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  • Israel Judicial Reform Explained: What is the crisis about?

    israel

    Central Idea

    • On July 24, the governing coalition in Israel’s Parliament (Knesset) passed a critical part of its judicial overhaul plan, aimed at curbing the Supreme Court’s oversight powers over government decisions.
    • This has sparked months of protests against the right-religious government’s plans to transform the judiciary.

    Judiciary Overhaul: The Crisis Trigger

    • Abolishing the “Reasonability Doctrine”: The Knesset legislation abolishes the “reasonable doctrine” used by the Supreme Court to assess government decisions and ministerial appointments. This doctrine allowed the court to determine the sensibility and fairness of government decisions and nullify them if deemed necessary.
    • Reasonability Doctrine in Other Countries: The reasonability standard is a legal standard used in several countries, including Australia, Canada, and the U.K., by top courts to evaluate government decisions.
    • Criticism and Justification: Supporters of the government argue that the reasonability standard is too abstract and prone to judicial overreach, justifying its removal. They claim that this change will prevent courts from interfering in executive decisions.

    Other Proposals in the Overhaul Plan

    • Curbing Judicial Review: The original overhaul plan included proposals to limit judicial review over legislation and empower Parliament to override court decisions with a majority vote of 61 out of 120.
    • Greater Control of Judicial Appointments: The government seeks to replace members of the Bar Association in the nine-member panel responsible for selecting judges with “public representatives” chosen by the government. This change would give the government a majority vote in the committee and more control over judicial appointments.
    • Ministers’ Autonomy from Legal Advisers: Another proposal seeks to remove the legal obligation for Ministers to follow the advice given by their legal advisers, including the Attorney-General’s guidance.

    Motivation behind the Overhaul

    • Right-Wing Government’s Agenda: Israel’s current government, composed of right-wing, ultra-Orthodox, and extreme-right parties, aims to strengthen its control over the judiciary. The right-wing leaders have criticized the judiciary for impeding their legislative agenda and settlement expansion in Palestinian territories.
    • Shift in Israel’s Polity: Over the years, Israel’s polity has shifted rightward, while the judiciary remained relatively independent. The right-wing has long advocated for bringing the courts under the Parliament’s ambit.
    • Influence of Think Tank: The Kohelet Policy Forum, a think tank backed by American and Israeli billionaires, has played a significant role in formulating the judicial reforms. Kohelet seeks to advance right-wing policy reforms in Israel and has pushed for the overhaul of the judiciary.

    Protests and Concerns

    • Undermining Democracy: Critics, including the Opposition and civil society, argue that the government’s actions are an attempt to undermine Israel’s democracy. They fear that concentrating power within the government, controlled by right-wing and religious parties, could lead to an authoritarian theocracy.
    • Tensions between Liberal and Orthodox Jews: Protests have spread to different groups, including military reservists, amid concerns that religious parties may undermine the courts and empower religious sections.
    • Supreme Court Review: Civil society groups have filed petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the legislation on the reasonability doctrine. The court, facing a constitutional showdown, will review the challenges, even though the law curtails its own powers.

    Conclusion

    • The passage of the judicial overhaul plan in Israel’s Knesset has significant implications for the country’s governance and democratic fabric.
    • The concentration of power within the government and curtailing the Supreme Court’s oversight powers has raised concerns about checks and balances.
    • Civil society’s petitions and the Supreme Court’s subsequent decisions will be crucial in determining the future course of Israel’s judiciary and its democratic institutions.

  • BPaL Trial yields 85% TB Cure Rate

    tb

    Central Idea

    • The interim results of a randomized phase-3/4 trial conducted in India to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of BPaL Regimen, an all-oral, short-course treatment are promising.
    • BPaL is administered for individuals with pre-XDR TB or treatment-intolerant/non-responsive MDR pulmonary TB

    What is BPaL?

    • The trial uses only three drugs—Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, and Linezolid (BPaL).
    • The treatment duration is only 26 weeks, contrasting with the conventional 18-month treatment involving eight to nine tablets per day.

