Panda 2

Unacademy Plus Ref Code: PRASHANTYT10 Telegram: CRACKCAPF
PANDA 2
Prashant's Arsenal Of News Daily Analysis
Important Eassay topics
DR. PRASHANT JAGTAP

Assistant Commandant, CISF
8530314222/5222/6222
PUNE: +91 7420 831018, +91 8600 192703
CAPF PATHFINDERS
NEW DELHI: +91 9867 321800
Unacademy Plus Ref Code: PRASHANTYT10
For 10% Discount Telegram: CRACKCAPF
1
PERSON WITH DISABILITY .......................................................................................................... 3
MANUAL SCAVENGING ............................................................................................................ 15
INDIA USA ................................................................................................................................ 20
VACCINE DIPLOMACY .............................................................................................................. 25
RIGHT TO PRIVACY & LEGITIMATE STATE INTEREST ................................................................ 32
INDIA-MONGOLIA RELATIONS ................................................................................................. 35
SOCIAL JUSTICE ........................................................................................................................ 38
SMALL FARMERS NEED SECOND SOURCE OF INCOME ........................................................... 41
CHINA’S RISING INFLUENCE IN SOUTH ASIA ............................................................................ 43
QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 46
LIDAR........................................................................................................................................ 50
POLITICAL CRISIS IN NEPAL ...................................................................................................... 51
GOVERNMENT'S DISINVESTMENT PLANS ................................................................................ 55
5G TECHNOLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 57
WESTERN DISTURBANCE ......................................................................................................... 59
INDIA INNOVATION INDEX 2020: NITI AAYOG ......................................................................... 60
NATIONAL INNOVATION PORTAL (NIP) LAUNCHED ................................................................ 63
JALLIKATTU: PRIDE & POLITICS ................................................................................................ 64
MUTUAL FUNDS (MF) RISK-O-METER BECOMES EFFECTIVE ................................................... 66
INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED 9MM MACHINE PISTOL ....................................... 67
CAPF PATHFINDERS Pune/New Delhi 8530316222/5222/4222

2
K-SHAPED ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF INDIA: ........................................................................... 68
OPEN SKIES TREATY (OST) ........................................................................................................ 71
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION ................................................................................. 77
GREEN ENERGY ........................................................................................................................ 86
AMALGAMATION OF NATIONAL BANKS .................................................................................. 97
ONE NATION ONE RATION CARD ........................................................................................... 101
BAD BANK: NEED CHALLENGES AND ALTERNATIVE .............................................................. 105
25 YEARS OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY IN INDIA ........................................................................... 110
HATE SPEECH ......................................................................................................................... 118
FIVE YEARS OF PARIS AGREEMENT ........................................................................................ 123
GIG ECONOMY ....................................................................................................................... 130
REGULATIONS OF DIGITAL MEDIA ......................................................................................... 134
URBAN FLOODING-HYDERABAD FLOODS .............................................................................. 137
NATIONAL SECURITY DIRECTIVE ON THE TELECOMMUNICATION SECTOR (NSDTS)............. 147

3
Person with Disability

Definition
 As per WHO disability means “any restriction or lack (resulting from an

impairment) of ability to perform in a manner or within the range considered
normal for a human being”
 According to The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 "Person
with disability" means a person with long term physical, mental, intellectual or
sensory impairment which, in interaction with barriers, hinders his full and
Y
effective participation in society equally with others
EM
 Person with benchmark disability" means a person with not less than
forty per cent. of a specified disability where specified disability has not been
defined in measurable terms and includes a person with disability where
D
specified disability has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the
CA
certifying authority.
 Disability is a complex concept and is difficult to define since it varies in
A
type, form and intensity. The World Report on Disability, 2011 sums up
various definitions of disability by stating “Disability is complex, dynamic,
S
multidimensional, and contested”.
ER
Facts related with Disability in India-

D
 According to the Census of India 2011, there are 2.68 crore Persons with
N
Disabilities in our country, which constitutes 2.21% of our population

 Out of 2.68 crore, 1.5 crore are males and 1.18 crore are females
FI
 Majority (69%) of the disabled population resided in rural areas

TH
 A government report tells us that road injuries caused 65% more disabilities
in 2016 than in 1990
PA
 Among the State/ UTs, Sikkim has the highest prevalence of disability
(2.98). Daman and Diu have the lowest prevalence of disability (0.9%)
 Age-wise break-up of the data suggests disability is more among people
©
aged 80 years and above, and the least among children aged up to 4 years.
 Disability among STs in lower age groups up to 40-49 years is significantly
lower than the other social groups whereas in the higher age group (60 plus), it
is high among STs.
 The World Bank estimates that there may be well over 40 million Indians
living with disabilities

4
Y
EM
D
CA
Issues and Challenges
1. Health:
A
 A large number of disabilities are preventable, including those arising from
S
medical issues during birth, maternal conditions, malnutrition, as well as
ER
accidents and injuries.

 However, the health sector especially in rural India has failed to react
proactively to disability
D
 There is lack of affordable access to proper health care, aids and appliances
N
 Health care and poorly trained health-workers in rehabilitation centres is

FI
another concern
2. Education:
TH
 The education system is not inclusive. Inclusion of children with mild to

moderate disabilities in regular schools has remain a major challenge
PA
 There are various issues such as availability special schools, access to

schools, trained teachers, and availability of educational material for the
©
disabled.
3. Employment
 Disabled face difficulties with physical access to the workplace, and getting
to and from work, inadequate adjustments and adaptations to workplace
equipment, inflexible working hours. Limited scope and variety of jobs offered
to people with disabilities, lower possibilities for promotion, lower paying jobs
& lower retention rates
4. Identification

5
 A disability certificate is a basic document for any entitlement for a disabled

person.
 Certification is a major issue for the vast majority of the disabled people.
5. Indians with disabilities are far more likely to suffer from poor social and
economic development.
6. 45 per cent of this population is illiterate, making it difficult for them to
build better, more fulfilled lives. This is compounded by the community’s lack
of political representation
Y
7. Lack of Literacy: - Around 55% of PwD are illiterate and only 9% are
reach above higher secondary schooling.
EM
8. Poverty: Rural hinterland has high poverty among PwD.
9. Lack of Financial support to PwD.
10. Social Stigma / Discrimination/Social Exclusion: - Fear of society make
D
them shy away to face labour market. Differently-abled people face
CA
discrimination in everyday life
11. Lost Opportunity effect: - After certain age PwD cannot handle the
A
challenging assignment in job which make them vulnerable to enhancement in
carrier.
S
12. Lack of Medical facility: - Which make them less immune to diseases.
ER
13. Accessibility: - Accessibility of offices make them mentally weak to face

labour market.
14. Peer Pressure- Negative attitude towards PwD in working area.
D
15. Inadequate data and statistics: The lack of rigorous and comparable data
N
and statics further hinders inclusion of persons with disabilities

FI
16. Poor implementation of policies and schemes hinders the inclusion of

TH
disabled persons. Though various acts and schemes have been laid down with
an aim to empower the disabled, their enforcement face many challenges.
PA
Steps Taken by the Government

 Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) states that
©
State shall make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education
and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, and
disablement, within the limits of its economic capacity and development.
 Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
 This act defines disability based on an evolving and dynamic concept.
 Under the act, the types of disabilities have been increased from 7 to 21. In
addition, the Government has been authorized to notify any other category of
specified disability.

6
 The act is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice &

Empowerment.
 Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)- Under the scheme
financial assistance is provided to NGOs for providing various services to
Persons with Disabilities, like special schools, vocational training centres,
community-based rehabilitation, pre-school and early intervention etc
 Accessible India Campaign- The aim of the Campaign is to make a barrier
free and conducive environment for the differently-abled persons
 Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for purchase/fitting of
Y
Aids/appliances (ADIP Scheme)- The Scheme aims at helping the disabled
EM
persons by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern,
standard aids and appliances within their reach.
 National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities (RGMF)-The scheme
D
aims to increase opportunities to students with disabilities for pursuing higher
CA
education. Under the Scheme, 200 Fellowships per year are granted to students
with disability. A
 BADHTE KADAM: aims at community awareness, sensitisation, social
integration and mainstreaming of Persons with Disabilities
S
 SAHYOGI Caregiver training scheme- Aims to provide training and
ER
create a skilled workforce of caregivers to provide adequate and nurturing care

for Person with Disabilities (PwD) and their families who require it
 DISHA – early intervention and school readiness scheme for children in the
D
age group of 0-10 years with disabilities viz. Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental
N
Retardation and Multiple Disabilities

FI
 A Virtual ADIP Camp for free distribution of assistive aids and

TH
devices at Block level for Divyangjans under the ADIP scheme of Government
of India was organized in Punjab.
 Sugamya Pustakalaya- “Sugamaya Pustakalaya” is an online platform that
PA
makes accessible content available to print-disabled people. The library houses

publications across diverse subjects and languages and multiple accessible
©
formats.
 District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRC)- To create an enabling

environment to ensure equal opportunities, equity, social justice and
empowerment of persons with disabilities.
 National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation

(NHFDC)-The NHFDC has been set up as a “not for profit” company by the
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. It is wholly owned by Government

7
of India. It functions as an Apex institution for channelizing the funds to

persons with disabilities through the State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs)
nominated by the State Government(s).
 Scheme for Implementation of Persons with Disabilities (Equal

Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995
(SIPDA)
Y
Steps Needed
EM
 Society should be inclusive and sensitive towards the needs of differently-
abled.
D
 Creation of accessible infrastructure should be of paramount importance.
CA
 Schools must inculcate sensitivity towards disability among children
early in their lives.
 Safety at road and workplace should be enhanced for the prevention of
A
debilitating accidents.
 Social attitude towards disability should be changed.
S
ER
 Good cinema should be encouraged on the topic of disability.

D
Best case study

N
Kerala has already started an early prevention programme. Comprehensive

FI
New-born Screening (CNS) programme seeks early identification of deficits

in infants and reduce state’s burden of disability.
TH
PA
Why in news
 According to the latest study, researchers at the Department of Electrical
©
and Computer Engineering at Binghamton University's Thomas J. Watson

College of Engineering and Applied Science, have found a way to test bacteria
for antibiotic resistance. The new device will be able to offer a faster way to
detect antibiotic-resistance.
 The study is based on the same principle as the batteries – bacterial electron
transfers, a chemical process that certain microorganisms use for growth,
overall cell maintenance and information exchange with surrounding
microorganisms

8
What is Antimicrobial Resistance?

 Anti-microbial resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism
(bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as
antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarial, and anthelmintic) that are used
to treat infections.
 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and
parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making
infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe
Y
illness and death.
 Antimicrobial drug resistance is a very serious issue for both human and
EM
veterinary medicine
 Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally but misuse of antibiotics in humans
D
and animals is accelerating the process. Poor infection prevention and control
CA
further accelerate it.
 WHO has declared that AMR is one of the top 10 global public health
A
threats facing humanity?
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

9
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
How it
TH
can transmit
 Antimicrobial resistant organisms are found in people, animals, food, plants
PA
and the environment (in water, soil and air). They can spread from person to
person or between people and animals, including from food of animal origin
©
Causes of Antimicrobial resistant

 Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are the main drivers in the
development of drug-resistant pathogens.
 Lack of clean water and sanitation and inadequate infection prevention and
control promotes the spread of microbes, some of which can be resistant to
antimicrobial treatment

10
 Lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for both
humans and animals;
 Poor infection and disease prevention and control in health-care facilities
and farms;
 Poor access to quality, affordable medicines, vaccines and diagnostics;
 Lack of awareness and knowledge; and lack of enforcement of legislation.
 Drug-resistant strains of microorganisms commonly develop from flawed
prescription regimes, a matter of concern for decades.
Y
 The cost of AMR to the economy is significant. In addition to death and
disability, prolonged illness results in longer hospital stays, the need for more
EM
expensive medicines and financial challenges for those impacted
 Especially alarming is the rapid global spread of multi- and pan-resistant
D
bacteria (also known as “superbugs”) that cause infections that are not treatable
with existing antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics.
CA
 Antibiotic resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains are threatening
progress in containing the global tuberculosis epidemic. WHO estimates that,
A
in 2018, there were about half a million new cases of rifampicin-resistant TB
(RR-TB) identified globally, of which the vast majority have multi-drug
S
resistant TB (MDR-TB), a form of tuberculosis that is resistant to the two most
ER
powerful anti-TB drugs.

 Antiviral drug resistance is an increasing concern in immunocompromised
D
patient populations, where ongoing viral replication and prolonged drug

exposure lead to the selection of resistant strains. Resistance has developed to
N
most antivirals including antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

FI
 Antibiotic consumption in the community and in hospital settings

 Incorrect knowledge about antibiotics in the population and self-medication
TH
 Use of antibiotics in food-producing animals and in agriculture

 The environment and the spread of resistance
PA
 The emergence of resistance in some bacterial species commonly cause of

human infections
©
Impact of Antibiotic Resistance

 The impact of antibiotic resistance in terms of mortality and of the public
health cost is quite difficult to estimate, and there are few studies addressing
this issue.
 Several fields of modern medicine depend on the availability of effective
antibiotic drugs; chemotherapy for cancer treatment, organ transplantation, hip

11
replacement surgery, intensive care for pre-term new-borns and many other
activities could not be performed without effective antibiotics
 Also, the economic impact of antibiotic resistance is difficult to quantify,
as several types of consequences must be taken into account. Increased
resistance leads to elevated costs associated with more expensive antibiotics
(when infections become resistant to first-line antimicrobials, treatment has to
be switched to second- or third-line drugs, which are nearly always more
expensive), specialised equipment, longer hospital stay and isolation
procedures for the patients
Y
 Societal costs include death and loss of productivity.
EM
Way forward
 AMR is a complex problem that requires a united multisectoral approach.
D
The One Health approach brings together multiple sectors and stakeholders
CA
engaged in human, terrestrial and aquatic animal and plant health, food and
feed production and the environment to communicate and work together in the
design and implementation of programmes, policies, legislation and research to
A
attain better public health outcomes.
 To combat AMR, we must enable low- and middle-income countries
S
ER
(LMICs) to implement sustainable sanitation, secure nutrition, and access to

proper health care thereby preventing infections and reducing the spread of
resistance.
D
 Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) needs global and concerted action to be

N
able to combat this emerging health threat. The WHO Global Action Plan on
FI
AMR aims at doing so, in cooperation with the World Animal Health
Organization and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
TH
 However, all countries should restrict antibiotics to healthy animals,

contribute to ending environmental pollution with antibiotics from the
PA
pharmaceutical industry and avoid unnecessary human use of antibiotics.

Various global initiative
©
 The launch of the Antimicrobial Resistance Multi Partner Trust Fund

(AMR MPTF), the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership
(GARDP), AMR Action Fund and other funds and initiatives could fill a major
funding gap
 The Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System
(GLASS)-WHO launched the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use
Surveillance System (GLASS) in 2015 to continue filling knowledge gaps and
to inform strategies at all levels. GLASS has been conceived to progressively

12
incorporate data from surveillance of AMR in humans, surveillance of the use

of antimicrobial medicines, AMR in the food chain and in the environment
 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW)-Held annually since
2015, WAAW is a global campaign that aims to raise awareness of
antimicrobial resistance worldwide and encourage best practices among the
general public, health workers and policy makers to slow the development and
spread of drug-resistant infections. The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week
(WAAW) is celebrated from November 18 to November 24 every year
 Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP)-A
Y
joint initiative of WHO and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative
EM
(DNDi), GARDP encourages research and development through public-private
partnerships. By 2025, the partnership aims to develop and deliver five new
treatments that target drug-resistant bacteria identified by WHO as posing the
D
greatest threat
CA
Situation in India
• India faces a twin challenge of overconsumption of antibiotics breeding
A
drug-resistant bacteria while ensuring that the poor and vulnerable have easy
S
access. WHO’s report states that anti-biotic resistance may cause rise in death
ER
of Indians to 20 lakhs per year by 2050.

Steps taken
D
• To strengthen the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the

N
country, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has set up a National

FI
Anti-Microbial Resistance Research and Surveillance Network (AMRRSN) to

TH
enable compilation of National Data of AMR at different levels of Health Care.

• The Drugs and Cosmetic Rule, 1945 were amended in 2013 to incorporate a
PA
new Schedule H1. These will be sold on prescription only. They are also
marked with Red Line (Red Line Campaign).
©
• Government has formulated a National Action Plan to combat

Antimicrobial Resistance in 2017 and National Policy for containment of
antimicrobial resistance in 2011.
The Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (IACG)
has released a report titled, “No Time to Wait: Securing the Future from
Drug Resistant Infections”, which highlights the financial fall-out of
uncontrolled antimicrobial resistance. Report given various
recommendations

13
Key Recommendations of the Report

 Accelerate Progress in Countries- in terms of implementation of One
Health National Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plans.
 Innovate to Secure the Future- through quality-assured, new
antimicrobials (particularly antibiotics), novel compounds, diagnostics,
vaccines, waste management tools, and safe and effective alternatives to
antimicrobials for usage
 Collaborate for More Effective Action- through systematic and
Y
meaningful engagement of civil society groups, private players and
organizations as key stakeholders in the One Health response to antimicrobial
EM
resistance at global, regional, national and local levels.
 Invest for A Sustainable Response- through greater resource allocation,
D
donations to fund the implementation of National Antimicrobial Resistance
Action Plans
CA
 Strengthen Accountability and Global Governance- by urgent
establishment of a One Health Global Leadership Group on Antimicrobial
A
Resistance, supported by a Joint Secretariat managed by the Tripartite agencies
(FAO, OIE and WHO).
S
ER
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) AND COVID-19

New therapies to COVID-19
D
 The lack of therapies to treat severe COVID-19 patients led clinicians to use
N
a number of treatments to modify the activity of their immune system.

 The researchers found that virus SARS-CoV-2 and bacteria in the lungs
FI
may affect each other’s ability to cause damage and worsen the outcome.
TH
 The research has raised concerns of the impact of COVID-19 on AMR

globally. The World Health Organisation recently expressed fears that the
pandemic will increase the global threat of AMR as many COVID-19 patients
PA
receive antibiotics as part of their treatment regime.

 It is critical that co-infections should not be underestimated and instead be
©
part of the plan to limit the global burden of morbidity and mortality during the
COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) 2017 –
2021
 In 2015, Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR) –
including antibiotic resistance, the most urgent drug resistance trend was
endorsed.
 The WHA resolution urges Member States to align their National Action
Plan on AMR with GAP-AMR by May 2017.
14
 The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare notified three governance

mechanisms in 2016 to address this challenge and the National Action Plan on
Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) was prepared
Six strategic priorities have been identified under the NAP-AMR:
1. Improving awareness and understanding of AMR through effective 4
National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance | India communication,
education and training.
2. Strengthening knowledge and evidence through surveillance.
3. Reducing the incidence of infection through effective infection prevention
Y
and control.
EM
4. Optimizing the use of antimicrobial agents in health, animals and food.
5. Promoting investments for AMR activities, research and innovations.
6. Strengthening India’s leadership on AMR.
D
CA
What is Antimicrobial Resistance? How is it perceived to be a bigger
threat than that of COVID-19? Explain. A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

15
Manual scavenging
 Context: Delhi sanitation workers’ protest:
The death of five young men who were employed to clean a septic tank in an
upmarket residential community in New Delhi and five workers died in a septic
tank in Odisha is a shocking reminder that India’s high-profile sanitation
campaign has done little to alter some basic ground realities
 Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning,
carrying, disposing or handling in any manner, human excreta from dry
Y
latrines and sewers.
EM
 The practise of manual scavenging is linked to India’s caste system
where so-called lower castes were expected to perform this job.
D
 Manual scavengers are amongst the poorest and most disadvantaged
CA
communities in India.
Issues Related to Manual Scavenging A
1. However, while manual scavenging for many may have ended as a
form of employment, the stigma and discrimination associated with it
S
lingers on.
ER
This makes it difficult for liberated manual scavengers to secure

alternative livelihoods.
D
2. Correctly identifying manual scavengers remains a key challenge.

N
3. They are denied access to places of worship, public sources of water.

FI
TH
Reasons for Prevalence of Manual scavenging:

 Manual scavenging persists mainly because of the continued
PA
presence of insanitary latrines.


©
It is strongly connected to the caste system.

 Lack of support by society to eliminate this most inhuman
profession.
 Lack of education and humanity which is missing in many parts of
India.
 Data show the manual scavenger’s reluctance to take up self-
employment.

16
 Community mind-set – Many communities still regard the inclusion

of a sanitary toilet as ritual
 Lack of budget support for rehabilitation
 Manual scavengers are not an organized group and don’t have any
significant voice in the political and government structures
 Open drains are also badly designed, allowing people to dump solid
waste into them
Y
EM
Rehabilitation works are also very slow due to various challenges as
follows Lack of budgetary support
D
 Manual scavengers are generally uneducated
CA
 They have no exposure to other works
 Many of them are old particularly women
A
 They lack confidence in doing self-employment and
S

ER
Many of them do not come forward to avail of any skill development

training.
D
Data regarding Manual Scavenging:


N
Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) released in 2015, states

that there were around 18 million manual scavenging households in rural
FI
areas.
TH
 A government survey identifies 12,226 manual scavengers in 12

states. Most septic tanks are emptied manually in Indian cities.
PA
 Statistics show that 80% of India’s sewage cleaners die before they
turn 60, after contracting various infectious diseases
©
Government Intervention
1.Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines
(Prohibition) Act.
1. Prohibited the employment of manual scavengers for manually
cleaning dry latrines and also the construction of dry toilets (that do
not operate with a flush).
2. Provided for imprisonment of up to a year and a fine.

17
2.Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their

Rehabilitation Act, 2013
Main objective-prohibiting manual scavenging in all forms and ensures the
rehabilitation of manual scavengers to be identified through a mandatory
survey.
Key features of the Act
1. Prohibits the construction or maintenance of insanitary toilets.
Y
2. Prohibits the engagement or employment of anyone as a manual
EM
scavenger violation could result in a years’ imprisonment or a fine of
INR 50,000 or both.
D
3. Prohibits a person from being engaged or employed for
hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank.
CA
4. Offences under the Act are cognizable and non-bailable.
5. Calls for a survey of manual scavengers in urban and rural areas
A
within a time-bound framework.
S
3.The Government of India has adopted a two-pronged strategy of
ER
eliminating insanitary latrines through demolition and conversion into

sanitary latrines and developing a comprehensive rehabilitation package for
D
manual scavengers through a survey

N
4. The National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management,

FI
2017, states that employment of manual scavengers is illegal, but it does not
suggest mechanical alternatives to unclog septic tanks, drains and sewers.
TH
5.National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK)

1. NCSK is a statutory body established under National
PA
Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993.

2. It was established in 1994 to deal with the grievances of persons
©
engaged in manual scavenging.

3. It aims to promote and safeguard the interests and rights of Safai
Karamcharis and Manual Scavengers and works for the welfare of
both.
4.Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers
(SRMS)

18
It was introduced in 2007 with the aim to rehabilitate remaining manual

scavengers and their dependents in alternative occupations, in a time-bound
manner.
Way Forward
 Ministries such as Housing and Urban Affairs should be looking into
the complete mechanisation of sewage cleaning, which is the only way to
Y
eliminate the practice of getting people to clean it manually.
EM
 Bio-toilets: Bio-digester toilets are designed to convert human waste
into gases and manure.

D
The zero-waste bio digester technology uses psychotropic bacteria to
break down human excreta into usable water and gas. Once applied, the
CA
bacteria can work for a lifetime.
 Smart cities should be planned taking into consideration manual
A
scavenging.
S
 Ensure discrimination-free, secure and alternate livelihoods by
ER
providing skill development and livelihoods training to women

 Raising the confidence level among those engaged in manual cleaning
D
is vital.
N
 Need for political will to eradicate this inhuman practice.

FI
 Improving educational status among the children of the scavenging

TH
community
 Mahatma Gandhi said that “Everyone must be his own
PA
scavenger.”
 “Open defecation free” not only means that there is no visible
©
faeces in the environment, it also means that every household and public
institution uses safe technology to dispose of the same.
Several NGOs are dedicated to solving this issue
 Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) – a national movement for the total
eradication of manual scavenging.
 Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan: It is a coalition of 30 community-based
organizations who campaigned to encourage manual scavengers to voluntarily
leave the practice.
19
 Association for Rural and Urban Needy (ARUN) based on Hyderabad

works for the enforcement of the national ban on manual scavenging.
JANVIKAS also focusing on manual scavenging.
 Sulabh International Social Service Organization: Focusses on the
construction of proper toilets and has pioneer
 Despite the law prohibiting manual scavenging, it is a harsh reality that
the practice still exists in India. Critically analyse
Y
 Fight against Manual scavenging is not yet over. The battle is half won.
EM
Critically examine the bridge between caste based manual scavenging and
casual labour
Best example
D
 Delhi government announces 100% mechanization of sewage
CA
cleaning following the rise in the number of deaths of sewage workers in
Delhi. In 2019, the Delhi government flagged off 200 sewer cleaning
A
machines
“In India, a man is not a scavenger because of his work. He is a scavenger
S
because of his birth irrespective of the question of whether he does
ER
scavenge or not.” – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Reasons for the Prevalence of

Manual Scavenging in India
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

20
INDIA USA
News
India and the United States signed the BECA Agreement (Basic Exchange
and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation) during the
third round of 2+2 Ministerial dialogue on October 27, 2020.
What is BECA agreement?
• The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement largely pertains
Y
to geospatial intelligence, and sharing information on maps and satellite
images for defence.
EM
• Anyone who sails a ship, flies an aircraft, fights wars, locates targets,
responds to natural disasters, or even navigates with a cellphone relies on
D
geospatial intelligence.
CA
• Signing BECA will allow India to use the US’s advanced geospatial
intelligence and enhance the accuracy of automated systems and weapons
A
like missiles and armed drones.
• It will give access to topographical and aeronautical data and
S
products that will aid navigation and targeting.
ER
• To use an everyday example, just like an Uber cab needs a good GPS
to reach its destination quickly and efficiently, BECA will provide Indian
D
military systems with a high-quality GPS to navigate and missiles with real-
N
time intelligence to precisely target the adversary.

FI
• This could be key for Air Force-to-Air Force cooperation.

