Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Rare Diseases
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: The Centre has exempted all drugs and food for special medical purposes, imported for personal use, for the treatment of rare diseases listed under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 from basic customs duty.
What are Rare Diseases?
- Rare diseases are those medical conditions that affect a small percentage of the population.
- In India, a disease is considered rare if it affects less than 1 in 2,000 people.
- These diseases are often genetic and are chronic, degenerative, and life-threatening.
- There are over 7,000 known rare diseases, and it is estimated that about 70 million people in India are affected by them.
- Many of these diseases do not have a cure, and the treatment can be expensive and difficult to access.
Need for duty exemption
- This decision has been taken to help reduce the burden of the cost of treatment for patients and families.
- The drugs and food required for the treatment of these rare diseases are often expensive and need to be imported.
- This exemption will result in substantial cost savings and provide much-needed relief to patients with rare diseases.
Key medicines under this exemption
- The central government has fully exempted Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), a drug used in the treatment of various types of cancer, from basic customs duty.
- Previously, the GST rate for Keytruda was cut to 5 per cent from 12 per cent in a meeting held in September 2021 by the GST Council.
- Life-saving drugs Zolgensma and Viltepso used in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy were exempted from GST when imported for personal use.
How the new duty exemption works?
- The exemption has been granted by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) by substituting “Drugs, Medicines or Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP)” instead of “drugs or medicines”.
- To avail of this exemption, the individual importer has to produce a certificate from the central or state director health services or district medical officer/civil surgeon of the district.
How are life-saving medicines taxed?
- Drugs/medicines generally attract basic customs duty of 10 per cent, while some categories of lifesaving drugs/vaccines attract a concessional rate of 5 per cent or nil.
- In its meeting in September 2021, the GST Council had reduced tax rates for several life-saving drugs.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: TPDS Schemes, SMART-PDS
Mains level: TPDS, Challenges and Initiatives
Central Idea
- India’s National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) governs the largest beneficiary-centric program, the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), providing food security to 81.35 crore persons every month. The government is now implementing the Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART-PDS). This initiative generates vast amounts of data, which can be leveraged to improve the delivery of other central schemes and welfare programs.
Existing challenges for TPDS
- Leakage and diversion of food grains: One of the most pressing issues in the TPDS is the leakage and diversion of food grains meant for beneficiaries, leading to corruption and losses in the system. This problem is primarily due to poor monitoring, lack of transparency, and weak enforcement mechanisms.
- Inaccurate targeting of beneficiaries: The TPDS often suffers from errors in identifying eligible beneficiaries, resulting in the exclusion of deserving households and the inclusion of ineligible ones. This misidentification can be attributed to outdated data, lack of verification mechanisms, and manipulation of records.
- Inefficient supply chain management: TPDS faces logistical challenges in transporting, storing, and distributing food grains across the vast country. Inadequate storage facilities, poor transportation infrastructure, and delays in procurement and distribution contribute to wastage and inefficiencies in the system.
- Limited portability of benefits: Until recently, the TPDS lacked portability, which meant that beneficiaries could only access their food grains from designated Fair Price Shops (FPS) in their home states. This restriction made it difficult for migrant workers and their families to access their entitled benefits.
- Lack of transparency and accountability: Corruption, fraud, and manipulation of records are pervasive issues in the TPDS, partly due to the lack of transparency and accountability in the system. The absence of real-time monitoring and the reliance on manual record-keeping exacerbate these problems.
- Technological constraints: Many states and union territories in India face technological constraints in implementing IT-based solutions for TPDS operations. Limited access to IT hardware, software, and technical manpower can hinder the adoption of technology-driven reforms, such as electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices and biometric authentication systems
- SMART-PDS (Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System) is an initiative by the Indian government aimed at improving the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the country’s Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
The key objectives of the SMART-PDS initiative
- Preventing leakage of food grains: By leveraging technology, SMART-PDS aims to reduce diversion and pilferage of food grains, ensuring that the intended beneficiaries receive their due share of food subsidies.
- Enhancing efficiency in the distribution chain: The initiative focuses on streamlining the supply chain from procurement to distribution by incorporating technology-driven solutions, such as electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices, real-time monitoring, and tracking systems.
- Data-driven decision-making: Data Analytics on the TPDS ecosystem generates critical information about beneficiaries, food security needs, and migration patterns, addressing the long-standing challenge of credible and dynamic data for efficient delivery of central welfare schemes to vulnerable sections of society.
- Convergence and integration with AI: The national leadership’s push for trans-ministerial convergence and AI integration can be a game-changer for both people and governments, bringing accountability across all programs.
- Technology-led PDS reforms: The Centre plans to use data analytics, BI platforms, and ICT tools to standardize PDS operations through technology integration with FCI, CWC, transport supply chain, Ministry of Education, Women and Child Development, and UIDAI. This is expected to overcome state-level technological limitations in PDS operations and institutionalize an integrated central system for all PDS-related operations across states/UTs.
- Aadhaar authentication and ePoS devices: With 100% digitization of ration cards and the installation of ePoS devices, nearly 93% of the total monthly allocated foodgrains are distributed through Aadhaar authentication mode.
Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS)
- The government has launched the IM-PDS to implement One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC), create a national-level data repository, and integrate data infrastructure/systems across ration card management, foodgrain supply chain, and FPS automation.
- The ONORC plan has recorded over 100 crore portability transactions since its inception in 2019.
SMART-PDS benefits beyond ration distribution
- The data generated by SMART-PDS has become a tool for central ministries and state governments, benefiting initiatives like e-Shram Portal, Ayushman Bharat, and PM-SVANidhi Yojana.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW) plans to use ONORC/ration card data to map beneficiaries, and seamless tracking of nutrition from ICDS centers to PM Poshan will become a reality with Aadhaar numbers for the newly born.
Conclusion
- The transformative potential of SMART-PDS goes beyond food security, enabling data-driven decision-making, convergence, and integration with AI for improved delivery of central schemes and welfare programs across India.
Mains Question
Q. Despite several efforts taken by the government the Targeted Public Distribution System still faces various challenges. In this backdrop discuss the new initiative of SMART-PDS and its key features
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: PV Waste composition
Mains level: Electronic waste in India
Central idea: India is rapidly expanding its solar photovoltaic (PV) sector, but effective waste management strategies for this sector are still lacking. This article explores the challenges and gaps in solar PV waste management in India.
Solar PV Waste in India
- India has the world’s fourth-highest solar PV deployment, and the installed solar capacity was nearly 62 GW in November 2022.
- A 2016 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that India could generate 50,000-3,25,000 tonnes of PV waste by 2030 and more than four million tonnes by 2050.
- India’s solar PV installations are dominated by crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology, which mainly consists of a glass sheet, an aluminium frame, an encapsulant, a backsheet, copper wires, and silicon wafers.
- A typical PV panel is made of c-Si modules (93%) and cadmium telluride thin-film modules (7%).