    Trial Outcomes

    • It offered a significantly reduced number of tablets per day, resulting in better treatment adherence and improved outcomes.
    • Approximately 70% of the trial participants have completed the 26-week treatment, with a cure rate exceeding 85%.
    • In comparison, the cure rate for conventional treatment for DR-TB is 60-65% even with strict adherence.

    Treatment Superiority

    • Advanced TB Cases: The trial participants had advanced TB affecting both lungs, yet the cure rate was above 85%, demonstrating the superiority of the BPaL short-course therapy.
    • Importance of Early Diagnosis: Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment with the three-drug regimen can lead to even better outcomes for patients with pre-XDR TB.

    Issues with the treatment

    • Three to four trial participants experienced serious adverse effects, but these were either managed or occurred too late in the disease’s progression to be helped.
    • Some cases of mild adverse effects caused by linezolid included a drop in haemoglobin and platelet counts, as well as neuropathy (tingling sensation and numbness in the legs).

    TB Menace in India

    • Total TB Cases: In 2021, there were approximately 21.3 lakh (2.13 million) reported TB cases in India.
    • Incidence Rate: The incidence rate of TB in India in 2021 was 210 cases per lakh population.
    • Drug-Resistant TB: The number of drug-resistant TB cases in India declined from around 1.49 lakh in 2015 to 1.19 lakh in 2021.
    • Government Initiatives: To combat TB, India has set the target of eliminating the disease by 2025, and various initiatives have been implemented, including active case finding, screening, and improved access to diagnostic tests and treatment.

    Back2Basics:

    XDR TB (Extensively Drug-Resistant TB)

    Treatment-Intolerant/Non-Responsive MDR Pulmonary TB
    Resistant to most effective first-line and some second-line TB drugs. Patient cannot tolerate prescribed medications or infection does not respond to treatment.
    More dangerous and difficult to treat than MDR TB. Requires exploration of alternative treatment regimens.
    Limited treatment options, higher mortality, and increased transmission risk. Adjustments in drug combinations or dosages may be needed.
    Spreads rapidly, posing a serious public health threat. Crucial to prevent development of extensively drug-resistant strains.
    Requires preventive measures and early diagnosis. Identifying reasons for treatment intolerance and providing support.

     

  • Mapping India’s Chip Design Ecosystem

    chip

    Central Idea

    • The Indian government is considering a proposal to pick an equity stake in domestic chip design-making companies as part of the second phase of the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme for the semiconductor industry.
    • The aim behind the scheme is to establish a stable ecosystem and promote the growth of “fabless companies” in India—entities that design chips but outsource manufacturing.
    • However, this policy requires a long-term strategy due to the capital-intensive nature of the semiconductor sector and the lengthy gestation periods for setting up design and fabrication units.

    What is DLI Scheme?

    What is Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme? - Civilsdaily

    • DLI scheme is a program aimed at providing financial and infrastructural support to companies establishing semiconductor manufacturing plants in India.
    • Eligible participants who set up fabrication units in the country can receive fiscal support of up to 50% of the total cost.
    • Additionally, participants building compound semiconductors, silicon photonics, and sensors fabrication plants can avail fiscal support of 30% of the capital expenditure under this scheme.
    • Companies engaged in semiconductor design for integrated circuits, chipsets, system-on-chips, systems, and IP cores will receive incentives of 4% to 6% on net sales for a duration of five years.
    • The scheme is expected to promote the growth of at least 20 such companies, achieving a turnover of more than ₹1500 crore in the next five years.

    Present Chip Dynamics

    • Long Gestation Period: Setting up design and fabrication units in the semiconductor industry involves long gestation periods before the first product is launched. Returns on investment are not immediate.
    • Capital Intensive: The semiconductor industry requires significant investment for setting up fabrication units, up-scaling manufacturing capabilities, and research.
    • Cyclic Nature: The industry’s cyclic nature and changing functional requirements of chipsets make research and development challenging.
    • Supply Chain Disruptions: Supply chain disruptions, such as those experienced during COVID-related lockdowns, can dampen investor confidence in the sector.

