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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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  • Rural Distress, Farmer Suicides, Drought Measures

    [pib] Five Star Village Scheme

    PIBSchemes | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    The Department of Posts has launched a scheme called Five Star Villages, to ensure universal coverage of flagship postal schemes in rural areas of the country.

    The Five Star Villages Scheme sounds typically among the most commons types say, Swachh Bharat, Financial Inclusion and Literacy or Infrastructure amenities. Here is the caution for preventing a blunder.

    Five Star Villages Scheme

    • The scheme seeks to bridge the gaps in public awareness and reach of postal products and services, especially in interior villages.
    • The initiatives covered under the scheme include:
    1. Savings Bank accounts, Recurrent Deposit Accounts, NSC / KVP certificates,
    2. Sukanya Samridhi Accounts/ PPF Accounts,
    3. Funded Post Office Savings Account linked India Post Payments Bank Accounts,
    4. Postal Life Insurance Policy/Rural Postal Life Insurance Policy and
    5. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana Account / Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana Account.
    • If a village attains universal coverage for four schemes from the above list, then that village gets four-star status; if a village completes three schemes, then that village gets three-star status and so on.

    Its implementation

    • The scheme will be implemented by a team of five Gramin Dak Sevaks who will be assigned a village for the marketing of all products, savings and insurance schemes of the Department of Posts.
    • This team will be headed by the Branch Post Master of the concerned Branch Office. Mail overseer will keep personal watch on the progress of the team on daily basis.
    • The teams will be led and monitored by concerned Divisional Head, Assistant Superintendents Posts and Inspector Posts.

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    US Presidents who have won Nobel Peace Prize

    Prelims Only | Trivia | Mains Paper 1:

    A Norwegian legislator has nominated US President Donald Trump for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts towards furthering peace in the Middle East.

    Take a look at the Presidents and Vice-Presidents who have won the Nobel Peace Prize:

    These trivial facts are too unlikely to be asked in the CS prelims, but may hold importance for CAPF and other exams.

     (1) Theodore Roosevelt (1906)

    • Roosevelt, the 26th occupant of the White House (1901-09), was not only the first American president but also the world’s first statesman to win the honour, five years after the Peace Prize was instituted in 1901.
    • He was given the prize for negotiating peace between imperial Russia and Japan after the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05.
    • He was also praised for his efforts in resolving a dispute between the US and Mexico through arbitration, and for extending the use of arbitration as a means for settling international disputes.
    • At home, Roosevelt launched radical social and economic reform policies and earned a reputation as a “trust buster” for breaking up monopolies.

    (2) Woodrow Wilson (1919)

    • Wilson (1913-21) was given the award for his efforts in ending World War I, and for being the key architect of the League of Nations– born out of his famous ‘Fourteen Points’.
    • Although the League faltered in a few years, it served as a blueprint for the United Nations after World War II.
    • At home, Wilson saw the reduction of import duties, started America’s central bank and a national business oversight body, and strengthened anti-monopoly and labour laws.
    • In his second term, the US passed its 19th constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote.

    (3) Jimmy Carter (2002)

    • The 39th President was awarded the Peace Prize “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development”.
    • During his presidency (1977-81), Carter earned praise for his role in bringing about a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.
    • His later years were more fraught, including foreign policy failures such as the conflict with Iran and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, culminating in him losing re-election to the conservative Ronald Reagan in 1980.
    • Post his presidency, Carter pursued peace and mediation efforts independently and co-founded the Carter Center, a non-profit that chiefly works to advance human rights.

    (4) Barack Obama (2009)

    • The country’s 44th President (2009-2017) was given the Nobel Peace Prize “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”.
    • Cited among Obama’s achievements were his promotion of nuclear non-proliferation, and bringing a “new climate” in international relations.
    • Obama donated the full prize money – 10 million Swedish kronor (around $1.4 million) – to charity.

    (5) Al Gore (1993-2001)

    • Apart from the four Presidents, one Vice President– Al Gore (1993-2001) – has been given the Nobel Peace Prize.
    • He shared the honour in 2007 with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for their joint efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change.

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  • Defence Sector – DPP, Missions, Schemes, Security Forces, etc.

    Rethinking the defence doctrine

    | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Border Area Security Challenges

    Indian Army’s prevailing doctrine

    • The Army’s prevailing doctrine is designed to deter and defend against major conventional invasions.
    • This determines how the Army is organised, what equipment it operates, and where it is deployed.
    • The Army expects to win wars by launching its own punitive offensives after an enemy attack, to either destroy enemy forces or seize enemy land.
    • The Army expected that any Chinese bid to capture Indian territory would come as a major conventional invasion.

    Miscalculation about Chinese intentions

    • Chinese army crossed the LAC in several places nearly simultaneously, and in larger numbers than usual.
    • Still, the Indian Army probably expected the stand-off would repeat the pattern of years past: China would make its point with a temporary transgression and retreat after talks.
    • But China has no interest in launching a major conventional invasion, but this is not just a typical probe either.
    • China’s quick land grab looks increasingly permanent, like an attempt to change the border without triggering war.

    How to address such security threat

    • Addressing this type of security threat requires preventing, not reversing, such fait accompli land grabs.
    • This requires a fundamental shift in the Army’s doctrinal thinking.
    • This fundamental shift involves strategies revolving around punishing the adversary, to strategies that prevent its adventurism in the first place.

    Way forward

    • Surveillance: Doctrinal change involves a greater investment in persistent wide-area surveillance to detect and track adversary moves, devolved command authority to respond to enemy aggression.
    • Rehearsed procedures: It would also involve rehearsed procedures for an immediate local response without higher commanders’ approval.
    • Detection: The military must be able to detect adversary action and react quickly, even pre-emptively, to stop attempted aggression from becoming a fait accompli.
    • Delegation of power: In peacetime, local commanders must have the authority and to take anticipatory action.
    • The late-August incident at Chushul demonstrates how this can and should work.