Hazards posed by PV waste
Some of the hazards of solar PV waste are:
- Environmental pollution: The accumulation of solar PV waste in landfills can lead to environmental pollution, as the waste contains hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium, and other toxic chemicals. Incinerating the encapsulate also releases sulphur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, and hydrogen cyanide into the atmosphere.
- Health hazards: Improper handling and disposal of solar PV waste can lead to health hazards for workers and people living near the waste disposal sites. The toxic chemicals in the waste can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other health issues.
Economy behind PV waste
- Financial losses: Improper management of solar PV waste can lead to financial losses for the companies involved in waste collection and treatment. The lack of suitable incentives and schemes in which businesses can invest leads to a small market for repurposing or reusing recycled PV waste in India.
- Resource depletion: The disposal of solar PV waste leads to the loss of valuable resources such as silicon, silver, and other critical materials, which can lead to resource depletion.
Recovery and Recycling of PV Waste
- As PV panels near expiration, some portions of the frame are extracted and sold as scrap; junctions and cables are recycled according to e-waste guidelines; the glass laminate is partly recycled, and the rest is disposed of as general waste.
- Silicon and silver can be extracted by burning the module in cement furnaces.
- According to a 2021 report, approximately 50% of the total materials can be recovered.
Challenges particular to India
- India faces challenges in the collection, storage, recycling, and repurposing of PV waste.
- Only about 20% of the waste is recovered in general, and the rest is treated informally, leading to pollution of the surroundings.
- Gaps in PV Waste Management-
- Generalized as e-waste: The clubbing of PV waste with other e-waste could lead to confusion, and there is a need for specific provisions for PV waste treatment within the ambit of e-waste guidelines.
- Hazards are ignored: PV waste is classified as hazardous waste in India, and there is a need for pan-India sensitisation drives and awareness programmes on PV waste management.
Why does India need to act now?
- Considering the rate at which these panels are being installed around the country, India is expected to generate an enormous amount of waste over the next 20 years.
- India is expected to become one of the top five leading photovoltaic waste producers worldwide by 2050.
- Therefore, India needs to install clear policy directives, well-established recycling strategies, and greater collaboration, so that it doesn’t find itself caught unprepared against a new problem in the future.
Key recommendations
Policymakers should:
- Introduce a ban on dumping of waste modules by different entities in the landfills.
- Formulate a dedicated PV module waste management regulation.
- Introduce incentives like green certificates to provide a level-playing field and encourage recycling and mineral recovery by the industry.
Industries should:
- Improve the PV module design to minimise the waste at the disposal stage. This can include sustainable design with reduced use of toxic minerals or adopting a ‘design to disassemble’ approach.
- Invest in the second-life use of sub-standard modules to delay waste creation.
- Collaborate with research institutes to develop recycling techniques and support pilot demonstrations.
- Conceptualise new business models to manage and finance the waste disposal.
Way forward
- India needs to pay more attention to domestic R&D efforts as depending on a single module type will dis-uniformly deplete certain natural resources.
- It is important to boost capacity for recycling and recover critical materials.
- This can be achieved by-
- Formulating specific provisions for PV waste treatment,
- Pan-India sensitisation drives, and awareness programmes,
- Promoting domestic R&D efforts, and
- Providing appropriate infrastructure facilities and adequate funding.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SCO
Mains level: Expansion of SCO, Saudi distancing itself from West
Saudi Arabia’s cabinet decided to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as Riyadh builds a long-term partnership with China despite US security concerns.
What is SCO?
- The SCO is primarily a geopolitical and security organisation with limited infrastructures to pursue economic integration.
- The group accounts for about one-third of the world’s land and exports trillions of dollars annually.
- It is governed by consensus, which limits the scope of major cooperation between its member states.
- It also functions more as a venue for discussion and engagement where high-level dignitaries from across the region can gather to confer, rather than an alliance like the EU, whose members have a common currency, or NATO.
Its establishment
- The SCO was founded in June 2001 by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia and China.
- The genesis of the grouping can be traced back to the post-soviet era in 1996 when these countries, termed ‘Shanghai Five’, came together
- Earlier, it focused on regional security to work on regional security, reduction of border troops, and terrorism.
- Its particular focus has been on “conflict resolution”, which provided early successes between China and Russia, and then within the Central Asian Republics.
Structure of SCO
- The organisation has two permanent bodies —
- SCO Secretariat based in Beijing and
- Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent.
- The SCO Secretary-General and the Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO RATS are appointed by the Council of Heads of State for a term of three years.
- But the venue of the SCO council meetings shifts between the eight members (including India and Pakistan).
Members of SCO
- Apart from the above-mentioned countries— Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia and China.
- India and Pakistan are also members of this organisation, both included in 2017.
- The SCO also has four observer states — Afghanistan, Belarus , Iran and Mongolia — which may be inducted at a later date.
- And “Dialogue Partners” —Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey Egypt, Qatar as well as Saudi Arabia.
Main goals
The main goals of the SCO, as adopted in its Charter in St. Petersburg in 2002, is:
- Strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states;
- Promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, economy, research and technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas;
- Making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and
- Moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.”
Why did Saudi Arabia join SCO?
- Saudi Arabia could benefit in several ways, such as increased trade and economic cooperation with member states, particularly with China and Russia.
- It could also gain a stronger voice in regional security issues and access to the SCO’s anti-terrorism framework.
- Additionally, Saudi Arabia could help the organization expand its influence in the Middle East and increase its strategic weight in global affairs.
- This is definitely a result of straining its ties with Washington.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Model Code of Conduct
Mains level: Assembly elections
The Election Commission of India announced the date for Karnataka Assembly elections. Hence the model code of conduct comes into the picture.
Model Code of Conduct
- It is a set of guidelines issued by ECI to regulate political parties and candidates before elections.
- The rules range from issues related to speeches, polling day, polling booths, portfolios, content of election manifestos, processions and general conduct so that free and fair elections are conducted.
When does it come into effect?
- According to the PIB, a version of the MCC was first introduced in the state assembly elections in Kerala in 1960.
- It was largely followed by all parties in the 1962 elections and continued to be followed in subsequent general elections.
- In October 1979, the EC added a section to regulate the ‘party in power’ and prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage at the time of elections.
- The MCC comes into force from the date the election schedule is announced until the date that results are out.
Restrictions imposed under MCC
The MCC contains eight provisions dealing with general conduct, meetings, processions, polling day, polling booths, observers, the party in power, and election manifestos.
For Governments
- As soon as the code kicks in, the party in power whether at the Centre or in the States should ensure that it does not use its official position for campaigning.
- Hence, no policy, project or scheme can be announced that can influence the voting behaviour.
- The code also states that the ministers must not combine official visits with election work or use official machinery for the same.
- The ruling government cannot make any ad-hoc appointments in Government, Public Undertakings etc. which may influence the voters.
