Rau's AUGUST Magazine - 2023 Final

CONTENTS
THE DIGITAL PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION BILL, 2023

Part One #Data Protection 20
JAN VISHAWS ACT

Current Affairs Analysis #Governance 23
DIFFERING INTERPRETATION OF EQUAL PROTECTION

02 #Fundamental Rights 26
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISMISSAL OF MINISTER BY THE GOVERNOR

#Federal Issues 28
#GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)
COLLEGIUM AND APPOINTMENTS
PUSH FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
#Judiciary #Appointment 29
#Infrastructure 02
THE CINEMATOGRAPH (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2023
INTERNATIONALISATION OF RUPEE
#Bills #legislations 32
#ExternalSector 04
WEB PORTAL FOR POLITICAL PARTIES
FARM MECHANISATION
#Electoral Reforms 34
#Agriculture 06
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 34
FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR
#Energy 08
NATIONAL MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX, 2023 36

#InclusiveGrowth 10
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & Security
A MACRO VIEW OF THE FISCAL HEALTH OF STATES
#FiscalPolicy 13
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II & III (Main)
INDIA'S POTENTIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH NATO PLUS
DEBT DILEMMA
#InternationalOrganisations 36
#FiscalPolicy 14
CRUMBLING WTO
RUPEE-DIRHAM SETTLEMENT SYSTEM
#InternationalOrganisation 37
#ExternalSector #PrelimNuggets 15
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BETWEEN INDIA AND USA
EXPORT PREPAREDNESS INDEX 2022
#InternationalOrganisations 38
#ExternalSector #PrelimNuggets 15
HIGH SEAS TREATY
INSTANTANEOUS SETTLEMENT SYSTEM
#Miscellaneoustopics 39
#CapitalMarkets #PrelimNuggets 16
INDIA-CHINA TIBET ISSUE
#BilateralRelations #Neighbourhood 40
HORIZON 2047: VISION FOR INDIA-FRANCE STRATEGIC

19 PARTNERSHIP #BilateralRelations 42
COLLABORATION OVER INDUS WATER TREATY

CONSTITUTION, POLITY AND GOVERNANCE #neighbouringcountries 42
#GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II (Main) HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT BETWEEN INDIA AND CDRI
UNIFORM CIVIL CODE 43
#DPSP #Fundamental Rights 19 SCO SUMMIT 44

COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE 44 WHAT ARE THE PROVISIONS OF THE HIGH SEAS TREATY?
MEKONG GANGA COOPERATION (MGC) 44 #environment #conservation 62
GLOBAL CRISIS RESPONSE GROUP 45 CHINA EVENT RAISES CONCERN OVER INDIA’S ONLY APE
COMPREHENSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE AGREEMENT FOR #Environment #Speciesconservation 64
TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP (CPTPP) 45 NGT ORDERS TO FORM SOP FOR REDUCING POLLUTION AT
GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2023 45 ALL GOVT. DISTRICT HOSPITALS #Environment 65
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 45 ANTHROPOCENE, THE NEW EPOCH MARKED BY HUMAN

IMPACT ON EARTH, BEGAN IN 1950S, SAY SCIENTISTS
#Geography 66
47 IN VARANASI, TURTLES HELP CLEAN THE GANGA 66
SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
# GS Paper I & GS Paper II (Main)
MASTER PLAN FOR URBAN AREAS
69
#Urbansation 47
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
PALLIATIVE CARE
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)
#Health 48
EVERGREENING OF PATENTS AND INDIAN PATENT REGIME
JAL JEEVAN MISSION
#Intellectual Property Rights 69
#Welfare Mechanism 50
CHANDRAYAAN-3
CONTROLLED HUMAN INFECTION STUDIES (CHIS)
#Astronomy & Space Technology 71
#Biology & Biotechnology 51
DETECTION OF ‘TIME DILATION’ IN QUASARS
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY CIRCULAR ECONOMY INDUSTRY
#Astronomy & Space Technology 73
COALITION (RECEIC) #Inclusive growth 52
INDIA'S FIRST INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED 700 MW
POCSO ACT AND CRIMINALISATION OF ADOLESCENT SEX
NUCLEAR POWER REACTOR #Nuclear Energy 74
#Children 53
SMALL MODULAR REACTORS
PERFORMANCE GRADING INDEX
#Nuclear Energy 75
#Education 54
HOW TO TELL IF A MATERIAL IS A SUPERCONDUCTOR?
#New Emerging Technologies 77
DUCHENNE’S MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
57 #Health 78
SKIN BANK
Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & #Health 79
Disaster Management PRACTICE QUESTIONS 79
# GS Paper (Prelims) and GS Paper I & III (Main)

AIMING FOR THE STARS: HOW INVERTER ACS ARE
CATALYSING THE ENERGY-EFFICIENCY REVOLUTION
81
#Energy 57 HISTORY, HERITAGE & CULTURE
FOREST CONSERVATION AMENDMENT BILL 2023
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper I (Main)
#generalstudiesIII #Environment #Mainsexhaustive 58
NAWAB WAJID ALI SHAH
EXCESSIVE GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION HAS SHIFTED THE
#Personalitiesfromhistory #Culture 81
EARTH’S AXIS FIND A STUDY #Geography 59
ALLURI SITARAMA RAJU AND RAMPA REBELLION
NEW ABNORMAL’: SCIENTISTS SAY CLIMATE CHANGE
#Tribalrevolts #Modernhistory 83
WORSENS WILDFIRE #Climate change #Environment 61
FUSION OF ROCK ART MAINS GS PAPER IV 99
#Prehistoricpaintings #MedievalIndia 84
GURJARA PRATIHARA DYNASTY

#EarlyMedievalIndia 87 Part Three
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION TAGS
#HeritageofIndia #Art&Culture 90
Essays of the month
LAMBANI ART ITEMS
#HeritageofIndia #Art&Culture #Communities 92
102
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 93 NON – COOPERATION WITH EVIL IS AS MUCH A DUTY AS
IS COOPERTION WITH GOOD. #PHILOSOPHICAL
SUBMITTED BY: MEGHNA CHAKRABORTY 103
Part TWO YOU CANNOT FALL IF YOU DO NOT CLIMB. BUT THERE IS
NO JOY IN LIVING YOUR WHOLE LIFE ON THE GROUND.
Ethics, Integrity and #PHILOSOPHICAL SUBMITTED BY: TISHYARAJ SINH
RATHOD 105
Aptitude WE HAVE FIRST RAISED DUST AND THEN COMPLAIN WE

CANNOT SEE #PHILOSOPHICAL SUBMITTED BY: URVI 107
95
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOUR
#Ethics #Integrity #Aptitude 96
CASE STUDIES for Practice

Part ONE
Current
affairs
analysis
logical .simple .targeted
analysis & explanation
of all relevant news of the month
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
rechargeable batteries that can be plugged into a

PUSH FOR ELECTRIC power source.
VEHICLES  Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs): These vehicles use

hydrogen to power their onboard electric motor. FCVs
#Infrastructure combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity,
which runs the motor. Unlike BEVs, their range and
refuelling process are comparable to conventional
Battery electric vehicles are at the heart of the government’s
cars.
push for net zero. However, this strategy may not be as
NEED FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
successful in India’s peculiar conditions. While there is little
debate that electrification is the future, the roadmap  Limit the Impact of High Crude Oil Import Prices:
India is massively dependent on oil imports. According
remains unclear.
to data from Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell
WHAT ARE ELECTRIC VEHICLES(EVS)?
(PPAC), India has spent USD 119.2 billion in FY 2021–
An EV is defined as a vehicle that can be powered by an 22, which is up from USD 62.2 billion spent in the
electric motor that draws electricity from a battery. There previous fiscal year. High crude oil prices in the
are four types of electric vehicles available: international market have an adverse impact on a
 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): They are also country's economy.
known as All-Electric Vehicles (AEV). Electric Vehicles  Reduce Vehicular Pollution: The vehicular pollution
using BEV technology run entirely on a battery- arising from the increasing stock of private vehicles,
powered electric drivetrain. The electricity used to especially internal combustion engines (ICE) has
drive the vehicle is stored in a large battery pack contributed significantly in deteriorating the air quality
which can be charged by plugging into the electricity in Indian cities.
grid. The charged battery pack then provides power to  Meet Net-Zero Targets: India has committed to Net-
one or more electric motors to run the electric car. Zero carbon emissions by 2070 and to reduce the
total projected carbon emissions by one billion tones
 Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEVs): They combine a
by 2030. It is believed that faster adoption and
conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) with an
promotion of Electric vehicles will not only bring down
electric propulsion system, resulting in a hybrid
the import bill but also the pollution arising from the
drivetrain that substantially lowers fuel usage. The
use of ICE vehicles.
onboard battery in a conventional hybrid is charged
MEASURES FOR PROMOTION OF EVs
when the internal combustion engine is powering the
drivetrain.  Scheme Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of
(Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India:
 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEVs): They also
The Ministry of Heavy Industries formulated a FAME
have hybrid drivetrain that uses both an ICE and
India Scheme in 2015 to promote adoption of electric/
electric power for motive power, backed by
hybrid vehicles (xEVs) in the country. At present,
FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 2

Economic Development
Phase-II of FAME India Scheme is being implemented  Charging Network: Factors like unsurety in utilisation
for a period of 5 years w.e.f. 01st April, 2019 with a rates of charging stations, huge operating costs, load
total budgetary support of ₹10,000 crore. on electricity DISCOMs, etc., create a negative
 Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: environment for operators to establish charging
stations and discourage investment when there are
○ The Government approved a Production Linked
not sufficient numbers of EVs in Indian roads for
Incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing of
operators to realise the returns on their investments.
Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) in order to bring
down prices of batteries in the country. Drop in  Electricity Source: In India, the grid is still fed
battery price will result in cost reduction of electric largely by coal-fired thermal plants. Using fossil fuel
vehicles. generation to power EVs would mean reduced tailpipe
emissions in the cities, but continuing pollution from
○ Electric Vehicles are covered under Production
the running of the thermal plant.
Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Automobile
and Auto Components, which was approved with  Value Chain: India is struggling to make inroads into
a budgetary outlay of ₹ 25,938 crore for a period of the global value chain for sourcing of key inputs such
five years. as Lithium, Cobalt and Nickel. This will make India
almost entirely reliant on imports from a small pool
○ Battery Electric Vehicle and Strong Hybrid vehicles
of countries such as Argentina, Chile, China and
are supported under the FAME-II Scheme whereas
Australia in order to meet the increasing demand.
hydrogen fuel cell based vehicles which are Zero
Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) are covered under Auto  Shortage of Skilled Manpower for Servicing and
and Auto component PLI Scheme. Repair of EVs: EVs have unique components and
systems that require specialised training and
 Reduction in GST Rates: GST on electric vehicles has
expertise to repair and service. Shortage of trained
been reduced from 12% to 5%; GST on chargers/
technicians and mechanics could result in longer
charging stations for electric vehicles has been
waiting time for repairs, higher costs for maintenance
reduced from 18% to 5%.
and repairs, and potentially lower customer
 Providing Exemptions to EVs: The Ministry of Road
satisfaction.
Transport & Highways (MoRTH) announced that
WAY FORWARD
battery-operated vehicles will be given green licence
plates and be exempted from permit requirements. The Estimates Committee of the Parliament has made
following observations in this regard:
 Nudging States: MoRTH issued a notification advising
states to waive road tax on EVs, which in turn will help  National Policy on EVs: A comprehensive National
reduce the initial cost of EVs. Policy on EV needs to incorporate the elements of
successful State models and international best
 Amendment in Model Building Bylaws 2016 to
practices. It should also have realistic goals and
establish charging stations and infrastructure in
strategies which must be commensurate with India’s
private and commercial buildings.
commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate
ISSUES WITH BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES (BEVs) change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
PUSH
 Remodelling the Subsidy: The Government may also
 High initial cost: Electric vehicles are way more consider incentivizing the range of the vehicle in
expensive than their conventional fuel-powered addition to the subsidy being given on per unit power
counterparts. This huge price difference
of the battery. This would push the OEMs to produce
discourages many interested EV buyers to shy away more efficient EVs which would provide greater range
from making a decision to buy those. per unit power of the battery.
 Requirement of Upfront Subsidy: Push for such
 Extension of FAME-II Scheme: The Government
vehicles require an elaborate system of lucrative tax should extend the FAME-II scheme beyond its current
incentives which must be backed by government March 31, 2024 timeline by an additional two years to
subsidies. However, this overt subsidisation will
allow more time to evaluate the effectiveness of the
further intensify the state's fiscal burden.

scheme and to make necessary WHAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL CURRENCY?

adjustments/modifications to promote the electric  An international currency is used and held beyond the
vehicles (EVs). Further, a comprehensive FAME-III borders of the issuing country for transactions
scheme should be introduced once the extended between residents and non-residents, and between
period of FAME-II is over. residents of two countries other than the issuing
 Promotion of Other technologies Along With EVs country.
such as flex fuel vehicles, Hydrogen ICE , Hydrogen  An international currency is supposed to perform
fuel cell vehicles etc. with greater emphasis. three international functions:
 Need for Apprenticeships and Traineeships: The ○ Store of value: The governments can use them in
Government, in conjunction with industry their international reserves.
stakeholders, should frame new courses for
○ Medium of exchange: International currency is
specialisation in EVs in ITIs and Skill Development
used for invoicing of trade and in financial
Centres, as well as fund apprenticeships and
transactions.
traineeships in the local EV and associated
manufacturing sector so that a pool of trained and ○ Unit of account: They are used as an anchor for
skilled workforce can be created. pegging local currency or for denominating trade
and financial transactions.
 Charging Infrastructure: The Government needs to
modify the Building Bylaws suitably to make provision  In the current international monetary system, the US
for personal charging points at the designated parking dollar is the most important international reserve
currency. While the US dollar’s 50-year long
spots. Further, if some form of incentives/subsidy can
be provided to private persons/builders to set up dominance remains unchallenged for now, it has
charging stations, it would boost the network of started to erode slowly, and the economic order will
have to evolve to look beyond the US dollar in the
charging infrastructure.
future.
CONCLUSION
 Meanwhile, the international monetary and
 It must be noted that monetary incentives alone
financial system has moved towards being
cannot drive EV penetration. Hence, the government
multipolar. This is apparent as the share of USD in
must invest in robust EV infrastructure, parking
foreign exchange reserves of countries is steadily
benefits and workplace charging facilities. Further,
decreasing. On the other hand, we can see the
vehicle manufacturers must maintain a
increasing usage of other currencies in trade invoicing
technology-agnostic approach that spells out the
and settlement, and the emergence of various
emissions objectives that they have to meet,
bilateral and regional economic cooperation
irrespective of technology.
agreements.
 This, along with recent geopolitical developments, has
INTERNATIONALISATION set the stage for the emergence of various other
currencies, including the Indian National Rupee
OF RUPEE (INR), as prospective currencies for use in
international transactions.
#ExternalSector
BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONALISATION
OF RUPEE
 Limits Exchange Rate Risk: As the
India is aiming to make the rupee a global currency. With internationalisation of a country’s currency broadens
India remaining one of the fastest-growing countries and and deepens its financial market, domestic firms
showing remarkable resilience in the face of major may be able to invoice and settle their
headwinds, the rupee has the potential to become an exports/imports in their currency, thus shifting
internationalised currency. exchange rate risk to their foreign counterparts. It also
permits domestic firms and financial institutions to

access international financial markets without is to facilitate the process of internationalisation of

assuming exchange rate risk. INR on a pilot basis in a closed environment where the
 Reduces the Cost of Capital and widens the set of framework can be tested, and various operational
financial institutions that are willing and able to glitches and roadblocks could be addressed.
provide capital. This would boost capital formation Accordingly, RBI had proposed the use of local
in the economy thereby increasing growth and currencies of members for settlement of ACU
reducing unemployment. transactions thus mooting the idea of INR also being
included as one of the settlement currencies under
 Financing Deficits in Domestic Currency: It allows a
the ACU.
country’s government to finance part of its budget
deficit by issuing domestic currency debt in  Use of Indian Payment Infrastructure: RBI in
international markets rather than issuing foreign collaboration with the GoI and National Payments
currency instruments. It may, likewise, allow a Corporation of India (NPCI) is reaching out to
government to finance its current account deficit jurisdictions to increase the global outreach of the UPI
without drawing down its official reserves. system to facilitate cross-border transactions,
including remittances. The linkages between fast
 Reduces the Requirement for Maintaining Large
payment systems across jurisdictions can enhance
Forex Reserves: The authorities maintain and depend
cross-border payment arrangements and ensure
on large foreign exchange reserves in convertible
faster remittances.
currencies to manage external vulnerabilities.
 Local Currency Settlement System (LCSS) for
 Lowers the Impact of Capital Outflows: At the
transactions between India and the UAE: The
macroeconomic level, internationalisation of a
creation of the LCSS would enable exporters and
currency results in lowering the impact of sudden
importers to invoice and pay in their respective
stops and reversals of capital flows and enhances the
domestic currencies, which in turn would enable the
ability to repay external sovereign debt.
development of an INR-AED foreign exchange market.
INITIATIVES TOWARDS THE INTERNATIONALISATION This arrangement would also promote investments
OF RUPEE
and remittances between the two countries. The use
 Bilateral Swap Arrangements (BSA): India currently of local currencies would optimise transaction costs
has a BSA with Japan for an amount up to USD 75 and settlement time for transactions, including for
billion as a backstop line of support in case of any remittances from Indians residing in UAE.
balance of payments issue. RBI also provides liquidity CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH
to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation INTERNATIONALISATION OF A CURRENCY
(SAARC) countries under the SAARC swap framework.
 Volatility of Exchange Rate: It may result in the
Under the SAARC swap agreement, the requesting
potential increase in volatility of its exchange rate in
central bank can make withdrawals in USD, Euro and
the initial stages.
also in INR.
 Monetary Policy Implication: This would further
 Developments in the GIFT City: Gujarat International
have monetary policy implications as the obligation of
Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar was set up
a country to supply its currency to meet the global
with a vision to bring to the Indian shores, those
demand may come in conflict with its domestic
financial services/markets and transactions, relating to
monetary policies objectives. This is popularly known
India, that are currently done outside India. GIFT IFSC
as the Triffin dilemma (impossible trinity) -
has the potential to develop as a competitor to
meaning no country can simultaneously reach the
international financial centres for Rupee products. It
policy goals of free capital movement, exchange rate
also provides an opportunity for Indian entities to
stability, and independent monetary policy.
raise foreign capital through masala bonds and list the
same on the exchanges in the IFSC.  Accentuate External Shocks: The
internationalisation of a currency may accentuate an
 Asian Clearing Union (ACU): The idea of initiating the
external shock, given the open channel of the flow of
use of domestic currencies within the ACU mechanism

funds into and out of the country and from one roadblocks not only add to transaction and
currency to another. compliance costs but also affect the overall ease of
 Uncertainty in Estimation of Foreign Demands: The doing business in India.
costs also emanate from the additional demand for  Deepening Indian Financial Markets: Well
money and also an increase in the volatility of the developed and sophisticated domestic financial
foreign demand for domestic currency in the markets give confidence to foreign investors to
international market. Despite advances in statistical take exposure in the underlying currency.
reporting, there remains an uncertainty associated
 Making Rupee the “Vehicle Currency”: As we
with demand estimation.
progress and achieve a higher level of trade linkages
WAY FORWARD
with other countries, along with greater capital
Internationalisation of Rupee has significant benefits but account convertibility, deep and liquid financial
to achieve it successfully, would require some markets and strong macroeconomic indicators, it is
prerequisites: expected that Rupee would be used by other
 Capital Account Convertibility: Internationalisation economies for pegging their currencies, which will
of rupee would require continued efforts to improve fulfil the requirement of Rupee being used as a
macroeconomic fundamentals and financial market “vehicle currency” by other jurisdictions in their forex
infrastructure with an enhanced risk management intervention to maintain the value of their currency.
framework. Hence, it is essential to continue on a Inclusion of Rupee in the International Monetary
calibrated path towards current account Fund’s (IMF) SDR basket will further help in attaining
convertibility. the objective of INR as a “vehicle currency”.
 Liquidity in Indian National Currency: Encouraging CONCLUSION
the international usage of rupee requires that As the internationalisation of a currency is a long-
sufficient rupee liquidity is available at the drawn process involving continuous change and
government and central bank levels (both domestic incremental progress, it would enable timely redressal
and foreign). This will provide the requisite of the associated concerns and challenges as we move
confidence to all stakeholders, economic agents forward.
and market participants for settling cross-border
transactions in Indian Rupee.
 Cross-border Payment Infrastructure: Availability of FARM MECHANISATION
a robust INR-denominated payment mechanism for #Agriculture
cross-border transactions and providing timely inter-
bank transfers and settlement is an important step
towards the internationalisation of INR. This ensures Flagging poor penetration of use of farm machines among
a seamless flow of cross-border transactions in the vast majority of farmers due to their small land holdings,
local currencies. It may also reduce our dependence the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry
on international payment systems based on the SWIFT and Food Processing has recommended that the
messaging system. government should strive hard to promote agricultural
mechanisation for small and marginal farmers.
 Easing Regulatory Hurdles: Easing of Foreign
ABOUT MECHANISATION
Exchange Management Act, 1999; revisiting regulatory
guidelines to remove frictions in the current Financial Mechanisation refers to the development and use of
Action Task Force (FATF) and Prevention of Money machines that can take the place of human and animal
Laundering Act (PMLA) provisions would be very power in agricultural processes with the end objective to
enhance the overall productivity and production with the
important in this regard. Further, procedural and
lowest cost of production
documentation roadblocks faced by foreign
portfolio investors need to be reviewed. These

PRESENT STATUS OF MECHANISATION holdings. This makes it difficult for the farmers to own
 Farm Mechanization in India: 40-25%; Even though machinery. As a result, the benefits of mechanisation
India is the largest producer of tractors, a significant are enjoyed by only a section of the farmers who have
share of production is exported. large farm holdings.
 Farm Mechanization in other countries: USA (95%);  Prevents Economies of Scale: Mechanising small and
Brazil (75%); China (57%). non-contiguous groups of small farms is against
‘economies of scale’ especially in operations like land
 Regional Disparities: Northern India has higher levels
preparation and harvesting. Continued shrinkage in
of mechanisation compared to other regions.
average farm size makes individual ownership of
 Rice and Wheat crops have the largest extent of agricultural machinery progressively more
mechanisation. uneconomical.
NEED FOR AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION
 Low Penetration: Overall agriculture mechanisation
 The agricultural mechanisation can reduce the level of the country is 47% which is comparatively
increasing labour costs in the rural areas. It can lower than that of other developing countries such as
enable the farmers to grow a greater number of crops China (59.5%) and Brazil (75%).
in a single year due to reduction in the harvesting  High Procurement Cost: The high cost and energy
time.
efficient farm machinery are capital intensive and
 There has been feminization of Indian agriculture with majority of Indian farmers are not able to acquire
women farmers accounting for almost 1/3 of the total these assets due to shortage of capital with them.
farmers. Mechanisation would help address the needs
 Low Awareness: Matching equipment for tractors,
of women farmers. power tillers and other prime movers are either not
 According to the Dalwai Committee, the adoption of available or farmers make inappropriate selection in
agricultural mechanisation would reduce the input the absence of proper guidance, resulting in fuel
costs by 25%, enhance the productivity by 20% and wastage and high cost of production.
increase the incomes of the farmers by 25-30%.  Limited After-sales Service: The quality and after
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES sales service of farm machinery are the other
 Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (2014): concerns in India as the majority of farmers are cost
Assistance to the Farmers for procurement of conscious. There are inadequate service centres for
agricultural machineries; Custom Hiring Centres; proper up-keep of the machinery. In addition, the
Demonstration of Newly Developed Agricultural/ inability of local low cost manufacturers to come up to
Horticultural Equipment. the levels of standard designs of equipment also
 Promotion of Agricultural Mechanisation for in- poses a big challenge to farm mechanisation.
situ Management of Crop residue: Implemented in WAY FORWARD
Punjab, Haryana, UP and NCT of Delhi; Setting of  Prioritise development of small equipment/
Custom hiring centres; Financial Assistance to the machines for Small and Marginal Farmers as there
farmers for buying environment friendly agricultural is an urgent need to bring in quality and value
machinery. addition of the farm produce enabling the farmers to
 FARMS (Farms Machinery Solutions) Mobile App: take second and subsequent crops making agriculture
Facilitates the farmers to hire agricultural machineries more attractive and profitable.
and tools.  Portability of Farm Equipment: Wide publicity of the
CHALLENGES IN MECHANISATION benefits of Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization
(SMAM) should be given amongst all farmers
The key challenges faced by the farm mechanisation in
India are as follows. especially, the Small and Marginal Farmers through
social and electronic media. Moreover, an App like
 Small Average Farm Size: The average farm size in
'Krishak Mitra' needs to be developed to be used by
India is small (1.08 ha) and small and marginal land
Small and Marginal Farmers to locate and contact the
holdings (less than 2.0 ha) account for 86% of land

Custom Hiring Centres/ Farm Machinery Banks in their  Research and Development for Small and Marginal
close vicinity. Farm Mechanisation: There is a need to involve
 Easing the Procurement of Agri-Equipment: The other agencies at District, Block and Village level, to
Committee suggests the idea of using Direct Benefit give technological demonstration to all farmers at
Transfer (DBT) Portal as a Single Window clearance for grassroot level. Further, pamphlets and printed
the approval of equipment/machines procurement by material in respect of new research in the field of
Individual farmer/Custom Hiring Centres. machinery and tools along with a list of popular farm
equipment for the use of small and marginal farmers
 Training and Organising Demonstrations: There
be made available at all Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) at
has been some reduction in allocation of funds from
District level.
2021-22 onwards for providing training and organising
demonstrations in the area of farm machinery.  Upgradation of Testing Centres: There is a need for
Therefore, for overall development of the streamlining of testing procedure, training of
mechanisation of Agriculture, adequate funds should engineers and testing of farm equipment as
be allocated and these funds should be used technologies are changing fast and there is need for
judiciously. up-gradation of Testing Centres.
STATUS OF FINANCING OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS SECTOR
OF RENEWABLE ENERGY  India’s power sector has been experiencing transition

with increasing penetration of renewable energy in
SECTOR the energy mix and the Country has a target to install
175 GW of renewable energy by 2022 and
#Energy commitment has been made to increase the
renewable energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.
 For our long term commitments, an additional
CONTEXT
investment of about Rs 17 lakh crore has been
 Keeping in view the enhanced target of renewable
envisaged which would include associated
energy, the overall debt requirement is large and
transmission cost and the country would need an
reducing the overall cost of financing to the renewable
annual investment of Rs. 1.5-2 lakh crore in renewable
energy developers is important.

energy sector against which our estimated investment  Fiscal incentives such as accelerated depreciation,
for last few years have been in the range of Rs. 75,000 Goods and Services Tax (GST) at lower rates,
crore only. concessional custom duty, etc.
 Hence, there is a huge gap between the required and  Dispute Resolution Committee: To consider the
actual investment and it will be a gargantuan task to unforeseen disputes between solar/wind power
fill this gap which requires an enabling framework to developers and Solar Energy Corporation of India
be created by the Government. (SECI)/NTPC, beyond contractual agreement which
WHAT ARE THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THAT THE facilitates smooth implementation of solar/wind
SECTOR IS FACING? energy projects.
 Re-negotiation of Power Purchase Agreements  Setting up of Renewable Energy Industry Promotion

(PPAs) Tariffs: Some States have resorted to & Facilitation Board.
cancellation/renegotiation of Tariffs discovered  Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS)
through competitive bidding in the recent past. Such charges and losses for inter-state sale of solar and
uncertainty and consequential impact on revenues wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30th
has affected the debt serviceability of the project as June 2025.
well as investors sentiment.  Setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks
 Delay in Payment of Energy Bills by State DISCOMs: to provide land and transmission on plug and play
The delay in releasing the payments against the basis.
energy bills of generators has led to delay in debt  Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of
servicing of lenders and thus downgrading of renewable power.
assets to non-performing assets.
 ‘Must run’ status for renewable energy projects
 Reliance on Imports: Presently the domestic under India Electricity Grid code.
manufacturing capacity of solar cells is not sufficient
WAY FORWARD
to cater the current demand of the country. Therefore,
renewable energy developers in India are dependent Following are the recommendations of the Standing
Committee on Energy:
on imports of Solar Modules mainly from China. High
reliance on imports creates uncertainty of prices  Working proactively to make available and explore
and timely availability of modules. innovative financing mechanisms and alternative
funding avenues like Infrastructure Development
 Lower Tariffs: Discovery of lower tariffs in
competitive biddings and rise in module cost in the Fund (IDF), Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InVITs),
recent past have adverse bearing on debt servicing of Alternate Investment Funds, Green/Masala Bonds,
crowd funding etc. for the renewable energy sector.
RE projects. Given the high cost of debt in the Indian
market, funding of renewable energy projects with  Explore the possibility of prescribing Renewable
significantly low tariffs is a cause of concern for Finance Obligation on the lines of Renewable
lenders. Purchase Obligation (RPOs) for banks and financial
 Land Acquisition and Clearances Constraints: institutions in order to make them invest a specific
percentage of their investment in the renewable
Pending litigations after acquisition and non-disposal
of conversion applications by State Government energy sector.
Departments lead to delay in security creation leading  Since Green Banks have emerged as an innovative
to charging of additional interest for non creation of tool for accelerating clean energy financing globally,
security which further burdens the project cash the Government should explore setting up of a
flows. green bank system which can address the persisting
finance related challenges being faced by the
MEASURES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO BOOST
INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR renewable energy sector in the Country.
 Permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to  The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency
100 percent under the automatic route. (IREDA) should be given a special window for

borrowing from RBI at repo rate in line with other ABOUT THE SECOND EDITION
specialised financial institutions viz. NHB, SIDBI,  The National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A
NABARD, etc. to ensure availability of low-cost Progress Review 2023 presents the second edition of
financial resources for the renewable energy sector. the national MPI and is a follow-up to the Baseline
 Exempting PFC Limited, REC Limited and IREDA Report published in November 2021.
from payment of guarantee fee for raising funds  It provides multidimensional poverty estimates for
from international multilateral agencies like KfW, India’s 36 States & Union Territories, along with 707
JICA, ADB etc. or alternatively, guarantee fee should be administrative districts across 12 indicators of the
charged at a concessional rate like in the case of national MPI.
National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and  These estimates have been computed using data from
Development (NaBFID). the 5th round of the NFHS (NFHS-5) conducted in
 Centre should actively engage with the State 2019-21, employing the same methodology as the
Governments to avoid any unilateral baseline report.
cancellation/renegotiation of PPAs as it causes  This edition also presents the changes in

uncertainty and negatively affects the investment in multidimensional poverty between the survey periods
the renewable energy sector. of NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019-21).
 The Centre should pursue the States/Discoms to INDICATORS AND WEIGHTS USED IN MPI
clear dues on the first in – first out basis so that the  India’s national MPI has three equally weighted
oldest dues are paid first and ensure that the dimensions – Health, Education, and Standard of
developers get compensated for the delay caused living – which are represented by 12 indicators.
by Discoms in payment of dues. These are depicted by the following graphic:
 The limit of loans for the renewable energy sector

under priority sector lending (PSL) should be
increased. Further, banks should be sensitised about
the importance and benefits of renewable energy so
that they do not overlook this sector in their priority
sector lending.
NATIONAL
MULTIDIMENSIONAL
POVERTY INDEX, 2023
#InclusiveGrowth
India aims to reduce poverty in all its forms by at least half

by 2030 (SDG target 1.2). To measure India's progress in this
respect, NITI Aayog has developed an indigenised index to
SUB-INDICES OF THE NATIONAL MPI
monitor and address multidimensional poverty. The
baseline edition of the national multidimensional poverty The indices of the national MPI comprise:
index was launched in 2021. This present second edition of  Headcount Ratio: Proportion of multidimensionally
National MPI has been developed based on National Family poor in the population, which is arrived at by dividing
Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5).

the number of multidimensionally poor reasons by Snapshot of Multidimensional Poverty in India

total population.
Headcount Intensity of MPI
 Intensity of Poverty: Average proportion of Year
Ratio (H) Poverty (A) (H × A)
deprivations which is experienced by
multidimensionally poor individuals. To compute 2019-21 14.96% 44.39% 0.066
intensity, the weighted deprivation scores of all poor
2015-16 24.85% 47.14% 0.117
people are summed and then divided by the total
number of poor people.  The MPI estimates highlight a near-halving of
 MPI value is arrived at by multiplying the India’s national MPI value and decline in the
headcount ratio (H) and intensity of poverty (A), proportion of population in multidimensional poverty
from 24.85% to 14.96% between 2015-16 and 2019-21.
reflecting both the share of people in poverty and the
degree to which they are deprived (MPI = H X A).  This reduction of 9.89 percentage points in
METHODOLOGY OF INDIA'S NATIONAL MPI multidimensional poverty indicates that, at the level of
projected population in 2021, about 135.5 million
MPI is computed using the Alkire-Foster Methodology
persons have escaped poverty between 2015-16
which is a globally accepted general framework for
and 2019-21.
measuring multidimensional poverty for poor people on
a dual-cutoff counting method.  At the same time, the Intensity of Poverty, which
measures the average deprivation among the people
KEY RESULTS: STEEP DECLINE IN POVERTY
living in multidimensional poverty also reduced from
 India has achieved a remarkable reduction in its
47.14% to 44.39%.
MPI value and Headcount Ratio between 2015-16
DISPARITIES ACROSS RURAL AND URBAN AREAS
and 2019-21, indicating success of the country’s
commitment and action to address the  While disparities in multidimensional poverty still exist
multidimensional nature of poverty through its between rural and urban areas, with the proportion of
multidimensional poor in 2019-21 being 19.28% in
multisectoral approach.
rural areas compared to 5.27% in urban areas, the
reduction in the MPI value has been pro-poor in
absolute terms.
 The estimates indicate that rural areas saw a faster
reduction in their MPI value, compared to urban
areas.
Year Rural Urban
Headcount Intensity Headcount Intensity of

MPI MPI
Ratio (H) of Poverty Ratio (H) Poverty (A)
2019-21 0.086 19.28% 44.55% 0.023 5.27% 43.10%
2015-16 0.154 35.59% 47.38% 0.039 8.65% 45.27%
COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF STATES/UTS IN THE

MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX SCORE
 Bihar, the state with the highest MPI value in NFHS-4
(2015-16), saw the fastest reduction in MPI value in
absolute terms with the proportion of
multidimensional poor reducing from 51.89% to
33.76% in 2019-21.
 The next fastest reduction in the MPI value was seen
in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The proportion
of multidimensional poor in Madhya Pradesh and

Uttar Pradesh in NFHS-5 (2019-21) are 20.63% and multiple disadvantages at the same time like poor
22.93% respectively. health or malnutrition, lack of clean water or
 In terms of number of MPI poor, Uttar Pradesh electricity, poor quality of work or little schooling.
topped the list with 3.43 crore people escaping Multidimensional poverty reveals a more
multidimensional poverty in the last five years, comprehensive picture of poverty.
followed by Bihar (2.25 crore) and Madhya Pradesh  Policy Making: Multidimensional Poverty Index not
(1.36 crore). only calculates how many are poor but also calculates
how they are poor. policies to reduce income poverty
may not affect other deprivations. As a result, income
poverty can’t suggest specific policy directions to the
government. Thus, MPI will help in making evidence-
based policy making to alleviate poverty.
 Relative Poverty: Multidimensional poverty index not
only measures absolute poverty but also Relative
poverty.
 Favours Comparative Analysis: As it can show the
composition of multidimensional poverty across
different regions, ethnic groups or any other
population sub-group, with useful implications for
policy
LIMITATIONS OF MPI
However, it is not to say that MPI should replace the
consumption-expenditure based poverty estimation.
Because measuring MPI has its own challenges.
 Gathering of data for multidimensional indicators
can be challenging. Unavailability of data may limit
the cross-country comparability of the MPI.
 The indicators may not reflect capabilities but
instead reflect outputs (such as years of schooling)
or inputs (such as cooking fuel).
 Unable to Capture Intra-household Inequalities: As
there is no individual-level information for all the
indicators.
WHY THE NEED FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY?
 Estimation Challenges: Which and how many
 Income deprivation vs Multiple deprivations: dimensions are relevant and should be considered are
Existing consumption-based poverty line emphasis difficult to estimate. Further, the weightage given to
only on income-based deprivations ignoring the non- each indicator may be arbitrary.
income based deprivations like discrimination based
CONCLUSION
on gender, caste or geographical location in accessing
the basic requirements to meet a decent standard of  The findings from the second edition of the National
living. MPI will serve as a valuable resource for States and
Union Territories to identify and amplify actions right
 Incidence vs Intensity: The existing consumption-
up to the district level.
based method only emphasises the incidence of
poverty. Simple headcount related measures do not  It will also enable them to track the progress of the
provide information on the depth of poverty. Whereas vulnerable hotspots and pinpoint areas that require
on the other hand, a person who is poor can suffer further targeted policy interventions and
programmatic action.

