Oped-Sep 2022

OP-ED
SEPTEMBER 2022
www.civilsdaily.com 1
OP
-ED
Table of Contents Intra party elections 84
Economics Supreme Court’s basic structure doctrine in a
new context 86
Millet crop is the best solution for climate smart
agriculture 5 ”Government of the people, by the people and for
Energy Atmanirbharta 6 the people” for vibrant democracy 89
Agriculture Supply Chain 9 Is Draft Telecommunications Bill, 2022 Flawless? 90
Apple Farming in India 10
Sustainable Tourism in India 11
IIP gives us true health of our economy 15 International Relations
FAME India 16 India Bangladesh Relations 94
Why Should India choose manufacturing G20 summit will open pandora of opportunities 97
over services? 18 Why the India China Border situation is still risky? 99
High Inflation in India 20 Strong nuclear diplomacy brings
Adani’s global footprint and India’s opportunities for India 100
infrastructure diplomacy 22 What is India’s current policy of multi alignment?
RBI’s attempt to manage currency could prove Advantages and challenges 102
to be a costly mistake 24 Geopolitics follows the geoeconomics and not
Electricity Amendment Bill 2022 - Addressing the vice-versa 103
transition and equity 26 Soft power, the new race every
Sustainable port development promises country wants to win 104
blue economy to bloom 27 Taiwan crisis 106
Why our urban centres need to be better planned 29 Multilateralism will open pandora of
Process of sustainable tourism should be opportunities for India 107
holistic and inclusive 30 The strategic partnership between India and Japan in
Urban planning can change the future of solving their common security challenges 109
cities to happy cities 32 India and UNSC 110
Advantage of Market Based Economic Dispatch 34 Stressed ecology of Bay of Bengal 112
Indian Railways powerful experiment on
AC III tier economy class coaches
Fixing Falling Indian Rupee 38
36
History
Heritage conservation 115
Subash Chandra Bose 116
Governance Kashmiri pandits 118
100 years of periyar because of whom tamil nadu
Civil service reforms in India 40
MGNREGA 42 became modern and progressive 119
Issues faced by Teachers in India 44 Without social justice constructive women
Mental Health in india 45 empowerment is a futile exercise here is why 121
CSR needs positive reforms to support NGO’S 47
Global pandemic treaty to avert future mishap
Mother Tongue as a medium of instruction
48
50
Security Issues
Cybercrime in India 124
Road safety in India 52
TB mukt India 53
Public health should be led by doctor alone
LGBTQ leap forward for positive future
56
Enviro & Biodiversity
Planned sand mining 127
growth of human rights 57
Urban floods mitigation 128
Fighting anaemia 59
Cheetah reintroduction 131
Global digital governance 60
The heavy rainfall and the crazy Banglore
Census in India 62
flood: A case to study 133
Issues related to CBI 65
Fly ash generation and Disposal 135
Rising number of Rabies case 67
The great Indian thirst: The story
Teachers with a passion for the profession are
of India’s water stress 136
foundational to the positive educational change 69
Backsliding on climate action 138
Here is how HDI has performed in last 3 decades 70
Transboundary Flood Disasters 139
Why India Inc. needs a neurodiverse workplace ? 72
Stressed ecology of Bay of Bengal 140
The future of India is linked to police reforms 74
Congenital Heart Disease 75
Competent Chief of Defence Staff 77 Science Tech Art
Polity Culture
Patents in India 143
LGBTQ leap forward for positive future James Webb telescope : The most
growth of human rights 79 powerful space telescope 145
Parliamentary Standing Committees 80 5G revolution and challenges 146
The hijab case and the doctrine of essentiality 82
ECONOMICS
4 OP-ED | SEPTEMBER 2022

AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND MARKETING REFORMS - ENAM, MODEL APMC ACT, ECO SURVEY RECO, ETC.
Millet crop is the best solution for climate smart agriculture

Economics | GS3: Agriculture and related issues
Note4Students | From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : examples of nutri-cereals
Mains level : climate resilient agriculture
• Climate resilience : These unique features make millets suited

for and resilient to India’s varied agro-climatic conditions.
• Drought tolerance : cereals are not water or input-intensive,
making them a sustainable strategy for addressing climate
change and building resilient agri-food systems.
Context
• G
overnment push to coarse cereals as climate change affects
wheat, paddy cultivation
What are millets crops?

• M
illets area group of highly variable small-seeded grasses,
widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for
human food and as fodder.
Reduction in millet production
• E ffects of Green Revolution : The Green Revolution succeeded
Features Millet crops in India in making India food sufficient, however, it also led to
• B
ig three : The three major millet crops currently growing
water-logging, soil erosion, groundwater depletion and the
in India are jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet) and ragi
unsustainability of agriculture.
(finger millet).
• Deficit mind-set : Current policies are still based on the deficit
• E
xamples : India also grows a rich array of bio-genetically
mind-set of the 1960s.
diverse and indigenous varieties of small millets like kodo,
• Biased policies : The procurement, subsidies and water policies
kutki, chenna and sanwa.
are biased towards rice and wheat.
• A
rea of production : Major producers include Rajasthan,
• Skewed cropping pattern : Three crops (rice, wheat and
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
sugarcane) corner 75 to 80 per cent of irrigated water.
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.
• Lack of diversification : Diversification of cropping patterns
towards cereals, pulses, oilseeds, horticulture is needed for
more equal distribution of water, sustainable and climate-
resilient agriculture.
What can be done to promote millets as

nutri-cereals?
1) Rebranding the cereals as nutri-cereals

• Th
e first strategy from aconsumption and trade point of
viewwas to re-brand coarse cereals/millets as nutri-cereals.
• As of 2018-19, millet production had been extended to over
112 districts across 14 states.
2) Incentive through hiking MSP

• S econd, the government hiked the MSP of nutri-cereals, which
came as a big price incentive for farmers.
What are Advantages of millet cultivation? • From 2014-15 to 2020 MSPs for ragi has jumped by 113 per
• L
ow input cost : cereals are good for the soil, have shorter cent, by 72 per cent for bajra and by 71 per cent for jowar.
cultivation cycles and require less cost-intensive cultivation.
• M
SPs have been calculated so that the farmer is ensured at least 5) Intersection of agriculture and nutrition
a 50 per cent return on their cost of production. • Th
e Ministry of Women and Child Development has been
working at theintersection of agriculture and nutritionby
3) Providing steady markets through -1) setting up nutri-gardens, 2) promoting research on the
interlinkages between crop diversity and dietary diversity 3)
inclusion in PDS
running abehaviour change campaignto generateconsumer
• T
o provide a steady market for the produce, the Modi
demandfor nutri-cereals.
government included millets in the public distribution system.
Conclusion
4) Increasing area, production and yield
• I ndia should aim for a food systems transformation, which can
• Th
e Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is running a
be inclusive and sustainable, ensure growing farm incomes and
Rs600-crore schemeto increase the area, production and yield
nutrition security. As the government sets to achieve its agenda
of nutri-cereals.
of a malnutrition-free India and doubling of farmers incomes,
• W
ith a goal to match the cultivation of nutri-cereals with
the promotion of the production and consumption of nutri-
local topography and natural resources, the government is
cereals seems to be a policy shift in the right direction.
encouraging farmers to align their local cropping patterns to
India’s diverse127 agro-climatic zones. Mains question
• P
rovision ofseed kits and inputs to farmers,buildingvalue Q. Promotion of millet crops serves the dual purpose of
chainsthrough Farmer Producer Organisations andsupporting securing health and supporting farmers. Elucidate.
the marketability of nutri-cerealsare some of the key
interventions that have been put in place.
POLICY WISE: INDIA’S POWER SECTOR
Energy Atmanirbharta
Economics | GS3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : energy secure India
What is the main purpose of Atmanirbhar Bharat?

• Th
e aim is to make the country and its citizens independent and
self-reliant in all senses. Five pillars of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat
are Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography
and Demand.
Why does India require Self-reliance in

Energy Sector?
• I ndia’s energy mix is skewed towards fossil fuels. 75% of
India’s energy in 2020 was supplied by Coal (44%), Oil (25%)
and Natural Gas (6%). With limited reserves of Oil and Natural
Gas, securing long term supply of Oil and Natural Gas remain
a challenge. At present 75% of India’s Oil and Gas needs
are met through imports. This might rise to 90% by 2040
according to IEAs Energy Outlook 2021. Import dependence
Context has associated Geopolitical risks which exposes the economy
• Th
e Prime Minister has called for Energy to external shocks (e.g., Political instability in the Middle
Atmanirbharta by 2040. East, or threat to global oil supply chain makes India’s energy
security vulnerable).
• Self-reliance through green energy initiatives is the foundation
What is Atmanirbharta? of a green and sustainable economy. Green energy initiatives
• A
tmanirbharta translates literally to self-reliance.
focus on clean energy and its availability to all individuals and
businesses.

• I ndia can achieve Sustainable Development Goals • Holistic governance : The current siloed structures of energy
(SDGs) only when Social, Economic, and Environmental governance are suboptimal. A root and branch administrative
(SEE) dimensions are addressed in a balanced and overall is required. Institutions should be created to facilitate
sustainable manner. integrated energy planning and implementation.
• O ut of 17 SDGs, five SDGs are highly linked, andthree SDGs are
moderately associated with Renewable Energy. So, by achieving Case study for value addition
self-reliance in the energy sector, India can achieve many SDGs. • C
osta Rica lasted 300 consecutive days on renewable energy
alone.Costa Rica set the record in 2017 for most consecutive
How to achieve energy self-reliance? days with renewable energy. The previous record for this feat
• D efinitional clarity : Atmanirbharta translates literally to was in 2015 when Costa Rica lasted299 consecutive dayson
self-reliance. Many interpret it to mean self-sufficiency. That pure, clean energy.
should not be our goal.Energy self-sufficiencyhttps://www.
civilsdaily.com/yojana-archive-energy-security-nuclear-power/ What are the initiatives taken by the government
is infeasible and uneconomic. A better statement of intent
would be strategic autonomy.
to achieve Self-reliance in Energy Sector?
The Government of India along with the State governments is
• A ffordable access to fuel : Our policy must continue to
focusing on making India a global leader in the green and clean
emphasise affordable and secure access to oil and gas. Part
economy. The government has initiated various schemes that
of this objective could be met by intensifying domestic
focus on goals based on the five principles. These include 5Is
exploration.
(Intent, Inclusion, Investment, Infrastructure & Innovation).
• P rioritise access to the building blocks of green energy: The
sine qua non for realising this forecast will be cost-competitive
access to minerals/components (copper, cobalt, lithium, Renewable Energy Initiatives
semiconductor chips etc) required to build EVs, solar panels, • G lobally, India is one of the leaders in the production of
wind turbines and batteries. renewable energy and is playing a valuable role in contributing
• I nfrastructure development: We must expand our strategic to a global green economy. Renewables including solar, wind,
petroleum reserves to cover at least 30 days of consumption hydro, biofuels, and green hydrogen are the major sources of
and upgrade the transmission grid and battery storage systems energy that lead to a low-carbon economy.
to scale up renewables and smoothen its supplies. We will • Recently, the Government of India has set up the Ministry of
need to develop innovative financing mechanisms to fund New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to promote renewable
green infrastructure. It should be emphasised that all such energy and set a target to attain the capacity of 227 GW by
investments will get impaired if state discoms are financially 2022. This includes 114 GW from solar, 67 GW from wind, and
insolvent. the rest from others like bio and hydro energy.
• G reen incentives : The governments production-linked
incentive scheme (PLI) offers benefits for investment in Solar
green energy. The government is providing subsidies and other incentives
• D emand conservation and efficiency: Energy usage norms to enhance the capacity of Rooftop Solar Energy. PM-KUSUM
must be standardised and tightened. Legislation should be and Atal Jyoti Yojana(AJAY) aim to provide solar pumps and
contemplated to ensure compliance. grid-connected solar and Solar LED Lights respectively. Due to
• E nergy diplomacy : Our diplomats should add the arrows these initiatives, India has witnessed a significant rise in the
of energy diplomacy to their quiver. This is because of our production of electricity from solar energy i.e. 50.10 billion units
dependence on the international energy supply chains. Success in 2019-20 from 1.65 billion units in 2012-13.
in navigating the cross-currents of economic and geopolitical
uncertainties will rest greatly on skilful diplomacy.
Wind
Coastal regions provide ample opportunities to harness wind
energy. Due to the intervention of government as well as private
players, wind power production capacity has increased from 10.9
GW in 2009 to 30.37 GW in 2020.
Bio-energy
The Government is promoting various schemes for biogas
production, including theNew National Biogas and
Organic Manure Programme(NNBOMP) andBiogasbased
Power Generation and Thermal Energy Application
Programme(BPGTP). Apart from these, the Government has
also proposed to set up 5,000 compressed biogas plants across
India by 2023.
Hydro energy
It is economically exploitable and has a high potential for
additional benefits such as irrigation, acting as a flood barrier
and drought saviour, providing recreation and tourism-related
activities. It has higher efficiency (over 90%) than other
renewable sources.
National Hydrogen Mission • P ricing : is the key to ensure the commercial viability of
It was announced in August 2021 to produce carbon-free fuels business entities and to attract investment into each fuel sector.
from renewable resources and to make India a global hub of • Rigid tariff setting mechanism : Theoretically, prices should be
production as well as export of green hydrogen. supervised and adjusted in a timely manner and adequately by
• Th
e ultimate aim of this mission is to attain self-reliance in independent regulators to reflect changing costs. However, in
energy production and to achieve the set target by 2047 so India, regulators including CERC and SERCs operate in a very
as to celebrate the 100 years of independence. The National rigid way due to political considerations. This jeopardises the
Hydrogen Energy Mission will bring drastic changes operational profitability of companies.
in the energy sector and will contribute to a gas-based
cleaner economy.
• Th
e government has decided to produce green hydrogen
through renewable electricity and electrolysis which is expected
to be achieved by 2050.
Others
Natural gas:
A roadmap has been set for making India self-reliant in the
energy sector which includes increasing usage of natural gas in
the economy, setting up a network for supply of CNG and piped
natural gas across the country, blending 20 per cent ethanol in
petrol and electric mobility. The Government has proposed to
extract ethanol from sugarcane and other bio-elements in helping
the production of cleaner energy. Thenew energy of map of
Indiadirectly focuses on sustainable sources of energy in meeting
the growing demand. It is expected that 25% of the worlds energy
needs will be met by India by 2050 and that will help India in
becoming a 10 trillion dollar addressable market. Conclusion
• W
e need leadership that can reconcile temporal differences and
Challenges ahead balance the short-term pressures of elections with the longer-
• A
nti-nuclear public sentiment : The Fukushima-Daiichi term imperatives of sustainability in energy security which calls
accident resulted in growing concern over the safety of for bold and pragmatic decision making by the leadership.
nuclear plants in India.The construction of a nuclear plant in
Mains question
Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu, brought the issue directly into the
Q. How India can achieve Energy Atmanirbharta by
public domain in 2012. 2040 an ambitious target stated by prime minister?
• M
anagement autonomy : Power sector is dominated by public What are the challenges in achieving this goal?.
sector companies or PSUs (owned by the central and state
government). Some parts of the energy sector have made very
little progress in attracting private investment since 2007.

FOOD PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION - PDS & NFSA, SHANTA KUMAR
COMMITTEE, FCI RESTRUCTURING, BUFFER STOCK, ETC.
Agriculture Supply Chain

Economics | GS3: Agriculture and related issues
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Food security
• Importance of production planning and scheduling focusing on

high capacity utilization.
• Highly sophisticated capital-intensive machinery leading to the
need to maintain capacity utilization.
• Variable process yield in quantity and quality due to biological
variations, seasonality, random factors connected with weather,
pests and other biological hazards.
Challenges of Supply Chain Management

• C onnectivity: There is lack of connectivity from villages
to markets
Context • Sorting and Grading technology : Farmers lack the knowledge
• D
isruption of supply chains due to the Ukraine war has about the process
implications for India’s food security • Numerous stake holders working in isolation: The food
supply chain is complex with perishable goods and numerous
What is a supply chain in simple words? small stake holders. In India, the infrastructure connecting
• A
supply chain is the network of all the individuals, these partners is very weak.
organizations, resources, activities and technology involved in • Lack of demand estimation: Demand forecasting is totally
the creation and sale of a product. absent and the farmers try to push whatever they produce into
the market.
• Lack of technology applications : Cold chain logistic supply
Is supply chain management related to
chains should take advantage of technology improvements
agriculture? in data capture and processing, product tracking and
• A
gribusiness, supply chain management (SCM) implies tracing, synchronized freight transport transmit times
managing the relationships between the businesses responsible for time compression along the supply chain and supply-
for the efficient production and supply of products from the demand matching.
farm level to the consumers to meet consumers’ requirements • Lack of system integration: The supply chain needs to be
reliably in terms of quantity, quality, and price. designed and built as a whole in an integrated manner. The
process of new product development, procurement and order to
What are two types of the food chain? delivery processes should be well designed and well supported
• A
griculture food supply chains for fresh agricultural with the help of IT tools and software.
products: (such as fresh vegetables, flowers, fruit). In general, • Presence of large number of unorganized retailers: At
these chains may comprise growers, auctions, wholesalers, present the unorganized retailers are linked with farmers
importers and exporters, retailers and speciality shops and through wholesalers or commission agents. The commission
their input and service suppliers. Basically, all of these stages agents and wholesalers redundant supply chain practices make
leave the intrinsic characteristics of the product grown or unorganized further inefficient.
produced untouched. The main processes are the handling,
conditioned storing, packing, transportation and especially What should we do to ensure nutritional security?
trading of these goods. • S trengthening and shortening food supply chains :
• A
griculture food supply chains for processed food products: reinforcing regional food systems, food processing, agricultural
(such as portioned meats, snacks, juices, desserts, canned food resilience and sustainability in a climate-changing world will
products). In these chains, agricultural products are used as raw require prioritising research and investments along these lines.
materials for producing consumer products with higher added • Infrastructure : Infrastructure and institutions supporting
value. In most cases, conservation and conditioning processes producers, agripreneurs and agricultural micro, small and
extend the shelf-life of the products. medium enterprises (MSMEs) in their production value chain
are central to the transition.
Supply chain issues • Potential for crop diversification : Data compiled in the agro-
• S helf-life constraints for raw materials, intermediates and climatic zones reports of the Indian Council of Agricultural
finished products and changes in product quality level while Research and the erstwhile Planning Commission of India
progressing the supply chain (decay). reveal enormous potential for crop diversification and precision
• H igh volume, low variety (although the variety is increasing) for enhanced crop productivity based on soil type, climate
production systems. (temperature and rainfall), and captive water resources.
• H
olistic policy approach: In the context of the intensifying • S et restriction on hoarding: For that, there is a need to set
economic, environmental and climate challenges and crisis, the restrictions on the reserves that the private sector can hold, as
need of the hour is a good theory of transition encompassing they often tend to hoard food stocks to later sell at a profit.
the spatial, social and scientific dimensions, supported by • Speculation should be regulated : This will help prevent
policy incentives and mechanisms for achieving a sustainable, the opaqueness of private sector reserves, which often fuels
resilient and food secure agriculture. speculation by large international financial actors.
• A
gro-climatic approach: An agro-climatic approach to • Positional limits: Internationally, positional limits could be set
agricultural development is important for sustainability and on speculators but that would require a multilateral accord, a
better nutrition. topic which should be on the agenda at the next G-20 meeting.
Mains question
Way forward Q. What role supply chain play in nutritional security? Discuss
• T
ransparency: The Indian government could ensure more the constraints in supply chain along with way forward.
transparency on food stocks and regulate the private sector.
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND MARKETING REFORMS - ENAM, MODEL APMC ACT, ECO SURVEY RECO, ETC.
Apple Farming in India

Economics | GS3: Agriculture and related issues,Food Processing & Related Industries In India
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : farmers welfare
Reason for crisis in apple farming

• I ncrease in cost of production: The input cost of fertilizers,
insecticides, and fungicides has risen in the last decade by
300%, as per some estimates. The cost of apple cartons and
trays and packaging has also seen a dramatic rise. In the last
decade, the cost of a carton, for instance, has risen from about
30 to The cost borne to market the Produce has also risen.
• High taxation: The increase in the Goods and Services Tax on
cartons from 12% to 18%. This was done to ensure that farmers
are forced to sell their produce to big buyers instead of selling it
in the open market. Just as the three farm laws were designed
on the pretext of getting rid of the middlemen, the argument
here was that commission agents, who fleece the apple farmers,
will be forced to exit the picture. But this leaves the apple
growers at the mercy of large giants in procurement, who have
precedence of even deciding the procurement price.
• No MSP in Himachal: Unlike in Jammu and Kashmir, where
Context
there is a minimum rate for procurement, there is no such law
• Th
e increasing cost of production and the increase in GST on
in Himachal. The government also does not seem prepared to
apple cartons has triggered protests in Himachal Pradesh’s
bring in such a law. The farmers are demanding that legally
apple farmers.
guaranteed procurement at aMinimum Support Pricehttps://
www.civilsdaily.com/news/back-in-news-minimum-support-
What is the issue? price-msp/ (C2+50%) should be ensured to improve apple
• Th
e cost of production of agricultural items increased farmers condition.
substantially, denying remunerative prices to the poor and
marginal apple farmers.

incomes and living standards of apple producers in India. This
research should be further enhanced by introducing European
varieties in India.
• Focussing on Alternative Market Channels: The alternative
market channel works on the principles of decentralisation
and direct-to-home delivery. The idea is to create smaller, less
congested markets in urban areas with the participation of
farmers groups and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) so that
farmers have direct access to consumers.
• Logistics transformation: To sustain the demand for
agricultural commodities, investments in key logistics must
be enhanced. Moreover, e-commerce and delivery companies
and start-ups need to be encouraged with suitable policies
and incentives. The small and medium enterprises, running
with raw materials from the agriculture and allied sector or
How to address this issue? otherwise, also need special attention so that the rural economy
• N
eed for a regulator: What is required is an independent doesnt collapse.
body that is duly supported and trusted by the farmers. Such
a body should have representatives of apple growers, market Conclusion
players, commission agents and the government. This must be a • A
griculture is dying, not as in the production of food but as
statutory body that is also given the task of conducting research a desirable profession. One bad yield, whether due to errant
in the apple economy. rains, pests, etc., and most farmers have no buffer available.
• D
irectional efforts: Issues such as high input cost, lack of fair The last point worth considering is that food and agriculture
price and unavailability of infrastructure such as cold chains are not the same. Expenditures on food span the value-add,
should be addressed. including processing, preparation, service in restaurants, etc.
• R
equired research to support improvements in apple Farmers in India merely get paid for their product and not for
farming systems : Over the past few decades, the priorities in the food we eat.
research projects and government policies on apple production
were focused on the improvement of tree productivity and Mains question
product quality. This was important to enhance the net Q. Do you think there is urgent need to extend MSP to
horticulture sector also? Discuss what can be done to
solve the apple farmer crisis in Himachal Pradesh.
TOURISM SECTOR
Sustainable Tourism in India

Economics | GS2: Ministries & Departments Of The Government
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : tourism as economic driver
• There is a need for tourism analysts to hold tourism planners

accountable.
What is tourism?
• T
ourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and
practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating,
and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours.
Types of tourism
• D
omestic tourism : Refers to activities of a visitor within their
country of residence and outside of their home (e.g. a Indian
Context visiting other parts of India)
• M
inistry of Tourism identified Tourism Industrys potential as a
Sunrise Industry.
• I nbound tourism : Refers to the activities of a visitor from
outside of country of residence (e.g. a Spaniard visiting Britain).
• O utbound tourism : Refers to the activities of a resident visitor
outside of their country of residence (e.g. an Indian visiting an
overseas country).
Types of Tourism In India

From bustling modern metropolises to ancient temples, the
high peaks of the Himalayas to the warm waters of the Arabian
Sea, India is a colorful and diverse country popular with
tourists from all over the world. Historic sightseeing, adventure
travel, and cultural vacations are all popular types of tourism
in India, and many of the countrys top destinations enjoy
international renown.
Types of Tourism in India is given below: • M edical Tourism

• N ature Tourism: • The medical tourism industry in India is poised to become the
• I ndia being a peninsula(one of the largest coastline) there next success story after the software/IT industry.
a lot of beautiful beaches spread along the coast and in the • Medical tourism has boosted with the number of Overseas
Indian islands. patients touching 400000 in 2013 as against 10000 in 2000.
• I ndia has a lot of Evergreen forests, filled with a high diversity • Apollo Hospitals alone has treated 110000 international
of Flora and fauna. patients in 2014.
• P lenty of Hill stations each providing unique sense of
excitement and scenery.
• P laces having high scenic beauty:
What does sustainable tourism mean?
• S ustainable tourism is defined by the UN Environment
• H eaven on Earth- Uttarakhand
Program and UN World Tourism Organization as tourism that
• P aradise on Earth-Kashmir
takes full account of its current and future economic, social and
• G ods on Country- Kerala
environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the
• W ell Know Places: Shimla, Jammu, Goa, Munnar, Ooty,
industry, the environment and host communities.
• K odaikanal, Conoor, Shillong, Darjeeling, Mussoorie, Leh-
• L adakh, Manali, Nanital,
• H eritage / Cultural Tourism : The birthplace of Buddhism and Importance of Tourism in India
Hinduism and home to hundreds of monasteries and ancient • G enerates Income and Employment: In 2017, Tourism
temples, India may be the top destination in the world for Industry accounted for 8% of the total employment. An
spiritual tourism. The holy city of Varanasi sits on the banks of increase has been witnessed in the sale of handlooms,
the Ganges River and draws hordes of international tourists to handicrafts etc.
its ghats and towering Hindu temples. • Service Sector: It gives a push to service sector. A large
• W ildlife Tourism: India is a land full of unmatched wild number of businesses engaged in service sector such as airlines,
treasures. The climatic conditions and geographical features hotel, surface transportation, etc. grows with the growth of
make the country one of the top biodiverse spot on Earth. India tourism industry.
Maintains 566 Wildlife sanctuaries, 105 National Parks and • Foreign Travelers help India in getting Foreign Exchange.
12 Bio Reserves in India (under MAB program of UNESCO). • Tourism helps in preservation of National Heritage and
Some of the major wildlife zones of India are: Environment by bringing in focus the importance of sites and
• D eccan Peninsula need to preserve them.
• W estern Ghats • Renewal of Cultural Pride: Tourist spots being appreciated
• G angetic Plains globally instills a sense of pride among Indian residents gets
• N orth Eastern Region reinforced.
• H imalayan Region • Infrastructural Development: Now-a-days, it is ensured that
• A dventure Tourism : The mountains of Himalayas are Travelers do not face any problem; multiple use infrastructures
among the most popular destinations on Earth for hikers, are getting developed at several tourist places. Uttarakhands
mountaineers and climbers, and they offer nearly endless plan to start mobile caravans is a latest example.
possibilities for trekking adventures. • It helps in bringing India on global map of tourism, earning
• P ilgrimage Tourism : In ancient times travel was primarily appreciation, recognition and initiates cultural exchange.
for pilgrimage as holy places. India is the most popular in • Tourism as a form of soft power, helps in promoting cultural
pilgrimage tourism because it is the land of every religion. diplomacy, people to people connect and thereby promotes
Famous Pilgrimage Places of India is given in table below: friendship and cooperation between India and other countries.
Challenges of India’s Tourism Sector

• I nfrastructure and Connectivity: Deficiencies in infrastructure
and inadequate connectivity hamper tourist visits to some
heritage sites. For example, many tourist destinations like
Kangchenjunga, are still not easily accessible.

• L
ow-cost hotels : The hotels and holiday homes are not up to Government initiatives
the mark and are marred by unhygienic conditions and lack • T ourism has existed for a very long time, apart from pilgrimage
proper sanitation. tourism India has ecological, scientific, historical, cultural and
• A
bsence of basic amenities like drinking water, well medicinal tourism places.
maintained toilets, first aid, cafeteria etc. at tourist places. • Government has celebrated Paryatan Parv
• S
kill Deficit: The number of adequately trained individuals for • The Government has launched various schemes such as
the tourism and hospitality sector is a key challenge to giving Swadesh Darshan scheme, North east India circuit, Himalayan
visitors a world-class experience. circuit, Buddha circuit etc
• E
ntry/exit Issue: Despite the introduction of an e-visa facility, • National Mission on pilgrimage rejuvenation and spiritual
visitors find the process of applying for a visa still cumbersome. Heritage augmentation drive( PRASAD) was launched by the
• P
romotion and Marketing: Although marketing related to Ministry of Tourism with the objective of Holistic development
India’s tourism has been increasing, still online marketing/ of identified destination in 2017
branding remains limited and campaigns are not coordinated. • A mobile application called Swachh Paryatan was launched
• S
afety- Tourists have frequently been mugged and robbed or in 2016 which lets citizen report any hygiene issue at various
cheated in India and also have returned without any justice. tourist destination across the country
• S
easonality in Tourism, with the busy season being limited
to six months from October to March and heavy rush in
What should be done to promote tourism?
• N ational Tourism Authority : A separate National Tourism
November and December.
Authority (NTA) should be established for executing and
• N
on-acceptance of International Cards at small outlets.
operationalizing various tourism related initiatives. Simple,
flexible and elegant processes will be laid down to allow for
India tourism nimbleness.
• National Tourism Advisory Board : A National Tourism
Advisory Board (NTAB) should be set up to provide overall
vision, guidance and direction to the Development of Tourism
Sector in the country.
• C
reating Synergy in Tourism Eco System : In order to • Th
e policy aims to make Gujarat one of the top five MICE
ensure synergy at various levels of Government and with tourism destinations in the country.
the Private Sector, it is important to have a well-defined
framework in place. Way forward
• Q
uality Tourism Framework : A robust framework for quality • E nhance the contribution of tourism in Indian economy by
certification of products and services across all segments like increasing the visitation, stay and spend
accommodation providers, tour operators, adventure tour • Create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in tourism sector
operators, service providers like spa and wellness, guides, and ensure supply of skilled work force
restaurants etc. should be laid down. • Enhance the competitiveness of tourism sector and attract
• E
nhancing the existing luxury tourism products: The existing private sector investment
tourism products such as Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Palace on • Preserve and enhance the cultural and natural resources of
Wheels etc. should be enhanced and their numbers will also be the country
increased. Haulage charges will be rationalised to make luxury • To ensure sustainable, responsible and inclusive development
trains viable. of tourism in the country
• R
ailways can be a game changer: For tourism Railways have
presence in most parts of the country. Most of the tourist
destinations in the country are connected by rail. Railways is Conclusion
also in the process of connecting more places especially the • W
e know that India has the highest tourism potential of any
strategic locations that also are tourist places with limited country. That is because we have every terrain and climate
connectivity at present. Indian Railways is working towards zone, and a range of customs, traditions, cuisines, crafts,
promoting tourism in the country by operating more trains art forms and festivals unmatched by any other nation. We
connecting tourists destinations and also by providing an should monetize our potential through putting comprehensive
array of products starting from luxury tourist trains to budget National tourism policy in place.
catering tourist trains Mains question
Q. What should be done to transform our tourist
destinations to provide world class visitor experience
making India one of the topmost destinations
for sustainable and responsible tourism?
What is MICE tourism of Gujarat?

• Th
e acronym MICE stands for Meetings, Incentives,
Conferences and Exhibitions, and is essentially a version
of business tourism that draws domestic and international
tourists to a destination.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS AND VARIOUS REPORTS ON IT- GDP, FD, EODB, WIR ETC
IIP gives us true health of our economy

Economics | GS3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Prelims level : particulars of IIP
Mains level : economic indicator
Context
• I ndia’s statistics ministry generates only one high-frequency
gauge of economic activity. And that lone barometer, the index Why is IIP important?
of industrial production (IIP), is completely broken. • I IP is the only measure on the physical volume of production.
It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of
What is IIP? Finance, the Reserve Bank of India, etc. for policy-making
• Th
e Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index that purposes. IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of
indicatesthe performance of various industrial sectors of the the quarterly and advance GDP estimates.
Indian economy. It is a composite indicator of the general level
of industrial activity in the economy. Who releases IIP data?
• Th
e IIP data is compiled and published by CSO every month.
• CSO or Central Statistical Organisation operates under
theMinistry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
(MoSPI).https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/what-are-the-first-
advance-estimates-of-gdp/
• The IIP index data, once released, is also available on the
PIB website.
How useful are monthly IIP figures to draw a

conclusion about India’s growth?
• I IP figures are monthly data and as such it keeps going
up and down.
• In fact, the release calls them quick estimates because they tend
How is IIP calculated? to get revised after a month or two.
• I IP is calculated asthe weighted average of production relatives
of all the industrial activities. In the mathematical calculation IIP Index Components
Laspeyre’s fixed base formula is used. • M ining, manufacturing, and electricity are the three broad
sectors in which IIP constituents fall.
What are the Core Industries in India? • The relative weights of these three sectors are 77.6%
• Th
e main or the key industries constitute the core sectors of (manufacturing), 14.4% (mining) and 8% (electricity).
an economy. • Electricity, crude oil, coal, cement, steel, refinery products,
• I n India, there are eight sectors that are considered the natural gas, and fertilizers are the eight core industries that
core sectors. comprise about 40 per cent of the weight of items included
• Th
ey are electricity, steel, refinery products, crude oil, coal, in the IIP.
cement, natural gas and fertilizers.
Basket of products
Which has highest weightage in IIP? • P rimary Goods (consisting of mining, electricity, fuels and
• Th
e eight core sector industries in decreasing order of their fertilisers)
weightage: Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude • Capital Goods (e.g. machinery items)
Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.
• I ntermediate Goods (e.g. yarns, chemicals, semi-finished steel IIP base year change
items, etc) • Th
e base year was changed to 2011-12 from 2004-05 in the
• I nfrastructure Goods (e.g. paints, cement, cables, bricks and year 2017.
tiles, rail materials, etc)
• C onsumer Durables (e.g. garments, telephones, passenger
Way ahead
vehicles, etc)
• I IP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the
• C onsumer Non-durables (e.g. food items, medicines,
quarterly and advance GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
toiletries, etc)
estimates.
Mains question
Q. What do you understand by IIP? How it helps us to
understand economic health?
ELECTRIC AND HYBRID CARS - FAME, NATIONAL ELECTRIC MOBILITY MISSION, ETC.
FAME India
Economics | GS2: Government Scheme/Policies
Prelims level : FAME India scheme
Mains level : sustainable mobility
• Revenue loss: They incur large losses because of the subsidized

fares to crores of Indians each day.
• Problem: problems of fragmented demand and high prices.
• Limitation: As State governments control issues such as
transit, urban governance and pollution control so theres a
limitation for the nation-wide action on this issue.
Context
• C
entralized procurement of 5,450 electric buses and
subsequent increase in ambition to have 50,000 e-buses on the
countrys roads by 2030 under FAME scheme.
What is FAME India scheme?
• Th
e National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020
• W
ith the shared aim to rapidly electrify a key pillar of India’s
: Is a National Mission document providing the vision and the
public transportation, recent governance efforts of Union
roadmap for the faster adoption of electric vehicles and their
and state governments have created a new business model
manufacturing in the country.
for e-buses.
• FAME : As part of the NEMMP 2020, Department of
Heavy Industry formulated a Scheme viz. Faster Adoption
Status of State-owned buses and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in
• S
tatus : There are currently around 1,40,000 registered public India (FAME India) Scheme in the year 2015 to promote
buses on India’s roads. manufacturing of electric and hybrid vehicle technology and to
• C
ondition : Large numbers of them having sputtering engines ensure sustainable growth of the same.
which emits planet-warming fumes into the atmosphere. At • FAME Phase-II : Government has approved Phase-II of FAME
least 40,000 of these buses are at the end of their lifespan and Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 Crore for a period of 3
must be taken off the roads years commencing from 1stApril 2019.
• O
perators: Most buses are owned and operated by State
transport undertakings, which are in poor financial health.

• O ut of total budgetary support, about 86 percent of fund has • However, there are many incentives given off by central and
been allocated for Demand Incentive so as to create demand for state governments. But the common condition in all policies
EVs in the country. is that the incentives are only applicable for up to a certain
• Th
is phaseaims to generate demand by way of supporting 7000 number of vehicles only and after removing the discount and
e-Buses, 5 lakh e-3 Wheelers, 55000 e-4 Wheeler Passenger incentives the same EV which was looking lucrative to buy
Cars (including Strong Hybrid) and 10 lakh e-2 Wheelers. suddenly becomes unaffordable
However, depending upon off-take of different category of EVs,
these numbers may vary as the provision has been made for 2. Beta version of vehicles:
inter as well as intra segment wise f • R ight now, both the technology and companies are new to the
• I ncentives: Only advanced battery and registered vehicles will market and the products they are manufacturing are possibly
be incentivized under the scheme. facing real costumers for the first time.
• C overage : With greater emphasis on providing affordable & • Its nearly impossible to make such a complex product like an
environment friendly public transportation options for the automobile perfect for the customers in the first go, and as
masses, scheme will be applicable mainly to vehicles used for expected the buyers faced many issues. Vehicles like RV400,
public transport or those registered for commercial purposes EPluto 7G, Nexon all them has to update their vehicle up to a
in e-3W, e-4W and e-bus segments. However, privately owned very high extent after customer feedback and reviews.
registered e-2Ws are also covered under the scheme as a
mass segment.
3.Poor Infrastructure and range anxiety:
• P oor infrastructure is among the most pressing issue among
people thinking to opt for electric vehicles.
• Poor infra doesnt only include a lack of charging stations but
also the lack of proper charging set up in their home.
4.No Universal charger and Ecosystem (Lack of

standardization):
• E very second electric vehicle-making company has its own
different charging port which is becoming a hurdle to setting up
a proper charging ecosystem.
• Also, many EV users complained about facing moral trouble
for charging their vehicle in different EV-making Companys
charging stations which can impact the growth of the
EV industry.
5.Temperature Issues:
• T
emperature can affect the performance of an EV battery at
a large extent which makes EVs inappropriate for too cold
(Uttarakhand, Meghalaya) or too hot regions like (Rajasthan,
Kerala). The battery can give its ideal performance when its in
use under the temperature range of 15-40 degrees.
6.Environmental concerns:
• Th
e EV revolution is necessary for the most populated and
polluted parts of India like Delhi, Mumbai, etc. but in such
What are the Benefits of Fame India Scheme? cities the major chunk of electricity is generated through
Fame India scheme offers the following benefits: burning fossil fuels which are equivalent to spreading the
• I ssues related to environmental and fuel conservation will be pollution through the ICE vehicle smoke, even most of the
significantly reduced. charging stations are reportedly operating upon diesel-driven
• V ehicles from different segments will receive subsidy benefits electricity generator.
accordingly.
• C itizens can avail themselves of eco-friendly public Way ahead
transportation. • W ith anything new, there will always be challenges.
• Th
is scheme will allow individuals to reap the benefits of • The EV industry is still in a nascent stage in India but
renewable energy sources through charging systems. developing at a rapid pace. Catching up to speed are the
• Th
e establishment of charging stations in close proximity infrastructure requirements to support the EV demand.
further encourages individuals to opt for electric vehicles. • Even with the current challenges, electric vehicles present huge
potential to reduce our carbon footprints and provide a cost-
Obstacles in electric vehicle mobility effective system of transportation.
• And one way to contribute towards this growth is to buy an
electric vehicle.
1. EV Cost and Battery cost:
• Th
e cost is the most concerning point for an individual when it
comes to buying an electric vehicle.
Mains Question
Q. What do you understand by FAME India scheme?
How it will help tackling climate change? What are
the obstacles in implementation of this scheme?
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING SECTOR - M-SIPS, NATIONAL POLICY ON ELECTRONICS, ETC.
Why Should India choose manufacturing over services?

Economics | GS3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Prelims level : PLI scheme
Mains level : sectors of economy
Reason behind tertiarization of Indian economy:

• I ncome elasticity of services demand is > 1. This is because
India has developed a large middle class which was services
deprived earlier. So as their purchasing power increases they
demand more services. Take for example telecom and insurance
sectors - huge untapped market lying in them.
• Outsourcing/splintering i.e. instead of carrying services
inhouse it is now more profitable to outsource it and lower
costs. Examples are activities like marketing, advertising, data
analysis etc.
Context • Manufacturing needs a favorable overall environment
• M
anufacturing can create higher productivity jobs. including raw materials, infrastructure, favorable technology,
marketing and labor laws etc. India doesn’t have comparative
advantage in any of these.
What is service sector? • Instead services require a market as well as skilled human
e service sector, also known as the tertiary sector, is the
• Th capital. This is where India’s comparative advantage lies - again
third tier in the three-sector economy. Instead of product thanks to huge middle class.
production, this sector produces services maintenance and • India is specializing in skill intensive industries because
repairs, training, or consulting. Examples of service sector jobs skilled workers and professionals are outside the purview of
include housekeeping, tours, nursing, and teaching. trade unions.
• In a free trade world restrictions on imports of goods are
What is called manufacturing sector? going down but services are not yet covered. Moreover in
• M
anufacturing is the making of goods by hand or by machine case of many services we can’t import them, they have to be
that upon completion the business sells to a customer. Items produced here.
used in manufacture may be raw materials or component parts • Economic reforms liberated the services sector to claim its
of a larger product. The manufacturing usually happens on a due share.
large-scale production line of machinery and skilled labor. • Tradability of many services has risen sharply in recent years
thanks to developments in communications and IT. India has
done a good job of riding the new wav
Should India focus on manufacturing

over services?
• S
ervices sector failed to create more jobs : So far, in services,
we have certainly developed some advantage and we are doing
rather well. Services share of the economy has gone up to over
50% of the GDP. However, this sector has not been able to
create enough jobs in a commensurate manner. The result is
that agriculture still continues to sustain nearly half of India’s
workforce, which means that 15% of GDP is supporting some
45% of the workforce.

• M
anufacturing can provide productive jobs : We need What are the incentives offered?
more productive job opportunities for the workforce to shift • A n incentive of 4-6 per cent was offered last year on mobile
away from agriculture. We need to focus attention on the and electronic components manufacturers such as resistors,
manufacturing sector because of the direct and indirect jobs transistors, diodes, etc.
that it can create. • Similarly, 10 percent incentives were offered for six years
• E
mpirical fact : It is an empirical fact that manufacturing (FY22-27) of the scheme for the food processing industry.
of all productive sectors has the highest backward and • For white goods too, the incentive of 4-6 per cent on
forward linkages. incremental sales of goods manufactured in India for a
• S
ignificant potential: So, all together, there is significant period of five years was offered to companies engaged in the
potential for the manufacturing sector to create higher manufacturing of air conditioners and LED lights.
productivity jobs for people stuck in agricultural activities. That
is the future for India.
What is PLI Scheme? Benefits of PLI

• A
s the name suggests, the scheme provides incentives to • Th
e scheme has a direct employment generation potential of
companies for enhancing their domestic manufacturing apart over 2,00,000 jobs over 5 years.
from focusing on reducing import bills and improving the cost • It would lead to large scale electronics manufacturing in the
competitiveness of local goods. country and open tremendous employment opportunities.
• P
LI scheme offers incentives on incremental sales for products Indirect employment will be about 3 times of direct
manufactured in India. employment as per industry estimates.
• Th
e scheme for respective sectors has to be implemented by the • Thus, the total employment potential of the scheme is
concerned ministries and departments. approximately 8,00,000.
Criteria laid for the scheme Way Forward

• E
ligibility criteria for businesses under the PLI scheme vary • I f a high growth sector like services does not contribute
based on the sector approved under the scheme. to absorbing the large numbers of under and unemployed
• F
or instance, the eligibility for telecom units is subject to workers in India, the welfare implications of the growth
the achievement of a minimum threshold of cumulative trajectory are bound to be adverse. So, the government
incremental investment and incremental sales of should not be solely focussing on the tertiary sector
manufactured goods. as a whole.
• Th
e minimum investment threshold for MSME is Rs 10 crore • India’s alternative growth model, which involves premature
and Rs 100 crores for others. diversification infavourof high productivity services, wont last
• U
nder food processing, SMEs and others must hold over 50 per long without adequate development of a manufacturing base.
cent of the stock of their subsidiaries, if any. • The major policy focus in India has been incentivised capital
• O
n the other hand, for businesses under pharmaceuticals, the investment, not job creation. By the time the government
project has to be a green-field project while the net worth of decides what skill to impart, the demand for that skill is
the company should not be less than 30 per cent of the total gone. This mismatch should be balanced.
committed investment.
• M
anufacturing sector needs a boost: while the services sector Conclusion
contributes 58% to India’s GDP, the manufacturing sectors • I n order to integrate India as a pivotal part of this modern
contribution is 24%. India’s late policy resurgence towards economy, there is a strong need to step up our manufacturing
manufacturing is the main reason why the country lags capabilities.
behind China. The sectors role in triggering structural change
has remained unattended while we have focused on the less Mains question
employment-providing, less tradeable and less technology- Q.Should India focus on manufacturing over services for
job creation? Discuss the role Production Linked Incentive
oriented services sector.
Scheme could play in boosting manufacturing in India.
MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE NOTIFICATIONS
High Inflation in India

Economics | GS3: Indian Economy
Prelims level : types of inflation
Mains level : inflation overview
Types of Inflation
Context Creeping Inflation

• I t seems that inflation may hover around 7 percent despite RBIs • C
reeping or mild inflation is when prices rise 3% a year or less.
tightening of monetary policy in the months to come. This kind of mild inflation makes consumers expect that prices
will keep going up. That boosts demand. Consumers buy now
What is a simple definition of inflation? to beat higher future prices. Thats how mild inflation drives
• I nflation is an increase in the level of prices of the goods and economic expansion.
services that households buy. It is measured as the rate of
change of those prices. Typically, prices rise over time, but Walking Inflation
prices can also fall (a situation called deflation). • Th
is type of strong, or pernicious, inflation is between 3-10% a
year. It is harmful to the economy because it heats up economic
Inflation Rate growth too fast. People start to buy more than they need, just
• I nflation Rate is the percentage change in the price level from to avoid tomorrows much higher prices. This drives demand
the previous period. If a normal basket of goods was priced at even furtherso that suppliers cant keep up. More important,
Rupee 100 last year and the same basket of goods now cost neither can wages. As a result, common goods and services are
Rupee 120, then the rate of inflation this year is 20%. priced out of the reach of most people.
• I nflation Rate= {(Price in year 2 Price in year 1)/ Price in
year 1} *100 Galloping Inflation
• W
hen inflation rises to 10% or more, it wreaks absolute havoc
on the economy. Money loses value so fast that business and
employee income cant keep up with costs and prices.Foreign
investorsavoid the country, depriving it of neededcapital.
The economy becomes unstable, and government leaders lose
credibility. Galloping inflation must be prevented at all costs.

Hyperinflation Rising inflation have these implications
• H
yperinflationis when prices skyrocket more than 50% a • I mpact on the poor: This upsurge of inflation is affecting the
month. It is very rare. In fact, most examples of hyperinflation poor more because some of the commodities whose prices are
have occurred only when governments printed money to pay increasing the most represent a larger fraction of the budget of
for wars. Examples of hyperinflation include Germany in the the most vulnerable sections of society.
1920s, Zimbabwe in the 2000s, and Venezuela in the 2010s. • Rising inequality: As a result,inequalitieswhich were already
The last time America experienced hyperinflation was during its on the rise are increasing further. Recently,the State of
civil war. Inequality in India reportshowed that an Indian makingRs
3 lakh a yearbelonged to thetop 10 per cent of the countrys
Core Inflation wage earners.
• Th
ecore inflation ratemeasures rising prices in • Inequality in healthcare: India’s spending on healthcare is
everythingexceptfood and energy. Thats because gas prices tend among the lowest in the world. Decent level of healthcare is
to escalate now and then. Higher gas costs increase the price of available only to the ones who can afford it because ofincreasing
food and anything else that has large transportation costs. out-of-pocket expenditure the payment made directly by
individuals for the health service, not covered under any
financial protection scheme.Overall, these out-of-pocket
Consumer Price Index expenses on healthcare are60 per cent of the total expenditure
• C
PI is used to monitor changes in the cost of living over time. on public healthin India, which is one of the highest in
When the CPI rises, the average Indian family has to spend the world.
more on goods and services to maintain the same standard of
living. The economic term used to define such a rising prices of
goods and services is Inflation.
Whole sale Price Index

• W
PI is used to monitor the cost of goods and services bought
by producer and firms rather than final consumers. The WPI
inflation captures price changes at the factory/wholesale level.
GDP Deflator
• A
nother important measure of calculating standard of living
of people is GDP Deflator. GDP Deflator is the ratio of nominal
GDP to real GDP. The nominal GDP is measured at the current
prices whereas the real GDP is measured at the base year prices.
Therefore, GDP Deflator reflects the current level of prices Need for bold steps on three fronts to
relative to prices in a base year. Example, In India the base year
of calculating deflator is 2011-12. tackle inflation
• U
nless bold and innovative steps are taken at least on three
fronts, GDP growth and inflation both are likely to be in the
range of 6.5 to 7.5 per cent in 2022-23.
1] Tightening of loose monetary policy:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is mandated to keep inflation at
4 per cent, plus-minus 2 per cent.
• The RBI has already started the process of tightening monetary
policy by raising the repo rate, albeit a bit late.
• It is expected that by the end of 2022-3, the repo rate will be at
least 5.5 per cent, if not more.
• It will still stay below the likely inflation rate and therefore
depositors will still lose the real value of their money in banks
with negative real interest rates.
• That only reflects an inbuilt bias in the system in favour of
Factors fuelling inflation in India entrepreneurs in the name of growth and against depositors,
• F
alling rupee: Inflation is here to stay because it has much to which ultimately results in increasing inequality in the system.
do with the decline in value of the rupee that has fallen to its
lowest, which makes imports of oil and gas more expensive.
2] Prudent fiscal policy:
• U
kraine crisis: The war in Ukraine has the same effect and
Fiscal policy has been running loose in the wake of Covid-19 that
pushes the price of some food items upward.
saw the fiscal deficit of the Union government soar to more than
• P
oor inflation management: With inflation, as measured
9 per cent in 2020-21 and 6.7 per cent in 2021-22, but now needs
by the consumer price index, in August going back to 7 per
to be tightened.
cent, and the wholesale price index coming in at 12.4 per cent,
• Government needs to reduce its fiscal deficit to less than 5
one thing is clear India is not out of the woods on inflation
per cent, never mind the FRMB Acts advice to bring it to 3 per
management.
cent of GDP.
• H
owever, it is difficult to achieve when enhanced food and Conclusion
fertiliser subsidies, and cuts in duties of petrol and diesel will • Th
ough the government is opting for market-based economics,
cost the government at least Rs 3 trillion more than what was currently, India needs a mixed solution that comprises price
provisioned in the budget. stability via government channels and subsidies.
Mains question
3] Rational trade policy: Q.What are the fuelling factors for inflation? Discuss
Export restrictions/bans go beyond agri-commodities, even to what steps should be taken to tackle inflation.
iron ore and steel, etc. in the name of taming inflation.
• B
ut abrupt export bans are poor trade policy and reflect only
the panic-stricken face of the government.
• A
more mature approach to filter exports would be through
a gradual process of minimum export prices and transparent
export duties for short periods of time, rather than abrupt
bans, if at all these are desperately needed to favour consumers.
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR UPDATES - INDUSTRIAL POLICY, EASE OF DOING BUSINESS, ETC.
Adani’s global footprint and India’s infrastructure diplomacy

Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Infrastructure diplomacy
• R ailways;
• Communication, especially telecommunication;
• Ports and airports; and.
• For agriculture, irrigation constitutes the important
infrastructure.
Context
• F
rom mines to ports and logistics, the Adani conglomerate has
been expanding across sectors, regions. This has gone hand in
hand with India’s diplomatic and strategic outreach towards
infrastructure diplomacy.
What is infrastructure?
• I nfrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve
a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services
and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms
to function.
What are the features of infrastructure?

https://www.civilsdaily.com/infrastructure-
sector-in-india-definitions-growth-and- What is infrastructure diplomacy?
infrastructure-linkage/ • I nfrastructure diplomacy is to promote infrastructure
• P
ower and the source of its production such as coal and oil; cooperation and economic ties overseas through political
• R
oads and road transport; means and to enhance political trust between countries via
collaboration in infrastructure development.