TH
BECA is the last of the four foundational agreements signed between India
and the US for strengthening defence ties. The other three agreements
PA
include:
1. General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002.
©
A follow-up extension agreement - Industrial Security Annex (ISA)- was

signed in 2019.
2. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in
2016.
3. The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement
(COMCASA) in 2018.
These agreements covered areas including security and military
information, compatibility and security and logistics exchange and
21
communications. BECA aims to enhance the geospatial cooperation

between India and the US.
How will it impact China?

The BECA agreement will help India and the US in countering China's
growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The two QUAD partners have also been focused on increasing
Y
engagement with their other two QUAD partners- Australia and Japan.
EM
Australia has also been included in the Malabar war games that will be held
next month near Indian waters. With this, the Malabar military exercise will
now see participation from all four QUAD nations.
D
• The BECA agreement will also help narrow India's military gap with
CA
China in the wake of India-China border tensions. India and China have
been engaged in a border standoff since April-May after the Chinese PLA
A
(People's Liberation Army) transgressed into multiple areas into the Indian
territory
S
ER
General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)

D
• It was signed in 2002 between India and USA.

N
• GSOMIA paved the way for greater technology cooperation in the

FI
military sector.
• It allows the sharing of classified information from the U.S.
TH
government and American companies with the Government of India and

Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU) but not with Indian private
PA
companies
LEMOA: The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement
©
 It was signed between India and the US in August 2016.

 It allows the military of each country to replenish from the other’s
bases: access supplies, spare parts and services from the other country’s
land facilities, air bases, and ports, which can then be reimbursed.
 This is extremely useful for Navy-to-Navy cooperation, since the
US and India are cooperating closely in the Indo-Pacific.

22
 Again, to put this simply, it is like going to a friend’s garage and

workshop to refuel one’s car and getting repairs done. But, by doing this,
one is also exposing one’s car and technology to the friend, and that
requires trust.
 If signing LEMOA needed trust, its application enhances the trust. It
took almost a decade to negotiate LEMOA
Y
Concerns about LEMOA
EM
 There was an apprehension that signing the agreement would make
India a part of the US military bloc by turning us into a US military base.
D
 There was fear of the far-reaching effects it could have on the
independence of India’s strategic autonomy and foreign policy.
CA
 It might irk Russia and facilitate its already increasing inclination
towards Pakistan.
A
 It does not help our sour relations with China, rather adds fuel to the
S
fire.
ER
 It raises concerns about getting too close to the US and ending up losing
autonomy in foreign policy.
D
N
COMCASA: The Communications Compatibility and Security

FI
Agreement
TH
 It was signed in September 2018, after the first 2+2 dialogue.

 It allows the US to provide India with its encrypted communications
PA
equipment and systems so that Indian and US military commanders, aircraft

and ships can communicate through secure networks in peace and war.
©
 To explain in lay terms again, it is like WhatsApp or Telegram for the

two militaries, which is safe and real-time communication is possible
hassle-free.
 COMCASA paved the way for transfer of communication security
equipment from the US to India to facilitate “interoperability” between their
forces — and potentially with other militaries that use US-origin systems
for secure data links.
Concerns about COMCASA

23
• COMCASA may harm India with respect to its military decisions and
policy and in turn, affect its sovereignty.
• Although it has provisions for not disclosing the information without
India’s consent, there is still concern about granting the U.S. access to
Indian military communication system and in result compromise India’s
defence secrecy.
• US military may penetrate India’s strategic areas like the nuclear
command.
Y
• It would hamper India’s geopolitical and strategic relations with other
EM
countries such as Russia and Iran. It may compromise our high technology
deals with Russia
D
CA
What are the recent challenges faced by the US-India relationship?
• Special trade status, also known as Generalised System of Preferences
A
was revoked by the US to India on the grounds that India had not assured
the US that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to its market.
S
ER
• Generalised System of Preferences had allowed India the duty-free

imports of goods up to USD 5.6 billion into the US from India.
D
• This dispute had been brewing for some time.

N
• In 2018, the US had imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imported

FI
from India on the grounds of national security under Section 232 of the
Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
TH
• This was followed by a series of protective measures by the US

against India.
PA
• India responded to these moves by imposing tariffs of USD235

million on the US goods worth USD1.4 billion. America’s trade deficit had
©
declined from $27 billion in 2017 to $21 billion in 2018.

• Despite this, the Trump Administration is still complaining about
India’s trade practices.
• The other issues that are challenging India-US relationship include
India’ ties with Iran and India’s purchase of S-400 from Russia.
• It must be noted that some of the differences between India and the
US are not direct consequences of India-US relationship but due to US’

24
hostility towards third countries like Iran and Russia – the traditional allies
of India.
• The India-us relationship is complicated as there are few sensitive
differences between the two countries.
• US’ sanctions on Russia through CAATSA – Countering America’s
Adversaries through Sanctions Act – are threatening India’s strategic
interests.
Y
• US’ call for India to distance itself from Russia may have a far-
reaching consequence to South Asia’s status quo.
EM
• This is because, if India distances itself from Russia, it may lead to
closer ties between Pakistan and Russia.
D
• Similarly, US sanctions on Iran and Venezuela are putting India’s
CA
energy security at stake.
• India is also concerned over the US’ policy in Afghanistan as it is
A
jeopardizing India’s security and interest in the region.
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

25
Vaccine Diplomacy
While the leading and advanced countries have been mindlessly selfish in
hoarding approved vaccines, it is the Global South countries, India and China,
which have provided a ray of hope to most countries.
Vaccine Nationalism
 The development of vaccines is a classic story of global cooperation between
the North and the South.
 Unfortunately, the increasing nationalist tendencies of the democratic World
Y
during the pandemic have challenged the positive narrative on global
cooperation.
EM
 When a country manages to secure doses of vaccines for its own citizens or
residents and prioritises its own domestic markets before they are made
available in other countries it is known as ‘vaccine nationalism’
D
 The reason countries are going for pre-purchase agreements is because of the
CA
longer duration for companies to manufacture such vaccines. It is predicted that
worldwide supply may not reach 1 billion doses until the first quarter of 2022
A
Is Vaccine Nationalism New?
 A similar situation happened in 2009 during the H1N1 flu pandemic.
S
 Australia, the first country to come up with a vaccine, blocked exports while
ER
some of the wealthiest countries entered into pre-purchase agreements with

several pharmaceutical companies.
 The US alone obtained the right to buy 600,000 doses.
D
 It was only when the H1N1 pandemic began to recede that developed countries
N
offered to donate vaccine doses to poorer economies.

FI
 However, it must be noted that H1N1 was a milder disease and its impact was
TH
far lesser than Covid-19

Advance Purchase Contracts
 Advance purchase contracts made by some advanced countries for potential
PA
vaccines would vaccinate their population many times.

 The expectation that an early vaccination will bring back normalcy and a
©
required push to economic growth fuelled many advanced countries to engage in

vaccine battles.
 Advanced countries have turned their back on the need of poor countries to
access COVID-19 vaccines.
Impact of such actions
 Inequitable Access: Such advance agreements will make the initial vaccines
unaffordable and inaccessible to majority of world population apart from those
living in the rich countries
 Slows Economic Recovery: If countries with a large number of cases lag in
26
obtaining the vaccine, the disease will continue to disrupt domestic economy and
thus its ability to recover from Pandemic induced shock.
 Deepens the Inequality: The gap between the Global North and the Global
South is going to further deepen as productivity of human resources are further
eroded in Global South due to their inaccessibility of vaccines & continuance of
suffering from Pandemic.
India and Vaccine Diplomacy
 India has displayed empathy to poor countries’ needs.
 India has taken a position that a significant percentage of the approved doses
Y
will be permitted for exports.
EM
 While its exports to neighbouring counties will be under grant mode, initial
shipment of vaccines to least developed countries will be free of cost.
 India is in its first phase of vaccination to cover health-care workers, exports
D
from India are helping other countries also in initiating phase one of their
CA
vaccination programme.
 India’s approach only reinforces the need of having coordinated global
A
efforts in bringing COVID-19 under control.
 This has consolidated India’s name as the world’s pharmacy.
S
 It has further enhanced the Soft Power of India and generated goodwill among
ER
these developing & least developed countries.

 This helps dispel the perception amongst neighbourhood that India is
D
hegemonic and a “Big Brother”. Instead it shows that India is a “Responsible

Power”
N
China and Vaccine Diplomacy

FI
 With the coronavirus largely stamped out at home, China could sell more of its
TH
vaccines abroad.
 Vaccines “will be made a global public good,” Xi promised the World Health
Assembly in May 2020.
PA
 “vaccine diplomacy” has become a tool to assuage some of the anger over
China’s missteps, helping shore up its global standing at a time when it has been
©
under pressure from the United States and others.

 China’s efficiency at home has not translated into an easy triumph abroad.
Chinese vaccines have lower efficacy rates.
 Officials in Brazil and Turkey have complained about delays. Still, many
countries who have signed up for them have acknowledged that they could not
afford to wait months for those made by the Americans or Europeans

27
COVAX
 The COVAX project is a global risk-sharing mechanism for pooled
procurement and fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, an ambitious
programme based on funding from high and middle-income countries.
 COVAX is a unique case of global cooperation and a strategic shift to
enhance global development outcomes. Issues with Urban Mobility
Context: Urbanization is supposed to bring modernity and prosperity. The
Western example showed how a mass movement off the farm and into
Y
cities went together with great leaps in productivity. The hope that a similar
experience would be repeated in India resulted in vesting a great deal of
EM
hope in cities The Union Budget 2021-22 has recognised the multiplier
effects of Urbanization and has made provisions for it.
What are the key provisions made for Urbanization in Budget 2021?
D
 Expansion of Metro rail network: A total of 702 km of conventional
CA
Metro lines were in operation and 1,016 km of Metro and Regional Rapid
Transit System lines were under construction in 27 cities. Government
announced Central funding of ₹1,957 crore, ₹63,246 crore and ₹14,788
A
crore for the Kochi, Chennai and Bengaluru Metro projects,
S
 Augmentation of city bus service: A new scheme will be launched at a
ER
cost of ₹18,000 crore to support augmentation of public bus transport

services. The scheme will facilitate deployment of innovative PPP models
D
to enable private sector players to finance, acquire, operate and maintain

over 20,000 buses
N
 Metro Connectivity in Tier-2 areas: Two new Metro technologies,

FI
MetroLite and MetroNeo, would be used in tier-2 cities and peripheral parts of
TH
tier-1 cities to provide connectivity at a lower cost compared to conventional

Metro systems.
Issue with Urban Commuting
PA
 Poor Bus Infrastructure: India’s ratio of buses to population is a low 1.2 per
1,000 people, compared to 8.6 in Thailand and 6.5 in South Africa, although
©
some States like Karnataka are well ahead of the national average
 Pandemic shifted people to personal transport: COVID-19 has had the
perverse effect of driving people away to the safety of personal car and two
wheeler bubbles.
 Private Sector Participation in bus transport: Licensed private urban bus
services remain a politically sensitive topic in many States, where State
monopolies coexist with unregulated paratransit, and it will take a major effort to
convince them that a bus renaissance is a good post-pandemic recovery strategy.
 Weak Regulations by umbrella authorities: State governments, which
28
retain effective control over urban development rather than city administrations,
have failed to operationalise the umbrella authorities to regulate transport.
 Vehicular Exhaust causing Pollution: As per a WHO study, 14 out of top-
15 most-polluted cities in the world are in India. Rising pollution levels also
translate into economic losses. As per current estimates the World Bank, the
losses amount to 7.7% of the nation’s GDP.
 Traffic Congestion: Vehicles in some metros move at an average speed of
17kph. The congestion on the roads doesn’t exist in silos, and its adverse
Y
effects are carried forward to productivity and economic growth. As per the
BCG-Uber report, the combined estimate of losses caused due to congestion in
EM
the top-four metro cities of India is worth more than $22 billion per annum.
 Multi-purpose use of roads in business zones: Roads in cities are
D
multipurpose public goods, used by various classes of motorized and non-
motorized vehicles to travel, park, street-selling etc. Non-transportation uses of
CA
the roadway do slow down motorized vehicles.
 Innovative Products still at nascent stage: Common mobility cards that
A
would help citizens use bus, train and feeder networks seamlessly were largely in
pilot project mode even before the pandemic
S
 Expensive Mass Transport: There is valid criticism that the existing
ER
paradigm is one of “exclusionary urbanisation”, which makes Metro and bus

services expensive for the majority, particularly for those forced to live in the
D
suburbs due to housing costs, and sometimes making the per kilometre cost of
using a two-wheeler more attractive.
N
 Poor Recognition of Urban areas: Census 2011 showed that the number of
FI
Census Towns, which are urban for census purposes but not named urban local
bodies, grew tremendously over a decade. They lack access to funding,
TH
infrastructure and capacity to meet the needs of large populations even now
Way Forward
PA
 Enhanced Investments: Standard policy recommendations such as

congestion pricing or other types of travel restrictions may do little to improve
©
mobility. Instead, potentially costly travel infrastructure investments may be the

only way to improve urban mobility
 Comprehensive Approach: Centre is required to work with State
governments to integrate key areas with its transport vision, such as affordable
inner-city housing, including rental projects, access to civic services and health
care, and enhanced sustainability, greenery and walkability

29
Towards a ‘healthy’ India-Africa partnership

Context: The Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on India has been especially grim.
Given the interconnectedness of world systems, it is crucial to examine how
partnerships can be built around the process of recovery, especially with
countries in Africa.
Pandemic in Africa
 Lower cases due to young demography: While Africa was one of the last
regions to be hit by the virus, and with deaths over 35,000, it has reported lower
Y
case numbers than Asia and even Europe in terms of containing the spread,
EM
likely due to its young demography.
 Multi-stakeholder response controlled spread: Cooperation among African
leaders, the African Union, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and
D
Prevention has led to an increase in testing capacity, resource mobilisation, and
CA
measures to contain the spread of the virus. In addition to state efforts, civil
society organisations and young activists across African countries have been
A
crucial to mobilise resources, spread awareness, and find solutions.
Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Africa
S
 Reduced Trade: Africa has been deeply affected by reduced intra-African
ER
trade numbers, with dwindling demand from the EU, US, China, and other
markets causing a supply-and-demand shock.
D
 Could erode progress made on poverty front: Sub Saharan Africa’s real per
N
capita GDP could shrink by -5.4 per cent this year, which could effectively roll
FI
back a decade of progress with 49 million Africans likely to be pushed into

poverty.
TH
 Unemployment: It is estimated that 30 million jobs will probably disappear in

the wake of economic disruption caused by the Pandemic
PA
 Longer time to recovery: Larger economies like Nigeria, South Africa and
Angola are not expected to see real GDP growth return to pre-Covid-19 levels
©
until 2023 and 2024, respectively.

 Exposed weak welfare state: The pandemic has also laid bare the relatively
weak state of social welfare schemes and health infrastructure in the region.
How India can help Africa at this crucial juncture?
1. Build on the momentum
 Already, the India-Africa health cooperation is multidimensional,
comprehensive, and involves national, state, and subnational actors working
toward augmenting African institutional and individual capacities.

30
 It includes exporting low-cost generics, building health infrastructure,

providing aid, technical assistance, and hosting medical tourists.
 In the recent past, India-Africa relationship has picked up momentum— with
regular high-level visits, increasing diplomatic footprint, diversified
engagement across sectors, and a vibrant diaspora — which it can build upon
during this unprecedented crisis.
2. Partner in supplying low-cost Covid-19 vaccines to the region
 As the “pharmacy of the world,” while India has already dispatched medicines
Y
including hydroxychloroquine and other drugs to over 25 African countries, it
EM
could also become a critical partner in supplying low-cost Covid-19 vaccines
to the region
 While the Serum Institute of India (SII) has stated that it will begin sending
D
supplies to the WHO-backed COVAX initiative, the South African health
CA
ministry has confirmed that it has entered an agreement with SII and would get
1.5 million doses of vaccine in the next two months.
A
3. Comprehensive strengthening of Africa’s health systems.
 Indian pharmaceutical companies can also play a role in boosting African
S
pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity
ER
 The Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa, a business idea developed

in 2007, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA), which became
D
operational on January 1, 2021, can boost pharmaceutical manufacturing in

N
Africa.
FI
 Private actors in India’s health sector already have a significant presence in

Africa. The recent MoU between the Health Federation of India
TH
(NATHEALTH) and the Africa Health Federation (AHF) aimed at building

healthcare ecosystems, increasing investments, and creating cross-country
PA
partnerships recognises the sheer business potential of a robust partnership in

health.
©
4. Boosting e-initiatives
 The Indian government could also play the role of a facilitator and create
working groups with medical professionals to host video or teleconferences
with counterparts from African countries.
 The e-ArogyaBharti (Tele-medicine) Project, part of the e-VBAB launched in
October 2019, seems to be a step in that direction
 The e-VBAB project which also includes e-VidyaBharti (Tele-education), is
entirely funded by the Indian government. It builds on the Pan-Africa network

31
Project and promises access to premier Indian education institutions

and to medical experts in the country.
5. Multilateral Efforts
 Indian actors can also take the lead in initiating and pushing for more
multilateral efforts by stakeholders like the WHO or the UN to do more for
African recovery.
Conclusion
While it can be argued that the Covid-19 crisis has had serious implications for
Y
India and the country has huge domestic obligations to deal with, partnering
EM
with Africa at this critical juncture in our shared reality will add immense value
to the rich historicity of India-Africa solidarity.
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

32
Right to Privacy & Legitimate State Interest

Why in News
Recently, the Central government has stated that though the right to privacy
is held to be a sacred fundamental right, the veil of privacy can be lifted
for legitimate State interest.
 The government was responding to a petition seeking permanent halting
of the Centre’s surveillance projects- Centralized Monitoring System
(CMS), Network Traffic Analysis (NETRA) and National Intelligence Grid
Y
(NATGRID).
EM
Centre’s Surveillance Projects
 Centralized Monitoring System:
o The government has set up a Centralised Monitoring System (CMS) for
D
lawful interception and monitoring of mobile phones, landlines and internet
CA
traffic through mobile networks.
 Network Traffic Analysis: A
o NETRA (or Network Traffic Analysis) is one such effort being taken by the
Indian Government to filter suspicious keywords from messages in the
S
network
ER
 National Intelligence Grid:

o First conceptualised in 2009, NATGRID (National intelligence Grid) seeks to
D
become the one-stop destination for security and intelligence agencies to

N
access databases related to immigration entry and exit, banking and telephone
details of a suspect on a “secured platform”.
FI
Key Points
TH
 Petitioner's Arguments:
o The government’s surveillance projects enable government
PA
authorities to intercept, store, analyse and retain telephone and internet

communications data in bulk in violation of the fundamental right to
privacy.
©
o These systems allow the government a 360 degree surveillance of all

citizens, including judges.
o It sought creation of a permanent and independent oversight authority -
judicial or parliamentary - for authorising and reviewing interception and
monitoring orders or warrants issued under the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the
IT Act, 2000.
 Government’s Arguments:
o Lawful interception, monitoring or decryption of any messages or
33
information stored in any computer resources is done by authorised agencies

after due approval in each case by the competent authority.
 There is no blanket permission to any agency for interception or monitoring
or decryption; and permission from the competent authority (Union Home
Secretary) is required.
o It contended there is sufficient mechanism of oversight in place in the form
of a Review Committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary at the centre and
chief secretary at the state level, which examines if the approval has been
Y
given in accordance with the law.
EM
 When the Review Committee is of the opinion that the directions are not
in accordance with the provisions, it may set aside the directions and order
for destruction of the copies of the intercepted message or class of
D
messages.
CA
o The grave threats to the country from terrorism, radicalization, cross border
terrorism, cybercrime, organized crime, drug cartels cannot be
A
understated or ignored and a strong and robust mechanism for timely and
speedy collection of actionable intelligence including digital intelligence, is
S
imperative to counter threats to the national security.
ER
Right to Privacy
 About:
D
o Generally understood that privacy is synonymous with the right to be let

N
alone.
o The Supreme Court described privacy and its importance in the landmark
FI
decision of K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India in 2017 that - Right to

TH
Privacy is a fundamental and inalienable right and attaches to the person

covering all information about that person and the choices that he/ she
PA
makes.
o The right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and
©
personal liberty under Article 21 and as a part of the freedoms guaranteed

by Part III of the Constitution.
 Restrictions (as stated in the Judgement):
o The right may be restricted only by state action that passes each of the three
tests:
 First, such state action must have a legislative mandate;
 Second, it must be pursuing a legitimate state purpose; and
 Third, it must be proportionate i.e., such state action- both in its nature and
extent, must be necessary in a democratic society and the action ought to be
34
the least intrusive of the available alternatives to accomplish the ends.

Government Steps to Protect Privacy
 Draft Personal Data Protection Bill 2019:
o The Bill regulates the processing of personal data of individuals (data
principals) by government and private entities (data fiduciaries)
incorporated in India and abroad. Processing is allowed if the individual
gives consent, or in a medical emergency, or by the State for providing
benefits.
Y
 B N Srikrishna Committee:
EM
o Government appointed a committee of experts on data protection under the
chairmanship of Justice B N Srikrishna that submitted its report in July
2018.
D
 Information Technology Act, 2000:
CA
o The IT Act provides for safeguard against certain breaches in relation to
data from computer systems. It contains provisions to prevent
A
the unauthorized use of computers, computer systems and data stored
therein.
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

35
India-Mongolia Relations
Why in News
Recently, India and Mongolia have reviewed bilateral cooperation in
hydrocarbons and steel sectors.
Key Points
India reiterated its commitment to timely completion of the Mongol Refinery
Project, the country’s 1st oil refinery.
Y
The greenfield Mongol Refinery Project is being built under a Line of Credit
EM
from the Government of India.
It is expected to cut some of Mongolia’s fuel import dependence.
D
The Project came in the backdrop of Mongolia, which has large uranium
CA
deposits signing an agreement for civil nuclear cooperation with India in
2009 and China unfolding its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
A
India is opposed to the BRI, which seeks to invest about USD 8 trillion in
infrastructure projects across Asia, Europe and Africa, as it says the initiative
S
lures countries into debt traps and does not respect sovereignty or address
ER
environmental concerns.
D
India welcomed the keenness of Mongolian companies in supplying coking

coal to Indian steel industry. According to a recent report, India will overtake
N
China as the largest importer of coking coal by 2025.

FI
Further, India looks forward to substantial partnerships with Mongolian

TH
companies in the areas of minerals, coal and steel.

India expressed its willingness to further share its expertise in the oil and gas
PA
sector including capacity building in accordance with the developmental

priorities of Mongolia.
©

36
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
Historical Relations:
ER
India and Mongolia have interacted through Buddhism throughout history.

D
Diplomatic Relations:
N
India, the first country outside the former Soviet bloc of nations to open
FI
diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1955, has upgraded ties with Mongolia
to a strategic partnership.
TH
In 2015, Mongolia witnessed the first ever visit by the Prime Minister of
India (a part of India’s Act East policy).
PA
International Cooperation:
©
Mongolia has publicly reiterated its support for India’s membership to the
permanent seat of the expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
India has played an important role in getting Mongolia membership to key
international forums, including the United Nations (UN), despite strong
opposition from China and Taiwan. India also championed the inclusion of
Mongolia in the Non-Aligned Movement.
In a reciprocal gesture, Mongolia co-sponsored a 1972 UN resolution with
India and Bhutan for the recognition of the newly liberated Bangladesh.
37
Other Forums of which both the countries are members: Asia-Europe

Meeting (ASEM), World Trade Organization (WTO).
India is a member whereas Mongolia is an observer state at the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Economic Cooperation: India - Mongolia bilateral trade was USD 38.3
million in 2019, down from USD 52.6 million in 2018.
Defense Cooperation: Joint defense exercises code-named Nomadic
Y
Elephant.
EM
India is also an active participant in an annual week-long joint training exercise
called the Khaan Quest, hosted by Mongolia.
D
Cooperation over Environmental Issues: Part of the Bishkek Declaration
CA
(snow leopard).
Cultural Relations: The Ministry of Culture (India) has taken up the project
A
of reprinting 108 volumes of Mongolian Kanjur under the National Mission
for Manuscripts (NMM).
S
ER
Other Possible Areas of Cooperation:

Solar energy is abundant and cooperation is solicited especially as India has
D
emerged as the leader by way of International Solar Alliance and its very
N
own ambitious alternate and renewable energy projects.

FI
Mongolia’s mining sector including copper and Uranium hold exceptional

cooperation possibilities. In the area of cooperatives, India has the capacity to
TH
share its expertise for the vastly dispersed farmers and milkmen in Mongolia.
PA
Way Forward
Mongolia’s strategic position at the cross junction of Central Asia, Northeast
©
Asia, far East, China and Russia attracts major powers towards it. India
should consider Mongolia as a green zone of economic development that
absorbs hi-tech features and production skills in a modernization process.
To preserve and promote the common heritage of Indo-Mongolian
culture is important. This should serve as the basis for nurturing and pursuing
future common interests. Source: PIB

38
Social Justice
Wages for Housework
Why in News
Recently, a political party of Tamil Nadu has promised salaries to housewives
as a part of its electoral campaign.
A report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2018 shows
that, globally, women perform 76.2% of total hours of unpaid care work, more
Y
than three times as much as men. In Asia and the Pacific, this figure rises to
EM
80%.
Key Points
D
Background:
CA
Wages for Housework Movement:
The International Wages for Housework Campaign started in Italy in
A
1972 as a feminist movement that highlighted the role of gendered labour in
the home and its connection to the production of surplus value under
S
capitalism. The movement further spread to Britain and America.
ER
Alongside other demands for social and political equality, women’s rights
campaigners made visible and also politicized women’s everyday experience
D
of housework and child care in the ‘private’ realm of the household.

N
Scenario in India:
FI
In 2010, an application by the National Housewives Association, seeking

TH
recognition as a trade union was rejected by the deputy registrar of trade unions
on the ground that housework is not a trade or an industry.
PA
In 2012, the then minister for Women and Child development announced that
the government was considering mandating a salary for housework to
©
wives, from husbands. The purpose was to empower women financially and
help them live with dignity.
The proposal never materialized and with the change in the government in
2014, the idea was put to rest.
Issue:
Housework demands effort and sacrifice, 365 days a year, 24/7. Despite this, a
huge proportion of Indian women are not treated equal to men.

