEGORIES
# Bill 35
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 35
 37
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
# G S Pa p er ( P r e l i m s ) & G S P a p e r I I I ( M a i n )
15th FINANCE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
#Public Finance 37
CROP INSURANCE SCHEME “PMFBY”
#Agriculture 39
FARMER PRODUCER ORGANISATIONS (FPOs)
#Agriculture 41
INDIA’S FIRST CORPORATE TRAIN
#Infrastructure 43
NEW MAJOR PORT- VADHAVAN
#Infrastructure 45
DARK FIBRE
#Infrastructure 46
BOOST TO R & D ECOSYSTEM
#Economic Growth 46
RBI CHANGES ITS ACCOUNTING YEAR
#Banking 47
LONG TERM REPO OPERATIONS
#Banking 48
CRR DEDUCTIONS FOR RETAIL LOANS
# Banking 49
KCC SATURATION DRIVE
# Banking 50
BANKS UNDER PCA FRAMEWORK
# Banking 51
LAUNCH OF EASE 3.0
# Banking 51
NATIONAL TECHNICAL TEXTILES MISSION
# Manufacturing 52
MARKET INTELLIGENCE AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
(MIEWS) PORTAL #Govt. Policies 53
INTERNATIONAL IP INDEX
#International Report 54
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 54
56
SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
# G S Pa p er I & G S P a p e r I I ( M a i n )
WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
# Social Issue # Technology 56
NAMING OF DISEASE BY WHO
#Health 57
WHO REPORT ON CANCER BURDENS
# Health 57
SWACHH BHARAT MISSION (GRAMEEN) PHASE-II
# Health and Sanitation 58
INTENSIFIED MISSION INDRADHANUSH (IMI 2.0).
# Health 58
EDUCATING FOR THE FUTURE INDEX 2019
# Education #Index 59
BEIJING+25
# Social Issue #Empowerment 59
EASE OF LIVING INDEX AND MUNICIPAL PERFORMANCE
INDEX 2019
# Index #Urbanisation 59
ICoSDiTAUS-2020
# Health 60
NATIONAL AYURVEDA MORBIDITY CODES (NAMC)
# Health 60
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 61
62
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
# G S Pa p er ( P r e l i m s ) & G S P a p e r I I I ( M a i n )
NORMAL BODY TEMPERATURE
#Biology 62
RICE MUKTOSHRI
#Biotechnology 63
REGULATION OF RO WATER PURIFIER
#Health #Chemistry 64
MAPPING OF INDIAN GENOME
#Biotechnology 65
 GISAT-1 WHAT HARAPPANS ATE
#Space Technology 66 #Ancient India 83

SOLAR ORBITER BABHANIYAV: 4000 YEAR CRAFT VILLAGE

#Space Technology 66 # Ancient India 83

YARAVIRUS TOMB OF BAHLOL LODHI

#Biology 66 #Medieval India 84

PRACTICE QUESTIONS 67 MUSEUM AT QILA RAI PITHORA

#Art and Culture #Medieval India 84

KONARK SUN TEMPLE

68 #Art and Culture 85

GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY & KAMBALA

#Art and Culture 86
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TOMB OF DARA SHIKOH
# G S Pa p er ( P r e l i m s ) a n d G S P a p e r I & I I I ( M a i n )
#Art and Culture #Medieval India 87
WETLANDS
YAKSHAGANA
# Conservation 68
# Art and Culture 87
AFRICAN CHEETAH
JAIPUR’S UNESCO CERTIFICATE
# Conservation 71
#Art and Culture #Medieval India 88
URBAN HEAT ISLAND
SAGOL KANGJEI AND MANIPURI PONIES
# Pollution #Health 72
# Art and Culture 88
LOCUST ATTACK
BHAKTA RAMADASU
# Natural Hazard 74
#Medieval India 89
COP 13
NAGOBA JATRA
# Conservation 75
#Art and Culture 89
COASTAL REGULATION ZONE (CRZ) NOTIFICATION, 2018
GANDHI AND PAYYANUR
#Ecosystem # Conservation 77
# Modern India 89
YELLOW RUST
MOOKNAYAK
#Natural Hazard 78
#Art and Culture #Modern India 90
FUTURE OF EARTH, 2020
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 91
#Report 79

PRACTICE QUESTIONS 79

93
81 SECURITY
# G S Pa p er I I I ( M a i n )
HISTORY, HERITAGE & CULTURE
LEAKAGE OF MEDICAL DETAILS
# G S Pa p er ( P r e l i m s ) & G S P a p e r I ( M a i n )
# Cyber security 93
5 ICONIC SITES
DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION
#Art and Culture 81
# Data Privacy 93
INDIA’S FIRST MARITIME MUSEUM
#Art and Culture 82
 FIREWALL CASE STUDIES FOR PRACTICE
# Cybersecurity 94 MAINS GS PAPER IV 110

MILITARY EXERCISE 95

PRACTICE QUESTIONS 96
Part Three
97 Essays of the month
MISCELLANEOUS
WBC BOXING 112
#Boxing 97 ESSAY 1: WATER WARS : A TRUTH OF FUTURE
SPORTS AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES # CONSERVATION
#International event 97 SUBMITTED BY: PALLAVI SARDA 113
QUIZ TIME ESSAY 2: NEAR JOBLESS GROWTH IN INDIA: AN
# General Knowledge #Capital cities 98 ANOMALY OR DUE TO ECONOMIC IMBALANCE

JOURNEY OF A CIVILIZATION # ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT

# Books to read 98 SUBMITTED BY: NANCY MISHRA (RAU’S DELHI

STUDENT) 114

ESSAY 3: WHITHER WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Part TWO # SOCIAL ISSUE
SUBMITTED BY: MOHINI GUPTA (RAU’S DELHI STUDENT)
Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude 116

ESSAY 4: BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN

100 OTHERS

INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE # ETHICS 118

#ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE 101

 Part ONE

Current
affairs
analysis
logical . simple . targeted
analysis & explanation
of all relevant news of the month
 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II (Main)

Lead Article
WEST ASIA PEACE PLAN
and “should remain open and available for peaceful
worshippers and tourists of all faiths”.

#Geopolitics • The Palestinian refugees, who were forced out from their
homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war that followed the
declaration of the state of Israel in the historic Palestine,
would not be allowed to return. They could move to the
IN NEWS
future Palestinian state, be integrated into the host
West Asia Peace Plan is unveiled by U.S. President Donald countries or settled in other regional countries.
Trump. It seeks to give the Israelis, an expansive state with
Jerusalem as its “undivided capital” and tight security control
over a future Palestinian state. The plan will revive the stalled
two-state talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

BACKGROUND
Both Israel and the Palestinians make non-negotiable claims
over Jerusalem. The Palestinians insist that East Jerusalem,
which Israel occupied in the 1967 Middle East war, be the
capital of their future state.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PLAN

• The plan proposes some land swap for the Israeli
annexation of the West Bank Jewish settlements. It seeks
to enlarge Gaza and connect the strip with the West Bank • The Jordan Valley, “which is critical for Israel’s national
through a tunnel. security, will be under Israeli sovereignty”. It also says that
Israelis will observe a four-year “land freeze”, during which
• It proposes an independent Palestinian state and the
time the Palestinians can reconsider whether to engage in
recognition of Israeli sovereignty over West Bank
negotiations.
settlements. The plan says Jerusalem will not be divided,
and it will remain “the sovereign capital of the State of • The plan has the “potential to facilitate more than $50
Israel”. billion in new investment over 10 years”, and could
“fundamentally transform the West Bank and Gaza”. It
• The capital of Palestine can occupy far-flung eastern
includes constructing essential infrastructure including
neighbourhoods lying beyond “the existing security
“high-speed transportation links” between the West Bank
barrier”, which can be renamed Al Quds, the Arabic name
and Gaza, promoting private sector growth, upgrading
for Jerusalem.
education, and improving the healthcare sector and the
• According to the plan, “Jerusalem’s holy sites should be overall quality of Palestinian life.
subject to the same governance regimes that exist today”,

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 International Relations
• Israeli response: Prime Minister called the plan as a
“realistic path to a durable peace”.
• Palestinian response: It was rejected by President
Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority who called it
a “conspiracy deal” to which “we say a thousand times
over: no, no, no”.
• India’s response: India urged both Israel and Palestine to
“engage with each other, including on the recent proposals
put forward by the United States, and find an acceptable
two-state solution for peaceful coexistence”.
INTERNATIONAL
MARITIME
ORGANIZATION (IMO)
# International Organisations
IN NEWS
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United
Nations agency tasked with regulating shipping,
mandated that merchant ships should not burn fuel with
sulphur content greater than 0.5%.
Present scenario: Sulphur content limit of 3.5% has been
applicable to most parts of the world.
IMO
• IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations
responsible for regulating shipping.
• It currently has 174 member states and three associate
members. There are also scores of non-governmental and
inter-governmental organisations.
• Headquartered in London, United Kingdom
• The binding instruments are brought in through the
conventions — to which member states sign on to for
compliance — as well as amendments to the same and
related codes.
• To curb the emissions from shipping, the IMO has agreed
on an ambition to reduce GHG emissions from shipping by
at least 50 percent by 2050.
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• IMO has set the target of decarbonization with the
development and deployment of commercially viable deep
sea zero emission vessels by 2030.
• IMO is the source of approximately 60 legal instruments.
• Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL
Convention)
 Adopted in 1965 by IMO
 Objective is to achieve the most efficient maritime
transport as possible, looking for smooth transit in ports of
ships, cargo, and passengers.
 The Convention encourages the use of a “single window”
for data, to enable all the information required by public
authorities
WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH THE NEW MANDATE?
• The IMO currently lists India as among the 10 states with
the “largest interest in international seaborne trade”.
Around 90 per cent of India’s external trade by volume and
70 per cent by value are handled by ports. Any change in
maritime regulation will affect India immensely.
• The new very-low-sulphur fuel would be incompatible with
the engines and other vessel equipment.
had • Ship operational costs will go up.
• Refineries in India struggle to meet the demand, freight
costs have started moving up, with a cascading effect on
retail prices.
• Fitment of new equipment and changes to ship structural
designs are being brought on to serve the interest of
companies based in the West.
HIGH RISK DEMARCATION BY IMO RAISING COSTS
• There have also been obstacles in pushing issues which
are of importance to India. A classic case was the
promulgation of “High Risk Areas” when piracy was at its
peak and dominated media headlines. The IMO’s High Risk
Areas demarcation covered half the Arabian Sea and
virtually the entire south-west coast of India as piracy-
infested, despite the presence of the Indian Navy and
Coast Guard.
• This led to a ballooning of insurance costs; it affected
goods coming into or out of India.
• It took great efforts to revoke the promulgation and
negate the financial burden.
3
 International Relations
• There was also great difficulty in introducing the
indigenously designed NavIC (NAVigation with Indian
Constellation) in the worldwide maritime navigation
system.
• The most important reason for this fallout is the apathy
and inadequacy of Indian diplomacy and participation in
IMO.
GENERAL APATHY AND INADEQUACY OF INDIA IN
MARITIME REGULATIONS BY IMO
• India’s permanent representative post at London has
remained vacant for the last 25 years.
• However prominent maritime nations have their
permanent representatives at London and are supported
by a large contingent during the meetings.
• Event sponsorship by western nations generate goodwill
and support.
• The number of submissions made by India in the recent
past has been measly and not in proportion to India’s
stakes in global shipping.
• The European Union has a documented procedure on
how to influence the IMO.
• India should now make its presence felt at IMO so that its
national interests are served and India regain its status as
a major maritime power.
RELATED INFORMATION: BUNKER CONVENTION
• The International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker
Oil Pollution Damage (BUNKER) is an International treaty
listed and administered by the International Maritime
Organization, signed in London on 23 March 2001 and in
force generally on 21 November 2008.
• The purpose is to adopt uniform international rules and
procedures for determining questions of liability and
providing adequate compensation.
• The convention covers leakage of oil, and requires
signatories to the convention to have their ships
appropriately insured against such leakages.
• India is yet to ratify International Convention on Civil
Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (BUNKER).
RELATED INFORMATION: GETTING TO ZERO
COALITION
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• Alliance of more than 90 companies within the maritime,
energy, infrastructure and finance sectors, supported by
key governments and IGOs.
• The Coalition is committed to getting commercially viable
deep sea zero emission vessels powered by zero
emission fuels into operation by 2030 – maritime
shipping’s moon-shot ambition.
FINANCIAL ACTION TASK
FORCE
#International Organisations
IN NEWS
The Asia-Pacific Group of FATF in Beijing declared that Pakistan
had progressed in its efforts to avoid blacklisting on 14 out of
27 action plans. Accordingly, Pakistan may escape the
blacklisting in FATF plenary meeting. While India wants
blacklisting of Pakistan, the softening of stand in APG meeting
comes as a disappointment to India.
BACKGROUND
Pakistan was placed on the grey list in 2018 by FATF and
directed to take 27-point actions with respect to terror
funding and money laundering. So, FATF has directed
Pakistan to freeze the funds of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz
Saeed, LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and other Taliban-
affiliated groups.
ABOUT FATF
• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an
intergovernmental body established in 1989 by the Group
of Seven (G-7) countries in Paris, France. It was formed
with the intention to examine and develop measures to
combat money laundering.
• The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and
promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and
operational measures for combating: Money laundering;
Terrorist financing; and threats to the integrity of the
international financial system.
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 International Relations
• Recently, FATF has placed Pakistan in its Grey List.
Moreover, it has made recommendations for India’s
Prevention of Money laundering Act, 2002.
• FATF has formed 40 recommendations against money
laundering and 9 special recommendations against
terrorist financing, which forms the commonly known
‘40+9’ FATF Standards.
• FATF issues a list of ‘Non-Cooperative Countries or
Territories’ (NCCTs), commonly called the (FATF Blacklist).
These countries or territories are considered to be
uncooperative in international efforts against money
laundering and terrorism financing.
• The (FATF Grey List) is a list of countries or territories with
deficiencies in anti-money laundering and/or countering
the financing of terrorism, for which they have developed
an action plan with the FATF.
GREY LIST – PAKISTAN
• Pakistan was put on the grey list in 2012 after the
completion of an earlier Mutual Evaluation by FATF, and
therefore had to follow the action plan suggested by FATF.
In 2015, it was taken off the grey list, after the FATF was
satisfied with Pakistan’s measures undertaken to counter
terror financing.
• The US, along with the UK, France and Germany, started a
process at the FATF to co-sponsor a motion to nominate
Pakistan as a country having strategic deficiencies in
countering financing of terrorism. This motion was passed
in March, 2018.
• FATF in June, 2018 placed Pakistan on the ‘grey list’ for
failing to curb anti-terror financing despite after submitting
a 26-point action plan to FATF.
• The other countries on the list are Ethiopia, Serbia, Sri
Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and Yemen.
REASONS FOR SOFTENING OF STAND
• US is back on table with respect to peace talks with
Taliban.
• For Taliban to agree to a peaceful intra-Afghan dialogue,
US needs Pakistan to play a major role.
• As a result, US-Pakistan relations have improved in the
recent times and this explains the softening of stand of the
west including US, UK, France and Germany who were the
initial sponsors of grey-listing of Pakistan in FATF.
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
WAY FORWARD
• Given the softening of stand, black-listing is highly unlikely.
• For Pakistan to come out of grey-list it would need an extra
12 votes in addition to continued support from China,
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and West Asian countries
that it already gets.
US AND CHINA
# Geopolitics
BACKGROUND
• With the centre of gravity of geopolitics shifting from
Atlantic to Pacific in the 20th century, the US is desperately
looking to increase its military presence in the region
mainly to counter increasing Chinese influence.
• The US’s Indo-Pacific Strategy has devised towards this
objective and involves partnering with major countries in
the region including Australia, India and Japan.
• While there are areas of convergence in the Indo-Pacific
Construct, these countries have to be wary of the fact that
US’s sole objective is to isolate China.
US VS CHINA IN INDO-PACIFIC
►Investments
• Through its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, China has
gained upper hand in economic sphere through
investments in infrastructure projects in Eurasia, Africa
and Latin America.
• Given the US’s recent ‘America First’ approach it cannot
match up to Chinese investment
US’S APPROACH
►Strategic interest
• US’s approach in the Indo-Pacific is largely strategic in
nature entailing military presence.
• For instance, recent focus in Nepal with $500 million offer
in the form of grant is seen as a strategy to gain access to
uranium reserves recently discovered in Mustang near the
Nepal-China border.
5
 International Relations

►Indo-Pacific • As a results peace and security in the Indian Ocean is thus

critical for both economic prosperity and social stability of
• In May 2018, the U.S. military’s Pacific Command was
renamed the Indo-Pacific Command, a symbolic gesture most nations in the world, including India.

that provides a military aspect to the Indo-Pacific Strategy. ►Blue Economy

• On the other hand, India and Japan’s conception “free and • Indian Ocean Region is abundant with resources,
open Indo-Pacific” involves no military aspect. particularly fisheries, aquaculture, ocean energy, sea-bed
mining and minerals, and provides tremendous economic
CONCLUSION
opportunities to develop marine tourism and shipping
India should pursue an independent foreign policy which is activities.
currently narrowed and refrain from becoming a subordinate
• Polymetallic nodules and polymetallic massive sulphides
ally of the U.S. in reshaping Asia.
are the two mineral resources of commercial interest in
the Indian Ocean Region.

• Polymetallic nodules are rounded accretions of

OPERATION VANILLA manganese and iron hydroxides found in the seafloor. In

addition, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead,
# India and the World #IOR #Bilateral molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium, of which
nickel, cobalt and copper.
Relations
• Polymetallic sulphides (PMS) are found on deep seabed
and contain iron, copper, zinc, silver, gold and platinum.

IN NEWS ►Strategic Importance

It has been launched by the Indian Navy to help cyclone-hit
Madagascar. INS Airavat is a large amphibious ship that was
on a mission-based deployment near Seychelles. It has been
immediately diverted to Madagascar to provide assistance to
the flood affected people.
The assistance of India to Madagascar is in consonance with
the Indian Navy's Foreign Cooperation initiatives in line with
the Prime Minister's vision of 'Security and Growth for all in
the Region (SAGAR)'.
Note: Madagascar produces 80% of Vanilla in the world.
BACKGROUND
►Importance of IOR
• The Indian Ocean has over forty littoral states bearing over
40% of the world’s population.
• It is the key transit with 2/3rd of the global oil, ½ of the
container traffic and 1/3rd of the cargo traffic passing
through it.
• Around 35 million barrels of crude oil pass annually and
40% of global exports come from this region.
• 90% of India’s trade by volume and 90% of its energy
imports transit through these waters.
• Indian Ocean Region is an integral part of the Indo-pacific
construct which is the centre of gravity of current
geopolitics.
• Besides given the rise of China, India has engaged in
further enhancing its security presence and act as a Net
Security Provider in the Indian Ocean region.
• Besides, India also intends to act as a First Responder in
disaster management in the Indian Ocean region.
Accordingly, India is spearheading various regional
initiatives in the IOR including:-
1. The Indian Ocean Rim Association: An inter-governmental
organisation established in 1997 to enhance cooperation
among the member-states whose shores are on the rim of
the Indian Ocean.
2. The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)
3. Indian Ocean Commission
4. The SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region)
►About SAGAR initiative
• SAGAR represents India’s vision of the Indian Ocean
Region (IOR).

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 International Relations
• SAGAR initiative was launched in 2015 in order to develop
the ‘Blue Economy’ in IOR by way of linking maritime
connectivity, maritime security and economic
development.
• India has a bilateral defence cooperation mechanism with
Seychelles, Mauritius and Maldives. SAGAR provides for a
mechanism to expand India’s strategic partnerships with
other IOR littorals in Asia and Africa.
• It is estimated that the Gross Marine Product of Western
Indian Ocean is about $20.8 billion and thus developing
Blue Economy is seen as a strategy to develop the region
and India intends to act the leader.
CHALLENGES
However, the region is faced with multiple challenges
including Piracy, Smuggling, Threat to energy security, Illegal
fishing, Illegal migration, Human trafficking etc.
►Other Initiatives
• Accordingly, as a net security provider India is extending its
help in the region through various initiatives.
• Recently India hosted the 1st joint military outreach
programme with African nations called AFINDEX-2019
including 17 African nations.
• India has developed a Coastal Radar Surveillance
Network deploying Coastal Radars in Seychelles,
Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh,
Thailand and Indonesia.
• To counter Somalian piracy India has engaged and secured
a strategic alliance on Naval cooperation on with Oman in
the Duqm island.
• Indian navy has an active naval presence in the Indian
Ocean region around the Horn of Africa to combat piracy.
The port of Djibouti had also been used by the Indian
naval ships since 2008 for anti-piracy missions.
AIR CORRIDORS WITH
CENTRAL ASIA
#India and the World
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
IN NEWS
Pointing to the lack of efficient overland connectivity between
India and the Central Asian countries, External Affairs Minister
said that the two regions should examine the viability of
establishing air corridors between them to boost trade and
economic engagement.
• The air corridors — similar to what India established with
Afghanistan in 2018 — would include regular cargo flights
with special clearing and customs facilities to expedite the
movement of goods, especially fresh fruit and other
agricultural produce.
• India has proposed to overcome this challenge through
the Chabahar route as it avoids Pakistan. This was
highlighted by EAM at India-Central Asia Business Council
at the industry body, Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
• India, Iran and Afghanistan believe that Chabahar can
become the fulcrum of connectivity for Indian goods to
reach Afghanistan and further north to the Central Asian
states.
• The government has already allocated Rs. 100 crores for
the Chabahar Port for the fiscal 2020-21.
• The nominated chambers from India, Kazakhstan, the
Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
came together to formally declare their association to
collaborate and provide an industry view to the
governments of the six countries.
• Government is of the opinion that India and the Central
Asian countries should examine the viability of establishing
air corridors between them to boost trade and economic
engagement.
IMPORTANCE OF AIR CORRIDORS
• The distance between India and Central Asian countries
through air is just 2-3 hours only. However, it takes around
2 months to reach a consignment of goods to these
countries by road.
• The trade between India and the central Asian countries is
very low at just $2 billion.
• Since, Pakistan is geographically located in such a manner
that trade through ground routes is very difficult.
• In such a scenario there are two option available:-
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 International Relations
 Reach to these countries through the Chabahar port
and extend the trade route via Afghanistan. However,
commodities that perish fast cannot be sent through this
route.
 Second option could be to explore air corridors from
India to these countries. For this regular cargo flights with
special clearing and custom facilities are required to
ensure trade. Availability of air corridors can boost trade
relations in perishable goods, agriculture and food
products.
• Though energy sector is a top priority but the lack of land
route connectivity between India and Central Asia due to
hostile relationship with Pakistan and instability in
Afghanistan, remains a major hurdle.
• It has delayed the much-awaited Turkmenistan-
Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.
• Challenge of lack of efficient overland connectivity will be
overcome through the Chabahar port in Iran.
• India will also continue working on International North
South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Ashgabat
Agreement.
WHY CENTRAL ASIA IS IMPORTANT FOR INDIA?
• India’s ties with Central Asia can be traced back to the
ancient Silk Road, along which goods, people, and ideas
flowed.
• India’s deep-rooted bonds with the region provide the
perfect opportunity for both sides to capitalize on the
existing relationship and find new and innovative ways to
enhance the current partnership.
• In the last decade, Central Asian nations have also been
looking for viable partners particularly in economic and
security sectors.
• Both sides share interests in tackling radicalization and
terrorism, curbing illicit trade, and exploring opportunities
for economic cooperation.
• The adverse geographic terrain and the thorny India-
Pakistan border dynamics, greatly impede connectivity,
thereby curbing greater economic cooperation between
India and the region.
• In contrast, external powers such as Russia and China,
have benefitted from close cooperation and influence,
courtesy of their porous borders with the region.
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• India’s growing interest in the region crystallized in the
form of its ‘Connect Central Asia Policy’ (2012).
• India’s ‘Connect Central Asia Policy’ was reinforced in 2015,
when Prime Minister became the first Indian head of state
to visit all five nations.
• This renewed focus on the region can be attributed to the
changing geopolitics of the region, particularly the
formation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the
external security threats to the region.
• The convergence of China’s BRI projects in the region with
India’s unrealized economic interests there has prompted
the latter to adopt a more proactive approach and look at
new avenues for economic cooperation.
• Since China has been able to leverage its geography,
finances and population to ensure that its projects can
contribute toward making its dream of a new and
improved Silk Road a reality, India is also committed to
expanding the scope of its economic relations with the
region.
• Beyond economics, the regional security challenges in
Central Asia also have the potential of spilling over into
India. The increasing Islamic radicalization has become a
major security concern for the governments of the region.
INDIA-AFRICA (LUCKNOW
DECLARATION)
#India and the World
IN NEWS
The first India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave (IADMC) held
in Lucknow coinciding with Defence Expo-2020, adopted the
Lucknow Declaration.
IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS:
• Co-operation in Defence Preparedness - It appreciated
initiation of Africa India Field Training Exercises with the
first ever AFINDEX in March 2019 and agrees that it will
further strengthen cooperation in defence preparedness
and security.
• Achieve Conflict Free Africa
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 International Relations
• Enhancing Peacekeeping Efforts - Further strengthen
cooperation in enhancing peacekeeping capacity and
peace- building efforts including support to the African
Standby Force (ASF) and through courses, such as those at
the centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi and
by other Peacekeeping Training Centres in Africa.
• Exchange of Experts
• Greater co-operation in Defence Sector
DEALING WITH TERRORISM
• Collaborate to deal with challenges such as terrorism and
extremism, piracy, organised crime including human
trafficking, drug trafficking, weapon smuggling and others.
• It calls for strengthening the UN Counter-Terrorism
mechanisms and to ensure strict compliance with the UN
Security Council sanctions regime on terrorism.
• It agrees to further enhance cooperation and coordination
between Africa and India to combat terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations and to combat transnational
crime.
ON MARITIME SECURITY
• It recognizes the importance of the oceans and seas to the
livelihoods of our peoples and that Maritime security is a
pre-requisite for the development of Blue or Ocean
economy.
• It seeks to increase cooperation in securing sea lines of
communication, preventing maritime crimes, disaster,
piracy, illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing through
sharing of information and surveillance.
• It encourages enhanced cooperation between India and
Africa on the evolving concept of Indo-Pacific and welcome
the African Union vision for peace and security in Africa
that coincides with India's vision of SAGAR (Security and
Growth for all in the Region).
• It supports initiatives such as African Peace and Security
Architecture (APSA), Silence The Guns in Africa and Agenda
2063.
CHANGING TRENDS IN
GEOPOLITICS
#Geopolitics #India and its Neighbourhood
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
MAIN TRENDS IN GEOPOLITICS IN 2019
• China has threatened the leadership position held by USA
in 2019;
• Europe seems in disarray (especially after Brexit);
• Asia continued to struggle because of:-Afghanistan’s
continued instability; Iran’s increasing belligerent attitude.
• Rise of violent protests against the ruling dispensation
across the world:- Hong Kong; Iran.
DOMESTIC TENSIONS
• Intensification of tensions due to National Register of
Citizens (NRC) and NPR (National Population Register);
• Passage of Citizenship Amendment Act;
• Abolition of special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
NEIGHBOURHOOD RELATIONS
►India-Pakistan
• Relations are at the lowest: Trade has completely
stopped; No formal or informal talks are taking place.
• Pakistan’s key role in negotiations with Taliban has given it
great advantage which helped it gain support from major
western countries especially USA, and thus, it’s getting
difficult for India to get it blacklisted by FATF.
►India-China
• Border tensions have remained unresolved;
• China has made significant progress in establishing its
hegemony across Indian Ocean threatening India’s
ambition to be an Asian Super Power.
►India-Maldives
• Recently started improving after regime change. After the
current president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih defeated pro-
China Abdullah Yameen in the presidential elections, he
chose India for his maiden state visit last month.
• He has also assured that the island nation won't allow any
anti-India activities from its soil.
►India-Sri Lanka
• New government headed by Rajapaksa is bad news for
India.
• India’s relations with Sri Lanka saw deterioration whenever
Rajapaksas were in power.
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 International Relations
• China had made significant entry into Sri Lanka during
those times and India was expelled to backfoot.
►India-Bangladesh
• Over all the relations are good.
• But following does not augur well for relations: NRC and
continued acrimony against “illegal Bangladeshis”; Lack of
progress along Teesta water accord.
►India-Iran
• Difficult balancing which India needs to do following US’s
sanction on Oil import from Iran.
• Iran is crucial for India for Oil imports and for access to
Afghanistan through Chabahar port.
REFUGEE CRISIS
#International Conventions and
Agreements
IN NEWS
In unanimous judgment, International Court of Justice
concludes that the Rohingyas face genocidal intent. The United
Nations has described the Rohingya “as the most persecuted
minority in the world. In October 2018, India sent back seven
Rohingya men. The Supreme Court of India refused to stop
their deportation.
REFUGEE CONVENTION, 1951 – IMPORTANT
FEATURE
• Defines refugees as persons fleeing persecution on
grounds of race, religion, nationality, social group or
political opinion.
• Refugees get legal rights – to education, work and
property.
• Applies principle of ‘Non-refoulement’ which prevents
states from sending back refugees to persecution in their
home countries.
INDIA’S POSITION VIS-À-VIS REFUGEES
• India is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its
1967, protocol.
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• India does not have a national refugee protection
framework or any domestic asylum law.
• But India is a signatory to the New York Declaration for
Refugees and Migrants, which was adopted by 193
countries in 2016.
 The New York Declaration sets the stage for a new
framework for refugee protection — the Global Compact
on Refugees (GCR).
 It also has provision of financial burden sharing.
• India has signed UN anti-torture convention having
‘non-refoulement policy’ (though not ratified).
• In practice, India is one of the leading refugee-receiving
countries. Refugees include Sri Lankan Tamils, Tibetans
from China, Chin minorities from Burma/Myanmar, and
Hindus from Bangladesh and Pakistan.
WHY INDIA HAS NOT SIGNED UN REFUGEE
CONVENTION 1951?
• India was committed to the principles enshrined in the
Convention, but was unwilling to legally bind the country
to its obligations.
• India believed that 1951 convention were tailored to fit the
requirements of post war European countries.
• Non-refoulement principle of the convention
• No financial burden sharing
• Internal security
• Porous border
• Strain of infrastructure and resources
• Concerns about radicalisation
• Hostile neighbourhood
WHY DOES INDIA NEED A REFUGEE LAW WHICH
CONFORMS TO THE REFUGEE CONVENTION?
• Our law does not distinguish between “foreigners” and
“refugees”. This means that refugees depend on state
discretion, rather than having some binding rights.
• Undocumented immigrants can be recognised as refugees,
based on evidence of persecution.
• Lives with dignity within India, with education, health care
and livelihoods.
• They would not be forced to return to the conditions of
persecution, which they escaped.
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 International Relations

THE CASE OF THE ROHINGYAS • The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for
terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General
• Not considered as refugees but as illegal immigrants and
Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a
security threats.
Registry, its administrative organ. Its official languages are
• Not included as eligible for citizenship under the 2019
English and French..
amendment.
• Judges are eligible for re-election.
WAY FORWARD
We need to have a new, humane refugee law. Only then
would India become the country which Swami Vivekananda
was so proud of: a haven to the persecuted of the world,
INDIA-SRI LANKA
untainted by discrimination based on religion or nation. #Bilateral relations
RELATED INFORMATION
►United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
IN NEWS
• United Nations body with mission to promote and protect
Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a visit to India.
human rights around the world.
MAIN HIGHLIGHTS
• It was created by UNGA in 2006, replacing former UN
Commission on Human Rights. 1. Sri Lanka has sought debt restructuring from India by
allowing deferment of loan repayments by 3 years.
• Headquarter – Geneva, Switzerland.
2. India has continued to push for full implementation of
• Made up of 47 UN member states which are elected by
13th Amendment for greater devolution of powers to
UNGA with specific number of seats allocated for each
provinces.
region of the globe.
3. India has also urged Sri Lanka to deal with fisherman issue
• The term of each seat is three years.
on humanitarian grounds.
• No member may occupy a seat for more than two
BACKGROUND
consecutive terms.
• In the aftermath of its independence from British in 1948,
• United States has recently withdrawn from UNHRC.
Srilanka adopted for a ‘unitary constitution’ with a
• India was elected for period of three years in 2019.
“Government Agent” at provincial level directly responsible
► International Court of Justice to the centre.
• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal • This paved the way for rule by the majority Sinhalese who
judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was enjoyed wide ranging reservations in jobs and education.
established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United
• Besides Sri Lanka has been historically implementing land
Nations and began work in April 1946.
colonization laws under which the government
• The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague redistributes land for various purposes.
(Netherlands). Of the six principal organs of the United
• Since Tamils constitutes 18% of the population in Sri
Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (United
Lanka, this has led to relative deprivation among the Tamil
States of America).
community who have been demanding the formation of a
• The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with federal state.
international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States
• This led to agitation which took the militant form in 1970s
and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred
and 1980s resulting in the formation of LTTE in 1983 which
to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized
stood as a violent separatist movement.
agencies.
• Given the importance of Sri Lanka in the security of IOR
region, India supported the Sri Lanka to combat the

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 International Relations

militancy by sending a peacekeeping force to Sri Lanka in • The Finance Commission established under 13th
accordance with the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord of 1987. amendment recommends devolution of funds to

• On the other hand, Sri Lanka agreed to devolution of Provincial Council. Though this body has representation of

powers under India-Sri Lanka Peace Accord, 1987 by 3 major communities including Tamils, its

introducing an amendment to the constitution popularly recommendation is not binding on the President.

called as the 13th Amendment.
th
SALIENT FEATURES OF 13 AMENDMENT
►Provincial Council
• The 13th Amendment introduced a decentralised State
based on a system of Provincial Government at a sub-
national level.
• It introduced 9th schedule to the constitution providing for
3 lists namely Reserved list (under Centre), Provincial
• Besides, the withdrawal of funds by Provincial Councils is
subject to sanction of the Governor.
• Thus, it is clear that the Provincial Council has no
discretionary power on matters relating to the finances of
the Council.
th
INDIA’S STAND ON 13 AMENDMENT
• India has been pushing for full devolution of powers to the
provinces especially the northern and eastern provinces.

Council list and Concurrent list
• In order to make laws under the provincial list, it provided
for establishment of Provincial Councils as a legislative
body at the provincial level.
• This includes devolution of executive powers to the
provinces. Besides India is also supporting the northern
and eastern province’s demand of transfer of land, police
and finance to provincial governments.

EXECUTIVE POWER WHAT IS THE STAND OF SRI LANKA NOW?

• The 13th amendment provided for the post of Governor as • While Srilanka is open to devolution of executive powers, it
is wary of transferring police and land.
the executive head of the provinces.

• The Governor holds the office during the pleasure of the • The Central government in Srilanka is of the opinion that
transferring police to provincial list may lead to
president and is vested with wide administrative powers.
politicization of police work.
ISSUES
• The Rajapakshas have recently hinted that their priority is
►Incomplete devolution development over devolution. Thus, this has been viewed
While the legislative powers are devolved among the as a cause of concern by the minority particularly the
provinces, the executive power of the provinces lies with the Tamils.
governor who is responsible only to central government. Debt Crisis in Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka is undergoing a severe
Thus, while the legislative autonomy is given in some form, debt crisis in the last decade with debt-GDP ratio of more
executive autonomy is still not devolved to the provinces. than 85% currently.
►Subordinate status of state law CONCERNS FOR INDIA
The law passed by the Provincial Council does not attain the
• The major concern for India is that the Chinese share of
status of a law under the constitution of Sri Lanka.
the total external debt obligation of Srilanka is about 15%.
►Land, Police and Finance • This is because of a number of projects under the Belt and
• Land, Police and Finance are matters enumerated in the Road Initiatives such as Colombo International Financial
Provincial Council’s List under the 9th Schedule. City, Humbantota port etc. and liberal loans China has

• Land colonization laws are opposed by the Tamils as a extended to Sri Lanka for various projects.

result of diversion of traditional Tamil homelands in the • These debts are increasingly turning into equity and finally
eastern and northern province to Sinhalese population. ownership for Chinese firms. A case in point is

• The Provincial governments have no taxation power which Humbantota port which was handed over to China for 99

is the sole function of Centre. years in 2017.

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 International Relations
• This has security implications for India due to China’s
widening presence in Indian Ocean Region.
INDIA AND USA
#Bilateral relations
IN NEWS
The President of the United States of America has recently paid
a State Visit to India on 24-25 February 2020.
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS
►Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership
• India and USA have vowed to strengthen an India-U.S.
Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, anchored in
mutual trust, shared interests, goodwill and robust
engagement of their citizens.
• Through their Strategic Energy Partnership, India and the
United States are seeking to enhance energy security,
expand energy and innovation linkages across respective
energy sectors, bolster strategic alignment, and facilitate
increased engagement between industry and other
stakeholders.
►Strategic Convergence in the Indo-Pacific
• A close partnership between India and the United States is
central to a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous
Indo-Pacific region.
• This cooperation is underpinned by recognition of ASEAN
centrality; adherence to international law and good
governance; support for safety and freedom of navigation,
overflight and other lawful uses of the seas; and
unimpeded lawful commerce; and advocacy for peaceful
resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with
international law.
• The United States appreciates India’s role as a net provider
of security, as well as developmental and humanitarian
assistance in the Indian Ocean Region.
►Partnership for Global Leadership
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• USA and India are committed to working together to
strengthen and reform the United Nations and other
international organizations and ensure their integrity.
• USA reaffirmed the support of the United States for India’s
permanent membership on a reformed U.N. Security
Council and for India’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers
Group without any delay.
4th EAS CONFERENCE ON
MARITIME SECURITY
COOPERATION
# India and the World
IN NEWS
India in partnership with Australia and Indonesia organize the
fourth EAS Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation in
Chennai in February 2020.
• The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) and the Research
and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) are
the knowledge partners of the Conference.
• This Conference is the fourth in a series of EAS Maritime
Security Conferences organized by the Government of
India.
• The first Conference was organized in New Delhi in
November 2015, the second in Goa in November 2016 and
the third in Bhubaneswar in June 2018.
EAST ASIA SUMMIT (EAS)
• EAS is a regional forum held annually by leaders of,
initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian,
and South Asian regions, based on the ASEAN Plus Six
mechanism.
• Membership expanded to 18 countries including Russia
and the United States at the Sixth EAS in 2011.
• EAS meeting are held after the annual ASEAN leaders’
meetings, and plays an important role in the regional
architecture of Asia-Pacific.
13
 International Relations

• The Indian PM has also proposed an “Indo-Pacific Oceans

Initiative” for safe, secure and stable maritime domain
under the aegis of East Asia Summit.

BBIN MVA
# India and its Neighbourhood

IN NEWS
A meeting of BBIN MVA was held in New Delhi. Representatives KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE VISIT
of Bhutan participated in the meeting in an observer capacity.
• The leaders signed agreements on Repatriation and Re-
The meeting was held to discuss the passenger and cargo
integration of Victims of trafficking, Quick Impact Projects,
Protocols that are to give effect to the Motor Vehicles
Development of Rakhine State, etc.
Agreement (MVA).
• Opening of the two land border crossing points at Tamu
The delegations of Bangladesh, India and Nepal agreed to
(Myanmar)-Moreh (India) and Rihkhawdar (Myanmar)-
consider expediting the finalization of this MoU, without
Zowkhawthar (Mizoram, India) as international border
obligation to Bhutan, pending the completion of its internal
gates to further facilitate the easy movement of passenger
procedures for ratification of the BBIN MVA.
and cargo.
• The landmark MVA was signed by Transport Ministers of
• MoU between their respective private operators to launch
the BBIN countries in Thimphu, Bhutan on 15 June 2015.
a Coordinated Bus Service between Imphal and Mandalay
• Trial runs for cargo vehicles under the MVA were by April 2020.
conducted along the Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and Delhi-
• Note of the positive developments related to the Sittwe
Kolkata-Dhaka routes in the past. The trials were
Port, Paletwa Inland Water Transport Terminal and the
successful in establishing the Agreement’s economic
Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project.
benefits.
• Reaffirmed their commitment to the early completion of
• Bangladesh, India, and Nepal have already ratified the
the Paletwa-Zorinpui road – the final leg of the Kaladan
MVA.
project.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been providing
• Kalewa - Yargyi road section of the Trilateral Highway is
technical, advisory, and financial support to the BBIN MVA
expected to be completed by 2021.
initiative as part of its assistance to the South Asia Sub-
regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program. • India offered medical radiation equipment "Bhabhatron-2"
for treatment of cancer patients.

• India welcomed the inclusion of Bagan (Myanmar) in the

INDIA-MYANMAR list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

# Bilateral Relations

IN NEWS
President of Myanmar and the First Lady have paid a State
Visit to India from 26 to 29 February 2020.