Why in news? • I ndia’s strategic objectives than has been possible so far : Is it
• S everal foreign governments are now approaching us to work in just a coincidence that Adanis global expansion closely shadows
their geographies and help build their infrastructure. Therefore, the Chinese footprint along its Belt and Road Initiative? Or is
in 2022, we also laid the foundation to seek a broader it that asDelhihttps://indianexpress.com/section/cities/delhi/
expansion beyond India’s boundaries, chairman and founder of competes with China for influence in the neighbourhood and
the Adani group Gautam Adani, now the worlds third-richest beyond, the Adani groups size, resources and capacity are seen
personhttps://indianexpress.com/article/business/gautam- as a key element in achieving India’s strategic objectives than
adani-second-most-richest-billionaire-forbes-list-bernard- has been possible so far.
arnault-jeff-bezos-elon-musk-8154481/. • India’s infrastructure diplomacy : Is now becoming identified
the world over with one company.
• Public and private investment to bridge gaps : For the
Adani group, described as India’s biggest ports and logistics
company, there couldnt be a better time. As the Quad grouping
of Australia, India, Japan, and the US, competes with China
in the Indo-Pacific, it has committed to catalyse infrastructure
delivery by putting more than $50 billion on the table for
assistance and investment in the Indo-Pacific over the next five
years and drive public and private investment to bridge gaps.
Implications of infrastructure diplomacy

• W in-Win deal : Adanis new no-hands model of doing business
with neighbours a power plant in Jharkhand, exporting all its
output to Bangladesh has been seen as a win-win deal.
Background
• Economic interests lie at the heart of geopolitics: The link
• F
oreign presence much earlier : In fact, the Adani group had
between diplomacy and commercial interests has generated
been scouting abroad much earlier. Since 2010, the Adani group
its share of debate, especially in the US, where its diplomats,
has been in Australia, developing the Carmichael coal mine in
intelligence agencies and military interventions abroad have
Queensland.
actively pushed the interests of big business first the hunt for
• A
greenfield multi-purpose port: In 2017, Adani Ports and
cheaper raw materials, then for markets abroad, then to shift
Special Economic Zones (Ltd) signed an MoU for a greenfield
industry where manpower was cheaper. As seen in the new age
multi-purpose port for handling containers at Carey Island in
trading blocs the US-led IPEF, and the Chinese dominated RCEP
Selangor state, about 50 km southwest of Kuala Lumpur.
economic interests lie at the heart of geopolitics.
What is situation now?

• C
ompany pursue international infrastructure projects
Conclusion
• A
t a time when global rivalries are growing sharper in the
aggressively : The last two years, however, have seen the
shadow of the war in Europe, and as India looks out for its own
company pursue international infrastructure projects
interests, pushing powerful corporates to the centre-stage of its
aggressively. In May 2022, APSEZ made a winning bid of $1.18
diplomacy, whether it is to build ports, buy or sell weapons or
billion for Israeli state-owned Haifa Port, jointly with Israeli
make chips, is inevitable.
chemicals and logistics firm Gadot.
• S
trategic joint investments : In August this year, APSEZ and Mains question
Abu Dhabis AD Ports Group signed MoU for strategic joint Q. Economic interests lie at the heart of geopolitics.
investments in Tanzania. The new ASEZ-AD MoU will look at Analyse this statement in context of India’s active
a bouquet of infrastructure projects besides Bagamoyo in the push for infrastructure diplomacy by including
East African Indian Ocean nation rail, maritime services, digital private conglomerates like Adani in it.
services and industrial zones.
RBI NOTIFICATIONS
RBI’s attempt to manage currency could

prove to be a costly mistake
Prelims level : Impossible trinity
Mains level : RBI functions
What is fixed exchange rate in simple words?

• A
fixed exchange rate is a regime applied by a government or
central bank that ties the country’s official currency exchange
rate to another country’s currency or the price of gold. The
purpose of a fixed exchange rate system is to keep a currency’s
value within a narrow band.
What is a simple definition of capital?

• C
apital is a broad term that can describe anything that
confers value or benefit to its owners, such as a factory and its
machinery, intellectual property like patents, or the financial
assets of a business or an individual.
Context
• A
currency defence will also impose costs on the economy. What is meant by the impossible trinity?
• M
any economists think of possible policy responses to capital
Why in news? flows in terms of the so-called impossible trinity, or policy
• L
egally, the Reserve Bank of India is mandated to target trilemma, according to which, with an open capital account, a
aninflationrate. But with the global economic environment central bank cannot simultaneously exercise monetary control
taking a turn for the worse, the central bank has also and target the exchange rate.
been targeting the exchange rate.This could prove to be a
costly mistake. A currency defence will impose costs on
the economy?
What is a simple definition for inflation? • L ittle economic gain : Some may believe that a stronger
• I nflation is the rate of increase in prices over a given period currency gives the impression of economic stability and
of time. Inflation is typically a broad measure, such as the generates confidence in the economy. But there is an inherent
overall increase in prices or the increase in the cost of living in contradiction between artificially propping up the rupee and
a country. the countrys growth prospects. Very little economic gain will
accrue from turning the currencys value into a political issue.
What is exchange rate? • Inflation should be tackled through monetary policy :
• A
n exchange rate isa rate at which one currency will be Understandably, a depreciating currency leads to concerns
exchanged for another currency. Most exchange rates are over higher imported inflation. But inflation should be tackled
defined as floating and will rise or fall based on the supply and through monetary policy, while exchange rate management
demand in the market. Some exchange rates are pegged or fixed should be linked to growth. Not the other way around.
to the value of a specific country’s currency.
Significance of currency defence forforeign
What is monetary policy? exchange reserveshttps://www.civilsdaily.com/
• M
onetary policy isthe control of the quantity of money burning-issue-global-trade-in-rupees/
available in an economy and the channels by which new money • D ecline by 10 per cent: A large part of the current relative
is supplied. Economic statistics such as gross domestic product strength of the rupee vis--vis other currencies is due to thesale
(GDP), the rate of inflation, and industry and sector-specific of dollars by the RBI it has lost more than10 per centof its
growth rates influence monetary policy strategy. foreign reserves in the space of about nine months.
• Why country needs foreign exchange: A developing economy
needs foreign exchange to finance its international transactions
for both the current account (goods and services) and capital
account (assets) transactions.
• Cost involved: The benefits of this stock are obvious, but there
are also costs associated with the holding of these.

• This can be for current account purposes like travel, education,
healthcare, etc.
• The amounts are not large, but it sends out a strong signal.
(6) Forward-trade marketing

• A nother route used by RBI is to deal in the forward-
trade market.
• Its advantage is that a strong signal is sent while controlling
volatility, as RBI conducts transactions where only the net
amount gets transacted finally.
• It has the same power as spot transactions, but without any
significant withdrawal of forex from the system.
We should follow Tenfold Path to manage
Exchange Rate Volatility rather monetary (7) Currency swaps
• Th
e other tool in India’s armoury is the concept of swaps.
policy path • This became popular post 2013, when banks collected foreign
currency non-resident deposits with a simultaneous swap with
(1) Selling dollars RBI, which in effect took on the foreign exchange risk.
• Th
e first course of action has been selling dollars in the spot • Hence, it was different from earlier bond and deposit schemes.
forex market. • Most preferred options by the RBI
• Th
is is fairly straightforward, but has limits as all crises are • Above discussed instruments have been largely direct in nature,
associated with declining reserves. with the underlying factors behind demand-supply being
• W
hile this money is meant for a rainy day, they may just be less managed by the central bank.
than adequate. • Of late, RBI has gone in for more policy-oriented approaches
• Th
e idea of RBI selling dollars works well in the currency and the last three measures announced are in this realm.
market, which is kept guessing how much the central bank is
willing to sell at any point of time.
(8) Allowing banks to work in the NDF market
• F irst was allowing banks to work in the non-deliverable
(2) NRI deposits forwards (NDF) market.
• Th
e second tool used is aimed at garnering non-resident Indian • This is a largely overseas speculative market that has a high
(NRI) deposits. potential to influence domestic sentiment on our currency.
• I t was done in 1998 and 2000 through Resurgent India bonds • Here, forward transactions take place without real inflows or
and India Millennium Deposits, when banks reached out asking outflows, with only price differences settled in dollars.
NRIs to put in money with attractive interest rates. • This was a major pain point in the past, as banks did not have
• Th
e forex risk was borne by Indian banks. access to this segment.
• Th
is is always a useful way for the country to mobilize a good • By permitting Indian banks to operate here, the rates in this
sum of forex, though the challenge is when the debt has to market and in domestic markets have gotten equalized.
be redeemed.
• A t the time of deposits, the rates tend to be attractive, but
(9) Capital account for NRI deposits
once the crisis ends, the same rate cannot be offered on
• M ore recently, RBI opened up the capital account on NRI
deposit renewals.
deposits (interest rates than can be offered), external
• Th
erefore, the idea has limitations.
commercial borrowings (amounts that can be raised) and
foreign portfolio investments (allowed in lower tenure
(3) Let oil importers buy dollars themselves securities), which has the potential to draw in forex over time.
• Th
e third option exercised often involves getting oil importing • Interest in these expanded contours may be limited, but the
companies to buy dollars directly through a facility extended by idea is compelling.
a public sector bank.
• I ts advantage is that these deals are not in the open and so
(10) Settlement in Rupees
the market does not witness a large demand for dollars on
• R BIs permission for foreign trade deals to be settled in rupees is
this account.
quite novel; as India is a net importer, gains can be made if we
• I t is more of a sentiment cooling exercise.
pay in rupees for imports.
• The conditions placed on the use of surpluses could be a
(4) Let exporters trade in dollars dampener for potential transactions.
• A
nother tool involves a directive issued for all exporters to • But the idea is innovative and could also be a step towards
mandatorily bring in their dollars on receipt that are needed for taking the rupee international in such a delicate situation.
future imports. • Clearly, RBI has constantly been exploring ways to address our
• Th
is acts against an artificial dollar supply reduction due to forex troubles and even newer measures shouldnt surprise us.
exporter hold-backs for profit.
Way ahead
(5) Liberalized Exchange Rate • Th
e RBI (which is in charge of monetary policy) should focus on
• Th
e other weapon, once used earlier, is to curb the amount containing inflation, as it is legally mandated to do.
of dollars one can take under the Liberalized Exchange Rate • The government (which is in charge of the fiscal policy) should
Management System. contain its borrowings.
• H
igher borrowings (fiscal deficit) by the government eat up • I f they choose to contain inflation (that is, by raising interest
domestic savings and force the rest of the economic agents to rates) then it will require sacrificing economic growth. So be
borrow from abroad. prepared for that.
• P
olicymakers (both in the government and the RBI) have to
choose what their priority is containing inflation or being hung Mains question
Q.What do you understand by the term
up on exchange rate and forex levels.
impossible trinity? How should RBI respond to
manage currency exchange rate? Discuss.
POLICY WISE: INDIA’S POWER SECTOR
Electricity Amendment Bill 2022 -

Addressing the transition and equity
Prelims level : particulars of the bill
Mains level : electricity reforms
central government. Failure to meet RPO will be punishable

with a penalty between 25 paise and 50 paise per kilowatt of
the shortfall.
• Selection committee for SERCs : Under the Act, the
Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority or the
Chairperson of the CERC is one of the members of the selection
committee to recommend appointments to the SERCs. Under
the Bill, instead of this person, the central government will
nominate a member to the selection committee. The nominee
should not be below the rank of Additional Secretary to the
central government.
• Composition of Commissions and APTEL : The Bill increases
the number of members (including the chairperson) in SERCs
from three to four. Further, at least one member in both the
Context CERC and SERCs must be from law background. Under the
• C
oncerns of states on some provisions of the new Electricity Act, Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) consists of a
Bill are justified. But the legislation proposes welcome chairperson and three other members. The Bill instead provides
correctives to longstanding problems of the power sector. that the APTEL will have three or more members, as may be
prescribed by the central government.
Important provisions of the bill
• P
ayment security : The Bill provides that electricity will not be State apprehensions of the bill
scheduled or despatched if adequate payment security is not • M ulti state license: The clause pertaining to applicants seeking
provided by the discom. The central government may prescribe a distribution licence in more than one state. It states that the
rules regarding payment security. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), and not the
• C
ontract enforcement : The Bill empowers the CERC and SERC, will grant the licence. This is problematic because a SERC
SERCs to adjudicate disputes related to the performance of is likely to be more aware of the field-level conditions in a state
contracts. These refer to contracts related to the sale, purchase, than its central counterpart.
or transmission of electricity. Further, the Commissions will • Centre can bypass state: The Bill has a provision empowering
have powers of a Civil Court. the Centre to give directions directly to the SERCs. Till now,
• R
enewable purchase obligation : The Act empowers SERCs the CERC received instructions from the Centre and the SERCs
to specify renewable purchase obligations (RPO) for discoms. were under the state. The new Bill enables the Centre to bypass
RPO refers to the mandate to procure a certain percentage state governments. Its not surprising that this is a matter of
of electricity from renewable sources. The Bill adds that RPO concern for the states.
should not be below a minimum percentage prescribed by the

• D
irect appointment by centre: The Bill states that the SERC (due to delays in the issuing of orders by SERCs). This means
chairperson will now be a nominee of the central government that discoms do not earn their full revenues leading to cash
and will be an additional secretary-level official. This gives flow problems.
the impression that the Centre is trying to control the • Easy tariff petition processing now: The Bill has proposed a
appointments to the SERCs. reduction in the time for processing tariff petitions from 120
days to 90 days.
• Suo moto jurisdiction : Regulatory commissions have been
given suo motu jurisdiction if tariff petitions are not filed
within 30 days of the stipulated time. This too is a step in the
right direction.
• More teeth to load dispatcher: the Bill proposes to give more
teeth to the national load dispatcher. We need to strengthen
the load dispatcher for the smooth functioning of the grid,
especially with a huge renewable capacity where intermittency
of generation is a major issue in the offing.
Conclusion
Why the bill is important? https://www.civilsdaily. • Th
e rollout of the proposed amendments through a consensus-
com/news/power-sector-reforms/ based approach would go a long way in overhauling the weakest
• C
ompensation clause: The Bill states that if power purchase link in the nation’s power supply chain.
agreement PPAs are renegotiated, the affected party has to be
Mains question
compensated within 90 days from the date of submission of
Q. Electricity Bill 2022 is a remedy worse than the disease
the petition. afflicting India’s power sector. Critically analyse.
• U
niformity in tariffs revision: New tariffs have to be made
applicable from the beginning of the financial year. New
tariffs often come into force in the middle of the financial year
PORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SHIPPING INDUSTRY - SAGARMALA PROJECT, SDC, CEZ, ETC.
Sustainable port development promises

blue economy to bloom
Economics | : Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Sustainable coast management
Context
• I t is politically hard, but developmentally critical, to run port
development projects with coastal management sustainably.
What is a
port?https://www.civilsdaily.com/burning-issue-
ports-development/
• A
port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves
or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and
passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or
estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, • I mpact on fisheries: Dredging causes environmental problems
Manchester and Duluth; these access the sea via rivers (increased sedimentation) affecting local productivity of the
or canals. local waters and its fisheries
Value addition example

What is meant by port management? A just published study shows that during 2006-20, the
• A
port management analysis involves an understanding of the sea gobbled some 2.62 square kilometres or close to 650
port conditions, including intra-port distribution, and routes acres from the Thiruvananthapuram coast alone.
and hinterland connections outside the port.
Why ports are important? Steps to take

• P
orts infrastructure is key to the development of any nation. • C ompensation: The first order of business, as in infrastructure
India has acoastline spanning about 7,500 km. around90 projects worldwide, is that the project provides compensation
percent of India’s external trade by volume and 70 percent by to the displaced people and restores their rights.
value are handled by ports. • Reversing marine damage: Second, the gross neglect of the
damage to invaluable marine biodiversity must be redressed
with an acceptable EIA, including inputs from experts in
biology, ecology, and oceanography.
• Safeguard to place: Third, there needs to be an independent
assessment of safeguards that port authorities must put in
place as a precondition for any further construction.
• Blue Economy: Blue Economy as a concept includes all the
economic activities related to oceans, seas, and coastal areas
and emerges from a need for integrated conservation and
sustainability in the management of the maritime domain.
Way forward
• M aster plan : Countries should adopt a National Long-term
Mater plan addressing the aspects of smarter, greener, safer
sustainable port development and productivity improvement.
What are concerns with port projects?
• Planning: Port development and investment should be driven
• D
isplacement: Some 350 families that have lost homes to
by setting specific and realistic goals, such as building a stable
coastal erosion last year, and those living in makeshift schools
infrastructure focused on reducing trade costs and contribute
and camps are just a foretaste of things to come if coastal
to achieving sustainable transport.
erosion and extreme cyclones continue unabated.
• Cooperation of multiple sectors : In order to establish a
• E
cological impact : A further danger is an irreversibly
comprehensive port development master plan, cooperation
destroyed ecology, triggering deadlier hazards of nature.
with financial, environmental, technical, energy, transportation
Ports without adequate safeguards in a highly delicate ecology
and urban development authorities is essential and must reflect
unleash destruction on marine life and the livelihoods of the
the needs of users, including shippers and shipping lines.
local population.
• C
oastal erosion : Visakhapatnam and Chennai show how
siltation, coastal erosion and accretion can be exacerbated by Conclusion
deepening of harbour channels in ecologically sensitive areas. • T
o address existing challenges, we should provideresearch,
• O
il spills: During the operation of ports, spillage or leakages analysis and technical assistanceto help ports and the maritime
from the loading and unloading of cargo and pollution from oil transport sector especially in developing countries to improve
spills are common due to poor adherence to environmental laws operations and become more sustainable and resilient to crises,
and standards. including climate change.
• E
cosystem threat : The water discharged during the cleaning
Mains question
of a ship and the discharge of ballast water is a threat to marine Q. What do you understand by sustainable port
ecosystems development and port productivity? Discuss the challenges
in achieving the same along with way forward.

URBAN TRANSFORMATION - SMART CITIES, AMRUT, ETC.
Why our urban centres need to be better planned

Economics | GS1: Urbanization, Their Problems & Remedies
Prelims level : smart city mission
Mains level : urban planning
Context people on 6,000 acres, linked to a central city with over 50,000
• I ndian urban centres need to plan for migration, climate people. Once a garden city reached maximum capacity, another
change. Healthcare, affordable housing, sustainability and city would be developed nearby.
inclusion hold the key reimagining them. • Neighbourhood concept : In the US, the garden city movement
evolved into the neighbourhood concept, where residential
houses and streets were organised around a local school
What does urban planning mean? or community centre, with a push for lowering traffic and
• U
rban planning encompasses the preparation of plans for
providing safe roads. London has a metropolitan green belt
and the regulation and management of towns, cities, and
around the city, covering 5,13,860 hectares of land, to offset
metropolitan regions. It attempts to organize socio-spatial
pollution and congestion and maintain biodiversity. Why cant
relations across different scales of government and governance.
Indian cities have something similar, instead of ring roads and
urban sprawls?
What are Happy Cities? • La ville du quart dheure: Paris has taken this forward with
• A
term that follows the Green City, Sustainable City, Liveable the 15-minute city (la ville du quart dheure). The idea is rather
City, in the lingo of urban planning simple, every Parisian should be able to do their shopping,
work, and recreational activities and fulfil their cultural needs
within a 15-minute walk or bike ride this means that the
number of vehicular trips gets reduced significantly.
• Investment in pedestrian infrastructure and non-motorised
transport zones : A city would then be planned for pedestrians,
instead of cars and motors. This requires an extensive usage of
mixed-use developments, along with investment in pedestrian
infrastructure and non-motorised transport zones. Instead of
widening highways, this approach would push for widening
pedestrian walkways.
What is a smart city?

• A
smart city is one that uses information and communication
technologies to enhance citizen engagement.It is a neo-vision
which seeks to improve the delivery of services in urban areas.
The following story maps out the steps being taken by India to
explore this concept in practice.
Fast Facts -Urbanization in India

Most Urbanized States: Tamil Nadu 43.9%; Maharashtra
4%; Gujarat 37.4%. 3 out of worlds 21 mega cities:
Mumbai (19 mill); Delhi (15 mill); Kolkata (14 mill)
What should be adopted for India?
• E very Indian city should ideally have a Master Plan : A
strategic urban planning document which would be updated
Global best practices in urban planning every decade or two. The document would entail how a city is
• The Garden City movement: https://en.wikipedia.org/ supposed to grow, vertically and horizontally, across zones,
wiki/Garden_city_movementIn the West, the Garden City while offering a high quality of life in a sustainable manner.
movement (initiated by Ebenezer Howard in 1898) sought to Such plans would also consider poverty mitigation, affordable
decentralise the working environment in the city centre with a housing and liveability for urban migrants.
push for providing healthier living spaces for factory workers. • Urban land use needs to be better : One look at satellite map
The ideal garden city was planned on a concentric pattern with imagery will show that India’s urban growth is increasingly
open spaces, public parks and boulevards, housing 32,000 haphazard, with informal, unplanned and sprawling
neighbourhoods developing in paddy fields and along linear
infrastructure (arterial roads, open spaces). India’s hidden
urbanisation, driven partly by our stringent definition of the upcoming urban infrastructure projects must be reconsidered
word, along with weak enforcement of building codes, has from a future climate resilience perspective does the ongoing
meant that the local government is often playing catch-up, sea reclamation for the upcoming coastal road in Mumbai make
unable to provide urban services and infrastructure to keep up sense if sea levels are rising?
with growth. • Establishing a sense of cityhood : By making a push for
• P ublic land availability : Meanwhile, in places where there a city as a co-created space will also require building up
are formally recognised towns and urban neighbourhoods, institutional capacity.
outdated planning practices have meant that land utilisation • Addressing lack of town planning education: India would
is poor. Consider the case of Mumbai, where almost 1/4th ideally require 3,00,000 town and country planners by 2031
of the land is open public space while over half of it is the (there are just 5,000 town planners currently). Much of this
underutilised space around buildings, which is enclosed by walls problem is fundamentally due to a lack of town planning
and hived off from public access. Such open spaces, if available, education in the country there are just 26 institutes that
would help cities like Mumbai achieve similar ratios as globally provide this course, producing 700 town planners each year.
benchmarked cities (Amsterdam, Barcelona) in public land We already have a shortage of 1.1 million planners. More
availability (typically above 40 per cent). schools are needed, with a push for local IITs and NITs to have
• I ndia’s urban density will also need to be thought through a standalone planning department. With over 8,000 towns and
: Dense construction on the peripheries of our major cities cities, there is a clear unmet need.
(for instance, dense construction in Delhis suburbs, like Noida
and Gurugram) will inevitably mean that public services are Conclusion
stretched and emissions (due to transportation to the main • O
ur policymakers also need to be cognisant of the historical
city) remain high. Such urbanisation will unavoidably lock India context of our urban development a push for glass buildings or
into a high emissions future while making our cities prone to utilising granite may not always be suitable for our cities. Why
extreme heat and flooding. cant our cities look distinctly Indian, inspired by our historical
• Th
en there is climate change: According to the World Bank, architecture? Renewing our cities will require us to rethink
climate change may reduce India’s GDP by 3 per cent, while various urban topics, including urban design, urban healthcare,
depressing the living standards of its citizens by 2050. Many affordable housing, sustainability and inclusion among others.
urban experts cite technological solutions that may save our Our urban future depends on getting this right.
cities a chain of sea walls, river embankments and reclamations,
for instance from such potential calamities. However, Mains question
structural engineering simply may not be an economically and Q. Renewing our cities will require us to rethink various urban
environmentally feasible option everywhere instead, our focus topics, including urban design, urban healthcare, affordable
housing, sustainability and inclusion among others. Elaborate.
must be on conservation.
• C limate resilience perspective Bengaluru, with its network
of interconnected lakes, could have considered Bangkok-
style ferries instead of draining out its lakes. All ongoing and
TOURISM SECTOR
Process of sustainable tourism should

be holistic and inclusive
Economics | GS1: Arts & Culture
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Incredible India
To other Country, I may go as a tourist. But to India I come as a • The three-day National Conference concluded with the adoption
pilgrim, the words of Martin Luther King says a lot about India’s of Dharamshala Declaration which affirms commitment toward
wisdom and tourism potential. developing sustainable and responsible tourism and positions
India as a global leader in the tourism sector by 2047.
Context
• Th
e three-day National Conference of State Tourism Minister What is tourism?
was held at Dharamshala, a first of its kind meeting aimed to • T
ourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and
discuss, debate and deliberate on modes and mechanisms to practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating,
develop tourism in India. and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours.

Types of tourism • Strategy: The Tourism Ministry has also been working with
• D omestic tourism : Refers to activities of a visitor within their the Ministry of External Affairs to identify 20 Indian missions
country of residence and outside of their home (e.g. a Indian abroad with the highest tourist footfalls to India and build
visiting other parts of India) country-specific strategies to attract foreign tourists.
• I nbound tourism : Refers to the activities of a visitor from • Plan according to G-20: The Dharamshala Declaration affirms
outside of country of residence (e.g. a Spaniard visiting Britain). the plan to position India as a major tourism destination during
• O utbound tourism : Refers to the activities of a resident visitor its presidency of G-20 next year. India’s age-old dictum of Atithi
outside of their country of residence (e.g. an Indian visiting an Devo Bhava will come to the fore as it welcomes delegates from
overseas country). the 20 countries/European Union.
• Necessary steps: The Ministry of Tourism also plans to work
with other Ministries to bring in necessary interventions such
as visa reforms, ease of travel, travel-friendly and improved
immigration facilities at airports.
• National Tourism policy : Drafted with a holistic vision and
strategy to revive India’s tourism and targets to contribute USD
1 trillion to the GDP by 2047.
A draft on NationalTourism Policy 2022

• F ramework:
• Draft on National Tourism Policy 2022 aims at improving the
framework conditions for tourism development in the country.
• Supporting tourism industries, strengthening tourism support
functions and developing tourism sub-sectors.
What does sustainable tourism mean?
• Impetus to digitalisation, innovation and technology through
• S ustainable tourism is defined by the UN Environment
the National Digital Tourism Mission and skilling through the
Program and UN World Tourism Organization as tourism that
Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Mission.
takes full account of its current and future economic, social and
• The policy also gives a special impetus to private sector
environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the
participation through public-private-partnerships (PPP)
industry, the environment and host communities.
• Guiding Principles :
• Promoting sustainable, responsible and inclusive tourism in
What is the main importance of tourism? line with our civilisational ethos From Gautama to Gandhi,
• T
ourism boosts the revenue of the economy, creates thousands India has always spoken about the inherent need to live
of jobs, develops the infrastructures of a country, and plants a harmoniously with nature and within our means.
sense of cultural exchange between foreigners and citizens. • The National Green Tourism Mission aims at institutionalising
green approach.
Why tourism is needed? Tourism Potential in India

• T
ourism is not a fad. It is a compulsion driven by the urge • E mployement generation: India has huge tourism potential. If
to discover new places. Because we have this compulsion to capitalised properly it can emerge as one of the leading sectors
venture into the unknown, we need each other. When humans to contribute to GDP and also has the potential to augment
travel, meet and exchange ideas, civilization flourishes. employment.
• The Pandemic cost and recovery: The pandemic has caused
conspicuous losses for this sector but over the past few months,
What is The Dharamshala Declaration is all about? all the major tourism indices such as domestic air passenger
• A
im of the declaration: The Dharamshala Declaration aims
traffic, hotel occupancy and tourist footfalls have shown signs
to recognise India’s role in contributing towards global
of recovery and are going back to pre-pandemic levels.
tourism as well as focusing on recovery by also promoting
• Short term estimate: By 2024, in short term the country
domestic tourism.
is estimated to contribute USD 150 billion to the GDP from
• A
ction plan: In the declaration, the Tourism Ministry has come
tourism, USD 30 billion inForeign Exchange earnings and can get
up with a with a action plan to encourage more Indians to travel
15 million foreign tourist arrivals..
domestically and explore India’s natural, cultural, and spiritual
beauty while simultaneously reaching the goal of an Ek Bharat
Shrestha Bharat (interaction and mutual understanding).
• M
edium term by 2030: It is estimated to grow at seven to Conclusion
nine per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate in the coming • I f the goal of positioning of India as one of the worlds best
decade. In the medium term, that is 2030, the tourism-related tourism destinations by 2047, there is need to integrate
goals are USD 250 billion GDP contribution; 137 million jobs, various schemes of different ministries. Need to involve various
56 million foreign tourist arrivals and USD 56 billion in foreign stakeholders, and local communities; necessary interventions
exchange earnings. at urban and rural level should be a priority.
• V
isionary schemes : The visionary schemes like Swadesh
Darshan or Dekho Apna Desh have the potential to increase Mains Question
tourism value while maintaining cultural integrity and Q.Since the positive and negative outcomes of tourism
depend on human factors, including the attitude and behavior
ecological sustainability of the places.
of both tourists and hosts, in this context discuss India’s
• D
ekho Apna Desh : Dekho apna desh rolled out in 2020 potential to become a global leader in tourism sector.
envisages encouraging domestic tourism, urging people to visit
places in India. India is a land of rich cultural heritage.
URBAN TRANSFORMATION - SMART CITIES, AMRUT, ETC.
Urban planning can change the future

of cities to happy cities
Economics | GS1: Population & Associated Issues,Urbanization, Their Problems & Remedies
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Urbanization issues
What are Happy Cities?

• A
term that follows the Green City, Sustainable City, Liveable
City, in the lingo of urban planning
What is a smart city?

• A
smart city is one that uses information and communication
technologies to enhance citizen engagement.It is a neo-vision
which seeks to improve the delivery of services in urban areas.
The following story maps out the steps being taken by India to
explore this concept in practice.
What is the Smart Cities Mission?

Context • S ustainable cities : The Smart Cities Mission aims at
• I n the recent few years, the growth of the economy and developing 100 cities, which were shortlisted, into self-
urbanization have accelerated. Rapid unplanned urbanization sustainable urban settlements.
has put extreme pressure on natural resources. • Chronology : The mission was launched on June 25, 2015 and
• U nplanned urbanization, however, exerts great strain on our was projected as one aimed at transforming the process of
cities. In fact, the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the dire need urban development in the country.
for the planning and management of our cities. • Comprehensive revamp : Among its strategic components
is area-based development, which includes city improvement
(retrofitting), city renewal (redevelopment) and city extension
What does urban planning mean?
(Greenfield development), plus a pan-city initiative in which
• U
rban planning, also known as regional planning, town
smart solutions are applied covering larger parts of the city.
planning, city planning is a technical and political process that
is focused on the development and design of land use and the
built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure Fast Facts - Urbanization in India
passing into and out of urban areas, such as transportation, • M ost Urbanized States: Tamil Nadu 43.9%; Maharashtra 4%;
communications, and distribution networks and their Gujarat 37.4%
accessibility. • 3 out of world’s 21 mega cities: Mumbai (19 mill); Delhi (15
mill); Kolkata (14 mill)

Solution offered by NITI ayog committee report on
urban planninghttps://www.civilsdaily.com/news/
pib-reforms-in-urban-planning-capacity-in-india/
• D emystifying Planning and Involving Citizens: While it is
important to maintain the master plans technical rigour, it
is equally important to demystify them for enabling citizens
participation at relevant stages. Therefore, the committee
strongly recommends a Citizen Outreach Campaign for
demystifying urban planning.
Urban planning challenges • Steps for Enhancing the Role of Private Sector: The report
recommends that concerted measures must be taken at
Planning multiple levels to strengthen the role of the private sector to
• M
any urban governments lack a modern planning framework improve the overall planning capacity in the country.
• Th
e multiplicity of local bodies obstructs efficient planning • Revision of Town and Country Planning Acts: Most States
and land use have enacted the Town and Country Planning acts, that enable
• R
igid master plans and restrictive zoning regulations limit the them to prepare and notify master plans for implementation.
land available for building, constricting cities abilities to grow However, many need to be reviewed and upgraded.
in accordance with changing needs. • Revision of Town and Country Planning Acts: Most States
have enacted the Town and Country Planning Acts, that enable
them to prepare and notify master plans for implementation.
Housing However, many need to be reviewed and upgraded.
• B
uilding regulations that limit urban density - such as floor
space indexes reduce the number of houses available, thereby Interesting fact India is home to 11% of
pushing up property prices the total global urban population.
• O
utdated rent control regulations reduce the number of houses
available on rent a critical option for the poor
• P
olicy, planning, and regulation deficiencies lead to a Government initiatives
proliferation of slums • A tal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation (AMRUT);
Service delivery • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Housing for all (Urban),
• Th
ere is a strong bias towards adding physical infrastructure • Smart Cities Mission (SCM),
rather than providing financially and environmentally • Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM),
sustainable services • Heritage City Development and Augmentation
Yojana (HRIDAY);
• Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana National Urban Livelihoods
Infrastructure Mission (DAY-NULM).
• M
ost urban bodies do not generate the revenues needed to
renew infrastructure, nor do they have the creditworthiness to
access capital markets for funds Conclusion
• U
rban transport planning needs to be more holistic there is a • W hat is now increasingly understood, is that urban planning
focus on moving vehicles rather than meeting the needs of the and design can be a powerful contributor to the happiness of
large numbers of people who walk or ride bicycles in India’s citizens. The structure and layout of our streets, the availability
towns and cities. of green spaces, the possibility of using urban spaces freely, the
inclusion of beauty in public space.
• It is safe to assume that when there are avenues for a
Environment: community to come together in a pleasant environment, which
• Th
e deteriorating urban environment is taking a toll on peoples is accessible to everyone, it can only increase well-being.
health and productivity and diminishing their quality of life.
Mains question
Q.Can urban planning and design change Indian
cities to be happy cities? Express your views by
addressing the roadblocks in the same.
ADVANTAGE OF MARKET BASED ECONOMIC DISPATCH
Advantage of Market Based Economic Dispatch

Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Economics,Energy,Infrastructure
• This process is expected to generate significant savings for

consumers.
What is the Present system ofpower

Distribution?https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/
assessment-of-discoms/
• U nder the present regime, each distribution company
(Discom) is bound by the power purchase agreements (PPAs)
that it holds.
• It can schedule power only from its own PPAs, starting from the
cheapest PPA and then moving up; it cannot schedule power
from the PPA of some other distribution company.
Context
• Th
e game changing scheme is being proposed by the central
government in power sector governance. The scheme under
consideration is the market-based economic dispatch (MBED).
When it comes to any drastic change in the power sector, a
clash between the Centre and the states is inevitable.
What is Market Based Economic Dispatch (MBED)?

• M arket Based Economic Dispatch (MBED) is new approach
towards power distribution to help distribution companies save
costs and transition to a new form of power market.
• I t is a shift to a centralised framework, marks a radical
departure from the current decentralised, voluntary pool-based
electricity market.
> What are the drawbacks of present system?

• F inancial Burdon:
• The Indian government responded to COVID-19s economic
shock with a stimulus package of Rs.20-lakh crore, out of which
Rs.90,000 crore was earmarked for discoms (later upgraded to
Rs.1,25,000 crore). While it was called a stimulus, it is really a
loan, meant to be used by discoms to pay off generators.
• Discoms owe one lakh crore rupees to generators, and without
such an infusion the chain will collapse.
• States are defaulters:
• State governments are the biggest defaulters, responsible for
What is the framework under MBED?
an estimated a third of trade receivables, besides not paying
• Th
e cheapest power from across the country will be dispatched
subsidies in full or on time.
to meet the system wide demand. The architecture would also
• On an annual cash flow basis, the shortfall in subsidy payments
lead to a Market clearing price.
appears very low, only about 1% but cumulative unpaid
• S ellers and buyers will place their bids for the day market,
subsidies, with modest carrying costs, make discoms poorer by
and an outcome of this will be the discovery of the market
over Rs.70,000 crore just over the last 10 years.
clearing price.

• I ncreasing efficiency: The logic is that by adopting MBED, only
the relatively efficient plants will generate, without affecting
the revenues of either the discoms or generators. Hence, the
total cost of generation under the MBED system would be less.
• Less pollution: There would be less coal consumption and less
carbon dioxide injected into the atmosphere.
• Easy integration with renewable: It would also mean less
movement of coal leading to decongestion of railway tracks.
Further, there would be enhanced renewable integration since
the balancing area would shift from state to national level.
• Single market clearing price (MCP): Incidentally, since
there are three electricity exchanges in operation today, there
would be three different MCPs determined. What we need is
What will be the Advantages of MBED? a single MCP for which there will be an institution called the
• C entralized approach: The centralised dispatch will be done market coupler. It will be the job of the coupler to determine a
with the assistance of electricity exchanges. Each discom and national MCP based on what has arrived at the three different
each generator will place a bid in the day-ahead market of the exchanges.
electricity exchanges, which will indicate how much power is
being demanded/ supplied at what price.
Why states are opposing?
• P an India market: These bids will enable the load dispatcher
• H igh generation cost: The reason is the state-owned generators
to construct a pan India demand and supply curve, the
are relatively inefficient and may have to sit idle as their
intersection of which will determine the market clearing price
variable cost of generation is likely to be more than the MCP.
(MCP). All generators whose variable cost of generation is below
• Political backlash: Today, the states are operating their own
the MCP will be asked to dispatch and all of them will receive
generators to the hilt, even though they are inefficient, and
the same MCP irrespective of what they had bid. Generators
drawing only the balance from the more efficient interstate
whose variable cost is higher than the MCP will sit idle.
generating stations. Keeping state generators idle has its own
• N o loss to discom: The MBED is so devised that its operation
political implications and no state would be enamoured of
will not affect the current finances of either the discoms or the
this idea.
generators for the following reasons.
• F irst, the fixed cost of the generators will still be paid by the
discoms outside the market as determined by the regulator. Conclusion
• S econd, if the MCP comes out to be Rs 3 per unit, and if in • P
ower distribution companies (discom) are sinkhole of
the case of any PPA, the variable cost is Rs 2.75 per unit, then government finances. Every year budgetary support is needed
the generator will compensate the discom to the extent of Rs to this loss-making companies, With due consultation, all states
0.25 per unit. Similarly, if the MCP so determined is Rs 2.50 and union territories need to adopt and implement the MBED
per unit, then the discom will compensate the generator to the and save the resources for other development activities.
extent of Rs 0.25 per unit.
Mains Question
Q.India has became the power surplus nation, however
power distribution and financial unsustainability is
still a nightmare for union and states. Elaborate.
RAILWAY REFORMS
Indian Railways powerful experiment on

AC III tier economy class coaches
Economics | GS3: Indian Economy,Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Economics, Infrastructure,Transport
Context Features of the AC III tier economy coach:

• Th
e Indian Railways experiment to introduce AC III tier • P ocket friendly : According to the Indian Railways, the fair in
economy class coaches has started to pay off. Since its these coaches are cheaper than the normal AC three-tier coach.
introduction, in the last one year, these coaches have earned Fares in AC III tier economy are 6%-7% cheaper than the AC
the Railways more than Rs.230 crore in revenue. III tier class. The economy class has a capacity of 83 berths
compared to 72 in the regular coach.
• Divyang friendly and modern designs: The coaches were
specially designed for the convenience of the divyangs.
Providing Improved and modular design of berths and
ergonomically designed ladder for accessing the middle and
upper berths etc.
• Modern features: In these, modern arrangements have been
made for mobile phones and magazine holders, fire safety,
personalised reading lights, AC vents, USB points, mobile
charging points.
• Optimum Speed : These air-conditioned three-tier economy
class coaches are capable of running at an optimum speed of
160 kilometers per hour.
• More Capacity: The economy class has a capacity of 83 berths
What is AC III tier economy class coach? compared to 72 in the regular coach.
• Th
e AC 3 tier economy class in Indian Railways is a milestone
concerning pocket-friendly traveling experience for
common man. What is the current status of AC III tier class?
• W
ith fare slightly more than sleeper class and lower than • A C- III tier, the favorite mode of train travel of people falling in
conventional AC class. the bottom rung of the middle class, is the only class that earns
• Th
e objective of the railway is to move sleeper class passengers the Railways profit among all its passenger services.
to a comfortable AC class with luxurious facilities. AC-3 tier • The AC III tier is the only class of service which has generated
comprises air-conditioned coaches with 64 sleeping berths. consistent profits for the Railways. Between FY16 and FY20,
• AC III tier coaches carried only 1% of the total passengers, but
were responsible for 21% of the earnings from travelers. Such
When it is introduced? a low-passenger, high-revenue dichotomy was not seen in any
• Th
e Indian Railway has introduced the first AC III tier Economy
other class.
Class for North Central Railway Zone in 2021 to provide a
• It is not as expensive as the other AC classes and at the same
convenient traveling experience to the passengers.
time, its share in revenue has not been impacted by the
• A
s of now 7 trains are equipped with AC III tier economy class
relatively low pricing
coaches are running on the tracks

What are the issues faced by Indian railways to
increase its revenue?
• C ross Subsidized: The cross-subsidiszation in respect of second
class, ordinary class and suburban services has increased
continuously in the past five years with subsidy on ordinary
class being the maximum,
• Concessional fare : The revenue forgone in passenger earnings
due to concessions to various categories of passengers
(physically challenged persons, patients, senior citizens, Izzat
monthly season tickets, press correspondents, sport persons
and war widows among others) increased from Rs 1,994.83
crore in 2018-19 to Rs 2,058.61 crore in 2019-20.
• Low -Revenue dichotomy in Expensive class: A high-
passenger, low-revenue dichotomy was seen in the inexpensive
classes. For instance, over 90% passengers travelled by second
class which accounted for only 37% of the earnings.
• Operational Los s : Operational losses (in crore) incurred while
operating various classes of service. For instance, in operating
Revenue ofIndian railwayshttps://www.civilsdaily.
AC first class service, the Railways incurred a loss of 403
com/news/vande-bharat-production-to-begin/ crore in FY20
• Th
e overall revenue ofIndian Railways at the end of August
2022 was Rs 95,486.58 crore, showing an increase 38 per cent
over the corresponding period of last year.
Conclusion
• A
dding more AC III tier economy class coaches is a step in
• G
oods revenue climbed by Rs 10,780.03 crore (or 20 per cent)
the right direction as it has shown positive result in revenue
to Rs 65,505.02 crore till August-end this year
generation for railways and it provides a travel with dignity
• Th
e revenue from passenger traffic was Rs 25,276.54 crore, an
to a common man. But If Indian railway has to benefit it have
increase of Rs 13,574.44 crore (116 per cent) year-on-year.
to work extensively on operational loss incurred out of low
• P
assenger traffic also increased compared to last year in both
Revenue dichotomy in Expensive classes.
the segments -- reserved and unreserved
• R
ailways’ total revenue during the entire last fiscal (2021-22) Mains Question
stood at Rs.1,91,278.29 crore. Q. Indian Railways is often referred to as the lifeline
of the country but runs at a loss when it comes
to running class-divided coaches. In this context
discuss the utility of class divided coaches.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS AND VARIOUS REPORTS ON IT- GDP, FD, EODB, WIR ETC
Fixing Falling Indian Rupee

Prelims level : weakening of Rupee,appreciation and depreciation
Mains level : Indian Economics
• E asy dollar supply: RBI has already undertaken measures

such as easing provisions for remittances, allowing short-term
foreign portfolio investments in government securities, etc.
We can even think of a scheme similar to the one introduced in
2014to attract NRI investments.
• Interest rate: Interest rates are being raised not only to control
inflation, but also to address external imbalances. But lets also
look at past episodes of sharp depreciation of the currency
which we have seen during the global financial crisis, during
the taper tantrum. They tell us that the currency weakens
very sharply during these episodes of global shocks, but it also
corrects. If you plot it over a 15-20-year period, you will see
that the overshooting of the currency typically gets corrected
after the event is over. So, the aim now should only be to ensure
Context that volatility is not too high, not to steer the currency in any
• L
ast week, the rupee weakened against the dollar past the direction.
81-mark to a record low. In recent months, the Reserve Bank • Managing the CAD : According to experts, RBI can finance the
of India (RBI) has been intervening in the FOREX market CAD with capital inflows, and prevent hot money outflow with
to smoothen the decline. Indian foreign exchange reserves the aid of interest rates, that could be an effective long-term
have fallen by about $94billion in 12 months to about $545 solution. The focus should be on how we can stem capital that
billion until mid-September. Falling Indian Rupee poses huge is flighty. Even during the tenure of Raghuram Rajan the CAD
challenge in the economy. went up to 4%. But the moment hot money became flighty,
panic set in. Till then, we were comfortably financing the CAD
with capital flows.
What are the major challenges before
Indian Economy? What are the Notes of caution?
• F alling rupee : A fall in the rupee against the dollar in the
• O n FOREX: There is also a limit to how much you can lean
FOREX market means that the Indian currency is weakening.
on the reserves. They can burn out pretty quickly if you are
This means that while importing from the United States or any
aggressive in your interventions.
country, India will have to pay more because the payment is
• On rupee fall and CAD: RBI also needs to let the rupee
done in dollars, i.e., less import cost more.
depreciate in an orderly manner. Some, but not too much,
• I nflation: Since May this year, RBI has largely managed to
depreciation will partly help the export sector, as global
control inflation. RBI managed inflation to keep it below 7.5 %
demand is the key influencer of exports, and currencies of our
but, looking at Ukraine situation, oil prices may shoot up again
competitors are also weakening. So, the vulnerability that stems
and there by inflation will rise.
from high current account deficit (CAD) can get addressed to
• G rowing CAD : India’s current account deficit (CAD) in April-
some extent.
June was at $23.9 billion, or 2.8 per cent of gross domestic
• On interest rate: We have to focus on the real interest rate
product (GDP), much higher than the $13.4 billion, or 1.5 per
and economic growth, for public debt management. If the Real
cent of GDP, in January-March 2022. India has faced upward
interest rate is going to be greater than Growth, then we are
pressure on its import bill in 2022 because Russias invasion
in an unsustainable situation. The only way to address these
of Ukraine in late February led to a sharp rise in prices of
concerns such as fiscal consolidation, twin deficit crisis, given
commodities across the globe.
that the real rate of interest is negative, given the hawkish
mode of the Fed, is to raise rates.
What is RBI’s role in managing falling Rupee ?
• U
se of foreign exchange reserve: The use of FOREX reserves
Conclusion
is appropriate at this juncture. You build your reserves during
• W
ith rising external trade, India’s economy is integrating with
good times and spend them during bad times. Right now,
world. Impact of global uncertainty on economy is natural
reserves are being spent in trying to curb currency volatility.
outcome. Ukraine episode, slowing Europe and unclear USA is
RBI cant defend the rupee at a particular level, because that
going give Indian policy maker a tough time in coming months.
would be swimming against the tide, which is not possible in
this environment. But RBI can make it less volatile. Mains Question
Q.Recent global events and future uncertainties pose
challenges to microeconomic stability. Discuss what
measures India can take to keep inflation low.

GOVERNANCE
CIVIL SERVICES REFORMS
Civil service reforms in India

Governance | GS2: Civil Service
Prelims level : conduct rules 1964
Mains level : bureaucracy and reforms
Introduction Why do we need the Civil service reforms?