39
A large number of women live with domestic violence and cruelty because
they are economically dependent on others, mainly their husbands.
Time-use data from 2019 gathered by the National Sample Survey
Organization revealed that only about a quarter of men and boys above six
years engaged in unpaid household chores, compared to over four-fifths of
women.
Every day, an average Indian male spends 1.5 hours per day in unpaid
Y
domestic work, compared to about five hours by a female.
EM
Arguments in Favour of Household Wage:
More Accurate National Income Accounting: Domestic labor of women is
not accounted for in either the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or the
D
employment metrics. Neglecting to include it would thus mean underestimating
CA
GDP of the economy.
Makes Woman Autonomous and Controls Domestic Violence: The wage
A
that the state ought to pay women would make them autonomous of the men on
S
whom they were dependent.
ER
Most women continue in an abusive relationship because they don’t have a

way out, as they are financially dependent on their partner.
D
Redefines the Role of Women: More fundamentally, the very demand for a
N
wage was a repudiation of housework as an expression of women’s nature. It

FI
was a revolt against the assigned social role of women.

TH
Welfare of a large Segment of Population: According to the Census in

2011, people engaged in household duties have been treated as non-workers,
even when 159.9 million women stated that “household work” was their
PA
main occupation.
©
Recognition as the first step to Equality: Recognition of household work is

one of the most central processes in empowerment. It gives them a claim to
equality within the patriarchal Indian household that only recognizes the work
done by men.
Once recognized as work, this arena of unpaid domestic labour that is
dominated almost entirely by women can become one where women can
demand some degree of parity in terms of the time and energy expended
on it.

40
Time Poverty: Combining paid work commitments with a mountain of

menial, domestic labour at home means poor women are more likely to
suffer from ‘time poverty’.
Time poverty fundamentally undermines women’s human rights since it
undermines women’s agency and ability to make choices. The immense burden
of work therefore prevents women from pursuing further education,
employment opportunities, raising their skill-level and tending to their
own well-being.
Y
• Against Household Wage:
EM
Increased Responsibility: Asking men to pay for wives’ domestic work
could further enhance their sense of entitlement. It may also put the
D
additional onus on women to perform.
CA
• Strengthen the Position of Men: Buying domestic labour from wife poses
a serious risk of formalizing the patriarchal Indian family where the
A
position of men stems from their being “providers” in the relationship.
• Acceptance and application: Despite a legal provision, equal inheritance
S
ER
rights continue to be elusive for a majority of women.

• Burden on Government: There are still debates on who would pay for the
D
housework done by women, if it is to be done by the State then this will put
N
additional fiscal burden on government finances.

FI
Way Forward
• We need to strengthen awareness, implementation and utilization of
TH
other existing provisions. Starting from the right to reside in the marital
home, to streedhan and haq meher, to coparcenary and inheritance
PA
rights as daughters and to basic services, free legal aid and

maintenance in instances of violence and divorce.
©
• Women should be encouraged and helped to reach their full

potential through quality education, access and opportunities of
work, gender-sensitive and harassment-free workplaces and attitudinal and
behavior change within families to make household chores more
participative.

41
Small farmers need second source of income

Issues
• Majority of Farmers are marginal: 70% of India’s farmers have small
and marginal land holdings, operating below one hectare.
• Unrewarding livelihood: On an average, smaller holdings lose money as
their household costs are higher than their earnings. According to the
National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), the average income of farmers
Y
owning up to two hectares is Rs 5,240 a month
EM
• Subsistence Farming: The smallest farms are afloat since they don’t pay
for labour, relying entirely on the family, and they consume much of what
is produced.
D
• Irregular Income: Farming is a seasonal affair, not a full-time job
CA
Farm to factory is the need of the hour A
• Encouraging Industrial Investment: Industrial investment should be
encouraged in rural and backward areas by offering special incentives. This
S
can ensure an additional income to minimize the dependency on the sole
ER
agriculture-based income.
• Untapped Potential: Apart from part-time seasonal farming, a small farmer
D
and a farm labourer have sufficient time to work and can earn Rs 12,000-Rs
N
15,000 a month easily after eight hours of labour in a nearby factory.

FI
Way Ahead
TH
• Promoting Exports: To increase export from these areas, 50% relaxation

in railway freight as freight subsidy can be provided from dry ports.
PA
• Cluster Approach: Special incentives are being offered to develop

industrial corridors and clusters but this model should be replicated in the
©
rural and backward areas to provide job opportunities to nearby small and
marginal farmers and farm labourers.
• Decentralized Microenterprise Ecosystem: A distributed, micro-level
factory that can produce solopreneurs and micro-enterprises has to be
created and supported in the rural areas. For instance, processing and
packaging of vegetables for sale in urban malls can be one such micro-
enterprise that is labour intensive.

42
• Investment in Rural areas: Promotion of new industrial investment with a

special incentive in backward areas to provide new jobs to rural India.
Providing jobs to small, marginal farmers and farm labourers in nearby
areas will minimize the rural-to-urban migration
Conclusion
• On ground reforms in the agriculture sector through central amended laws
will take more time but it is time for a policy and framework to promote
Y
industrial investment in rural and backward areas as a job engine for small,
EM
marginal farmers and farm labourers.
• It would be the real execution of sab ka saath, sab ka vikas (progress for
all), covering more than 60% of the population of the country residing in
D
rural and backward areas.
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

43
China’s Rising Influence in South Asia

Why in News
China has held its third multilateral dialogue virtually with countries
from South Asia to take forward closer cooperation on fighting
Covid-19 and coordinating their economic agendas, reflecting a new
approach in Beijing’s outreach to the region
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
Other Initiatives by China to Enhance Engagement in South Asia:

According to the American Enterprise Institute’s China Global Investment
PA
Tracker, China has committed around 100 billion USD in the economies of
Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, the Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
©
• China is now the largest overseas investor in the Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri
Lanka.
•Afghanistan:
• Beijing was a part of the trilateral China-Pakistan-Afghanistan foreign
ministers dialogue which focuses on facilitating Afghan domestic political
reconciliation, enhancing regional connectivity, and improving regional common
development.
44
• The trilateral discussions also agreed to push “forward under the Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI)” and “to enhance connectivity by extending the CPEC to
Afghanistan”.
Bangladesh:
• China and Bangladesh pledged to deepen defence cooperation, especially in the
areas of “defence industry and trade, training, equipment and technology.
Y
• China is also the largest arms supplier of the Bangladeshi military, providing
EM
71.8% of weapons from 2008 to 2018.
D
CA
•Bhutan
• It does not have diplomatic relations with China.
A
S
•Maldives: China’s relationship with the Maldives is near-exclusively focused on
ER
leveraging BRI to develop Maldives as well as to raise Chinese influence there to

counter India
D
Nepal:
N
• Chinese President went to Nepal in 2019.

FI
• This was the first visit by a Chinese head of state in 23 years.

TH
• The countries have signed agreements to accelerate Infrastructure building in

PA
Nepal and improve connectivity between them.

• Both the countries have also announced the launch of a feasibility study of the
©
China-Nepal cross-border railway.
•Sri Lanka:
• Sri Lanka handed over Hambantota port on a 99-year lease to China to repay its
loan back to china. Hambantota is geostrategically located on the Indian
Ocean, potentially bolstering Beijing’s String of Pearls.

45
•Concerns for India:

1. Security Concerns:
• Growing cooperation between Pakistan and China.
• Increasing nexus between Nepal and China.
• Acceptance to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor by south Asian countries.
2. Leadership Roles in South Asia:

• It shows increasing Chinese presence in south Asia and its acceptance by the
Y
countries as a torch bearer for the region which India wants for itself.
EM
•Economic Concerns:
D
Over the past decade, China has replaced India as the major trading partner of
CA
several South Asian countries. For instance, the share of India’s trade with
Maldives was 3.4 times that of China’s in 2008. But by 2018, China’s total trade
A
with Maldives slightly exceeded that of India.
•China’s trade with Bangladesh is now about twice that of India. China’s trade
S
with Nepal and Sri Lanka still lags India’s trade with those countries but the gap
ER
has shrunk.
Way forward
D
•India does not have the economic capacity as China. Thus it should cooperate
N
with China for the development of these countries such that fruits of development
FI
collectively reach South Asia.

•It should also strongly condemn the plans for extension of the China-Pakistan
TH
Economic Corridor.
•Further India should invest in these countries where China falls short and
PA
maintain its good will in South Asia and prevent these nations from slipping off
from India’s Influence.
©

46
Quantum Technology
Why in News
The detailed project report for a National Mission on Quantum Technology and
Applications (NMQTA) has been drawn out and finalised.
•Union Budget 2020-21 proposed to spend Rs 8,000 crore on the newly
launched NMQTA.
Y
•In 2018, the Department of Science & Technology unveiled a programme
EM
called Quantum-Enabled Science & Technology (QuEST) and committed to
investing Rs. 80 crores over the next three years to accelerate research.
D
• The mission seeks to develop quantum computing linked technologies
CA
amidst the second quantum revolution and make India the world’s
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©
third-biggest nation in the sector after the US and China

47
Key Points
•About Quantum Technology/Computing:
• Quantum Technology is based on the principles of Quantum mechanics
that was developed in the early 20th century to describe nature at the
scale of atoms and elementary particles.
• The first phase of this revolutionary technology has provided the foundations
of our understanding of the physical world, including the interaction of light
Y
and matter, and led to ubiquitous inventions such as lasers and semiconductor
EM
transistors.
• A second revolution is currently underway with the goal of putting
D
properties of quantum mechanics in the realms of computing.
CA
•Difference Between Conventional and Quantum Computing:
Conventional computers process information in ‘bits’ or 1s and 0s, following
classical physics under which our computers can process a ‘1’ or
A
a ‘0’ at a time.
S
•Quantum computers compute in ‘qubits’ (or quantum bits). They exploit
ER
the properties of quantum mechanics, the science that governs how matter
behaves on the atomic scale.
• In this scheme of things, processors can be a 1 and a 0 simultaneously, a
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

48
state called quantum superposition.

• Because of quantum superposition, a quantum computer — if it works
to plan — can mimic several classical computers working in parallel.
Properties of Quantum Computing:

The basic properties of quantum computing are superposition,
Y
entanglement, and interference.
EM
• Superposition:
• It is the ability of a quantum system to be in multiple states
D
simultaneously.
CA
• The example of superposition is the flip of a coin, which consistently lands as
heads or tails—a very binary concept. However, when that coin is in mid-air, it
A
is both heads and tails and until it lands, heads and tails simultaneously. Before
measurement, the electron exists in quantum superposition
S
•Entanglement:
ER
It means the two members of a pair (Qubits) exist in a single quantum state.
Changing the state of one of the qubits will instantaneously change the state of
D
the other one in a predictable way. This happens even if they are separated by
N
very long distances.

FI
•Einstein called spooky ‘action at a distance’

TH
Interference:
PA
Quantum interference states that elementary particles(Qubits) can not only be

in more than one place at any given time (through superposition), but that an
individual particle, such as a photon (light particles) can cross its own
©
trajectory and interfere with the direction of its path.
•Applications of Quantum Technology:

Secure Communication:
• China recently demonstrated secure quantum communication links between
terrestrial stations and satellites.
• This area is significant to satellites, military and cyber security among others

49
as it promises unimaginably fast computing and safe, unhackable satellite

communication to its users.
•Research: • It can help in solving some of the fundamental questions in
physics related to gravity, black hole etc.
• Similarly, the quantum initiative could give a big boost to the Genome India
project, a collaborative effort of 20 institutions to enable new efficiencies in
life sciences, agriculture and medicine.
•Disaster Management: Tsunamis, drought, earthquakes and floods may
Y
become more predictable with quantum applications.
EM
• The collection of data regarding climate change can be streamlined in a better
way through quantum technology.
D
Pharmaceutical: Quantum computing could reduce the time frame of the
discovery of new molecules and related processes to a few days from the
CA
present 10-year slog that scientists put in.
Augmenting Industrial revolution 4.0: A
Quantum computing is an integral part of Industrial revolution 4.0.
Success in it will help in Strategic initiatives aimed at leveraging other
S
Industrial revolution 4.0 technologies like the Internet-of-Things, machine
ER
learning, robotics, and artificial intelligence across sectors will further help in
laying the foundation of the Knowledge economy.
D
Challenges Associated with Quantum Computing:

N
• The dark side of quantum computing is the disruptive effect that it can have
FI
on cryptographic encryption, which secures communications and computers.

• It might pose a challenge for the government also because if this technology
TH
goes into wrong hands, all the government’s official and confidential data will
be at a risk of being hacked and misused.
PA
Way Forward
•Long after the birth of social media and artificial intelligence, there are now
©
demands to regulate them. It would be prudent to develop a regulatory

framework for quantum computing before it becomes widely available.
•It will be better to regulate it or define the limits of its legitimate use,
nationally and internationally before the problem gets out of hand like nuclear
technology.

50
LiDAR
•Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing
method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable
distances) to the Earth.
•These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne
system— generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of
the Earth and its surface characteristics.
•A LiDAR instrument principally consists of a laser, a scanner, and a
Y
specialized GPS receiver.
EM
•This technology is mostly used for ground-based surveys.
•LiDAR was first used on a spacecraft during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971,
when astronauts mapped the surface of the moon.
D
•Apart from aerial surveys, the LiDAR sensor is the most important component
CA
in self-driving cars. The LiDAR sensor provides continuous 360 degrees of
visibility and accurate depth information A
Do you know?
•Airplanes and helicopters are the most commonly used platforms for acquiring
S
the data.
ER
•It can be used to examine both natural and manmade environments with
accuracy, precision,
D
and flexibility.
N
•Two types of LiDAR are:

FI
1. Topographic typically uses a near-infrared laser to map the land

2. Bathymetric uses water-penetrating green light to measure seafloor and
TH
riverbed elevations.
PA
©

51
Political Crisis in Nepal

Context: Nepal has drifted into a political crisis following its Prime Minister
(PM) KP Sharma Oli’s decision to dissolve Parliament, a move promptly
approved by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.
Oli also announced general elections would be held in April and May 2021,
more than a year ahead of schedule
A brief background of Nepal’s Political Parties
•Three major parties dominate Nepal’s politics: Nepali Congress Party;
Y
Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist led by Oli, and Nepal
EM
Communist Party (Maoist) led by Prachanda
•Prachanda led the Maoist insurgency for a decade (1996-2006) before joining
D
mainstream politics. Oli was a fierce critic of the politics of violence that
caused more than 17,000 deaths.
CA
•But Oli approached the Maoists in 2017 for a merger between their parties,
pre-empting the possibility of an alliance between the Maoists and the Nepali
A
Congress that may have come in the way of Oli’s prime ministerial ambitions.
•Following the merger, the two leaders agreed that they would lead the
S
government by turn, a promise that Oli did not honour at the end of his two-
ER
and-a-half years, thus sowing the seeds of separation.

•Now, as a split appears inevitable, Oli is hoping to continue in power with
D
those following him.

N
Critical Analysis of the Dissolution of Parliament

FI
•Reasons for Oli’s decision: Oli took the step when he realised that a factional
TH
feud within the party had reached the point of no return and he faced possible
expulsion both as party chief and as Prime Minister
•End of Coalition: Dissolution of Parliament effectively ended the unity forced
PA
among the left forces that had led to the creation of the single, grand Nepal
Communist Party three years ago
©
•Uncertainty over Nepal’s new Constitution: Dissolution of the House is not

new in Nepal, but this is the first such instance after the new Constitution of
2015 that places safeguards against dissolution. The new constitution does not
envisage such a step without exploring formation of an alternative government
•Accountability of caretaker government: The dissolution came hours before a
Standing Committee meeting that was expected to order a probe into
corruption charges levelled against him by party co-chairman Pushpa Kamal
Dahal Prachanda. With Parliament dissolved and with a President seen as

52
favourable to him, Oli will have the power to rule without being accountable to
none.
•The Army: The Nepal Army has made it clear that it will remain neutral in the
ongoing political developments. This implies that if Oli tries to rule with the
help of security forces to maintain law and order and contain protests, it is
uncertain how far the Army will play along.
•The China Factor: China has been a big factor in Nepal’s internal politics
since 2006. It is seen as having lobbied, visible or secret, to prevent the split.
Y
China has also invested in crucial sectors like trade and Investment, energy,
EM
tourism and post-earthquake reconstruction, and is Nepal’s biggest FDI
contributor
•Judiciary’s decision awaited: Since dissolution, a dozen petitions have been
D
filed in the Supreme Court challenging the dissolution with two years left of
CA
the present House’s tenure. The constitutional validity of Oli’s move has been
questioned, and is awaiting decision by the Supreme Court.
A
How India handled this Political Crisis?
S
•Ire not directed at India: Unlike on previous occasions, Oli has refrained from
ER
blaming India for destabilising his regime. The PM’s ire has been directed at
his senior party colleagues for not allowing him to govern smoothly.
•India’s subtle support to Oli: Anti-Oli forces were quietly cheered to dump
D
him, but when they failed, India subtly extended a helping hand to a desperate
N
Oli struggling for survival. PM Modi positively responded to Oli’s telephonic

FI
greetings on India’s Independence Day. A series of important visits from India

TH
followed.
•Continuing bilateral relationship: Energy and trade officials from the two
countries have met each other, border talks are on board, and Nepal’s foreign
PA
minister is visiting India for the joint commission

•India has achieved its tactical goals: Through these moves, India has achieved
©
its immediate tactical goals. Oli has been emboldened to stick to power even by
breaking the party. In the process, the shallowness of Oli’s opportunistic and
politically driven anti-Indian nationalism has been exposed.
•Embarrassment to China: India has played its cards cautiously and craftily.
With an assiduously cultivated façade of non-interference, it let China smear
itself into the mud of micromanaging the ruling party’s internal conflicts. The
unity and dominance of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has been
shattered, and China, as its patron, has been embarrassed.
53
•Support for elections: On the sidelines of these developments, India has also
fuelled and fed Hindutva forces under the leadership of a discarded monarchy,
possibly as a ploy in the unfolding realignment of political forces in Nepal.
Towards that end, India has now come out openly in favour of fresh elections.
Critical Analysis of India’s moves in Nepal Political Crisis
•All this puts India on the side of undemocratic, unconstitutional and
opportunistic players in Nepal, which South Block strategists think is a small
price to be paid for the significant gains otherwise made.
Y
•Seeking a friendly regime in the neighbourhood is a recognised norm in the
EM
realist world of international relations. India is no exception. It has often
invested heavily in Nepal to have a friendly, even a pliant, regime.
•But in the long-term, this approach has largely resulted in the erosion, rather
D
than consolidation, of India’s vital security and economic interests.
CA
•With China deeply pitched in the regime change business in Nepal, prospects
of this approach in coming years seem expensive and uncertain
A
Way Ahead for India
S
•Let Nepal deal with its internal mess: Irrespective of whether Nepal has
ER
elections or witnesses the restoration of Parliament, a prudent course for India

would be to let Nepal cope with its internal political mess.
•Improve its own popular profile: As no major development in bilateral
D
relations appears likely during the prevailing uncertainty, India must encourage
N
consolidation of a people-driven polity, and improve its own popular profile.

FI
•Resolve Controversial Issues: India can pick up pending controversial issues

TH
such as the 1950 treaty, the Kalapani border dispute, and trade and investment
matters, and categorical state its position, drawing red lines that Nepal should
not cross.
PA
•New Indo-Nepal Treaty: Nepal has asked for a revision of the 1950 treaty,
and this has been accepted by India. But the issue remains stuck because Nepal
©
does not clarify how to strike a proper balance between India’s security
concerns and Nepal’s developmental aspirations. Without this balance, no new
treaty is possible, and Nepal, seemingly, is not prepared to abrogate the old
treaty.
•India’s Stand should be made clear: India’s policy towards immediate
neighbours has never been driven by territorial nationalism. This has been
evident in the case of Sri Lanka (Katchatheevu), Bangladesh (territorial
waters), and even Pakistan and China.

54
Bridge trade imbalance: On trade and investment issues, India needs to be

more accommodative. Nepal sells less than $1billion worth of products to India
while importing nearly $8 billion of them. This is unsustainable, despite the
fact that trade deficits are governed by the nature of economies. India can and
must move to remove structural and procedural impediments to the entry of
genuine Nepali goods into Indian markets
China Factor: In redefining India’s approach to Nepal, India also needs to shed
a great deal of its Sinophobia. China is no doubt politically assertive and
Y
financially spread out in Nepal, but most of its promises, such as transit
EM
through Chinese ports and railroad connections, are politically driven.
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

55
Government's Disinvestment Plans
Why in News
Recently, the Ministry of Finance has extended the bidding deadlines for the
strategic disinvestment of Pawan Hans by a month, citing logistical challenges
faced by interested bidders due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
 Pawan Hans Limited is a helicopter service company based in New Delhi. It
is a Mini Ratna-I category Public Sector Undertaking.
Y
Key Points
EM
Background:
o Government's Disinvestment Target for 2020-2021: Government plans
D
to raise Rs. 2.1 lakh crore through disinvestment in 2020-21, with just about
Rs. 14,000 crore raised so far through minority stake sales.
CA
o New Public Sector Policy: As part of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’
package, the government in May 2020 had announced that there will be a
A
maximum of four public sector companies in the strategic sectors, and state-
owned firms in other segments will eventually be privatised.
S
 Under the policy, a list of strategic sectors will be notified where there will
ER
be at least one and a maximum of four public sector enterprises, apart from
private sector companies.
D
 In other sectors, central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) will be privatised,

N
depending on the feasibility.

FI
Current Situation:
TH
o The Bidding deadline for the disinvestment of Pawan Hans has been
extended by a month.
o Strategic sales of public sector firms like Air India and Bharat Petroleum
PA
Corporation Limited (BPCL) are unlikely to conclude this year.

o Further amendments are needed to the LIC Act of 1986 to list the Life
©
Insurance Corporation of India on the markets.

 Need for Disinvestment Proceeds:
o There is a pressure on the government to raise resources to support the
economic recovery and meet expectations of higher outlays for healthcare.
o The increase in public spending in the upcoming Budget will have to be
financed to a large extent by garnering disinvestment proceeds and monetising
assets.

56
o To eliminate the need for the government’s involvement in non-strategic

areas.
Disinvestment
 Disinvestment means sale or liquidation of assets by the government, usually
Central and state public sector enterprises, projects, or other fixed assets.
 The government undertakes disinvestment to reduce the fiscal burden on the
exchequer, or to raise money for meeting specific needs, such as to bridge the
revenue shortfall from other regular sources.
Y
 Strategic disinvestment is the transfer of the ownership and control of a
EM
public sector entity to some other entity (mostly to a private sector entity).
o Unlike the simple disinvestment, strategic sale implies a kind of
D
privatization.
 The disinvestment commission defines strategic sale as the sale of a
CA
substantial portion of the Government shareholding of a central public sector
enterprises (CPSE) of up to 50%, or such higher percentage as the competent
A
authority may determine, along with transfer of management control.
 The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM)
S
under the Ministry of Finance is the nodal department for the strategic stake
ER
sale in the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

 Strategic disinvestment in India has been guided by the basic economic
D
principle that the government should not be in the business to engage itself in
N
manufacturing/producing goods and services in sectors where competitive

FI
markets have come of age.

o The economic potential of such entities may be better discovered in the hands
TH
of the strategic investors due to various factors, e.g. infusion of capital,

technology up-gradation and efficient management practices etc.
PA
Source: TH
©

57
5G Technology
Why in News
Recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has sought inputs from
telecom companies and other industry experts on the sale and use of radio
frequency spectrum over the next 10 years, including the 5G (Fifth Generation)
bands.
Key Points
 Features of 5G Technology:
Y
o Millimetre wave spectrum: The 5G networks will operate in the millimetre
EM
wave spectrum (30-300 GHz) which have the advantage of sending large
amounts of data at very high speeds because the frequency is so high, it
D
experiences little interference from surrounding signals.
o Upgraded LTE: 5G is the latest upgrade in the long-term evolution (LTE)
CA
mobile broadband networks.
o Internet speed: In the high-band spectrum of 5G, internet speeds have been
A
tested to be as high as 20 Gbps (gigabits per second) as compared to the
maximum internet data speed in 4G recorded at 1 Gbps.
S
 5G network speeds should have a peak data rate of 20 Gb/s for the downlink
ER
and 10 Gb/s for the uplink.

o Bands in 5G: 5G mainly work in 3 bands, namely low, mid and high
D
frequency spectrum — all of which have their own uses as well as limitations.
N
 Low band spectrum: It has shown great promise in terms of coverage and
FI
speed of internet and data exchange however the maximum speed is limited to
100 Mbps (Megabits per second).
TH
 Mid-band spectrum: It offers higher speeds compared to the low band, but
has limitations in terms of coverage area and penetration of signals.
PA
 High-band spectrum: It has the highest speed of all the three bands, but has
extremely limited coverage and signal penetration strength.
©
 Hurdles in Rolling Out 5G Technology:

o Enabling critical infrastructures: 5G will require a fundamental change to
the core architecture of the communication system. The major flaw of data
transfer using 5G is that it can't carry data over longer distances. Hence, even 5G
technology needs to be augmented to enable infrastructure.
o Financial liability on consumers: For transition from 4G to 5G technology, one
has to upgrade to the latest cellular technology, thereby creating financial
liability on consumers.

58
o Capital Inadequacy: Lack of flow of cash and adequate capital with the
suitable telecom companies (like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea) is delaying
the 5G spectrum allocation.
 Utility of 5G Applications: Combined with IoT, cloud, big data, AI, and edge
computing, 5G could be a critical enabler of the fourth industrial revolution.
o For India: 5G networks could improve the accessibility of services such
as mobile banking and healthcare, and enable exponential growth in
opportunities for unemployed or underemployed people to engage in fulfilling
Y
and productive work. For this Government has rolled out enabling policies.
EM
 5G Enabling Policy:
o India’s National Digital Communications Policy 2018 highlights the
importance of 5G when it states that the convergence of a cluster of
D
revolutionary technologies including 5G, the cloud, Internet of Things (IoT) and
CA
data analytics, along with a growing start-up community, promise to accelerate
and deepen its digital engagement, opening up a new horizon of opportunities.
 It aims to reach 100% teledensity, high-speed internet highways and delivery
A
of citizen-centric services electronically.
S
 Global Progress on 5G:
ER
o Global telecom companies have already started building 5G networks and

rolling it out to their customers in many countries:
D
 5G had been deployed in 50 cities in the United States.

