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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    Dictionary of Martyrs of India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)

    Prelims Only | | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

    Four martyrs of Communist movement of Kerala will be added to the ‘Dictionary of Martyrs India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)’, if an earlier review report to the Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) is accepted.

    Communist revolutionaries of Kerala

    • The four who may make it to the list include Aboobacker and Chirukandan of Kayyur, “who walked to the gallows shouting Inquilab Zindabad and Communist Party Zindabad” and “died as brave communists,” as mentioned in the fifth volume of the dictionary.
    • Abu of Mambram, a Communist and active partner in the nationalist and anti-imperialist movements, and Chattukutty, an active Communist cadre involved in the agitations for price control, wage hike, and relief to peasants, who were killed in the Tellichery police firing on September 15, 1940, would also qualify.
    • The report had suggested the deletion of the martyrs of Punnapra-Vayalar, Karivelloor, and Kavumbayi agitations as they were rioters against the interim government headed by Jawaharlal Nehru.

    Back2Basics: “Dictionary of Martyrs” Project

    • The project for the compilation of “Dictionary of Martyrs” of India’s Freedom Struggle was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, to the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the uprising of 1857.
    • In this dictionary, a martyr has been defined as a person who died or who was killed in action or in detention, or was awarded capital punishment while participating in the national movement for the emancipation of India.
    • It includes ex-INA or ex-military personnel who died fighting the British.
    • Information of about 13,500 martyrs has been recorded in these volumes.

    Who are included?

    • It includes the martyrs of 1857 Uprising, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919), Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34), Quit India Movement (1942-44), Revolutionary Movements (1915-34), Kissan Movements, Tribal Movements, Agitation for Responsible Government in the Princely States (Prajamandal), Indian National Army (INA, 1943-45), Royal Indian Navy Upsurge (RIN, 1946), etc.

    Five Volumes

    • Volume 1: In this volume, more than 4400 martyrs of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have been listed.
    • Volume 2: In this volume, more than 3500 martyrs of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir have been listed.
    • Volume 3: The number of martyrs covered in this volume is more than 1400. This volume covers the martyrs of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Sind.
    • Volume 4: The numbers of martyrs covered in this volume is more than 3300. This volume covers the martyrs of Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.
    • Volume 5: The number of martyrs covered in this volume is more than 1450. This volume covers the martyrs of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

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  • Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

    [pib] Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF 2.0)

    PIB | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 1: Important Geophysical Phenomena

    The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0.

    About CSCAF 2.0

    • A framework is a climate-sensitive approach to urban planning and development in India.
    • ​It was developed after a review of existing frameworks and assessment approaches adopted throughout the world.
    • It followed a series of an extensive consultative process with more than 26 organizations and 60 experts from different thematic areas.
    • The Climate Centre for Cities under National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is supporting MoHUA in implementation of CSCAF.

    Various indicators of the framework

    The framework has 28 indicators across five categories namely:

    1. Energy and Green Buildings
    2. Urban Planning, Green Cover & Biodiversity
    3. Mobility and Air Quality
    4. Water Management
    5. Waste Management

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  • Start-up Ecosystem In India

    [pib] Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems, 2019

    DOMRPIB | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

    The Results of the second edition of Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems were recently released by Minister of Commerce & Industry.

    About the Ranking

    • The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has conducted the second edition of the States Startup Ranking Exercise.
    • The key objective is to foster competitiveness and propel States and Union Territories to work proactively towards uplifting the startup ecosystem.
    • It has been implemented as a capacity development exercise to encourage mutual learning among all states and to provide support in policy formulation and implementation.

    7 focus areas

    1. Institutional Leaders
    2. Regulatory Change Champions
    3. Procurement Leaders
    4. Incubation Hubs
    5. Seeding Innovation Leaders
    6. Scaling Innovations Leaders
    7. Awareness and Outreach Champions

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  • Road and Highway Safety – National Road Safety Policy, Good Samaritans, etc.

    ‘Streets for People’ Challenge

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

    The Union Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the initiative ‘Streets for People’ for making cities more pedestrian-friendly.