The Civil services are the backbone of the administrative • I n recent times, technological advances, decentralisation
machinery of the country. The ministers decide the policy, and social activism force the government to increase the
and it is for the civil servants, who serve at the pleasure of the expectations on government service delivery, transparency,
President, to implement it. accountability and rule of law. The civil service, as the primary
arm of government, must keep pace with the changing times in
Evolution of Civil services in India order to meet the aspirations of people.
• The purpose of reform is to reorient the civil services into
a dynamic, efficient and accountable apparatus of public
During Ancient India
service delivery.
According to the Kautilyas Arthasastra, the higher bureaucracy
• The reform is to raise the quality of public services delivered
consisted of the Mantrins and the Amatyas. While the Mantrins
to the citizens and enhance the capacity to carry out core
are the highest advisors to the King, the amatyas were the
government functions.
civil servants.
What are the problems associated with civil

During Medieval India
During the Mughal era, the bureaucracy was based on the services in India?
Mansabdari System. The Mansabdari system was essentially a There are few problems associated with the functioning of civil
pool of civil servants available for civil or military deployment. services. These include,
• Red Tapism (Delay) and indecisiveness : This exists in many
forms with the civil services. For example,
During British India • Queries by the superiors are made in parts and frequently,
The big changes in the civil services in British India came with
not once by taking all aspects. Poor capacity building of
the implementation of Macaulays report. The Macaulay report
civil servants.
recommended that only the best and brightest would do for the
• Sometimes it is necessary to take the opinion of the
Indian Civil Service to serve the interest of the British Empire.
Ministry of Law or Ministry of Finance for taking an
appropriate decision.
Post Independence • All this delays the decision-making process unnecessarily.
The modern Indian Administrative system was created under • Too busy syndrome : Civil servants do not attend phone calls
Article 312(2) in part XIV of the Constitution and All India or give personal hearing to the aggrieved persons citing they
Services Act, 1951. However, India retained some elements of the are busy. This leads to further delay and also increases the
British Structure like a unified administrative system, an open- corrupt practices by the subordinates or middlemen. Further,
entry system based on academic achievements, permanency of it leads to inefficiency in decision-making due to not attending
nature, etc. to the feedback and also creates a bad image about the office/
officer concerned.
Classification of Civil Services • Prevalence of the transfer industry : In most of the states,
• P art XIV of the Constitution provides for different types or the principle of three years tenure is hardly followed, and many
classes of services for India. The name of the chapter is Services officers are transferred within a year or even earlier without
under Union and the States. The Constitution has not sufficient, genuine reasons.
elaborated on the types and categories of services. • Political interference and administrative acquiescence : On
• I n accordance with the Constitution, we can divide these the other hand, there are instances wherein some officers
services as All India Services (AIS), Central Services, State continue on the same post for nine or ten years because
Services, the Local and Municipal Services. of political connection, backing, and favour to officers of a
• Th
ere are four groups of Central Services, namely Group A, particular caste or religious community.
B, C and D.. • This deprives other competent officers to have an experience
e highest personnel cadre among the entire civil services in
• Th on that post as every post has its peculiarities in terms of
India is with the Central Secretariat Service and the Indian problems, challenges, and opportunities, and the beneficiary
Revenue Service. officer develops arrogance, egoism, and connivance on the
• C ivil servants are the employees of the government of India other hand.
or of the States. But not all government employees are civil • Inefficient incentive system : In general, upright and
servants. As of 2010, there were 6.4 million government outstanding civil servants have to be promoted. But, in practice,
employees in India, but less than 50,000 civil servants to the corrupt and the incompetent are getting promoted.
administer them.

• U
neven utilisation of talent: There is a dominance of few elite • Make postings Cadre Neutral : The over-emphasis on one-
services in promotions, work allocations and assignments. time examination, cadre allocation and lifelong privileges
Most of the coveted positions in the government are taken over have to be done away with. The existing civil servants can be
by the elite services, which result in uneven utilisation of talent allotted duties in tandem with their academic expertise and
and adversely affect the morale of other services. practical experience gained at the workplace.
• F
or instance, specialist services like Indian Revenue • Further, the government can make the posts cadre-neutral. Or
Services, Indian Economic Services, etc do not get adequate we can at least make multiple services with relevant experience
opportunities and representation in the work. eligible for the posts. This will lead to widening the talent pool
available for the cadre post.
What are the recent Civil service reforms carried • Appoint Third ARC : It is time for government to appoint
the third administrative reforms commission to institute
out by the government? cutting-edge reforms in the Indian bureaucracy. And this time,
• M ission KarmaYogi : It is a National Programme for Civil
government should make sure that the recommendations are
Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB). The initiative will target
actually implemented and not just on paper like the second
4.6 million Central Government employees, and it is based
administrative reforms
on 3 pillars ( governance, performance and accountability
• Incentivize better performing civil servants: It is time
). The mission shifts capacity building from rule-based
for government to separate the wheat from the chaff by
training to role-based training. Thus, it laid the ground for
incentivising deserving senior officials through an alternative
behavioural change.
fast-track career progression channel. This will also lower the
e fundamental focus of the reform is the creation of citizen-
• Th
age profile of the top officials.
centric civil services capable of delivering services conducive to
• Alternate System of Promotion: The government should
economic growth and public welfare.
also consider promotions to higher levels, that is additional
• I ntroduction of new services : The government approved the
secretary or secretary-level posts from a pool of four to five
formation of the Indian Skill Development Service in 2015 and
batches together and not on a year-by-year basis as is done now.
the Indian Enterprise Development Service in 2016.
This will give the government a larger pool of officials to make
• S tructural reforms : Further, the Cabinet approved the merger
their selection.
of all civil services under Indian Railways into a single Indian
• Contractual Appointments System : Perhaps, appointments
Railways Management Service as a part of structural reforms in
at additional secretary or secretary-level could also be offered
that sector in 2019.
on a contract basis for five to ten years with compensation for
• Th
e Union Cabinet has also approved this year the
premature separation or termination on each side. This will
corporatization of the Ordnance Factory Board. It is the
ensure accountability in terms of delivery on the ground.
coordinating body of 41 ordnance factories production arm of
• Expand Lateral Entry : While the government has inducted
the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence.
officers through lateral entry at joint secretary levels or
below, this should be encouraged at an additional secretary
What are the required reforms in Civil Services? or secretary-level as a laggard top official will ensure that the
• C
reation of Central Talent Pool : The government can lateral entrant has no work
create a Central Talent Pool. The Recruited candidates can
be placed in the Talent pool first. The government can then
Conclusion
allocate candidates by matching their competencies and job
• I n conclusion, the Civil Service reforms should realign the
description.
outdated structure and culture of servants and forgo
colonial ambitions. The reforms should raise the quality and
sensitivity of services to the citizens that are essential for the
sustainable economic and social development of India.
MGNREGA SCHEME
MGNREGA
Governance | GS2: Government Scheme/Policies
Prelims level : particulars of the scheme
Mains level : social security
Context • The scheme has managed to reduce the poverty levels in

• Th
e delay in payment of wages has pushed MGNREGS workers India by a huge amount. It was, hence, called a stellar
in West Bengal to the brink. There are allegations of corruption example of rural development by the World Development
against the State government, the Centres reluctance in Report of 2014.
releasing payments, and the plight of the workers caught in • It has helped many women in rural areas to make a livelihood as
this tussle. well as gain social security.
• The unemployed youth in the age bracket of 18-30 got
employment for 100 days a year.
What is MGNREGA? • Helped employ the people affected by Covid-19 pandemic.
• Th
e MGNREGA stands for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
• According to the National Council of Applied Economic
Employment Guarantee Act of 2005. This is labour law and
Research (NCAER), this scheme has played a vital role in
social security measure that aims to guarantee the Right to
reducing poverty among the poor as well as the socially weaker
Work. The act was first proposed in 1991 by P.V. Narasimha Rao.
sections (Dalits, tribals and marginal farmers)
Significant Features of the scheme What are the issues?

• F
ixed employment : MGNREGA is unique in not only ensuring
• N on-purposive spending and corruptions: Many works
at least 100 days of employment to the willing unskilled
sanctioned under MGNREGA often seem to be non-purposive.
workers, but also in ensuring an enforceable commitment on
Quite often, they are politically motivated hotspots to
the implementing machinery i.e., the State Governments, and
create rampant corruption by dominant sections of the local
providing a bargaining power to the labourers.
population. Even social audits of such projects are locally
• A
ssured compensation : The failure of provision for
manipulated.
employment within 15 days of the receipt of job application
• Workers penalized for administrative lapses: The ministry
from a prospective household will result in the payment of
withholds wage payments for workers of states that do not
unemployment allowance to the job seekers.
meet administrative requirements within the stipulated time
• L
ocality is ensured : Employment is to be provided within 5 km
period (for instance, submission of the previous financial
of an applicants residence, and minimum wages are to be paid.
years audited fund statements, utilization certificates, bank
• L
egal backing: Thus, employment under MGNREGA is a legal
reconciliation certificates etc). There is no logical or legal
entitlement.
explanation for this bizarre arrangement. It is beyond any logic
as to why workers would be penalized for administrative lapses.
• Genuine job cards being deleted: Genuine job cards are being
randomly deleted as there is a huge administrative pressure to
meet 100 per cent DBT implementation targets in MGNREGA.
In states like Jharkhand, there are multiple examples where
the districts had later requested to resume job cards after civil
society interventions into the matter.
• Too much centralization weakening local governance: A
real-time MIS-based implementation and a centralised payment
system has further left the representatives of the Panchayati
Raj Institutions with literally no role in implementation. It
has become a burden as they hardly have any power to resolve
issues or make payments.
• Local priorities being ignored: MGNREGA could be a
tool to establish decentralized governance. But, with the
administration almost dictating its implementation, it is
literally a burden now for the people and especially for the local
elected representatives. The Gram Sabhas and gram panchayats
Achievement of MGNREGA plans are never honoured. This is a blatant violation of the
• I t is the worlds largest social welfare scheme and it has been Act as well.
allocated Rs 73,000 crore in the Budget 2022-23.

• P
ayment of unemployment allowance : Dated receipts for
demanded work should be issued so that workers can claim
unemployment allowance. Funds for unemployment allowance
should be met by the central government.
Some innovation in MGNREGA can address the

challenges
1) Looping in the skilled worker

• F irst, there is a suggestion to use it to meet the wage cost of
their employment insmall and medium enterprises(SMEs).
• Accordingly, skilled migrant workers may be placed in SMEs
and their wages would be charged to MGNREGA.
2) Including farm related works

Lack of fund has negative implications • I n the last few years, un-remunerative prices of several crops
• D
elayed payment : Due to this, payments for MGNREGA have been the root cause of widespread agrarian distress.
workers as well as material costs will be delayed, unless States • The suggestion is to allow farmers to employ MGNREGA
dip into their own funds. workers in agricultural operations like land preparation,
• L
ivelihood loss: MGNREGA data shows that 13% of sowing, transplantation of paddy, plucking of cotton,
households who demanded work under the scheme were not intercultural operations and harvesting of crops etc. so as
provided work. toreduce the cost of cultivation.
• H
alt of work : Many workers are simply turned away by • The idea is to pay part of thewages of labour in agricultural
officials when they demand work, without their demand being operations from MGNREGA.
registered at all.
• F
all in demands : This has led to stop the generation of work. 3) Increasing the number of Work Schemes
There is an artificial squeezing of demand. • C urrently, there are only2-3 work schemes (say PMAY) running
per panchayat, which is leading to the crowding of workers at
What can be done according to rural development worksites.
• To prevent this and to ensure that all willing households are
committee?
able to access employment through NREGA, the number of
• U
tilization of funds : A large amount of funds allocated for
schemes needs to be increased, and 6-8 schemes must be
MGNREGA have remained un-utilised. For example, in 2010-
introduced in each village.
11, 27.31% of the funds remained unutilised. The Committee
recommends that the Department of Rural Development
should analyse reasons for poor utilisation of funds and take 4) Paying Workers Immediately
steps to improve the same. In addition, it should initiate • R ural households urgently needcash-in-hand, and so the
action against officers found guilty of misappropriating funds emerging demand is for immediate payment to workers.
under MGNREGA. NREGA payments are frequently delayed by weeks or months.
• C
ontext specific projects and convergence : Since states • Given the circumstances, such delays will be entirely
are at various stages of socio-economic development, they counterproductive.
have varied requirements for development. Therefore, state • It is recommended that in remote areas,wage payments should
governments should be allowed to undertake works that are be made in cash, and paid on the same day.
pertinent to their context. There should be more emphasis on
skilled and semi-skilled work under MGNREGA. In addition, Conclusion
the Committee recommends a greater emphasis on convergence • G
overnment and NGOs must study the impact of MGNREGA
with other schemes such as the National Rural Livelihoods in rural areas so as to ensure that this massive anti-poverty
Mission, National Rural Health Mission, etc. scheme is not getting diluted from its actual path.
• R
egulation of job cards : Offences such as not recording
employment related information in job cards and unlawful Mains question
possession of job cards with elected PRI representatives
and MGNREGA functionaries should be made punishable Q. Large scale social security programmes like MGNREGA are
under the Act. subjected to undergo several stumbling blocks in the times
• P
articipation of people with disabilities : Special works to come due to lack of fund. Analyse these roadblocks and
(projects) must be identified for people with disabilities give some innovative measures to tackle these roadblocks.
and special job cards must be issued and personnel must be
employed to ensure their participation.
HIGHER EDUCATION - RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, ETC.
Issues faced by Teachers in India

Governance | GS2: Health & Education
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : teacher concerns and issues
• D iversion from teaching: Teaching children is not regarded

as a serious profession. Non-teaching duties are routinely
assigned, and now the digital regime has washed away the
few traces of professional autonomy even in the best of
private schools.
• Bureaucratic over vigilance: So deep is official suspicion of
their integrity that many states have installed CCTV cameras
in classrooms. That is not the only form of insult teachers face.
They have little power to assert their professional dignity in the
face of bureaucratic or managerial authority.
• Marginalisation by coaching institutes: The Indian school
teacher now faces new social and economic forces. Coaching
institutions have marginalised the secondary-level science
teacher. All over the country, children are allowed to bunk
school to attend NEET and JEE coaching classes. Science
and math teachers were, in any case, aware that their
pedagogic effectiveness would be measured by an unreformed
examination system.
• Reliability issue due to internet overuse: Social Science
teachers are coping with a different kind of challenge to justify
their knowledge and interpretation. Childrens access to the
internet exposes them to a wilderness of socio-political ideas
and information. It is not easy for social science teachers to
Context convince children that they are more reliable than a YouTube
• 5
September is teachers day. Teachers DayorShikshak video or a WhatsApp message.
Divasmarks the birthday of the countrys first Vice President
Catchy line in this context for value addition
(19521962) who went on to become the second President
of India (1962-1967), a scholar, philosopher, Bharat Ratna
awardee, a highly-respected teacher and prolific statesman - Dr Jinke jiwan me guru nahi, unka jiwan abhi shuru nahi.
Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan.
How to address these challenges

• S upporting teacher control over curriculum and instruction:
Classical top-down school leadership needs to be re-examined,
and teachers must be recognized as professionals who have
expertise to make good learning decisions for their students.
• Establish adequate pay scales and financial incentives:
Compensation systems signal what skills and attributes are
valued and what kinds of contributions are rewarded.
• Establish and conduct personnel evaluation systems:
Teachers need regular feedback and accurate information on job
expectations.
• Provide adequate planning time for teachers: While all
teachers work under tremendous time constraints, experienced
teachers generally are able to complete their planning more
What are the issue with teachers? quickly. For new teachers, adequate planning time can allay
• L
ess attractive career : It seems that teaching the young is no feelings of being overwhelmed.
longer an attractive profession because systemic conditions are • Provide a structure for team planning and teaching: Teachers
so discouraging. It points towards the reforms that education often report feeling isolated in their classrooms. Team planning
now requires. and teaching can be an important step in retaining a high
quality teaching force.

be made for motivating teachers to become innovative and
creative. It goes without saying that a self-motivated and
really industrious teacher can utilise his own resources to keep
themselves abreast of new knowledge and skills.
Mains question
Q. It seems that teaching the young is no longer an

attractive profession because systemic conditions
are so discouraging. Critically analyse.
Conclusion
• S ince the teacher is the pivot of the entire educational system
and is the main catalytic agent for introducing desirable
changes in the teaching learning process, all attempts need
HEALTH SECTOR - UHC, NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY, FAMILY PLANNING, HEALTH INSURANCE, ETC.
Mental Health in india

Prelims level : manodarpan initiative
Mains level : mental health
What is mental wellness?

• M
ental wellness encompasses emotional, psychological, and
social well-being. It influences cognition, perception, and
behaviour. It also determines how an individual handles stress,
interpersonal relationships, and decision-making.
Why is Mental Health Important?

• M
ental health is more important now than ever before; it
impacts every area of our lives. The importance of good mental
health ripples into everything we do, think, or say.
Context
• H
ow to deal with mental wellness challenges in the
uniformed forces
What is stress? Reasons for Persistence of Mental Illness

• S tress isa feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come • S
tigma to seek help : The staggering figures are void of millions
from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, of others directly, or indirectly impacted by the challenge and
angry, or nervous. Stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge those who face deep-rooted stigma, many times rendering them
or demand. unable to seek help.
• L
ack of awareness : This growing challenge in dealing with • Rise in Severity: Mental health problems tend to increase
mental health issues is further compounded by a lack of during economic downturns, therefore special attention is
information and awareness, self-diagnosis, and stigma. needed during times of economic distress.
• P
sycho-social factors: Institutions like gender, race and
ethnicity, are also responsible for mental health conditions. Government Policy initiatives
• P
ost-Treatment gap : There is a need for proper rehabilitation • N ational Mental Health Program (NMHP): To address the
of the mentally ill persons post/her treatment which is huge burden of mental disorders and shortage of qualified
currently not present. professionals in the field of mental health, the government has
• R
ise in Severity : Mental health problems tend to increase been implementing the NMHP since 1982.
during economic downturns, therefore special attention is • Mental HealthCare Act 2017 : It guarantees every affected
needed during times of economic distress. person access to mental healthcare and treatment from services
run or funded by the government.
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2017: The Act
acknowledges mental illness as a disability and seeks to enhance
the Rights and Entitlements of the Disabled and provide an
effective mechanism for ensuring their empowerment and
inclusion in the society
• Manodarpan Initiative : An initiative under Atmanirbhar
Bharat Abhiyan aims to provide psycho-social support to
students for their mental health and well-being.
What needs to be done?

• O pen dialogue: The practice of open dialogue, a therapeutic
practice that originated in Finland, runs through many
programmes in the Guidance. This approach trains the therapist
in de-escalation of distress and breaks power differentials that
Ongoing challenges in mental wellness regime allow for free expression.
• Th
ere is a need to expand understanding of the full scope of • Increase investment : With emphasis on social care
what uniformed Services and other mental health experts components such as work force participation, pensions and
can achieve. housing, increased investments in health and social care seem
• S tigma regarding mental health both domestically and around imperative.
the world remains strong. • Network of services : For those homeless and who opt not to
• Th
ere is a lack of trained personnel and healthcare and public enter mental health establishments, we can provide a network
health systems in many areas of the world. of services ranging from soup kitchens at vantage points to
• T raining needs are broad and reach beyond direct patient care, mobile mental health and social care clinics.
especially regarding cultural competence, crisis communication, • National mental health policies should not be solely
and consultation. concerned with mental disorders, but should also identify and
• Th
ere is a need for expanded support for the value of multi- address broader issues like education, justice, environment,
professional and multi-organizational integration and housing, and health sector, which promote mental health.
collaboration. • Invest in early childhood interventions : It is accepted that
the onset of many mental disorders starts at such an early
Challenges in India age. India needs to aim at improving child development by
• H
igh Public Health Burden : An estimated 150 million people early childhood interventions like nutritional and psychosocial
across India are in need of mental health care interventions, help, preschool psychosocial activities to give roots for a
according to India’s latest National Mental Health healthy community
Survey 2015-16. • Focus on women: Since women are at increased risk of
• L
ack of Resources: Low proportion of the mental health developmental problems, there is a need to empower women
workforce in India (per 100,000 population) include socially and economically by improving access to education and
psychiatrists (0.3), nurses (0.12), psychologists (0.07) and employment opportunities.
social workers (0.07). • Society needs to be free of discrimination and violence.
• L
ow financial resource allocation of just over a percent Eliminating discrimination against gender, caste, disability,
of Gross Domestic Product on healthcare has created and socioeconomic status is an important facet to reduce
impediments in public access to affordable mental healthcare. mental disorders. stress prevention programmes at workplaces
• O
ther Challenges: Poor awareness about the symptoms of and programmes addressing concerns of indigenous people,
mental illness, social stigma and abandonment of mentally migrants and people affected by disasters need to be established
ill, especially old and destitute, leads to social isolation and • Social support for elderly people needs to be strengthened.
reluctance on part of family members to seek treatment for More day centres and community centers for the aged should
the patient. be developed.
is has resulted in a massive treatment gap, which further
• Th • Improve primary health care: Another key to reducing
worsens the present mental illness of a person. mental morbidity is to strengthen the treatment of mental
• P
ost-Treatment gap : There is need for proper rehabilitation disorders at the level of primary health care. There are manifold
of the mentally ill persons post his/her treatment which is interventions needed to prevent the progression of mental
currently not present. disorders from the early manifestation of signs and symptoms

to more serious and chronic cases. There is an urgent need Mains question
for simple, easily available diagnostic tests and economical Q. Mental disorders are now among the top leading
treatment to provide better primary health care. causes of health burden worldwide, with no evidence
of global reduction since 1990. Examine.
Conclusion
• P
ersons with mental health conditions need a responsive care
system that inspires hope and participation without which their
lives are empty. We should endeavour to provide them with
such a responsive care system.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: ISSUES & DEVELOPMENT
CSR needs positive reforms to support NGO’S

Governance | GS2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters
Prelims level : particulars of funding
Mains level : corporate governance
Context
• Th
e evolving role of CSR in funding NGOs
What is NGO?
• A
non-governmental organization is an organization that
generally is formed independent from government. They are
typically non-profit entities, and many of them are active in
humanitarianism or the social sciences; they can also include
clubs and associations that provide services to their members
and others.
What is CSR? https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/a-

case-against-punishing-non-compliance-of-csr-
guidelines/
• C
orporate social responsibility CSR is a form of international
private business self-regulation which aims to contribute to
societal goals of a philanthropic, activist, or charitable nature
by engaging in or supporting volunteering or ethically oriented
practices.
Why NGOs are important? Issues with CSR funding to NGO

• W
hen COVID-19 spurred a nationwide lockdown in India • N o organization development: CSR funders mostly contribute
in 2020, a grave need for localised social support emerged. little or no money to organisational development and limit
Giving, both private and public, flowed to NGOs working what they pay for indirect costs to a fixed rate often below 5%.
towards combating pandemic-induced challenges such as loss of 2020 primary research showed that NGOs indirect costs range
livelihood for vulnerable communities, food banks, and health from 5% to 55%, depending on their mission and operating
and medical support. model, much as a corporates sales and administration costs
CSR key fact vary significantly by industry and product.
All companies with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, a • Regulatory framework: These practices are partly a
turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more, or net profit of Rs 5 crore consequence of CSR funders focus on regulatory compliance
or more, are required to spend 2 per cent of their average amendments to the CSR law in 2021 include substantial
profits of the previous three years on CSR activities every year. financial penalties for noncompliance.
• E
rrors on safety: Many CSRs make errors on safety with the social and racial justice a cornerstone of the very essence of
unintended consequence of leaving an NGO with unpaid bills corporate responsibility, but study after study establishes that
or worse still, drawing on its scarce core funding from other improved diversity and inclusion leads to better outcomes for
donors to pay for these essential costs. everyone from increased innovation and competitiveness, to
stronger ethics and team culture.
• Deepen community connections: Deepening your
organizations connection to those on the other side of
your CSR projects will have far-reaching benefits. These
could likely include developing a more impactful program,
as you strengthen your understanding of the needs of the
community served.
• Encourage creativity : Creativity as a principle may feel out of
place in a discussion of how to improve CSR. Yet its a concept
increasingly invoked in philanthropic thought leadership, and
for good reason.
Conclusion
• Th
e idea is to move beyond signing cheques to recognising
How to improve CSR governance? that, ultimately, whats good for Indian society is also good
• I ncrease transparency: Transparency is the ultimate trust- for business.
builder, and should be considered a guiding principle for any
socially responsible company. This concept should apply to Mains question
goals, ongoing initiatives, and ultimate progress or results. Q. why the role of CSR is becoming important in NGO funding?
• F ocus on equity: Equity is a vital lens through which to What are the issues with CSR? Discuss the way forward.
evaluate business practices and CSR strategy, at both a micro
and macro level. Not only is ensuring that program furthers
Global pandemic treaty to avert future mishap

Governance | GS2: Effect Of Policies & Politics Of World On India’S Interests
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : future preparedness for pandemics
Severity of this pandemic demands such treaty

• C OVID-19 would count as being among some of the most
severe pandemics the world has seen in the last 100 years. An
estimated 18 million people may have died from COVID-19,
according various credible estimates, a scale of loss not seen
since the Second World War.
• Further, with over 120 million people pushed into extreme
poverty, and a massive global recession, no single government
or institution has been able to address this emergency
singlehandedly.
• This has given us a larger perspective of how nobody is safe
until everybody is safe.
Context
• Th
e outline of an essential global pandemic treaty. Catchy line for value addition
Nobody is safe until everybody is safe
Purpose of the treaty
• A
pandemic treaty under the umbrella of the World Health
Organization would build coherence and avoid fragmentation
of response.

There is widespread inequity in healthcare • W e lead by example : India was unfettered in its resolve to
• G ross inequity in distribution: Health-care systems have been continue the shipment of vaccines and other diagnostics even
stretched beyond their capacity and gross health inequity has when it was experiencing a vaccine shortage for domestic use.
been observed in the distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, and There was only a brief period of weeks during the peak of the
therapeutics across the world. second wave in India when the vaccine mission was halted.
• I rreversible consequences : While high-income economies • A classic example of global cooperation: As of 2021, India
are still recovering from the aftereffects, the socioeconomic shipped 594.35 lakh doses of Made-in-India COVID-19
consequences of the novel coronavirus pandemic are vaccines to 72 countries a classic example of global cooperation.
irreversible in low and low middle-income countries. Among these, 81.25 lakh doses were gifts, 339.67 lakh doses
• Th
e monopolies : Held by pharma majors such as Pfizer, were commercially distributed and 173.43 lakh doses were
BioNTech, and Moderna created at least nine new billionaires delivered via the Covax programme under the aegis of Gavi, the
since the beginning of theCOVID-19 pandemichttps://www. Vaccine Alliance.
civilsdaily.com/yojana-archive-the-pandemic-global-synergy/
and made over $1,000 a second in profits, even as fewer of their Why the treaty is needed for?
vaccines reached people in low-income countries. • D ata sharing : A treaty should cover crucial aspects such as
• S kewed distribution : As of March 2022, only 3% of people data sharing and genome sequencing of emerging viruses.
in low-income countries had been vaccinated with at least • R apid response mechanism : It should formally commit
one dose, compared to 60.18% in high-income countries. The governments and parliaments to implement an early warning
international target to vaccinate 70% of the worlds population system and a properly funded rapid response mechanism.
against COVID-19 by mid-2022 was missed because poorer • Health investments : Further, it should mobilise nation
countries were at the back of the queue when vaccines were states to agree on a set of common metrics that are related to
rolled out. health investments and a return on those investments. These
investments should aim to reduce the public-private sector gap.
India’s lead role
• D
ynamic response : India’s response to the COVID-19 Conclusion
pandemic and reinstating global equity by leveraging its own • A
global pandemic treaty will not only reduce socioeconomic
potential has set an example to legislators worldwide. inequalities across nation states but also enhance a global
• V
accine diplomacyhttps://www.civilsdaily.com/news/ pandemic preparedness for future health emergencies. India
vaccine-diplomacy-that-needs-specific-clarifications/: India must take the lead in this.
produces nearly 60% of the worlds vaccines and is said to
account for 60%-80% of the United Nations annual vaccine Mains question
procurement vaccine diplomacy or vaccine maitri with a Q. Nobody is safe until everybody is safe.
commitment against health inequity. What do you understand by this? Why there
is need of global pandemic treaty?.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION - RTE, EDUCATION POLICY, SEQI, RMSA, COMMITTEE REPORTS, ETC.
Mother Tongue as a medium of instruction

Prelims level : anglicist orientalist controversy
Mains level : qulaity education outcomes
Historic context to this debate

• O rientalist: Orientalists were the group of people who
wanted to give education to Indian people in the Indian
language. The emphasis was on the knowledge of the East.
They wanted Indians to learn about Indian philosophy, science,
and literature. In the Initial stage, company officials favoured
oriental learning.
• Anglicist: Anglicists were those people who supported the
teaching of modern western education to Indian people in the
English language. People who favoured Anglicists were Thomas
Babington, Macaulay, Jamess mill, Charles wood, Charles
Trevelyan, and Elphinstone. The Anglicists were supported by
the most advanced Indians like Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Context
• E
nglish should be taught effectively not as the medium, but as a
second language
What is the debate?

• O
ver the years, there has been a raging debate over the need
for children to have their mother tongue as the medium of
instruction in schools.
• W
hile educationists have emphasised the importance of
learning in the mother tongue to enhance a childs learning and
overcome glaring inequities, there has been an equally steady
demand for English-medium schools in several States.
Why mother tongue is important?

• S uitability to child: There is an almost-complete consensus
among educationists, linguistic experts and psychologists that
the mother tongue, or the language of the region where the
child lives, is the only appropriate language of learning for
the child.
• Inclusion: It will help in s ocial inclusiveness, improving
literacy rates, reduction in poverty and international
cooperation. Language can become catalyst for inclusive
development. Removal of the existing linguistic barriers will
help in realizing the goal of inclusive governance.
• Diversity: Mother tongue shows our rich cultural values,
diversity and heritage. We must accord a sense of dignity and
pride to those who speak, write and communicate in these
languages.
• Incomprehension : A child can be taught any number of
languages, particularly later in life, but the medium of learning
should be the mother tongue. As a number of classrooms today
are stalked by the curse of incomprehension.
• Pressure of English language : There are a growing number
of schools, mostly private, that teach in English. Government
schools too in States like Tamil Nadu, unable to bear the
pressure from parents and to stop students from migrating to
private schools, are switching to English medium.
• Development in every way: The mother tongue, home
language or the first language educationally means the language
which the child is using to connect to the world, to people, to

nature, to the environment, and to make sense of everything • A rticle 350A Facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at
thats going on. This is the language which helps the child to primary stage: Every state and a local authority in the state
build, grow and develop in every way. should provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-
• I nability to learn: English medium education is a profound tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging
tragedy in Indian education today. Millions are languishing to linguistic minority groups. The president can issue necessary
because of their inability to learn in English not English as directions for this purpose.
a language but as a medium through which they acquire any • Article 350B Special Officer for linguistic minorities:
knowledge of any subject. The president should appoint a special officer for linguistic
minorities to investigate all matters relating to the
Why English Should Be the Medium of Instruction constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities and to report
to him. The president should place all such reports before the
in Schools, Colleges? Parliament and send to the state government concerned.
• C
onnectivity with The Rest of the World : To communicate
Steps taken by the Government
and be on par with the world, the first language that stands
• Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and the
common is English. With English, a student can remain on
majority of the schools are under the domain of the States/UTs.
par with what is happening across the globe. Lack of English
• Section 29(f) of Chapter V under the Right to Education Act,
knowledge or alone mother tongue does not allow children to
2009 clearly states that, the medium of instructions shall, as
progress with the rest of the world.
far as practicable, be in childs mother tongue.
• T
echnologies Can Be Used Only With English Instruction :
• As envisaged in of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020,
Most of the modern technologies are invented, reinvented and
wherever possible, the medium of instruction until at least
modernized in foreign shores. The inventors keep the English
Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond, is to be the
language for the instruction manual of the technological gadget
home language/mother tongue/local language/regional
so that the gadget can be used worldwide.
language. Thereafter, the home/local language shall continue to
• H
igher Education Emphasizes on The English language : The
be taught as a language wherever possible.
main focus of teaching medium in higher secondary as well as
• The NIPUN Bharat Mission of the Government of India
in graduation and post-graduation colleges in India. There is
through its Mission Implementation Guidelines suggests that
no doubt that lecturers also teach in Hindi or other regional
the teaching-learning process and development of teaching-
languages. However, question design comes in both English and
learning material should be done in the mother tongue.
regional language. But most of the classes are taught in English.
• Vidya Pravesh a three-month play-based school preparation
programme for Grade-I and NISHTHA FLN (Foundational
How multilingual approach helps literacy and Numeracy) have also re-emphasised the same.
• F irstly, multilingualism gives equal status to all languages and • As per Unified District Information System for Education
theres enough work, history and research on this. Plus (UDISE+) 2020- 21, there are 28 languages in which
• S econd, children come from different backgrounds, and in teaching learning is going on in grades (1-5). The languages
some cases, they are first-generation learners with not much are as follows: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada,
support at home. Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi,
• Th
e multilingual approach thus, is much more flexible, closer Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English, Bodo, Khasi,
to the child, and inclusive. It is democratic, and it accepts that Garo,Mizo, French, Hmar, Karbi, Santhali, Bhodi, Purgi.
the teacher is not coming from a place of authority and is only
correcting spellings and pronunciations.
Conclusion
• Th
is myth must be broken that our education system is class
Constitutional provision for indigenous and caste neutral. A powerful political movement will have to
languages: take place to make the language of learning a choice that is
• A
rticle 350 Language to be used in representations for made democratically.
redress of grievances: Every aggrieved person has the right
Mains question
to submit a representation for the redress of any grievance to
Q. Should the mother tongue or English be the
any officer or authority of the Union or a state in any of the medium of instruction? Critically explain.
languages used in the Union or in the state, as the case may
be. This means that a representation cannot be rejected on the
ground that it is not in the official language.
ROAD AND HIGHWAY SAFETY - NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY POLICY, GOOD SAMARITANS, ETC.
Road safety in India

Governance | : Government Scheme/Policies,Ministries & Departments Of The Government
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : road safety
• L eft turn driver assistance; and

• Approaching emergency vehicle warning.
Road Accidents in India A lookover

• I n spite of several years of policymaking to improve road
safety, India remains among the worst-performing countries in
this area.
• Total 1,47,913 lives lost to road traffic accidents in 2017 as per
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways statistics.
• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figure for the same
year is 1,50,093 road accident deaths.
Do you know?
The golden hour has been defined as the time period
lasting one hour following a traumatic injury during
Context which there is the highest likelihood of preventing
• A
horrific car accident killed Cyrus Mistry and Jehangir death by providing prompt medical care.
Pandole. This tragedy got plenty of people thinking about
road safety measures. Sadly, neither Mistry nor Pandole was
wearing their rear-seat safety belts this highlights importance Causes of Road Accidents in India
of following road safety norms. • S ub-standard roads : The life of roads is not good due to the
substandard raw materials and potholes accidents caused.
• Traffic: The increasing traffic on roads and conditions of roads
What’s the meaning of road safety? are not proportionate to each other.
• R
oad safety means methods and measures aimed at reducing
• Use of mobile phone : Most of the people are on call while
the likelihood or the risk of persons using the road network
driving thus they drive recklessly and accidents happen as most
getting involved in a collision or an incident that may cause
of the Indians now have mobile phones.
property damages, serious injuries and/or death.
• Drunk Driving : Drinking makes people lose the ability to focus
and function properly. This makes it dangerous for the driver to
What is road safety education? operate the vehicle.
• Th
e aim of education, training and encouragement in Road • Dis-obedience for traffic rules : Indian drivers are quick to
Safety is to educate all road users in the proper and safe use learn to drive but they dont learn traffic rules and the purpose
of roads in order to change user attitudes and behaviour and of such rules.
to stimulate an awareness of the need for improvement in • Malpractices: Malpractices such as over-speeding, triple riding,
road safety. underage driving, etc are reducing the safety of road users.
• Implementation drawbacks : Police are supposed to execute
What affects road safety? the rules but, it may be a lack of workforce or lack of intention,
• S everal factors most notably speed, traffic density, flow, they also fail to execute.
congestion, demographics (namely age gender and deprivation), • Corrupt practices : Mostly police use the rules to mint money
driving behaviour (involving alcohol consumption, helmet or either officially by Chalan or in person.
seat belt usage) and land use, such as residential or economic
Key data for value addition
zones, were found to have mixed effects on road safety. Despite being home to only 1% of the worlds vehicles, India
shoulders 11% of the global road crash fatality burden.
Various Policy Initiatives by the government

• R
oad Safety: In the area of road safety, the Act proposes to
increase penalties to act as deterrent against traffic violations.
Stricter provisions are being proposed in respect of offences
like juvenile driving, drunken driving, driving without licence,
dangerous driving, over-speeding, overloading etc. Stricter
provisions for helmets have been introduced along with
provisions for electronic detection of violations.
What are examples of road safety?
• P
edestrian crossing warning;

• V
ehicle Fitness: Automated fitness testing for vehicles has • B etter first aid and paramedic care: In most cases, the public
been made mandatory. This would reduce corruption in the and police are the first ones to reach the site of an accident. But
transport department while improving the road worthiness of sadly, neither has any first aid training and the police dont even
the vehicle. Penalty has been provided for deliberate violation have even simple things like a first aid box or stretcher. This
of safety/environmental regulations as well as for body builders initial trauma care has to improve.
and spare part suppliers. • Stricter criteria for driving licenses : Fortunately, the
• R
ecall of Vehicles: The Act allows the central government government has recognized the need for this, and getting a
to order for recall of motor vehicles if a defect in the vehicle driving license is no longer as easy as before. Lots of the process
may cause damage to the environment, or the driver, or other has been digitalized and made more stringent. But its still far
road users. from perfect and lots more needs to be done
• R
oad Safety Board: A National Road Safety Board, to be created • Better road design, maintenance, and signage: Many of our
by the central government through a notification to advise the roads are poorly designed with badly placed junctions, acute
central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and corners, uneven gradients, sudden speed-breakers, etc. And this
traffic management. This would include standards of motor is made worse by poor road maintenance and many accidents
vehicles, registration and licensing of vehicles, standards for occur because a driver suddenly swerves to avoid a pothole.
road safety, and promotion of new vehicle technology. • Heavy crackdown against non-compliance: This is one of the
• P
rotection of Good Samaritan : The Act lays down the leading causes of road accidents in India and while we do have
guidelines and provides rules to prevent harassment of Good strict laws, the enforcement, particularly on our highways is
Samaritanto encourage people to help road accident victims. quite lax. Consumption of drugs by truck drivers while driving
• C
ashless Treatment during Golden Hour : The Act provides for is rampant, and this needs to stop completely.
a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during • Stricter enforcement of traffic rules: The Amended Motor
golden hour. Vehicles Act has higher penalties and punishment to deter
people from committing traffic offenses and driving rashly. Its
Value addition for good marks high time we enforced our traffic rules and imposed discipline
The 4 E Approach while driving and using the road.
• Th
e Government of India put forth Engineering, Economy, • Encouraging better road behaviour: The people should
Enforcement and Education as the fundamental areas to focus motivate themselves to behave in a better manner on the road.
on in order to ensure road safety. The campaigns such as Be the Better Guy, need to be applauded,
encouraged and expanded.
Way forward Mains question

• R
oad safety education from the primary level : Those already Q. In spite of several years of policymaking to
using our roads and driving or riding on it could have formed improve road safety, India remains among the worst-
bad habits that are difficult to change or undo. So its important performing countries in this area. Critically analyse.
that we catch them young and start educating children on road
safety and correct behaviour on the road.
TUBERCULOSIS ELIMINATION STRATEGY
TB mukt India
Prelims level : multi drug resistant TB
Mains level : TB control
Context How TB is caused?

• P
eoples participation in the TB-Mukt India campaign can help • T
uberculosis (TB) is caused by a type of bacterium called
eliminate the disease by 2025. Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It’s spread when a person with
active TB disease in their lungs coughs or sneezes and someone
What is TB? else inhales the expelled droplets, which contain TB bacteria.
• A
potentially serious infectious bacterial disease that mainly
affects the lungs. What does TB do to humans?
• I t mainly affects the lungs, but it can affect any part of the
body, including the tummy (abdomen), glands, bones and
nervous system.
Is TB curable permanently?
• T
B can usually be completely cured by the person with TB
taking a combination of TB drugs. The only time that TB may
not be curable is when the person has drug resistant TB.
What are drug-resistant tuberculosis?

• D
rug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a form of antimicrobial
resistance that is difficult and costly to treat. It is caused by
TB bacteria that are resistant to at least one of the first-line
existing TB medications, resulting in fewer treatment options
and increasing mortality rates.
Risk factors for TB include

• overty
P
• HIV infection.
• Being in jail or prison (where close contact can spread infection)
• Substance abuse.
• Taking medication that weakens the immune system.
How long has the TB infected us? • Kidney disease and diabetes.
• T
B is as old as humanity itself, infecting us for at least 5,000
TB statistic for mains
years. The infecting agent, a bacterium, was identified way
back in 1882, by Robert Koch, signalling one of the landmark
discoveries which laid the foundation of modern medicine We are home to 1 in 4 of the worlds TB patients.
Over 2.5 million Indians are infected.
Is TB painful?
• I f TB affects your joints, you may develop pain that feels like
arthritis. If TB affects your bladder, it may hurt to go to the
Reasons for failure of TB control in India:
• P overty: A majority of TB patients in India get affected due
bathroom and there may be blood in your urine. TB of the spine
to undernourishment. Poverty impacts their accessibility to
can cause back pain and leg paralysis. TB of the brain can cause
food and ability to get treated. It is still a big problem in India
headaches and nausea.
associated with problems of undernourishment and poor and
unhygienic living conditions.
Can we get TB if vaccinated? • Underreporting: One of the major factors of TB prevalence
• B
CG is a vaccine for TB. This vaccine is not widely used in the in India is under-reporting of TB cases. This leaves the risk of
United States, but it is often given to infants and small children spread of TB to other healthy individuals. Inaccurate estimates
in other countries where TB is common. The BCG vaccine is not of the tuberculosis burden in India between 2000-2015,
very good at protecting adults against TB. We can still get TB has led the World Health Organisation (WHO) to seriously
infection or TB disease even if you were vaccinated with BCG. underestimate the TB epidemic. The Global TB Report 2016,
stated that India had reported only 56% of TB burden in 2014
When do TB symptoms start? and 59% in 2015.
• Wrong Diagnosis: The doctors in India are less and untrained
quacks most of the time mis-diagnose the disease. Further,
important diagnostics infrastructure that identify individuals
at highest risk of progression to disease are not adequate.
• Treatment: Inequitable access to quality diagnosis and
treatment remains a major issue in combating tuberculosis.
Further, the private sector which contributes a major part of
TB care is fragmented, made up of diverse types of healthcare
providers, and largely unregulated.
• Drug resistance to TB: Standard TB treatment is not followed
uniformly across the private sector, resulting in the rise of
drug resistance. Patients on getting treated for symptoms do
not follow the complete treatment dosage and regimen. Due to
lack of consistent follow-up of treatment regimens, situation
often turn into Multi-drug resistance TB and Extreme-drug
resistance TB.
• T
B disease usually develops slowly, and it may take several • Outdated Drugs: The drugs used to treat TB, especially multi
weeks before you notice you’re unwell. Your symptoms drug-resistant TB are decades old. It is only recently that
might not begin until months or even years after you were Bedaquiline and Delamanid (drugs to treat MDR-TB) has been
initially infected. Sometimes the infection does not cause any made available. Further, access to such drugs remain low.
symptoms. This is known as latent TB.

• S
ocial Stigma: Patients often hesitate to seek treatment or • erala lauded for
K
deny their condition altogether for fear of social discrimination • Commitment, Implementation, and Administration.
and stigmatisation. Many other issues like human resource • Integrating RNTCP into the health system.
shortage, payment delays, procurement delays and drug stock- • The patient-centric programme, involvement of Community,
outs add to TB prevalence. the leadership of local bodies.
• Partnership with the Private sector.
Government initiatives • They can improve on CBNAAT/Genexpert machines which are
• N
ikshay Poshan Yojana : in which TB patients receive Rs 500 molecular diagnostics services.
every month while on treatment was launched. Nikshay Poshan
Yojana ensure that the patients have economic support and Some positive suggestions to eliminate TB
nutrition during the required period. • S incere efforts need to be made to make our health systems
• T
B Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign : was launched to more accessible and reliable.
accelerate the efforts to end TB by 2025. The campaign aims to • It also required to ensure that those seeking care trust the
initiate preventive and promotive health approaches. healthcare system and get the appropriate care for completing
• C
ommunity-led approach : By applying multi-sectoral and treatment.
community-led approach, the government is building a national • There is a need to create more labs, point of care tests, an
movement to end TB by 2025. assured drug pipeline, access to new drugs.
• N
i-kshay Mitra: Any individual or organisation can register as • The government should also ensure counselling and support for
Ni-kshay Mitra on the Ni-kshay 2.0 portal to support people those affected.
affected by the disease. The initiative intends to provide • Every patient who is diagnosed late and does not receive timely
essential nutritional and social support to people with TB and treatment continues to infect others.
root out stigma and discrimination against them. • To break this cycle, government machinery at the field level
• T
ruenat - a molecular TB Diagnostic Test : is made should work with communities and provide free diagnosis and
indigenously in India by Goa-based Molbio Diagnostics. ICMR treatment to every affected individual.
has assessed and validated the diagnostic tool. WHO says it
has high accuracy. Truenat can be used as an initial tool for Conclusion
diagnosing TB at primary, community health centers. • W
e have ignored TB for too long. Its time we acknowledge
• N
ew cure for TB: US Food and Drugs administration approves the magnitude of the disease, and work harder at offering
it. BPal Regime = Bedaquiline, Pretomanid and Linezolid. individuals equitable healthcare access and resources that the
ombination therapy using Malaria drug ( Chloroquine +
• C disease warrants.
Isoniazid ) quickly clears TB.
Mains question
Q. Do you think we can eliminate TB by 2025?
Kerala Case Study to tackle TB elimination: Discuss the roadmap and give some affirmative
• K erala on track to eliminate TB by 2025 actions to be taken by government.
• J oint Monitoring Mission (JMM 2019) by Center and WHO
is assessing the RNTCP (Revised National Tuberculosis
Control Programme) and India’s National Strategic Plan for TB
elimination, 2017-2025.
Public health should be led by doctor alone

Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Health care sector reforms
Context
• D
octor shortages are creating hurdles in health
emergency response
• Administration: Administration refers to administering
What is the crux of the article in simple words? health systems at different levels from a primary health
• M
edical qualification and expertise is necessary to deliver centre to the district, State, and national level. This includes
quality health services by medical professionals unlike by implementing and managing health programmes, addressing
general health care workers who lack competency. human resource issues, supply and logistical issues, etc. It
includes microplanning of programme delivery, team building,
leadership as well as financial management to some extent.
What is public health?
• Advocacy: In public health, there is little that one can do
• P
ublic health has been defined as “the science and art of
at an individual level; there must be communication with
preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health
key stakeholders to change the status quo at different
through the organized efforts and informed choices of
levels of government. This requires clear enunciation of the
society, organizations, public and private, communities and
need, analysis of alternative set of actions and the cost of
individuals”.
implementation or non-implementation. Good communication
and negotiation skills are critical to perform this function. The
Why there is need of qualification? related subjects are health policy, health economics, health
• L
ack of training : Health workers have no training in public advocacy and global health.
health; they are grassroots-level service providers. Asking them
to be part of public health cadre trivialises the profession of
public health.
• S
eparate profession : It is important to understand that
public health is a separate profession with a specific set of
competencies.
What are 4 pillars of public health?

• A
cademics: Academics refers to a good understanding of
evidence generation and synthesis by having a good grounding
in epidemiology and biostatistics. These competencies are also
critical for monitoring and evaluating programmes, conducting
surveillance, and interpreting data and routine reporting.
• A
ctivism : Public health is inherently linked to social change
and an element of activism is core to public health. Public
health requires social mobilisation at the grassroots level by
understanding community needs, community organisation, etc.
This requires grounding in social and behavioural sciences.

