CURRENT AFFAIRS (29/12/2022)

1) POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

TOPIC: A FAILED ATTEMPT AT DECRIMINALISATION
Why is it in the news?
I) Recently, the Union Government tabled the Jan Vishwas Bill, 2022,
(Bill) in the Parliament with the objective of “decriminalising” 183 offences
across 42 legislations and enhancing the ease of living and doing business
in India. It is a welcome move and can be viewed as an attempt to reverse
the trend of overcriminalisation.
II) However, there is much that needs to be done in order to institutionalise
efforts aimed at decriminalisation.
Consequences of overcriminalisation
I) An unprincipled growth of criminal law has long been a cause of concern
for scholars of law. Such growth is evident from the fact that criminal law is
frequently used as a political tool; the act of criminalisation often becomes a
medium for governments to put across a strong image as opposed to
punishing wrongful conduct. Governments offer little in the way of
justifications to support such decisions. This phenomenon has been termed
“overcriminalisation” by scholars.
II) The consequences are felt almost immediately. As per the National
Judicial Data Grid, of the 4.3 crore pending cases, nearly 3.2 crore cases
are in relation to criminal proceedings. It is trite to say that the growing
number of pending criminal cases share a direct relation with the number
of criminal laws.
III) Similarly, the rise in the prison population is also proof of
overcriminalisation. As per the National Crime Records Bureau’s Prison
Statistics of 2021, a total of 5.54 lakh prisoners were confined in prisons
against a capacity of 4.25 lakh.
Scope of the Bill
I) The Jan Vishwas Bill either omits penal provisions or replaces them with
fines in legislations such as the Air Act, Environment Protection Act, Forest
Act, Drugs and Cosmetics Acts, Cinematograph Act, Patents Act, Trade
Marks Act and Information Technology Act amongst several others.
II) These are primarily offences which are regulatory in nature. By and
large, an examination of the provisions of the Bill reveals that stress has
been on the replacement of imprisonment clauses with fines.
III) This can hardly be termed as ‘decriminalisation’. There is much that is
required for the efforts aimed at decriminalisation to fructify in any
meaningful way.

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a) Firstly, the Bill undertakes what we may refer to as ‘quasi-
decriminalisation.’ In this context, Andrew Ashworth’s arguments in
relation to use of criminal laws in regulatory frameworks are particularly
poignant. In his seminal piece titled – ‘Is the Criminal Law a Lost Cause?’
Mr. Ashworth creates a distinction between regulatory offences and penal
offences and exemplifies the same through the functional distinction
between a tax and a fine.
While the purpose of a tax is primarily regulatory in nature, a fine carries
with it an element of censure and stigma. This functional distinction, Mr.
Ashworth proffers, is increasingly being diluted under our legislative
frameworks which frequently deploy these elements of censure and stigma
to regulatory domains.
b) Secondly, the Observer Research Foundation’s report titled Jailed for
Doing Business found that there are more than 26,134 imprisonment
clauses in a total of 843 economic legislations, rules and regulations which
seek to regulate businesses and economic activities in India. In this light,
the number of offences deregulated under the Bill seems to be a mere drop
in India’s regulatory framework.
c) Thirdly, the regulatory offences to be considered for ‘decriminalisation’
need to be prioritised not only from the point of view of the ease of doing
business, but also from the points of view of the ills that plague our
criminal justice system itself.
d) Lastly, the Bill conforms to the understanding of the government that
decriminalisation should be limited to regulatory domains.
IV) However, the time is now ripe to shift focus to existing penal offences as
well. Debates are ongoing about the decriminalisation of several penal
offences such as sedition, offences under NDPS Act & UAPA Acts, triple
talaq and anti-conversion laws etc. There is an urgent need to assess these
offences on a principled basis.
The way ahead
I) The intent of the Bill is merely to ensure that imprisonment is replaced
with fines for as many offences as possible. The extent to which it succeeds
in ‘decriminalising’ offences, however, is questionable.
II) If these faults are to be rectified, it is pertinent that a more
comprehensive exercise is undertaken and that the government prioritises
the needs and requirements of the criminal justice system.
TOPIC: THE RECOMMENDATION TO BAN THE SALE OF SINGLE
CIGARETTES
Why is it in the news?
I) The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family
Welfare in its latest report about cancer management, prevention and
diagnosis recommended that the government institute a ban on the sale of