- Political parties or candidates can be criticised based only on their work record and no caste and communal sentiments can be used to lure voters.
For Political Parties
- The party must also avoid advertising at the cost of the public exchequer or using official mass media for publicity on achievements to improve chances of victory in the elections.
- The ruling party also cannot use government transport or machinery for campaigning.
- It should also ensure that public places such as maidans etc., for holding election meetings, and facilities like the use of helipads are provided to the opposition parties on the same terms and conditions on which they are used by the party in power.
Campaigning
- Holding public meetings during the 48-hour period before the hour fixed for the closing of the poll is also prohibited.
- The 48-hour period is known as “election silence”.
- The idea is to allow a voter a campaign-free environment to reflect on events before casting her vote
- The issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in the newspapers and other media is also considered an offence.
- Mosques, Churches, Temples or any other places of worship should not be used for election propaganda. Bribing, intimidating or impersonation of voters is also barred.
Is it legally binding?
- The fact is the MCC evolved as part of the ECI’s drive to ensure free and fair elections and was the result of a consensus among major political parties.
- It has no statutory backing. Simply put, this means anybody breaching the MCC can’t be proceeded against under any clause of the Code..
- The EC uses moral sanction or censure for its enforcement.
What if violated?
- The ECI can issue a notice to a politician or a party for alleged breach of the MCC either on its own or based on a complaint by another party or individual.
- Once a notice is issued, the person or party must reply in writing either accepting fault and tendering an unconditional apology or rebutting the allegation.
- In the latter case, if the person or party is found guilty subsequently, he/it can attract a written censure from the ECI — something that many see as a mere slap on the wrist.
- However, in extreme cases, like a candidate using money/liquor to influence votes or trying to divide voters in the name of religion or caste, the ECI can also order registration of a criminal case under IPC or IT Act.
- In case of a hate speech, a complaint can be filed under the IPC and CrPC; there are laws against the misuse of a religious place for seeking votes, etc.
Using powers under Art. 324
- The Commission rarely resorts to punitive action to enforce MCC, there is one recent example when unabated violations forced EC’s hand.
- During the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the EC had banned a leader and now party president from campaigning to prevent them from further vitiating the poll atmosphere with their speeches.
- The Commission resorted to its extraordinary powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to impose the ban.
- It was only lifted once the leaders apologised and promised to operate within the Code.
What if given Statutory Backing?
- Both the ECI and several independent experts, believe that giving statutory backing to the MCC would only make the job of the Commission more difficult.
- This is because every alleged offence will then have to go to an appropriate court, and right up to the Supreme Court.
- Given the flaws of our legal system, election petitions filed decades ago are still pending before many High Courts — it is anybody’s guess what that situation might lead to.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Dalai Lama
Mains level: Not Much
The Dalai Lama has named a US-born Mongolian boy as the tenth Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa, the head of the Janang tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and the Buddhist spiritual head of Mongolia.
Do you know?
“Rinpoche” is a title used in Tibetan Buddhism, which is given to a highly respected teacher or lama. It literally means “precious one” and is used to indicate respect and reverence for the person. The title is often given to senior lamas or to those who are considered to be reincarnations of past masters.
Who is the Dalai Lama?
- The Dalai Lama (a title) is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
- He is believed to be the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama and is regarded as an important figure not only in Tibet but also around the world.
- The Dalai Lama is traditionally both the political and spiritual leader of Tibet, but after China’s occupation of Tibet in 1950, he went into exile in India and since then has been primarily a spiritual leader.
- The current and 14th Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso, who was born in Tibet in 1935 and has been in exile in India since 1959.
Brief Outline of Tibetan Buddhism
- Tibetan Buddhism became the predominant religion in Tibet by the 9th century AD, evolving from the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions of Buddhism and incorporating many tantric and shamanic practices.
- It has four major schools: Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug, with the Janang school being one of the smaller schools that grew as an offshoot of the Sakya School.
- Since 1640, the Gelug School has been the predominant school of Tibetan Buddhism, and the Dalai Lama belongs to this school.
Hierarchy and Reincarnation in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition
- The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is one of Buddhism’s key beliefs.
- Tibet’s hierarchical system seemingly emerged in the 13th century, and it was around this time that the first instances of “formally recognizing the reincarnations of lamas” can be found.
- The Gelug School developed a strong hierarchy and instituted the tradition of succession through reincarnation, with the fifth Grand Lama of the school being conferred the title of Dalai Lama.
- Several procedures/tests are followed to recognize Tulkus (recognized reincarnations).
Key issue: Chinese interference
- The announcement of the boy’s reincarnation has brought attention back to the larger question of the 14th Dalai Lama’s own reincarnation.
- The issue of his reincarnation has deep ramifications on international politics, with China seeking to control the succession and take control over Tibet in the cultural sphere.
What lies ahead?
- The question of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
- The Dalai Lama himself has not provided a definitive answer regarding what will happen, although he has suggested that there may be no Dalai Lama after him.
- The question of his reincarnation continues to hold great political implications due to his symbolic authority and importance to millions of Tibetans across the world.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Z-Morh tunnel
Mains level: Not Much
The crucial Z-Morh tunnel that connects Gagangir and Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh highway will be inaugurated next month in April.
What is Z-Morh tunnel?
- Z-Morh tunnel, also known as the Zoji-Morh Tunnel, is an under-construction tunnel located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- The tunnel is being constructed at an elevation of 11,578 feet and is expected to provide all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.
Location
- The Z-Morh tunnel is located on National Highway 1D, which is the only road that connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India.
- The tunnel is being constructed in the Zoji-Morh region, which is a high-altitude mountain pass located on the Srinagar-Leh Highway.
It’s Construction
- The Z-Morh tunnel is being constructed at a length of 6.5 km and is expected to be completed at a cost of around Rs. 2,000 crore.
- The tunnel will have a two-lane carriageway and will be constructed using the latest tunnelling technology.
- The project is being executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Significance
- The tunnel is expected to provide all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley, which is currently cut off from the rest of India for several months during the winter season due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.
- The tunnel will also reduce the travel time between Srinagar and Leh by around four hours, as it will eliminate the need to cross the Zoji-Morh pass.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Public Policy Education and its significance and suggestions
Central Idea
- Government policies play a crucial role in determining the future of a country. They not only impact economic growth and public welfare but also improve the ease of living for citizens. Unfortunately, there is a lack of interest in public policy education in India, with only a small percentage of policymakers having formal education in public policy and administration.
Public policy education
- Public policy education refers to the study and teaching of the principles, theories, and methods involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies that address societal issues.
- This field of education aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze, create, and manage public policies effectively.
How the government policies, economic growth, and public welfare are closely interconnected?
- Government policies: Governments create and implement policies to guide economic activities, maintain social order, and promote the welfare of their citizens. These policies cover a wide range of areas, such as fiscal and monetary policy, trade policy, education, healthcare, social security, and infrastructure development. The effectiveness of these policies can have a direct impact on economic growth and public welfare.