 Further, progress made in National MPI will prove to ○ The number of States that are now fiscally stressed
be a major contribution towards achieving SDG target has increased to seven (measured in terms of the
1.2 that aims to reduce “at least by half the proportion level of revenue deficit).
of men, women and children of all ages living in ○ For these seven States, their specific shares of
poverty in all its dimensions according to national revenue deficit in fiscal deficit for 2023-24 are:
definitions”. This indicates that India is well on course Andhra Pradesh (40.9%), Haryana (50.9%), Kerala
to achieve the SDG target 1.2 much ahead of 2030. (60.4%), Punjab (70.7%), Rajasthan (39.7%), Tamil
Nadu (40.8%), and West Bengal (47%). The all-State
share of revenue deficit in fiscal deficit for the same
A MACRO VIEW OF THE year is expected to be 27%.
FISCAL HEALTH OF STATES SIGNIFICANCE OF STATE’S FISCAL CONSOLIDATION

 Shows Fiscal Prudence: States in aggregate managed
#FiscalPolicy to be fiscally prudent despite a significant contraction
in revenues even during the peak of COVID-19.
Given the size of the fiscal operation of States, an up-to-date  Improved Union-State Coordination: Emergency
understanding of their finances is critical in order to draw provision for health spending and livelihood during
evidence-based inferences on the fiscal situation of the the COVID-19 pandemic was not easy and required
country. Union-State fiscal coordination.
WHY IS UNDERSTANDING STATE FINANCES  Reprioritising Expenditure: States were able to
IMPORTANT? reprioritise expenditure and quickly contain the fiscal

deficit.
The States mobilise altogether more than a third of total
 Buoyant Tax Revenues: The reduction in fiscal deficit
revenue, spend 60% of combined government
is a combination of expenditure-side adjustments,
expenditure, and have a share in government borrowing
improved Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection and
that is around 40%.
higher tax devolution due to buoyant central
TRENDS IN FISCAL HEALTH OF UNION AND STATES revenues.
 Receding Government Deficit: It is becoming evident  Recovery in Non-Tax Revenues: Non-GST revenues
that the increase in general government deficit and are also showing signs of recovery after the pandemic
debt that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic has in most States.
begun to recede. There have been significant post- FISCAL CHALLENGES
pandemic fiscal corrections at the Union and State
 Rising Revenue Deficit: The reduction in fiscal deficit
levels.
has not been accompanied by a corresponding
○ Union: The fiscal deficit declined from 9.1% of GDP reduction in revenue deficit.
in 2020-21 to 5.9% in 2023-24 (BE). ○ As of 2023-24 (BE), out of 17 major States, 13 States
○ States: The State fiscal deficit was 4.1% of GDP in have deficits in the revenue account. Out of 13
2020-21. It declined to 3.24% of GDP in 2022-23 States, fiscal deficits in seven States are primarily
(RE). For the major States, for the year 2023-24 (BE), driven by revenue deficits; the States being Andhra
it is expected to be 2.9% of GDP. Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil
Nadu, and West Bengal. They also have large debt
 Rising Revenue Deficit: Out of 13 States, fiscal
to GSDP ratios.
deficits in seven States are primarily driven by
revenue deficits; the States being Andhra Pradesh,  Increase in number of fiscally stressed states: An
Haryana, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and assessment of successive Finance Commissions since
West Bengal. They also have large debt-to-GSDP the Twelfth Finance Commission identified three
States, i.e., Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal, as fiscally
ratios.
stressed States (measured in terms of the level of

revenue deficit). The number of States that are now highest in the developing world and emerging market
fiscally stressed has increased to seven. economies. The pandemic pushed the envelope further and
○ The combined fiscal deficit of these States is 3.71% relative to GDP, the fiscal deficit in 2020-21 increased to
of GSDP when the all-State average for the same is 13.3% and the aggregate public debt to 89.6%.
2.9%. CONSEQUENCES OF LARGE FISCAL DEBT
○ Their combined revenue deficit is 2.15 % of GSDP,  Crowding out of Capital Expenditure: On an
while the all-State revenue deficit is 0.78%. average, interest payments constitute over 5% of GDP
○ Their combined debt ratio is higher than the and 25% of the revenue receipts. As a result, large
Finance Commission recommended debt ratio for interest payments crowd out the much-needed
all States for the year 2023-24. expenditures on physical infrastructure and human
WAY FORWARD development and emerging priorities to make the
On the question of revenue deficit, a long-run view is green transition.
also necessary. There is a need for creating an incentive  Reduced Ability of Government in Responding to
compatible framework. The following measures can be Shocks: High levels of debt make it difficult to
considered. calibrate counter-cyclical fiscal policy and constrain
 Going forward, interest-free loans to the States by the ability of the government to respond to shocks.
the Union Government needs to be linked to a  Curtailed Lending to Industries: The debt market in
reduction in revenue deficit. This will help eliminate
India is largely captive with mainly the commercial
the possibility of a substitution of States’ own capital
banks and insurance companies participating in it to
spending and also prevent the diversion of borrowed
meet statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) requirements. With
resources to finance revenue expenditure.
a cash reserve ratio (CRR) of 4.5% and SLR of 18% of
 A defined time path for revenue deficit reduction
net demand and time liabilities, and 40% of the credit
with a credible fiscal adjustment plan would help
by the commercial banks earmarked for the priority
restore fiscal balance and improve quality of
sector, the resources available for lending to the
expenditure.
manufacturing sector gets squeezed, driving up the
 A forward-looking performance incentive grant
cost of borrowing of the sector.
could also be considered for a reduction of revenue
deficit. In this context, different approaches provided  Rising Costs of External Borrowings: The rating
by earlier Finance Commissions can be considered to agencies keep the sovereign rating low when deficits
decide the framework of the incentive structure. and debt are higher, and this increases the cost of
CONCLUSION external commercial borrowing.
 The seven fiscally stressed states together contribute  Negatively Affects Intergenerational Parity: The
around 40% to India’s GDP. Some of these States have burden of large deficits and debt will have to be borne
also been big drivers of public capital expenditures by the next generation through higher tax liabilities.
and favoured investment destinations of private WAY FORWARD
investors. Hence, the focus should be on the
 Fast Pacing the Fiscal Consolidation: The FRBM Act
management of revenue deficit.
seeks to limit Fiscal Deficit to 3% of GDP by end of
2022 and Combined debt of Centre and States to 60%
DEBT DILEMMA of GDP by end of 2024-25.
 Increasing Revenue Receipts: By a means of
#FiscalPolicy
improved tax administration and compliance, the
aggregate tax-GDP ratio may be increased by 1.5
The elevated levels of India’s fiscal deficit and public debt percentage to 2 percentage points in the medium
have been a matter of concern for a long time in India. Even term.
before the COVID-19 pandemic, debt levels were among the

 Rethinking the Role of the State: This requires  Development of a Rupee-Dirham Foreign Exchange
disinvestment of fiscally laggard corporations such as Market: An immediate beneficial consequence of the
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. establishment of the settlement mechanism would be
 Check on Fiscal Populism: At the State level, it is the development of a rupee-dirham foreign exchange
important to guard against the return to the old market that would help in pricing the two currencies
pension scheme and indulge in large-scale giveaways independent of their exchange rates with other
for electoral reasons. Redistribution is a legitimate currencies such as the dollar and the euro.
government activity, and it should be done through  Hedge Exchange Rate Risks: Indian and Emirati
cash transfers rather than subsidising commodities businesses would not need to factor in exchange rate
and services. risks when quoting to supply goods or services to
buyers in the other country, improving the ease of
doing business and boosting trade.
RUPEE-DIRHAM  Promote Internationalisation of Rupee: The India-
SETTLEMENT SYSTEM UAE local currency settlement system could also

potentially serve as a precursor for other bilateral
#ExternalSector #PrelimNuggets currency accords which could act as an important first
step for the internationalisation of the rupee.
 Investments in Indian Markets: Emirati businesses
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of the
may see remunerative avenues to deploy the potential
UAE have agreed to establish a framework for enabling the
rupee flows in case they opt to receive payments in
use of the two countries’ local currencies for cross-border
the Indian currency. This may result in stepped up
transactions.
investment by UAE-based firms.
ABOUT THE AGREEMENT
 Serve as Currency Entrepot: UAE may emerge as a
 The MoU on establishing a framework for the use of currency entrepôt. This will enable Indian businesses
local currencies for transactions between India and to deal with suppliers from other countries e.g. Russia,
the UAE. This MoU aims to put in place a Local to use the West Asian country and dirham as a
Currency Settlement System (LCSS) to promote the gateway for such transactions.
use of INR (Indian Rupee) and AED (UAE Dirham)
bilateral.
 The creation of the LCSS would enable exporters and EXPORT PREPAREDNESS
importers to invoice and pay in their respective
domestic currencies. INDEX 2022
 Further, the MoU covers all current account #ExternalSector #PrelimNuggets
transactions and permitted capital account
transactions.
BENEFITS NITI Aayog released the third edition of ‘The Export
 Optimise Transaction Costs: The use of local Preparedness Index (EPI) 2022’.
currencies would optimise transaction costs and ABOUT EPI
settlement time for transactions, including for  It is released by NITI Aayog in association with
remittances from Indians residing in UAE. Institute for Competitiveness
 Reduces Dependence on Dollar: The move towards  The report seeks to comprehensively evaluate India’s
permitting payments in the Indian rupee and the UAE export scenario at the country, state, and district level.
dirham is aimed at promoting their use bilaterally,
 The evaluation is undertaken to provide valuable
thus reducing the dependence on a third country’s
insights to states and other stakeholders to identify
currency such as the U.S. dollar as an intermediary for
areas of improvement and implement targeted
settling transactions.
strategies.

 By encouraging peer-learning among states/ UTs,  Classification: States are classified as coastal,
improving regional export preparedness, and landlocked, Himalayan, and UTs/small states.
harnessing India’s heterogeneity, this report aims to PILLARS & SUB-PILLARS
help India in positioning itself as a lucrative trading
 To enhance the robustness of the index, a few new
partner in the world.
indicators have been incorporated based on
stakeholder suggestions.
RANKINGS  49% of India’s exports go to only ten destinations.

 Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka are the top
performing coastal states.
INSTANTANEOUS
 Haryana, Uttarakhand and Goa topped under
landlocked, Himalayan, and UTs/small states SETTLEMENT SYSTEM
categories respectively.
#CapitalMarkets #PrelimNuggets
OTHER FINDINGS
 Over 99% of districts are covered under the ‘One
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is working
District One Product’ scheme.
to implement instantaneous settlements in secondary
 Ten commodities (engineering goods, petroleum market trades, and is likely to complete the process next
products etc.) account for nearly 80% of India’s total fiscal year.
exports. WHAT IS A SETTLEMENT PROCESS?
 Only 100 districts are responsible for nearly 87% of  The settlement refers to the official transfer of shares
exports. from the seller's account to the buyer's account.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS  Now, with the adoption of (T+1) settlement, the trade
 Indian capital market regulator SEBI (Securities and gets settled within one day.
Exchange Board of India) announced on Monday to SIGNIFICANCE
move to T+1 settlement cycle for all scripts from  Most large stock markets, like in the US, Europe,
1st October 2023. This means effective from first Japan, still follow the T+2 settlement cycle of trade
October 2023, all trades will be settled one day after settlement. India has now become the second
the date of trade instead of the current T+2 country after China to go for T+1 settlement.
settlement cycle.
 The move is expected to increase volume in the
 Earlier, India was following T+2 settlement and has cash segment as one would be able to move from
now adopted T+1 settlement. one stock to another on the same date instead of
 T+1 means that trade-related settlements must be waiting for settlement of one's trade after one day or
done within one day of the transaction's two days.
completion.  Instant settlement would also mean that one won't be
 Trades on Indian stock exchanges are currently settled able to trade if they have no money available in their
in two working days after the transaction is completed demat account. This is a positive development for
(T+2). For example, if you buy shares on Wednesday, the brokerages as their risk management to
they will be credited to your Demat account by the contain chances of fraud or default would go down
next day, which is Thursday. after this move.
Practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements with (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
reference to Indian agricultural sector: Q3. With reference to fiscal deficit, consider the
1. India witnesses a higher level of farm following statements:
mechanisation as compared to Brazil and China. 1. It may crowd out the capital expenditures.
2. Southern India has higher levels of mechanisation 2. It can decrease the costs of external borrowings.
compared to other regions. 3. It will enhance the ability of the government to
Which among the statements given above is/are correct? respond to fiscal shocks.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 4. It can curtail lending to industries.
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 How many of the following statements is/are the
consequence of rising fiscal deficit?
Q2. Consider the following statements with (a) Only one (b) Only two
reference to India’s renewable energy sector: (c) Only three (d) All four
1. India has committed to increase the renewable
energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030. Q4. Consider the following statements related to
2. The country has a target to install 175 GW of solar recently signed agreement on Rupee-Dirham
energy by 2022. Settlement System:
Which among the statements given above is/are correct? 1. The agreement covers all current account
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only transactions and capital account transactions.

2. It will enable exporters and importers to invoice Q5. Which of the following organisations publishes
and pay in their respective domestic currencies. the Export Preparedness Index?
Which among the statements given above is/are correct? (a) World Economic Forum
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (b) United Nations Conference on Trade and
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Development (UNCTAD)
(c) NITI Aayog
(d) World Bank
Descriptive Questions
Q1. Although internationalisation of rupee has many advantages, it has an element of risk attached to it. Critically
analyse.
Q2. Farm Mechanisation can transform agriculture into an enterprise. Examine and identify various constraints in
application of mechanisation in the agricultural sector.
Answers: 1-d, 2-a, 3-b, 4-b, 5-c

CONSTITUTION, POLITY AND
GOVERNANCE
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II (Main)
to make with respect to personal laws. Why it is called

UNIFORM CIVIL CODE uniform? When state makes personal laws, some sort of
uniformity automatically comes. Why? State /government
#DPSP #Fundamental Rights
can make laws only in accordance to the constitutional
principles. Hence all laws are brought to align with the
Prime Minister Modi has in recent weeks personally constitutional principles. Hence they start looking
pushed for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) that, in theory, uniform or overlapping.
would replace this maze of personal laws with a common The basic question is not whether all communities to be
set of rules for marriage, divorce, succession, adoption, governed by same personal laws or a single code, the
guardianship and partition of land and assets. basic question is whether Indian state can
Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a European concept of 17th ‘constitutionally’ intervene in personal laws.
century. It is linked to the process of modernization and WHY CONFUSION EMERGES?
secularization in the west. The experience of 30 year war
The conflicting provisions in the constitution itself. Indian
forced these countries to roll back the religion and to
constitution is not based don a single ideology, rather
establish solidarity on the basis of secular nationalism.
incorporates multiple ideologies at the same time.
European nation states accepted the principle of
Within the chapter of fundamental rights both –
‘sovereignty of the state’, rejecting the sword of the
Individual basis of rights and community based rights
church. Hence state became the supreme institution to
are guaranteed. On one hand there is a idea of universal
determine law. There has been no limitations on the
citizenship, oh the other hand, differentiated citizenship,
power of law-making by the state. To quote Hobbes
based on multiculturalism exists.
‘Liberty is where law is silent’. Freedom to conduct the life
Art 14,15 guarantees equality in the eyes of state.
according to its own way was dependent on the will of
Prohibits state from discriminating among citizens not
sovereign. Hence in these countries, even the laws
only on the basis of sex but also religion.
governing family, marriage, divorce, in heritance, so
called personal laws came within the scope of legal On the other hand Art 29,30 guarantees community
sovereignty of the state. In these countries, religious based rights. The real problem arises because in Art
freedom means freedom of conscience. (John Locke). 25, besides freedom of conscience, the freedom to
It does not involve freedom to practice, profess and practice religion is also guaranteed.
propagate religion. Thus European model of secularism, Personal laws comes under ‘freedom to practice religion’.
based on religious neutrality led to the UCC. It is also to be noted that ‘right to religion’ under Art 25, is
Uniform Civil Code symbolizes power of state to make also not absolute. It is subjected to public order, decency
personal laws. (Principle of legal sovereignty). UCC does and morality. Hence this creates scope for State’s
not necessarily mean common code for all communities. intervention in religious practices.
It is up to the state as to what type of reforms state aims

Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
The UCC calls for formulation of one law to be made  Lack of national consensus: UCC still is a politically
applicable to all religious communities in matters such as sensitive issue. There are still many organisations who
marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. It is advocate rights of minorities as well as many religious
intended to replace the system of fragmented personal clerics oppose UCC
laws, which currently governs interpersonal relationships OPINION OF LAW COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENTS
and related matters within different religious REFERENCE
communities. DPSP under Article 44 provides that State
Since there is an absence of consensus, UCC is not
shall endeavour to secure for all citizens a UCC
possible and desirable in present situations. Issue of UCC
throughout the territory of India.
is vast, its potential repercussions remain untested.
FAVOUR Change should be done in a manner which can protect
 Simplify laws that are segregated at present based and preserve the diversity, plurality which forms socio-
on religious beliefs. Same civil law will then be cultural fabric of the nation. The first step will be the
applicable to all citizens irrespective of their faith. codification of the laws.
 Many judicial pronouncements (including Mohd. 1. First we should try to achieve equality between men
Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum, 1985 and Sarla and women within a community rather than between
Mudgal v Union of India, 1995) of higher judiciary have communities.
favoured UCC in some or the other forms. Parliament 2. Codification should be done in a manner which
may make a law to make these judicial preserves the differences which are meaningful.
pronouncements enforceable.
3. Discriminatory practices to be taken out.
 Gender Justice: Mostly the religious or customary
4. Absolute uniformity is not needed.
personal laws are biased in favour of men. Religion
and personal law are different avenues: In S.R. 5. Follow piecemeal approach.
Bommai v. Union of India, the Apex court upheld that 6. It is wrong to put Muslim women to make a hard
religion is the matter of individual faith and cannot be choice between right to equality and freedom to
mixed with secular activities. Secular activities can be practice faith.
regulated by the State by enacting a law. 7. By giving the example of Special Marriage Act, law
 Promote national integration: Different laws for commission held that codification of laws are
different religious groups breed communalism. Single, themselves not the guarantee of justice. Law should
secular law governing various aspects of personal not contain loopholes.
matters would arouse a sense of oneness and the 8. Freedom of religion has to be protected but evils
national spirit. should not take refuge in the name of social customs.
AGAINST Human rights is a touchstone. If practices violate
 Indian laws do follow a uniform code in most civil human dignity, even when they are essential
practices, they cannot be allowed.
matters like Indian Contract Act, Code of Civil
Procedure, Sale of Goods Act, etc. There is diversity
even under these secular civil laws.
THE DIGITAL PERSONAL
 “personal laws” are mentioned in the Concurrent
List. Also, if the framers of the Constitution had DATA PROTECTION BILL,
intended to have a UCC, they would have given
exclusive jurisdiction to Parliament in respect of 2023
personal laws, by including this subject in the Union
List. #Data Protection
 Against the diversity of the country: There has been
skepticism whether there could ever be uniformity of
personal laws in a democratic and diverse country like In the digital age, personal data has become an integral
India. aspect of our lives, shaping how we interact, consume,

Governance
and even perceive the world around us. This individual. A notice must be given before seeking
transformation has led to an increased focus on consent.
safeguarding individuals' rights and privacy in the realm o The notice should contain details about the
of data usage and processing. The concept of personal personal data to be collected and the purpose of
data, its uses, and the regulatory frameworks that govern processing.
it have gained paramount significance in this context.
o Consent may be withdrawn at any point in time.
WHAT IS PERSONAL DATA?
o Consent will not be required for ‘legitimate uses’
 Personal data is information that relates to an including: (i) specified purpose for which data has
identified or identifiable individual. been provided by an individual voluntarily, (ii)
WHY IS PERSONAL DATA USED/PROCESSED? provision of benefit or service by the government,
 Businesses as well as government entities process (iii) medical emergency, and (iv) employment. For
personal data for delivery of goods and services. individuals below 18 years of age, consent will be
provided by the parent or the legal guardian.
 Processing of personal data allows understanding
preferences of individuals, which may be useful for  Rights and duties of data principal:
customisation, targeted advertising, and developing o An individual whose data is being processed (data
recommendations. principal), will have the right to: (i) obtain
 Processing of personal data may also aid law information about processing, (ii) seek correction
enforcement. Unchecked processing may have and erasure of personal data, (iii) nominate another
adverse implications for the privacy of individuals, person to exercise rights in the event of death or
which has been recognised as a fundamental right. incapacity, and (iv) grievance redressal.
It may subject individuals to harm such as financial loss,  Obligations of data fiduciaries:
loss of reputation, and profiling. o The entity determining the purpose and means of
Currently, India does not have a standalone law on data processing, (data fiduciary), must: (i) make
protection. Use of personal data is regulated under the reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and
Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. completeness of data, (ii) build reasonable security
safeguards to prevent a data breach, (iii) inform the
KEY FEATURES OF THE BILL
Data Protection Board of India and affected persons
 Definitions: in the event of a breach, and (iv) erase personal
o Personal data is defined as any data about an data as soon as the purpose has been met and
individual who is identifiable by or in relation to retention is not necessary for legal purposes
such data. (storage limitation). In case of government entities,
o Processing has been defined as wholly or partially storage limitation and the right of the data principal
automated operation or set of operations to erasure will not apply.
performed on digital personal data. It includes  Transfer of personal data outside India:
collection, storage, use, and sharing. o The Bill allows transfer of personal data outside
 Applicability: India, except to countries restricted by the central
o The Bill applies to the processing of digital personal government through notification.
data within India where such data is: (i) collected  Exemptions:
online, or (ii) collected offline and is digitised. It will o Rights of the data principal and obligations of data
also apply to the processing of personal data
fiduciaries (except data security) will not apply in
outside India if it is for offering goods or services in specified cases. These include: (i) prevention and
India. investigation of offences, and (ii) enforcement of
 Consent: legal rights or claims. The central government may,
o Personal data may be processed only for a lawful by notification, exempt certain activities from the
purpose after obtaining the consent of the application of the Bill. These include: (i) processing
by government entities in the interest of the

Governance
security of the state and public order, and (ii)  Right to data portability and the right to be
research, archiving, or statistical purposes. forgotten not provided
 Data Protection Board of India: o The right to data portability allows data principals
o The central government will establish the Data to obtain and transfer their data from data fiduciary
Protection Board of India. Key functions of the for their own use, in a structured, commonly used,
Board include: (i) monitoring compliance and and machine-readable format. It gives the data
imposing penalties, (ii) directing data fiduciaries to principal greater control over their data.
take necessary measures in the event of a data o The right to be forgotten refers to the right of
breach, and (iii) hearing grievances made by individuals to limit the disclosure of their personal
affected persons. Board members will be data on the internet.
appointed for two years and will be eligible for re-  The Bill provides that the central government may
appointment. The central government will restrict the transfer of personal data to certain
prescribe details such as the number of members countries through a notification.
of the Board and the selection process. Appeals
 The Bill provides that members of the Data
against the decisions of the Board will lie with
Protection Board of India will function as an
TDSAT.
independent body.
 Penalties:
 Provisions related to children
o The schedule to the Bill specifies penalties for
o Definition of child different from other jurisdictions
various offences such as up to: (i) Rs 200 crore for
o Taking verifiable parental consent may require
non-fulfilment of obligations for children, and (ii) Rs
250 crore for failure to take security measures to verification of everyone’s age on digital platforms
prevent data breaches. Penalties will be imposed o Lack of clarity on what constitutes detrimental to
by the Board after conducting an inquiry. well-being of a child
SOME ISSUES IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL As the landscape of data usage and digital interaction
 Undermining the Right to Information continues to evolve, it is imperative for India to establish
a forward-looking and adaptable data protection
o The DPDP Bill 2023 suggests replacing Section 8(1)(j)
framework that safeguards individual privacy, promotes
with just “information which relates to personal
innovation, and supports responsible data practices.
information”.
Building upon the proposed Data Protection Bill, there
o This will undermine the RTI 2005. To give just one are several crucial steps and considerations that can pave
example, the current requirement for public the way for a comprehensive and effective legislative
servants (including judges, and Indian approach:
Administrative Service officers) to disclose their
 Comprehensive Definitions and Scope: Further
immovable assets will likely be off limits. This is
refine and clarify the definitions of key terms such as
indeed “information related to personal
"personal data," "processing," and "legitimate uses" to
information”, but it serves a larger public interest
prevent ambiguity and provide a solid foundation for
(for example, to identify public servants with
the law's implementation. Consider international best
disproportionate assets).
practices to ensure alignment with global data
 Exemptions to the State may have adverse protection standards.
implications for privacy
 Strengthen Consent Mechanisms: Enhance the
o The Bill may enable unchecked data processing by provisions related to obtaining and managing consent.
the State, which may violate the right to privacy Ensure that individuals have clear and informed
o Whether overriding consent for purposes such as choices about the use of their data. Develop user-
benefit, subsidy, license, and certificates is friendly methods for obtaining and managing consent,
appropriate particularly in the context of online interactions.
 The Bill does not regulate harm arising from  Balancing Exemptions: While exemptions are
processing of personal data necessary for specific situations, carefully delineate the

Governance
scope and conditions under which they apply. Strike a various expert committees advocating for reforms
balance between safeguarding individual rights and aimed at mitigating barriers to business activities. One
enabling the State and other entities to perform notable concern highlighted by the Company Law
necessary functions for public welfare and security. Committee was the imposition of criminal liability
 Addressing Data-Related Harms: Introduce for technical or procedural violations, which was
provisions that explicitly address the potential harms perceived as inhibitive.
arising from the processing of personal data. Establish  Consequently, the Companies Act of 2013 underwent
mechanisms for individuals to seek redressal and revisions in 2019 and 2020, aimed at reclassifying
compensation in case of data breaches, unauthorized transgressions as civil violations that could be
sharing, or misuse of personal information. sanctioned by government officials. The Jan Vishwas
 International Data Transfers: Refine provisions (Amendment of Provisions) Bill of 2022 was presented
related to the transfer of personal data outside India. in the Lok Sabha on December 22, 2022, with the goal
Ensure that any transfer of data is subject to robust of declassifying specific offenses, alleviating
safeguards and conditions, especially when dealing compliance burdens on individuals and
with countries lacking adequate data protection enterprises, and fostering a more conducive business
regulations. environment. The bill was subjected to scrutiny by a
Joint Parliamentary Committee led by Mr. P.P.
By embracing these steps and considerations, India can
Chaudhary, whose findings were submitted on March
lay the foundation for a comprehensive and adaptive
17, 2023.
data protection legislation that safeguards individual
rights while enabling the responsible and innovative use  The committee's recommendations encompassed
of data for the benefit of society and the digital economy. adjustments to the severity of penalties for certain
breaches. For example, under the existing Merchant
Shipping Act of 1958, failing to notify a designated
JAN VISHAWS ACT authority about a ship's involvement in an
accident carries a potential punishment of
#Governance imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to Rs
10,000, or both. The proposed amendment in the bill
suggests revising this penalty to a monetary fine of five
The controversial Jan Vishwas Act, 2022 which was
lakh rupees. Nevertheless, environmental concerns led
recently enacted into law by Parliament, has been touted
the committee to propose omitting this amendment.
by the government as a landmark piece of legislation
In cases such as the Boilers Act of 1923, which the bill
aimed at improving “ease of doing business” in India by
seeks to decriminalize, the committee also advised
either decriminalising or making “compoundable”
introducing amendments to establish Adjudicating
offences across 42 legislations.
Officers and higher-level appellate authorities.
In a significant move, the contentious Jan Vishwas Act of
KEY FEATURES OF THE LEGISLATION
2022, recently ratified by the Indian Parliament, stands as
 The Act amends 42 Acts which include: the Indian
a consequential piece of legislation. Championed by the
Post Office Act, 1898, the Environment (Protection) Act,
government, this act aims at revolutionizing the "ease of
1986, the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, and the
doing business" in India by either decriminalizing or
Information Technology Act, 2000.
classifying offences as "compoundable" across an
extensive array of 42 legislative provisions.  Decriminalising certain offences: Under the Act,
several offences with an imprisonment term in certain
NEED FOR SUCH A LEGISLATION
Acts have been decriminalised by imposing only a
 The rankings of Ease of Doing Business encompass
monetary penalty. For example, under the
multiple dimensions of business operations, including
Information Technology Act, 2000, disclosing personal
aspects like contract enforcement and tax adherence.
information in breach of a lawful contract is
India's position in these rankings displayed
punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or
improvement over time, prompted by advice from
a fine of up to five lakh rupees, or both. The Bill

Governance
replaces this with a penalty of up to Rs 25 lakh. In  Judicial and technical competence of Adjudicating
certain Acts, offences have been decriminalised by Officers
imposing a penalty instead of a fine. For instance,  Further, there is significant technical input
under the Patents Act, 1970, a person selling a falsely involved in legal proceedings for offences under
represented article as patented in India is subject to a the Air Act.
fine of up to one lakh rupees. The Bill replaces the fine
 Relationship between Adjudicating Officers and
with a penalty, which may be up to ten lakh rupees.
the judiciary
 Removal of offences: The Bill removes certain
o Under the Bill, the Adjudicating Officer will be
offences. These include all offences under the Indian
responsible for receiving and hearing complaints
Post Office Act, 1898.
against contraventions under the EP Act. Their
 Revision of fines and penalties: The Bill increases the decisions can be appealed to the National Green
fines and penalties for various offences in the specified Tribunal, whose decisions are appealed to the
Acts. The fines and penalties will be increased by 10% Supreme Court. The Bill also empowers the
of the minimum amount every three years. Adjudicating Officer to file complaints in court for
 Adjudicating Officers: The central government may offences under the EP Act. The question is whether
appoint one or more Adjudicating Officers for there is a need for a parallel process in which the
determining penalties. These Officers may summon Adjudicating Officer can also file a complaint in
individuals for evidence and conduct inquiries into court. This may be conflating the role of an
violations of the respective Acts. These Acts include adjudicatory body with that of the prosecution.
the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act,  Functional overlap between proposed and existing
1937 and the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991. The Funds
Bill also specifies the appellate mechanisms for the
o The Bill adds an Environmental Protection Fund
orders passed by these Officers. For instance, in the
under the EP Act. The Fund will be used for
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, appeals against
education, awareness, and research for
the Adjudicating Officer’s orders may be filed with the
environmental protection, as well as the expenses
National Green Tribunal within 60 days.
of implementing these Acts. Other funds exist
MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING THE ACT which fulfil a similar purpose, hence the question is
 Omission of offences under the Indian Post Office whether this new Fund is necessary.
Act, 1898: The Act removes all offences and penalties The way forward involves a comprehensive approach to
under the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. ensure that the Jan Vishwas Act, 2022, effectively achieves
o This raises two issues. its intended goals of promoting ease of doing business
 Omission of offences under the Act may not be while addressing the challenges and concerns that have
relevant to legislative intent emerged. Here are some potential strategies:
 Omission of offences under the Act may lead to  Engage with businesses, legal experts,
privacy issues environmentalists, and other relevant
stakeholders to gather diverse perspectives on the
 Competence of Adjudicating Officers added under
implementation of the Act. This could help identify
environmental laws
potential gaps, refine provisions, and ensure that the
o The Bill amends the adjudication process under the legislation strikes a balance between business
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
facilitation and environmental protection.
(Air Act) and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
 Review the omitted offences under the Indian Post
(EP Act). Currently, contraventions of both laws are
Office Act, 1898, and other Acts to ensure that the
prosecuted in court only upon a complaint by
removal aligns with the legislative intent of promoting
specified authorities, or by any person who has
ease of doing business. Address concerns regarding
given these authorities.
the relevance of such omissions and potential privacy
o This new process of adjudication raises a few issues.
implications.
 Independence of Adjudicating Officers

Governance
 Develop training programs for Adjudicating In wider sense, it refers to interference of criminals into
Officers to equip them with the necessary judicial, politics either directly or indirectly like financing any
technical, and environmental expertise. This would candidate, providing anti-social manpower, booth
ensure fair and informed decisions, particularly in capturing, contract killing of rival candidates, providing
complex cases related to environmental violations. muscle power services, as well as campaigning for any
 Establish an independent oversight mechanism to candidate contesting elections.
monitor the actions of Adjudicating Officers, Reasons of Criminalisation of Politics
ensuring their impartiality and adherence to due  Judicial Pendency: Weak justice delivery especially
process. This can help mitigate concerns about against politicians has further aggravated the issue of
potential conflicts of interest or biased decision- criminalization of politics.
making.
 Muscle power: There is a growing nexus between
By adopting a holistic and collaborative approach, India political parties and criminals, owing to the ideology
can navigate the challenges posed by the Jan Vishwas Act that if one party cannot secure faith in society, then
while realizing its potential to foster a conducive business fear and violence may aid them in the securing votes
environment and sustainable development. to get into power.
CRIMINALIZATION OF INDIAN POLITICS  Money Power: Culture of buying votes, freebies to
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) wrote to attract voters has led to increased election
the Election Commission seeking action against parties expenditure and thus candidates resort to illegitimate
that fail to publish details of criminal antecedents of practices in order to raise money to secure a win.
candidates as per orders of the Supreme Court and the  Lack of governance: India doesn’t have the proper
poll panel. laws and rules for governing the procedure of the
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) was elections.
established in 1999 by a group of professors from the  Divisions in Indian political system: Criminals take
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. Their advantage of divisions in our society and portray them
goal is to improve governance and strengthen democracy as the protector of respective caste, class, religion to
by continuous work in the area of Electoral and Political enter politics.
Reforms.
Impact of Criminalization of Indian Politics
The ambit and scope of work in this field is enormous,
Erosion of Democratic Values Candidates with criminal
Hence, ADR has chosen to concentrate its efforts in the
backgrounds winning elections undermines the principles
following areas pertaining to the political system of the
of free and fair elections, limiting voter choice
country:
Weakening of Governance Law-breakers becoming law-
 Corruption and criminalization in the political process.
makers hampers effective governance Compromised
 Empowerment of the electorate through greater Integrity of Institutions Normalizes corruption and erodes
dissemination of information relating to the public trust in government
candidates and the parties, for a better and informed
Increased Criminal Activities Politicians involved in
choice.
organized crime or protection rackets e.g., Recently
 Need for greater accountability of Political Parties. deceased former MP Atiq Ahmed of Uttar Pradesh had
 Need for inner-party democracy and transparency in several charges of being involved in Criminal activities
party-functioning. Social Disharmony Violence and unrest due to the
Criminalization of politics can be visualized into two influence of criminal politicians, Political clashes and
different senses. In narrow sense, it refers either to the violence during elections
direct entry and interference of criminals into the political Deterioration of Public Perception Decreased faith in
parties, state legislatures and parliament of the country the political system and public disillusionment led to
or politicians adopting criminal means to achieve their lesser participation in the democratic process
own political goal. Undermining the Rule of Law Politicians involved in