What are the hurdles in absorbing others as public • L ack of skills: Though the institutes are managing to hire
health professionals? professors and lecturers, there is a lack of technical skills.
• L
ack of skill : Many doctors and other health professionals Finding faculties in clinical and non-clinical disciplines is
work at the grassroots level and develop a good sense of public difficult and there are very few faculty development programs
health due to their inclination. But they do not become public for upskilling the existing lot.
health professionals as they may not have the necessary skills. • Lack of infrastructure : The gap in digital learning
Nevertheless, they are valuable. infrastructure is currently the biggest challenge the sector is
• L
ack of critical expertise : Clinicians with training in facing. There is an urgent need to adopt technology and have
epidemiology and biostatistics would not qualify to be public resources available to facilitate e-learning.
health professionals as they lack not only other essential and • Lack of research and innovation: The medical research and
critical expertise but also an appropriate perspective. innovation needs an added push as there havent been many
• C
ompromise on quality : ground-breaking research here. The education system needs to
focus more on increasing the quality of research. Additionally
since industry academia partnership is not available, hence
Current challenges faced by public healthcare in India innovation also takes a back-seat.
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/healthcare-in-
india-is-ailing-here-is-how-to-fix-it/ Conclusion
• D
eficiency: The doctor-patient ratio of 1:1655 in India as • B
y establishing new medical colleges, the government can
against WHO norm of 1:1000 clearly shows the deficit of increase student intake as well as enhance equitable access to
MBBS. While the government is working towards a solution public health as separate profession. This will attract the best
and targeting to reach the required ratio, there is a need to and the brightest people into this discipline, which is very
relook at the overall medical education. important for the nations health. This is one lesson that we
• P
ost pandemic scenario: The lag in formal medical education should learn from the pandemic.
has come up evidently post-pandemic when the nation saw the
medical fraternity struggling to fill the doctor deficit. Mains question
• L
imited government seats: The number of seats available Q. What do you understand by public health? Do
you think it is a separate profession requiring
for medical education in India is far less than the number of
a specific set of competencies? Examine.
aspirants who leave school with the dream of becoming doctors.
LGBT RIGHTS - TRANSGENDER BILL, SEC. 377, ETC.

growth of human rights
Governance | GS2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters,Health & Education
Prelims level : various judgments
Mains level : human rights
Context What is LGBTQ? https://www.civilsdaily.com/

• F
our years after landmark LGBTQ verdict: The march to full story/lgbt-rights/
citizenship. • L
GBTQ is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well
Why in news? as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term
• O
n September 6, 2018, exactly four years ago, inNavtej Singh for sexuality and gender identity.
Johar and Ors v Union of India, a five-judge constitution bench
of the Supreme Court, in a beautifully elaborate decision, What is Section 377 of the IPC?
liberated LGBTQI Indians from thedarkness of Section 377 of • I t reads Unnatural offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal
the Indian Penal Code, 1860. intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman
or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may
extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
• Th
e terms carnal intercourse and against the order of nature are • Th
e law should impose obligations of equality and non-
not defined precisely anywhere in the code. discrimination on all persons, public and private, and in the
areas of education, employment, healthcare, land and housing
and access to public places.
• It should provide for civil remedies to stop discriminatory
behaviour, costs and damages, and positive action to make
reparations.
• We need an equality law to define what equality would
encompass.
• Supreme Court comes held in its privacy judgment in K.S.
Puttuswamy v. Union of India (2017) that equality and liberty
cannot be separated, and equality encompasses the inclusion of
dignity and basic freedoms.
Way forward
• S chools and colleges must effect changes in curricula for a
Role played by the judiciary hitherto
better understanding of the community.
• Th
e Delhi High Courts verdict in Naz Foundation vs
• People of a different sexual orientation or gender identity often
Government of NCT of Delhi (2009) was a landmark in the law
narrate harrowing tales of bullying, discrimination, stigma and
of sexuality and equality jurisprudence in India.
ostracization.
• Th
e court held that Section 377 offended the guarantee of
• Gender-neutral restrooms should be compulsory in educational
equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution, because it
institutes and other places.
creates an unreasonable classification and targets homosexuals
• Parents too need to be sensitised, because the first point
as a class.
of misunderstanding and abuse often begins at home, with
• I n a retrograde step, the Supreme Court, in Suresh Kumar
teenagers being forced to opt for conversion therapies.
Koushal vs Naz Foundation (2013), reinstated Section 377
to the IPC.
• H owever, the Supreme Court in Navtej Singh Johar & Ors. Conclusion
vs Union of India (2018) declared that the application of • J ustice Chandrachud, speaking on the fourth anniversary of
Section 377 IPC to consensual homosexual behaviour was Johar and the journey ahead, while quoting the Beatles classic
unconstitutional. All you need is love, notes that simply love is not enough.
• Th
is Supreme Court judgment has been a great victory to the Rights are necessary. Which will enhance dignity of the
Indian individual in his quest for identity and dignity. community.
• I t also underscored the doctrine of progressive realisation
Mains question
of rights.
Q. Silent segregation on the grounds of gender,
sexual orientation preferences are followed in several
Whats next? houses. Elucidate in context of LGBTQ issues. What
• O
verarching legislation is needed to guarantee equality to all Legal remedies are needed for its victims?
persons on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and
expression, sex, caste, religion, age, disability, marital status,
pregnancy, nationality, and other grounds.

Fighting anaemia
Prelims level : iron fortification
Mains level : women health
Context Why is anaemia so high in the country?

• Th
e recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data shows • L ow vitamin intake : Iron-deficiency and vitamin
anaemia rates increased from 53 per cent to 57 per cent in B12-deficiency anaemia are the two common types of
women and 58 per cent to 67 per cent in children in 2019-21. anaemia in India.
• High population and nutrition deprivation : Among women,
Definition of anaemia iron deficiency prevalence is higher than men due to menstrual
• Th
e WHO defines anaemia as a condition where the number of iron losses and the high iron demands of a growing foetus
red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them during pregnancies.
is lower than normal. This compromises immunity and impedes • Overemphasis on cereals : Lack of millets in the diet due to
cognitive development. overdependence on rice and wheat, insufficient consumption of
green and leafy vegetables could be the reasons behind the high
Why anaemia is a concern? prevalence of anaemia in India.
• A
dverse effects of anaemia affect all age groups lower physical
and cognitive growth and alertness among children and What is Iron fortification?
adolescents, and lesser capacity to learn and play, directly • I ron fortification of food is a methodology utilized worldwide
impacting their future potential as productive citizens. to address iron deficiency. Iron fortification programs usually
• A
naemia among adolescent girls (59.1 per cent)advances to involve mandatory, centralized mass fortification of staple
maternal anaemiaand is a major cause of maternal and infant foods, such as wheat flour.
mortality and general morbidity and ill health in a community.
Why need iron fortification?
What causes anaemia? • I ron deficiency anaemia is due to insufficient iron.
• I mbalanced diet : Cereal-centric diets, with relatively less • Without enough iron, the body cant produce enough of a
consumption of iron-rich food groups like meat, fish, eggs, and substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen
dark green leafy vegetables (DGLF), can be associated with (haemoglobin).
higher levels of anaemia. • Severe anaemia during pregnancy increases risk of premature
• U nderlying factors : High levels of anaemia are also often birth, having a low birth weight baby and postpartum
associated with underlying factors like poor water quality and depression. Some studies also show an increased risk of infant
sanitation conditions that can adversely impact iron absorption death immediately before or after birth.
in the body.
• I ron deficiency is major cause : A diet that does not contain Success story / value addition
enough iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12 is a common cause • N
epals success story to improve maternal anaemia by national
of anaemia. action plan.
• S ome other conditions : That may lead to anaemia include
pregnancy, heavy periods, blood disorders or cancer, inherited
disorders, and infectious diseases.
Anaemia Mukt Bharat https://www.civilsdaily.com/
news/mandatory-rice-fortification-policy-should-
be-re-examined/
• The scheme aims to reduce the prevalence of anaemia in India.
• I ntensified year-round Behaviour Change Communication
Campaign (Solid Body, Smart Mind).
• Appropriate infant and young child feeding practices.
• Increase in intake of iron-rich food through diet diversity/
quantity/frequency and/or fortified foods with focus on
harnessing locally available resources.
• Testing and treatment of anaemia, using digital methods and
point of care treatment, with special focus on pregnant women
and school-going adolescents
• Mandatory provision of Iron and Folic Acid fortified foods in
government-funded public health programmes
Way forward
• I ndia’s nutrition programmes must undergo a periodic review.
• The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which
is perceived as the guardian of the nations nutritional well-
being must reassess itself and address critical intervention
gaps, both conceptually and programmatically, and produce
rapid outcomes.
• The nutritional deficit which ought to be considered an
indicator of great concern is generally ignored by policymakers
and experts. Unless this is addressed, rapid improvement in
nutritional indicators cannot happen.
Conclusion
• W
hen a person is anaemic, the capacity of his blood cells to
carry oxygen decreases. This reduces the productivity of the
person which in turn affects the economy of the country.
Therefore, it is highly important to cover Anaemia under
National Health Mission.
• I t provides bi weekly iron Folic acid supplementation to all Mains question

under five children through Asha workers. Q.Every second adolescent girl has anaemia. Every second
• A lso, it provides biannual Deworming for children and woman of reproductive age is anaemic. In this context do
you think
adolescents. The scheme also establishes institutional
Womens empowerment will not have any meaning
mechanisms for advanced research in anaemia. without tackling anaemia? Discuss.
• I t also focuses on non-nutritional causes of anaemia.
We need to focus on the following interventions

• P
rophylactic Iron and Folic Acid supplementation.
GLOBAL DIGITAL GOVERNANCE
Global digital governance

Governance | GS2: E-Governance
Context What is digital governance ?

• I n an interview earlier this month, Telecom Minister Ashwini • E
lectronic governance or e-governance can be defined as the
Vaishnaw spoke about a comprehensive policy roadmap for usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by
India’s digital economy and digital governance. the government to provide and facilitate government services,
exchange of information, communication transactions and
integration of various standalone systems and services.

What is global digital governance? • Digital sovereignty: The internet is splintering and digital
• G
lobal digital governance encompasses the norms, institutions, sovereignty is now commonplace; yet, there is no better time
and standards that shape the regulation around the for countries to come together and build a framework for global
development and use of these technologies. Digital governance digital governance.
has long-term commercial and political implications. • Most countries are currently struggling to strike a
balance between reining in Big Tech versus boosting their
digital economy.
Why is it important?
• Unburdening the companies :Companies are burdened with
• Th
e main objective of e-governance is to provide a friendly,
the particular regulatory requirements of the different
affordable, and efficient interface between a government and its
countries they operate in.
people. It is about ensuring greater transparency, accountability
• Minimize uncertainty: It allows organizations to minimize
and objectivity, resulting in cost-effective and high-quality
uncertainty in development by clearly establishing
public service.
accountability and decision-making authority for all
digital matters.
What are the three domains ofe- • Having a well-designed digital governance framework
governancehttps://www.civilsdaily.com/ minimizes effort and cost and ensures digital business
interactions-between-main-groups-in-e- maturity.
• To enhance security and resilience by protecting against
governance-action-plan-for-india/?
cyberattacks and to avoid dependence on third parties for
• E
-administration : improving government processes
critical resources.
• E
-services : connecting individual citizens with their
government
• E
-society : building interactions with and within civil society. Is there a historical parallel to governing key
economic sectors globally?
• D igital economy is not unprecedented: Sectors critical to
the global economy are subject to international cooperation
frameworks and pacts. Therefore, the idea of setting up a single
multilateral organization with a mandate to govern the digital
economy is not unprecedented.
• The International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN):
Global aviation has been regulated since 1903 when the
International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN) first
met, subsequently replaced by the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) in 1947.
• Bank for International Settlements (BIS): Similarly, the
modern international banking system is governed by the Bank
for International Settlements (BIS), an institution initially
set up in the interwar period in 1930 to oversee Germanys
reparations to the Allies under the Treaty of Versailles. The BIS
acquired a more global mandate beginning in the 1950s and is
now partially responsible for global financial stability.
What are the big 5 tech companies called? Who are the key players in the global contest for
• Th
e Big Five tech giantsApple, Amazon, Google (Alphabet), digital governance?
Meta, and Microsoft. • C hina seeks to champion the concept of cyber sovereignty:
An authoritarian vision drives the first model. Most notably,
Why there is a need for a framework for global China is emerging as the standard-bearer for this model with
digital governance? its desire to reinvent the internet. China seeks to champion
• M inimum rights and protections for platform workers : the concept of cyber sovereignty, allowing countries to control
Under the G20, the International Labour Organisation has access to the internet, censor content, and institute data
already placed a proposal in the employment working group for localization requirements, as a pretext to protecting individual
digital labor platforms to develop an international governance national interests.
system determining minimum rights and protections for • European Unions General Data Protection Regulation
platform workers. (GDPR): Which provides a more democratic concept for
• I mplementation of central bank digital currency projects: digital governance. This model primarily seeks to protect
Similarly, on digital money, a reincarnated Bretton Woods is the privacy and rights of internet users and online content
being advocated to address the distrust in private currencies consumers. Adopted with the overwhelming support of the
and to coordinate the implementation of central bank digital European Parliament in 2014, the GDPR came into effect in
currency projects. May 2018, giving firms that rely on digital technologies the
• D igital taxation: Finally, in the deeply contested area of digital opportunity to modify their data usage and privacy policies.
taxation, the OECD facilitated Base Erosion and Profit Shifting The adoption of the GDPR has been a turning point for global
(BEPS) negotiations and helped arrive at a global solution. internet governance as consumers gained unprecedented
control over their data in a manner that preserved freedom and
openness online.
• A ddress issues of regulating Big Tech corporate behavior
primarily through US-European cooperation, as both are major
markets and US has headquarters of almost all the relevant
companies.
• The uncertainty and risks from military applications of AI
and other new technologies can be solved through primarily
bilateral and minilateral discussions.
• Build consensus on how to regulate technology (e.g. digital
taxation), share its benefits, and address security risks (e.g.
bans or agreements on specific uses of technology like chemical
weapons ban).
• Recruit, develop, and train cohorts of policy professionals
at the national and international levels for policy formulation
with an up-to-date understanding of key technologies and
business models.
Conclusion
Way forward • Th
e rapid digitalisation of the world along with a new focus
ngage with existing multilateral institutions to incorporate
• E on trust in the global supply chains for digital products and
and address the new issues raised by technology. E.g. a services presents tremendous opportunities for India and its
greater focus on digital trade liberalization at the World Trade youth. It is now up to all of us to engage in a collective sabka
Organisation; extension of Interpol to tackle cybercrime etc. prayas to realise New India’s economic potential.
• M
ore rapid progress on issues such as trade, technology, and
Mains question
data flows can be achieved by working in parallel with smaller Q. The rapid digitalisation of the world along
groups of like-minded countries, such as G7, US-EU, G7 + 4, with a new focus on trust in the global supply
OECD, Quad, etc. chains for digital products and services presents
tremendous opportunities for India. Comment.
MINORITY ISSUES - SC, ST, DALITS, OBC, RESERVATIONS, ETC.
Census in India
Governance | GS1: Population & Associated Issues
Prelims level : particulars of census data
Mains level : Population issues
Context History of Census

• A
s there is no official reassurance that India will not skip its
decadal Census, we can declare that we have a case of the Ancient and Medieval Period:
missing census. • R igveda: The earliest literature ‘Rig-Veda’ reveals that some
• Th
e census is a very important source of statistics on various kind of population count was maintained during 800-600
indicators. BC in India.
• Th
e ability to hold a census peacefully, and not coercively, has • Arthashastra: ‘Arthashastra’ by ‘Kautilya’ written in the
been the hallmark of a civilized state and state of affairs. 3rdCentury BC prescribed the collection of population
statistics as a measure of state policy for taxation.
What is a census? • Ain-i-Akbari: During the regime of the Mughal king Akbar,
• C ensus is nothing but a process of collecting, compiling, the administrative report ’Ain-e-Akbari’ also included
analyzing, evaluating, publishing and disseminating statistical comprehensive data pertaining to population, industry,
data regarding the population. wealth and many other characteristics.
• I t covers demographic, social and economic data and is
provided as of a particular date. Pre-independence Period:
• Initial Attempts:

• Th
e history of the census began with 1800 when England had Urbanisation, Fertility and Mortality, Scheduled Castes and
begun its Census. Scheduled Tribes, Language, Religion, Migration, Disability and
• I n its continuation, a census was conducted in Allahabad many other socio-cultural and demographic data.
(1824) and in Banaras (1827-28) by James Prinsep. • The delimitation/reservation of Constituencies :
• Th
e first complete census of an Indian city was conducted in Parliamentary/Assembly/Panchayats and other Local Bodiesare
1830 by Henry Walter in Dacca (now Dhaka). also done on the basis of the demographic data thrown up by
e Second Census was conducted in 1836-37 by Fort
• Th the Census.
St. George. • Administration: Census is the basis for reviewing the countrys
• I n 1849, the Government of India ordered the local progress in the past decade, monitoring the ongoing Schemes
governments to conduct quinquennial (five-yearly) returns of of the Government.
population. • Planning the future: It provides pathways for planning and
• F irst Non-synchronous Census: It was conducted in India in resolving problems, and fixing deficiencies. Government goes
1872 during the reign of Governor-General Lord Mayo. through analysis over the census data and formulates policies
• F irst Synchronous Census: The first synchronous census for the future accordingly.
was taken under British rule on February 17, 1881, by W.C. • Detailed accounts: The best of sample surveys find it
Plowden (Census Commissioner of India). impossible to beat a census as It carries the promise of counting
• S ince then, censuses have been undertaken uninterruptedly each and every Indian. A census is when the state connects
once every ten years. to every individual and it will find it hard to hide or duck
from the data.
Nodal Ministry: • Welfare schemes : Identifying the actual beneficiaries, Census
The decennial Census is conducted by theOffice of the Registrar is the key to creating identity and affirming it over time.Census
General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs. data enable neat, inter-temporal comparability.
ntil 1951, the Census Organisation was set up on an ad-hoc
• U
basis for each Census. Why census 2021 has been postponed indefinitely?
• Th
e Ministry of Home Affairs told the Lok Sabha in August,
Legal/Constitutional Backing: 2021 that the massive, decennial exercise came to a grinding
• C ensus is conducted under the provisions of the Census halt due to the advent of Coid-19 pandemic.
Act, 1948.
e bill for this Act was piloted by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,
• Th What was the original timeline of the Census and
the then Home Minister of India. how is it being delayed?
e population census is a Union subject under Article 246 of
• Th • G azette notification: The Centres intent to conduct Census
India Constitution. 2021 was notified in the Gazette of India on March 28, 2019.
• I tis listed at serial number 69 of the seventh schedule of the The exercise was to have been conducted in two phases,
constitution. with the housing Census from April to September 2020 and
population enumeration from February 9, 2021.but it did not
What is the purpose of the census? take place due to the spread of COVID-19.
• T o collect the information for planning and formulation policies • Alternative timeline post-covid-19: In March 2021, the Home
for Central and the State Governments. Ministry gave a Parliamentary panel a tentative alternative
• Th
e censustells us who we are and where we are going timeline. The fieldwork for the first phase, which would provide
as a nation. data on housing conditions, household amenities and assets
• I t helps the government decide how to distribute funds and possessed by households, is expected during 2021-22, while
assistance to states and localities. the fieldwork to count the population and provide data on
• Th
e census data is widely used by National and International demography, religion, Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/ST),
Agencies, scholars, business people, industrialists, and language, literacy and education, economic activity, migration
many more. and fertility would be done in 2023-24, it said.
• Said Provisional data: The Ministry added that provisional
data would be released in 2023-24 before the next general
elections. Usually, more detailed tables providing village-level
data on specific indicators will continue to be released for
several years after the key information.
Why is the census important?

• P
rovides most credible source of information : information
on Demography (Population characteristics), Economic Activity,
Literacy and Education, Housing & Household Amenities,
• India’s total population stands at 1.21 billion, which is 17.7
per cent more than the last decade, and growth of females was
higher than that of males.
• The growth rate of females was 18.3 per cent which is higher
than males 17.1 per cent.
• Among the major states, the highest decadal growth in
population has been recorded in Bihar (25.4 per cent) while 14
states and Union Territories have recorded population growth
above 20 per cent.
• Rural and urban population:
• Urban proportion has gone up from 17.3 percent in 1951 to
31.2 per cent in 2011.
• Highest proportion of urban population is in NCT Delhi (97.5
Impact of delay in census 2021 per cent).
• Top five states in share of urban population are Goa (62.2 per
1. Public distribution system: cent), Mizoram (52.1 per cent), Tamil Nadu (48.4 per cent),
• Th
e National Food Security Act, 2013, says that 75% of the Kerala (47.7 per cent) and Maharashtra (45.2 per cent).
rural population and 50% of the rural population are entitled to • Literacy :
receive subsidized food grains from the government under the • Literacy rate in India in 2011 has increased by 8 per cent to 73
targeted public distribution system (PDS). per cent in comparison to 64.8 per cent in 2001.
• U nder the 2011 Census, India’s population was about 121 crore, • Male literacy rate stands at 80.9 per cent, which is 5.6 per cent
hence PDS covered approximately 80 crore people. more than the previous census whereas the female literacy rate
• I f we apply a projected population of 137crore, the current stands at 64.6 per cent, increase of 10.9 per cent than 2001.
delay in Census data would continue to deprive more than 10 • The highest increase took place in Dadra and Nagar Haveli by
crore people of subsidized food entitlements, with the biggest 18.6 points (from 57.6 per cent to 76.2 per cent), while in Bihar
gaps in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with 2.8 crores and 1.8 crores by 14.8 points (from 47.0 per cent to 61.8 per cent), Tripura by
projected exclusions respectively. 14.0 points (from 73.2 per cent to 87.2 per cent)
• Density :
• The density of population in the country has also increased
2. Welfare schemes: from 325 in 2001 to 382 in 2011 in per sq km.
• A
lthough the Governments intent to use SECC data but failed • Among the major states, Bihar occupies the first position with
at budgetary allocation for the projected expansion. a density of 1106, surpassing West Bengal which occupied the
• C
ensus data may not be used to calculate the beneficiaries of first position during 2001.
most schemes, but it is critical to policy planning, budgeting, • Delhi (11,320) turns out to be the most densely inhabited
and administration. followed by Chandigarh (9,258), among all states and UTs, both
• A
number of schemes need to use the disaggregated age and in 2001 and 2011 Census.
fertility indicators to assess effectiveness as demographics • The minimum population density works out in Arunachal
change over time. Pradesh (17) for both 2001 and 2011 Census.
• Sex ratio :
3. Huge lag in Migration data: • The sex ratio of population in the country in 2011 stands at
• F
rom the COVID19 lockdowns, it is realized that the Numbers, 940 female against 1000 males, which is 10 per cent more than
causes, and patterns of migration, which could not be answered the last census when the number female per thousand male
using outdated 2011 Census data. stood at 933.
• Th
e D-tables on migration from the 2011 Census was only • The number of females per 1000 males in Haryana in 2011
released in 2019, so its outdated by the time they came out. stands at 879 followed by Jammu and Kashmir (889 female)
• A
part from the One Nation, One Ration card scheme which and Punjab (895 females).
now allows for portability of food subsidy entitlements, • The other two worst-performing states in terms of skewed sex
the migration data is actually not used too much in broader ration are Uttar Pradesh (912 females) and Bihar (918 females).
economic policy and planning. • Five top performing states in terms of sex ratio were Kerala
(1,084 females), Tamil Nadu (996), Andhra Pradesh (993),
Why there is a demand for caste census in India? Chhattisgarh (991),Odisha (979).
• I ndia’s population has since increased three-fold to 1.21 • Child population :
billion in 2011. • Child population in the age of 0 to 6 years has seen an increase
• E xperts believe the economic status of the dominant OBC of 0.4 per cent.
castes have improved in the past 80 years and certain castes • There has been a decline of 8 per cent in the sex ratio of 0-6 age
have not benefited as much. group. In 2011, the child sex ratio (0-6) stands at 919 female
• S o, the new caste census is requiredto measure the economic against 1000 male in comparison to 927 females in 2001.
and social well-being of all castes. • Male child (0-6) population has increased whereas female child
population has decreased during 2001-11.
• The worst performing states in regard to sex ration in the age
Other related information Key findings of group of 0 to 6 years are Haryana (834 females), Punjab (846),
2011 census Jammu and Kashmir (862), Rajasthan (888) and Gujarat (890).
• P opulation : • The best performing states are Chhattisgarh (969), Kerala
• I ndia’s population grew by 17.7 per cent during 2001-11, (964), Assam (962), West Bengal (956) Jharkhand (948) and
against 21.5 per cent in the previous decade. Karnataka (948).

• S
C/ST data : • Median marriage age :
• A
ccording to the Census, Scheduled Castes are notified in 31 • The median age increased for men from 22.6 (2001) to 23.5
states and UTs and Scheduled Tribes in 30 states. There are (2011) and for women from 18.2 (2001) to 19.2 (2011).
altogether 1,241 individual ethnic groups notified as SCs.The
number of individual ethnic groups, notified as STs is 705. Conclusion
• Th
ere have been some changes in the list of SCs/STs in states • Th
e census is vital and precious as it is a repository of complete
and UTs during the last decade. data about the country which is gathered openly, voluntarily,
• Th
e SC population in India now stands at 201.4 million, which and with the use of public money, making it a social good.
is 20 per cent more than the last census. The ST population • The new Census is likely to capture the extent of the observed
stands at 104.3 million in 2011 23.7 per cent more than 2001. movement in migration trends towards smaller two-tier towns
• R
eligious demographics : apart from the large metropolitan centre.
• Th
e religious data on India Census 2011 was released by the • It could help answer questions of what kind of healthcare and
Government of India on 25 August 2015. social services are most needed and where.
• H
indus are 79.8% (966.3 million), while Muslims are 14.23% • The Census is about many things. But, fundamentally, it is a
(172.2 million) in India. way in which the state, by knocking at all doors, displays its
• F
or the first time, a No religion category was added in the desire to connect with the people who ultimately comprise
2011 census.2.87 million Were classified as people belonging the nation.
to No Religion in India in the 2011 census. 0.24% of India’s
population of 1.21 billion.
ISSUES RELATED TO CBI
Issues related to CBI

Governance | GS2: Civil Service,Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters
Prelims level : CBI and ED
Mains level : governance and transparency
• It then aimed to investigate bribery and corruption in

transactions with theWar and Supply Department of India.
• It then had its headquarters in Lahore.
• After the end of the war, there was a continued need for
a central governmental agency to investigate bribery and
corruption by central-government employees.
• The DSPE acquired its popular current name, Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI), through a Home Ministry resolution
dated in 1963.
Mandate of the CBI

e CBI is the main investigating agency of the GoI.
• Th
• It is not a statutory body ; it derives its powers from the Delhi
Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
• Its important role is to prevent corruption and maintain
Context
integrity in administration.
• D
espite several observations made by the Supreme Court of
• It works under the supervision of the CVC (Central Vigilance
India (SC) against the inefficient functioning of the CBI nothing
Commission) in matters pertaining to the Prevention of
has happened to improve the situation.
Corruption Act, 1988.
• The CBI is also India’s official representative with
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the INTERPOL.
e Bureau of Investigation traces its origins to the Delhi
• Th
Special Police Establishment, a Central Government Police
force, which was set up in 1941 by the Government of India.
• Loss of Credibility: CBI has been criticised for its
mismanagement of several cases involving prominent
politicians and mishandling of several sensitive cases like
Bofors scandal, Bhopal gas tragedy.
• Lack of Accountability: CBI is exempted from the provisions
of the Right to Information Act, thus, lacking public
accountability.
• Acute shortage of personnel: A major cause of the shortfall is
the governments sheer mismanagement of CBIs workforce.
• Limited Powers: The powers and jurisdiction of members of
the CBI for investigation are subject to the consent of the State
Govt., thus limiting the extent of investigation by CBI.
• Restricted Access: Prior approval of Central Government
to conduct inquiry or investigation on the employees of the
Central Government is a big obstacle in combating corruption
at higher levels of bureaucracy.
Why was it called caged carrot by the

Cases to investigate
• C ases connected to infringement of economic and fiscal laws Supreme Court?
• C rimes of a serious nature that have national and • P oliticisation of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has
international ramifications been a work in progress for years.
• C oordination with the activities of the various state police • Corruption and Politically biased nature, This was highlighted
forces and anti-corruption agencies. in Supreme Court criticism for being a caged parrot speaking in
• I t can also take up any case of public importance and its masters voice.
investigate it • CBI has been accused of becoming handmaiden to the party in
• M aintaining crime statistics and disseminating criminal power; as a result high profile cases are not treated seriously.
information. • Since CBI is run by central police officials on deputation hence
chances of getting influenced by government was visible in the
hope of better future postings.
Notable cases cracked by CBI
• B
hanwri Devi missing case: Jat leader and former Rajasthan
minister Mahipal Maderna, Congress MLA Malkhan Singh and Suggestions for the improvement of the
Bhanwaris husband Amarchand were all part of the conspiracy functioning of the CBI under the supervision
to abduct and eliminate Bhanwari. Bhanwari had threatened of the CVC
to exposeMalkhansrelationship with her at the Bishnoi • O ne, the CVC Act should be amended, providing for a five/
mahapanchayat. Maderna, Malkhan, the three kidnappers and seven member Central Vigilance Commission, which could
Sahiram along with Amarchand were arrested by the CBI. broadly assume the role visualised for the Lokpal. The
• N
oida double murder case: In May 2008, the nation was selection process of the CVC members should be more broad
shocked with the sensational double murders in Noida. The based to prevent favouritism or from controversial persons
victims were Arushi Talwar and Hemraj Banjade. Initially, being appointed.
there was no clarity about the motive or the perpetrator of this • Two, the CVC should constitute an advisory committee of at
ghastly crime. After a lengthy investigation which spanned least 11 members drawn from criminologists and forensic
close to 6 years, the CBI based on circumstantial evidence science experts. This will augment the professional input in
established that the parents of Aarushi Talwar, Rajesh Talwar its functioning. Further, to reduce the burden on the CVC, it
and Nupur Talwar were the perpetrators of this crime. should be given the power to go to any expert or professional to
• Th
e Satyam Case: B Ramalinga Raju, the disgraced chairman of assist it in screening complaints.
Satyam Computers Services Ltd, along with 13 individuals and • Three, the jurisdiction of CVC, which presently covers
entities including Chintalapati Srinivasa Raju of iLabs, made all employees of the central government and the CPSUs,
Rs 2,000 crore in illegal wealth in the Satyam scam. The CBI should remain unchanged. There is already an administrative
constituted a Multi-Disciplinary Investigation Team (MDIT) to arrangement to delegate the vigilance administration over
investigate the case. The team worked hard, burnt midnight oil class II and lower formations to the ministries/departments
and achieved success in a record time of45 dayswhen it filed its concerned. However, if the lower formations are involved with
first chargesheet against the accused for offences of criminal the class I officers in a composite case, the CVC exercises a
conspiracy, cheating, forgery and falsification of accounts. natural jurisdiction over all of them. To make this arrangement
more effective, it would be important that the CVC exercises
Issues with CBI complete control over the selection, appointment and
• C aged parrot: The Supreme Court has criticized the CBI by functioning of the CVOs.
calling it a caged parrot speaking in its masters voice. • Four, the CVC should have an adequately experienced team
• P olitical interference: It has often been used by the to technically examine and assess the gravity of a complaint,
government of the day to cover up wrongdoing, keep coalition which can then be assigned to the CBI for investigation or
allies in line and political opponents at bay. can be investigated by this team. After assessing a complaint
• I nvestigation delay: It has been accused of enormous delays in by this broad-based CVC, there should be no need to seek prior
concluding investigations due to political inertia. permission from the government.

• F ive, in the cases assigned to it by the CVC, the CBI should • Selection of director/ Officers: To ensure that the CBI is a
be made functionally and financially independent of the robust, independent and credible investigation agency, there
controls of any government ministry/department. The is an urgent need to work out a much more transparent
professional supervision over the investigations of the CBI mechanism for the selection and induction of officers on
should rest only with the CVC. deputation.
• S ix, the manner of the appointment of the CBI Director should • Lokpal scrutiny: The Lokpal Act already calls for a three-
be broad based as in the case of the CVC members, whereas the member committee made up of the PM, the leader of the
other inductions/appointments in the CBI should be brought opposition and the CJI to select the director.
under the overarching supervision of the CVC. • Bifurcation of Cadre: CBI should be bifurcated into anAnti-
• S even, to achieve better synergy between anti-corruption laws Corruption Body and a National Crime Bureau.
and grievance handling, the laws relating to the whistle blowers • Develop own cadre : One of the demands that have been before
and grievance redressal should be placed within the jurisdiction Supreme Court, and in line with international best practices, is
of the CVC. for the CBI to develop its own dedicated cadre of officers.
• E ight, effective administration of anti-corruption laws at the • Annual social audit should be carried out by ten reputed,
grass roots is the key to responsible governance. The state and knowledgeable persons with backgrounds in law, justice, public
their anti-corruption agencies would, therefore, need to be affairs, and administration and the audit report should be
equally insulated from the state governments interference on placed before the parliament.
similar lines.
Reforming CBI
• N
eed for autonomy: As long as the government of the day has
the power to transfer and post officials of its choice in the CBI,
the investigating agency will not enjoy autonomy and will be
unable to investigate cases freely.
Rising number of Rabies case

Prelims level : particulars of virus
Mains level : Human health
What is rabies?
• Th
e rabies virus attacks the central nervous system of the host,
and in humans, it can cause a range of debilitating symptoms
including states of anxiety and confusion, partial paralysis,
agitation, hallucinations, and, in its final phases, a symptom
called hydrophobia, or a fear of water.
What are rabies caused by?

• R
abies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted
through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus infects the
central nervous system of mammals, ultimately causing disease
in the brain and death.
Context Can rabies person survive?

• Th
e death of a 12-year-old girl in Pathanamthitta has sharpened • O
nce clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always
the focus on the rising number of rabies cases and the growing fatal, and treatment is typically supportive. Less than 20 cases
population of stray dogs in Kerala of human survival from clinical rabies have been documented.
How long can a human live with rabies? How can we prevent rabies in animals?
• D
eath usually occurs 2 to 10 days after first symptoms. Survival • F irst, visit your veterinarian with your pet on a regular
is almost unknown once symptoms have presented, even with basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats,
intensive care. ferrets, and dogs.
• Second, maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and
Facts on rabies ferrets indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision.
• W
hat animal has the most rabies? • Third, spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of
• B
ats unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated
• W
ild animals accounted for 92.7% of reported cases of regularly.
rabies in 2018. Bats were the most frequently reported • Finally, call animal control to remove all stray animals
rabid wildlife species (33% of all animal cases during from your neighbourhood since these animals may be
2018), followed by raccoons (30.3%), skunks (20.3%), and unvaccinated or ill.
foxes (7.2%).
How can we prevent rabies in humans?
What is the issue? • L eave all wildlife alone.
• Th
ere is a blame game over the rising rabies cases: With the • Know the risk: contact with infected bats is the leading cause
rabies deaths causing panic and reports of residents killing of rabies deaths in people followed by exposure to rabid dogs
stray dogs through poisoning and strangulation, there is a while traveling internationally.
blame game over the rising canine population and rabies cases. • Wash animal bites or scratches immediately with soap
Some legal experts blame it on conflicts in the Prevention of and water.
Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Animal Birth Control • If you are bitten, scratched, or unsure, talk to a healthcare
(Dogs) Rules, 2001; others point to the flawed implementation provider about whether you need postexposure prophylaxis.
of birth control measures. Rabies in people is 100% preventable through prompt
• L
egal battle over the issue in the Supreme Court: Canine appropriate medical care.
culling campaigners and advocates of animal rights are also • Vaccinate your pets to protect them and your family.
engaged in a protracted legal battle over the issue in the
Supreme Court. V.K. Biju, a lawyer of the Supreme Court, who Initiatives by Government to curb Neglected
brought the issue of the stray dog menace before the apex Tropical Diseases
court, contends that the root cause is the enactment of the
Rules, which according to him, were passed in contravention of
the parent Act, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
National Rabies Control Programme
This programme is being restructured as Integrated National
• E
xistence of stray dogs has adversely affected the
Rabies Control Programme under One Health Approach, with
fundamental rights of citizens : Biju says that while the Act
a aim to provide vaccination to stray dogs and free vaccines
stands for the destruction of stray dogs, the rules are against
through Government hospitals.
the destruction of stray dogs, including the rabies affected
ones, besides providing specific protection of stray dogs. In
his submission before the Supreme Court, he argues that the Way forward
existence of stray dogs has adversely affected the fundamental • Th
ink globally, act locally. Study and adopt global best-practices
rights of citizens, i.e. the right to life and free movement. after customising them to local needs.
• Th
e quashing of the Rules to make India free of stray dogs • Apply integrated approach. Follow a holistic strategy.
: In his writ petition filed before the apex court, Biju has • Ensure efficient and effective collaboration across various
sought orders for the strict implementation of the Act and the government departments.
quashing of the Rules to make India free of stray dogs. • Partner with Civil Society Organisations (especially with
• A
nimal rights campaigners are apprehensive : In the light WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector) for ground-level
of this, animal rights campaigners are apprehensive over the implementation and monitoring.
campaign to cull dogs to check rabies.
Mains question
Q. What is rabies? What ethical challenges
are involved in culling of stray dogs? Explain
the control measures for the same.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION - RTE, EDUCATION POLICY, SEQI, RMSA, COMMITTEE REPORTS, ETC.
Teachers with a passion for the profession are

foundational to the positive educational change
Prelims level : TET
Mains level : quality education
Issues in hiring mechanism

• T ET has been critiqued time and again for various reasons.
These include low pass percentages, poor test quality, lengthy
test papers and a serious lack of alignment with teacher
preparation programmes.
• The test was in the news recently because of the teachers
recruitment scam in West Bengal.
Context
• S uccess of new education policy depends on how we recruit and
assesss teachers.
What is the issue?

• R
ecruitment of well-qualified teachers into the schooling
system is the first prerequisite to ensure that students receive
quality education.
• H
owever, teacher recruitment processes in the country are not
adequately streamlined. There are diverse recruitment processes
across regions, school stages, and school types central, state,
and private schools.
• Th
is, in turn, leads to multiple criteria and processes for hiring
teachers, thereby bringing a wide disparity in teacher quality
across institutions and regions.
• M
any of the processes are also sub-optimal in measuring the
competency of a candidate.
Teacher hiring mechanism in place

• O
ne of the most common and widely-taken tests to ensure
eligibility for recruitment is the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET),
conducted at both the state (STET) and central levels (CTET). What we need?
• T
ET is the equivalent of the licensure tests that are undertaken • A coherent strategy: to tie together the various tests and
by teacher candidates in various countries. processes such as TET, teacher recruitment tests, classroom
• H
owever, in India, the test is required only for government demonstrations and teacher interviews. This will enable a
school teacher recruitment at the elementary stage (Class 1-8). holistic assessment of teacher competence.
• Understanding what is competence : Framing a common
understanding of what qualifies as teacher competence. Simply
speaking, teacher competence can be understood as the core
knowledge, skills, and dispositions expected of a teacher to
effectively contribute to the teaching-learning process.
• Multiple methods of assessment : To evaluate several
other skills and dispositions, one requires multiple methods
of assessment including classroom demonstrations and
teacher interviews. These assessments could help gauge skills
like effective dissemination of a concept and selection of
appropriate resources and learning materials.
• Teachers aptitude : Most importantly, such processes should
help evaluate a teachers empathy towards students. Respecting
learner diversity and skills in building a participative/
democratic classroom culture are crucial requisites of a teacher. • C redibility is ensured : The recruitment process will also
The recruitment process should assess the teachers aptitude in become credible if it is rooted in a framework that outlines the
this respect. core competencies of becoming a teacher.
• A
comprehensive competency framework : That details the • Reduction in coaching centres: At the systemic level, this may
skills a teacher should have. This could be derived from a also lead to a reduction in coaching centres as the assessment
teacher education curriculum rooted in policy perspectives processes will be non-standardised and cannot be easily gleaned
of the day. For instance, in the case of theNEPhttps://www. from coaching materials and guidebooks.
civilsdaily.com/burning-issue-national-education-policy-2020-
higher-education-and-regional-languages/, the curriculum Conclusion
could be geared towards imparting training in classroom • T
eachers with a passion for the profession are foundational
practices that make learning joyful. to the positive educational change envisaged by the NEP.
Setting up clear benchmarks of quality and well-designed
Long-term benefits to adopting such a holistic recruitment processes hold the key to ensuring better teaching-
model of teacher recruitment learning outcomes.
• B
etter parity : It will ensure better parity in the quality of
Mains question
teachers recruited across the country. Q. What do you think on teachers quality today?
• E
quitable education : Will contribute to equitable education Explain how dynamic teacher recruitment
for students from diverse sections of society. process will enhance teachers quality.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT BY UNDP
Here is how HDI has performed in last 3 decades

Prelims level : particulars of report
Mains level : human development
Why in news?
• Th
e bad news forIndia is that its global HDI rank has
slippedhttps://www.civilsdaily.com/story/human-development-
report-by-undp/ from 129 in 2019 to 131 in 2020 and to 132
in 2021-22.
What is the meaning of human development?

• H
uman development is defined as the process of enlarging
people’s freedoms and opportunities and improving their well-
being. Human development is about the real freedom ordinary
people have to decide who to be, what to do, and how to live.
What is meant by Human Development Index?

• Th
e HDI is a summary measure of human development. The
HDI is a summary composite measure of a country’s average
achievements in three basic aspects of human development:
Context health, knowledge and standard of living.
• I ndia, belonging to the medium HDI category, shows
dimensional inequalities similar to or slightly below the average Who publishes HDI?
figures in the category, except in the case of education where it • Th
e Human Development Report (HDR) is an annual
is high and closer to the low HDI countries. The inequalities in Human Development Index report published by the Human
health and education are more than twice that of the very high Development Report Office of the United Nations Development
and high HDI categories. Programme (UNDP).

• HDI also does not specifically reflect quality of life factors, such
as empowerment movements or overall feelings of security or
happiness.
(2) Limited idea of development

• Th
e HDI is not reflecting the human development idea
accurately.
• It is an index restricted to the socio-economic sphere of life;the
political and civil spheres are in the most part kept separate.
• Hence there is a sub-estimation of inequality among countries,
which means that this dimension is not being taken into
consideration appropriately.
Dimensions of the Human Development Index
• L
ong and healthy life: The long and healthy life dimension (3) A vague concept
is measured by life expectancy at birth. The life expectancy • C oncerning data quality and the exact construction of the index
at birth is a statistical measure that an average individual is HDI is conceptually weak and empirically unsound.
expected to live based on certain demographic factors such as • This strong critic comes from the idea that both components of
the year of birth and current age. HDI are problematic. The GNP in developing countries suffers
• E
ducation : This is a second dimension in the HDI. The from incomplete coverage, measurement errors and biases.
indicators of education are the expected years of schooling and • The definition and measurement of literacy are different among
the mean years of schooling. According to the UN, the average countries and also, this data has not been available since 1970
maximum years of schooling is 18 years, while the mean in a significant number of countries.
maximum years of schooling is 15 years.
• S
tandard of living: The standard of living is usually measured (4) Data quality issues
by the gross national income (GNI) per capita. The GNI • Th
e HDI, as a combination of only four relatively simple
indicates the total domestic and foreign output created by the indicators, doesnt only raise a questions what other indicators
residents of a certain country. should be included, but also how to ensure quality and
comparable input data.
What are the 4 indicators of HDI? • It is logical that the UNDP try to collect their data from
• M
ean years of schooling international organizations concentrating in collecting data in
• E
xpected years of schooling specific fields.
• L
ife expectancy at birth • Quality and trustworthiness of those data is disputable,
• G
ross national income (GNI) per capita especially when we get the information from UN non-
democratic members, as for example Cuba or China.
Which Countries Have the Highest HDI?
(5) A tool for mere comparison

In the latest HDI ranking, from 2022, Switzerland • Th
e concept of HDI was set up mainly for relative comparison
finished first with an HDI value of 0.962. of countries in one particular time.
• HDI is much better when distinguishing between countries
with low and middle human development, instead of countries
at the top of the ranking.
• Therefore, the original notion was not to set up an absolute
ranking, but letsquite free hands in comparison of the results.
(6) Development has to be greener

• Th
e human development approach has not adequately
incorporated environmental conditions which may threaten
long-term achievements on human development. The most
pervasive failure was on environmental sustainability.
• However, for the first time in 2020, the UNDP introduced a new
metric to reflect the impact caused by each countrys per-capita
carbon emissions and its material footprint.
• This is Planetary Pressures-adjusted HDI or PHDI. It measured
the amount of fossil fuels, metals and other resources used to
Issues in HDI make the goods and services it consumes.
(1) An incomplete indicator (7) Wealth can never equate welfare

• H
uman development is incomplete without human freedom • H igher national wealth does not indicate welfare. GNI may
and that while the need for qualities judgement is clear; there not necessarily increase economic welfare; it depends on how
is no simple quantitative measure available yet to capture the it is spent.
many aspects of human freedom. • For example, if a country spends more on military spending this
is reflected in higher GNI, but welfare could actually be lower.
Importance of HDI Conclusion
• M
ultidimensionality : It is one of the few multidimensional • T o sum up, the introduction of the HDI three decades ago was
indices as it includes indicators such as literacy rate, enrolment an early attempt to address the shortcomings in conventional
ratio, life expectancy rate, infant mortality rate, etc. measures of wellbeing.
• T
rue yardstick : It acts as a true yardstick to measure • The HDI has continued to attract widespread attention and
development in real sense. motivates the work of activists, scholars and political leaders
• H
elps in measuring a nations well-being: Unlike per capital around the world.
income, which only indicates that a rise in per capital income • The HDI compels us to ask what matters more, the quantitative
implies economic development; HDI considers many other vital expansion of an economy, or the qualitative improvement in
social indicators and helps in measuring a nations well-being. the capabilities of society.
• Indeed the revival of interest in this subject at the highest levels
Value addition line of government is the need of the hour.
Mains question
People are the real wealth of a nation. The basic
objective of development should be to create an enabling
environment for people to live long, healthy and Q. What do you understand by human development? Critically
creative lives. This may appear to be a simple truth. analyse the human development index given by UNDP.
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
Why India Inc. needs a neurodiverse workplace ?

Governance | GS2: Laws, Institutions & Bodies Constituted For The Vulnerable Sections
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : human right of neuro-diverse people
What is a neuro-diverse workplace?

• N
eurodiversity in the workplace refers to including people
with neuro-divergent conditions such as attention-decit/
hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, dyslexia,
dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Asperger’s Syndrome.
What are those Conditions that make them

different from normal humans?
• A utism: A mental condition in which a person finds it difficult
to communicate or form relationships with other people. Signs
of autism include not responding to their name, avoiding eye
contact, not smiling when you smile at them.
• Dyslexia: a difficulty that some people have with reading and
Context spelling signs include confusion over letters that look similar
• D
iscrimination in employment is a worldwide phenomenon. and putting letters the wrong way round, confusing the order
Gender, ethnic, racist discrimination are well known but of letters in words, reading slowly or making errors when
discrimination towards neurodiverse persons are hardly reading aloud
debated in public forums. Despite having special abilities • Aspergers syndrome: A developmental disorder related to
companies are not using their potentials. autism and characterized by awkwardness in social interaction,
pedantry in speech, and preoccupation with very narrow
What is neurodiversity? interests. Less severe symptoms than Autism syndrome.
• H
arvard Health Publishing defines, neurodiversity as a notion • Dyscalculia: A brain disorder in which a wide range of
that every person interacts and experiences their surroundings difficulties with math, including weaknesses in understanding
differently; there is no right way of thinking, learning, or/and the meaning of numbers, and difficulty applying mathematical
behaving. These differences should not be construed as defects principles to solve problems.
or disorders.

How they can be naturally efficient and creative? Current work profile of companies and workplaces
• M
ore efficient: Studies have shown that teams with
• A 2019 McKinsey study revealed that companies with
both neurodivergent and neurotypical members are far
gender diversity were 25% more likely to have above-average
more efficient than teams that comprise neurotypical
profitability while those with ethnic diversity out-rival their
employees alone.
competitors by 36%.
• A
bility to focus: Neurodivergent individuals possess excellent
• Another report titled India’s Best Workplaces in Diversity,
attention to detail and an uncanny ability to focus on complex
Equity & Inclusion 2021 states that diverse teams perform
and repetitive tasks over a more extended period than their
better, boost leadership integrity, heighten trust in the
neurotypical peers.
organizations management and multiply revenue growth.
• A
bility to work at faster speed: A study by the University of
Montreal found that in a test involving completing a visual
pattern, people on the autism spectrum could finish their task
40% faster than those who were not on the spectrum.
• R
obust spatial reasoning : People with dyslexia can think
about objects in three dimensions and analyses such objects
even with limited information.
• O
ut of box thinking : They have problem-solving capabilities
which allow them to see multiple solutions to a problem. They
are often out-of-the-box thinkers with average or above-average
intelligence.
Current Status of people living with

neurodivergent conditions
• P
eople suffer with the Condition: According to a recent report,
nearly 2 million people in India suffer from this neurological
and developmental disorder and are therefore identified as
autistic. Another study by Deloitte estimates that nearly 20% of
the world is neurodiverse. In the U.S., it is estimated that 85%
of people on the autism spectrum are unemployed compared
with 4.2% of the overall population
• Discrimination at employment :https://www.civilsdaily. Few Examples show that things are changing
com/news/india-discrimination-report/ Even with all the • C ompetitive environment : Organisations embracing
necessary skill sets and degrees, these persons are denied a job neurodiversity enjoy a competitive edge in several areas such as
because they may react to situations differently from non- efficiency, creativity, and culture.
neurodiverse persons. • Various MNCs hiring program : Companies such as Deloitte,
• L
ack of awareness: Lack of awareness about neurodivergent Microsoft, SAP, JPMorgan Chase, and E&Y have introduced
conditions, and how the people with condition may react neurodiversity hiring programs.
and lack of and accommodating environment. Hence, there • Indian company: Indian-origin companies Hatti Kaapi
is an urgency to create a work environment that welcomes and Lemon Tree Hotels have also included a neurodiverse
neurodiverse individuals. workforce.
What can be done to create more inclusive

workplaces?
• C
reating neurodivergent friendly offices :.Many employees
with neurodiversity may find the hustle and bustle of a
traditional office disturbing. Therefore, neurodivergent friendly
offices catering to the employees diverse sensory responses
can help ensure that these employees are comfortable in
office spaces.
• O
penness: Creating the right environment is an ever-evolving Conclusion
exercise that requires openness and a will to change on the • O
rganizations must not only remove barriers that obstruct
employers part. This flexibility can result in exceptional benefit the progress of such individuals but also create conducive
with minimal or no additional costs. conditions for them to achieve their true potential and
• W
ider Inclusivity : To ensure higher profitability and be providing proper infrastructure so that they can perform at
respected as a responsible employer globally, companies need their optimal levels.
to widen their definition of inclusivity by providing higher
participation of a neurodiverse workforce. Mains Question
Q. People with neurodiversity are discriminated not only

socially but also economically, Comment. What measures
could be taken to bridge this gap within the society?
POLICE REFORMS - SC DIRECTIVES, NPC, OTHER COMMITTEES REPORTS
The future of India is linked to police reforms

Governance | GS2: Civil Service
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Police reforms
Context • Cost of internal security on economic growth : Economic

• Th
e future of India is linked to police reforms. If the country is development depends on sound law and order and we can
to progress and emerge as a great power, there is no alternative have good law and order only if we have professional police.
to radical reforms in the police. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, violence
• S eptember 22, is observed asPolice Reforms dayhttps://bprd. cost the country 7 per cent of its GDP in 2020.
nic.in/ since the Supreme Court gave a landmark judgment on • Infiltration of persons of questionable background at power:
police reforms in 2006 on the same. According to the Association of Democratic Reforms, the
percentage of such people in Parliament has been showing a
steady upward trend. It was 24 per cent in 2004, 30 per cent in
What is a term Police stands for? 2009, 34 per cent in 2014 and 43 per cent in the last election
• P
olice is a constituted body of uniformed persons empowered
held in 2019.This poses a challenge for police to take action
by a state who are responsible for keeping law and order intact.
against this segment of people and their supporters who have
• Th
eir lawful powers include arrest and the use of force.
a shady background and who may one day devour the very
system that has placed them in power.
What is a Role of Police? • Lack of Internal security doctrine: Problems are tackled as
• L
aw enforcement : The basic role of the police is to function as per the perception of the ruling dispensation at any given point
a law enforcement agency and render impartial service to law, time and therefore police are not able to deal with the internal
without any heed to wishes, indications or desires expressed by security challenges as effectively as they should.
the government which either come in conflict with or do not • Lack of confidence of public in police: Most people believe
conform to the provisions contained in the constitution or laws. police to be abusive and also believe that police personnel
• S
ervice delivery : The police should have duly recognised misuse their power in order to bring order to society. This
service-oriented role in providing relief to people in distress is particularly true of the lower strata of society, who feel
situations. They should be trained and equipped to perform the that there is one law for the poor and another for the rich
service oriented functions. and powerful as police under influence of political and
financial clout.
What are Issues with police institution in India? • Increasing complexity of organized crimes : Organised crime
• C
olonial practice : The Police Act of 1861, which governs has acquired international dimensions. Arms trafficking and
substantially the functioning of police even today, is a symbol drug trafficking do not observe any borders and Cybercrimes
of colonial rule. are increasing in geometrical progression.
• Poor infrastructure and human resource: The police are not
able to deliver partly because of poor infrastructure moreover
there is a vacancy of more than 5,00,000 personnel.

