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  • Places in news: Sariska Tiger Reserve

    A massive fire has broken out in the Sariska Tiger Reserve and Air Force helicopters equipped with water sprays are battling to bring it under control.

    Sariska Tiger Reserve

    • Sariska Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve in Alwar district, Rajasthan.
    • It stretches over an area of 881 sq km comprising scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and rocky hills.
    • This area was a hunting preserve of the Alwar state and was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958.
    • It was given the status of a tiger reserve making it a part of India’s Project Tiger in 1978.
    • It is the first reserve in the world with successfully relocated tigers.
    • It is a part of the Aravalli Range and the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests eco-region.

    Existential threats

    • It is rich in mineral resources, such as copper.
    • In spite of the Supreme Court’s 1991 ban on mining in the area, marble mining continues to threaten the environment.

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  • [Sansad TV] Perspective – NLMC: Utilising Unused Land

  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: India-Australia Ties

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    Context

    • Earlier this week, PM Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison held a virtual summit – the second one since June 2020.
    • Both nations agreed to unlock the untapped potential in bilateral trade and investment.
    • They highlighted the need to conclude the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) at the earliest.

    India-Australia Relations: A Backgrounder

    • The India-Australia bilateral relationship has undergone evolution in recent years, developing along a positive track, into a friendly partnership.
    • The two nations have much in common, underpinned by shared values of a pluralistic, Westminster-style democracies, Commonwealth traditions, expanding economic engagement etc.
    • Several commonalities include strong, vibrant, secular and multicultural democracies, free press, independent judicial system and English language.

    Historical Perspective

    • The historical ties between India and Australia started immediately following European settlement in Australia from 1788.
    • All trade, to and fro from the penal colony of New South Wales was controlled by the British East India Company through Kolkata.
    • India and Australia established diplomatic relations in the pre-Independence period, with the establishment of India Trade Office in Sydney in 1941.
    • The end of the Cold War and simultaneously, India’s decision to launch major economic reforms in 1991 provided the first positive move towards development of bilateral ties.

    Various dimensions of ties

    [A] Political partnership

    • Both the countries are members of G-20, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association), Asia Pacific Partnership on Climate and Clean Development, East Asia Summit and the Commonwealth.
    • Australia has been extremely supportive of India’s quest for membership of the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation).
    • Australia whole-heartedly welcomed India’s joining of the MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime).

    [B] Trade and Economy

    • India is the 5th largest trade partner of Australia with trade in goods and services.
    • Two-way trade between India and Australia was worth A$24.3 billion ($18.3 billion) in 2020, up from just $13.6 billion in 2007, according to the Australian government.
    • After a series of attempts, in 2016, Australia opened the door for uranium exports to India.
    • An Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) which was established in 2006, supports collaboration between scientists in India and Australia on cutting-edge research.

    [C] Cultural ties

    • There is a longstanding people-to-people ties, ever increasing Indian students coming to Australia for higher education.
    • Growing tourism and sporting links, especially Cricket and Hockey, have played a significant role in further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
    • India is one of the top sources of skilled immigrants to Australia.
    • The number of Indian students continue to grow with approximately 105,000 students presently studying in Australian universities.
    • After England, India is the second largest migrant group in Australia in 2020.

    [D] Strategic Partnership

    • In 2009, India and Australia established a ‘Strategic Partnership’, including a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation which has been further elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.
    • The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement has been signed during the summit that should enhance defence cooperation and ease the conduct of large-scale joint military exercises.
    • There is a technical Agreement on White Shipping Information Exchange.
    • Both nations conduct bilateral maritime exercise AUSINDEX. In 2018, Indian Air Force participated for the first time in the Exercise Pitch Black in Australia.
    • Foreign and Defence Ministers of both countries agreed to meet in a ‘2+2’ format biennially.
    • The first-ever Quad Leaders’ Virtual Summit held on 12 March 2021 saw the participation of Prime Ministers of India, Australia, Japan and President of USA.
    • A Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the two countries was signed in September 2014 during the visit of then PM Tony Abbott to India.