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single sticks of cigarettes. It also recommended that the government
increase taxes on all tobacco products and utilise the acquired revenue for
cancer prevention and awareness.
II) The Committee observed that there is an urgent need to disincentivise
the consumption of tobacco and alcohol in the country. It noted that
tobacco consumed in different ways accounts for nearly 50% of all
cancers, collectively referred to as tobacco-related cancers — which
can be prevented.
What are the proposals and their rationale?
I) Broadly, the measures endeavour to curb consumption as well as the
accessibility of tobacco products, including cigarettes.
II) The report, pointing to the National Health Policy’s (2017) endeavour
for a relative reduction in current tobacco use by 30% in 2025, suggests
that it is imperative that the government take effective measures to contain
the sale of tobacco products.
a) To this effect, it recommends that the government prohibit the sale of
single sticks of cigarettes and lay stringent penalties and fines on
offenders.
b) It also suggests that the government abolish all designated smoking
areas in airports, hotels and restaurants in addition to encouraging a
smoke-free policy in organisations.
c) The Committee also found that India has the lowest prices for tobacco
products and thus, it must look to increase taxes on them. The
revenue acquired from additional taxation, it proposes, could be used
for cancer prevention and awareness.
These measures flow from the observation that oral cancer accounts for the
highest proportion of cancer cases in the country.
d) Additionally, the committee also sought a ban on gutka and pan masala
alongside a prohibition on their direct and indirect advertisement. This
is based on the observation that, in India, more than 80% of tobacco
consumption is in the form of chewing tobacco with or without areca nut,
aggressively marketed as a mouth freshener.
Why the particular concern over single-stick cigarettes?
I) Single sticks are more economical to acquire than a full pack of
cigarettes. This may particularly appeal to adolescents and youth who may
have limited money in hand. Single sticks are also preferred by people who
may want to take it up for experimentation and have not started smoking
on a regular basis.
II) A ban on single-stick sales would compel a potential consumer to buy
the entire pack which may not be particularly economical, thus curbing
potential experimentation and the scope for regular intake. Moreover, a

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potential ban would also mean that the consumer would have to carry
around the packet.
III) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has observed that all forms of
tobacco are harmful, and there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco. It
also states that smoking cigarettes is the most common way of tobacco
use worldwide.
IV) Moreover, medical journal, Lancet noted that by 2030, 7 million of
annual deaths from smoking are expected to be from low and middle-
income countries. It said, “The tobacco industry is targeting young people
in low and middle-income countries to replace those dying from smoking-
related causes.”
V) Single stick sales, owing to their easier accessibility and affordability,
can also work as a disincentive to quit smoking. Nicotine in tobacco
products is highly addictive, and without cessation support only 4% of
users who attempt to quit tobacco consumption will succeed,
according to the WHO. Such support includes professional support and
proven cessation medications, which can more than double their chances of
successful quitting.
How effective can a ban on single stick sales be?
I) Cyril Alexander, State Convenor of Tamil Nadu People’s Forum for
Tobacco Control (TNPFTC) told that notwithstanding that the proposed
move would reduce consumption and sales, the government must also
consider instituting vendor licensing.
II) As for tackling addiction, Mr Alexander states that because cigarettes
would not be available everywhere, the potential for recurrence of the
consumption would reduce. He said that while it would indeed be difficult
people to rescue people who are highly addicted, those less addicted can be
rescued.
TOPIC: NATIONAL AVGC-EXTENDED REALITY MISSION
Why is it in the news?
The Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGC) Task Force has
recently called for a National AVGC-XR Mission.
About the report recommendations
I) The Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) Promotion
Task Force report has been submitted to the government for consideration.
Draft national and State policies for the promotion of the sector have also
been submitted by the Task Force.
II) Report envisages the creation of a budgetary outlay for integrated
promotion & growth of the AVGC sector.
III) Among the recommendations of the Task Force are a “Create in India”
campaign.
Campaign will have an exclusive focus on the following:

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a) Content creation,
b) An international AVGC platform aimed at attracting foreign direct
investment,
c) Co-production treaties and innovation in collaboration with international
counterparts,
d) National and regional centres of excellence for skill development and
e) Leveraging National Education Policy to develop creative thinking at
school level.
IV) Ministry of Education may advise NCERT (National Council of
Educational Research and Training) to create books focusing on subjects
relevant to AVGC.
V) There is a need to augment skilling initiatives and enhance industry
participation for training purposes and to ensure employment opportunities.
VI) Memorandum of Cooperation may be signed between India and other
developed global AVGC markets — U.S., Japan, South Korea, Germany, for
providing internships (six months to a year) to Indian AVGC professionals.
VII) The report has also recommended:
a) Establishment of AVGC accelerators and innovation hubs in academic
institutions
b) Democratising AVGC technologies by promoting subscription-based
pricing models for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
c) Start-ups and institutions
d) Indigenous technology development through incentive schemes and
Intellectual Property creation and
e) Setting up a dedicated production fund for domestic content creation from
across India to promote the country’s culture and heritage globally.
VIII) Inclusive growth & chid rights:
a) Report noted that there should be special incentives for women
entrepreneurs in the sector and promotion of local children’s channels for
raising awareness on the rich culture and history of India among children
and youth.
b) It also suggested the establishment of a framework to ensure protection of
child rights in the digital world.
About the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGC) Sector
I) India’s media and entertainment sector has long been asking for some
kind of legitimacy for the gaming and related industries.
II) The AVGC sectors, and especially the gaming industry has been
witnessing healthy growth over the past seven years. It is hoped that with
proper impetus, could soon become a world leader.
III) The content creation part of gaming required high skills and the
government wanted to focus on that through the task force. India could
become the content creation factory of the world in the sector.

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IV) According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B),
India has the potential to capture 5% ($40 billion) of the global market
share by the year 2025, with an annual growth of around 25-30% and
creating over 1,60,000 new jobs annually.
V) According to industry experts, the Indian market which currently employs
about 1.85 lakh AVGC professionals, can witness a growth of 14-16% in the
next decade.
Significance of National AVGC-Extended Reality Mission
I) Mission is expected to accomplish the following:
a) Boosting employment opportunities.
b) Helping in the promotion and market development activities to extend
global reach of Indian industry.
c) Enhancing exports and recommend incentives to attract foreign direct
investment in the sector.
II) There is a huge scope of employment for the youth in the gaming
industry, Esports/Video Games is a versatile industry and there is a huge
scope for professional gamers as well as other jobs like casters,
commentators, and other support staff appointed by the esports
tournaments like producers, editors, analysts, product managers, game
testers, referees, production crew members, event managers, social media
managers, etc.
III) A progressive tax regime, predictable regulatory framework and
supportive funding policies will allow the industry to compete on the world
stage.
IV) There is a need to introduce children to the skills related to the sector at
an early age in schools. Rural India provides a fertile ground for talent in
this sector.
V) 5G can further promote the latest innovations and mass adoption of
technologies like cloud gaming in the country.
Way Ahead
With a renewed focus on the AVGC sector, blended financing for deep tech
and IT, hardware and electronics manufacturing combined with deployment
of 5G and affordable internet in underserved areas, it is clear that the
government is committed to take the Indian start-up ecosystem to the next
level.
TOPIC: PILGRIMAGE REJUVENATION AND SPIRITUAL AUGMENTATION
DRIVE (PRASAD) PROJECT
Why is it in the news?
I) Recently, the President inaugurated PRASAD project at the tourism
facilitation centre in the pilgrim town of Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh.
II) The President also had an interactive session with the Chenchu tribe.
About PRASAD scheme