• P
oor housing conditions and long working hours: poor • D evelop infrastructure and fill vacancies: Overall, there
housing conditions and long working hours have an adverse is a vacancy of more than 5,00,000 personnel. These must
impact on police performance.According to the Status of be filled. There is huge scope for improvement in transport,
Policing in India Report, 2019, an average policeman works for communications and forensics as well
14 hours a day and does not get any weekly off. This takes a • Improving hosing conditions: The National Police Commission
heavy toll on his mental and physical health. had recommended 100 per cent family accommodation for all
non gazetted police personnel. The satisfaction level today is
What is meant by police reforms? hardly 31.24 per cent.
• Th
e aim of Police reforms is to enhance efficiency, capability, • Reducing working hours: Long working hours have an adverse
and adoptability according to the time and transforming impact on police performance. We should have 12-hour shifts
culture, values and existing practice of police system. straightaway and gradually aim to achieve eight-hour shifts.
• A
s per the Indian Constitution Police comes under state list.
Conclusion
What can be done to improveefficiency of police in • A
new role and new philosophy have to be defined for the police
to not only make it a capable and effective body but also one
Indiahttps://www.civilsdaily.com/news/reforms- accountable to the law of the land and to the people whom
police-in-india-need/? they serve.
• P olice sensitisation about their role in society: The
sensitisation module should aim at bringing aboutattitudinal Mains Question
changein police especially pertaining togenderand power
relations and police behavior. It is necessary toincrease public Q. If the country is to progress and emerge as a great power,
confidence in the policeby upgrading levels ofpolice service there is no alternative to radical reforms in the police. Discuss.
deliveryas well as by investigating and acting in cases of police
misconduct.
• I ncreasing accountability : Making them answerable to law
and law alone and not to work under pressure of the political
and financial clout.
Congenital Heart Disease
GS3: Health & Education,S&T - Applications In Everyday Life

Prelims level : Heart, and Heart Diseases
Mains level : Health
of all congenital birth defects, and accounts for 6%-10 % of all

the infant deaths in India. 29 September is celebrated as world
heart day.
What is Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)?

• C
ongenital heart disease isa general term for a range of birth
defects that affect the normal way the heart works. The term
“congenital” means the condition is present from birth.
What is paediatric cardiac care?

• P
aediatric cardiologistsdiagnose, treat, and manage heart
problems in children, including. Congenital heart disease
Context (heart differences children are born with), such as holes
• C
ongenital Heart Disease (CHD), which the Centre for Disease between chambers of the heart, valve problems, and abnormal
Control and Prevention(CDC), Atlanta, U.S., acknowledges to be blood vessels
the most common congenital disorder, is responsible for 28%
What is the Present situation of Congenital • M
edical devices: In addition, there is the non-availability
Heart Disease of crucial equipment that is essential for diagnosis of heart
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/India’s-burden-of-heart- diseases in the unborn. Accentuating the problem is the
diseases/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Global%20 general lack of awareness about early symptoms of CHD
Burden,a%20legacy%20of%20economic%20growth. among parents.
In India?
• I t is estimated that over 1,00,000 children keep getting added
to the existing pool of children awaiting surgery.
• A ccording to the Paediatric Cardiac Society of India (PCSI), the
prevalence of congenital cardiac anomalies is one in every 100
live births; or an estimated 2,00,000 children are born with
CHD every year. Only 15,000 of them receive treatment.
• A t least 30% of infants who have complex defects require
surgical intervention to survive their first birthday but only
2,500operations can be performed each year. A case in point
is the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS),
where infants are waitlisted till 2026 for cardiac surgery.
What are the Reasons behind this worrisome

situation?
• L ack of money: There has been more neglect and little What should be approach for the treatment of
improvement in child health care because creating a Congenital Heart Disease?
comprehensive paediatric cardiology care service is usually • T imely treatment: Paediatricians say timely medical
considered economically unviable it is resource intensive and intervention can save 75% of these children and give them
requires infrastructure investment that politicians and policy normal lives.
makers choose to evade. • National policy: The lack of a national policy for the treatment
• I nfrastructure: There are 22 hospitals and less than 50 centres of cardiovascular diseases in children keeps a huge number
in India with infant and neonatal cardiac services. outside the ambit of treatment.
• U neven distribution: Geographically, these centres are not • Echocardiography: The Child Heart Foundation, a non-
well distributed either. 2018 cardiology department report of governmental organisation working in Siliguri (WestBengal),
AIIMS, highlighted how South India accounted for 70% of these Jalandhar (Punjab) and Delhi, with underprivileged
centres; most centres are located in regions with a lower burden children with CHD, has been flagging the need for fatal
of CHD. For instance, Kerala has eight centres offering neonatal echocardiography.
cardiac surgeries for an estimated 4.5 lakh annual childbirths. • Hridayam : There are programmes worth emulating such as
Populous Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with an estimated annual Keralas Hridayam (for little hearts),aimed at early detection,
childbirth of 48 and 27 lakh births per annum, respectively management and support to children with CHD or the
(Census of India, 2012), do not have a centre capable of Tamilnadu Chief Ministers Comprehensive Health Insurance
performing neonatal cardiac surgery. Scheme offering free specialised surgeries.
• N on-priority: A 2018 article by the Department of • Ayushman Bharat: The National Health Protection Scheme
Cardiothoracic Cardiology, AIIMS, states, paediatric cardiology (Ayushman Bharat), is expected to financially assist 10 crore
is not a priority area in the face of competing demands for poor families but has still to takeoff. So far, Maharashtra,
the resources Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have apparently
got going.
What are the problems in treating congenital
Heart Disease? Conclusion
• D
octor population ratio: For 600 districts with a 1.4 billion • I ndia’s performance in neo natal care is very regrettable. India
population, there are only 250 paediatric cardiologists available. can drastically reduce its infant mortality by investing in
The doctor to patient ratio is an abysmal one for half-a-crore paediatric cardiac care. Sooner we realize this better will be the
population. According to the Annals of Paediatric Cardiology future of India.
journal, the United States had 2,966 paediatric cardiologists in
Mains Question
2019, ratio of one per 29,196population.
• P
overty: Poverty is another barrier before treatment.
Transporting sick neonates from States with little or no cardiac Q.Infant mortality India out of congenital Heart
care facilities to faraway centres for accurate diagnosis and Disease is because of negligence and non-priority.
treatment burdens parents financially. Acknowledge the problems and suggest solutions.

INDIAN ARMY UPDATES
Competent Chief of Defence Staff

Mains Personalities: • A s Lt. General: As Lt. General, he commanded a Corps in
Note4Students | From UPSC perspective, the following things are the North East and subsequently became the Eastern Army
important : Commander in September 2019 and held the charge until his
Prelims level : CDS retirement from service on May 31, 2021.
Mains level : Security, Role of CDS • As Military Advisor to the NSA : Lt. Gen. Chauhan took
over as the Military Advisor in the National Security Council
Secretariat (NSCS) from Lt. Gen. Vinod G. Khandare who
Context
stepped down from the post in October 2021
• Th
e Government on September 28, 2022, appointed former
Eastern Army Commander Lt. General Anil Chauhan as the
next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The appointment comes What are the challenges facing the new chief of
more than nine months after the post fell vacant following the Defence Staff?
death of General Bipin Rawat. • R esponsibility: In terms of prioritisation and building a bridge
between a government in a hurry and an organisation that
What is the role of the Office ofChief of Defence is resistant to change, shackled by tradition and plagued by
continued turf battles that cannot be wished away.
Staff (CDS)?https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/
• Enhancing operational capability: To build operational
back-in-news-chief-of-defence-staff-cds-2/ capability at a pace that will ensure that the military power
• M
andate is to bring convergence in the functioning of the asymmetry vis--vis China remains manageable.
Army, the Navy and the Air force and bolster the country’s • Integrated structure: The need to create fresh structures to
overall military prowess. support integrated training, planning and operations. India-
• Th
e CDS is a high military office that oversees and coordinates specific requirements need to be addressed.
the working of the three Services, and offers seamless tri- • Articulated strategy: The requirement is in the area of policy,
service views and single-point advice to the Executive. doctrines and strategy. Policies and doctrines are easier to
• O
n long-term it provides for defence planning and evolve under the cover of clearly articulated national and
management, including manpower, equipment and strategy, military strategies. Though the strategic establishment is
and above all, joint manship in operations. divided on the pressing need for a National Security Strategy
• Th
e role of the CDS becomes critical in times of conflict. (NSS), the CDS has his task cut out to link the NSS with
transformation and expedite its promulgation
Why is the need of CDS? • Maintaining balance: Balancing the need to retain the
• T
ri-services coordination: The creation of the CDS will operational capability and the governments push towards self-
eventually lead to the formation of tri-service theatre reliance in defence manufacturing. Considering that this push
commands intended to create vertical integration of the demands a paradigm shift in the thinking of India’s defence
three forces. innovation and manufacturing ecosystem. One needs to look
• S
ingle-point military advisory: The CDS will be a single- no further than the US, France and Israel to embrace this push.
point military adviser to the government and synergise long However, this again links to forcing the armed forces to step out
term planning, procurements, training and logistics of the of their comfort zone and develop diverse intellectual capital.
three Services. • Shedding infructuous colonial legacies: Shedding several
• E
fforts saving: This is expected to save money by avoiding infructuous colonial legacies and traditions and fostering
duplication between the Services, at a time of shrinking capital a sense of pride in India’s martial traditions that go back
expenditure within the defence budget. to epics such as the Mahabharata and to the Maratha and
• M
ilitary diplomacy: This is today supporting conventional Chola empires.
diplomacy. That cant be done by different Services.
Conclusion
All you need to know about the New Chief of • C
DS should not hesitate to speak truth to power. He should
Defence Staff (CDS): Lt. General Anil Chauhan be unbiased while taking tough decisions and should
• I ndian Army: Born on May 18, 1961, Lt. Gen. Chauhan consider national interest above all else. In a rapidly evolving
was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian geopolitical and global security environment, in which India
Army in 1981. faces challenges across the conflict spectrum, the CDS need to
• A lumnus of NDA and IMA: He is an alumnus of the undertake this task.
National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military
Mains Question
Academy, Dehradun.
• C areer of 40 years: In a career spanning over nearly 40 years,
Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan had held several command, staff and Q.In a rapidly evolving geopolitical and global security
instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in environment, India faces challenges across the
counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and conflict spectrum. Discuss the role of CDS in the joint
preparations of the three forces in this context.
North-East India.
• A s Major General: In the rank of Major General, he had
commanded an Infantry Division in Baramula sector in Jammu
and Kashmir
POLITY

LGBT RIGHTS - TRANSGENDER BILL, SEC. 377, ETC.

growth of human rights
Governance | GS2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters,Health & Education
Prelims level : various judgments
Mains level : human rights
Context • I t also underscored the doctrine of progressive realisation

• F
our years after landmark LGBTQ verdict: The march to full of rights.
citizenship.
Whats next?
Why in news? • O verarching legislation is needed to guarantee equality to all
• O
n September 6, 2018, exactly four years ago, inNavtej Singh persons on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and
Johar and Ors v Union of India, a five-judge constitution bench expression, sex, caste, religion, age, disability, marital status,
of the Supreme Court, in a beautifully elaborate decision, pregnancy, nationality, and other grounds.
liberated LGBTQI Indians from thedarkness of Section 377 of • The law should impose obligations of equality and non-
the Indian Penal Code, 1860. discrimination on all persons, public and private, and in the
areas of education, employment, healthcare, land and housing
and access to public places.
What is LGBTQ? https://www.civilsdaily.com/ • It should provide for civil remedies to stop discriminatory
story/lgbt-rights/ behaviour, costs and damages, and positive action to make
• L
GBTQ is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, reparations.
and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well • We need an equality law to define what equality would
as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term encompass.
for sexuality and gender identity. • Supreme Court comes held in its privacy judgment in K.S.
Puttuswamy v. Union of India (2017) that equality and liberty
What is Section 377 of the IPC? cannot be separated, and equality encompasses the inclusion of
• I t reads Unnatural offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal dignity and basic freedoms.
intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman
or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or Way forward
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may • S chools and colleges must effect changes in curricula for a
extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. better understanding of the community.
• Th
e terms carnal intercourse and against the order of nature are • People of a different sexual orientation or gender identity often
not defined precisely anywhere in the code. narrate harrowing tales of bullying, discrimination, stigma and
ostracization.
Role played by the judiciary hitherto • Gender-neutral restrooms should be compulsory in educational
• Th
e Delhi High Courts verdict in Naz Foundation vs institutes and other places.
Government of NCT of Delhi (2009) was a landmark in the law • Parents too need to be sensitised, because the first point
of sexuality and equality jurisprudence in India. of misunderstanding and abuse often begins at home, with
• Th
e court held that Section 377 offended the guarantee of teenagers being forced to opt for conversion therapies.
equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution, because it
creates an unreasonable classification and targets homosexuals Conclusion
as a class. • J ustice Chandrachud, speaking on the fourth anniversary of
• I n a retrograde step, the Supreme Court, in Suresh Kumar Johar and the journey ahead, while quoting the Beatles classic
Koushal vs Naz Foundation (2013), reinstated Section 377 All you need is love, notes that simply love is not enough.
to the IPC. Rights are necessary. Which will enhance dignity of the
• H owever, the Supreme Court in Navtej Singh Johar & Ors. community.
vs Union of India (2018) declared that the application of
Section 377 IPC to consensual homosexual behaviour was Mains question
unconstitutional. Q. Silent segregation on the grounds of gender,
sexual orientation preferences are followed in several
• Th
is Supreme Court judgment has been a great victory to the
houses. Elucidate in context of LGBTQ issues. What
Indian individual in his quest for identity and dignity.
Legal remedies are needed for its victims?
PARLIAMENT - SESSIONS, PROCEDURES, MOTIONS, COMMITTEES ETC
Parliamentary Standing Committees

Polity | GS2: Comparison Of The Indian Constitutional Scheme With That Of Other Countries,Constitutional Bodies,Indian Constitution -
historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Prelims level : CCI
Mains level : deliberation for effective democracy
• Parliament has 24 Department Related Parliamentary

Standing Committees (DRSC).
Importance of Committees
• Th
orough analysis of issues : Most MPs are generalists who
rely on advice from experts and stakeholders before taking
decisions. Therefore, committees are meant to help MPs seek
expertise and give them time to think about issues in detail.
• Ensures all parties voice their opinion: All committees
have MPs representing different parties, in roughly the same
proportion as their strength in Parliament
• Feedback from multiple stakeholders : When bills are referred
to these committees, they are examined closely and inputs are
Context sought from various external stakeholders, including the public.
• I n the recent monsoon session of Parliament (July-August) • Less burden of populistic posture: By virtue of being closed-
the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Electricity door and away from the public eye, discussions in committee
(Amendment) Bill, 2022 sent to the Parliamentary Committees meetings are also more collaborative, with MPs feeling less
for detailed examination and a report thereon. pressured to posture for media galleries.
• Put pressure on government: Although committee
recommendations are not binding on the government, their
Background reports create a public record of the consultations that took
• P
arliament had only limited legislative time this session and
place and put pressure on the government to reconsider its
could pass only five pieces of legislation
stand on debatable provisions.
• O
ppositions stand: opposition alleging that the Government
has been trying to steamroll various pieces of legislation in the
last few sessions. Issues
• G
overnments stand: Government worries that so much time is • R eferring bills to committees is not mandatory: In the Indian
lost in disruptions in Parliament that the legislative process, as system, unfortunately, it is not mandatory for bills to be sent to
it is, becomes unduly delayed and therefore, referring the bills committees. Its left to the discretion of the Chair the Speaker in
to the Standing Committees. the Lok Sabha and Chairperson in the Rajya Sabha
• Worrying Trend of sidelining Parliamentary Committees:
Sidelining committees is increasingly becoming the norm in
Parliamentary Committees India. Only 25% bills were referred to committees in the 16th
• N
eed of parliamentary committees : The functions of the
Lok Sabha (2014-2019) as compared to 60% in the 14th (2004-
Parliament are varied, complex and voluminous. Moreover, it
2009) and 71% in the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14).
has neither the adequate time nor necessary expertise to make
• Risk of weakening Parliament: In the constitutional scheme
a detailed scrutiny of all legislative measures.
of things, Parliament is supposed to maintain oversight on the
• F
unction : To assist parliament to discharge of its duties.
government and keep its power in check. By circumventing
• M
andate: To examine various legislations referred to it, the
due diligence in Parliament, we run the risk of weakening
budget proposals of different Ministries, and also to do policy
democracy.
thinking on the vision, mission and future direction of the
• Direct discussion not a substitute for committee
Ministries concerned.
deliberation: The 16th Lok Sabha (2014-19) worked for over
• C
omposition : Members of the Parliament of both the
1,615 hours, 20% more than the previous Lok Sabha, and
LokSabha and the RajyaSabha in the ratio 2:1,
passed 133 bills, 15% more than the 15th Lok Sabha.Thus,
• A
uthority : constituted by the Speaker of the LokSabha and the
MPs are spending more time on direct deliberations on the
Chairman of the RajyaSabha, jointly.
floor of the House. However, these cannot be a substitute for
• C
lassification : Broadly, two kindsStanding Committees and
committee deliberations as floor discussion lacks thorough
Ad Hoc Standing Committees are permanent (constituted
analysis and also most MPs are not subject-matter experts.
every year or periodically) and work on a continuous basis,
• Brute Majority: By giving discretionary power to the Chair to
while Ad Hoc Committees are temporary and cease to exist on
decide whether the bill has to be sent to committee or not, the
completion of the task assigned to them.
system has been especially rendered weak in a Lok Sabha where
the ruling party has a brute majority.

amendments there. They should also come up with suggestions
for the Ministry to take up new initiatives and people
friendly measures.
• Sweden Model: In countries such as Sweden and Finland, all
bills are sent to committees. In Australia, a selection of bills
committee, which includes members from the Opposition, is
tasked with identifying the bills that should go to committees.
Conclusion
• D iscussion is not a stumbling block but an indispensable
preliminary of any wise actions.
• Discussion is soul of democracy.
• Parliamentary committees are truly democratic institutions in
India due to its consensus and bonhomie while functioning.
• Government of the day should take step to strengthen DRSC
How to improve Efficacy of committees? and refer more bills to committees.
• C ompulsory process: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the
Chairman of the Rajya Sabha have powers to refer Bills to a Other related information
DRSC of Parliament. Making the process of reference of Bills
to these committees compulsory/an automatic process will be Parliamentary sessions
useful. An exemption could be made with the specific approval • Th
e president from time to time summons each House of
of the Speaker/ Chairman after detailed reasons for the same. Parliament to meet.
• N o whip: All discussions in the Parliamentary Standing • The maximum gap between two sessions of Parliament cannot
Committee should be frank and free. No whip of the party be more than six months.
would apply to them during the discussion. • In other words, the Parliament should meet at least
• T ime bound: fixed timeline to come up with the twice a year.
recommendation and present its report which can be decided • There are usually three sessions in a year: 1. The Budget
by the Speaker/Chairman. In case the committee if fails to give Session (February to May); 2. The Monsoon Session (July
its recommendation within the approved/extended time, the to September); and 3. The Winter Session (November to
Bill may be put up before the House concerned directly. December).
• I nviting filed Expertise: To ensure quality work in the
committees, experts in the field may be invited who could
bring with them the necessary domain knowledge and also
Competition Commission of India (CCI)
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-competition-
help introduce the latest developments and trends in that field
commission-of-india/
from Some subject matter experts/young researchers could
• CCI is the chief nationalcompetition regulator inIndia.
be associated with the committee for a short period would
• The commission was established on 14 October 2003. It became
be fruitful.
fully functional in May 2009
• A uthority : The Speaker/Chairman should have the right to fix
• It is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
a time limit, sometimes even stringent, if the government of
• Responsibility : To enforce theCompetition Act, 2002to
the day asks for it and the demand is found to be reasonable by
promotecompetitionand to prevent activities that effects
the Speaker/Chairman.
negatively on competition in India.
• O rganized work in the gap: Between two sessions, there
• The CCI looks into cases and investigates them if the same has a
is generally enough time to organise committee meetings
negative impact on competition.
for discussions on Bills in the parliamentary committees.
• CCI also approves combination under the act so that two
It is important for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
merging entities do not overtake the market.
in collaboration with the committee chairmen to get these
parliamentary works organized during the intersessional Mains Question Q.
period, in advance. Evaluate the significance of parliamentary standing
• O ther than Budget Proposals : The committees should not committee in parliamentary democracy. Suggest the
limit themselves to discussing just the budget proposals steps to strengthen the parliamentary committees.
and endorsing them with a few qualifications here or
JUDICIAL REFORMS
The hijab case and the doctrine of essentiality

Polity | GS2: Executive & Judiciary,Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and
basic structure
Prelims level : particulars of doctrine of essentiality
Mains level : judicial reforms
How do you identify essential religion practice?

• Th
e Court observed that in order to determine whether or not a
particular practice is an essential part of religion, the test must
be whether the absence of the practice itself
Meaning of Article 26 https://www.civilsdaily.

com/news/op-ed-snap-the-warp-and-weft-of-
religious-liberty/
• F
reedom to manage religious affairs Subject to public order,
morality and health, every religious denomination or any
Context section thereof shall have the right.
• A
two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India is presently
hearing arguments on the correctness of a Karnataka High
Court judgment that upheld the ban on the use of the hijab
Examples of the essential religious practices test
• W hile these issues are largely understood to be community-
by students in Karnataka which raises question on doctrine of
based, there are instances in which the court has applied the
essentiality.
test to individual freedoms as well.
• In a 2004 ruling, the Supreme Court held that the Ananda
What is ‘doctrine of essentiality’? Marga sect had no fundamental right toperform the Tandava
• A
seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court invented the dance in public streets since it did not constitute an essential
doctrine of essentiality in the Shirur Mutt case in 1954. The religious practice of the sect.
court held thatthe term religion will cover all rituals and • For example, in 2016, the Supreme Court upheld the discharge
practices integral to a religion. of an airman from the Indian Air Force forkeeping a beard.
• It distinguished the case of a Muslim airman from that of Sikhs
Importance doctrine of essentiality who are allowed to keep a beard.
• I n the legal framework, the doctrine of essentiality isa doctrine • In 2015, the Supreme Court restored theJain religious practice
that has evolved to protect the religious practices that are of Santhara/Sallekhana (a ritualistic fast unto death) by
essential or integral and does not violate any fundamental staying an order of the Rajasthan HC.
right. India being a secular country has discrete religious beliefs
and to deny any is to violate the freedom of religion.
Why hijab is not an essential practice?

• W
earing of hijab (head scarf) by Muslim women does not form
a part of essential religious practices in Islamic faith and it is
not protected under the right to freedom of religion guaranteed
under Article 25 of the Constitution of India, the High Court of
Karnataka declared on March 15 2022.
What is the Supreme Courts judgement on

Doctrine of Essentiality?
• Th
e doctrine of essentiality was invented by a seven-judge
Bench of the Supreme Court in the Shirur Mutt case in 1954.
• It is a contentious doctrine evolved by the court to protect only
Is hijab essential part of Islam?
such religious practices which were essential and integral to
• Th
e Qur’an instructs Muslim women and men to dress
the religion.
modestly, and for some, the hijab is worn by Muslim girls
• The court held that the term religion will cover all rituals
and women to maintain modesty and privacy from unrelated
and practices integral to a religion, and took upon itself the
males. According to the Encyclopedia of Islam and Muslim
responsibility of determining the essential and non-essential
World, modesty concerns both men’s and women’s “gaze, gait,
practices of a religion.
garments, and genitalia”.

• R
eferring to the Ayodhya case, the Constitution Bench had • Th
e apex court in Ratilal Panachand Gandhi vs The State of
ruled in 1994 that A mosque is not an essential part of the Bombay and Ors (March 18, 1954) acknowledged that every
practice of the religion of Islam and namaz (prayer) by Muslims person has a fundamental right to entertain such religious
can be offered anywhere, even in open. beliefs as may be approved by his judgment or conscience.
• The framers of the Constitution wanted to give this autonomy
How has the doctrine been used in to each individual. Scholars have argued that the essentiality
test impinges on this autonomy.
subsequent years? • The apex court has itself emphasised autonomy and choice in
• Th
e essentiality doctrine of the Supreme Court has been
its Privacy (2017), 377 (2018), and Adultery (2018) judgments.
criticised by several constitutional experts.
• S cholars of constitutional law have argued that the essentiality/
integrality doctrine has tended to lead the court into an area Its effect on society
that is beyond its competence, and given judges the power to • N arrowing of safeguards to religious customs: It has allowed
decide purely religious questions. the Court to narrow the extent of safeguards available to
• A s a result, over the years, courts have been inconsistent on religious customs by directly impinging on the autonomy of
this question in some cases they have relied on religious texts groups to decide for themselves what they deem valuable,
to determine essentiality. violating, in the process, their right to ethical independence.
• I n others it relied on the empirical behaviour of followers, and • Negated legislation that might otherwise enhance the
in yet others, based on whether the practice existed at the time cause of social justice : It has also negated legislation that
the religion originated. might otherwise enhance the cause of social justice by holding
that such laws cannot under any circumstances encroach on
matters integral to the practice of a religion. For example, in
Issues over the doctrine 1962, the Court struck down a Bombay law that prohibited
• I n the beginning, the court engaged with the question of
excommunications made by the Dai of the Dawoodi Bohra
whether untouchability, manifested in restrictions on entry
community when it held that the power to excommunicate is
into temples, was an essential part of the Hindu religion.
an essential facet of faith and that any measure aimed at social
• A fter examining selected Hindu texts, it came to the conclusion
welfare cannot reform a religion out of its existence.
that untouchability was not an essential Hindu practice.
• A principle of anti-exclusion: Its application would require the
• Th
e idea of providing constitutional protection only to those
Court to presume that a practice asserted by a religious group
elements of religion which the court considers essential is
is, in fact, essential to the proponents of its faith. But regardless
problematic as it assumes that one element or practice of
of such grounding, the Constitution will not offer protection to
religion is independent of other elements or practices.
the practice if it excludes people on grounds of caste, gender, or
• S o, while the essentiality test privileges certain practices over
other discriminatory criteria.
others, it is, in fact, all practices taken together that constitute
a religion.
Conclusion
• F
or now, any Court hearing a matter touching upon a matter of
How does essentiality square up against faith has the unenviable task of acting not merely as an expert
religious freedom? on law but also as an expert on religion.
• F
reedom of religion was meant to guarantee freedom to
practice ones beliefs based on the concept of inward association Mains question
of man with God. Q. Every person has a fundamental right to
entertain such religious beliefs as may be approved
by his judgment or conscience. Critically examine
in context of doctrine of essentiality.
ELECTORAL REFORMS IN INDIA
Intra party elections

Polity | GS2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters,Statutory, Regulatory & Various Quasi-Judicial Bodies
Prelims level : election commission of india
Mains level : electoral reforms
• The intra-party election is a fundamental indicator to explore

the authenticity of democratization and decentralization of
political parties.
Why elections are necessary within the

political parties?
• I nternal debates: During intra-party elections, there would
be contests between leaders. There will be debate, discussions
some criticism, and differences of opinion. There should be a
dialogue between the leaders, members and volunteers
• Democratic culture: Political parties dont have to be
homogeneous in terms of both ideas and leadership. Political
parties are aggregations of interests yet Party workers should
Context not feel they are being ignored, that their efforts are not
• C
ongress party has issued a notification for the party’s appreciated or not going in vain under the shadow of a leader
presidential election hinting towards intra party election. who came from the family lines.
• A
s per the official notification, party leaders can file • Political career: Having these internal elections, meetings and
nominations from 24 September to 30 September. The voting contests of ideas is important. The internal election is a key to
will be held on 17 October and the results will be declared on upward mobility. It gives a better understanding of the partys
19 October. ideas, culture and the work process.
• High command culture: High command culture is what we
are witnessing today in India and South Asia is problematic
What are the elections?
for democracy, where all political parties are centralized. The
• A
n election is a way people can choose their representatives
few members at the helm are controlling even the smallest
of their preferences in a representative democracy.
decisions about what party should do. Members are not able to
Electionsenable people to judge the performance of the
express freely their personal views.
government.
• Feudalism: They are family-controlled parties, and dynastic
politics has become a norm. Wont be able to name more than
Why they are important? three or four political parties which have survived 30 years in
• E
lectionsgive people a chance to evaluate their leaders, chance Indian politics and are today not controlled by a political family.
to change the government. • Favoritism: where you can only rise up the ranks in the system
• E
lections help the people in the selection of their depending on the relationship you share with the first family of
representatives and it provides law making power directly to that party. Irrespective of difference of opinions with the top
the people. leaders of the party, the upward mobility majorly depends on
• E
lections make a fundamental contribution to democratic the relationship.
governance.
What is a Legal framework for election?
There is no law for intra-party elections as of now.
• Seshan effect: When T.N. Seshan was at the helm of the
Election Commission of India (ECI); by an executive order
political parties were ordered to conduct intra party elections.
And because Seshan was a much respected and feared person,
political parties complied with it. Since then, elections are held
periodically in every recognized party.
• What Constitution says : Article 324 says free and fair
elections to parliament, state assemblies, president and
vice-president. It doesnt say anything about political party or
election within.
• What Courts argue: The courts have made an observation that
What is meant by Intra party elections? nothing in Article 324 of the Constitution, or Section 29A of
• I t is a mechanism to choose the candidates for various posts of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 tells us that the
the political through a democratic process, its a mandate given ECI can actually regulate internal structures, organizations or
by the members of the party itself.

elections of the party. Which is why parties, on the left or right, Seen it in panchayat elections and sometimes even in Lok Sabha
have not been conducting internal elections as we want them to and State Assembly elections that candidates have got elected
conduct them unopposed.
Worldwide practice (Case study) How to attain internal democracy within parties?
• U
SA: In the U.S. election, the selection of the candidate to • I nternal elections: It shall be the duty of the political party
be the presidential nominee is done via debate, in which the to take appropriate steps to ensure holding of elections at all
contenders condemn and criticize each other. levels. The political party shall hold elections in an unpartisan
• U
K: In the U.K. Democracy should be at every level, and ways by their karyakartas.
political parties are an essential pillar of democracy. Intra party • Strengthening Anti-defection Law: The Anti-Defection Act
election happens to choose the leader of the party. of 1985 requires the party legislators to act according to the
party whip which is decided by the diktats of the highest
party leadership. One way to democratise political parties is to
promote intra-party dissent.
• Limited reservations: Seats can be reserved for women and
members of the backward community including minorities.
• Empowering ECI: The ECI shall be competent to inquire into
allegations of non-compliance of any of the provisions requiring
elections.
• Social audit and penal provisions: ECI should have the penal
power to deregister a party until free and fair elections in the
party are conducted.
• Encouraging new generation of leaders: For long, there is a
widespread impression created that lot of good people shy away
from politics. It is therefore necessary that this impression be
changed and efficient people brought into political arena.
Way forward
e 170th report of the Law Commission of India on reform
• Th
of electoral laws, dedicated an entire chapter on the necessity of
providing laws relating to internal democracy within parties.
• It observed that a political party which does not respect
democratic principles in its internal working cannot be
expected to respect those principles in the governance of
the country.
• The National Commission for Review of Working of
Constitution states that there should be comprehensive
legislation regulating the registration and functioning of
political parties or alliances of parties in India.
• The Administrative Reforms Commission II (ARC), 2008
Ethics and Governance Report pointed out that corruption is
caused by over-centralization.
Conclusion
• E
lection for a gram panchayat or presidential it is always a
booster for democracy. Intraparty elections are beneficial for
party, contesting individual and country at large, it culminates
into emergence of quality leadership which in turn a boon for
What is the Role of Election Commission in good governance.
organizational election of political parties? Mains Question
• Th
e ECI does insist on organizational elections, but only gently.
They do go through the process.
Q. Intra party elections are essential feature of
• E
lection can happen only if there are two or more candidates in
healthy democracy. Discuss the role of election
the fray. Getting elected unopposed is also a valid election. It is commission, the courts and the political parties for
not just within the political parties, we have the healthy functioning of intra party democracy.
EARTH OVERSHOOT
Supreme Court’s basic structure doctrine in a new context

Polity | GS2: Executive & Judiciary,Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and
basic structure
Prelims level : Various judgements on basic structure
Mains level : Features of constitution
• Shankari Prasad Case

• Sajjan Singh Case
• Golakh Nath Case
• Kesvananda Bharati Case
• Minerva Mills case
• I.R. Koelhi
Constitutional Provisions
1. 1st amendment and 9th schedule
• 24th amendment
• 42nd amendment
His holiness, Kesavananda bharati, challenged before the
Context supreme court, the validity of29th CAAwhichinserted some laws
• Th
e basic structure doctrine constitutes a high watermark in in9th scheduleand affected property of his HinduMutt.
the assertion of the Supreme Courts judicial power in the teeth
of a determined majoritarian regime. What else was at stake?
1. Supreme Court (R. C. Cooper case)had struck down bank
What is basic structure of Constitution? nationalization act of 1969 which had nationalized 14 major
• Th
e basic structure doctrine is one of the fundamental judicial banks forillusory compensationthough it conceded parliaments
principles connected with the Indian Constitution. The doctrine right to nationalise banks in national interest.
of the basic structure holds that there is a basic structure to the • Supreme Court had struck downabolition of privy purseswhich
Indian Constitution, and the Parliament of India cannot amend was a betrayal of solemn promise to erstwhile kings by
the basic features. Sardar Patel.
Supreme Court could do all this as it had held in1967 in
Golaknath case that fundamental rights could not be abridged.
What is the significance of the basic structure in Before returning back to Kesavananda, Lets take a look at the
the Constitution of India? relevant provisions of the constitution and Supreme Court
• Th
e doctrine of basic structure is nothing but a judicial interpretation of the same.
innovation to ensure that the power of amendment is not • Art 13(2) Any LAW abridging fundamental rights mentioned in
misused by Parliament. The idea is that the basic features part 3 shall be null and void to the extent of contravention
of the Constitution of India should not be altered to an • Art 368 -Procedure to amend the constitution.
extent that the identity of the Constitution is lost in the • Art 19(f) freedom to acquire hold on and dispose off property.
process.08-Dec-2021 • Art 31 right to property
Both the rights were subject to reasonable restriction in public
Background interest and restriction were subject to judicial review. Soon
• C
ourts are empowered under our Constitution to invalidate after the coming into force of the constitution, states enacted
not only executive orders, but also legislative enactments that land reform acts #Zamindars challenged them. #Patna high
violate any part of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed in Part court declared Bihar act as unconstitutional for violating right to
III of the Constitution (Bill of Rights). property #interim parliament passed1st CAA.
• B
ut as to whether they are also empowered to adjudicate on the 1. ART 31B created9th schedule. Laws inserted under it by
validity of constitutional amendments passed with the requisite constitutional amendment were immune to judicial review.
special majority and following the procedure prescribed in Other provisions not imp for this article but imp for exams
Article 368 the Constitution is silent. 1. Reasonable restrictions against freedom of expression
under art 19.
• To nullify judgment inState of Madras v. Champakam
Historical developments on evolution of basic Dorairajanand giving effect to art 46 (promoting educational
structure doctrine and economic interests of weaker sections) amplified
• C
onstitution provided a mechanism for parliament to amend article 15 (3)
the constitution in the form of article 368 but thenature and Zamindars didnt like it, not one bit.And here comes the 1st salvo
scope of this amending powerwas questioned in Supreme
Court on multiple occasions. Supreme Court gave a series of
Shankari Prasad v Union of India
judgement which ultimately culminated in probably the most
Challenged 1st CAA. What was thecourts judgment?
landmark judgement Basic structure doctrine judgement.

1. Difference b/w constituent power and ordinary legislative
power i.e. amendment not law for the purpose of article 13
• a rt 13 and 368 in conflict # apply DOCTRINE OF
HARMONIOUS CONSTRUCTION # ART 13 not applicable
to art 368
Govt 1-0 Zamindars Govt passed 17th amendment and inserted
more laws under 9th schedule Zamindars fired another salvo-
Sajjan Singh vs state of rajasthan

Supreme Court sang Shankari prasad song again Govt 2-0
jamindars ButJustice Mudholkar was of the view that the every
Constitution has certain features which are basic in nature and
those features cannot be changed. 2 minority judgements. utter
Kesvanada Bharati Casehttps://www.civilsdaily.
confusion.And you can see seeds of basic structure were sown
here. Zamindars fired 3rd salvo com/news/kesavananda-bharati-case-1973-the-
judgment-that-upheld-basic-structure-of-India’s-
Golaknath v. State of Punjab constitution/
11 judge bench overturned earlier 2 verdicts by a slender majority A 13 judge bench is constituted and what does it do!
of 6-5 Really? What was the logic given here? 1. Overturned Golaknath i.e. amendment not law, fundamental
1. Nothing to suggest constituent power to be separate from rights amendable, no implied limit under art 368 i.e. CAA 24
legislative power and even if distinct, amending power not constitutional
same as constituent power which is given only to constituent • Art 25 invalid to the extent it takes away judicial review i.e. 39 b
assembly i.e. amendment is law and subject to article 13 and c above 14, 19 and 31 but subject to judicial review
• F
undamental rights so sacrosanct and transcendental that Most imp decision of all by slimmest of all 7-6 majority stated
they cannot be abridged even if whole parliament unanimously Parliament can amend any provision of the Constitution but the
decided to abridge them. basic structure should not be destroyed, damaged or abrogated.
But it validated all previous land reform acts as nullifying Whats the logic?
them would create utter confusion Govt angry Zamindars 1. Expression amendment did not encompass defacing the
angry New landlords happy. Loss loss to defendants as well as constitution such that it lost its identity.
petitioner. Madam Indira was in power and she did not like • In the garb of amendment parliament can not rewrite the
this. Not one bit. Along came24th amendmentto neutralize constitution.
GOLAKNATH JUDGEMENT
1. Art 13 inapplicable to art 368 Court gave relief to govt but reserved for itself power to review
• A
rt 368 providedpowers as well as procedureto amend the all amendment not just those that violate fundamental rights.
constitution Aftermath Indira Gandhi didnt like the judgement one bit. She
• P
arliament by way of addition, variation or repeal can amend (via the president) superseded 3 judges to appoint justice A.N.
any provision of constitution Ray as CJI. Knives had been drawn andthe battle was gonna be
• P
resident shall give assent to CA bills ( VERY VERY IMP very bloody
FOR PRELIMS ) • Navnirman movementofJP (Jayprakash)https://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Jayaprakash_Narayanhad gathered steam, Indira was
But madam Indira wouldnt just stop here asCooper judgment on the back foot and along came the judgement ofAllahabad
(Banknationalization) also had to be neutralized. Smarting from High Court convicting Indira of corrupt electoral practices.
this setback, Madam Indira (the parliament, herself) passed Election was declared null and void and 6 years ban to contest
24th CAA to neutralise GOLAKNATH judgement. But there election was imposed on her.
was also a small matter of reversing Copper judgment in bank • Supreme Court stayed it and allowed her to remain PM but not
nationalisation case so parliament passed 25th CAA. to draw salary or speak or vote in parliament.
1. Art 19f delinked from 31, in effect parliament deciding • Darkest chapter in democracy 21 month emergency was
compensation amount payable instead of courts. declared on 25th June 1975without even consulting cabinet
• A
rt 31c -inserted under which art 39b and c, most socialist of (44th amendment made it mandatory for the president to have
DPSPs (equitable distribution and prevention of concentration written advice of cabinet to declare emergency)
of wealth respectively) precede over 7 freedoms (art 19 ),
equality (14), property (31) Indira Gandhi wasnt to sit quiet. CAA 39th election of president,
• P
arliaments power to determine if policy is to give effect to 39b VP, PM and speaker beyond judicial review Clownish Rajnarayan
and c not subject to judicial review. challenged the CAA 39.
29th CAA had put Kerala land reform act under 9th schedule and Indira Gandhi v/s Raj Narain Case
his holiness challenged the provisions and all hell broke loose. For the 1st time Supreme Court applied basic structure doctrine
Now the 4th salvo and considered free and fair election and rule of law to be part
of basic structure.#amending act invalidated. Note here that
4 of the 5 judges on the bench had given dissenting judgment
in Bharati case but still applied the same doctrine forSupreme
Court judgment becomes law until overruled by bigger bench
(art 141). Then how did Indira continue to be prime minister and
contest election again and not get banned for 6 years? Supreme (lets call it 4th judges case),Supreme Court applied this doctrine,
court accepted retrospective amendment to electoral law i.e. many would say for wrong reasons to strike down the act and
electoral malpractice of Indira was no longer a corrupt practice. kept for itself the power to appoint brother judges.In the original
Find out for fun the charges against Mrs. Gandhi for which constitution only fetters on the power of parliament was art
she was convicted and what a popular British magazine had to 13. Relevance It was delivered at the time of single party rule
say about the judgement. Along came themini constitution i.e both at the centre and most of the states. In the era of coalition
42nd amendment act TO ELIMINATE IMPEDIMENTS TO THE politics no govt is going to wield so much power to destroy the
GROWTH OF THE CONSTITUTION constitution and then there is ever present danger oftyranny of
1. PART 4a fundamental duties unelected. But only legitimate way to overturn the verdict would
• S ocialist,secular and integrity word to preamble be a 15 judge bench so dont hold your breath for that. Now is the
• N ewDPSPhttps://www.civilsdaily.com/indepth-understanding- time for some thought questions #1. Consider these 2 statements
of-the-directive-principles-of-state-policy/s were added 1. Any LAW that is ordinary law violating provisions of
And for the purpose of this article amendment to article 368 constitution would be declared null and void to the extent of
nullifying basic structure doctrine by adding amendments cant be contravention.
challenged in courts and parliament possessing unlimited power • Any LAW violating art 13 would be declared null and void
of amendment Both statements are true..If amendments were not law, what was
1. All DPSPs to take precedence over all fundamental rights not the purpose of art 13 (2) other laws would anyway be declared
just 39b and 39c. unconstitutional! #2. Is basic structure doctrine relevant in
And Minerva Textile mills of Karnataka fired the 5th and the the present political scenario where no single party is unlikely
last salvo to enjoy majority in both the houses? #3. What should be the
limits to amending power of parliament? Do u think for very
Minerva Mills v Union of India substantial amendments instead of courts, people by way of
SC unanimously struck down amendment to article 368 referendum should determine whether amendment should
holdinglimited amending power and judicial review to be part go through or not? #4. Whatever happens tooriginal intent
of basic structure. Court held that constitution is founded on theorythat constitutional courts have to interpret constitution
thebedrock of balance b/w FRs and DPSPs. Goals set out by in accordance with the implied intentions of founding fathers
DPSPs have to be achieved without abrogation of means provided and there is enough evidence to suggest founding fathers
by FRs. Whats the logic? If a donee was vested with limited thoughtfully keptFRs sacrosanctto prevent their abrogation or
power, it could not be exercised to control that very power as we would see in a later article how supreme court by creative
power and convert into unlimited one. Or If a genie grants u 3 interpretation virtually changed procedure established by law
wishes, it is understood u can not, as one of the wish, ask for inart 21 to due process of lawwhile founding fathers deliberately
unlimited number of wishes! Janta govt comes to power and kept expression asprocedure established by law.
44thCAAdeletes art 31 (b) right to property and 19 (f) freedom to
acquire, hold and dispose of property as they were not considered Conclusion
part of basic structure Right to property now a constitutional • B
y restraining the amending powers of legislative organ of
right under art 300A. 9th schedule and judicial review State, it provided basic Rights to Citizens which no organ
of State can overrule. Being dynamic in nature, it is more
I.R.Coelho vs state of TN progressive and open to changes in time unlike the rigid nature
Supreme Court held that acts placed under 9th schedule after of earlier judgements.
basic structure subject would besubject to judicial review to the Mains question
extent of those acts violating basic structure of constitution.
Impact of basic structure doctrine. It certainly saved Indian
democracy from degenerating into authoritarian regime Q. What do you understand by basic structure of
during those testing times but it has also givenimmense untold constitution? Trace evolution of basic structure in India.
unbridled power to Supreme Courtand made it the most powerful
court in the world. As we would later see in theNJAC Verdict

”GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE” FOR VIBRANT DEMOCRACY
”Government of the people, by the people and

for the people” for vibrant democracy
Polity | GS2: Comparison Of The Indian Constitutional Scheme With That Of Other Countries
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Democratic credentials
• Th
e conceptual scheme takes into account not only the
electoral dimension (free and fair elections) but also the
liberal principle that democracy must protect individual and
minority rights
• The V-Dem report classifies countries into four regime types
based on their score in the Liberal Democratic Index (LDI):
a)Liberal Democracy b)Electoral Democracy c)Electoral
Autocracy and d)Closed Autocracy
Context
• G7 nations and partner countrieshttps://www.g7germany.
de/g7-en including India recently signed 2022 Resilient
democracies statement-We, the Leaders of Germany,
Argentina, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan,
Senegal, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United
States of America, and the European Union, affirm our Where do the Reports and Indices put India?
commitment to strengthening the resilience of our • S weden based Sweden-based V-Dem Institute was harsher in
democracies and to working towards equitable, inclusive and its latest report on democracy. It said India had become an
sustainable solutions to global challenges, including climate “electoral autocracy”
change and the COVID-19 pandemic, and reaffirm our • US-based non-profit Freedom House downgraded India from
commitment to the rules-based international order. a free democracy to a “partially free democracy”.
• India, described as a “flawed democracy”, slipped two places
How we define Democracy? to 53rd position in the latest Democracy Index published by
• Government of the people, by the people and for the people The Economist Intelligence Unit.
the words used by Abraham Lincoln in the year 1863 while
talking about democracy. Status of Supporters of Democracy
• D ecolonised African Countries:
Purpose of democracy • The number of African countries that have adopted
• Cornerstones of democracy include freedom of assembly, democratic systems of government has grown since
association, property rights, freedom of religion and decolonisation, the collapse of communism and the ending
speech, inclusiveness and equality, citizenship, consent of of a number of civil wars.
the governed, voting rights, freedom from unwarranted • Some countries, such as Ghana, are seen as resilient
governmental deprivation of the right to life and liberty, and democracies, while for others the democratic transition is
minority rights. more fragile, after months of pro-democracy protests in
2019 in Sudan, a civilian-led transitional government is now
paving the way for democracy after decades of military rule.
Democracy Report 2022 • India as example:
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/highlights-of-the- • India is the worlds largest democracy. India is staying as
democracy-report-2022/ one unit despite having vast no of cultures, languages and
• The study, titled Democracy Report 2022: Autocratisation religions. This is possible because of the democracy in India.
Changing Nature? states that more than twice as many • Minorities and disadvantaged sections are represented in
countries are undergoing Autocratisation as are witnessing parliament which enabled inclusive growth.
democratization.
• When India got independence, its economy was in shambles. What can be done to strengthen the
Extreme poverty, unemployment, food insecurity were democracies further?
the major problems before Indian government. But India’s • S trengthening public support: To protect freedom
democratic constitution successfully balanced development domestically and build support for a foreign policy that
and welfare of the country. protects democratic rights and values abroad, it is essential
• Now, India is one of the fastest growing economies in to foster a stronger public understanding of democratic
the world. principles, especially among young people. civic education is
necessary.
What critics arguing? • Rule of law: In order to maintain trust in public institutions,
• Democracy in crisis : Democracy is more in crisis than ever the principles of legality, legal certainty and prohibition of
before, with the onset of centralisation of power, with arbitrariness of the executive powers, judicial independence,
a foreign policy defying public opinion, with the media impartiality, and equality before the law need to be
centralised, and with corporate control of the economy respected.
tighter than ever. • Individual rights : Democracy entails the right of individuals
• Increasing polarity: Threatening world order is emerging, to participate in and influence the development of
which seeks to abrogate all individual rights and divide us society, with free and fair elections at its core. Without
along the extremist polarities that we thought had been an active turnout in elections and proper mechanisms for
neutralised. participation, the essence of democracy can be lost.
• Global Crisis: We move into this new stage of conict • Free speech: Free speech guard the freedom of expression
carrying the risk of a nuclear tragedy, further exacerbated and opinion, and affirmation of commitment to the very
by the collective buttressing of a global crisis of the novel idea of democracy and a move towards opposing oppression
coronavirus pandemic, uncontrollable ecological disasters, and violence
and food and water deciency.
• Populism: Blatant fascist leanings of the so-called Conclusion
democracies, and escalating hunger and disease in Africa • D
emocracy is always a work in progress. The key ingredients
and other parts of the under-developed world give enough of democracy are effective and accountable institutions, and
evidence that democracy faces serious issues of populism. leadership. Institutions build resilience by embedding norms
• Other global problems: Growing economic discrimination, and standards and bridging periods of weak leadership.
overpopulation and environmental degradation, Misgivings
about moral progress, about mutual understanding,
exacerbate the dismal situation that faces humanity.
RIGHT TO PRIVACY
Is Draft Telecommunications Bill, 2022 Flawless?