    Significance of the ties

    • COVID Management: Australia is one of the few countries that has managed to combat COVID-19 so far through “controlled adaptation” by which the coronavirus has been suppressed to very low levels.
    • STEM: From farming practices through food processing, supply and distribution to consumers, the Australian agribusiness sector has the desired R&D capacity, experience and technical knowledge.
    • Natural resources: Australia is rich in natural resources that India’s growing economy needs. It also has huge reservoirs of strength in higher education, scientific and technological research.
    • Alliance with US: The two countries also have increasingly common military platforms as India’s defence purchases from the US continue to grow.
    • Affinity with ASEAN: Australia has deep economic, political and security connections with the ASEAN and a strategic partnership with one of the leading non-aligned nations, Indonesia.
    • Containing China: The Indo-Pacific region has the potential to facilitate connectivity and trade between India and Australia. Both nations can leverage their equation in QUAD to contain China.

    International cooperation

    • Support at UNSC: Australia supports India’s candidature in an expanded UN Security Council.
    • APEC: Australia   is   an   important   player   in   APEC   and   supports   India’s membership of the organisation. In 2008, Australia became an Observer in SAARC.

    Some irritants in ties

    • Trade imbalance: India’s trade deficit with Australia has been increasing since 2001-02 due to India-Australia Free Trade Agreement. It is also a contentious issue in the ongoing RCEP negotiations which India left.
    • High tariff on agri products in India: India has a high tariff for agriculture and dairy products which makes it difficult for Australian exporters to export these items to India.
    • Non-tariff barriers in Australia: At the same time, India facesnon-tariff barriers and its skilled professionals in the Australian labour market face discrimination.
    • Visa Policy: India wants greater free movement and relaxed visa norms for its IT professionals, on which Australia is reluctant.
    • Future of QUAD: Australian lobby has sparked speculation over the fate of the Quadrilateral Consultative Dialogue (the ‘Quad) involving India, Australia, Japan and the United States.
    • Nuclear reluctance: Building consensus on non-nuclear proliferation and disarmament has been a major hurdle given India’s status as a nuclear power.     
    • Racism against Indians: Increasing Racist attacks on Indians in Australia has been a major issue.  

    Way forward

    • Upgradation of 2+2 format: It is prudent too for New Delhi and Canberra to elevate the ‘two plus two’ format for talks from the Secretary level to the level of Foreign and Defence Ministers.
    • Removal of trade barriers: Both nations need to resolve disputes at the WTO with regard to the Australian sector can act as a serious impediment.
    • Balancing China: An ‘engage and balance’ China strategy is the best alternative to the dead end of containment.

    Conclusion

    • Given the changing geopolitics, both Canberra and New Delhi are keen to move beyond mere rhetoric and build a robust partnership
    • The key is to keep the Australia story thriving in India, and India story thriving in Australia on a consistent basis in public memory.
    • This involves a holistic multi-stakeholder strategy and approach which deepens understanding and appreciation of each other.

  • A good foreign policy must also make a difference at home

    Context

    This is the edited excerpts from the lecture delivered by India’s External Affairs Minister at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi on March 24.

    Relevance of foreign policy at personal level

    • Through a good foreign policy, our everyday needs from the world must be better met.
    • And since we are a collective as a country, our national security must be assured.
    • Foreign policy being the link to the outside, it should enable us to draw what we seek.
    • This could be in terms of technology or capital, best practices, or even work opportunities.
    • And obviously, we would all like to be strong; we would like to look good and we would like to feel appreciated.

    Recent instances in which India’s foreign policy directly influence the common man

    • Through Operation Ganga, Indian students stuck in Ukraine were brought home.
    • It was the result of intervention by India’s foreign policy apparatus at the highest levels in Russia and Ukraine to ensure the ceasing of fire for safe passage.
    •  When the first wave of Covid hit India in 2020, we scrambled across the world to secure PPEs, masks and ventilators.
    • And we did so in a seller’s market as the demand far exceeded supply.
    •  The second wave in 2021 saw a similar spike in demand for oxygen and specialised medicines from abroad.
    • Locating, negotiating and contracting supplies became the priority for Indian diplomacy. And it bent its back to deliver.