    Streets for People

    • The Challenge builds on the advisory issued by MoHUA for the holistic planning for pedestrian-friendly market spaces, earlier this year.
    • It will support cities across the country to develop a unified vision of streets for people in consultation with stakeholders and citizens.
    • Adopting a participatory approach, cities will be guided to launch their own design competitions to gather innovative ideas from professionals for quick, innovative, and low-cost tactical solutions.
    • ​It aims to inspire cities to create walking-friendly and vibrant streets through quick, innovative, and low-cost measures.
    • All cities participating in the challenge shall be encouraged to use the ‘test-learn-scale’ approach to initiate both, flagship and neighbourhood walking interventions.
    • The interventions can include inter alia creating pedestrian-friendly streets in high footfall areas, re-imagining under-flyover spaces, re-vitalizing dead neighbourhood spaces, and creating walking links through parks and institutional areas.

    Various stakeholders

    • Fit India Mission, under Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, along with the India program of the Institute for Transport Development and Policy (ITDP) has partnered with the Smart Cities Mission to support the challenge.

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  • Goods and Services Tax (GST)

    The way out on GST compensation

    op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    The economic disruption due to pandemic has made the issue of GST compensation bone of contention between the Centre and the States. This article argues that it is the GST Council and not the Centre which is responsible to find ways to raise the revenue in such a situation.

    GST revenue loss and role of the Centre

    • Due to global pandemic, one significant area of loss of revenue to both the Centre and the states is GST.
    • The states have the comfort of assured 14 per cent growth through the compensation mechanism.
    • The Centre has no such guarantee.
    • The Compensation Act mandates compensating the states for revenue loss on GST implementation from the Compensation Fund.

    Role of GST Council

    • The course of action to be adopted in the event of the amount in the Fund falling short of requirements was discussed at length in the GST Council.
    • The late Arun Jaitley, then chairman, had, in the 8th meeting, assured that “in case Compensation Fund fell short of the compensation payable, the GST Council shall decide the mode of raising additional resources including borrowing from the market which could be repaid by collection of cess in the sixth year or further subsequent years”; the Council had agreed to this suggestion.
    • Quite clearly,  it is the Council and not the Government of India that shall decide the mode of raising additional resources in the event of a shortfall and this is reflected in Section 10(1) of the Compensation Act.

    Why it makes sense for the States to borrow

    • It is argued that borrowings by the Centre or by the states make no difference in the context of fiscal discipline.
    • The argument further adds that the Centre should borrow in view of its higher borrowing and debt-servicing capacity and its ability to borrow at lower rates.
    • Article 292 (1) mandates that the Centre can borrow on the security of the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI).
    • However, the idea of providing compensation to the states from the Consolidated Fund of India was not agreed to in the Council, it is difficult to agree with the suggestion that GoI borrows on the basis of the said CFI.
    • Large borrowings by the Centre would push up the bond yield rates, pushing up bond yield of the states setting off a spiral leading to hike in the interest rates for businesses and individuals.
    • The states’ borrowing would become costlier if the Centre were to borrow for this purpose.
    • The borrowing capacity of the states, too, is not very inferior.
    • The RBI study of state finances shows that the debt receipts of all the states as a percentage of GDP has hovered between 2.4 per cent and 3.6 per cent during the last four years.
    • The states have on the average borrowed just about 1.25 per cent of the GSDP thus far.
    • The states are consistently borrowing less than they can borrow (legally and financially).
    • The cost of state borrowings for this purpose can be considerably lowered if arranged through a special window.
    • The Centre has already breached the budgeted borrowing limits for the current year.
    • Thus it makes sense for the states to borrow.

    Borrowing options for the States

    • There are two ways in which the States can borrow.
    • 1) Borrowing the entire shortfall in the revenue.
    • 2) Borrowing only the shortfall attributable to GST implementation with the remaining shortfall to be made good from the Cess Fund post the transition period.
    • Certain conditionalities have been relaxed for option-1.
    • However, borrowing the entire shortfall, as envisaged in option-1, will hurt both the markets and the private sector, pushing up the interest rate.
    • The single window under option-1 being arranged by the Centre and the entire debt being serviced from future cess receipts will ensure that the cost remains close to the G-sec rate.
    • Moreover, there will be no variation in the interest rate as between the states.

    Conclusion

    The states should come forward and work with the Centre in the true spirit of cooperative federalism that the Council has come to be known for these past few years.

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  • Electoral Reforms In India

    Exploring the idea of blockchain voting

    op-ed snap | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    The article analyses the pros and cons of the adoption of blockchain technology for remote voting.

    Background

    • The Election Commission of India has been exploring the idea of further digitising the electoral infrastructure of the country.
    • In furtherance of this, it explored the possibility of using blockchain technology for the purpose of enabling remote elections.