Polity | Mains Telecom Sectoe: Cyber Security
Prelims level : Right to Privacy
Mains level : Cyber security,Right to privacy,Technology
Context Background
• K
eeping an eye on the telecommunication regulatory • O ver two decades ago, allegations of surveillance against
framework Supreme Court issued substantive legal reform on politicians led to a CBI inquiry and report against V P Singhs
surveillance laws in India. Union government has published the government. The allegations revealed that imaginary reasons
Draft Telecommunications Bill, 2022 to replace the Telegraph were given for ordering phone tapping without authorization.
Act, 1885. • Last years, many publications reported that phones of several
dozen Indian journalists, lawyers and human rights activists
had been compromised using an invasive Israeli-developed
malware called Pegasus.

What is Draft Telecommunications Bill, 2022?
• Th
e draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 is an attempt by
the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to consolidate
various legislations presently governing the telecommunication
landscape in India.
• Th
e Bill seeks to replace three laws, the Indian Telegraph
Act, 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and the
Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950.
• Th
e new regulatory framework is to bring the law at par with
technological advancements and remove obsolete provisions How the loopholes in the current system breaching
from the colonial era laws.
the Data Privacy?h
• N o comprehensive data Protection Law:
What are the current laws governing • No comprehensive data protection law leaving ambiguities over
communication surveillance in India? several laws.
Communication surveillance in India takes place primarily • A comprehensive data protection law to address the gaps in
under two laws: existing frameworks for surveillance is yet to enact.
• T elegraph Act, 1885 :It deals with interception of calls. • Unaccountable, opaque exercise of surveillance:
• C all interception: Under Section 5(2) of this law, the • The Telegraph Act contains broad and excessive powers of
government can intercept calls only in certain situations. interception and surveillance of communications carried out
• F or sovereignty: They include the interests of the sovereignty through any telegraph.
and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly • The surveillance power is principally contained under Section
relations with foreign states or public order, or for preventing 5(2), and has resulted in an unaccountable, opaque and
incitement to the commission of an offense. unconstitutional exercise of surveillance that has led to
• F ree speech restrictions: These are the same restrictions accusations across the political spectrum.
imposed on free speech under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. • Less transparency:
• E xceptions for journalists: A provision in Section 5(2) states • Ministry of Home Affairs refuses to disclose even aggregate
that even this lawful interception cannot take place against data on the number of surveillance orders issued by it each year
journalists. illegally gathered evidence is being sought to prosecute people.
• I nformation Technology Act, 2000: It was enacted to deal • For instance, the Bombay High Court about three years ago
with surveillance of all electronic communication, following the noted in a case that premier investigating agencies such as the
Supreme Courts intervention in 1996. CBI have used, interception orders (that) neither have sanction
• E lectronic surveillance: Section 69 of the IT Act and the IT of law nor issued for legitimate aim.
(Procedure for Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring, and
Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009 were enacted to further Key features of the Draft Telecommunications
the legal framework for electronic surveillance.
• D ata interception: Under the IT Act, all electronic transmission Bill, 2022
of data can be intercepted. • B road Definitions:
• S ection 69 of the IT Act adds another aspect that makes it • The Bill introduces a broad definition of ‘telecommunication
broader interception, monitoring, and decryption of digital services’.
information for the investigation of an offense. • It now includes internet-based services, in-flight and maritime
connectivity, interpersonal communications services, machine
to machine communication services, and over-the-top (OTT)
based communication services that are made available to users
by telecommunication
• KYC and caller id requirements:
• The Bill requires licensed entities to ensure that they identify
the persons to whom they provide telecommunication services.
• The Bill places an obligation on telecommunication service
providers to do this through a ‘verifiable mode’, as prescribed
by the government.
• L
icensing, registration, and authorization: • U nchecked use of State powers: The Bill gives broad powers
• U
nder the Bill, four types of permissions are identified - license, to the central government in prescribed situations without
registration, authorization and assignment. any accompanying checks and balances. The Bill empowers
• W
hile the Bill does not differentiate between the four types the central and state government to intercept messages in the
of permissions, it clarifies that a license is only required interest of public safety and emergency without the providing
for providing telecommunication services or operating clearly defined guardrails for it.
telecommunication networks • Undefined National security: The term, national security is
• W
ide ranging powers of Central Government: left undefined and does not match constitutional precedent
• Th
e Bill includes wide-ranging powers for the central and state or text which instead uses the phrase,in the interests of the
governments in the event of a public emergency or in interest security of state
of public safety. • Users Less choice in the privacy and security of their digital
• Th
ese powers include taking temporary possession of any footprint:
telecommunication services, suspension of transmission in • Power to prescribe standards under Clause 23, which may result
cases of public emergency, interception/detainment/disclosure in regulations as recently issued by the Computer Emergency
of messages, suspension of communications, or otherwise Response Team (CERT-In) that have resulted in the closure of
transmit certain announcements for public safety and national servers or services by leading, global VPN providers such as
security purposes. Proton and TunnelBear.
• U
ser protection and duties: User has been declared as an • All of this practically means that users will have less choice
important policy objective of the Government. It places a duty in the privacy and security of their digital footprint, as these
on users to not furnish false information, suppress material powers will lead to requirements to locally register and host
information or impersonate others when proving identity to data, and comply with requirements to identify users (KYC
avail telecommunication services. requirements).
• O
ffences and penalties : Any offence under the Bill may
be punished with a fine, imprisonment, suspension of Conclusion
telecommunication services or a combination of the above. • Th
ere should be some reasonable basis or some tangible
For companies, the employees who were responsible for the evidence to initiate or seek approval for interception by
conduct or the business relating to the offence at the time the State authorities. Any digression from the ethical and legal
offence was committed will be punished. parameters set by law would be tantamount to a deliberate
• D
ispute resolution mechanism : The Bill provides for the invasion of citizens.
right of appeal before the appellate authority. It also creates
an enabling provision for the Central Government to set up an Mains Question
alternate dispute resolution mechanism such as arbitration,
mediation or other processes of dispute resolution
Q. Any deviation from the moral and legal parameters set
by the law would amount to a deliberate attack on citizens.
What are Concerns over the Draft In this context discuss the data privacy of citizens in the
era of massive expansion of internet and mobile usage.
Telecommunication bill, 2022?
• R
egulatory overlaps: The broad of the definition of
‘telecommunication services’ include OTT communication
platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal among others,
may potentially lead to regulatory or jurisdictional overlaps.

INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
FOREIGN POLICY WATCH: INDIA-BANGLADESH
India Bangladesh Relations

International Relations | GS2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : bilateral ties
• It is set to become the Gateway of North East with access

to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 kms
from Sabroom.
(2) Connectivity
• P erhaps on top of the list is connectivity between India’s
mainland and the crucial northeast, which is part of India’s
Look East Policy.
• The only connection betweenIndia’s mainland and the
northeastwas the Chickens Neck a narrow strip of land that has
always been a huge security concern.
Context • India and Bangladesh have signed several pacts, so India
• B
angladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s four-day visit to India to boost can actually send goods and passengers over land across
bilateral ties. Bangladesh,connecting Bengal to Tripura.
• In December 2020, Modi met Bangladeshi Prime Minister
India-Bangladesh ties background Sheikh Hasina duringwhich both leaders agreed to revive the
• I ndia’s links with Bangladesh are civilization, cultural, social trans-border railway link connecting India’s Chilahati and
and economic. Bangladeshs Haldibari.
• Th
ere is much that unites the two countries a shared history • Agreed to an early operationalization of the Bangladesh-
and common heritage, linguistic and cultural ties, passion for Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) initiative Motor Vehicles
music, literature and the arts. Agreement through the expeditious signing of the
• I ndia was one of the first countries, along with Bhutan, to Enabling MoU
recognise Bangladesh as a sovereign state on 6 December 1971. • The second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit
• I t is also worth recalling that India shares its longest border of and Trade (PIWTT) was signed recently
4,096.7 kilometres with Bangladesh, which is also the fifth- • Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala Bus Service also launched in 2015.
longest border in the contemporary world. This reduced the distance between Kolkata and Agartala from
• I ndia was one of the first countries, along with Bhutan, to 1,650 km to just 500 km.
recognise Bangladesh as a sovereign state on 6 December 1971.
(3) Security
• Th
e other big security concern for India is that Bangladesh
should not turn into the frontline of radical terror in the
southeast.
• Bangladesh could turn into a launchpad for religious radical
terror activities in India.
• India’s relationship with Bangladesh is also linked to its
relationship with China.
• India did not want Bangladesh to become a pearl in Chinas
String of Pearls strategy to hem in India by using its
neighbours.
(4) Trade
What are its various dimensions? • E conomic Ties : The geographical proximity of India to
Bangladesh has made it one of its biggest trading partners.
(1) Geopolitics Bangladesh is the 6thlargest trade partner of India.
• F rom the perspective of India’s Northeast, Bangladesh is India’s • India has provided duty free quota free access to Bangladesh
most strategic neighbour, whom New Delhi cannot ever afford on all tariff lines except tobacco and alcohol under South
to ignore. Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) since 2011.
• I ndia’s dream of Act East Policy can only be materialized with • The bilateral trade between two countries has jumped to USD
the helping hands of Dhaka. 18.2 billion in 2021-22 as compared to USD 10.8 billion
• Th
e bridge Maitri Setu has been built over the Feni River in 2020-21.
which flows between the Indian boundary in Tripura State and • 6 Border Haats (4 in Meghalaya and 2 in Tripura), have been
Bangladesh. approved by the Indian and Bangladesh governments.

(5) Financial assistance • Solidarity at global platforms like UNSC, working together in
• I ndia has extended its hand of friendship whenever Bangladesh achieving SDGs
faced crises. • Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic
• I ndia offered lines of credit worth about $10 billion to participation of Bangladesh in SAARC leaders Video
Bangladesh as part of development assistance, which includes Conference in March 2020 and for creation of the SAARC
setting up orphanages, cultural centres, and educational Emergency Response Fund to counter effects of the global
institutions. pandemic in the South Asian region.
• I ndia has also simplified the visa process for Bangladeshi
tourists and 1.5 million visas were issued in 2019. (9)Sharing of River Waters:
• D uring the coronavirus crisis, India provided medical training India and Bangladesh share54common rivers. TheGanga Waters
to Bangladeshi professionals, test kits and medicines, beside Treatysigned in 1996 for sharing of waters of river Ganga during
the dispatch of vaccine consignments. lean season (January 1-May 31). Most recently, theKushiyara
Pactwas signed that will benefit people inSouthern Assamand
(6) Security theSylhet region in Bangladesh.
• Th
e successful security cooperation between the nations
resulted in tackling militancy in Bangladesh. There are few irritants as well
• I ndia’s efforts to contain the militant group Jamaat-ul-
Mujahideen Bangladeshs activities are an example of
(1) Illegal migration
engagement on this front.
• Th
is has always been a primary problem for India since the
partition of Bengal.
(7) Settlement of boundaries • In view of this, recently, the Supreme Court asked the Centre
• Th
e resolution of land and maritime boundaries disputes is one complete the fencing of the India-Bangladesh border soon to
of the major highlights of the bilateral ties. check illegal immigration from Bangladesh into Assam.
• A
fter a ruling by the United Nations, India agreed to give up
around 19,467 km in the Bay of Bengal without challenging the
(2) Dragon is the elephant in room
decision, a move that gave great access to Bangladesh to the
• I n 2016 when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Bangladesh,
resource-rich sea.
the smaller country agreed to join the OBOR.
• Th
e Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) signed between both
• Bangladesh is increasingly tilting towards China due to the
nations in 2015 facilitated the transfer of 111 enclaves.
Asian giants massive trade, infrastructural and defence
• A
ccording to the historic agreement, Bangladesh received
investments in these countries.
more than 17,000 acres from India and gave up over 7,000
• In spite of its Neighbourhood First Policy, India has been losing
acres to India.
its influence in the region to China.
(8)Co-operation in multilateral platforms

(3) NRC conundrum
embers of major regional organisations like South Asian
• M
• Th
e National Register of Citizens (NRC) has left out 1.9
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the
million Assamese from the list with a group labelled as illegal
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and
immigrants from Bangladesh living in Assam post-1971.
Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
• India plans to seek their repatriation to Bangladesh.
• B
angladesh remains firm in its stance that no migrants • A neutral Bangladesh thus ensures containment of an assertive
travelled to Assam illegally during the 1971 war of China in this region.
independence and that the controversial NRC risks hurting
relations. (4) Fight against terror
• B angladesh has emerged as a key element in sub-regional
(4) Rohingya Issue connectivity initiatives with Pakistan refusing to play ball
• Th
e Rohingya issue and India’s remarks in 2017 on the issue rendering SAARC ineffective.
have been upsetting for Bangladesh which has been facing the • In 2016, when India decided to skip the SAARC Summit in
challenge of providing shelter to more than a million refugees Islamabad following a spike in cross-border terror attacks,
fleeing persecution. Bangladesh and Bhutan wasted no time in joining ranks in
solidarity with India.
(5) River disputes
• T
eesta River Water Dispute: Teesta river flows from India to Significance of the recent visit:
the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh. Almost half a dozen • I ndia is a time-tested partner of Bangladesh in all aspects as
districts in West Bengal are dependent on this river. It is also declared by Ms Hasina.
a major source of irrigation to the paddy growing greater • This is a golden period in the relationship between India and
Rangpur region of Bangladesh. Bangladesh as diplomatic relations have completed 50 years
• B
angladesh complains that it does not get a fair share of the since 1971.
water. Since water is a state subject in India, the bottleneck • India and Bangladesh are going to sign MoU on sharing the
lies in the non-consensus between the state government of Kushiyara river.
Bengal and central government • This was finalized in the38th Ministerial level meeting of the
eanwhile, no treaty has been signed yet to resolve the
• M India-Bangladesh Joint River Commissionthat was held in
Teesta water-sharing dispute between the two nations. New Delhi.
• It is an important area of bilateral relations as both the
Why India still needs Bangladesh? countries share 54 rives.
• Both countries are working hard to evolve a strategy for
equitable distribution of river water.
(1) South Asian geopolitics • India has also agreed to share real-time data on floods. It is a
• B angladesh has emerged as one of India’s closest partners very essential step in reducing the human and economic costs
and second to Bhutan in South Asia.The role of Bangladesh is associated with natural disasters.
critical for India’s Act East Policy. • The visit of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh will add more
• I ndia counts on Dhakas support in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India substance to the relationship and take it to new heights.
and Nepal (BBIN) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-
Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
initiatives. Way Forward
• Th
ese collectively complement New Delhis Southeast • A ddressing Teesta River Water Dispute: To establish a
Asia outreach. consensus towards demarcating the extent of teesta river
water sharing and reaching a mutual agreement, both the
Bengal government and the central government should work
(2) Connectivity together with mutual understanding and signalcooperative
federalism.
• Better Connectivity : There is a need to enhance connectivity
in the region through strengthening cooperation in coastal
connectivity, road, rail and inland waterways.
• Energy Security: As the global energy crisis continues to rise,
it is imperative that India and Bangladesh cooperate in making
use of clean and green energy in order to make South Asia
Energy self-sufficient.
• India Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline: This project is being
undertaken through ground and once completed will help in
the movement of high speed diesel to Northern Bangladesh
from India.
• Bangladesh has acknowledgedIndian Oil Corporation Limited
as a registered government to government supply of refined
petroleum products.
• B
angladeshs location is a strategic wedge between mainland
• Shifting Focus Towards Comprehensive Economic
India and NE seven states. Each of these states is land-locked
Partnership Agreement (CEPA): Bangladesh will graduate
and has shorter route to the sea through Bangladesh.
from a Less Developed Country (LDC) to a developing country
• T
ransit agreement with Bangladesh will spur the socio-
by 2026 and will no longer be entitled to trade and other
economic development of North-East India.
benefits that are accorded to LDCs under international and
regional trading agreements.
(3) Countering China • Through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership
• B
angladesh uses China card to supplement its bargaining Agreement (CEPA), Bangladesh will be able to manage
capacity against India. this transition and preserve its trade privileges. It will also
strengthen economic ties between India and Bangladesh.

• C
ountering Chinas Influence: Assisting Bangladesh with • Tackling the Refugee Crisis: India and Bangladesh can take
Nuclear technology, Artificial intelligence, Modern farming the lead in encouraging other countries in the South Asia
techniques, and flood data exchange will further strengthen Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to develop
India’s relationship with Bangladesh and help India in a SAARC declaration on refugees, laying down a specific
countering Chinas influence to a greater extent. procedures for determining status of refugee and economic
migrants.
G20 : ECONOMIC COOPERATION AHEAD
G20 summit will open pandora of opportunities

Prelims level : members of G20
Mains level : opportunities for India
India and the presidency of G20 summit

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/g20/
• I n November this year, the 17th G20 Heads of State and

Context Government Summit will take place in Bali.
• India is going to be at the centre stage of geopolitical
• After Indonesia, India will assume the presidency of the G20
spectrum as India will be hosting G20 summit presidency
from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023.
from December 2022. As Harsh V. Shringla, India’s chief G20
• By hosting the summit of the G20, India will have the
coordinator and former Foreign Secretary, (Amitabh kant
opportunity to assume centre stage in proposing and setting
is G20 Sherpa of India) recently said, Our G20 Presidency
the global agenda and discourse.
would place India on the global stage, and provide an
• India can assert its political, economic and intellectual
opportunity for India to place its priorities and narratives
leadership while hosting the G20 presidency.
on the global agenda.
• Further it Provides India an opportunity to also champion
the causes of developing and least developed countries.
What is G20 (Group of Twenty)? • India could invite and engage countries from Africa
• Composed of most of the worlds largest economies: and South America to ensure better and more balanced
19 countries plus European Union, including both representation at the G20.
industrialized and developing nations. Together, its
members represent more than 80% of the worlds GDP, 75%
of international trade and 60% of the worlds population.
• Role: To address major issues related to theglobal economy
such as internationalfinancial stability, climate change
mitigation, andsustainable development.
• It is an Intergovernmental forum.
• Strategic role : The G20 holds a strategic role in securing
global economic growth and prosperity.
Challenges before India: Why G20 summit presidency is an opportunity
for India?
Global • I ndia exchange the G20 presidency with Indonesia and chose
• World affected by the pandemic: Uneven vaccine availability 2023 instead of 2022 to host the G20 countries.
has been flagged by many countries. Vaccine issue upset • India wanted to showcase its prowess in its 75th year
some countries. of independence as cornerstone of new emerging world
• Ukraine conflict: According to external affairs ministers order. As India is part of Quad and SCO BRICS -the warring
Dr.S.Jaishankar due to Ukraine conflict world is divided factions at world stage, its an opportunity in crisis to
and this poses the challenge for India to bring rival camp on become the bridge of the divided world.
same stage • India is hosting the summit in Kashmir. World media will
• Climate change: Divergent view of developed and developing be in the Kashmir. In the direct message to world India will
countries on climate change can be the bone of contention again assert that Kashmir is an integral part of India.
between west and the rest.
• The rise of an assertive China: To maintain the delicate Way ahead
balance between NATO, G7 on the on hand while Russia and • A s India will be hosting G20 and SCO summits, India will
china on the other (as India is part of both QUAD and SCO). be central in outlining key priority areas. India can assert
its political, economic and intellectual leadership which will
Domestic have to address issues that help in cement the Fault-line in
• Economic challenges: Such as stagflation, unemployment, the world order.
exchange rate, declining prospects for exports and rising • India’s leadership could define the coming years and decades
trade deficit. of global discourse and avenues of cooperation.
• Terrorism: Cross border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
Other related Information
Indonesia has focused on three key pillars in its
presidency of G20 presidency: SCO (Shanghai Co-operation Organization):
• Global health architecture : president of Indonesia Joko • Th
eShanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) is
Widodo talked about a global contingency fund for medical aEurasianpolitical,economicandsecurityorganization. It is
supplies, building capacity in developing countries to the world’s largestregional organization, 40% of the world
manufacture vaccines and the creation of global health population, and more than 30% of globalGDP.
protocols and standards. • Members: The Shanghai Five group was created on 26 April
• Sustainable energy transition: as part of its roadmap 1996; China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan,
to reach net zero by 2060, Indonesia had slashed the Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.
coverage area of forest fires sevenfold. The country has
restored peatlands and rehabilitated 50,000 hectares of QUAD:
mangrove forests. • K nown as the ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’ (QSD),
• Digital transformation the Quad is an informal strategic forum comprising four
nations, namely - United States of America (USA), India,
What India can address? Australia and Japan.
• Issues of global concern: Terrorism, climate change, • One of the primary objectives of the Quad is to work for a
stagflation etc. free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
• Domestic and regional : economic recovery, trade and
investment, unemployment, patent waivers on diagnostics, G7:
therapeutics, vaccines etc. • Th
eGroup of Seven(G7) is aninter-governmental political
• Greater co-operation and co-ordination: free trade forum consisting ofCanada, France Germany,Italy,Japan,
agreements, supply chain resilience mechanism, stressing theUnited Kingdomand theUnited States. In addition,
on green and digital transformations in the economy and its theEuropean Unionis a ‘non-enumerated member.
impact on societal well-being.
• Other important Areas :such as technology transfer, Mains Question
assistance towards green economy, greater access to trade
for developing countries, addressing debt distress of
Q. India can take advantage of G20 for its economic
countries by offering sustainable aid and loan programmes, growth and security architecture. Discuss.
tackling food and energy prices/security for vulnerable
economies etc.

FOREIGN POLICY WATCH: INDIA-CHINA
Why the India China Border situation is still risky?

International Relations | GS2: India & Its Neighborhood - Relations
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : border security
• Un-resolve areas: India and China have tacitly agreed to

postpone settlement at two other confrontation sites,
particularly tactically valuable area known as Depsangand
Charding Nala regions.
• Persisting threat: The reinforcements that each side deployed
since 2020 have not returned to garrison. Even if future rounds
of talks continue disengagement and de-escalation, and reduce
those forces, returning to the status quo ante is now impossible.
• Border infrastructure: Both sides on India China border are
racing towards building permanent military infrastructure
near the border, to help them surge forces to the border.
Unsurprisingly, China seems to have outpaced India in building
these roads, helipads, and communications nodes.
• Possibility of conflict: The increasing capabilities and mobility
on both sides of the border means that a crisis can more quickly
Context escalate to a large military stand-o anywhere on the LAC, and
• A
ccording to the consensus reached in the 16th round of
possibly even trigger a conflict
India China Corps Commander Level Meeting, the Indian and
Chinese troops in the area of Gogra-Hotsprings (PP-15) have
begun to disengage in a coordinated and planned way. With
disengagement at PP 15 India China border, forces of the two
countries have disengaged at all friction points in the region
which included the North and South banks of thePangong
Tsohttps://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-china-
conflict-in-ladakh-the-importance-of-the-pangong-tso-
lake-6419377/, PP 14, PP 15 and PP 17A.
What are the Strategic implications?

• C hanging priorities: India has reassigned one of three
originally Pakistan-facing Strike Corps to the China front.
It has deployed its newest artillery, jets, and drones to the
China border.
• Unattended Indian Ocean: India has not yet improved its
capabilities or posture in the Indian Ocean region significantly.
• Diversion from real threat: With the border crisis, China
seems to have successfully xed India’s gaze to the land border,
Why the India-China Border situation is
at the expense of that more consequential competition over the
still risky? Indian Ocean.
The tentative conciliatory steps between two nuclear-armed rivals • Loss of grazing : Ladakhs elected representatives said the
are important; but they also carry risks, especially for India. The disengagement has caused loss of huge grazing land as it would
risks are as follows: now be converted into no mans land.
• U
neasy peace: Despite the latest round of disengagement, the
LAC remains deeply unsettled. Observers have pointed out that
the buer zones produced by the crisis inhibit India’s ability to
patrol its own territory.
• D efence India Start-up Challenge (DISC): Started by the
defence ministry and over 1200 MSMEs participated in the
fourth edition of the DISC in 2020. The government has
prepared a negative list, it include light combat helicopters,
artillery guns; these items will not be imported by anyone thus
encouraging self-reliant India.
• The SRIJAN portal: Launched to facilitate the two initiatives,
Atmanirbhar Bharat and make in India
• Sagarmala project : The sagarmala project has been started
to revamp port Infrastructure which is a welcome step in
modernization.
Conclusion
• F
or china Deception is diplomacy. Time and again China tries
Steps taken by India
a deception strategy from its Confucius doctrine to defeat its
• I ncreasing capability: from cruise missile-equipped ghter jets
enemy. From 1962 to 2022 India has made a lot of progress in
and U.S.-origin naval helicopters to a brand-new indigenously-
military and economic sphere but China is way ahead than us.
built aircraft carrier.
Strategic competition between two Asian giants will continue
• A tmanirbhar Bharat: India undertook several structural
foreseeable future. So as long as India doesnt gain domestic
economic reforms for strengthening domestic capability and
capabilities it would be prudent step to undertake strategic
reducing the economic parity between two nations. Defence
balancing.
ministry has decided to increase CAB (capital acquisition
budget), around 64% of modernization fund around 70000 cr. Mains Question
has been allocated for purchasing from domestic market. Atma Q. India has decided to maintain a strategic balance with
Nirbhar Bharat and Make in India mission will also include china rather than being subsidiary to china. Discuss.
Defence sector, we can see the local or private companies can
also participate in procurement of defence equipment
NUCLEAR DIPLOMACY AND DISARMAMENT
Strong nuclear diplomacy brings opportunities for India

International Relations | GS2: Important International Institutions,International Institutions
Prelims level : credible minimum deterrence’
Mains level : Nuclear diplomacy and foreign policy
Definition of nuclear diplomacy

• N
uclear diplomacy deals with prevention of nuclear war and
peacetime proliferation. It also deals with the use of threat of
nuclear warfare to achieve diplomatic goals.
Context
• Th
e return of nuclear weapons on the global platform. After
1998, India premised its strategy on building credible minimum
deterrence. The time has come to reflect on what is credible
and redefine what minimum might be to strengthen nuclear
diplomacy.

Theme of article • N uclear weapons provide an overwhelmingly destructive force
• I ndia, one of the worlds nuclear weapon powers, ought to that increases a states relative power in comparison to its
be paying a lot more attention to the international nuclear neighbours.
discourse that is acquiring new dimensions and taking a fresh • It provides a powerful tool in an anarchic system where
look at its own civilian and military nuclear programmes. superpowers dominate other nation-states sovereignty.
• N uclear cooperation has brought a new dimension to India’s • Hence weaponizing helps establish a deterrence to prevent war.
nuclear diplomacy in the 21st India’s status as a responsible
nuclear power is predicated upon the civil relationships in the Why relook is needed?
nuclear domain that it has established with major powers. • P ossessing nuclear weapons can confer India increased
leverage to conduct foreign policy in both regional and
What is credible minimum deterrence? https://www. international contexts.
civilsdaily.com/news/explained-India’s-doctrine- • There are two ways in which the possession of nuclear weapons
can affect a states conduct of foreign policy and diplomacy.
of-nuclear-no-first-use/ • The first involves military and strategic signalling. This includes
• C
redible minimum deterrence is the principle on which military-oriented functions of deterrence, coercion, and
India’s nuclear diplomacy is based. It underlines no first brinkmanship.
use (NFU) with an assured second strike capability and falls • The second, deals with non-military affairs.
under minimal deterrence, as opposed to mutually assured
destruction.
Way forward
• I t should be noted that India’s quest to be a responsible nuclear
state has given it considerable diplomatic capital in the West.
• It would be unfortunate for India to squander such gain owing
to the lack of carefully considered foreign policy that leverages
its nuclear status for its national interest.
Conclusion
• I ndia’s civil nuclear engagements with the global community
have strengthened its position in the global civil nuclear order,
there is a need for the country to push for greater engagements
with more key suppliers and stakeholders to fulfill its military
nuclear potential and assert its status as a responsible
nuclear state.
Mains question
Q. India has been a nuclear weapons state for 22
years. Has this affected India’s foreign policy in a
direct manner? Express your views in context of the
return of nuclear weapons on the global platform.
Why do countries proliferate nuclear weapons?

• P
roliferation models centred on security concerns or dilemmas
dominate nuclear literature.
FOREIGN POLICY WATCH- INDIA-CENTRAL ASIA
What is India’s current policy of multi

alignment? Advantages and challenges
Prelims level : non alignment movement
Mains level : foreign policy
• Non-alignment means not having an alliance with any of

superpower, either USSR or USA. Decolonized nations of Asia
and Africa was largely a part of this group.
Context
• F
orthcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan is leading India to multi
alignment.
Background
• I ndia’s journey of foreign policy from being the founder of
non-alignment to the multi-alignment. In his book The India
Way, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar offers a critique
of India’s traditional policy of non-alignment, where he
distinguishes between the optimistic non- alignment of the
past, which he feels has failed, that must give way to more
realistic multiple engagements of the future.
Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO)

• S CO is a Eurasian political, economic and security organization. India’s policy of non-alignment
• I t is the world’s largest regional organization, • A t bandung conference in 1955 non-alignment movement
• 4
0% of the world population started with India as one of the founding member.
• M
ore than 30% of global GDP. • With policy of non-alignment India refused to gravitate towards
• M
embers: 8-China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and USA or USSR.
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan. • India was the leader of non-alignment.
SCO SUMIIT, 2022https://www.civilsdaily.com/ What is India’s current policy of multi- alignment?

news/shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco/ Advantages and challenges.
• H
ost- Uzbekistan, • S ince the start of his tenure from 2014, Prime Minister
• U
zbekistan will host a full house: 15 leaders including eight Narendra Modi have not attended any conference of
member states from four Central Asian States, China, India, non-alignment.
Pakistan and Russia, • External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in his book, The
• Th
e observer states: Belarus, Mongolia and Iran (which will Indian way have criticized the non-alignment.
become member this year) • In the words of Former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale India is
• A
fghanistan is not invited no longer the non-align nation.
• L
eaders of guest countries -Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and
Turkmenistan How it is a Multi alignment policy?
• I ndia to truly multi aligned or all aligned by being a part of
What is non- alignment? every major grouping.
• I ts a policy, a brainchild of Nehru. Non-alignment movement • India is a part of BRICS and Prime Minister Modi is attending
emerged after second world war. the SCO SUMMIT in Samarkand.
• On parallel to rival groups India is also the part of Quad and
Indo pacific economic framework.

• I ndia is buying the discounted Russian oil and reusing to buckle Disadvantages
under pressure from west and USA. • M ajor disadvantage of non-alignment is you no longer have
• S -400 purchase is happening and India have dodged the bullet influence over adverse policy of friendly country.
of sanctions from USA. • For example. Russia sells S-400 to India but it also sold the
• I ndia is choosing the bilateral Free trade agreement like with same weapon to china.
Australia and UAE and withdrew from groupings like RCEP and • USA and India are strategically getting closer day by day but
Most recently IPEF. This policy are is said to be in the economic USA recently approved the sale of $450 million F-16 fighter jets
interest of India. to Pakistan.
Advantages of Multi alignment Conclusion

• I ndia no longer wants to repeat the mistake of missing out of • M ulti alignment will serve India its best national interest.
P5 Security council (“Permanent membership in the Security • So far India has managed the rival parties at world stage to
Council was granted to five states based on their importance in secure its foreign policy objectives but with Russian aggression
the aftermath of World War II). and Chinese assertion and divided world will pose a significant
• I f any group work against your interest it is better to be part of challenge to India’s multi alignment policy.
group rather than remain outside and do nothing
• W ith retreating USA and its collapsing hegemony world is Mains question
moving towards multiple polar world order. Q. What do you understand by non-alignment and
multi-alignment? Analyze the shift In India’s foreign
policy from non-alignment to multi-alignment.
FOREIGN POLICY WATCH: INDIA-ASEAN
Geopolitics follows the geoeconomics and not vice-versa

International Relations | GS2: India & Its Neighborhood - Relations,International Institutions
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : international relations
Context • Which has ensured that the Association of Southeast Asian

• O
ver the recent years India’s manoeuvres in indo-pacific have Nations (ASEAN) states do not feel uneasy by the ever-
highlighted the India’s geopolitical and ambitions. Pandemic increasing balance of power articulations in the Indo-Pacific
and Chinese incursion in Ladakh forced India to move fast to
achieve its geopolitical ends. However missing link in India’s
endeavour is geoeconomics.
What is mean by geopolitics and geo-economics?

• G
eopolitics: is defined as the struggle over the control
of geographical entities with an international and global
dimension, and the use of such geographical entities for
political advantage.
• G
eo-economics: is defined as the combination of economic
and geographic factors relating to international trade and a
governmental policy guided by geoeconomics.
• G
eopolitics and geoeconomics are sometimes used
interchangeably. What is the missing link in India’s
geopolitical strategy?
What is the strategy to pursue geopolitical goals • Th
e missing link in geoeconomics is India’s decision to take to
in indo-pacific? the Indo-Pacic and Quad in a big way.
• I ndia has managed to emerge as a major pivot of the global • While unwilling to join two of the regions key multilateral
Indo-Pacic grand strategic imagination. trading agreements goes to show that geoeconomics and
• A voided the temptations to militarise/securitise the Quad geopolitics are imagined and pursued parallelly in New Delhi,
(Australia, Japan, India and the United States). not as complimenting each other.
• Th
e most recent example is India’s refusal to join the trade pillar economically, and the more China does so, and given the Sino-
of the Indo-Pacic Economic Framework (IPEF) while deciding Indian rivalry, India might risk getting economically isolated in
to join the three other pillars of the IPEF supply chains, tax and the broader region.
anti-corruption, and clean energy.
What can be done?
India also withdrew from ASEAN • N ew Delhi should: rethink its geoeconomic choices if it is
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/back-in-news-india-asean- serious about enhancing its geopolitical inuence in the region.
relations/ led Given that India has not closed the door on the trade pillar of
the IPEF, we have an opportunity to rethink our position.
RCEP. • India should: also rethink its decision not to join the RECP and
https://www.civilsdaily.com/story/regional-comprehensive- seek to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for
economic-partnership-rcep/ Trans-Pacic Partnership (CPTPP) from which the U.S. walked
out and China is seeking to join.
• India should: also proactively lobby to become a part of
Is the lack of geoeconomic bad for foreign policy? the Minerals Security Partnership, the U.S.-led 11-member
• Th
e absence of the worlds fifth largest economy from various grouping to secure supply chains of critical minerals.
regional trading platforms will invariably boost Chinas geo-
economic hegemony in Asia.
• S taying out of IPEF is a bad idea is because for India, it would Conclusion
be hard to integrate itself into the regional and global supply • I n the words of external affairs minister Dr. Jaishankar,
chains without being a part of important regional multilateral geopolitics follows the geoeconomics and not vice-versa.
trading agreements. Geoeconomics is inclusive of geoeconomics. India should
• W e have no option but to address some of the deeper challenges integrate itself in multilateral trading platforms and leverage its
plaguing the investment and business environment in India. big market to bargain the best deal for itself.
• I f India is indeed serious about its maritime grand strategy, Mains question
which cannot be solely military in nature, it needs to get Q. India’s pursuit of geopolitics is futile without
the states in the region to create economic stakes in India inclusion of geoeconomics. Comment.
(something China has done cleverly and consistently) and
vice-versa.
• A nother impact of India’s hesitation about joining regional
multilateral trading arrangements is its potential regional
economic isolation. The less India engages with the region
SOFT POWER, THE NEW RACE EVERY COUNTRY WANTS TO WIN
Soft power, the new race every country wants to win

International Relations | GS2: Effect Of Policies & Politics Of World On India’S Interests
Prelims level : na
Mains level : Soft power
• India’s medal tally at recent International sports events

demonstrate the countrys soft power on the global stage
and encourage working towards the status of a great
geopolitical actor.
What is soft power? https://www.bridgeindia.org.

uk/the-rise-of-india-as-a-global-soft-power/
• O rigin:
• As far back as the 4th century BC, Kautilya (chankyaniti) had
Context propounded the concept of Saam(advice or cajole),daam(pay
• I ncreased interest, especially by smaller nations in the world, or bribe),dand(punish),bhed(exploit secrets) which acquired
in investing more and doing well in elite sports in international western touch and can be understood by Soft power, smart
sporting events boosts a nations chances of attaining power, hard power, and sharp power respectively.
soft power.

• J oseph Nye introduced the concept of “soft power” in the late • Dongfeng Liu (International Professor of Sport Management)
1980s. For Nye, power is the ability to influence the behavior of in his survey on Chinas performance in the Olympics he found
others to get the outcomes you want. that a countrys Olympic achievement has a positive effect on its
• M eaning: national soft power.
• S oft power is the ability of a country to persuade others to do • As china is a communist country and reputation about human
what it wants without force or coercion. rights is not good, so China uses its superiority in elite sports
• S oft power is the ability to influence the behavior of others to to build people-to-people relations with other countries. For
get the outcomes you want. example, athletes from African countries such as Madagascar
are trained in swimming, badminton, table tennis, etc. in
China, which helps Beijing create a positive impact on a wider
population and result in better formal relations as well.
• There is also Chinas memorandum of understanding with
countries such as Kenya so that Chinese runners can train with
Kenyan athletes, as they are among the best in the world when
it comes to long-distance running.
Why Soft power is so significant?https://www.

civilsdaily.com/sansad-tv-perspective-yoga-
India’s-soft-power/
Use of Soft Power includes the number of cultural missions
such as language schools, Olympic Medals and the quality of a
countrys overall growth. Soft power produces following things:
• F amiliarity : If people know more about your country, culture,
sports, and its talents, businesses, and resources, then soft
power is enhanced. Introspection on India’s performance at recent
• R eputation : For a nation to be attractive and a role model for
others, its overall reputation must be strong and positive.
International Sports events
• I t is being said that the golden period of Indian sports may
• I nfluence : A direct measure of the perceived presence and
have begun as at the Tokyo Olympics and then the Birmingham
impact that your country has in other countries
2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) are examples of a good
• B usiness/Innovation/Sports : The attractiveness of a countrys
performance.
economic model, its digital engagement with the world,
• India’s medal tally in the Tokyo Olympics Games seven was its
performance in sports etc.
most decorated Olympic Games in Indian history.
• G overnment : Showcases the ability of countrys political
• At the Commonwealth games (CWG) 2022, Indian athletes won
leadership and what it delivers to its people in different arenas.
61 medals, including 22 gold.
• M ulti-Alignment: As a country rises up the Soft Power list,
• India has one of the worlds poorest population-to-medal ratios
more and more outside parties align themselves with the
when it comes to the Olympics.
common goals of that country.
• Ensuring competent coaches, and having adequate funding
and more sports academics still remain major issues even
Why the Sports being used as a tool of soft power decades later
in modern international relations? • India spends only three paise per day per capita on sports. In
Sport can be used as tool of soft power both internationally and contrast China spends 1 per day per capita.
domestically.
• I nternational platform : Sports provide a platform for What can be done to increase the countrys
countries to showcase their culture, values and tradition.
• P uts a Better image of a country : Sports as a tool to achieve
sporting performance and soft power?
• T rain Indian players overseas:
social, political, and financial goals, and improve the image of
• India should concentrate on forging MoUs with nations that
the country.
excel in specific sports and train Indian players overseas.
• I nternational exposure: The focus on culture and peaceful
• For example, Australia and the United Kingdom can assist us in
values in sports make it a useful tool for countries to use soft
swimming given their standing here.
power to achieve international goals and improve their public
• When it comes to running, negotiating collaborative
diplomacy.
training agreements with African countries such as Kenya
• R educing differences : Sports provides a platform for trust-
would be ideal.
building; and reconciliation, integration and anti-racism.
• No Politics over assistance:
• L earning from Chinas Case :
• There should be no politics in seeking or even offering
assistance.
• F
or example China has requested Indian assistance in • A
s recommended by NITI Aayog, at the district level too so that
improving cricket development in China (Chongqing city). talent can be captured at an early stage.
• P
rivate Investment :
• P
rivate investment needs to be harnessed to develop Conclusion
infrastructure. The better a country performs in sporting • S ports as a tool of soft power had always been a key element
events the greater a sports persons interest in their sports of leadership from the ancient times. Sports provide an
atmosphere. This also creates a huge market for private players international platform to develop an attitude of unity in a
to invest in. divided multi-polar modern world.
• F
or example, leading corporate houses in India have already
shown how their active participation and investment can Mains Question
improve sporting performance as a result of unique corporate Q. Sports provide an international platform to develop
sports programmes. an attitude of unity and influence others in a divided
multi-polar modern world. Discuss in this context that
• P
ublic private partnership at grass root :
soft power is not an end but a means to an end.
• Th
e Government should also work on a public-private
partnership (PPP) model to create basic sporting infrastructure.
FOREIGN POLICY WATCH: INDIA-CHINA
Taiwan crisis
Prelims level : Location of Taiwan
Mains level : Sovereign nations, Bilateral ties,One china policy
Context Is Taiwan part of China?

• Taiwan showcases most advanced fighter jet after China • O ne china principle : Beijing asserts that there is only one
drills. Taipei has carried out its own drills to simulate China and that Taiwan is part of it. It views the PRC as
defence against invasion by China, and unveiled the F-16V the only legitimate government of China, an approach it
fighter jet. calls the One-China principle, and seeks Taiwans eventual
unification with the mainland.
What is the issue? • Chinese claim : Beijing claims that Taiwan is bound by an
• As per the PRC, Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs to China, the understanding known as the 1992 Consensus, which was
PRC’s government and supporters believe that the secession reached between representatives of the Chinese Communist
of Taiwan should be agreed upon by all 1.3 billion Chinese Party (CCP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) party that then
citizens instead of just the 23 million residents of Taiwan. ruled Taiwan.
Why in news? Status of Taiwan as member of UN

• Chinese stand: Taiwan has been governed independently of • T aipei protest exclusion : China rejects Taiwans participation
China since 1949, but Beijing views the island as part of its as a member in UN agencies and other international
territory. Beijing has vowed to eventually unify Taiwan with organizations that limit membership to states. Taipei
the mainland, using force if necessary. regularly protests its exclusion; the United States also
• Tensions are rising : Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, pushes for Taiwans meaningful participation in such
whose party platform favours independence, has rebuked organizations.
Beijings efforts to undermine democracy. Beijing has ramped • Membership of other groups : Taiwan does, however, hold
up political and military pressure on Taipei. member status in more than forty organizations, most of
• War situation : Some analysts fear the United States and them regional, such as the Asian Development Bank and the
China could go to war over Taiwan. S. House Speaker Nancy Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, as well as in the
Pelosis trip to the island in 2022 heightened tensions World Trade Organization. It holds observer or other status
between the countries. on several other bodies.
Value addition for mains

• A
n Introduction to Sovereignty: A Case Study of Taiwan
examines the key issue of sovereignty and provides an in-
depth look at the unique status of Taiwan among nations of
the world.

• Although Taiwan has control over its internal affairs What Taiwanese people say?
( domestic sovereignty ) and is able to keep outsiders • A
n increasing number of Taiwanese people feel more closely
from operating within its borders or influencing internal tied to Taiwan than to the mainland. More than 62 percent
decisions (Westphalian sovereignty), the island does not of the islands residents regarded themselves as exclusively
have international legal sovereignty, which would confirm Taiwanese in 2021.
its status as an independent country.
• Despite lacking the advantages of having international
Opportunity for India
legal sovereignty including the ability to negotiate trade
• T aiwans position as a semiconductor superpower opens the
agreements and treaties, among othersTaiwan has
door for more intensive strategic-economic cooperation
evolved into an economic powerhouse and has successfully
between Delhi and Taipei.
developed and maintained international relations with many
• Part of the problem is that India’s strategic community
independent countries.
continues to view Taiwan as an adjunct to India’s One-
China policy.
How has China tried to intimidate Taiwan?
• Coercion tactics: China has employed a variety of coercive
Conclusion
tactics short of armed conflict, and it has ramped up these
• A
s Taiwan becomes the worlds most dangerous flashpoint,
measures since Tsais election in 2016. Its objective is to wear
the geopolitical consequences for Asia are real. Although
down Taiwan and prompt the islands people to conclude that
Delhi has embraced the Indo-Pacific maritime construct, it
their best option is unification with the mainland.
is yet to come to terms with Taiwans critical role in shaping
• Military pressure : China has increased the frequency
the strategic future of Asias waters.
and scale of patrols of PLA bombers, fighter jets, and
surveillance aircraft over and around Taiwan. It has also Mains question
increasingly sailed its warships and aircraft carriers through Q.Do you consider Taiwan has become the worlds
the Taiwan Strait in shows of force. most dangerous flashpoint, the geopolitical
consequences for Asia are real? Critically examine.
FOREIGN POLICY WATCH- INDIA-CENTRAL ASIA
Multilateralism will open pandora of opportunities for India

Prelims level : SCO and QUAD
Mains level : multilateralism
Context • Global share: In terms of geographic scope and population,

India may give up its strategic balancing of China and West if the it is the world’s largest regional organization, covering
Ukraine war weakens Russia. Because for major defence supplies approximately 60% of the area of Eurasia, 40% of the world
India is dependent on Russia. population, and more than 30% of global GDP.
• Members : The SCO currently comprises eight Member States.
They are- China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
What is the concept of multilateralism? Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/growing-salience-of-
• Headquarters : Beijing, China.
multilateralism/
• P
rocess of organizing relations between groups of three or more
states. Beyond that basic quantitative aspect, multilateralism is What is QUAD?
generally considered to comprise certain qualitative elements • Th
e Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD), commonly known
or principles that shape the character of the arrangement or as the Quad.
institution. • It is a strategic security dialogue.
• Members : Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.
• Origin : The dialogue was initiated in 2007.
What is SCO?
• Th
e Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a Eurasian
political, economic and security organization.
Which factors forced India to have more • Th
e world order and the institutions are created and supported
engagements with QUAD? by the West by narratives that serve the West well, while
• Th
e Chinese threat has been largely responsible in shaping New diminishing its competitors.
Delhis Indo Pacific Policy.
• Th
e Chinas Belt and Road initiative and the growing Chinas What are the steps taken by India to deal with the
presence in India’s neighborhood- as evident from Chinas West created world order and institutions ?
investment not only in Pakistan and Myanmar, but also in • I ndia’s engagement with the other regional organizations like
Nepal and Sri Lanka. Because of such activities India felt BRICS, SCO, etc.
encircled. • Doctrine of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: India’s foreign policy
• Th
e very launch of the QUAD initiative was the reaction to has been based on the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
Chinas assertiveness in the Indo Pacific region. • UN Reforms: Efforts towards bringing reforms in the UNs.
• I ndia agreed to upgrade the quad meeting at the ministerial • Shift from Non-Alignment to Multi-Alignment: Multi-
level only after the gunmen attack of 2020. alignment is the very essence of India’s foreign policy and the
economic policy of India today. Promotion of multilateralism by
How India is maintaining balance between the engaging with many poles simultaneously.
West and China-Russia Alliance? • Various Multilateral initiatives: India has taken the lead in
• P
lurilateralism : India continued to believe in plurilateralism, promoting various multilateral initiatives like International
a doctrine elucidated by external affairs Minister S Jaishankar Solar Alliance, proposing CCIT for combating terrorism, Asia-
in his book The Indian Way. Africa Growth corridor.
• M
ember of both QUAD and SCO : Along with QUAD, India • Collaborating with Like-minded Countries: India could work
also took membership of SCO. It means India dealing with the closely with the Alliance for Multilateralism (an initiative
USA and Japan on one side and Russia and China on the other. launched by Germany and France) to shape both the alliance
• S
imultaneously dealing with many powers: India is engaging itself and the reform agenda at large.
with competing powers like the USA, China, the EU or Russia at
the same time. Why is Russia important for India?
• M
ultipolar world: India stands in favor of a multipolar world • M ilitary supplies : India is heavily dependent on Russia for
where the plurality of power centers would allow her to play one its military supplies with more than two-third of its weapons
pole against the other. In this context, New Delhi wants Russia coming from Russia. For example: S-400 is the recent supply to
to remain an important player. India by Russia.
• Balancing China: Russia is important for India to
balance China. More isolation of Russia may push Russia
closer to China.
• To promote multilateralism : To maintain multilateral world
order Russia is a major player or partner for India.
Conclusion
• A
multilateral world order with power decentralized between
all the regions and all the economic strata is critical for any
sustainable model of peace and prosperity to be gained. The
UN and similar bodies must recognize the need of the hour
and must reform or else they will perish in yet another set
of protectionism, distrust, and possible large-scale military
conflicts like Russia- Ukraine.
What are India’s concerns regarding the West Mains question

created world order?
• Th
e stand on Multilateralism goes together with India’s Q. What are the concerns of India regarding the
reservations (not being completely satisfied) against the present world order created by the West?
Wests past hegemony and the international orders that were
established after 1945.
How can India promote multilateralism by playing a balancing
• M
EA S Jaishankar emphasises that the West has imposed
role between the QUAD and the SCO? What is the importance
norms on the world that need to be dismantled. He says, The of Russia for India in the present global situation? Explain.
key of western durability till now is the set of institutions and
practices that it progressively but firmly established in the
period of its dominance.