N
 South Korea has rolled out 5G to 85 cities.

 Japan and China have too started 5G mobile service on a trial basis.
FI
Source:TH
TH
PA
©

59
Western Disturbance
Why in News
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a western disturbance
is likely to affect the Himalayan region soon.
 The disturbances will result in fairly widespread light to moderate snowfall and
rains in the plains of Jammu.
Key Points
 Western Disturbance (WD), labelled as an extra-tropical storm originating in
Y
the Mediterranean, is an area of low pressure that brings sudden showers, snow
EM
and fog in northwest India.
 The meaning of WD lies in its name.
D
o The disturbance travels from the “western” to the eastern direction.
 These travel eastwards on high-altitude westerly jet streams - massive
CA
ribbons of fast winds traversing the earth from west to east.
o Disturbance means an area of “disturbed” or reduced air pressure.
A
 Equilibrium exists in nature due to which the air in a region tries to normalise
S
its pressure.
ER
 In the term “extra-tropical storm”, storm refers to low pressure.

“Extratropical" means outside the tropics. As the WD originates outside the
D
tropical
N
region, the word “extra-tropical” has been associated with them.

FI
 A WD is associated with rainfall, snowfall and fog in northern India. It arrives

with rain and snow in Pakistan and northern India. The moisture which WDs
TH
carry with them comes from the Mediterranean Sea and/or from the Atlantic
Ocean.
PA
 WD brings winter and pre-monsoon rain and is important for the development
of the Rabi crop in the Northern subcontinent.
©
 The WDs are not always the harbingers of good weather. Sometimes WDs can
cause extreme weather events like floods, flash floods, landslides, dust storms,
hail storms and cold waves killing people, destroying infrastructure and
impacting livelihoods.
o Expert opinion on western disturbances is divided regarding the 2013 floods in
Uttarakhand in which over 5000 people were killed, after three days of
incessant rainfall.

60
India Innovation Index 2020: NITI Aayog
Why in News
Recently, India Innovation Index Report 2020 was released by NITI Aayog in
which Karnataka retained its top position in the major States category.
India Innovation Index
 Institutions Involved:
Y
o NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Ayog with the Institute
for Competitiveness.
EM
 Modelled on GII:
o The index has been developed on the lines of the Global Innovation Index
D
(GII), to ameliorate the innovation ecosystem of Indian states and Union
CA
Territories (UTs) and to design policies to drive innovation across regions.
 Approach:
o The index goes beyond traditional approaches by considering the best
A
parameters in measuring innovation such as patents per million of
S
population, publication in scientific journals, percentage of GDP spending
ER
on research.
o It also adds parameters that are specific to the Indian economy (eg.
Demographic dividend), to give it a more holistic coverage.
D
 Indicators Used:
N
o The indicators that the survey uses includes the level and quality of
FI
education and parameters such as:

 Number of PhD students and knowledge-intensive employment.
TH
 Enrolment in engineering and technology and number of highly skilled

professionals.
PA
 Investment in R&D and number of patents and trademark applications

filed.
©
 Internet subscribers.
 FDI inflows, business environment and safety and legal environment.
Key Points
 Categories: The Innovation Index is divided into three categories—major
states, Union Territories, and hill and North East states.
Major States:

61
o Top States: Karnataka topped with a score of 42.5 for the second year
running.
 The state’s success has been attributed to a high number of venture capital
deals, registered GIs and ICT exports, and high FDI inflow.
 Four southern states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala —
occupy the top positions on the index, apart from Maharashtra which
ranked second.
o Bottom States: Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar scored the lowest on the
Y
index, which put them at the bottom in the “major States” category.
EM
 Bihar raked last with 14.5 points.
 Hill and North-East States:
o Himachal Pradesh topped the rankings of hill and North-East states, followed
D
by Uttarakhand, Manipur and Sikkim.
CA
 Union territories/Small States:
o Delhi has scored the highest on the index in the country with a score of 46.6,
A
while Lakshadweep has the lowest score at 11.7.
 Delhi recorded the highest number of trademark and patent
S
applications, along with the establishment of new start-ups and
ER
companies in the last financial year.

 Challenges:
D
o Attracting Private Investment in Research: The Indian government is a

N
major spender in R&D, while the investment of the private sector is very low
FI
when compared to Israel where private companies account for 70% of private
investment in R&D.
TH
o Bridging North-South Divide: In the findings of the report the southern states
have fared much better than the North Indian states.
PA
 There is a need to establish to interlink innovative capacities of the states

(with differential per capita GDP) to decrease regional disparity in innovation.
 Best practices observed within the States should often be documented and
©
disseminated to encourage peer-to-peer learning.

o Need for micro-analysis of State-level policies: For a country as large as India,
the state of innovation needs to be understood at the regional level for effective
policy formulation.
 Based on the index each state needs to formulate its own policy, based on its
unique resources and strengths and which caters to its specific needs.
 Suggestions:
o Investing More in Research: India needs to increase its spending on R&D
62
which is around 0.6-0.7% of its GDP, way below the expenditure level of
countries like Israel (4.3%), South Korea (4.2%), the US (2.8%) and China
(2.1%).
 Increased spending on research and development with greater collaboration
between the industry and educational institutions may help to enhance
innovation capability.
 It could broaden and improve the capability of top rung educational
institutions in the country to produce greater innovation outputs.
Y
o Establish a Collaborative Platform: To link all the stakeholders of innovation
EM
- innovators, researchers, and investors from the industry, a common platform
should be developed.
 It will help to strengthen the industry-academia linkages and will ease the
D
process of technology transfer by providing a platform for innovators to
CA
showcase their inventions
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

63
National Innovation Portal (NIP) launched
In news
 National innovation portal was recently launched.
 Ministry: Ministry of Science & Technology
 Developed by: National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India Key takeaways
 The National Innovation Portal (NIP) is currently home to about 1.15 lakh
Y
innovations scouted from common people of the country, covering Engineering,
Agriculture, Veterinary and Human Health.
EM
 The innovations cover Energy, mechanical, automobile, electrical, electronics,
household, chemical, civil, textiles, etc.
D
 Innovation Portal is a step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and an excellent
CA
resource for students, entrepreneurs, MSME’s, Technology Business Incubators
(TBI’s) and common people engaged in a variety of occupations.
Do you know?
A
 National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India is an autonomous body of the
S
Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

64
Jallikattu: Pride & Politics

Context: With Assembly polls round the corner in Tamil Nadu, the Pongal
festival and Jallikattu, the traditional bull-taming sport, have caught the attention
of the Political Parties. In their present efforts to celebrate these cultural symbols
ahead of elections, the two national parties have attacked each other over their
past stands.
What is Jallikattu?
 A tradition over 2,000 years old, Jallikattu is a competitive sport as well as an
Y
event to honour bull owners who rear them for mating.
EM
 It is a violent sport in which contestants try to tame a bull for a prize; if they
fail, the bull owner wins the prize.
 In an age when the farm sector is largely mechanised, there are no major
D
monetary benefits for bull owners in breeding Jallikattu bulls other than the
CA
prizes they get during the Jallikattu events.
 Traditionally, these used to be a dhoti, a towel, betel leaves, bananas and a cash
A
prize of Rs 101. Over the last two decades, the prizes have included grinders, a
fridge and small furniture.
S
 The bull-taming sport is popular in Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Theni,
ER
Pudukkottai and Dindigul districts — known as the Jallikattu belt.

 Jallikattu is celebrated in the second week of January, during the Tamil harvest
D
festival, Pongal.
N
 It is a controversial sport which has faced long legal battles over cruelty to
FI
animals, and which at the same time is a symbol of Tamil culture.

Why is Jallikattu important in Tamil culture?
TH
 Preservation of Native Breeds: Jallikattu is considered a traditional way for the

peasant community to preserve their pure-breed native bulls.
PA
 Prevents Slaughtering: At a time when cattle breeding is often an artificial

process, conservationists and peasants argue that Jallikattu is a way to protect
©
these male animals which are otherwise used only for meat if not for ploughing.
 Pride associated with rearing premium breeds: Kangayam, Pulikulam,
Umbalachery, Barugur and Malai Maadu are among the popular native cattle
breeds used for Jallikattu. The owners of these premium breeds command respect
locally. Why has Jallikattu been the subject of legal battles?
 In India, legal battles surrounding animal rights issues emerged in the early
1990s.
 A notification from the Environment Ministry in 1991 banned the training and

65
exhibition of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and dogs, which was challenged by
the Indian Circus Organisation in the Delhi High Court.
 In 1998, dogs were excluded from the notification.
 Jallikattu first came under legal scrutiny in 2007 when the Animal Welfare
Board of India and the animal rights group PETA moved petitions in the
Supreme Court against Jallikattu as well as bullock cart races.
 The Tamil Nadu government, however, worked its way out of the ban by
passing a law in 2009, which was signed by the Governor.
Y
 In 2011, the UPA regime at the Centre added bulls to the list of animals whose
EM
training and exhibition is prohibited.
 In May 2014, days before the BJP was elected to power, the Supreme Court
D
banned the bull-taming sport, ruling on a petition that cited the 2011 notification
So, is it legal or banned now?  That is the subject of a case pending in the
CA
Supreme Court. The state government has legalised these events, which has been
challenged in the court. In January 2017, months after the death of Chief
A
Minister J Jayalalithaa, massive protests erupted across Tamil Nadu against the
ban, with Chennai city witnessing a 15-day-long Jallikattu uprising.
S
 The same year, the Tamil Nadu government released an ordinance amending
ER
the central Act and allowing Jallikattu in the state; this was later ratified by the
President. PETA challenged the state move, arguing it was unconstitutional.
D
 The main question to be resolved is whether the Jallikattu tradition can be

N
protected as a cultural right of the people of Tamil Nadu which is a fundamental

FI
right.
 Article 29 (1) mandates that “any section of the citizens residing in the territory
TH
of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own
shall have the right to conserve the same”.
PA
 In 2018, the Supreme Court referred the Jallikattu case to a Constitution Bench,
where it is pending now.
©
Value Addition
 Like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka too passed a law to save a similar sport, called
Kambala. A similar attempt by Maharashtra, too, was challenged in court, before
it was passed as a law.
 Except in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where bull-taming and racing continue to
be organised, these sports remain banned in all other states including Andhra
Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra due to the 2014 ban order from the Supreme
Court.

66
Mutual Funds (MF) Risk-o-meter becomes effective

In news
 Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI’s) decision on the “risk-o-
meter” came into effect on January 1.
Key takeaways
 SEBI has made it mandatory for mutual fund houses to characterise the risk
level of their schemes on a six-stage scale from “Low” to “Very High”.
 All mutual funds shall, beginning January 1, assign a risk level to their schemes
Y
at the time of launch, based on the scheme’s characteristics.
EM
 The risk-o-meter must be evaluated on a monthly basis.
 Fund houses are required to disclose the risk-o-meter risk level along with the
D
portfolio disclosure for all their schemes on their own websites as well as the
website of the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) within 10 days of
CA
the close of each month.
 Any change in the risk-o-meter reading with regard to a scheme shall be
A
communicated to the unitholders of that scheme.
 The move will help investors to make a more informed investment decision.
S
Important value additions The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
ER
 It is the regulator of the securities and commodity market in India owned by the
Government of India.
D
 It was established in 1988 and given statutory status through the SEBI Act,
N
1992.
FI
 SEBI is responsible to the needs of three groups:

o Issuers of securities
TH
o Investors
o Market intermediaries
PA
 Functions: o Quasi-legislative – drafts regulations

o Quasi-judicial – passes rulings and orders
©
o Quasi-executive – conducts investigation and enforcement action

 Powers:
o To approve by-laws of Securities exchanges.
o To require the Securities exchange to amend their by-laws.
o Inspect the books of accounts and call for periodical returns from recognised
Securities exchanges.
o Inspect the books of accounts of financial intermediaries.
o Compel certain companies to list their shares in one or more Securities

67
exchanges.
o Reg
India’s First Indigenously Developed 9mm Machine Pistol
In news
 India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine Pistol has been jointly developed by
DRDO and Indian Army.
Key takeaways
 The Machine Pistol fires the in-service 9mm ammunition and sports an upper
Y
receiver made from aircraft grade Aluminium and lower receiver from carbon
EM
fibre.
 3D Printing process has been used in designing and prototyping of various parts
D
including trigger components made by metal 3D printing.
 The weapon has huge potential in Armed forces.
CA
 The weapon is named “Asmi” meaning “Pride”, “Self-Respect” & “Hard
Work”.
A
 This small step will pave way for self-reliance and it is expected that the
S
Services and Paramilitary
ER
Forces (PMFs) will induct this expeditiously.

D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

68
K-Shaped Economic Recovery of India:
Why in News
Recently, the latest readings of the Nomura India Normalization Index
(NINI) suggested the impact of Covid-19 on Indian Economy and the K-Shaped
Recovery through which the Indian Economy is recovering.
 Nomura Services India Private Limited (Nomura Holdings Inc) is a
consumer services company.
Y
Key Points
EM
 Effect of Covid-19 on Households:
o Households at the top of the pyramid are likely to have seen their
D
incomes largely protected, and savings rates forced up during the
lockdown, increasing ‘fuel in the tank’ to drive future consumption.
CA
o Households at the bottom are likely to have witnessed permanent hits to
jobs and incomes. A
 Effect of the Current Monetary Policy:
o A long lasting period of ultra-accommodative monetary policy has led to
S
a fall in real lending rates and spreads for corporates and households that
ER
should eventually come as lagged relief to the interest-sensitive sectors.

o An economic spread is a measure of a company's ability to make money
D
on its capital investments.

N
 Impact of Vaccination:
FI
o Lagging sectors such as travel, tourism and hospitality will finally emerge
out of the effect of Covid-19.
TH
 Economic Recovery after Covid-19:

o As the fiscal deficit in FY 2020-21 has widened to roughly 7% of GDP,
PA
which is double the pre-pandemic target of 3.5 % of GDP. The government

may, therefore, feel encouraged to rely on higher fuel taxes,
©
disinvestment, and sin taxes to bolster coffers.

o India is going through a K-shaped recovery, wherein corporates and
households with stronger balance sheets have recovered more robustly,
while smaller firms and poorer households probably remain trapped in a
vicious cycle of poverty and indebtedness instigated by the pandemic.
Economic Recovery
 About:
o It is the business cycle stage following a recession that is characterized by
a sustained period of improving business activity.
69
o Normally, during an economic recovery, GDP grows, incomes rise, and

unemployment falls and as the economy rebounds.
 Types:
o Economic recovery can take many forms, which is depicted using
alphabetic notations. For example, a Z-shaped recovery, V-shaped
recovery, U-shaped recovery, elongated U-shaped recovery, W-shaped
recovery, L-shaped recovery and K-shaped recovery.
 K-Shaped Recovery:
Y
o A K-shaped recovery occurs when, following a recession, different parts
EM
of the economy recover at different rates, times, or magnitudes. This is
in contrast to an even, uniform recovery across sectors, industries, or
groups of people.
D
o A K-shaped recovery leads to changes in the structure of the economy or
CA
the broader society as economic outcomes and relations are fundamentally
changed before and after the recession. A
o This type of recovery is called K-shaped because the path of different
parts of the economy when charted together may diverge, resembling
S
the two arms of the Roman letter "K.
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©
 Implications of a K-Shaped Recovery after Covid:

o Households at the bottom have experienced a permanent loss of income in
the forms of jobs and wage cuts, this will be a recurring drag on demand,

70
if the labour market does not heal faster.

o To the extent that Covid has triggered an effective income transfer from the
poor to the rich, this will be demand-impeding because the poor have a
higher marginal propensity to consume (i.e. they tend to spend-instead
of saving) a much higher proportion of their income.
o If Covid-19 reduces competition or increases the inequality of incomes and
opportunities, it could impinge on trend growth in developing
economies by hurting productivity and tightening political economy
Y
constraints.
EM
Way Forward
 Given the K-shaped recovery and the new “pandemic poor”, the budgets
for spending heads such as subsidies, employment generation, rural
D
development and other social sector programmes are likely to remain
CA
large. The vaccination costs add to the bill. The government will also have to
sharpen its focus on capital spending to contain damage to potential growth.
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

71
Open Skies Treaty (OST)

Background:
It was first proposed by USA in 1955 to deescalate tensions during the Cold War.
This treaty was eventually signed in 1992 between NATO members and former
Warsaw Pact countries following the demise of the Soviet Union. It finally came
into effect in 2002.
The Warsaw Pact (1955) was signed between Russia and her satellite states
shortly after West Germany was admitted to NATO.
Y
The Pact was a mutual defence agreement, which the Western countries
EM
perceived as a reaction against West Germany's membership of NATO.
Aim:
Building confidence: The OST aims at building confidence among its 34
D
signatories countries through mutual openness, thus reducing the chances of
CA
accidental war.
Terms: A
Open surveillance: Under the treaty, a member State can undertake surveillance
on any part of the host nation, with the latter’s consent.
S
Only approved imaging equipment is permitted on the surveillance flights.
ER
Officials from the host state can also stay on board throughout the planned
journey.
D
Sharing strategic information: The information gathered, such as on troop

N
movements, military exercises and missile deployments, has to be shared with all
member States.
FI
Both US and Russia were signatories of the treaty.

TH
India is not a member of this treaty.

Russia Pulls Out of Open Skies Treaty
PA
Why in News
Recently, Russia pulled out of the Open Skies Treaty (OST) citing earlier
withdrawal of the USA from the treaty.
©
 According to Russia, provisions of the pact that allows unarmed surveillance

flights over member countries had been seriously compromised by the
withdrawal of the United States.
 This move was made after the USA pulled out of the Open Skies Treaty in
November 2020, arguing that Russian violations made it untenable for the United
States to remain a party.
Note:
 This is different from the Open Sky Agreements which are bilateral
72
agreements that the two countries negotiate to provide rights for airlines to offer
international passenger and cargo services. It expands international passenger and
cargo flights. Recently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed interest
to have an Open Sky Agreement with India.
Key Points
 Reasons for USA Withdrawal:
o Russia’s continuous non-compliance: The USA had for over a decade
accused Russia of non-compliance with OST protocols, blaming Moscow of
Y
obstructing surveillance flights on its territory, while misusing its own missions
EM
for gathering key tactical data.
o OST misused to claim Ukrainian region: The USA also accused Russia of
designating an airfield in the annexed Crimean Peninsula as an Open Skies
D
refuelling base as an illegal attempt by Russia to cement its claim to the
CA
Ukrainian region.
o Risk to critical infrastructures: Russia misused its flights over the USA and
A
Europe to identify critical infrastructure for potential attack in a time of war.
S
 Reasons for Russia Withdrawal:
ER
o USA limiting OST: Russia defends its non-compliance with the OST to allow
flights over Kaliningrad (Russian exclave in Eastern Europe that lies between
D
NATO allies Lithuania and Poland) citing the example of the US imposing
N
similar limits on flights over Alaska.

FI
o No assurance from NATO members: After USA withdrawal from OST,

Russia did not get the sought assurance from North Atlantic Treaty
TH
Organization (NATO) allies who continued to remain on the treaty that they
would not transfer data collected by their flights over Russia to Washington
PA
(USA).
©
 Significance:
o For European NATO members:
 Russia’s departure could adversely impact Washington’s European allies,
which rely on OST data to track Russian troop movements in the Baltic region.
o Departure from Arms control treaties:
 The failure of the Open Skies Treaty follows the demise of another significant
arms control accord, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty,
after both the US and Russia left it in 2019. This treaty aimed at eliminating

73
their stocks of intermediate-range and shorter-range (or “medium-range”)

land-based missiles which could carry nuclear warheads.
 Withdrawal of the USA and Russia from OST has further deepened doubts on
extension of the New START treaty, which expires in February, 2021.
o For India:
 Growing mistrust between global powers could make it difficult for India to
maintain good mutual relationships with both the countries
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

74
Online Gambling
Currently, India is home to around 70 crore internet users. It’s expected to cross a
whopping 97 crores by 2025. (Source: Statista) Majority of them are using it on
mobile devices. This causes a snowball effect on the growth of web-based
businesses. And one such emerging industry is the online betting or online
gambling industry.
With more than 30 crore players using apps like Play Games24x7,
FanFight, Dream11 and Paytm First Games to gamble on rummy card games and
Y
‘Fantasy’ Cricket, the numbers are anticipated to be doubled by the next year and
EM
the industry revenue is estimated to hit ₹25,000 crores by 2024 Gambling in
Physical or Online format is allowed in the following states;
 The Gambling Legislations of Goa, Daman & Diu and Sikkim allow gambling
D
to a limited extent, under a license, in five-star hotels. In Goa, the law also
CA
permits casinos on board an offshore vessel.
As the Irish philosopher Edmund Burke correctly said,
A
“Gambling is a principle inherent in human nature.”
S
While societal attitudes towards gambling have changed in the last century, with
ER
gambling now seen as a legitimate form of recreation, Indian laws have not kept
pace with the times.
D
Gambling VS Betting
N
 Generally, gambling is referred to as card games where high stakes are involved
FI
and betting is referred to as casino games and putting a bet on an event such as a
TH
match Regulation of gambling in India

 Although gambling and betting is a State subject, the primary law on which
States have framed their gambling legislation is an archaic, British-era law called
PA
the Public Gambling Act, 1867 and ironically, while India follows a British-era
prohibitionist statute, the U.K. legalised and regulated various forms of gambling
©
and betting many decades ago.

 Going back in 1867, Gambling was banned for the first time through The
Public Gambling Act.
 The other states in India have enacted their own legislation to regulate gaming /
gambling activities within its territory (“Gambling Legislations”). Most of these
Gambling Legislations were enacted prior to the advent of virtual / online
gambling and therefore primarily refer to gambling activities taking place in
physical premises, defined as “gaming or common gaming houses”.

75
 The Gambling Legislations were introduced before the emergence of the

internet. Therefore, the provisions of these laws do not expressly contemplate
online gambling.
 The states of Sikkim and Nagaland are the only states to have adopted specific
legislation that permits and regulates online gambling Law Commission
recommendations
 It states that, regulated gambling and betting in sports would ensure detection
of fraud and money laundering.
Y
 It also stated that regulation would help government identify and prevent
EM
instances of gambling by minors and problem-gamblers.
 It recommends that gambling and betting through licensed operators, with a
D
linkage to PAN card and Aadhaar card.
 The commission recommended to make proceeds from gambling and betting
CA
taxable.
 It also recommended to make match-fixing and sports fraud criminal offences.
A
 The commission also recommended a bar on the participation of minors and
those who get subsidies or do not fall within the purview of the Income Tax Act
S
ER
or the goods and services tax (GST) Act.

 It has recommended to establish a council to prevent problem of gambling and
gambling by minors and stated that match fixing and sports fraud should be made
D
criminal offences with severe punishments.

N
 The commission called for the regulation of casinos, maintenance of accounts,

FI
audits, and the safeguarding of its employees.

 The commission also recommended that the exemption granted to horse-racing
TH
from the gambling prohibition should be extended to other skill-centric games,

with the operators focusing on the safety and protection of players involved in
PA
such games.
©
Advantages and disadvantages of Legalizing gambling in Indian

Advantages
 It would help to curb black money and the terror financing
 Brings good revenue to Government
 Would generate employment opportunities
 Investment in the casino industry (online gaming) would propel tourism and
employment.
Disadvantages
 The integrity would be spoiled
76
 Affects ordinary people

 Socio-economic and cultural circumstances of the country are not pragmatic to
accept legalised
 gambling activities as it is still treated as a social stigma.
 This would favour the amassing of money clandestinely by a handful of game
operators.
Issues associated with Online Gambling
 There has been a steep rise in online gambling of late and governments are
Y
trying to find ways of curbing the menace, the problem of online gaming cannot
EM
be curbed by merely amending the Information Technology Act where it finds a
mention.
 Online Gambling has created menace and introduced almost a parallel economy
D
which paradoxically turn the Legally earned money into Black Money.
CA
 There will still be the issue of jurisdiction as online gambling goes way beyond
India’s borders.
A
 Ensuring that online gambling is safe and protects the interests and rights of
players is difficult job According to the Commission, foreign exchange
S
ER
management and foreign direct investment laws and policies should be amended
to encourage investment in the casino/online gaming industry
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

77
Freedom of Speech and expression

News
A case of sedition has been registered against 49 eminent film writers and
directors, who, in July, wrote an open letter to Indian Prime Minister expressing
concern over growing
incidents of mob lynching and religious identity-based hate crimes, at a police
station in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur.
 Freedom of Speech and expression means the right to express one’s own
Y
opinions freely through speech, writing, printing, pictures or any other mode.
EM
 In India, under Article 19(1), the Constitution of India guarantees to all its
citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression.
 However, this freedom is not absolute and under Article 19(2) reasonable
D
restrictions can be imposed on the exercise of this right for certain purposes.
CA
Significance of freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 (1) of the
Constitution: A
 Societal good: Liberty to express opinions and ideas without hindrance
 Self-development: Free speech is an integral aspect of each individual’s right to
S
self-development and fulfilment
ER
 Democratic value: Freedom of speech is the bulwark of democratic

government. This freedom is essential for the proper functioning of the
D
democratic process as it allows people to criticise the government

N
 Ensure pluralism: Freedom of Speech reflects and reinforces pluralism,

FI
ensuring that diversity is validated and promote the self-esteem of those who
follow a particular lifestyle.
TH
Safeguards outlined under Article 19 (2): Article 19(2) allows the state to make
laws that restrict freedom of speech so long as they impose reasonable
PA
restrictions in the:
 Interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India
©
 The security of the state

 Friendly relations with foreign states
 Decency or morality
 Contempt of court
 Defamation or incitement to an offence Need and significance of these
safeguards
 Social Balance: In a modern State, absolute and unrestricted individual rights
cannot exist
78
 Public interest: Certain permitted prior restraints and restrictions on the

freedom of speech and expression, are made in the collective interest of society.
 State security: Restrictions are needed in order to safeguard state security and
its sovereignty
Reasonable restrictions
The Constitution does not define the expression reasonable restrictions. The
following are some of the principles which the Supreme Court of India has
affirmed in Narottamdas v. State of M.P. for ascertaining the reasonableness of
Y
restrictions:
EM
1. Non-arbitrary: The phrase reasonable restriction connotes that the limitation
imposed upon a person in the enjoyment of a right should not be arbitrary or of
an excessive nature.
D
2. Nature of restriction: In determining the reasonableness of statute, the court
CA
should see both to the nature of the restriction and procedure prescribed by the
statue for enforcing the restrictions on the individual freedom. Not only
A
substantive but also procedural provisions of a statute also enter into the verdict
of its reasonableness.
S
3. Objectivity: The reasonableness of a restriction has to be determined in an
ER
objective manner and from the standpoint of the interests of the general public
and not from the point of view of persons upon whom the restrictions are
D
imposed or upon abstract considerations.