    Domestic Chip Industry Scenario

    • Talent Pool: India has a highly-skilled talent pool of semiconductor design engineers, making up around 20% of the world’s workforce, working for global companies like Intel, Micron, and Qualcomm, among others.
    • IP Ownership: Despite a thriving talent pool, India owns a smaller portion of the intellectual property (IP) related to chip designs, which is mostly retained by global companies.
    • DLI Scheme for Chip Designing: The DLI scheme introduced in December 2021 aimed to indigenize innovations and support the growth of chip design companies with financial incentives.
    • Changing Landscape: The scheme has led to the establishment of over 30 semiconductor design startups in India, with some already receiving government support.

    Growing market in India

    • The semiconductor industry is growing fast and can reach $1 trillion dollars in this decade. India can grow fast and reach $64 billion by 2026 from $27 billion today.
    • Mobiles, wearables, IT, and industrial components are the leading segments in the Indian semiconductor industry contributing around 80% of the revenues in 2021.
    • The mobile and wearables segment is valued at $13.8 billion and is expected to reach $31.5 billion in 2026.

    Challenges and Considerations

    • Effectiveness and Efficiency: Some experts view the government’s plan to become a venture capital firm for chip design companies as ineffective and inefficient. Companies may prefer foreign buyers for higher valuations and global ecosystem connections.
    • Venture Capital Support: The lack of venture capitalists in the private sector focused on semiconductors is a challenge for the growth of design firms.
    • Equity Stake’s Impact: Offering an equity stake can align the interests of design companies with the project’s success, ensuring shared risk and reward. It may also help in selling chip-designing services more effectively and attracting a broader client base in the market.
    • IP and Value-Added Activities: The government must consider who can keep the IP and how investments can drive more innovation and employment generation. Moving up in the value chain and enabling the ecosystem is crucial.

    Conclusion

    • The proposal to take an equity stake in domestic chip design-making companies in India’s semiconductor industry aims to promote the growth of fabless companies and ensure a stable ecosystem.
    • However, it requires a long-term strategy and careful consideration of IP ownership, venture capital support, and value-added activities in chip design.
    • The success of the scheme will depend on effective implementation and alignment of interests between the government and promising design companies.

  • Need for Overhaul in UDAN Scheme

    udan

    Central Idea

    • Union Civil Aviation Ministry inaugurated a new phase of the Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme, or UDAN 5.2, to improve last-mile connectivity in remote regions of the country through small aircraft.
    • There have been aspersions regarding the success of the UDAN regional connectivity scheme (RCS) since ONLY 11 of the 74 Greenfield airports are decently operational.

    Progress till now

    • Route Closures: Out of the 479 routes launched under RCS, 225 have ceased operations, leading to significant route closures.
    • Commercial Viability: Around 70 of the routes were found to be commercially unviable even with subsidies, leading airlines to discontinue their operations.
    • Three-Year Sustainability: The objective of RCS was for airlines to become self-sustaining after three years, but only 58 out of 155 routes completed this period successfully.
    • Incomplete Infrastructure: Some airports, such as Thanjavur, Moradabad, Saharanpur, and Ayodhya, were not ready for operations, leading to the discontinuation of 12 routes.

    What is UDAN Scheme?

    • UDAN Scheme, initiated in 2016, aims to enhance aviation infrastructure and air connectivity in Tier II and Tier III cities.
    • It was formulated based on the review of The National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)-2016, with the goal of fulfilling the aspirations of the common citizen.
    • The scheme, designed to last for 10 years, operates with a self-financing mechanism through the establishment of the Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF).
    • The RCF funds the viability gap funding (VGF) requirements of the scheme by levying certain domestic flights, thereby stimulating growth and development in the aviation sector.
    • As part of the scheme, the Airports Authority of India has waived the airport fee.

    Issues with the scheme

    • Route Discontinuance: Some routes launched under UDAN have been discontinued, raising concerns about their sustainability.
    • Challenges in Expansion: Efforts to improve connectivity to hilly regions and islands through helicopters and seaplanes have faced hurdles due to land unavailability and operational difficulties.
    • Unrecovered since the Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the aviation industry, further impacting the sustainability of airlines.