    Influence of foreign policy at the collective level

    • When it comes to security, external or internal, diplomacy could be a preventive, a mitigator or a problem-solver.
    • It can help raise awareness of a shared threat, just as it can find partners against common dangers.
    •  And then there is the economy, with its search for investment, technology and best practices.
    • In each of these sectors, foreign relationships can accelerate India’s progress.
    • And cumulatively, they expand employment and improve your quality of life.
    • It also matters to all of us what other nations think of India, our culture and our way of life.

    Role of foreign policy in delivering on development

    • The most effective foreign policy is one that delivers on development.
    • In Asia, all modernising economies have single-mindedly focused their external interactions on obtaining capital, technology and best practices from abroad.
    • It may be information technology or auto manufacturing, food production or food processing, metros or bullet trains, space capabilities or nuclear energy; the fruits of foreign collaboration are there today for all of us to see.
    • Newer challenges like green growth and climate action have started to open up still more possibilities.
    • All this happens because of our ability to identify, engage, negotiate and leverage opportunities of interest abroad across many many domains.

    Building blocks of India’s foreign policy

    • The six broad objectives that were spelt out to the policy-makers and implementers were clear.
    • 1] Shaping global perception: We must bring about a change of thinking in the world about us.
    • 2] Partnership on equal terms: The partnerships we should create should be on more equal terms, and with smaller countries, more generous.
    • 3] Shaping the global agenda: The global agenda and the big issues of our times should be shaped by India as much as possible.
    • 4] Leveraging foreign policy for domestic progress: Foreign relationships should be actively explored and leveraged for domestic development and progress.
    • 5] People-centric foreign policy: The very conceptualisation of foreign policy should be more people-centric.
    • 6] Our culture, traditions and thoughts should percolate our own articulation as well as influence international debates and initiatives.
    • Yoga and Ayurveda were obvious examples in this regard.

    Conclusion

    As we mark 75 years of independence, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, there is good cause to be confident about our prospects. But to be so, it is equally important to be aware of the opportunities and challenges that the world currently presents. And surely, we can be so once we appreciate how much foreign policy really matters.

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  • Common University Entrance Test

    Context

    UGC introduced the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admissions in undergraduate courses in 45 central universities in the country.

    Benefits of Common University Entrance Test (CUET)

    • Deals with the issue of uneven quality of different boards: In a country like ours, because of the uneven quality of different school boards, there is a huge trust deficit and suspicion about the academic quality of even the “toppers”.
    • Eliminate the need for multiple exams: Furthermore, this centralised test would free the tension-ridden youngsters from the pressure of writing multiple entrance tests in different colleges/universities.
    • Eliminate the inflated cut-off: Likewise, the supremacy of the CUET score/ranking in the selection process would invariably eliminate inflated cut-offs for admissions in “branded” colleges.
    • It would avoid subjective biases, cherish objectivity, and quantify and measure one’s mental aptitude and domain knowledge in a specific discipline.

    Issues with the CUET

    • 1] Impact on true learning: the dominant structure of education prevalent in the country is essentially book-centric and exam-oriented.
    • Either rote learning or strategic learning (a gift of coaching centres) is its essence; and far from learning and unlearning with joy, wonder and creativity, young students become strategists or exam-warriors.
    • In the coming years, schools are going to lose their relevance as students and parents are likely to rely primarily on gigantic coaching centres and fancy Ed Tech companies.
    • 2] No scope for subjective interpretation:  The MCQ-centric “objective” tests diminishes what every genuine learner needs — creative exploration, interpretative understanding and self-reflexivity.
    • In the name of “objective” tests, our students are deprived of the hermeneutic art of interpretation and skill of argumentation and compelled to reduce everything into an “objective” fact, we would do great damage to their creativity.

    Conclusion

    For real transformation, we have to see beyond the CUET, work on the quality of schools and creatively nuanced life-affirming pedagogy; and we must think of honest and fair recruitment of spirited teachers, and relative autonomy of academic institutions.