- Economic growth: Economic growth is the increase in a country’s output of goods and services over time, usually measured by the growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP). A growing economy typically leads to higher employment, increased income, and improved living standards for citizens. Government policies play a crucial role in stimulating or hindering economic growth by influencing factors such as investment, consumption, trade, and innovation.
- Public welfare: Public welfare refers to the overall well-being of a society, encompassing aspects such as income distribution, access to essential services, health, education, and environmental quality. Government policies can significantly impact public welfare by determining the allocation of resources, setting priorities, and providing social safety nets.
Paucity of Programs
- As per the All-India Council for Technical Education, there are 3,182 institutions with an approved intake of 4.22 lakh in business management programs, but only about 130 universities that offer public administration programs and only 29 institutes that offer public policy programs.
- The batch size of public policy courses is 20-60, and there are few jobs available for people pursuing such courses, which disincentivizes educational institutions and students from choosing public management courses.
Lack of Exposure to Public Management
- Most civil servants undergo departmental induction training programs that focus on the role they play in their department and not much on how to make good public policies.
- Consequently, very few civil servants have exposure to public management before joining service, which is critical for developing effective policies.
Suggestions to boost public policy education in India
- Public Management as a Compulsory Subject in UPSC:
- Public management should be a compulsory subject for the UPSC civil service examination, either as a substitute for one optional subject or an additional paper. This will incentivize universities and private institutions to offer public policy education, research, and case studies at the graduate or post-graduate level, leading to a major boost in public policy education.
- Additionally, civil servants who join government would have formal education in public management before they enter service, and even those who do not make it to government jobs would develop better understanding and sensitivity towards complexities involved in public management, making them better citizens and effective private sector managers.
- Larger Component of Public Policy in Induction Training: Existing training institutions of the government should have a larger component of public policy as part of their induction training. Moreover, a case study bank for training should also be established.
- Specialized Positions of Public Policy Analysts: The government can create certain specialized positions of public policy analysts to be picked up from the market directly, thereby creating new job avenues for the graduates of public policy programs.
Conclusion
- The lack of formal education in public management has led to governance lagging behind private sector management in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. Public policy education is essential for developing effective policies that spur economic growth, public welfare, and improve ease of living for citizens.
Mains Question
Q. What is public policy education, and why is it important for policymakers in India to have formal education in public policy and administration? Suggest measures to boost public policy education in India.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Other digital initiatives
Mains level: India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Remarkable success and way ahead
Central Idea
- India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) is a unique marvel of our times that has brought together the government, regulators, private sector, volunteers, startups, and academia to create a superstructure that delivers consistent, affordable, and across-the-board value to citizens, government, and corporate sector alike.
What is India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI)
- India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) refers to the collection of technological systems, platforms, and services that enable the Indian government, businesses, and citizens to interact digitally.
- The DPI is often referred to as the India Stack, which was built through a unique partnership between the government, regulators, the private sector, selfless volunteers, startups, and academia/think tanks.
- India Stack includes a number of building blocks such as Aadhaar (a biometric identification system), e-KYC (electronic know your customer), UPI (Unified Payments Interface), and DigiLocker (a cloud-based document storage system).
DPI in India
- India, first country to develop all three foundational DPIs: India through India Stack became the first country to develop all three foundational DPIs digital identity (Aadhar), real-time fast payment (UPI) and a platform to safely share personal data without compromising privacy (Account Aggregator built on the Data Empowerment Protection Architecture or DEPA)
- Techno-legal regulatory frameworks in India: Techno-legal regulatory frameworks are used to achieve policy objectives through public-technology design.
- For example: India’s DEPA offers technological tools for people to invoke the rights made available to them under applicable privacy laws. Framed differently, this techno-legal governance regime embeds data protection principles into a public-technology stack.
- DPI most feasible model: DPI has emerged as the most feasible model due to its low cost, interoperability and scalable design, and because of its safeguards against monopolies and digital colonisation.
Aadhaar and the private sector
- Rebirth of Aadhaar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision enabled Aadhaar to become the rocket ship for launching good governance in India. Currently, over 1,700 Union and State government schemes use Aadhaar.
- Aadhaar and the private sector: After the Supreme Court’s affirmation of privacy rights, Aadhaar is gradually being opened to the private sector. Aadhaar holders can voluntarily use their Aadhaar for private sector purposes, and regulated entities can store Aadhaar numbers using secure vaults. These changes are leading to the next leapfrogging of India Stack.
- Three changes: The next leapfrogging of the India Stack, with a dynamic political executive and inspired volunteers, will happen with three changes, voluntary usage of Aadhaar for private sector purposes, sharing of Aadhaar data between government departments, and the creation of a new private sector-friendly UIDAI.
DigiYatra and DigiLocker
- India Stack’s greenfield market innovation potential can unlock various services such as DigiYatra, which offers a free biometric-enabled seamless travel experience through facial recognition systems, and DigiLocker, which has 150 million users and six billion stored documents.
- Plans are afoot to expand DigiLocker to many countries around the world.
Facts for prelims
| Initiative |
Description |
Launched by |
| DigiLocker |
Cloud-based document storage platform for citizens |
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology |
| DigiYatra |
Digital travel experience initiative for air travellers |
Ministry of Civil Aviation |
| DigiSeva |
Digital service delivery platform for government services |
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology |
| DigiGaon |
Digital village initiative to provide digital infrastructure |
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology |
| DigiShala |
Digital classroom initiative to promote digital education |
Ministry of Human Resource Development |
| DigiPay |
Digital payments platform for government services |
National Payments Corporation of India |
| DigiSaksham |
Digital literacy initiative to empower citizens |
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology |
| DigiDhan |
Digital payments and financial inclusion initiative |
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology |
| DigiSangrah |
Digital repository of cultural resources for citizens |
Ministry of Culture |
| DigiMuseums |
Digital initiative to showcase Indian museums online |
Ministry of Culture |
- The unified payment interface UPI which is breaking records under the visionary leadership at the National Payments Corporation of India
- UPI has now crossed eight billion transactions per month and transacts a value of $180 billion a month, or about a staggering 65% of India’s GDP per annum.
Conclusion
- India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) can be seen as India’s second war for independence, this time for economic freedom from the daily struggles of transactions and bureaucracy. DPI has emerged as the new backbone of India’s economy, propelling it towards the goal of achieving a $25 trillion economy by the 100th year of India’s political independence. With the convergence of ChatGPT and India Stack, we can only imagine the tremendous progress and innovations that could spark a new era of economic growth and development, much like the Cambrian explosion in evolutionary history.
Mains question
Q. What is India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI)? Explain the building blocks of the India Stack and their significance.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Healthcare progress and challenges
Central Idea
- The Indian healthcare system has overcome many challenges and has made significant progress, but there are still many tough health challenges that need to be addressed. There is need to bridge the gap between the services available in metropolitan and Tier-II and Tier-III cities, provide healthcare insurance to the unorganised middle class, and use Artificial Intelligence and digital technology to improve healthcare services.
