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Distribution: yearly

  • Vibrant Villages Program to be integrated with PM Gati Shakti

    The Centre’s Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) which aims to develop infrastructure and open up villages to tourists along the China border will be integrated with the Gati Shakti Mega Project.

    What is Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP)?

    • Under the VVP, the selected villages will be provided with basic facilities like all-weather roads, potable piped water, 24×7 electricity, good mobile and internet connectivity, healthcare, and enhanced livelihood options.
    • The VVP aims to prevent migration of border population, catalyze reverse migration, and keep all villages along the LAC well-populated from the strategic and security point of view.

    Villages selected

    • Kibithoo, one of the remotest circle headquarters of Arunachal Pradesh, is the first village to be developed under the VVP.
    • The villages will also serve as the Indian Army’s eyes and ears in these remote areas.
    • 2,967 villages in 19 border districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh will be developed under the VVP, with 662 villages being developed in the first phase of the project.

    Components

    • The VVP programme involves a number of livelihood programmes, including bee-keeping, improving agricultural yields, encouraging handicrafts and local products, and providing market linkages to them.
    • The programme also focuses on promoting high-end tourism and training local people to cater to tourists.
    • Provision of 24×7 power through micro-hydel power plants, solar power panels, and windmills is also a vital component of the programme.

    Impact

    • The development of border villages under the VVP will help provide a better livelihood for the locals, improve the quality of life and prevent migration from these remote areas.
    • It will also help in gathering intelligence from the people of border villages and provide the Indian Army with better access to these areas.

    Comparison with China’s Model

    • India’s Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) is people-centric and aims to enhance the quality of life of the locals.
    • China’s Xiaokang villages lack proper planning for providing livelihood opportunities, healthcare and education facilities, and proper transportation.
    • Beijing’s aim of keeping civilian residents of these villages as watchful eyes over activities across the LAC and on Indian Army patrols has been negated.
    • Most of the villages now serve as residential quarters and logistical facilities for the PLA.
    • India’s VVP scores over China’s building of new Xiaokang villages as it has a holistic approach to development.

    Why merged with Gati Shakti?

    • Gati Shakti brings 16 ministries, including Railways and Roadways, together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.
    • It allows government departments to break operational silos.
    • By integrating VVP with Gati Shakti, there can be better coordination between various ministries and departments to ensure the smooth implementation of the programme and to avoid any duplication of efforts.

     

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  • Malaria soon to be a notifiable disease across India

    malaria

    Malaria is all set to become a notifiable disease across India, which will require cases to be reported to government authorities by law.

    About Malaria

    Description
    Definition A potentially life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes
    Causes Four species of plasmodium parasites, namely plasmodium vivax, plasmodium falciparum, plasmodium malariae, and plasmodium ovale
    Spread Bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes
    Symptoms Fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting
    Diagnosis Blood test
    Treatment Antimalarial drugs
    Prevention Insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, wearing protective clothing, using mosquito repellent, avoiding mosquito bites
    Vaccine RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix)

     

    Why in news?

    • The move is part of India’s vision to become malaria-free by 2027 and to eliminate the disease by 2030.

    Menace of malaria in India

    • In India, 80% of malaria cases occur among 20% of its population living in the 200 high-risk districts of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal and the seven north-eastern states.
    • With only fewer than half of those infected reaching a clinic or hospital, the cases and deaths are much higher than recorded.

    What is Notifiable Disease?

    • A notifiable disease is a disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities.
    • In India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare maintains a list of notifiable diseases under the National Health Mission.
    • This is done to track the spread of the disease and to take necessary measures to control and prevent its spread.
    • Reporting notifiable diseases is important for public health surveillance and response to outbreaks.

    Malaria as a Notifiable Disease

    • Malaria is currently a notifiable disease in 33 states and Union Territories in India.
    • Bihar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Meghalaya are in the process of putting malaria in the notifiable disease category.

    Other measures to curb malaria

    • Malaria Elimination Programme: The government has launched the National Framework for Malaria Elimination in India 2016-2030 to eliminate malaria from the country by 2030.
    • Joint Action Plan: The Health Ministry has initiated a joint action plan with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for malaria elimination in tribal areas. This plan aims to bring down malaria cases to zero in tribal areas, which are among the most vulnerable to the disease.
    • HIP-Malaria Portal: The Ministry has ensured the availability of near-real-time data monitoring through an integrated health information platform and periodic regional review meetings to keep a check on malaria growth across India.