    Various Challenges

    • Financial Constraints: Many smaller airlines struggle with insufficient funds, making it difficult to maintain aircraft, pay rentals, and provide staff salaries.
    • Maintenance Issues: Smaller players often have limited aircraft that are poorly maintained, and acquiring new planes is expensive.
    • Pilot Availability: The availability of pilots can be a challenge for smaller airlines, leading to higher costs when hiring foreign pilots.
    • Competition: Routes dominated by bigger domestic players like IndiGo and SpiceJet tend to see better success rates.

    Way Forward

    • Extended Subsidy Period: Airlines need an extension of the subsidy period to develop routes sustainably and achieve self-sufficiency.
    • Addressing Pandemic Impact: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel restrictions and passenger safety should be considered when evaluating the losses incurred by airlines.
    • Collaboration and Support: The government and stakeholders need to collaborate to address financial constraints and maintenance issues faced by smaller airlines.
    • Continuous Evaluation: Regular evaluation and necessary adjustments in the UDAN scheme are essential to overcome challenges and ensure successful implementation.

    Conclusion

    • While India has made significant strides in airport development, challenges related to commercial viability and infrastructure readiness must be addressed to ensure sustainable air connectivity across the nation.
    • Renewed focus on the UDAN scheme and optimizing airport infrastructure can pave the way for a robust aviation sector that benefits smaller cities and contributes to the overall growth of the nation’s economy.

  • In news: International Tiger Day

    tiger

    Central Idea

    • July 29th was celebrated the world over as International Tiger Day in a bid to raise awareness on various issues surrounding tiger conservation.
    • India’s tiger population has witnessed significant growth over the past decade, owing to successful conservation efforts under the Project Tiger initiative.

    About International Tiger Day

    It was first instituted in 2010 at the Tiger Summit in St Petersburg, Russia when the 13 tiger range countries came together to create Tx2, the global goal to double the number of wild tigers by the year 2022.

    Celebrating 50 Years of Project Tiger

    • Historical Context: Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to promote the conservation of tigers when their population was alarmingly low, hovering around 2,000 due to hunting and habitat destruction.
    • Landmark Achievement: Over the past 50 years, India’s tiger population has made a remarkable recovery, standing at 3,167 in 2022 as compared to just 268 in 1973.

    tiger

    Population Growth and Distribution

    • Decade-wise Growth: The tiger population has shown a remarkable growth trajectory in recent years. In 2010, there were 1,706 tigers, which increased to 2,226 in 2014 and further rose to 3,582 in 2022.
    • Regional Distribution: In 2022, the states with the highest tiger populations were Madhya Pradesh (785), Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444). Nearly 25% of the tigers were reported outside protected areas.

    Conservation Efforts and Successes

    • Tiger Reserves: India’s tigers are mainly concentrated in 53 dedicated tiger reserves covering about 75,796 square km, which accounts for approximately 2.3% of the country’s total land area.
    • Successful Reserves: Reserves like Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand (260 tigers), Bandipur (150), and Nagarhole (141) in Karnataka have shown commendable success in tiger conservation.
    • Project Tiger: Launched in 1973, Project Tiger played a crucial role in conserving the species, ensuring not just the protection of tigers but also preserving their natural habitats.

    Challenges and Concerns

    • Habitat Fragmentation: The growing human population and developmental activities have led to the fragmentation of tiger habitats, affecting their dispersal and increasing human-tiger conflicts.
    • Quality of Forest Cover: The degradation of forest cover can impact prey availability and contribute to human-wildlife conflict, especially in regions like Central India and the Eastern Ghats.
    • Human-Wildlife Conflict: As tiger habitats shrink and corridors get disrupted, encounters between tigers and humans have increased, leading to conflicts and potential danger to both tigers and people.
    • Legal Framework Dilution: Some proposed amendments to environmental acts and the approval of projects in protected areas have raised concerns about the dilution of the legal framework supporting tiger conservation.

    Way forward

    • Development with Ecological Sensibility: Upcoming infrastructure projects, like highways, are being planned with safe passageways for tigers and other animals to ensure minimal disruption to their movement.
    • Relocation and Rehabilitation: Relocation of human settlements from core areas of tiger reserves is incentivized to increase protected land and improve tribal livelihoods.