Overcoming past challenges
- The Indian healthcare system has overcome seemingly insurmountable problems, including high maternal and infant mortality rates, and low hospital delivery rates.
- The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) results show that even in the so-called BIMARU states, hospital deliveries have soared to 89 per cent.
Current Health Challenges
- Five interrelated challenges: The current macro picture shows at least five interrelated challenges that are pervading the population, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), obesity, and chronic respiratory diseases.
- NCDs: The proportion of deaths due to NCDs has increased from around 38 per cent in 1990 to 62 per cent in 2016.
- Obesity: Obesity has increased from 19 per cent to 23 per cent between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5. Awareness about leading healthy lives will save millions from illness and decelerate premature death.
- Infrastructure:
- The state of infrastructure matters. Since 2018, governments at the Centre as well as the state have been trying to bolster primary healthcare by establishing health and wellness centres.
- But there are still huge variations between states, and some states have better arrangements than others. States must step up efforts to improve infrastructure in the healthcare sector.
- Bridging the gap in hospital services:
- In urban areas, the challenge is to bridge the gap in hospital services between large urban agglomerations and Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
- Large hospital chains provide only 4-5 per cent of the beds in the private sector.
- Standalone hospitals and nursing homes provide 95 per cent of private hospital beds but are unable to provide multi-specialty, leave alone tertiary and quaternary care.
- The gaps between services available in the metros and big cities and in districts must be bridged.
- Health Insurance Coverage:
- Low health insurance penetration and the very high personal outgo on healthcare remain a challenge.
- But over the past three years, more than four crore Indians have bought health insurance.
- From 2018, the Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme for 10 crore poor families has been undertaken to provide insurance against hospitalisation for up to Rs 5 lakh per year per family.
- Nearly 74 per cent of Indians are either covered or eligible for health insurance coverage.
- Use of Artificial Intelligence and digital technology:
- An emerging concern is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technology to improve healthcare services.
- Surgery assisted by robots, the use of genetic codes, clinical decision support systems, and telemedicine can help in making healthcare more accessible and efficient.
Conclusion
- India has shown how the impossible can be achieved, but the healthcare system needs to overcome various challenges to fully redeem its advantage of having the youngest population. The government needs to step up efforts in improving infrastructure, bridging the gap in hospital services, and providing health insurance coverage for the unorganized middle class. It is also essential to regulate the use of AI and digital technology in the healthcare sector to ensure accountability and prevent malpractice.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: WTO subsdies, Bali Peace Clause
Mains level: India-WTO row over agricultural subsidies
Central idea: India has been criticized at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for not adequately addressing questions raised by members regarding its Minimum Support Price (MSP) programs for food grain, particularly rice.
Minimum Support Price (MSP)
- MSP is the price at which the government buys crops from farmers to support them against any sharp fall in farm prices.
- It is announced by the Government of India for 23 crops ahead of each sowing season based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
- It is an important tool to protect farmers from any sharp fall in farm prices.
|
Genesis of the row
- WTO members such as the US, Australia, Canada, the EU, and Thailand have alleged that India did not provide sufficient responses during consultations.
- The MSP programs have breached prescribed subsidy limits and are under scrutiny at the WTO argued these countries.
- With this, India became the first country to invoke the Bali ‘peace clause’ to justify exceeding its 10% ceiling for rice support in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.
What is ‘Bali Peace Clause’?
- India’s minimum support price (MSP) falls under the amber box subsidies category.
- India has exceeded its limits for amber box subsidies for rice for two consecutive years, which is why it has been challenged at the WTO.
- The Bali ‘peace clause’ allows developing countries to exceed their 10% ceiling without facing legal action by other members.
- However, it is subject to numerous conditions, such as not distorting global trade and not affecting food security of other members.
- India’s MSP programs are subject to the ‘peace clause’, but some WTO members have accused India of habitually not including all required information in its notifications.
Allegations of Inadequate Reporting by India
- WTO members have been accusing India of not reporting all public stockholding programs under the ‘peace clause’.
- Some members have pointed out that India also lacks an adequate monitoring mechanism to ensure that no stocks are exported.
- India, on the other hand, argues that it is not obligated to notify any public stockholding programs other than for the crop where the subsidy limits were breached.
Impact on India’s MSP Programs
- The criticism from WTO members could have an impact on India’s MSP programs for food grain, particularly rice.
- The conditions set under the ‘peace clause’ could limit India’s ability to exceed the subsidy limits and support its farmers.
- India may have to provide more detailed notifications and monitoring mechanisms to address the concerns of other members and ensure compliance with WTO regulations.
Why is India defending its stance on MSPs?
- India faces several challenges in the agricultural sector, including climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity.
- The country also has to deal with farmers’ distress due to low prices for their produce, which is why the MSP program was introduced in the first place.
- The challenge posed by the WTO to the MSP program could further exacerbate the problems faced by Indian farmers.
Back2Basics: WTO and its Subsidies Boxes
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that is responsible for regulating international trade between nations.
- Establishment: It was established on January 1, 1995, and currently has 164 member countries.
- Objective: To ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible.
- Frameworks: Negotiating and formalizing trade agreements, resolving trade disputes between member countries, and monitoring national trade policies.
- Working principles: Non-discrimination, transparency, and fairness in international trade.
The WTO has three types of subsidy boxes – green, blue, and amber. Each box represents a different level of trade-distorting subsidies.
- Green box subsidies: These subsidies are considered non-trade-distorting and are allowed under WTO rules. They include measures such as research, disease control, and infrastructure development.
- Blue box subsidies: These subsidies are considered less trade-distorting than amber box subsidies but can still distort trade to some extent. They include measures such as direct payments to farmers to reduce production, provided that certain conditions are met, such as the use of fixed areas or yields.
- Amber box subsidies: These subsidies are considered the most trade-distorting and are subject to reduction commitments under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. They include measures such as price support, input subsidies, and direct payments that are not subject to certain conditions.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: DPDP Bill 2022
Mains level: DPDP Bill 2022, Data Privacy and Protection
Central Idea
- India’s digital economy is growing rapidly and generating massive amounts of personal data. As citizens embrace convenience, understanding how this data is handled and protected has become critical. The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill 2022 aims to safeguard citizens’ information from misuse and unauthorised access but lacks specificity in certain clauses such as the interaction with sectoral data protection regulations.
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill 2022
- The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill 2022 is a proposed legislation aimed at safeguarding the personal data of Indian citizens from misuse and unauthorized access.
- The bill aims to regulate the handling of personal data in the rapidly growing digital economy of India.
According to an explanatory note for the bill, it is based on seven principles-
- Lawful use: The first is that usage of personal data by organisations must be done in a manner that is lawful, fair to the individuals concerned and transparent to individuals.