N
4. Enforcing DPSP: A restriction that is imposed for securing the objects laid
down in the Directive Principles of State Policy may be regarded as reasonable
FI
restriction
TH
PA
Freedom of Speech and Expression through media

 In democratic structure, media is regarded as a tool for encouraging social
participation in governance.
©
 Through media people challenges administrative norms and structure dictating

public sector declaration around the world: from government to government and
government to public India and other South Asian countries faced growing
challenges in the field of internet freedom, censorship, and freedom of speech &
expression.
 Internet shutdowns
 Cinema censorship- an increasing number of petitions regarding film
censorship reach the Supreme Court.
79
 Violent threats against bloggers and media workers- Veteran Indian journalist
Gauri Lankesh was shot to death by assailants
Various threats to press freedom according to Freedom in the World 2020 report
 Across the world, press freedom is under pressure from aggressive authoritarian
regimes.
 The media is also facing a technological crisis, due to a lack of democratic
guarantees and a democratic crisis following polarization and repressive policies,
Y
the report reads.
 In addition, comes a crisis of trust following growing suspicion and even hatred
EM
of the media, and an economic crisis and impoverishing of quality journalism.
 Among other issues, the report has listed coordinated social media hate
D
campaigns against journalists reporting on issues that “annoy right-wing
CA
followers”, criminal prosecutions to gag journalists critical of authorities and
police violence against journalists.
Reason for the downfall
A
 The annulment of autonomy and the subsequent shutdown of Kashmir, the
S
NRC and the CAA, as well as the crackdown on mass protests, have been listed
ER
as the main signs of declining freedom in the report.

 These three actions have shaken the rule of law in India and threatened the
D
secular and inclusive nature of its political system said the report.
 The report slammed the internet blackout in Kashmir terming it the longest
N
shutdown ever imposed by democracy.

FI
 It said freedom of expression was under threat in India, with journalists,

TH
academics and others facing harassment and intimidation when addressing

politically sensitive topics.
 It warned that the Indian government’s alarming departures from democratic
PA
norms under present govt. could blur the values-based distinction between
Beijing and New Delhi.
©
What is Section 144?

 Section 144 CrPC, a law retained from the colonial era, empowers a district
magistrate, a subdivisional magistrate or any other executive magistrate specially
empowered by the state government in this behalf to issue orders to prevent and
address urgent cases of apprehended danger or nuisance.
 The magistrate has to pass a written order which may be directed against a

80
particular individual, or to persons residing in a particular place or area, or to the

public generally when frequenting or visiting a particular place or area.
 In emergency cases, the magistrate can pass these orders without prior notice to
the individual against whom the order is directed.
Criticism of section 144
 The criticism is that it is too broad and the words of the section are wide
enough to give absolute power to a magistrate that may be exercised
unjustifiably.
Y
 The immediate remedy against such an order is a revision application to the
EM
magistrate himself.
 An aggrieved individual can approach the High Court by filing a writ petition if
his fundamental rights are at stake.
D
 However, fears exist that before the High Court intervenes, the rights could
CA
already have been infringed.
Right to Internet A
 The access to the Internet is a right very similar to what the Supreme Court held
with respect to the right to privacy in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy judgment.
S
 Internationally, the right to access to the Internet can be rooted in Article 19 of
ER
the Universal
D
Declaration of Human Rights which states that “everyone has the right to
freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions
N
without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas
FI
through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

 The Human Rights Council of the United Nations Resolution dated July 2,
TH
2018, on the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the

Internet, made important declarations.
PA
 The High Court of Kerala made a start to the domestic recognition of the right
to Internet access.
©
 The judgment in Faheema Shirin R.K. v. State of Kerala & Others holds that
“…a rule or instruction which impairs the right of the students cannot be
permitted to stand in the eye of the law
Internet Lifeline for people
 Internet is certainly the main source of information and communication
 technology-based gig economy — like the thousands of delivery workers for
Swiggy, Dunzo and Amazon and the cab drivers of Uber and Ola — depend on
the Internet for their livelihoods.
81
 It is a mode of access to education for students  It is also a mode to access to

health care for those who avail of health services online.  It is a means for
business and occupation for thousands of small and individual-owned enterprises
The Supreme Court has found the indefinite “occupation” of a public road by the
Shaheen Bagh protestors unacceptable.
Right to Protest:-  The right to protest is the manifestation of the right to
freedom of assembly, the right to freedom of association, and the right to
freedom of speech.
Y
 The Constitution of India provides the right of freedom, given in Article 19
EM
with the view of guaranteeing individual rights that were considered vital by the
framers of the constitution.
 The Right to protest peacefully is enshrined in Article 19(1) (a) guarantees the
D
freedom of speech and expression; Article 19(1) (b) assures citizens the right to
CA
assemble peaceably and without arms.
The judgment upheld the right to peaceful protest against the law but made it
A
unequivocally clear that public ways and public spaces cannot be occupied, and
that too indefinitely. Democracy and dissent go hand in hand, but then the
S
demonstrations expressing dissent have to be in designated places alone.
ER
Reasonable restrictions do exist in practice :-  Fundamental rights do not live

in isolation. The right of the protester has to be balanced with the right of the
D
commuter. They have to co-exist in mutual respect.  The court held it was
N
entirely the responsibility of the administration to prevent encroachments in

FI
public spaces.
TH
Contempt of Court
 According to the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, contempt of court can either
be civil contempt or criminal contempt.  Civil contempt means wilful
PA
disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or another process of

a court or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court.  On the other hand,
©
criminal contempt means the publication (whether by words, spoken or written,

or by signs, or by visible representations, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing
of any other act whatsoever which
1. Scandalizes or tends to scandalize, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of,
any court; or 2. Prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due
course of any judicial proceeding; or 3. Interferes or tends to interfere with, or
obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other manner.

82
Various judgement
 Right to Information: This right as provided by RTI act, 2005 is the
codification of important fundamental right under article 19. in the case State of
U.P. v Raj Narain SC held that the Right to Information is implicit in the right to
freedom of speech and expression explicitly guaranteed in Article 19 of the
Indian Constitution. Freedom of the press
 In Romesh Thappar v State of Madras (AIR 1950 SC 124), the Supreme
Court of India held that the freedom of speech and expression includes freedom
Y
to propagate ideas which is ensured by freedom of circulation of a publication, as
EM
the publication is of little value without circulation.
 Criminal defamation case in a most recent case, the Supreme Court ordered
the release of journalist Prashant Kanojia, who was arrested by UP police under
D
criminal defamation law. SC also held that this arrest was a violation of rights
CA
and freedom provided under article 21 and 19.
o Defamation is one of the restrictions provided. But term ‘reasonable’ here
A
requires striking a balance between rights and restrictions. This issue was settled
by Supreme Court in the case of R Rajagopal versus the State of Tamil Nadu,
S
wherein the Supreme Court had adopted the "Sullivan
ER
test", which makes the accused liable for defamation only if he had made the
statements with reckless disregard for the truth. However, this does not apply for
D
criminal defamation cases

N
 The Supreme Court struck down Article 377 of the Indian Penal Code and said,
“The sexual orientation of an individual is natural and discrimination on the basis
FI
of sexual orientation is a violation of freedom of expression.

TH
Section 66A of IT act

PA
 In the case of Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, section 66A of the Information
and Technology Act, 2000, was declared unconstitutional on the ground that it
©
was in direct conflict with the fundamental right of freedom of speech and
expression.
 The Supreme Court held that under the Constitutional scheme, for the
democracy to thrive, the liberty of speech and expression ―is a cardinal value
and of paramount importance.
Sedition and freedom of speech

 In the case of Sanskar Marathe v. the State of Maharashtra, a cartoonist Aseem
83
Trivedi was booked under section 124A IPC for defaming the Parliament, the
Constitution of India and the National Emblem and attempting to spread hatred
and disrespect against the Government through his cartoons.
 The court distinguished between strong criticism and disloyalty observing: …
disloyalty to Government established by law is not the same thing as commenting
in strong terms upon the measures or acts of Government, or its agencies.
 Section 124A IPC must be read in consonance with Article 19(2) of the
Constitution and the reasonableness of the restriction must be carefully
Y
scrutinized on the basis of facts and circumstances of the case.
EM
In Kameswar Prasad vs. the State of Bihar, the Supreme Court had to consider
D
the validity of Rule 4A of the Bihar Government Service Conduct Rules which
CA
provided that no government servant shall participate in any demonstration in
connection with any matter pertaining to his condition of service.
A
Section 124 A of the IPC:
S
 This section defines sedition and makes every speech or expression that “brings
ER
or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite

disaffection towards the Government established by law in India” a criminal
D
offence punishable with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

N
Why section 124A of IPC is in debate?

 It is often under debate because Centre and the States have invoked the section
FI
against activists, detractors, writers and cartoonists seeking to silence political

TH
dissent by accusing dissenters of promoting disaffection

 The sedition law came into focus in 2016 after the JNU row in which three
PA
students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University were arrested for allegedly raising
anti-national slogans. Critics of sedition law have even demanding to scrap of the
©
law by calling it a "draconian law".
Notable judgments:
 KedarNath Singh Vs State of Bihar, 1962:
Constitution Bench of Supreme Court upheld the validity of Sedition Act.
Maneka Gandhi case, 1978
 The SC stated that Criticizing and drawing general opinion against the Govt.

84
policies and decisions within a reasonable limit that does not incite people to
rebel is consistent with the freedom of speech.
Singh v. State of Punjab
 One of most important judgements in this regard is Balwant Singh v. State of
Punjab, Supreme Court overturned the convictions for sedition(124A IPC) and
Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of
birth, residence, language, etc (153 A IPC).
 More importantly, in the Balwant Singh vs State of Punjab, where the sedition
Y
charges were removed even when there were allegations of yelling ‘Khalistan
EM
Zindabad’ is a testimony to the fact that ‘incitement’ rather than ‘advocacy’ is the
important element of section 124A
D
Argument against Sedition laws in India
 Against freedom of expression
CA
 Misused by the government
 The countries like UK, Australia have already abolished sedition laws
A
considering them draconian
 It is very often under criticism because Centre and the States have invoked the
S
ER
section against
activists, detractors, writers and even cartoonist
 Inconsistent with ICCPR: India ratified the International Covenant on
D
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and misuse of sedition law under Section
N
124A
FI
 Another lacuna, as pointed by the Law Commission of India, is that the

TH
definition of sedition does not take into consideration disaffection towards (a) the
Constitution, (b) the legislatures, and (c) administration of justice, all of which
would be as disastrous to the security of the State
PA
 Sedition leads to a sort of unauthorised self-censorship, for it produces a

chilling effect on free speech.
©
 Sedition systematically destroys the soul of Gandhi’s philosophy that is, right to
dissent.
 Jawaharlal Nehru, in Parliament, clarified that the related penal provision of
Section 124A was
“highly objectionable and obnoxious and the sooner we get rid of it the better”.
 Even the UK, where the law originated, has already repealed it.

85
Mahatma Gandhi usually used the quote: “Speech is silver, silence is gold”,
but the silence of the educated peoples in present day scenario, over an issue
concerning the integrity & sovereignty of the nation is harmful for the nation
indeed. Therefore, it is right time to uphold the idea of democracy that the
founders of the Constitution envisioned, India should eschew the word
sedition from its statute books and everyday vocabulary.
Y
conclusion
EM
Balancing freedom of expression with collective national interest is one of the
key ingredients of
D
this law. However, dissent and criticism of the government are essential
ingredients of robust
CA
public debate in a vibrant democracy. They should not be constructed as sedition
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

86
Green energy
Budget 2021 has announced the introduction of this fiscal year's Hydrogen
Energy Mission and a number of other budget initiatives aimed at increasing the
use of renewable and clean energy.
What is green energy?
Green energy reflects all the clean energy sources produced using the planet's
natural source of energy, which are environmentally sustainable and also
renewable, releasing zero emissions.
Y
Green energy offers the highest environmental value, according to the
EM
Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), which includes power generated from solar, wind,
geothermal, biogas,
D
low-impact hydroelectric power and some qualifying sources of biomass.
CA
Renewable energy
Renewable energy, also referred to as sustainable energy, comes from natural
A
sources or continuously regenerating processes. Sunlight or wind, for instance,
continue to shine and blow,
S
even though their availability depends on time and temperature.
ER
Important energy protection and economic benefits will result from rapid
deployment of renewable energy and energy conservation, and technical
D
diversification of energy sources. It will also minimize environmental emissions,

N
such as air pollution caused by fossil fuel burning, improve

public health, reduce pollution-related premature mortality and save health costs.
FI
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the total share of

TH
renewables in the energy mix (including electricity, heat and transport) needs to
rise six times faster to maintain global average temperatures 'far below' 2.0 °C
PA
(3.6 °F) above pre-industrial levels throughout the present century.

Types of renewable energy
1. Hydroelectricity
©
As water is around 800 times denser than air, significant amounts of energy can
be generated even by a slow-moving stream of water, or moderate sea swell.
There are many sources of water power:
 The construction of large hydroelectric dams and reservoirs, which are still
common in developing countries, has led to hydroelectric power.
 Hydroelectric power installations that usually generate up to 50 MW of power
are small hydro systems. They are often used on small rivers or on larger rivers as
a low-impact growth.
87
 Without constructing a huge reservoir, run-of-the-river hydroelectricity plants

extract energy from rivers. Usually, the water is carried along the side of the river
valley (using channels, pipes and/or tunnels) until it is well above the valley
floor, which can cause a turbine to fall through a penstock.
2. Wind power
In order to power wind turbines, air flow can be used. Modern wind turbines on a
utility scale range from about 600 kW to 9 MW of rated capacity. The power
available from the wind is a function of the wind speed cube, so the power output
Y
rises to the maximum output for the individual turbine as the wind speed
EM
increases. Areas where winds are stronger and steadier are favoured areas for
wind
turbines, such as offshore and high-altitude sites. Complete wind turbine load
D
hours usually vary between 16 and 57 percent annually, but may be higher in
CA
especially favourable offshore locations.
3. Solar energy A
A variety of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaics,
concentrated solar power (CSP), concentrator photovoltaics (CPV), solar
S
architecture and artificial photosynthesis are used to harness solar energy, radiant
ER
light and heat from the sun. Depending on the way they absorb,
transform, and transmit, solar technologies are generally defined as either passive
D
solar or active solar. Passive solar strategies include the orientation of a building
N
towards the Sun, the selection of materials with desirable dispersing properties of
thermal mass or light, and the construction of spaces that naturally circulate air.
FI
Active solar technologies include solar thermal energy, the use of solar heating
TH
collectors and solar power, and the conversion of sunlight into electricity either
directly through photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power
PA
(CSP).
4. Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy at high temperatures comes from thermal energy produced
©
and deposited on Earth. The force that determines the temperature of matter is
thermal energy. The geothermal energy of the Earth originates from the initial
creation of the planet and from mineral radioactive decay (in currently uncertain
but possibly roughly equal proportions). The geothermal gradient, which is the
temperature differential between the planet's core and its surface, drives
continuous thermal energy conduction from the core to the surface in the form of
heat. Low geothermal temperature (generally referred to as 'GHP') is an
increasingly important green technology because it both decreases the overall
88
annual heating and cooling energy loads and also flattens the power demand
curve, reducing the intense summer and winter peak requirements for electricity
supply.
5. Bioenergy
Biomass is biological material produced from species that are alive or recently
living. It most commonly applies to plants or plant-derived products that are
explicitly referred to as lignocellulose biomass. Biomass may either be used
directly to produce heat by combustion as an energy source, or indirectly after
Y
converting it to different types of biofuel. Various methods that are widely
EM
categorized into thermal, chemical, and biochemical methods may be used to
transform biomass to biofuel. With the advent of advanced technologies,
cellulosic biomass, such as trees and grasses, is now used as feedstock’s for the
D
production of ethanol.
CA
Renewable energy's importance in sustainable development
A
The benefits of the devastating effects of fossil fuels are undeniable: from the
reduction of water and land use, less pollution of air and water, less destruction of
S
biodiversity and habitat, to no or lower emissions of greenhouse gases.
ER
Furthermore, their local and decentralized character and the advancement of

technology create major benefits for the economy and people.
D
 Renewable technology produces minimal to no greenhouse gas emissions.

N
The burning of energy from fossil fuels results in large emissions of greenhouse
FI
gases that lead to global warming. Most renewable energy sources result in little
to no pollution, even though the complete life cycle of the technologies is taken
TH
into account.
 Renewable energy emits no or low air pollutants. Increases worldwide in road
PA
transport, industrial activity, and power generation based on fossil fuel (as well as
the open burning of waste in many cities) lead to high levels of air pollution. The
©
use of charcoal and fuelwood for heating and cooking in many developed
nations also leads to poor indoor air quality. Particles and other fossil-fuel air
emissions literally asphyxiate towns. Their presence over urban skies is
responsible for millions of premature deaths and costs billions, according to
World Health Organization reports.
 Renewable energy comes with low costs. Rising energy costs and restricted
access to capital are also followed by geopolitical strife and upheavals. Since it is
mostly generated locally, renewable energy is less affected by geopolitical crises,

89
price spikes or unexpected supply chain disruptions.

 Renewable energy creates jobs. Most of the investment in renewable energy is
spent on materials and workmanship for the building and maintenance of
facilities, rather than on expensive imports of energy. Investments in renewable
energy are typically invested on the continent, often in the same
region, and often in the same area. This ensures that in order to build jobs and
fuel the local economy, the money people spend on their energy bill stays home.
 Renewable energy makes the energy system resilient.
Y
Renewables improve the independence of urban energy infrastructures from
EM
remote sources and grids. Businesses and industry invest in renewables, including
adaptation to the weather-related impacts of climate change, to prevent
disruptions.
D
 Renewable energy is accessible to all Renewables provide the lowest-cost
CA
source of new power generation technologies in many parts of the world, and
costs continue to decline. Renewable energy is the only way to expand energy
A
access for all inhabitants, particularly those living in urban slums and informal
settlements and in suburban and peri-urban areas, especially for cities in the
S
developing world.
ER
 Renewable energy is secure.

In several national energy policies, changing energy markets and geopolitical
D
instability have pushed energy stability and energy infrastructure resilience to the
N
forefront.
FI
In the energy markets worldwide, from the European Union and the United States
to Egypt
TH
and India, security of supply is a serious concern.

PA
Challenges with renewable energy

 Energy Storage
©
The first of the seven challenges to consider is the issue surrounding efficient,
affordable and reliable energy storage. Historically, one of the major problems
with renewable energy generation is that supplies are far more variable than other
means of energy generation.
Fluctuations in sunlight levels and wind mean that supplies are less consistent
than those derived from fossil fuels. Owners, therefore, require batteries to store
energy for later. And to even out discrepancies in the energy supply.
But the sustainability challenges remain – and there are questions to ask

90
surrounding
the environmental costs of technology; mining the precious metals and rare earth
minerals that battery technologies require.
 Economic and financial challenges
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges faced by the renewable energy sector is
economics. Specifically, the financial issues involved in bringing renewable
technologies and renewable energy to the masses. New business forces are
dramatically increasing investment in the sector. Yet the transition away from
Y
carbon is a massive shift, and like any major shift, comes with a huge financial
EM
cost.
 Political Challenges
Inextricably linked with economic concerns are the political challenges of the
D
transition to renewables. As authorities in certain countries continue to take great
CA
strides in the right direction, other jurisdictions are being left behind. Political
posturing, isolationism, popularism and anti-science rhetoric all pose a threat to
A
the renewable energy sector. Politicians also face immense pressures as they
struggle to reconcile the requirements for rapid and immense change with the
S
reticence of the voting public to make the needed changes. Public
ER
perception of renewables is increasingly positive, and most people are aware of

and support the need for an urgent response to the climate emergency.
D
 Infrastructure Challenges
N
Wholesale, widespread use of renewables to meet the energy demand is essential.

FI
But the transition will be harder to achieve due to the lack of reliable large scale
energy grids in several developed nations. In the Western world, there is a huge
TH
and troubling infrastructure gap. Like other forms of infrastructure, energy

infrastructure is, in many regions, shockingly underfunded, poorly
PA
maintained, and insufficiently stable or resilient to meet the demands of the

future.
As the requirement for renewable energy continues to grow – due to growing
©
domestic use,
increased electric vehicle uptake, and industrial transition – the insufficiency of
many electric grid systems will become ever more apparent.
 Land Use
Using agricultural land for wind power generation is certainly not without
contention. Yet the most
valuable land is often optimal for energy generation. Increasingly, in the coming
years, the
91
renewable energy sector must find ways to balance the needs for power with the
need to make
optimal use of land. This has been and continues to be a major challenge within
the industry.
 Industry – The Next Frontier for Renewable Energy
The industrial sector is an economic powerhouse on a global scale, and yet also a
major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The decarbonisation of the
industrial sector is crucial to meeting the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement
Y
and limiting global warming to no more than 2 degrees C. above the pre-
EM
industrial temperature.
 Technical Challenges
Yet this is not the only challenge posed by industry decarbonisation. Technical
D
reasons also make it more difficult to reduce CO2 emissions within this arena.
CA
We cannot alter 45% of emissions from feedstock’s by a change in fuels, only by
changes to processes. A
Industrial processes are highly integrated and so any change to one part of the
process would have a knock-on effect and require further changes. Since
S
production facilities have long lifetimes, changing processes would require
ER
extensive (and costly) rebuilds or retrofits.

 Public Perception
D
Economic realities further add to the challenge of the decarbonising industry.

N
Cement, steel, ammonia and ethylene (the industrial products that account for the
FI
majority of carbon emissions) are commodity products, and the cost is a decisive
consideration in purchasing decisions. There is not currently a willingness to pay
TH
more for sustainable products, and so companies who decarbonise will be the
ones who have to foot the bill, finding themselves at an economic disadvantage.
PA
Global policy for renewable energy

 The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental
©
body that facilitates the worldwide adoption of renewables. It aims to provide

concrete policy guidance and promote the growth of capacity and the transfer of
technology. IRENA was established in 2009 through the signing of the IRENA
Charter by 75 countries.
 IRENA has 160 member states as of April 2019. UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon said that renewable energy has the potential to raise the poorest
countries to new levels of prosperity and launched the UN Sustainable Energy for
All initiative in September 2011 to boost access to energy, productivity and the
deployment of renewable energy.
92
 Many countries have been inspired by the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate
change to create or strengthen policies on renewable energy. In 2017, some form
of renewable energy policy was adapted by a total of 121 nations. There were
national goals that year in 176 nations. In addition, at state/provincial and local
levels, there are also a wide variety of policies.
 Some public utilities help to plan or install improvements to residential
electricity. Under President Barack Obama, the policy of the United States
supported the implementation of green energies, in accordance with the Paris
Y
Agreement commitments. Though these targets have been abandoned by
EM
Trump, renewable investment is still on the rise.
 Green banks have been established by several central, state, and local
governments. A green bank is a quasi-public financial entity that leverages
D
private investment in renewable energy technology using public money. A
CA
number of financial instruments are used by green banks to bridge market
differences that impede the implementation of clean energy.
A
 In addition, the US military has concentrated on the use of renewable fuels for
military vehicles. Renewable fuels can be produced in any region, unlike fossil
S
fuels, providing a strategic advantage. The US military has already committed
ER
itself to using renewable sources to account for 50 percent of its energy usage.
D
India's Clean Energy Efforts

N
 India was the first country in the world to set up a Department of Non-
FI
Conventional Energy
TH
Resources (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)) in the early 1980s,
and India's Solar Energy Corporation is responsible for developing India's solar
energy industry through its public sector enterprises.
PA
 Indian renewable energy sector is the fourth most attractive renewable energy
market in the world1. India is ranked fourth in wind power, fifth in solar power
©
and fifth in renewable power installed capacity as of 2018.

 Installed renewable power generation capacity has gained pace over the past
few years, posting a CAGR of 17.33% between FY16-20. With the increased
support of Government and improved economics, the sector has become
attractive from investors perspective. As India looks to meet its energy demand
on its own, which is expected to reach 15,820 TWh by 2040, renewable energy
is set to play an important role.
 The government is aiming to achieve 225 GW of renewable energy capacity

93
(including 114 GW of solar capacity addition and 67 GW of wind power

capacity) by 2022, more than its 175 GW targets as per the Paris Agreement. The
government plans to establish renewable energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030.
 Foreign investors may enter into joint ventures with an Indian partner for the
purpose of financial and/or technical cooperation and the setting up of projects
for the generation of renewable energy. Up to 100% of foreign investment
qualifies for automatic approval as capital.
 Off-grid applications are promoted through provision of subsidies from the
Y
central government.
EM
 Efforts have been made to improve and extend the eco-system of domestic
manufacturing. Schemes such as PM-KUSUM, Solar Rooftop and CPSU have a
Domestic Content Requirement, directly generating a domestic demand of more
D
than 36 GW of solar PV (cells & modules).
CA
 The Government of India has set up a Commission for Additional Sources of
Energy (CASE) in the Department of Science and Technology, recognizing the
A
need for focused efforts in this field. CASE's objective is to support clean energy
research and development activities.
S
ER
Government initiative taken

1. National Solar Mission (NSM)
D
In January 2010, the NSM was launched with the objective of establishing India
N
as a global leader in solar energy, by creating the policy conditions for solar
FI
technology diffusion across the country as quickly as possible. Numerous

facilitative programmes and schemes under the Mission have driven the grid
TH
connected solar power installed capacity from 25 MW in the year 2010-11 to

about 36.32 GW as on 31st October 2020.
PA
2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-

KUSUM):
©
PM-KUSUM Scheme is an ambitious scheme consisting of three components for

providing water and energy security to farmers and enhancing their income by
making Annadata also aUrjadata. During the budget for 2020-21 expansion of
scheme was announced to increase quantity of standalone solar pumps covered
under the scheme from 17.5 lakh to 20 lakh pumps and quantity of solarisation of
grid connected pumps from 10 lakh to 15 lakhs.
3. Off-Grid Solar PV Applications Programme Phase III:
Implementation of Phase-3 of the Off-Grid Solar PV Applications Programme for

94
Solar Street Lights, Solar Study Lamps and Solar Power Packs was extended for
North-Eastern States during the year. Sanction under the Scheme stands at 1.74
lakh solar street lights, 13.5 lakh solar study lamps and 4 MW capacity solar
power packs, which in under different stages of implementation by state nodal
agencies.
4. Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY) Phase-II:
The AJAY Ph-II Scheme for installation of solar street lights with 25% fund
contribution from MPLAD Funds. Installation of 1.5 lakh solar street lights
Y
sanctioned under the scheme till March 2020 was under progress and till October
EM
2020 around 0.84 lakh solar street lights reported installed and balance are
targeted to be completed by March 2021.
5. Roof Top Solar Programme Phase-II:
D
Roof Top Solar Programme Phase-II for accelerated deployment of solar roof top
CA
systems with a target of 40 GW installed capacity by the year 2021-22The
scheme provides for financial incentive for 4 GW of solar roof top capacity to
A
residential sector and there is a provision to incentivise the distribution
companies for incremental achievement over the previous year.
S
6. Solar Parks Scheme:
ER
To facilitate large scale grid connected solar power projects, a scheme for
“Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects” is under
D
implementation with a target capacity of 40 GW capacity by March 2022.