    Conclusion

    • Conservation Commitment: The success of tiger conservation in India has come through the commitment of people, political will, and strong legal and policy frameworks.
    • Sustained Efforts: Despite the successes, continued efforts and vigilance are essential to ensure the continued growth of the tiger population and its harmonious coexistence with human communities.

  • China’s Use of Stapled Visas and its Implications for India

    stapled visa

    Central Idea

    • The issuance of stapled visas by China to Indian nationals from Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir has been a contentious issue between the two countries.

    What is Stapled Visa?

    • A Stapled Visa is an unstamped piece of paper attached to the passport, different from a regular visa that is affixed and stamped.
    • China has been issuing stapled visas to Indian nationals from certain regions, notably Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, which are territories that China disputes with India.
    • By using stapled visas for residents of these regions, China is making a unilateral claim over the disputed territories, suggesting that it considers them as part of its own territory.

    China’s Dispute over Indian Territory:

    • Sovereignty Dispute: China disputes India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh and questions the legal status of the McMahon Line, the boundary agreed upon between Tibet and British India in 1914. This dispute underlies Chinese claims over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and its repeated border transgressions into Indian Territory.
    • Unilateral Claim: China claims approximately 90,000 sq km of Arunachal Pradesh as its territory, referring to it as “Zangnan” or “South Tibet.” Chinese maps often depict Arunachal Pradesh as part of China.

    Use of Stapled Visas:

    • Signaling Intentions: Chinese state media began referring to Arunachal Pradesh as “South Tibet” in 2005. In 2006, China refused to grant a visa to an Indian government official serving in Arunachal Pradesh. Subsequently, China started issuing stapled visas to all Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
    • Timeline of Events: Stapled visas for Jammu and Kashmir residents appeared around 2008-09. Over the years, China repeatedly issued stapled visas to Indian nationals, including sports athletes, weightlifters, and archers, leading to tensions between the two countries.

    India’s Response and Stance

    • Protest and Diplomatic Efforts: The Indian government has consistently protested against the issuance of stapled visas and conveyed its stance to China, asserting that there should be no discrimination based on domicile or ethnicity in the visa regime for Indian citizens.
    • Refusal to Accept Stapled Visas: India has refused to accept stapled visas as valid travel documents and cautioned Indian citizens that such visas are not considered valid for travel out of the country.
    • Sovereignty Assertion: India firmly asserts its sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh and maintains that stapled visas undermine its territorial integrity.

  • Festivals in news: Muharram and Ashura

    muharram ashura

    Central Idea

    • For the first time in over three decades, the Jammu and Kashmir government permitted a Muharram procession in Srinagar, drawing thousands of Shia mourners on the 8th of Muharram.
    • The decision has been widely hailed.

    What is Muharram?

    • Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it holds significant religious and historical importance for Muslims worldwide.
    • The word “Muharram” itself means “forbidden” in Arabic, signifying the sacred nature of this month.
    • It is considered one of the four sacred months in Islam, during which warfare and conflicts are traditionally prohibited.
    • It is observed by both Sunni and Shia Muslims (and even Hindus), though it holds different historical and religious significance for each group.

    Celebration of Ashura

    Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram and is the most significant day within the month.

    • Shia Muslims: They commemorate the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, Imam Hussain, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. The prophet’s son-in-law, Ali, and Ali’s elder son, Hassan, are also remembered during this period as having suffered and died.  On Ashura, Shia Muslims observe unique mourning rituals, including self-flagellation, chest-beating, and in some cases, forehead cutting using sharpened knives and chains with attached blades. ‘Taziya’, a tableaux procession is also held by the Shia Community.
    • Sunni Muslims: Ashura marks the day when Prophet Moses and the Children of Israel were saved from Pharaoh’s tyranny by crossing the Red Sea.
    • Hindu community: Some Hindus also observe Muharram by getting themselves painted in tiger stripes, visiting households and performing “huli kunita” as part of their “harake” (vow).