- Purposeful dissemination: The second principle states that personal data must only be used for the purposes for which it was collected.
- Data minimisation: Bare minimum and only necessary data should be collected to fulfill a purpose.
- Data accuracy: At the point of collection. There should not be any duplication.
- Duration of storage: The fifth principle talks of how personal data that is collected cannot be stored perpetually by default, and storage should be limited to a fixed duration.
- Authorized collection and processing: There should be reasonable safeguards to ensure there is no unauthorised collection or processing of personal data.
- Accountability of users: The person who decides the purpose and means of the processing of personal data should be accountable for such processing
Challenges regarding conflicting sectoral regulations in India
- The DPDP Bill 2022 lacks specificity in certain clauses regarding the interaction with sectoral data protection regulations.
- While the Bill allows for filling regulatory gaps, conflicting sectoral regulations may create confusion.
- India already has sectoral regulations regarding data protection, such as the Reserve Bank of India’s directive on storage of payment data and the National Health Authority’s Health Data Management Policy. Any deviation from existing regulations will further require the industry to readjust their operations again at considerable cost.
Approach to regulate privacy and protect data
- The two major approaches to regulating privacy and protecting data is comprehensive legislation and sector-specific regulations
- The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as an example of comprehensive legislation with sector-specific provisions
- The American sectoral approach as a patchwork of regulations tailored to specific industries, with flaws in inconsistent protection, enforcement, and lack of federal regulation
Way ahead: Finding the right balance for India
- There is a need for greater clarity and specificity in the interaction between the DPDP Bill and sectoral regulations in India
- It is important to build on existing sectoral regulations to avoid undermining their efforts and require further costly adjustments
- The role of sectoral experts in ensuring a safer, more secure, and dynamic digital landscape for Indian citizens in the future is important.
Conclusion
- The DPDP Bill must serve as the minimum layer of protection, with sectoral regulators having the ability to build on these protections for a safer and more secure digital landscape.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Read the attached story
Mains level: Utilizing defunct mines for RE generation
Central idea: Green Gravity is an Australian renewable energy company that has developed a unique scheme to generate electricity. The company’s plan involves using defunct mines, such as the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka, India, to produce reliable and cost-effective renewable energy.
The breakthrough: Gravity-Operated Weighted Blocks
- It uses a weighted block of up to 40 tonnes up to the top of a mine shaft using renewable power during the day when it is available.
- When backup power is required, the heavy block will fall under gravity, powering a generator via a connected shaft or rotor.
- The depth to which the block falls can be determined via a braking system, giving control over the amount of power produced.
Comparison to Pumped Hydropower Storage
- Green Gravity’s approach is similar to the well-established approach of “pumped hydropower” storage.
- In this approach, water is pumped upstream electrically into a reservoir and released downhill to move a turbine and produce electricity when needed.
Need for such technology
- Renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, often faces the challenge of being unreliable during nights or windless days.
- Charging a battery for backup power is very expensive and inefficient.
Advantages of Weighted Blocks over Water
- Using weighted blocks instead of water means that decommissioned mines can be put to use, and the environmental costs and challenges of moving water up can be avoided.
- This approach can also mean less reliance on coal-produced power and access to reliable power.
Potential Use in KGF
- The Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka, India, is an iconic but defunct gold mine that has the potential to be used for renewable energy production.
- The weighted block apparatus could produce up to thousands of megawatt-hours of power from the mine’s deep shafts, some of which run nearly 3,000 metres.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Essential Medicines
Mains level: Read the attached story
Prices of 384 essential drugs and over 1,000 formulations are set to see a hike of over 11%, due to a sharp rise in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
Implications for customers
- Annual hikes in the prices of drugs listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) are based on the WPI.
- The price surge will mean that consumers have to pay more for routine and essential drugs, including painkillers, anti-infection drugs, cardiac drugs, and antibiotics.
What are Essential Medicines?
- As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), Essential Medicines are those that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare hence prepared and released the first National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) of India in 1996 consisting of 279 medicines.
- The list is made with consideration to disease prevalence, efficacy, safety and comparative cost-effectiveness of the medicines.
- Such medicines are intended to be available in adequate amounts, in appropriate dosage forms and strengths with assured quality.
- They should be available in such a way that an individual or community can afford.
NLEM in India
- Drugs listed under NLEM — also known as scheduled drugs — will be cheaper because the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) caps medicine prices and changes only based on wholesale price index-based inflation.
- The list includes anti-infectives medicines to treat diabetes such as insulin — HIV, tuberculosis, cancer, contraceptives, hormonal medicines and anaesthetics.
- They account for 17-18 per cent of the estimated Rs 1.6-trillion domestic pharmaceutical market.
- Companies selling non-scheduled drugs can hike prices by up to 10 per cent every year.
- Typically, once NLEM is released, the department of pharmaceuticals under the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers adds them in the Drug Price Control Order, after which NPPA fixes the price.
Who regulates Drugs prices?
- The NPPA was set up in 1997 to fix/revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce price and availability of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995-2013.
- Its mandate is:
- To implement and enforce the provisions of the DPCO in accordance with the powers delegated to it
- To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the NPPA
- To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages and to take remedial steps
- The NPPA is also mandated to collect/maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc., for bulk drugs and formulations and undertake and/ or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/ pharmaceuticals.
How does the pricing mechanism work?
- Prices of Scheduled Drugs are allowed an increase each year by the drug regulator in line with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and the annual change is controlled and rarely crosses 5%.
- But the pharmaceutical players pointed out that over the past few years, input costs have flared up.
- The hike has been a long-standing demand by the pharma industry lobby.
- All medicines under the NLEM are under price regulation.
Try this MCQ
Q. Which of the following is not a mandate of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)?
A) Fixing and revising prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations
B) Enforcing price and availability of medicines in the country
C) Monitoring the availability of drugs and taking remedial steps
D) Regulating the import and export of pharmaceutical products
Post your answers here.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CITES, WPA Act
Mains level: Not Much
A person in UP was booked under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for “illegally” keeping and nursing an injured Sarus crane (Grus Antigone) he found in his village.
About Sarus
- The Sarus crane is usually found in wetlands and is the state bird of Uttar Pradesh.
- Standing at 152-156 centimetres, it is the world’s tallest flying bird.
What is Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972?
- WPA provides for the protection of the country’s wild animals, birds and plant species, in order to ensure environmental and ecological security.
- It provides for the protection of a listed species of animals, birds and plants, and also for the establishment of a network of ecologically-important protected areas in the country.
- It provides for various types of protected areas such as Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks etc.
There are six schedules provided in the WPA for the protection of wildlife species which can be concisely summarized as under:
| Schedule I: |
These species need rigorous protection and therefore, the harshest penalties for violation of the law are for species under this Schedule. |
| Schedule II: |
Animals under this list are accorded high protection. They cannot be hunted except under threat to human life. |
| Schedule III & IV: |
This list is for species that are not endangered. This includes protected species but the penalty for any violation is less compared to the first two schedules. |
| Schedule V: |
This schedule contains animals which can be hunted. |
| Schedule VI: |
This list contains plants that are forbidden from cultivation. |
What is the law on animals and birds under Schedule IV?