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  • RBI cannot ignore inflation

    Context

    Despite being legally mandated to keep inflation in check, RBI has persisted with easy monetary policy, even as inflationary pressures have increased. We need to understand why, and what could be the repercussions.

    Inflation problem in India

    • For most of the past two years, CPI (consumer price index) inflation has been hovering close to the 6 per cent upper threshold of the RBI’s target band.
    • Inflation averaged 6.1 per cent during the pandemic period (April 2020 to June 2021), despite a massive collapse in aggregate demand.
    • Then in January 2022, as food prices recovered, headline inflation once again crossed the upper threshold of the inflation targeting band.
    • Inflationary pressures do not seem to be diminishing either. Instead, they continue to build up.
    • The standard measure of inflation “in the pipeline” is WPI (wholesale price index) inflation, since price increases at the wholesale level tend to translate into retail inflation in due course.
    •  Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a sharp increase in global commodity prices, including prices of crude oil, edible oils, and fertilisers.
    • Indian firms are already adapting to this situation, passing on commodity price increase to retail prices.

    Issues with RBI’s stance

    • Standard economics gives us a guide for how central banks should react in a situation like this.
    • Two conditions: It says that monetary policy should accommodate the first round of commodity price increase, but only under certain conditions, notably that inflation is initially on target, and expectations are firmly anchored.
    • But neither condition holds at present. Inflation is already too high, and so are expectations.
    • An argument is nonetheless being made that monetary policy should not be tightened when inflation is driven by supply-side factors, as it can adversely impact growth.
    • This is fallacious. When there are supply constraints, using easy monetary policy to boost demand is not going to boost output.
    • And if firms are expecting high inflation, this will send things into a vicious spiral, as they will increase their prices even more in advance of any input price pressures.
    • Surely the RBI is aware of all of this. So why is it still not acting on it?

    Why RBI is ignoring inflationary pressure?

    • Growth concerns: The problem seems to be that governments all over the world are worried about growth.
    • The US Federal Reserve has been slow to raise rates even as inflation has reached a four-decade high. The European Central Bank has been even slower to react.
    • Fiscal dominance in India: In India, monetary policy also suffers from a strong fiscal dominance.
    • As a result, not only is the RBI expected to support growth, it is also expected to keep the government’s borrowing costs in check, which is in direct conflict with its inflation targeting objective.

    Implications of RBI ignoring inflationary pressure

    • Aggressive reduction in interest rates: A decade ago, we were in a similar situation when RBI delayed its response because it was focusing on growth.
    • When inflation subsequently took off, it reached double digits and the RBI had to raise interest rates aggressively to bring it down.
    • That was a very painful adjustment.
    • Impact on credibility of the RBI: In addition, if the RBI does allow inflation to take off, there will be long-lasting repercussions for its credibility.
    • Unachrored expectation:  if the public sees the RBI consistently ignoring inflation, expectations can rapidly get unanchored, and then it becomes very costly to bring it down.

    Conclusion

    To conclude, inflation is best addressed by the central bank using monetary policy, not by the government adjusting taxes. The RBI needs to urgently revisit its inflation forecast and its monetary policy stance in order to avoid potentially painful adjustments down the road.

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  • Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022

    The bill that would allow the police and prison authorities to collect, store and analyse physical and biological samples, including retina and iris scans, was introduced in the Lok Sabha.

    Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill

    • It authorises law enforcement agencies to collect, store and analyse physical and biological samples of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters.
    • It seeks to repeal the Identification of Prisoners Act 1920 which provided for the collection of only fingerprints and footprints.
    • The said Act, in its present form, provides access to a limited category of persons whose body measurements can be taken.
    • As per the Bill, any state government OR Union Territory administration may notify an appropriate agency to collect, preserve and share the measurements of a person of interest in their respective jurisdictions.

    Why need such law?

    • The world has undergone technological and scientific changes, crime and its trend have increased.
    • Advanced countries across the globe are relying on new “measurement” techniques for reliable results.
    • It was felt necessary to expand the “ambit of persons” whose measurements can be taken as this will help investigating agencies gather sufficient legally admissible evidence and establish the crime of the accused person.
    • The Bill will not only help our investigation agencies but also increase prosecution.
    • There is also a chance of an increase in conviction rates in courts through this.