N
7. Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme:

A scheme for setting up 12 GW Grid- Connected Solar PV Power Projects by
FI
Public Sector Undertakings with domestic cells and modules is under

TH
implementation. Viability Gap Funding support is provided under this scheme.

8. Scheme for procurement of blended wind power from 2500 MW ISTS
PA
connected projects The objective of the Scheme is to provide a framework for

procurement of electricity from 2500 MW ISTS Grid Connected Wind Power
Projects with up to 20% blending with Solar PV Power through a transparent
©
process of bidding. Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) is the nodal
agency for implementation of the Scheme.
9. National Offshore Wind Energy Policy The National Offshore Wind Energy
Policy was approved in October 2015 with the aim of developing 7600 km of
offshore wind power along the Indian coastline in the Indian Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ). Eight zones in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are each listed
with 70 GW of projected offshore wind energy production.

95
10. Nationally Determined Contributions India has made a commitment as part of

the Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Climate Change
Agreement that 40 percent of our installed power generation will be from
nonfossil energy sources by 2030 and that GDP emission intensity will also be
reduced by 33-35 percent by 2030 from the 2005 baseline.
11. New Manufacturing PLI Scheme: The Cabinet has approved a Production
Linked Incentive for Scheme for manufacturing of High Efficiency Module. The
EFC note is under finalisation.
Y
12. Project Development Cell (PDC) has been established to handhold and
EM
facilitates domestic and foreign investors. PDC is reaching out to potential
investors who are willing to set up manufacturing capacities in India
13. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cell has been created in the Ministry in line
D
with DPIIT recommendations for curbing opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions of
CA
Indian companies due to current COVID-19 pandemic.
Budget 2021-2022: Contribution in Green Energy
 National Hydrogen Mission to be launched to generate hydrogen from green
A
power sources India a signatory to Paris Climate accord, will also launch a
S
Hydrogen Energy Mission in the next fiscal year to March 2022 for generating
ER
hydrogen from green power sources

 India will set up a transport system operator to auction gas pipeline capacity as
D
the country seeks to deepen its gas markets and reduce its carbon footprint. Gas
N
Transport System Operator will be set up for facilitation and coordination of

booking of common carrier capacity in all-natural gas pipelines on a non-
FI
discriminatory open access basis.

TH
 Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (LPG scheme) to be extended to cover 1 crore

more beneficiaries India plans to roll out its cheaper cooking gas supply scheme
PA
to another 10 million poor households while providing gas connections to small

industries and households in 100 more districts in three years.
 Voluntary vehicle scrapping policy In an effort to protect the environment and
©
reduce pollution, the government said it plans to impose a green tax on old
polluting vehicles soon, while vehicles such as powerful hybrids, electric
vehicles and those running on alternative fuels such as CNG, ethanol and LPG
will be exempted.
In order to combat emissions, money raised from the green tax would be used.

96
Hydrogen energy mission 2021-2022

The 2021-22 Hydrogen Energy Mission aims to produce hydrogen from
renewable sources of fuel.
So is the Green Hydrogen Project necessary for decarbonizing heavy industries
including steel and cement, it also provides the key to clean electrical mobility
that is not dependent on rare minerals. Hydrogen from renewable sources can
play a critical role in heavy-duty, long-distance transport. While battery operated
electric vehicles (BEV) will become competitive for heavy-duty transport,
Y
hydrogen production will be needed. It will also play a critical role in production
EM
of ammonia which is currently being produced from fossil-fuel based hydrogen.
Way forward
 Electric vehicles and vehicles built on hydrogen fuel cells is the most
D
appropriate solutions when it relates to switching to alternative energy sources,
CA
where we need to focus upon them.
 The extension of transmission infrastructure, both intra-state and inter-state,
A
should be improved to promote the development of renewable energy.
 Improve the institutional framework such that the efficient stream of central
S
financial assistance is encouraged. Enhancing the administrative structure to track
ER
the implementation of national policies is also significant.

 Governments must take all appropriate steps to increase spending on research
D
and development of new sources of renewable energy in order to secure the

N
environment as well as provide subsequent generations with reliable sources of

FI
energy.
 In order to reduce the cost of sustainable energy, the incorporation of emerging
TH
technology with current infrastructure is necessary.

 There is indeed a need for tariff system to incorporate production incentives
PA
©

97
Amalgamation of National Banks

Why in news?
• Recently government announced to merge 10 state-owned banks to create four
large banks.
• The Finance Minister has announced the biggest consolidation plan of Public
sector Banks (PSBs)- merging 10 of them into just 4.
• This was the planned merger of 10 public sectors into 4 banks. The anchor
banks for this merger will be the Punjab National Bank, the Canara Bank, the
Y
Union Bank of India and the Indian Bank.
EM
Background
• The Narasimham Committee of 1991 had recommended a three-tier banking
D
structure with 3 large banks with international presence at the top, 8 to 10
CA
national banks at Tier 2, and a large number of regional and local banks at the
bottom. A
• P J Nayak Committee in 2014 suggested that the government should privatize
or merge some PSBs.
S
• In 2017, the Government had approved the “merger” of SBI’s 5 associate banks
ER
and Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) with SBI.

• In 2017, Government had constituted Alternative Mechanism Panel headed by
D
the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs to look into merger proposals of
N
public sector banks

FI
• Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank shall be amalgamated making the
new entity India’s third Largest Bank.
TH
Committees in this regard:

• Narasimham committee (1991 and 1998) suggested merger of strong banks
PA
both in public
sector and even with the developmental financial institutions and NBFCs.
©
• Khan committee in 1997 stressed the need for harmonization of roles of

commercial banks
and the financial institutions.
• Verma committee pointed out that consolidation will lead to pooling of
strengths and lead
to overall reduction in cost of operations.
What is the regulation for Bank Merger?

98
 Section 44A of the Banking Regulation Act 1949:It provides procedure for
Amalgamation of Banking Companies, under which, no banking company shall
be amalgamated with another banking company, unless a scheme containing the
terms of such amalgamation has been placed in draft before the shareholders of
each of the banking companies concerned separately, and approved by a
resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of the shareholders of each of the said
companies.
 Section 45 of the Banking Regulation Act (Forced Mergers): Under these
Y
norms, RBI can apply to the Government for an order of moratorium for a
EM
banking company.
D
The objective behind the merger:
 To help India make a USD 5 trillion economy
CA
 Reducing the lending cost
 Enhancing the capacity in order to increase credit
A
 To bring next-generation technology for the banking sector
S
 Banks that have strong national and international reach
ER
 To improve the ability to raise market resources.

Benefits of Bank Merger
D
• Global Banks: Big Indian Banks can slowly and gradually transform themselves
N
into global banks. With consolidation, the Indian banks will gain greater
recognition and higher rating in the global market.
FI
• Risk management and large loans: Merger will result in better NPA and Risk
TH
management. Also, Banks will not be reluctant to approve big loans to averse the
risk.
• Customer service: Larger size of the Bank will help the merged banks to offer
PA
more products and services and help in integrated growth of the Banking sector.
• Human Resource: The wide disparities between the staff of various banks in
©
their service conditions and monetary benefits will narrow down

• Improve regulation: From regulatory perspective, monitoring and control of a
smaller number of banks will be easier after mergers.
• To Reduce cost -The volume of inter-bank transactions will come down,
resulting in saving of considerable time in clearing and reconciliation of accounts
• Technological Synergy: All merged banks in a particular bucket share common
Core Banking Solutions (CBS) platform synergizing them technologically.
• Competitive: The consolidation of PSBs helps in strengthening its presence

99
globally, nationally and regionally.

• Efficiency: It has the potential to reduce operational costs due to the presence of
shared overlapping networks.
• Self-Sufficiency: Larger banks have a better ability to raise resources from the
market rather than relying on State exchequer.
• Recovery: The loan tracking mechanism in PSU banks is being improved for
the benefit of customers.
Benefits of Bank Merger For economy:
Y
• Reduction in the cost of doing business.
EM
• Technical inefficiency reduces.
• The size of each business entity after merger is expected to add strength to the
Indian Banking System in general and Public Sector Banks in particular.
D
• After merger, Indian Banks can manage their liquidity – short term as well as
CA
long term – position comfortably.
• Synergy of operations and scale of economy in the new entity will result in
A
savings and higher profits.
• A great number of posts of CMD, ED, GM and Zonal Managers will be
S
abolished, resulting in savings of crores of Rupee.
ER
• Customers will have access to fewer banks offering them wider range of
products at a lower cost.
D
• Mergers can diversify risk management.

N
FI
Benefits of Bank Merger For government:

• The burden on the central government to recapitalize the public sector banks
TH
again and again will come down substantially.

• This will also help in meeting more stringent norms under BASEL III,
PA
especially capital adequacy ratio.

• From regulatory perspective, monitoring and control of less number of banks
©
will be easier after mergers.

Challenges in Bank Merger
• Overlook regional requirement: Many banks focus on regional banking
requirements. With the merger the very purpose of establishing the bank to cater
to regional needs is lost.
• Too big to fail: When a big bank books huge loss or crumbles, there will be a
big jolt in the entire banking industry. Its repercussions will be felt everywhere.
• Job Loss: Mergers will result in immediate job losses on account of large
number of people taking VRS on one side and slow down or stoppage of further
100
recruitment on the other.

• Cultural clash: Mergers will result in clash of different organizational cultures.
Conflicts will arise in the area of systems and processes too.
• Disruption in services: It may lead to deterioration of services and disruption in
the near term as the merger process gets under way. This will lead to a further
slowdown in lending for a while.
• Geographical Synergy: During the process of merger, the geographical synergy
between the merged banks is somewhat missing
Y
• Diversion from specific objective: After unification, the subsidiary bank may
EM
forget their specific objective to serve a particular section or region
D
Steps to be taken
• Standard process: There is no standard procedure to choose the banks for
CA
merger. The government should design a standard process for merger.
• Consultation with stakeholders: All stakeholders must be taken into
A
confidence, before the merger exercise is started.
• Reduce the NPA first: The government should clean the bank book first and
S
then consolidate the weak bank with the strong bank.
ER
• Governance reforms: Along with bank consolidation government should take

immediate measures to improve governance and get desired result
D
Thus, the merger offers opportunities as well as challenges. While consolidation

N
is required to address the challenges of the banking sector, it is not a solution by

FI
itself. Careful implementation of merger can ensure that it is not only beneficial
for the banking system but also for the entire economy
TH
PA
©

101
One Nation One Ration Card

Context
 Finance Minister has announced the nationwide rollout of a ‘One Nation, One
Ration Card (ONORC)’ system in all states and UTRs by March 2021.
Question
 The ‘One nation one ration card ‘scheme would bring perceptible changes to
the lives of India’s internal migrant workers. Comment
 Discuss the significance of One Nation One Ration Card scheme
Y
EM
Background
The Public distribution system (PDS)
D
 PDS is an Indian food Security System established under the Ministry of
CA
Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution
 Evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of food
grains at affordable prices
A
 Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar and
S
kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution
ER
Evolution of PDS in India

 Introduced around World War II as a war-time rationing measure
D
 After 1970s, it evolved as a universal scheme for the distribution of subsidised

N
food
 Till 1992, PDS was a general entitlement scheme for all consumers without any
FI
specific target
TH
 The Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) was launched in June, 1992
with a view to strengthen and streamline the PDS
PA
 In June, 1997, the GOI launched the Targeted Public Distribution System
(TPDS) with a focus on the poor.
©
Importance of PDS
 Ensuring Food and Nutritional Security of the nation
 Helped in stabilising food prices by procuring food by FCI
 Maintains the buffer stock of food grains
 Helped in the redistribution of grains
Issues Associated with PDS System in India
 Identification of beneficiaries- large inclusion and exclusion errors.
According to the estimation of an expert group set up in 2009, PDS suffers from

102
nearly 61% error of exclusion and 25% inclusion of beneficiaries, i.e. the
misclassification of the poor as non-poor and vice versa.
 Leakage of food grains: (Transportation leakages + Black Marketing by FPS
owners)
 Issue with procurement: Open-ended Procurement, all incoming grains
accepted even if buffer stock is filled
 Issues with storage: A performance audit by the CAG has revealed a serious
 Incidents of rotting food grains due to the lack of adequate covered storage
Y
 Discourages crop diversification due high MSP given to only few crop
EM
 Procuring states such as Punjab and Haryana are under environmental stress,
including rapid groundwater depletion, deteriorating soil and water conditions
from overuse of fertilisers. ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ system
D
 ONOR system which will allow portability of food security benefits will be
CA
available across the country from 1st July, 2020. This means poor migrant
workers will be able to buy subsidized rice and wheat from any ration shop in
A
the country.
 The scheme is all about inter-state portability of ration cards.
S
 It enables the beneficiaries who are taking food grains under the Public
ER
Distribution System (PDS) to access the same benefits if they happen to migrate
from one part of the country to the other, in a seamless manner.
D
N
How important is this scheme for migrant labourers in the country?

 Historically, India has had food security benefit schemes which have domicile-
FI
based access.
TH
 45.36 crore people or 37% of the population is that of migrant labourers.

How important is the scheme for curbing corruption?
 weeding out bogus ration cards- n the last five years, the government has
PA
managed to delete
nearly 3 crores duplicate and bogus ration cards.
©
 Reduce deduplication by attaching with Aadhar card

 Government would be able to rightly target the beneficiaries due to collection
of data
 Creating a central data repository to get all the details of ration card
Benefits Emanating from ONORC
 Interoperability of Ration Card- the beneficiaries from one state can get their
share of rations in
other states where the ration card was originally issued.
103
 Reducing Social Discrimination- ONORC will be particularly beneficial for

women and other
disadvantaged groups, given how social identity (caste, class and gender) and
other contextual factors (including power relations) provide a strong backdrop in
accessing PDS
 Achieving SDG- This will help achieve the target set under SDG 2: Ending
hunger by 2030.
 Provides choice-give the beneficiaries the opportunity to opt for the dealer of
Y
their choice.
EM
 No additional cost- as the scheme goes on the entitlements that are mandated in
the National Food Security Act.
 Easy Accessibility across the nation-This will make all PDS shops across the
D
country accessible
CA
 May resolve the challenge of logistical issues.
A
Challenges:
S
 Against Federal Structure-Tamil Nadu has opposed the proposal of the Centre,
ER
saying it
would result in undesirable consequences and is against federalism
 Technical issues-Government may face some technical challenges during the
D
N
implementation of the scheme.

 Corruption still a major issue-It will increase the woes of the common man and,
FI
the middlemen and corrupt PDS shop owners will exploit them.
TH
 Few regional parties have expressed apprehensions on bearing the cost of

additional ration cards
 One of the apprehensions mentioned by few states is the cost of additional food
PA
grain to be supplied to the migrant workers

 Prone to corruption: Every state has its own rules for Public Distribution
©
System (PDS).
Way Forward:
 The current migrant crisis should be seen as an opportunity to develop a
national migration policy addressing the challenges faced by migrant workers’
productivity, living conditions and social security.
 While this must be done, the government must also fast-track the ONORC

104
scheme because India’s present rights-based regime is based on the assumption

that people are sedentary.
 The ONORC should also include access to health and other things
 If done well, ON-ORC could lay the foundation of a truly national and portable
benefits system that includes other welfare programmes like LPG subsidy and
social pensions.
Y
National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013:
 Under the National Food Security Act, all state governments in India have to
EM
identify households that are eligible for purchasing subsidized food grain from
the Public Distribution System and provide them with ration cards.
D
 The objective is to provide for food and nutritional security.
 The act entitled, highly subsidized food grains under PDS.
CA
Ration Card?
 A Ration Card is a document issued under an order or authority of the State
A
Government, as per the Public Distribution System, for the purchase of essential
S
commodities from fair price shops.
ER
 It depends on the number of members in a family and the financial status of the
applicant.
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

105
Bad Bank: Need challenges and Alternative

Context
 With commercial banks set to witness a spike in NPAs, or bad loans, in the
wake of the contraction in the economy as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das recently agreed to look
at the proposal for the creation of a bad bank.
Bad Bank:
 A Bad Bank is an Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC).
Y
 Bad bank or PARA (Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency) was proposed
EM
in Economic Survey 2016-17.
 Bad Bank is an institution which specializes in loan resolution process, so that
D
banking system is free to focus on core banking solutions
 The government of India is planning to set up a Bad Bank to rescue the banking
CA
system from the rising non-performing assets
 The idea of forming a ‘bad bank’ in India was initially floated in 2017 when the
A
Economic Survey suggested setting up a Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation
S
Agency (PARA). Along with it, RBI floated the idea of PAMCs and NAMCs on
ER
the lines of Bad Banks.

 banks divide their assets into two categories (a) one with non-performing assets
D
and other risky liabilities and (b) others with healthy assets, which help banks
grow financially.
N
FI
Need for PARA or BAD BANK

TH
According to Economic Survey, need for PARA arises because:

 Early resolution so that Funds for creation of new credit can be used
PA
 Wilful Defaulters cannot escape because of non-coordination in Joint Lenders’

Forum
©
 Large Defaulters comprise more value of NPAs, as 50 top defaulters account

for 71% of NPAs. Therefore, PARA, with focus on top cases can lead to faster
recovery
 PARA with its mandate on time-bound resolution, may be better equipped with
decision making capabilities, in comparison to bank management, who feared
CVC and CAG enquiry on debt write-offs.
 ARCs have not been successful, as they have bought only 5% of NPAs,
according to ES 2016-17

106
 Without PARA, banks have resorted to refinancing, which leads to delaying the
cases. This further leads to lack of credit and investment in the economy.
 PARA helps to enhance investment in banks and improves credit ratings, so
that Indian firms have access to cheap global credit.
 International Precedent: The 2007-2010 financial crises led to the creation of
bad banks in many countries. E. g- US, as part of the Emergency Economic
Stabilisation Act of 2008, a bad bank was suggested
 Many lenders are concerned over huge haircuts they have to endure after a
Y
resolution through the Insolvency and bankruptcy code.
EM
Why be concerned about bad loans?
 Indian banks’ pile of bad loans is a huge drag on the economy.
 It’s a drain on banks’ profits. Because profits are eroded, public sector banks
D
(PSBs), where the bulk of the bad loans reside, cannot raise enough capital to
CA
fund credit growth.
 Lack of credit growth, in turn, comes in the way of the economy’s return to an
A
8% growth trajectory. Therefore, the bad loan problem requires effective
resolution.
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©
Working of Bad Bank

107
Y
EM
Issues with PARA or Bad bank
D
Accusations of favouritism against the decision-making body
CA
Independence and Professionalism will be compromised if government has a
majority stake
A
Persistent Scrutiny from government investigative agencies like CVC and
S
CAG
ER
Lack of Political will to implement the steps recommended by PARA

D
Establishing prices of stressed advances is a time consuming and debatable

issue
N
FI
Cleaned balance sheets may lead banks to lend more freely Huge capital is
required for recapitalisation
TH
Setup is time consuming process

PA
It will not address more serious corporate governance issues plaguing public
sector banks that
©
led to the NPA problem.

Not Addressing the Underlying Issue-e.g. No governance reforms
Moral Hazard: Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan had said that a bad
bank may create a
moral hazard and enable banks to continue reckless lending practices, without
any commitment to
reduce NPAs.
108
Solution by Economic Survey 2016 -17

Autonomy of PARA
Permanency of AQR (Asset Quality Review)
Professional Staffing of PARA, both from private and public sector
Benefit of bad bank
Major benefit of forming a bad bank is asset monetization
Y
Turning a non-revenue-generating item into cash Bad bank specializes in
EM
loan recovery.so we can use its expertise
A single government entity will be more competent to take decisions rather
D
than 28 individual PSBs.
CA
Speedier settlements with borrowers by cutting out individual banks.
Better bargain with borrowers and take more stringent enforcement
A
action against them
S
Raise money from institutional investors rather than looking only to the
ER
Government
Banks’ Burden is Reduced
D
Positive Impact on Financial Sector

N
FI
What are the alternatives to a bad bank?

TH
Many experts and government officials argue that the enactment of IBC has
PA
reduced the need for

having a bad bank, as a transparent and open process is available for all lenders to
©
attempt
insolvency resolution.
As per latest available RBI data, as a percentage of claims, banks recovered on
average 42.5% of
the amount filed through the IBC in 2018-19, against 14.5% through the
SARFAESI, 5.3%

109
through Lok Adalat’s and 3.5% through Debt Recovery Tribunals. The view is
that an IBC-led
resolution, or sale of bad loans to ARCs already existing, is a better approach to
tackle the NPA
problem rather than a government-funded bad bank.
Former RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya proposed two models.
Y
1. The first model is a private Asset Management Company (PAMC) which
would be suitable for sectors where the stress is such that assets are likely to have
EM
economic value in the short run, with moderate levels of debt forgiveness.
2. The second model is a National Asset Management Company (NAMC) for
D
sectors where the problem is not just of excess capacity, but possibly also of
CA
economically unviable assets in the short- to medium-term, such as in the power
sector. A
How serious is the NPA issue in the wake of the pandemic?
S
The RBI noted in its recent Financial Stability Report that the gross NPAs of
ER
the banking sector are expected to shoot up to 14.8% of advances by September

2021, from 7.5% in September 2020
D
Among bank groups, the NPA ratio of PSU banks, which was 9.7% in
N
September 2020, may increase to 16.2% by September 2021 under the baseline
FI
scenario.
The K V Kamath Committee, which helped the RBI with designing a one-
TH
time restructuring scheme, also noted that corporate sector debt worth Rs 15.52
lakh crore has come under stress after Covid-19 hit India, while another Rs 22.20
PA
lakh crore was already under stress before the pandemic.

This effectively means Rs 37.72 crore (72% of the banking sector debt to
©
industry) remains under stress. This is almost 37% of the total non-food bank
credit.
The panel led by Kamath, a veteran banker, has said companies in sectors such
as retail trade, wholesale trade, roads and textiles are facing stress. Sectors that
have been under stress pre-Covidinclude NBFCs, power, steel, real estate and
construction. Setting up a bad bank is seen as crucial against this backdrop

110
25 Years of Local Democracy in India
The idea of the Panchayati Raj came from the ancient system of Panchayat,
which means a group of five elderly people in a village who decide local matters.
Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, who believed that the soul of India lived in its
villages, emphasized the need for strengthening Panchayats for the overall
development of villages.
Y
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) as units of local government have been in
EM
existence in India for a long time, in one form or another. However, it was only
in 1992, on the recommendations of the LM Singhvi Committee (1986), that it
was granted constitutional status as the third level of India’s federal democracy
D
through the 73rd Amendment Act.
CA
While Part IX relates to the Panchayats, containing Arts. 243 to 243-0, Part
IXA relates to the Municipalities, containing Arts. 243P to 243ZG.
A
All states of India have Panchayati Raj systems except Nagaland, Meghalaya
S
and Mizoram, in all Union Territories except Delhi; and certain other areas.
ER
The committees are appointed for PRIs

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee Ashok Mehta Committee
D
G V K Rao Committee
N
FI
L M Singhvi Committee
73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992
TH
The Act added Part IX to the Constitution

PA
also added the Eleventh Schedule

Give shape to Article 40 of the Constitution (DPSP)
©
The Act is a very significant step in creating democratic institutions at the

grassroots level in the
country.
The Act has transformed the representative democracy into participatory
democracy.
Grama Sabha

111
The grama Sabha or village assembly lies at the base of PR superstructure. It

consists of all the adult citizens who have been entitled to vote. The village
panchayath owes responsibilities to the gram Sabha
PART IX of the Constitution envisages a three-tier system of 3-tier system.
Panchayats,' namely,
o The village level;
o The District Panchayat at the district level;
Y
o The Intermediate Panchayat which stands between the village and district
EM
Panchayats in the States
where the population is above 20 lakhs.
D
PESA Act of 1996
CA
The provisions of Part IX are not applicable to the Fifth Schedule areas.
The Parliament can extend this Part to such areas with modifications and
A
exceptions as it may specify. Under these provisions, Parliament enacted
S
Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, popularly
ER
known as PESA Act or the extension act.

Objectives of the PESA Act:
D
1. To extend the provisions of Part IX to the scheduled areas.

N
2. To provide self-rule for the tribal population.

FI
3. To have village governance with participatory democracy.

TH
4. To evolve participatory governance consistent with the traditional practices.

PA
5. To preserve and safeguard traditions and customs of tribal population.

6. To empower panchayats with powers conducive to tribal requirements.
©
7. To prevent panchayats at a higher level from assuming powers and authority of

panchayats at a lower level. As a result of these constitutional steps taken by the
union and state governments, India has moved towards what has been described
as ‘multi-level federalism’, and more significantly, it has widened the democratic
base of the Indian polity.