    Vaccines developed so far

    • The WHO has approved the rollout of two first-generation malaria vaccines, RTS,S and R21, in high-transmission African countries.
    • Bharat Biotech, an Indian company, has been licensed to manufacture the RTS,S vaccine, with adjuvant provided by GSK.
    • The R21 vaccine, developed by scientists at Oxford University, has shown promising results in phase 2 clinical studies and has been approved by regulatory authorities in Ghana and Nigeria.
    • Scientists at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in New Delhi have developed and produced two experimental blood-stage malaria vaccines, with Phase I clinical trials completed for one of them.

     

     

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  • 50 years of Kesavananda Bharati Case

    kesav

    Fifty years ago, on April 24, 1973, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru and Ors vs. State of Kerala and Anr, the landmark case that redefined the relationship between Parliament and the Constitution.

    Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973)

    • The Kesavananda Bharati judgement, was a landmark decision of the Supreme Court that outlined the basic structure doctrine of the Indian Constitution.
    • The case is also known as the Fundamental Rights Case.
    • The SC in a 7-6 decision asserted its right to strike down amendments to the constitution that were in violation of the fundamental architecture of the constitution.
    • The Court asserted through the Basic Structure doctrine that the constitution possesses a basic structure of constitutional principles and values.
    • Key outcomes were:
    1. Basic Structure Doctrine: It is a principle that limits Parliament’s power to amend the Indian Constitution. It holds that certain fundamental features of the Constitution, such as the principle of separation of powers, cannot be amended by Parliament.
    2. Judicial Review: The Court partially cemented the prior precedent Golaknath v. State of Punjab, which held that constitutional amendments through Article 368 were subject to fundamental rights review, but only if they could affect the ‘basic structure of the Constitution’.
    3. Exceptions to Judicial Review: At the same time, the Court also upheld the constitutionality of the first provision of Article 31-C, which implied that amendments seeking to implement the Directive Principles, which do not affect the ‘Basic Structure,’ shall not be subjected to judicial review.

    Criticism of the doctrine

    • Dilution of powers: The basic structure doctrine has been criticized for diluting the principle of separation of powers and undermining the sovereignty of Parliament.
    • Ambiguous nature: It has also been criticized as a vague and subjective form of judicial review.

    Landmark cases of the doctrine

    • Indira Gandhi v Raj Narain (1975): The Supreme Court applied the principle laid down in the Kesavananda ruling for the first time in this case. It struck down The Constitution (39th Amendment) Act, 1975, which barred the Supreme Court from hearing a challenge to the election of President, Prime Minister, Vice-President, and Speaker of Lok Sabha.
    • Minerva Mills Ltd vs. Union of India (1980): The Supreme Court struck down a clause inserted in Article 368, which said “there shall be no limitation whatever on the constituent power of Parliament to amend by way of addition, variation or repeal the provisions of this Constitution.”
    • P Sambamurthy v State of Andhra Pradesh (1986): The Supreme Court struck down a portion of the 32nd Amendment (1973), which constituted an Administrative Tribunal for Andhra Pradesh for service matters, taking away the P jurisdiction of the High Court.
    • L Chandra Kumar v Union of India (1997): The Supreme Court struck down a portion of the 42nd Amendment, which set up administrative tribunals excluding judicial review by High Courts.

    Significance of the Judgment and the doctrine

    • Strengthen judicial review: The doctrine forms the basis of the power of the Indian judiciary to review and override amendments to the Constitution of India enacted by the Parliament.
    • Clarification about Article 368: Article 368 postulates only a ‘procedure’ for amendment of the Constitution. The same could not be treated as a ‘power’ vested in the Parliament to amend the Constitution to alter the ‘core’ of the Constitution, which has also been described as the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution.
    • Not antithetical to legislative authority: Justice Shastri said Judicial Review was undertaken by the courts “not out of any desire to tilt at legislative authority in a crusader’s spirit, but in the discharge of a duty laid down upon them by the Constitution”.
    • A system of checks and balances: The Kesavananda Bharati verdict (1973) made it clear that judicial review is not a means to usurp parliamentary sovereignty. It is a “system of checks and balances” to ensure constitutional functionaries do not exceed their limits.