Governance
criminal activities create a culture of impunity o An amendment should be introduced to reject the
tickets of the politicians with criminal charges.
SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENTS TO CURB
CRIMINALIZATION OF POLITICS o Fast track courts should be set up to quickly dispose
of cases pending against politicians.
 Union of India Vs ADR, 2002: Electors had a
fundamental right to know the antecedents of o Intra-party democracy should be promoted.
candidates contesting elections to hold public office. o Awareness regarding NOTA, i.e., None of The Above
 People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India, should be generated
2004: Section 33B of Representation of People Act
(RPA) which nullified the decision in ADR case (2002)
was challenged.
DIFFERING
o Section 33B of RPA was held unconstitutional and INTERPRETATION OF
void as it infringed the “right of electors’ to know”.
 Lily Thomas Vs Union of India, 2013: MP, State EQUAL PROTECTION
Legislatures convicted of crime with a minimum
sentence of 2 years imprisonment would cease to be #Fundamental Rights
members of the house.
o In 2017, Special courts to be set up across the
In a ground-breaking decision, on June 29, 2023, in
country to fast-track the long-pending trials of
Students for Fair Admissions vs Harvard, the United
lawmakers.
States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) deemed the race-
 In Public interest foundation case 2018, Court held conscious admission policies at Harvard and the
that all candidates will have to declare their criminal University of North Carolina (UNC) as unconstitutional
antecedents to the ECI before contesting polls. and violative of the Equal Protection Clause in the
WAY FORWARD Fourteenth Amendment.
 State Funding of elections: This would help to curb Affirmative action refers to policies, programs, or
corruption, use of black money, curb money power initiatives designed to address historical and systemic
and cleaner candidates with less financial backup discrimination, promote diversity, and provide
would also be able to contest elections. opportunities for individuals from marginalized or
 Law Commission Report: It recommended that underrepresented groups. These actions aim to level the
certain serious offences such as booth capturing, playing field and rectify past inequalities in various
rigging and intimidation of voters should itself be spheres, including education, employment, and public
added as a ground of disqualification. contracting.
 Strengthening Election Commission: To regulate the The primary goal of affirmative action is to ensure equal
affairs of a political party for a cleaner electoral access to opportunities and outcomes for individuals who
process, it is important to strengthen the election have been historically disadvantaged due to factors such
commission. as race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status,
 Behavioural Change: Voters need to be vigilant about disability, or other protected characteristics. These
misuse of money, gifts and other inducements during policies often involve measures like preferential hiring,
the election, thus political parties will be forced to field admission, or contracting practices to intentionally
candidates with clean background. include members of underrepresented groups.
 Vohra Committees Report: Recommendations given Affirmative action is a strategy that has been
by Vohra committee on criminalization of politics and implemented by governments, educational institutions,
of the nexus among criminals, politicians and and private organizations in many countries. However, it
bureaucrats, should be implemented. can be a topic of debate and controversy, as critics argue
that it might lead to reverse discrimination or be seen as
 Other Measures to Curb Criminalization of Politics
unfair to individuals not benefiting from these policies.
are

Governance
Supporters, on the other hand, emphasize the need to American Example: Affirmative Action in Higher
rectify systemic inequalities and promote diversity for the Education
overall betterment of society. The specific form and In the United States, affirmative action has been applied
extent of affirmative action can vary widely depending on in various contexts, but one notable example is in higher
the context and legal frameworks of each country or education admissions. Many universities and colleges
institution. have implemented affirmative action policies to promote
Indian Example: Reservation System diversity in their student bodies. These policies consider
In India, one of the most well-known examples of race, ethnicity, and other factors as part of the admission
affirmative action is the reservation system. The Indian process to ensure a more diverse student population.
government has implemented reservation policies in However, affirmative action in the U.S. has been a subject
educational institutions and public sector employment to of legal challenges and debates over issues such as
address historical discrimination against certain reverse discrimination and the constitutionality of using
marginalized groups, primarily Scheduled Castes (SCs), race as a factor in admissions decisions.
Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes It's important to note that affirmative action takes various
(OBCs). These reservations ensure a certain percentage forms and has different implications in these two
of seats or positions are allocated to individuals from countries due to their unique histories, legal systems, and
these groups, providing them with opportunities they social structures. The goals and methods of affirmative
might have been denied due to social and economic action can differ significantly depending on the specific
disadvantages. context in which they are applied.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDIAN AND AMERICAN AFFIRMATIVE ACTIONS
USA INDIA
The U.S. Constitution is silent on Affirmative Actions, The Indian Constitution expressly allows affirmative action
prohibiting only the denial of “equal protection”, leading to in favor of backward classes in matters of education
varied interpretations of this amorphous phrase (Article 15) and jobs (Article 16).
depending on the sitting Justices.
The U.S. seeks to eliminate all distinctions based on race India, on the other hand, does not treat all distinctions of
universally, the reason being equality cannot mean race or caste alike. Certain classes such as the Scheduled
different things for different individuals. This applies even Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes who have
for affirmative action that may be justified to undo the faced discrimination in the past are not considered on a
historic discrimination faced by African Americans or level field with others. To help them to achieve equal
Hispanics (or other groups). Thus, measures which treat opportunities it is imperative that they have access to
one race as distinct from another in any manner, including reservation.
a preference in education, are viewed strictly and against The notion of equality of opportunity has meaning only
equality. when a limited good or, in the present context, a limited
This narrow view of equality is called a formal equality and number of posts, should be allocated on grounds which
prevents U.S. courts from allowing broad-based race do not a priori exclude any section of citizens of those that
conscious measures. desire it.” Thus, reservation is not antithetical to equality,
but a tool that furthers equality. This is called a
substantive notion of equality and facilitates Indian Courts
to pass pro-reservation judgments, in sync with the
constitutional mandate. In this context, a decision such as
the Harvard University case is unimaginable for Indian
courts.
The U.S. has strict scrutiny of all measures that create In stark contrast, Indian courts have a very different

Governance
distinctions based on race. This means a measure is standard to meet under Articles 15 and 16 of the
constitutionally permissible only if it furthers a compelling Constitution. ‘Education’ and ‘public employment’ are
state interest and is narrowly tailored to achieve such already enshrined in the Constitution as legitimate goals
interest. The only permissible state interest in the U.S. is for reservation. Thus, the standard adopted by courts
the need for a diverse student body. Once this is focuses on whether the class seeking reservation is
established, it must be proved that the measure closely socially and educationally backward, and inadequately
correlates to diversity. This is a high standard that makes it represented. In employment, this requires proof of
extremely difficult for universities to devise admission quantifiable data from the state. If these two criteria are
programmes that are favourable to the minority race. Any met, even broad reservation measures are constitutional
broad measures are viewed with great caution so that and the interests of the non-minority are instead taken
non-minority candidates are not disadvantaged at the cost care of by capping reservations at 50%.
of minority.
Given India’s constitutional mandate that champions Article 164 of the Constitution says that the governor will
substantive equality and adopts a more reasonable test, appoint the chief minister, and that the other ministers
Indian courts are unlikely to align with the SCOTUS’s will be appointed by him on the advice of the latter. The
Harvard ruling. Courts have repeatedly sounded caution ministers, it says, will hold office during the “pleasure of
that foreign decisions should not be relied on without a the Governor”. Additionally, Article 163 of the
proper appreciation of the context in which they were Constitution requires the governor to act on the “aid and
rendered. However, the emphasis on a sunset clause, advise” of the council of ministers, headed by the chief
akin to the Indian Supreme Court’s suggestion in the minister of the state. But the provision also adds the
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Reservations case, governor would not need this advice if the Constitution
could potentially resonate. Parliament’s receptiveness to requires him to carry out any function at his discretion.
this idea remains to be seen. The Supreme Court usually reads these provisions
together to outline the powers of governors — primarily
to explain when they need to act on the advice of the
DISMISSAL OF MINISTER BY council of ministers and when they can use their
discretion.
THE GOVERNOR MEANING OF ‘DISCRETION’?
#Federal Issues It was in the landmark Shamsher Singh & Anr vs State
Of Punjab in 1974 that the Supreme Court had
reportedly elaborated on the ‘discretionary’ powers of the
In the recent announcement of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President of India and the governors.
(DMK) leader V. Senthil Balaji's dismissal from the state “…the President and Governor, custodians of all executive
council of ministers by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, the and other powers under various Articles, shall, by virtue of
exercise of gubernatorial discretion has once again these provisions, exercise their formal constitutional powers
come under scrutiny. only upon and in accordance with the advice of their
The Constitution of India, in Article 164, lays out the Ministers save in a few well-known exceptional situations”.
mechanism for appointing the chief minister and The ruling also enumerated these exceptions:
ministers, who serve at the "pleasure of the Governor." a) the choice of Prime Minister (Chief Minister),
The relationship between governors, chief ministers, and restricted though this choice is by the paramount
ministers is guided by the principle of "aid and advise," consideration that he should command a majority in
where the governor acts on the advice of the council of the House;
ministers. b) the dismissal of a Government which has lost its
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS majority in the House but refuses to quit office;

Governance
c) the dissolution of the House where an appeal to the minister whenever he wanted. But here, there is no such
country is necessarily [sic], although in this area the provision in Article 164.
Head of State should avoid getting involved in politics Does the phrase “ministers shall hold office during the
and must be advised by his Prime Minister (Chief pleasure of the governor” mean that the governor can
Minister) who will eventually take the responsibility dismiss the minister when he wants? That interpretation,
for the step [sic]”. according to Achary, is “absurd”.
Simply put, the governor’s discretion can be exercised in Of course, it is the governor who will issue the order
cases where the governor has reasons to believe that the dismissing a minister. But then, except on the advice of
chief minister and his/her council of ministers have lost the chief minister, the governor can’t do that. The
the confidence of the House, or when the government moment the chief minister advises the removal of a
has lost its majority but refuses to quit office. minister, the governor’s pleasure ends there. And
MAHARASHTRA POLITICAL CRISIS therefore, these words — the minister shall hold office
during the pleasure of the governor — only means that
In a significant ruling in May this year, the Supreme Court
the pleasure of the governor will end the moment the
had reiterated the limits on the governor’s powers. That
chief minister asks the governor to remove a minister.
case related to the political crisis in Maharashtra, where a
rebellion within the then undivided Shiv Sena threatened
the Maha Vikas Aghadi government under Uddhav
Thackeray eventually resulting in its fall.
COLLEGIUM AND
The court had said that then governor Bhagat Singh APPOINTMENTS
Koshyari had not been “justified” in calling a floor test
“because he did not have reasons based on objective #Judiciary #Appointment
material before him, to reach the conclusion that Mr.
Thackeray had lost the confidence of the House”.
The Supreme Court Collegium under Chief Justice of India
“The Governor is the titular head of the State
D.Y. Chandrachud has quietly and transparently streamlined
Government. He is a constitutional functionary who the appointment process of judges to the constitutional
derives his authority from the Constitution. This being the courts while adding a deft mix of merit and seniority in the
case, the Governor must be cognizant of the judicial ranks through a selection procedure which involves
constitutional bounds of the power vested in him,” the “meaningful discussion on and assessment of candidates’
court had held. judicial acumen”.
It added: “He cannot exercise a power that is not The appointment and transfer of judges in India's higher
conferred on him by the Constitution or a law made judiciary, including the Supreme Court and High Courts, have
under it…they certainly do not empower the Governor to always been a subject of intense scrutiny and debate. The
enter the political arena and play a role (however minute) Collegium system, which is based on the recommendation of
either in inter-party disputes or in intra-party disputes”. a group of senior judges led by the Chief Justice of India, has
been the predominant mode of appointments to the higher
HISTORICAL CONTEXT judiciary since the 1990s. While the Collegium system has
The Government of India Act of 1935 gave governors the been praised for ensuring the independence and expertise of
discretion to choose a minister and also dismiss him/her the judiciary, it has also faced criticism for lack of
but these powers were omitted in the Constitution. transparency and accountability. This article aims to analyze
That discretion vested in the governors under the the Collegium system in India, examining its strengths and
Government of India Act 1935…However, the provisions weaknesses, and exploring potential reforms to improve the
on discretion, choosing (the Minister) and the dismissal — system's effectiveness and accountability.
they were omitted when Article 164 was framed. So, WHY IS THE PROCEDURE TO APPOINT JUDGES TO
although the governor is the appointing authority, he can HIGHER JUDICIARY IMPORTANT?
do so only on the advice of the chief minister. Similarly, The procedure to appoint judges to the higher judiciary is
the British colonial governor could easily dismiss a important in India for several reasons:

Governance
 Separation of Powers: One of the fundamental President in the same session for such removal on the
principles of the Indian Constitution is the separation ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
of powers between the three branches of government.  Oath – Article 124(6) – A person appointed as Judge of
The judiciary, as an independent and impartial Supreme Court shall make and subscribe before the
institution, acts as a check on the powers of the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by
executive and legislature. The appointment of judges him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set
through a transparent and objective process ensures out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
that the judiciary remains independent and free from
 Bar on Practicing – Article 124(7) - A person who has
external influence.
held office of Judge of SC shall not plead or act in any
 Quality of Judiciary: The appointment of competent court or before any authority within the territory of
and qualified judges is crucial for maintaining the India.
quality and integrity of the judiciary. A rigorous and
So clearly the constitution of India does not provides
transparent appointment process helps ensure that
for a collegium system for appointment but for
only the most deserving candidates are selected for
appointment by the president as far as Higher
judicial positions.
Judiciary is concerned. So where has this system
 Public Confidence: The appointment of judges come from?
through a transparent process helps maintain public
The collegium system has evolved by way of several
confidence in the judiciary. When the appointment
enactments and judicial pronouncements.
process is perceived as fair and unbiased, it enhances
Initially:
the credibility of the judiciary and its decisions.
 Accountability: The appointment process also  The appointment of judges to the Supreme Court (SC)
ensures accountability of judges. If a judge is found to and high courts (HCs) has been mandated in Article
124(2) and 217(1) of the Constitution respectively.
be unfit for the position, he or she can be removed
through a due process of law.  The provisions provide that the power to appoint the
So we can understand that the procedure to appoint judges vests with the President, “in consultation” with
the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for the SC, and “in
judges to higher judiciary is important in India as it
helps ensure the independence, quality, consultation” with the CJI, the governor of the
accountability, and credibility of the judiciary, concerned state and the Chief Justice (CJ) of the
concerned HC, for HC appointments.
which is crucial for upholding the rule of law and
protecting the rights of citizens.  Previously, the inclusion of the President in
IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS “consultation with the CJI” was for namesake and the
appointments to the higher judiciary was the
REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF SUPREME COURT
JUDGES prerogative of the executive.
CHANGES INTRODUCED THROUGH 1ST JUDGES CASE
 Appointment - Article 124(2) - Every Judge of the
Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President by  This unfettered power in the hands of the executive
warrant under his hand and seal. was challenged in Union of India v Sankalchand
Himmatlal Sheth (1977) where the SC observed that
 Resignation - Article 124(2)(a) - A Judge may by
writing under his hand addressed to the President the term “consultation” in Article 222(1) should be
resign his office. interpreted by reading in “real, substantial and
effective consultation based on full and proper
 Removal – Article 124(4) - A Judge of the Supreme
materials placed before the Chief Justice by the
Court shall not be removed from his office except by
Government”.
an order of the President passed after an address by
 1st Judges case:
each House of Parliament supported by a majority of
the total membership of that House and by a majority o Several years later, in SP Gupta vs Union of India
of not less than two-thirds of the members of that (1981) (‘First Judges’ Case’) the majority opined
House present and voting has been presented to the that “judicial independence” is a part of the basic
structure of the Constitution. However, it was held

Governance
that the view of the CJI in appointments and o The decisions of the Collegium is published on
transfers is non-determinative. Highlighting website of Supreme Court but does not reveal:
“executive primacy”, the court held that o methodology or reasons provided for transfer or
“consultation” in Article 217(1) does not mean promotion of judges;
“concurrence”. It also made clear that the role of
o ground to select senior lawyers for appointment as
the CJI is merely consultative and the final decision
Judges of SC or HC.
vests with the government.
o In 2018, four senior judges of the Supreme Court
 2nd Judges Case:
publicly criticized the Collegium system for lack of
o In Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record transparency in the appointment of judges. The
Association vs Union of India (1993) (‘Second judges held a press conference and claimed that the
Judges’ Case’), it was ruled that “consultation” in allocation of cases by the Collegium was arbitrary
Constitution connotes “concurrence” and held that and opaque. They also raised concerns about the
the CJI has primacy in appointments and transfers, lack of transparency in the appointment of judges
and that his power was held to be “unique, singular to the higher judiciary.
and primal”.  Allegations of nepotism: The Collegium system has
o Further, it was stated that the opinion of the CJI is been accused of nepotism and favoritism in the
not of his own, but of the "collegium", consisting appointment of judges.
of the CJI and the next two senior judges in line. o In 2017, a controversy erupted when the
 3rd Judges Case: Collegium recommended the appointment of
Justice KM Joseph to the Supreme Court. The
o The comprehensive working of the collegium was
government returned the recommendation, and it
unanimously clarified by the SC in, In Re
was alleged that Justice Joseph's appointment was
Presidential Reference (1998) (‘Third Judges’
blocked due to his ruling against the government in
Case’). a case related to President's rule in Uttarakhand.
o As per this ruling, the collegium would consist of  Lack of diversity: The Collegium system has also been
the CJI and four senior judges in line for the SC, criticized for lack of diversity in the appointment of
and the CJ and two senior judges in line for the judges.
HCs.
o In 2018, it was revealed that there were no judges
 NJAC Struck Down from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes
o In 2014, the constitution was amended through 99 in the Supreme Court. This led to calls for the
constitutional Amendment Act. It provided for Collegium to be more inclusive in its appointment
national Judicial Appointment Commission for process.
appointment and transfer of High court judges and  Delay in appointments: The Collegium system has
appointment of Supreme Court judges. been criticized for causing delays in the appointment
of judges.
o Composition (CJI+2 Senior most Judges of SC + Law
Minister+2 eminent persons) was held violative of o In 2023, Vacancy in High Courts stood at 37% (406
separation of powers. Executive would dominate posts vacant out of a sanctioned strength of 1,098).
over judiciary in matters of appointment. o Critics blamed the Collegium system for the delay in
appointing judges to fill these vacancies.
o Impinged upon the independence of the judiciary
(violation of Basic Structure).  Lack of accountability: The Collegium system has
been accused of lack of accountability in the
However, The Collegium system in India has come
appointment of judges.
under attack for several reasons. Here are some
specific instances that highlight the criticism of the o In 2019, the Supreme Court Collegium
recommended the appointment of two judges
Collegium system:
who were facing allegations of sexual
 Lack of transparency:
harassment.

Governance
o This led to a public outcry, with critics claiming that QUALITY OF JUDGMENTS
the Collegium was not taking the allegations Of primary concern for the Collegium is the quality of
seriously and was not being held accountable for its judgments of the candidates. For this, their judgments
decisions. are circulated among the members of the Collegium, well
in advance. The Centre for Research & Planning of the
Supreme Court also prepares a compilation of “relevant
background material to assist the Collegium”.
There is also a Judgment Evaluation Committee which
goes through the judicial work of the candidates with a
fine-tooth comb. The judgments are graded, with the very
best receiving an “outstanding” grade.
This procedure of circulating the judgments of
prospective candidates and making an objective
assessment of their relative merit was introduced for the
first time at a Collegium meeting held on September 26
last year. Justice Dipankar Dutta’s name was the first to
MERITS OF COLLEGIUM be cleared for Supreme Court appointment by the
Collegium in this manner.
 Ensures Independence of Judiciary as mandated in
Article 50 – from interference of the Executive. While recommending appointments to the Supreme
Court the Collegium has taken into consideration the
o Views of SC & HC Judges taken in writing.
following aspects: The seniority of Chief Justices and
 Prevalence of Majority Opinion favours democratic senior puisne Judges in their respective parent High
process of appointment. Courts as well as overall seniority of the High Court
 Reservations of even two Judges of Collegium taken Judges; The merit, performance and integrity of the
seriously and halts appointment process for doubtful judges under consideration; The need to ensure diversity
candidates. and inclusion in the Supreme Court.
 Allows talented lawyers from the bar to be Diversity and inclusion” referred to the “representation of
appointed as Judges of HC/SC. High Courts, which are not represented or are
HOW TO IMPROVE? inadequately represented, in the Supreme Court;
appointment of persons from marginalised and
 A clear appointment policy should be adopted
backward segments of society; gender diversity; and
minimizing human discretion.
representation of minorities”.
 Collegium should be transparent regarding furnishing
reason - seniority/ merit
 Higher judiciary should diversify collegium by including THE CINEMATOGRAPH
Women, minority and civic society groups.
 Older judges with shorter tenure is often ineffective. (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2023
 Collegium should have permanent secretariat and #Bills #legislations
minutes of the meetings should be subject to RTI.
 Collegium should accept applications for appointment
(as followed in UK) The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was
SUPREME COURT COLLEGIUM’S QUIET TRANSPARENCY introduced in Rajya Sabha on July 20, 2023. The Bill
IS DRIVING A CHANGE amends the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The Act
Since early this year, the Collegium’s resolutions have constitutes the Board of Film Certification for certifying
embraced transparency. They have publicly laid bare the films for exhibition. Such certifications may be subject to
requirements for candidates in the zone of consideration modifications/deletions. The Board may also refuse the
for appointments to the top court and the High Courts. exhibition of a films.

Governance
Additional certificate categories: The Bill adds certain without the owner’s authorisation. An unauthorised
additional certificate categories based on age. Under the exhibition means the public exhibition of an infringing
Act, film may be certified for exhibition: (i) without copy of the film for profit: (i) at a location not licensed to
restriction (‘U’), (ii) without restriction, but subject to exhibit films or (ii) in a manner that infringes upon the
guidance of parents or guardians for children below 12 copyright law.
years of age (‘UA’), (iii) only to adults (‘A’), or (iv) only to Certain exemptions under the Copyright Act, 1957
members of any profession or class of persons (‘S’). The will also apply to the above offences. The 1957 Act
Bill substitutes the UA category with the following three allows limited use of copyrighted content without owner’s
categories to also indicate age-appropriateness: (i) UA 7+, authorisation in specified cases such as: (i) private or
(ii) UA 13+, or (iii) UA 16+. The age endorsement within personal use, (ii) reporting of current affairs, or (iii) review
the UA category by the Board will inform guidance of or critique of that work.
parents or guardians, and will not be enforceable by any
The above offences will be punishable with: (i)
other persons other than parents or guardians.
imprisonment between three months and three years,
Separate certificate for television/other media: Films and (ii) a fine between three lakh rupees and 5% of the
with an ‘A’ or ‘S’ certificate will require a separate audited gross production cost.
certificate for exhibition on television, or any other media
Certificates to be perpetually valid: Under the Act, the
prescribed by the central government. The Board may
certificate issued by the Board is valid for 10 years. The
direct the applicant to carry appropriate deletions or
Bill provides that the certificates will be perpetually valid.
modifications for the separate certificate.
Revisional powers of the central government: The Act
Unauthorised recording and exhibition to be
empowers the central government to examine and make
punishable: The Bill prohibits carrying out or abetting: (i)
orders in relation to films that have been certified or are
the unauthorised recording and (ii) unauthorised
pending certification. The Board is required to dispose
exhibition of films. Attempting an unauthorised
matters in conformance to the order. The Bill removes
recording will also be an offence. An unauthorised
this power of the central government.
recording means making or transmitting an infringing
copy of a film at a licensed place for film exhibition
The Cinematograph Act 1952 The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023
The Bill adds certain additional certificate categories

Under the Act, film may be certified based
for exhibition: without restriction (‘U’); on age. It substitutes the UA category with the
Additional without restriction, but subject to following
certificate guidance of parents or guardians for three categories to also indicate age-appropriateness:
categories children below 12 years of age (‘UA’); UA
only to adults (‘A’), or only to members
7+, UA 13+ or UA 16+.
of any profession or class of persons
(‘S’). This is in line with the Shyam Benegal committee’s
(2017) recommendations.
Films with an ‘A’ or ‘S’ certificate will require a separate

Separate certificate for exhibition on television, or any other
certificate for media prescribed by the central government.
television/other The Board may direct the applicant to carry
media appropriate
deletions or modifications for the separate certificate.
Unauthorised Provides for certain exemptions - use In order to stop piracy, the Bill prohibits carrying out or
recording and
of copyrighted content without owner’s abetting the unauthorised recording and unauthorised
exhibition to be

Governance
punishable authorisation in case of reporting of exhibition of films.
current affairs, etc. Exemptions under the Copyright Act 1957 will also
apply
to the above offences.
The above offences will be punishable with:
imprisonment between 3 months and 3 years, and a
fine between
3 lakh rupees and 5% of the audited gross production
cost
Validity of
For 10 years Perpetually/always valid
certificates
Empowers the central government to

examine and make orders in relation
Revisional powers
of the central to films that have been certified or are
Removes this power of the central government
government pending certification. The Board is
required to dispose of matters in
conformance with the order.
 Also, it will facilitate political parties in overcoming the

WEB PORTAL FOR difficulties in physical filing of reports and ensure
timely filing of financial statements in the
POLITICAL PARTIES prescribed/standardised format.
#Electoral Reforms  Submission of financial statements by political parties

to ECI is as per provisions of Representation of
People’s Act (RPA) 1951.
Election Commission of India (ECI) Launches Web Portal  Need of transparency in financing political parties
For Political Parties To File Financial Accounts Online o Reduce black money in politics.
 New web-portal facilitates online filing of Contribution o Promote electoral participation of women and other
Report, Audited Annual Account and Election marginalized groups in elections.
Expenditure Statement to ECI by all Political Parties. o Guarantee independence of parties from undue
 This will enhance the level of compliance and influence of big donors and corporates.
transparency of finances of political parties. It is a part
of ECI’s 3C strategy: Cleanup, Crackdown and
Compliance.
practice questions
MCQs
Q.1) Which of the following statements is/are 1. Union of India Vs ADR, 2002 judgements ensured
correct? Electors had a fundamental right to know the

Governance
antecedents of candidates contesting elections the other ministers will be appointed by him on
to hold public office. the advice of the latter.
2. Lily Thomas Vs Union of India, 2013 mandated 2. Article 163 of the Constitution requires the
that MP, State Legislatures convicted of crime governor to act on the “aid and advise” of the
with a minimum sentence of 2 years council of ministers, headed by the chief minister
imprisonment would cease to be members of of the state.
the house. 3. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Viceroy the discretion to choose a minister and
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only also dismiss him/her.
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only
Q.2) Consider the following statements: (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
1. The U.S. Constitution is silent on Affirmative
Actions, prohibiting only the denial of “equal Q.4) With reference to Freedom in India, consider
protection”. the following statements:
2. The Indian Constitution expressly allows 1. Article 25 deals with Freedom of conscience and
affirmative action in favor of backward classes in free profession, practice and propagation of
matters of education (Article 15) and jobs (Article religion. (Between individual and state)
16). 2. Article 26 enables Freedom to manage religious
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? affairs - (state and religion)
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 3. Article 27 provides Freedom as to payment of
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 taxes for promotion of any particular religion.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q.3) Consider the following statements: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
1. Article 164 of the Constitution says that the (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
governor will appoint the chief minister, and that
Q1. Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a European concept of 17th century and might not be relevant for 21st century India.
Discuss. (250 words)
Q2. Compare and contrast the “Equal Protection clause” in Indian and USA jurisprudence. (150 words)
Answers: 1-c, 2-c, 3-b, 4-d

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS &
Security
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II & III (Main)
BENEFITS FOR INDIA IN JOINING NATO PLUS

INDIA'S POTENTIAL 1. Security Umbrella: India's participation in NATO Plus
ENGAGEMENT WITH NATO would offer a security umbrella, enhancing protection
and deterrence against potential threats in the Indo-
PLUS Pacific region.
#InternationalOrganisations 2. Access to Advanced Technologies: Joining NATO

Plus could grant India access to advanced military
technologies, intelligence-sharing platforms, and
This article discusses the potential benefits and fallouts for
interoperability with other member states. This would
India in joining the NATO Plus framework.
bolster India's defence capabilities and modernization
ABOUT NATO PLUS efforts.
 “NATO plus” refers to a security arrangement of NATO POTENTIAL FALLOUTS
and the five treaty allies of the U.S. i.e., Australia, 1. Geopolitical Consequences: India's inclusion in
New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea as NATO Plus could strain its strategic partnership with
members — to enhance “global defence Russia and annoy China. India's collaboration with
cooperation” and win the “strategic competition with Russia has been crucial in dealing with regional
the Chinese Communist Party”. security challenges and moderating China's stance.
Joining NATO Plus may crumble this solidified
 Interestingly, the term ‘NATO Plus’ is not an officially
strategic partnership.
recognised or established concept within NATO
2. Impact on Regional Security: Aligning with a U.S.-led
itself but has been used in discussions and debates
alliance system may limit India's freedom of action
regarding the potential expansion of the alliance.
and hinder the pursuit of an independent policy
 The inclusion of these countries as members would towards China. It may complicate India's security in
require a complex process of negotiation and the region and provide a potential justification for
assessment of their compatibility with NATO’s further military build-up along the India-China border.
principles, obligations, and defence commitments. 3. Impact on Strategic Autonomy: India's longstanding
 While NATO’s earlier target was the Soviet Union and policy of strategic autonomy would be at stake as
now Russia, the focus of NATO Plus is clearly on joining NATO Plus would require aligning defense and
security policies with the alliance's objectives and
containing China. Therefore, considering its disputes
strategies. This could strain relationships with other
with China, India remains a missing link in the
countries and regional organizations that value India's
framework.
independent stance.

International Relations & Security
4. Diversion of Focus: NATO's broader geopolitical  The appellate body, which is the second tier of the
agenda spanning Eurasia to the Indo-Pacific may WTO’s DSS that hears appeals from WTO panels, is
divert attention and resources away from India's non-functional because the United States, single-
pressing regional dynamics, such as border disputes, handedly, has blocked the appointment of its
terrorism, and regional conflicts. Therefore, India may members.
not receive significant assistance from NATO in  The U.S. reproaches the appellate body for judicial
addressing these challenges. overreach and exceeding its assigned institutional
WAY FORWARD mandate.
1. Prioritize Regional Dynamics: India should focus on  One major problem that the U.S. identifies is that the
addressing its own unique set of traditional and non- appellate body, contrary to the text of the WTO’s
traditional security challenges, including border dispute settlement understanding (DSU), has been
disputes, terrorism, and regional conflicts. creating binding precedents through its decisions.
2. Emphasize Quad Engagement: India's involvement ISSUES UNDER WTO NEGOTIATION
in the Quad, comprising India, Japan, Australia, and  Plurilateral and Multilateral Agreement:
the U.S., presents a more promising avenue for Multilateral Agreements are adopted through
countering China's influence in the Indo-Pacific consensus among all member countries. These
region. Collaborative efforts within the Quad agreements are applicable to all members and may
framework align better with India's regional priorities. include special and differential treatment for poor and
3. Maintain Strategic Autonomy: India should developing economies. Examples of multilateral
continue to uphold its policy of strategic autonomy, agreements include AoA, GATS, and TRIPS.
allowing flexibility in engaging with various nations  Plurilateral agreements, on the other hand, are
and blocs based on its own interests. This approach voluntary agreements between a limited number of
ensures India's ability to navigate regional dynamics WTO member countries. The provisions of these
while safeguarding its independence. agreements are not applicable to all members.
4. Strengthen Regional Cooperation: India should Examples of plurilateral agreements under the WTO
prioritize building stronger partnerships and include Trade in civil aircraft, Government
cooperation with neighbouring countries and regional Procurement, Bovine meat, and Dairy products.
organizations to address common challenges  Plurilateral vs. Multilateral Agreements: While
collectively. This approach fosters regional stability multilateral agreements consider the special needs
and maintains India's regional influence. and interests of poor and developing countries, the
consensus-driven nature of multilateral negotiations
often leads to delays. This has sparked a debate
CRUMBLING WTO between developed and developing countries on the
#InternationalOrganisation nature of trade negotiations under the WTO.
Developing countries, led by India, oppose plurilateral
agreements and advocate for the continuation of the
multilateral framework.
In June 2022, the member-countries of the World Trade  Defunct Dispute Settlement Body: Sanctioned
Organization (WTO) managed to hammer out a face-saving strength of Appellate Body (AB) of WTO's Dispute
deal, India played a vital role at the Geneva ministerial Settlement Mechanism is seven members and these
conference, thereby keeping faith in trade multilateralism members are appointed through consensus among
alive. the member countries.
 An important part was resurrecting the WTO’s dispute  US Blocking Appointment: The quorum required to
settlement system (DSS), also called WTO’s ‘crown decide on disputes is three judges. The US
jewel’, by 2024. Since 2019, the WTO’s two-tiered DSS
government believes that AB is biased against it and
remains paralysed.
has criticized it for being "unfair". Consequently, US

has so far been blocking appointment of members to  Trade acts as a powerful tool for inclusive growth by
the Appellate Body (AB) and it is left with only one reducing poverty and opening opportunities for small
judge which is below the quorum of three judges firms, women, farmers, and fishermen.
needed to hear appeals. WAY FORWARD
REASONS FOR WTO CRUMBLING  Plurilateral Negotiations: The WTO should transition
to plurilateral negotiations, allowing like-minded
 Changing world order: The unipolar world order
countries to discuss specific issues and form rules
represented by institutions like the WTO, which
accordingly.
favoured the West, is facing challenges due to the rise
 Services: As services occupy two-thirds of global GDP,
of developing countries like India and China.
efforts should be made to establish a global trade
Developed countries resort to protectionist policies in
policy that addresses higher barriers compared to
trade wars, such as the one between the USA and
goods. GATS should be more open and transparent.
China, and disputes like the solar dispute between
 Consultation Committee: Countries should consider
India and the USA.
varying levels of development and form a consultation
 Process loopholes: The negotiation process, while committee to address concerns effectively.
appearing democratic, lacks transparency in  Agriculture Agreements: Agreements on agriculture
ministerial consensus. Green room discussions should be restructured to cater to the concerns of
exclude the majority of countries, favouring developed developing countries.
countries. Consensus-based decision-making is a root  Collective Bargaining: Like-minded countries such as
cause of slow reform. the G33 African community should increase their
 Discriminatory agreements: Some agreements collective bargaining power to demand favourable
signed under the WTO are considered discriminatory provisions in agreements related to agriculture,
services, and intellectual property rights.
and exclusionary in functioning. For example, the
Doha Development Agenda has yet to provide a  Mindset Change: The USA and EU should recognize
solution for domestic subsidies. the larger role played by the WTO in their growth and
the maintenance of an open system.
 Flouting TRIPS: Developed countries accuse
developing countries of flouting TRIPS, while the latter
highlight public health concerns and practices like
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
evergreening of patents by developed country
companies. BETWEEN INDIA AND USA
 Dispute Resolution: The costly and lengthy dispute #InternationalOrganisations
resolution mechanism is mostly used by developed
countries, making developing countries victims of the
One of the significant outcomes of Prime Minister Narendra
process.
Modi’s official state visit to the U.S. was the decision of the
IMPORTANCE OF WTO two countries to end six long-standing trade disputes at the
 WTO regulates 98% of global trade flows and has World Trade Organization (WTO). In view of the continuing
reduced the average value of tariffs by 85% since impasse in the appointment of ‘judges’ to hear appeals at
1942. the Appellate Body, a meaningful resolution of these

disputes was almost out of sight. Three cases settled as part
 Trade as a share of GDP has grown from 24% in 1960
of the deal are before the defunct Appellate Body, while the
to 60% in 2015, fuelling economic growth, creating
rest could have potentially been ‘appealed into the void’.
jobs, and increasing household incomes worldwide.
 The settled disputes involved a challenge of the
 WTO's rules-based system brings openness, domestic content requirements under India’s National
transparency, and stability to international trade. Solar Mission. India too challenged certain sub-federal