- Species mentioned under Schedules III and IV relate to the prohibition on dealings in trophy and animal articles without a license, purchase of animals by a licensee, and restriction on transportation of wildlife.
- Section 48 of the Act specifically states that any wild animal or animal article can be transported only after obtaining permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden or any other officer authorised by the state.
- Section 44 provides for issuing licenses to taxidermists, eating houses (hotels or restaurants), and dealers in animal articles, preserved animal parts or trophies, uncured trophies (whole or any unpreserved part of an animal), captive animals, and snake venom of such species.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Diabates among children
Mains level: Not Much
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to Education Boards of all States/UTs, stating schools must ensure proper care/facilities for children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D).
What is Diabetes?
- Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that occurs when the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels properly.
- Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is the main source of energy for the body’s cells.
- Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps the body use and store glucose from food.
- In diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces effectively, resulting in high blood sugar levels.
- Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems, such as damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Types of Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.
- Type 1 diabetes: It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in a lack of insulin. This type of diabetes is typically diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can occur at any age. It requires insulin injections or pump therapy for survival.
- Type 2 diabetes: It is a metabolic disorder in which the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels. This type of diabetes is often associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet. It is typically diagnosed in adults, but it is becoming increasingly common in children and adolescents as well. Treatment for Type 2 diabetes may include lifestyle changes, oral medications, or insulin therapy.
Menace of diabetes in India
- According to data from the International Diabetes Federation Atlas 2021, India has the world’s highest number of children and adolescents living with Type I Diabetes Mellitus (TIDM).
- There are over 2.4 lakh TID patients in the Southeast Asia region.
Measures to mitigate TID impact on students
- CBSE circular in 2017 allowed students with T1D in Classes X and XII to carry certain eatables to board exam hall to avoid low sugar episodes.
- They are permitted to carry medicines, snacks, water, a glucometer, and testing strips.
- NCPCR suggests states allow students to use smartphones to monitor sugar levels.
- Tamil Nadu has been providing free insulin to children with T1D since 1988.
Back2Basics: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
- NCPCR is a statutory body established in India under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
- Its objective is to protect, promote and defend the rights of children in India.
- It functions as a watchdog to prevent child rights violations, as well as to take action against those responsible for such violations.
- The NCPCR also advocates for the implementation of laws, policies and programs aimed at promoting child welfare and development.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: AFSPA
Mains level: North east insurgency, security challenges and AFSPA
Central Idea
- The Centre’s decision to lift the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from more police station limits in Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland is a positive development that sends a message of hope to the region. While insurgency has necessitated the imposition of AFSPA in the past, the prevalence of violence in the region has been on the decline, and the government’s peace negotiations with rebel groups have borne fruit.
What is Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, (AFSPA )1958?
- Armed Forces Special Powers Act, to put it simply, gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in disturbed areas.
- AFSPA gives armed forces the authority use force or even open fire after giving due warning if they feel a person is in contravention of the law.
- The Act further provides that if reasonable suspicion exists, the armed forces can also arrest a person without a warrant; enter or search premises without a warrant; and ban the possession of firearms.
What are the Special Powers?
- Power to use force: including opening fire, even to the extent of causing death if prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons or carrying arms and weapons, etc are in force in the disturbed area;
- Power to destroy structures: used as hide-outs, training camps, or as a place from which attacks are or likely to be launched, etc;
- Power to arrest: Without warrant and to use force for the purpose;
- Power to enter and search premises: without a warrant to make arrest or recovery of hostages, arms and ammunition and stolen property etc.
Reason for the decision
- Improved security: The decision was taken due to a significant improvement in the security situation in Northeast India.
- Decrease in Violence: The prevalence of insurgencies in almost all states in the Northeast may arguably have necessitated the imposition of AFSPA in the past. Statistics suggest that violence in the region has been on the decline. The MHA cited a reduction of 76% in extremist incidents, 90% decrease in deaths of security personnel and a 97% decrease in civilian deaths since 2014.
- Negotiations with Rebel Groups: The government has negotiated peace with rebel groups in the region, including NSCN-IM, Ulfa, Bodo, and Dimasa groups, with some success.
- Peace accords: The Mizo rebels, who signed a peace accord in 1986, joined electoral politics and won office. The Tripura government successfully negotiated with the insurgency and got AFSPA removed in 2015. The government must continue to engage with rebel groups to maintain peace in the region.
Conclusion
- The Centre’s decision to withdraw AFSPA in an incremental manner is a positive development for the region, and the government must continue to reduce its dependence on AFSPA to impose its writ. The Northeast’s stability is critical, especially with unrest in Myanmar, and the government must make judicious choices to balance regional and ethnic identity assertion with nationalism.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Facts related to mutual funds
Mains level: Mutual funds, debt mutual funds, tax benefits, etc
Central Idea
- The Finance Bill 2023, passed by the Lok Sabha with 64 amendments, includes the controversial decision to remove the tax benefit for debt mutual funds. While the aim is to remove the advantage of debt funds over bank deposits, this decision will have far-reaching consequences that need to be examined.
Mutual Funds
- Investment decisions on behalf of the investors: Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to purchase a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities. Mutual funds are managed by professional fund managers who make investment decisions on behalf of the investors in the fund.
- Diversified portfolio of securities: Investors in a mutual fund own a proportional share of the fund’s underlying assets, and the value of their investment rises or falls in response to changes in the value of the securities held by the fund. Mutual funds can provide investors with access to a diversified portfolio of securities, which can help to mitigate the risk of investing in individual securities.
Key differences between Mutual funds and debt mutual funds
- Mutual funds and debt mutual funds are both types of investment funds, but there are some key differences between them
| Comparison |
Mutual Funds |
Debt Mutual Funds |
| Types of Investments |
Stocks, bonds, commodities, and other asset classes |
Fixed-income securities such as bonds, debentures, treasury bills, and commercial papers |
| Risk |
Generally higher risk due to the inclusion of stocks and other volatile assets |
Generally lower risk due to the focus on fixed-income securities |
| Returns |
Potentially higher returns over the long term, but subject to more volatility |
Lower returns compared to equity mutual funds, but also come with lower risk |
| Investment Objective |
Can vary widely depending on the type of fund |
Provide regular income to investors while preserving capital |
| Liquidity |
Can be less liquid than debt mutual funds due to volatility in underlying securities |
Generally considered more liquid due to less volatility in underlying securities |
The Debate Over Scrapping Tax Benefit for Debt Mutual Funds
- Removal of the tax benefit for debt mutual funds: The Finance Bill 2023 passed by voice vote in the Lok Sabha last week with 64 amendments, including the removal of the tax benefit for debt mutual funds.