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 International Relations

practice questions

MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about Select the correct answer using the code given below:
International Maritime Organization (IMO): (a) 1-2-3 (b) 2-3-1
1. It is a specialised agency of the United Nations. (c) 3-2-1 (d) 1-3-2
2. It is tasked with the regulation of shipping.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Q4. Which of the following countries have already
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only ratified BBIN MVA?
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Bangladesh 2. Bhutan
3. India 4. Nepal
Q2. The Lucknow Declaration, recently in the news Select the correct answer using the code given below:
related to the affairs of (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(a) Mekong Ganga Cooperation (c) 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(b) India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave
(c) BRICS Q5. Consider the following statements:
(d) Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 1. India is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention.
2. India is not a signatory to the New York Declaration for
Q3. Arrange the following places from west to east Refugees and Migrants.
direction: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. Moreh (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
2. Mandalay (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
3. Tamu

descriptive Questions
Q1. In light of changing trends in geopolitics, comment on India’s relation with her neighbours.

Q2. In the past decade, Indian Ocean Region has gained momentum in its geo-strategic and geo-political importance. In light of
this, discuss the role of Indian Navy in bringing India to the forefront.

Answers to above MCQs: 1 (c), 2 (b), 3 (d), 4(b), 5(d)

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

Lead Article

NEED FOR AN
something) to be established between executive and
judiciary. This overall violates constitutional norms and

INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY
values.

• Executive Praising Judiciary - Even the Prime Minister

# Judicial Reforms applauded the Supreme Court by referring to some recent
“critical judgments”, mentioning that 1.3 billion Indians
wholeheartedly accepted the judicial verdicts. Even the

IN NEWS Law Minister criticised those who has questioned recent

functioning of the judiciary and recent controversial
Justice Arun Mishra publicly showered praise on Prime Minister
judgments.
at International Judicial Conference 2020 in New Delhi where
• Thus, even judiciary was praised by members of Executive
the theme of discussion was ‘Judiciary and the Changing
on “critical judgments” in favour of central government. In
World’. This has led to the criticism of Justice Arun Mishra and
this regard, we need to revisit Article 141 and 142 of the
judicial independence from executive has been questioned. Let
Indian Constitution which does not distinguish between
us understand about the idea of Judicial Independence as
kinds of judgments delivered by the Apex Court but rather
provided by Indian Constitution.
says that all judgments shall be enforceable throughout
IS PRAISE OF PRIME MINISTER FROM MEMBER OF India.
HIGHER JUDICIARY A BAD IDEA?
• Article 141 highlights that law declared by Supreme Court
• Shows Biasness - Such instances where senior judge of shall be binding on all Courts within the territory of India.
Supreme Court indulges in praise of the highest executive
• Article 142 highlights that Supreme Court in the exercise
at an international event signals a judiciary which is in
of its jurisdictions, may pass such orders as is necessary
close links with the executive and its political
for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending
establishment. Government in many cases is a litigant and
before it. Such orders passed by the Court shall be
judges showing close proximity questions impartiality in
enforceable throughout the territory of India in manner
their judgment.
prescribed by any law made by Parliament.
• Judicial Independence compromised - Such instances
• Thus, judgment of Supreme Court cannot be questioned
not only questions the ethical principle of judicial
by executive authorities and needs to be implemented
independence but prompts other members from judicial
throughout Indian territory as a law of the land. However,
fraternity to compromise judicial independence by
appeal from lower Bench to higher Bench of Supreme
allowing a system of quid pro quo (something for
Court is allowed.

FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS 16

 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
• Goes against Judicial Ethics Charter - Supreme Court
adopted a Charter called the ‘Restatement of Values of
Judicial Life’ in May 1997. It serves as a guide for an
independent & fair judiciary. The Charter is “a complete
code of the canons of judicial ethics” and categorically
declares important values to be adhered and cherished by
Honourable Judges.
• As per the Charter, the behaviour and conduct of
members of the higher judiciary must reaffirm people’s
faith in the impartiality of judiciary. Accordingly, any act of
Judge of Supreme Court or a High Court which erodes the
credibility of this perception must be avoided.
• The Charter titled “Restatement of Values of Judicial
Life” prohibits the following:
 Judges to contest election;
 Close association with members of the bar practicing in
same Court;
 Legal Practice of relatives before the Judge concerned;
 Expressing political views in public or matters which are
sub judice;
 Hearing cases of companies where Judge has personal
investments in stocks;
 Speculating on stocks and indices;
 Involve himself to raise fund for any purpose;
 Judges accepting gifts or hospitality.
WHY IS AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY IMPORTANT
FOR A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY?
• Supreme Court of India plays a significant role in the
administration of law and justice and is the final arbiter
and interpreter of the Constitution. Judicial review is a
basic structure of the constitution and therefore places a
special responsibility on Supreme Court in the area of
constitutional interpretation. It is the final court of appeal
in public and private law and enjoys advisory, appellate
and original jurisdiction.
• Supreme Court has played a creative and balanced role in
keeping the responsible and parliamentary system of
government in proper working order, in maintaining
federal balance and in protecting Fundamental Rights of
the people.
• The Supreme Court through its important landmark
judgments has endeavored to promote a welfare state in
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
India. Thus, judicial independence is very much necessary
so that the Apex Judiciary along with its subordinates
carries out administration of law and justice in India
without fear or favour. Thus, an independent judiciary is
sine qua non (an essential condition) of a vibrant
democratic system.
• The Judiciary is the protector of the Constitution and may
have strike down executive, administrative or legislative
acts of Centre and States. For Rule of Law to prevail,
judicial independence is of prime necessity.
• Being the highest Court of the land, Supreme Court shall
be allowed to function in an atmosphere of independence
and must be insulated from all kinds of pressures, political
or otherwise.
SALIENT FEATURES OF JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE IN
THE CONSTITUTION
• Separation of Power - Article 50 - Separation of Power
between Legislature, Executive and Judiciary – is now a
part of Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution.
• Security of Tenure of Judges – Judge of Supreme Court or
High Court cannot be removed arbitrarily by the executive
and their removal has to undergo rigorous legislative
scrutiny as provided under Article 124 (4). Further, Article
124 (5) mentions that removal of judge on grounds of
“misbehaviour” and “incapacity” can be prescribed by law
made by Parliament. Accordingly, Parliament has enacted
The Judges Enquiry Act, 1968 to remove Judge of
Supreme Court on specific charge of “misbehaviour” or
“incapacity.” Further, a special majority is required in both
houses of Parliament for Judges Removal.
• Salary cannot be reduced - Article 125 (2) - Salary of
Judges is fixed by Parliament but it cannot be reduced
during the tenure of a Judge. Parliament may prescribe
privileges, allowances, leaves and pension of a Judge
subject to safeguard that these cannot be varied or
reduced during the tenure of Judge to their disadvantage.
• Expense of Supreme Court charged upon Consolidated
Fund of India – Article 146 (3) – This means that this topic
cannot be voted upon in Parliament although a discussion
on such topic is allowed. Financial independence of
judiciary from political pressure and parliamentary vote
politics further makes judiciary more independent in
carrying out it work.
17
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
• Jurisdiction cannot be diminished - Parliament cannot • Nixon M. Joseph v Union of India - an important question
reduce jurisdiction of Supreme Court or High Court by was raised before Kerala High Court – Should the retired
passing any law on appeals or Supreme Court’s original Supreme Court and High Court Judge take any job, or
jurisdiction under Article 131 with respect to dispute contest election as there is no constitutional bar against
between centre and states. such practice. Justice Narayana Kurup expressed firm

• Constitution insulates Judges from criticism in opposition against practice and said that to maintain

Parliament & State Legislature – The Constitution dignity and independence of judiciary as well as public

ensures its independence by laying down that neither confidence in the judiciary, it is necessary that a Judge

Parliament nor State Legislature can discuss the conduct should not allow his judicial position to be compromised at
of Judge while discharging his duties. any cost. Justice should not only be done, but seen to be
done. However, no judgment was given and the matter
• Article 121 and 211 - In Keshav Singh case, Supreme
was dismissed.
Court held that Article 121 and 211 protects a Judge of
Court from any contempt proceedings which may be taken

S.C. ASKS TO PUBLISH

against him in discharge of his duties. These provisions
provide absolute constitutional prohibition against any

CRIMINAL HISTORY OF
discussion on conduct of Supreme Court and High Court
Judge except when a motion has been proposed to
remove the Judge concerned.

• Collegium System – This has further strengthened judicial

independence as interference from executive is ruled out.
IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF EROSION OF JUDICIAL
INDEPENDENCE DESPITE CONSTITUTIONAL
GUARANTEES?
• There is always a lurking danger of judicial independence
being eroded by prevailing practices of government re-
employing retired Supreme Court or High Court Judges
in various executive capacities such as Governor of
State.
• The only ban imposed by the Constitution on Supreme
Court Judge is that he cannot plead or practice in any
Court or before any authority.
• Most Supreme Court Judges on retirement start their
Arbitration Practice. This may develop a prior linkage or
affiliation with any corporate, company, industry or
organisation for a future job.
CANDIDATES
# Electoral Reform
IN NEWS
The Supreme Court has ordered political parties to publish the
entire criminal history of their candidates for Assembly and
Lok Sabha elections along with the reasons that made them to
field suspected criminals over decent people. This is a step
towards decriminalisation of politics.
CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY THE SUPREME COURT
• The Court raised an alarm regarding rise of people facing
serious criminal charges like rape, murder, rioting etc.
entering into the arena of law making.
• The Court highlighted the increase in number of people
entering politics having criminal antecedents in
subsequent general elections held in India post 2004.

• There is no constitutional bar on such retired Supreme YEAR PERCENTAGE OF MPS IN PARLIAMENT
Court or High Court Judges to enter active politics. This HAVING CRIMINAL CASES PENDING
further erodes judicial independence as the Judge 2004 24 %
concerned start showing their political affiliation even prior
2009 30 %
to their retirement and may deliver few judgments in
favour of the executive rather than deciding them on 2014 34 %
merits. 2019 43 %

SUPREME COURT’S JUDGMENT

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 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
• All political parties to publish all present and past criminal
records of candidates in Assembly and Parliament
elections within 48 hours of selection of the candidate or
within two weeks of nomination, whichever is earlier.
• All political parties to publish reasons for selection of
candidates with criminal records, besides mere winnability.
The information must be detailed including nature of their
offences, charges framed etc.
• Information on criminal records of candidates should be
published in local and national newspaper and also on
social media handles of political parties within the
prescribed time limit.
BACKDROP TO THE PRESENT JUDGMENT
• This judgment is based on contempt of 2018 Supreme
Court judgment in Public Interest Foundation v. Union
of India which asked candidates to publish the criminal
details of their candidates in their respective websites and
print as well as electronic media for public awareness.
• Based on the 2018 Judgment by Public Interest Foundation
v. Union of India, similar directions were issued by Election
Commission during the 2019 Lok Sabha Election.
th th
• Even 244 and 255 Law Commission Reports on Electoral
Disqualifications and Electoral Reforms respectively have
suggested certain important measures to reform and
cleanse Indian Politics.
IMPORTANT LANDMARK JUDGMENTS TO PREVENT
CRIMINALISATION IN POLITICS
• 2002, Union of India v Association for Democratic
reforms and Another - directed the Election Commission
to call for information on affidavit under Article 324 on
criminal background including previous conviction,
acquittal or discharge along with fine; declaration of assets
of the candidate and his/her spouse along with number of
dependents; liabilities including debts owed to any
financial institution or otherwise ; and educational
qualification of the candidate.
• 2005, Ramesh Dalal vs. Union of India - sitting MP or
MLA shall also be subject to disqualification from
contesting elections if they are convicted and sentenced to
not less than 2 years of imprisonment by court of law.
These judgments effectively disallowed people having
criminal background to enter political field.
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• Public Interest Foundation and Ors. Vs. Union of India
and Another requested the Law Commission to expedite
recommendation on the following issues:
1. Whether disqualification should be triggered upon
conviction or upon framing of charges by the court or
upon the presentation of the report by the Investigating
Officer?
2. Whether filing of false affidavits under Section 125A of the
Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA) should be a
ground for disqualification?
th
244 LAW COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
th
• Electoral Disqualification: 244 Law Commission Report
did not favour electoral disqualification at the stage of
filing of the police report as it can be easily misused
against rival political parties.
• Filing False Affidavits: increase imprisonment upto
minimum of 2 years under Representation of People Act
(RPA), 1951 and make filing false affidavit a corrupt
practice under RPA, 1951. Corrupt Practice under RPA,
1951 is punishable upto 3 years along with fine.
• Disqualification on framing of charge for certain
offences – A candidate should be disqualified for 6 years,
if charges framed by Court include such offences whose
punishment is five years or more.
DIRECTIONS GIVEN BY ELECTION COMMISSION
DURING 2019 LOK SABHA ELECTIONS
• While filing nomination, the candidate must provide -
 Educational qualifications;
 Prior Criminal charges framed – such information to be
published in newspapers and Television channels on three
occasions during the campaign period;
 Information on assets in India and abroad;
 Liabilities of the candidate – spouse and dependents;
 Last 5 years of Income Tax Returns including that of
spouse and dependents;
 Political Party to that sets up candidates with criminal
antecedents to publish such information on their website
and also in newspapers and Television channel on three
occasions;
 PAN card of the Candidate
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 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
• These directions by Election Commission were based on
2018 Supreme Court Judgment in Public Interest
Foundation v. Union of India.
IMPACT OF CRIMINALISATION OF POLITICS
• As per National Commission to Review the working of
Constitution, when law breakers become law makers it
impacts the overall quality of law making and halts
important reforms towards cleansing of politics from
criminalisation.
• Such people control law enforcement agencies and they
can influence and interfere with their own criminal cases
where they are implicated.
• It increases money and muscle power during elections and
this increases the bargaining capacity of such candidates
to the extent of buying votes.
• It increases caste based politics as such people can
mobilise voters from their specific community to vote for
them.
• Criminalisation of politics erodes trust of people in
democratic process in India.
LOKPAL - NEED & ISSUES
IN IMPLEMENTATION
# Ombudsman
IN NEWS
After six years of coming into effect of Lokpal and Lokayukta
Act, 2013, it is yet to play a significant role in tackling
corruption in the country. Let us understand about the basics
of Lokpal and Lokayukta Act as it will help in understanding
different challenges faced by the Institution.
WHAT DOES THE LOKPAL AND LOKAYUKTA ACT,
2013 PROVIDES FOR?
• It establishes Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for
States to inquire into allegations of corruption against
certain public functionaries.
• It provides for an Enquiry Wing and a Prosecution Wing
to deal with cases of corruption.
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• The Inquiry wing conducts preliminary inquiry into
alleged cases of corruption against public servants under
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 whereas the
Prosecution Wing file cases before the Special Court to
prosecute public servants under Prevention of Corruption
Act, 1988.
ESTABLISHMENT OF LOKPAL
• Lokpal shall consist of a Chairperson, who is or has been a
Chief Justice of India or is or has been a Judge of the
Supreme Court or an eminent person,
• It shall have a maximum of eight members of which half
shall be judicial members.
• The Chairperson and Members shall be appointed by the
President after obtaining the recommendations of a
Selection Committee consisting of—
 the Prime Minister—Chairperson;
 the Speaker of the House of the People—Member;
 the Leader of Opposition in the House of the People—
Member;
 the Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court
nominated by him—Member;
 one eminent jurist, as recommended by the Chairperson
and Members
• The Chairperson and every Member shall, on the
recommendations of the Selection Committee, be
appointed by the President by warrant under his hand
and seal and hold office as such for a term of five years
or until he attains 70 years of age (whichever is earlier).
WHAT ARE THE JURISDICTIONS AND POWERS OF
LOKPAL?
• Lokpal have jurisdiction to inquire allegations of corruption
against Prime Minister, Ministers, members of Parliament,
officers belonging to Group A, B, C and D and officials of
Central Government.
• The Lokpal on receipt of a complaint, may order
preliminary inquiry against any public servant by its
Inquiry Wing or any agency including the Delhi Special
Police Establishment.
• Lokpal shall refer complaints of corruption against public
servants to Central Vigilance Commission and the CVC
after making preliminary enquiry –
20
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
 In respect of public servants belonging to Group A and
Group B - shall submit its report to the Lokpal.
 In case of public servants belonging to Group C and
Group D - the Commission shall proceed in accordance
with the provisions of the Central Vigilance Commission
Act, 2003.
• Lokpal can also inquire against any society or trust or body
that receives foreign contribution above Rs.10 lakhs.
• Lokpal Act creates Special Courts to hear and decide the
cases arising out of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
or under the Lokpal Act involving public servants.
• The Special Courts shall ensure completion of each trial
within a period of one year from the date of filing of the
case in the Court.
PROBE AGAINST PRIME MINISTER
The Lokpal cannot inquire into any corruption charge against
the Prime Minister if the allegations are related to
international relations, external and internal security, public
order, atomic energy and space unless a full Bench of the
Lokpal, consisting of all members, considers the initiation of a
probe necessary and is approved by at least two-thirds of the
members of Lokpal. Such a hearing should be held privately
and if the complaint is dismissed, the records shall not be
published or made available to anyone.
CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION
►Delay in Appointment
• For more than five years, the chairperson and members of
the Lokpal were not appointed as the government claimed
lack of Leader of Opposition in the Parliament
• Supreme Court Judgment in April, 2018 instructed the
government to appoint Lokpal and its members and said
that even without recognised Leader of Opposition, Lokpal
and its members can be appointed.
• Accordingly, after much deliberation, government
appointed Mr. Pinaki Chandra Ghosh as India’s first
Lokpal in March 2019. Thus, it took almost five years to
appoint Lokpal at the centre to handle cases of corruption
against public officials.
►No member from Opposition in Selection Committee
• While appointing Chairperson and Members of Lokpal, the
government invited the opposition as “special invitee” and
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
not as Leader of Opposition or Leader of Single Largest
Party.
• So, the selection committee remained very much politically
biased towards a single political party due to lack of
representation from the opposition.
• The unilateral selection may make the Chairperson and
Members of Lokpal go soft on officials who are close to the
ruling party on cases of corruption.
• This also puts pressure on other members of Lokpal on
cases of corruption involving high officials considered
close to the ruling majority.
►Lack of Rules or Regulations for proper functioning
• Even after one year of appointment of Lokayukta and
Members of Lokpal, central government has not framed
rules for its regular functioning including providing form
filing complaints.
• The Central government has also failed to formulate rules
regarding asset disclosure by public servants. Further, no
regulations have been made specifying the manner and
procedure of conducting preliminary inquiry and
investigation. Yet the government claims that till
September 30, 2019, it disposed of 1000 cases out of 1065
cases. This claim of the government appears fabricated
and can be challenged in a Court of law.
• The government has neither constituted Inquiry and
Corruption Wing of Lokpal nor appointed its Directors as
prescribed in the Lokpal Act.
WAY FORWARD
• Mere appointment of Members of Lokpal and Lokayuktas
will not serve the purpose unless these officers are
empowered with adequate powers to address the issue of
corruption in the society.
• The government must frame rules and regulations to
make the institution function transparently, independently
and authoritatively without any political or external
influence.
• The institution of Lokpal must be made financially and
administratively independent so that it can perform its
functions without being dependent on central authorities.
21
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
POWER OF SPEAKER AND
10th SCHEDULE
# Legislature
IN NEWS
Manipur Forest Minister Th. Shyamkumar fought and won
election on Congress ticket and later defected to join BJP to
become a minister in Manipur in 2017. This led to a case of
anti-defection before the Speaker of Manipur Assembly which
was pending before him since 2017. This led to filing of petition
in Supreme Court (Keisham Meghachandra Singh v. Union of
India) seeking his disqualification under Tenth Schedule. The
Supreme Court has asked the Manipur Speaker to decide the
case of anti-defection within four weeks. If the case is not
decided within four weeks, it will be open for Supreme Court to
decide disqualification of the candidate concerned.
• Speaker/Chairman to be final decider - Paragraph 6(1)
of Tenth Schedule empowers Speaker of Lok Sabha and
Chairman of Rajya Sabha to be the final decider on
question of anti-defection for any member of House of
Parliament.
• Proceedings in Parliament – Paragraph 6(2) of Tenth
Schedule mentions that such proceedings of anti-defection
before the Speaker or Chairman shall be considered as
“proceedings in Parliament” as per Article 122 or 212 of the
Indian Constitution.
• Article 122 - Courts not to inquire into proceedings of
Parliament on the ground of any alleged irregularity of
procedure.
• Article 212 - Courts not to inquire into proceedings of the
Legislature on the ground of any alleged irregularity of
procedure.
• Article 102 – A person shall be disqualified for being a
member of either House of Parliament if he is so
disqualified under the Tenth Schedule.
• Article 191 - A person shall be disqualified for being a
member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council
of State if he is so disqualified under the Tenth Schedule.
IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JUDGMENT
• Decision on Anti-defection operates independently -
The decision of Speaker under Paragraph 6 (1) of Tenth
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Schedule is not the decision of the House, nor is it subject
to the approval by the House and the decision operates
independently from the functioning of the House.
• Immunity only from parliamentary procedure - As per
the Court, the term “proceedings in Parliament” attracts
immunity from mere irregularities of procedures and not
on the final decision of Speaker or Chairman. Thus,
decision of Speaker on anti-defection can be judicially
reviewed and only the procedure followed cannot be
judicially reviewed. However, judicial review cannot be
available at a stage prior to the making of a decision by the
Speaker/Chairman.
• Speaker/Chairman Quasi-Judicial Authority - Speaker or
the Chairman, acting under Paragraph 6(1) of the Tenth
Schedule is a Tribunal. Speaker is a quasi-judicial authority
who is required to take a decision within a reasonable
time.
• Judicial Power of Speaker/Chairman - The power to
resolve such disputes vested in the Speaker or Chairman is
a judicial power.
• No Blanket Ban of Judicial Review on Speaker’s
Decision for Disqualification under Tenth Schedule –
Judicial Review to High Court and Supreme Court is
allowed on Speaker’s Decision of disqualification under
tenth schedule on grounds of infirmities based on
violations of constitutional mandates, mala fides, non-
compliance with Rules of Natural Justice and perversity.
• Speaker to decide the case in reasonable time –
Supreme Court quoted Kihoto Hollohan where it held that
Speaker while deciding case of anti-defection must decide
within reasonable time and should not take more than
three months. The Court said that period of three months
has been kept in mind considering life of Lok Sabha and
State Legislative Assemblies which is 5 years. However, the
person who has incurred disqualification does not deserve
to be MPs/MLAs even for a single day (as observed in
Rajendra Singh Rana case).
LIKELY IMPACT OF THIS JUDGMENT
• Similar petitions of disqualifications are pending before
Speaker of Tamil Nadu and Goa Assembly.
• The Supreme Court judgment will force the Speaker of
these legislative assemblies to decide the case of anti-
defection in time bound manner.
22
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
• Speakers generally are not keen to decide such cases as
they belong to same party in power and such rulings on
anti-defection of their ministers might disturb the majority
of ruling party or coalition in the State Legislative
Assemblies.
SUGGESTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS OF SUPREME
COURT
►Likelihood of bias cannot be ruled out
• As per Article 93, Lok Sabha shall choose two members of
the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy
Speaker. The Speaker is a constitutional authority and his
tenure is dependent on the will of the majority. So,
likelihood of suspicion of bias could not be ruled out as
mostly Speaker belongs to the ruling majority.
• Further, there can be an instance where disqualification of
some members of Parliament from the ruling party may
lead to fall in government due fall in number of MP or MLA
from the ruling majority.
►Permanent Tribunal
• The Supreme Court said that Parliament may seriously
consider amending the Constitution to substitute the
Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies as
arbiter of disputes concerning disqualification with a
Permanent Tribunal headed by retired Supreme Court
Judge or retired Chief Justice of High Court or by some
other independent mechanism to decide such cases
impartially.
• Supreme Court observed that Speaker continues to belong
to a particular party and there is inherent bias in their
ruling. So, to remove such bias it is necessary that a
Permanent Tribunal shall hear cases of defection under
Tenth Schedule as it would impart swiftness and
impartiality in decision making thus giving real teeth to the
provisions contained in the Tenth Schedule, which are so
vital in the proper functioning of our democracy.
►Against Natural Justice
• As per principles of Natural Justice, a Judge is disqualified
from determining any case in which he may be fairly
suspected to be biased. Further, justice should not only be
done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to
be done.
• The above underlying principles were adopted by
Constitution makers in not designating Speaker the
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authority to settle election disputes and opted for an
independent authority (Election Commission) outside the
Parliament. On similar lines, the removal of Judge of
Supreme Court and High Courts lies outside the judicial
world in the Parliament.
• Accordingly, the power to decide anti-defection must lie in
an outside authority than the Parliament itself like a
Permanent Tribunal.
►Other Areas where Speaker acts as an Arbiter
• While facilitating the business of the House and to
maintain decorum in the House, the Speaker has
‘extensive functions to perform in matters regulatory,
administrative and judicial, falling under her domain.
• Speaker is the ‘ultimate interpreter and arbiter of those
provisions which relate to the functioning of the House.
Her decisions are final and binding and ordinarily cannot
be easily challenged.
• Speaker decides the course and duration of debates
through various motions.
• Speaker can discipline members and even override
decisions by committees.
SUGGESTIONS
• Speaker of Lok Sabha shall renounce all political affiliation
once chosen as Speaker of Lok Sabha.
• Must follow neutrality even in cases of defection of
members from the same political party to whom they
belong.
• Parliament can transfer power of disqualifications to other
constitutional authorities.
 Parliament can constitute a Permanent Tribunal to deal
with such cases of anti-defection.
 Such Permanent Tribunal should have retired Judges of
Supreme Court
22nd LAW COMMISSION
# Commission
IN NEWS
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to set up 22nd Law
Commission of India for a period of three years from the date
23
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
of publication of the Order of Constitution in the Official
Gazette.
HOW DOES LAW COMMISSION BENEFIT THE
GOVERNMENT?
• The Government benefits from the recommendations of
Law Commission on important legal aspects and issues
concerning society, citizens and state at large.
• Thus, Law Commission can:
 identify laws which are no longer needed or relevant and
can be immediately repealed
 examine the existing laws in the light of Directive Principles
of State Policy and suggest ways of improvement and
reform and also suggest such legislations as might be
necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to
attain the objectives set out in the Preamble of the
Constitution.
 Consider and convey to the Government its views on any
subject relating to law and judicial administration that may
be specifically referred to it by the Government through
Ministry of Law and Justice.
 Consider the requests for providing research to any
foreign countries as may be referred to it by the
Government through Ministry of Law and Justice.
 Take all such measures as may be necessary to harness
law and the legal process in the service of the poor;
 Revise the Central Acts of general importance so as to
simplify them and remove anomalies, ambiguities and
inequities.
• Before finalizing its recommendations, the Commission
will consult the nodal Ministry/ Department (s) and such
other stakeholders as the Commission may deem
necessary for the purpose.
nd
ABOUT 22 LAW COMMISSION
• The 22nd Law Commission will be constituted for a period
of three years from the date of publication of its Order in
the Official Gazette. It will consist of:
 A full-time Chairperson
 Four full-time Members (including Member-Secretary)
 Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex-officio
Member;
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 Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member;
and
 not more than five part-time Members.
MORE ON LAW COMMISSION
• Constitution of India does not provide for creation of Law
Commission of India – hence, not a constitutional body.
• Constitution of Law Commission is not carried through any
fixed legislation – hence, non-statutory.
• It is constituted through a government order – hence,
created through an executive order.
• The Reports of the Law Commission are considered by the
Ministry of Law in consultation with the concerned
administrative Ministries and are submitted to Parliament
from time to time.
• The reports of Law Commission are cited in Courts, in
academic and public discourses and are acted upon by
concerned Government Departments depending on the
Government's recommendations.
• After independence, the first law commission was
constituted for a period of three years from 1955-1958
under the Chairmanship of Mr. M. C. Setalvad.
RECOMMENDED SUGGESTIONS
• As of now, the law commission is neither a permanent
body nor a statutory body.
• In 2015, a proposal was mooted to make the law panel
into a permanent body either through an Act of
Parliament or an executive order (resolution of the
Union Cabinet).
• However, the move was shelved after the Prime Minister’s
Office felt that the present way of constituting the Law
Commission should continue.
• Even in 2010, the then UPA government also had prepared
a draft Cabinet note to give statutory status to the Law
Commission and in this regard, the Law Ministry had
mooted to bring the Law Commission of India Bill, 2010.
But the idea was shelved.
• Thus, considering the important nature of work,
government must consider making Law Commission a
statutory body.
24
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
EXECUTIVE DOMINANCE
IN TRIBUNALS IN INDIA
# Judiciary # Tribunals
IN NEWS
Supreme Court in the case of Rojer Mathew vs South Indian
Bank and Others declared The Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal and
other Authorities (Qualification, Experience and other
Conditions of Service of Members) Rules, 2017 as
unconstitutional for being violative of principles of
independence of judiciary. This article highlights that the new
rules framed by Ministry of Finance suffers from the same
problem of executive interference in appointments of
members in Tribunals.
ROJER MATHEW VS SOUTH INDIAN BANK AND
OTHERS – NOVEMBER, 2019
• The Supreme Court in November, 2019 upheld the
constitutional validity of Section 184 of the Finance Act
2017, which empowers the Central Government to frame
rules relating to appointment and service conditions of
members of various tribunals.
• However, the Supreme Court struck down the Rules
already framed by the Central Government under
Section 184, and directed the formulation of new rules.
• Accordingly, the Finance Ministry notified - 'Tribunal,
Appellate Tribunal and other Authorities (Qualifications,
Experience and other Conditions of Service of Members)
Rules, 2020.
WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS IN 2017 RULES FOR
APPOINTING MEMBERS FOR VARIOUS TRIBUNALS?
• With the help of Finance Act 2017, 26 Central laws were
amended and power to prescribe eligibility criteria,
selection process, removal, salaries, tenure and other
service conditions pertaining to members of 19 tribunals
were sub-delegated to the rule-making powers of the
Central government.
• Keeping Judiciary Away - The Supreme Court held that
search-cum-selection-committee to appoint members of
tribunals was an attempt to keep the judiciary away (by the
executive) from the process of selection and appointment
of members, vice-chairman and chairman of tribunals.
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• Executive as litigating party - The Court also held that
Executive is a litigating party in most of the cases which
appears before the Tribunal and hence cannot be allowed
to be a dominant participant in tribunal appointments.
• Members of Tribunals mostly from Central
Government - The Court observed that apart from
National Company Law Tribunal (NCLAT), the selection
committee for all other tribunals was made up either
entirely from personnel within or nominated by the
Central government or comprised a majority of personnel
from the Central government.
• Most Selection Committee having only one Judge -
While the selection committee for NCLAT consisted of two
judges and two secretaries to the Government of India, all
other selection committees comprised only one judge and
three secretaries to the Government of India.
• Single Judge even as per 2020 Rules - Now the 2020
Rules of Finance Ministry provides for uniformity whereby
all committees shall consist of Judge and two Secretaries to
the Government of India.
MADRAS BAR ASSOCIATION SERIES CASE –
INDEPENDENCE OF TRIBUNAL
• Constitution Bench dealing with the validity and
appointment of members to the National Company Law
Tribunal (NCLT) under the Companies Act, 1956, held that
the selection committee should comprise:
 Chief Justice of India or his nominee (as chairperson, with a
casting vote),
 A senior Judge of the Supreme Court or Chief Justice of the
High Court, and
 Two Secretaries in the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of
Law and Justice respectively.
• Subsequent Constitution Bench decisions in Madras Bar
Association (2014), Rojer Mathew (2019) and the decision
of the Madras High Court in Shamnad Basheer have
repeatedly held that principles of the Madras Bar
Association (2010) are applicable to the selection
process and constitution of all tribunals in India.
THE PROBLEM WITH 2020 RULES FOR TRIBUNALS
• Denial of Equality - The judiciary does not have an equal
say as there is only one judicial member and two executive
members.
• To deny executive an upper hand in appointments of
members of tribunals, The Court in Madras Bar
25
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
Association series case (2010) ordered to have two
judges of the Supreme Court to be a part of the four-
member selection committee.
• Executive Dominance – Earlier, the Search-cum-Selection
Committees for Tribunals were dominated by bureaucrats
and nominees of Central Government, with a nominal
representation to the Chief Justice of India. The Court
observed that lack of judicial dominance in the Search-
cum-Selection Committee is in direct contravention of the
doctrine of separation of powers and is an encroachment
on the judicial domain.
• Example - Central Administrative Tribunal – Let us
understand this through an example. As per the 2017
Rules, the Search Cum Selection Committee for the
appointment of judicial member of CAT comprised five
persons:
1. CJI or CJI's nominee – Chairperson
2. CAT Chairperson - Member.
3. Secretary to the Government of India, Dept of Personnel
and Training.
4. Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Law and
Justice
5. One expert nominated by the Central Government.
(One Judicial Member and 4 Member appointed by Central
Government)
• After 2020 Rules, except for the omission of the expert
nominee, nothing has changed with respect to the
composition of the Search cum Selection Committee for
CAT. The new composition is as follows:
1. CJI or CJI's nominee.
2. CAT Chairperson.
3. Secretary to the Government of India, Dept of Personnel
and Training.
4. Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Law and
Justice.
(One Judicial Member and 3 Member appointed by Central
Government)
• This 4-member composition pattern can be found in the
Search cum Selection Committees for other Tribunals as
well.
• Non-Judicial Member can become President Chairman
or Chairperson - This makes Supreme Court Judge a
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
minority in selection committee as even members are
from executive branch of the government.
• This article argues that 2020 Rule is again against Supreme
Court’s Judgment in Madras Bar Association case series.
The Court explicitly held that only judges and advocates
can be considered for appointment as judicial member of
the tribunal and persons from the Indian Legal Service
cannot be considered for appointment as judicial member.
• In 2019 in Revenue Bar Association case, Madras High
Court, while dealing with selection and composition of the
Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT),
declared Section 110(1)(b)(iii) of the CGST Act, 2017 as
unconstitutional for allowing members of Indian Legal
Service to be judicial members in GSTAT.
• Term of Office for 4 years as per 2020 Rules violates
Supreme Court Judgment - In Madras Bar Association
(2010), the Court had held that the term of office “shall be
changed to a term of seven or five years”. Based on this, in
Rojer Mathew, the Court held that the term of three years
is too short, and by the time members achieve a refined
knowledge, expertise and efficiency, one term will be over.
So, this article argues that term of office must be increased
to 5 or 7 years.
• Divesting Court of their powers by constituting more
Tribunals – as more tribunals then can be filled with civil
servants who will function then as the limbs of the
government.
• Eliminating Advocates to be appointed as Judicial
Members - Advocates can be appointed as Judicial
Member only if they have more than 25 years of
experience. The article highlights that such an experience
for appointment is unheard of and it is not even for High
Court Judges (which is 10 years) and this amounts to a
sinister plan to keep judicial members out of preview for
Tribunals. By eliminating chances of bright advocates
applying for the post of judicial members, the government
surely intends to fill them with candidates from the Indian
Legal Service.
WAY FORWARD
• Central Government must follow Supreme Court
Judgments in Roger Mathews and Madras Bar Association
series and should accordingly provide equality of space to
judicial members in search-cum-selection committee and
in composition of various Tribunals.
• Central Government must consider allowing Senior
Advocates of Supreme Court to be appointed in search-
26
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
cum-selection committee as well as judicial members of
Tribunals.
• Since government is a litigating party in most cases, hence
executive dominance must be reduced in Tribunals in
India.
• Specialisation of subjects must be considered as an
important criterion for appointment of members from
executive as members of respective Tribunal as expert
knowledge is necessary to solve critical and technical
issues pertaining to a specific field.
THE JAMMU & KASHMIR
PUBLIC SAFETY ACT, 1978
# Legislation
IN NEWS
After abrogating Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which
provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Union
Government invoked J&K Public Safety Act, 1978 against
prominent political leaders of the state.
ABOUT JAMMU & KASHMIR PUBLIC SAFETY ACT,
1978
• The Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 is a
preventive detention law and constitutional protection
provided under Article 22 shall not apply to those
charged under PSA.
• Detention orders under the Act can be passed by
Divisional Commissioners or District Magistrate if they are
satisfied that any person
 May hamper or obstruct security of the state;
 Disturb the maintenance of Public Order;
 To prevent instances of smuggling or helping to smuggle
timber or liquor in the state;
 Is a foreigner within the meaning of the Foreigners Act?
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A PERSON IS CHARGED
UNDER PSA?
• The DM communicates to the person within five to ten
days in writing the reason for the detention and this
becomes the only formal communication.
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• This communication is important because it is on the basis
of it that the detained person gets an opportunity of
making legal representation against the order in High
Courts or Supreme Court under Article 226 and 32
respectively.
• However, the DM also has the discretion not to disclose all
the facts pertaining to detention, if according to the officer
such facts are against “public interest”.
• The District Magistrate can call the person charged under
PSA to record his statement but legal representation
through a lawyer is not allowed.
REFERRING OF CASE TO ADVISORY BOARD
• The DM has to place the detention order within four
weeks before an Advisory Board including representation
if any made by the person detained under PSA.
• The Advisory Board may call the person charged under
PSA for personal representation to record his/her
statement. However, legal representation by another
lawyer before Advisory Board is not allowed.
• Within Six Weeks from the date of detention, the Advisory
Board shall submit its report to the government, which will
determine if the detention is in public interest.
• This report is binding on the government. (Earlier, prior to
amendment in 2012, this period was 8 weeks)
DECISION OF ADVISORY BOARD
• The Board may either allow for further detention or allow
for release of the person concerned whereby the
Government shall revoke the detention order.
• In case, the Advisory Board calls for further detention, the
state government can detain for a maximum of
 2 years – if accused was detained to obstruct Security of
the State and
 1 year - if the accused was detained to disturb Public
Order.
• Decisions of the Advisory Board shall be binding on the
State Government.
REPORT ON ABUSE OF PSA BY AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL
• Amnesty International published a report titled “Tyranny of
a Lawless Law: Detention without charge or trial under the J &
K Public Safety Act” in 2016 whereby it mentioned about
abuse of power by state authorities and asked for
27
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
immediate repeal of the Act as it has increased tension
between local citizens and state authorities.
• The Report mentions about “revolving door detentions”
whereby even if a person was released on bail, state
authorities invoke fresh charges under PSA or file new
cases under PSA denying freedom to such person. Thus,
the detainee can be continuously kept in detention by the
state despite getting bail on certain occasions.
WAY FORWARD
• The government should think towards making certain
changes in PSA making it less draconian and providing for
human rights of the accused.
• Right of Legal Representation through a lawyer of
detainee’s choice must be provided in PSA.
• Once, bail application is approved by the High Court or
Supreme Court, then new charges under PSA shall not be
invoked on the same person again by state authorities.
This will also help to beat the concept of revolving door
detention system.
• It must be ensured that parallel proceedings are not
initiated under PSA and regular criminal proceedings. The
law must ensure that if charges have been framed under
PSA, then regular criminal charges must be either
withdrawn or transferred under PSA.
• It must be ensured that if writ petition is accepted by High
Court or Supreme Court against detention of a person
under PSA, such writ petition must be entertained within a
period of 15 days. This will expedite the legal process
providing for bail.
SC - RESERVATION IN JOBS
& PROMOTION NOT A
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT
# Rights
IN NEWS
Reservation in promotion in public posts cannot be claimed as
a fundamental right as per the recent Supreme Court
judgment under Article 16(4) and Article 16(4A).
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• Article 16 (4) - State can provide reservation of
appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of
citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not
adequately represented in the services under the State.
• Article 16 (4A) (Added by Constitution 77
th
Amendment) -
State can make provisions for reservation in matters of
promotion, with consequential seniority, to any class or
classes of posts in the services under the State in favour of
the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes which, in
the opinion of the State, are not adequately represented in
the services under the State
PRIOR IMPORTANT CASES PERTAINING TO
RESERVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICES
• Matters associated with reservation in promotion was
earlier raised in the important Judgment of M. Nagraj v
Union of India and in Jarnail Singh v Lachhmi Narain
Gupta. Let us understand briefly about these two
judgments to have a better understanding of the present
judgment.
• M. Nagraj v Union of India –
th
 Constitutional validity of 77 Amendment was challenged
which provided for reservation in promotion along with
other amendments on backlog vacancies in reservation.
 The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of
th
77 Amendment and said these were mere enabling
provisions.
 The Court held that if state government wishes to make
provisions for reservation to SC/STs in promotion, the state
has to collect quantifiable data showing backwardness of the
class and inadequacy of representation of that class and
maintenance of efficiency.
 The Court allowed reservations in promotion for
members of SC/ST subject to proving three conditions:
 Backwardness of class – so there is a need for quantifiable
data to prove backwardness;
 Inadequacy of representation;
 Administrative Efficiency – Article 335.
• Jarnail Singh v Lachhmi Narain Gupta
 The decision of M. Nagraj was challenged but the court did
not consider necessary to revisit the judgment of M.
Nagraj by a larger bench.
28
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance

AADHAAR HAS NOT

 The Court held that States need not collect quantifiable
data on the backwardness of SCs and STs in granting

REDUCED PDS LEAKAGES

quota in promotions. However, the states will have to
provide quantifiable data to prove inadequate
representation of SC and ST in the cadre.