     

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  • How can a Juvenile be tried as an Adult in Court?

    Central idea: In this article, we will discuss the process of trying juveniles in the age group of 16-18 as adults in court and the responsibilities of the Juvenile Justice Board.

    About Juvenile Justice Act, 2015

    Description
    Purpose To provide for the care, protection, and rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection, and for the adjudication of delinquent juveniles accused of committing an offence.
    Age group covered Act covers children up to the age of 18 years.
    Categories of offences Offences committed by children are categorised into petty offences, serious offences, and heinous offences.
    Trial of children as adults For the first time, the Act provided for trying juveniles in the age group of 16-18 as adults in cases of heinous offences.
    Role of Juvenile Justice Board The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) is responsible for the care, protection, and rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection, and for the adjudication of delinquent juveniles accused of committing an offence.
    Role of Child Welfare Committee Child Welfare Committee (CWC) is responsible for the care, protection, and rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection.
    Prohibition of disclosing identity Act prohibits the disclosure of the identity of a child in conflict with the law and mandates that the child be dealt with in a child-friendly manner.
    Monitoring and review National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is responsible for monitoring the proper implementation of the provisions of the Act, and conducting reviews and evaluations.

     

    Issues with Juvenile’s trial

    There are several issues with the trial of juveniles as adults. Here are some of them:

    • Latent consequences: Juveniles are generally not mature enough to understand the consequences of their actions fully. Trying them as adults can lead to disproportionate sentences and undue punishment.
    • Losing scope for rehabilitation: Young offenders have a higher potential for rehabilitation and reform than adult offenders. Trying them as adults can limit their chances of being reformed and reintegrated into society.
    • Issue in legal representation: Juveniles may not have access to legal representation or may not understand their rights. Trying them as adults can result in unfair trials and convictions.
    • Impact on mental health: Being tried as an adult can have a severe impact on a juvenile’s mental health and well-being. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and trauma.
    • Stigma and discrimination: Juveniles who are tried as adults may face stigma and discrimination throughout their lives, affecting their ability to secure jobs, education, and housing.

    NCPCR lays guidelines for juvenile’s trial

    • The National Commission for Protection of Children (NCPCR) has issued guidelines for conducting a preliminary assessment by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).
    • This has been done under Section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, to ascertain whether a juvenile can be tried as an adult.
    • For the first time, the Act has provided for trying juveniles as adults in cases of heinous offences.

    Stipulated categories of offences

    • The Juvenile Justice Act categorizes offences committed by children into three categories –
    1. Petty offences
    2. Serious offences
    3. Heinous offences
    • Section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act states that a preliminary assessment should be conducted by the Board in cases where a child above the age of 16 is alleged to have committed a heinous offence.
    • The assessment should focus on the child’s mental and physical capacity to commit the offence.
    • It should also consider the child’s ability to understand the consequences of the offence and the circumstances in which it was committed.

    Responsibilities of the Juvenile Justice Board

    • Assessment of the offender child: The Act directs that the Board shall consider the mental and physical capacity of the child for committing the alleged offence, the ability to understand the consequences of the offence, and the circumstances in which the offence was committed.
    • Psychological ‘trial’: It states that the Board can take the assistance of experienced psychologists or psychosocial workers or other experts. The Act also gives a disclaimer that the assessment is not a trial, but is only to assess the capacity of the child to commit and understand the consequences of the alleged offence.
    • Arriving at conclusion: After the assessment, the Board can pass an order saying there is a need to try the said child as an adult and transfer the case to a children’s court with the relevant jurisdiction.
    • Penalty: If tried as a minor, the child could be sent to a special home for a maximum of three years. If tried as an adult, the child can be sentenced to a jail term, except being sentenced to death or life imprisonment without the possibility of release.

    What is the preliminary assessment process?

    • The Social Investigation Report (SIR) is prepared by a probation officer, child welfare officer, or any social worker, and the Social Background Report (SBR) is prepared after interacting with the child or child’s family.
    • During the preliminary assessment, the Board and experts analyze and consider these reports.
    • If the Board decides that a child should be tried as an adult after the preliminary assessment, the case may be transferred to the Children’s Court with jurisdiction to try such offences.