    Key features of the Bill

    The Bill seeks to:

    • Define “measurements”: To include finger impressions, palm-print and foot-print impressions, photographs, iris and retina scan, physical, biological samples and their analysis, etc.;
    • Empower the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB): To collect, store and preserve the record of measurements and for sharing, dissemination, destruction and disposal of records;
    • Empower a Magistrate: To direct any person to give measurements; a Magistrate can also direct law enforcement officials to collect fingerprints, footprint impressions and photographs in the case of a specified category of convicted and non-convicted persons;
    • Empower police or prison officers: To take measurements of any person who resists or refuses to give measurements
    • Authorises police to record signatures, handwriting or other behavioural attributes: Referred to in section 53 or section 53A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, for the purposes of analysis.

    Notable feature: Maintenance of Record

    • The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) will be the repository of physical and biological samples, signature and handwriting data that can be preserved for at least 75 years.
    • The record of these measurements will be retained in digital or electronic form for a period of seventy-five years from the date of collection.
    • The court or Magistrate, for reasons to be recorded in writing, can direct agencies to maintain the records.
    • The records are to be destroyed in the case of any person who has not been previously convicted of an offence punishable under any law with imprisonment for any term.

    Refusal to Comply

    • Resistance to or refusal to allow the taking of measurements under this Act shall be deemed to be an offence under section 186 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC);
    • No suit or any other proceeding shall lie against any person for anything done, or intended to be done in good faith under this Act or any rule made thereunder;
    • Central government or state government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act;
    • Manner of collection, storing, preservation of measurements and sharing, dissemination, destruction and disposal of records under sub-section (1) of section 4;

    Issues with the Bill

    • Un-constitutionality: The proposed law will be debated against Article 20(3) of the Constitution, which is a fundamental right that guarantees the right against self-incrimination.
    • Violation of Article 21: The Bill also seeks to apply these provisions to persons held under any preventive detention law.
    • Legislative competence of Centre: The Bill was beyond the legislative competence of Parliament as it violated fundamental rights of citizens, including the right to privacy.
    • Contentious provisions: The Bill proposes to collect samples even from protesters engaged in political protests.
    • Lack of clarity: Several provisions are not defined in the Bill itself.. For instance, the statement of objects says it provides for collection of measurements for “convicts and other persons” but the expression “other persons” is not defined.
    • Other: While the jurisprudence around the right to be forgotten is still in an early stage in India, the Puttaswamy judgment discusses it as a facet of the fundamental right to privacy.

     

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  • States can identify Minorities: Centre

    In an affidavit filed in the top court, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs said “state governments can also declare a religious or linguistic community as a ‘minority community’ within the state”.

    Why in news?

    • The Centre was responding to a petition filed stating that the followers of Judaism, Baha’ism and Hinduism — who are the real minorities in Ladakh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur.
    • They however cannot establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
    • The Centre said the allegation was “not correct”.
    • The government’s affidavit explained that Parliament and State legislatures have concurrent powers to enact laws to provide for the protection of minorities and their interests.

    Various states on Minorities

    • The Centre gave the example of how Maharashtra notified ‘Jews’ as a minority community within the State.
    • Again, Karnataka notified Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Tulu, Lambadi, Hindi, Konkani and Gujarati as minority languages within the State.

    Who are the Minorities?

    • Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain and Zorastrians (Parsis) have been notified as minority communities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
    • As per the Census 2011, the percentage of minorities in the country is about 19.3% of the total population of the country.
    • The population of Muslims are 14.2%; Christians 2.3%; Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jain 0.4% and Parsis 0.006%.
    • Minority Concentration Districts (MCD), Minority Concentration Blocks and Minority Concentration Towns, have been identified on the basis of both population data and backwardness parameters of Census 2001 of these areas.

    Defining Minorities

    • The Constitution recognizes Religious minorities in India and Linguistic minorities in India through Article 29 and Article 30.
    • But Minority is not defined in the Constitution.
    • Currently, the Linguistic minorities in India are identified on a state-wise basis thus determined by the state government whereas Religious minorities in India are determined by the Central Government.
    • The Parliament has the legislative powers and the Centre has the executive competence to notify a community as a minority under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act of 1992.