    What will be the benefits

    • ‘Remote voting’ would appear to benefit internal migrants and seasonal workers, who account for roughly 51 million of the populace (Census 2011).
    • The envisioned solution might also be useful for some remotely-stationed members of the Indian armed forces.

    Key issues

    • Electors would still have to physically reach a designated venue in order to cast their vote,
    • Digitisation and interconnectivity introduce additional points of failure external to the processes which exist in the present day.
    • Blockchain solutions rely heavily on the proper implementation of cryptographic protocols.
    • If security is breached, it could unmask the identity and voting preferences of electors, or worse yet, allow an individual to cast a vote as someone else.
    • The provisioning of a dedicated line may make the infrastructure less prone to outages, it may also make it increasingly prone to targeted Denial-of-Service attack.
    • Digitised systems may also stand to exclude and disenfranchise certain individuals due to flaws in interdependent platforms, flaws in system design, as well as general failures caused by external factors.

    Way forward

    • Political engagement could perhaps be improved by introducing and improving upon other methods, such as postal ballots or proxy voting.
    • Another proposed solution to this issue includes the creation of a ‘One Nation, One Voter ID’ system.

    Consider the question “What are the opportunities and challenges in the adoption of blockchain technology. Suggest the other alternatives to enable the ballot portability.”

    Conclusion

    Adoption of technology should be weighed against the risk it carries in the electoral process. While the adoption of blockchain technology offers many opportunities, the concerns it raises must be addressed before its adoption.

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Global Biodiversity Outlook-5 Report

    IOCR | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    The Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) 5 report was leaked before its official release. Let’s look at the highlights of the report.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Consider the following pairs:

    Terms sometimes seen in the news- Their origin

    1. Annex-I Countries- Cartagena Protocol
    2. Certified Emissions- Nagoya Protocol Reductions
    3. Clean Development- Kyoto Protocol Mechanism

    Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    About GBO report

    • The GBO is the flagship publication of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
    • It is a periodic report that summarizes the latest data on the status and trends of biodiversity and draws conclusions relevant to the further implementation of the Convention.
    • It summarizes progress made towards achieving the objectives of the Convention, such as the Aichi Targets and identifies key actions to achieve these.

    Highlights of the Report

    • GBO-5 is an overview of the state of nature. It is a final report card on the progress made by countries in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
    • What the world needed was a shift from business-as-usual, the report said. This transformation needed to take place in all human activities that were interlinked with natural resources.
    • This shift was crucial, the report added as natural resources would continue to decline and the world would not be able to meet the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals.
    • The GBO-5 suggested some shifts that need to be implemented to achieve the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity. These include:
    1. Transition within land and forests: The report called the restoration of all forests that had been degraded. It also urged restoring local ecosystems.
    2. Sustainable agriculture: Farmers would have to reduce the use of chemicals and instead focus more on agroecological farming practices, the report said.
    3. Sustainable food systems: The report urged people to eat healthier, plant-based food and less meat. It also called for a focus on the problem of food wastage within the supply chain and household.
    4. Climate action: The report called for nature-based solutions to reduce climate change
    5. One health: Agricultural and urban ecosystems, as well as wildlife, should be managed in an integrated manner, it said.

    Failure to meet the targets

    None of the 20 ‘Aichi Biodiversity Targets’ agreed on by national governments through the CBD has been met, according to the report. The world was supposed to meet these targets by 2020. Whatever little progress has been made, has to do with the following:

    • Aichi Biodiversity Target 1 (Creating awareness about the value of biodiversity)
    • Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 (17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, to be effectively and equitably managed)
    • Aichi Biodiversity Target 16 (Access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization)
    • Aichi Biodiversity Target 17 (Creation, adoption and implementation of an effective, participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and action plan)
    • Aichi Biodiversity Target 19 (Improvement and dissemination of knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity).

    Back2Basics: Convention on Biological Diversity

    • The CBD, known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty.
    • The Convention has three main goals including the conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.
    • It has two supplementary agreements:
    1. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety- An international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another
    2. Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS)
    • All UN member states—with the exception of the United States—have ratified the treaty.

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  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    What constitutes a breach of the legislature’s privilege?

    | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Parliament & State Legislatures

    A motion for breach of privilege was moved in the Maharashtra Assembly against a news channel’s editor-in-chief. A similar motion was moved in the Maharashtra Legislative Council against an actor.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws etc. conferred by the constitution of delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation?