    Issues in implementation

    • The major issue remains the implementation and absorption of these principles in the system, particularly to be followed by the JJB and the Children’s Court.
    • A lot of principles which have been made a part of the Act have not been given due prominence by the Board as well as by the Children’s Court.

    Conclusion

    • The NCPCR is under a statutory obligation under Section 109 of the JJ Act, 2015 to monitor the proper implementation of the provisions of the Act.
    • The guidelines have been made to remove any ambiguity and to clarify the steps that need to be followed while conducting the preliminary assessment.

     

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  • Pushkaralu Festival returns to the Ganga after 12 years

    pushkar

    Central Idea: The 12-day Pushkaralu festival of Telugu-speaking people began on April 22 in Varanasi.

    Pushkaralu Festival

    • Pushkaram is an Indian festival dedicated to worshiping of 12 sacred rivers.
    • The celebration happens annually, once in 12 years along each river.
    • Each river is associated with a zodiac sign, and the river for each year’s festival is based on which sign Bruhaspathi (Jupiter) was in at the time.
    • It is believed that bathing in the sacred river during Pushkaram cleanses the devotees of their sins.
    • This year festival involves worshipping ancestors and the river Ganga and is being organised in Kashi after a gap of 12 years.

    Why is it celebrated once in 12 years?

    • In India, we have 12 major rivers such as Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Saraswathi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Bhima, Tapati, Tungabhadra, Sindhu, Pranhita for which the Pushkaram festival is celebrated for each river according to the zodiac sign of that river.
    • The 12 days after the Jupiter enters that particular zodiac sign will be the Pushkaram/Pushkaralu which is a 12-day festival for that river.
    • Hence Pushkaralu comes for every 12 years.

    Legend of the Festival

    • According to legend, after severe penance, the devotee Pushkara was blessed by Lord Shiva with the ability to live in water and purify holy rivers
    • On a request from Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Pushkara decided to enter one of the 12 sacred rivers, including Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, and Krishna, among others
    • The river for each year’s festival is decided in accordance with Brihaspati travel from one zodiac sign to another

     

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  • Microbes found near Mt. Everest

    Central idea

    • Researchers conducted a genetic analysis of microbial communities on the South Col of Sagarmatha (Mount Everest).
    • The article examines the human microbiota on the inhospitable slopes of Mount Everest esp. the South Col ridge.

    Microbial Communities on the South Col

    • Microbial communities were collected from sediment samples left by human climbers on the South Col, 7,900 meters above sea level (msl).
    • The South Col is inhospitable due to low oxygen, strong winds, high levels of UV radiation, and temperatures below minus 15 degrees Celsius.
    • Visible signs of life are absent above 6,700 msl except for a few species of moss and a jumping spider.
    • Microbes are carried to high altitudes by birds, animals, winds, and dust particles.

    Microbes found

    • Using sophisticated methods such as 16S and 18S rRNA sequencing, the microbe hunters were able to identify the bacteria and other microorganisms found on the South Col.
    • 16s rRNA is a component of the 30S subunit in prokaryotic ribosomes while 18s rRNA is a component of the 40S subunit in eukaryotic ribosomes.
    • 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing is an amplicon sequencing technique used to identify and compare species of bacteria present within a given sample.
    • 16S rRNA gene sequencing is used to study phylogeny and taxonomy of samples from complex microbiomes or environments that are difficult or impossible to study.
    • Microbes like Modestobacter altitudinis and the fungus, naganishia, which are known to be UV-resistant survivors are found there.

    History of Mount Everest and Naming

    • Nepal’s eminent historian, late Baburam Acharya, gave the Nepali name Sagarmatha to Mount Everest in the 1960s.
    • Andrew Waugh, British Surveyor General of India, discovered Mount Everest in 1847 and named it after his predecessor, Sir George Everest.
    • Radhanath Sikdar, an Indian mathematician and surveyor, was the first person to show that Mount Everest was the world’s highest peak in 1852, with the help of a special device.

     

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  • Jal Shakti Ministry plans network of Groundwater Sensors

    groundwater

    Central Idea: The Jal Shakti Ministry is working on an ambitious plan to deploy a vast network of groundwater sensors to continuously relay information on groundwater levels and contamination.

    What is Groundwater?

    • Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock.
    • It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand and rocks called aquifers.
    • Aquifers are typically made up of gravel, sand, sandstone, or fractured rock, like limestone.
    • Water can move through these materials because they have large connected spaces that make them permeable.
    • Aquifers, hand-dug wells, and artesian wells are different types of sources of groundwater.