• Present Case - The issues considered by the Supreme

IN JHARKHAND
Court were: # Biometrics #Implementation
1. Whether the State Government is bound to make
reservations in public posts?
IN NEWS
2. Whether decision of the state to provide or not provide
reservation shall be based only on quantifiable data An empirical research conducted by National Bureau of

relating to adequacy of representation of persons Economic Research (NBER) in research paper Identity

belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes? Verification Standards in Welfare Programs: Experimental
Evidence from India has found that Aadhaar-based biometric
3. Can the state refuse to collect quantifiable data regarding
authentication has not helped in reducing PDS leakages in
the adequacy or inadequacy of representation of the
Jharkhand. The experiment was conducted through
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in public services?
Randomised Control Trials (RTC) across 15 million
JUDGMENT OF SUPREME COURT beneficiaries. Let us understand how the rationale to use
Article 16 (4) and 16 (4A) empowers the State to make Aadhaar contradicts with this field study conducted in
reservation in matters of appointment and promotion in Jharkhand.
favour of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes 'if in the RATIONALE TO INTRODUCE AADHAAR
opinion of the State they are not adequately represented in
• Aadhaar was conceived to ensure better
the services of the State'.
inclusion, improve delivery of government services and
1. Article 16 (4) and 16 (4A) are in the nature of enabling reduce fraud and corruption through a single digital
provisions and accordingly State has discretion either to identity card having biometric and demographic
provide reservation in public services under Article 16(4) or information.
reservation in promotions under Article 16(4A) or not to
• Apart from the above, Aadhaar also facilitated direct
provide such reservations.
benefit transfer for various welfare schemes of the
2. If the states wish to provide reservation in promotion, then government including Public Distribution System (PDS)
the State has to collect quantifiable data showing under National Food Security Act, MGNREGA, LPG
inadequacy of representation of that class in public subsidies as well as other subsidies, services and benefits.
services.
• Accordingly, the government enacted The Aadhaar
3. Even if under-representation of Scheduled Castes and (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies,
Schedules Tribes in public services is brought to the notice Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
of the Court, the state cannot be directed to provide such
• The Act aimed to provide efficient, transparent and
reservations under writ of Mandamus.
targeted delivery of subsidies, benefits and services to
4. Supreme Court effectively held that State Government is individuals residing in India through assigning of unique
not bound to make reservations and citizens cannot claim identity numbers to such individuals.
reservation in public services under Article 16(4) and
• It was estimated that government spends nearly 3 trillion
reservation in promotion under Article 16(4A) as
rupees in various welfare programmes as well as
Fundamental Right.
subsidies. Of the these, roughly 30-40% was lost in
leakages which were largely due to ‘ghost’ and ‘duplicate’
beneficiaries using fake identities to avail these benefits.

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 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
• So, it was assumed that a unique identity based biometric
scheme can eliminate these leakages and vastly improve
efficiency in welfare delivery.
• To make Aadhaar for targeted delivery of services, the
name of the Bill was changed to “Targeted Delivery of
Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services’ Bill”,
making it amply clear that Aadhaar’s primary role was to
improve efficiency for targeted delivery of public services.
THE EXPERIMENT
• "Randomised Control Trials (or RCTs)" is an evidence
based approach which is used to identify the best possible
alternative to eliminate poverty.
• Team of researchers conducted a scientifically designed
study of the PDS system in Jharkhand covering 15 million
beneficiaries using the technique of randomised control
trials (RCT).
• As per the study, one set of beneficiaries went through the
Aadhaar-based biometric authentication while the other
group used the old system to procure their ration.
• The results were then compared to see if Aadhaar-based
biometric authentication had any impact in reducing
leakages.
FINDINGS OF THE REPORT
• The study concluded that Aadhaar-based biometric
authentication had no measurable benefit.
• Aadhaar-based biometric authentication did not reduce
leakages due to elimination of ghosts and duplicates, as
widely perceived.
• On the other hand, they found that Aadhaar-based
biometric authentication increased transaction costs for
beneficiaries as much as 17%.
• For example, to claim ration worth Rs. 40, beneficiaries
under Aadhaar had to incur an additional Rs. 7 as they had
to take multiple trips for Aadhaar Authentication and this
also increased opportunity cost for time spent for such
efforts.
• Thus, extra cost incurred was a whopping 17% on the
value of the benefit they were entitled to receive.
• Aadhaar authentication falsely rejected genuine PDS
beneficiaries who were then denied their ration supplies.
• The study finds that nearly 10% of legitimate beneficiaries
were denied their ration either because they did not have
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their Aadhaar linked to their ration card or due to an
exclusion error.
NEED FOR BETTER RESEARCH FOR POLICY MAKING
• The article says that even for GST, no empirical research
was conducted as to how multitude of State taxes were a
drag on inter-State commerce and how coming of GST
would eliminate such practice.
• Three years after GST, the promise of vastly improved
inter-State trade and a two percentage point boost to GDP
seems distant. After coming into effect of GST, it has made
states to depend solely on Centre for majority of tax share.
• Further, another negative aspect of policy making by the
government is that it counts the benefits only in numerical
strength and takes sociological aspects out of the context.
• So, in order to test strength of policy during its
formulation, the government should not only count the
beneficiaries of such policy but should also take into
consideration about its negative impact including how it
affects life and livelihood of citizens of India.
MORE ON RCT
• "Randomised Control Trials (or RCTs)" is an evidence
based approach which is used to identify the best possible
alternative to eliminate poverty.
• The 2019 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded
jointly to Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael
Kremer for their experimental approach (Randomised
Control Trials) for alleviating global poverty.
• For example, such an approach can be used to identify
whether providing a mobile vaccination van or sack of
grains would incentivise the villagers to vaccinate their
kids.
• Under the RCT approach, village households would be
divided into four groups. Group A would be provided with
a mobile vaccination van facility, Group B would be given a
sack of food grains, Group C would get both, and Group D
would get neither.
• Group D is called the “control” group while others are
called “treatment” groups. Such an experiment would not
only show whether a policy initiative works, it would also
show what happens when more than one initiative is
combined. This would help policymakers to have the
evidence before they choose a policy.
30
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance

RAJASTHAN SEEKS 1 National Level National Jal Jeevan Mission

State Water and Sanitation

CHANGES IN NORMS FOR 2 State level
Mission (SWSM)

CENTRAL ASSISTANCE 3 District level

District Water and
Mission (DWSM)
Sanitation

FOR JAL JEEVEN MISSION 4

Gram
Paani Samiti/Village Water &
Sanitation Committee
Panchayat level
# Scheme (VWSC)/User Group

• The fund sharing pattern between Centre and State is

90:10 for Himalayan (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh) and
IN NEWS
North-Eastern States, 100:0 for Union Territories and 50:50
State government of Rajasthan has sought changes in the for rest of the States.
norms for Central assistance for the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in
CONCERNS OF RAJASTHAN
order to reduce financial burden on the states. The flagship
Central scheme at present stipulates the share in 50:50 • Rajasthan, where only 12% households are currently
between Centre and States. getting piped water supply, has formulated new action
plans for implementing JJM by rejuvenating the sources of
BACKGROUND TO JAL JEEVAN MISSION
water to provide connections to about 98 lakh
• The Central Government assistance to States for rural households.
water supply began in 1972 with the launch of
• State of Rajasthan has only 1.01% of the country’s surface
Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme.
water and it becomes difficult to supply drinking water to
• It was renamed as National Rural Drinking Water geographically difficult areas. Accordingly, the state
Programme (NRDWP) in 2009, which was a centrally officials have asked for more help from the Centre to
sponsored scheme with fund sharing between the Centre achieve the targets of JJM.
and the States.
• Officials stated that linking of Brahmani river with the
• Under NRDWP, one of the objectives was to “enable all Bisalpur dam, built on Banas river in Tonk district, would
households to have access to and use safe & adequate ensure inflow of more water, facilitating the water supply
drinking water within premises to the extent possible”. to Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Jaipur and Nagaur
• It was proposed to achieve the goal by 2030, coinciding districts.
with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
But now, it has been planned to achieve the goal by 2024
through Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). AADHAAR LINKED
ABOUT JAL JEEVAN MISSION
• Government of India has restructured and subsumed the
ELECTRONIC VOTING
ongoing National Rural Drinking
Programme(NRDWP) into Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to
Water
SYSTEM
provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to # Electoral Reforms
every rural household i.e., Har Ghar Nal Se Jal (HGNSJ) by
2024.
IN NEWS
• The goal of JJM is to provide functional household tap
connection to every household with service level at the The Election Commission of India and the Indian Institute of
rate of 55 litres per capita per day. Technology – Madras are working in collaboration to develop a
new technology which will enable voters to cast their votes
• The institutional mechanism under JJM are:

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 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
from different cities without going to the designated polling
booths in their constituencies irrespective of where they are
registered to vote. The project is still in research phase and
aims to make a prototype soon to ensure two way electronic
voting possible in India.
HOW WILL THE TECHNOLOGY FUNCTION?
• The technology will enable two-way voting under a
controlled environment by using Blockchain technology.
• Use of one-way electronic voting system during 2019 Lok
Sabha Elections for service voters helped to save
processing time, resources and avoid human errors.
TWO-WAY ELECTRONIC VOTING
Two-way electronic transmission of vote envisages that - a
registered voter from any location in India, once his identity is
proved, will be able to cast his vote electronically through a
secure encrypted system and the same will reach the

• It does not allow voting from home. Rather, to use this designated returning officer for counting.

facility, the voter would have to be present at designated

polling booths at a fixed time.

• The voter identification and authorisation would be done

via Election Registration Officer Network (ERO Net) via
secure biometrics and webcam.

• Upon establishing a voter’s identity, the Blockchain-

enabled system would generate a “Smart Contract”, or a
personalised e-ballot.

• Upon a vote being cast, the Smart Contract will be

considered as “executed” and the vote will be securely
encrypted and a Blockchain hashtag (#) will be generated.
 RELATED INFORMATION: ELECTION REGISTRATION
• After the vote is recorded, this Blockchain node, or
OFFICER NETWORK (ERO NET)
hashtag, will be sent to the candidates and political parties.
• ERO-NET is a Centralized Software for Electoral Roll
• These highly-encrypted remote votes will be validated
Management and Form Processing. The ERONET has been
before counting to ensure they haven’t been tampered
designed and developed keeping in mind the need of
with.
Centralized Form Processing and monitoring the work of
ONE WAY ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED POSTAL all the Officials involved in Form Processing.
BALLOT SYSTEM (ETPBS) • For this purpose, Single Unified Database was created and
• One Way Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System all the existing Electoral Rolls data were migrated to the
(ETPBS) was introduced by Law Ministry after amending single data base from State-Specific databases. This
election rules allowing service voters to get their postal created Unified National Photo Electoral Roll (UNPER).
ballots electronically. • ERO-Net application is available across India, to all citizens
• Service voter are those who have service qualification. of India for enrollment/ corrections/migration from
They include member of Armed Forces of the Union of Electoral Roll.
India, members of Armed Police forces of the States • Citizens can fill up various online forms on National Voters’
serving outside that state and persons employed under Service Portal or by using voter helpline mobile
Government of India on posts outside India. application. The form is processed thereafter in ERONET.
• As per existing arrangements, members of India Army, The applicant also gets periodical alerts and notifications
Navy and Air force, Border Road Organisation, BSF, ITBP, on each activity performed at ERONET.
Assam Rifles, NSG, CRPF, CISF and SSB are eligible to be • ERO-Net also facilitates easy migration from one
registered as service voters. constituency to another by facilitating seamless
• The ETPBS allows them to fill up their ballots and post communication between the EROs of two constituencies. It
them back using normal postal services.

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 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
also helps in preventing De-duplication while including  Sedition - Offences against state also include case of
entries in the E-Roll. sedition (section 124A of IPC)

• It was launched in January 2018.  Promoting enmity between different groups on

grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence.
WHAT ARE THE MEASURES WHICH NEED TO BE
language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance
TAKEN TO FACILITATE TWO WAY ELECTRONIC
of harmony – Section 153A
VOTING?
 Outrage Religious feelings by deliberate and malicious
• The technology is not ready as of now and needs more
acts of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs
stringent testing. Only after the protocol is considered
– Section 295A
fool-proof will stakeholders be consulted.
 Whoever publishes any or circulates any statement,
• Changes in election laws needs to be done to facilitate
rumour or report to cause
two-way electronic voting.
(i) Mutiny - by any officer, soldier, sailor or airman in the
• Laws must allow for linkage of Aadhaar with Voter ID.
Army, Navy or Air Force
(Representation of People Act, 1950)
(ii) Offence against State or Public Peace - fear or alarm to
• The technology must be integrated with Election
the public whereby any person may be induced to commit
Registration Officer Network (ERO Net) to reflect vote
an offence against the State or against the public
casted by person even from remote or distant places.
tranquility

(iii) incite any class or community of persons to commit

SEDITION LAW any offence against any other class or community

• Criminal Conspiracy to commit such offence

# Sedition • Case of Abetment in India of offences outside India - as
is described in section 108A of the Indian Penal Code.

SEDITION AS DEFINED IN INDIAN PENAL CODE

IN NEWS
UNDER SECTION 124A.
The Delhi government has given its sanction for the
Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by
prosecution in the 2016 JNU sedition case for allegedly raising
visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring
anti-India slogans. Let us understand why sanction is
into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite
necessary from central or state government in certain
disaffection towards the Government established by law in,
important cases including sedition.
shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may
Section 196 of Criminal Procedure Code empowers central
be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three
government or state government to grant or withhold
years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.
sanction to prosecute accused charged under certain serious
►Explanations
criminal offences including offences against state and
sedition.  The expression “disaffection” includes disloyalty and all
feelings of enmity.
SECTION 196 OF CR.PC
 Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of
• Court shall not initiate judicial proceedings against a
the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by
person charged for certain crimes unless sanction is given
lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite
by Central or State Government. The crimes for which
hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an
sanction is necessary are:
offence under this section.
 Offences against State – provided in chapter VI of IPC
 Comments expressing disapprobation of the
(Section 121 to 130)
administrative or other action of the Government without
exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or

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 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this
section.
PROCESS
• The law on granting sanction for prosecution imposes a
duty on the government concerned to apply its mind to
the facts of each case and thereby decide a case based on
its understanding and merits rather than giving approval
as mere procedural matter.
• Thus, such approval should not be given as a mere
mechanical process and it must be thought on since such
cases are very serious in nature and concerns public
security and offences against state including sedition.
• In this instance, Delhi Government has approved judicial
proceedings by applying the principle of non-interference
in judicial proceedings.
• The government is required to decide whether there is
enough material to conclude that the speech or slogans
had a tendency to create public disorder or contained
incitement to violence.
• The prior sanction norm is a vital procedural safeguard
against frivolous prosecution such legal safeguards should
not be made a mere procedural necessity for political
compulsions.
 RELATED INFORMATION: OFFENCE AGAINST STATE
– INDIAN PENAL CODE
Section Provisions
121 Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting
waging of war, against the Government of India
121A Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by
section 121
122 Collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war
against the Government of India
123 Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage
war
124 Assaulting President. Governor, etc., with intent to
compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful
power
124A Sedition
125 Waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance
with the Government of India
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
126 Committing depredation on territories of power at
peace with the Government of India
127 Receiving property taken by war or depredation
mentioned in sections 125 and 126
128 Public servant voluntarily allowing prisoner of
State or war to escape
130 Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such
prisoner
RE-REGISTRATION WITH
THE INCOME TAX
DEPARTMENT
# Compliance
IN NEWS
As per the Finance Bill, 2020, more than 2 lakh NGOs,
charitable and religious trusts will have to apply for re-
registration with the Income Tax Department which will look at
past records and work objective of these organisations to
decide instances of tax exemptions.
NEW CHANGE IN TAX LAW HAS RAISED CONCERN
• The whole exercise of re-validation/re-registration
following the recent amendment to I-T laws has raised
concern among both NGOs and the already overburdened
tax officials.
• The amendment in Section 12A and the newly introduced
Section 12AA of Finance Bill, 2020 has done away with
perpetual registrations of charitable organisations and
NGOs with the I-T Department.
• As per the amendment in Finance Bill 2020, from June
2020, all existing registered organisations will need to
apply for fresh registration which will now be renewed
every five years. Charitable and religious institutions will
also have to apply for re-registration.
• As per the Finance Bill, all applications for re-registration
have to be made between June and August this year.
34
 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance

BILL TO INCLUDE MORE

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS CAN BE DENIED
REGISTRATION IF IN VIOLATION OF OTHER LAWS
• As per the proposed amendments, an organisation can be TRIBES IN ST CATEGORIES
denied renewal of registration even for violations under
other laws if such violation of laws is detrimental to the # Bill
objectives of the organisation.

• As per officials, under the proposed amendment, NGOs,

charitable trusts and religious institutions whose FCRA
(Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) licenses have been
cancelled by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be
denied registration.
• Similarly, NGOs that have violated other laws under any
state public trust Act, Registrar of Societies, Prevention of
Money Laundering Act, among others, will not be
approved by the Income Tax Department.
• The department is likely to go through trust deeds of all
institutions applying for re-registrations, nature of their
work, and previous financial records before approving
them.
CREATING NATIONAL REGISTER OF ALL CHARITABLE
IN NEWS
Parliament has passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes)
Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which allows to include ‘Parivara
and Talawara’ and Siddi community people living in Belagavi
and Dharwad district in Scheduled Tribe category in
Karnataka.
• Inclusion of the community within Scheduled Tribe shall
ensure government benefits including reservation in
educational institutions and public services in the State.
• This will help to bring the deprived section of the
community within mainstream of the society.
• This list of Scheduled Tribes for the state of Karnataka was
included as per Article 342 of the Indian Constitution.

INSTITUTIONS Article 342 – The President after consultation with the

Governor of the state by public notification, specify the tribes
• The purpose of re-registration with the IT department is to
or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or
create a national register of all charitable/religious
tribal communities which shall be included in the list of
institutions and weed out inactive and defunct charitable
Scheduled Tribes. Accordingly, Parliament through legislation
institutions. Registration at present is issued and recorded
will either include or exclude list of communities as
locally.
Scheduled Tribes.
• The I-T Department is also planning to issue unique
identification number to these institutions.

practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about Speaker 3. The Speaker shall not preside while a resolution for his
of Lok Sabha: removal from office is under consideration.
1. He shall address his resignation to the Prime Minister. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
2. He may be removed from his office by a resolution of (a) 2 only (b) 1 and 2
the House of the People passed by a majority of all the (c) 3 only (d) None of the above
then members of the House present and voting.

FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS 35

 Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
Q2. Which of the following statements about the office Q4. Consider the following statements about Election
of Lokpal is/are correct? Registration Officer Network (ERO Net):
1. The Chairperson of Lokpal on the recommendation of 1. It is state specific software for electoral roll
Selection Committee shall be appointed by the management and form processing.
President. 2. For ERO Net, central electoral rolls data were migrated
2. The selection committee for appointment of Lokpal to the different data base of states.
shall be chaired by the Prime Minister. 3. It facilitates easy migration from one constituency to
3. Office of Lokpal shall not enquire into allegation of another by facilitating seamless communication
corruption against Prime Minister of India. between the EROs of two constituencies.
Select the correct answer using the code given below: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 2 only

Q3. Which of the following statements about Jal Jeevan Q5. Consider the following statements:
Mission is/are correct? 1. Law Commission of India is constituted after every
1. National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) three years through an Act of Parliament.
was re-structured into Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to 2. Constitution of India does not provide for creation of
provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) Law Commission of India.
to every urban household. 3. Recommendations of Law Commission are binding on
2. For Himalayan states, fund sharing pattern between the state governments.
Centre and State is 50:50. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 only (d) 3 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

descriptive Questions
Q1. Discuss the importance of Lokpal in removing corruption from public offices. Highlight the present challenges in
implementing the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013.

Q2. “The increasing presence of persons with criminal backgrounds impacts quality of democracy.” In light of this statement,
what do you understand by criminalisation of politics and how does it impact Indian democracy. Suggest suitable
measures to reduce criminalisation of politics in India.

Answers to above MCQs: 1 (c), 2 (a), 3 (d), 4(b), 5(c)

FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS 36

 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)
Lead Article
15th FINANCE
COMMISSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
#Public Finance
IN NEWS
The 15th Finance Commission headed by Mr. N.K. Singh has
recently submitted its recommendations. Usually, the Finance
Commission recommendations are valid for a period of 5
years. However, this time, the 15th Finance Commission
recommendations would be valid for a period of 6 years. Now,
the 15th Finance Commission has submitted its first set of
recommendations which will be applicable for the financial
year 2020-21. The next report which would be submitted by
October 30 would be applicable for 2021-26 period. In this
regard, let us understand the need for setting up of Finance
Commission in India and the important recommendations of
15th Finance Commission.
IMBALANCES IN THE FISCAL FEDERALISM
The Fiscal federalism is economic counterpart of Political
Federalism. The Fiscal Federalism essentially consists of 2
aspects:
 Assignment of functions to different levels of
Governments. It is provided under the VII Schedule of the
Indian Constitution by allocating the subjects- Union List,
State List and Concurrent List.
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
 Assignment of financial powers to different levels of
Governments in order to enable them to perform their
functions. (For example- Income tax has been allocated to
Union whereas property tax has been allocated to States)
Further, the Indian constitution provides for the distribution
of executive powers between Union and States. The centre
exercises executive power for the subjects placed under the
Union List whereas the state exercises executive power for
the subjects placed under both state list and concurrent list.
For example, Education is under concurrent list which
enables both Parliament and State Legislature to make laws
related to Education. However, it is the ultimate responsibility
of the State Governments to implement laws related to
Education.
Further, the subjects such as Agriculture, Public Order, Health
etc. which are integral to inclusive growth are required to be
taken care of by state Government.
NEED FOR THE FINANCE COMMISSION UNDER
ARTICLE 280
• It can be seen that the financial powers allocated to the
states is not commensurate with the functions allocated to
them. This leads to vertical imbalances in the finances of
the Union and States.
• Similarly, there are differences in the financial capacity of
the individual state governments which arises due to
different levels of development. This can be considered to
be horizontal imbalances among the different states in
India.
• Accordingly, Article 280 mandates setting up of a Finance
Commission every 5 years or at such earlier time as the
President of India considers necessary.
• The Finance Commission has been envisaged in order to
address the vertical and horizontal imbalances in the
finances. The Finance Commission provides for a transfer
37
 Economic Development

of finances from the centre to the states (Vertical mean that a particular state is richer and hence it would it
Devolution of taxes). It also provides for allocation of would get lesser share of taxes.
the states' share of taxes among the states in India • Population: Earlier, the 15th Finance Commission has
(Horizontal Devolution of taxes). asked to explore the possibility of using the Population of
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS OF 15TH FINANCE 2011 census instead of 1971 census for the devolution of
COMMISSION taxes. However, this was opposed by the Southern states.
These states have taken substantial efforts to reduce the
Vertical Devolution of Taxes: The share of states in the
Population growth rates by undertaking the Family
centre’s taxes is recommended to be decreased from 42%
planning programmes since 1970s. So, naturally, if the
during the 2015-20 period to 41% for 2020-21. The 1%
criteria of 2011 census were to be used, this would lead to
decrease is to provide for the newly formed union territories
loss in the share of their taxes.
of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh from the resources of the
central government. Here, the Finance Commission has done a fine balancing
between the directions issued by the centre and concerns
CRITERIA FOR THE HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION OF
raised by the Southern states.
TAXES AMONG THE STATES:
It has used the Population of 2011 census and done away
Criteria
th
14 Finance
th
15 Finance with the Population of 1971 census. However, keeping in
Commission Commission mind, the concerns raised by the Southern states, it has
introduced the new criteria of Demographic
Income Distance 50 45 performance. The Demographic performance indicator
looks at the Fertility rate in a state. If the fertility rate in a
Population (1971 17.5 Not Considered particular state is lower, it would mean that such a state
Census) has taken substantial efforts to reduce its population
growth rate and accordingly it would get a higher share.
Population (2011 10 15
Since, the fertility rate in the southern states is much
census)
lower, the introduction of such an indicator is likely to
reduce the impact caused by using the criteria of 2011
Demographic Not Considered 12.5
Performance census instead of 1971 census.
• Forest and ecology: This criterion has been arrived at by
Forest Cover 7.5 Not Considered calculating the share of dense forest of each state in the
aggregate dense forest of all the states.
Forest and Ecology Not Considered 10
• Tax effort: This criterion has been used to reward states

Area 15 15 with higher tax collection efficiency. It has been computed

as the ratio of the average per capita own tax revenue and
Tax Effort Not considered 2.5 the average per capita state GDP during the three-year
period between 2014-15 and 2016-17.
Total 100 100 GRANTS-IN-AID
th The Terms of Reference of the Finance Commission require it
ANALYSIS OF THE CRITERIA USED BY THE 15
FINANCE COMMISSION to recommend grants-in-aid to the States. These grants
include: (i) revenue deficit grants, (ii) grants to local bodies,
• Income Distance: The Income distance criteria is the
and (iii) disaster management grants.
difference between per-capita income of a particular
state and state with the highest per-capita income. If • Revenue Deficit Grants: In spite of the devolution of
the income distance is larger, it would mean that a taxes from Centre, some of the states may not able to fund
particular state is poorer and hence it would get higher their revenue expenditure requirements on their own
share of taxes. If the income distance is smaller, it would through their Revenue receipts. Hence, in order to meet
requirements of such states, the Finance Commission
provides for Revenue deficit grants. These grants are

FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS 38

 Economic Development
usually assigned in order to cover the gap between the
Revenue expenditure and Revenue Receipts of the states.
The 15th Finance Commission has estimated that 14 states
would face revenue deficit post-devolution. To make up for
this deficit, the Commission has recommended revenue
deficit grants worth Rs 74,000 crore to these 14 states.
• Grants to local bodies: The total grants to local bodies for
2020-21 has been fixed at Rs 90,000 crore. This allocation
is 4.31% of the divisible pool. This is an increase over the
grants for local bodies in 2019-20, which amounted to
3.54% of the divisible pool. The grants will be divided
between states based on population and area in the ratio
90:10. The grants will be made available to all three tiers of
Panchayat- village, block, and district.
AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED SECTOR
CROP INSURANCE
SCHEME “PMFBY”
#Agriculture
IN NEWS
Recently, the Union cabinet has decided to make some
fundamental changes in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima
Yojana (PMFBY) in order to address the challenges in its
implementation. Let us understand as to what changes have
been introduced and how these recent changes would impact
the implementation of the scheme.
DETAILS ABOUT PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA
YOJANA (PMFBY)
• What it does? It provides insurance coverage and financial
support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the
notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests &
diseases.
• Premium: The Premium to be paid by Farmers: Kharif
Crops: 2%, Rabi Crops: 1.5%, Commercial and Horticultural
Crops: 5%. The balance premium will be paid by the
Government to provide full insured amount to the farmers
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• Sector-specific grants: The Commission has
recommended a grant of Rs 7,375 crore for nutrition in
2020-21. Sector-specific grants for the sectors will be
provided in the final report.
• Disaster risk management: The Commission
recommended setting up National and State Disaster
Management Funds (NDMF and SDMF) for the promotion
of local-level mitigation activities.
• Special grants: In case of three states, the sum of
devolution and revenue deficit grants is estimated to
decline in 2020-21 as compared to 2019-20. These states
are Karnataka, Mizoram, and Telangana. The Commission
has recommended special grants to these states.
against crop loss on account of natural calamities. The
subsidy is divided equally between the State and Central
government. Please note that presently there is no limit
on the premium to be paid by Centre and states.
• For example, if the total insurance cover for Kharif Crop is
Rs 1 lakh and the premium is 40% (Rs 40,000). Then the
farmer would contribute 2% (Rs 2000). The remaining
premium of 38% (Rs 38,000) would be shared by centre
and state equally wherein both of them would contribute
Rs 19,000 each.
• Coverage: The scheme covers loanee farmers (those who
have availed of institutional loans), non-loanee farmers
(those who avail of insurance cover on a voluntary basis),
sharecroppers and tenant farmers (those who farm on
rented land). Presently, PMFBY is compulsory for loanee
farmers.
CHANGES INTRODUCED BY THE UNION CABINET
• Limit on the Centre's Premium: The Union Cabinet has
decided to put a limit on the premium to be paid by the
centre. As per the revised guidelines, the Centre would
contribute the premium amount provided the premium is
up to 30% for unirrigated areas/crops and 25% for
irrigated areas/crops. If the premium is above the
threshold, then the centre would not provide the
additional premium amount. So, in that case, the
additional premium amount would be borne by the
respective state government.
39
 Economic Development

Note: Districts having 50% or more irrigated area will be Let us understand the changes by taking help of some
considered as irrigated area/district examples.

SCENARIO EXISTING GUIDELINES REVISED GUIDELINES

% OF CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT OF % OF CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT OF

CONTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTION

Kharif Crop Farmers: 2% Farmers: Rs 2000 Farmers: 2% Farmers: Rs 2000

(Irrigated) Total Govt: (40-2)= 38% Centre: Rs 19,000 Govt: (40-2)=38% Centre: Rs 11, 500
Insurance Cover: Rs 1 Centre: (38/2) = 19% State: Rs 19,000 Centre: (25-2)= 23/2= 11.5% State: Rs 26, 500
lakh State: (38/2) = 19% State: (38-11.5)= 26.5%
Premium: 40% (Rs
40,000) No limit on contribution Limit on contribution by
by centre and state. Centre. Centre would
Both make equal contribute its half only when
contribution after premium is up to 25% in
deducting the farmers’ irrigated areas
share.

Rabi Crop Farmers: 1.5% Farmers: Rs 1,500 Farmers: 1.5% Farmers: Rs 1,500
( Unirrigated) Total Govt: (50-1.5)= Centre: Rs 24, 250 Govt: (50-1.5)= 48.5% Centre: Rs 14, 250
Insurance Cover: Rs 1 48.5% State: Rs 24,250 Centre: (30-1.5)= 28.5/2= State: Rs 34, 250
lakh Centre: (48.5/2)= 24.25% 14.25%
Premium: 50% ( Rs State: ( 48.5/2)= 24.25% State: (48.5-14.25)=34.25%
50,000) Centre would contribute its
half only when premium is
up to 30% in unirrigated
areas.

• Voluntary enrolment of farmers: Earlier, the scheme was
mandatory for the loanee farmers i.e. who avail
institutional loans from the Banks, while non-loanee
farmers had the option to either enrol or opt out of the
scheme. The recent changes have made the enrolment
under the scheme voluntary even for the loanee farmers.
• Higher share of centre's contribution in North-Eastern
States: Presently, the centre and state make equal
contribution (50:50) in all the states (including NE States)
under the scheme. As per revised guidelines, in case of NE
states, the centre would enhance its contribution to 90%
and remaining 10% contribution would have to be made
by NE State.
• Separate scheme for the water stressed districts: As
per the revised guidelines, the Government has stated that
it would work out a new insurance scheme for the benefit
of farmers in 151 water stressed districts of India.
• Alternative Risk Mitigation Programme: The revised
guidelines state that the Government would prepare state
specific, alternative risk mitigation programme in the areas
which have higher insurance premium rates.
• Timely payment of Insurance premium by States:
Presently, there is considerable delay in the payment of
insurance claims by the insurance companies to the
farmers. This is primarily on account of delay in the
payment of premium by the state government to
Insurance companies.
• Hence, in order to address this problem, the revised
guidelines seek to ensure timely payment of premium by
the concerned state governments. As per the new
changes, States would not to be allowed to implement the

FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS 40

 Economic Development

Scheme in subsequent Seasons in case of considerable the insurance companies. For instance, In UP alone, during
delay in payment of premium in previous season. the 2018-19 rabi season, as against a gross premium of
around Rs 700 crore paid to the insurance companies, the
DECODING THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE REVISED
compensation to farmers amounted to a paltry Rs 20
GUIDELINES
crore.
►Why limit has been imposed on the Centre's contribution?
• Grievances of the loanee farmers: Presently, the share
• Higher losses for the Government: There has been of insurance premium to be paid by the loanee farmers is
widespread criticism that it is the insurance companies deducted from the loan amount given to them. This has
which have been able to get most of the benefit under the led to opposition by some of the loanee farmers, who may
scheme due to higher premiums. In recent years, the not be interested to take insurance coverage due to lower
insurance premium in some of the districts has increased probability of crop loss. Further, in order to exclude
to more than 30%. This leads to higher contribution from themselves from the PMFBY scheme, some of the farmers
the centre and states. Thus, by capping its contribution to have availed loans under KCC scheme, even though the
the premium, the centre seeks to send across the signal to rates of interest is much higher.
the insurance companies to reduce the premium rates.
IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW CHANGES
• Uniform premium rates for irrigated and unirrigated
• Higher Subsidy burden on the States: Since the centre
areas: Presently, there is no clear cut differentiation in the
has put a limit on its contribution of Insurance premium,
premium rates for the irrigated and unirrigated areas.
the state governments would be required to bear the
Usually, the risk of cultivation in the irrigated areas is much
additional burden. Presently, most of the states have been
lower and accordingly, such areas should have lower
delaying their contribution under the scheme and hence
premium rates. Accordingly, the latest changes provide for
going forward, the capping on the premium by the centre
lower premium in the irrigated areas as compared to
is considered to be huge setback for the success of the
unirrigated areas.
scheme.
• Disincentivise farmers from cultivating high risk crops:
• Increase in the insurance premium: The move to done
The premium for the cultivation for high risk crops is
away with the compulsory enrolment of loanee farmers
usually much higher. Accordingly, by capping its
would lead to decrease in the area as well as the number
contribution, the centre seeks to disincentivise the farmers
of farmers covered under the scheme. This is expected to
from the cultivation of such crops in a particular area.
lead to increase in the insurance premium under the
► Why the need for voluntary enrolment of farmers? scheme.
• Need to enhance awareness about the Insurance
among the farmers: Presently, the share of non-loanee
farmers covered under PMFBY is much lower as compared
to loanee farmers. This is attributed to the fact that the
FARMER PRODUCER
insurance companies do not take additional steps to
ensure higher enrolment of non-loanee farmers as the ORGANISATIONS (FPOs)
loanee farmers are automatically enrolled in the PMFBY.
This has led to poor awareness level among the non-
#Agriculture
loanee farmers about the benefits of insurance coverage.
From now on, the Insurance companies would have to
make their own efforts to enhance awareness levels IN NEWS
among the farmers and design policies to match the needs
of the farmers so as to expand their clients. The Indian agriculture is dominated by small and marginal
farmers who account for almost 86% of the farming
• Windfall gains for the Insurance Companies: Presently,
community. These small and marginal farmers are at great
the insurance companies have been able to make huge
disadvantage as compared to large farmers with respect to
amount of profits by covering loanee farmers in low risk
access to inputs and marketing of their agricultural produce.
agriculture rich states such as Punjab and UP. In spite of
The Banks are usually reluctant to give loans to small and
low risk involved, the centre and states are required to
marginal farmers due to their small land holdings. The
make equal contribution to the premium for the benefit of
loanee farmers in such states leading to huge profits for efficiency of the smaller agricultural lands also tends to be

FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS 41

 Economic Development
lower. These farmers also have lower marketable surplus and
hence are usually exploited by the middlemen and
intermediaries in the APMCs. These multi-faceted problems
faced by the farmers can be solved by organizing them into
farmer producer organizations (FPOs). The FPOs can indeed
emerge as a panacea for the present agrarian distress.
In this regard, recently, PM has launched a campaign to set up
10,000 FPOs across India in the next 5 years. Let us understand
as to what are FPOs and how they will benefit the Indian
Agriculture.
WHAT IS FARMERS PRODUCER ORGANISATION
(FPO)?
A Producer Organisation (PO) is a legal entity formed by
primary producers such as farmers, milk producers,
fishermen, weavers, rural artisans, craftsmen etc. It can be in
the form of Producer Company, a cooperative society or any
other legal form which provides for sharing of
profits/benefits among the members. It is to be noted that
PO is a generic name for an organization of producers of any
produce, for example, agricultural, non-farm products,
artisan products, etc. On the other hand, FPO is a type of PO
where the members are farmers. The FPOs can be registered
as Cooperatives (under Cooperative Societies Act of the
respective State), Farmer Producer Company (Under
Companies Act, 2013) or Societies (under Society
Registration Act, 1860).
Let us understand some of the essential features of Farmer
Producer Organisations (FPOs).
• First, it is formed by a group of farmers who act as
shareholders in the organisation.
• Second, it is a registered legal entity in the form of
Cooperatives, Famer Producer companies (FPCs) or
Societies.
• Third, it works for the benefit of the farmers and deals
with various business activities related to agriculture such
as procurement of agricultural inputs, marketing of
agricultural commodities etc.
• Fourth, a certain part of the profits of the organisation is
shared among the farmers and rest of the funds is used
for business expansion of the organisation.
HOW ARE FARMER PRODUCER COMPANIES (FPCS)
DIFFERENT FROM COOPERATIVES?
The farmer producer companies (FPCs) are considered to be
much better than farmer cooperatives. Some of the salient
features that provide the FPCs a competitive edge is:
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• First, the cooperatives are registered under the
Cooperative Societies Act and hence Registrar of
Cooperatives and the Government hold veto power over
the decisions of the cooperative society. This gives scope
for political interference by the Government leading to
bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies. On the other hand,
the FPCs are registered under the Companies Act and only
those members having transactions with the company can
vote. Thus, the FPCs rule out political interference and it
leads to efficient management of the company.
• Second, the FPC is a hybrid between a cooperative and a
private limited company. It combines cooperative values of
mutual benefit and professional style of functioning. The
FPCs are allowed to appoint professionals to its Board of
Directors. This enables the small and marginal farmers to
avail inputs from the professional managers.
• Third, the FPCs allow registered and non-registered groups
such as self-help groups (SHGs) to become members in a
FPC. This enabling provision is a distinct improvement over
the cooperatives, which allows only individual producers to
be members.
• Fourth, the FPCs allow only those people who are engaged
in an activity connected with or related to primary produce
to be enrolled as members of FPC. This ensures that
outsiders do not capture the control of the company.
• Finally, unlike the cooperatives, FPCs have stronger
regulation which demands regular disclosure and
reporting. This empowers the farmers to demand
operational and fiscal discipline and thus promote greater
accountability of the FPCs.
INITIATIVES FOR THE PROMOTION OF FPOs
The co-operative movement in India got fillip through the
Anand model or AMUL. However, subsequently, the
cooperatives across India failed to live up to the expectation
due to multiple challenges such as political interference,
exclusion of small and marginal farmers, growing
bureaucratisation etc. Accordingly, the Indian Government
constituted a High Powered Committee under the leadership
of Yogendra Alagh. On the basis of recommendations of this
committee, the government amended the Companies Act,
1956 in 2012-13 to provide for "Producer Companies" in
India.
• The Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) is
the nodal agency at the national level for the creation of
FPOs. The SFAC operates a Credit Guarantee Fund to
mitigate credit risks of financial institutions which lend to
42
 Economic Development
the FPCs without collateral. This helps the FPCs to access
credit from financial institutions for establishing and
operating businesses. Further, SFAC also provides
matching equity grant up to Rs. 10 lakhs to double the
share capital of FPCs.
• NABARD also provides financial support to the FPOs
through two dedicated funds. It has created “Producers
Organization Development Fund (PODF)” in 2011, to
support the FPOs through credit facilitation, capacity
building and market linkage support. Further, the
Government of India has set up PRODUCE Fund
(Producers’ Organization Development and Upliftment
Corpus) under the NABARD in 2014-15 for building of 2000
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the country. The
aim of the PRODUCE Fund is to promote new FPOs and
support their initial financial requirements, to make them
credit worthy, commercially vibrant and sustainable
business enterprise of farmers.
CHALLENGES AND ISSUES IN BUILDING ROBUST
FPCs
• Lack of Professional Management of FPCs: As discussed
before, the FPCs have been allowed to appoint
professional experts to the Board of directors in order to
efficiently manage their operations. However, such trained
manpower is presently not available in the rural areas to
manage FPO business professionally.
• Poor Financial Resources: FPCs are mostly owned by
Small and Marginal Farmers with poor resource base and
hence they are not financially strong enough to support
the members. This reduces the ability of the FPCs to cater
to the needs of the farmers such as access to inputs and
market.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT
INDIA’S FIRST CORPORATE
TRAIN
#Infrastructure
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• Inadequate Access to credit: It has been observed that
banks and financial institutions tend to refuse to lend to
FPCs due to disaggregated land holdings and lack of
collateral. Small and marginal farmers, who may not hold
formal land titles, are unable to access institutionalised
credit.
• Inadequate Access to Infrastructure: The FPCs have
inadequate access to basic infrastructure required for
aggregation like transport facilities, storage, value addition
(cleaning, grading, sorting, etc.) and processing, brand
building and marketing.
• Lack of technical Skills/ Awareness: Presently, there is
lack of awareness among the farmers about the potential
benefits of joining FPCs. Further, most of the farmers are
not aware about the legal and technical knowledge about
various acts and regulations related to formation of FPCs.
WAY FORWARD
Thus, as discussed, the FPCs can indeed emerge as game
changer in order to alleviate the present agrarian distress.
However, the Government and all the stakeholders need to
create a right ecosystem in order to nurture and develop the
FPCs.
The promotion of FPCs should not to be seen as a one-time
exercise. Though there is sufficient focus on providing
financial assistance to FPCs, there is limited hand-holding
subsequent to their formation. After mobilisation of farmers
into FPC, there is very little support in marketing, value
addition etc. In this regard, the Government must provide for
sustained and continuous support until the time the FPCs
become financially viable and independent.
IN NEWS
The Finance Minister has recently stated that Indian railways
would need an investment of around Rs 50 lakh crores
between till 2030. However, the financial status of the Indian
Railways is quite poor which is evident in the fact that the
operating ratio has increased to around 98.4% in 2018-19.
Hence, there is an urgent need to enhance private sector
investment in the Indian railways through PPP mode.
43
 Economic Development
In this regard, recently, the Indian railways has launched
India's first corporate train "Tejas Express" operating on
Lucknow-Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai routes. This was
followed by launch of Kashi Mahakal Express on Varanasi-
Indore route. The launch of such corporate trains is considered
to be first step towards greater private sector role in Indian
railways and could eventually lead to end of Indian railways'
monopoly on running trains in India.
HOW DOES THE MODEL OF CORPORATE TRAIN
WORK?
• Under this model, the physical infrastructure such as
locomotives, coaches etc. would remain under the control
of Indian railways. However, various services such as
ticketing, parcels, catering, housekeeping etc. would be
outsourced to the private sector through the IRCTC, a
subsidiary of Indian railways.
• The IRCTC would be required to pay certain pre-decided
amount to the Indian railways for the use of its physical
infrastructure. The amount to be paid by IRCTC consists of
3 components- haulage charge, lease and custody. The
Haulage charge is the money to be paid by the IRCTC on
per Km basis for the use of physical infrastructure of
Indian railways such as track, signalling etc.
• The lease charge is the charge to be paid for the use of the
railway coaches by the IRCTC on the Tejas Express. The
custody is the charge to be paid for the safety and
maintenance of the railway coaches by the Indian
Railways.
• The IRCTC would be required to pay Indian Railways a sum
total of these three charges, which is roughly around Rs 14
lakh for the Lucknow Tejas Express in a single day. This
money has to be paid even when the occupancy is below
expectation and train is not doing good business.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR IRCTC?
• The IRCTC has complete independence and autonomy to
decide on the fares on such trains. It also has the
independence to decide on the number of stoppages of
the trains. Since, the IRCTC has complete autonomy in
fixing the fares, it would obviously fix the fares in such a
manner that it is able to pay the charges to the Indian
Railways and at the same time earn sufficient amount of
profits.
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• Further, in order to attract more number of passengers,
the IRCTC would be required to offer better amenities to
the passengers leading to world class travel experience.
• The IRCTC's Tejas Express has already made a profit of Rs
70 lakh in its first month of operations in October 2019.
How does the Indian Railways benefit? Presently, there is
lot of political interference in the working of Indian Railways
leading to low passenger fares and poor revenue collection.
Further, the Indian Railways incurs huge operating cost of
98.4% in running its operations. Through the corporate train
model, the India Railways would be able to earn steady
income which then can be used for expanding its capital
expenditure.
WHY THE CORPORATE TRAIN MODEL IS CONSIDERED
TO BE SIGNIFICANT?
• The running of Corporate train "Tejas Express" is
considered as an experiment for greater private sector
involvement in Indian Railways.
• The Government has already planned to lease out 100
routes to private sector players to run 150 trains across
India. Hence, if this corporate train model is successful, it
would put end to Indian railways' monopoly on trains in
India.
HOW WOULD THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATE IN
RUNNING OF TRAINS?
• The Government believes that when the Dedicated Freight
corridor is completed, lot of track capacity which was
earlier used for the freight trains will be opened up for
running the passenger trains.
• Accordingly, the Government would enable private sector
players to operate trains on such 100 identified routes.
The private sector entities would be required to bring in
their modern coaches. Hence, unlike IRCTC, the private
sector entities they need not pay lease charges and
custody charges. However, they would be required to pay
haulage charge to the Indian railways for the use of its
physical infrastructure such as tracks, signaling etc.
• Apart from that, the private sector operator need to share
the revenue with the Indian Railways. So, whichever
Private sector operator is willing to share the highest
revenue with the Indian railways on operating on a
particular route, such a private sector entity would be
allowed to operate the trains on that route.
44
 Economic Development
NEW MAJOR PORT-
VADHAVAN
#Infrastructure
IN NEWS
The Union Cabinet has given its 'in-principle' approval for
setting up a Major Port at Vadhavan near Dahanu in
Maharashtra. The new major port would be set up on
"Landlord Model" in order to expand the port capacity in India
and give fillip to Sagarmala programme.
CURRENT STATUS OF MARITIME SECTOR
• India has 12 Major ports and about 200 non-major ports.
The Major Ports are under the Union List while the
Non-Major Ports are under the Concurrent List. Hence,
the Major Ports are under the administrative control of
Government of India while the Non-major ports are
governed by the respective State Governments.
Approximately 95% of the country’s trade by volume and
68% by value is moved through Maritime Transport.
• Major Ports are defined in Section 3(8) of the Indian Ports
act, 1908 to mean any port which the Central Government
may by notification in the Official Gazette declare. These
major ports are Kolkata (including Haldia), Visakhapatnam,
Chennai, Tuticorin, Cochin, New Mangalore, Mormugao,
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Mumbai, Kandla and
Ennore.
• Further, in 2010, the Government has declared Port Blair
as major port. However, the Government has so far not
taken any action (The Annual Report 2018-19 of Ministry of
Shipping mentions only about 12 Major Ports in India)
NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF VADHAVAN PORT IN
MAHARASHTRA
• Reduce Dependence on Sri Lanka and Singapore:
Presently, there is lack of deep sea port in India with more
than 20 metres depth which can handle large container
vessels. Due to this larger vessels coming towards India
need to unload their cargo at transhipment ports like
Colombo (15 metres depth) or Port of Singapore (12
metres). The cargo is then loaded into small ships, who
then sail it to Indian ports like JNPT (11 metres depth). The
Vadhavan port has a natural draft of about 20 meters close
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
to the shore, making it possible for it to handle bigger
vessels at the port.
• Saturation of Major Ports: Maharashtra has two major
ports i.e. Mumbai and JNPT. Out of these ports, Mumbai
port has constraint in evacuation of cargo due to
development of city around it. JNPT was basically
developed as a satellite port of Mumbai port and has
coped up well in becoming the largest container port of
the country. The development of 4th container terminal is
underway and after its full development there is little
space for further expansion. Thus, as demand for
containers is set to go up, it is necessary to locate a new
mega port site which can cater to increased requirement
of capacity and also could be developed to handle the
future deep draft ships.
• India's Aspiration to own Top 10 Container Ports: The
th
position of JN Port is 28 in the world in terms of container
traffic. Even after the completion of 4th terminal at JN Port,
th
it will stand as the 17 largest container port in the world.
With the development of Vadhavan port, India will break
into the countries with top 10 container ports in the world.
LANDLORD MODEL OF PORT DEVELOPMENT
The activities which are carried out in the management of
Ports can be broadly classified as:
• Governing functions: Ownership of Land and Regulation of
Port activities.
• Port Operations: commercial functions such as Loading
and unloading of cargo, Storage and warehousing etc.
Broadly, there are two models of Port Development
depending upon who carries out these activities within the
ports.
• In Service Ports Model, the Port Authority is entrusted
with the responsibility of both Governing Functions as well
as Port Operations.
• In case of Landlord Model, the Port Authority acts as
regulator and landlord (owner of land). However, the port
operations are carried out by the private sector. In this
model, the Port authority leases the port infrastructure to
the private sector for carrying out the port operations such
as handling of cargo, storage and warehousing etc. It is
one of the dominant models of Port development across
the world.
45
 Economic Development
DARK FIBRE
#Infrastructure
IN NEWS
Recently, three telecom service providers- Reliance Jio, Airtel
and Vodafone have approached the Bharat Broadband
Network Limited (BBNL) to use the dark fibre laid down by the
BBNL as part of the BharatNet Programme. Such a proposal
has been put forward by the Telcom service providers in order
to utilise the unused fibre infrastructure and cut down on their
capital expenditure.
WHAT IS DARK FIBRE?
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT
BOOST TO R & D
ECOSYSTEM
#Economic Growth
IN NEWS
Innovations in science and technology are integral to the long-
term growth and social well-being of the people. Improvement
in fields of science and technology not only lead to economic
growth, but it also leads to the improvement in the quality of
life. Historically, India can point to many contributions to
global scientific knowledge and technological achievement.
However, presently, India's expenditure on R&D is hardly
around 0.7% of its GDP leading to poor innovation ecosystem.
Hence, in order to improve the R&D ecosystem in India, the
Government has proposed to set up a new fund that will
match the contributions made by private companies in R&D.
PROBLEMS WITH THE R&D ECOSYSTEM
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• Dark fibre refers to unused fibre-optic cable. Most of the
cost involved in creation of the optical fibre network is the
cost involved in the laying down of the optical fibres.
• Hence, most of the times, companies lay down more
amount of optical fibre than what is currently required.
This additional and unused optical fibre is referred to as
Dark fibre.
PROPOSAL OF THE TELECOM OPERATORS
• Presently, as part of BharatNet programme, the BBNL has
laid down optical fibre connections in order to provide
broad band connectivity in the rural areas.
• The telecom operators have proposed to lease the dark
fibre from the BBNL for a period of 10 years. This will
enable them to reduce the capital expenditure on laying
down new optical fibres. At the same time, it will make
them easy to expand their services into rural areas.
• Lower Expenditure: The Investments in R&D measured in
terms of Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) have shown a
consistently increasing trend over the years. The GERD has
more than tripled in the last decade Rs. 24,000 crores in
2004-05 to Rs 1.04 lakh crores in 2016-17. However, as
percentage of GDP, GERD has remained stagnant at
around 0.7% of India's GDP. It is much lower as compared
to other countries- China (2.1%); USA (2.8%); South Korea
(4.2%); Israel (4.3%) etc.
• Lower Share of Private Sector Investment: In most of
the advanced economies, the major chunk of expenditure
on R&D is borne by the private sector entities. However, in
case of India, the major share of GERD (0.7% of GDP) is
incurred by the Public Sector (0.4%). The share of private
sector is hardly around 0.3% of GDP.
• Problems with the Government's Expenditure on R&D:
Most of the GERD is incurred by the Central Government
and the share of state government is quite marginal. There
is a need for greater State Government spending,
especially application oriented R&D aimed at problems
specific to their economies and populations.
46
 Economic Development
Further, the Central Government's expenditure on R&D is
majorly spent on Atomic Energy, Space Energy etc.
However, the government's expenditure on health is
extremely low. Considering the health challenges faced in
India, there is an urgent need to increase expenditure in
R&D to improve health outcomes.
• Lower output of Patents: The lower expenditure on R&D
has in turn led to India's poor ranking on international
indices such as International IP Index, Global Innovation
Index and Global Competitiveness Report.
What's the Government's Proposal? The Government has
proposed to set up fund worth Rs 40 crores. When private
sector companies come together and pool in money for
undertaking R&D in new age technologies such as Quantum
Computing, Artificial Intelligence etc. then the Government
would contribute equal amount from this fund. The scheme
will be coordinated through the department’s Science and
Engineering Research Board, which funds a variety of basic
science projects in several universities
WHAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE R&D
ECOSYSTEM IN INDIA?
From being a net consumer, India has to become a net
producer of knowledge. India should take the below
mentioned steps in order to make transition towards
knowledge based economy:
BANKING AND FINANCE
RBI CHANGES ITS
ACCOUNTING YEAR
#Banking
IN NEWS
Presently, the RBI follows July-June as the financial year as
opposed to April- March Financial year followed by the
Government. The RBI has now decided to align its financial
year with the Government and hence adopt April- March
Financial year in order to ensure effective management of
finances. The next accounting year will be a nine-month period
from July 2020 to March 31, 2021 and thereafter, all financial
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• Improve math and cognitive skills at the school level:
We have to realise that R&D ecosystem cannot improve
unless the foundations of Primary and secondary
education improve. While India has made considerable
strides in improving access to primary and secondary
education, learning outcomes have been weak. Hence, we
need to strengthen our primary and secondary education.
• Enhancing Research in Universities: Universities in many
countries play a critical role in both creating the talent pool
for research as well generating high quality research
output. However, in case of India, Universities do not lay
emphasis on research and hence this needs to be
addressed.
• Increase funding for research from private sector as
well as from state governments: The private sector
should be incentivized to undertake more R&D through
CSR funds.
• Launching New Missions on Advanced Technologies:
The Union Budget 2020-21 has launched National Mission
on Quantum Computing. Going forward, we need to
launch similar missions to harness advanced technologies
such as Artificial Intelligence, Big data, Energy Storage
Systems etc.
years will start from April, as it happens with the central and
state governments. This has been done based upon the
recommendations of Bimal Jalan Committee on Economic
Capital Framework of the RBI.
PRESENT FINANCIAL YEAR OF THE RBI AND ITS
RATIONALE
When RBI commenced its operations in 1935, it initially
followed January-December accounting year. However, in
1940, the bank changed its accounting year to July- June.
Rationale: The Banks follow April-March as the accounting
year and hence are required to submit their annual
consolidated accounts by 1st April every year. The RBI then
analyses the annual accounts of the banks, analyses the
liquidity situation of the banks and then comes out with its
own annual report. This usually takes time of around 3
47
 Economic Development
months and hence the RBI follows the July-June as the
accounting year.
WHAT'S THE NEED FOR CHANGING THE
ACCOUNTING YEAR NOW?
Earlier, RBI used to take around 3 months to prepare its
annual report based upon the analysis of the consolidated
reports of the Banks due to lack of computerization.
However, in the age of Internet and growing technological
solutions such as Big data, the RBI gets access to data related
to banks on a real time basis and thus, the RBI can easily align
its accounting year with the April-March as followed by the
banks and Government.
Further, the Bimal Jalan Committee had also recommended
for the change in the accounting year of the RBI. Some of the
benefits in the change of accounting year as highlighted by
the Bimal Jalan Committee include:
• Reduce the need for Interim Dividend: After accounting
for the operating expenses and various reserves which it
maintains, the RBI transfers the remaining profits to the
central government in the form of dividend. Presently, the
dividend is transferred twice from the RBI to Government.
First dividend transfer is in the form of the Interim
dividend which usually takes place at the time of Union
Budget and the second dividend transfer is after the end
of accounting year (July-June) of the RBI. Once the
accounting year of the RBI is aligned with that of
Government, the need for the interim dividend would be
done away with.
• Better Estimates and Projections: The RBI would be able
to provide better estimates of the projected surplus
transfers to the Government for the financial year for
budgeting purposes
• More Cohesiveness: It would also bring about better
cohesiveness in monetary policy projections, reports
published by the RBI, etc., many of which are using the
fiscal year as the base
LONG TERM REPO
OPERATIONS
#Banking
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
IN NEWS
In response to the present economic slowdown, the RBI has
consistently been reducing the Repo rate in order to inject
more amount of liquidity into the Economy. Taking this
forward, during the Monetary Policy Committee meeting held
in February 2020, the RBI has decided to further inject around
Rs 1 lakh crore into the banking system. Such injection of
money shall take place through long term Repo Operations
(LTROs) of 1 year and 3 years.
WHAT IS REPO RATE?
• The Repo rate is the rate at which the banks borrow mainly
short term loans from the RBI. Under Repo mechanism,
the banks sell their G-Secs to the RBI with an agreement to
repurchase the G-Sec at a future date and at fixed price.
The rate at which the banks repurchase the G-Secs from
the RBI is known as the Repo rate.
• Depending upon the maturity period of the loans, there
are different types of Repos in India. These are:
Overnight Repos: (Maturity period of 1 day);
Term Repos: There are different types of term repos
depending upon the maturity period. Some of the term
repos include 7-day, 14-day, 21 day, 28-day, 56-day.
• The overnight repos are available to the Banks from the
RBI from Monday to Friday. However, the term repos are
available to the Banks only when the RBI notifies about the
Term Repos (Usually 2-3 days in a week). Further, the
interest rate on the term repos is not same as the Repo
rate. The Interest rate on the Term repos is determined
through auction and hence is usually higher than the Repo
rate.
WHAT IS LONG TERM REPO OPERATIONS (LTRO)?
• It is a new policy tool used by the RBI to inject more
liquidity into the Economy. It is considered to be similar to
the term repos, but with a longer maturity period of 1 year
and 3 years. Through the LTRO, the RBI seeks to inject long
term liquidity into the economy at a lower interest rate.
This is so because the interest rate on the LTRO is fixed at
the Repo rate (which is considered to be much lower than
the rate of interest on the 1 year or 3 year loans).
• Some of the basic features of the LTRO include:
Total Funds to be injected: Up to Rs 1 Lakh crores.
Interest Rate: Repo Rate.
Method of Operations: The LTROs would be carried out
through e-Kuber (The e-Kuber is the Core Banking Solution
48
 Economic Development

of the RBI which enables each bank to connect their note that the RBI does not pay any interest to the Banks on
single current account across the country. The e-Kuber is the CRR deposits.
also used by RBI to execute various transactions with The idea behind the CRR is two-fold:
banks such as carrying out overnight and term repos,
• Ensure safety and security of the depositor's money.
reverse repos etc.)
• Use CRR as a tool to control money supply within
NEED FOR CARRYING OUT THE LONG TERM REPO
economy.
OPERATIONS (LTROS)
 During Inflation: Increase in CRR--> Bank required to keep
The RBI has consistently been reducing the Repo rates to
higher % of depositors' money with RBI-->Less money
inject liquidity into the economy. However, the Banks have
available with the banks for giving loans--> Decrease in the
not reduced the rate of interest on loans commensurately
money supply.
due to the poor monetary policy transmission. Further, the
rate of interest on the long-term loans has remained much  During Slowdown: Decrease in CRR--> Bank required to

higher and has hindered the investment rates within India. keep less % of depositors' money with RBI--> More money
Hence, the RBI has carried out the LTROs for the following available for giving loans--> Increase in money supply.
purposes: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SLR AND CRR
1. Reduce rate of Interest on the long term loans.
CRITERIA STATUTORY CASH RESERVE
2. The reduction in the long term rate of interest would force LIQUIDITY RATIO RATIO (CRR)
the banks to reduce the rate of interest on short term (SLR)
loans. (The rate of interest on long term loans is usually
higher than that on short term loans).
% of depositors money % of Depositors'
3. Incentivise the Banks to reduce their overall lending rates Meaning maintained with the money maintained
and improve the monetary policy transmission. Banks themselves with the RBI

Form of Maintained in form of Maintained in the

CRR DEDUCTIONS FOR Maintenance Cash, Gold and G-Secs form of Cash

RETAIL LOANS Scope for

Scope for bank to earn
profits through
No Scope for Bank
to earn profits as
earning
investment in G-Secs or RBI does not pay
# Banking Profits?
Gold interest

Present rate 18.25% 4%

RECENT CHANGES INTRODUCED BY THE RBI

IN NEWS
The incremental credit given by the banks to certain targeted
In a bid to improve credit creation and boost demand, the RBI
segments such as automobiles, residential housing and
has offered banks Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) exemption for five
MSMEs can be used to by the banks to claim deduction under
years to the banks. The exemption will be applicable for
their CRR requirements. However, in order to avail the
incremental loans given to certain targeted segments such as
deductions, certain conditions have been imposed:
automobiles, residential housing and MSMEs between 31 Jan-
31 July, 2020. 1. The loans should have been given between 31st Jan 2020
and 31st July 2020.
WHAT IS CASH RESERVE RATIO (CRR)?
2. The deductions are applicable only when the loans are
The Cash reserve ratio (CRR) is the percentage of the given for automobiles, residential housing and MSMEs.
depositors' money which the Banks are required to
3. In order to calculate deductions allowed, the difference in
maintain with the RBI in the form of cash. However, please
the outstanding credit between 31 July 2020 and 1 Jan

FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS 49

 Economic Development
2020 would be calculated. For example, if the outstanding
credit on 31st July is Rs 300 and if the outstanding credit
on 1st Jan 2020 is Rs 100, then the incremental credit
between these two periods is Rs 200. Hence, the Banks can
keep Rs 200 less in the form of CRR requirements with the
RBI. (So, if the CRR requirement is Rs 1000, then the Bank
would maintain only Rs 800 with the RBI).
These new changes have been introduced by the RBI to
enhance credit creation to critical sectors such as
Automobile, Residential housing and MSMEs. The
enhancement in credit to these sectors would lead to
multiplier effects and hence boost the demand within the
economy.
KCC SATURATION DRIVE
# Banking
IN NEWS
Recently, the Government of India has launched a drive in
mission mode for saturating all the PM-KISAN beneficiaries
with the Kisan Credit Card (KCC). This will help all such farmers
to get short term loan for crop and animal/fish rearing at
maximum interest of 4% on timely repayment.
ABOUT THE KCC SATURATION DRIVE
• Presently, there are around 9 crore farmers who have
enrolled under the PM-KISAN Scheme. However, there are
only around 6.67 crores farmers who are enrolled under
the Kisan Credit Card Scheme. Hence, there is a need to
enhance the coverage of farmers under the KCC Scheme.
• Accordingly, as part of this drive, banks have been advised
to prepare a list of all PM-KISAN beneficiaries who do not
have KCC and approach them through line departments of
the State/UT Government.
• In addition to the KCC, with a view to provide social
security to the PM KISAN beneficiaries, eligible farmers will
also be enrolled for the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima
Yojana (PMSBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bhima
Yojana (PMJJBY), after obtaining their consent.
KISAN CREDIT CARD SCHEME
• The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was introduced in
1998 for issue of Kisan Credit Cards to farmers so that
farmers may use them to readily purchase agriculture
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. and draw
cash for their production needs. The scheme was further
extended for the investment credit requirement of farmers
viz. allied and non-farm activities in the year 2004.
• The Kisan Credit Card Scheme is implemented by
Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks and
Cooperatives. The farmers eligible under the KCC scheme
include small farmers, marginal farmers, share croppers,
oral lessee and tenant farmers. The Self Help Groups
(SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) are also eligible for
availing benefits under the scheme.
PRADHAN MANTRI SURAKSHA BIMA YOJANA
(PMSBY) - ACCIDENTAL DEATH INSURANCE
• Eligibility: Available to people in age group 18 to 70 years
with bank account.
• Premium: Rs.12 per annum.
• Payment Mode: The premium is auto-debited by the bank
from the subscribers account.
• Risk Coverage: For accidental death and full disability -
Rs.2 Lakh and for partial disability – Rs.1 Lakh.
• Terms of Risk Coverage: A person has to opt for the
scheme every year. He can also prefer to give a long-term
option of continuing in which case his account will be auto-
debited every year by the bank.
• Who implements this Scheme? The scheme is offered by
all Public Sector General Insurance Companies and all
other insurers who are willing to join the scheme and tie-
up with banks for this purpose.
PRADHAN MANTRI JEEVAN JYOTI BHIMA YOJANA
(PMJJBY)- LIFE INSURANCE COVER
• Eligibility: Available to people in the age group of 18 to 50
and having a bank account.
• Premium: Rs.330 per annum.
• Payment Mode: The payment of premium will be directly
auto-debited by the bank from the subscribers account.
• Risk Coverage: Rs.2 Lakh in case of death for any reason.
• Terms of Risk Coverage: A person has to opt for the
scheme every year. He can also prefer to give a long-term
option of continuing, in which case his account will be
auto-debited every year by the bank.
• Who implements this Scheme? The scheme is offered by
Life Insurance Corporation and all other life insurers who
50
 Economic Development
are willing to join the scheme and tie-up with banks for this
purpose.
BANKS UNDER PCA
FRAMEWORK
# Banking
IN NEWS
Recently, the RBI Governor has stated that the RBI is closely
monitoring the health of the Banks which are presently under
the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework. These 4 banks
are Indian Overseas Bank, Central Bank of India, UCO Bank
and United Bank of India.
UNDERSTANDING PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION
(PCA) FRAMEWORK
The PCA framework has been introduced by the RBI to
ensure sound financial health of the Banks and to prevent
them from incurring losses. Under this framework, the RBI
monitors the financial health of the banks in terms of 4
indicators and in case of breach of these indicators, the RBI
takes corrective action against such banks by putting certain
restrictions on them. The Indicators used by the RBI to
monitor the financial health of the banks are CRAR, Net NPA,
Return on assets (ROA), Tier 1 Leverage ratio.
CAPITAL TO RISK WEIGHTED ASSET RATIO (CRAR)
The CRAR is the ratio of the Bank’s capital to the risk weighted
assets of the Banks. It is defined as: (Tier -1 Capital (Equity) +
Tier-2 Capital (Debt)/ Risk Weighted Assets (RWAs)).
The CRAR is based on the concept that the banks should have
sufficient amount of capital in order to withstand the risk
associated with the loans given by them. The Banks are
required to assign risk weightage to the different categories
of loans. For example, loans given to Government in form of
G-Secs may have lower risk, while the loans given to
Agriculture sector may have higher risk. Under the BASEL-III
norms, the RBI has stipulated that the banks are required
to maintain CRAR of 9%.
Net Non-performing Assets (NNPA): The Net NPA is defined
as Gross NPA- Provisioning Amount. Threshold: Net NPA
>= 6%.
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
Return on assets (ROA): It is defined as percentage of profit
(after deducting Tax) to the total assets. Threshold: Negative
ROA for two consecutive years
Tier 1 Leverage ratio: It is defined as the ratio of Tier-I
capital to total assets. Threshold: Tier 1 Leverage ratio
<=4.0%.
Restrictions: When these parameters reach the set trigger
points for a bank mentioned by the RBI, the RBI initiates
certain structured and discretionary actions for the bank.
Under PCA, the RBI can place certain restrictions based on
these parameters. The restrictions may include the following:
• Halting branch expansion;
• Stopping dividend payment;
• Cap a bank’s lending limit to one entity or sector;
• Undertake special audit, restructuring operations and
activation of recovery plan;
• Banks’ promoters can be asked to bring in new
management;
• The RBI can also supersede the bank’s board.
LAUNCH OF EASE 3.0
# Banking
IN NEWS
The Union Finance Minister has recently unveiled EASE 3.0
which deals with the Public sector reforms Agenda 2020-21 to
enable smart and tech-enabled Banking in India.
ABOUT PSB REFORMS EASE (ENHANCED ACCESS AND
SERVICE EXCELLENCE) AGENDA
• It is a common reform agenda for PSBs aimed at
institutionalizing clean and smart banking. It was launched
in January 2018, and the subsequent edition of the
program i.e. EASE 2.0 built on the foundation laid in EASE
1.0 and furthered the progress on reforms.
• EASE 3.0 sets the agenda and roadmap for financial year
2020-21 for the transformation of PSBs into digital and
data-driven NextGen Banking of the Future.
• EASE 3.0 emphasizes on the use of digital, analytics & AI,
FinTech partnerships across customer service, convenient
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 Economic Development
banking, end-to-end digitalised processes for loan sourcing
and processing, analytics-driven risk management as well
as decision support systems for HR.
KEY REFORM ACTION POINTS IN EASE 3.0 INCLUDE
• Dial-a-loan: For doorstep facilitation of loans.
• Partnerships with FinTechs and E-commerce
companies for customer-need driven credit offers.
• Credit@click: End-to-end digitalised, time-bound retail
and MSME lending by larger PSBs, leveraging Account
Aggregators, FinTechs and PSBloansin59minutes.com
• Cash-flow-based MSME credit by larger PSBs, using
FinTech, Account Aggregator and other third-party data
and transactions-based underwriting models.
• Tech-enabled agriculture lending
• Palm banking: End-to-end digitalised delivery of a full
bouquet of financial services in regional languages and
with industry-best service quality.
• EASE Banking Outlets: On-the-spot banking at frequently
visited places such as train stations, bus stands, malls,
hospitals, etc. through paperless and digitally
enabled banking outlets and kiosks
EASE REFORM INDEX
INDUSTRIAL POLICY AND LPG
NATIONAL TECHNICAL
TEXTILES MISSION
# Manufacturing
IN NEWS
The Union Cabinet has recently approved the establishment of
National Technical Textiles Mission to enable India to position
itself as a global leader in the Technical Textiles.
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What it does? The Enhance Access & Service Excellence
(EASE) reforms index measures performance of each PSB on
140 objective metrics across 6 themes.
• Themes covered: Responsible Banking; Customer
Responsiveness; Credit off-take; Udyamitra for MSMEs;
Deepening Financial Inclusion and Digitisation;
Governance and HR
• Who publishes? The publishing of this independent report
was commissioned by Indian Banks’ Association.
• How this Index helps PSBs? The Index provides all PSBs a
comparative evaluation showing where banks stand vis-à-
vis benchmarks and peers on the Reforms Agenda. It
enables the PSBs to identify precisely their strengths as
well as areas for improvement. Through periodic updates
and by providing bank-specific scorecards and inter-bank
comparisons, all PSBs are enabled to keep track of their
progress on key reform priorities across time.
• Performance of Banks on EASE 2.0 Index: PSBs have
shown a healthy improvement in their performance since
the launch of EASE 2.0 Reforms Agenda. The overall score
of PSBs increased by 35% between March-2019 and
December-2019, with the average EASE index score
improving from 49 to 66 out of 100. Significant progress is
seen across six themes of the Reforms Agenda, with the
highest improvement seen in the themes of ‘Responsible
Banking’ and ‘PSBs as Udyamimitra for MSMEs’.
WHAT ARE TECHNICAL TEXTILES?
• Technical textiles are textiles materials and products
manufactured primarily for technical performance and
functional properties rather than aesthetic characteristics.
• The scope of use of technical textiles encompasses a wide
range of applications such as agro-textiles, medical
textiles, geo-textiles, protection-textiles, industrial-textiles,
sports-textiles and many other usages. Some of the
examples of technical textiles include Fishing nets,
mosquito nets, Floor and wall coverings, Mattress and
pillow, diapers, sanitary napkins, Airbags, helmets, seat
belts, Industrial gloves, Bullet proof jackets etc.
• Hence, use of technical textiles have benefits of increased
productivity in agriculture, better protection of military,
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 Economic Development

para-military, police and security forces, stronger DETAILS ABOUT THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL
transportation infrastructure for highways, railways, ports TEXTILES MISSION
and airports and in improving hygiene and healthcare of
• The Mission has been launched with total outlay of Rs
general public.
1480 crores and would be implemented for period of 4
STATUS OF TECHNICAL TEXTILE PRODUCTION IN years from 2020-21 to 2023-24.
INDIA • Components:
• The Textile Industry in India can be categorised into-  Component -l (Research, Innovation and
Conventional and Technical Textiles. India has emerged as Development): Promote both Fundamental and applied
the one of the largest manufacturer and exporter of research for the development of new technical textiles.
Conventional textiles. However, it has failed to replicate
 Component -II (Promotion and Market Development):
this success story in case of Technical Textiles. India has
Aims at average growth rate of 15-20% per annum taking
emerged as the net importer of Technical textiles with
the level of domestic market size to 40-50 Billion USD by
annual imports worth $ 16bn.
the year 2024 from the Current $ 16 bn.)
• Further, Indian Technical Textiles segment is estimated at
 Component - III (Export Promotion): Export promotion
$ 16 Billion which is only around 6% of the $ 250 Billion
of technical textiles enhancing from the current annual
global technical textiles market. The penetration level of
value of approximately Rs.14000 Crore to Rs.20000 Crore
technical textiles is low in India at 5-10%, against 30-70% in
by 2021-22 and ensuring 10% average growth in exports
advanced countries.
per year upto 2023-24
• Hence, in order to boost production of Technical Textiles
 Component- IV (Education, Training, Skill
and position India as a global leader, the Finance Minister
Development): Promote technical education at higher
had announced the launch of National Technical Textiles
engineering and technology levels related to technical
Mission in the Union Budget 2020-21.
textiles

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/
PROGRAMS/INITIATIVES
MARKET INTELLIGENCE
OPERATION GREENS
In the budget speech of Union Budget 2018-19, a new

AND EARLY WARNING Scheme “Operation Greens” was announced on the line of
“Operation Flood” to promote Farmer Producers
Organizations (FPOs), agri-logistics, processing facilities and
SYSTEM (MIEWS) PORTAL professional management. Accordingly, the Ministry has
formulated a scheme for integrated development of Tomato,
#Govt. Policies Onion and Potato (TOP) value chain. The objectives are:

• Enhancing value realisation of TOP farmers;

• Price stabilisation for producers and consumers;
IN NEWS
• Reduction in post-harvest losses of TOP Crops;
Recently, the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries
• Setting up of a market intelligence network to collect and
(MPI) has launched Market Intelligence and Early Warning
collate real time data on demand and supply and prices of
System (MIEWS) portal for monitoring the prices of TOP Crops
TOP crops.
(Tomato, Onion and Potato).

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 Economic Development
ABOUT MARKET INTELLIGENCE AND EARLY
WARNING SYSTEM (MIEWS) PORTAL
• As stated, one of the objectives of Operation Greens is to
set up market intelligence network to collect real time
prices of TOP Crops. The Market Intelligence and Early
Warning System (MIEWS) has been set up to fulfil this
objective.
IMPORTANT REPORTS/INDICES
INTERNATIONAL IP INDEX
#International Report
IN NEWS
Recently, the US Chamber of US Chamber of Commerce’s
Global Innovation Policy Center has released the International
IP Index 2019. According to the report, India has slipped to
40th rank in 2019 from 36th rank in 2018.
ABOUT THE REPORT
The International IP Index evaluates the IP infrastructure in
each economy based on 50 unique indicators, which are
critical to the growth of effective IP systems. The indicators
span 8 categories of IP protection: patents, copyrights,
trademarks, trade secrets, commercialization of IP assets,
enforcement, systemic efficiency, and membership and
ratification of international treaties. The theme for this year's
report is "Art of the Possible".
practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Which among the following criteria is/are adopted
by the 15th Finance Commission for the horizontal
distribution of taxes among the states?
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• It is a ‘first-of-its-kind’ platform for ‘real time monitoring’ of
prices of tomato, onion and potato (TOP) and for
simultaneously generating alerts for intervention under
the terms of the Operation Greens (OG) scheme. The
portal would disseminate all relevant information related
to TOP crops such as Prices and Arrivals, Area, Yield and
Production, Imports and Exports, Crop Calendars, Crop
Agronomy, etc. in an easy to use visual format.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT
• Top 5 Economies: US, UK, France, Germany, Sweden.
• IP remained at the crux of the China trade dispute: The
United States and China signed a Phase One trade
agreement in January 2020. The agreement includes
reforms to better protect against trade secrets theft,
pharmaceutical-related IP and patent infringement.
• Efforts taken by developing economies: Several major
emerging economies such as India, Argentina, Brazil joined
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) agreements to expedite
patent examination and address backlogs.
OTHER INTERNATIONAL INDICES RELATED TO
INNOVATION
• Global Innovation Index (GII) : WIPO
• Global Competitiveness Report: World Economic Forum
1. Population (1971 Census)
2. Income Distance
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 Economic Development

3. Population (2011 Census) (c) National Bank for Agriculture and Development
4. Tax Effort (NABARD)

5. Demographic performance (d) NITI Aayog

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only Q4. Consider the following statements related to Long

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (d) 2, 3 and 4 only Term Repo Operations (LTROs) recently carried out
by RBI:
1. The LTROs are similar to term repos but with a longer
Q2. Consider the following statements related to
maturity period of 1 year and 3 years.
recent changes in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima
Yojana (PMFBY): 2. By carrying out LTROs, the RBI would inject liquidity
into economy at a rate which would be higher than
1. The revised PMFBY puts a limit on contribution of both
Repo rate.
Centre and State to the insurance premium.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
2. The revised PMFBY provides for the compulsory
enrolment of both loanee and non-loanee farmers (a) 1 only (b) 2 only

under the scheme. (c) Both1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only Q5. What does the EASE Reforms Index deals with?

(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) Improve Ease of Doing Business Index in India.
(b) Improve the Governance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs).

Q3. Which among the following organizations manages (c) Making it easier for the companies to obtain
the "PRODUCE FUND" for the promotion of Food environmental clearances.
Producer Organizations (FPOs) in India? (d) Improving the agricultural marketing Infrastructure.
(a) Small Farmers Agri-business consortium (SFAC)
(b) National Cooperative development Corporation
(NCDC)

descriptive Questions
Q1. Examine the recent changes introduced by the Union Government in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Do
you agree with the view that these changes would lead to decrease in the enrolment of farmers under the Scheme? Give
arguments in support of your answer.

Q2. The 15th Finance Commission has done a fine balancing act between the need to consider the Population of 2011 census
and the concerns raised by the certain states with respect to devolution of taxes from the Centre to the states. Comment.