FOREIGN POLICY WATCH: INDIA-JAPAN
The strategic partnership between India and Japan

in solving their common security challenges
Prelims level : QUAD
Mains level : Bilateral relations
Context • A currency swap is an agreement between two parties to

• Th
ere is much that India and Japan could do together in exchange a series of cash flows denominated in one currency
meeting their common security challenges. for those denominated in another for a predetermined
period of time.
• The deal will help the two countries to swap their currencies
Why in news? for U.S. dollars to stabilise the rupee which has witnessed the
• C
hinas growing military capabilities and assertiveness on
steepest fall in recent years.
territorial disputes are at the heart of the deteriorating
environment of India and Japan.
Japans new strategy :

What is 2+2 talks between India and allies? • C apacity building : To cope with Chinese power involves
• Th
e 2+2 dialogue is a format of meeting of the foreign and
three broad elements reorienting Japans diplomacy, boosting
defence ministers of India and its allies on strategic and
national capabilities to deter aggression and deepening defence
security issues.
partnerships.
• A 2+2 ministerial dialogue enables the partners to better
• Realism diplomacy : In his address to the annual Shangri La
understand and appreciate each others strategic concerns and
Dialogue in Singapore this June, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida
sensitivities taking into account political factors on both sides.
talked of a new realism diplomacy that will allow Japan to meet
• Th
is helps to build a stronger, more integrated strategic
the new security challenges through pragmatism and firmness.
relationship in a rapidly changing global environment.
• Increase in budget : On the question of deterrence, Kishida
• I ndia has 2+2 dialogues with four key strategic partners: US,
declared his commitment to fundamentally reinforce Japans
Australia, Japan, and RUSSIA.
defence capabilities within the next five years and secure
substantial increase of Japans defence budget needed to
Recent developments in India-Japan Relationship effect it.
• No apology : Japan is no longer apologetic about its new
(1) Supply Chain Resilience Initiative determination to protect itself. For different reasons, both
• R ecently India, Australia and Japan formally launched the Tokyo and Delhi had tended to be far too deferential to China
Supply Chain Resilience Initiative. The initiative was launched and hesitant to call out Beijings unacceptable actions.
to counter the dominance of China in the Global Supply Chain.
• I t aims to prevent disruptions in the supply chain as seen Security and defence cooperation
during COVID-19 pandemic. • Q UAD :Formed in 2007 and revived in 2017 The Quadrilateral
• Th
e initiative will mainly focus on diversification of investment Security Dialogue (QSD, also known as the Quad) is an informal
and digital technology adoption. strategic dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia
and India.
(2) Other MEA led-bilateral dialogues • Exercise Malabar :The dialogue was paralleled by joint military
• Th
e Act East Forum, established in 2017, aims to provide exercises of an unprecedented scale, titled Exercise Malabar.
a platform for India-Japan collaboration under the rubric • JIMEX : In spite of the pandemic, complex exercises in all
of India’s Act East Policy and Japans Free and Open Indo- domains were conducted includingJapan India maritime
Pacific Vision. exercise (JIMEX 2020)andPASSEX, showcasing the trust and
• A
t the Second meeting of the Act East forum, both sides interoperability between the navies.
agreed to focus on expanding of Japanese language in North
East, training of caregivers under Technical Intern Training Challenges in ties https://www.civilsdaily.com/
Program ( TITP ), capacity building in area of bamboo value burning-issue-india-japan-ties-in-recent-times/
chain development and Disaster Management. • G eographical limitations :The two countries are too far apart
• Th
e inaugural India-Japan Space Dialogue was held in to be meaningful partners in any confrontation between one of
Delhi for enhancing bilateral cooperation in outer space and them and China.
information exchange on the respective space policies. • China is too big to defeat :No partnership have the military
muscle or diplomatic heft to achieve its objectives in
(3) Currency Swap Agreement countering China.
• J apan and India have entered into a $75-billion currency swap • Lesser say at UNSC :At the diplomatic level, neither pulls the
arrangement that will bolster the countrys firepower as it kind of power that can counter Beijing and this is not just
battles a steep drop in the rupees value. because they are not UNSC members, unlike China.
• J
apan lacks military technology :Japan obviously has a • L
ooking East: If Japan and India continue to add concrete
very advanced high-technology industrial sector, its military security content to their relationship, their strategic
industry is insignificant. Its better not to invoke the DRDO. partnership could potentially be a game-changer in Asia.
Key fact to remember

Conclusion
• B
oth should inject substantive military content into the
Japanese economy is the third-largest in the world strategic partnership between India and Japan. For there is
much that Delhi and Tokyo could do together in meeting their
common security challenges.
Way forward
• P
eople to people contact: Although the Covid-19 situation Mains question
remains challenging, people-to-people exchanges between two
countries are also being advanced. Q.Chinas growing military capabilities and
• C
ooperation in security: Cooperation has also taken great assertiveness on territorial disputes are at the heart
strides in the area of security, including joint exercises between of the deteriorating environment of India and Japan.
the Japan Self-Defence Forces and the Indian Armed Forces. Critically examine bilateral ties between both.
• R
eaping the benefits of natural alliance: Taking advantage
of its considerable assets the worlds third-largest economy,
substantial high-tech skills, Japan is largely perceived as a
natural ally to India.
INDIA’S BID TO A PERMANENT SEAT AT UNITED NATIONS
India and UNSC

International Relations | GS2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India,Effect Of Policies & Politics Of World
On India’S Interests,Important International Institutions
Prelims level : UN Security council
Mains level : International Relations
• Its powers include establishing peacekeeping operations,

enacting international sanctions, and authorizing military
action. The UNSC is the only UN body with the authority to
issue binding resolutions on member states.
Context
• Th
ere is greater support for India to be a permanent member of
the UN Security Council and also a broad global consensus over
the need to reform the Council, said External Affairs Minister S
Jaishankar. India has once again renewed its bid for permanent
membership of UNSC.
What is UNSC?
• Th
e United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six
What is the composition ofUNSChttps://www.
principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged
with ensuring international peace and security, recommending civilsdaily.com/news/g4-countries-call-for-
the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, unsc-reforms/?
and approving any changes to the UN Charter. • P
resently there five permanent members (P-5) with veto and
10 non-permanent members without veto elected for tenure
of 2 years.

• I ndia has been the non-permanent member multiple
times. Presently India is serving its tenure that will end in
December 2022.
What are the Efforts taken by India?

• T ext based negotiation: External affairs minister is canvassing
for the countrys candidature, meeting his counterparts
from several countries. He has repeated the call, made often
Who are P-5 members? in the past, for a text-based negotiation on what has been
• Th
e victors of World War 2 USA, RUSSIA, CHINA, euphemistically referred to as the reform of the United
UK, FRANCE. Nations Security Council (UNSC), i.e., negotiation on a written
document outlining the proposed reform instead of just holding
What are the hurdles that India facing? forth verbally.
• E
lite club: Most exclusive club in international relations. All • Woking together with G-4: INDIA, JAPAN, GEMANY, BRAZIL
other clubs have been breached. Until a quarter century ago, the works together to get permanent UNSC seat however these
nuclear weapon club had five members, the same five as the P-5. efforts are opposed by coffee club.
India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel have since joined the • Multilateral engagements: By expanding its footprint in
club. But UNSC is unbreachable till date. multilateral organisations, India is gearing up to become a
• A
ll are reluctant: The inescapable fact is that none of the P-5 global rule-maker.
wants the UNSCs ranks to be increased. One or the other of • Distinguished group of experts suggested a few years ago that
them might make some noise about supporting one or more of a new category of semi-permanent members should be created.
the aspirants. Each is confident that someone among them will Countries would be elected for a period of eight to 10 years and
torpedo the enlargement of the club. Declarations of support would be eligible for re-election. India ought to give serious
for India’s candidature need to be taken with a fistful of salt. consideration to this idea.
• V
eto issue: Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan bluntly • With or without veto: According to former foreign secretary
told India not to expect to get the veto power. Though India has Chinmaya gharekhan, if by some miracle we are offered or
said it will not accept a seat without veto power. manage to obtain permanent membership without veto, we
• C
hina-Pakistan axis: China, which has historically blocked must grab it. Even a permanent membership without veto will
India’s aspirations to become a permanent member of the be tremendously helpful in protecting our interests.
UNSC. Beijing has an all-weather ally in Islamabad, another
neighbour who also strongly opposes India’s candidature Conclusion
to the UNSC. • L
ooking at the present geopolitical divide India’s dream of
• O
dd man out: Four out of the five permanent members of the seat at the highest table is unlikely to get fulfilled in near
United Nations Security Council have bilaterally expressed future. India must analyse the utility of UNSC membership
official affirmations of support for India’s candidature to a for securing its national interest. India should not give up
permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council. anything in bargain against UNSC seat which harms its
• C
offee club opposition: Members like Italy, South Korea, international interest.
Canada, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, Argentina, Pakistan, and others,
who have together formed the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) Mains question
Q. India’s quest for UNSC is like Sisyphus carrying
movement. Also known as the Coffee Club, the movement
the boulder just to see how it falls. In this context
argues that bids for permanent seats by India, Japan, Germany, Analyse the utility of Permanent seat at UNSC.
and Brazil (G4 countries) must not be considered without first
reaching an international consensus regarding the form and
size of the new Security council.
STRESSED ECOLOGY OF BAY OF BENGAL
Stressed ecology of Bay of Bengal

Enviro & Biodiversity | GS3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia
Prelims level : Location,BIMSTEC,Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies
Mains level : Foreign Policy,Regional Grouping
economies of many countries in the region.Further, non-

traditional dangers including terrorism and climate change
have become more prevalent.
• Under water resources: The Bay also provides an opportunity
for greater regional cooperation in the environmentally friendly
exploration of marine and energy resources. The Bay has a
biodiverse marine environment.
• Fresh water resources: It receives the water from some of the
worlds largest rivers. It is a partially enclosed sea that has given
rise to several geological characteristics.
• Ecology: It is home to many rare and endangered marine
Context species and mangroves, which are essential to the survival of
• A
t the fourth BIMSTEC summit, Prime Minister Narendra the ecology and the fishing sector.
Modi announced the opening of the Centre for Bay of Bengal
Studies (CBS) at Nalanda University. The launch of the CBS has
once again demonstrated India’s commitment to advancing
constructive agendas by forging connections and setting up
platforms for all those with an interest in the of Bay of Benagl.
Why ecology in the region is under threat?

The regions maritime environment has changed as are result
of major powers expanding their economic and geopolitical
influence.
• Competition: Political and cultural engagement, together
with economic competition, have taken on new dimensions.
More crucially, the Bays ecosystem is going through an
unprecedented crisis brought on by widespread environmental
exploitation and geopolitical unrest.
• Resource exploitation : Species extinction is a result of careless
exploitation of the maritime environment, which has severe
consequences on biodiversity. Problems such as population
WhyBay of Bengal growth, altered land use, excessive resource exploitation,
• C
ommerce hub: The Bay has long been a major commerce hub salinity, sea level rise, and climate change are exerting
for the Indian Ocean. It created a conduit between the East and significant strain on the Bays environment.
the West in terms for trade and culture. • Water pollution : Operational discharge from small and
• E
merging arena of maritime warfare: An Indo-Pacific medium feeder ships, shipping collisions, unintentional oil
orientation and the realignment of global economic and spills, industrial waste, pollution, and the accumulation of
military power towards Asia have had a considerable impact on non- biodegradable plastic litter are all contributing to the
the Bay region. deterioration of the Bay.
• C
ommunication and Energy : The key sea lanes of • Declining ecology : A dead-zone has formed, and the mangrove
communication in this area are lifelines for global economic trees that protect the shore from the fury of nature are under
security and are crucial to the energy security that powers the more threat than ever.

• I nter-governmental cooperation: It is essential that nautical
neighbours develop a partnership and cooperate because of
the maritime domains interrelated and interdependent nature,
transnational character, and cross-jurisdictional engagement of
various governments and diverse organisations and enterprises.
• Maritime connectivity: A few concerns that need immediate
attention include expanding cooperation in maritime safety
and security, enhancing cooperation on maritime connectivity
and the ease of maritime transit, and boosting investment
possibilities in the maritime connectivity sector.
• Illegal activities: The latter subject involves addressing non-
traditional threats and fostering group efforts to reduce illicit,
unreported, and unregulated fishing.
• Data sharing: Standardising and harmonising data reporting.
• Balanced approach: Furthermore regional marine entities
should strive to balance opportunities and goals on a national,
regional, and international scale.
• Investment in R&D: Littoral governments need to support and
promote skill-building, research, and training.
What could be the Solutions?

Conclusion
For a better knowledge of challenges, and strategies to overcome
• C
ountries in the Bay of Bengal need to mobilise investments,
them for the sustainable development of the region, more
manage maritime affairs more effectively. Alternative lifestyle
focused and inter-disciplinary study is required on these issues.
should be explored. The cooperation of all member states, for
• C
entre for Bay of Bengal studies: By founding the CBS,
information gathering, sharing and result oriented actions is
Nalanda University has already started its journey and given
crucial in protecting the ecology of Bay of Bengal.
the nation a unique interdisciplinary research centre devoted
to Bay focused teaching, research, and capacity building. Mains Question
Additionally, scholars from many countries and academic
streams are already participating in CBSs first certificate
Q.Countries in the Indian subcontinent are developing
programme on the Bay.
rapidly, putting serious stress on the environment of the Bay
of Bengal.Mention the challenges and suggest solutions.
HISTORY

HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN NEWS
Heritage conservation
History | GS1: Arts & Culture
Prelims level : ASI
Mains level : heritage conservation
Context • Infrastructure development: takes place in and around the

• D
espite all the public talk of the importance of conserving areas. Eg. Hampi despite being a small town has excellent
our national heritage, the budget of the ASI, the primary infrastructure.
institutional guardian of monuments, in 2021-22 has been • Jobs: It creates jobs for a lot of people from art industry and
reduced by more than Rs 200 cr. tourism industry as well
• Sense of belonging : It creates a feeling of oneness and a sense
of attachment by enhancing a sense of belonging to a culture
How do you define heritage? or a region.
• H
eritage is the full range of our inherited traditions,
• Strengthen conviction : Every historical site has an important
monuments, objects, and culture. Most important, it is the
story to tell and these stories have inspired many people to
range of contemporary activities, meanings, and behaviours
strengthen their convictions and commitment to fight injustice
that we draw from them.
and oppression.
• Soft power : Art and culture is also a part of soft power in
Threats to Indian Heritage world politics.
• Th
eft: The incidents of thefts have been observed usually from
unprotected monuments, ancient temples. The thefts cases
About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
have also been seen in the protected monuments and museums
• Th
e ASI is an attached office of the Ministry of Culture.
as well. It is due to negligence of security guards in museums,
• It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also
monuments etc.
became its first Director-General.
• S muggling : illicit traffic and smuggling in antiquities. Illicit
• Under the provisions of the AMASR Act of 1958, the
traffic is motivated often by profit and sometimes by the
ASI administers more than 3650 ancient monuments,
demand for luxuries.
archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
• T ourism: Unregulated tourism, tourist activities run by touts,
• These can include everything from temples, mosques, churches,
private agents have affected the art heritage places. The Culture
tombs, and cemeteries to palaces, forts, step-wells, and
Ministry of India has reported that up to 24 Indian monuments
rock-cut caves.
have been declared untraceable or missing by the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI).
• I ssues with security of museums : Most of the museums are Initiatives by ASI
poorly guarded due to shortage of manpower leading to theft of • M useums: ASIs museums are customarily located right next
artifacts, fire accidents etc. to the sites that their inventories are associated with so that
• D uplication : Fakes paintings and art forms leading to threat to they may be studied amid their natural surroundings and not
livelihoods of artists. lose focus by being transported. A dedicated Museums Branch
• P oor Maintenance : The state of the wall paintings in Ajanta maintains a total of 44 museums spread across the country.
caves is continuously getting worse, which can be attributed to • Publications by ASI: Epigraphia Indica, Ancient India, Indian
humidity as well as to a lack of care. Archaeology: A Review (Annually).
• E ncroachment on monuments : Another miss from the • Library : Central Archaeological Library in the National
ministry has been encroachments of monuments. Over 278 Archives building in Janpath, New Delhi.
centrally protected monuments have been encroached upon or
have illegal occupants, as per government data. Issues and Challenges ahead of ASI
• T o restore or not: Issue is that technically speaking- ruins are
Why should we protect our heritage? seldom restored in original state. This is because in absence
• E
volution of human consciousness is a continuous process of documentation- archaeologists areleft to conjecture what
: History here serves as a laboratory and the past serves as buildings may have looked like when they were originally built.
a demarcation to understand the regional laws and social • Personnel Management Issues: Higher Authorities of ASI
structures. This understanding helps in our progress towards an are traditionally from IAS Cadre. In-house specialist must be
ideal society. promoted for better coordination b/w technical and managerial
• P
ride of country : The art heritage is the identity and pride of aspects of restoration
our country. It is duty of every citizen to protect, preserve and • Issues explored in CAG Report: 92 monuments are
perpetuate the cultural richness. untraceable with no database on artifacts. Poor Documentation
• T
ourism potential : for art monuments and museums is very of Protected Monuments/Artifacts. Paucity of funds (Eg- Red
high. Tourism generates revenue for the state as well as private fort gardens lie unkempt).
artists due to the money-multiplier quality.
Conclusion Mains question
• I t is the duty of every citizen to value and preserve the Q. Safeguarding the Indian heritage is the need of the moment.
What are the challenges faced in safeguarding them?
rich heritage of our composite culture. Preservation and
conservation of India’s rich cultural heritage and promotion What steps would you suggest to protect them?
of all forms of art and culture, both tangible and intangible, is
essential and assumes a lot of importance.
HISTORY- IMPORTANT PLACES, PERSONS IN NEWS
Subash Chandra Bose

History | GS1: Modern Indian History
Prelims level : Indian national army particuars
Mains level : Modern Indian history developments
• The teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna

Paramhansa led to a spiritual awakening in Bose at the young
age of 15.
• Subhash Chandra Bose reached Singapore on July 2, 1943,
at the invitation of Rash Behari Bose. He took charge as the
President of the Indian Independence League and took over as
the leader for East Asia.
• On October 23 1943, with the help of the Japanese Army,
Netaji declared war on the United States and Britain.
• He was fondly called Netaji and was arrested 11 times in his
freedom struggle and died under mysterious circumstances in
an air crash over Taipei.
Context
• I n the year of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the nation pays tribute
to Subhas Bose on September 8 as his statue rises tall next to
India Gate.
His vision for INA march in India
Crux of this article in simple words • C reating revolutionary conditions: Bose had hoped to capture
• Th
e transfer of power to India took place on August 15, 1947. Imphal. That would give the INA a large number of Indian
Had Bose and his Indian National Army (INA) succeeded, soldiers. Once this was achieved, fighting in India would create
India would have attained freedom, not inherited it through a revolutionary conditions.
transfer of power. • Organization of INA divisions at border: When the fighting
commenced, the INA had only one division stationed on India’s
Brief of historical account of his career borders. Another was on the move towards Burma. And the
• B
ose was the ninth child in 14 and the sixth son to Janakinath third was in the process of formation. All three divisions were
Bose, a lawyer from the Kayasth caste. expected to be in Burma by the time Imphal fell.
• H
e passed matriculation in 1913 from Cuttack and joined the • R apid invasion from north east: Bose was confident of raising
Presidency College in Kolkata (then Calcutta). three more divisions from among the Indian troops that would
fall to him after the capture of Imphal. With six divisions,
the INA would be the single largest force in the region. The

rapid advance into India would create the right conditions for The Rani Jhansi Regiment
the Indian army to switch sides along with the people of the • N etaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a firm believer of womens
Northeast. power and women were also greatly inspired by his words.
• He had always wanted to form an only womens regiment and
His famous quotes for value addition
his dream came to fruition with the formation of the Rani
Jhansi Regiment on 12th July 1943.
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/history-of-popular- • About 170 women cadets joined the force and their training
slogans-raised-during-freedom-struggle/ It is our duty to camp was set in Singapore.
pay for our liberty with our own blood. “No great change • They were given ranks according to their educational
in history has ever been achieved by discussions” background.
• By November of 1943, this unit had more than 300 cadets as
camps were also established in Rangoon and Bangkok.
• The women cadets were given military and combat training,
weapons training, and route marches. Some of them were also
chosen for advanced training and some were also chosen for
training as a nurse.
• The Rani Jhansi Regiment mainly worked as care and
relief givers.
• The unit later disbanded after the fall of Rangoon and the
withdrawal of the Azad Hind Government.
Conclusion
• B
ose maintained that the Congress leaders wanted freedom
in their lifetime. He believed that no revolutionary leader had
Azad Hind Radio the right to expect that. A movement, a fight, had to be passed
• Th
is radio station was created to encourage countrymen to fight on. Expecting freedom in ones lifetime was bound to lead to
for freedom under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose. compromises.
• Th
e radio station used to broadcast news at weekly intervals in Mains question
various languages like English, Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, Urdu, etc. Q. Netaji Subhas Bose was an exceptional leader who
• Th
e main aim for the formation of the Azad Hind Radio was to turned his vision into action. Critically analyse.
counter the broadcast of allied radio stations and to fill Indian
nationals with pride and motivation to fight for freedom.
J&K - THE ISSUES AROUND THE STATE
Kashmiri pandits
History | GS1: Communalism, Secularism, Regionalism
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : national integration
Context
• R
ecent events of targeted killings of Kashmiri pandits and What has been done so far?
other Hindus by the militants in the valley lead to the protests • A fter the Pandit exodus from the Valley in the 1990s, the
which once again brought forward the question of their right to first few years of this century saw government efforts to send
return and the safety of minorities living in the valley Pandits back to the Valley.
• Under the Prime Ministers return and rehabilitation of
Kashmir migrants scheme, created government postings in the
Who are the Kashmiri pandits?
Valley for Kashmiri Pandit migrant youth.
• Th
e Kashmiri Pandits are one of the highest ranked Brahman
• Mostly, teachers and these government employees have lived
castes who are the natives of the valley, locally known
in protected high security enclaves, but their work requires
as pundits.
them to leave these enclaves and mingle with the rest of the
• Th
ey were the minority in the valley comprising only 5% of the
population. Another segment, known as non-migrant Pandits
total population.
because they never left the Valley, has lived in their own homes,
• T
raditionally dependent on agriculture and small-scale business
without state-provided protection.
and one of the favored sections in the administration.
What is CDR?
What is the conflict?
• C entre for dialogue and reconciliation (CDR) is a Delhi-based
• R
adical Islamists and militants started targeting the Kashmiri
think-tank incorporated in March 2001, aims to be a catalyst
pundits putting in front the option of either of conversion or
for peace in South Asia.
persecution.
• CDR working for the peace-building process in Jammu
• Th
e Growth of militancy in the 1990s forced Kashmiri pandits
Kashmir, supported the initiative of dialogue between the
to leave the valley in greater numbers. They started migrating
two communities as a part of self-assessment, acknowledging
to the other states, leaving every belonging behind and seeking
the mistakes.
refuge in other parts.
• W
hile many of them started migrating some decided to stay
back in their homeland. What did CDR do in Kashmir?
• C
onflict arose between radical Islamists organization and the • C DR supported the initiative for a dialogue proposed by two
Hindus leading to the mass killings of the Kashmiri Hindus in prominent young Kashmiris one a Muslim and the other a
waves which is termed as exodus. Pandit both who have witnessed the violence of 1990 and the
subsequent years.
• They believe in the principle of talking could lead to healing.
• It led to CDRs Shared Witness, a Pandit-Muslim dialogue series,
in December 2010.
• Public intellectuals and other influential persons from both
communities were participants
Observations of the dialogue

• Th
e dialogue series coincided with the launching of the Prime
Ministers job scheme.
• Dialogues created a social environment that enabled Kashmiri
Pandits to take up government postings in the Valley.

• Th
ey focused on the events in and around 1990, and the What do the Muslims say?
incidents that triggered the displacement of the Pandit • Th
e Muslim participants felt the Pandits were in denial of the
community. struggle of the Muslims in the Valley, who were facing violence
• B
y the third dialogue, participants were sharing individual from the system.
experiences that did not fit into the narrative that each • The Kashmiri Muslim was always portrayed as being misguided,
community had built about the other. aided, and abetted by Pakistan.
• Th
e process of the conversation lead them to think on the • The protest in Kashmir was not against religion but against
actual reason behind the conflict, was it communal differences, structures of power and oppression.
or was it only religion?
What is the Current situation?
From the eyes of the pandits • Th
e fresh spate of targeted killings of Kashmir pandits created
• P andits were aggrieved that the Muslims did not protest an environment of fear and provided a major setback to their
the Pandit killings, not even when the killers claimed them. rehabilitation in the Kashmir valley.
That greater responsibility lay with the Muslims as they were
the majority.
Way ahead:
• I f some social organizations had acted quickly, the exodus could
• W e need urgent civil society engagement between communities
have been stopped.
in Kashmir once again.
• Th
ey observed that the Pandit community too had suffered
• The government can enable it, but individuals and civil society
from a lack of leadership.
will need to create conditions on the ground. They will have to
• Th
ey demand an apology and to set up of possible Truth
encourage people to give up the blame game.
commission
Mains question
Q. Dialogue can bring peace in Kashmir
valley. Critically examine.
HISTORY- IMPORTANT PLACES, PERSONS IN NEWS
100 years of periyar because of whom tamil

nadu became modern and progressive
History | GS1: Modern Indian History,Social Empowerment
Prelims level : Vaikom satyagraha
Mains level : Social reform movement in tamil nadu
Who is periyar?
• E
rode Venkatappa Ramasamy, revered as Periyar or Thanthai
Periyar, was an Indian social activist and politician who started
the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. He is
known as the ‘Father of the Dravidian movement’. He rebelled
against Brahminical dominance and gender and caste inequality
in Tamil Nadu.
Who started self-respect movement?

• Th
e self-respect movement was founded byV.Ramaswamy
Naicker, commonly known as Periyar. It was a dynamic social
movement aimed at destroying the contemporary Hindu social
order in its totality and creating a new, rational society without
Context caste, religion and god.
• W
e celebrate Periyar E.V. Ramasamys birth anniversary
(September 17) as Social Justice Day.
• F reedom of expression : Periyar himself said, Everyone has the
right to refute any opinion. But no one has the right to prevent
its expression.
• Eradication of social evils : Periyar is often referred to as an
iconoclast, for the rebellious nature of his ideas and the vigour
with which he acted. His vision for the future was a part of all
his actions. He did not merely aim at the eradication of social
evils; he also wanted to put an end to activities that do not
collectively raise standards of society.
Why Periyar is called as vaikom hero?

• V
. Ramasamy Periyar led the famousVaikom Sathya
Grahahttps://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-periyar-
the-hero-of-vaikom/ in 1924, where the people of down
trodden community were prohibited to enter into the temple.
Finally the Travancore government relaxed such segregation
and allowed the people to enter into the temple. Hence periyar Foundation of rationalism
was given the title of ‘Vaikom Hero’. • H e understood the evolution of political thought : Periyars
vision was about inclusive growth and freedom of individuals.
Leadership at a critical juncture He was an important ideologue of his day because of the clarity
• Th
e satyagraha began with the active support of the Kerala in his political stand. More importantly, he understood the
Pradesh Congress Committee. evolution of political thought and was able to glide through
• W
ithin a week all its leaders were behind bars. George Joseph time with this.
sought directions from Gandhi and C. Rajagopalachari. He also • He presented rationalism as a solid foundation: For thinking
wrote to Periyar pleading with him to lead the satyagraha. along these lines. He said, Wisdom lies in thinking. The
• P
eriyar was in the midst of political work. As he was then the spearhead of thinking is rationalism. Periyar was way ahead
president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, Periyar of his time.
handed over temporary charge to Rajaji before reaching • Concern towards poor : Whomsoever I love and hate, my
Vaikom in 1924. principle is the same. That is, the educated, the rich and the
• F
rom that date to the day of the victory celebrations in 1925, administrators should not suck the blood of the poor.
he was in the struggle giving it leadership at a critical juncture. • Periyar proclaimed that he would always stand with the
oppressed: In the fight against oppressors and that his enemy
Periyars role was oppression. There have been several social reformers in
• A gainst violence Periyar presided over the satyagraha in the Tamil Nadu who shared their revolutionary thoughts with the
face of violence and indignity inflicted by the orthodox and the people in the past century. In that spectrum, Periyar occupies
repression of the police. a unique place because he made interactions of multiple
• M obilising To mobilise support, he visited villages in and worlds possible.
around Vaikom and delivered public speeches in several towns. Periyar said, Any opposition not based on rationalism
• G andhi When the Kerala leaders asked for Gandhis permission or science or experience, will one day or other, reveal
to make the satyagraha an all-India affair, Gandhi refused the fraud, selfishness, lies, and conspiracies.
saying that volunteers from Tamil Nadu would keep it alive.
• I n reports the British Resident said in his report to the
government of Madras: In fact, the movement would have Conclusion
collapsed long ago but for the support it has received from • H
is works against the Bhraminical dominance, oppression of
outside Travancore women in Tamil Nadu, caste prevalence are exemplary. Periyar
• H istorian T.K. Ravindran -- observes that Periyars arrival gave promoted the principles of rationalism, self-respect, womens
a new life to the movement. rights and eradication of caste. He opposed the exploitation and
marginalisation of the people of South India and the imposition
His Vision for the future of what he considered Indo-Aryan India.
• I deas on rationality : When he presented his thoughts, there
Mains question
was nuance, honesty, and an explicitness, which prompted even
Q.Discuss the future vision of periyar by discussing
people practising different faiths to discuss and debate his ideas his role in vaikom satyagraha. Do you think he has
on rationality and religion. placed foundation of rationalism in Tamil Nadu?

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT ISSUES - JOBS,RESERVATION AND EDUCATION
Without social justice constructive women

empowerment is a futile exercise here is why
History | GS1: Role Of Women & Women Organization
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : Women empowerment
• Many women reverted to full-time care of children

and the elderly during the pandemic, foregoing their
livelihoods to do so.
What is gender pay gap?

• Th
e gender pay gap or gender wage gap measures the difference
between the average earnings of women and men in the
workforce.
• In simple term it is a measure of what women are paid
relative to men.
• Women are generally found to be paid less than men.
Why is the gender pay gap?

Context
• E ducation: low investment o girl education, Girl children are
• D
espite notable progress in closing the gender pay gap over
kept out of schools, or made drop out of school at early age, girl
time in India, the gap remains high by international standards.
is considered as burden on family in many societies.
Asymmetries still abound in the countrys labor market
• workforce : even if they are educated they are not allowed
stopping women empowerment.
to work by their families, very limited or no decision
• T
ime to reassess the progress made in to close the
making power, lack of women friendly work environment,
Gender pay gap.
discriminatory practices at workplaces.
• Household: early marriage, responsibilities of the household at
Background early age, spending more times on domestic chores,
• Th
e third International Equal Pay Day is observed globally on • Healthcare: malnutrition, anemia, Maternity, child care,
September 18, 2022. looking after health of the elderly family members etc.
• I t is a United Nations-recognized event to highlight the issue of These are some of the reasons which affect education, skills,
gender pay gap. experience and the career prospectus of women as compared to
• I nternational Labor Organizations Global Wage Report 202021 men and contribute to widen the gender wage gap.
which suggests the crisis inflicted massive downward pressure
on wages and disproportionately affected womens total wages
compared to
• Th
is greater wage reduction for women means that the pre-
existing gender pay gap has widened.
Discrimination as factor
• A part of gender pay gap attributed to education, skills or
experience, a large part of the gender pay gap can still purely
because of discrimination based on ones gender or sex.
Covid-19 Impact • Gender-based discriminatory practices include: lower wages
• W
hile it is difficult to tell exactly what the economic damage paid to women for work of equal value; undervaluation of
from the global covid-19 pandemic has been, it is clear that its womens work in highly feminized occupations and enterprises,
impact has been uneven, with women being among the worst and motherhood pay gap lower wages for mothers compared to
affected in terms of their income security. non-mother.
Status in India • Th
e Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 : has increased
• Th
e gender pay gap in India is among the widest in the world. the duration of paid maternity leave available for women
• I ndian women earned, on an average, 48% less compared to employees to 26 weeks from 12 weeks for all women working
their male counterparts in 1993-94 in establishments employing 10 or more workers. This is
• A ccording to labor force survey data of the National Sample expected to reduce the motherhood pay gap among mothers in
Survey Office (NSSO) gap declined to 28% in 2018-19. the median and high end wage earners working in the formal
• P eriodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS) 2020-21 show an increase economy also it will help in women empowerment.
in the gap by 7% between 2018-19 and 2020-21. • Skill India Mission : To equip women with market-relevant
• R ecently,the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked India skills to bridge the learning to-livelihood gap and the
at 135 out of 146 countries in its Global Gender Gap (GGG) gender pay gap.
Index for 2022. • In 2019, India carried out comprehensive reforms in both the
• A ccording to the estimates of the World Inequality Report legislation and enacted the Code on Wages.
2022, in India,men earn 82 per cent of the labor income
whereas women earn 18 per cent of it. Way ahead
• W hile the gender pay gap is slowly narrowing, acceleration and
Steps taken by India bold actions to prevent the widening of gender pay gap is the
• M
inimum Wages Act in 1948 : It is an act of parliament, aimed need of the hour.
at statutory fixation of minimum wages that must be paid • Equal pay for work of equal value is necessary to close the
to skilled and unskilled labours. Payment of wages below the gender pay gap.
minimum wage rate amounts to forced labour. • Closing the gender pay gap is key to achievingsocial justice for
• E
qual Remuneration Act in 1976: This act of parliament working womenhttps://www.civilsdaily.com/story/women-
provides for the payment of equal remuneration to men and empowerment-issues-jobsreservation-education/, as well as
women workers for the prevention of discrimination. It helps economic growth for the nation as a whole
in bridging the gap between unequal remuneration faced by the • Without social justice women empowerment is a futile exercise.
women of our country.
• M
ahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Mains Question
Act (MGNREGA) 2005: MGNREGA contributed to the rapid
Q. Define gender equality.Equal pay for equal work is
rise in overall rural and agricultural wages in the country. It necessary to bridge the gender pay gap India.Comment.
benefited rural women workers and helped reduce the gender
pay gap, both directly and indirectly. Directly, by raising the pay
levels of women workers and indirectly to women involved in
agricultural occupations through higher earnings.

SECURITY ISSUES
CYBER SECURITY - CERTS, POLICY, ETC
Cybercrime in India
Security Issues | GS3: Awareness In The Fields Of It, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-Technology, Bio-Technology, Pharma Sector & Health
Science
Prelims level : Indian evidence act
Mains level : Cybersecurity
• At the same time, with the IT Act and major laws being
Context central legislations, the central government is no less
• Th
ere has been a steady spike in cases of cybercrime in the last responsible to evolve uniform statutory procedures for the
five years. enforcement agencies.
What is a cybercrime? Various threats and challenges to cyber-

• C
ybercrime is any criminal activity that involves a computer, security in India:
networked device or a network. While most cybercrimes are • C yber terrorism : It is premeditated, politically motivated
carried out in order to generate profit for the cybercriminals, attack against information, computer systems, computer
some cybercrimes are carried out against computers or devices programs, and data which results in violence.
directly to damage or disable them. • Digital Data Threat: Growing online transactions have
generated bigger incentives for cybercriminals. Besides,
What data states? establishments looking to mine data (customer information,
• I ndia reported52,974 cases of cybercrime in 2021, an results of product surveys, and generic market information),
increase of over 5 per cent from 2020 (50,035 cases) and over they also create intellectual property that is in itself an
15 per cent from 2019 (44,735 cases), according to latest attractive target.
government data. • Cyber warfare: It involves the actions by a nation-state or
international organization to attack and attempt to damage
How many cyber criminals are caught in India? another nations computers or information networks.
In 2020, over 18.4 thousand people were arrested • Cyber Infrastructure Concerns: Most equipment and
on account of cyber-crimes across India.
technology systems are vulnerable to cyber threats just like any
other connected system. Although the government has set up
National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre
Who is responsible for cyber security (NCIIPC), it is yet to identify and implement measures to
centre or state? protect critical information infrastructure.
• W
ith police and public order being in the State List, the • Lack of specialists: Globally, India ranks 2nd in terms of the
primary obligation to check crime and create the necessary number of Internet users after China (Internet World Stats,
cyberinfrastructure lies with States. 2017). However, India has a negligible base of cyber-security
specialists, when compared to internet user base.

• L
ack of robust law enforcement mechanisms: India’s approach • Cyber-Crime Prevention against Women & Children Scheme:
to cyber security has so far been ad hoc and unsystematic. Implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs,the scheme
Despite a number of agencies, policies and initiatives, their aims to prevent and reduce cyber crimes against women
implementation has been far from satisfactory. and children.
• L
ack of Coordination: Due to the existence of too many
agencies with overlapping functions in the field of cyber Way Forward:
security, coordination between these agencies is poor. • B uilding capabilities: There is an urgent need to build
capabilities and capacity for application, equipment and
Initiatives are being taken by the government to infrastructure testing.
enhance cyber-security in India: • Human resource: Immediate attention has to be given to
• I nformation Act, 2000: The Information Act, 2000(amended human resource development which would increase the number
in 2008) is the primary law for dealing with cybercrime and of experts who can effectively manage the cyber security of
digital commerce in India. the country.
• N ational Cyber Security Policy, 2013 : The policy provides • R&D: Investments should be made on R&D to develop
the vision and strategic direction to protect the national more innovative technologies to address increasing cyber
cyberspace. security threats.
• Th
e CERT-In (Cyber Emergency Response Team India): CERT- • Policy and Governance: It is important to bring a robust
In has been operational since 2004. It is the national nodal policy and effectively implement the same. Further, duties
agency for responding to computer security incidents as and and responsibilities should be defined clearly for smooth
when they occur. functioning and better coordination among departments and
• I ndian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): The Union stakeholders.
Government has decided to set up 14C. It will be apex • Awareness: A periodic awareness campaign by the government
coordination centre to deal with cybercrimes. and big private organizations should be conducted to aware
• C yber Swachhta Kendra: Launched in early 2017, the Cyber people about cyber security threats.
Swachhta Kendra provides a platform for users to analyse • Strengthening Private Partnership: It is important to
and clean their systems of various viruses, bots/ malware, strengthen the public- private partnership on cyber security.
Trojans, etc. Cyber-security is needed in the present era of increasing
• C yber Surakshit Bharat: Ministry of Electronics and connectivity. Although the government has taken many proactive
Information Technology, launched the Cyber Surakshit Bharat steps, much needed to be done to enhance the countrys cyber-
initiative to spread awareness about cybercrime and building security. It is important to bring a robust policy and effectively
capacity for safety measures for Chief Information Security implement the same.
Officers (CISOs) and frontline IT staff across all government
departments. Mains question
• Th
e Cyber Warrior Police Force: In 2018, the government Q. With the increasing use of computers in society, cybercrime
announced its plans to introduce CWPF. It is proposed to be has become a major issue. Analyse the loopholes in cyber
raised on lines of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). security regime of India by giving suggestions to rectify
the same.
ENVIRO &
BIODIVERSITY

NAPCC: INDIA’S NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Planned sand mining

Prelims level : NA
Mains level : environment impact of sand mining
Context
• F
rom flora and fauna to human residents, no one has been left Concerns of excessive mining
untouched due to the wanton extraction of sand mining from • D eteriorating river banks : Their extraction often results
Yamuna River. in river and coastal erosion and threats to freshwater and
marine fisheries and aquatic ecosystems, instability of river
What is sand? banks leading to increased flooding, and lowering of ground
• S and is a granular material made up of finely divided rock water levels.
and mineral fragments. According to The Mines and Minerals • Critical hotspot: The report notes that China and India head
(Development and Regulations) Act of 1957, sand is classified the list of critical hotspots for sand extraction impacts in rivers,
as a “minor mineral”. lakes and on coastlines.
• Broken replenishment : system exacerbates pressures on
What is Sand mining? beaches already threatened by sea level rise and intensity of
• S and mining is the extraction of sand, mainly through an storm-waves induced by climate change, as well as coastal
open pit but sometimes mined from beaches and inland dunes developments.
or dredged from ocean and river beds. Sand is often used in • Aesthetic sense is reduced : There are also indirect
manufacturing, for example as an abrasive or in concrete. consequences, like loss of local livelihoods an ironic example is
that construction in tourist destinations can lead to depletion
of natural sand in the area, thereby making those very places
Sand Mining Overview unattractive and safety risks for workers where the industry is
• L
east regulated : Sand and gravel are the second largest natural
not regulated.
resources extracted and traded by volume after water, but
• No comprehensive assessment : Despite this, there is no
among the least regulated.
comprehensive assessment available to evaluate the scale of
• U
neven distribution : Sand is created by slow geological
sand mining in India.
processes, and its distribution is not even.
• Damage to the environment : Regional studies such as those
• D
esert sand: Available in plenty, is not suited for construction
by the Centre for Science and Environment of the Yamuna
use because it is wind-smoothed, and therefore non-adherent.
riverbed in Uttar Pradesh have observed that increasing
• E
nvironmental impact : While 85% to 90% of global sand
demand for soil has severely affected soil formation and the soil
demand is met from quarries, and sand and gravel pits, the 10%
holding ability of the land, leading to a loss in marine life, an
to 15% extracted from rivers and sea shores is a severe concern
increase in flood frequency, droughts, and also degradation of
due the environmental and social impacts.
water quality.
• Loss to exchequer: It is not just damage to the environment.
Illegal mining causes copious losses to the state exchequer.
Innovative use of technology

State governments such as Gujarat have employed
satellite imagery to monitor the volume of sand
extraction and transportation from the riverbeds.
• D
istrict authorities’ participation in the process: The District
Collector chairs the District Environment Impact Assessment
Authority (DEIAA). The District Collector will be assisted by
the District Level Expert Appraisal Committee (DEAC), which
is led by the Executive Engineer (Irrigation Department) and
is tasked with granting environmental clearance for up to 5
hectares of mine lease area for minor minerals, primarily sand.
Conclusion
• P
rotecting sand mineral requires investment in production and
consumption measurement and also monitoring and planning
tools. To this end, technology has to be used to provide a
sustainable solution.
Sustainable Sand and Minor Mineral Mining - Mains question
Guidelines
• W
here to mine and where to prohibit mining: District Survey Q. A growing global population increasingly living
Report for each district in the country, focusing on the river in cities has led to a spiralling rise in the extraction
as a single ecological system. ISRO, remote sensing data, and of sand and aggregates, with serious environmental,
ground truthing are all used. political and social consequences. Examine.
• S
ustainable mining: It involves extracting only the amount of
material that is deposited each year.
URBAN FLOODS
Urban floods mitigation

Enviro & Biodiversity | GS3: Disaster Management
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : disaster management
What is flood?
• F
loods arethe most frequent type of natural disaster and occur
when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry.
Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or a
storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas.
Causes of frequent urban floods
Natural
• M eteorological Factors: Heavy rainfall, cyclonic storms and
thunderstorms causes water to flow quickly through paved
urban areas and impound in low lying areas.
• Hydrological Factors : Overbank flow channel networks,
occurrence of high tides impeding the drainage in coastal cities.
• Climate Change : Climate change due to various anthropogenic
events has led to extreme weather events.
Anthropological
Context • U
nplanned Urbanization: Unplanned Urbanization is the
• B
engaluru floods are alarming us to go for robust disaster key cause of urban flooding. A major concern is blocking of
management strategies. natural drainage pathways through construction activity and
encroachment on catchment areas, riverbeds and lakebeds.