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I) The full form of the PRASAD scheme is ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And
Spiritual Augmentation Drive’.
II) The scheme was launched in the year 2014-2015.
III) It comes under the Ministry of Tourism.
IV) This scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage
sites across India for enriching the religious tourism experience. It aims
to integrate pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned and sustainable
manner to provide a complete religious tourism experience.
V) The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to
state governments under the Prasad scheme to promote tourism at pilgrim
sites. The Central Government will cover 100% of the costs under this
program. For improved sustainability, it also includes a Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Cities Identified Under PRASAD Scheme
I) Amritsar (Punjab).
II) Kedarnath (Uttarakhand).
III) Mathura (Uttar Pradesh).
IV) Ajmer (Rajasthan).
V) Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
VI) Gaya (Bihar).
VII) Kamakhya (Assam).
VIII) Dwaraka (Gujarat).
IX) Puri (Odisha).
X) Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh).
XI) Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu).
XII) Velankanni (Tamil Nadu).
Significance of the PRASAD scheme
I) The growth of domestic tourism hugely depends on pilgrimage tourism.
The scheme paves the way for the development and promotion of religious
tourism in India.
II) To reap advantage of pilgrimage tourism’s multiplier and direct effects on
job creation and economic development.
III) In the development of pilgrimage locations, it will adhere to the pro-poor
tourist philosophy and community-based development.
IV) Making use of public resources and skills.
V) It will develop world-class infrastructure in religious places to sustainably
increase tourism appeal.
VI) It will increase local community knowledge of the relevance of tourism to
them in terms of improved living conditions, increased sources of income,
and overall region development.
VII) It will develop livelihood in the specified areas, promote local culture,
arts, food, handicrafts, and so on.

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About Chenchu tribe
I) It is a Dravidian tribe.
II) It is designated as Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Odisha.
III) Many Chenchus live in the sparse and deciduous Nallamala forest of
Andhra Pradesh.
IV) They are an aboriginal tribe whose traditional way of life has been based
on hunting and gathering.
2) INDIAN CULTURE
TOPIC: GEOGLYPHS (PREHISTORIC ROCK ART)
Why is it in the news?
Experts have raised concerns that the construction of a petrochemical
refinery in Barsu village of Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district might damage
around 250 prehistoric geoglyphs found in the area.
What are Geoglyphs?
I) Geoglyphs are a form of prehistoric rock art, created on the surface of
laterite plateaus by removing a part of the rock surface through an incision,
picking, carving or abrading.
II) They can be in the form of rock paintings, etchings, cup marks and ring
marks.
Ratnagiri’s prehistoric rock art
I) Clusters of geoglyphs are spread across the Konkan coastline in
Maharashtra and Goa, spanning around 900 km.
II) Ratnagiri district has more than 1,500 pieces of such art, also called
“Katal shilpa,” spread across 70 sites.
III) According to carbon dating, these sites are believed to be over 12,000 –
20,000 years old.
IV) The sites are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

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Figures depicted in the geoglyphs
I) The figures depicted in the geoglyphs include humans and animals such
as deer, elephant, tiger, monkey, wild boar, rhinoceros, hippopotamus,
cattle, pig, rabbit, and monkey.
II) They also include a high number of reptilian and amphibian creatures
such as tortoises and alligators, aquatic animals such as sharks and
stingrays, and birds like peacocks.
Significance of Ratnagiri’s rock art
I) Ratnagiri’s rock art is evidence of the continued existence of human
settlements from the Mesolithic (middle stone age) to the early historic era.
II) The geoglyphs also show the existence of certain types of fauna that are
no longer present in the region today.
III) Imagery from these sites shows how people “adapted to ephemeral
wetlands in a dry-arid plateau having shallow rock pools, streams and
watercourses”.
Inclusion in UNESCO’s Tentative List
I) In April 2022, these sites in the Konkan region were added to a tentative
list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites.
II) The UNESCO listing mentions “Konkan geoglyphs.” However, elsewhere,
the term petroglyph (literally, “rock symbol/character”) is also used.
III) UNESCO’s tentative world heritage list mentions seven sites with
petroglyphs in Ratnagiri district — Ukshi, Jambharun, Kasheli, Rundhe
Tali, Devihsol, Barsu and Devache Gothane, one in Sindhudurg district –
Kudopi village, and nine sites at Phansamal in Goa.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
I) Which of the following recommendations made by the Parliamentary
Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare about the cancer
management are correct:
1) To prohibit the sale of single sticks of cigarettes and lay stringent
penalties and fines on offenders.
2) To abolish all designated smoking areas in airports, hotels and
restaurants in addition to encouraging a smoke-free policy in
organisations.
3) To ban on gutka and pan masala alongside a prohibition on their direct
and indirect advertisement.
Select the correct code given below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3
Solution (d)
Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct

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Broadly, the measures endeavour to curb consumption as well as the
accessibility of tobacco products, including cigarettes.
a) It recommends that the government prohibit the sale of single sticks of
cigarettes and lay stringent penalties and fines on offenders.
b) It also suggests that the government abolish all designated smoking
areas in airports, hotels and restaurants in addition to encouraging a
smoke-free policy in organisations.
c) The Committee also found that India has the lowest prices for tobacco
products and thus, it must look to increase taxes on them. The revenue
acquired from additional taxation, it proposes, could be used for cancer
prevention and awareness.
d) Additionally, the committee also sought a ban on gutka and pan masala
alongside a prohibition on their direct and indirect advertisement. This is
based on the observation that, in India, more than 80% of tobacco
consumption is in the form of chewing tobacco with or without areca nut,
aggressively marketed as a mouth freshener.
II) Which of the following statements about the Ratnagiri’s prehistoric
rock art are incorrect?
1) Clusters of geoglyphs (form of prehistoric rock art) are spread across the
Konkan coastline in Maharashtra and Karnataka, spanning around 900
km.
2) Ratnagiri district has more than 1,500 pieces of such art, also called
“Katal shilpa,” spread across 70 sites.
3) The sites are protected by the Geological Survey of India (ASI).
Select the code given below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 only
d) 1 and 3 only
Solution (d)
Only Statement 2 is correct
I) Geoglyphs are a form of prehistoric rock art, created on the surface of
laterite plateaus by removing a part of the rock surface through an incision,
picking, carving or abrading. They can be in the form of rock paintings,
etchings, cup marks and ring marks.
II) Clusters of geoglyphs are spread across the Konkan coastline in
Maharashtra and Goa, spanning around 900 km.
III) Ratnagiri district has more than 1,500 pieces of such art, also called
“Katal shilpa,” spread across 70 sites. According to carbon dating, these
sites are believed to be over 12,000 –20,000 years old.
IV) The sites are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

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III) Which of the following statements are correct regarding ‘Pilgrimage
Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive’?
1) It comes under the Ministry of Culture and was launched in the
year 2014-2015.
2) The scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage sites across
India for enriching the religious tourism experience.
3) The Central Government will cover 100% of the costs under this
program.
Select the correct code given below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) None of the above
Solution (b)
Statement 2 and 3 are correct
About PRASAD scheme
I) The scheme was launched in the year 2014-2015.
II) It comes under the Ministry of Tourism.
III) This scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage
sites across India for enriching the religious tourism experience. It aims
to integrate pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned and sustainable
manner to provide a complete religious tourism experience.
IV) The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to
state governments under the Prasad scheme to promote tourism at pilgrim
sites. The Central Government will cover 100% of the costs under this
program. For improved sustainability, it also includes a Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

IV) Which of the following recommendations made by the Animation,

Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGC) Task Force is/are incorrect?
1) Establishment of AVGC accelerators and innovation hubs in academic
institutions.
2) Setting up a dedicated production fund for domestic content creation
from across India to promote the country’s culture and heritage globally.
Select the code give below:
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Solution (d)
It has made the following recommendations:
a) Establishment of AVGC accelerators and innovation hubs in academic
institutions
b) Democratising AVGC technologies by promoting subscription-based
pricing models for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
c) Start-ups and institutions
d) Indigenous technology development through incentive schemes and
Intellectual Property creation and
e) Setting up a dedicated production fund for domestic content creation from
across India to promote the country’s culture and heritage globally.

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