Answer for the above MCQs: 1 (c), 2 (d), 3 (c), 4 (a), 5 (b)

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 SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
# GS Paper I & GS Paper II (Main)
WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS
# Social Issue # Technology
IN NEWS
The Union Cabinet has approved a Bill for the welfare of
Women in the Country – the Assisted Reproductive Technology
Regulation Bill 2020. This follows the introduction in
Parliament of the Surrogacy Regulation Bill 2020, and the
approval of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment
Bill 2020. These legislative measures are path breaking steps
to protect women’s reproductive rights.
ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY (ART)
• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is used to treat
infertility. It includes fertility treatments that handle both
a woman's egg and a man's sperm. It works by removing
eggs from a woman's body. The eggs are then mixed with
sperm to make embryos. The embryos are then put back
in the woman's body. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the
most common and effective type of ART.
• ART procedures sometimes use donor eggs, donor sperm,
or previously frozen embryos. It may also involve a
surrogate or gestational carrier. A surrogate is a woman
who becomes pregnant with sperm from the male partner
of the couple. A gestational carrier becomes pregnant with
an egg from the female partner and the sperm from the
male partner.
• The most common complication of ART is a multiple
pregnancy. It can be prevented or minimized by limiting
the number of embryos that are put into the woman's
body.
►Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill, 2020
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• India has become one of the major centres of this global
fertility industry, with reproductive medical tourism
becoming a significant activity. Clinics in India offer nearly
all the ART services—gamete donation, intrauterine
insemination (IUI), IVF, gestational surrogacy etc. However,
in spite of so much activity in India, there is yet no
standardisation of protocols and reporting is still very
inadequate.
• The need to regulate the Assisted Reproductive
Technology Services is mainly to protect the affected
Women and the Children from exploitation. The oocyte
(a cell in an ovary which may undergo meiotic division to form
an ovum) donor needs to be supported by an insurance
cover, protected from multiple embryo implantation and
children born through Assisted reproductive technology
should be provided all rights equivalent to a Biological
Children. The cryopreservation of sperm, oocytes and
embryo by the ART Banks needs to be regulated and the
bill intends to make Pre-Genetic Implantation Testing
mandatory for the benefit of the child born through
assisted reproductive technology.
• Thus, the bill makes provisions for safe and ethical
practice of assisted reproductive technology services
in the country. Through the bill, the National Board, the
State Boards, the National Registry and the State
Registration Authorities respectively will regulate and
supervise assisted reproductive technology clinics and
assisted reproductive technology banks.
►Surrogacy Regulation Bill, 2020
• The major benefit of the Act would be that it will regulate
the surrogacy services in the country. While commercial
surrogacy will be prohibited including sale and purchase of
human embryos and gametes, ethical surrogacy to the
Indian Married couple, Indian Origin Married Couple and
Indian Single Woman (only widow or Divorcee) will be
allowed on fulfillment of certain conditions.
56
 Society and Social Justice
• As such, it will control the unethical practices in surrogacy,
prevent commercialization of surrogacy and will prohibit
potential exploitation of surrogate mothers and children
born through surrogacy.
►Medical Termination Pregnancy Amendment Bill, 2020
• It seeks to amend the Medical Termination of
Pregnancy Act, 1971 (MTP Act). The said Act recognised
the importance of safe, affordable, accessible abortion
services to women who need to terminate pregnancy
under certain specified conditions.
• The proposed amendment seeks to enhance the upper
gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories
of women that will be defined in the amendments to the
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules and will include
'vulnerable women including survivors of rape, victims of
incest and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled
women, minors) etc.
• Also, the upper gestation limit will not apply to cases of
substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by the Medical
Board.
• On the basis of above, the three proposed legislations
create an environment of safeguards for women's
reproductive rights, addressing changing social contexts
and technological advances.
NAMING OF DISEASE BY
WHO
#Health
IN NEWS
On February 11, the World Health Organization officially
announced COVID-19 as the name for the disease caused by
the novel coronavirus. This comes days after WHO was alerted
by China about a cluster of pneumonia-like cases seen in the
city of Wuhan in Hubei province.
NAMING OF THE DISEASE
• For naming, the WHO came up with the new guidelines in
May 2015. The WHO identified the best practices to name
new human diseases in consultation and collaboration
with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO).
• The main aim behind this exercise was to “minimise
unnecessary negative impact of disease names on trade,
travel, tourism or animal welfare, and avoid causing
offence to any cultural, social, national, regional,
professional or ethnic groups”.
• What does the name COVID-19 stand for? The “CO” in
COVID stands corona, while “VI” is for virus and “D” for
disease. The number 19 stands for the year 2019 when the
outbreak was first identified.
• The Coronavirus Study Group of the International
Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses has named this
corona virus as “Severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2”, or “SARS-CoV-2”.
WHO REPORT ON CANCER
BURDENS
# Health
IN NEWS
February 4 is World Cancer Day. WHO and its specialized
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have
released two reports: one aimed at setting the global agenda
on the disease; the other focused on research and prevention.
ABOUT CANCER BURDEN IN INDIA
During the past two decades, India has had one of the world’s
best performing and most stable economies, which has
grown by more than 7 per cent annually in most years. This
economic development has given rise to vast socioeconomic
changes, with an increasing risk of non-communicable
diseases, including cancer, and significant disparities in
access to cancer prevention and control services.
• WHO report states that India had an estimated 1.16 million
new cancer cases in 2018, which said that one in 10
Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime and one in
15 will die of the disease.
• In India, the six most common cancer types were breast
cancer, oral cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, stomach
cancer, and colorectal cancer. Together, these account for
49 per cent of all new cancer cases.
57
 Society and Social Justice
• Of the new cancer cases in men, oral cancer, lung cancer,
stomach cancer, colorectal cancer and oesophageal cancer
account for 45 per cent of cases.
• Of the new cancer cases in women, breast cancer,
cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, oral cancer and colorectal
cancer account for 60 per cent of cases.
• Cancer patterns in India are dominated by a high burden
of tobacco-related head and neck cancers, particularly oral
cancer, in men and of cervical cancer in women; both of
these cancer types are associated with lower
socioeconomic status, the report said.
• The burden of cancer types, such as breast cancer and
colorectal cancer, associated with overweight and obesity,
lower levels of physical activity, and sedentary lifestyles is
increasing and these cancer types are associated with
higher socioeconomic status.
SWACHH BHARAT
MISSION (GRAMEEN)
PHASE-II
# Health and Sanitation
IN NEWS
The Union Cabinet has approved the Phase II of the Swachh
Bharat Mission (Grameen) [SBM (G)] till 2024-25.
SBM (G)- PHASE II
• It will focus on Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF Plus),
which includes ODF sustainability and Solid and Liquid
Waste Management (SLWM). The program will also work
towards ensuring that no one is left behind and everyone
uses a toilet.
• Budget sharing: SBM (G) Phase-II will also be
implemented from 2020-21 to 2024-25 in a mission mode
with a total outlay of Rs. 1,40,881 crores. Of this Rs. 52,497
crores will be allocated from the budget of Department of
Drinking Water and Sanitation while the remaining
amount will be from the funds being released under 15th
Finance Commission, MGNREGS and revenue
generation models particularly for solid and liquid waste
management.
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• Under the program, provision for incentive of Rs. 12,000/-
for construction of Individual Household Toilet (IHHL) to
the newly emerging eligible households as per the existing
norms will continue. Funding norms for Solid and Liquid
Waste Management (SLWM) have been rationalized and
changed to per capita basis in place of no. of households.
Additionally, financial assistance to the Gram
Panchayats (GPs) for construction of Community
Managed Sanitary Complex (CMSC) at village level has
been increased from Rs.2 lakhs to Rs.3 lakhs per CMSC.
• Centre and State Contributions: The programme will be
implemented by the States/UTs as per the operational
guidelines which will be issued to the States shortly. The
fund sharing pattern between Centre and States will be
90:10 for North-Eastern States and Himalayan States
and UT of J&K; 60:40 for other States; and 100:0 for
other Union Territories, for all the components.
• The SLWM component of ODF Plus will be monitored on
the basis of output-outcome indicators for four key
areas: plastic waste management, bio-degradable solid
waste management (including animal waste management),
greywater management and fecal sludge management.
• The SBM-G Phase II will continue to generate
employment and provide impetus to the rural economy
through construction of household toilets and community
toilets, as well as infrastructure for SLWM such as compost
pits, soak pits, waste stabilisation ponds, material recovery
facilities etc.
• The approval by the Cabinet to SBM Phase II will help the
rural India effectively handle the challenge of solid and
liquid waste management and will help in substantial
improvement in the health of the villagers in the country.
INTENSIFIED MISSION
INDRADHANUSH (IMI 2.0).
# Health
IN NEWS
In a bid to achieve the target of full immunization, the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare has launched Intensified Mission
Indradhanush (IMI) 2.0 from December 2019 to March 2020.
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 Society and Social Justice
• The campaign aims to immunise, children under the age
of two and pregnant women, against vaccine-
preventable diseases.
• The salient features of IMI 2.0 are:
 Immunization activity will be in four rounds over 7 working
days excluding the Research & Innovation days, Sundays
and holidays.
 Enhanced immunization session with flexible timing,
mobile session and mobilization by other departments.
 Enhanced focus on left outs, dropouts, and resistant
families and hard to reach areas.
 Focus on urban, underserved population and tribal areas.
 Inter-ministerial and inter-departmental coordination.
 Enhance political, administrative and financial
commitment, through advocacy.
EDUCATING FOR THE
FUTURE INDEX 2019
# Education #Index
IN NEWS
India jumped five ranks in the Worldwide Educating for the
Future Index (WEFFI) 2019, as per a report published by The
Economist Intelligence Unit. Finland was at the apex of the
index, followed by Sweden.
• The index ranks countries based on their abilities to
equip students with skill-based education. The report
analyses education system from the perspective of skill-
based education “in areas such as critical thinking,
problem-solving, leadership, collaboration, creativity and
entrepreneurship, as well as digital and technical skills.”
• India ranked 35th on the overall index in 2019 with a total
score of 53, based on three categories – policy
environment, teaching environment and overall socio-
economic environment. The country ranked 40th with an
overall score of 41.2 across categories in 2018.
• The 2018 WEFFI report had highlighted the shortcomings
in India’s education system emphasizing upon its inability
to utilise the opportunity of internationalising its higher
education system.
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BEIJING+25
# Social Issue #Empowerment
IN NEWS
To mark 25 years of the adoption of Beijing Platform for
Action, Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD), the
National Commission for Women (NCW) and UN Women
organized a National Consultation on the Review of Beijing+25,
to galvanize all stakeholders to implement actions that remove
the most conspicuous barriers to gender equality.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
• The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, held in
Beijing, was one of the largest ever gatherings of the
United Nations, and a critical turning point in the world’s
focus on gender equality and the empowerment of
women. 2020 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary.
• The aim of the consultation (Beijing+25) was to bring
together civil society and the women and youth of India,
gender equality advocates from all walks of life, in a
national public conversation on the urgent actions that
need to be taken for the realization of gender equality.
• The objectives of the Consultation were to assess progress
and challenges to the implementation of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action in India over the past 5
year, discuss lessons learned, priority actions required to
realized gender equality and the empowerment of
women by 2030, discuss emerging areas that have impact
on women’s empowerment.
EASE OF LIVING INDEX
AND MUNICIPAL
PERFORMANCE INDEX
2019
# Index #Urbanisation
IN NEWS
To help assess the progress made in cities through various
initiatives and empower them to use evidence to plan,
59
 Society and Social Justice
implement & monitor their performance, two Assessment
Frameworks, viz. Ease of Living Index (EoLI) and Municipal
Performance Index (MPI) 2019 have been launched by the
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. Both these indices are
designed to assess quality of life of citizens in 100 Smart Cities
and 14 other Million Plus Cities.
EASE OF LIVING INDEX
• Ease of Living Index is aimed at providing a holistic view of
Indian cities - beginning from the services provided by
local bodies, the effectiveness of the administration,
the outcomes generated through these services in
terms of the liveability within cities and, finally, the citizen
perception of these outcomes.
• The key objectives of the Ease of Living Index are four-
folds, viz. a) generate information to guide evidence-based
policy making; b) catalyse action to achieve broader
developmental outcomes including the SDG; c) assess and
compare the outcomes achieved from various urban
policies and schemes; and d) obtain the perception of
citizens about their view of the services provided by the
city administration.
• EoLI 2019 will facilitate the assessment of ease of living of
citizens across three pillars: Quality of Life, Economic
Ability and Sustainability which are further divided into 14
categories across 50 indicators.
• For the first time, as part of the Ease of Living Index
Assessment, a Citizen Perception Survey is being
conducted on behalf of the Ministry (which carries 30% of
the marks of the Ease of Living Index). This is a very
important component of the assessment exercise as it will
help in directly capturing perception of citizens with
respect to quality of life in their cities.
MUNICIPAL PERFORMANCE INDEX 2019
• With the Municipal Performance Index 2019, the Ministry
has sought to assess the performance of municipalities
based on five enablers namely Service, Finance,
Planning, Technology and Governance which have been
further divided into 20 sectors which will be evaluated
across 100 indicators.
• This will help Municipalities in better planning and
management, filling the gaps in city administration, and
improving the liveability of cities for its citizens.
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
ICoSDiTAUS-2020
# Health
IN NEWS
ICoSDiTAUS-2020, the Conference on Standardisation of
Diagnosis and Terminologies in Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha
Systems of Medicine concluded in New Delhi with adopting the
“New Delhi Declaration on Collection and Classification of
Traditional Medicine (TM) Diagnostic Data”.
The sixteen countries which came together for the cause of
Traditional Medicine at this conference are Sri Lanka,
Mauritius, Serbia, Curacao, Cuba, Myanmar, Equatorial
Guinea, Qatar, Ghana, Bhutan, Uzbekistan, India, Switzerland,
Iran, Jamaica and Japan.
• The topics discussed in the conference included:
 The challenges in Counting and classification of traditional
medicine encounters.
 Adapting International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
to TM Systems and their implementation.
 Relevance and regulation of Traditional Medicine in Health
Systems.
 TM data and digital health.
NATIONAL AYURVEDA
MORBIDITY CODES
(NAMC)
# Health
IN NEWS
The Ministry of AYUSH has developed National Ayurveda
Morbidity Codes (NAMC), a comprehensive classification of
diseases described in Ayurveda as well as Standardized
Ayurveda Terminologies.
• These have been made available on National AYUSH
Morbidity and Standardized Terminologies Electronic
Portal (NAMASTE Portal) developed by the Ministry.
60
 Society and Social Justice

• Earlier, for standardization of Ayurvedic diagnostic and
treatment protocol, the Central Council of Research in
Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) under Ministry of AYUSH has
undertaken a project on Reliability testing and Validation
of Ayurveda diagnostic methods in June 2018. Under this
project, some common disease condition has been
identified and accordingly the Proforma and manual of
selected disease conditions is being drafted and validated
through scientific methods in phased manner.

practice questions
MCQs
1. Consider the following statements w.r.t. WHO 2. The WEFFI is released by UNESCO.
report on Cancer burden in India:- Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. In India, the six most common cancer types were (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
breast cancer, oral cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
stomach cancer, and colorectal cancer.
2. Of the new cancer cases in women, breast cancer, 4. Consider the following statements:-
cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, oral cancer and 1. ICoSDiTAUS-2020 was the conference on Traditional
colorectal cancer account for majority of cases. Medicine (TM) systems.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 2. ICoSDiTAUS-2020 was held in Tokyo, Japan.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. Consider the following statements:-
1. SBM (G) Phase-II will be implemented from 2020-21 to 5. Consider the following statements:-
2024-25. 1. Beijing+25 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the
2. Indradhanush (IMI) 2.0 will be implemented March Fourth World Conference on sustainable development
2020 to December 2021. (1995).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 2. Quality of Life, Economic Ability and Sustainability are
(a) 1 only the three pillars of Ease of Living Index.
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
3. Consider the following statements:-
1. Sweden was at the apex of Worldwide Educating for
the Future Index (WEFFI) 2019
Answers to above MCQs: 1 (c), 2 (a), 3 (d), 4(a), 5(b)

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 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)

NORMAL BODY
number. When a person has a fever, the body temperature
is higher than the normal range.

TEMPERATURE • On the basis of above, let us understand normal body

temperature w.r.t. Cold Blooded Vs Warm Blooded
Animals
#Biology
COLD BLOODED VS WARM BLOODED ANIMALS
On the basis of regulating one’s internal body temperature,
IN NEWS animals are been grouped into these two categories – Cold-
Since the 19th century, the normal body temperature meant blooded and Warm-blooded. The phenomenon of
98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37°C). This number was given by a maintaining this temperature is called thermal homeostasis.
German doctor Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich. However, as Hereby we will discuss the difference between these two
per the new study carried out by the researchers at Stanford categories along with a brief summary on them.
University, the normal body temperature of human being
COMPARISON CHART
dropped by 0.03 degrees Celsius and 0.29 degrees Celsius per
decade, for men and women respectively. This means the body COLD-BLOODED WARM-BLOODED
temperature of men today is 0.59 degrees Celsius lower than
that of men born in the early 19th century and for women, it Meaning Cold-blooded animals Warm-blooded
has dropped by 0.32 degrees Celsius from the 1890s to today. have fluctuating body animals maintain
temperature which their thermal
As per the researchers, the drop in the temperature might be
follows the external homeostasis and
influenced by several factors like change in height, weight, temperature and fails keep their body
lifestyle habit and availability of the better medical facility. to maintain thermal temperature
homeostasis. consistent
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE NORMAL RANGE OF BODY
irrespective of the
TEMPERATURE external
• The body temperature is not the same for all and varies on temperature.
the basis of sex, age and other factors. For a typical adult,
body temperature can be between 97 F to 99 F. For babies Examples Fish, reptiles, Mammals.
amphibians,
and children, the number varies from 97.9 F to 100.4 F.
invertebrates.
Moreover, our body temperature does not remain the
same all day. It even varies throughout our lifetime. Few
Use of They require less They require
things that can cause a change in your temperature during energy energy to maintain more amount of
the day are: Level of physical activity; Time of the day; their body energy to regulate
What you’ve eaten or had to drink. temperature, hence their body
they need less temperature and
• For women, it changes even when they are menstruating.
amount of food. so their need of
Moreover, the temperature even varies based on which food is higher.
you measure it - forehead, underarms, mouth. Reading
taken from under the arms and mouth shows a different Temperature The temperature of a The temperature

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 Science & Technology

3. Bradymetabolism: This type depends on the rate of

COLD-BLOODED WARM-BLOODED
metabolism, one’s body perform. An example is
insects.
dependency body depends on the of the body is
temperature of the independent of THERE ARE THREE BROAD AREAS OF WARM-
outer environment. the outer
BLOODED ANIMALS
environment.
1. Endothermy: Body maintains its temperature by an
Survival They cannot survive They are easily internal means like sweating, shivering, etc. An example is
in any of the extreme adaptable to any a dog.
temperature, environment and
2. Homeothermy: Body regulates its required internal
especially cold. temperatures.
temperature irrespective of the external temperature,

Metabolic Metabolic rates Environmental rather body tends to maintain the higher temperature
rates change with the changes have no than surrounding. Example humans.
change in effect on 3. Tachymetabolism: High metabolism rate is a result of
environmental metabolic rate.
body temperature. An example is birds.
temperature.

Body Body temperature Usually,

temperature changes with the temperature RICE MUKTOSHRI
change in ranges from 35-40
environmental degree Celsius. #Biotechnology
temperature.

SOME IMPORTANT TERMS RELATED TO THE TOPIC

IN NEWS
• Hibernation is the winter resting period in warm places
Rice Research Station at Chinsurah (West Bengal) and National
which may last for weeks or months, and
Botanical Research Institute (Lucknow) have developed a new
• Aestivation, on the other hand, is a state of animal
variety of Arsenic resistant rice. This new variety of rice is
dormancy, similar to hibernation, although taking place
called, Muktoshri — also called IET 21845. In the scope of this,
in the summer rather than the winter. Aestivation is
let us understand about arsenic poisoning.
characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate,
that is entered in response to high temperatures and arid HOW DOES ARSENIC GET INTO BODY?
conditions. It takes place during times of heat and dryness, • Most arsenic gets into the body through ingestion of food
the hot dry season, which are often the summer months. or water. Arsenic in drinking water is a problem in many
countries around the world, including Bangladesh, Chile,
COLD-BLOODEDNESS ARE CATEGORIZED AS OF
China, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, and the United States.
THREE TYPES
• Arsenic may also be found in foods, including rice and
1. Ectothermy: Body temperature is maintained
some fish, where it is present due to uptake from soil and
according to the temperature of the external
water.
environment, which means if there is sunlight, they will
maintain their temperature accordingly and at night that • It can also enter the body by breathing dust containing
is at the time of moonlight, their body will tend to change arsenic, or through the skin, though this is not a major
their internal temperature again and becomes cool. route of exposure.
Examples-reptiles. HOW MUCH ARSENIC CAN BE IN DRINKING WATER?
2. Poikilothermy: The temperature of which fluctuate Because arsenic is tasteless, colourless, and odourless,
with the variation in temperature of the surrounding testing is needed for detection, the maximum level of
medium. Examples are frogs, turtles.

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 Science & Technology
inorganic arsenic permitted by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) is 10 parts per billion (ppb).
HOW DOES ARSENIC AFFECT PEOPLE?
Arsenic affects a broad range of organs and systems
including:
• Skin,
• Nervous system,
• Respiratory system,
• Cardiovascular system,
• Liver, kidney, bladder and prostate
• Immune system,
• Endocrine system,
• Developmental processes.
REGULATION OF RO
WATER PURIFIER
#Health #Chemistry
IN NEWS
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Environment
Ministry to issue notification banning RO Purifiers where Total
Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water are below 500 milligram per
litre and sensitise public about the ill-effects of demineralised
water. The tribunal has also asked the government to make it
mandatory to recover more than 60 per cent water wherever
RO is permitted across the country. The tribunal was hearing a
plea filed by NGO Friends seeking conservation of potable
water by preventing its wastage on account of unnecessary use
of RO systems.
In light of this statement, one must understand the following:
WHAT IS TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS)?
• TDS refers to organic and inorganic materials, like
minerals, salts, metals, cations or anions dissolved in
water. Usually expressed in units of mg per unit volume of
water (mg/L).
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
• When water passes through stones, pipes or different
surfaces, these materials get absorbed into the water.
Other sources such as minerals in chemicals used for
treating water, runoff from the road salts and chemicals or
fertilizers from the farms also build up TDS in water.
• Most often, high levels of TDS are caused by the presence
of potassium, chlorides and sodium. These have little or no
short-term effects, but toxic materials like lead arsenic,
cadmium, nitrate can be very dangerous.
• High TDS indicates Hard water. Low TDS indicates purity of
water.
HOW DO YOU LOWER THE TDS IN YOUR WATER?
USING REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO) PURIFIERS!
• RO is a type of filtration that uses a semi-permeable,
thin membrane with pores small enough to pass pure
water through while rejecting larger molecules such as
dissolved salts (ions) and other impurities (bacteria,
colloids, organics etc). A membrane rejects contaminants
based on their size and charge.
• RO membranes do not remove gases like CO2 or O2
because these gases are not highly ionized (charged) while
they’re in solution and have a very low molecular weight.
RO removes the concentration of TDS which is comprises
of charged ions in the water.
• In an RO system, pressure (usually from a pump) is used to
overcome natural osmotic pressure, forcing impure water
through the membrane that removes a high percentage of
impurities.
64
 Science & Technology

MAPPING OF INDIAN
• To avoid build-up of contaminants, cross-flow filtration
allows water to sweep away contaminants.

• Usage: To produce highly purified drinking water, used in

industrial boilers, food and beverage processing,
GENOME
cosmetics, pharmaceutical production, seawater
#Biotechnology
desalination.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REVERSE OSMOSIS AND

OSMOSIS IN NEWS

RO is the reverse of Osmosis which is the natural tendency of
water with dissolved salts to flow through a membrane from
lower to higher salt concentration. For e.g., plants absorbing
water and nutrients from soil; in humans/animals, kidneys
absorbing water from blood.
The government has cleared an ambitious gene-mapping
project that is being described by those involved as the “first
scratching of the surface of the vast genetic diversity of India”.
WHAT IS GENOME?
• A genome is all the genetic matter in an organism. It is
defined as “an organism’s complete set of DNA, including
all of its genes”.

• Each genome contains all of the information needed to

build and maintain that organism. In humans, a copy of
the entire genome — more than 3 billion DNA base pairs
— is contained in all cells that have a nucleus.

• Every organism’s genetic code is contained in its

Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA), the building blocks of life.

ADVANTAGES OF RO DISADVANTAGES OF RO • The discovery that DNA is structured as a “double helix” by

SYSTEM SYSTEM James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, for which they
won a Nobel Prize in 1962.
• Removes toxin like • Demineralization: Besides
chlorine, Fluoride, lead impurities, RO water purifier WHAT IS ‘GENOME INDIA’ PROJECT?
(cause of brain (when TDS level in water is • It is a program run by the Centre for Brain Research at
damage and anaemia), less than 50) also removes Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Science as the
mercury, and Arsenic essential natural mineral like nodal point of about 20 institutions.
that makes our body sodium, iron, calcium, and
• The aim of the project is to build a grid of the Indian
unwell. magnesium that are essential
“reference genome” to understand fully the type and
• Cryptosporidium for our body.
nature of diseases and traits that comprise the diverse
which is found in • A very low concentration of Indian populations.
public supply water, TDS has been found to give
• After collecting around 10,000 samples, the project hopes
lakes and rivers can be water a flat taste, which is
to form a grid that could be representative Indian
removed by RO filter. undesirable to many people.
Genome.
• Best solution for • Wastage of water
• It will vastly add to the available information on the human
purifying hard water. (environmental concern): To species and advance the cause, both because of the scale
avoid build-up of
of the Indian population and the diversity here.
contaminants, cross-flow
filtration allows water to
sweep away contaminants.

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 Science & Technology

GISAT-1
#Space Technology
IN NEWS
The government GISAT-1 or Geo Imaging Satellite-1 is India’s
first earth imaging satellite in a geostationary orbit. A satellite
in geostationary orbit (about 36,000 km above earth) has an
orbital period equal to earth’s rotational period.
About the Satellite: It weighs around 2,275 kg and has a
lifespan of 7 years. It carries a multi- and hyper-spectral
imager along with the 700 mm Ritchey-Chretien telescope for
earth observation and data collection.
OBJECTIVES OF GISAT-1
• Facilitates near real time observation of the Indian sub-
continent, under cloud free condition, at frequent
intervals.
• Helps quick monitoring of natural disasters.
IN NEWS
Solar Orbiter, built by Airbus Defence and Space for ESA, is a
mission that carries instruments to study the sun and its
environment. The orbiter is on a 10 year voyage to get new
images of the sun. That will include the first images of the
poles that will help scientists understand how solar winds
impact the Earth. NASA is a partner on the mission and has
supplied components for other instruments and the launch
itself.
Study objectives of the mission: Magnetic field of the sun;
formation of the solar wind; solar activity like flares and
coronal mass ejections affect solar weather at the Earth.
PURPOSE OF SOLAR ORBITER
• It will inform how to protect astronauts from the radiation
whizzing around the cosmos, which can cause DNA
damage and changes in gene expression.
• Scientists will also learn how space weather wreaks havoc
on satellites and electronics on and around Earth.

• Keep a constant watch on borders.

• Monitor any changes in the geographical condition of the YARAVIRUS

country.
#Biology
• Helps to obtain spectral signatures of agriculture, forestry,
mineralogy, disaster warning, cloud properties, snow,
glaciers and oceanography. IN NEWS
BACKGROUND: EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITES Scientists have identified an enigmatic virus (Yaravirus) whose
• Starting with IRS-1A in 1988, ISRO has launched many genome seems to be almost entirely new to science, populated
operational remote sensing satellites. by unfamiliar genes that have never before been documented
in viral research.
• Currently, thirteen operational satellites are in Sun-
synchronous orbit and four in Geostationary orbit- MORE ABOUT YARAVIRUS
INSAT-3D, Kalpana & INSAT 3A, INSAT -3DR. • The so-called Yaravirus, named after Yara – or Iara, a
• The data from these satellites are used for several water-queen figure in Brazilian mythology – was
applications covering agriculture, water resources, recovered from Lake Pampulha, an artificial lake in the
urban planning, rural development, mineral Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte.
prospecting, environment, forestry, ocean resources • The virus constitutes a new lineage of amoebal virus with
and disaster management. a puzzling origin and phylogeny. The newly discovered
virus was found out to be not related to any kind of virus

SOLAR ORBITER already discovered by the world. 90% of the genes of the
Yaravirus was found to be unique in the world.
#Space Technology • The scientists sequenced the genome of the virus to study
its DNA. It was found out that the virus contains 74
genes. Only six of the total were recorded in literature.

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 Science & Technology

The other unidentified genes are called orphan genes • The primary findings of the virus revealed that it is non-
(ORFans). transferable to humans. It was found out that it can only
transfer from one amoeba to another.
THREAT OF THE YARAVIRUS TO HUMANS?
• The threat of the Yaravirus to humankind is still unknown
as of the moment.

practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about the (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purifiers:
1. Through the process of the total dissolved solids (TDS) Q3. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?
is completely removed from the water. Types of Animals Examples
2. Through RO, gases dissolved in water are not filtered.
1. Ectothermy (i) Frog and Turtles
3. Through reverse osmosis, hard water is converted to
soft water. 2. Poikilothermy (ii) Reptiles
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 3. Homeothermy (iii) Humans
(a) 1 only 4. Tachymetabolism (iv) Birds
(b) 1 and 2 only (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Consider the following statements about Yaravirus:
Q2. Consider the following statements about Arsenic 1. The entire genome of yaravirus is new in nature and
Resistant rice Muktoshri: there is no record of these newly discovered genes.
1. It has been developed by the joint efforts of National 2. The newly discovered genes are called NEOgenes.
Botanical Research Institute and Indira Gandhi Institute Choose the correct answer from the code given below:
of Genetic research.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
2. Apart from Arsenic, it will also be resistant to all heavy
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
metals found in the soil.
Choose the correct answer from the code given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only

descriptive Questions
Q1. What is reverse osmosis? Identify the challenges posed by Reverse Osmosis based water purifiers to water management

and health related issues.

Answers to above MCQs: 1 (c), 2 (d), 3 (c), 4(d)

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

Lead Article
WETLANDS
• They are recognised as being of significant value not only
for the country or the countries in which they are located,
but for humanity as a whole.
# Conservation
• The inclusion of a wetland in the list embodies the
government’s commitment to take the steps necessary to

IN NEWS ensure that its ecological character is maintained.

February 2, was World Wetlands Day and it was on this day in • The Convention includes various measures to respond to

1971 that the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was adopted in threats to the ecological character of Sites.

Ramsar, Iran. • The selection is made on the basis of various criteria

Also in February, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and defined under the convention. Article 2.2 says: “Wetlands

Climate Change had announced that the Ramsar Convention should be selected for the List on account of their

had declared 10 wetlands from India as sites of “international international significance in terms of ecology, botany,

importance”, taking the total number of Ramsar Sites in the zoology, limnology or hydrology.”

country to 37. WHY DO WE NEED TO PROTECT WETLANDS?

DEFINITION OF WETLANDS ACCORDING TO RAMSAR
CONVENTION
The Ramsar Convention definition for wetlands includes
marshes, floodplains, rivers and lakes, mangroves, coral reefs
and other marine areas no deeper than 6 metres at low tide,
as well as human-made wetlands such as waste-water
treatment ponds and reservoirs.
WHAT DOES BEING A RAMSAR SITE MEAN?
The IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), the global assessment
identified wetlands as the most threatened ecosystem.
• Biodiversity: This impacts 40% of the world’s plant and
animal species that live or breed in wetlands, according to
UNESCO.
• Carbon sink: Thirty per cent of land-based carbon is
stored in peatland;

• The designation is for “Wetlands of International • Livelihood: One billion people depend on wetlands for
Importance”. their livelihoods;

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 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
• Essential Services: Wetlands are essential in providing
water-related ecosystem services, such as clean drinking
water, water for agriculture and regulating water quantity
(e.g. flood regulation). Wetlands provide $47 trillion in
essential services annually.
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF WETLANDS IN INDIA?
Notification: India has over 7 lakh wetlands and rules for
their protection; yet not one of the wetlands has been
notified under domestic laws.
Regulation: Wetlands are regulated under the Wetlands
(Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. Under it, there
are state-level bodies and a National Wetland Committee,
which functions in an advisory role.
Are all waterbodies categorized as wetlands? The newer
regulations have removed some items from the definition of
“wetlands” including backwaters, lagoon, creeks,
estuaries.
10 NEWS WETLANDS RECOGNISED UNDER RAMSAR
1. The Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
• It is a perennial lowland marsh typical of the Indo-Gangetic
Plains.
• Its six connected lakes are heavily relevant on monsoon
rains.
• It hosts resident and migrant species.
• The Site provides food products and agricultural fodder,
as well as maintaining this biodiversity.
• However, invasive species threaten its ecological
character, with over 40% of documented floral species
being exotic. The Office of the Conservator of Forests
(Wildlife) and State forest officers undertake joint
management of the Sanctuary.
2. Nandur Madhameshwar, Maharashtra
• The Site is a mosaic of lakes, marshes and riparian forest
on the Deccan Plateau.
• Construction of the Nandur Madhameshwar Weir at the
confluence of the Godavari and Kadwa Rivers helped
create a thriving wetland.
• It was originally designed to overcome water shortages in
the surrounding area, the Site now also serves as a buffer
against floodwaters and as a biodiversity hotspot.
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• Its diverse habitats contrast with the surrounding semi-
arid conditions caused by the rain shadow of the Western
Ghats mountain range.
• The Site hosts some of India’s most iconic species, such as
the leopard and Indian sandalwood (Santalum album).
• Invasive species including common water hyacinth
(Eichhornia crassipes) threaten the Site, along with the
effects of urban development and water abstraction. The
Office of the Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) manages the
Site.
3. Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
• It is a permanent freshwater environment consisting of
two oxbow lakes.
• These wetlands are characteristic of Uttar Pradesh and
offer exceptional habitats for water birds, providing both
and roosting and breeding sites with over 100,000 birds
documented in annual counts.
• The Sanctuary is a refuge for some of India’s threatened
vulture species.
• It is also critical in the maintenance of hydrological
regimes, ensuring groundwater recharge and discharge.
Meanwhile ancient temples around the lakes provide
religious significance and encourage tourism.
• Invasive species such as the common water hyacinth
(Eichhornia crassipes) along with the development of
roads and railways present significant threats.
4. Sarsai Nawar Jheel, Uttar Pradesh
• It is a permanent marsh in the Etawah district of Uttar
Pradesh.
• This typical wetland of the Indo-Gangetic floodplain is fed
by precipitation run-off from the South West monsoon
rains.
• It is an example of co-habitation of humans and wildlife:
farming practices across most of the Site play important
roles in sustaining the water bird habitats.
• A particular beneficiary is the vulnerable sarus crane (Grus
Antigone), with a population of 400 individuals making up
the largest flock in the region.
• The Site’s name is derived from this large non-migratory
crane.
• Other threatened species present include the critically
endangered vultures.
69
 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management

• The wetland is also a site of spiritual and religious • Monsoon rains feed this diverse wetland while the Sarda
significance with the nearby Hajari Mahadev temple visited Canal supplies additional water.
by thousands of pilgrims each year. • The Sanctuary supports recreation and tourism activities
• Droughts along with drainage have the potential to as well as local biodiversity.
threaten the Site’s ecological character. • It is a haven for birds, with 25,000 waterbirds regularly
• It is recognized by Birdlife International as an Important recorded and 220 resident and migratory species
Bird Area. documented.

5. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, Punjab • Among these are globally threatened species including the

• Located in the Shiwalik foothills of Punjab is the highly eco- endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

sensitive Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary. and Pallas’s fish eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) as well as
the vulnerable lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) and
• It occupies a human-made reservoir constructed as part of
woolly-necked stork (Ciconia episcopus).
the Bhakra-Nangal Project in 1961.
• Protection and afforestation measures have helped
• The site is of historic importance as the Indian and Chinese
increase the overall diversity of wildlife, with golden jackal
Prime Ministers formalized the “Five Principles of Peaceful
(Canis aureus) and jungle cat (Felis chaus) now present.
Coexistence” there in 1954.
• The highly invasive common water hyacinth (Eichhornia
• It supports abundant flora and fauna including threatened
crassipes) poses a threat, as does the removal of timber
species, such as the endangered Indian pangolin (Manis
from the forests.
crassicaudata) and Egyptian vulture (Neophron
percnopterus) and the vulnerable leopard (Panthera • State forest officers along with the Office of the

pardus). Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) jointly manage the

Sanctuary.
• More than half a million people downstream benefit from
the reservoir as the flow of water is regulated, reducing the 8. Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh

risks to both people and property from floods. • Sandi Bird Sanctuary is a freshwater marsh in the Hardoi

6. The Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve, Punjab district of Uttar Pradesh.

• The Reserve is a mosaic of natural marshes, aquaculture • The wetland is typical of the Indo-Gangetic plains and

ponds and agricultural wetlands maintained by the annual receives most of its water from monsoon rains.

rainfall runoff. • Rich in aquatic plants, the Site provides a productive

• It is heavily human-influenced, and includes a series of habitat for waterfowl with over 40,000 individuals counted

managed fishponds and cultivated crops such lotus and in 2018.

chestnut. • It is home to over 1% of the South Asian populations of

• This management helps support a variety of flora, with 344 common teal (Anas crecca), red-crested pochard (Netta

species of plants recorded in the area. rufina) and ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), while the
vulnerable sarus crane (Grus antigone) has a population of
• In this way, the Site is an example of wise use of a
200 individuals within the Sanctuary.
community-managed wetland, which provides food for
people and supports local biodiversity. • These figures justify its designation as an Important Bird
Area by BirdLife International.
• Threatened species present include the vulnerable
common pochard (Aythya ferina) and the endangered • The wetland is a popular recreational and tourism

spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii). destination and supports surrounding farmers as a source
of livestock fodder.
7. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
• Drought presents a threat; the Sanctuary dried out leading
• A shallow marshland 45 kilometres from Lucknow in Uttar
to a subsequent collapse in waterbird populations from
Pradesh.
2014 to 2015.

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 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management

9. Beas Conservation Reserve, Punjab through: Reasons behind their extinction; Ways in which we

• It is a 185-kilometre stretch of the Beas River located can create our own population of Cheetah; Issues being faced

primarily in the north-west of the State of Punjab. with the reintroduction.

• The River meanders down from the Himalayan foothills to

the Harike Headworks, where its course is diverted into a
number of channels.

• The River is dotted with islands, sand bars and braided

channels creating a complex environment supporting
substantial biodiversity.

• The Reserve also hosts the only known population in India

of the endangered Indus river dolphin (Platanista
gangetica minor).

• Further threatened species include the endangered

Why is there a need for re-introduction? It is because the
masheer (Tor putitora) and hog deer (Axis porcinus) as well
Cheetah species has got extinct in the country and hence the
as the vulnerable smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale
plan is to revive the Indian Population of Cheetah.
perspicillata).

• Major threats include urban and domestic pollution as well WHAT WERE THE CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE
as impacts of agriculture along most of the River’s course. EXTINCTION OF CHEETAHS?

10. Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve, Punjab
• The Reserve is a mosaic of natural marshes, aquaculture
ponds and agricultural wetlands maintained by the annual
rainfall runoff.
• It is heavily human-influenced, and includes a series of
managed fishponds and cultivated crops such lotus and
chestnut.
• In this way, the Site is an example of wise use of a
community-managed wetland, which provides food for
people and supports local biodiversity.
• Threatened species present include the
common pochard (Aythya ferina) and the endangered
spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii).
• Hunting: They were hunted into extinction during and
after the Mughal Period, largely by Rajput and Maratha
Indian royalty and later by British colonialists, until the
early 20th century when only several thousand remained.
• Captive (help in hunting): Trapping of large numbers of
adult Indian cheetahs, who had already learned hunting
skills from wild mothers, for assisting in royal hunts is said
to be another major cause of the species rapid decline in
India as they never bred in captivity with only one record
of a litter ever.
Reintroduction of the cheetah in India involves the re-
vulnerable establishment of a population of cheetahs into areas
where they had previously existed. A part of the
reintroduction process is the identification and restoration of
their former grassland scrub forest habitats

SO WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH A CHEETAH

AFRICAN CHEETAH POPULATION CAN BE REVIVED?
# Conservation • Biotechnology: Cloning

 India first proposed this method during last decade but it

didn’t work.
IN NEWS
 During the early 2000s, Indian scientists from the Centre
The Supreme Court has lifted seven year stay on a proposal to for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad,
introduce African cheetahs from Namibia into the Indian proposed a plan to clone Asiatic cheetahs obtained from
habitat on an experimental basis. In this regard, we will go Iran.

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 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management

 Indian scientists requested Iran to allow them to collect  Loss of habitat and loss of prey
some live cells of the cheetah pair in Iran itself, which can  Illegal trafficking.
then be made into living cell lines. They planned to use the
 The advent of climate change and growing human
nucleus from these cells to manually reproduce their own
populations have only made these problems worse;
cheetahs, over a significantly long amount of time.
 With less available land for wildlife, species that require
 Iran refused to cooperate (would neither send any
vast home range like the cheetah are placed in
cheetahs to India nor would allow Indian scientists to
competition with other animals and humans, all fighting
collect their tissue samples)
over less space.
 It is said that Iran wanted an Asiatic lion in exchange for a
What are other benefits of saving the Cheetah? In saving
cheetah and that India was not willing to export any of its
the cheetah, one would also save other endangered species
lions.
of the grassland, such as the endangered Indian wolf and the
• Reintroducing live Cheetahs near-extinct great Indian bustard (GIB). For example: In the
 So it was decided that African Cheetah would be umbrella-approach of conservation, multiple species in a
introduced in protected areas in India. forest (tiger reserve, for instance) is protected in the name of
a flagship species (i.e. tiger).
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES WITH THE REINTRODUCTION?
• Clash with lion conservation

 As the habitat for Asiatic lion as well as the Cheetah is

similar, many sites identified for Cheetah reintroduction URBAN HEAT ISLAND
clash with lion conservation. As we know that there is only
a single population of Lion in India in Gir and that has # Pollution #Health
become unsustainable due to rapid growth in their
population and there is a need to relocate many lions from
Gir. IN NEWS
 An expert panel formed by the government shortlisted a A recent study from IIT Kharagpur called “Anthropogenic
number of protected areas where cheetahs could be forcing exacerbating the urban heat islands in India” noted
relocated. These were Kuno-Palpur and Nauradehi Wildlife that mean daytime temperature of surface urban areas going
Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, Velavadar National Park in up by around 2 degrees C if compared to neighbouring areas .
Gujarat and the Shahgarh bulge in Rajasthan. The same study also said that the relatively warmer
 The Kuno reintroduction plan ran into trouble. The temperature in urban areas, compared to suburbs, may
protected area had also been shortlisted for introduction contain potential health hazards due to heat waves apart from
of Asiatic Lions from heavily populated Gir in Gujarat. In pollution.
order to not give lions to Kuno, Gujarat's legal counsel had
SO WHY ARE THESE URBAN AREAS HOTTER THAN
put forward the argument that Kuno was being used for
SURROUNDING SUBURBS?
the introduction of African cheetah which might take
several years to fully settle down and repopulate the area • This happens because of the materials used for
and hence reintroduction of lions should only be done pavements, roads and roofs, such as concrete, asphalt (tar)
after that. and bricks, have higher heat capacity and thermal
conductivity than rural areas, which have more open
• Perpetual problems with India’s wildlife
space, trees and grass.
 As the import of the Cheetahs from Africa will be very
• Trees and plants are characterised by their
limited, the problems being faced by the wildlife in the
‘evapotranspiration’— a combination of words wherein
country might undo the efforts. It is advisable to resolve
evaporation involves the movement of water to the
following issues first:
surrounding air, and transpiration refers to the movement
 Human-wildlife conflict,

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 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
of water within a plant and the subsequent lot of water
through the stomata (pores found on the leaf surface) in
its leaves. Grass, plants and trees in the suburbs and rural
areas do this. The lack of such evapotranspiration in the
city leads to the city experiencing higher temperature than
its surroundings.
• The higher temperatures of urban heat islands can be
attributed to human activity, particularly to changes in
land surfaces. Urban development requires the use of
significant amounts of cement and asphalt for roofing
purposes and to pave sidewalks and roads. These
materials have thermal bulk properties that absorb more
solar radiation than the surfaces found in rural areas.
Additionally, these materials have different surface
radiative properties, which means they emit energy as
thermal radiation or heat.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF URBAN HEAT ISLANDS?
• On local climate
 In addition to increasing temperatures, urban heat islands
also influence local weather conditions. Some of these
changes to weather conditions include: precipitation levels,
cloud coverage, fog presence, humidity levels, and wind
patterns.
 Increased precipitation and thunderstorm activity occurs
because the hotter temperatures result in an upward
movement of surrounding air.
 This upward movement has its greatest impact between
20 and 40 miles downwind of the city center, where
precipitation levels can be 28% greater than upwind of the
city center.
 During the day, urban heat islands experience low
pressure, which allows moist air from nearby rural areas to
collect. This moist air counteracts with the hot, urban air
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and creates the ideal condition for cloud coverage and
increased humidity.
 Another potential benefit of urban heat islands is that they
work to increase plant growing seasons in nearby
locations. For example, some studies have found that
growing areas located around 6.2 miles outside of city
limits are extended by an average of 15 days.
• The Impact Of Urban Heat Islands On Animals
 Migration of animals towards cities
 Due to this higher temperature in urban areas, the UHI
increases the colonisation of species that like warm
temperatures, such as lizards and geckos.
 Thermal pollution of neighbouring water bodies:
 In other cases, urban heat islands negatively affect food
and water supplies within city limits. For example, the
surface temperature of city buildings is significantly hotter
than the surrounding air. Rain then runs off of these much
hotter buildings, warming up in the process. This warmer
runoff makes its way into nearby streams, rivers, lakes and
other bodies of water. When the heated runoff enters
these bodies of water, it goes on to increase their
temperature as well. This is referred to as thermal
pollution and it can increase water temperatures by as
much as 20° to 30° Fahrenheit. Thermal pollution has a
negative impact on local fish populations, sending them
into thermal shock.
 The Impact Of Urban Heat Islands On Human Health
 Urban heat islands not only affect the health of the
environment and local wildlife, but also the health of
humans.
 Increased city temperatures can be fatal during summer
heatwaves, particularly for senior citizens.
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 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management

 Urban inhabitants also suffer during heat waves because • Yes, differences in morphology and development are seen.
the urban heat island prevents night time temperatures
from decreasing as they do in rural areas. Research has
found that urban heat islands not only increase
temperatures during heat waves but also prolong their
duration.