programmes implemented in the U.S. in the consultations fail, the complaining country can ask for a
renewable energy sector and won the case. panel to be appointed
 India and US also settled disputes involving some of APPEALS
its foreign trade policy schemes, including the special  Either side can appeal a panel’s ruling. Sometimes
economic zone (SEZ) and export-oriented unit both sides do so. Appeals have to be based on points
schemes. Certain corporate tax deductions provided of law such as legal interpretation — they cannot re-
under the SEZ scheme faced an uncertain future examine existing evidence or examine new issues.
 The most major of the dispute that was stelled  Each appeal is heard by three members of a
involved a challenge by India against the controversial permanent seven-member Appellate Body set up by
Section 232 tariffs imposed under the U.S. Trade the Dispute Settlement Body and broadly
Expansion Act, 1962. The U.S. had imposed an representing the range of WTO membership.
additional duty of 25% on steel and 10% on
 The appeal can uphold, modify or reverse the panel’s
aluminium, triggering a series of WTO challenges and
legal findings and conclusions. Normally appeals
unilateral trade responses. India considered these as
should not last more than 60 days, with an absolute
safeguard measures and imposed retaliatory
maximum of 90 days.
measures.
 The Dispute Settlement Body has to accept or reject
 Against that backdrop, settling disputes in all six cases
the appeals report within 30 days and rejection is only
shows a pragmatic approach on the part of two strong
possible by consensus.
trading partners. They have accepted each other’s
domestic challenges in dispute compliance and
realised the importance of burying differences. HIGH SEAS TREATY
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MECHANISM
#Miscellaneoustopics
Resolving trade disputes is one of the core activities of
the WTO. A dispute arises when a member government
believes another member government is violating an On June 19, the UN adopted the Marine Biodiversity of Areas
agreement or a commitment that it has made in the Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) or the High Seas Treaty.
WTO. The United Nations has recently adopted the Marine
 Settling disputes is the responsibility of the Dispute Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) or
Settlement Body (the General Council in another the High Seas Treaty. This historic agreement, the third to be
guise), which consists of all WTO members. approved under UNCLOS, aims to protect and preserve the
 The Dispute Settlement Body has the sole authority to marine environment through international cooperation. The
establish “panels” of experts to consider the case, and process to develop this treaty began in 2002, and after
to accept or reject the panels’ findings or the results of several years of negotiations, it was finally adopted in 2023.
an appeal. KEY POINTS
 It monitors the implementation of the rulings and  Protecting Marine Biodiversity: The treaty
recommendations and has the power to authorize addresses pressing issues such as rising sea surface
retaliation when a country does not comply with a temperatures, overexploitation of marine biodiversity,
ruling. overfishing, coastal pollution, and unsustainable
First stage: Consultation (up to 60 days). Before taking practices beyond national jurisdictions.
any other actions the countries in dispute have to talk to  Establishment of Marine Protected Areas: The
each other to see if they can settle their differences by treaty introduces the establishment of marine
themselves. If that fails, they can also ask the WTO protected areas through a "three-quarterly majority
director-general to mediate or try to help in any other vote," ensuring that decisions cannot be blocked by a
way. small number of parties.
Second stage: The panel (up to 45 days for a panel to be  Fair Sharing of Benefits: The treaty mandates the fair
appointed, plus 6 months for the panel to conclude). If sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources. It

includes a "clear house mechanism" to facilitate the visiting U.S. official Uzra Zeya in New Delhi, calling it an
sharing of scientific information and monetary attempt to “interfere” in China’s “internal affairs”. Ahead of
benefits among all parties. the meeting with Ms. Zeya, the Dalai Lama, who arrived in
 Open Access to Information: Parties to the treaty are Delhi on Saturday, said that Tibetans did not seek
required to share and exchange information on “independence” and he was open for talks with the Chinese
marine protected areas, scientific and technical tools, government, which he said had sent feelers to him.
and area-based management tools. This promotes
 Xizang [Tibet] affairs are purely internal affairs of
open access to knowledge and collaboration.
China and no external forces have the right to
 Scientific and Technical Body: A Scientific and
interfere. China firmly opposes any form of contact
Technical Body will play a crucial role in conducting
between foreign officials and the “Tibetan
environmental impact assessments, creating
independence” forces,”
standards and guidelines, and assisting countries with
limited capacity.  China had similarly protested Ms. Zeya’s visit to
Dharamshala to meet the Dalai Lama in May 2022 and
CONTENTIOUS ISSUES
had opposed the setting up of the “special coordinator
 Marine Genetic Resources: The issue of sharing
on Tibetan issues” post by the Biden administration in
marine genetic resources was a major point of
2021
contention during the treaty negotiations.
 Information Sharing: The absence of a provision to  The U.S. should take concrete actions to honour its
monitor information sharing was debated. Some commitment of acknowledging Xizang as part of
parties proposed a licensing scheme for monitoring, China, stop meddling in China’s internal affairs under
while others argued against it, citing potential the pretext of Xizang-related issues, and offer no
hindrance to bioprospecting research. support to the anti-China separatist activities of the
 Language Used in the Treaty: The use of phrases like Dalai clique. Referring to the CTA as a “separatist
"promote" or "ensure," particularly regarding the political group” not recognised by any country.
sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, led HISTORY OF TIBET
to disagreements among the parties.
 Tibet was India’s actual neighbour, and in 1914, it was
OPPOSITION TO THE TREATY
Tibetan representatives, along with the Chinese that
 Opposition from Developed Countries: Several signed the Simla convention with British India that
developed countries opposed the treaty, as they delineated boundaries. Remember, most of India’s
support private entities that are involved in advanced
boundaries and the 3500km LAC is with the Tibetan
marine technology research and development. These
Autonomous Region, and not the rest of China.
entities hold patents related to marine genetic
resources.  India’s voluntary revocation of its special rights in
Tibet, inherited from the British raj, during the 1950s
 Russia and China's Position: Russia and China are
for the sake of better India-China relations. This
not in favour of the treaty. Russia withdrew from the
final stage of reaching a consensus, arguing that the coupled with the acceptance of Chinese rule in Tibet
treaty does not strike a balance between conservation has reduced India’s ability to play any meaningful role
and sustainability. in Tibet.
 After China’s full accession of Tibet in 1950, that China
repudiated the convention and the McMahon line that
INDIA-CHINA TIBET ISSUE divided the two countries. And in 1954, India signed
#BilateralRelations #Neighbourhood an agreement with China agreeing to trading terms on
what it called the “Tibet region of China”.
 In 1959, when the Dalai Lama fled to India, PM Nehru
China protested the meeting between the Dalai Lama and
gave him and Tibetan refugees shelter, and they set
officials of the “Central Tibetan Administration” (CTA) with

up the Tibetan government in exile, which continues  Changes in Tibet itself: Over the past few decades,
to hold elections. the Chinese government has moved to change Tibet in
 The disappearance of Tibet as a buffer in 1951 meant many ways. From pouring in investment,
that Indian and Chinese forces stood eye-to-eye infrastructure projects, to pouring in Han or mainland
across the undemarcated Himalayan border. Prime Chinese, in an effort to Sinicize the population. While
minister Nehru was willing to sacrifice Tibet for the there has been rapid development, including the
sake of friendship between India and China. But the famous Qinghai Tibet, and now Sichuan Tibet rail
Chinese also claimed that the boundary between lines, there has also been an increasing suppression
British India and Tibet was the work of “European of the Tibetan populations’ links to the Dalai Lama,
imperialists and Tibetan feudal lords”, and thus the and old border crossings from Nepal have been
boundary treaties needed to be re-negotiated. sealed
 The presence of the Dalai Lama and his followers in  Infrastructural Drive: The construction of Chinese
India is a source of friction between India and China. dams on the upper riparian areas of the Brahmaputra,
China has repeatedly claimed that the Dalai Lama is and construction of Tibetan villages along the LAC,
using his position to lobby for independence for Tibet particularly along Arunachal Pradesh boundary, which
and thus trying to break up China, which the Chinese can prove to be a future flashpoint aimed at
government describes as “splitting the motherland” .It bolstering Chinese claims of territory.
has asked the Indian government to address these  Changed Geo-Security Outlook: China has begun to
issues. raise Tibetan Militia groups, while the Indian Army
 China feels that India continues to keep the “Tibetan trains the Tibetan Special Frontier Force, which could
Question” alive by giving refuge to the Dalai Lama. lead to the frightening albeit unlikely spectre of
This has not helped improve relations between the Tibetans on both sides fighting each other at some
two Asian giants and this issue will continue to remain point in the future.
the bone of contention as China tries to increase its  Question over Tibetan people: The question over
presence and hold over Tibet the future of the Tibetan community in India, that the
 It is to be understood that Tibet is at the heart of the government doesn’t give citizenship to Tibetans born
India-China rivalry for dominance in Asia. When Tibet in India after the cut-off year of 1987, leaving the
was occupied, it changed the asymmetry between the youth of the community completely in limbo, living in
two sides. China was able to exercise geo-strategic segregated communes in different parts of India, but
influence over much of south Asia and challenge not being given rights as Indians, with little recourse
India’s dominance in the region. India recognises that or connection to what is happening back home in
the loss of Tibet as a buffer zone crippled the security Tibet.
of its northern frontiers forcing it to maintain  Increased US interest: The US has also increased its
hundreds and thousands of soldiers along the role, by accepting more Tibetan refugees, with an
Himalayan frontier. estimated 30,000 now residing there. Most
Today the official Indian policy is that the Dalai Lama is a prominently, the Karmapa Lama the head of the
spiritual leader, and the Tibetan community in India, with Karma Kagyu sect, who took Dominican citizenship,
more than a lakh exiles, is not allowed to undertake any also resides permanently in the US now, and as US-
political activity. Despite frequent protests from China, China relations deteriorate, is likely to increase its
especially when the Dalai Lama is invited to an official interest in the Tibetan issue.
event or travels to Arunachal Pradesh, most  Succession of Dalai Lama: The larger question is
governments have held the line on what is seen as a over the succession to the Dalai Lama, who has been
contradictory stand. not only the spiritual leader but also a political leader
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TIBET of the community worldwide. China has made it clear

it intends to announce its own Dalai Lama, as it once 7. Defence Cooperation: Roadmap for further
did the Panchen Lama, and try to control the cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, including military and
succession. The US is likely to weigh in as well, as it naval exchanges and a trilateral development fund.
has by settling the Karmapa there. 8. Defence Procurement: Approval for the purchase of
26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy, three
additional Scorpene submarines, and an agreement
HORIZON 2047: VISION for helicopter engines.
FOR INDIA-FRANCE The France-India strategic relationship is built on respect

for each other's strategic autonomy, with France
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP refraining from commenting on India's internal affairs or
foreign policy choices.
#BilateralRelations
During the recent visit of PM Modi to France a variety of

COLLABORATION OVER
agreements chief among the agreements was the strategic
road map for the next 25 years “Horizon 2047” which
INDUS WATER TREATY
includes cooperation in defence, space, nuclear energy, #neighbouringcountries
climate change and green transitions as well as education
and people-to-people ties.
The document Horizon 2047 reflects a vision of the two Indus Waters Treaty (1960), or IWT, that regulates the Indus
leaders of Prime Minister Modi and President Macron, on water courses between the two riparian states of India and
where the relationship should be in 2047 when India Pakistan, is cited by many as an example of cooperation
would celebrate 100th year of its independence and we between two unfriendly neighbours for many reasons.
will be celebrating 50 years of our Strategic Partnership.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT
It has 63 specific outcomes that are divided among
 In the recent times exercising judicial recourse to
multiple pillars.
settle the competing claims and objections arising out
1. Partnership for Security and Sovereignty: A of the construction and design elements of the run-of-
comprehensive approach to security and sovereignty river hydroelectric projects that India is permitted
cooperation between the two countries. under the IWT to construct on the tributaries of the
2. India-France Partnership in the Indo-Pacific: Indus, Jhelum and Chenab before these rivers flow
Focused on providing solutions for security, strategic, into Pakistan, has increased.
and economic challenges.  Pakistan initiated arbitration at the Hague-based
3. Cooperation in the Fight Against Terrorism: Joint Permanent Court of Arbitration to address the
efforts to combat terrorism and ensure global interpretation and application of the IWT to certain
security. design elements of two run-of-river hydroelectric
projects — on the Kishanganga (a tributary of the
4. Renewed and Effective Multilateralism: Shared
Jhelum) and Ratle, a hydro-electric project on the
commitment to promoting multilateral cooperation.
Chenab.
5. Science, Technology, and Academic Cooperation:
 India raised objections as it views that the Court of
Collaboration between research institutions in
Arbitration is not competent to consider the questions
scientific, critical technologies, health, cyber, digital
put to it by Pakistan and that such questions should
regulatory frameworks, and digital technologies.
instead be decided through the neutral expert
6. People-to-People Ties: Enhancing mobility process.
partnership and skill-set cooperation to foster
 The court unanimously passed a decision (which is
academic collaboration and meet the needs of skill
binding on both parties without appeal) rejecting each
development.
of India’s objections. The court determined that it is

competent to consider and determine the disputes set and 25% of water generation capacity which highlights
forth in Pakistan’s request for arbitration. India’s credential as generous upper riparian state.
ISSUES IN INDUS WATER TREATY  Renegotiation of Treaty: To accommodate for
 Prevents Storage: It prevents storage projects by climate challenges and other emerging issues.
India that was even highlighted by Parliamentary  Seeking Cooperation: The provision of the treaty
committee. provides scope for joint studies and joint research and
 Technical: The treaty is highly technical in nature this can be utilized to ensure cooperation between
which leads to different interpretations among the countries.
countries.  Relationality over rationality: The focus should be
 Political Mistrust: There is high-level of political on relationality i.e., benefit sharing rather than just
mistrust between India and Pakistan which has restricting the goals to water sharing as it will give due
historical underpinnings. importance to minor issues like soil erosion, water
quality etc.
 Underutilization: The parliamentary committee has
also opined that India has underutilized water of  Changing approach: There is a need to change
western rivers for irrigation purpose though being approach from and focus on sub-basin level, which
legally permissible under the treaty will not only make use of existing hydrology
mechanism but also the socio-economic impact of the
 Data Sharing: There is absence of data sharing
same.
mechanism within the treaty.
 Contemporary laws: Both India and Pakistan can
 Emerging issues: The treaty was signed in 1960 and is
make active use of contemporary laws like “Helsinki
limited to river management and usage and thus does
Rule”, which provides for the international guideline
not incorporate contemporary issues like climate
asserting rights for all bordering nations to have
change, global warming and Environmental Impact
equitable share in water resource.
assessment under its ambit.
 Reconciling this divergent approach: Which can be
 Limited role of World bank: World Bank though a
sought with the help of two cardinal principles of
guarantor relies on the reports that are submitted by
international water courses law accompanying binding
respective countries and thus has no independent
obligations, i.e., equitable and reasonable
way to ensure what is the issue.
utilisation (ERU) and the principle not to cause
WAY FORWARD
significant harm or no harm rule (NHR). To ensure
 Internationalizing India’s position: India has only rapid development, the state’s (India and Pakistan)
utilized 93% of the storage capacity under the treaty needs prioritise the ERU over the NHR.
Snippets
 It provides CDRI an independent and international
HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT legal persona so that it can carry out its functions
BETWEEN INDIA AND CDRI internationally, more efficiently.
Cabinet approves Ratification of the Headquarters COALITION FOR DISASTER RESILIENT
Agreement (HQA) between India and Coalition for Disaster INFRASTRUCTURE (CDRI)
Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
 It was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT (HQA) during the United Nations Climate Action Summit in
 It will facilitate the grant of exemptions, immunities, 2019, at New York.
and privileges as contemplated under United Nations  It is a global partnership of National Governments, UN
(Privileges & Immunities) Act, 1947. agencies and programmes, multilateral development

banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector,

academic and knowledge institutions that aims to
COLOMBO SECURITY
promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to CONCLAVE
climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring A joint expedition of ocean scientists from India, Bangladesh
sustainable development. and Mauritius was organised by the Indian National Centre
 At present, it is not an intergovernmental for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the regional
organization, which are ordinarily treaty- based framework of Colombo Security Conclave (CSC).
organizations. ABOUT COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE
 There are no obligations on the part of members to  The Colombo Security Conclave was formed in 2011 as
make financial contributions to CDRI. a trilateral maritime security grouping of India, Sri
Lanka and Maldives.
SCO SUMMIT  The Conclave underlines regional cooperation and
Under India’s first-ever Chairmanship, the 22nd summit of shared security objectives concerning all littoral
the SCO Council of Heads of State held in the virtual format nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
on 4 July 2023, chaired by Prime Minister of India.  It aims to make maritime security, marine pollution
KEY TAKEAWAYS response and maritime search rescue priorities for the
region.
 In New Delhi Declaration issued at the end of the
leaders’ summit, India refused to sign off on China’s  The roadmap of activities was later expanded, with
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Mauritius joining as the fourth member and
Bangladesh & Seychelles participating as
 It focuses on building joint efforts by the international
observer countries.
community against terrorist groups, paying special
attention to preventing the spread of religious
intolerance, aggressive nationalism, ethnic and racial MEKONG GANGA
discrimination, xenophobia, ideas of fascism and
chauvinism.
COOPERATION (MGC)
EAM Jaishankar at the 12th Mekong Ganga Cooperation
ABOUT SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION
(MGC) Mechanism meeting said that peace and prosperity in
(SCO)
the Mekong region play a pivotal role in realising India’s
 It is a permanent intergovernmental international vision for security and growth for all countries in the region.
organization established in 2001 by the Republic of
ABOUT MEKONG GANGA COOPERATION
Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the
 It is an initiative by six countries – India and five
Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic
ASEAN countries, namely, Cambodia, Lao PDR,
of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for cooperation in
 Its predecessor was the mechanism of the Shanghai
tourism, culture, education, as well as transport and
Five.
communications.
 The Organization has 2 standing bodies — the
 It was launched in 2000 at Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Secretariat in Beijing and the Executive Committee of
 Both the Ganga and the Mekong are civilizational
the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in
rivers, and the MGC initiative aims to facilitate closer
Tashkent.
contacts among the people inhabiting these two
 In 2017, India and Pakistan were inducted as full
major river basins.
members in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in
 The MGC is also indicative of the cultural and
Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
commercial linkages among the member countries of
 Iran has formally become a full member of SCO in July
the MGC down the centuries.
2023.

 The agreement features ambitious market-access

GLOBAL CRISIS RESPONSE commitments in trade in goods, services, investment,
GROUP labour mobility and government procurement.
India has joined the Champions Group of the Global Crisis  It also establishes clear rules that help create a
Response Group (GCRG), accepting an invitation from United consistent, transparent and fair environment to do
Nations Secretary General (UNSG) António Guterres to Prime business in CPTPP markets, with dedicated chapters
Minister Narendra Modi. covering key issues like technical barriers to trade,
ABOUT GLOBAL CRISIS RESPONSE GROUP sanitary and phytosanitary measures, customs
administration, transparency and state-owned
 It was set up by the UNSG in March 2022 to address
enterprises.
urgent and critical global issues pertaining to
interlinked crises in food security, energy, and finance
and to coordinate a global response. GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2023
 The GCRG is overseen by the Champions Group The 17th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) is released,
comprising of HOS/ HOGs of Bangladesh, Barbados, which ranks 163 independent states and territories
Denmark, Germany, Indonesia and Senegal. according to their level of peacefulness.
ABOUT GLOBAL PEACE INDEX
COMPREHENSIVE AND  Produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace

(IEP), the GPI is the world’s leading measure of global
PROGRESSIVE AGREEMENT peacefulness.
FOR TRANS-PACIFIC  It presents the most comprehensive data driven

analysis to-date on trends in peace, its economic
PARTNERSHIP (CPTPP) value, and how to develop peaceful societies.
United Kingdom became the first European nation to join
 The GPI covers 163 countries comprising 99.7 per cent
the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
of the world’s population and measures the state of
ABOUT CPTPP peace across three domains: the level of Societal
 It is a free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Safety and Security; the extent of Ongoing Domestic
Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New and International Conflict; and the degree of
Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. Militarization.
 It was signed by the 11 countries in March 2018 in
Santiago, Chile.
practice questions
MCQS
Q1. With reference to Coalition for Disaster 3. There is an obligation on the part of members to
Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), consider the make financial contributions to CDRI.
following statements: How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. It was launched in 2019 by India at the United (a) Only one (b) Only two
Nations Climate Action Summit. (c) All three (d) None
2. It is an intergovernmental organization with
headquarters based in Gurugram.

Q2. With reference to Comprehensive and Q4. With reference to Colombo Security Conclave,
Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific consider the following statements:
Partnership (CPTPP), consider the following 1. It was formed as a trilateral maritime security
statements: grouping of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
1. It is a free trade agreement signed between USA 2. The Conclave underlines regional cooperation and
and NATO member countries. shared security objectives concerning all littoral
2. All the countries of CPTPP are members of Asia nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Pacific Economic Cooperation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
3. United Kingdom became the first European nation (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two Q5. With reference to the Shanghai Cooperation
(c) All three (d) None Organisation (SCO), consider the following
statements:
Q3. Consider the following countries: 1. It is a permanent intergovernmental organization
1. India 2. China established in 2001 with headquarters at Beijing.
3. Myanmar 4. Vietnam 2. Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) established
5. Thailand 6. Cambodia by the member states, with headquarters at
How many of the above countries are member of Shanghai, to combat terrorism.
Mekong Ganga Cooperation? 3. Iran and Turkey has formally become full members
(a) Only two (b) Only three of SCO in 2023.
(c) Only four (d) Only five How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two
(c) All three (d) None
Q1. A well functioning WTO essential for the rules of global trade. In this respect, highlight the major concerns with
WTO presently. How can the body be made more effective?
Q2. There is a growing call for India to become a NATO Plus member. What are the benefits and concerns with this
step?
Answers : 1-a, 2-b, 3-d, 4-b, 5-b

SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
# GS Paper I & GS Paper II (Main)
SIGNIFICANCE OF MASTER PLANNING

MASTER PLAN FOR URBAN  Growth & development of the city: It helps ULBs in
achieving integrated development by considering
AREAS various aspects such as land use, transportation,
#Urbansation infrastructure, housing, environment, and social
amenities.
 Efficient land utilisation: It enables efficient land
India’s G20 Sherpa, stressed at a recent Urban-20 City utilisation by identifying suitable areas for different
Sherpas’ meet that a master plan is crucial for any city to purposes and preventing haphazard development.
manage urbanisation.
 Infrastructure planning: It assists ULBs in identifying
ABOUT MASTER PLANNING the infrastructure requirements of the city or town,
 It is an instrument of governance for urban local such as roads, water supply, sewage systems, etc. to
bodies (ULBs). support the growing needs of the population and
 It is a statutory plan document, prepared for economic activities.
stream-lining the land use within the delineated  Environmental Sustainability: It incorporates
planning area. environmental considerations and sustainability
 It is a long-term plan that provides a conceptual principles into the development process to foster a
layout for future urban growth and development. greener and more resilient urban landscape.
 It includes analysis, recommendations, and proposals  Disaster Resilience: It helps ULBs in incorporating
for a site’s population, economy, housing, measures to enhance the resilience of cities and
transportation, community facilities, and land use. towns to natural disasters, such as floods,
earthquakes, and cyclones by identifying vulnerable
 It is based on public input, surveys, planning
areas, designing appropriate infrastructure, and
initiatives, existing development, physical
implementing disaster risk reduction strategies.
characteristics, and social and economic conditions.
 Social equity: It considers the social aspects of urban
 The validity of a Master Plan is for a specific period
development for the poor, provision of basic services
and after the expiry of the period it needs revision
to marginalized communities, and accessibility for
and modifications.
people with disabilities to create inclusive cities where
 During the 11th Five-Year Plan, it was proposed to
all residents have access to essential services and
prepare Master Plan for priority towns and growth
opportunities.
centers.
CHALLENGES
 Recently, most States/UTs have revised their
 Rapid Urbanisation: Many cities and towns are
respective byelaws based on the Model Building Bye
experiencing rapid population growth and
Laws 2016 (MoHUA, 2016). It is imperative that the
urbanization, which can strain existing infrastructure
city governments adapt the model regulations and as
and resources. Managing this rapid growth and
per their context and economic growth drivers.
ensuring that the master plan can accommodate
 The powers to prepare master plans remain with
future needs is a significant challenge.
State governments.

Society and Social Justice
 Limited Resources: ULBs often face financial and these are at best ephemeral and incremental as they
resource constraints, making it challenging to are centrally funded.
implement comprehensive master plans.  It is simply a spatial plan of land-use allocation
 Inconsistencies in decision-making: Frequent supported by byelaws and development control
changes in political leadership, lack of continuity in regulations. Thus, it essentially embodies a spatial
governance, and bureaucratic challenges can hinder vision for cities.
the execution of the master plan and result in
 The era of planetary urbanisation brings spatial
inconsistencies in decision-making.
planning into sharp focus and calls for reimaging the
 Data and Information Management: Limited spatial planning framework in India.
capacity for data collection, data quality issues, and
 Recent moves such as Gati Shakti and Model Rural
inadequate technology infrastructure can hinder the
Transformation Acts reflect this growing demand. The
planning process.
Centre must work with the States to reconsider the
 Informal Settlements and Slums: Integrating these spatial planning framework in India.
areas into the master plan and providing adequate
 The Advisory Committee of Niti Aayog recommends a
housing, basic services, and infrastructure to these
National Council of Town and Country Planners to
marginalized communities can be a complex and
be constituted as a statutory body of the Government
challenging task.
of India.
 Environmental Concerns: Balancing urban
development with environmental sustainability is a
critical challenge. PALLIATIVE CARE
 Implementation and Monitoring: Monitoring
progress, assessing the impact of implemented
#Health
projects, and adapting the plan as needed are
important but often challenging tasks due to limited
A new set of operational guidelines of NP-NCD, issued by the
capacity, coordination issues, and institutional
government, limit the focus of palliative care in India to
barriers as per the NITI Aayog Report 2021.
people with cancer.
 No statutory backing: Some city governments lack
ABOUT PALLIATIVE CARE
much authority while some city administrations have
 It is the branch of medicine focusing on improving the
developed mitigation plans without statutory backing.
quality of life and preventing suffering among those
For example, Bengaluru has not had a master plan to
with life-limiting illnesses like heart failure, kidney
control its development and the Mumbai plan lacks
failure, certain neurological diseases, cancer, etc.
any statutory backing and does not prescribe any
regulatory controls.  It aims to identify patients at risk of over-
medicalisation at the expense of quality of life and
 Urban Planning: It is the State subject and as per the
financial burden on the family.
12th schedule of the Constitution and the function of
Urban Local Bodies / Urban Development Authorities  It also aims to improve the quality of life by
but the state government has powers to prepare addressing the physical, psychological, spiritual, and
master plans. social domains of the health of people suffering from
life-limiting diseases
WAY FORWARD
 It is often misinterpreted as end-of-life care.
 The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has
recommended that master plans in cities should be  Beneficiaries are terminal cases of Cancer, AIDS etc.
revisited for the improved governance of cities. The  The goal is the availability and accessibility of rational,
National Mission for Clean Ganga has been quality pain relief and palliative care to the needy, as
advocating such a step to protect urban water bodies. an integral part of Health Care at all levels, in
 Many plans to improve sanitation, infrastructure, and alignment with the community requirements.
social inclusion are dependent on programmes, but

NEED FOR PALLIATIVE CARE  NGOs like Pallium India, Karunashraya, and Can
 Palliative care in India has largely been available at Support are trying to fill the gap in palliative care in
tertiary healthcare facilities in urban areas. Due to India.
this skewed availability of services, it is accessible GAPS IN THE GUIDELINES
to only 1-2% of the estimated 7-10 million people  Per the Global Atlas of Palliative Care, in 2020, the
who require it in the country. need for palliative care was higher for non-cancer
 India has experienced a steep rise in the burden illnesses. However, the revised NP-NCD operational
of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases. guidelines, mention palliative care in synonymy with
Nearly 1.4 million people are diagnosed with cancer in cancer only. Cancer is just one of 20 common health
India every year while diabetes, hypertension, and conditions that require palliative care.
respiratory diseases are also on the rise. All these  Since most patients who need palliative care are
diseases need palliative care eventually in the disease suffering from debilitating diseases, home-based care
trajectory. forms the ideal mode of healthcare delivery.
 Post-independence India has made considerable Previously, the programme guidelines mentioned
efforts to improve the health of its people like the providing support for home-based palliative care
introduction of the three-tier health system, multiple services. However, palliative care service delivery
national health programmes and schemes, and the starts only from the district hospital in the revised
Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme. But guidelines, with no mention of home-based care.
despite these efforts, 55 million people in India  No mention of home-based palliative care
are pushed below the poverty line every year due services: Since most patients who need palliative care
to health-related expenditures. Over-medicalisation are suffering from debilitating diseases, home-based
plays a significant role in this financial burden. care forms the ideal mode of healthcare delivery.
STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT  However, palliative care service delivery starts only
 The National Programme for Prevention & Control from the district hospital in the revised guidelines.
of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD): To  No mention of paediatric palliative
prevent and control major NCDs, it was launched in care: An estimated 98% of children facing moderate
2010 with a focus on strengthening infrastructure, to severe suffering during their end of life reside in
human resource development, health promotion, lower and middle-income countries like India.
early diagnosis, management and referral.
 Linking of 11 programmes (including NPPC) to
o The programme envisaged the provision of promote convergence: The mechanisms of the linkage
promotive, preventive, and curative care from the with a programme (NPPC) that has not yet been fully
primary to tertiary institutes, thus providing health implemented are unclear.
services delivery across the continuum of care.
WAY FORWARD
 National Programme for Palliative Care (NPPC): It
 Access to palliative care will be assessed by
was launched in 2012, NCD Cells are being
estimating morphine-equivalent consumption of
established at National, State and District levels for
strong opioid analgesics (excluding methadone) per
programme management, and NCD Clinics are being
death from cancer. Including an indicator to assess
set up at District and CHC levels, to provide services
morphine access is a welcome move, but an indicator
for early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up for
focusing only on patients with cancer might lead to an
common NCDs. Provision has been made under the
inaccurate assessment of coverage of services.
programme to provide free diagnostic facilities and
drugs for patients attending the NCD clinics.  The recommendations of the World Health
Assembly in 2014:
 National Programme for Health Care for the
Elderly: To provide accessible, affordable, and high- o Palliative care to be integrated into health systems
quality long-term, comprehensive and dedicated care at all levels.
services to an Ageing population. o Including palliative care along with curative
treatment

It is high time for India to realise the ongoing pandemic  Focus on 'service delivery' & 'functionality' –
of non-communicable diseases and strengthen its public utility: Under JJM, the focus has shifted to the
palliative care services. assured supply of potable water to every home rather
than the mere creation of water supply infrastructure.
 Community ownership to ensure 'long-term
JAL JEEVAN MISSION sustainability of water supply schemes: To ensure
#Welfare Mechanism transparency and give back power to people, water
supply work is taken up as per the demand and need
of the local community. A water supply scheme is
As per a report only 75% of households are likely to have a planned and implemented by following a
water connection by March 2024. The delay is due to several decentralised, demand-driven, community-managed
factors, including the pandemic, which slowed operations, approach.
and the Russia-Ukraine war, which caused a shortage in  Central role of women and weaker sections in
raw materials for manufacturing metal pipes. managing water supply: Minimum 50% members of
ABOUT JAL JEEVAN MISSION (JJM) Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ Pani
 It is envisioned to provide safe and adequate Samitis are to be women and proportionate
drinking water through individual household representation of weaker sections of society.
functional tap connections by 2024 to all  Special focus on children – piped water supply in
households in rural India. schools, Anganwadi centres and ashram shalas.
 The programme will also implement source  Potable drinking water in quality-affected
sustainability measures as mandatory elements, habitations: Infants and children are more
such as recharge and reuse through greywater susceptible to water-borne diseases: Under JJM, the
management, water conservation, rainwater provision of piped water supply in schools,
harvesting. Anganwadi centers and ashram shalas (residential
 It will be based on a community approach to water tribal schools) is to be made on priority.
and will include extensive Information, Education, and  Surveillance of water quality by the local
communication as a key component of the mission. community involving women: Enlightened citizenry
 It looks to create a Jan Andolan for water, thereby is necessary for assured service delivery. Keeping this
making it everyone’s priority. in view, at least five persons in every village,
preferably women, are to be trained in using Field
 Launched in 2019 and comes under the Department
Test Kits (FTKs) for testing water quality at the village
of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of
level.
Jalshakti.
 Convergence for long-term drinking water
 It adopted the principle of 'equity and inclusion',
security: Every village is to prepare a Village Action
i.e., ensuring ‘no one is le out’ from getting tap
Plan (VAP) focusing on drinking water sources, water
water connection and regular water supply in the
supply systems, grey water reuse, and operation &
village, especially weaker and marginalized sections.
maintenance of these systems for long-term and
 The fund-sharing pattern between the Centre and
regular tap water supply in every home
states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern
 Making water everyone’s business: JJM is
States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for
implemented in a participatory manner and Self-Help
Union Territories.
Groups (SHGs), NGOs, community-based
REFORMS TAKEN UNDER JJM
organisations, voluntary organisations, etc. are to play
 Shift of focus for water supply from 'habitations a major role in raising awareness, community
to households': So far, drinking water supply was mobilisation and handholding.
provided at a habitation level and Under JJM,
 Technological interventions for transparency and
provision of tap water is being made in every rural
accountability: To ensure transparency,
home.