    Article 29: It provides that any section of the citizens residing in any part of India having a distinct language, script, or culture of its own, shall have the rights of minorities in India to conserve the same. Article 29 is applied to both minorities (religious minorities in India and Linguistic minorities in India) and also the majority. It also includes – rights of minorities in India to agitate for the protection of language.

    Article 30: All minorities shall have the rights of minorities in India to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. Article 30 recognises only Religious minorities in India and Linguistic minorities in India (not the majority). It includes the rights of minorities in India to impart education to their children in their own language.

    Article 350-B: Originally, the Constitution of India did not make any provision with respect to the Special Officer for Linguistic minorities in India. However, the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 inserted Article 350-B in the Constitution. It provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the President of India. It would be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution.

     

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  • Detecting Microplastics in Human Blood

    A study by researchers from The Netherlands has found Microplastics in blood samples. About half of these were PET (polyethylene tertraphthalate) plastics, which is used to make food grade bottles.

    What are Microplastics?

    • Microplastics are tiny bits of various types of plastic found in the environment.
    • The name is used to differentiate them from “macroplastics” such as bottles and bags made of plastic.
    • There is no universal agreement on the size of microplastics. It defines microplastic as less than 5mm in length.
    • However, for the purposes of this study, since the authors were interested in measuring the quantities of plastic that can cross the membranes and diffuse into the body via the blood stream.
    • Hence they agreed on an upper limit on the size of the particles as 0.0007 millimetre.

    What were the plastics that the study looked for in the blood samples?

    • The study looked at the most commonly used plastic polymers.
    • These were polyethylene tetraphthalate (PET), polyethylene (used in making plastic carry bags), polymers of styrene (used in food packaging), poly (methyl methylacrylate) and poly propylene.
    • They found a presence of the first four types.

    Significance of the study

    • Making a human health risk assessment in relation to plastic particles is not easy, perhaps not even possible, due to the lack of data on exposure of people to plastics.
    • In this sense, it is important to have studies like this one.
    • The authors of the paper also remark that validated methods to detect the tiny (trace) amounts of extremely small-sized (less than 10 micrometre) plastic particles are lacking.
    • Hence this study, which builds up a methods to check the same, is important.

    Health hazard of microplastics

    • It is not yet clear if these microplastics can cross over from the blood stream to deposit in organs and cause diseases.
    • The report point out that the human placenta has shown to be permeable to tiny particles of polystyrene ( 50, 80 and 24 nanometre beads).
    • Experiments on rats where its lungs were exposed to polystryrene spheres (20 nanometre) led to translocation of the nanoparticles to the placental and foetal tissue.
    • Oral administration of microplastics in rats led to accumulation of these in the liver, kidney and gut.
    • Further studies have to be carried out to really assess the impact of plastics on humans.

     

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. Why is there a great concern about the ‘microbeads’ that are released into environment?

    (a) They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.

    (b) They are considered to cause skin cancer in children.

    (c) They are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.

    (d) They are often found to be used as food adulterants.

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”erdar14d0j” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

     

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  • What are Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles?

    The Indian Army has issued a Request For Information (RFI) for the supply of Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles to be deployed in Ladakh and Kutch.

    What are Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles?

    • Articulated ATV is a twin cabin, tracked, amphibious carrier for off road mobility.
    • The special design of this equipment exerts low ground pressure on the soil and a pull-push mode of locomotion between two cabins facilitates mobility over varied terrains like snow, desert and slush.
    • A ballistic protection in the cabin body ensures protection to troops travelling in it from small arms fire.
    • They can reach where wheeled vehicles cannot due to deep snow, slush or marshy terrain and can be very effective for patrolling and rapid deployment in operational situations.

    Utility of these vehicles

    • These vehicles are very useful to move troops or supplies in snow-bound terrains and in marshy/sandy environments.
    • The Indian Army wishes to use these vehicles in the snow-bound areas of Ladakh and in the marshy terrain of the Rann of Kutch.

     

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