 Extreme temperatures lead to heat cramps, heatstroke,

and heat exhaustion. Heatstroke may cause respiratory In the desert locust, the gregaria nymphs become darker with
distress syndrome, impaired mobility, or decreased strongly contrasting yellow and black markings, they grow
awareness. larger, and have longer developmental periods.

HOW DO THESE LOCUSTS HARM AGRICULTURE?

LOCUST ATTACK • The swarms eat leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, bark and
growing points, and also destroy plants by their sheer
# Natural Hazard weight as they descend on them in massive numbers.

• Desert locusts can have about 40 million to 80 million

IN NEWS
Over the past several weeks, locust attacks emanating from
the desert area in Pakistan have struck parts of Rajasthan and
Gujarat, causing heavy damage to standing crop. Locusts are a
collection of certain species of short-horned grasshoppers in
the family Acrididae that have a swarming phase.
The situation is being closely monitored by agri-experts in the
states and the Centre.
locust adults in each square kilometre of a swarm and
travel up to 150 kilometres a day, according to the FAO.
• There is an exponential increase in locust numbers with
every new generation of breeding and a swarm the size of
one square kilometre, containing about 40 million locusts,
eats the same amount of food in one day as about 35,000
people.

THINGS TO KNOW
►What is swarming phenomenon?

Swarm behaviour, or swarming, is a collective behaviour

exhibited by animals, of similar size which aggregate
together, perhaps milling about the same spot or perhaps
moving en masse or migrating in some direction.

►What are locust attacks and how are they caused?

• Normal situation: These grasshoppers are innocuous,

their numbers are low, and they do not pose a major Fig: The locusts coming to India (Rajasthan and Gujarat)
economic threat to agriculture. originate from Horn of Africa and traverse Middle Eastern

• Attack situation: However, under suitable conditions of countries before coming via Pakistan after monsoon.

drought followed by rapid vegetation growth, serotonin in
their brains triggers a dramatic set of changes: they start
to breed abundantly, becoming sociable and nomadic
(loosely described as migratory) when their populations
become dense enough.
HOW MANY SPECIES OF LOCUSTS ARE NATIVE TO
INDIA?
• Only four species of locusts are found in India:
o Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria),

IS THE DIFFERENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION o Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria),

ALSO REFLECTED ON THEIR MORPHOLOGY? o Bombay Locust ( Nomadacris succincta)

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 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
o Tree locust (Anacridium sp.).
• The desert locust is regarded as the most important in
India as well as internationally. The attack of 2019-2020
has been mainly due to Desert locust (Schistocerca
gregaria).
HOW DOES INDIA PLANS TO CONTROL THESE
ATTACKS?
• India has a locust control and research scheme that is
being implemented through the Locust Warning
Organisation (LWO) under Ministry of Agriculture.
• The LWO’s responsibility is monitoring and control of the
locust situation in Scheduled Desert Areas, mainly in
Rajasthan and Gujarat, and partly in Punjab and Haryana.
India is most at risk of a swarm invasion just before the onset
of the monsoon. The swarms usually originate in the Arabian
Peninsula and the Horn of Africa.
WHAT ARE THE SITUATIONS WHICH EXACERBATE
THESE ATTACKS?
The task is more difficult because of political instability in
some countries. In Somalia, for example, the FAO says that
aerial spraying has been ruled out in areas not controlled by
the government. The civil war in Yemen may also have
contributed to the outbreak.
COP 13
# Conservation
IN NEWS
The 13th Conference of Parties to the Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS
COP13) concluded in Gandhinagar with listing of total 10
migratory species of the world on Appendix I & II of the
convention along with adoption of a number of resolutions
and decisions to address the needs and threats facing
migratory species around the globe.
Three of the species listed are from India – Great Indian
bustard, mainland Asian elephant and Bengal florican.
What is this convention about? It is an environmental
treaty of the United Nations, CMS provides a global
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platform for the conservation and sustainable use of
migratory animals and their habitats.
WHAT IS THE MAIN TASK OF THIS CONVENTION?
• CMS brings together the States through which migratory
animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal
foundation for internationally coordinated conservation
measures throughout a migratory range.
• As the only global convention specializing in the
conservation of migratory species, their habitats and
migration routes, CMS complements and co-operates with
a number of other international organizations, NGOs and
partners in the media as well as in the corporate sector.
• CMS acts as a framework Convention. The agreements
may range from legally binding treaties (called
Agreements) to less formal instruments, such as
Memoranda of Understanding, and can be adapted to the
requirements of particular regions.
• The development of models tailored according to the
conservation needs throughout the migratory range is a
unique capacity to CMS.
WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES INTO WHICH
THE SPECIES ARE DIVIDED BY THE CONVENTION?
• Appendix I:
 Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on
Appendix I of the Convention.
 CMS Parties strive towards strictly protecting these
animals, conserving or restoring the places where they live,
mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other
factors that might endanger them.
 Besides establishing obligations for each State joining the
Convention, CMS promotes concerted action among the
Range States of many of these species.
• Appendix II:
 Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit
from international co-operation are listed in Appendix II of
the Convention.
 For this reason, the Convention encourages the Range
States to conclude global or regional agreements.
How effective has the CMS been in protecting the
migratory species? As per CMS, despite the listing and
consequent efforts, 73% of 175 migratory species listed on
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 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management

Appendix-I and 48% of the 518 on Appendix-II have an overall The great Indian bustard or Indian bustard is a bustard found
decreasing population trend. on the Indian subcontinent.

SO WHAT ARE THE MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM COP-13? Morphology - A large bird with a horizontal body and long
bare legs, giving it an ostrich like appearance, this bird is
• Host: India hosted the CMS COP for the first time.
among the heaviest of the flying birds.
• Presidency: India assumed the role of CMS Presidency for
Range - Once common on the dry plains of the Indian
the next three years.
subcontinent, as few as 150 individuals were estimated to
• Theme: The theme of the COP13 was, “Migratory species
survive in 2018 (reduced from an estimated 250 individuals in
connect the planet and together we welcome them 2011).
home!”
Conservation status: This species is critically endangered.
• Listings: Three of the species listed in the appendices are
It is protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 of India.
from India – Great Indian bustard, mainland Asian
Threats : Main threats include hunting and loss of its habitat,
elephant and Bengal florican. In the closing press
which consists of large expanses of dry grassland and scrub.
conference of COP13, India expressed a strong resolve to
Alleged hunting of GIB in Pakistan is believed to be one of the
recover the population of GIB which is on the brink of
reasons for the plummeting numbers of the bird species.
extinction with only around 150 birds left in the country.
►BENGAL FLORICAN
• Declarations: CMS COP13 also adopted the Gandhinagar
Declaration, which calls for migratory species and the
concept of ‘ecological connectivity’ to be integrated and
prioritized in the new Framework, which is expected to be
adopted at the UN Biodiversity Conference in October.

• Reports: The first ever report on the Status of Migratory

Species, presented to CMS COP13, shows that despite
some success stories, the populations of most migratory
species covered by CMS are declining. COP13 agreed that a
more comprehensive review should be undertaken to
better understand the status of individual species and the
main threats they face.
The Bengal florican is a type of bustard found on the Indian
• Among issues that divided countries at the COP13 was a
subcontinent.
proposal moved by the CMS secretariat to put additional
restrictions on countries whose financial contributions are RANGE
three or more year in arrears. • It has two disjunct populations, one in the Indian
►GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD subcontinent, another in Southeast Asia.

• Indian - The Indian range is from Uttar Pradesh (India)

through the Terai of Nepal to Assam (where it is called ulu
mora) and Arunachal Pradesh in India, and historically to
Bangladesh.

• South East Asian - The South East Asian population

occurs in Cambodia and perhaps adjacent southern
Vietnam. This species is mostly resident on its breeding
grounds; around Tonlé Sap in Cambodia however, the
birds use grasslands near the lake to breed, and move
away from the water in the wet season when the breeding
grounds are flooded. Similarly, the Terai population seems

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 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management

to move to warmer lowland locations in winter. Migrations Accordingly, Central government has come up with CRZ
are not long-distance, however, and probably are Notification, 2018.
restricted to a few dozen kilometres.
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE 2018 NOTIFICATION
Conservation status: This species is critically endangered.
Coastal regulation Zones: For regulating development
It is protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 of India.
activities, the coastal Zones within 500 metres of High Tide
Threats: Main threats include hunting and loss of its habitat, Line on the landward side are classified into four categories.
which consists of large expanses of dry grassland and scrub.
o Category I /CRZ I:

• Areas that are ecologically sensitive and important, such as

national parks/marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests,
wildlife habitats, mangroves, corals/coral reefs.

• Areas likely to be inundated due to rise in sea level

consequent upon global warming and such other areas as
may be declared by the Central Government or the
concerned authorities at the State/Union Territory level
from time to time.

• Also the areas that lie between Low tide line and High tide
line.

o Category-II (CRZ-II):

 The areas that have already been developed up to or close

to the shoreline.

o Category-III (CRZ-III):

 Areas that are relatively undisturbed and those which do

not belong to either Category-I or II.

 These will include coastal zone in the rural areas

(developed and undeveloped) and also areas within
Municipal limits or in other legally designated urban areas
COASTAL REGULATION which are not substantially built up.

ZONE (CRZ)
o Category-IV (CRZ-IV):

 Coastal stretches in the Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep

NOTIFICATION, 2018 and small islands, except those designated as CRZ-I, CRZ-II
or CRZ-III.
#Ecosystem # Conservation • Allowing FSI as per current norms in CRZ areas:

o As per CRZ, 2011 Notification, for CRZ-II (Urban) areas,

Floor Space Index (FSI) or the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) had
IN NEWS been frozen as per 1991 Development Control Regulation
A long term demand of various stakeholders had been to (DCR) levels.
comprehensively review the provisions of the CRZ Notification, o In the CRZ, 2018 Notification, it has been decided to de-
2011. Particularly, the provisions related to the management freeze the same and permit FSI for construction projects,
and conservation of marine and coastal eco-systems, as prevailing on the date of the new Notification. This will
development in coastal areas, eco-tourism, livelihood option enable redevelopment of these areas to meet the
and sustainable development of coastal communities etc. emerging needs.

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 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management

• Densely populated rural areas to be afforded greater o Specific guidelines related to their conservation and
opportunity for development: management plans have been drawn up as a part of the

o For CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories have now CRZ Notification.

been stipulated as below: • Pollution abatement has been accorded special focus:

 CRZ-III A - These are densely populated rural areas with a o In order to address pollution in Coastal areas treatment
population density of 2161 per square kilometre as per facilities have been made permissible activities in CRZ-I B
2011 Census. Such areas shall have a No Development area subject to necessary safeguards.
Zone (NDZ) of 50 meters from the HTL as against 200
BENEFITS OF CRZ:
meters from the High Tide Line stipulated in the CRZ
• Promoting economic development while also respecting
Notification, 2011 since such areas have similar
the conservation principles of coastal regions.
characteristics as urban areas.
• Significant employment generation, better life and will add
 CRZ-III B - Rural areas with population density of below
2161 per square kilometre as per 2011 Census. Such areas value to the economy of India.

shall continue to have an NDZ of 200 meters from the HTL. • The new notification is expected to rejuvenate the coastal
areas while reducing their vulnerabilities.
• Tourism infrastructure for basic amenities to be
promoted:

YELLOW RUST
o Temporary tourism facilities such as shacks, toilet blocks,
change rooms, drinking water facilities etc. have now been
permitted in Beaches.
#Natural Hazard
o Such temporary tourism facilities are also now permissible
in the "No Development Zone" (NDZ) of the CRZ-III areas as
per the Notification. However, a minimum distance of 10 IN NEWS
m from HTL should be maintained for setting up of such
Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR) issued
facilities
an advisory regarding possible outbreak of Yellow Rust in
• CRZ Clearances streamlined: wheat crops in parts of Punjab and Haryana.
o Clearances with Centre: Only such projects/activities,
which are located in the CRZ-I (Ecologically Sensitive Areas)
and CRZ IV (area covered between Low Tide Line and 12
Nautical Miles seaward) shall be dealt with for CRZ
clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change.

o Clearances with states: The powers for clearances with

respect to CRZ-II and III have been delegated at the State
level with necessary guidance.

• A No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters has been

stipulated for all Islands:

o For islands close to the main land coast and for all
Backwater Islands in the main land, in wake of space
limitations and unique geography of such regions, bringing
uniformity in treatment of such regions, NDZ of 20 m has
been stipulated.
WHEAT YELLOW RUST
• Yellow Rust are a fungus disease which appears as yellow
stripes of powder or dust on leaves and leaf sheaths of the
wheat crop.

• All Ecologically Sensitive Areas have been accorded • This yellow powder comes out on clothing or fingers when
special importance: touched.

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 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management

• The disease can spread rapidly under suitable conditions

and affects crop development, and eventually the yield.
IN NEWS
Impacts on Yield: Drastic reduction in the yields occur
because when the rust colonies in the leaves drain the The Future of Earth, 2020, report was released by the South
carbohydrates from the plant and reduce the green leaf area. Asia Future Earth Regional Office, Divecha Centre for Climate
Change, Indian Institute of Science. The report was prepared
Major impact zones in India: In India, it is a major disease in
with the aim of reducing carbon footprint and halting global
the Northern Hill Zone and the North-Western Plain Zone and
warming below 2 degree Celsius by 2050.
spreads easily during the onset of cool weather and when
wind conditions are favourable. Rain, dew and fog favour the FIVE MAJOR GLOBAL RISKS:
disease’s development.
• The failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation;

• Extreme weather events;

FUTURE OF EARTH, 2020 • Major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse;

• Food crises;
#Report • Water crises.

practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements: (d) 1, 2 and 3

1. Cheetahs have become extinct in Asia.

2. Reintroducing these Cheetahs from other countries is Q3. Consider the following statements:
the only way to revive them in India . 1. The locust attack in India has been caused by the
Which of the above statements is/are correct? locusts coming from eastern India.

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 2. Locusts are always gregarious.

(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None of the Above 3. There is no organization dealing with locust attacks in
India.

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the Which of the above statements is/are correct?

impacts of “Urban Heat Island”: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only

1. Creation of low pressure areas in areas surrounding (c) 3 only (d) None of the Above
the cities.
2. Migration of animals towards cities. Q4. Consider the following statements regarding
3. Extension of growing season in city surroundings. “Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species

Which of the above statements is/are correct? of Wild Animals”:

(a) 1 and 2 only 1. It is the only International convention dealing with the
cause of migratory species.
(b) 2 and 3 only
2. It provides same level of focus to all migratory species.
(c) 3 only

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3. The theme for COP-13 was “Protecting migratory Q5. Consider the following statements:
species from poaching” 1. Great Indian Bustard and Bengal Florican both belong
Which of the above statements is/are correct? to Bustard family.
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only 2. The ranges of both of them are spread across semi-
(c) 1 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 arid regions of India.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None of the Above

Answer for the above MCQs: 1 (d), 2 (b), 3 (d), 4 (c), 5 (a)

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 History, HERITAGE & Culture
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper I (Main)
5 ICONIC SITES
#Art and Culture
IN NEWS
In the Budget speech, the Finance Minister announced a series
of steps to set up and renovate museums to promote tourism.
Five archaeological sites would be developed as iconic sites
with on-site Museums. They are: Rakhigarhi (Haryana),
Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh) Shivsagar (Assam), Dholavira
(Gujarat) and Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu). Further, to make
India an attractive destination for both international and
domestic tourists, the Finance Minister proposed to allocate Rs
2,500 crores in 2020-21 for the tourism sector and Rs 3,150
crore for Ministry of Culture. In this respect, let us understand
the key information associated with this step.
ICONIC SITES
►Rakhigarhi, Haryana
• Rakhigarhi in Haryana is popular for featuring among the
five known biggest townships of Harappan civilization
in the Indian sub-continent.
• The Rakhigarhi site features five inter-connected
mounds that are spread in a large area. Of these, it is
believed that two mounds were densely populated.
• An excavation done by Archaeological Survey of India
revealed intricate mud-brick and burnt-brick houses
with a detailed drainage system. Vase, jar, handis,
dishes, bowls and beakers were among artifacts found
during the excavations.
• Among other excavated relics circular fire altars and
animal sacrificial pits revealed a lot about Harappan
culture.
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• A symbol of an alligator and a cylindrical seal with five
Harappan characters were among the notable finds of
excavations in Rakhigarhi.
►Dholavira, Gujarat
• Excavations have revealed that Gujarat’s Dholavira was the
fifth biggest seat of Harappan civilization.
• Official site of Gujarat Tourism states that the settlers of
Dholavira abandoned their settlements, then returned to
establish a de-urbanised culture.
• It also housed one of the world’s oldest rainwater
harvesting systems.
• Terracotta items, seals, copper ornaments, urns and
10 large stone inscriptions written in Indus Valley
script were found in excavations conducted here.
►Hastinapur, Uttar Pradesh
• Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh was known as the land of
Kauravas and Pandavas in times of Mahabharata.
• Hastinapur is dotted with sites related to Mahabharata,
like Karna Temple, Pandaveshwar Temple, Baradri,
Draunadeshwar Temple, Draupadi Ghat, Kama Ghat
and Vidur Tila.
• Hastinapur is also important for followers of Jainism.
Temples like Prachin Digambar Jain Temple,
Shwetambar Jain Temple, Astapad Jain Temple, Shri
Kailash Parvat Jain Temple, and Jambudweep Jain
Temple are sacred for Jains.
• It is also famous for being the birthplace of Panch Pyare
Bhai Dharam Singh, one of the five disciples of Guru
Gobind Singh Ji. Hence it holds much importance for
followers of Sikhism as well.
• One of the most significant discoveries made at this
site was of the “new ceramic industry”, which was
named the Painted Grey Ware, which as per the report
represented the relics of the early Indo-Aryans.
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 History, Heritage & Culture
►Sivasagar, Assam
• Sivasagar in Assam is well-known for being the capital of
the Ahom kingdom from 1699 to 1788, before it was
conquered by the British.
• An important relic from times of the Ahom kingdom, the
Rang Ghar, an amphitheater used for enjoying sports is
popular among visitors.
• ASI Guwahati circle states that in the excavations done in
the centre of Ahom kingdom’s power at Karenghar
(Talatalghar), vases, vessels, remains of pathways,
terracotta drain pipes and walls, etc. were found.
• Another excavation site in Sivasagar district is the
Garhgaon Raja’s palace.
►Adichanallur, Tamil Nadu
• As per Archaeological India, an urn-burial site was
discovered here first by a German, Dr. Jagor, and then
by Alexander Rea, an Englishman, who excavated sites
between 1876 and 1905.
• ASI’s annual report from 1902-1903 called the site one of
the most extensive prehistoric sites discovered in
southern India in those times.
• Among things excavated from the site, iron weapons and
implements, gold and bronze ornaments, kitchen-
related mortar and pestle-like implements
grinding, stone beads, are considered noteworthy.
INDIA’S FIRST MARITIME
MUSEUM
#Art and Culture
IN NEWS
The Government has announced allocation to the Ministry of
Culture for the maritime museum coming up at Lothal in
Gujarat as part of the 2020 Budget. The project is being
implemented by the Ministry of Shipping through its
Sagarmala programme, with the involvement of
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Indian Navy, the
Gujarat State government, and other stakeholders. In this
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respect, let us understand the key information associated with
this step.
ABOUT LOTHAL MARITIME MUSEUM
• Underwater or marine archaeology in India is all set to get
a boost with the government deciding to establish a
National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal, a
Harappan site on the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat.
• The museum will also be an independent research
centre of underwater archaeology for reconstruction
of maritime history, archaeology of boat building and
materials traded.
• It will have on display salvaged material from shipwreck
sites in the Indian Ocean waters.
• The museum is being set up with technical help from
the Portuguese Maritime Heritage Museum.
• Lothal is the site of one of the oldest ports in India
dating to the Bronze Age.
UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY
Underwater archaeology is a specialized branch of
archaeology that involves recovering submerged remains
such as ports, shipwrecks and studying proxy records of
maritime activity from archaeological excavations as well as
archival and historical records.
for
RELEVANCE OF UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY
• Archaeological evidence from the Persian Gulf and
Southeast Asia shows that Indian maritime voyagers
ventured into western and eastern seas of the Indian
Ocean some 4,000 years ago.
th
• Most of the documented shipwrecks belong to the 17 to
th
20 centuries. This period is the transition phase between
wood to iron and sail to steam.
• Studying sunken ships could also fill the gaps in India’s
maritime history and trade links with other countries.
• Some shipwrecks are of great of historical importance. The
Dart Mouth belonging to the East India Company, for
instance, was carrying treasure when it is said to have sunk
off Masulipatnam in 1719. Governor Keating, carrying
King’s Stores sank in a storm in 1812 near Nellore, Andhra
Pradesh.
the
• Some Indian ships are also lying in foreign waters, such as
P&O Liner Indus which carried the Buddhist sculptures of
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 History, Heritage & Culture
Bharhut stupa and is known to have sunk in 1882 to the
seabed of Sri Lankan waters.
WHAT HARAPPANS ATE?
#Ancient India
IN NEWS
The National Museum in New Delhi decided to keep meat out
of the ‘Historical Gastronomica’ event, allegedly after “a couple
of MPs” reacted to the menu posted online by the Ministry of
Culture. In this respect, let us delve in the food culture of the
Harappans as showcased in this event.
CHANGES MADE TO THE ORIGINAL MENU
The last-minute diktat has resulted in dishes such as fish in
turmeric stew, quail/fowl/country chicken roasted in saal
leaf, offal’s pot, bati with dry fish, meat fat soup, lamb
liver with chickpea, and dried fish and mahua oil chutney
being knocked off the table.
FOOD OF HARAPPANS
• Archaeological evidence from Indus Valley sites (c. 3300 BC
to 1300 BC) in present-day India and Pakistan suggests
that a purely vegetarian meal will not provide a
complete picture of what the Harappan people ate.
• Judging from the quantity of bones left behind, animal
foods were consumed in abundance: beef, buffalo,
mutton, turtles, tortoises, gharials, and river and sea fish.
• Apart from meat, the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation
grew and ate a variety of cereals and pulses.
• There is archaeological evidence for cultivation of pea
(matar), chickpea (chana), pigeon pea (tur/arhar),
horse gram (chana dal) and green gram (moong).
• Several varieties of wheat have been found at
Harappan sites, as well as barley of the two-rowed and
six-rowed kinds.
• There is evidence that the Harappans cultivated Italian
millet, ragi and amaranth, as well as sorghum and rice.
• Oilseeds such as sesame, linseed, and mustard were also
grown.
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BABHANIYAV: 4000 YEAR
CRAFT VILLAGE
# Ancient India
IN NEWS
A nearly 4,000-year-old urban settlement has been unearthed
by a team of surveyors from the Banaras Hindu University. In
this respect, let us learn some details pertaining to this site
and its significance.
ABOUT THE EXCAVATIONS
• The preliminary survey of the site in Babhaniyav village,
near Varanasi was carried out.
• The scholars found remnants of one of the settlements
mentioned in ancient literature about the holy city.
• The survey found a temple dating back to the 5th
century through 8th century, potteries which are
4,000-year-old and walls which are 2,000-year-old.
• On the basis of the surface materials it can be said that the
structure is anywhere between 3,500 to 4,000-year-old.
• The site gains significance because of its proximity to
Varanasi, which is said to be 5,000 years old, though
modern scholars believe it to be around 3,000 years old.
• The site at Babhaniyav could be a small sub-centre of
Varanasi which grew as an urban town.
• Scholars have also found a pillar with a two-line text in
Kushan-Brahmi script which makes the findings at least
3,500-4,000 years old.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EXCAVATIONS
• The findings are important as Babhaniyav could have
been a satellite town and feeding centre for Varanasi-
Sarnath region.
• While such crafts villages have been earlier unearthed in
Sarnath, Tilmapur, Ramnagar and other areas,
Babhaniyav is an addition.
TOMB OF BAHLOL LODHI
#Medieval India
83
 History, Heritage & Culture
IN NEWS
The tomb of Bahlol Lodhi is a forgotten monument in Chirag
Delhi. He was the founder of Lodhi dynasty. In this respect, let
us learn about this personality and his significance.
ABOUT BAHLOL LODHI’S TOMB
• The tomb of Bahlol Lodhi is situated near the shrine of
Hazrat Nasiruddin Mahmud (after whom the area is
known), for the 14th-century saint is regarded as ‘the
lamp of Delhi’ by his devotees.
• Bahlol’s tomb is a drab place compared to other
mausoleums in the region. It is a square chamber with
three arched openings on all sides, surmounted by five
domes, the central one being the biggest.
• Verses from the Quran are inscribed on the arches, but
there is hardly any other ornamentation. Perhaps a tomb
that reflects the times in which Bahlol lived — rugged and
sans the sophistication of the later rulers.
ABOUT BAHLOL LODHI (REIGN 1451 AD TO 1489 AD)
• Bahlol managed to get himself appointed Governor of
Punjab under Mohammad Shah of the Sayyid dynasty.
• One day a group of his followers dressed as Mirasis
(roadside musicians) tricked the guards into allowing them
to enter the house of the powerful Wazir, Hamid Khan.
• They forced him to surrender and after that it was an easy
job to oust Alam Shah, though the khutba (sermon)
continued to be read in his name.
• Alam Shah retired to Badaun, and Bahlol became the
first ruler of the Lodhi dynasty in 1451.
• He conquered Jaunpur, Dholpur, and Kalpi.
• The Sarqis of Jaunpur were the lords of the east and
their downfall was the Lodhi’s biggest gain.
• Bahlol never let success go to his head. He remained
humble, never sitting on a throne, but on a carpet along
with his nobles. He died in July 1489 after a long reign.
LATER LODHI RULERS
• Bahlol’s son Nizam Khan Sikandar Lodhi, who succeeded
him, became the most powerful ruler of the dynasty.
• Under Sikandar Lodhi’ s reign, Vasco da Gama landed
in India.
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• Sikandar made conquests in Bihar and Bengal, subjugated
Gwalior and founded the city of Agra in 1504.
• In the First Battle of Panipat, Babur defeated his son
Ibrahim Lodhi.
MUSEUM AT QILA RAI
PITHORA
#Art and Culture #Medieval India
IN NEWS
The rise and fall of the cities of Delhi will be told through its art
at a new museum being set up by the Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) at Qila Rai Pithora, considered to be the first of the
seven historical cities.
In this respect, let us understand about the significance of the
historic cities of Delhi.
ABOUT QILA RAI PITHORA
• The first reference to the place-name Delhi seems to have
been made in the 1st century BCE, when Raja Dhilu built a
city near the site of the future Qutb Minar tower (in
present-day southwestern Delhi) and named it for himself.
• The next notable city to emerge in the area now known as
the Delhi Triangle was Anangpur (Anandpur),
established as a royal resort in about 1020 CE by
Anangapala of the Tomara dynasty.
• Anangapala later moved Anangpur westward to a walled
citadel called Lal Kot. The Tomara kings occupied Lal
Kot for about a century.
• In 1164, Prithviraj III (Rai Pithora) extended the citadel
by building massive ramparts around it; the city then
became known as Qila Rai Pithora.
• In the late 12th century Prithviraj III was defeated. Later,
Qutb al-Dīn Aybak, builder of the famous tower Qutb
Minar (completed in the early 13th century), made Lal
Kot the seat of his empire.
HISTORIC CITIES OF DELHI
►Siri
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 History, Heritage & Culture

• The Khaljī dynasty came to power in the Delhi area in the • The structure was completed in eight years, and on April
last decade of the 13th century. 19, 1648, Shah Jahān entered his fort and his new capital,

• As a defense against subsequent attacks by the Shajahanabad, from its riverfront gate.

Mongols, Allauddin Khalji built a new circular fortified • Shahjahanabad today is Old Delhi.
city at Siri, near the Qutb Minar, that was designated
as the Khaljī capital.

• Siri was the first completely new city to be built by the KONARK SUN TEMPLE
Muslim dynasty in India.
#Art and Culture
►Tughlakabad

• The region passed into the hands of the

Tughluq dynasty in 1321.
• A new capital was built by Ghiyāth al-Dīn Tughluq
(1320–25) at Tughlakabad, but it had to be abandoned
in favour of the old site near the Qutb Minar because
of a scarcity of water.
►Firozabad
• Muhammad ibn Tughluq’s successor, Fīrūz Shah Tughluq,
abandoned the Daulatabad site and in 1354 moved his
capital farther north, near the ancient site of
Indraprastha.
IN NEWS
A plan to restore and preserve the nearly 800-year-old Konark
Sun temple in Odisha would be drawn up soon. In this respect,
let us understand the key information associated with this step
and this temple.
RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION PLANS
• The 13th century temple, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, had been filled with sand and sealed by the
British authorities in 1903 to stabilise the structure.

• The capital he founded, Firuzabad, was situated in what • A scientific study was carried out by the Roorkee-based
is now the Firoz Shah Kotla area of contemporary Delhi. Central Building Research Institute from 2013 till 2018 to
ascertain the temple’s structural stability as well as the
►Din Panah
status of the filled-in sand.
• Humāyūn ascended the throne in 1530 and in 1533
ABOUT KONARK SUN TEMPLE
founded a new city, Din Panah, on the bank of
the Yamuna River. • Konark Sun Temple, located in the eastern State of
Odisha near the sacred city of Puri, is dedicated to the
►Purana Qila
sun God or Surya. It was given the tag of world heritage
• Sher Shah, who overthrew Humāyūn in 1540, razed Din site in 1984.
Panah to the ground and built his new capital, the Sher
• The temple was built in A.D. 1250, during the reign of the
Shahi, now known as Purana Qila fort, in southeastern
Eastern Ganga King Narasimhadeva-I (A.D. 1238-64).
Delhi.
• It is a monumental representation of the sun God Surya's
►Shahjahanabad
chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs
• Shah Jahān, Akbar’s grandson, instructed his engineers, and it is led by a team of six horses.
architects, and astrologers to choose a location with a mild
• The monument was also called the Black Pagoda'(Kaala
climate somewhere between Agra and Lahore (now in
Pagoda) by the European sailors. In contrast, the
Pakistan).
Jagannath Temple in Puri was called the White Pagoda.
• The choice was on the western bank of the Yamuna, just
• The temple was originally built at the mouth of the river
north of Purana Qila.
Chandrabhaga, but the waterline has receded since then.
• Shah Jahān started the construction of the new
• The temple was made on the traditional style of Kalinga
capital, focusing on his fort, Urdu-i-Mualla, today
architecture and is constructed from Khondalite rocks.
called Lal Qila, or the Red Fort.

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 History, Heritage & Culture

• The wheels of the temple are sundials which can be • It is a fight between two roosters bred and trained for
used to calculate time accurately to a minute including day fighting.
and night. • Often a blade or knife is tied to their limbs to inflict injury
on the opponent.

KAMBALA
• Evidently, the sport was practised during Indus valley
civilization and was popular in ancient times in India,
China, Persia, other Eastern countries and Ancient
#Art and Culture
Greece.

• The Supreme Court banned the sport citing it to be in

violation of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. However,
IN NEWS: the sports are still held, despite the court's order.
Srinivas Gowda from Karnataka has risen to national fame ►Bail Gadi Shariat, Maharashtra
after competing in a Kambala event where his run is clocked
• It is a Bullock Cart race associated with Ganpati festival
9.55 seconds, just a wee bit ahead of Jamaican Usain Bolt’s
celebrated in the state and is seen as a status symbol and
world record of 9.58 seconds. In this respect, let us understand
an integral part of the state's culture.
the key information associated with this sport.
• It is not held as a commercial activity. These races too
ABOUT KAMBALA
stand legally banned post the Supreme Court's order on
• It is basically a buffalo race which is held in the villages performing sports, yet they continue to be held in the
of coastal Karnataka. The tracks usually are wet paddy state.
fields.
►Camel Race, Rajasthan
• It is held both as a competitive event in some areas and in
• It is held typically during the Pushkar Camel fair held in
some areas held by farmers as a ritual to thank God for
the months of October and November.
protecting their cattle from diseases.
►Dog Fights
• In 2014, the Supreme court held that bulls cannot be used
as performing animals. But the demand for Kambala arose • It is a blood sport that pits two dogs kept in cages without
after Tamil Nadu permitted holding of Jallikattu in the state food for days, against one another for entertainment. It is
after public protests demanded it. held in the outskirts of Delhi and is often accompanied
with illegal gambling/ betting.
RELATED INFORMATION: LIST OF ANIMAL SPORTS
• The Supreme Court held these to be in violation of
IN INDIA
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and therefore banned
►Jallikattu, Tamil Nadu
them.
• It is a bull taming sport and is held commonly during
►Bulbul fights, Assam
Pongal celebrations.
• It is organised during Bihu (harvest festival) in the
• The Supreme court in 2014 proscribed the use of animals
Hayagriva-Madhava Temple in Hajo near Guwahati,
in sporting events but the year 2016 witnessed a wave of
Assam.
public protests in Tamil Nadu seeking revocation of the
• Often bulbuls are fed intoxicants to make them aggressive.
ban on this sport as it was seen as a symbol of Tamil
identity and culture. ►Horse Racing

• An ordinance was passed by the state government to • It is a performance sport in vogue since ancient times in
permit the sport. Greece, Babylon, Syria, and Egypt and in India for over
200 years, involving jockeys riding horses over a distance.
►Cock-fights
• In 1996, the Supreme Court ruled that wagering on horse
• It is common in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand,
races is a game of skill and not luck and as such does not
Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

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 History, Heritage & Culture

constitute illegal gambling. Horse racing, thus, is legal in

the country.
YAKSHAGANA
# Art and Culture
TOMB OF DARA SHIKOH
Art and Culture #Medieval India
#
IN NEWS
Arshiya, a Muslim woman, is a Yakshagana artist. She is
IN NEWS relatively new entrant to the art form but she is growing in
popularity as there are far fewer women Yakshagana artistes
The Ministry of Culture recently set up a seven-member panel
compared to men, and a Muslim woman exponent is rare. At
of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to locate the grave
one time, this traditional art form was forbidden for women.
of the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh (1615-59). In this respect, let
In this respect, let us learn some details pertaining to this art
us understand some important information associated with
form.
this personality.
ABOUT YAKSHAGANA
ABOUT DARA SHIKOH
• Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form that
• Dara Shikoh is believed to be buried somewhere in the
combines dance, music, dialogue, costume, make-up,
Humayun’s Tomb complex in Delhi, one of around 140
and stage techniques with a unique style and form.
graves of the Mughal clan.
• Yakshagana literally means the song (gana) of the yaksha
• The eldest son of Shah Jahan, Dara Shikoh was killed after
(nature spirits).
losing the war of succession against his brother
Aurangzeb. • It developed in Udupi, in the state of Karnataka. It is
popular in the Karnataka districts of Dakshina
• He is described as a “liberal Muslim” who tried to find
Kannada, Kasaragod, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and
commonalities between Hindu and Islamic traditions.
Shimoga.
He translated into Persian the Bhagavad Gita as well
as 52 Upanishads. • This folk art is believed to have originated somewhere in
between the 10th and 16th century.
• Dara Shukoh was the total antithesis of Aurangzeb, in that
he was deeply syncretic, warm-hearted and generous — • It originated in the royal courts of the Vijaynagar

but at the same time, he was also an indifferent empire and was performed by a particular community

administrator and ineffectual in the field of battle. known as Jakkula Varu.

• According to the Shahjahannama, after Aurangzeb • Yakshagana is strongly influenced by the Vaishnava

defeated Dara Shikoh, he brought the latter to Delhi in Bhakti movement. Its stories are mainly drawn from

chains. His head was cut off and sent to Agra Fort, while Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata and other Hindu

his torso was buried in the Humayun’s Tomb complex. epics.

• Italian traveller Niccolao Manucci gave a graphic • A typical Yakshagana performance consists of background

description of the day in Travels of Manucci, as he was music played by a group of musicians (known as the

there as a witness to the whole thing. That is the basis himmela); and a dance and dialog group (known as the

of the thesis. mummela), who together enact poetic epics on stage.

• The Musalajati-Darshikohi of Nuruddin Muhammad, • Yakshagana is traditionally presented from dusk to

dedicated to Darashikoh, deals with Greek medicine dawn.

and contains, at the end, almost the whole of • Some of the popular variants of Yakshagana are Lalita
Ayurvedic material medica. in Maharashtra, Bhavai in Gujarat and Gandharva
Gana in Nepal.

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 History, Heritage & Culture

• Local Bazars such as Bapu bazar and Johri bazar are an

JAIPUR’S UNESCO authentic way of experiencing the city’s commercial legacy.

• The city has thus, successfully maintained its local

CERTIFICATE commercial and artisanal traditions, making it a significant

commercial hub even in contemporary times.
#Art and Culture #Medieval India

SAGOL KANGJEI AND

IN NEWS
Recently, Rajasthan’s Chief Minister dedicated the United
MANIPURI PONIES
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation # Art and Culture
(UNESCO) world heritage site certificate for Jaipur to the
people at a function. In this respect, let us understand the key
information pertaining to this city and its significance.
IN NEWS
ABOUT JAIPUR
Sagol Kangjei, from which the modern game of polo originated,
The fortified city of Jaipur, founded by Sawai Jai Singh II
rides on the back of an indigenous breed of horse. The
in 1727, is well known for its praiseworthy town planning
Manipuri pony is now a threatened breed, its numbers slowly
and architecture.
decreasing. Rapid urbanisation has left the animal with no
ARCHITECTURE grazing ground. In this respect, let us learn some details
pertaining to this game and this horse breed.
• Jaipur, famously known as the Pink City, is built according
to a grid plan which draws influence from Vedic ABOUT MANIPURI PONIES
architecture.
• They are considered descendants of the Asian wild horse.
• Moreover, its urban planning can be seen as an
• Manipuri ponies have been recognised as one of the
amalgamation of ideas from ancient Hindu and modern
five indigenous horse breeds of India; the others being
Mughal as well as Western cultures.
Marwari, Kathiawari, Zanskari and Spiti.
• Some exceptional monuments of Jaipur, including the City
• Lamphelpat in Imphal West district is a natural
palace, Hawa Mahal, Nahargarh fort and Amber fort,
breeding ground for ponies.
represent skilled craftsmanship.
• Smaller than the other breeds, the Manipuri pony is well
CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE known for its stamina, speed and ability to survive harsh
• Jaipur is well known for its crafts that have acquired weather.
national and international recognition. Some famous items • These horses once enjoyed special status in Manipuri
offered by the city include quilts, lacquer items, puppets society, and were used only for sport and rituals.
and jewellery.
• As a conservation measure, the State government now
• Noteworthy, are the celebrations of various cultural hosts an international polo tournament where all
festivals in the city. The temple of Govind Dev Ji is teams have to ride the Manipur pony.
famous for its grand celebrations of Janmashtami.
• A pony sanctuary is also being set up at Heingang to
• Jaipur was conceived as a trading town in the late preserve the breed.
medieval period, which can be attested from its planning.
For instance, the streets feature continuous
colonnaded businesses intersecting at the centre,
creating large public squares called chaupars.
BHAKTA RAMADASU
#Medieval India

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 History, Heritage & Culture

• The Betal puja involves a display of martial art, in this case

sword wielding, by the Adivasi Raj Gond and Pardhans
IN NEWS from the Mesram clan near the Govad.