accountability, and proper utilisation of funds and persons per rural household, source IMIS) have
service delivery, the following steps are undertaken: benefitted under the programme.
o A robust JJM–IMIS to capture physical and
financial progress under JJM, in real-time and a
dedicated 'Dashboard' in the public domain.
CONTROLLED HUMAN
o A dedicated 'Mobile App' developed for the use of INFECTION STUDIES (CHIS)
all stakeholders,
#Biology & Biotechnology
o Sensor-based IoT solution for measurement and
monitoring of water supply for quantity, quality,
and regularity in villages on a real-time basis. Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) Bioethics Unit
o Provision of geo-tagging every asset created under has released a statement arguing for introducing controlled
JJM. human infection studies (CHIS) in India.
o Linkage of tap connection with Aadhar number of ABOUT CONTROLLED HUMAN INFECTION STUDIES
the 'head of household.’ (CHIS)
o All transactions through Public Finance  CHIS, also called human challenge studies, where
Management System (PFMS). healthy volunteers are intentionally exposed to a
o A comprehensive JJM - Water Quality disease-causing microbe in a highly controlled and
Management Information System (JJM - WQMIS) monitored environment, has been conducted for
was developed. hundreds of years. For example, the yellow fever
study in the early 1900s to establish that mosquitoes
PERFORMANCE OF JJM
transmit the virus.
 Despite several disruptions in recent years due to the
 Such studies may be conducted to gain insights into
Pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict etc.,
how pathogens infect human hosts and cause
States/ UTs have made persistent efforts to
disease, to better understand immune responses to
implement the Jal Jeevan Mission. The country
infection, or to evaluate the efficacy of vaccines and
crossed with over 11.66 Crore (60%) rural households
drugs designed to prevent and treat infectious
provided with tap water supply in their homes.
diseases.
 In 2019, only about 3.2 crore, or about 16% of rural
 In the last 50 years, CHIS studies have been
households, had access to piped water. Today, those
conducted with thousands to accelerate vaccine
figures stand at 64%, a substantial increase but still
development against typhoid and cholera.
below the target.
NEED OF CHIS
 5 states of Gujarat, Telangana, Goa, Haryana, and
Punjab and 3 Union Territories of Andaman &  India carries a high burden of morbidity and mortality
Nicobar Islands, Daman Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli from infectious diseases. They contribute about 30%
and Puducherry have reported 100% coverage. The of the disease burden in the country.
country is steadily progressing towards covering all  Finding novel, efficient, and cost-effective alternatives
the rural households will have safe drinking water to existing methods of research in these diseases and
through taps. their prevention is important to reduce this burden.
 More than 1.55 lakh villages, (25% of the total number  It can help provide unique insights into disease
of villages), in India have so far reported ‘Har Ghar Jal’, pathogenesis and can accelerate the development of
i.e., every household in these villages has access to novel medical interventions.
clean drinking water through taps at their household  It offers accelerated, cost-effective and efficient
premises outcomes using smaller sample sizes in comparison
 In just about 3 years, more than 8.42 crore rural to large clinical trials.
households with more than 40 crore people (@4.95  Its social value includes potential contributions to
public health response to diseases of concern,

healthcare decision-making, policies and economic coalition members, unlock on-ground private sector
benefits, improved pandemic preparedness, and action to enhance resource efficiency, and accelerate
community empowerment. the circular economy transition.
CONCERNS RELATED TO CHIS  The coalition is structured around the three guiding
The ethical challenges while conducting CHIS are of a pillars of partnerships for impact, technology
higher magnitude, the scope for misuse vast, and the cooperation, and finance for scale.
repercussions severe. There is potential for exploitation,  It also aims to contribute towards progress on key
given the monetary dimension involving volunteers. global goals and priorities set by the G20 and other
Several clinical trials, including those by or involving the international fora.
ICMR, have been mired in ethical violations, such as the
ABOUT CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine trial in Andhra
Pradesh, in 2010.
CONCLUSION
ICMR has also cautioned that CHIS is an overly complex
area and may require collaborations at different
levels between researchers, institutions, organisations,
and/or between different countries. These studies may
play a crucial role in advancing the scientific
understanding of infectious diseases and thereby
accelerating the development of treatment strategies.
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY  The circular economy is an economic model that aims

to create a more sustainable and regenerative system
CIRCULAR ECONOMY by minimizing waste and resource consumption. It is
a departure from the traditional linear economy,
INDUSTRY COALITION which follows a "take-make-dispose" pattern, leading
(RECEIC) to the depletion of natural resources and

accumulation of waste.
#Inclusive growth  The focus is on keeping products, materials, and
resources in use for as long as possible.
The Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate BENEFITS OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Change launched the Resource Efficiency Circular  Protection of the environment: By lowering
Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC). As part of this, 39 emissions, consuming fewer natural resources, and
multinational corporations (MNCs) from various sectors producing less trash.
came together to pledge to adopt resource efficiency and  Benefits for the local economy: By encouraging
circular economy principles. production models that rely on the reuse of nearby
ABOUT RECEIC waste as raw material.
 The Coalition, conceptualised by India’s G20  Drives employment growth: It fosters the
Presidency, is envisaged to be industry driven and a development of a new, more inventive, and
self-sustaining initiative continuing to function even competitive industrial model, resulting in higher
beyond India’s G20 Presidency. economic growth and more employment.
 The mission is to facilitate and foster greater  Promotes resource independence: Reusing local
company-to-company collaboration, build advanced resources can reduce reliance on imported raw
capabilities across sectors and value chains, bring materials.
learnings from diverse and global experiences of the

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE CIRCULAR  The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen
ECONOMY years of age. It defines different forms of sexual
 The Government has been actively formulating abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative
policies and promoting projects to drive the country assault, as well as sexual harassment and
towards a circular economy. It has already notified pornography, and deems a sexual assault to be
various rules, such as the Plastic Waste “aggravated” under certain circumstances, such as
Management Rules, e-Waste Management Rules, when the abused child is mentally ill or when the
Construction and Demolition Waste Management abuse is committed by a person in a position of trust
Rules and Metals Recycling Policy or authority vis-à-vis the child, like a family member,
police officer, teacher, or doctor.
 Promote the usage of fly ash and slag produced in the
steel industry in other sectors by NITI Aayog. NITI  People who traffic children for sexual purposes are
organized an international conference on ‘Sustainable also punishable under the provisions relating to
Growth through National Recycling’; prepared a abetment in the Act.
strategy paper, along with the EU delegation to India,  The Act provides for the establishment of Special
on ‘Resource Efficiency’, and four more on resource Courts for trial of offences under the Act. The Act
efficiency in the sectors of steel (with the Ministry of incorporates child friendly procedures for reporting,
Steel), aluminium (with the Ministry of Mines), recording of evidence, investigation and trial of
construction and demolition (with the Ministry of offences.
Housing and Urban Affairs) and e-waste (with the  The Act makes it mandatory to report commission of
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology). an offence and the recording of complaint and failure
to do so would make a person liable for punishment
of imprisonment
POCSO ACT AND  (Section-19) The media has been barred from
CRIMINALISATION OF disclosing the identity of the child without the

permission of the Special Court.
ADOLESCENT SEX KEY CHALLENGES TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
POSCO ACT
#Children
 Legal Inconsistencies: While the POCSO Act
criminalised sexual intercourse with a woman less
In the recent months, there has been several instances than 18 years of age, Exception 2 to Section 375 of the
reported where different High Courts have either quashed IPC carved out an exception in cases where the ‘wife’
First Information Reports (FIRs) and pending criminal was more than 15 years of age. Consequently, sexual
proceedings or acquitted accused persons under the intercourse by a man with his wife who was more
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, than 15 years of age, was not rape. This was
2012 on the grounds of consensual sex among adolescents. problematic because the acts falling in this exempted
category would still fall within the scope of the POCSO
 To effectively address the heinous crimes of sexual
Act.
abuse and sexual exploitation of children through less
ambiguous and more stringent legal provisions,  Disclosure of identities: Though the act banned it,
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) there have been numerous instances when the
Act, 2012 was enacted. identity of child victims has been revealed by the
media or court themselves while giving verdict.
 The act aims to curb child sexual abuse by increasing
penalties for sexual offences against children and  Mandatory reporting provision: The mandatory
creating a sensitive criminal justice system to support reporting provision of crimes under the act proved to
child victims. be counterproductive as victims of sexual abuse or
their families may hesitate to approach medical
SALIENT FEATURES OF POSCO ACT
professionals for fear of being drawn into a criminal

case, thereby negatively impacting their right to  Set up more Forensic laboratories while improving
health and medical care. It hinders adolescents’ the capacity and infrastructure of existing ones.
access to safe and legal sexual and reproductive
services, including legal abortions and
contraceptives. PERFORMANCE GRADING
 Applicability to consensual relations in minors:
The POCSO Act made any sexual activity involving a INDEX
child an offence under the Act. By rendering
#Education
teenagers incapable of giving consent to sexual
relationships, consensual ‘romantic relationships’
between teenagers often get criminalised. Most of The Education Ministry released Sunday’s latest
such cases often resulted in acquittal because Performance Grading Index (PGI) edition. This relatively new
the adolescent girl failed to testify against her sexual index measures the performance of states in school
partner. education.
 Delay in investigation: The pendency of POCSO HOW IS PGI CALCULATED?
cases is extremely high due to slow pace of police
 It assesses states’ performance in school education
investigations and delay in submitting the reports by
based on data drawn from several sources, including
forensic laboratories.
the Unified District Information System for Education
 Lack of Special Courts in all districts: Though the Plus, National Achievement Survey, and Mid-Day
POCSO Act came into force in 2012, designation of Meal.
Special Courts (as mandated by the Act) did not
 States are scored on a total of 1,000 points across 70
happen at the expected pace. States were lagging
parameters, which are grouped under five broad
behind in designating these courts causing
categories:
the Supreme Court to intervene.
 Access (e.g., enrolment ratio, transition rate and
 Inadequate compensation to the victims: The
retention rate).
payment of compensation to victims under the
 Governance and management.
POCSO Act is a complex issue because there is often a
lack of clarity on procedures for disbursing the  Infrastructure.
compensation, especially in cases where the child has  Equity (difference in performance between scheduled
no family support, or resides in a childcare institution caste students and general category students)
without parental support, or there is apprehension  Learning outcomes (average score in mathematics,
that the compensation so awarded may be misused. science, languages and social science).
 Inadequate awareness about the POCSO Act:  States are graded and not ranked to discourage the
recently a parliamentary panel highlighted the issue practice of one improving only at the cost of others,
of lack of accurate count of persons with disability in “thereby casting a stigma of underperformance on
the country. lack of such data hampers the holistic the latter.”
policy formation for such a vulnerable section.
 According to the government, the objective is to help
MEASURES TO BE TAKEN the states prioritise areas for intervention in school
 Increase awareness about the act by including age- education.
appropriate information about POCSO in school  The Education Ministry released the first PGI in 2019
curriculum, including information on helplines like for the reference year 2017-18.
Childline.
WHAT DOES THE GRADING SYSTEM REFLECT?
 Appropriate amendments to the law to decriminalise
 The PGI grading system has 10 levels.
adolescent sexuality.
 Level 1 indicates top-notch performance and a score
 Stipulate a time limit for consideration of
between 951 and 1,000 points.
disbursement of compensation to the victim.

 Level II, or Grade 1++, indicates a score between 901  Only the UT of Ladakh has been placed in the lowest
and 950. grade, Grade VII, but that is because it was the first
 Those with Grade 1+ (or Level III) have scored time it was assessed after it was carved out of Jammu
between 851 and 900. and Kashmir in 2019.
 The lowest is Grade VII, which means a score between WHAT ARE THE AREAS WHERE THE STATES STILL MUST
0 and 550 points. IMPROVE?
 According to the report, states and UTs mainly need
to improve their performance in terms of governance
processes.
 This domain carries several parameters, including
teacher availability, teachers’ training, regular
inspection, and availability of finances.
 In the domain of Governance Processes, there are 24
States/UTs which have scored less than 288 (80% of
the maximum possible score). It implies that this is
the area many States and UTs must focus on.
 The PGI too accords the highest importance to this
HOW HAVE STATES PERFORMED THIS TIME? Domain because compliance with the indicators here
will lead to critical structural reforms in areas ranging
 In PGI 2019-20, no state or Union Territory could
achieve the highest grade, which is Level I. from monitoring the attendance of teachers to
ensuring transparent recruitment of teachers and
 Even in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 editions, no state
principals.
had reached Level 1 and Grade 1++.
 The second area that requires attention is the Domain
 Chandigarh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andaman, Nicobar,
for Infrastructure and Facilities, where twenty
and Kerala scored more than 90% and obtained
States/UTs have scored less than 120 (80% of the
Grade 1++ (or Level II), making them the best-
maximum possible score in this domain).
performing states.
 Two States, Bihar (81) and Meghalaya (87) recorded
 This is the first time that any state has reached Level
the lowest scores in this domain.
II.
 This is a cause for concern as a proper school building
 The top-performing states of Gujarat, Chandigarh,
with adequate facilities is necessary to improve the
and Kerala in 2018-19 were given Grade 1+ (or Level
overall quality of school education.
III), which is a score between 851 and 900 points.
practice questions
MCQS
Q.1) Performing Grading Index is used to measure
the performance of which of the following? Q.2) Consider the following statements about
(a) School Education POCSO Act:
(b) Higher Education 1. Women can enter into consensual sexual relations
(c) Medical Education irrespective of their age.
(d) Legal Education

2. Child is defined as an individual with age less than Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
18. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements about
Controlled Human Infection Studies (CHIS):
Q.3) Consider the following statements about Jal 1. In this people are deliberated exposed to
Jeevan Mission: infections.
1. This mission aims to provide access to drinking 2. It is currently allowed in India.
water in both rural and urban areas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
2. Ministry of Jal Shakti is the nodal ministry for this (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
scheme. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q1. How can master plans approach to urbanisation can handle challenges of India’s urbanisation?
Q2. How does the POSCO Act protect children from sexual crimes? What are the concerns with this act and how can
we improve the situation?
Answers: 1-a, 2-b, 3-b, 4-a

Geography, Environment,
Biodiversity & Disaster
Management
# GS Paper (Prelims) and GS Paper I & III (Main)
 The Government of India set up Bureau of Energy

AIMING FOR THE STARS: Efficiency (BEE), also referred to as 'BEE' or 'Bureau' on
HOW INVERTER ACS ARE 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the EC Act,
2001.
CATALYSING THE ENERGY-  The mission of the Bureau is to assist in developing
EFFICIENCY REVOLUTION policies and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation

and market principles, within the overall framework of
#Energy the EC Act, 2001 with the primary objective of reducing
energy intensity of the Indian economy.
According to latest data from the Bureau of Energy WHAT IS STANDARDS & LABELING PROGRAM?
Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, inverter ACs accounted  The objective of the S&L program is to help consumers
for less than 1 per cent of the overall room AC (RAC) make an informed choice about various energy-
market of 4.7 million units in the financial year 2015-16
consuming appliances, in terms of energy savings, that
(FY16). As of FY23, the share has increased to 77 per cent,
would result based on each appliance’s energy
while the fixed-speed RACs went down to 23 per cent.
efficiency performance.
WHAT IS ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT 2001?
 This scheme also helps the consumer determine the
 Government of India enacted the Energy Conservation
cost-saving potential of the marketed household and
(EC) Act, 2001 to realize the benefits of energy
other equipment.
efficiency through reduced energy consumption.
 The broad objective of the scheme is:
 The Act provides the legal framework, institutional
o To reduce the end-use energy consumption of
arrangement and regulatory mechanism to embark
appliances without diminishing the service levels.
upon an energy efficiency drive in the country.
o To create awareness amongst the consumers, to
 Energy efficiency institutional practices and programs
make an informed decision considering the cost-
in India are being guided through various voluntary effectiveness & energy performance while
and mandatory provisions of the Act. purchasing appliances.

Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
o To monitor and verify energy savings that incur

MANDATORY
annually through the sale of energy-efficient VOLUNTARY APPLIANCES
APPLIANCES
appliances
 The scheme was launched by the Hon'ble Minister of Frost free refrigerator Side by Side/Multi Door
Power in May 2006 and is currently invoked for 30 Refrigerator
appliances/equipment.
Stationary Storage Type Solar water heater
 A star rating, ranging from 1 to 5 in the ascending Electric Water Heater
order of energy efficiency is provided to products
Colour Television Computer
registered with the Bureau. An endorsement label is
also provided for some products. Room Air Conditioner Washing machines
What is a label? (Variable Speed)
 Describes energy performance (in the form of energy Tabular fluorescent lamps Micro wave oven
use, efficiency or energy cost)
LED lamps Hi energy Li batteries
 “Labels” mainly give consumers the necessary
information to make informed purchase. Deep freezers Chillers
 There are two types of labels:
Ultra high definition Tyres
a) Comparative label: allow consumers to compare televisions
efficiency of all the models of a product in order to
make an informed choice. It shows the relative Room air conditioners Domestic gas stove
energy use of a product compared to other models
available in the market. Ceiling fans Pedestal fan, table/walled
fan
b) Endorsement label: define a group of products as
efficient when they meet minimum energy Direct cool refrigerator Diesel generator set
performance criteria specified in the respective
product schedule/ regulation/statutory order. Distribution transformer Submersible Pump Set
Comparative Label Diesel Engine Driven

Monoset Pumps for
Agricultural Purposes
Allow consumers to compare the
energy consumption of similar
products, and factor lifetime running
cost into their purchasing decision.
FOREST CONSERVATION
AMENDMENT BILL 2023
#generalstudiesIII #Environment
Endorsement Label
#Mainsexhaustive
Provide a 'certification' to inform
Lok Sabha has passed the Forest Conservation (Amendment)
prospective purchasers that the
Bill without any changes from the first version introduced on
product is highly energy efficient for
March 29. The contentious Bill was introduced to amend the
its category.
Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

WHAT IS FOREST CONSERVATION AMENDMENT BILL  The Bill excludes two categories of land from the
2023? purview of the Act: land recorded as forest before
 The Bill amends the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 to October 25, 1980 but not notified as a forest, and land
make it applicable to certain types of land. These which changed from forest-use to non-forest-use
include land notified as a forest under the Indian before December 12, 1996. This provision may go
Forest Act, 1927 or in government records after against a 1996 Supreme Court judgement on
preventing deforestation.
 the 1980 Act came into effect. The Act will not be
applicable for land converted to non-forest use before  Exempting land near border areas for national security
December 12, 1996. projects may adversely impact the forest cover and
wildlife in north-eastern states.
Forest Conservation Act 1980 is a unique piece of  A blanket exemption for projects like zoos may
legislation and regulatory mechanism that reflects the
adversely affect forest land and wildlife. The Supreme
collective will of the nation to protect its rich forests,
Court (2023) has remarked that they do not appreciate
biodiversity and natural heritage and resources. The act
the necessity of having a zoo inside tiger reserves or
permits only unavoidable use of forest land for various
national parks.
development purposes. It embodies the firm
commitment of the Government and the Department to  Activities like silvicultural operations, safaris, and eco-
balance the conservation of forests with the sustainable tourism facilities may help in economic development,
developmental need of the society contributing to better and may even contribute to national priorities such as
environment, health and economy. This act is regulatory energy security and industrial growth. However, there
in nature and not prohibitory. may be a need to balance economic benefits of such
activities with that of conserving forests. It is not clear
KEY FEATURES OF THE BILL
why the requirement of a case-by-case examination by
 Exemptions - It exempts certain types of land, for e.g.
the central government to determine such balance is
land within 100 km of India’s border needed for
being replaced by a blanket exemption.
national security projects, small roadside amenities,
and public roads leading to a habitation.
 Approval from centre - The state government EXCESSIVE GROUNDWATER

requires prior approval of the central
EXTRACTION HAS SHIFTED
government to assign any forest land to a private
entity. The Bill extends this to all entities, and allows THE EARTH’S AXIS FIND A
the assignment to be made on terms and conditions
specified by the central government.
STUDY
 Activities in forests - The Act specifies some activities
#Geography
that can be carried out in forests, such as establishing
check posts, fencing, and bridges. The Bill also allows The excessive extraction of groundwater for drinking and
running zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities. irrigation has shifted the Earth’s axis of rotation, according to
a new study. Noting that humans pumped out around 2,150
 Power to issue directions: The Bill adds that the
gigatons of groundwater between 1993 and 2010, the study
central government may issue directions for the
says that the planet’s axis has drifted at the rate of 4.36 cm
implementation of the Act to any per year towards the east.
authority/organisation under or recognised by the
KEY FACTS
centre, state, or union territory (UT).
 Earth spins around an imaginary axis which passes
KEY ISSUES AND ANALYSIS through the north pole, its centre of mass and the

south pole — just like a top spins around its spindle. Earth is about 1.6 million miles farther away from the
Scientists for years have known that the poles and the sun, occurs during the first week in July.
axis keep shifting naturally as the mass distribution in
and on the planet changes. This phenomenon is
known as “polar motion”.
Season are not caused due to this variation in distance

rather they are caused due to tilted axis of Earth.
 Generally, polar motion is caused by changes in

the hydrosphere, atmosphere, oceans, or solid Earth.
 For instance, rocks slowly circulating inside Earth’s
mantle causes the planet’s mass to shift, leading to a There are two times of the year when the Earth's axis is
change in the position of the rotational axis. tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in
an equal amount of daylight and darkness at all
 There are several other reasons responsible for polar
latitudes. These events are referred to as equinoxes and
motion like ocean currents and even hurricanes.
occur near March 21st (Vernal Equinox) and near
 In 2016, a team of researchers demonstrated that September 22nd (Autumnal Equinox). At the equator,
climate-driven changes in water mass distribution, led the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two
by the melting of glaciers and ice in Greenland, can equinoxes.
cause Earth’s axis to drift
 Since Earth rotates on its axis, the Northern
UNDERSTANDING THE EARTH'S AXIS AND OTHER
Hemisphere gets more direct sunlight between March
CONCEPTS LIKE SOLSTICE, EQUINOXES AND SEASONS
and September over the course of a day, which also
 Earth’s axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees. means people living in the Northern Hemisphere
 Earth makes a complete revolution around the sun experience summer during this time. The rest of the
once every 365 days, following an orbit that is elliptical year, the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight.
in shape. This means that the distance between the  During the solstice, the Earth’s axis — around which
Earth and Sun varies throughout the year. the planet spins, completing one turn each day — is
 During the first week in January, the Earth is about 1.6 tilted in a way that the North Pole is tipped towards the
million miles closer to the sun. This is referred to as Sun and the South Pole is away from it.
the perihelion. The aphelion, or the point at which the

 It should be noted that summer solstice for northern smoke, scientists say. Already wildfires are consuming
and southern hemisphere will be on different dates three times more of the United States and Canada each
different. year than in the 1980s and studies predict fire and smoke
to worsen.
June 20th – 22nd – summer solstice in northern WHAT ARE WILDFIRES?
hemisphere and winter solstice in southern hemisphere.
A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire that burns in wildland
December 21st - 22nd – Winter solstice for Northern vegetation, often in rural areas. Wildfires can burn in
hemisphere and Summer solstice for Southern forests, grasslands, savannas, and other ecosystems, and
hemisphere. have been doing so for hundreds of millions of years.
March 20th – 21st – Vernal equinox Wildfire smoke is a mixture of hazardous air pollutants,
September 22nd – 23rd – Autumnal equinox such PM2.5, NO2, ozone, aromatic hydrocarbons, or lead.
In addition to contaminating the air with toxic pollutants,
wildfires also simultaneously impact the climate by
releasing large quantities of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CAUSES OF WILDFIRES?
Wildfires can start with a natural occurrence—such as a
lightning strike—or a human-made spark. However, it is
often the weather conditions that determine how much
a wildfire grows. Wind, high temperatures, and little
rainfall can all leave trees, shrubs, fallen leaves, and limbs
dried out and primed to fuel a fire. Topography plays a
big part too: flames burn uphill faster than they burn
 The amount of light received by a specific area in the
downhill.
Northern Hemisphere during the summer solstice
HOW CLIMATE CHANGE INDUCED GLOBAL WARMING
depends on the latitudinal location of the place. The
IS FUELLING WILDFIRE EVENTS?
further north one moves from the equator, the more
1. Increased Temperatures: Rising global temperatures
light one receives during the summer solstice. At the
result in drier conditions making vegetation more
Arctic Circle, the sun does not set during the solstice.
susceptible to ignition.
 Summer solstice, however, does not necessarily mean
2. Extended Fire Seasons: Higher temperatures and
the earliest sunrise or latest sunset. That depends on
earlier snowmelt can extend the length of the fire
the latitudinal location of the country. season, allowing wildfires to occur when they might
not have in the past. This longer fire season provides
more opportunities for fires to ignite and spread.
NEW ABNORMAL’:
3. Drought and Reduced Soil Moisture: Climate change
SCIENTISTS SAY CLIMATE can lead to more frequent and severe droughts,
reducing soil moisture levels and making vegetation
CHANGE WORSENS more prone to ignition. Dry conditions create a
conducive environment for fires to ignite and spread
WILDFIRE rapidly.
#Climate change #Environment 4. Increased Evaporation: Higher temperatures
increase evaporation rates, leading to reduced
moisture in vegetation and soil. This dries out plant
As Earth’s climate continues to change from heat-trapping materials, making them more susceptible to catching
gases spewed into the air, ever fewer people are out of fire.
reach from the billowing and deadly fingers of wildfire

5. Changes in Precipitation Patterns: Climate change soil, and open up space to let sunlight through to the
can alter precipitation patterns, leading to more ground. That sunlight can nourish smaller plants and
intense and sporadic rainfall events followed by longer give larger trees room to grow and flourish.
dry periods. This can create an environment where
vegetation can rapidly grow during wet periods and
then become fuel for fires during dry periods. WHAT ARE THE
6. Insect Outbreaks and Tree Mortality: Warmer
temperatures can lead to infestations of bark beetles PROVISIONS OF THE HIGH
and other pests that weaken and kill trees. Dead and
dying trees provide additional fuel for wildfires. SEAS TREATY?
7. Altered Wind Patterns: Changes in atmospheric
circulation patterns due to climate change can impact #environment #conservation
wind patterns, potentially leading to faster fire spread
and more challenging firefighting efforts.
On June 19, the UN adopted the Marine Biodiversity of
8. Thawing Permafrost: Thawing permafrost in regions Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) or the High
like the Arctic can release stored carbon into the Seas Treaty. It became the third agreement to be
atmosphere. This can contribute to higher approved under UNCLOS, after the 1994 and 1995
atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, exacerbating the treaties, which established the International Seabed
greenhouse effect and further warming the planet. Authority and the Fish Stocks agreement.
9. Wildland-Urban Interface: As more people move into Since 2017, an Intergovernmental Conference convened
areas prone to wildfires, known as the wildland-urban by the United Nations General Assembly has been
interface, the risk of human-caused ignitions negotiating a new legally binding instrument under the
increases. Climate change can exacerbate this issue by United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
creating more favorable conditions for fires to spread (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of
into populated areas. marine biological diversity of areas beyond national
ARE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANCE OF WILDFIRE? jurisdiction (BBNJ).
 Wildfires are essential to the continued survival of The United Nations General Assembly decided, in 2015, to
some plant species. For example, some tree cones develop an international legally binding instrument under
need to be heated before they open and release their UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of
seeds; chaparral plants, which include manzanita, marine biological diversity of areas beyond national
jurisdiction.
chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), and scrub oak
(Quercus berberidifolia), require fire before seeds will The “BBNJ Treaty”, also known as the “Treaty of the High
germinate. The leaves of these plants include a Seas”, is an international legally binding agreement on the
conservation and sustainable use of marine biological
flammable resin that feeds fire, helping the plants to
diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, currently
propagate. Plants such as these depend on wildfires in
under negotiation at the United Nations.
order to pass through a regular life cycle. Some plants
This new instrument is developed within the framework
require fire every few years, while others require fire
of the UNCLOS.
just a few times a century for the species to continue.
It was agreed, following conclusion of the fifth round of
 Wildfires also help keep ecosystems healthy. They can
treaty negotiations at the United Nations headquarters in
kill insects and diseases that harm trees. By clearing New York, United States.
scrub and underbrush, fires can make way for new
The legal framework would place 30 per cent of the
grasses, herbs, and shrubs that provide food and world’s oceans into protected areas, put more money into
habitat for animals and birds. marine conservation, and covers access to and use of
 At a low intensity, flames can clean up debris and marine genetic resources.
underbrush on the forest floor, add nutrients to the The BBNJ treaty addresses, among other things:

 the conservation and sustainable use of marine BBNJ;  Members will have to provide the clearing-house
 marine genetic resources, including questions on mechanism (CHM), established as part of the treaty,
benefit-sharing (MGR); with details like the objective of the research,
geographical area of collection, names of sponsors,
 Area Based Management Tools (ABMT), including
etc.
marine protected areas;
 Provision of funding to help developing countries
 environmental impact assessments (EIA); and
implement the treaty. A special fund will be established
 capacity-building and the transfer of marine
which will be fixed by the conference of parties, which
technology (CB&TMT).
will be formed as part of the pact. The conference of
KEY FEATURES INCLUDE parties will also oversee the functioning of the treaty
 An important negotiating point, and source of tension
during the talks, was developing countries’ access to SUMMARISING BBNJ
benefits reaped from the commercialisation of Importance:
resources (especially genetic resources) extracted from  They regulate global climate by transporting warm
the ocean. The treaty has agreed to setup an access- water from the equator toward the poles and vice
and benefit-sharing committee to frame guidelines. It versa counteracting the uneven distribution of solar
was also underlined that activities concerning marine radiation.
genetic resources of areas on high seas should be in  They absorb around 25% of the world’s annual CO2
the interests of all States and for the benefit of emissions, thereby mitigating climate change and
humanity. They have to be carried out exclusively for alleviating its impacts.
peaceful purposes.
 Whales, tunas, sharks etc maintain the ecosystem
 Activities concerning marine genetic resources of areas stability of the oceans and improve overall resilience
on high seas should be in the interests of all States and and adaptability to environmental changes especially
for the benefit of humanity. They have to be carried for coastal communities.
out exclusively for peaceful purposes.
 Resource potential – Gas hydrates, polymetallic
 Signatories will have to conduct environmental impact nodules, deep water oil reserves, fisheries, tourism
assessments before the exploitation of marine etc are worth some $2.5trn annually and generate
resources. Before carrying out a planned activity, the large scale employment.
member will have to undertake processes of screening,
 ‘High Seas Treaty’ recognises the need to address
scoping, carrying out an impact assessment of the
biodiversity loss and degradation of high seas.
marine environment likely to be affected, identifying
Key features:
prevention, and management of potential adverse
effects, and information on the public consultation  Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be established.
process, a description of follow-up actions, including  Access and benefit-sharing committee will be
an environmental management plan. established to frame guidelines regarding access to
 It stipulates that marine resources in areas beyond benefits reaped from the commercialisation of
national jurisdiction that are held by indigenous people resources.
and local communities can only be accessed with their  Environmental impact assessments before the
“free, prior and informed consent or approval and exploitation of marine resources will be compulsory
involvement”. No State can claim its right over marine for the signatories.
genetic resources of areas beyond national  Free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous
jurisdiction, the draft adds. people and local communities has to be sought
before extracting resources.

 Over the decades, zoologists thought the northeast

 A special fund will be established to help developing
housed two species of the ape — the eastern hoolock
countries.
gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) found in a specific region
Significance:
of Arunachal Pradesh and the western hoolock gibbon
 Regulation – EIA will reduce the vulnerability of these
(Hoolock hoolock) distributed elsewhere in the
areas from potentially damaging activities such as
northeast.
deep-sea mining.
 A study led by Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular
 Conservation – It establishes a legal framework to
and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in 2021 proved through
help countries meet their pledge to protect 30% of the
genetic analysis that there is only one species of ape in
world’s land and sea by 2030, as agreed at cop15.
India. It debunked earlier research that the eastern
 Participation – Inter country sharing of data and hoolock gibbon was a separate species based on the
technology will help in scientific research and colour of its coat.
environmental monitoring.
 The CCMB study concluded that two populations of the
 Inclusion – Access and benefit sharing with local western hoolock gibbon and the assumed eastern
communities will bring inclusion and empowerment. hoolock gibbon split 1.48 million years ago. It also
Issues: estimated that the gibbon divergence from a common
Many developed countries opposed the treaty as they ancestor occurred 8.38 million years ago.
stand by private entities which are at the forefront of THE WESTERN HOOLOCK GIBBON
advanced research and development in marine
technology (patents relating to marine genetic resources
are held by a small group of private companies). Russia
and China also are not in favour of the treaty. Russia
withdrew from the last stage of reaching a consensus in
IGC-5, arguing that the treaty does not balance
conservation and sustainability.
CHINA EVENT RAISES CONC

ERN OVER INDIA’S ONLY A DESCRIPTION
PE  It is an ape found in the tropical forest canopy in India,

Bangladesh and Myanmar.
#Environment #Speciesconservation  Tailless like other apes, they are nonetheless set apart
by their long arms and dense hair.
The conservation status of India’s only ape (hoolock gibbon)  The loud and musical calls of Western Hoolock
was a cause for concern at a global event on gibbons held a Gibbons can be heard from far away in the forest.
week ago in China. Males and females often sing in unison, a series of
MORE ABOUT THE NEWS duet calls that helps the pair to mark their territory.
 Gibbons, the smallest and fastest of all apes, live in BEHAVIOUR
tropical and subtropical forests in the south eastern
 These gibbons are arboreal and only come to the
part of Asia.
ground in exceptional circumstances.
 The hoolock gibbon, unique to India’s northeast, is one
 They are omnivorous, consuming over 100 species of
of 20 species of gibbons on Earth.
plants and some invertebrates and birds’ eggs, with a
diet that can greatly vary based on location.

 Western Hoolock Gibbons form small, monogamous

family groups and usually give birth to a single
NGT ORDERS TO FORM SOP
offspring. Babies typically spend their first months of
life tightly clung around the mother’s waist, followed by
FOR REDUCING
gradual weaning over two years. The young gibbon will
then stay with his parents until sexual maturity.
POLLUTION AT ALL GOVT.
THREATS AND CONSERVATION
DISTRICT HOSPITALS
 They are one of Asia’s most endangered
primates(ER), with populations expected by #Environment
the IUCN to at least halve over three generations
(2001-2015, 2016-2030 and 2031-2045).
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a five-
 Threats such as hunting for food and medicine and member committee, headed by the Secretary of the Union
habitat loss have put this species at risk, and habitat Ministry of Health, to form a standard operating
protection is critical for their survival. procedure (SoP) for environmental management inside and
THE EASTERN HOOLOCK GIBBON around all government district hospitals and hospitals larger
 It is one of two species of Hoolock Gibbon. than such district hospitals, including medical colleges, within
 This species is found particularly east of the Chindwin three months.
River in Myanmar and in southwest Yunnan (China). BACKGROUND
 Indian records of the species likely to actually  The NGT on March 17 constituted the committee,
represent the Western Hoolock. which submitted its report on July 1, which identified
different issues and gave both short-term and long-
term solutions.
 NGT also said to include the recommendations given
by this committee also.
 Key recommendations included:
o Multilevel parking.
o Management of traffic, removing encroachments &
congestion at gates.
o Lifting of garbage every day
o Following dust control measures
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERN
HOOLOCK o Development of green belt around the AIIMS
 Both Hoolock Gibbon species are separated by campus
the Chindwin River in western Myanmar, which o Improving road conditions,

flows into the Irrawaddy o Controlling sources of pollution
 The two species differ in their fur coloration and DNA “Environmental management inside and around such
sequences, and may have diverged about 1.42 million healthcare appears to be necessary in the interest of
years ago. protection of right of patients, staff and other visitors to
 The Red List maintained by the International Union for clean environment... Appropriate SoP may be finalised
Conservation of Nature categorises the eastern within three months and placed on the website of the
hoolock gibbon as vulnerable. Ministry of Health,” the order said.