    Conclusion

    The challenge for India is to learn the right lessons and be alert to similar tactics in other regions, like the Indian Ocean. It must not rely on doctrines forged in wars half a century ago.

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  • Agricultural Sector and Marketing Reforms – eNAM, Model APMC Act, Eco Survey Reco, etc.

    Redefining a farmer

    op-ed snap | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Transport & Marketing Of Agricultural Produce

    The article analyses the issues of multiple definitions of a farmer. The issues of ownership as a criterion for being a farmer and its impact on tenant farmers in discussed.

    Is land ownership right criterion

    • Traditionally, land ownership is a mandatory criterion for availing benefits under various agricultural schemes in India.
    • Laws governing land leasing operate at different levels across India.
    • The Model Agricultural Land Leasing Act, 2016 was introduced to formalise land leasing.
    • However, except a few States, a majority of State governments have not extended the scope of the Act to farmers.
    • According to the 2015-16 agricultural census, about 2.65 million operational holdings are either partially or wholly leased.

    How this impact tenants

    • The impact of agrarian distress is felt disproportionately by tenant farmers.
    • The tenant farmer incurs the costs and faces the risks, while the owner receives the rent, subsidies and other support.
    • The lessees do not benefit from loan waivers, moratorium and institutional credit, and are forced to be at the mercy of moneylenders.
    • The distress is reflected in the fact that tenant farmers account for a majority of farmer suicides reported in the NCRB data.

    Multiple definitions of farmers

    • There are multiple definitions for a ‘farmer’ in official data published by the Government of India.
    • The population census defines ‘cultivators’ as a person engaged in cultivation of land either ‘owned’ or held in kind or share.
    • The 59th round of the Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of farmers also stresses on ‘possession of land’ either owned or leased or otherwise possessed for defining ‘farmers’.
    • Delinking of land as the defining criterion for a ‘farmer’ was done in the 70th round of SAS carried out by the NSSO.
    • The 70th Round of NSSO refined the definition of a farmer as one who earns a major part of the income from farming. 

    Conclusion

    Access to land as a policy instrument in bringing about equitable growth of rural economies needs no further emphasis. However, until the time ‘land to the tiller’ remains just wishful thinking, adopting a broader definition of a ‘farmer’ is a short-term solution to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth.

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  • Seeds, Pesticides and Mechanization – HYV, Indian Seed Congress, etc.

    Analysing the impact of Bt cotton

    op-ed snap | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields,Major Crops & Cropping Patterns

    After almost 20 years of adoption of Bt cotton in India, its time to review the claimed benefits of the Bt.

    Hybrid cotton seeds and issues

    • Until the 20th century the indigenous ‘desi’ variety, Gossypium arboreum was used.
    • From the 1990s, hybrid varieties of G. hirsutum were promoted.
    • These hybrids cannot resist a variety of local pests and require more fertilizers and pesticides.
    • Cotton suffers from plenty of infestation from moth pests such as the Pink Bollworm (PBW) and sap-sucking (Hemipteran) pests such as aphids and mealy bugs.
    • With increasing pressure to buy hybrid seeds, the indigenous varieties have lost out over the years.

    Resistant pests and introduction of Bt cotton

    • The increasing use of synthetic man-made pesticides to control pests and the rising acreage under the American long-duration cotton led to the emergence of resistant pests.
    • Resistant Pink and even American Bollworm (ABW), a minor pest in the past, began increasing, leading to a growing use of a variety of pesticides.
    • Rising debts and reducing yields, coupled with increasing insect resistance, worsened the plight of cotton farmers.
    • It was in this setting that Bt cotton was introduced in India in 2002.

    What is Bt cotton

    • The plant containing the pesticide gene from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), has been grown in India for about twenty years.
    • This pesticide, now produced in each Bt plant cell, ought to protect the plant from bollworm, thereby increasing yields and reducing insecticide spraying on the cotton plant.

    Review of the utility of Bt cotton

    • Review  was published in the scientific journal Nature Plants, analysing the entire picture of the use of Bt cotton in India.
    • Earlier studies had attributed to Bt the tripling of cotton yield between 2002-2014 in India.
    • However, one detail that raises concerns over such a conclusion was that yield differences between farmers who were the early adopters of Bt cotton and those who were not suffered from selection bias.
    • Controlling for such bias showed (in 2012) that the contribution of Bt cotton to yield increase was only about 4% each year.
    • Since yields vary annually by over 10%, the benefits claimed were dubious.
    • There are discrepancies between yield and the deployment of Bt cotton.
    • For instance, the Bt acreage was only 3.4% of the total cotton area in 2003, not sufficient to credit it for the 61% increase in yield in 2003-2004.
    • The rise in cotton yields can be explained by improvements in irrigation, for instance in Gujarat, and a dramatic growth across the country in the use of fertilizers.
    • The PBW developed a resistance by 2009 in India. In a few years, the situation was dreadful.
    • A technology that works in the lab may fail in fields since real-world success hinges on multiple factors.

    Way forward

    • The cost of ignoring ‘desi’ varieties for decades has been high for India.
    • Research suggests that with pure-line cotton varieties, high density planting, and short season plants, cotton yields in India can be good and stand a better chance at withstanding the vagaries of climate change.
    •  But government backing for resources, infrastructure and seeds is essential.

    Conclusion

    It is time to pay attention to science and acknowledge that Bt cotton has failed in India, and not enter into further misadventures with other Bt crops such as brinjal or herbicide resistance.

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