112
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
ER
Significance of Panchayati Raj Institution

 Promote Democratic Representation
D
 Effective and Efficient Planning

N
 Ensures Good Governance

FI
 Articulate local needs and priorities

 Ensure a more efficient use of local resources
TH
PA
©

113
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
Problems with Local Democracy in India

 Inadequate devolution
PA
 States violating Provisions

 Inadequate Infrastructure
©
 Insufficient Grants/Funds
 Lack of Support Staff
 Lack of Convergence of Various Government Programmes
 Panchayats and Municipalities have not used their fiscal powers efficiently
 There was no real institutional decentralization except in the state of Kerala
 Most States continue to create parallel bodies
 Increasing allocations to Members of Parliament Local Area Development

114
Scheme has further eroded local democracy

 The traditional bodies like ‘collectives’ or ‘gavki’ in Maharashtra and CVCs in
Karnataka are functioning parallel to the village panchayats
 The functions listed in the 11th Schedule are merely illustrative and indicative.
e.g. The Khap panchayat
 Token Presence – Sarpanchpati, Pati-Panchayat
 Irregularity in conducting elections
 Decentralization of corruption
Y
 Disadvantaged sections remain at periphery
EM
 The interference of area MPs and MLAs in the functioning of panchayats
 Accountability arrangements remain very weak
D
Achievements of PRI
CA
1. There are about 250,000 PRIs and urban local bodies, and over 32 lakh elected
local government representatives.
2. Most staggering of all is the representation of women: Comprising about 14
A
lakh members, with some 86,000 chairing their local bodies,
3. Uniquely, SC/ST representation is proportional to SC/ST population ratios in
S
ER
villages, talukas/blocks and districts respectively. Approximately one lakh

sarpanches are SC/ST.
4. Research using PRIs (by Lakshmi Iyer, Anandi Mani, Prachi Mishra, and Petia
D
Topalova) has shown that having female political representation in local

N
governments makes women more likely to come forward and report crimes.
FI
5. Further, female PRI leaders are more likely to focus on issues pertinent to
women
TH
PRI and women

PA
The 73rd Amendment has the following provisions relating to women (Art.
243 (D)):
 Not less than one-third of the seats will be reserved for women (including
©
SCs/STs). These may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies of a

Panchayat.
 There would be reservation for women in the seats that have been allotted to
SCs and STs. Not less than one-third of the SC and ST seats may be reserved for
women. Not less than one-third of the total number of seats for the office of the
chairpersons at each level would be reserved for women. This would be rotated
among different Panchayat at each level.

115
Challenges before Elected Women Representatives

 Patriarchy
 Caste System:
 Lack of Cooperation from Line/Sectoral Departments:
 Inadequate Capacities:
 Rotation of Terms:
 Two Child Norm
 Inadequate Women Panchayat Functionaries:
Y
EM
Need to done for better functioning of PRI
 Gram Sabha’s and wards committees in urban areas have to be revitalised
D
 Local government organisational structures have to be strengthened
CA
 Genuine fiscal federalism
 States should adopt the concept of ‘activity mapping
A
 There is need for bottom up planning
 The center also needs to financially incentivize states to encourage effective
S
devolution
ER
 Laying down rules for sharing GST revenue between states and local bodies.
D
Government initiative
N
1.E-GramSwaraj- A Simplified Work Based Accounting Application for

FI
Panchayati Raj.To strengthen e-Governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)

TH
across the country, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has launched

eGramSwaraj, a user-friendly web-based portal. eGramSwaraj aims to bring in
better transparency in decentralised planning, progress reporting and work-based
PA
accounting
2. The National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated every year on April 24. The
©
Panchayati Raj Institutions play a major role in the socio and economic
development of people at the grassroot level.
3. Bhuvan Panchayat Version 3.0 -For better planning and monitoring of
government projects, the ISRO has launched the Bhuvan Panchayat web portal’s
version 3.0. The project is meant to provide geo-spatial services to aid gram
panchayat development planning process of the Ministry
of Panchayati Raj.
4.SVAMITVA scheme, a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj,

116
State Panchayati Raj Departments, State Revenue Departments and Survey of

India, aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India,
engaging the latest Drone Surveying technology, for demarcating the inhabitant
(Aabadi) land in rural areas.
Quotes on PRIs
 Decentralization of political power is the basic requirement for the success of
true democracy” - Mahatma Gandhi (Young India)
Y
 “Good government is no substitute for local government” -M K Gandhi
EM
 Gandhi is opposed to all kinds of concentration of power; he says
centralization is a menace and danger to democracy. Concentration of power
D
in his view distorts all democratic values.
 “Community development takes place only when community participates and
CA
that requires Panchayati Raj Institutions”. -- Balwant Ray Mehta committee
A
The recommendations of the 6th report of the 2nd Administrative Reform
S
Commission
ER
1. Genuine fiscal federalism i.e. fiscal autonomy accompanied by fiscal

accountability can provide a long-term solution.
D
2. The 2nd ARC also recommended that state Governments should encourage
N
local bodies to outsource specific functions to public or private agencies, as may

be appropriate, through enabling guidelines and support
FI
3. The Comprehensive and holistic training requires expertise and resources from
TH
various subject matter specific training institutes.

4. Audit committees may be constituted by the State Governments at the district
PA
level to exercise oversight of the integrity of financial information, adequacy of

internal controls, compliance with the applicable laws and ethical conduct of all
persons involved in local bodies.
©
Some Positive Steps Taken by Finance Commissions

 In the context, the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) has substantially
increased the grants to the local bodies for the period year 2015-16 to 2019-20
 The grants provided are intended to be used to support and strengthen the
delivery of important basic public services.
 Also, the 15th Finance Commission has further increased the grants in its
interim report for year 2020-21 for rural and urban bodies.
117
UPSC previous years questions

1. Examine the changing structure of Panchayati Raj institutions with special
reference to the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act.
2. Explain how the participation of women impacted the functioning of rural
local bodies in India.
3. Examine the role of Panchayati Raj Institution and Urban Local Bodies in
deepening of democracy in India.
Y
4. The goal of Good governance will be achieved only by strengthening the grass
EM
root level democracy
5. Has the 73rd Constitutional Amendment empowered women in panchayats in
D
India? Discuss
6. New Panchayat Raj is an effective instrument for women empowerment
CA
7. Examine the provisions of Panchayat Extension Services Act (PESA), 1996
8. Political decentralization has not been matched by administrative
A
decentralization at the grass roots level
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©

118
Hate speech
Context
 Discussing the limits of free speech and what may tantamount to hate speech,
the Supreme Court (SC) has recently held that “Historical truths must be depicted
without in any way disclosing or encouraging hatred or enmity between different
classes or communities.”
 The FIRs were filed against a TV anchor for alleged remarks on the sufi saint
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in a news show.
Y
EM
Details of this SC judgement
 Elaborating on the point about truth or true facts being a defence in cases of
D
free speech, the SC cited its ruling in K A Abbas versus Union of India case
CA
1970, which was about censorship.
 The order said that there is no bar in showing carnage or bloodshed which have
historical value, and depiction of such scenes may be permissible, if handled
A
delicately as a part of an artistic portrayal of confrontation.
 The likelihood must be judged from a healthy and reasonable standard, thereby
S
ER
accepting the position that historical truth may be a relevant and important factor.
 However, historical truth must be depicted without in any way disclosing or
D
encouraging hatred or enmity between different classes or communities.

 The court also referred to the ruling in Ebrahim Suleiman Sait versus M C
N
Mohammed and Another case 1980.

FI
 The court pointed out that the object of criminalising hate speech is to protect
TH
the dignity and to ensure political and social equality between different identities
and groups regardless of caste, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual
orientation, linguistic preference, etc.
PA
©
Hate Speech
 SC had observed that “hate speech is an effort to marginalise individuals based
on their membership in a group. It seeks to delegitimise group members in the
eyes of the majority, reducing their social standing and acceptance within society.
 Law Commission in its 267th report had observed that “Hate speech
generally is an incitement to hatred primarily against a group of persons defined
in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief. Thus, hate
speech is any word written or spoken, signs, visible representations within the
hearing or sight of a person with the intention to cause fear or alarm, or
119
incitement to violence.”
 There is no legal definition internationally for hate speech including in India
Hate speech threatens two key doctrines of democracy-

 The guarantee of equal dignity to all
 The public good of inclusiveness.
Y
Global trend on the issue of hate speech?
EM
 Growing xenophobia, racism and intolerance including rising anti-Semitism,
anti-Muslim hatred and persecution of Christians around the world.
 Social media and other forms of communication are being exploited as
D
platforms for bigotry.
CA
 Public discourse is being weaponized for political gain with incendiary rhetoric
that stigmatizes and dehumanizes minorities, migrants, refugees, and women and
A
any so-called “other”.
S
ER
Regulation of Hate speech in India

 Constitutional provisions: Article 19(2) of the Constitution gives all citizens
the right to freedom of speech and expression but subject to “reasonable
D
restrictions” for preserving inter alia “public order, decency or morality”.

N
 Statutory provisions: India prohibits hate speech by several sections such as

FI
Section 95 of CRPC Section 124A or Section 153A or Section 153B or Section

TH
292 or Section 293 or Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code.

 Hate speech becomes an exception to Article 19(1) (a) though it guarantees free
speech that is necessary to promote a plurality of opinions.
PA
©
Causes of hate speech

 Historical underpinnings- Any historical enmity between various religious or
societal groups can motivate them to do hate crimes
 Vote bank politics: Often vote bank politics, use various communal or
emotional tools to garner the vote of few groups by inciting hatred in them.
 Acceptance of hate by society: Sometimes society, in general, accepts hatred
against a particular group or nation based on past experience of atrocities. E.g.
islamophobia in European countries.
 Illiteracy-Lack of education prevents the overall development of an individual.
120
This prevents the development of tolerance and understanding of individuality in

them.
 Consensus in society: Increasing unemployment led to the development of
feeling of hatred against a particular group especially refugees and migrated one.
For e.g., thousands of people of the northeast living in Bangalore headed to
Guwahati, following rumours of violence targeting them.
 Prejudice and bias-Bias toward a particular group can be a reason for hate
crimes. E.g., 704 cases of crimes against Northeast people in Delhi in 3 years.
Y
 Patriarchy-it is main reason behind hate crime against women. Honour killing
EM
of women is mainly due to patriarchal mind-set. E .g in 2010 when Nirupama, a
student of journalism, was killed by her family members in Jharkhand for
planning to marry her boyfriend from another caste.
D
 Lack of strong laws-lack of strong and clear laws, poor implementation results
CA
in low conviction rate.
. Social media: Fake news, propaganda is often invoked on social media against
A
a particular group to destabilise a society. For example, Muzaffarnagar riots in
S
2013
ER
Social Media & hate speech

Impact of social media: Social media spreads messages way faster than other
D
forms of mass media.

N
1. Nearly 60,000 posts are shared on Facebook in just one second across the
globe.
FI
2. Nearly 8,00,000 messages are sent in just one second across WhatsApp.
TH
3. Almost 70,000 searches are made on Google in just one second.

How social media aids hate speech?
 Unregulated Information sharing on platform– larger infection of
PA
unregulated information dissemination through social media.

 Hate speech against Rohingya minorities over social media
©
 Prioritise business interest over common good– Conducting a psychological

experiment on its user’s emotions and more aspect of their personality. Recent
SA election and Cambridge analytics issue
 Insensible approach– Delaying the removal of malicious content even after
volunteer groups had reported it
The impact of hate speech includes:
 Human rights violation
121
 Atrocity crime
 Terrorism
 The spread of violent extremism
 Gender-based violence
 Communal Violence
 Polarization of communities and sections of the society
 Threat to the protection of civilians, minorities, refugees, women and children
 Alleviate the fight against all forms of racism and discrimination
Y
 Erosion of democratic values
EM
 Mobocracy and Mob lynching
 Deteriorate peace, growth and development
D
 Hate speech alienates, marginalizes and undermines personal dignity
CA
 Hate crime
 Property damage- public and private
 Rape
A
 Genocide
S
 It can even deteriorate bilateral relations and lead to tussles/wars
ER
Role of Hate speech in Mob Lynching

 Though these are two different terms but are connected.
D
 Mob Lynching is connected with the hate speech as most of the time
N
perpetrators of this criminal record and circulates the videos of the issues which
FI
is attached with the sentiments of a particular group through various modes like
social media and thus provoke Mob Lynching.
TH
 Mob against the accused are always instigated by hate speech.

 For example:
PA
i. In 2018 in Bihar, stones throne rumour

ii. In 2019 a 44-year-old man was lynched to death
©
iii. In 2018 multiple mob attacks in Andhra Pradesh of Hindi-speaking people as

false hate messages spread that child abductor gangs from Bihar and Jharkhand
were active in the state.
iv. Lynching is not a problem that is limited to India. Various UN reports refer to
lynching cases from the US, Sudan, Nigeria, Haiti and other countries
122
TK Viswanathan Committee Recommendations to deal with hate speech on

the internet
 An expert committee headed by former Lok Sabha secretary general TK
Viswanathan to deal with cybercrimes especially online hate speech has
submitted its report to Union Home Ministry.
 It was formed in 2017 after Supreme Court struck down Section 66 A of the
Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 in Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India.
 Section 66 A of IT Act was added to criminalize sending of offensive messages
Y
through a computer or other communication devices.
EM
Recommendations
 Appoint cybercrime coordinators in all states
D
 Establish cybercrime cells in each district.
CA
 Replace some clauses of the IT Act, 2000 and amend some sections of IPC like
153, 505A to deal with online hate crimes.
 The punishment under the amended clause which deals with the prohibition of
A
incitement to hatred is two years imprisonment or fine of Rs. 5,000 or both.
S
 Offences under amended Section 505A are punishable with imprisonment of up
ER
to one year or fine of Rs. 5,000 or both.

 State cybercrime coordinator should be an officer not below the rank of
D
Inspector General of Police (IGP).

 The head of district cybercrime cell should be an officer not below the rank of
N
sub-inspector of police.
FI
TH
Way Forward
 Education is the most efficient way to dilute hatred and in promoting and
PA
understanding compassion with others

 Private companies should also be encouraged to take awareness programs and
©
 Need stricter law for penalizing

 Fight against hate speech cannot be isolated. Wider platform such as the United
Nations shall take up the matter for discussion.
 Each and every responsible government, regional bodies, and other
international and regional actors should respond to this threat
123
Five Years of Paris Agreement
Context
 PM addressed the Climate Ambition Summit on the occasion of the fifth
anniversary of the landmark Paris Agreement
Hosted by the United Nations (UN) and the United Kingdom and is being
co-hosted by France in partnership with Chile and Italy
 This will be an opportunity for countries to show their commitment to the
Y
Paris Agreement
EM
Climate Ambition Summit
 Hosted by The United Nations (UN), United Kingdom (UK) France and are co-
D
hosted in partnership with Chile and Italy on 12 December, exactly five years
CA
since the adoption of the Paris Agreement.
 The Summit was a major step on the road to the next UN Climate Change
Conference of the Parties (COP26), which will be hosted by the UK next
A
November in Glasgow.
S
 The Summit provided leaders with a global platform to showcase commitments
ER
to tackle climate change which were under the three pillars of the Paris
Agreement: mitigation, adaptation and finance commitments.
D
 According to the International Institute of Sustainable Development, the summit

is positioned as a “sprint to Glasgow,”
N
 The summit brings together leaders from across all levels of government, as
FI
well as the private sector and civil society, to present more ambitious and high-
TH
quality climate commitments, and measures to limit global warming to 1.5C

Key Takeaways from the summit:
PA
1. The United Kingdom has pledged to double its climate finance contribution to
USD 15.5 billion over the next five years.
©
2. The European Investment Bank has announced a goal of 50% of investments

going toward the climate and environment sectors by 2025
3. China has committed to lower its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by
over 65% from 2005 levels by 2030.
 Initiatives launched:
1. Race to Zero: It is a global campaign launched by UNFCCC to rally
leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy,
124
resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs,
and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.
2. Net Zero Asset Managers initiative: It is a leading group of global asset
managers that commit to support the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions
by 2050 or sooner, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C
The Paris Agreement
Y
 Legally binding international treaty on climate change.
 It replaced the Kyoto Protocol, an earlier agreement to deal with climate
EM
change.
 Adopted by 196 countries in Paris on December 12, 2015 and entered into force
D
on November 4, 2016.
CA
 It seeks to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-
industrial levels and endeavour to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
 Currently has 188 parties.
A
 All parties to it are expected to undertake ambitious efforts to support the
S
agreement’s goals and communicate their related intentions every five years in
ER
the form of NDCs.

 As per the Agreement, each successive NDC must represent a progression
D
beyond the country’s previous NDC and reflect its highest possible ambition.
N
 The U.N. Secretary-General has been urging parties to submit enhanced NDCs
FI
as early as possible and well before COP 26

TH
PA
©
What are nationally determined contributions (NDCs)?

 It is determined by individual countries.
 In the NDCs, countries communicate actions they will take to reduce their
125
Greenhouse Gas emissions in order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Countries
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©
India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
In 2015, ahead of the United Nations’ significant climate conference in Paris,

India announced three major voluntary commitments called the Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDC):
 Improving the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030

below 2005 levels;
126
 Increasing the share of non-fossil fuels-based electricity to 40 per cent by

2030, and
 Enhancing its forest cover, thereby absorbing 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of
carbon dioxide
 Increase renewable energy generation to 175 GW by 2022
Difference between Paris Climate and Kyoto Protocol:
Y
 The Kyoto Protocol had a differentiation between developed and
EM
developing countries listed as Annex 1 countries and non-Annex 1 countries
respectively. But, in the Paris agreement, there is no difference between
developing and developed countries.
D
CA
 The Kyoto Protocol aimed at 6 major greenhouse gases but the Paris
Agreement is focused on reducing all anthropogenic greenhouse gases
causing climate change
A
S
What is the climatic status of nations, 5 years after Paris agreement?
ER
 GHGs-it is at record level. Temporary reduction due Lockdown only

 National contributions- All states have submitted their national
D
contributions but these contributions are radically insufficient to reach the

N
“well below 2 degrees Celsius” limit and are even further from the “1.5
FI
degrees Celsius
 Scaling up national targets-decided that there will be scaling of national
TH
target after 2020. Although 151 states have indicated that they will submit
stronger targets before December 31, only 13 of them, covering 2.4 per
PA
cent of global emissions, have submitted such targets.
Positive developments on Paris Agreement

©
• India’s performance in CCPI: In a recently released Climate Change

Performance Index (CCPI), India ranked high along with the European Union
and the United Kingdom and continued to remain in top 10 for the second
time in a row.
• US re-joining Paris deal: As per the reports, US president elect Joe Biden
has announced that he will issue an executive order to re-join the Paris
Agreement on his first day in office on 20 January 2021. With this signature,
all 197 signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change will have ratified the historic deal.
127
• China’s Commitments: China has announced significant climate change

announcements at the virtual UN General Assembly in New York.
1. China would become carbon net-zero by the year 2060.
2. China has made a small but important change in China’s already
committed target for letting its emissions “peak”, from “by 2030” to “before
2030”
3. It is significant as China is the biggest emitter in the world with accounting
for around 30 percent of global GHG, followed by the US, EU, and India.
Y
India’s commitment to the Paris climate agreement
EM
 PM Modi said India is not only meeting targets set at the Paris Agreement but
is also exceeding them while calling for “an integrated, comprehensive and
holistic way” to tackling climate change.
D
 Modi also said that India aims to restore around 26 million hectares of degraded
CA
land by 2030
 US has 25% of historical emission; EU has 22% of historical emissions; China
has 13% and India has only 3%. We haven’t caused this problem but as a
A
responsible nation, we will be a part of the solution.”
S
 Currently, India is contributing only 6.8% of global emissions and its per capita
ER
emissions are only 1.9 tonnes (per capita)

India’s nationally determined contribution (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement is
D
2 degrees compliant. The country is also likely to meet and possibly overachieve
its NDCs under the Paris Agreement, the emissions gap report 2020 noted.
N
 Government has repeatedly touted schemes as national plan on climate change;

FI
National clean air programme; Swachch Bharat mission; Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
Yojana; Namami Gange policy, etc, saying that they are helping India reach its
TH
climate goals
 India’s installed capacity of renewable energy has also increased by 226% in
PA
the past five years to over 89 GW now and India has a target of increasing
installed renewable energy capacity to 450 GW by 2030.
 India is projected to meet its pre-2020 climate pledge, also called the Cancun
©
pledge, made in 2010.
India’s initiatives against Climate Change

 National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): This action plan aims to
provide a low carbon development path for India. The plan has eight missions,
focusing on solar, energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, ecosystems,
forest cover, sustainable agriculture, and climate research.
 ISA: Indian entered into International Solar Alliance with France, in 2015 at
128
UNFCCC CoP 21 Paris, France with an aim of collaboration on the development

of solar energy resources among solar resource-rich countries to address their
special energy needs.
 India’s draft National Forest Policy calls for a minimum of one-third of
India’s total geographical area to be under forest or tree cover and supports the
NDC target of creating an additional (cumulative) carbon sink of 2.5–3 GtCO2e
by 2030.
 While India still relies on coal, its renewables industry is making huge leaps
Y
forward, with investments in renewable energy topping fossil fuel investments.
 National Solar Mission aims to install 100 GW of solar energy by 2022, which
EM
is part of India’s long-term goal to install 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
 BS VI emission norms: India adopted BS VI vehicular and fuel emission
D
standards as a part of its Auto Fuel Policy. Effective April 2020, India now has
ultra-low sulfur fuel (10 ppm) in use across the country. The BS VI emission
CA
norms for 2-wheelers are also among the most stringent in the world
 FAME-II Scheme: Scheme provides Rs. `10,000 crore ($1.4 billion) for
A
demand incentives, charging infrastructure subsidies, and battery storage
manufacturing Spanning over three years from 2019 to 2022. India has a target of
S
30% share of electric vehicles (EV) in new sales for 2030.
ER
 National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 aims to subsidize the cost and
facilitate the sale of 6 to 7 million hybrid and electric vehicles over five years. To
D
strengthen battery storage, the National Mission on Transformative Mobility

and Battery Storage is designed to support the battery and EV component
N
manufacturing.
FI
 National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) aims to

improve efficiency in industry and implement demand-side management
TH
programs. The main program, the Perform Achieve Trade (PAT) scheme,
establishes an energy trading program for high emitting industries
PA
– cement, aluminium, steel, iron, textiles, and paper and pulp.

©
Net zero targets need to be subject to credibility, accountability and fairness

checks before being applauded.
 The credibility check: It is crucial for updated national contributions to reflect
targets and actions in 2030 that will take these states to their 2050 or 2060 net
zero target.
 The IPCC 1.5 degrees Celsius Report indicated that to stay within a reasonable
chance of achieving 1.5 degrees Celsius, global carbon dioxide emissions have to
fall by 45 per cent from the 2010 levels by 2030.
 There is a significant “overshoot” in terms of GHGs in the short and medium-
129
term, and a reliance on negative emissions technologies to get there in the long-
term.
 The accountability check: accountability under the Paris Agreement is
limited. States are not obliged to achieve their self-selected targets. There is no
mechanism to review the adequacy of individual contributions.
 The transparency framework does not contain a robust review function, and the
compliance committee is facilitative and limited to ensuring compliance with a
short list of binding procedural obligations.
 The fairness check: The issue of equity and fairness, side-stepped in the Paris
Y
Agreement, is emerging in climate litigation before national and regional courts.
EM
 “Fair shares” are also an issue in the ongoing case filed by six Portuguese
youngsters, including two children, in the European Court of Human Rights
D
against 33 European states for inadequate climate action.
CA
Shortcomings in Paris Agreement
 The NDCs so far submitted will not result in the desired objective of limiting
A
increase of global warming to below 2°C.
 The Paris Agreement requires that all countries — rich, poor, developed, and
S
developing — slash greenhouse gas emissions.
ER
 But no language is included on the commitments the countries should make.

 Nations can voluntarily set their emissions targets and incur no penalties for
D
falling short of their targets.

 Further temperature rise, even of 1.5°C, may result in catastrophic and
N
irreversible changes.
FI
 Even a 1°C hotter planet is not a steady state, says a report of the
TH
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

PA
©
130
Gig economy
Context
• The new Code on Social Security allows a platform worker to be defined by
their vulnerability —not their labour, nor the vulnerabilities of platform work.
• Swiggy workers have been essential during the pandemic.
• Even so, they have faced a continuous dip in pay and no rewards for being
essential workers, reducing their base pay from ₹35 to ₹10 per delivery order.
• During the last six months, many platform workers have unionised under the
Y
All India Gig Workers Union and have protested day in and day out.
• Stable terms of earning have been a key demand of delivery-persons
EM
Gig economy:
• A gig economy is a free market system in which temporary positions are
D
common and organizations contract with independent workers for short-term
CA
engagements
• Examples of gig employees in the workforce could include freelancers,
A
independent contractors, project-based workers and temporary or part-time hires.
• An estimated 56% of new employment in India is being generated by the gig
S
economy companies across both the blue-collar and white-collar workforce
ER
• known by various phrases: “sharing economy", “gig economy", “collaborative

economy", “on- demand economy", etc
• The range of offerings (and some of the platforms that facilitate these) include
D
taxi services (Uber, Ola), short-term accommodation (Airbnb, Oyo), labour

N
services ranging from plumbing (Handy) to programming (Upwork), food

FI
delivery (Grubhub), peer-to-peer lending (Prosper) and many more.

TH
Facts
• Global Gig Economy Index report has ranked India among the top 10
PA
countries.
• The report says there has been an increase in freelancers in India from 11% in
2018 to 52% in 2019, thanks to various initiatives including Start-up India and
©
Skill India.
Factors aiding the rise of the gig economy

• Cost Factor: Firstly, most businesses started factoring cost into their
competitive strategy after the Great Recession in 2007. As a result, companies’
combined different approaches— reducing the number of employees, improving
operational efficiency, or both.
131
• Seasonal increase in demand of the workers: Seasonal spikes in customer

service across most businesses helped in the rise of the gig economy. It aided
them to elevate business performance faster and effectively.
• Technology: technology played an important role in consolidating remote and
mobile workforce, enabling rapid growth of the gig economy.
New version of labour code offer any relief to Gig workers?