ANTHROPOCENE, THE NEW IN VARANASI, TURTLES HEL

EPOCH MARKED BY P CLEAN THE GANGA
As part of its multi-pronged efforts to clean and rejuvenate
HUMAN IMPACT ON the Ganges river, hundreds of turtles will be released into the
river in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh over the next two
EARTH, BEGAN IN 1950S, months. Under a joint aegis of the Namami Gange
Programme, the Forest and Wildlife Department, and the
SAY SCIENTISTS Wildlife Institute of India (WII), turtles hatched at one of
India’s first breeding and rehabilitation centres for turtles
#Geography situated in Varanasi, will improve the cleanliness of the
Ganga.
BACKGROUND
WHAT IS MEANT BY ANTHROPOCENE?
Set up in the late 1980s under the Ganga Action Plan
 Earth’s history is divided into a hierarchical series of (GAP), the centre has so far released over 40,000 turtles;
smaller chunks of time, referred to as the geologic time roughly 28,000 turtles were released in the first phase of
scale. These divisions, in descending length of time, are the GAP. The centre received renewed attention after the
called eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages. launch of the Namami Gange Programme, a flagship
 These units are classified based on Earth’s rock layers, initiative of the Central government, in 2014, to
or strata, and the fossils found within them. accomplish the twin objectives of abatement of pollution,
and the conservation and rejuvenation of the river. Since
 Officially, the current epoch is called the Holocene,
2017, the WII and the Forest Department have renewed
which began 11,700 years ago after the last major ice
their efforts to release hatched turtles.
age.
Five species of sea turtles are known to inhabit Indian
 Anthropocene Epoch is an unofficial unit of geologic coastal waters and islands.
time, used to describe the most recent period in
i) Olive Ridley turtle
Earth’s history when human activity started to have a
ii) Green turtle
significant impact on the planet’s climate and
iii) Hawksbill turtle
ecosystems. The word Anthropocene is derived from
the Greek words anthropo, for “man,” and cene for iv) Loggerhead turtle
“new,” coined and made popular by biologist Eugene v) Leatherback turtle
Stormer and chemist Paul Crutzen in 2000. Except the Loggerhead, the remaining four species nest
 A geological task force is recommending to mark this along the Indian coast.
new epoch’s start in the small but deep, pristine Difference between Tortoise and Turtle
Crawford Lake outside Toronto, Canada with a ‘golden All tortoises are in fact turtles—that is, they belong to the
spike’. The start of the human epoch is sometime order Testudines or Chelonia, reptiles having bodies
around 1950 to 1954. The specific date will be encased in a bony shell—but not all turtles are tortoises.
determined soon, probably by levels of plutonium in
TURTLE TORTOISE
new measurements from the bottom of the special
lake site.
 The burning of coal, oil and gas that’s changing Earth’s
climate and atmosphere, nuclear bomb
detonations spotted in soil around the globe, plastics
and nitrogen from fertilizers added on land and
dramatic changes to species that make up the rest of It is aquatic and marine They are exclusively on land
the Earth characterize the new epoch. form

Comparatively smaller in Larger  Algae Consumption: Some turtle species, eat algae
size that grows on rocks, logs, and other underwater
surfaces. Excessive algae growth can lead to water
Some turtles are fish eaters They are herbivorous and
quality issues, including decreased oxygen levels, so
feed entirely on vegetation
turtles help to control algae populations and maintain
Their head is partially It can be completely a healthier balance in the aquatic ecosystem.
withdrawn into the shell withdrawn into the shell
 Stirring Sediments: Turtles are known to move
Turtles have thinner, more Tortoises have more around in the water, particularly along the riverbed or
water-dynamic shells. rounded and domed shells lake bottom. This movement helps to stir up sediments
Turtle shells are more that may have settled, preventing the buildup of
streamlined to aid in
sediment in one area. Excessive sedimentation can
swimming.
smother aquatic habitats and impair water clarity, so
Turtles will have more Tortoises have club-like turtles contribute to preventing this issue.
flipper like legs, or webbed forelegs and 'elephantine'
 Predation on Invasive Species: In some cases, turtles
feet to make it easier to hind legs. Because tortoise
can help control populations of invasive species that
cruise through the water. are often larger and heavier,
may negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. For
their elephantine hind legs
example, some turtle species may consume invasive
help them move around and
carry the extra weight snails or other organisms that disrupt the natural
balance of the ecosystem.
HOW TURTLES CLEAN UP THE RIVERS?
 Nutrient Cycling: Turtles excrete waste into the water,
 Scavenging: Turtles are opportunistic feeders and
which can contribute to nutrient cycling in the
often scavenge for food. They consume a variety of
ecosystem. Nutrient cycling is important for
aquatic organisms, including dead fish, insects, and
maintaining the health of aquatic plants and animals,
decaying plant matter. By consuming these materials,
as it provides essential nutrients that support their
turtles help to break down organic matter and prevent
growth.
it from accumulating in the water, which can
contribute to water quality degradation.
practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements: Q2. Which of the following are the outcomes of
1. Perihelion occurs during the first week in January. rising temperatures on account of climate
2. The aphelion occurs during the first week in July. change?
Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1. Rise in sea levels
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 2. Rise in wildfires
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 3. Rise in intensified cyclones

4. Rise in pest attacks.
Select from the pairs given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only 2. All the turtles are found only in oceans.
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q5. Which of the following functions are performed
Q3. Crawford Lake, sometimes mentioned in news by turtles to clean up the rivers?
is located in: 1. Scavenging
(a) Canada (b) U.S.A. 2. Sediments stirring
(c) Russia (d) Ukraine 3. Predation on invasive species.
Select from the options given below:
Q4. Consider the following statements: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
1. All the tortoise are found only on land. (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Q1. Marine pollution has become one of the most pressing concerns in today's times. Discuss how far the 'High Seas
Treaty" will be instrumental in marine conservation? (15 Marks, 250 words)
Q2. Forest conservation is an important policy objective of the Indian government. Discuss how far the recent Forest
conservation amendment bill 2023 can help to fulfill this objective? (15 marks, 250 words)
Answers: 1-c, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b, 5-d

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
 Criteria:
EVERGREENING OF o Under the Act, patents are granted if the invention
PATENTS AND INDIAN fulfils the following criteria:
 It should be novel
PATENT REGIME  It should have inventive step/s or it must be non-
obvious
#Intellectual Property Rights
 It should be capable of industrial applications
 It should not attract the provisions of sections 3
A major barrier to drug-resistant TB care ended when and 4 of the Patents Act 1970.
Johnson & Johnson’s primary patent on the Bedaquiline
However, certain subject matters, such as
drug expired in July. Earlier, J&J applied for a secondary
traditional knowledge, and atomic energy are
patent on the formulation of the salt of Bedaquiline
excluded from patentability.
(evergreening of patents). However, the Patent Office in India
 Rationale: When a patent is granted on a particular
rejected the application as per Section 3(d) of the Indian
invention, it means that no other person can either
Patent Act 1970, as the salt fails to qualify as a novelty.
produce or sell those inventions in the market for
WHAT IS A PATENT?
commercial purposes without the approval of the
 A patent is an exclusive set of rights granted by the creator of such invention.
Government to the inventor for an invention, which
 Patent Office: Indian Patent Office is responsible
may be a product or process that provides a new way
for administration of patent-related matters in India. It
of doing something or offers a new technical solution
operates under the Controller General of Patents,
to a problem.
Designs and Trademarks, which is a part of the
o Patents are a specific type of intellectual Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
property rights that provides inventors with
 Term of Protection: 20 years from the date of filing
exclusive rights to their inventions for a limited
the application.
period.
 Signatory to TRIPS: India is a signatory to Agreement
KEY ASPECTS OF INDIAN PATENT REGIME
on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
 Patent Act: Rights (TRIPS), which sets global standards for
o The Patents Act, 1970, is the primary legislation intellectual property protection.
governing patents in India. It outlines the criteria EVERGREENING OF PATENTS
for patentability, process of patent application,
 About: Practice of extending the lifespan of a
examination, grant, and enforcement.
patent by making minor modifications or
o The Act was amended by the Patents (Amendment) improvements to an existing patented invention.
Act, 2005 regarding extending product patents in all
 Rationale: Often employed by patent holders to
areas of technology including food, medicine,
continue their monopoly over a product or process
chemicals and microorganisms.
beyond the original patent's expiration date.

Science & Technology
 Issues: Potentially hinder competition, access to ISSUES WITH THE PATENT REGIME IN INDIA
affordable medicines (keeping drug prices high), and  Patent Examination Process: Lengthy patent
innovation. examination process in India can lead to delays in
 Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, 1970 addresses the obtaining patent protection. This may discourage
issue of evergreening, particularly in the innovation and investment, particularly for
pharmaceutical sector. It states that the mere technology-driven industries where rapid
discovery of a new form of a known substance that development is essential.
does not result in increased efficacy or the use of a  Pendency: In India, as of 31st March 2022, around
known process with insignificant changes, may not be 1.64 lakh applications were pending at the controller
considered patentable. This provision aims to ensure level. Further, the average time taken for disposing of
that patents are granted only for genuinely innovative a patent application in China and the US is 20- 21
and significant inventions. months, almost one-third of the time taken in India.
 In the landmark case of Novartis AG v. Union of  Inadequate workforce in patent office: The EAC-PM
India (2013), the Supreme Court denied patent report revealed that only 860 people were employed
protection for a modified form of a known compound, in the patent office in India at the end of March 2022,
ruling that the modification did not satisfy the including both examiners and controllers. China and
requirements of novelty and inventive step as per the US have 13704 and 8132 workers in their offices,
Section 3(d). respectively.
COMPULSORY LICENSING  Evergreening and Section 3(d): Determining whether
 About: Provision under the Indian Patent Act, 1970, a modification or improvement qualifies as a
that allows the government to grant licenses to third substantial enhancement of efficacy can be subjective
parties to produce, use, or sell a patented invention and prone to legal disputes.
without the consent of the patent holder.  Complex Legal Proceedings: Litigation and disputes
 Rationale: To strike a balance between exclusive over patent validity and infringement can take years
rights of patent holders and public interest, when to resolve, adding to the uncertainty and costs for
access to patented invention is crucial for public both patent holders and challengers.
health, national security, or economic welfare.  IPR and IPAB: Intellectual Property Appellate Board
 Grounds for Compulsory Licensing: (IPAB) was abolished in 2021, transferring jurisdiction
o When the patented invention is not available to to adjudicate appeals over patents, trademarks,
public at a reasonable price. copyrights, and other Intellectual Property Rights
matters to the High Courts. India’s decision to abolish
o When the patented invention is not being worked
the IPAB and redirect matters to the courts has
in India or is insufficiently worked.
created uncertainty around the adjudication of IP
o When the patented invention is necessary for
cases and the setting of copyright royalty rates.
public health and the patent holder fails to meet
 Outflow exceeds Inflow: India’s current IP ecosystem
the demand at a reasonable price.
is weak compared to China and the US. The country
o When the patent holder has engaged in anti-
would not be able to call itself a technology leader if
competitive practices. its tech ecosystem is heavily dependent on designs
 Additionally, TRIPS permits member countries to and intellectual property controlled by China and USA.
issue compulsory licenses for certain purposes,
According to data released by the International
including public health. Monetary Fund, India paid USD 8.63 billion for the use
 For example, in 2012, India granted its first of foreign IPs in 2021, compared to the USD 870
compulsory license to Natco Pharma to produce a million received by India for its IPs.
generic version of a cancer drug, Sorafenib, which Overall, while the Indian patent regime has made
was patented by Bayer. The decision aimed to significant strides in fostering innovation and protecting
increase access and affordability to the cancer drug in
intellectual property, addressing these challenges is
the country.

important to create a more efficient, predictable, and  To demonstrate Rover roving on the Moon (which will
balanced system that encourages innovation while carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface
safeguarding innovators’ interests. during the course of its mobility)
 To conduct in-situ scientific experiments.
CHANDRAYAAN-3 SOFT-LANDING ON MOON

 This will be India’s second attempt to soft-land a
#Astronomy & Space Technology lander and rover on the lunar surface.
o Chandrayaan-2 was launched in July 2019 in the
form of an orbiter and a lander (‘Vikram’) bearing a
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launch the
rover (‘Pragyan’).
Chandrayaan-3 mission, India’s third lunar mission, to the
Moon on July 14. o While the orbiter entered into orbit around the
Moon, the surface mission failed in September
CHANDRAYAAN-3
2019 when the lander crashed instead of
 Chandrayaan-3 mission is a lunar exploration mission
executing a slow descent.
by ISRO which was launched onboard Launch
 Chandrayaan-3 consists of a Lander and a Rover
Vehicle Mark-3 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
similar to Chandrayaan-2, but would not have an
 It is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, which
orbiter.
included an orbiter, lander (Vikram), and rover
o The rocket (LVM-3) will place the payload in an
(Pragyan).
elliptical orbit around the earth, where a
 Cost of the mission: Rs 615 crore
propulsion module will take over and pilot the
 Duration: Half lunar day (roughly equals 14 Earth lander to a circular orbit around the Moon.
days).
o Finally, the lander will detach and begin a series of
manoeuvres culminating in a gradual landing (on
August 23-24, 2023) over the surface of the Moon.
 To improve the chances of success at this stage,
ISRO made changes to the software and hardware of
the Chandrayaan-3 mission, especially for the lander
thrusters. Additionally, ISRO has developed improved
soft-landing sequences and the lander has four
thruster engines instead of five, sturdier legs and
larger solar panels, and will carry more fuel.
SEVERAL ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN
CHANDRAYAAN-3
 Propulsion module:
o It has a Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet
Earth (SHAPE) payload to gather data on the
polarisation of light reflected by Earth so that
researchers can look for other planets with similar
signatures. Hence, it will assist with exoplanet
searches.
OBJECTIVES  Lander payloads:
 To demonstrate a soft landing near the lunar South o Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment
Pole. Soft landing would allow for controlled and safe (ChaSTE) to measure thermal conductivity and
descent, enabling the successful deployment of the temperature on the surface
rover.

o Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) to more area in permanent shadow and colder
detect Moonquakes temperatures, so it is thought to have more water ice.
o Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive  South Pole witnesses extremely cold temperatures;
ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA) to this means that anything trapped here would remain
measure the density of near-surface plasma, frozen in time, without undergoing much change. The
encompassing ions, and electrons, and monitor its rocks and soil in this region could therefore provide
temporal variations. clues to the early solar system.
o Langmuir Probe to estimate the density and  South Pole is located in the South Pole-Aitken basin,
variation of plasma, or superheated gas, in the which is a huge crater. There may be material from
Moon's environment the deep crust and upper mantle of the Moon on or
o Laser Retroreflector Array (from NASA) to near the surface.
measure distances using laser ranging to KEY FACTS ON MOON
understand the dynamics of the Moon system.  Moon is the only satellite of Earth. It is devoid of
 Rover payloads: atmosphere.
o Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) to look for  Moon takes roughly the same amount of time to
elements in the lunar soil and rocks complete one full orbit around the Earth as the Earth
o Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) to takes to complete one full rotation on its axis. As a
examine the chemical and elemental composition result, one side of the Moon always faces the Earth,
of the lunar surface. while the other side (the "far side") faces away from
Earth. Thus, we can see only one side of the Moon.
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES
This phenomenon is known as "tidal locking" or
 Technological Milestone: Successful soft landing "synchronous rotation."
would demonstrate India's capability to conduct
o Reason: Gravitational interaction between the
complex space missions and boost its status as a
Earth and the Moon over billions of years has
major player in space exploration.
gradually caused the Moon's rotation to slow
o Chandrayaan-3 is India’s second attempt to down and become tidally locked to our planet.
achieve a soft landing on the Moon’s surface. Till
RECENT MISSIONS PLANNED OR EXECUTED FOR
date, only three countries – the United States,
MOON
Russia, and China – have successfully landed
spacecraft on the airless lunar surface.  Luna 25 is Russia’s Moon Lander mission scheduled
for 2023.
o Chandrayaan-3 will be the first mission to land on
the South Pole of the Moon. All other spacecraft  Artemis Program of NASA (US) aims to send a
that have landed on the Moon have landed in the manned mission to Moon by 2025.
equatorial region, a few degree latitude North or  China plans to send a manned mission to Moon by
South of the lunar equator. 2030.
 Scientific Discoveries: Chandrayaan-3's instruments  SLIM Mission is a small-scale exploration mission by
and rover would allow for collection of valuable data JAXA (Japan) designed to demonstrate precise lunar
about Moon's surface, geology, and potentially hidden landings on the Moon’s surface.
water resources. These discoveries could provide  Ispace is a Japanese startup aiming to have a lander
new insights into lunar history and planetary on Moon in 2023.
formation.
 Private American aerospace companies Intuitive
WHY SOUTH POLE? Machines and Astrobotic Technology each aim to
 Experts note the possibility of the presence of place a lander on Moon.
water at the South Pole. Water ice has been detected  India has ratified the Artemis Accords which
at both poles of the Moon, but the South Pole has establishes a framework for cooperation in civil

exploration and peaceful use of Moon, Mars, and indicating presence of water on the Moon was
other astronomical objects. widely distributed.
REASONS BEHIND INCREASED FOCUS ON MOON  Moon’s soil:
 Moon is being seen as a vital stepping-stone for o Lunar soil, also known as regolith, contains several
interplanetary exploration. familiar elements such as iron, silicon, potassium,
 Moon has presence of rare minerals and elements manganese, and magnesium. However, it does not
including titanium and helium-3 that could be used to contain organic matter such as microbes and
build nuclear fusion plants. insects.
 Moon has presence of frozen water which can be o Lunar soil is hydrophobic i.e., it repels rather than
harnessed for sustaining a population and agriculture. absorbs water.
UNIQUE FINDINGS ABOUT MOON o Lunar soil has been exposed to extremely
unhealthy amounts of solar radiation.
 Characteristics of the far side of Moon:
o Last year, scientists on Earth successfully grew
o Far side of the Moon has a dramatically different
plants in lunar soil brought back to Earth by NASA’s
landscape as compared to the face of Moon visible
Apollo missions in the 1970s. However, scientists
from Earth. It has a thicker crust by almost 20 km.
found that plants in lunar soil were growing slower,
o It is also more densely pockmarked, with millions of
had stunted roots and leaves, and developed red
more asteroids and comets having crashed into this spots. This was due to much higher exposure to
half. salt or heavy metals. However, drought-tolerant
o It has almost no characteristic dark spots. plants fared better in lunar soil.
 Dark spots or lunar maria are large basaltic
plains formed from ancient volcanic eruptions
on the Moon. DETECTION OF ‘TIME
 Water on Moon:
o Chandrayan-1 (India’s first lunar mission) carried
DILATION’ IN QUASARS
two instruments provided by NASA for surveying #Astronomy & Space Technology
the poles of the Moon for possible traces of water
ice.
o The instruments were: (i) Moon Mineralogical Researchers were able to detect the time dilation effect in
Mapper – An infrared spectrometer (ii) MiniSAR – the early universe by observations of Quasars. The
Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar. observations indicated that time in ancient quasars appears
to run five times slower than on Earth.
o These instruments gave definitive proof of
presence of water ice in more than 40 craters on What is time dilation?
the poles of Moon indicating potential for life,  Time dilation refers to the idea that time is relative
research stations or settlements, and perhaps even and passes at different rates for different
crops. observers, depending on their relative motion or their
o Scientists believe that water is concentrated in positions in a gravitational field.
the craters at the poles of Moon because they do  Two observers moving at a constant speed relative to
not receive any sunlight. each other measure different times between the
o On other parts of Moon, a combination of low same events. This effect becomes noticeable only at
pressure and daytime temperatures of 120 degrees velocities approaching the speed of light.
Celsius vaporises water. Major Highlights of the study:
o However, in 2020 NASA’s SOFIA Observatory found  The researchers examined the brightness of 190
the first evidence of water on Moon in a sunlit spot, quasars over 20 years, dating back to about 1.5 billion
years after the Big Bang event.

 They compared the brightness of these quasars at

various wavelengths to that of quasars existing today, INDIA'S FIRST
finding that certain fluctuations that occur in a specific
duration today, occurred five times more slowly in
INDIGENOUSLY
the ancient quasars.
DEVELOPED 700 MW
Significance:
 The study shows that time moved 5 times slower NUCLEAR POWER
earlier, and hence, confirms the existence of time
dilation. It solidifies the understanding of frames of
REACTOR
reference and the behaviour of time relative to #Nuclear Energy
velocity.
 Also, the time dilation effect in quasars is a testament
to the expanding nature of our universe, affirming India's first indigenously developed 700 MW nuclear power
the understanding of the Big Bang theory. reactor at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) in
Hence, the study gives further confirmation of Einstein's Gujarat has started commercial operation. Presently, the
theory of relativity. As per the theory, time and space unit is operating at 90% of its total power.
are interconnected, and since the Big Bang, the universe  The government has sanctioned the building of 10
has been expanding in all directions. indigenously developed PHWRs in fleet mode at four
locations-- Gorakhpur in Haryana, Chutka in Madhya
Pradesh, Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan and Kaiga in
Karnataka.
BRIEF BACKGROUND ON NUCLEAR ENERGY
PRODUCTION IN INDIA
 Process (Nuclear fission): It involves disintegrating a
heavy atom’s nucleus, such as uranium or
plutonium, into two or more smaller nuclei. This
process releases a substantial amount of energy,
which is harnessed and converted into steam to
power a turbine that generates electricity.
 Fuel used: U-235 (low-enriched or reactor-grade
uranium)
 Utility:
Quasars: o Addressing burgeoning electricity demand
 A quasar is an extremely active and luminous type o Reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and help the
of active galactic nucleus (AGN). They are country transition to a cleaner energy source/fuel.
tremendously active supermassive black holes  Present Capacity: Presently, India operates 22
millions to billions of times more massive than our nuclear reactors across eight sites, with a total
sun, usually residing at centres of galaxies. capacity of 6,780 MWe. Among these 18 reactors are
 They devour matter drawn to them by their immense Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and 4
gravitational pull and unleash torrents of radiation are Light Water Reactors (LWRs).
including jets of high-energy particles, while a IMPORTANT TYPES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS IN INDIA
glowing disk of matter spins around them. 1. Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR):
 They are amongst the most luminous objects in the  Coolant: PHWRs use heavy water (deuterium oxide)
known Universe, typically emitting thousands of times as both moderator and coolant. Heavy water slows
more light than the entire Milky Way. down neutrons to enable sustained nuclear reactions.

 Fuel: Natural uranium  Cooling System: Employs a pressurised water system

 Moderator: Heavy water acts as a moderator, slowing to transfer heat from the reactor core to a secondary
down neutrons to the right speed for fission reactions loop, which generates steam for turbines.
to occur.  Control Rods: Boron or other neutron-absorbing
 Cooling System: Uses a combination of heavy water materials are used as control rods to regulate the
and light water to cool the reactor. Heat is transferred nuclear reaction.
to a secondary loop, which then generates steam to  Fuel requirement: Annual requirement of fuel (UO2)
drive turbines. of a 1000 MW LWR (at a capacity factor of 90%) is
 Control Rods: Boron or cadmium control rods are about 25 tons.
used to absorb excess neutrons and regulate the  Advantages: LWRs are widely used and have a proven
nuclear reaction. track record for safety and reliability. However, they
 Fuel requirement: Annual requirement of fuel (UO2) require enriched uranium and produce more high-
of a 700 MW PHWR (at 85% Capacity Factor) is about level radioactive waste compared to PHWRs.
125 tons. 3. Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR):
 Advantages: PHWRs are known for their ability to use  Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is being
natural uranium fuel, produce less high-level implemented by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam
radioactive waste, and operate at lower pressures Limited (BHAVINI).
compared to some other reactor types.  Fuelled by: Mixed Oxide (MoX) Fuel (It generally
contains between 3% and 5% Plutonium Oxide
blended with 95–97% natural or depleted Uranium
Oxide).
SMALL MODULAR
REACTORS
#Nuclear Energy
Discussion about SMRs has gained momentum in recent

months, as they can play a crucial role in achieving energy
transition goals effectively — India has pledged to achieve
50% non-fossil electricity generation capacity by 2030.
2. Light Water Reactor (LWR):

 Coolant: LWRs use regular light water (ordinary H2O)
as both a coolant and a moderator. Unlike heavy
water, light water is not as effective a moderator.
 Fuel: Low-enriched uranium
 Moderator: Light water serves as a coolant but is not
as efficient a moderator as heavy water. Therefore,
LWRs need enriched uranium for efficient fission
reactions.

ABOUT SMRs CHALLENGES

 SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors with a power  Higher cost per unit of electricity production in
capacity of up to 300 MWe per unit, which is about SMRs due to supply-chain issues and the absence of
one-third of the generating capacity of traditional economies of scale.
nuclear power reactors. They are characterised by  SMRs are inferior to conventional reactors with
smaller size, modular design, and enhanced safety respect to radioactive waste generation and disposal
features. options and require spent fuel storage & disposal
o Small – physically a fraction of the size of a facilities. Apart from the technological and cost
aspects of such a requirement, it can also lead to
conventional nuclear power reactor.
socio-political resistance to the construction of SMRs.
o Modular – making it possible for systems and
 Novel SMR technologies require international
components to be factory-assembled and
safeguards and safety approvals before deployment.
transported as a unit to a location for installation.
Lack of experience with innovative designs within the
o Reactors – harnessing nuclear fission to generate nuclear safety regulatory organisations presents a
heat to produce energy. substantial problem in examining and approving the
 Utility: SMRs can be utilised for various purposes like safety standards.
electricity generation in remote regions, energy SMRs AND ATOMIC ENERGY ACT, 1962
requirement for industrial processes, water  Centre Government is examining the provisions of
desalination, nuclear submarines etc. the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to allow the
ADVANTAGES OF SMRs participation of the private sector and startups to set
 Flexible and Scalable: SMRs are adaptable and can up small modular reactors (SMRs) in the country.
be scaled up or down to supply more or less power. It ATOMIC ENERGY ACT, 1962
can also be used to supplement existing power plants  The Act governs the development, control, and
with zero-emission fuel or to help repurpose ageing regulation of nuclear energy and related activities
thermal power stations. within the country. It also serves to ensure the safety
 Longer-Refueling Interval: SMR-based power plants and security of nuclear installations, materials, and
technology.
might only need to refuel every 3-7 years, as opposed
to every 1-2 years for conventional nuclear plants.  It establishes the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
as the central authority responsible for formulating
 Compact design: Their compact size allows for
policies, regulating nuclear activities, and overseeing
factory construction and subsequent transportation to
the peaceful uses of atomic energy in India.
the desired location, significantly reducing
 Given the strategic importance of the sector, the
construction time and costs. Their modular design
government has kept the private player out of the
enables scalable implementation in lesser land areas
ambit of operation and fuel management for
as compared to large reactors and in areas where
nuclear power generation. However, domestic private
larger reactors are impractical.
companies are allowed to participate as "junior equity
 Safety features: Extensive use of passive safety partners" by supplying components and helping build
features in SMR designs to shut down and cool reactor them.
under abnormal circumstances reduces the risk of
WAY FORWARD
catastrophic failures and provide inherent safety. They
 Amendment of Atomic Energy Act to allow the
require no human intervention or external power or
private sector to set up SMRs.
force to shut down systems.
 Control of nuclear fuel and radioactive waste must
 Economical: SMRs have relatively lower-capital
continue to lie with the Government of India, to
requirements, thus making nuclear power more
ensure safety, security, and safeguards.
accessible.

 Need to create an independent, empowered claim, independent researchers will have to verify the
regulatory board with the expertise and capacity to findings.
oversee every stage of the nuclear power generation
WHAT ARE SUPERCONDUCTORS?
cycle, including design approval, site selection,
construction, operations, certification of operators,  Superconductors are materials that when cooled to
and waste reprocessing. temperatures ranging from near absolute zero (0
 Security around SMRs must remain under degrees Kelvin, -273 degrees Celsius) have zero
government control, while the Nuclear Power resistance or do not resist the flow of current. The
Corporation can operate privately-owned SMRs during temperature at which electrical resistance is zero is
the hand-holding proce`ss. called the critical temperature (Tc) and this
 Indian government can negotiate with foreign temperature is a characteristic of the material.
suppliers to reprocess nuclear waste from all SMRs in
E.g., Aluminium, niobium, magnesium diboride,
a state-controlled facility under IAEA safeguards. The
reprocessed material may also be suitable for use in yttrium barium copper oxide display superconducting
other Nuclear Power Plants in India that use imported properties.
uranium. India can set up facility to reprocess spent  However, every superconductor made so far has
fuel from SMRs.
required extraordinarily high pressures (millions of
 Department of Atomic Energy must improve the Pascal), and very low temperatures. E.g., Aluminium
public perception of nuclear power in India by better
becomes superconducting at temperatures lower
disseminating comprehensive environmental and
than (minus) –250° C.
public health data on the civilian reactors, which are
operating in the country under international Hence, scientists have been looking for such materials
safeguards. for decades which can remain superconductors at
Given India’s vast geographical area and the lack of room temperature.
infrastructure in many regions to support larger reactors, IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF SUPERCONDUCTORS
SMRs are an attractive option with their modular design
and smaller size. Hence, the deployment of SMRs in India  Electronic effect (Infinite conductivity with Zero
could revolutionise the country’s nuclear power industry. resistance): When the temperature of
But it will require substantial investment and superconductors is reduced below a critical
collaboration among governments, industry, and the temperature, its resistance suddenly reduces to zero
public. Additionally, India’s regulatory framework will and thus it offers infinite conductivity. E.g., Mercury
need to adapt to accommodate the unique attributes of becomes a superconductor below 4 kelvin.
SMRs.
HOW TO TELL IF A
MATERIAL IS A
SUPERCONDUCTOR?
#New Emerging Technologies
 Magnetic effect (Complete expulsion of Magnetic
Recently, researchers in South Korea claimed to discover a field): Superconductors are diamagnetic i.e., they
material called LK-99 which is superconducting at room oppose the magnetic field or do not allow the
magnetic field lines to penetrate them. (This
temperature. However, before it is accepted as a legitimate
phenomenon is called the Meissner effect)

DUCHENNE’S MUSCULAR
DYSTROPHY
#Health
A team of doctors from Tamil Nadu along with scientists

from Japan have developed a disease-modifying treatment
for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) using a food
additive – a beta-glucan produced by the N-163 strain of a
yeast Aureobasidium pullulans.
o However, there is a certain value of the magnetic

field (critical magnetic field) beyond which the
superconductors lose superconductivity and
convert into conductors.
APPLICATIONS
 Elimination of the loss of energy: Superconductors
can be used to make longer-lasting batteries and WHAT IS DUCHENNE’S MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY?
more-efficient power grids.  About: A rare genetic disorder characterised by
o Need: Presently, a portion of the electricity progressive muscle degeneration and weakness
generated at every power plant is lost during due to the alterations of a protein called
transmission because the wires and cables that dystrophin that helps keep muscle cells intact.
carry the current have electrical resistance. o Dystrophin, an enzyme secreted in the muscles,
o Significance of Superconductors: Once an electric helps in wear and tear and regeneration of
current passes over a superconducting material, it muscles.
can continue to flow without receiving power from o Because of the genetic disorder, muscles cannot
any source as none of the energy involved is lost as produce dystrophin. This damages and weakens
heat. the muscles, and patients become wheelchair-
 Potential applications include- Magnetic-energy bound in their early teens and die prematurely.
storage systems, magnetic levitation trains,  Cause: Most cases of DMD are inherited as an X-
superconducting magnetic refrigerators, etc. linked recessive trait (passed on through the
 Huge potential for revolutionary technologies, mother, who is a carrier). The disease primarily affects
including efficient quantum computers, as boys, but in rare cases, it can affect girls.
superconductors can exhibit quantum phenomena.  Onset: DMD symptom onset is in early childhood,
usually between ages 2 and 3.

 Lifespan: Earlier, the median lifespan of patients was however, should be 18 years though there is no
around 18 years. Now, disease-modifying treatments upper age limit.
have prolonged the lifespan to around 28 to 30 years.  Storage: The skin is disinfected and sometimes
Currently, available treatments are gene therapy, treated with cryopreservatives to extend its shelf life.
Exon-skipping and disease-modifying agents (anti- Typically, donated skin can be stored for several years,
inflammatory medicines such as steroids). ranging from 3 to 5 years or more, if it is properly
cryopreserved at very low temperatures.
SKIN BANK
#Health
The first skin bank in North India has been recently

inaugurated in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. Presently, India
has 16 skin banks which are located in Maharashtra, Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
WHAT IS A SKIN BANK?
 About: A facility where the skin of deceased persons
can be donated. In this facility, the donated human
skin is collected, processed, and stored for use in UTILITY
medical treatments, particularly for burn victims or
 Every year, 7-10 million people sustain burn injuries
patients with severe skin injuries.
in India, making it the second most common cause of
 Process: Donors can either be individuals who have injury after road accidents. If the patient’s skin is
previously expressed their consent for skin donation severely burned or damaged and the area is not
or their families who consent to donate the deceased covered with a skin substitute, they may develop an
person's skin. In some cases, skin can be obtained infection.
from living donors during elective surgeries like plastic
 Patients with skin infections, skin cancer treatments
surgery procedures.
such as Mohs surgery, skin ulcers, and slow healing or
 Requirement: The skin can be donated within six large wounds can all benefit from skin grafting. Skin
hours of death. Unlike other organ donations, the grafting decreases mortality, increases survival rates
donated skin does not have to be live or match the in patients and helps them achieve better healing
patient's blood group. The minimum age of the donor, outcomes.
practice questions
MCQs
Q1. With reference to Indian Patent Regime, 2. Indian Patent Office operates under the Ministry
consider the following statements: of Commerce and Industry.
1. Compulsory licensing is the practice of extending Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
the lifespan of a patent by making minor (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
modifications to an existing patented invention. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q2. With reference to Chandrayaan 3, consider the (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
following statements:
1. Chandrayaan 3 will be India's first attempt to land Q4. Consider the following statements regarding
on the lunar south pole. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD):
2. Chandrayaan 3 is a manned mission to the Moon 1. It is a genetic rare disease which primarily
with plans to establish a permanent lunar base impacts male children.
for human exploration. 2. It is caused by an increased production of
3. Chandrayaan 3 will collect samples for analysis dystrophin enzyme.
back on Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) None of the above
Q5. Consider the following statements with
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding reference to skin donation:
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): 1. The skin can be donated within 24 hours of the
1. SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors with a power death of the donor.
capacity of between 1-20 MWe per unit. 2. The donated skin should match the patient's
2. SMR-based power plants might need to be blood group.
refuelled every 3-7 years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q1. Examine the role of Smart Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the energy transition for the Indian Energy landscape.
Q2. Discuss the objectives, key technological advancements, and anticipated outcomes of India's Chandrayaan-3
mission. In the context of the mission, what are the reasons for the interest and incentive in exploring the lunar
south pole region?
Answers: 1-b, 2-d, 3-b, 4-a, 5-d

History, HERITAGE & Culture
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper I (Main)
 The British East India Company had already annexed

NAWAB WAJID ALI SHAH a significant portion of Awadh through a treaty
#Personalitiesfromhistory #Culture signed with the Nawabs in 1801.
 The company's actions had severely impacted the
Awadh economy by burdening it with the costs of
Several events have been scheduled to commemorate the maintaining the Bengal Army and repeatedly
200th anniversary of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the final ruler demanding loans.
of Awadh, who possessed a remarkable appreciation for the
 Wajid Ali Shah became the ruler of Awadh when the
arts. These activities comprise an exhibition, a heritage walk,
East India Company was determined to annex the
and informative discussions.
prosperous kingdom, which was regarded as "the
NAWAB WAJID ALI garden, granary, and queen-province of India."
SHAH
 Upon ascending the throne, he actively participated in
 Mirza Wajid Ali Shah, the administration of justice, implemented
the final ruler of reforms, and reorganized the military.
Awadh, held the
 The British Resident of Lucknow, General William
position from 1847
Sleeman, submitted a report highlighting alleged
to 1856.
"maladministration" and "lawlessness" in Awadh. This
 His second wife report conveniently provided the British with the
Begum Hazrat justification they needed for the annexation under
Mahal, played a significant role in the Indian the Doctrine of Lapse by Governor-General Lord
Rebellion of 1857 against the British East India Dalhousie.
Company, acting as the regent of Awadh.
PATRONAGE TO MUSIC
 Although his kingdom had been safeguarded by the
 Wajid Ali Shah patronized music, dance, drama, and
East India Company under a treaty, it was annexed
poetry, but he was also a gifted composer himself.
by the company in 1856.
 Bahadur Hussain Khan, was one of Wajid Ali Shah's
 Following the annexation, the Nawab was exiled to
favorite musicians. The Nawab honored him with the
Metiabruz, a suburb of Kolkata, where he spent the
title Zia-ud-Daulah.
rest of his life receiving a generous pension.
 He adopted the pseudonym ‘Akhtarpiya’ for his
Wajid Ali Shah was not only a ruler but also a poet,
musical compositions. Under this name, he wrote
playwright, dancer, and avid patron of the arts. He
poems, prose, and thumris.
introduced Kathak, a significant form of classical Indian
 His collections, Diwan-i-Akhtar and Husn-i-Akhtar,
dance, as a court dance during a period when the
contain his ghazals.
Mughal influence was diminishing, primarily for
recreational purposes.  Much of the knowledge about music in Nawabi
Lucknow comes from the text Madanul Moosiqui
AS A RULER OF AWADH
('The Mine of Music').