    Ashura Celebration in Kashmir

    • Ban under Dogra Rulers: During the reign of Dogra rulers, Muharram processions were either prohibited or allowed only at night, citing tensions between Shia and Sunni communities.
    • 1920s: In the 1920s, despite the Dogra order for morning processions, mourners marched during the day, with both Shias and Sunnis joining the procession. This became associated with the Muslim freedom struggle in Kashmir.
    • Selective Permits: Later, certain individuals and families were issued permits to take out processions, but the main Muharram procession was banned when militancy began.

    Significance of allowing processions

    • The permission for the Muharram procession in Srinagar after a long ban is a significant milestone, signifying progress towards religious freedom in the region.
    • It emphasizes the need to respect the religious sentiments of the people and uphold the values of inclusivity and unity among different communities in the valley.

  • What is Offer-for-Sale (OFS)?

    Central Idea

    • The government’s stake sale in Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) through an offer-for-sale (OFS) received an enthusiastic response from institutional investors.

    About Offer for Sale (OFS)

    • OFS is a method of share sale introduced by India’s securities market regulator SEBI in 2012.
    • The primary aim was to facilitate promoters of listed companies to reduce their holdings and comply with the minimum public shareholding norms within the stipulated time frame.
    • This mechanism gained popularity among both state-run and private listed companies as a means to adhere to SEBI’s order.
    • Subsequently, the government also embraced OFS to divest its shareholding in public sector enterprises.

    Key Features of Offer for Sale:

    • Stake Dilution: In an OFS, the promoters of a company reduce their stake by selling existing shares to retail investors, companies, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), and Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) through an exchange platform.
    • Restriction on Fresh Issuance: Unlike a follow-on public offering (FPO), where companies can raise funds through issuing fresh shares or promoters can sell their existing stakes (or both), OFS is used exclusively for the sale of existing shares.
    • Eligibility Criteria: Only promoters or shareholders holding more than 10% of the share capital in a company can conduct an OFS.
    • Limited to Top 200 Companies: The OFS mechanism is available to the top 200 companies based on market capitalization.
    • Reserved Quota for Institutions: A minimum of 25% of the shares offered in an OFS is reserved for mutual funds (MFs) and insurance companies. Additionally, no single bidder, other than MFs and insurance companies, can be allocated more than 25% of the offering size.
    • Retail Investor Participation: A minimum of 10% of the offer size is reserved for retail investors, encouraging their participation in the share sale.
    • Discount Provision: Sellers have the option to offer a discount to retail investors either on the bid price or on the final allotment price.
    • Timely Notification: The company must inform the stock exchanges about its intention to conduct an OFS at least two banking days prior to the event.

  • Free Movement Regime along India-Myanmar Border

    myanmar

    Central Idea

    • The ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur is further complicated by the issue of illegal migration of tribal Kuki-Chin people into India from Myanmar.
    • Amid this charged and sensitive debate, questions have been raised on the Free Movement Regime (FMR) that allows tribes along the Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) to travel inside each other’s territory without a visa.

    myanmar

    Understanding Free Movement Regime

    • Conceptualization: The FMR was implemented in 2018 as part of the Act East policy to improve Indo-Myanmar ties.
    • Travel permit: It allows tribes living along the IMB to travel up to 16 km into the other country without a visa.
    • Ethnic and Cultural Ties: The border between India and Myanmar was demarcated without considering the opinions of the people living in the region, splitting people of the same ethnicity and culture into two nations.
    • Significance: The FMR aimed to facilitate people-to-people contact, local trade, and business, essential for livelihoods and sustenance.
    • Discontinuation: As the crisis in Myanmar unfolded, India suspended the FMR in September 2022.

    Challenges created by FMR

    • Unintentional Aiding of Illegal Immigration: The porous and unfenced Indo-Myanmar border has led to concerns about illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and gun running.
    • Refugee influx: The military coup in Myanmar triggered persecution against the Kuki-Chin peoples, leading to a significant influx of Myanmarese tribals into Manipur and Mizoram, seeking shelter. Mizoram set up camps for over 40,000 refugees, despite protests from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
    • Deforestation and Tensions: The Manipur government accused village chiefs of illegally settling migrants from Myanmar in new villages, leading to deforestation.
    • Resistance to eviction: An eviction drive triggered violence between Kukis and the government.