• D estruction of lakes : A major issue in India cities. Lakes can • I n this context, resilience-based strategies provide a
store the excess water and regulate the flow of water. However, holistic approach, considering both predictable and
pollution of natural urban water bodies and converting them unpredictable threats.
for development purposes has increased risk of floods. • Innovative approaches like Sponge Cities- wetland
• U nauthorised colonies and excess construction : Reduced restoration, flushing systems using collected rooftop water,
infiltration due paving of surfaces which decreases ground bioswales, and public spaces as flexible water retention
absorption and increases the speed and amount of surface flow facilities can be applied to Indian urban areas.
• P oor Solid Waste Management System : Improper waste • Other such methods include permeable material for roads and
management system and clogging of storm-water drains pavement, green roofs and harvesting systems in buildings.
because of silting, accumulation of non-biodegradable wastes • Create wetlands and encourage reforestation: creating more
and construction debris. and more wetlands can help soak up excessive moisture since
• D rainage System: Old and ill maintained drainage system is wetlands act as sponges. Wooded areas can also slow down
another factor making cities in India vulnerable to flooding. heavy water flow, minimizing the effects of floods. Reforesting
• I rresponsible steps : Lack of attention to natural hydrological upstream regions can significantly reduce the effects of
system and lack of flood control measures. flood damage.
• Improve soil conditions : improper soil management, animal
Impact of the devastation due to floods: hooves, and machinery can make soil compacted. As a result,
• O
n economy : Damage to infrastructure, roads and instead of holding water in and absorbing moisture, the water
settlements, industrial production, basic supplies, post disaster runs off immediately. Properly drained soil can absorb large
rehabilitation difficulties etc. amounts of rainwater and can prevent it from flowing into
• O
n human population and wildlife: Trauma, loss of life, the rivers.
injuries and disease outbreak, contamination of water etc. • Installing flood barriers : these are flood gates designed to
• O
n environment: Loss of habitat, tree and forest cover, prevent the area behind the barrier from flooding. They can
biodiversity loss and large scale greenery recovery failure. also be kept around buildings to keep floodwaters outside the
• O
n transport and communication : Increased traffic boundary created.
congestion, disruption in rail services, disruption in • Development of GIS Geographical Information System (GIS)
communication- on telephone, internet cables causing massive based National Database : for disaster management. GIS is an
public inconvenience. effective tool for emergency responders to access information
in terms of crucial parameters for disaster-affected areas.
• Developing a Federal flood management plan : with
Solutions for effective flood management responsibilities of union and state clearly defined.
• I mproved flood warning systems : effective flood warning • Creation of 2nd flood commission : (Rashtriya Barh Aayog,
systems can help take timely action during natural calamities created in 1976) to study the flood situation in India under
and can save lives. Pre-planning can significantly reduce rising challenges of climate change and propose a national-level
the effects of floods, giving people time to migrate to safer flood resilience and management plan.
locations and stock up essentials.
• B uilding flood-resilient housing systems : concreting floors
can be very useful during floods. Houses should be water Way forward
proofed and electric sockets should be placed at higher levels up • R esilience of people : The rapid transformation in rainfall
the walls to reduce the chances of shocks. characteristics and flooding patterns demand building peoples
• C onstructing buildings above flood levels : buildings should resilience.
be constructed a metre above from the ground to prevent flood • Reconsider projects : Construction projects that impede the
damage and evacuation during floods. movement of water and sediment across the floodplain must be
• R esilience to Climate change: drastic climate changes have reconsidered.
increased the frequency of natural disasters in many parts of • Use of technology : At the same time, climate-imposed
the world. Governments should bring about environment- exigencies demand new paradigms of early-warning and
friendly policy level changes and eliminate the ones hazardous response systems and securing livelihoods and economies.
to the environment to tackle the problem of global warming.
• N eed for Climate Resilient Infrastructure Conclusion
• G iven the unprecedented rate of climate change-related severe • W
e can learn to live with nature, we can regulate human
disaster in recent times, urban areas must have a climate- conduct through the state and we can strategically design
resilient infrastructure. where we build. We need to urgently rebuild our cities such that
• A ccording to UN projections, by 2050 more than 68% of the they have the sponginess to absorb and release water without
worlds population could be concentrated in urban areas. causing so much misery and so much damage to the most
• A dditionally, daily life in urban areas is highly dependent vulnerable of our citizens.
on certain critical services and products provided by critical
infrastructures (CIs). Mains question
• Th
erefore, it is especially relevant to understand how Climate
Change affects urban CIs in order to develop mechanisms to Q. We need to urgently rebuild our cities such
improve their capacity to handle crises derived from CC. that they have the sponginess to absorb and
release water. Discuss the statement in context of
urban flood management strategy in India.
B2BASICS • These include rooftops covered by plants, scenic wetlands
for rainwater storage, and permeable pavements that store
excess runoff water and allow evaporation for temperature
Case Study 1
moderation.
• Chinese cities are making noteworthy efforts. In a pledge
The Concept of Sponge Cities: A Case Study to expand coverage of urban greenery, Shanghai announced
• A sian cities are struggling to accommodate rapid urban in early 2016 the construction of 400,000 square meters of
migration, and development is encroaching on flood- rooftop gardens.
prone areas. • The project is a collaborative effort among city regulators,
• H astily built urban areas are being affected by flooding across property owners, and engineers.
India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. • Sponge city projects in Xiamen and Wuhan have performed
• Th
is is not a trend only in developing countries; floods in effectively during heavy rainfall.
Houston, USA, highlighted the risks of development in • Innovative water initiatives have been adopted worldwide,
environmentally sensitive and low-lying areas. including wetland restoration in the American Midwest,
• I n 2012, a severe flood in Beijing wreaked havoc on the citys flushing systems using collected rooftop water in Oregon
transportation systems, and in 2016 floods overwhelmed USA, bioswales in Singapore, and public spaces as flexible
drainage systems in Wuhan, Nanjing, and Tianjin. The water retention facilities in the Netherlands.
challenges are clear.
• G roundwater over-extraction, waterway degradation, and urban
flooding are forcing Chinas cities to address a vicious cycle.
Case Study 2:
• S prawling urban development and use of impervious material
prevent soil from absorbing rainwater, prompting further IFLOWS-Mumbai
investment in infrastructures that typically impede natural • I t is developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES),
processes and worsen flood impacts. in coordination with the Municipal Corporation of Greater
• C hinas sponge city initiative aims to arrest this cycle through Mumbai (MCGM).
the use of permeable surfaces and green infrastructures. • Working/Features: The IFLOWS-Mumbai comprises seven
modules, namely data assimilation, flood, inundation,
vulnerability, risk, dissemination and decision
The concept
support system.
• L
aunched in 2015 in 16 cities, the initiative seeks to reduce the
• It incorporates weather models from National Centre for
intensity of rainwater runoff by enhancing and distributing
Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), India
absorption capacities more evenly across targeted areas.
Meteorological Department (IMD) and field data from the
• Th
e resulting groundwater replenishment increases the
rain gauge network stations.
availability of water for various uses.
• This Geographic Information System (GIS) - based decision
• Th
is approach not only reduces flooding but also enhances
support system has all relevant details - such as land
water supply security.
topography, land use, infrastructure, population, lakes, creeks
• Th
e initiative is similar to the North American concept of
and data on river bathymetry (study of the beds or floors of
low-impact development (LID), which according to the United
water bodies) of all rivers namely Mithi, Dahisar, Oshiwara,
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mimics natural
Poisar and Ulhas.
processes in order to protect water quality.
• The system has provisions to capture the urban drainage within
• Th
e case of Lingang, a planned city in Shanghais Pudong
the city and predict the areas of flooding in advance so that the
district, illustrates typical sponge city measures.
civic body can issue alerts in advance.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EFFORTS
Cheetah reintroduction
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : environment conservation
Distribution of cheetahs in India

• H istorically, Asiatic cheetahs had a very wide
distribution in India.
• There are authentic reports of their occurrence from as far
north as Punjab to Tirunelveli district in southern Tamil Nadu,
from Gujarat and Rajasthan in the west to Bengal in the east.
• Most of the records are from a belt extending from Gujarat
passing through Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha.
• There is also a cluster of reports from southern Maharashtra
extending to parts of Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala and
Tamil Nadu.
• The distribution range of the cheetah was wide and spread all
over the subcontinent. They occurred in substantial numbers.
Context • The cheetahs habitat was also diverse, favouring the more open
• A
frican cheetahs from Namibia will arrive in India September
habitats: scrub forests, dry grasslands, savannahs and other
17, 2022. This is the worlds first intercontinental translocation
arid and semi-arid open habitats.
of a carnivore. It is even more unique because this is the first
time cheetahs will be reintroduced in an unfenced protected
area (PA).
About Asiatic Cheetah

• F
eature: Cheetah, the worlds fastest land animal was declared
extinct in India in 1952.
• S
tatus : The Asiatic cheetah is classified as a critically
endangered species by the IUCN Red List, and is believed to
survive only in Iran.
• R
eintroduction : It was expected to be re-introduced into
the country after the Supreme Court lifted curbs for its re-
introduction.
• E
xtinction: From 400 in the 1990s, their numbers are
estimated to have reached to 50-70 today, because of poaching,
hunting of their main prey (gazelles) and encroachment on
their habitat.
What caused the extinction of cheetahs in India?
• educed fecundity and high infant mortality in the wild
R
• Inability to breed in captivity
• Sport hunting and
• Bounty killings
Historic data on cheetah

• I t is reported that the Mughal Emperor Akbar had kept 1,000
cheetahs in his menagerie and collected as many as 9,000 cats
during his half-century reign from 1556 to 1605.
• The cheetah numbers were fast depleting by the end of the 18th
century even though their prey base and habitat survived till
much later.
• It is recorded that the last cheetahs were shot in India in
1947, but there are credible reports of sightings of the cat till
about 1967.
• A frican Cheetahs need long open spaces to run. Indian parks
tend to be much smaller than those in Africa, offering less
chance for such free movement.
• Studies in Africa have shown that female cheetahs are solitary
and roam vast distances whereas male defend smaller
territories and mate when females pass through, creating
breeding issues.
• Coexistence of large predators: It has never occurred
anywhere else, so there is no real life experience to draw upon
to suggest the coexistence of cheetahs, lions, tigers, and
leopards could be comfortable.
• Studies have shown that in Africa, the leopards have hunted
down cheetahs as prey, and similar fears are being expressed
for Kuno, which has about 50 leopards in and around the core
area, where cheetahs will be housed.
Why reintroduce Cheetahs? • Rehabilitation Concerns: For Cheetah’s habitat to be
• B
iological Objectives: To re-establish the ecosystem adequately protected, many villages will have to be relocated,
function role of the cheetah in representative areas of its which will certainly impact the locals and cause disturbance and
former range and contribute to the global effort towards migration.
theconservation of the cheetah as a species.
ringing the Cheetah back will make India the only country
• B Way Forward
with five species of big cats: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard • P ost-Release Monitoring : There needs to be a proper strategy
and cheetah. of monitoring with veterinary supervision and scientific
• E
nhancing Livelihood Options: Cheetah reintroduction will evaluation of extent of adaptation.
boost and enhance living conditions of the local communities • Tracking teams must be organized to keep an eye on the
in and around the landscapes where the cheetah is likely to be cheetahs and other carnivores released into the wild.
introduced through increased revenues fromecotourismand • Awareness Campaign: To spread awareness among local
associated activities. people and sensitize the youth, various outreach & awareness
• K
eeping the Food Chain Intact: Top predators regulate all programs should be conducted to familiarize the locals with the
levels in a food chain and are considered as umbrella species for reintroduction plan.
the food chain. • Chintu Cheetah, the official mascot to spread awareness for
• C
heetah can be a charismatic flagship and umbrella species the Cheetah introduction program is a progressive step in this
to garner resources for restoringopen forest ecosystems and direction.
bringing back the balance in thefood web. • Priority List Management: There should be a proper
• C
limate Change Mitigation: It will enhance India’s capacity mechanism to formulate the priority list for evaluation
to sequester carbon through ecosystem restoration activities and implementation of policies for conserving different
in cheetah conservation areas and thereby contribute towards wildlife animals.
the global climate change mitigation goals. • The Cheetah Introduction plan is missing in ourNational
Wildlife Action Planincluding the current plan for the
What are Challenges Associated with the period 2017-2031, while the translocation of lions has been a
Translocation of Cheetah in India? national priority since the 1950s.
• T
ransition from Enclosure to Wild: A pivotal issue is whether • Equal attention should be given to safeguard native species and
a cheetah living in an enclosure and being fed with a prey will their habitat.
be able to hunt in the wild on its own. • Proper Rehabilitation Mechanism: There is need to devise
or instance, Sundari, the tigress which returned from
• F proper rehabilitation policy including a proper communication
Satkosia in Odisha after a failed relocation attempt, was finally between administrative officers and locals to ensure their
kept captive for life in Bhopal Zoo. safety and satisfaction.
• A
daptability: Reintroduced species experience increased Mains questions
vulnerability to influences of drift, selection, and gene Q. Reintroductions of large carnivores have increasingly
flow evolutionary processes due to their small sizes, and been recognized as a strategy to conserve threatened
climatic and ecological differences between source andnative species and restore ecosystem functions. Discuss
habitats. in context of cheetah reintroduction in India.

URBAN FLOODS
The heavy rainfall and the crazy

Banglore flood: A case to study
Enviro & Biodiversity | GS1: Urbanization, Their Problems & Remedies
Prelims level : NA
Mains level : urban floods mitigation
polluted drains and lakes overflow, the flood can pose a

health hazard especially to vulnerable and exposed marginal
communities living in informal settlements.
• Zero or limited ability to allow infiltration of water:
Encroachments in and around wetlands and green lands harm
the natural way of water infiltration and groundwater recharge.
• Lack of vision in rain water harvesting: Ignorance towards
the traditional rainwater harvesting techniques and no or
limited vision for creating new systems of rainwater harvesting.
Exceptionally heavy monsoon rains have been exacerbated by
poor urban planning in the Indian tech hub, showing the need
for improved water systems.
Context
• Th
e recent events of heavy downpours in a short period of time
and the recent example of the Banglore flood highlight how
cities in India and elsewhere need to adapt to climate change as
it brings more extreme rainfall in the future.
What is a heavy downpour?

• A downpour or cloudburst isa sudden and unexpected heavy
fall of rain.
• I t is usually local in nature and of brief duration. Most so-called
cloudbursts occur in connection with thunderstorms.
• H eavy downpour in a short period causes flood, damage
to buildings and infrastructure can disrupt of transport,
communications, and connectivity, and loss of crops and What are the reasons behind the frequent floods
livestock. in urban areas?
• M eteorological factors : change in the weather patterns,
The heavy rainfall and the Banglore flood causes increase in the temperature leading to heavy rainfall, sudden
• R
ise in the built-up area: Lakes and natural depressions may downpour, cloudburst, thunderstorms, hailstorms etc.
not always fill up during many monsoons so the people who are • Hydrological factors : Natural surface infiltration rate, soil
unaware of hydrology tempts to build and buy in the catchment moisture level, presence or absence of Overbank flows, Presence
areas of water bodies, which will be disastrous when it rains of impervious cover, the occurrence of high tides impeding the
heavily as there is rise in the quantity. drainage in coastal cities.
• W
ater-logging: rainwater and sewage water are forced to build • Man-Made factors:
up, which results in water-logging. The highway acts as a dam • Unplanned urbanization: Unplanned settlement is one of
for the water, Garbage frequently clogs drains, which limits the the main cause of urban flooding. Blocking of natural drainage
flow of sewage, and they are too small to support the weight of pathways through construction activity and encroachment on
the expanding population. catchment areas, streams, rivers, lakebeds. Reduced infiltration
• P
hysical shrinkage of water bodies : Destruction of lakes is a and ground water recharge of water, destruction of lakes,
major issue.lakes can store the excess water and regulate the Land-use changes (e.g. surface sealing due to urbanization,
flow of water however the pollution of natural water bodies and deforestation) increase runoff and sedimentation. Inefficiency
converting them for development purposes has increased the or non-maintenance of infrastructure etc.
risks of floods. Unplanned growth, Rise in population, rise in • Outdated Drainage systems : The old and ill-maintained
the built-up areas along streams, canals, and around the lakes, drainage system is one of the main factor making cities in India
leaving no storage capacity. vulnerable to flooding
• C
ompromised runoff potential and health hazards : Choked • Encroachments on and around water-bodies: Illegal
and encroached drains and lakes, ill-designed infrastructure, Habitations started growing into towns and cities alongside
and missing pipes compromise runoff potential. Not only the rivers and watercourses. As a result of this, the capacity of the
physical quantity of the runoff that poses a hazard. When natural drains has decreased, resulting in flooding.
• C
limate Change: Climate change due to various anthropogenic • R ainwater Harvesting : It will serve the twin purposes of
events has led to extreme weather events, increasing lowering the peak runoff and raising the groundwater table.
temperature which resulting in heavy rainfall in one part while Many municipal corporations in India have already made
drought and dry spells in other. rainwater harvesting compulsory.
• P
oor Solid Waste Management System: Indiscriminate • Conservation of Water Bodies: Urban water bodies like
disposal of solid waste, poor waste management system, lakes, tanks, and ponds also play a very important role in the
clogging drains because of accumulation of non-biodegradable management of urban flooding by reducing the flood water run-
wastes are major concerns. Domestic, commercial and off by capturing it.
industrial waste and dumping of it into the drains also • Holistic approach: Improved monitoring, forecasting, and
contribute significantly to reducing their capacities. decision-support systems. Find out the different methods for
• R
educed Seepage: use of hard and non-porous construction improving the preparedness for urban flooding.
material making the soil impervious, reducing the seepage • Responsibility on every stakeholder: Locally, citizens, local
capability in no of cities in India. ward officials, and staff will need to work together to minimize
• W
eak Implementation and lack of awareness: Even with the dumping of solid waste and garbage in storm-water
provisions of rainwater harvesting, sustainable urban drainage drains. As this is a sociopolitical problem, public participation
systems, etc, in regulatory mechanisms like the Environmental awareness and responsibility of citizens is the need of the hour.
Impact Assessment (EIA), adoption at user end as well as To develop a long-lasting solution, all parties must acknowledge
enforcement agencies remains weak. the issues and adopt a thorough strategy.
• N
o Community Participation: Flood control measures
planned without participation of the affected community What we as citizens can do on a personal level to
are unsustainable as they do not meet the needs of relevant
stakeholders.
prevent the urban environment?
• aising voice at all available forums and platforms
R
• Making politicians and bureaucrats accountable
What can be done to prevent the urban floods and • Refuse to buy a house in the encroached lands.
prevent losses? • Applying methods of rain water harvesting on individual level.
• D
eveloping climate Resilient Infrastructure: using
permeable material for roads and pavement, green roofs and Way ahead
harvesting systems in buildings. To reduce the burden of road • E xceptionally heavy monsoon rains have been exacerbated by
infrastructure in cities Outer Ring Road should be explored. poor urban planning in the Indian tech hub, showing the need
Innovative approaches like Sponge Cities wetland restoration, for improved water systems.
flushing systems using collected rooftop water, public spaces • Urbanization is a global and inevitable process, and with
as flexible water retention facilities can be applied to Indian cities as engines of the economy, built-up areas will continue
urban areas. to grow. But we need to draw upon these experiences and the
• U
se of technology in Early Warning Systems and growing perils of climate change and extreme rain events and
Communication: Early-warning systems using sensors across change course.
waterbodies and drains, and a network of communication for • According to UN projections, by 2050 more than 68% of the
hotspots of emerging flood risk in the wet-season should be worlds population could be concentrated in urban areas.
put in place. Providing real-time data where traditional systems • In this context, resilience-based strategies should be adopted
fail. Tools such as predictive precipitation modeling can help to improve the capacity to handle the crisis arising out of
do that and are also able to link it with the adaptive capacity of climate change.
urban land use. • Wetlands are the kidneys of the earth, lets keep it healthy.
• P
roper management and regular upgrade of Urban Drainage
System: drains need to be cleaned on a regular basis to permit
the free flow of water. Proper management of the drainage Mains Question
system is necessary to ensure that the water does not get stored Q. What are the factors causing flood in the urban cities?
in one place. Watershed management and emergency drainage What are the measures to prevent the urban flooding
keeping in mind the sustainable development? Discuss.
plan should be clearly enunciated in the policy.

COAL AND MINING SECTOR
Fly ash generation and Disposal

Prelims level : composition of fly ash
Mains level : environmental pollution
• Fly ash settles on leaves and crops and reduces crop

productivity.
• It pollutes the groundwater.
• There is a reduction in recharging of groundwater due to fly ash
filled mine voids.
• Reduces visibility by creating dense fog in the winter season.
Context
• I ndia depends heavily on coal for power generation. This
creates the problem of fly-ash generation and its proper
disposal, usage.
• Th
e National Green Tribunal (NGT) noted on September 19,
2022, that there was an urgent need to augment the utilization
and disposal of fly ash in Chhattisgarh. Issues with fly ash management
• G ross under-utilisation has led to the accumulation of tonnes
of fly ash, causing environmental hazards.
What is fly ash?
• Substandard construction of ash dykes, leads to the collapse
• F ly ash is a by-product of coal combustion. It contains
of dykes, flooding nearby farms, fields, and even homes with
Aluminium Silicate, SiO2, CaO, oxides of iron, magnesium and
toxic ash.
toxic metals like lead, arsenic, cobalt, and copper.
• It thus pollutes soil, air, water, damage crops, and cause cardio-
• I t can travel to far places. India is growing to double its power
pulmonary illnesses
generation in the next decade and with coal being the biggest
• The government mandates that all coal power plants (CPPs)
source of fuel for power generation, the problem of fly ash is
reach 100% utilization of fly ash.
going to increase too.
• Along with it, CPPs should give a certain amount of fly ash free
of cost for MSMEs to manufacture bricks, tiles and rest of the
Usage fly ash should be sold to other industries.
• I t is an excellent material for making construction materials • CPPs will have to maintain fly ash ponds to reduce its
such as bricks, mosaic tiles and hollow blocks. suspension in air.
• B ricks made of fly ash can help conserve soil to a great extent. • But all these steps for utilization areas are problematic as they
• Th
ere are several eco-friendly ways to utilize fly ash so that it do little to mitigate these risks.
does not pollute air and water. • The pricing of fly ash is increasingly becoming a contentious
• I t includes the use of fly ash in the manufacturing of cement, issue that is hampering its gainful utilization.
and ready-mix concrete; constructing of roads, dams, and • The current approaches to evaluating risks with fly ash disposal
embankments, and the filling of low-lying areas and mines. are very limited, and they may underestimate the true risks
• In spite of initiatives taken by the government, several
Environmental Problems with fly ash nongovernmental and research and development organizations
• A large quantity of fly ash dumped into poorly designed and for fly ash utilization, the level of fly ash utilization in the
maintained ash ponds. About a billion tonnes of this toxic ash country is quite low at only 38% which is less than the global
lie dumped in these ponds, polluting land, air, and water. standards.
• A ll the heavy metals found in fly ashnickel, cadmium, arsenic, • Hence, rather than being utilized, fly ash is being stored despite
chromium, lead, etcare toxic in nature. They leech into the warnings from regulators.
surrounding soil and can enter food-chains. • Deposition in storage places has negative influences on water
• F ly ash gets easily ingested through respiration, which causes and soil because of their mineral composition as well as
many diseases such as asthma, neurological disorders. morphology and filtration properties.
• S uspended fly ash in the air acts as a global warming agent and
heats the earths surface.
• A
sh-handling units are the biggest consumers of water in CPPs. The above issues can be addressed by
The government advocates the designed ash-to-water ratios as • reater regulatory oversight and price control,
G
approximately 1:5 for fly ash, but the observed ratios have been • Revision of cement blending standards,
around 1:20. • Research in improving fly ash quality,
• Reducing the cost of transportation,
• Provisions for overcoming information asymmetries,
• Incentivising use in brick kilns for producing fly ash bricks,
• Overall sensitization of key decision-makers on the matter.
• Instead of dumping it on ash ponds, can be used for
construction due to its reuse as pozzolan, and replacement of
portland cement by hydraulic cement
• Due to its grain size distribution, enhanced strength
permeability, it can be used to construct embankments at road
construction, concrete dams like GHATGHAR DAM
• Strong penalties for those production units who do not use
proper filtration devices
• Moving to renewable energy production away from coal-based
thermal production.
Government initiatives
arlier in 2021, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
• E Conclusion
Limited had invited an Expression of Interest (EOI) for sale • U
tilization of Fly Ash is not only possible but also essential.
of fly ash. In this context Fly Ash Mission of Government of India is a
• N
TPC has also collaborated with Cement manufacturers around slow but steady start, the pace of which needs to be ramped
the country to supply Fly Ash. up. An honest effort is required by the concerned stakeholders
• P
radhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) has focused on new to improve the perceptions of fly ash-based cement or
construction technologies such as using fly ash bricks that are concrete; increase its use, particularly for government works;
innovative, and environmentally friendly. and impart scientific knowledge about fly ash, its uses, and
• E
ven state governments have come out with their Fly ash possible impacts.
utilisation policies, e.g. Maharashtra was the first state to Mains question
adopt the policy. Q. What is fly ash? Discuss the environmental challenges
• A
web portal for monitoring of fly ash generation and it poses. Suggest how to address the situation.
utilisation and a mobile based application titled ASHTRACK
has been launched by the Government.
• G
oods and Services Tax (GST) rates on fly ash and its products
have been reduced to 5%.
WATER MANAGEMENT - INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS, CONSERVATION EFFORTS, ETC.
The great Indian thirst: The story of India’s water stress

Prelims level : various water reports
Mains level : water conservation
Context
• U
nited Nations World Water Development Report of 2022
has expressed global concern over the sharp rise in freshwater
withdrawal from streams, lakes, aquifers and human made
reservoirs, significant water stress and also water scarcity being
experienced in dierent parts of the world.

Who publishes the UNs world water
development report?
• Th
e United Nations World Water Development Report
(WWDR) is published by UNESCO, on behalf of UN-Water and
its production is coordinated by the UNESCO World Water
Assessment Program (WWAP).
What is the level ofwater stresshttps://

www.civilsdaily.com/burning-issue-water-
crisis/#:~:text=Nearly%20600%20million%20
Indians%20faced,million%20people%2C%20
the%20study%20noted. in India? Reasons for disputeshttps://www.civilsdaily.com/
• Th
e Global Drought Risk and Water Stress map (2019) : story/kaveri-river-water-dispute/
It shows that major parts of India, particularly west, central • D iversion of resource : Water is transported to urban areas at
and parts of peninsular India are highly water stressed and the expense of rural areas. Due to the high population in urban
experience water scarcity. areas the water requirement for daily use is very high.
• C omposite Water Management Index (2018): Released by Niti • High demand of water for industrial purposes: In urban areas
Aayog indicates that more than 600 million people are facing the water is heavily used in industries creating water stress.
acute water stress. • High Agriculture dependence: In the rural areas water is used
• I ndia is the worlds largest extractor of groundwater : mainly for irrigation purposes and due to heavy dependence on
Accounting for 25 per cent of the total. 70 percent of our agriculture the water is very essential in rural areas.
water sources are contaminated and our major rivers are dying • Water pollution : In cities, most of this water is in the form of
because of pollution. grey water with little recovery or reuse, eventually contributing
to water pollution.
• Bad governance : Politicization of water for vote bank and
skewed distribution of water particular regions For example:
Andhra and Telangana.
Why is Rural to Urban transfer of water becoming

an issue in India?
• R
ising urban population: According to Census 2011, the urban
population in India accounted for 34% of total population. It
is estimated that the urban population component in India
will cross the 40% mark by 2030 and the 50% mark by 2050
according to World Urbanization Prospects, 2018. Climate change exacerbate the rural-
• W
ater use in the urban areas: Water use in the urban sector urban disputes
has increased as more and more people shift to urban areas. Per • A ffecting rainfall pattern: Climate change affects the amount
capita use of water in these centers rises, which will continue to of rainfall in the region which is the prime source of both
grow with improved standards of living. surface water and groundwater.
• S
hifting of water source in Urban areas: As the city grows • Increase rate of evaporation over surface water: because of
and water management infrastructures develop, dependence high temperature the surface waters of lakes, rivers, canals etc.
shifts to surface water from groundwater. For example: In face high evaporation water loss.
Ahmedabad, more than 80% of water supply used to be met • Melting of glaciers: glaciers are the sources for perennial rivers
from groundwater sources till the mid-1980s. Due to such of India. Due to global warming, glaciers are melting and hence
overexploitation of groundwater the depth to groundwater level affecting the perennial nature of rivers.
reached 67 meters in confined aquifers. The city now depends • Frequent droughts: It affects the groundwater recharge process
on the Narmada canal for the bulk of its water supply. and drying of surface waters which creates shortage of water. It
• D
ependence of urban areas on rural areas for water source exacerbate the rural-urban conflict.
and rural-urban disputes over water: Cities largely depend
on rural areas for raw water supply, which has the potential
to ignite the rural-urban dispute. For example: Nagpur and
Chennai face the problem of rural-urban water disputes.
Way forward Conclusion
• A
system perspective and catchment scale based approach are • R
ural and urban areas use water from the same stock, i.e., the
necessary to link reallocation of water with wider discussions water resources of the country. Therefore, it is important to
on development, infrastructure investment, fostering an rural- strive for a win- win situation by securing the interests of both
urban partnership and adopting an integrated approach in urban and rural areas. Good Governance is the key to achieve
water management. such a win-win situation.
• Th
e government cannot manage the water crisis alone. It will
take the combined efforts of civil society, the private sector Mains Question Q.
How the rising water stress and growing urbanization
including the public at large to meet the challenge.
in India is fuelling rural-urban conflict over water
issues? Also highlight the role of climate change
in exacerbating these conflicts. Elaborate.
CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS - UNFCCC, COP, OTHER CONVENTIONS AND PROTOCOLS
Backsliding on climate action

Prelims level : Paris agreement
Mains level : Paper 3- Climate change
Context • Consequently, it is the logical conclusion of the Article 4

Western nations have started reinterpreting the Paris deal and of the Paris Agreement that when we consider net zero, we
look to downgrade their commitments. should only consider global net zero and not individual net
zero for 2050.
• The statement calls on developed countries to do a net negative
How are developed countries moving away from on mitigation by 2050 rather than just net zero, if they are
their commitments? serious about fighting climate change.
• C ountries in Europe led by Germany, Austria and the • In effect, the West needs to do a net minus and not
Netherlands are cranking up their coal plants again. just net zero.
• F ossil fuels are making a comeback and countries are rejecting
the European Union (EU)s plan to reduce natural gas
Way forward for developing countries
consumption by 15%.
• I t is time for all developing countries, especially the small
• I n the U.S. too, the Senate and the Supreme Court have struck
island developing states, to make sure that the developed world
blows to climate action.
doesnt backslide on its commitments on mitigation yet again.
• F ossil fuels are making a quiet comeback, since the strength of
• With countries of the developed world almost sure to renege
the U.S. is its oil and gas industry.
on their 2030 Paris Agreement commitments, countries of the
• C oal, oil and gas are not going anywhere in the developed world;
developing world must do everything to hold the countries of
they are, in fact, making a comeback.
the developed world to their commitments.
• Th
e West had rushed to draw down on fossil fuels even before
• The Western nations have already started reinterpreting the
technology for renewables were in place.
Paris Agreement and look to downgrade their commitments.
The concept of net zero is being cleverly misinterpreted.
Global peaking issue • To bring this to the attention of the Global South, India, China
• A
rticle 4 of the Paris Agreement defines Global Peaking thus: and eight other countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America
In order to achieve the long-term temperature goal set out in made a cross-regional statement on global net zero on June 7 at
Article 2, Parties aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse the UN on World Environment Day.
gas emissions as soon as possible, recognizing that peaking will
take longer for developing country Parties.
Conclusion
• Th
e developed countries, given their historical emissions, will
COP 27 in Egypt gives the developing countries opportunity to
have to peak first. Thats why the reference is to global peaking
hold their feet to the fire. It is time for the developed world to
and not individual peaking.
make net minus pledges. If they dont collectively push for it, they
• F
rom this, it logically follows that when developing country
will be collectively pushed back.
parties peak later than developed countries, they will also
achieve net zero later than developed countries.

DISASTERS AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT - SENDAI FRAMEWORK, FLOODS, CYCLONES, ETC.
Transboundary Flood Disasters

Enviro & Biodiversity | GS3: Disaster Management
Prelims level : Transboundary Rivers
Mains level : Disaster Management
• Article 27 of the Convention says, Watercourse States shall

individually and, where appropriate, jointly, take all appropriate
measures to prevent or mitigate conditions that may be
harmful to other watercourse States, whether resulting from
natural causes or human conduct or desertification.
• Environmental Impact Assessment:
• The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in the Pulp Mills
on the River Uruguay (Argentina vs Uruguay) case of 2010,
upheld that conducting a transboundary environmental impact
assessment (TEIA) of a planned measure or projects on the
shared water course is part of customary international law.
• In fact, the ICJ noted that the acting state must notify the
affected party of the results of TEIA for assessment of its own
Context damages that are likely to occur.
• P
akistan experiencing devastation, with a spread of diseases
and severe shortage of potable water after intense flooding.
In June this year Assam experienced one of its worst floods in
which it affected over 30 districts. Assam and Bihar frequently
suffer from transboundary flood disasters.
What istransboundary floodhttps://www.

civilsdaily.com/burning-issue-recurring-
floods-in-india/?
• F
loods that are originate in upper riparian state crosses the
international boundary and also affects the lower riparian state.
For example, river Brahmaputra causes flood both in China and
India simultaneously.
How the transboundary floods are difficult

to manage thannormal floodshttps://www.
civilsdaily.com/news/floods/?
• F
looding is still considered to be a natural phenomenon that
cannot be entirely prevented. But it is compounded by the lack
of transparency in the sharing of hydrological information and
also information relating to activities (such as by one riparian
state) that are transboundary in their effect (affecting other
riparian states), thus serving as an obstacle in understanding
the magnitude of flooding.
What is a riparian state?

• A
riparian state is state (or country) located alongside a river.
What are the International laws governing

transboundary waters?
There are at two international treaties that governs the
transboundary water
• U NWC:
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational
Use of International Watercourses (UNWC) 1997.UNWC
contains a direct reference to floods, which covers harmful
conditions and the emergency situations.
• U
NECE: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe What are the suggestions?
(UNECE) on the Protection and Use of Transboundary • S igning the treaty: Expert suggests, India by becoming a
Watercourses and International Lakes 1992 (Water party to either the UNWC and the Water Convention could
Convention). lay the groundwork for a bilateral treaty on the Brahmaputra
but subject to the reservation that it should not insist on the
How India manages transboundary flood? insertion of a dispute settlement mechanism provision.
• N
ote: Neither India nor China are signatory to • Information exchange: In contravention of procedural
UNWC or UNCEC. customary international law obligation, India considers data
• R
iver Brahmaputra: India has signed the memorandum on transboundary rivers as classified information, which is one
of understanding (MoU) with China in 2013 with a view to of the key challenges in developing cross-border flood warning
sharing hydrological information during the flood season systems. India needs to share the hydrological and river
(June to September). The MoU does not allow India access to information for its own sake.
urbanisation and deforestation activities on the Chinese side of
the river basin. Conclusion
• R
ivers Gandak and kosi : Floods are also a recurrent problem • C
limate change has accelerated the frequency and intensity of
in the Kosi and Gandak river basins that are shared by India floods across the world. with Changing climate India should
and Nepal. also change its strategy to protect its people, to preserve the
• Th
e India-Nepal Kosi agreement 1954: Agreement aimed at soil and to save its resources from the scourge of floods.
reducing devastating flooding in the river basin. The treaty-
based joint bodies have also tried to refine the early warning Mains Questions
systems for flood forecasting. Q.Climate change has created a more difficult challenge in flood
management. In this context, what measures can be taken to
deal with frequent transboundary floods in India. Discuss.
STRESSED ECOLOGY OF BAY OF BENGAL
Stressed ecology of Bay of Bengal

Prelims level : Location,BIMSTEC,Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies
Mains level : Foreign Policy,Regional Grouping
Context
• A
t the fourth BIMSTEC summit, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi announced the opening of the Centre for Bay of Bengal
Studies (CBS) at Nalanda University. The launch of the CBS has
once again demonstrated India’s commitment to advancing
constructive agendas by forging connections and setting up
platforms for all those with an interest in the of Bay of Benagl.

Why Bay of Bengal
• C
ommerce hub: The Bay has long been a major commerce hub
for the Indian Ocean. It created a conduit between the East and
the West in terms for trade and culture.
• E
merging arena of maritime warfare: An Indo-Pacific
orientation and the realignment of global economic and
military power towards Asia have had a considerable impact on
the Bay region.
• C
ommunication and Energy : The key sea lanes of
communication in this area are lifelines for global economic
security and are crucial to the energy security that powers the
economies of many countries in the region.Further, non-
traditional dangers including terrorism and climate change
have become more prevalent.
• U
nder water resources: The Bay also provides an opportunity
for greater regional cooperation in the environmentally friendly
exploration of marine and energy resources. The Bay has a
biodiverse marine environment.
• F
resh water resources: It receives the water from some of the
worlds largest rivers. It is a partially enclosed sea that has given
rise to several geological characteristics.
• E
cology: It is home to many rare and endangered marine What could be the Solutions?
species and mangroves, which are essential to the survival of For a better knowledge of challenges, and strategies to overcome
the ecology and the fishing sector. them for the sustainable development of the region, more
focused and inter-disciplinary study is required on these issues.
• Centre for Bay of Bengal studies: By founding the CBS,
Nalanda University has already started its journey and given
the nation a unique interdisciplinary research centre devoted
to Bay focused teaching, research, and capacity building.
Additionally, scholars from many countries and academic
streams are already participating in CBSs first certificate
programme on the Bay.
• Inter-governmental cooperation: It is essential that nautical
neighbours develop a partnership and cooperate because of
the maritime domains interrelated and interdependent nature,
transnational character, and cross-jurisdictional engagement of
various governments and diverse organisations and enterprises.
• Maritime connectivity: A few concerns that need immediate
attention include expanding cooperation in maritime safety
and security, enhancing cooperation on maritime connectivity
Why ecology in the region is under threat? and the ease of maritime transit, and boosting investment
The regions maritime environment has changed as are result possibilities in the maritime connectivity sector.
of major powers expanding their economic and geopolitical • Illegal activities: The latter subject involves addressing non-
influence. traditional threats and fostering group efforts to reduce illicit,
• C
ompetition: Political and cultural engagement, together unreported, and unregulated fishing.
with economic competition, have taken on new dimensions. • Data sharing: Standardising and harmonising data reporting.
More crucially, the Bays ecosystem is going through an • Balanced approach: Furthermore regional marine entities
unprecedented crisis brought on by widespread environmental should strive to balance opportunities and goals on a national,
exploitation and geopolitical unrest. regional, and international scale.
• R
esource exploitation : Species extinction is a result of careless • Investment in R&D: Littoral governments need to support and
exploitation of the maritime environment, which has severe promote skill-building, research, and training.
consequences on biodiversity. Problems such as population
growth, altered land use, excessive resource exploitation,
salinity, sea level rise, and climate change are exerting Conclusion
significant strain on the Bays environment. • C
ountries in the Bay of Bengal need to mobilise investments,
• W
ater pollution : Operational discharge from small and manage maritime affairs more effectively. Alternative lifestyle
medium feeder ships, shipping collisions, unintentional oil should be explored. The cooperation of all member states, for
spills, industrial waste, pollution, and the accumulation of information gathering, sharing and result oriented actions is
non- biodegradable plastic litter are all contributing to the crucial in protecting the ecology of Bay of Bengal.
deterioration of the Bay. Mains Question
• D
eclining ecology : A dead-zone has formed, and the mangrove Q.Countries in the Indian subcontinent are developing
trees that protect the shore from the fury of nature are under rapidly, putting serious stress on the environment of the Bay
more threat than ever.
of Bengal.Mention the challenges and suggest solutions.
SCIENCE TECH
ART CULTURE

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN INDIA
Patents in India
Science Tech Art Culture | GS3: Intellectual Property Rights
Prelims level : KAPILA scheme
Mains level : IPR regime
• The patent owner may give permission to, or license, other

parties to use the invention on mutually agreed terms.
• The owner may also sell the right to the invention to someone
else, who will then become the new owner of the patent.
• Once a patent expires, the protection ends, and an invention
enters the public domain; that is, anyone can commercially
exploit the invention without infringing the patent.
Terms of Patent
• P atents may be granted for inventions in any field
of technology, from an everyday kitchen utensil to a
nanotechnology chip.
• An invention can be a product such as a chemical compound,
or a process, for example or a process for producing a specific
chemical compound.
• Patent protection is granted for a limited period, generally 20
years from the filing date of the application.
• Patents are territorial rights. In general, the exclusive rights
Context
are only applicable in the country or region in which a patent
• I ncreasing the efficiency of processing patent applications and
has been filed and granted, in accordance with the law of that
wider academia-industry collaboration are crucial steps for
country or region.
patent system.
What is patent system?

• A
patent system is a type of intellectual property that gives its
owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or
selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for
publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention.
Why are patents important?

• A
patent is important because it can help safeguard our
invention. It can protect any product, design or process
that meets certain specifications according to its originality,
practicality, suitability, and utility. In most cases, a patent can
protect an invention for up to 20 years.
How patents can support inventors and

improve lives
• R ecognize and reward : Patents recognize and reward
inventors for their commercially-successful inventions. As
such they serve as an incentive for inventors to invent. With
a patent, an inventor or small business knows there is a good
chance that they will get a return on the time, effort and money
they invested in developing a technology. In sum, it means they
can earn a living from their work.
• Economic opportunity : When a new technology comes
onto the market, society as a whole stands to benefit both
How to get patent? directly, because it may enable us to do something that was
• T
o get a patent, technical information about the invention must previously not possible, and indirectly in terms of the economic
be disclosed to the public in a patent application. opportunities (business development and employment) that
can flow from it.
• R
esearch and development (R&D): The revenues generated • S ection 3(d) prevents what is known as evergreening
from commercially successful patent-protected technologies of patents.
make it possible to finance further technological research and • Issues relating to judicial delays : The 2015 Commercial
development (R&D), thereby improving the chances of even Courts Act offered an opportunity to reduce these delays and
better technology becoming available in the future. increase expertise but only a limited number of courts have
• O
pportunities for business growth : A patent effectively turns benefited under the Act.
an inventors know-how into a commercially tradeable asset, • Jurisdictional challenges are reducing the courts effectiveness
opening up opportunities for business growth and job creation and courts are also suffering due to inadequate resources
through licensing and joint ventures, for example. and training.
• C
ommercialization of a technology : Holding a patent also • The abolishing of the Intellectual Property Appellate Board
makes a small business more attractive to investors who play a (IPAB): the overall scrapping of IPAB, which efficiently had
key role in enabling the commercialization of a technology. been dealing with proceedings involving complex IPR issues,
• S
park new ideas : The technical information and business may create a void in the appellate resolution of cases leading
intelligence generated by the patenting process can spark to their shift to Commercial or High Courts thereby increasing
new ideas and promote new inventions from which we can all pendency of cases.
benefit and which may, in turn, qualify for patent protection.
• N
o freebies : A patent can help stop unscrupulous third parties What is KAPILA Initiative?
from free riding on the efforts of the inventor. • F ull form : KAPILA is an acronym for Kalam Program for IP
(Intellectual Property) Literacy and Awareness.
Indian patent regime • Guidelines for patent Filing: Under this campaign, students
• M eaning: A patent is an exclusive set of rights granted for an pursuing education in higher educational institutions will
invention, which may be a product or process that provides a get information about the correct system of the application
new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution process for patenting their invention and they will be aware of
to a problem. their rights.
• I ndian patents are governed by the Indian Patent Act of • Encouragement to students : The program will facilitate the
1970. Under the act, patents are granted if the invention colleges and institutions to encourage more and more students
fulfils the following criteria: to file patents.
• I t should be novel
• I t should have inventive step/s or it must be non-obvious Thing to remember
• I t should be capable of Industrial application
• I t should not attract the provisions of sections 3 and 4 of the Remember one thing, KAPILA Program is
Patents Act 1970. related to IP awareness. It sounds much like
• I ndia has gradually aligned itself with international regimes an animal husbandry related initiative.
pertaining to intellectual property rights.
• I t became a party to the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement following its membership Way ahead
to the World Trade Organisation on January 1, 1995. • Th
e Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public
• I t amended its internal patent laws to comply with TRIPS, Health was adopted in 2021 by the WTO member states.
most notably in 2005, when it introduced pharmaceutical • This declaration recognises the gravity of public health
product patents into the legislation. problems affecting developing and least developed nations and
• Th
e original Indian Patents Act did not grant patent protection stresses the need for TRIPS to be part of the wider national and
to pharmaceutical products to ensure that medicines were international action to address these problems.
available to the masses at a low price. • TRIPS agreement does not and should not prevent members
• I ndia is also a signatory to several IPR related conventions from taking measures to protect public health.
including: • These flexibilities include the right to grant compulsory
• Th
e Berne Convention which governs copyright, licences and the grounds for such licences, the right to
• Th
e Budapest Treaty, determine what constitutes a national emergency or
• Th
e Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property other circumstances of extreme urgency, including public
health crises.
Challenges with Indian patent regime • Compulsory licences can be invoked by a state in public
• M
ajor problems : Among the issues raised are concerns about interest, allowing companies apart from the patent owner to
what can be patented, waiting times for obtaining patents, produce a patented product without consent.
reporting requirements, and data safety. • India should resolve its differences with the U.S. regarding
• P
atent issues highlighted the threat of patent revocations, the disqualification of incremental inventions through
lack of presumption of patent validity and narrow bilateral dialogue.
patentability criteria as issues which impact companies across Mains question
different sectors.
• O
ne of the main points of contention between India and the
U.S. has been Article 3(d) of the Indian Patent Act. Q.A patent can help stop unscrupulous third parties from free
• S
ection 3 deals with what does not qualify as an invention riding on the efforts of the inventor. Discuss this statement
in context of protection of innovative ecosystem in India.
under the Act.
• S
ection 3(d) in particular excludes the mere discovery of a
new form of a known substance which does not result in the
enhancement of the known efficacy of that substance.

INTERNATIONAL SPACE AGENCIES - MISSIONS AND DISCOVERIES
James Webb telescope : The most powerful space telescope

Science Tech Art Culture | GS3: Awareness In The Fields Of It, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-Technology, Bio-Technology, Pharma Sector &
Health Science
Prelims level : JSWT
Mains level : JSWT, Big bang
• F arthest from Earth: James Webb telescope will also be

positioned much deeper into space, about a million miles from
Earth, at a spot known as L2. It is one of the five points, known
as Lagranges points, in any revolving two-body system like
Earth and Sun, where the gravitational forces of the two large
bodies cancel each other out.
• Engineering marvel: JWST has one large mirror, with a
diameter of 21 feet (the height of a typical two-storey building),
that will capture the infra-red light coming in from the deep
universe while facing away from the Sun.
What is the goal of this telescope?

Context • Th
e telescope will be able to see just about anything in the sky.
• M
uch of the universe remains unknown. The James Webb • However, it has one overriding objective to see the light coming
telescope will hopefully provide a powerful window to help from the very first stars to shine in the Universe.
resolve some of the cosmos’s many mysteries. • These pioneer stars are thought to have switched on about 100-
200 million years after the Big Bang, or a little over 13.5 billion
years ago.
What is James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)? • James Webb telescope will be picking out groupings of
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/in-news-james- these stars.
webb-space-telescope/
• I t is a space telescope being jointly developed by NASA,
the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space
Agency (CSA).
• I t has taken 30 years and $10bn to develop, and is being
described as one of the grand scientific endeavors of the
21st Century.
Where it is placed?
• Th
e James Webb Space Telescope will not be in orbit around the
Earth, like the Hubble Space Telescope is - it will actually orbit
the Sun, 1.5 million kilometres (1 million miles) away from the
Earth at what is called the second Lagrange point or L2.
Its significance
Mission • I t is widely expected to unveil many secrets of the universe,
• I t will be a giant leap forward in quest to understand the particularly those related to the Formation of stars and galaxies
Universe and our origins, as it will examine every phase of in the early period the first few hundred million years after
cosmic history: from the Big Bang to the formation of galaxies, the Big Bang.
stars, and planets to the evolution of our own Solar System. • Some have called James Webb telescope the telescope that ate
astronomy.
Special features of JWST • It is said to look back in time to the Dark Ages of the universe.
• T
ime machine in space: Powerful space telescopes, like JWST
or the Hubble Telescope, are often called time machines because Conclusion
of their ability to view very faraway objects. The light coming • Th
e universe is vast and most of it is unknown. We hope that
from those objects, stars or galaxies, which is captured by the James Webb telescope, over its lifetime would provide
these telescopes, began its journey millions of years earlier. us with a powerful window to help resolve some of the
Essentially, what these telescopes see are images of these stars many mysteries of the cosmos and make it a little bit more
or galaxies as they were millions of years ago. The more distant comprehensible.
the planet or star, the farther back in time are the telescopes
Mains question
able to see.
Q. What is James Webb telescope experiment? Do you
think it shades light on dark matter? Explain.
DIGITAL INDIA INITIATIVES
5G revolution and challenges

Science Tech Art Culture | GS3: Awareness In The Fields Of It, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-Technology, Bio-Technology, Pharma Sector &
Health Science
Prelims level : particulars of 5G
Mains level : scientific achievements and issues with it
• 4G : With a peak speed of 100 Mbps-1 Gbps it also enables 3D

virtual reality.
• 5G: with a speed of more than 1Gbps, it is capable of
connecting entire world without limits.
Context
• P
rime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced that
5G revolution deployment in India will commence sooner Salient features
than expected. • C apability: 5G will provide much faster mobile broadband
service as compared to the previous versions and will
What is 5G technology? provide support to previous services like mission critical
• 5 G or fifth generation revolution is the latest upgrade in the communication and the massive Internet Of Things (IoT).
long-term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks. • Upgraded LTE : 5G is the latest upgrade in the long-term
• 5 G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks.
virtually everyone and everything together including machines, • Speed: With peak delivering rate of up to 20 Gbps and an
objects, and devices. average of 100Mbps, it will be much faster as compared to its
• I ts a unified platform which is much more capable than predecessors. The speed increment is partly achieved partly by
previous mobile services with more capacity, lower latency, using higher-frequency radio waves than previous networks.
faster data delivery rate and better utilisation of spectrum. • Capacity : There will be up to 100 x increase in traffic capacity
and network efficiency.
• Spectrum usage : Will provide better usage for every bit of
How it evolved from 1G to 5G? spectrum, from low bands below 1 GHz to high bands.
• 1
G: Launched in the 1980s. Analog radio signals and supported
• Latency : Its expected to have lower latency with better
only voice calls.
instantaneous, real-time access of the data. The 5G, like 4G
• 2
G: Launched in the 1990s. Uses digital radio signals and
LTE, also uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
supported both voice and data transmission with a Bandwidth
(OFDM) but the new 5G NR (New Radio) air interface will
(BW) of 64 Kbps.
enhance OFDM and provide better flexibility in data delivery.
• 3
G: Launched in the 2000s. With a speed of 1 Mbps to 2
Mbps it has the ability to transmit telephone signal including
digitized voice, video calls and conferencing.

Applications of 5G technology • I ncreased supply chain and software vulnerabilities :
• H igh-Speed mobile network : 5G will revolutionize the mobile Currently and for the foreseeable future, 5G supply chains are
experience with supercharged wireless network. Compared to limited. Vulnerabilities exist particularly as devices are rushed
conventional mobile transmission technologies, voice and high- to market increasing the potential for faulty and insecure
speed data can be simultaneously transferred efficiently in 5G. components. Compared to traditional mobile networks, 5G
• E ntertainment and multimedia : 5G can provide 120 frames is also more reliant on software, which elevates the risk of
per second, high resolution and higher dynamic range video exploitation of the network infrastructure.
streaming without interruption. Audiovisual experience will be
rewritten after the implementation of the latest technologies Challenges in rolling out 5G
powered by 5G wireless. Augmented Reality and virtual Reality • E nabling critical infrastructures : 5G will require a
services will be better experienced over 5G. fundamental change to the core architecture of the
• I nternet of Things : IoT applications collects huge amount of communication system. The major flaw of data transfer using
data from millions of devices and sensors and thus requires an 5G is that it cant carry data over longer distances. Hence, even
efficient network for data collection, processing, transmission, 5G technology needs to be augmented to enable infrastructure.
control and real-time analytics which 5G network is a better • Financial liability on consumers : For transition from 4G
candidate. to 5G technology, one has to upgrade to the latest cellular
technology, thereby creating financial liability on consumers.
Interesting facts about 5G • Capital Inadequacy : Lack of flow of cash and adequate capital
According to researchers, about 1.5 billion people will have
with the suitable telecom companies (like Bharti Airtel and
access to 5G by 2024.
It may not seem like it at present, however,
Vodafone Idea) is delaying the 5G spectrum allocation.
5G will cover about 40% of the world.
Way forward
• I ndia should not miss the opportunity and should proactively
The security risks introduced BY 5G work to deploy 5G technology. We should focus on
• I ncreased attack surface : With millions and even billions more strengthening our cyber infrastructure.
connected devices, 5G makes it possible for larger and more • 5G start-ups that enable this design and manufacturing
dangerous attacks. Current and future vulnerabilities of the capabilities should be promoted. This will spur leaps in the
existing internet infrastructure are only exacerbated. The risk coverage, capacity and density of wireless networks.
of more sophisticated botnets, privacy violations, and faster
data extraction can escalate with 5G. Conclusion
• M ore IoT, more problems : IoT devices are inherently insecure; • Th
e recent recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory
security is often not built-in by design. Each insecure IoT device Authority of India to the government to develop a national road
on an organizations networks represents another potential hole map for India to implement 5G in the best possible manner
that an attacker can expose. should include cyber security concerns.
• D ecreased network visibility : With 5G, our networks will only
expand and become more usable by mobile users and devices. Mains question
This means much more network traffic to manage. But without Q. 5G is already transforming and enhancing
a robust wide area network (WAN) security solution like Secure connectivity. In this context Discuss India’s
preparedness and cybersecurity challenges that needs
Access Service Edge (SASE) in place, companies may not be
to be taken care of for earlier roll out of 5G.
able to gain the network traffic visibility required to identify
abnormalities or attacks.

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4 OP-ED | SEPTEMBER 2022

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What can be done to promote millets as

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High Inflation in India

Context Creeping Inflation

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Whole sale Price Index

1] Tightening of loose monetary policy:

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Adani’s global footprint and India’s infrastructure diplomacy

What are the features of infrastructure?

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Implications of infrastructure diplomacy

What is situation now?

RBI’s attempt to manage currency could

What is fixed exchange rate in simple words?

What is a simple definition of capital?

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(6) Forward-trade marketing

POLICY WISE: INDIA’S POWER SECTOR

Electricity Amendment Bill 2022 -

central government. Failure to meet RPO will be punishable

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Sustainable port development promises

Value addition example 

Why ports are important? Steps to take

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• Climate resilience : These unique features make millets suited

• Importance of production planning and scheduling focusing on

• There is a need for tourism analysts to hold tourism planners

Types of Tourism in India is given below: • M edical Tourism

• Revenue loss: They incur large losses because of the subsidized

Value addition example

Fast Facts -Urbanization in India

• This process is expected to generate significant savings for

• E asy dollar supply: RBI has already undertaken measures

Context • The scheme has managed to reduce the poverty levels in

• D iversion from teaching: Teaching children is not regarded

• L eft turn driver assistance; and

Way forward Mains question