History, Heritage & Culture
 During his reign, complex ragas like hori and  Wajid Ali Shah himself was a prolific writer, utilizing a
dhrupad were less emphasized, while easier raginis simple language that conveyed meaning to all, often
like tilak, pilu, sendura, khammach, bhairvi, and incorporating Awadhi, the local dialect.
jhanjhauti gained popularity.  His most significant work, Sawat-ul-Qalub,
 These raginis were favored by the king and easily comprises a collection of 44,562 couplets.
understood by all sections of society, making them  Among his notable works, the autobiographical
beloved by the common people. Huzn-i-Akhtar holds great importance. It portrays the
 There is a popular belief that Wajid Ali Shah was the unfavorable and unceremonious treatment he faced
creator of the light classical form known as thumri. at the hands of British authorities.
 Wajid Ali Shah's innovative ideas and experiments in  Another significant work by Wajid Ali Shah is Bani. It
ghazals played a significant role in shaping the serves as a treatise on Music and Dance, offering
modern-day style of ghazals. insights into the mushairas (poetic gatherings) held
PATRONAGE TO DANCE at Matiya Burj (Calcutta).
 In ancient times, Kathak was originally performed as AWADH-HISTORIC REGION OF NORTHERN INDIA
part of temple rituals.  The Awadh region, located in northern India, now
 It was under the artistic guidance and patronage of forms the northeastern segment of the Uttar
Nawab Wajid Ali Shah that Kathak reached new Pradesh state.
heights.  Its name originates from the ancient kingdom of
 During this period, Kathak was also extensively Ayodhya, capital of Kosala, and it became part of
performed by courtesans, who developed the art the Mughal Empire in the 16th century.
form alongside its refinement in the court.  By the 18th century, the British had subjugated it as
 Their style of Kathak differed from the court style, part of their colonial holdings.
often incorporating playfulness known as nakhra.  The suba (province) of Awadh gained independence
 Wajid Ali Shah introduced two distinct forms of in 1722 AD, when Saadat Khan was appointed as its
Kathak: Rahas and Raas. governor by the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah.
 Rahas was a choreographed dance form that  Saadat Khan's role was pivotal during the invasion by
incorporated acting, dancing, and music. It Nadir Shah, where he negotiated to spare the city
encompassed dramatic elements and portrayed from destruction.
different scenes, often with changing settings and  However, when the promised funds weren't delivered,
locales. Nadir Shah unleashed a brutal massacre, leading
 On the other hand, Raas was a religious form of Saadat Khan to commit suicide in shame.
Kathak. Dhrupad, a form of classical music, was  Significant Nawabs:
primarily sung during Raas performances, which o Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk (AD 1722-1739)
began with its singing. established Awadh as an autonomous state and
 It was during Wajid Ali Shah's reign that the played a crucial role in imperial affairs during Nadir
Lucknow Gharana of Kathak emerged. The Lucknow Shah's invasion. He ultimately took his own life to
style of Kathak is characterized by graceful protect his name and honor.
movements, elegance, natural poise, and a focus o Safdar Jung/Abdul Mansur (AD 1739-1754),
on abhinaya (expressions). Saadat Khan's son-in-law, participated in the Battle
 Wajid Ali Shah made Kathak the official court dance of Manpur against Ahmed Shah Abdali in 1748.
and also popularized it among the people. o Shuja-ud-daula (AD 1754-1775), the son of Safdar
CONTRIBUTIONS TO LITERATURE Jung, allied with Afghan Ahmed Shah Abdali and
 The famous poet Mirza Ghalib received gracious incorporated Rohilkhand into Awadh in 1774 with
patronage from Wajid Ali Shah. British assistance.

o Asaf-ud-daula, known for promoting Lucknow's  However, these measures failed to alleviate their
culture and constructing landmarks like the suffering. Determined to make a difference, Raju
Imambara and Rumi Darwaza, signed the Treaty of decided to reside in the Adivasi areas of the Eastern
Faizabad (AD 1755) with the British. Ghats, specifically the forest region along
o Wajid Ali Shah, also known as Jaan-i-Alam and Visakhapatnam and Godavari districts.
Akhtarpiya, was the final ruler of Awadh. However,  He dedicated himself to the Adivasis, who were living
due to perceived mis-governance, British Lord in dire poverty and facing exploitation by the police,
Dalhousie annexed Awadh, ending his rule. forest officials, and revenue authorities. Raju provided
In conclusion, the fertile land of Awadh attracted much-needed support to the Adivasis through
attention throughout its history, including that of the education and medical assistance, utilizing the
British who sought to exploit its productivity. This led to knowledge he acquired during his extensive travels.
its subjugation by the British in 1800 AD as part of their  This region became the epicentre of his fight against
colonial holdings. the British rule. Raju learned from the Adivasis and
combined their time-tested war methods with his
own tactics, creating a formidable resistance against
ALLURI SITARAMA RAJU the British.
 In August 1922, he launched the Rampa Rebellion,
AND RAMPA REBELLION gaining substantial local support and successfully
#Tribalrevolts #Modernhistory evading British authorities for an extended period.
 British Response:
The President of India Droupadi Murmu paid tribute to Alluri o Raju's armed struggle against the British frustrated
Sitarama Raju, the freedom fighter at the closing ceremony the authorities to such an extent that they offered a
of his 125th birth anniversary celebrations in Hyderabad. reward for his capture, dead or alive.
o Meanwhile, the British continued to inflict misery
ALLURI SITARAM RAJU
on the Adivasis. Seeking justice and fairness,
 Alluri Sitaram Raju was an
Raju eventually surrendered, hoping for a fair
influential Indian trial in return.
revolutionary who played a
o However, on May 7, 1924, he was treacherously
significant role in the
trapped and shot dead.
country's struggle for
Legacy
independence.
 Recognizing his courage and indomitable spirit, he
 Born on July 4, 1897, in a
was bestowed with the title "Manyam Veerudu"
modest middle-class family near the Coastal city of
(Hero of the Jungle).
Visakhapatnam, Raju developed a strong sense of
 Every year, on July 4th, the Government of Andhra
patriotism from an early age.
Pradesh commemorates his birth date as a state
 His dedication to the freedom movement and his
festival, honoring his contributions to the nation's
efforts to improve the lives of the Adivasi freedom struggle.
communities left a lasting impact on Indian
history.
ADVOCATING FOR ADIVASI RIGHTS AND THE
FREEDOM STRUGGLE
 Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Non-cooperation
movement, Raju initially encouraged the tribals to
seek justice in local panchayat courts and boycott
colonial courts.

THE RAMPA REBELLION  Raju's followers comprised primarily tribal members,

 The Rampa Rebellion, also known as the Manyam but he also garnered support from influential
Rebellion, was a significant tribal uprising led by individuals within the muttadar class.
Alluri Sitarama Raju in the Godavari Agency of Madras  While some muttadars remained ambivalent, Raju's
Presidency, British India. overarching vision of liberation from colonial rule
united these disparate groups.
 Spanning from August 1922 to May 1924, this
rebellion marked a critical chapter in the fight against THE REBELLION
British colonial rule.  The rebellion commenced in August 1922, taking the
form of guerrilla warfare.
CAUSES OF UNREST
 The tribal fighters, adept at navigating the challenging
 The Rampa administrative area, encompassing
terrain, proved resilient against British suppression
approximately 700 square miles, was home to around
efforts.
28,000 tribal inhabitants. These tribes relied on the
‘podu system’, where they burned sections of the  The prevalence of diseases in the region, to which the
tribal people had developed immunity, further
forest each year for cultivation, ensuring their food
hindered the colonial authorities' attempts to quell
requirements were met.
the rebellion.
 However, the British authorities sought to exploit the
CONCLUSION: The Rampa Rebellion, led by Alluri
lands of the Godavari Agency for commercial
Sitarama Raju, stands as a testament to the
purposes, disregarding the needs of the tribal
determination of tribal communities and their fight
communities.
against British colonial rule. This uprising highlighted the
 With the implementation of the Madras Forest Act in grievances caused by the imposition of laws that
1882, the Adivasis' free movement in their forest restricted traditional practices and disrupted the
habitats was restricted, preventing them from economic stability of the Adivasis. Although the rebellion
practicing their traditional podu agricultural methods. ultimately faced suppression, it left a lasting impact on
 The tribal people faced starvation as their economic the collective memory of the struggle for independence
situation deteriorated, exacerbated by forced labor in India.
demands for road construction and perceived

biases in the legal system. FUSION OF ROCK ART
CONVERGENCE OF DISCONTENT
#Prehistoricpaintings #MedievalIndia
 Simultaneously, the muttadars, who had been
hereditary tax collectors and rulers in the hills,
experienced discontent due to their loss of power and Rudragiri hillock located in the Guntur district of Andhra
status under British rule. Pradesh, boasts a celebrated historical past and remarkable
archaeological monuments. This site unveils a fascinating
 Previously acting on behalf of the rajas, the rulers of
combination of prehistoric rock paintings from the
the plains, the muttadars found themselves
Mesolithic period and exquisite artwork from the Kakatiya
marginalized and controlled by the colonial
dynasty.
administration.
 Their shared grievances with the tribal hill people
created a common ground for resistance against the
British.
ALLURI SITARAMA RAJU'S LEADERSHIP
 He harnessed the discontent of the tribal
communities, combining anti-colonial zeal with
accommodation for sympathetic muttadars.

MORE ABOUT THE NEWS royal images, hunting scenes, dancing, music, horse
 At the foothills of Rudragiri, five naturally formed rock and elephant riders, animal fights, honey collection,
shelters have been uncovered. body decoration, and household scenes.
 These shelters served as dwellings for people during CLASSIFICATION OF BHIMBETKA ROCK ART
the Mesolithic age approximately around 5000 B.C.  The rock art at Bhimbetka has been categorized into
They contain striking rock paintings from that era, various groups based on style, technique, and
which provide a fascinating glimpse into the past. superimposition.
 Two of these natural caves display remarkable  The drawings and paintings are classified into three
murals dating back to the renowned Kakatiya historical periods: Period I (Upper Palaeolithic),
dynasty. Despite being affected by the forces of Period II (Mesolithic), and Period III (Chalcolithic).
nature over time, fragments of these paintings offer
MESOLITHIC PAINTINGS
valuable insights into their creation during the 13th
century A.D.  During the Mesolithic period (Period II), the rock
paintings at Bhimbetka feature a variety of themes,
 The paintings are adorned with a variety of colors
with hunting scenes being predominant.
derived from white kaolin and various pigments.
They vividly depict captivating scenes from the epic  The paintings depict groups of primitive men hunting
Ramayana. animals with barbed spears, pointed sticks, arrows,
o In the ﬁrst cave, there is a narrative mural and bows.
portraying the intense battle between the Vanara  Some paintings show the hunters using traps and
brothers - Vali and Sugriva. snares to catch animals. The hunters are depicted
o The middle cave features a grand sketch of wearing simple clothes and ornaments, occasionally
Hanuman, accompanied by sacred symbols such as adorned with elaborate headdresses or masks.
the conch (Sankha) and the fire altar (Yagna Vedi).  The Mesolithic artists showed a mix of fear and
 Additionally, the third cave houses prehistoric rock tenderness for animals in their artwork.
paintings dating back to the Mesolithic era, DAILY LIFE DEPICTIONS
providing a glimpse of the ancient artistic expressions
 The rock paintings at Bhimbetka also depict various
from that time.
aspects of daily life during the Mesolithic era.
Early Rock Paintings in India
 Scenes of community dances, people gathering fruits
 India boasts some of the earliest rock paintings dating
or honey from trees, and women grinding and
back to the Upper Palaeolithic times.
preparing food are common themes.
 The first discovery of rock paintings in India was made
 The artists painted men, women, and children
by archaeologist Archibold Carlleyle.
engaged in various activities, giving a glimpse of what
 Remnants of these ancient paintings have been found
life was like for these ancient people.
on cave walls in several districts of Madhya Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, and TECHNIQUES AND COLORS
even the Kumaon hills in Uttarakhand, particularly at  The artists at Bhimbetka used a wide range of colors,
Lakhudiyar, where the rock shelters along the including white, yellow, orange, red ochre, purple,
River Suyal preserve these prehistoric artworks. brown, green, and black.
THE SPECTACULAR ROCK SHELTERS OF BHIMBETKA  White and red were particularly favored colors.
 One of the most remarkable sites of rock paintings in  The paints were made by grinding various rocks and
India is Bhimbetka, located in the Vindhya hills of minerals, such as haematite for red and chalcedony
Madhya Pradesh. for green. The artists used plant fiber brushes for
 Discovered by archaeologist V.S. Wakankar. their artwork.
 The paintings at Bhimbetka depict a diverse range  Surprisingly, these colors have survived thousands of
of themes, including daily life events, sacred and years due to the presence of oxide on the rock

surface, which helped preserve the paintings despite A GLIMPSE INTO PREHISTORIC LIFE
adverse weather conditions.  These prehistoric paintings offer valuable information
LOCATION AND PURPOSE OF PAINTINGS about early human beings, their lifestyle, food habits,
 The paintings were made on the walls and ceilings of and daily activities.
rock shelters, with some found in places where people  They provide a glimpse into the minds of these
lived and others in areas with potential religious ancient artists, reflecting their thoughts and
significance. perceptions.
 The elevated locations of some paintings suggest they  The remains from the prehistoric period, including
were meant to be visible from a distance. rock weapons, tools, ceramics, and bones, serve as
 The paintings display pictorial quality and provide witnesses to the evolution of human civilization, with
insights into the lives and beliefs of early human the rock paintings being among the most significant
beings, showing a passion for storytelling and a legacies left behind by the primitive humans of
portrayal of humans and animals engaged in the that time.
struggle for survival.
ABOUT KAKATIYA DYNASTY

EARLY KAKATIYA DYNASTY RULERS  The subsequent conflicts with the Delhi Sultanate led
 The Kakatiya dynasty, known for ruling the eastern to the fall of the Kakatiya dynasty.
Deccan region from the 12th to the 14th centuries,
had its roots traced back to Venna, who reigned from
800 to 815 AD.
GURJARA PRATIHARA
 Venna was believed to be a descendant of Durjaya, a DYNASTY
legendary chieftain of the Andhra kingdom.
#EarlyMedievalIndia
 The Kakatiya lineage continued with Gunda I and
Gunda II, about whom little information is available
except for their rule from 815 to 865 AD. Following the unveiling of the statue of 9th-century king
Mihir Bhoja as 'Gurjar Pratihar Samrat Mihir Bhoja' by
 During the early days, the Kakatiyas served as vassals
district party leaders, leaders in Haryana's Kaithal expressed
to the powerful Rashtrakuta, which held significant
their protest by offering to resign. The controversy
influence over much of India during the 6th to
surrounding Mihir Bhoja's lineage has arisen before in Bihar
10th centuries AD.
and Uttar Pradesh, with both Gurjaras and Rajputs laying
RISE TO POWER AND INDEPENDENCE
claim to his belonging in their respective communities.
 After the collapse of the Rashtrakuta kingdom, Gunda
ABOUT MIHIR BHOJA
IV saw an opportunity to establish his family's
 Mihir Bhoja (836 to 885 CE), was a highly successful
independent rule.
and ambitious ruler in ninth-century India. At that
 He declared Kuravi as an independent principality,
time, the Gurjara-Pratiharas held dominion over a vast
leading the Kakatiya dynasty towards self-governance.
empire, stretching from Kashmir to Gujarat.
CONSOLIDATION AND EXPANSION
 Mihir Bhoj ascended to power after succeeding his
 Ganapati, who ruled from around 1199 to 1262, father, Ramabhadra. He also expanded his influence
focused on consolidating the kingdom and expanding by conquering regions in the Deccan and Malwa.
its territories.
 Tripartite Struggle:
 He led successful campaigns, bringing Telugu-
o During the ninth century, a major political struggle
speaking lowland deltas around the Godavari and
centered around gaining control of Kannauj, as it
Krishna rivers under his control.
was believed that whoever ruled there would
 The capital of Kakatiyas was Orugallu, now known as become the emperor of the country.
Warangal.
RUDRAMA DEVI: A REMARKABLE FEMALE RULER
 Rudrama Devi, succeeding Ganapati, was one of the
few female rulers in Indian history.
 She continued her predecessor's fortification efforts
and repelled an attempted invasion by the Seuna
dynasty (Yadava Dynasty).
 She married an Eastern Chalukyan prince,
Virabhadra, and later handed over the throne to her
grandson, Prataparudra II.
DECLINE OF THE KAKATIYA DYNASTY
 Prataparudra II faced challenges from the Delhi
Sultanate under Alauddin Khalji, who saw the wealth
o This led to a tripartite conflict among the powerful
and potential of the Kakatiya lands.
entities of the time—the Gurjara-Pratihara, the
 Prataparudra II initially submitted to Alauddin but Rashtrakutas of Deccan, and the Palas of
later asserted his kingdom's independence.

Bengal. Among them, Mihir Bhoj emerged as the and was successful, thus Malwa, Deccan, and Gujarat
most successful. were conquered.
o He secured territories of Gujarat and Malwa from  The Pratiharas were defeated in a large battle in
the Gujarat-Rashtrakutas and further expanded his Ujjain by Rastrakutas of Gujarat. However,
realm by conquering areas of Gorakhpur from the retribution followed on the part of the Pratiharas, and
Palas of Bengal. by the end of his reign, Bhoja had successfully
 He was a devout follower of Vishnu and used the title destroyed the Gujarat Rashtrakuta dynasty.
of Adivaraha, which was inscribed on some of his  Bhoja's feudatory, the Guhilas chief named Harsha
coins. of Chatsu, is described as defeating the northern
 His rule spanned a vast territory, from the foothills of rulers with the help of the mighty elephant force, and
the Himalayas to the Narmada River, which included loyally presenting to Bhoja the special ‘Shrivamsha’
the present district of Etawah in Uttar Pradesh. breed of horses, which could easily cross seas of
Kannauj, which served as his capital during his reign, sand.
was known as Panchala.  Besides being a conqueror, Bhoja was a great
 Mihir Bhoja was a staunch adversary of the Arab diplomat. The Kingdoms which were conquered and
invaders and maintained a formidable army, acknowledged his suzerainty include Travani, Valla,
particularly renowned for its skilled cavalry. Following Mada, Arya, Gujaratra, Lata Parvarta, and
his rule, his son Mahendrapala I succeeded him. Chandelas of Bundelkhand.
 Lineage:  Bhoja's Daulatpura-Dausa Inscription, confirms his

rule in the Dausa region. Another inscription states
o Originally, the Gurjars were a nomadic tribe in
that ‘Bhoja's territories extended to the east of the
ancient India, initially spread across the regions of
Sutlej River.’
Rajasthan and Gujarat, and it is believed that Mihir
Bhoja belonged to this tribe.  Kalhana's Rajatarangini states that the territories of
Bhoja extended to Kashmir in the north, and Bhoja
o However, historical records also suggest that he
conquered Punjab by defeating the ruling
asserted Kshatriya status for himself. It was a
‘Thakkiyaka’ dynasty.
common practice in ancient India for kings to claim
Kshatriya lineage, as it was considered that only a COINS OF MIHIRA BHOJA
Kshatriya (warrior) could rightfully ascend to the  Mihira Bhoja was commonly known by the epithet
throne. ‘Srimad-Adivaraha’, which refers to the fortunate
o The controversy surrounding the castes of ancient primeval boar incarnation of Vishnu.
rulers in recent times is primarily a product of  These coins feature a depiction of Adivaraha on the
modern-day politics and does not have any direct obverse side, where the God holds a solar wheel with
bearing on historical accuracy. spokes in his right hand, while in his left hand, there
o It is essential to approach these historical accounts are other emblems such as a mace, lotus flower, and
with a critical perspective, considering the societal conch shell.
context and the evolution of social identities over  Additionally, under the feet of God, there is likely a
time. two-headed serpent. According to Alexander
MILITARY CAREER Cunningham, these types of coins are found in both
silver and copper.
 Mihira Bhoja first consolidated his territories by
crushing the rebellious feudatories in Rajasthan,  It is believed that copper coins were originally
before turning his attention against the old enemies coated with silver to circulate as silver coins. The
the Palas and Rastrakutas. presence of Adivaraha coins was noted by Thakkar
Pheru in the 13th-century text ‘Dravya-Pariksha,’
 He invaded the Pala Empire of Bengal but was
who served as a mint master under Alauddin
defeated by Devapala. He then launched a campaign
Khilji.
to conquer the territories to the south of his empire

PATRONS OF ART AND CULTURE

 Rajashekhar, a Sanskrit poet and dramatist,
resided at the court of Mahipala, who was Bhoja's
grandson.
 Kanauj witnessed the construction of numerous
splendid temples under the Pratiharas' auspices.
 The Pratiharas dispatched Indian scholars and
embassies to the Caliph of Baghdad, through whom
Indian mathematics and sciences were introduced
to the Arabs. This knowledge eventually spread to
Europe via the Moors.
REGARDING THE GURJARA-PRATIHARA
ADMINISTRATION
 Certain territories of the empire were under direct
administration, while others were governed by
vassal chiefs.
GURJARA-PRATIHARA EMPIRE
 Vassal-chiefs maintained autonomy in internal
 They earned the name Gurjara-Pratiharas due to their affairs, but were obligated to offer fixed tributes and
origin in the southwestern region of Rajasthan, provide troops to the Pratihara King.
referred to as Gurjaratra or Gurjaradesa.
 Instances of vassal chiefs, such as the Paramaras of
 The kingdom's inception was attributed to Malwa and the Chandellas of Bundelkhand,
Nagabhatta I (730-760 CE). rebelling were common during periods of weak
 In the face of numerous Arab incursions from Sindh, Pratihara rulers.
the Pratiharas valiantly confronted the challenges  The administrative structure of the Palas and
and emerged victorious against the Arabs in the Gurjara Pratiharas exhibited similarities:
Battle of Rajasthan in 738 CE.
o Bhukti (provinces) Mandalas or Visayas
 Frequently, the Rashtrakuta rulers Dhruva and (districts) Pattala was the unit below Visaya in
Gopala III thwarted the Pratihara's attempts to the Pala kingdom.
extend their influence over the upper Gangetic valley
o The Governor of Bhukti was known as 'Uparika',
and Malwa regions.
responsible for revenue collection and maintaining
 The Pratiharas boasted a formidable cavalry, largely law and order with the support of the army.
due to their importation of horses from Arabia and
o The head of mandala or visaya was 'Visayapati',
Central Asia.
who shared similar duties with the uparika but on
 Numerous foreign accounts exist that describe the a larger territorial scale.
Pratihara kingdom. For instance, Al-Masudi of
 Village administration was conducted through the
Baghdad visited Gujarat between 915 and 916.
village headman and village accountant, roles often
o He referred to the Gurjara Pratihara realm as Al- passed down hereditarily.
Juzr. Al-Masudi noted that the kingdom comprised
 Compensation for their services came in the form of
1,800,000 villages and cities, with the king's army
grants of rent-free lands. The headman was
organized into four divisions.
occasionally assisted by a village elder known as the
o He detailed the conflicts waged by the Pratiharas, grama-mahajana or grama-mahattara.
including those with the ruler of Multan in the
 During the era of the Pratiharas kingdom, there
north, the Rashtrakutas in the south, and the Palas
emerged smaller chieftains called samantas or
in the east.
bhogapatis, who held dominance over multiple
villages.

 Over time, Visayapatis and these minor chiefs

merged, and the term "Samanta" eventually
The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai granted
encompassed both positions.
the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to seven products from
The decline of the Gurjara Pratiharas can be traced
different regions of India.
through key events:
ABOUT THE PRODUCTS
 Between 915 and 918 CE, Rashtrakuta king Indra III
1. Jalesar Dhatu Shilp (metal craft)
attacked Kanauj, devastating the city during the
reign of Mahipala I.
 The Pratiharas also lost Gujarat to the Rashtrakutas,
severing their access to maritime trade and leading to
economic setbacks.
 Around 963 CE, Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna III
invaded northern territories and defeated the
Pratiharas, hastening their decline.
 Subsequent rulers struggled to revitalize the dynasty,
resulting in the gradual declaration of independence  Jalesar is located in the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh
by their feudatories. and was the capital of Magadha King Jarasandha.
 The empire's influence dwindled to the vicinity of  The metal art of Jalesar is highly esteemed for its
Kannauj. By the 11th century CE, the Ghaznavids intricate designs and exceptional craftsmanship,
completely erased the Pratiharas from the blending elements of both traditional and
political landscape. contemporary styles.
 Following the Pratiharas' decline, smaller Rajput clans  Skilled artisans employ various techniques such as
like the Chauhans/Chahamanas (Rajputana), casting, molding, hammering, engraving, and
Paramaras/Pawars (Malwa), and filigree work to create a diverse array of metal
Solankis/Chalukyas (Gujarat) assumed products.
prominence. 2. Goa Mankurad mango
TRADE AND COMMERCE  The mango was given the name ‘Malcorada’ by the
 Trade and commerce in northern India faced Portuguese, which translates to ‘poor coloured’.
stagnation and decline from the 7th to 10th  Over time, this word evolved into ‘Mankurad’ and in
centuries, attributed to factors such as internal the Konkani language, it came to be known as ‘aamo’
conflicts, a policy of localism, and the absence of gold which means mango.
and silver coins due to the collapse of the Western
3. Goan Bebinca
Roman Empire.
 Bebinca, a traditional Indo-Portuguese dessert, is a
 Indian merchants organized into guilds, with
type of pudding widely recognized as the ‘Queen of
renowned examples being Manigraman and Nanadesi
Goan desserts.’
in South India.
4. Udaipur Koftgari metal craft
 Tamralipti (Tamluk, East Midnapore, West Bengal)
served as a primary port for voyages to Java, Sumatra,
and other southeast kingdoms.
GEOGRAPHICAL
INDICATION TAGS
#HeritageofIndia #Art&Culture

 The ancient art of Koftgari is used to create exquisitely through the use of vibrant traditional hues like yellow,
ornamental weaponry. black, red, and green.
 This damascene technique involves a complex process  Geometric forms are harmoniously balanced with
of etching designs, heating, and cooling the metal, depictions of trees, peacocks, and other motifs.
while also embedding gold and silver wire into the 6. Jodhpur Bandhej craft
surface.
 Bandhej is a popular traditional craft of Rajasthan,
 Unlike inlaid metal ornamentation, the wire does not with Jodhpur being one of the prominent centres
sink into the iron; instead, it remains on the for this art form.
surface and is mechanically bound through pressing,
 Bandhej patterns: Dot pattern known as Bandhani,
burnishing, and polishing.
the wave pattern called Leheriya, and even the
 After the design is complete, burnishing tools known Japanese motif called Shibori.
as Opani are used to push and bind the overlaid
 The art of Bandhej is primarily practiced by the skilled
silver firmly.
women artisans of the Rangrez community,
 Lastly, the surface is polished using a hakek stone meaning ‘dyer’ in Persian.
to achieve the final stunning appearance.
 The process starts with preparing the fabric, which is
 The term ‘Koftgari’ originates from the Persian and typically cotton or silk. The fabric is thoroughly
Urdu words 'kuft-gari,' meaning 'beaten work,' and washed to remove impurities and then dyed in a
the artisans who practice this art are called 'kuftgars' base colour, often red, blue, green, or yellow.
or gilders.
 Skilled artisans meticulously tie small, tight knots on
 Historically, Koftgari was brought to India by Persian the fabric using thread, creating various patterns
craftsmen during the 16th century when they like dots, squares, waves, or stripes.
served Mughal rulers.
 After tying the fabric, it is immersed in a dye bath.
 The Mughal Emperors, had a significant iron workshop The areas where the knots are tied resist the dye,
called the Mughal Silehkhana that produced resulting in a unique and mesmerizing pattern on the
ornamented swords and weapons for the imperial fabric.
army.
7. Bikaner Usta Kala craft
5. Bikaner Kashidakari craft
 The Bikaner Usta Kala
craft is also known as
gold nakashi work or
gold manauti work,
owing to the predominant
use of golden colour in its
exquisite designs, created
with actual gold during
the earlier periods.
 It is a unique form of
miniature painting
 The technique involves printing diverse patterns on
practiced on metal surfaces.
fabrics through the tie and dye method.
 The skilled artisans, known as ‘Ustads’, have
 The thread used in the embroidery varies from the
inherited their craft techniques from their
finest silk to the thickest wool. It is often combined
ancestors, and they have diligently preserved this art
with glass, sequins, and various types of stitches to
form through generations.
create rich and detailed patterns, typically worked in
chain stitches.  The metal surface is first cleaned and polished
meticulously, providing a smooth and ideal canvas for
 The embroidery creates a captivating contrast
the upcoming artwork.
between colours, with dramatic effects achieved

 To impart a distinctive shimmering effect, the  The process involves adeptly sewing together small
designated areas of the artwork are adorned with fragments of discarded fabric, resulting in a stunning
a layer of gold or silver leaf. patchwork design. Notably, it's recognized as a
 Employing natural pigments and carefully selected sustainable practice founded on the principles of
colours, the Ustad adorns the artwork with intricate recycling and reusing materials.
brushwork, creating a harmonious and vibrant  Interestingly, the Lambani embroidery techniques and
appearance. aesthetics share common traits with textile traditions
from Eastern Europe, West Asia, and Central Asia. This
 The motifs and themes often draw inspiration from
underscores the interwoven nature of global textile
Mughal and Persian influences, showcasing
arts, where influences travel across regions and
elaborate floral patterns, geometric designs, and
cultures.
captivating scenes from epics and mythology.
 A specific variant of Lambani art known as Sandur
Lambani embroidery, originating from the Sandur
LAMBANI ART ITEMS region of Karnataka, garnered a Geographical
Indication designation in 2010.
#HeritageofIndia #Art&Culture
FEATURES OF LAMBANI ART
#Communities
 Executed on loosely woven fabric.
 It encompasses around 14 varieties of stitches,
The Yeduru Basavanna complex in Hampi inaugurated a featuring diverse geometric shapes such as squares,
unique exhibition called 'Threads of Unity,' celebrating circles, triangles, and diagonal lines.
Lambani embroidery's artistic expressions. The exhibition,  Parallel lines of multi-colored threads.
centred around the theme 'Culture Unites All,' showcased
 Incorporation of mirror work, beads, metal buttons,
1755 patchworks created using the GI-tagged Sandur
ghungroos, and more.
Lambani embroidery technique. This achievement earned
 Applique, an embellishing needlework technique.
them a Guinness World Record and reflects their
commitment to the environmentally-conscious 'Mission LiFe'  Primary color choices frequently include red, yellow,
campaign by the Prime Minister. and blue.
ABOUT LAMBANI ART LAMBANI COMMUNITY
 Among the numerous tribal groups in our country a
tribe which is known for its colourful dress is that of
Lambani tribal community. These people are also
called as Banjara and Sukali.
 The Lambani community in the states of Bihar,
Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat
is considered as a scheduled tribe while in the state
of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka
and Kerala they have been considered under the
category of de-notified tribes and in other states as
 Lambani art is a distinctive form of textile Other Backward Classes.
decoration that finds its roots among the Lambani or
 Even though this tribal community is known by
Banjara community, a nomadic group spread across
different names in different parts of the country, the
various Indian states, particularly Karnataka.
terms Lambani, Banjara and Sukali are most
 This art form stands out due to its vibrant threads, frequently used ones in the regions wherever they
the inclusion of mirror work, and a diverse live.
assortment of stitching patterns on loosely woven
 Various theories exist about their origins:
fabric.
o Descent from the Romanis of Europe.

o Migration from the Ghor province of Afghanistan,  Preserves cultural richness in alignment with
settling initially in Rajasthan and Gujarat before constitutional mandates.
moving further south.  Has the potential to enhance regional biodiversity:
o These Banjara or Lambani tribal communities o By utilizing indigenous fibers.
primarily inhabit-Regions like Sanduru, Bellary,
o Through the use of native plant dyes.
and Bijapur in Karnataka. Hyderabad in Andhra
Pradesh. o Preferring locally sourced materials.
IMPORTANCE OF LAMBANI ART o Adhering to sustainable practices that emphasize

recycling and reusing, thereby minimizing fabric
 Empowers marginalized Lambani communities.
waste.
 Contributes to the nation's economy.
o Offers the prospect of bolstering India's soft power.
practice questions
MCQs
Q1. With reference to the regional kingdom of Q3. Regarding the rule of Kakatiya dynasty in the
Awadh, consider the following statements: eastern Deccan region, consider the following
1. Awadh was established as an autonomous state statements:
under the leadership of Saadat Khan Burhan-ul- 1. The rise of Kuravi as an independent principality
Mulk. after the Rashtrakuta kingdom's collapse led to the
2. In the Battle of Manpur, 1748, Shuja-ud-Daula self-governance of the Kakatiya dynasty.
defeated Ahmad Shah Abdali. 2. The capital of Kakatiya kingdom was situated in
3. The last ruler of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, signed the Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
treaty of Faizabad with the English East India 3. Rudrama Devi submitted the kingdom to Alauddin
Company. Khilji, following Prataprudra’s death.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct? How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (a) Only one (b) Only two
(c) All three (d) None (c) All three (d) None
Q2. Consider the following statements: Q4. With reference to the heritage of India,
1. The Manyam rebellion was a tribal uprising in the consider the following statements:
Madras Agency against the Colonial government. 1. Lambani art is a distinctive form of painting style,
2. The main cause behind the Manyam rebellion was practiced on walls of temples in Maharashtra.
colonial government’s action against traditional 2. The indigenous Warli tribal community, are
‘Podu system’. associated with Lambadi art.
3. The hereditary tax collectors ‘Muttadars’ sided 3. Sandur Lambadi art from Maharashtra has been
with the colonial authorities during the Manyam given Geographical Indication tag.
rebellion. How many of the statements given above is/are
How many of the statements given above is/are correct? incorrect?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (a) Only one (b) Only two
(c) All three (d) None (c) All three (d) None

Q5. With reference to the history of Early medieval 3. Tamralipti served as a primary port of Gurjara-
India, consider the following statements: Pratiharas for maintaining trade relations with Java
1. Mihira Bhoja of the Gurajara-Pratihara dynasty and Sumatra.
expanded the rule by conquering regions in How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
Deccan and Malwa. (a) Only one (b) Only two
2. Tripartite struggle over the region of Kannauj was (c) All three (d) None
fought between the Rashtrakutas, Gurjara-
Pratiharas and the Palas.
Q1. Discuss the significance of Mesolithic paintings as a means to gain valuable insights into the lives and beliefs of
prehistoric communities. (150 words; 10 marks)
Q2. Discuss the socio-cultural and political significance of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty during the early medieval
period in India. (150 words; 10 marks).
Answers: 1-a, 2-b, 3-a, 4-c, 5-c

Part TWO
Ethics, Integrity
& Aptitude
Coverage from varied sources
Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTITUDE AND

BEHAVIOUR
#Ethics #Integrity #Aptitude
We are witnessing many incidents in our society which associated with it. Thus, CAB components are different,
are considered to be unethical or immoral like taking but they are not completely independent of each other.
revenge from a community by abusing females of that FEATURES OF ATTITUDE
community, religion and caste-based mob lynching,
 An attitude is a learned tendency. So, it can be learnt.
restricting people from offering prayers in public places
 It includes certain aspects of the personality as
etc. In this article, we will try to analyse the underlying
relationship between attitude and unethical deeds. interests, appreciation and social conduct
Defining Attitude: Attitude is a learned predisposition  An attitude indicates the total of a man’s inclinations
and feelings
to act, think or feel in a particular way toward a class of
objects. Attitude is akin to spectacles through which a  An attitude is a point of view, substantiated or
person sees the world. Thus, attitude is an individual's otherwise, true or false which one holds towards an
subjective interpretation of the f objective world. idea, object or person
STRUCTURE OF ATTITUDE: attitude comprises three  An attitude has aspects such as direction, intensity,
components i.e., Cognition, Affective, and Behaviour. generality or specificity
Cognitive components: The cognitive component of an It is clear from these features of attitude that in most
attitude refers to beliefs, ideas, thoughts and attributes cases human action is nothing but a manifestation of his
we associate with an object. Most of the unethical deeds attitude so we can link human behaviour with his
are caused by incorrect or inadequate information about attitude or we can deduce the behaviour of a person by
the object like incidents of mob lynching are based on knowing his attitude.
rumours. TYPES OF ATTITUDES
The Affective component: The affective component of  Positive Attitude: one may support Gay couples
an attitude refers to feelings or emotions linked to an
 Negative attitude: Others May oppose Gay Couples
object. Many people committed crimes out of
 Neutral attitude: having no stand on a particular issue
uncontrolled emotions like cow vigilantes think that
people involved in beef production are hurting their Attitudes are also classified into
religious sentiments.  Explicit attitude: If a person is aware of his attitudes
The behavioural component: The behavioural and how they influence his behaviour, then those
component refers to past experiences or behaviour attitudes are explicit. Explicit attitudes are formed
regarding an attitude object. Ragging is one such crime consciously.
that is committed by many people because they also  Implicit attitude: If a person is unaware of his attitudes
have suffered the same. (beliefs) and how they influence his behaviour, those
Relationship between Cognitive, Affective and attitudes are implicit. Implicit attitudes are formed
behavioural components: Components of the CAB subconsciously.
model have a synergistic relation. When an individual Functions of attitude
possesses positive belief about an attitude object, they Daniel Karz gave four functions of attitude –
typically have positive affective and behavioural