Recently, a 11-foot imposing bronze statue of Bhakta ABOUT GOND TRIBE

Ramadasu, the renowned saint composer of the 17th century,
was unveiled at his birthplace, Nelakondapalli in Telangana’s
Khammam district, on the occasion of his 387th birth
anniversary on January 29. In this respect, let us learn about
this personality and why he is significant.
ABOUT RAMADASU
• Kancharla Gopanna (1620 – 1680), popularly known as
Bhakta Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu was a 17th-
century devotee of Lord Rama and a composer of Carnatic
music.
• He is a famous Vaggeyakara (classical composer) from the
Telugu classical era.
• His devotional lyrics to Rama are famous in South Indian
classical music as Ramadaasu Keertanalu.
• Gonds are a group of aboriginal peoples (now officially
designated as Scheduled Tribes) of central and south-
central India, about two million in number.
• They live in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha.
• The majority speak various and, in part, mutually
unintelligible dialects of Gondi, an unwritten language of
the Dravidian family.
• Some Gond have lost their own language and
speak Hindi, Marathi, or Telugu, depending on which is
dominant in their area.
• There is no cultural uniformity among the Gond, although
the religion of all Gond peoples centres in the cult of clan
and village deities, together with ancestor worship.

• He also wrote Dasarathi Shatakamu, a collection of nearly • The most developed are the Raj Gond, who once had
108 poems dedicated to the son of Dasaratha (Lord an elaborate feudal order.
Rama).

• Sri Thyagaraja Swamy, who was born a century later,

termed Sri Ramadas as an ideal bhakta and a great hero GANDHI AND PAYYANUR
(Dheeran).
# Modern India

NAGOBA JATRA
IN NEWS
#Art and Culture
Payyanur taluk, situated on the banks of the Perumba river in
Kerala’s Kannur district, played a significant role in India’s
struggle for independence and also has a historical
IN NEWS engagement with Gandhian thought and action. The
Recently, the Nagoba Jatara was celebrated in Telangana. In government of Kerala plans to set up a Mahatma Gandhi
this respect, let us understand about the significance of this Smriti Museum here.
festival. In this respect, let us learn some details pertaining to this site
ABOUT NAGOBA JATARA and its significance.

• Nagoba Jatara is a tribal festival held in Keslapur village, PAYYANUR AND THE INDIAN FREEDOM MOVEMENT
Indervelly Mandal, Adilabad District, Telangana. • In the early days, the Simon Commission protest in 1928
• It is the second biggest tribal carnival and celebrated was the first major movement that ushered Payyanur
by Mesram clan of Gond tribes for 10 days. to the forefront of the freedom struggle.

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 History, Heritage & Culture
• Moyarath Sankaran, A. Lakshmana Shenoy
Subrahmanyam Thirumunpu were the leaders of
‘Simon Go Back’.
• The same year witnessed the All Kerala Political
Conference at Payyanur, which was presided over by
Jawaharlal Nehru.
• During that conference, resolutions were passed
demanding poorna swaraj (complete independence) for
India and permanent tenancy for land tillers.
• The Salt Satyagraha in 1930 was another landmark in
Payyanur’s history. ‘Kerala Gandhi’ K. Kelappan led a
procession of 33 satyagrahis from Kozhikode to
Payyannur, the southern tip of the North Malabar.
• S.A. Barelvi, in his newspaper the Bombay Chronicle,
described Payyanur as the “Second Bardoli,” honouring
its valour and sacrifice during the Salt Satyagraha.
• Payyanur was also an epicentre of the
untouchability movement.
• Great leaders of the movement at Payyanur — A.K.
Gopalan, K.A. Keraliyan and Vishnu Bharatiyan —
ushered boys from the oppressed Pulaya community
into the southern corridor of the Kandoth Sree
Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple.
• One of the first crusaders against casteism in
Payyanur was Swami Anandatheertha. He jumped into
the freedom struggle and joined Sabari Ashram in
1926.
• Following Gandhiji’s advice to take up the task of uplifting
the oppressed classes, he went to Sivagiri in 1928; he was
consecrated as ‘Swami Anandatheertha’ by Narayana Guru
in the same year and raised the banner of revolt against
casteism.
• In 1931 he started a school for the oppressed. He later
staged numerous dharnas before barber shops where
Dalits were not admitted.
• He also led a march to Guruvayur, where free meals
were being given to Brahmins only, although many of
those who were excluded from this handout were
starving.
• Gandhiji visited Kerala several times, but his visit to
Payyanur in January 1934 was special — it was a private
visit to call on Swami Anandatheertha.
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MOOKNAYAK
and
#Art and Culture #Modern India
IN NEWS
This is the centenary year of Mooknayak, the Marathi journal
published by B.R Ambedkar. In this respect, let us understand
some important information associated with this and about B
R Ambedkar.
ABOUT MOOKNAYAK
• Mooknayak (The Leader of the Mute), the first
journalistic venture of Babasaheb Ambedkar, was a
fortnightly newspaper.
• He started in 1920 with the patronage of his mentor,
anti- Shahuji Maharaj.
• Ambedkar’s aim in launching this journal was to put
forward his own point of view on matters such as Swaraj,
the education of the ‘untouchables’, and the evils of
untouchability, which had hitherto not found due
representation in mainstream Hindi journals.
• Mooknayak remained in circulation for three years.
ABOUT B R AMBEDKAR
• Popularly known as Baba Saheb. He was the Chairman of
the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly
and is called the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’.
• He earned doctoral degrees in economics from the
Columbia University and the London School of Economics.
• He established the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha to
promote education and socio-economic improvements
among the Dalits.
• He started magazines like Mooknayak, Equality Janta
and Bahishkrit Bharat.
• In 1927, he launched active agitation against
untouchability. He organised and agitated for the right of
Dalits to enter temples and to draw water from public
water resources. He condemned Hindu scriptures that he
thought propagated caste discrimination.
• In the early 1930s he advocated a separate electorate
for the Dalits. This demand was accepted by British Prime
Minister Ramsay MacDonald in his Communal Award of
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 History, Heritage & Culture
1932, which granted Dalits 18% of the total seats in the
Central legislature and 71 seats in the Provincial
legislatures to be elected exclusively by Dalits.
• However, Ambedkar’s success was short-lived because of
Mahatma Gandhi’s fast unto death against a separate
electorate for Dalits whereby Ambedkar gave up his
demand in return for an increased number of seats
reserved for Dalits but elected by the general Hindu
population.
• Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party (later
transformed into the Scheduled Castes Federation) in
1936.
• He also worked as Minister of Labour in the Viceroy’s
Executive Council.
• After independence, Ambedkar became the first Law
Minister in 1947. Later he resigned due to differences
with Jawaharlal Nehru on the Hindu Code Bill.
• He was appointed to the Rajya Sabha in 1952 and
remained a member till his death.
• A few months before he died, he converted to Buddhism
in a public ceremony in Nagpur and with him lakhs of
Dalits converted to Buddhism.
• He authored several books and essays. Some of them are:
The Annihilation of Caste, Pakistan or the Partition of
India, The Buddha and his Dhamma, The Evolution of
Provincial Finance in British India, Administration and
Finance of the East India Company, etc.
• He was in favour of pooling of land among small
farmers with cooperative management of land.
• His solution was for the state to attempt to control farm
input prices.
practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Consider the following pairs:
1. Kambala: Karnataka
2. Bail Gadi Shariat: Maharashtra
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• His next goal was to break open the obscure financial
relationship between the Centre and States (imperial
versus provincial governments).
• He concluded that a system where fiscal powers were
shared between the two entities would be the most
stable, an idea which is enshrined in the Constitution.
• His most enduring economic research is focused on the
debates around colonial India’s monetary policy, a subject
on which he authored two books.
• In 1934, the Hilton Young Commission was set up to
debate this topic. Every member of this Royal Commission
on Indian Currency and Finance held a copy of
Ambedkar’s book, The Problem of the Rupee, as
Ambedkar argued his case for fiscal stability.
• As a result, the committee drafted the Reserve Bank of
India Act of 1934 with the express purpose of
protecting markets from currency fluctuations
through state control.
• He was instrumental in drafting specific laws to protect
the rights of women in mines and factories, as well as
recognising maternity in the law.
• Maternity rights in modern India owe their existence
to Babasaheb.
• Babasaheb was also instrumental in introducing major
labour reforms, making the case for state intervention in
labour relations in his writings as “what is called liberty
from the control of the state is another name for the
dictatorship of the private employer”.
• He was also the driving force behind Employees’ State
Insurance and the collection of industrial and labour
statistics to track the progress of labour.
Which of the above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
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 History, Heritage & Culture

Q2. Which of the following travelers witnessed the 2. Gonds are an aboriginal tribe of North-east India.
execution of Dara Shikoh? Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) Pelsaert (b) Barbosa (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Manucci (d) Ralph Fitch (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q3. Which of the following rulers moved his capital to Q5. Consider the following archaeological sites:
Deogiri? 1. Lothal
(a) Alauddin Khilji 2. Rakhigarhi
(b) Muhammad Bin Tughlaq 3. Hastinapur
(c) Firoz Shah Which of the above sites are being developed as Iconic sites
(d) Shah Jahan with on-site museums by the Government of India?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2
Q4. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 only
1. Nagoba Jatra is a tribal festival in Assam.

descriptive Questions
Q1. Payyanur, a small taluk in Kerala’s Kannur district, played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence. Discuss.

Answers to above MCQs: 1 (c), 2 (c), 3 (b), 4(d), 5(c)

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 SECURITY
# GS Paper III (Main)
LEAKAGE OF MEDICAL
DETAILS
# Cyber security
IN NEWS
The report by a German cybersecurity firm that medical
details of millions of Indian patients were leaked and are
freely available on the Internet is worrying.
• Associated risk of the breach: Medical details (in
millions) of Indian patients has the potential to be mined
for deeper data analysis and for creating profiles that
could be used for-social engineering, phishing, online
identity theft, other practices that thrive on the
availability of such data on the Darknet.
• Reason for the availability of this data: Absence of any
security in the Picture Archiving and Communications
Systems (PACS) servers used by medical professionals;
Server to have been connected to the public Internet
without protection.
ANALYSIS IN DETAIL
• Public data leaks have been quite common in India —
from government websites enabling the download of
Aadhaar numbers to electoral data rolls being
downloaded in bulk, among others.
• India still lacks a comprehensive legal framework to
protect data privacy, unlike the data protection
regulations in place in the European Union and in the
U.S.
• The Draft Personal Data Protection Bill 2019 is still to be
tabled but could enable protection of privacy.
• The draft Bill follows up on the provisions submitted by a
committee of experts chaired by Justice B.N. Srikrishna
to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
in 2018.
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• The committee sought to codify the relationship between
individuals and firms/state institutions as one between
“data principals” (whose information is collected) and
“data fiduciaries” (those processing the data) so that
privacy is safeguarded by design.
• While the 2019 version of the Bill seeks to retain the
intent and many of the recommendations of the Justice
Srikrishna committee, it has also diluted a few provisions.
For example, while the Bill tasks the fiduciary to seek the
consent in a free, informed, specific, clear form (and
which is capable of being withdrawn later) from the
principal, it has removed the proviso from the 2018
version of the Bill that said selling or transferring
sensitive personal data by the fiduciary to a third party is
an offence.
• There are other substantive issues with the Bill pertaining
to the situations when state institutions are granted
exemption from seeking consent from principals to
process or obtain their information.
WAY FORWARD
Considering the manner in which public data are being
stored and used by both the state and private entities, a
comprehensive Data Protection Act is the need of the hour.
DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION
# Data Privacy
IN NEWS
In a first anywhere in the world, a court in the Netherlands
recently stopped a digital identification scheme for reasons
of exclusion.
BACKGROUND
• The Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs developed SyRI
(System Risk Indicator) in 2014 to weed out those who
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 Security

are most likely to commit fraud and receive government • Experts worldwide have been watching the Netherlands
benefits. case throughout, and agree that the ruling will ripple

• The legislation allowed government agencies to share 17 beyond.

categories of data with a private company (The • The UN Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston, said: “This
Intelligence Agency). decision sets a strong legal precedent for other courts to

• The company used an algorithm to analyse data and follow. This is one of the first times a court anywhere has

calculate risk scores. The selective rollout was conducted stopped the use of digital technologies and abundant

in low-income and immigrant neighbourhoods, which digital information by welfare authorities on human

have a higher number of beneficiaries. Elevated risk rights grounds.”

scores were sent to relevant government arms, which • The UK chairman of the House of Commons, Stephen
stores these on government databases for a maximum of Timms, said: “This ruling by the Dutch courts
two years. The government, in that time period, could demonstrates that parliaments ought to look very closely
open an investigation on the targeted person. at the ways in which governments use technology in the

• A Dutch district court ruled against this scheme because social security system, to protect the rights of their

of data privacy and human rights concerns. The court citizens.”

said using new technology to control fraud was WAY FORWARD

acceptable, it held SyRI was too invasive and violative of
the privacy guarantees given by European Human Rights
Law as well as the European Union’s General Data
Protection Regulation.
HOW RELEVANT IS THIS FOR INDIA?
• Similar to the Supreme Court’s Aadhaar judgment setting
limits on the ID’s usage, the Hague Court attempted to
balance social interest with personal privacy.
• The ruling is also an example of how a data protection
regulation can be used against government surveillance.
• India’s pending data protection regulation, being
analysed by a Joint Select Committee in Parliament,
would give broad exemptions to government data
processing in its current form. Some members of the
committee have decided to take up government
surveillance in the upcoming deliberative meetings.
• India’s proposed regulation is similar to the US in the
loopholes that could be potentially exploited. Hence,
attempts to ban facial recognition in cities such as San
Francisco have not had the same success as attempts in
Europe.
HAVE OTHER COUNTRIES TAKEN NOTE OF THE
DUTCH COURT RULING?
• Digital ID systems are being rolled out at a fast pace in
places like Kenya, Philippines, Nigeria, Mexico, and more.
• The Government of India should enact a privacy
legislation that clearly defines the rights of citizens
consistent with the constitutional provisions.
• The government should factor in privacy risks and
include procedures and systems to protect citizen
information in any system of data collection.
• An institutional mechanism such as Privacy
Commissioner should be created to prevent
unauthorised disclosure of or access to such data.
• Capabilities of India’s national cyber cell should be
enhanced for dealing with any cyber-attack in shortest
time.
FIREWALL
# Cybersecurity
A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming
and outgoing network traffic and permits or blocks data
packets based on a set of security rules. Its purpose is to
establish a barrier between your internal network and
incoming traffic from external sources (such as the internet)
in order to block malicious traffic like viruses and hackers.
HOW DOES A FIREWALL WORK?
• Firewalls carefully analyse incoming traffic based on pre-
established rules and filter traffic coming from unsecured
or suspicious sources to prevent attacks.

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• Firewalls guard traffic at a computer’s entry point, called
ports, which is where information is exchanged with
external devices.
• Firewalls can either be software or hardware, though
it’s best to have both.
• A software firewall is a program installed on each
computer and regulates traffic through port numbers
and applications, while a physical firewall is a piece of
equipment installed between your network and gateway.
TYPES OF FIREWALLS
• Packet-filtering firewall: Examines packets and prohibit
them from passing through if they don’t match an
established security rule set. This type of firewall checks
the packet’s source and destination IP addresses. If
packets match those of an “allowed” rule on the firewall,
then it is trusted to enter the network.
• Next-generation firewall (NGFW): It is a combination of
traditional firewall technology with additional
functionality, such as encrypted traffic inspection,
intrusion prevention systems, anti-virus, and more. Most
notably, it includes deep packet inspection (DPI). While
basic firewalls only look at packet headers, deep packet
inspection examines the data within the packet itself,
enabling users to more effectively identify, categorize, or
stop packets with malicious data.
• Proxy firewall: It filters network traffic at the application
level. Unlike basic firewalls, the proxy acts
intermediary between two end systems. The client must
send a request to the firewall, where it is then evaluated
against a set of security rules and then permitted or
blocked.
• Network address translation (NAT) firewall: It allows
multiple devices with independent network addresses to
connect to the internet using a single IP address, keeping
individual IP addresses hidden.
• Stateful multilayer inspection (SMLI) firewall: It filters
packets at the network, transport, and application layers,
comparing them against known trusted packets.
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Security
MILITARY EXERCISE
AJEYA WARRIOR-2020: INDIA AND UNITED KINGDOM
(MILITARY EXERCISE)
• Fifth edition of Joint Military Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR-
2020 between India and United Kingdom was conducted
at Salisbury Plains, United Kingdom.
• The aim of this exercise was to conduct company level
joint training with emphasis on counter terrorist’s
operation in Urban and Semi Urban areas.
• The exercise is conducted alternatively in United
Kingdom and India.
• The joint military exercise displays a bilateral willingness
to work jointly and share operating procedures to deal
with a situation in a specified operational setting.
SAMPRITI-IX: INDIA AND BANGLADESH (MILITARY
EXERCISE)
• Armies of India and Bangladesh participated in joint
military exercise SAMPRITI-IX at Umroi, Meghalaya.
• The exercise was aimed at strengthening the military
relations between the two countries, which allowed the
two armies to understand each other's tactical drills and
operating techniques.
• The exercise provided an ideal platform for the
personnel of the two countries to share their experiences
an on counter insurgency, counter terrorism operations and
providing aid to civil authorities for disaster management
especially in jungle and semi-urban terrain.
• Besides promoting understanding and interoperability
between the two armies, it further helped in
strengthening ties between India and Bangladesh.
95
 Security

practice questions

MCQs
Q1. Consider the following military exercises and (c) Both 1 and 2
partner countries: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
1. Ajeya Warrior - India and United Kingdom
2. Sampriti - India and Nepal Q3. Consider the following statements:
3. Friendship - Pakistan and Russia 1. Network address translation (NAT) firewalls allow
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? multiple devices with independent network
(a) 1 and 3 only addresses to connect to the internet using a single IP
(b) 1 and 2 only address, keeping individual IP addresses hidden.
(c) 2 and 3 only 2. Stateful multilayer inspection (SMLI) firewalls filter
(d) 1, 2 and 3 packets at the network, transport, and application
layers, comparing them against known trusted
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the packets.
firewall: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. It is a network security device that monitors incoming (a) 1 only
and outgoing network traffic. (b) 2 only
2. Firewalls can either be a software or a hardware. (c) Both 1 and 2
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only

Answers to above MCQs: 1 (a), 2 (c), 3(c)

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 Miscellaneous
WBC BOXING
IN NEWS
Tokyo is going to host largest event on planet Earth i.e.
#Boxing Summer Olympics 2020 (XXXII Olympics). In this regard, let us
have a look on sports played at summer Olympics.

At the first Olympic Games in 1896, there were nine

IN NEWS sports contested. Since that time many sports have been
added (and removed too) from the program. Only five sports
In a recent title fight, Tyson Fury of U.K. regains heavyweight
have been contested at every summer Olympic Games
world champion after defeating American, Deontay Wilder.
since 1896: Athletics, Cycling, Fencing, Gymnastics and
Swimming. In 2012 there were 26 sports contested, and in
2016 there was 28, and 33 are scheduled for 2020.

SPORTS AT THE 2020 TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES

Here are the 33 sports to be included on the program for the
2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Five new sports have been
added to the program in Tokyo: baseball and softball, karate,
sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing. The list of 33 is
given below:

1. Aquatics (including swimming, diving and synchronized

• The World Boxing Council (WBC) is one of four major
swimming, water polo)
organizations which sanctions professional boxing bouts,
alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), 2. Archery
International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing 3. Badminton
Organization (WBO).
4. Baseball and Softball
• It was initially established by 11 countries: the United
5. Basketball
States, Puerto Rico, Argentina, United Kingdom, France,
Mexico, the Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela 6. Boxing
and Brazil in 1963. Today, it has 161 member countries. 7. Canoe / Kayak
• The current WBC President is Mauricio Sulaimán. 8. Cycling
• It is headquartered in Mexico City. 9. Equestrian

10. Fencing

SPORTS AT THE OLYMPIC

11. Football (soccer)

12. Golf

GAMES 13. Gymnastics (Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampolining)

14. Handball
#International event 15. Hockey

16. Judo

17. Karate

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 Miscellaneous

18. Modern Pentathlon Q4. The capital of Papua New Guinea is _________.

19. Rowing Q5. The capital of Seychelles is _________.

20. Rugby 7s Q6. The capital of El Salvador is _________.

21. Sailing Q7. The capital of Serbia is _________.

22. Shooting Q8. The capital of Lithuania is _________.

23. Skateboarding - men and women's street and park Q9. The capital of Madagascar is _________.
skateboarding events Q10. The capital of East Timor is _________.
24. Sport Climbing - bouldering and lead and speed Answers: 1. Freetown; 2. Ouagadougou; 3. Suva; 4. Port
combined climbing Moresby; 5. Victoria; 6. San Salvador; 7. Belgrade; 8. Vilnius; 9.
25. Surfing Antananarivo; 10. Dili.

26. Table Tennis

JOURNEY OF A
27. Taekwondo

28. Tennis

29. Track & Field

CIVILIZATION
30. Triathlon

31. Volleyball - indoor and beach volleyball

# Books to read
32. Weightlifting

33. Wrestling (Greco-Roman and Freestyle)

Note: In all, 339 events in 33 sports (50 disciplines)

QUIZ TIME
# General Knowledge #Capital cities

Q1. The capital of Sierra Leone is ________.

IN SHORT
Q2. The capital of Burkina Faso is ________.
Journey of a Civilization: Indus to Vaigai grapples with a little-
Q3. The capital of Fiji is ________________.
understood period in Indian history — the centuries that

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 Miscellaneous
followed the decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation. And it
comes up with a wealth of new insights that are fascinating in
themselves, but in addition, also answer a question that has
vexed historians for long: what happened to the culture and
language of the Indus Valley Civilisation after it started
disintegrating around 1900 BCE?
What makes the book very timely is that in the last couple of
years, a relatively new discipline called population genetics
has been answering critical questions about Indian
population formation, including who the Indus Valley people
were, where they moved and whom they mixed with after
their civilisation went down. For example, we know from
recent genetic research that people of the Indus Valley were a
mixed population of First Indians (the earliest direct
ancestors of modern humans in the subcontinent who
arrived here around 65,000 years ago as part of the original
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Out of Africa migrations that populated the whole world), and
a population related to the earliest agriculturists of Iran.
We also know that when their civilisation began declining,
they moved east, towards North India, and south, towards
South India. Again, we know from genetic research that in the
following centuries, between 2000 BCE and 1500 BCE, there
were large-scale migrations from the central Asian Steppe,
areas today known as Kazakhstan that brought Indo-Aryan
language speakers to India who called themselves Arya. Over
centuries, these highly mobile pastoralist groups with
mastery over horse came to dominate the northern parts of
India, enough to cause a language shift from the pre-Arya
languages of the Indus Valley people to the Indo-Aryan
languages of the new migrants.
99
 Part TWO

Ethics, Integrity
& Aptitude
Coverage from varied sources
 Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE
#Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
WHAT IS CONSCIENCE?
Conscience describes two things – what a person believes is
right and how a person decides what is right. More than
just ‘gut instinct’, our conscience is a ‘moral muscle’. By
informing us of our values and principles, it becomes the
standard we use to judge whether or not our actions are
ethical. We can call these two roles ethical awareness and
ethical decision making.
Ethical Awareness: This is our ability to recognise ethical
values and principles. The medieval philosopher Thomas
Aquinas believed our conscience emerged from synderesis
[sin-dee-ree-sis] – the ‘spark of conscience’. He literally meant
the human mind’s ability to understand the world in moral
terms. Conscience was the process by which a person
brought the principles of synderesis into a practical situation
through our decisions.
Ethical Decision Making: This is our ability to make practical
decision in light of ethical values and principles. In his
writings, Aristotle described phronesis [fro-nee-sis] – the
goodness of practical reason. This was the ability to evaluate
a situation clearly so we would know how to act virtuously
under the circumstances.
A conscience which is both well-formed (shaped by
education and experience) and well informed (aware of
facts, evidence and so on) enables us to know ourselves
and our world and act accordingly. Seeing conscience in this
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way is important because it teaches us ethics is not innate. By
continuously working to understand our surroundings, we
strengthen our moral muscle.
On the basis of above, given below are some of
the stories and experiences shared by people
highlighting the importance of conscience in
day to day life.
►THE MAGIC OF MISTAKES
(# lesson on conscience)
Everyone commits blunders, but the wise learn from them
A life spent making mistakes is more honourable and useful than
a life doing nothing – George Bernard Shaw
Have you ever learnt from a mistake you have made? Many
won’t admit doing so. For those who do, there is no need for
guilt. We often make mistakes from taking risks, but some
brush them aside and learn from it. With that, they may not
make mistakes the next time around.
When entrepreneurs spend time and money trying to avoid
failure, the lessons learnt from missteps can be invaluable,
making them wiser and ultimately earning them more profit.
While we know the importance of learning from mistakes, the
reality is not as easy as it sounds — despite the best efforts,
our brains fight us every step of the way by making us
rationalise that it was not a big mistake to start with.
Everyone makes mistakes, but the wise learn from them.
Experience is the name of our mistakes and the resulting
pain nourishes courage. The hidden magic in every
mistake is the learning. To learn from mistakes, we have to
first acknowledge that we have made one, but that makes us
feel bad about ourselves. To avoid it, we often skirt around
the truth, which is a big obstacle and arguably the most
important one to overcome.
The magic of mistakes: We often retroactively create
positive attributes to a choice we have already made, which is
101
 Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
a choice supportive bias and an example of a rationalisation-
after- the-event.
Effects of making mistakes are not limited
psychological level either. When we celebrate after a win,
there is a rush of “feel-good” chemicals such as testosterone
and dopamine from the brain, giving us a high. With
repetition, this neurotransmitter signal morphs the brain’s
chemical configuration to make the better-trained people feel
smarter and more confident.
The dictum “success begets success” makes future winnings
more likely and neuroscientists call it the “winner effect”,
which along with the not-yet-officially-named “loser effect”
runs in accordance with Nietzsche’s famous adage “That
which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
The 18th century polymath Benjamin Franklin was being
more intuitive than rigorously scientific when he famously
defined insanity (as echoed by Einstein) as “doing the same
thing over and over expecting a different result”. Such
persisting attitudes are not a foible because
consequences can be severe.
Neurosciences suggest that the inability to learn from
mistakes may lie at the heart of problems such as passive
aggression, substance abuse and certain types of personality
disorders. The changes in EEG patterns in some cases
suggest that the flaws may be hard-wired in the brain.
Since science is about measurable and repeatable
phenomena, every failed experiment is a learning experience.
Failures being more plentiful than successes, mistakes are
to be celebrated because of their immense tutorial value.
Ian Wilmut had hundreds of failures before succeeding with
cloning Dolly the sheep.
►ADOPT CLEANLINESS
(# lesson on conscience)
A culture of cleanliness and tidiness must be inculcated from an
early age
Those who have travelled overseas are struck by the
orderliness and cleanliness of public places in sharp contrast
to what is happening back home. No one tells a child to keep
the surroundings clean and not to litter. It is the way a child is
brought up that inspires a desire for cleanliness.
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That is the reason it is difficult to find even a scrap of paper
or plastics on the streets or outside homes in many foreign
countries. That applies to cleanliness on board trains, buses
to the
and trams that are in public service. No one throws anything
outside a running train or bus as it is considered taboo.
We adopt a dual standard. We tend to keep our house and
neighbourhood clean, but have no compunction in throwing
dirt and discarded objects outside. The logic is someone is
there to clean up and pick up the discard. People in general
hold rivers in respect but do not hesitate to throw things in
the river. That is the reason our rivers, lakes and other
waterbodies are far from clean. Even the piped treated water
that is supplied by municipal authorities is not fit for drinking.
Most homes have some sort of filter to clean the water
before use. Others may boil the water before use. In sharp
contrast, a few cities round the globe claim proudly that their
city water supply is fit for drinking straight from the tap.
I was away in a remote part of Japan waiting for a connecting
train at a small wayside station. A young girl was also waiting
the
for the train. I watched her taking out a candy from her bag
and eat it. Afterwards, she walked briskly to a nearby waste
bin provided on the platform to deposit the wrapper. Such is
the level of awareness to keep surroundings clean from a
young age. It is the culture of cleanliness and tidiness which is
inculcated from an early age. It is not that our youngsters are
not aware of the need to keep surroundings clean. But for
most others, it is sheer apathy and carelessness that makes
them litter.
When a toilet is not available, what does a person do? He
uses any public place to ease himself. I observed a person
soiling a wall. I asked his companion why he was doing so.
“Maybe, he couldn’t have waited till he found a toilet,” replied
his friend. That person after finishing his business came near
me, “Sir, you are right. But I couldn’t help it. Please provide a
toilet nearby.” I kept quiet as I had no answer.
A few public toilets are maintained badly with poor
cleanliness. These go out of water soon leaving a stinking
mess. No wonder only a few persons patronise public toilets.
However, ‘pay and use’ toilets maintained by attenders are
better. While I was on a tour of Paris, I found a men’s toilet
was cleaned by a woman who used to dart in and out when
there was no person inside. She was also in charge of the
women’s toilet. “Unisex” toilets are still not popular.
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The Swachh Bharat programme was launched throughout
the country with big fanfare. After five years, many toilets
were built in villages and towns. Some of them were
substandard that kept patrons away. Unfortunately, open
defecation, especially in villages, is still going on. A similar sad
story applies to the programme to clean the major rivers like
Ganga and Yamuna. Thousands of crores of money are
already spent with poor results. The major issue remains
leakage of sewage water into the rivers. The priority should
have been first to build treatment plants and then lead the
clean water into the river. Such simple priorities are being
overlooked in the enthusiasm to achieve something big. It
has become more of publicity rather than actual work.
It is becoming clear that the cleanliness drive has to start with
the people. The government and other agencies should act as
facilitators to help plan and execute the work. Consultation
with the people concerned goes a long way in the success of
any cleanliness drive. A cleanliness plan should
community based rather than as a diktat from the
government. “Start early in life,” is a good piece of advice
for creating awareness of cleanliness. It is the duty and
responsibility of every citizen to take care of cleanliness.
► LIES VERSUS THE TRUTH, THE CHOICE IS OURS
(# lesson on conscience)
Admitting and learning from mistakes should be the right way to
go, and Indians need to learn that
A few months ago, I visited a museum of history in Berlin
called the Topography of Terror. The exhibits in this indoors-
and-outdoors museum portray heinous crimes committed by
the Nazis. Here, the thought that came to me was of
tolerance and conflicts of interest. Topography of Terror is
funded and managed by the German government — proof
that Germans are fine with self-reflection and criticism.
In many leading democracies, such introspection and
criticism are tolerated. Consider the recent Boeing 737 MAX
aircraft crashes. It was the U.S. media — including The New
York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today — that were
in the forefront of debates on certain technical flaws in the
software used in the aircraft that could have led to the
accidents. An article in The New York Times even said it was
Boeing’s relentless competition with its European rival Airbus
for orders from America’s own airlines that led to security
lapses. American airlines were considering placing orders for
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hundreds of jet aircraft with Boeing’s European rival Airbus,
which forced Boeing into a frenzied rush, and in record time
it developed and deployed the 737 MAX 8, even overlooking
certain key safety features. Americans, like Germans, aren’t
afraid of such self-criticism.
Can I even imagine a museum in Delhi portraying some of
the mistakes Indians have committed, in line with
Topography of Terror? A museum on sati, the caste
system, honour killings, mob lynching and so on?
Tolerance for criticism and dissent vary substantially across
time and space. Our own level of tolerance, while far below
that of the majority of developed countries, is still higher than
that of many West Asian countries, China, and so on.
A few decades ago, our own tolerance level was arguably
higher than it is today. Consider, for example, how Jawaharlal
Nehru reacted to certain political caricatures criticising him,
done by cartoonist R.K. Laxman. One morning, Laxman was
be
surprised to receive a call from Nehru. The Prime Minister
told him he had so enjoyed his cartoon that morning, and
asked if he may have a signed copy of it.
Tolerance for criticism, introspection, learning from
mistakes and feedback loops are indeed hallmarks of
Baconian logic and scientific methodology. If we don’t
criticise other people’s mistakes and our own past acts, and,
more important, learn from the mistakes, how can we
progress? If Germans and Americans can criticise their own
past actions and make remarkable progress in terms of
education, health and standard of living, why can’t we do it
too? Let’s accept that we have made mistakes in the past (and
make them in the present time, too), in order to move
forward by learning from the mistakes, to march towards a
better India.
The other viewpoint: Conversely, in Germany I also met a
youngster who, instead of acknowledging the mistakes of his
country, swore by his opinion that the Holocaust never
happened, and that the whole story was only propaganda
created by Jews and a leftist lobby. “Have you been to
Topography of Terror?” I asked. According to him, everything
in that museum comprised doctored, fabricated lies. Hitler
and the Nazis were good people. Later I found there are
hundreds of people like him, those who subscribe to the
theory of Holocaust denial, considering it to be in the nature
of a conspiracy theory.
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Conspiracy theories are everywhere. Perhaps the best-known
among them is the moon-landing hoax, which pronounces
that the Americans never landed on the moon; all six moon
landings were staged, manufactured lies by NASA’s Apollo
programme. Other examples include flat earth (thousands of
people still swear by the theory (the earth is flat, not round!)
and intelligent design (god created the world in a period of a
week some thousands of years ago). There are dozens of
conspiracy theories in India, including the glorification of our
past, and giving credit to the vedas for the discovery of
aircraft, plastic surgery, the Internet.
When even some established historians and academics swear
by such conspiracy theories, and when such theories are fed
in as facts into mainstream scholarly literature and textbooks,
the situation becomes more serious — an unethical practice
called historical revisionism.
The fight between history based on evidence and historical
revisionism is analogous to that between science and
pseudoscience — the ignorance that wears the white-lab coat
of an experimental scientist and masquerades in public as
ambassadors of real science while evading
falsifiability and appealing to the public through emotion and
anecdotes rather than evidence-based and reproducible
claims. Of course, we have countless “scientists” who consult
horoscopes and astrologers for the arranged marriage of
their children, and consult homeopaths. One example of
historical revisionism is the controversial revision
textbooks that occur in India from time to time.
All of it boils down to Yin and Yang — the carnal struggle
between two extremes; one that is retrogressive, stubborn,
not open to criticism and is not evidence-based (historical
revisionism and pseudoscience), and the other that is
progressive, flexible, open to criticism and evidence-based
(scholarly history and science). Lies vs. Truth. The ultimate
choice is ours.
►REDUCE FOOD WASTAGE
(# lesson on conscience)
Food turning surplus at celebrations and other gatherings should
be collected and given to the poor
Marriages, birthday celebrations, anniversaries,
meetings, conferences, seminars and many similar events lay
out lavish multi-course feasts with plenty of starters, soups
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and salads followed by the main course and ending with
desserts. After the events, mounds of food are dumped in
dustbins, unmindful of its value to the poor who go hungry.
Most such gatherings serve buffets. The tendency of food
wastage is more when people help themselves. They pick
more than what they can eat only to waste the excess.
Similar wastage happens when hotels serve complimentary
breakfast buffets. Wherever food is free and in plenty, people
take more than what they can eat. Those fortunate to have
surplus food forget the plight of those who do not have
enough to eat. Millions of people die of malnutrition and
hunger in India. Starvation deaths in some parts of the
country are now new. The Global Hunger Index, 2019 places
India at 102 among 117 countries, indicating a serious level of
hunger. Despite considerable industrial and economic growth
and self-reliance in foodgrain production, India is unable to
provide enough food to a large number of people, especially
women and children. Food wastage adds to the woes.
Nearly one-third of the food produced every year gets lost or
wasted, but the affluent sections still throw what they can’t
Popper’s
eat into the dustbins. It is said that 40% of fruits and
vegetables and 30% of cereals are lost from inefficient supply
chain management and do not reach the market. While
significant levels of food losses occur at harvest and during
post-harvest handling, a lot of food is lost or wasted during
the distribution and consumption stages. Poor transport
of
facilities and roads in the hinterland force some of the
farmers to dump their produce in the open. So the problem
is not lack of food. It is a lack of ability and sensitivity to
distribute food to the poor.
Social involvement: While many public-spirited people and
non-governmental organisations collect surplus food and
distribute it to the poor, a more inclusive involvement of
society in this work is required. Most important is to
educate the people about the ills of food wastage. Social
awareness and disseminating knowledge on sharing food
resources in a better-organised mode will be able to make a
difference.
It may not be possible to regulate food usage in social
functions but display of information and appeals against
wasting food can eventually help. The NGOs can field
alumni volunteers to collect surplus food to feed the hungry.
Awareness material should be developed to bring about a
transformation in the way food is preserved.
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Restaurants can be given incentives to reduce food waste,
and municipalities should levy a tax on disposing of leftover
food. On the lines of Swachh Bharat, campaigns can be
launched to reduce food wastage.
Unless elimination of food wastage becomes an agenda of
everyone, it is difficult to end hunger. Organisations can
launch corporate social responsibility programmes
eliminate food wastage. Coordinated work of government,
corporates and NGOs will be able to change the mindset of
people.
►BE A GOOD DRIVER
(# lesson on conscience)
As you sit behind the wheel, you shoulder the huge responsibility
of ensuring safety against all odds
Finally, you got the driving licence, realising a long-cherished
dream. And it’s the beginning of tense days for us, as you
take the vehicle out on your own.
As parents, we are responsible for moulding you as a good
citizen, and good road behaviour is part of that discipline.
Driving is an enjoyable task — the reason you wanted us to
send you to the driving school after an impatient wait to turn
18. But driving is a serious job that only a responsible person
can do. As you sit behind the wheel, you shoulder the huge
responsibility of ensuring safety against all odds — bad
roads, reckless driving, road rage and so on. Nothing can be
an excuse to play with the safety of those in your vehicle and
others.
A road accident death may be just a small piece of news, but
for the family of the dead, it is a story of untold miseries and
trauma for long. Every accident has a “cause”, and invariably
people talk about how it could have been averted with a little
care. It all happens by a moment of carelessness or error of
one person. That is the first lesson for a driver.
We may not able to correct the driving habits of another
person. But we can discipline ourselves, learning from the
mistakes of drivers who had caused accidents and pre-
empting every possible cause. As a person who loves the
road, it is your duty to do so.
To ensure safety, follow road rules to the letter and keep ego
and a “me first” attitude away from the road.
The first part is simple. Learn road rules and keep the few
basic life-saving rules to your heart always. Resolve now
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that you will never drive on the wrong side, even for a short
distance. You will not park your vehicle on the roadside if
there is no sufficient space left for pedestrians to move
freely. You will not mind walking a few hundred metres to
your destination, or when in the crowded city, taking an auto
to the shop you want to go after leaving your vehicle in a
parking space safe for other road users. You will never attend
to
a phone while driving; nor stop your vehicle in an unsafe
manner to attend a phone call, forcing other vehicles off their
lanes or forcing pedestrians to walk precariously on the
vehicle path. When you drive, when you stop, when you park,
when you turn, when you open the door... your first concern
will be the safety of others on the road.
Resolve now that road markings and road signs have to be
obeyed. You will never jump the signal, cross the stop line at
a pedestrian crossing, overtake or move through the wrong
side, carry passengers or goods dangerously, and stop or
turn abruptly without proper signal. You will use high beams
only when there is no vehicle ahead or opposite. Your vehicle
is always maintained well, and you will not drive if even a
single lamp is defective.
Doing all these is easy, but the second part is not that. It will
take a lot of conditioning to attain this — grooming your mind
for the road. It is natural for a responsible citizen to get
irritated when others violate safety norms and road rules
with impunity. But realise that even getting irritated deters
your poise and can lead to an accident. To be a good driver,
you will have to train yourself to compromise on
everything for the safety of road users. You will have to
essentially be with drivers who do not follow any discipline,
who consider themselves to be smarter than the rest of us.
But take it from me, a good road culture will pay off and you
will have the confidence that you will never cause an
inconvenience to another road user or leave a chance for
anyone to frown upon you for your road behaviour. You will
never be caught for a violation. Most important, you are less
likely to cause an accident, and that is your prime
responsibility as long as you are on the driver’s seat.
►INITIATE DIALOGUE
(# lesson on conscience)
Current events have polarised social circles and even families
like never before. Spaces for small talk and everyday updates,
from dining tables to WhatsApp groups, feel like a minefield
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as we struggle to speak our minds but also preserve
relationships.
To move forward, dialogue is essential among political groups
and us. If anything, the dialogue in our homes, canteens and
colleges matters more because it shapes the bedrock of
values that will inform how we vote and act in the future.
Dialogue is an end in itself. The point is not conversion of
the other to our point of view but creating a common
ground and a relationship between interlocutors. In this
space, we find shared understandings of problems and
mutually acceptable solutions. But our true endgame is
reconciliation manifested in continuing dialogue and constant
renegotiation of relationships. In short, neither conquest nor
compromise but consistent, enduring communication and
growing mutual acceptance should be the fruits of dialogue.
Dialogue is a hothouse flower. Difficult conversations are
rarely possible in public spaces. Interlocutors are locked into
positions for reasons of personal prestige. Social platforms
and public occasions force us to perform our opening
positions for an audience, with no space to say, “I do not
know” or “I have not thought of this before”. Omniscience is
expected of us, and intransigence reads as conviction. Make it
safe for your interlocutor to speak tentatively, raise questions
or begin to change their mind; all those conditions apply to
you as well, after all.
Initiate dialogue in relatively private settings where both sides
can listen and respond without keeping up appearances. As
both of you learn another perspective, you are safe to
acknowledge your learning or a shift in your thinking.
Don’t alienate: As passions rise, so does the use of angry,
intemperate language. We challenge and judge without
compassion. Verbal taunts — “Have you no heart?” or “You
are narrow-minded and anti-national” — are violence that
makes dialogue impossible.
Far better to set aside one’s strong feelings and say, “We
seem to differ. I would really like to understand your point of
view.” Open your dialogue with an expression of interest in
the other perspective. Could you resist an invitation to teach?
Give more importance to the experiences and values that
bring them to this opinion than facts they marshal because
facts are filtered through experiences and values.
Listen: Many of us feel so frustrated in this present political
moment that no one is listening to us. We have facts at our
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finger-tips, but no one will take us seriously. Inconvenient but
important question: how carefully are we listening to others?
When passion and tensions run high, it is hard to hear
equally fervent but opposing views. The result is a cacophony
of angry soliloquies and gradually, exhausted by our anger,
we tune out, claiming futility.
Just deciding that I am going to listen—genuinely listen—
changes that. However hard, however painful, I will listen.
Having decided to listen, I bring an open mind and an
open heart into the dialogue and optimistically expect to
find common ground. I pay attention to the spoken and
implicit. I notice body language. I signal listening with
responses like “I see” or “Is that so?” I ask real questions, like
“I want to understand why you draw that conclusion.” From
time to time, I offer a summary of what I have heard to
demonstrate listening and give the other person a chance to
clarify what they meant.
Small stuff: Perfect composition or politically correct
language do not matter. People will use words from the
languages and discourses they know and no two people draw
on the same universe for these. Cut your interlocutor slack
and focus on the meaning. If that is not clear, ask, “Did you
mean to say this? Have I understood it correctly?” Take
responsibility for understanding correctly; it will make the
other person more comfortable as she tries to express
herself. In the course of a true conversation, we will all make
mistakes, have faulty arguments and use the wrong words.
We must remain focused on the substance of what to say.
Information and facts are not a cudgel to demolish other
points of view (or people), any more than the government’s
coercive mechanisms are. To initiate and nurture dialogue,
one has to be willing to admit ignorance and learn. One must
wait to share.
Indeed, what do I, as initiator, bring into the dialogue apart
from information? Prejudice disguised as passion? Ego
expressed through judgment? These impede empathy and
without empathy, dialogue is a ritual. Satyagrahis must work
on themselves first, after all.
Dialogues succeed because we genuinely want to
understand each other and to communicate with each
other. Patience and perseverance follow from this desire
and so will that elusive common ground.
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►MEND FENCES, KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING
(# lesson on conscience)
There is no better time than the present to renew broken
relations
During a short trip to my hometown, I dug out some of my
childhood albums. Most of the photos had five or six friends
hugging or leaning casually against motorcycles.
My wife was quick to point out that she had not met one of
the friends in the photos. He had been a bosom pal in
college, but we are not on talking terms and in touch. I have
had several scrumptious meals at his home and roamed on
his motorbike as if it was mine. We had bunked classes
together to watch matinee shows, and I had fought with
other boys for his sake.
However amiable and social we are, we all have a set of
persons to whom we have stopped talking to for some
reason or other. They can be friends, relatives, neighbours or
colleagues.
My grandfather, for instance, stopped talking to his second
son for some reason. During family functions, they would
share a common room, travel in the common vehicle and eat
in the same hall. But they never sank their ego and remained
like that till grandpa’s death. During the cremation, my uncle
remained ostensibly guilt-ridden. I can’t imagine a day
without talking to my sons, and I wonder what serious issue
can force a father and son into such deadlock.
Does the magnitude of a problem determine our threshold to
break a beautiful relationship? Often, not. Sometimes the
issue would be trivial but vigorous enough to stoke agitated
minds. What may appear to be a sinister issue in a fit of rage
may turn out to be trivial one as we mature in life.
Trivial matters: People have stopped talking with close
friends and family members over unpaid debt of a few
hundred rupees, a compound wall encroaching by a few
inches, cutting a tree that infringed on the neighbourhood,
skirmish between children, wrong parking of vehicles and so
on. I am sure that many would repent.
In my school days, I stopped talking to a friend because he
used profanity. Despite his repeated efforts to regain my
friendship, I remained cold-hearted. What do we aim to
achieve by not talking to someone? Do we want them to be
out of our life completely? If we keep snipping relationships
by avoiding talking to people whenever we find them on a
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different page, we may be standing alone in society. There is
a popular saying, “Conflicts can be reduced if we
understand that people are not difficult, but different.”
Often, we assume that the other person may atone for the
mistake when we stop talking to them but we don’t realise
that every story has another side to it. We need to talk more
whenever we hit a rough patch in our relationships. There is
no better time than the present to renew broken
relationships. For, there is nothing greater than forgiving and
forgetting. If we can take a leaf out of our politicians’ lives, it
will be how to bury the past and revive relationships.
►CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT
(# lesson on conscience)
It is something which keeps the true essence of democracy alive
in a country. Supporting one’s country policies and decisions is
one part of keeping it on the path of prosperity and development,
while keeping track of government activities, being vigilant about
them and highlighting loopholes in policies are also needed in a
democracy.
In our country, we have people with different ideologies —
some criticise the government policies and some support it,
while others remain at the top of it appreciating the good
policies and highlighting the drawbacks to improve
governance. It’s common nowadays to see society divided
into segments each with a different perspective about the
policies undertaken by their governments; it is something
which keeps the true essence of democracy alive. There are
many instances in the past of governance and society
improving because of the positive criticism by some people
or group of them. These examples give democracies around
the world a chance of improving the quality of governance
and hence create a better society.
In recent years in India, there has been a gradual change in
perspective of the people regarding their governments. While
some of them are a very good sign of a progressive society,
some of them are quite worrying too. There is a common
notion among some citizens that if they speak something
against the actions of their government, then it’s probably
against the nation too.
This idea which is significant in numbers need to be
thoroughly assessed. Chances might be there that some of
the criticism may not be on the right note, but many of it if
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considered by the governments can be helpful in the real-
time assessment of the needs and expectations of the people
from the government. Unfortunately, there is a decline in
these voices nowadays because of the type of mandate which
India got in the 2019 election. People who voted for the
current government think that it's wrong to speak against the
government which they elected to power.
People should realise that it is not the driving force of praise
and overwhelming support which keeps the wheels of a
government moving but also the steering force of people’s
participation which keep a check on government, and modify
it, if the policies fail to meet the expectations of society as a
whole. If people’s criticism reaches the government’s ear at
an appropriate time and in significant numbers, then a lot of
resources of the governmental machinery can be utilised
wisely for some other activities which are brought to notice
by the people itself.
Some experts believe that praise and support of people are
very crucial for maintaining efficient governance as it keeps
leaders and bureaucrats motivated to work more to increase
the overall output of governmental activities on the ground.
This is true in practice too but it should be kept in mind that
the power vested in the hands of people in a democracy is
not only utilised for blindly praising the government but it
should be used as an aid, to advise and correct the
government whenever required so that the efficiency and
quality of governance is maintained.
►WHAT MAKES A GOOD LEADER
(# lesson on conscience)
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do
more and become more, you are a leader” — John Quincy Adams
Whether you are a multinational CEO, an entrepreneur or
even the abbot of a monastery who has leadership
responsibilities, it won’t work well for you as a leader until
actionable strategies for the good of the company or
community are in place, your vision is clearly articulated and
you become a team player with excellent communication
skills.
It is the ability to work with those who are different from us
and the capacity to monitor our own personal or professional
development needs while having the requisite self-confidence
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that makes leaders stand out. Leadership is not just doing
the right things; instead it is doing things right.
To translate their vision into reality, leaders become role
models encouraging growth and development of others
in the group. Even when you want to do something yourself,
letting others do it because they wanted to, is a sure sign of
good leadership.
The key aspect of leadership is influence, not authority. It
is best cultivated by example, which inspires others.
Scriptural wisdom demands that a good leader first become a
good servant, because the way up points down. The glamour
of position doesn’t matter as much as energy, passion and
empathy.
Great leaders have clear goals and know how to accomplish
it. Integrity matters in leadership and at its core is
truthfulness. With integrity, there is nothing to fear because
there is nothing to hide, and doing what is right bears no
guilt. It is never wrong to do the right thing.
Essential humility in a leader is the self-confidence to
recognise the value of others without feeling threatened by
them. It is also the willingness to admit when one is wrong
and that you don’t have all the answers. The more egos are
controlled, the more we become realistic and learn how to
listen.
Courage is the most identifiable trait of leadership which
is taking risks without absolute assurance of success.
“Courage is rightly considered the foremost of virtues for
upon it all others depend,” Winston Churchill said. Because
there is no certainty in life or business, every commitment
made and every action taken entails risks of some kind.
Leadership is the ability to get people to work for you
because they want to and gaining cooperation is by
getting along with everyone. “If your imagination leads you
to understand how quickly people grant your requests, when
those requests appeals to their self -interest, you can have
practically anything you go after,” Napoleon Hill said.
Leaders focus on results knowing what must be achieved by
them and others. The ability to focus and make others
remain focused on valuable use of time is crucial for
performance. Great leaders focus on strengths more than
weaknesses. Successful people stay positively focused on
past successes more than past failures. Knowing the next
steps to get closer to fulfilment of goals will greatly help.
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Leaders who excel are outstanding strategic planners, looking simulation, role play and multi-rater assessments are
ahead and anticipating trends well ahead of competitors. thought to be the best predictors of effective leadership.