    Sensors-based Groundwater Monitoring

    • Under this new initiative, around 16,000-17,000 digital water level recorders will be connected to piezometers in the wells to transmit information digitally.
    • In the next three years, the CGWB aims to increase its network from the existing 26,000 to about 40,000.
    • When combined with similar networks possessed by other institutions, India will have about 67,000 digitally recordable units to monitor groundwater dynamics.

    Significance of the move

    • This would make groundwater visible much the same way as air quality and meteorological variables
    • The information will be publicly accessible.
    • It will potentially provide groundwater forecasts to farmers that would be useful for sowing and updated advisories that can influence groundwater extraction policies by states

    Why monitor groundwater?

    • Nitrate contamination – a result of the use of nitrogenous fertilizers – has been observed in some regions
    • Groundwater contamination, mostly “geogenic” (natural), hasn’t significantly changed over the years.
    • But nitrate contamination and fluoride and arsenic contamination have been observed in some regions and states.

    Present system of monitoring

    • The Central Groundwater Board currently relies on a network of about 26 thousand groundwater observation wells.
    • It requires technicians to manually measure the state of groundwater in a region.

    Groundwater Extraction in India

    • The total annual groundwater recharge in the country has been assessed as 437.60 billion cubic meters (BCM)
    • The annual extractable groundwater resource has been assessed as 398.08 bcm, with actual extraction of 239.16 bcm
    • The average stage of groundwater extraction for the country as a whole works out to be about 60.08%, and anything above 70% is considered “critical”

    Also read

    Groundwater Extraction Lowest in 18 years

     

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  • What is Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)?

    carbon

    The Indian government will be analyzing how the European Union’s (EU’s) proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) will affect the Indian industry. The CBAM is set to start from October this year.

    Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

    Proposed by European Union (EU)
    Purpose To reduce carbon emissions from imported goods and prevent competitive disadvantage against countries with weaker environmental regulations
    Objectives Reduce carbon emissions from imported goods

    Promote a level playing field between the EU and its trading partners

    Protect EU companies that have invested in green technologies

     

    How does CBAM work?

    Coverage Applies to imported goods that are carbon-intensive
    Integration Covered by the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), which currently covers industries like power generation, steel, and cement
    Implementation CBAM taxes would be imposed on the carbon content of imported goods at the border, and the tax rates would be based on the carbon price in the EU ETS
    Exemptions Possible exemptions for countries that have implemented comparable carbon pricing systems
    Revenue Use Revenue generated from CBAM taxes could be used to fund the EU’s climate objectives, such as financing climate-friendly investments and supporting developing countries’ climate efforts

     

    Who will be affected by CBAM?

    Details
    Countries Non-EU countries, including India, that export carbon-intensive goods to the EU
    Items Initially covers iron and steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, and electric energy production
    Expansion The scope of the CBAM may expand to other sectors in the future

    Advantages of CBAM

    • Encourages non-EU countries to adopt more stringent environmental regulations, reducing global carbon emissions.
    • Prevents carbon leakage by discouraging companies from relocating to countries with weaker environmental regulations.
    • Generates revenue that could be used to support EU climate policies.

    Challenges with CBAM

    • Difficulty in accurately measuring the carbon emissions of imported goods, especially for countries without comprehensive carbon accounting systems.
    • Potential for trade tensions with the EU’s trading partners, especially if other countries implement retaliatory measures.

    Conclusion

    • The CBAM is a proposed policy by the EU to reduce carbon emissions from imported goods and to promote a level playing field between the EU and its trading partners.
    • Although the CBAM has its challenges, it has the potential to incentivize non-EU countries to adopt more stringent environmental regulations and reduce global carbon emissions.

     

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  • First Census of Waterbodies in India

    water

    The Ministry of Jal Shakti has recently released the report of the first census of waterbodies in India.

    Waterbodies Census

    • It is the first ever process of conducting a comprehensive survey of all the waterbodies in a particular region or country.
    • The census aims to identify and classify different types of waterbodies like ponds, tanks, lakes, and reservoirs, among others.
    • The information can help in the development of strategies for their conservation and management.