    (a) Committee on Government Assurances

    (b) Committee on Subordinate Legislation

    (c) Rules Committee

    (d) Business Advisory Committee

    Provisions to protect the privileges of the legislature

    • The powers, privileges and immunities of either House of the Indian Parliament and of its Members and committees are laid down in Article 105 of the Constitution.
    • Article 194 deals with the powers, privileges and immunities of the State Legislatures, their Members and their committees.
    • Parliamentary privilege refers to the right and immunity enjoyed by legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made in the course of their legislative duties.

    What constitutes a breach of this privilege?

    • While the Constitution has accorded special privileges and powers to parliamentarians and legislators to maintain the dignity and authority of the Houses, these powers and privileges are not codified.
    • Thus, there are no clear, notified rules to decide what constitutes a breach of privilege, and the punishment it attracts.
    • Any act that obstructs or impedes either House of the state legislature in performing its functions, or which obstructs or impedes any Member or Officer of such House in the discharge of his duty, or has a tendency, directly or indirectly, to produce such results is treated as a breach of privilege.
    • It is a breach of privilege and contempt to print or publish libel reflecting on the character or proceedings of the House or its Committees or on any member of the House for or relating to his character or conduct as a legislator.

    Procedure followed in cases of an alleged breach

    • The Legislative Assembly Speaker or Legislative Council Chairman constitutes a Privileges Committee consisting of 15 members in the Assembly and 11 members in the Council.
    • The members to the committee which has quasi-judicial powers are nominated based on the party strength in the Houses.
    • The Speaker or Chairman first decides on the motions.
    • If the privilege and contempt are found prima facie, then the Speaker or Chairman will forward it to the Privileges Committee by following the due procedure.
    • At present, there is no Privileges Committee in either House of the state legislature.
    • The Committee will seek an explanation from all the concerned, will conduct an inquiry and will make a recommendation based on the findings to the state legislature for its consideration.

    What is the punishment for this?

    • If the Committee finds the offender guilty of breach of privilege and contempt, it can recommend the punishment.
    • The punishment can include communicating the displeasure of the state legislature to the offender, summoning the offender before the House and giving a warning, and even sending the offender to jail.
    • In the case of the media, press facilities of the state legislature may be withdrawn, and a public apology may be sought.

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  • NGOs vs. GoI: The Conflicts and Scrutinies

    Registration under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)

    | Economics | Mains Paper 3: External State & Non-State Actors: Challenges To Internal Security.

    The Union Home Ministry has granted FCRA registration to the famous Gurdwara Harmandir Sahib, or the Golden Temple, in Amritsar, enabling it to receive foreign donations.

    Foreign Contribution Regulation Act

    • The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 is an act to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by certain individuals or associations or companies
    • It prohibits acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for any activities detrimental to the national interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto
    • The central government has the power to prohibit any persons or organizations from accepting foreign contribution or hospitality if it is determined that such acceptance would likely “affect prejudicially”

    (i) the sovereignty and integrity of India,

    (ii) public interest,

    (iii) freedom or fairness of election to any legislature,

    (iv) friendly relations with any foreign State, or

    (v) harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic or regional groups, castes or communities

    Premise for the FCRA

    • Government of India enacted the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) in the year 1976 with an objective of regulating the acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution.
    • Any association, non-government organisation (NGO) or registered society requires FCRA registration to receive foreign donations for specified purposes.
    • The act was majorly modified in 2010 with several amendments because many NGOs were found using illegal use of foreign funding.

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  • Port Infrastructure and Shipping Industry – Sagarmala Project, SDC, CEZ, etc.

    What are SAROD-Ports?

    PIB | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    Union Ministry of Shipping has e-launched ‘SAROD-Ports’ (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes – Ports).

    Try this MCQ:

    Q.The term SAROD is sometimes seen in the news with context to governance is related to:

    (a) Disputes Redressal

    (b) Employment

    (c) Sustainable Development

    (d) None of the above

    SAROD Ports

    SAROD-Ports are established under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 with the following objectives:

    1. Affordable and timely resolution of disputes in a fair manner
    2. Enrichment of Dispute Resolution Mechanism with the panel of technical experts as arbitrators.
    • They consist of members from the Indian Ports Association (IPA) and Indian Private Ports and Terminals Association (IPTTA).
    • They will advise and assist in settlement of disputes through arbitrations in the maritime sector, including ports and shipping sector in Major Port Trusts, Non-major Ports, including private ports, jetties, terminals and harbours.
    • It will also cover disputes between granting authority and Licensee/Concessionaire /Contractor.

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