 Knowledge function: Knowing one’s or other’s attitude Defined by The way we Social Norms
imparts knowledge. perceive things.
 Instrumental function: Helps to choose what is
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOUR
rewarding (and also avoids punishment).
There can be four types of relationships between these
 Ego defence: Attitudes can help people protect their
two as discussed below;
self-esteem and avoid depression.
Case 1: Attitude ≠ Behaviour
 Mechanisms: Denial, Repression, Projection,
Rationalization. For example, plenty of people may support a particular
candidate in elections, but they may not take the pain to
 Value expression: Used to express one’s core values or
go out and vote for him, Thus, attitudes may not always
beliefs.
predict the actual pattern of one’s behaviour. LaPierre’s
FACTORS AFFECTING ATTITUDE FORMATION study shows that the cognitive and affective components
 Family of attitudes do not necessarily coincide with behaviour.
 Peer Case 2: Behaviour ≠ Attitude
 Society There can also be instances where negative behaviour
 Media co-exists with a positive attitude. This usually occurs
when the positive attitude needs to be stronger. For
 Government
example, consider a person with a positive attitude, not
 Organisation
to jump a queue. However, when he sees everyone
PROCEDURES OF ATTITUDE FORMATION around him doing the same, he may think he will lose, if
Classical conditioning/respondent/pavlova: learning to not jump queues. Thus, he may behave opposite to his
be a boy or girl original attitude – which we can call as positive.
Operant conditioning or instrumental learning: Teaching Case 3: Attitude = Behaviour
someone through reinforcement or punishment. Psychologists have found that there would be
Direct instruction: Rule of awakening at 5 am. consistency between attitudes and behaviour when:
Satisfaction of wants: An individual develops favourable  The attitude is strong and occupies a central place in
attitudes towards those people and objects which satisfy the attitude system.
his wants and unfavourable attitudes towards those that  The person is aware of their attitude.
do not satisfy them.
 There is very little or no external pressure on the
ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOUR person to behave in a particular way. For example,
BASIS FOR there is no group pressure to follow a particular norm.
ATTITUDE BEHAVIOR
COMPARISON  The person’s behaviour is not being watched or
evaluated by others.
Meaning Attitude refers Behaviour
to a person's implies an  The person thinks that the behaviour would have a
positive consequence and intends to engage in that
mental view of individual or
behaviour.
how he/she group's actions,
thinks or feels or moves, conduct Note: Persons with high integrity usually show a direct
something. or functions relation between attitude and behaviour.
towards other Case 4: Behaviour = Attitude
persons.
People dislike Cognitive Dissonance. Cognitive
What is it? A person's A person's dissonance is when a person experiences psychological
mindset. mindset. distress due to conflicting thoughts or beliefs. People
may change their attitudes to reflect their other beliefs
Reflects What do you What do you
or actual behaviours to reduce this. This means they
think or feel? do?
prefer their attitude and behaviour to be aligned in the

same direction. By giving incentives to behave contrary attitude for example change in the attitude of many
to the attitude, Leon Festinger and James Carl Smith regarding females after the appeal of Prime Minister
(study in 1954) proved that the first attitude can be Narendra Modi under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
changed to suit their external behaviour. campaign.
THEORIES OF ATTITUDE CHANGE Messages that are thought-provoking and that appeal to
Learning theory of Attitude change logic are more likely to lead to permanent changes in
attitudes.
This theory talks about three different ways of learning
to bring change in attitude to mould the behaviour of a Dissonance theory of attitude change
person in the desired fashion. As mentioned earlier, people can also change their
 Classical conditioning – create positive emotional attitudes when they have conflicting beliefs about an
reactions to an object, person, or event by associating object (cognitive dissonance). To reduce the tension
positive feelings with the target object. created by these incompatible beliefs, people often shift
their attitudes. In the earlier example, the dissonance
 Operant conditioning – strengthens desirable
was created by giving the incentive to change the
attitudes and weakens undesirable ones.
behaviour, and thus attitude was also changed
 Observational learning – let people observe the accordingly. Like when a rural caste-minded person
behaviour of others so that they change their attitude.
shifts to a cosmopolitan urban area then he needs to
Elaboration likelihood theory of attitude change change his attitude toward the people of lower caste.
This theory of persuasion suggests that people can alter In this way, we have seen that attitude is a learned
their attitudes in two ways. predisposition toward any object which may or may not
First, they can be motivated to listen and think about the reflect in the behaviour of a person. But people with
message, thus leading to an attitude shift for example integrity and criminal background show sync between
change in the attitude of people toward the use of their attitude and behaviour. Attitude can be changed in
latrines in rural areas after a sustained campaign by the multiple ways. Attitude has a large impact on Individual
Indian government. and societal progress. So, there should be an ethical
Or institutionalised mechanism to develop the desired
attitude among the masses to ensure peace and
They might be influenced by the characteristics of the
progress in society.
speaker, leading to a temporary or surface shift in

CASE STUDIES for Practice

MAINS GS PAPER IV
Case Study 1: In the digital era, there are many social unidentified person who threatened to 26/11 terror
attack if Shabana Qasmi did not return to her country.
media platforms to connect with the people of any
country. Online game playing is becoming popular Authorities are currently investigating the threat call.
Majoritarian Extremists groups in Pakistan are attacking
among youth. Online game playing may turn into
Hindu temples as a reaction to harm, the local Hindu
affectionate relationships. Shabana Qasmi a 30-year-old
Pakistani mother of three children became friends with community. This controversial love story has become a
tool of publicity for many including mainstream media.
25-year-old unmarried Indian boy Subodh. With time
YouTubers are trying to capture Shabana's every
their friendship turned into a love affair. To meet her
boyfriend in India, Shabana allegedly left Pakistan with movement, ruining her privacy and dignity. A section of
the media is speculating that she might be a Pakistani
her kids and entered India illegally. She was arrested
spy.
earlier with her boyfriend for entering India without a
valid Visa. Her boyfriend Subodh was arrested for A) Identify the ethical issues involved in the case
helping her. Later, Subodh and Shabana confessed their B) What are the options available with Gulshan Kumar
love for each other in front of the media and police,
C) Critically analyse the options listed by you
urging the government to allow them to get married and
stay together in India. The duo was later released on bail. D) Which option should be adopted by Gulshan Kumar
She later claims that she converted her religion. Shabana and why?
and her kids arrived in Noida in May through Dubai, (250 words, 20 marks)
Nepal. They were living in an apartment that they had ANS. The given case hight the complex issue of online
rented in the village of Rabupura in Greater Noida. They game-driven love violating the laws of the land. This
claim to be married and intend to stay together in India. underlines the lack of wisdom on the part of Shabana
Shabana's estranged husband, Salaman Sheikh longs to
and poor governance on the part of Indian security
reconcile with his wife and kids. He works abroad in
forces.
Saudi Arabia. He requested their return from the Indian
A) Ethical issues involved in the case are
and Pakistani governments. According to Shabana, she
had sold her house for 12 lakhs to come to India. When Lack of emotional intelligence: Shabana and Subodh
Shabana pressured Subodh to marry her, he followed both of them lack emotional intelligence as failed to
the legal process with the consent of his family. They differentiate between casual interaction for
both wanted to get married in court, but in the entertainment through online games and serious
meantime, it was revealed that she doesn’t have Indian relationships.
documents she showed a Pakistani ID card when asked. Lack of wisdom: it is given in the case that Shabana has
It was revealed that she didn’t even have an Indian visa. sold her house to meet his new boyfriend in India while
When it was revealed that she was living illegally in she is already married and the mother of three children
Gautam Buddha Nagar, the police also became active. so her decision is affected by impulses rather than
After this Subodh and Shabana were caught from
rational calculations.
Ballabgarh in Haryana. Shabana Qasmi is now facing the
Poor good governance: Shabana left her country and
truth. UP ATS is probing Shabana's background. Several
entered India without the required documents it shows
questions are running in people’s minds, which will be
that promptness is lacking in the governance of both
answered as the police and UP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS)
team led by Gulshan Kumar is investigating the matter. India and Pakistani administrations.
Coincidentally Suboth is a relative of Gulshan Kumar. A Violation of Privacy and dignity: media persons and
recent twist has added a new layer of complexity to the YouTubers are trying to capture every movement of
situation. Mumbai Police recently got a call from an

Shabana which violates the privacy and dignity of an most patriarchal societies. In India, the low child-sex ratio
individual. and the need for a law banning sex determination tests
B) Options Available with Gulshan Kumar due to sex-selective abortions are some examples of
discrimination towards a girl child. A significant share of
I. Investigate the case thoroughly from all possible
people prefers sons over daughters in India due to
dimensions
cultural notions that the family lineage is carried forward
II. Take the case lightly and let the couple enjoy by men and that only sons will take care of their elderly
III. Asking for recusal from the investigating team. parents. Various cultural practices reveal how deep-
C) Analysis of the options rooted the issue is and how much it adversely impacts
the day-to-day lives of women brought up in such
OPTIONS MERIT DEMERIT
societies. Priya Jagtap a newly appointed district
1st It will uphold the The couple may face magistrate in Satara a backward district of a Coastal
duty. trouble which might prosperous state. She observed that in Satatra there is a
It will also set a dilute their prevalent culture of demeaning names or names that
role model for expectations of translate to ‘unwanted’ are still given to girls like Nakoshi,
others pleasure. Nakusa or Nakusha (meaning ‘unwanted’ in Marathi),
especially in poorer economic families. In the last few
2nd It may maximise It will show the lack of
decades, Satara has had a poor child-sex ratio, with only
the pleasure of effectiveness in
878 girls per 1,000 boys, according to the 2001 Census.
the couple and governance and it
This saw a marginal increase to 895 girls in the 2011
the administration may also harm the
Census. She found that there is minimal impact of the
security of the state at 2011 renaming ceremony initiative undertaken by the
large she may be a district administration for the Nakoshis of Satara. She
spy. also examines the case studies of four girls/women who
3rd It will ensure the It may amount to a participated in a renaming ceremony organised by health
virtue of denial of duty. officials and the Satara district administration in 2021.
impartiality on the The ceremony aimed to raise awareness about the
part of Gulshan importance of girls and combat female foeticide as part
of the “Save the Girl Child” campaign. A survey conducted
D) Best option for Gulshan Kumar is first to investigate in 2022 revealed that approximately 265 females had the
the case thoroughly because name Nakoshi, which was associated with the
 It will ensure dedication to duty on his part. disappointment of having a daughter. The district had
 As a relative of Gulshan Kumar is involved in the case implemented various initiatives during this period and
hence thorough investigation will be the test of his consequently, they found it crucial to launch a renaming
neutrality and objectivity. drive to promote a positive outlook towards girl children.
While the authorities were confident that the name-
 It is possible that Shabana might be a spy, so to
changing ceremony would change the attitude towards
prevent any mishappening in the future thorough
women in society, such a transformation has not been
investigation is the only right solution to ensure the
seen, according to Priya. A concern raised by both
greatest good to the greatest number.
parents and the women whose names were changed
Hence it can be concluded that there is a need to create was the lack of involvement from the administration in
awareness among the youth to use online platforms the official renaming process. Despite receiving name-
cautiously at the same time strengthen the governance change certificates, many of these girls continued to be
system to prevent any illegal entry in the country. called Nakoshi due to bureaucratic obstacles and
complexities involved in officially changing their names.
Respondents reported that the administration did not
Case Study 2: Despite progress in various aspects, the provide guidance or follow up with the regional office to
practice of favouring sons over daughters is prevalent in ensure the names were officially changed. Further, given

their disadvantaged position in society, several of these  Both means and ends compromised: due to
girls hoped to receive financial assistance for their demeaning names (Mean compromised) many of
education, which would not only support their these girls dropped out of school (end
advancement but also incentivise parents to educate compromised) as they could not bear the
them and inculcate a positive attitude towards girl humiliation and name-calling they endure. These
children. Unfortunately, the government did not provide girls perceived themselves as inferior and
any such financial support. She also noticed that a downplayed their contributions.
government official even stated that since Nakoshi was  Improper socialisation/value inculcation: Vinda’s
not considered a special category, there was no desire for a son also stemmed from her longing to
requirement for additional benefits. An interaction with finally feel valued and useful within her family,
Ujala, one of the girls whose name was changed, shows alleviating her guilt and sense of being unwanted.
how her parents preferred to educate her brother while
 Reluctant attitude of Bureaucracy: it is evident
she was forced to support her family financially and drop
from the case that earlier officers denied providing
out of school. Vinda’s mother underwent a tubectomy
monetary benefit to the victims.
soon after she had a boy child but when he suddenly
passed away, the family got so desperate to have a son B. Measure that Priya can adopt:
that she tried to reverse the operation. Vinda’s hope to  Ensuring the active and effective role of the
have a son as a newly married woman is reflective of administration: The administration’s effort to
how this preference for boys over girls has not changed, eradicate the derogatory naming of girls through the
even when Vinda herself was a victim of this preference. renaming ceremony is insufficient and she needs to
ensure educational support, counselling, and financial
a) What are the ethical issues involved in the given case
assistance for education and healthcare as well.
study?
 Adopting the participatory approach of
b) What measures Priya can adopt to change the given governance: Additionally, steps to ban derogatory
scenario. names for daughters must also be taken. The State
(250 words, 20 marks) must collaborate with NGOs and civil society to run
campaigns against superstitions and cultural norms
ANS. The given case deals with the inhumane practice of that promote sons over daughters.
son meta preference and the failure of the state to curb
 Adopting a multi-pronged approach: It requires a
such derogatory culture.
combination of symbolic actions, spreading
A. Ethical issues involved in the case are awareness, and consistent monitoring of progress so
 Prejudice and Superstition: The name Nakoshi is that concept of good governance can be realised. To
rooted in prejudice and superstition and its impact do so she needs to ensure follow-ups and feedback
on girls was ingrained even after their names were from society.
changed.  Focus on attitudinal change: Progressive attitude of
 Issue of Ignorance: Most parents seemed oblivious the family can solve the issue demean naming of the
to the fact that naming their girl child a demeaning girl child and the service-oriented attitude of
name would have an adverse socio-psychological bureaucracy can ensure the effective delivery of
impact on them. service.
 Discrimination and injustice: Most of the girls Thus, it can be concluded that a desirable attitude can
internalised these negative perceptions and seemed fix most social and administrative issues.
unaware of the discrimination they faced within their
households.

Part Three
Essays
of
the month
Selected essays from Rau’s GSI students
Essays OF THE MONTH
NON – COOPERATION WITH EVIL IS AS MUCH A DUTY

AS IS COOPERTION WITH GOOD.
#PHILOSOPHICAL
SUBMITTED BY: MEGHNA CHAKRABORTY
Disclaimer: The viewpoints in the topic are strictly principles and objectives, rather than driven by selfish
personal of the writer above. The role of Rau’s IAS ends, personal greed, ambition, or convenience, fall
within the realm of 'good'.
Study Circle is to present the write-up in its original
form, hence the study circle neither endorses nor Consequently, duty requires individuals to recognize
rejects any viewpoint in the submission. The purpose is what's good and actively promote, encourage, or
only to showcase the manner of writing. facilitate it. Advancing the cause of 'good' necessitates
commitment and contributions from all quarters. Hence,
Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to cooperation with the good is imperative.
use his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints.
However, what often goes unheeded is that both good
When Mahatma Gandhi issued the call for and evil exist in the world. 'Evil' encompasses actions
a mass movement based on 'Satyagraha', it arising from malevolent intentions, such as domination
held a significance far beyond mere or harm, resulting in adverse consequences for certain
'passive non-violence', a commonly groups, society, and the world at large. Actions fueled by
misunderstood notion. 'Satyagraha' represented the hatred, prejudice, perpetuating oppression or
unwavering power of truth – a truth emanating from the exploitation, leading to corruption, social ills, or war – all
very soul of humanity. It required immense courage to constitute 'evil'.
stand up for truth, regardless of the forces arrayed
When confronted with evil, it becomes equally
against you, even if it meant challenging the coercive
incumbent upon us to recognize it, voice our opposition,
might of the formidable British Empire.
and impede its progress, regardless of the risks,
'Satyagraha' was grounded in the human soul's capacity hardships, and sacrifices it entails. Without non-
to discern right from wrong. Stemming from this cooperation with evil, there's no room for cooperation
foundation, one's moral duty encompassed two facets – with the good. The latter relies on and, in turn,
cooperation with what's good and non-cooperation with strengthens the former – both elements are pivotal on
what's evil, two sides of the same coin. Neglecting either the path of 'Satyagraha'.
duty would amount to forsaking one's allegiance to the
Cooperation with the good encompasses supporting a
truth.
government's endeavors towards the public interest.
One's duty draws from both our conscience and internal Ultimately, the success of all governance initiatives
moral compass, as well as the principles laid out by depends on the initiative taken by the people themselves
constitutional morality. These sources of moral guidance – the true stakeholders.
and inspiration aid us in understanding good and evil
A campaign like 'Swachh Bharat' isn't merely about
and inspire us towards action.
governance through funding sanitation efforts and
The concept of 'good' stems from righteous intentions, constructing toilets; it also carries a significant
such as a sense of responsibility towards others, 'behavioral component'. Cultivating a societal attitude
compassion for the afflicted and disadvantaged, or that promotes hygiene as a civic responsibility forms the
dedication to a justice that upholds overall well-being, lasting foundation for the campaign's success. Thus,
human dignity, and autonomy. Actions aligned with such cooperating with such public interest initiatives requires

Essays OF THE MONTH
cultivating a sense of responsibility that extends beyond appeasement and ultimately another world war. The
oneself and one's family to the broader society. It Allied powers' hopes of remaining unaffected by evil
involves acknowledging 'Sarvodaya' – the good of one is quickly crumbled, for evil seldom remains contained; it
embedded in the good of all. thrives when left unchecked.
On one hand, cooperating with the good might involve Non-cooperation with evil was courageously exhibited by
aiding a government's efforts in pursuing social justice; inspirational figures like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther
on the other hand, it may necessitate joining others who King Jr. Their moral convictions compelled them to resist
take an independent, autonomous stance, sometimes in racial segregation, even when the laws and prevailing
opposition to the government. Social movements effect public opinion normalized such discrimination. Their
incremental change by harnessing the ethical resonance non-cooperation with evil rallied millions to join the civil
created by numerous individuals standing united in rights movement, which successfully translated the
courage and conviction. constitution's promises of 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness' into reality for racial minorities who had
Therefore, when individuals like Sunderlal Bahuguna
hitherto been excluded.
champion the cause of opposing deforestation for
development, when Ela Bhatt channels her outrage Non-cooperation with evil, challenging the disregard for
against the injustice faced by women, or when leaderless certain human rights and the devaluation of certain lives,
campaigns spontaneously demand reform (e.g., the post- brought about profound changes that resonated for
Nirbhaya rape case movement), it's our duty to generations to come.
cooperate with the good. Displaying strength in numbers
At the institutional level, fearless whistleblowers have
is the way to legitimize a just cause and propel it
displayed this duty by refusing to succumb to the
forward. The Chipko Movement, SEWA, and the Criminal
pressure of evil, even at great personal cost. Satyendra
Law Amendment (2013) based on the Verma Report all
Dubey, an engineer on the Golden Quadrilateral project,
emerged from courageous cooperation with the good.
refused to cooperate with the evil of corruption. His
However, this is only one facet of the narrative. Non- refusal to comply or turn a blind eye led to his murder by
cooperation with evil is equally vital, as such resistance vested interests. He recognized the risk, but he also
kindles the morale of efforts aimed at effecting positive understood that corruption corrodes institutions,
change. It informs wrongdoers that they lack popular weakening the rule of law and accountability. This evil
support and can't rely on tacit acceptance or had to be rooted out at its inception.
indifference. Non-cooperation weakens evil and fortifies
Consequently, neglecting either cooperation with the
the resolve for good. As Dante wrote, "the darkest places
good or non-cooperation with evil can yield grave
in hell are reserved for those who maintain their
consequences indeed. As Hannah Arendt has
neutrality in times of moral crisis."
highlighted, the 'banality of evil' arises from its
History is replete with examples that underscore this normalization due to indifference, silence, or fear of
truth. During the interwar period in the early 20th action.
century, the sinister aspects of Nazism and Fascism were
Although 'good' and 'evil' are subjective terms that vary
concealed from the world's view. Anti-Semitism and
across time and place, our conscience and the broad
brutal persecution of those deemed 'unfit', 'disabled', or
compass outlined by our preamble of justice, equality,
'impure' began with isolated incidents and snowballed
liberty, and fraternity can guide us towards the driving
into mass-scale, institutionalized violence, culminating in
force of universal principles and progress, at the core of
genocide and the 'final solution'.
Gandhi's Satyagraha. Our duty impels us towards this
The Allied powers refrained from non-cooperation, truth, and our cooperation and non-cooperation
hoping that the Nazis would contain the Communist determine how we fulfill our commitments.
threat. This narrow focus on self-interest led to

Essays OF THE MONTH
YOU CANNOT FALL IF YOU DO NOT CLIMB. BUT THERE

IS NO JOY IN LIVING YOUR WHOLE LIFE ON THE
GROUND.
#PHILOSOPHICAL
SUBMITTED BY: TISHYARAJ SINH RATHOD
Disclaimer: The viewpoints in the topic are strictly the cause of a person’s decline. They fail to pursue the
personal of the writer above. The role of Rau’s IAS higher pleasure of discovering truth through ascent.
Study Circle is to present the write-up in its original
Without embracing the climb, growth remains elusive.
form, hence the study circle neither endorses nor
Climbing can manifest as striving for change or
rejects any viewpoint in the submission. The purpose is
combating evil. Any endeavor demanding courage to
only to showcase the manner of writing.
discover light at the end of a tunnel constitutes a climb.
Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to Devoid of the resolve to take that step, one becomes
use his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints.
susceptible to stagnation, decay, and ultimately, demise.
Imagine that you are in a jail with no locks, This applies to individuals, societies, and kingdoms alike.
chains, or doors. However, the only catch The climb promises a brighter tomorrow and a more
is that this jail is situated deep within the radiant world.
ground. The sole way to escape is by
Indeed, profound joys are rarely found on the ground
climbing. This is precisely the predicament Bruce Wayne,
throughout one's lifetime. Not at least the more
also known as Batman, finds himself in. His nemesis,
profound joys—joys pursued for the sake of genuine
Bane, has condemned him to punishment, and the only
knowledge, eternal bliss, and solutions to one's most
exit is a perilous ascent. Additionally, a lifeline exists in
intricate problems.
the form of a rope fastened to Bruce’s body,
safeguarding him from a fatal fall. All he must do is climb The life of the legendary cricketer Virat Kohli underscores
or face condemnation to the abyss of the earth while this perspective. At 17, after losing his father, he declared
Bane annihilates Bruce’s city, Gotham. This concept to his brother, “I aspire to become the best cricketer
draws inspiration from the Fable of the frog in a well, globally, and nothing can deter me from achieving that.”
which originated in Chinese scriptures. The frog is He could have remained despondent on the ground.
confined by the confines of a well, shaping the frog’s Instead, he chose to ascend.
perception of reality. If the frog successfully scales the
Years later, the young lad from West Delhi christened
well, its reality expands limitlessly. Thus, a distinction
himself as “King Kohli”. Thus, the coronation was
emerges between the notion of being constrained and
complete. Could he have experienced this joy by staying
the concept of being liberated from the ground.
on the ground? Could he have attained this life had he
However, not everyone strives to climb. This reluctance surrendered the climb?
could stem from attachment—to comfort, painlessness,
The world abounds with such narratives. To climb is to
or a profound commitment to stagnation. Comfort zones
dedicate oneself, be it in the face of adversity or
hinder individuals from embarking on the climb. The
prosperity. The specter of falling looms, alarming many.
notion of clinging finds mention in the Hindu scripture,
Yet, for the wise, the fear of falling fails to dissuade them,
Bhagwad Geeta. The concept of maya, illusion, becomes
as their failures continue to inspire others.

Essays OF THE MONTH
The life of Henry Vivian Derozio illustrates the nuances of Pulitzer Prize. Duranty chose the wrong ladder, rooted in
this concept. Derozio endeavored to exalt India’s history a false consciousness of joy.
when the British wreaked havoc upon the land. He
Perhaps, even an extreme ascent might not be prudent.
persisted in aiding Indians in reclaiming their lost glory.
Periodic introspection and refinement are necessary. Just
This served as a potent reminder that Indian history isn't
as one shouldn't remain grounded all their life, they
one of bondage and servitude, but of dignity and
shouldn't recklessly climb throughout their life.
sagacity. Although Derozio's movement faltered in
Intermittent breaks could work wonders in the long run,
addressing the plight of India's peasants and remained
allowing analysis of the utility or futility of recent climbs.
confined to the upper-middle class, he instilled
inspiration in a nation seeking its roots. Toby Lutke, the founder of Shopify, ardently champions
this notion. Every six months, he pauses to dissect
It's no wonder that Surendranath Banerjee remarked,
decisions made in that period to assess whether things
“Their failures shall be met with utmost consideration,
could have been executed better. His concept of brief
for they have motivated millions to do what's right.”
respites amidst life's hustle and bustle makes a
Thus, an arduous climb merits admiration irrespective of
compelling case for not ceaselessly moving without self-
the outcomes.
examination.
Climbing and failing in the process may be more
Similarly, Viktor Frankl, in his work “Man’s Search for
laudable than remaining grounded, devoid of the
Meaning”, delves into what distinguishes survivors in
fortitude to rise. German philosopher Nietzsche
Nazi concentration camps from those who succumbed.
expounds on this, asserting that adversity and happiness
In an environment with a mere yzz survival rate, Frankl
are intertwined. He contends that authentic happiness is
emphasizes that those with a purpose endure the
elusive in the absence of adversity. Both are two sides of
agonizing journey. This purpose may be family for one or
the same coin.
incomplete life's work for another.
However, there are instances when individuals climb the
Hence, amid the quagmire of confusion, negativity, evil,
wrong ladder. Pursuing shallow joys, they undermine the
and darkness, one can rely on Frankl’s notion of adhering
essence of the climb, sinking into deeper, darker wells.
to one’s ascent.
Walter Duranty, who headed Moscow’s branch of The
New York Times, was coerced by Stalin to propagate a So, what does Batman do? He discards the safety rope,
fabricated image of famine in western Russia. On a train as it symbolizes the antithesis of purpose. He presses
visit to Ukraine, part of the erstwhile USSR, he was forward and upward on his climb, unafraid of falling, on
shattered. He witnessed things he'd never seen before. a quest to escape the well. And reign he does, ultimately
People resorted to cannibalism due to the lack of food. experiencing the greater joy of rescuing his city from the
Despite his conscience's voice, he refrained from clutches of evil.
reporting the truth. In return, he was awarded the The climb encompasses everything!

Essays OF THE MONTH
WE HAVE FIRST RAISED DUST AND THEN COMPLAIN

WE CANNOT SEE
#PHILOSOPHICAL
SUBMITTED BY: URVI
Disclaimer: The viewpoints in the topic are strictly So, why do we generate "dust" in the first place? It is
personal of the writer above. The role of Rau’s IAS Study largely due to selfish interests – prioritizing our own
Circle is to present the write-up in its original form, hence needs over those of others. We become so absorbed in
the study circle neither endorses nor rejects any viewpoint the relentless pursuit of these needs that we overlook
in the submission. The purpose is only to showcase the the potential impact.
manner of writing.
This is strikingly evident in the relationship between
Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to use
humanity and nature, which now hangs by a "fragile
his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints.
thread." Human development's selfish pursuits have led
Vietnam witnessed a prolonged struggle to the destruction of nature – encroachment on
for independence against French floodplains, deforestation, and urbanization. Nature's
colonialism. Under the leadership of Ho fury is evident as it wreaks havoc; recently, the Yamuna
Chi Minh and the Vietcong – an alliance of River reclaimed its banks, flooding Delhi.
communists, leftists, and rightists – Vietnam managed to
The rise in instances of flash floods, erratic rainfall, and
drive out the French and achieve decolonization.
coastal erosion due to "ultimate change" has adversely
However, the real dilemma emerges here. The United
affected humankind. Now, humanity laments the natural
States grew apprehensive about the spread of
disasters it essentially caused.
communism and resorted to violence under the guise of
safeguarding democracy. Thousands of U.S. soldiers lost Furthermore, it can be argued that greed – a narrow
their lives, and there was a substantial drain on their perception of well-being – leads to mistakes. Human
economic resources as a civil war wreaked havoc in desires are insatiable, and the real challenge lies in
Vietnam. This illustrates how the U.S. stirred up the optimizing them. As St. Augustine stated, "Desire and
"dust" of external interference in Vietnam and then anger are two vices that lead a person to downfall."
lamented its inability to see.
This is particularly noticeable in the global economic
This essay will delve into the concept of "dust" and structure. "Islands of prosperity" exist amidst a "sea of
explore why humans generate it in the first place. It will poverty." According to the World Economic Forum, the
also examine why they complain and why raising dust top 1% possesses nearly 20 times more global wealth
should be avoided. than the bottom 50% of the population.
The aforementioned quote establishes "dust" as a Similarly, during the Covid-19 pandemic, developed
blunder or action that yields unfavorable outcomes. It countries patented Covid vaccines while underdeveloped
implies that at times, we err without considering the nations were left to fend for themselves. As a result, the
repercussions. Consequently, we fail to take second wave swept the world, and the developed nations
responsibility for our errors and often shift blame onto found themselves complaining about the dust they had
others. The grievances we voice are a consequence of stirred up.
our own actions.
Often, the inability to foresee future consequences leads
to the raising of dust. As citizens, we have

Essays OF THE MONTH
responsibilities, but our inability to fulfill them creates However, do we always raise 'dust'? We have seen how
problems. The realm of politics is one such arena where humans generate 'dust' and why. Yet, certain natural
this is evident. phenomena can lead to unintended consequences
beyond human control. Additionally, unforeseen
Criminalization of politics has marred Indian democracy
circumstances can arise even from the most well-
(43% in the 17th Lok Sabha). Voters are influenced by
intentioned and carefully planned actions.
'Freebies' or adopt an apathetic attitude toward politics.
This has empowered muscle power (police encounters, For instance, reservation policies are well-designed to
crime rates, etc.), which elicits complaints from all uplift backward classes in Indian society. Nevertheless,
quarters. the benefits have become concentrated within a few
communities, leaving those who need it most behind.
Similarly, the realm of 'Social Media' has ensnared us.
Our excessive obsession with its allure has had negative Similarly, the liberalization-privatization-globalization
repercussions, resulting in mental depression and (LPG) reforms were introduced to integrate India into the
diminished self-worth due to our inability to distinguish global market. While they increased GDP and exports,
between the real and virtual worlds. Despite our overuse they also led to 'jobless growth,' with unemployment
of technology, we are left complaining. remaining a cause for concern.
Nations, in pursuit of their geopolitical interests, Nevertheless, except for a few exceptions, it is generally
sometimes raise 'dust' without acknowledging the observed that humans raise dust and then complain that
potential 'blindness' it could cause in the future. they cannot see.
India's neighbor, Pakistan, has historically pursued an How do we address the 'dust'? The quote above teaches
aggressive foreign policy towards India – the 1965 war, us not to complain and panic in the face of significant
the 1999 Kargil war, etc. Despite India's efforts for peace, challenges, but to approach them with composure,
precious resources have been allocated along the patience, and perseverance in search of solutions to our
border. Today, the country is burdened by high debt, mistakes.
inflation, and currency devaluation.
We must employ emotional intelligence to manage our
Historically, Britain and France supported Adolf Hitler emotions and make decisions grounded in reason.
and encouraged his actions to eliminate communism. Similar to Lord Krishna's guidance to Arjuna in the
Little did they realize that they had stirred up the 'dust' of Mahabharata, helping him overcome fear and vices to
Nazism that threatened their very existence. win the battle successfully.

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CONTENTS

THE DIGITAL PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION BILL, 2023

JAN VISHAWS ACT

DIFFERING INTERPRETATION OF EQUAL PROTECTION

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISMISSAL OF MINISTER BY THE GOVERNOR

NATIONAL MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX, 2023 36

HORIZON 2047: VISION FOR INDIA-FRANCE STRATEGIC

COLLABORATION OVER INDUS WATER TREATY

#DPSP #Fundamental Rights 19 SCO SUMMIT 44

MEKONG GANGA COOPERATION (MGC) 44 #environment #conservation 62

COMPREHENSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE AGREEMENT FOR #Environment #Speciesconservation 64

GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2023 45 ALL GOVT. DISTRICT HOSPITALS #Environment 65

PRACTICE QUESTIONS 45 ANTHROPOCENE, THE NEW EPOCH MARKED BY HUMAN

47 IN VARANASI, TURTLES HELP CLEAN THE GANGA 66

DUCHENNE’S MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

Disaster Management PRACTICE QUESTIONS 79

# GS Paper (Prelims) and GS Paper I & III (Main)

GURJARA PRATIHARA DYNASTY

Aptitude WE HAVE FIRST RAISED DUST AND THEN COMPLAIN WE

CASE STUDIES for Practice

rechargeable batteries that can be plugged into a

VEHICLES  Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs): These vehicles use

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 2

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 3

scheme and to make necessary WHAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL CURRENCY?

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 4

access international financial markets without is to facilitate the process of internationalisation of

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 5

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 6

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 7

STATUS OF FINANCING OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY

OF RENEWABLE ENERGY  India’s power sector has been experiencing transition

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 8

 Re-negotiation of Power Purchase Agreements  Setting up of Renewable Energy Industry Promotion

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 9

cancellation/renegotiation of PPAs as it causes  This edition also presents the changes in

 The limit of loans for the renewable energy sector

India aims to reduce poverty in all its forms by at least half

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 10

the number of multidimensionally poor reasons by Snapshot of Multidimensional Poverty in India

Headcount Intensity Headcount Intensity of

2019-21 0.086 19.28% 44.55% 0.023 5.27% 43.10%

2015-16 0.154 35.59% 47.38% 0.039 8.65% 45.27%

COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF STATES/UTS IN THE

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 11

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 12

FISCAL HEALTH OF STATES SIGNIFICANCE OF STATE’S FISCAL CONSOLIDATION

WHY IS UNDERSTANDING STATE FINANCES  Reprioritising Expenditure: States were able to

IMPORTANT? reprioritise expenditure and quickly contain the fiscal

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 13

CONCLUSION external commercial borrowing.

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 14

SETTLEMENT SYSTEM UAE local currency settlement system could also

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 15

RANKINGS  49% of India’s exports go to only ten destinations.

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 16

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 17

Answers: 1-d, 2-a, 3-b, 4-b, 5-c

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 18

to make with respect to personal laws. Why it is called

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 19

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 20

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 21

FOCUS | AUGUST 2023 | RAU’S IAS 22

Rau's AUGUST Magazine - 2023 Final

Rau's AUGUST Magazine - 2023 Final