    Major highlight: Definition of Waterbodies

    • The census defines a waterbody as a unit bounded on all sides that is used for storing water for various purposes.
    • These units can be either natural or man-made and may or may not have masonry work.
    • Waterbodies are used for a variety of purposes, such as irrigation, industrial use, pisciculture, domestic and drinking water supply, recreation, religious purposes, and groundwater recharge.
    • The report states that any structure that accumulates water from ice-melt, streams, springs, rain or drainage of water from residential or other areas or stores water by diversion from a stream, nala or river is also considered a waterbody.

    Key facts: Distribution of Waterbodies

    According to the report, India has 24.24 lakh water bodies like ponds, tanks, and lakes, with West Bengal having the highest number (7.47 lakh) and Sikkim having the least number (134).

    Waterbody Type Percentage of Total Waterbodies Number of Waterbodies
    Ponds 59.5% 14,42,993
    Tanks 15.7% 3,81,805
    Reservoirs 12.1% 2,92,280
    Water Conservation Schemes/Percolation Tanks/Check Dams 9.3% 2,26,217
    Lakes 0.9% 22,361
    Others 2.5% 58,884

     

    State-Wise Distribution of Waterbodies

    • The report highlights that West Bengal has the highest number of ponds and reservoirs, while Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of tanks.
    • Tamil Nadu has the highest number of lakes, and Maharashtra is the leading state with water conservation schemes.
    • South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal has been ranked as the top district having the highest (3.55 lakh) number of waterbodies across the country.

    Issues highlighted: Encroachment of Waterbodies

    • Total 1.6% of waterbodies reported to be encroached
    • 4% of encroached waterbodies in rural areas, 4.6% in urban areas
    • 8% of encroached waterbodies have less than 25% area under encroachment
    • 8% of waterbodies have more than 75% area under encroachment

    Conclusion

    • The census provides a comprehensive overview of the distribution of waterbodies in India, highlighting the states and districts with the highest number of waterbodies.
    • The data on encroachment of waterbodies can help in identifying areas where conservation efforts are needed to protect these valuable resources.

     

     

  • Assam- Arunachal Pradesh Border Dispute

    • assam

    Central idea

    • Ahave had a long-standing border dispute over 123 villages that are located in 12 districts of Arunachal and 8 districts of Assam.
    • On April 21, 2022, an MoU was signed between the two states to resolve the dispute.

    Genesis of the dispute

    • The border dispute between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam has around 1,200 points of conflict along their 804 km boundary, which began in the 1970s and intensified in the 1990s.
    • The issue goes back to 1873 when the British government introduced the inner-line permit, vaguely separating the plains from the frontier hills.
    • In 1954, the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) was formed, and 3,648 sq. km of the “plain” area of Balipara and Sadiya foothills was transferred to the Darrang and Lakhimpur districts of Assam based on the 1951 report.
    • Arunachal has been celebrating its statehood with an eye on China since 1987, and its people living in the transferred patches have been resentful, claiming that the transfer was done arbitrarily.
    • However, their counterparts in Assam say the 1951 demarcation is constitutional and legal.

    Past efforts to resolve the border issue

    • Several efforts were made in the past to resolve the border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
    • In 1979, a high-powered tripartite committee was constituted to delineate the boundary, and around 489 km of the 800 km were demarcated by 1983-84.
    • Further demarcation could not take place because Arunachal Pradesh did not accept the recommendations.
    • The apex court appointed a local boundary commission in 2006 to resolve the dispute. However, nothing came of it.

    Process leading up to the signing of the MoU

    • Assam CM and Arunachal CM commenced CM-level talks over the border issue on January 24, 2022.
    • In their second meeting on April 20, 2022, they made key decisions.
    • The border issues between both the states would be confined to a list of 123 villages which Arunachal Pradesh had claimed before the Local Commission in 2007.
    • A boundary line delineated by the high-powered tripartite committee in 1980 would be taken as the notified boundary, and all realignment would be done in relation to it.
    • Both states would set up 12 regional committees covering the 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and the 8 counterpart districts of Assam for joint verification of the 123 villages.

    Extent to which the issue has been resolved

    • The MoU has resolved the dispute over 34 villages.
    • The village boundaries of 49 of the remaining villages are unresolved.
    • The MoU states that in these, the Regional Committees will finalize the boundaries within a period of six months “through continuous dialogue.”

     

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