• The three new labour codes passed by Parliament recently acknowledge
platform and gig workers as new occupational categories in the making
Y
• Defining gig workers is done in a bid to keep India’s young workforce secure
EM
as it embraces ‘new kinds of work’, like delivery, in the digital economy.
• In the Code on Social Security, 2020, platform workers are now eligible for
benefits like maternity benefits, life and disability cover, old age protection,
D
provident fund, employment injury benefits, and so on
CA
Issues with new labour codes for gig workers
• Platform delivery people can claim benefits, but not labour rights.
A
• This distinction makes them beneficiaries of State programmes but does not
S
allow them to go to court to demand better and stable pay, or regulate the
ER
algorithms that assign the tasks.

• This also means that the government or courts cannot pull up platform
companies for their choice of pay, or how long they ask people to work.
D
• The laws do not see them as future industrial workers.

N
• They are now eligible for government benefits but eligibility does not mean
FI
that the benefits are guaranteed. Actualising these benefits will depend on the
political will at the Central and State government-levels.
TH
• The language in the Code is open enough to imply that platform companies can
be called upon to
PA
contribute either solely or with the government to some of these schemes. But it
does not force the
companies to contribute towards benefits or be responsible for workplace issues.
©
Four future focus areas of gig economy

• National database: A missing link- National database of job seekers and job
creators can connect firms with qualified candidates.
• Regulatory protection to gig workforce-The gig economy increases
employee vulnerability.
• Prepare college students for free-lancing Apart from regular campus
placements, the placement cells need to reorient and focus on preparing students
for freelancing opportunities.
132
• Gender equality -Gender is another crucial dimension of the digital labour

markets.
Benefits of gig economy-

• Work efficiency -Competition and efficiency among workers improved.
• Increase in operational efficiencies and reduction in project cost saved training
time in organizations.
• More choice -There is a wide range of choices for the employment seeker as
well as the job provider as proximity to the workplace does not matter here.
Y
People also change jobs several times.
EM
• More flexibility- No fixed working hours hence women have more flexible
working hours.
• Equal opportunity- Retired people can also stay active after retirement as
D
this will keep them engaged.
CA
• More savings -The travel costs and energy to travel to the workplace is
reduced since work at home is possible.
• Employers hire people for specific projects and pay them. This is more
A
economical for them Challenges faced in Gig economy
• No social security -There are no labour welfare emoluments like pension,
S
ER
gratuity etc for the workers.

• Gig workers may face unfair termination.
• Less salary -They may also attain minimum wages and less paid leave.
D
• No bargaining power to negotiate a fair deal with their employers.

N
• Banks and other financial service providers resist extending lines of credit
FI
when steady income is not assured in situations where teamwork is essential and
gig worker teams will likely produce tardy, inconsistent and poor output.
TH
• Unionization of workers will be difficult.

• Confidentiality of documents etc of the workplace is not guaranteed
• Limited reach -The gig economy is not accessible for people in many rural
PA
areas. It is up to urban area.

©
A few questions however still unanswered and can be the subject of future
research
• First, whether the newfound gig workers are the ones who are displaced from
their earlier occupation because of online competition.
• Second is there any instance of upward mobility or an increase in median
income after the emergence of the platform economy
©
PA
TH
FI
N
D
ER
S
A
CA
D
EM
Y
133
134
Regulations of Digital media
Recently, the government has brought digital/online media platforms, films

release on OTT, and audio-visual programs, under the ambit of the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting from the ambit of the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology.
Context
In its affidavit, the Centre claims that digital web-based news portals, YouTube
Y
channels and OTT platforms should be considered mainstream media.
EM
Background
 The government placed this submission before the top court in an affidavit, filed
D
a day after the latter restrained Sudarshan News from telecasting its ‘Bindas Bol’
show hosted by the channel’s editor-in-chief, Suresh Chavhanke
CA
 The affidavit came in response to petitions filed in the court against the
Sudarshan News programme.
A
 The Hindi channel’s controversial programme had sought to “expose” a
“conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims” into the Indian civil services, terming the
S
alleged conspiracy “bureaucracy jihad” and “UPSC jihad
ER
 While putting a hold on the show, the court had termed India as a “melting pot
of civilisations,
D
 cultures, religions and languages” and had said any attempt to vilify a religious
N
community must
 be viewed with grave disfavour by this court as the custodian of constitutional
FI
values and its

TH
 duty to enforce constitutional values demands nothing less.

 What the I&B ministry affidavit said
 In its affidavit, the Centre stated: “It is submitted that while in a mainstream
PA
media [whether electronic or print], the publication / telecast is a one-time act,

the digital media has faster reach
©
 from wider range of viewership / readership and has the potential to become
viral because of several electronic applications like WhatsApp, tweeter,
Facebook.
 Terming the digital media as “parallel media”, the Centre claimed that digital
web-based news portals and YouTube channels as well as “Over the Top”
(OTT) platforms should be included in the mainstream media, along with the
print and electronic.
Present situation
135
 Currently, there is no law or autonomous body governing digital content.

 In October 2019, the government had indicated that it will issue the “negative”
list of don’ts for the
 video streaming services like Netflix and Hot star.
 Government also wanted the platforms to come up with a self-regulatory

body on the lines of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority
Y
What was government’s response?
 Central government submitted that while regulations already exist for the
EM
print and television media, there was a need to regulate digital media as it
has faster reach, and its content has the potential to go viral.
 The centre termed digital media as ‘parallel media’ which is ‘completely
D
uncontrolled’, and uses spectrum or radio airwaves and the internet, which
CA
is public property
 The Centre also cautioned that regulating television content could have the
A
undesired impact of media organisations pushing similar content on digital
platforms, which are unregulated Regulatory policies for television and print
S
media would also have to apply to digital media, and vice versa, to curb the
ER
spread of fake news and misinformation

D
Need for regulation

 Wide spread reach _Ability of digital/social Media to Reach, Scale and size
N
is huge compare to print and other media.

FI
 No specific law -While electronic media in India is regulated by the Cable

TH
Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995, there was no law or body to

oversee digital content. Some people are taking an undue advantage which
leads to too much voice and noise in social media.
PA
 Increase in fake news -Recently, India has seen a surge in the number of
fake news items in circulation, especially on WhatsApp and Face book.
©
 No regulation -Absence of editorial control in digital/ social media leads to

large scale user generated content which is unregulated
 In 2018, fake information that was circulated on WhatsApp led to the
lynching of five men in Maharashtra and there are many such instances.
 Involment of foreign country -in this time, when India is in conflict with its
neighbouring countries like China and Pakistan, there is a possibility of
Foreign-funded digital
 platforms running to defame our country.
136
 There is also evidence of fake information influencing the process of

election in the USA which undermines the root of democracy.
Issues involved in this case of regulating digital media?

 Constitutional Rights involved: The content of the episodes in question goes
against and demeans the constitutional right of access to equality of
employment
 Balancing contending interests: The court has to balance the right to freedom
Y
of speech versus right of dignity of a community and hate speech
 Public interest issue: Since the case deals on issues of “foreign funding” and
EM
“reservation”, there has to consultation with government before any order
 Role of Courts: Constitutional values, human dignity is needed to be
protected but the court cannot “become the enforcers of programme code”
D
(which falls under the domain of Executive)
CA
 Extent of Courts Power: There is debate on whether the court could order a
blanket injunction of A
 a programme or should restrict itself to only those portions which hurt a
community.
S
 Complex Nature of Hate Speech: Hate speech comes dressed as small
ER
nuggets of facts, and a lot depends on the tenor, tone and manner of their
presentation. Thus any regulation of speech has to be on case-to-case basis.
D
 Sophisticated Nature of Media Space: The lines between the different

N
platforms for media and journalism today are increasingly blurring. For
example, Sudarshan TV also has a dedicated YouTube channel, where all of
FI
its programs are uploaded.

 Ineffective implementation of existing rules: The laws to tackle incendiary
TH
content and hate speech that fuels violence is already in place. What is seen
lacking is a will to uniformly apply these rules, irrespective of political
PA
affiliations.
 Ability to survive legal scrutiny: Earlier attempts at imposing a high degree
©
of liability on intermediaries (like Google & Facebook) for content posted

on their platforms have not survived legal scrutiny, with Section 79(1) of the
IT Act, 2000, giving them some immunity in this regard.
137
Urban Flooding-Hyderabad Floods

Devastating Floods in the past:
 In India: Chennai (December 2015), Kochi (August 2018), Mumbai July
2005
 Around the world: Sydney (December 2018), New York (October 2019),
Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans (October 2005)
Facts
Y
 India has a long coastline of 7,500 km and an estimated 14% of India’s total
EM
population lives alongside it that traverses nine states, 77 towns and cities
including some of the fastest-growing such as Mumbai, Chennai and Kochi
D
making them more prone to flood due to adjacent sea and erratic monsoonal
behaviour.
CA
 Aside from the present danger posed by extreme weather events such as
heavy rainfall and cyclonic storms, more slow-onset impacts brought about
A
by climate change also threaten the coastline.
 A 2016 UN report estimated that 40 million people in India will be at
S
risk from sea-level rise by 2050.
ER
 Rashtriya Barh Ayog (National Flood Commission) identified 40 million

hectares of land as flood-prone in India.
D
 About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities.

N
 Over 40 million hectares is prone to flood.

FI
 About 8% of the total area is prone to cyclone and 68% of the area is
susceptible to drought
TH
What is urban flooding?

 Flood is defined as “an overflow of a large body of water over areas not usually
PA
inundated”. Thus, flooding in urban areas is caused by intense and/or prolonged

rainfall, which overwhelms the capacity of the drainage system.
©
 Urban flooding is significantly different from rural flooding- urbanization

increases flood risk by up to 3 times, increased peak flow result in flooding very
quickly. Further, it affects large number of people due to high population density
in urban areas
Causes of urban flooding
Urban flood is a natural phenomenon but recent times anthropogenic factors are
more responsible for flood in India
138
Natural causes
 Skewed Rainfall Pattern
 Trans-National Rivers
 Earthquakes
 Sediment deposition
 Cyclone
Y
Anthropogenic causes
 Indiscriminate deforestation
EM
 Poor Solid Waste Management System
 Unplanned Urbanization
D
 Population pressure
CA
 Old and ill maintained drainage System:
 Climate change A
 Inadequate Mitigation measure
 Policy failure
S
 Encroachment of Wetlands
ER
 Inefficient River flow

 inefficient urban planning
D
 Neglect of Pre-Disaster Planning

N
 Obstruction by the encroachment and filling in the floodplain on the waterways

FI
 Deposits of building materials and solid wastes with subsequent blockage of the
system.
TH
PA
©
139
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
Why floods occur in Hyderabad?

 Hyderabad is a system of catchments.
PA
 The western edge is in the Godavari river basin.

 To the east, it’s in the Krishna River basin.
©
 Also, Hyderabad is in the Deccan region, which has a chaotic drainage pattern
— water here does not flow in a single direction as the slope is in multiple
directions.
Notable Urban Flooding Events in India since 2000:
 Hyderabad in 2000
 Ahmadabad in 2001
 Delhi in 2002 and 2003, 2009, 2010
 Chennai in 2004, 2015
140
 Mumbai in 2005, 2017

 Surat in 2006
 Kolkata in 2007
 Jamshedpur in 2008
 Guwahati in 2010
 Bengaluru in 2017
Impact of Urban Flooding:
Impact on Human:
Y
 Loss of life & physical injury
EM
 Increased stress; psychological trauma
Disease outbreak:
 Contamination of water supplies leading to diseases
D
 Rise in mosquito borne diseases
CA
 Water and sanitation issues
Impact on Economy: A
 Damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructures
 Disruptions to industrial production
S
 Disruptions to utility supplies
ER
 Impact on heritage or archaeological site

 Post-disaster rescue and rehabilitation adds to financial burden of the
D
government
N
Impact on Transport and Communication:

FI
 Increased traffic congestion, disruption in rail services

 Disruption in communication- on telephone, internet cables
TH
Impact on environment:
 Loss of tree cover, loss of habitat
PA
 Impact on animals in zoo, stray animals

Measures to prevent Urban Flooding:
©
 Early Warning System and Communication: Dissemination of flood

warnings must be carried out, using a wide range of latest technologies. This
would help in giving real time data where traditional systems fail.
 Design and Management of Urban Drainage System: Proper management of
drainage system is necessary to ensure that the water does not get stored in one
place. Solid waste increases hydraulic roughness, causes blockage and generally
reduces flow capacity. These drains need to be cleaned on a regular basis to
permit free flow of water.
141
 Rainwater Harvesting: Due to urbanisation, groundwater recharge has

decreased and the peak runoff from rainfall and consequent flooding has
increased. It will serve the twin purposes of lowering the peak runoff and raising
the ground water table. Many municipal corporations in India have already
made rainwater harvesting compulsory.
 Conservation of Water Bodies: Urban water bodies like lakes, tanks and
ponds also play a very important role in the management of urban flooding by
reducing the stormwater run-off by capturing it.
Y
EM
How India should adapt to it?
 Need to Prioritise waste recycling.
D
 Municipal and urban infrastructure bodies should cooperate with each
CA
other rather than working as two separate entities.
 Above all, the nexus between the politicians, bureaucracy and real estate
A
interests, which leads to violation of zoning laws, needs to be checked.
 Need to hold local bodies accountable for losses arising out of inappropriate
S
location of properties. This can be done by Re-examining the Real Estate
ER
(Development and Regulation) Act.

 Greater civic participation as envisaged under the 74th Constitutional
D
Amendment, is a must to improve urban governance

N
 Better forecasting of rainfall events; timely dissemination of information to

FI
the mass-‘Nowcasting’ alerts or real-time weather updates. Example: The

Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has installed 60 automatic weather
TH
stations for recording the rainfall every 15 minutes. This information is

disseminated through the GMDMA (Greater Mumbai Disaster Management
PA
Authority) web portal in real-time during the monsoon.

 Installation of proper, functional drainage system. Maintenance of existing
©
drainage channels, providing alternative drainage path

 Develop ‘sponge’ cities in line with cities in China
 Proper solid waste management system- control of solid waste entering the
drainage systems
 Restrict encroachments in natural drainage areas; clearance of river beds,
proper implementation of Coastal Regulation Zone rules.
 Each city should have their Flood mitigation plans strongly embedded within
the master plan of the city.
142
 There should be prompt, well-coordinated and effective response in case of

urban floods to minimize casualties and loss of property and also facilitate early
recovery.
 Community-based advance flood warning systems
 Flood governance through resilience building
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
 There is a need for efficient implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster

PA
Risk Reduction, this will reduce the vulnerability of any disaster.

 Earthquake Disaster Risk Index (EDRI), prepared by the National Disaster
©
Management Authority (NDMA), showed that about 56% area of India is

vulnerable to moderate to major earthquakes
143
NDMA Guidelines on Urban Flood

 Early Warning System and Communication: National Hydro-
meteorological Network and Doppler Weather Radars can provide and a
lead time of 3 to 6 hours. Once flood warning is generated, it must be
communicated to the public in an effective manner.
 Design and Management of Urban Drainage: Rapid urbanization has
resulted in increased impermeable surfaces in the form of pavements, roads
Y
and built-up areas, thereby reducing the infiltration and natural storage.
EM
 Drainage System: A proper inventory of water supply system with details of
all pumping, storage etc. must be maintained, particularly of the minor
D
drainage systems.
CA
 Catchment as a basis of design: As runoff processes are independent of
states and city administrative boundaries outlines of drainage divides must be
depend on watershed delineation.
A
 Contour Data: Accurate contours are necessary for determining the
S
boundaries of a watershed/ catchment and for computing directions of flow.
ER
 Design Flow: Estimation of peak flow rates for adequate sizing and quantity
D
control facilities.
N
 Removal of Solid Waste: Most towns and cities have open surface drains
FI
beside the road, into which there is unauthorized public disposal of waste.
Solid waste increases hydraulic roughness, causes blockage and generally
TH
reduces flow capacity.

 Drain Inlet Connectivity: It is seen that the inlets to drain the water from the
PA
roads into the roadside drains are either not properly aligned or non-existent
leading to severe waterlogging on the roads.
©
 Rain Gardens: Rain gardens consist of a porous soil covered with a thin
layer of mulch. Stormwater runoff is directed into the facility, allowed to
pond and infiltrates through the plant/mulch/soil environment.
 Vulnerability Analysis and Risk Assessment: Identification of areas at risk,
classification of structures according to function and estimation of risk for
each structure and function using Hazard Risk Zoning.
144
 Urban Flooding Cells: A separate Urban Flooding Cell (UFC) will be

constituted within MoUD which will coordinate all UFDM activities at the
national level. ULBs will be responsible for the management of urban
flooding at the local level.
 Response: Emergency Operation Centers, Incident Response System, flood
shelters, search and rescue operations, emergency logistics are some key
action areas of flood response mechanism.
Y
 Sanitation: Diseases like malaria, dengue and cholera can spread if
EM
Adequate sanitation and disinfection are not carried out.
● Capacity Development, Awareness Generation and Documentation:
D
Participatory urban flood planning and management involving both local
CA
government and the community.
Flood management mechanisms in India
A
 The flood management mechanism that exits in India at the moment is
S
operational at two levels – central level and state level.
ER
 The state level mechanism is made up of the water resource department, the
D
flood control board, and the State Technical Advisory Committee.

N
 The central level mechanism is made up of bodies such as the Central Water
FI
Commission (CWC), the National Disaster Management Authority, and the

Brahmaputra Board
TH
PA
©
145
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
Steps taken to tackle Urban Flooding in India

PA
 IFLOWS-Mumbai: It is an Integrated Flood Warning system to enhance the

resilience of Mumbai by providing early warning for flooding especially during
©
high rainfall events and cyclones. The system also has provisions to capture the
urban drainage within the city and predict the areas of flooding.
 CFLOWS-Chennai: CFLOWS is a complete web GIS-based decision support
system that can be used both for mitigation planning operations before flooding
and in real time to for aspects like relief work. It is an integrated system that
involves coupling models of regional weather forecasts, storm surges and
captures about 796 flood scenarios.
146
 Flood forecasting initiative: It aims to provide alerts to the public regarding

flood situations in
the region. It also offers current water level in the flood affected regions in the
country and colour coded maps indicating flooded areas
Y
EM
D
CA
A
S
ER
D
N
FI
TH
PA
©
147
National Security Directive on the Telecommunication Sector (NSDTS)

Context /Introduction
 Govt announces National Security Directive on Telecom Sector for secure
networks
 In a bid to tighten security of communications networks, the Cabinet
Committee on Security announced the National Security Directive on
Telecommunication Sector, which will mandate service providers to purchase
Y
equipment from trusted sources.
EM
 Law and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the directive has been
framed from the perspective of national security
D
Important Highlights
CA
 Under the provisions of this directive, the government will declare a list of
trusted sources and trusted products for installation in the country’s telecom
A
network.
 “The methodology to designate trusted products will be devised by the
S
ER
designated authority, the National Cyber Security Coordinator.

 Telecom service providers are required to connect new devices that are
D
designated trusted products,”

N
 “The list of the trusted source and product will be decided based on
FI
approval of a committee headed by the deputy national security advisor.

 “The committee will consist of members from relevant departments,
TH
ministries and will also have two members from the industry and
independent experts.
 The committee will be called the national security committee on telecom,”
PA
 The government will also create a list of designated sources from whom no
procurement can be done. “
©
 The present directive does not envisage mandatory replacement of the

existing equipment already inducted in the network of TSPs,” the minister
said
Significance
 Apart from the directive, the government will release at regular intervals new
guidelines for effective monitoring and effective control of the network
security of the TSPs.
148
 The move could potentially make it more difficult for Chinese

telecom equipment vendors to supply equipment to Indian telecom
players.
 Mobile applications that either have Chinese origins or have central
servers in China may also find re-entry in the market extremely difficult.
 The local manufacturing industry has shown its support to the government
move, but much will depend on the quality of the products they manufacture.
 The directive ensures that the Indian manufactured telecom products get into
Y
the global supply chain of the system integrators.
EM
 It provides an opportunity for the Indian telecom industry to realise its
potential as a manufacturing hub.
D
 Securing the hardware that goes into the infrastructure along with the codes
CA
and network connectors is part of this challenge. The NSDTC is meant to
provide guidance in securing the telecom sector.
A
 The decision of the government to maintain the integrity of the supply chain
S
in the telecom sector is a welcome step, long in the making. Henceforth,
ER
TSPs will avoid compromising the security of the network they operate by
sourcing only from the approved list of “Trusted Sources” and “Trusted
Products”.
D
 In one stroke, the directive has integrated the objective of achieving supply
N
chain security in the telecom sector with the all-important Atmanirbhar

FI
Bharat mission.
TH
 It will help India better protect the confidentiality and integrity of its
telecommunications networks while facilitating ‘data in motion’.
PA
Need for National Security Directive on Telecom Sector

©
 With the increasing technology in the world, the security parameters of the
state also change.
 It becomes necessary for the state to take adequate security measures to avoid
technical complications and increasing cyber-attacks.
 the equipment of telecom sectors in the country should be manufactured in
the domestic industry itself, which will have many benefits, such as –
149
 there will not be any kind of cyber burglary because India is the global
telecom hub. Data security of millions of Internet users has become an
important issue.
 The new cyber-attacks are coming to the fore today. This is an important step
to avoid hackers and to protect India's data repository.
 It will also have other strategic and economic benefits such as - domestic
industry will grow, foreign exchange will be saved, in emergency situations
Y
the country will not have to look to other countries for help.
EM
 we will also be able to export equipment in the global market, start the ups
will increase, there will be innovations in this area.
D
 Same thing done by other country The US has also set up the Clean Network
CA
Initiative in 2020 to “implement internationally accepted digital trust
standards across a coalition of trusted partners”.
A
Telecom Sector
 India is currently the world’s second-largest telecommunications market with
S
ER
a subscriber base of 1.20 billion

 Contribution of mobile phone industry as a part of (GDP) of the country in
D
2014 has been to the tune of US$ 400 billion

N
 According to a report of Groupe Special Mobile Association (GSMA), as of

FI
January 2019, India has witnessed a 165% growth in app downloads in the
TH
past two years.

 Tele-density of Indian telecom industry (wireless plus wire line) has grown
PA
from a low of 3.60% in March 2001 to 84% in March 2016.

 Telecom is the second highest revenue earner for the government, after
©
income tax
Conclusion
 Cyber security continues to be a major threat and securing critical
infrastructure remains a key challenge for most nations. Securing the
hardware that goes into the infrastructure along with the codes and network
connectors is part of this challenge. The NSDTC is meant to provide
guidance in securing the telecom sector

Panda 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Panda 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Unacademy Plus Ref Code: PRASHANTYT10 Telegram: CRACKCAPF

Important Eassay topics

DR. PRASHANT JAGTAP

PERSON WITH DISABILITY .......................................................................................................... 3

MANUAL SCAVENGING ............................................................................................................ 15

INDIA USA ................................................................................................................................ 20

VACCINE DIPLOMACY .............................................................................................................. 25

RIGHT TO PRIVACY & LEGITIMATE STATE INTEREST ................................................................ 32

INDIA-MONGOLIA RELATIONS ................................................................................................. 35

SOCIAL JUSTICE ........................................................................................................................ 38

SMALL FARMERS NEED SECOND SOURCE OF INCOME ........................................................... 41

CHINA’S RISING INFLUENCE IN SOUTH ASIA ............................................................................ 43

QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 46

POLITICAL CRISIS IN NEPAL ...................................................................................................... 51

GOVERNMENT'S DISINVESTMENT PLANS ................................................................................ 55

WESTERN DISTURBANCE ......................................................................................................... 59

INDIA INNOVATION INDEX 2020: NITI AAYOG ......................................................................... 60

NATIONAL INNOVATION PORTAL (NIP) LAUNCHED ................................................................ 63

JALLIKATTU: PRIDE & POLITICS ................................................................................................ 64

MUTUAL FUNDS (MF) RISK-O-METER BECOMES EFFECTIVE ................................................... 66

INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED 9MM MACHINE PISTOL ....................................... 67

CAPF PATHFINDERS Pune/New Delhi 8530316222/5222/4222

K-SHAPED ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF INDIA: ........................................................................... 68

OPEN SKIES TREATY (OST) ........................................................................................................ 71

FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION ................................................................................. 77

GREEN ENERGY ........................................................................................................................ 86

AMALGAMATION OF NATIONAL BANKS .................................................................................. 97

ONE NATION ONE RATION CARD ........................................................................................... 101

BAD BANK: NEED CHALLENGES AND ALTERNATIVE .............................................................. 105

25 YEARS OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY IN INDIA ........................................................................... 110

HATE SPEECH ......................................................................................................................... 118

FIVE YEARS OF PARIS AGREEMENT ........................................................................................ 123

GIG ECONOMY ....................................................................................................................... 130

REGULATIONS OF DIGITAL MEDIA ......................................................................................... 134

URBAN FLOODING-HYDERABAD FLOODS .............................................................................. 137

NATIONAL SECURITY DIRECTIVE ON THE TELECOMMUNICATION SECTOR (NSDTS)............. 147

CAPF PATHFINDERS Pune/New Delhi 8530316222/5222/4222

Person with Disability

 As per WHO disability means “any restriction or lack (resulting from an

Facts related with Disability in India-

Disabilities in our country, which constitutes 2.21% of our population

 Majority (69%) of the disabled population resided in rural areas

CAPF PATHFINDERS Pune/New Delhi 8530316222/5222/4222

accidents and injuries.

 Health care and poorly trained health-workers in rehabilitation centres is

 The education system is not inclusive. Inclusion of children with mild to

 There are various issues such as availability special schools, access to

CAPF PATHFINDERS Pune/New Delhi 8530316222/5222/4222

 A disability certificate is a basic document for any entitlement for a disabled

13. Accessibility: - Accessibility of offices make them mentally weak to face

and statics further hinders inclusion of persons with disabilities

16. Poor implementation of policies and schemes hinders the inclusion of

Steps Taken by the Government

CAPF PATHFINDERS Pune/New Delhi 8530316222/5222/4222

 The act is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice &

create a skilled workforce of caregivers to provide adequate and nurturing care

Retardation and Multiple Disabilities

 A Virtual ADIP Camp for free distribution of assistive aids and

makes accessible content available to print-disabled people. The library houses

 District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRC)- To create an enabling

 National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation

CAPF PATHFINDERS Pune/New Delhi 8530316222/5222/4222

of India. It functions as an Apex institution for channelizing the funds to