    Possible Solutions

    • Better Regulation of FMR: Experts agree that the FMR needs better regulation to address the challenges arising from illegal activities and cross-border movements.
    • Middle Path: A middle path could be sought, addressing changing socio-politico-economic conditions in Myanmar and the dynamic demographic profile of the region.
    • Tackling the Issue: India needs to find an approach that balances addressing illicit activities and border crimes while considering the concerns and needs of the local population.

    Conclusion

    • The FMR along the Indo-Myanmar Border, although intended to foster people-to-people contact and local trade, has posed challenges related to illegal migration and illegal activities.
    • While there are calls to remove the regime entirely, finding a middle path that considers the region’s socio-politico-economic dynamics and the well-being of the local population seems essential.
    • Addressing these challenges will require a careful and balanced approach, reflecting the complexities of the situation on the ground.

  • Supreme Court concerns over Persistent Lynchings and Mob Violence

    Central Idea

    • The Supreme Court asked the Centre and six States to respond to a plea concerning the alarming incidents of lynchings and mob violence.
    • It highlighted the need for the government machinery to be held accountable for protecting the lives of victims, including members of the minority community.
    • Presently the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) does NOT maintain separate data on atrocities against religious minorities and on mob lynching.

    lynching

    Mob Lynching through Judiciary’s Lens

    • Apex Court’s 2018 Judgment: In the Tehseen Poonawala Case (2018), the Supreme Court warned against the rising wave of frenzied mobs fueled by fake news, self-professed morality, and false stories. The court foresaw these incidents as “creeping threats” and emphasized the necessity to curb them promptly.
    • Call for Special Law and Punishment: The 2018 judgment condemned mobocracy as an anathema and called for special laws and stringent punishments to address the issue effectively.

    What is Mob Lynching?

    • Mob lynching is a heinous act of premeditated extrajudicial killing carried out by a group to punish an alleged transgressor or intimidate a community.
    • The absence of a separate definition for lynching in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and inadequate provisions to deal with such crimes have raised concerns about the growing incidents of mob violence in the country.

    Need for an Anti-Lynching Law

    • Filling the Legal Void: An anti-lynching law would address the shortcomings in the current criminal jurisprudence, providing a specific legal framework to deal with such brutal acts. Presently, the IPC offers provisions for unlawful assembly, rioting, and murder, but there is no explicit law against mob lynching.
    • Curbing Lawlessness: An anti-lynching law would hold accountable those involved in lynching incidents, establishing a clear deterrent against such acts of violence.
    • Addressing the Rise in Lynching Incidents: Over the years, mob lynching cases have increased, necessitating a focused and comprehensive legal approach to combat this menace.

    Factors behind the Surge in Lynchings

    • Impunity: Lynch mobs often act with confidence, believing they will escape punishment. The lack of decisive action by the state has contributed to their audacity.
    • Communalism: In cow-linked lynchings, political considerations influence the response from the incumbent government, affecting the crackdown on such attacks.
    • Fake News: The rapid spread of misinformation through social media platforms fuels sudden waves of antagonism and contributes to mob violence.
    • Alienation and Unemployment: Modernity has eroded associational life and a sense of fraternity, leading to feelings of alienation. High unemployment rates also leave millions of youth disengaged, making them vulnerable to manipulation.

    Impact of Lynching

    • State: Lynching undermines fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution, leading to a crisis in law and order.
    • Economy: International agencies have issued warnings against mob lynching, negatively impacting foreign and domestic investments and sovereign ratings. It also hampers internal migration and places an additional burden on the state exchequer to tackle such incidents.
    • Society: Lynchings foster fear of radicalization, disrupt communal harmony, and promote intolerance, aggravating caste, class, and communal tensions.

    Way Forward

    • Proactive Measures: States must proactively monitor and flag rumours on social media and other platforms, adopting measures taken by some states as examples to deter such incidents.
    • Special Courts: Establishing special courts to try mob violence cases would ensure prompt and efficient justice delivery.