Leaders are different from followers and the leader-follower Superior intelligence with a high IQ is vital but emotional
interaction determines which qualities followers develop as a intelligence (EI) trumps regular IQ by a wide margin when it
consequence. Leaders who are task-oriented focus on detail. comes to leadership. Basically, emotional intelligence is
Personality traits of agreeableness, consciousness, understanding emotions and responding accordingly,
extroversion, openness and self-monitoring characterise overcoming stress of the moment and being aware of how
a leader with a strong self-image. The dawn of the 21st words and actions affect others. It is widely known that EI is a
century saw the development of integrated theories of key component in good leadership and aspiring leaders
“person-organisation-fit”, in which the structure of the benefit from training to improve their EI.
organisation is compared to the personality of its leader.
Leaders lacking emotional intelligence become unable to
Successful organisations tend to employ those with a range gauge the needs and expectations of those they lead and a
of soft leadership criteria that fits the organisations internal leader who reacts emotionally without any filters creates
environment. Cognitive ability, personality type, mistrust. Leaders are not born, they are made and good
leaderships should grow more leaders like them.

Conscience and some of the related UPSC questions

Q. What do you understand by the term ‘voice of conscience’? How do you prepare yourself to heed to the voice of
conscience? (UPSC 2013)

Q. What is meant by ‘crisis of conscience’? Narrate one incident in your life when you were faced with such a crisis and how
you resolved the same. (UPSC 2013)

Q. “The good of an individual is contained in the good of all.” What do you understand by this statement? How can this
principle be implemented in public life? (UPSC 2013)

Q. Public servants are likely to confront with the issues of 'Conflict of Interest". What do you understand by the term
'Conflict of Interest' and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict of interest
situation, how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples.. (UPSC 2015)

Q. One of the tests of integrity is complete refusal to be compromised. Explain with reference to a real life example.
(UPSC 2017)

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 Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
CASE STUDIES for Practice
MAINS GS PAPER IV
Here, we are sharing case studies for self- practice. These case studies are drawn from various aspects of professional and
personal experiences, and are helpful for General Studies- Paper IV. Do practice them!
Q1. Edward Snowden, a computer expert and former CIA
administrator, released confidential Government documents
to the press about the existence of Government surveillance
programmes. According to many legal experts and the US
Government, his action violated the Espionage act of 1971,
which identified the leak of State secret as an act of treason.
Yet, despite the fact that he broke the law, Snowden argued
that he had a moral obligation to act. He gave a justification
for his “whistle blowing” by stating that he had a duty “to
inform the public as to that which is done in their name and
that which is done against them.”
According to Snowden, the Government’s violation of privacy
had to be exposed regardless of legality since more
substantive issues of social action and public morality were
involved here. Many agreed with Snowden. Few argued that
he broke the law and compromised national security, for
which he should be held accountable.
Do you agree that Snowden’s actions were ethically justified
even if legally prohibited? Why or why not? Make an
argument by weighing the competing values in this case (250
words)
Laws are part of ethics and purpose of making any law is
enforcement of societal morality. But sometime laws may
come in conflict with the prevailing morality and this creates
ethical dilemma.
If Edward Snowden followed the Espionage act of 1971 and
did not leak state secret then he would–
a) have followed professional ethics and contract.
b) be loyal to his organisation (i.e. CIA).
c) have not allegedly put national security in jeopardy.
d) not have unintentionally marred the international
reputation of his government.
However, stand of Snowden can be justified based on
following ethical principle –
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
a) Gandhiji advocated breaking the unjust law. He said, “An
unjust law is itself a species of violence”.
b) As per the Rousseau’s social contract theory people do
give up some of their rights to the sovereign power to
protect rest of their rights. However how much right has
to be given up will be decided by people. In this case
permission of surveillance will have to be taken by
government; otherwise social contact will be broken.
c) Socrates also advocated for “speaking truth to power” if
sovereign authority is using power unjustly.
d) As per third Principle of Kant’s categorical imperative one
has to behave like a “creature of kingdom of ends”. This
means that one has to impose moral principle on oneself.
e) This will also enable value of transparency and
accountability in administration.
Based on above analysis I agree that Snowden’s actions were
ethically justified even if legally prohibited. Government
cannot beak the trust reposed by people. Even Chanakya has
mentioned ‘Spy System’ in ‘Arthashastra’, but it was declared
state policy.
If such surveillance is in national interest then government
must pass a law on it and inform people. This will ensure
apolitical use of it, only for national interest.
Q2. Dr. X is a leading medical practitioner in a city. He has set
up a charitable trust through which he plans to establish a
super-specialty hospital in the city to cater to the medical
needs of all sections of the society. Incidentally, that part of
the State had been neglected over the years. The proposed
hospital would be a boon for the region.
You are heading the tax investigation agency of that region.
During an inspection of the doctor’s clinic, your officers have
found out some major irregularities. A few of them are
substantial which had resulted in considerable withholding of
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 Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude

tax that should be paid by him now. The doctor is
cooperative. He undertakes to pay the tax immediately.
However, there are certain other deficiencies in his tax
compliance which are purely technical in nature. If these
technical defaults are pursued by the agency, considerable
time and energy of the doctor will be diverted to issues which
are not so serious, urgent or even helpful to the tax collection
process. Further, in all probability, it will hamper the
prospects of the hospital coming up.
There are two options before you:
1. Taking a broader view, ensure substantial tax compliance
and ignore defaults that are merely technical in nature.
2. Pursue the matter strictly and proceed on all fronts,
whether substantial or merely technical.
As the head of the tax agency, which course of action will you
opt and why? (250 words)
b) Integrity of the process of tax collection will be
maintained. Diligence, work culture, and organisational
values will be safeguarded.
c) Values of impartiality and non-partisanship will be
safeguarded which provides credibility and legitimacy to
bureaucracy.
d) People should not perceive that the leading medical
practitioner of the city has been favoured.
e) Corruption begins on a small scale and in benign form.
However soon it snowballs into worst forms, detrimental
to socio-economic development of society.
Based on above analysis I will follow the rule in totality.
However certain steps can be taken to make the tax filing
process for Dr. X and others easy and quick in the spirit of
good and ethical governance.

The case raises the questions about the ethical principle and
standards that must guide our action.

If we look from the lens of utilitarian principle of Jeremy

Bentham and John Stuart Mill, then taking a broader view and
ignoring technical issues will have some utility –

a) Tax agency will not have reputation of harassing citizens.

b) Dr. X can focus more on his noble profession of treating

patients.

c) The proposed hospital prospect will not be marred.

d) The neglected part of state will get social justice in terms

of medical facility.

e) Social capital of tax agencies may increase resulting in

more tax compliance.

However, if we pursue the matter strictly even on technical

matters then -

a) I will fulfill my professional duty.

• Bhagwat Gita teaches to do one’s duty as highest dharma.

• As per the Kant’s categorical imperative if something

cannot be made universal law it cannot be moral. We
cannot accept violation of technical rules universally;
hence it cannot be ignored here as well.

• Gandhiji had remarked that “a duty well performed

creates a corresponding right”.

FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS 111

 Part Three

Essays
of

the month
Selected essays from Rau’s GSI students
 ESSAY 1: WATER WARS : A TRUTH OF FUTURE
# Conservation
SUBMITTED BY: PALLAVI SARDA
Disclaimer: The viewpoints in the topic are strictly personal
of the writer above. The role of Rau’s IAS Study Circle is to
present the write-up in its original form, hence the study
circle neither endorses nor rejects any viewpoint in the
submission. The purpose is only to showcase the manner of
writing.
Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to use
his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints.
The fear of “Water – Water everywhere not a
drop to drink” is increasingly becoming a
reality.
Last year, Cape Town, Capital of South Africa
was declared to be Facing ‘Day Zero’. Following its league are
various Indian cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai who have
been red Flagged by World Metrological organization.
Water is the Elixir of life. Life began on earth 4600 billion
years ago. When condensation of hot vapour in the earth
atmosphere took form of pure pristine water which slowly
took form of Ocean and River’s. Across whose side rose the
earliest human civilization namely Indus Valley, Mesopotamia
and Persian arose. Thus began Agriculture, Commerce, trade
and connectivity. Prosperity brought population sustainability
and hence humanity grew leaps and bounds. Urbanization,
Modernization and technology advancement brought us
comfort and gave rise to artificial walls of urban jungles –
making us blind to the upcoming crisis.
Today world over, Rivers are polluted, ground water is
depleted and rain water is being wasted. Thus crisis if not
corrected timely will explode upon us the disaster of most
dreaded Third World War – being fought over water drops.
Small manifestation of which can be found all around cutting
across geographics from Individual level to that of National
level and water crisis is leading to conflicts all across.
At individual and societal level ,water crisis take class, caste
and gender divide where water becomes a priviledge for poor
FOCUS | Februar y 2020 | RAU’S I AS
– who once was dependent on nature’s bounty. Today due to
polluted river and deputed wells – has to rely on government
piped water.
But lack of ability to pay for pipeline and connection – leaves
many at the mercy of water tanks. That make far few
appearance that what is officially promised. The odd hour at
which tanker arrives along with the demand supply mismatch
makes access to tanker a task in itself. Violent outburst are
thus only natural and so are water related pity fights.
When men fight away, women, chlild and elderly are about
with no resource. Either dependent on expensive private
water supply or putting in hours of physical labour to fetch
water from far off clean water bodies. The problem has
become so critical in certain draught affected parts that a
new cultural phenomenon called water wives have arisen.
Children too skip school hours to participate in daily water
fetching exercise. While elderly are left upon neighbours
grace for their survival.
But still hope exists, especially where people have waken of
their slumber and have realized that solutions exists.
Across the country villages have taken help of NGOs and
used government to find solution to this man made disaster.
Nandu village located in East Rajasthan successfully joined
hands to revive the dried up Nandu Wan River making
history. Similarly experiment by Paani foundation in
Maharashtra Satara district has borne fruits – where people
created a mass movement and undertook river harvesting.
Thus were successful in tapping the rain water and thus
overcoming the acute water shortage – making themselves
not only self sufficient but also water surplus.
Thus, Individuals and society when united with a common
cause can truly over come this man made crisis.
Now if we look at state and national level – Inter-River Water
dispute has become order of the day. Be it Cauvery dispute of
south, Mahanadi dispute of east or Yamuna Satluj link
dispute of North, we are increasingly witnessing Tribunals
been set up.
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 Essays OF THE MONTH

This Inter state conflict is getting worse as climate change
induced floods and droughts situation is intensifying. The
population is rising; water mismanagement is continuining
and regard for water decreasing. Thus in order to prevent
Inter state and centre state conflict, governments need to
come together under cooperate and competitive framework
for water conservation and build management models.
State need to develop sustainable urban solutions ecological
sustainable planning, removal of encroachment over water
bodies, restoring wetlands developing sponge cities must be
undertaken. Along with restoration of traditional water
harvesting structures such as Baolis, Johad etc. Water wars
can be prevented only when we end our collective war on
water. Next comes water conservation at International Level
through Cooperation and Coordination.
Presently, world over countries are involved in confest over
water. Be it mutual tension over transboundary Brahmputra
between Indian and China or wrt to Teesta between India and
Bangladesh or wrt to Kishanganga between India and
Pakistan. The conflict over sharing of water, flood
management, dam creation – that can spell disaster on
diplomatic over reach between the two countries are
widespread.
Thus threat of water wars looms large especially in an era
where water bodies are drying up (Ex- Aral Sea) and glacier’s
are quickly metlting. International Cooperation becomes
critical.
Further not only river water, strategic dominance over oceans
too threats world peace. Strategic importance of sea lines of
Communication have made water bodies like Indian Ocean
and South China Sea – zones of contestation today.
Since water and water based marine resources are critical for
blue economy and nations prosperity. Hence, water be it
blowing or static – has immense power for exciting conflict.
Nature has bestowed earth with sufficient water. But man’s
unchecked exploitation of this free abundant resource way
past nature’s natural restoration capacity has brought us to
this crisis.
Solution lies in reducing one’s water foot print at Individual
and National level. Practising sustainable use of
management. Restoring to 3R’s – Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.
Learning from Countries like Singapore that run’s robust
water recycle system that sustains the whole city and Israel
that with the help of its technological advancement has made
a desert bloom – will go a long way in ensuring water
availability in long run. Hence, bottom-up solution based on
universal cooperation holds the power to reverse the present
water crisis and prevent the unthinkable water war.
Let every drop count.

ESSAY 2: NEAR JOBLESS GROWTH IN INDIA: AN

ANOMALY OR DUE TO ECONOMIC IMBALANCE
# Economy and Employment
SUBMITTED BY: NANCY MISHRA (RAU’S DELHI STUDENT)

Disclaimer: The viewpoints in the topic are
strictly personal of the writer above. The role
of Rau’s IAS Study Circle is to present the
write-up in its original form, hence the study
circle neither endorses nor rejects any
viewpoint in the submission. The purpose is only to
showcase the manner of writing.
Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to use
his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints.
India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world.
With a population of 1.3 billion and rich natural resources,
India has got the potential to grow into a superpower. The
growth rate of GDP (most commonly used to measure a
nation’s growth rate) at the end of the year 2017-18 was

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 Essays OF THE MONTH
above 6%. This might give an impression that the
demographic dividend is utilized in a productive way leading
to such high growth rate.
However, it is perhaps shocking that unemployment in our
nation is at a seven decades high. According to the Periodic
Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the unemployment rate has been
at 6.1% in 2017-18 which is the highest figure in 71 years.
Undoubtedly, it is an anomaly given that employment
generally increases with the growing economy. But reviewing
the ground realities behind India’s growth may solve the
riddle if we take into account all factors – its history,
geography, politics, economic policies and society.
In the ancient times, India was called ‘the golden bird’ due to
its enormous resources and wealth. The accounts of Mauryan
Empire and the Mughal Empire show its glory and
magnificence in ancient and medieval times, respectively. But
then the Golden Bird was caged and chained with
‘colonialism’. The economic drain and exploitation during
British rule for almost 200 years converted India to a poor
nation. The exports reduced from 70% of World Trade to
single digit figure. India was struggling with poverty, hunger
and unemployment.
Post-independence, the efforts began to recover India’s lost
glory, but with new tools of education, industrialization and
strategic planning for a modern India. The first government
of free India led by J.L. Nehru believed in ‘Trickle Down
Theory’ for economic growth where the growth in sectors like
Agriculture, Industries and Services would percolate down to
the poorest section of society.
However, the masses were still poor, hungry and illiterate.
The rich became richer and poor became poorer. Then the
future governments used socialist policies to give free or
subscribed food, education and even promised employment
to economically weaker section of society. Even today, such
schemes (some further strengthened into legal act) such as
NFSA (National Food Security Act) SSA (Sarva Siksha Abhiyan –
now a fundamental right), MGNREGA (100 days of assured
employment in a year) etc.
There was also a major change in economic policy in later
20th century that from being a closed economy in Nehruvian
Era, the privatization, Liberalisation and globalization reforms
were made in 1990-91 turning India into an open economy.
These reforms were thought to be game changer by bringing
more jobs and hence growth to India. However, it further
FOCUS | Februar y 2020 | RAU’S I AS
widened the gap between rich and poor and between skilled
and unskilled.
The major factors being missing Agriculture reforms and slow
Industrialisation which made India weaker from its
grassroots. Agriculture, the sector supporting more than 50%
of Indians, contributes less than 15% to its GDP. There is a
vast gap called rural-urban divide in terms of economy,
without much improvement in its Industrial sector. Industrial
sector is the major employer of unskilled and semi-skilled
labour and hence the rising unemployment can find answers
here.
Other factors of rising unemployment is the lack of skilled
labour in our country. Although Right to Education (RTE) has
transformed literacy rate, but there is no skill – oriented
education system, resulting in large number of neo-literates.
With the LPG reforms and ‘Roll Back State’ concept coming
into picture, there is high amount of automation (requiring
skilled workforce) and privatization (more about profit than
inclusive growth). Another factor is poor governance leading
to huge corruption and ultimately, very less benefits actually
reaching the beneficiaries under any scheme. Also, the
deteriorating political culture, populist public policies
(avoiding long term vision) and certain social restrictions (e.g.
– working women unacceptable in some middle class family,
discrimination towards Dalits and other backward sections of
society even in education and employment etc.) are leading
to further obstacles in employment and overall development
of India.
Above reasons for the distressed situation in India must be
viewed as challenges which needs to be overcome. With time,
the concept of development has changed. Now it is more
focused towards ‘Empowering and enabling the people’
rather than distributing freebies. This can be seen through
new schemes by government supporting skill development,
startups and innovation such as National Skill Development
Mission, MAKE IN INDIA etc. Also there have been
introduction of industrial training in engineering colleges
(now made compulsory) in order to promote skill oriented
education.
Besides, government is now supporting traditional and rural
industries through schemes like SFURTI. There have been
various SHGs (Self-Help Groups) formed to help rural women
come out from social bondages and join together in the
progress of country. One of the best initiatives in Agriculture
sector is the promotion of FPCo (Farmer Producer
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 Essays OF THE MONTH
Companies) to enable group of farmers selling their produce
directly to market without the need of middlemen. There are
also various schemes to promote MSMEs (Medium, Small and
Micro Enterprises) through easy credit availability, initial
relaxations in taxations and even procurement of goods by
government to turn these MSMEs into giants.
Along with above support, we need to slowly remove freebies
such as PM KISAN, loan waivers or proposed NYAY because
they paralyse people instead of empowering them. Instead,
more support such be provided for Infrastructure
development such as roads, railways, bridges, industrial
corridors, agricultural clusters etc. which along with
facilitating different sectors, would employ large number of
unskilled labourers. Combining infra schemes like ‘PM Gram
Sadak Yojana’ with MGNREGA can be an example. Also the
industries supplying raw materials like cement, brick kilns etc.
will flourish.
To further increase employability, sectors like Tourism,
Hospitality etc. can be promoted which in turn will create
huge employment opportunities for unskilled and semi-
skilled workforce. Some structural reforms like revising
ESSAY 3: WHITHER WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
# Social Issue
SUBMITTED BY: MOHINI GUPTA (RAU’S DELHI STUDENT)
Disclaimer: The viewpoints in the topic are
strictly personal of the writer above. The role
of Rau’s IAS Study Circle is to present the
write-up in its original form, hence the study
circle neither endorses nor rejects any viewpoint in the
submission. The purpose is only to showcase the manner of
writing.
Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to use
his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints.
Women were created as equal half of the society by mother
Nature, Men have made them subordinate to themselves.
Equality, Liberty and justice enshrined in the Constitution for
all has failed to liberate women from the chains of the
patriarchal society. A New Women is still struggling to achieve
an equal status, liberty and rights.
FOCUS | Februar y 2020 | RAU’S I AS
labour laws and introducing decent minimum wage
regulations can help in small industries employing more
number of people and also a decent salary for labourers. Also
Agricultural reforms like growing sustainable crops, crop
diversifying and defragmentation, natural organic farming
etc. can increase as well as sustain farmer incomes.
Promoting food processing industries and other Agri. related
business can help in further empowering the country. All
these measures will boost export and make India an export-
led economy rather than a consumption led economy as in
present times.
The core of all these reforms will be value and skill based
education which will lead to empowered citizens. Then there
would be capable citizens and they will not have to run after
jobs, rather they will be creating and supporting jobs. Then,
the growth of India will not merely be GDP numbers but the
development of each of its 1.3 billion people. And this dream
can be made a reality by endeavours from government, Civil
Societies and each and every citizen of India.
Through Women have always proved their calibre in all fields,
they are considered inferior to men. Women like Kiran Bedi,
Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, Mithila Raj, Mother Teresa have out
shown their capabilities. But, women in India are still denied
education, nutrition, sanitation based on gender-biases.
According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau
report, crimes against women have increased. Women right
from the foetus till death are subjected to every possible
discrimination. The condition in rural area is worse. The
desire of a son has led to killings of many girls in womb only.
Girls are considered economic burden by their parents. Boys
are preferred to send to school are given all the nutritious
food and a girl is denied both. As she grows up, she is
restricted to the private sphere of life. Problems like sexual
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 Essays OF THE MONTH
harassment at home, workplace, school, Dowry, Violence
have made the situation of women worse.
There came the concept of empowering women, to liberate
her socially, economically and politically because of many
reasons like – Historically, women were denied their rights,
purdah system prevailed. Politically, women have a very low
representation in the political bodies of the country. India
ranks 153 out of 190 countries in percentage of women in
lower house of world parliaments. Economically, women are
not allowed to take financial decisions and are subordinated
to their husbands or fathers. According to World Economic
Forum Report, only 14.3% of science researchers in India are
women as they are not encouraged to pursue higher
education, on top of that science and out of question for
them. Domestically, all the household work has been given to
her be it carrying water in pots from long distances due to
water in pots from long distances due to water scarcity in
near area. Feminism emerged as women were denied equal
rights internationally also. This discrimination against women
is most prevalent in Northern India then Southern India and
least in Tribal Areas.
In the pre-independence era, through Bhakti and Sufi
movements, women started regaining their freedom and
rights. This led to emergence of great women leaders. Rani
Jhansi and Begum Hazratmahal are some of the inspiring
leaders of 19th century. Social reformers like Raja Ram
Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar fought for social evils
like Sati, female infanticide and encouraged widow
remarriage. With emergence of National movement in India,
Women participation was invited and encouraged. Gandhiji
emphasized on the role of women in the National movement.
Women leaders like Annie Besant – lead Home Rule
Movement, Sarojini Naidu, Aruna Asif Ali and Usha Mehra
were successful in initiating Quit India Movement.
After the Independence, a wave of feminism started
emerging where women demanded equal rights, equal
opportunities, equal status in society. The then constituent
Assembly realized the need of the hour and all the citizens of
India were given justice, liberty, equality and fraternity in
every domain of society. Fundamental rights were given to all
irrespective of caste or gender. Positive discrimination
against women were allowed till the time they do not enjoy
status in the society. In the first general elections, women
were given both rights – Right to contest and Right to Vote.
From that time till present, government is constantly working
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
to enhance the dignity and status of women. Politically, 33%
reservations in local self-government has been given and
there is a demand for same in Assemblies and Parliaments.
Economically, all the working arenas have been made open to
women, equal pay for equal work has been encouraged,
start-up culture has been promoted. Socially, Government
has brought laws like – Abolition of Dowry, prevention of
Domestic Violence, Right to Education. Currently,
Government has brought stringent laws to ensure women
safety through Sexual Harassment at workplace Act,
protection of Children from sexual offences, Death sentence
in case of rape of minor. Campaigns like Beti Bachao, Beti
Padhao, Swach Bharat are being promoted. Many schemes
like MGNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjawala Scheme, Matru
Vandana Yojana, Nirbahaya Fund have been started by the
government.
To convert all the favourable actions taken in the past and the
present in such a manner that they bring a change in the
mindsets of people and reflecting in their attitudes, actions
and approaches signifying reformed minds and to bring real
empowerment – information, education and communication
can play a great role. Value education at school levels;
sensitizing the children towards opposite sex, encouraging
sport in schools for proper utilization of time and energy.
Cinemas, social media, Radio, Newspapers, Celebrities also
have a role to play. Movies on social issues, Advertisement on
awareness of laws against Domestic violence, sexual
harassment can be increased. Ministry can have a page on
social media where all the information related to helpline
numbers, new schemes can be there to create awareness. In
the areas, where Internet has not yet reached, Radio and
newspaper can give information about the schemes and
programmes of government. They can give examples of
women who have enrolled in these schemes and have
benefitted so as to bring a behavioural change and
modification in the attitude of people.
To sum up, the goal of New India can be enhanced by
bringing New Women in all spheres of life in spirit and not
just in records. “One is not born, but rather becomes a
woman” – Simone de Beauviour. Writes in her book ‘Second
Sex’. Women have always been considered second sex. Even
the issues of women were taken by men. Today, a woman
needs to stand up for her rights. Equal opportunities so as to
have a level-playing field with men. The education and
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 Essays OF THE MONTH
empowerment of women will only encourage a more caring,
tolerant, just and peaceful life for all.
ESSAY 4: BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN
OTHERS
# Ethics
There are a very few people in the world who
dared to do what they preached. Gandhi ji was
an epitome of change. He wanted to change
the world but before that he changed himself.
He changed his attitude towards the world and
the world's attitude towards him changed automatically. It
was his attitude that transformed him from a young
promising lawyer, born in enslaved India to the father of a
free nation. He started the journey of his transformation
from the dark continent of Africa where he confronted the
social evil of the apartheid. The plight of the black and
coloured people of South Africa filled his heart with a feeling
of sympathy for them. His resolution became more solid
when he himself had to suffer at the hands of so called
whites, for being 'coloured'. He was thrown out of the first
class compartment of a train despite having a valid ticket. At
that moment he realized how egoistic and hypocrites white
people were. He came to know that they considered sharing
the compartment with coloured persons as losing their
purity.
Gandhi ji was a man of principles. He had the guts to object
against the treatment being given to the coloureds. If it had
been any ordinary person, he would have easily surrendered
to the situation. But he was not ordinary. He demanded from
the government to end the policy of discrimination. His aim
was not to force something from outside. He wanted that the
'whites' realise that they were wrong. They must change their
attitude towards the coloured. His crusade against the
system kept him in South Africa until he unshackled the
coloured people from the chains of apartheid system which
had bound them for centuries. His ways and attitude inspired
the coloured. They woke up from a slumber which had made
them drowsy for so long to realize that they were also human
beings and it was not their fault that they were coloured. The
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
inspiration helped them to get justice finally. Gandhi ji taught
us that we must not be hypocrites.
Similarly, we must present ourselves as we are. There is
always a scope of improvement in everyone. We must seek to
improve upon ourselves. We must present our real self to the
world. If we are conscious that we do not possess qualities
that we should have then we must first acquire those
qualities. Until and unless we don't have them, we would not
be able to assess their true worth. We cannot tell the taste of
a mango until we have tasted it ourselves. Telling without
doing so will be hypocrisy and a lie.
Gandhi ji did not only preach the principles of truth and non-
violence but also presented before us how to make these a
part of our lives. He showed the world how we can practice
these principles in real sense. If we go through the life history
of Mahatma Gandhi we come across many such incidents,
which prove that whatever he preached were not only sets of
words but he also showed them through actions. Before
giving someone some advice he always tested that on his
own self. He wanted to see if his advice really worked.
Moreover he wanted to make sure that he himself was
perfect in that sense. If he wanted some- one to give up
eating too much of sweets, he first experimented on himself
if he can also quite eating sweets or not. He taught the world
that an alcoholic has no moral right of telling anyone to give
up drinking. Before changing others one has to change
himself. One must rectify his habits before one preaches
other. In this sense he meant that teachers must first give up
the habit of telling lies before students. The students will
never accept his advice of always speaking truth if he himself
is a habitual. The same principle works at homes. If we want
to teach our children values and morals, we must first live
morality.
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Gandhi ji was a great believer of truth and non-violence. He
did not believe in the violent ways adopted by some
youngsters. He termed them 'some misled youths. He
returned from South Africa aimed an atmosphere of
suppression and tyranny by the Britishers. It is not that his
blood remained cool and It did not boil like other youngsters
of his time. But he did not compromise with his principles. He
did not give up his ways of peace and non-violence. He
straight away disapproved of the violent ways adopted by
revolutionaries who wanted to drive out the Britishers.
Gandhi ji believed that their cause was noble but their means
was wrong. He believed that to reach at the destination of
freedom, the path of non-violence and truth must be
adopted.
These principles became an integral part of his life. Never in
his life did he run away from his principles. The instances
from his life history prove how he put his principles into
reality. He did not compromise even when the movements
started by him were at peak. He withdrew his non-co-
operation movement when the news broke that at some
places had become violent. By doing this he gave an
indication how much he believed in his philosophy. It was a
step to show his resentment for the violence. It also served as
a warning against any such action in future. His principles
would have been futile had he not shown his determination
and capability of inspiring the masses.
Our history is full of personalities who inspired Gandhi ji to
make this statement. Like Gandhi ji, those were the persons
who changed themselves. They transferred their entire
lifestyle and philosophy to be able to preach what they
wanted to. The great Mauryan king Ashoka, who preached
peace and non-violence, was himself a violent emperor. He
got the throne of Magadha after killing his own siblings. Later
he attacked kalinga killing thousand's, but he changed
himself. He gave up the policy of violent aggression. He was
able to convince others only after he personified non-
violence. Today he is not known for his large kingdom or for
his conquests, but for his love for peace and non-violence.
Another example is of Gautama Buddha. He was the founder
of a great religion. He quit the luxuries of his palace to
become a wanderer. He transformed his life from a prince to
a monk. He preached only after he was himself aware of the
ultimate truth. His personal example inspired many
thousands become his fol lowers. He had to first adopt the
values which inspired others to adopt them. Gandhi ji was
also inspired by these historical personalities.
FOCUS | MARCH 2 02 0 | RAU’S IAS
He came to know that changes brought by blood and
violence are temporary. People accept these changes under
the influence of fear. But changes brought through peaceful
ways are permanent. We still remember Ashoka and the
Buddha. We still feel the influence of their principles. Their
principles are still relevant.
Gandhi ji preached 'Work is worship'. Today we see the
phrase written on the wall of schools and offices. Gandhi ji
showed to the world what the phrase actually meant. He is
often seen in pictures sitting behind a spinning wheel. It was
not just to impress onlookers, but he, in fact, did his petty
works him- self. The inhabitants at his ashram were in the
habit of doing their works themselves. They did not hesitate
from doing works with their own hands because they were
being given live demonstration by the very person that they
followed. This not only changed their habits but also they
understood the worth of work. This also raised the status of
Mahatma Gandhi in their eyes. One of the epitomes of
human service was mother Teresa. She led a simple and
selfless life which has inspired thousands of philanthropists
around the world.
Gandhi ji statement becomes all the more relevant in today's
world. We all have our own ideal world inscribed in our
minds. We see many things which are of our liking but many
are those which we do not like and always wish to change.
Not only we but many more like minded people having
common ideas wish to see changes in society. But this
idealism is mostly restricted to merely 'wishes'. We all remain
passive and cynical about changes. We do not want to take
initiative. We always hope that someone else would take the
first step. It is because for a change to be effective the person
who initiates the process has to bring changes in himself. We
are reluctant of bringing changes in ourselves. This is what
differentiates an ordinary person from a great soul. Mahatma
Gandhi wished that everyone modifies himself to change
other. The statement of Gandhi ji is a source of inspiration
for many who want to give a meaning and a right direction to
their lives. It encourages us to make our own path. The
initiative taken by us distinguishes us from the commoners
and helps us make a unique space for ourselves. It can make
a leader out of a common man. A leader has the quality of
motivating others and an ability to implement the initiatives
taken by him appropriately. But nothing comes without a
price. Hence changes require determination to change
oneself first.
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