- What it means: This change means that investors in debt mutual funds cannot avail the benefit of indexation for the calculation of long-term capital gains. From April 1, such investments will now be taxed at income tax rates applicable to an individual’s tax slab.
- Motive: This move aims to remove the advantage that such debt funds have over bank deposits. However, the consequences of this decision need to be carefully examined.
The Impact of Removing Tax Benefit
- Impact on flow of funds: The removal of the tax benefit will lead to investors reassessing their allocations to debt mutual funds, which may impact flows into these funds.
- Impact on bond market: This, in turn, may impact the growth and development of the bond market in India since debt mutual funds channel funds into the bond market.
- For instance: According to a report by Crisil, 70% of the investment in debt funds flows from institutional investors, while individual investors, including high net worth individuals, accounted for 27% as of December 2022.
- Impact on corporate debt: This change in rule may trigger a shift in investments away from debt mutual funds to other instruments, which will possibly affect flows to the corporate bond market, and demand for corporate debt is likely to be impacted.
The Need for Rationalization
- There is a need to acknowledge the finer points of differentiation between bank deposits and debt funds since bank deposits are insured up to Rs 5 lakh while debt mutual funds carry risk depending on the risk profile of the bonds they hold.
- It has been argued that the capital gains architecture in India needs to be reexamined and reconfigured.
- Not only are there different rates of taxation for different asset classes, but even the holding period for differentiating between short- and long-term capital gains varies across assets. Thus, rationalisation with regard to the tax rate and/or the holding period is desirable.
Conclusion
- While the removal of the tax benefit for debt mutual funds may remove the advantage of such funds over bank deposits, its far-reaching consequences need to be carefully examined. There is a need to acknowledge the finer points of differentiation between bank deposits and debt funds, as well as rationalisation of the tax architecture in India. Therefore, there is a need for broader discussions and debates on these issues.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Blue economy initiatives
Mains level: Blue economy, significance for sustainable development and challenges
Central Idea
- The potential of the oceans for the sustainable development of the blue economy is immense and the initiatives taken by the Government of India towards achieving it demonstrate India’s commitment to building a sustainable future for its marine resources and the global community. India’s G20 presidency provides an opportunity to promote collective action for the transition.
What is Blue Economy?
- Blue Economy is defined by the World Bank as the Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ecosystem.
- Gunter Pauli’s book, “The Blue Economy: 10 years, 100 innovations, 100 million jobs” (2010) brought the Blue Economy concept into prominence.
- The UN first introduced “blue economy” at a conference in 2012 and underlined sustainable management, based on the argument that marine ecosystems are more productive when they are healthy. In fact, the UN notes that the Blue Economy is exactly what is needed to implement SDG 14, Life Below Water.
- The term ‘blue economy’ includes not only ocean-dependent economic development but also inclusive social development and environmental and ecological security.
The Potential of the Oceans
- The oceans offer vast opportunities for the prosperity of our planet, with 45% of the world’s coastlines and over 21% of the exclusive economic zones located in G20 countries.
- They are reservoirs of global biodiversity, critical regulators of the global weather and climate, and support the economic well-being of billions of people in coastal areas.
Facts for prelims: Government Initiatives
- The Government of India has launched several initiatives to promote the development of a blue economy, such as
| Initiative |
Description |
| Sagarmala initiative |
A program launched in 2015 to promote port-led development and boost the country’s maritime sector. It aims to modernize ports, improve connectivity and logistics, and promote coastal community development. |
| Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy |
A policy introduced in 2016 to provide financial assistance to Indian shipyards for the construction of ships. It aims to boost domestic shipbuilding and make Indian shipyards globally competitive. |
| Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana |
A scheme launched in 2020 to boost the fisheries sector in India. It aims to increase fish production, modernize fishing infrastructure, and create employment opportunities in the sector. |
| Sagar Manthan dashboard |
An online dashboard launched in 2018 to track the progress of the Sagarmala initiative. It provides real-time information on project implementation, fund utilization, and other related metrics. |
| Deep Ocean Mission |
A program launched in 2021 to explore the deep sea and harness its resources for national benefit. It aims to explore the deep sea, map its resources, develop technologies for deep-sea mining, and promote ocean conservation. |
| Coastal Regulation Zone notification |
A regulation introduced in 2019 to manage development activities along India’s coastline. It aims to balance the economic development of coastal areas with the conservation of coastal ecosystems and livelihoods of coastal communities. |
- The government has also taken steps to eliminate single-use plastic and combat plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
- Key priority: India’s G20 presidency has prioritized the blue economy as a key area under the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group.
- Promote sustainable and equitable development: The aim is to promote the adoption of high-level principles for sustainable and equitable economic development through the ocean and its resources while addressing climate change and other environmental challenges.
- A guide for future G20 presidencies: India’s commitment to prioritizing oceans and the blue economy under its presidency would ensure continued discussions on this crucial subject and pave the way for future G20 presidencies.
- Communication and collaboration: Effective and efficient ocean and blue economy governance presents a significant challenge, and India’s G20 presidency can build an effective communication with all stakeholders to share best practices, foster collaborations for advancements in science and technology, promote public-private partnerships, and create novel blue finance mechanisms.
Challenges and Responsibility
- Ambitious efforts by countries to expand their blue economies are threatened by intensifying extreme weather events, ocean acidification, and sea-level rise.
- Marine pollution, over-extraction of resources, and unplanned urbanization also pose significant threats to the ocean, coastal and marine ecosystems, and biodiversity.
- The inherent inter-connectedness of oceans implies that activities occurring in one part of the world could have ripple effects across the globe.
- Therefore, the responsibility of their protection, conservation, and sustainable utilization lies with all nations.
Conclusion
- India’s G20 presidency offers an opportunity to promote individual and collective actions towards a sustainable blue economy. The stewardship of oceans is an investment that will sustain future generations, and the global community must unite for the well-being of our ocean commons.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Pardoning Powers of president / governor
Mains level: Violence against women
The Supreme Court has indicated it will primarily focus on the question of Gujarat’s jurisdiction to prematurely release 11 men sentenced to life for the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of her family during the 2002 riots.
Central idea
- The Bilkis Bano case is a landmark case of gangrape and mass murder that occurred during the 2002 Gujarat riots in India.
- Bilkis Bano, then a 21-year-old pregnant woman, was raped and her family members were murdered during the riots that followed the Godhra train burning incident.
- The case was initially left unnoticed, but after persistent efforts by Bano and her supporters, the case was reopened and the perpetrators were brought to justice.
Initial investigation and cover-up
- No proper investigation: Despite the gravity of the crime, the initial investigation was not conducted properly.
- Evidence tampered: The medical examination of Bano was conducted after several days, by which time crucial evidence had been lost.
- No FIR registered: The police refused to file a First Information Report (FIR) initially, and when they did, they left out crucial details of the incident.
Reopening of the case
- Bano and her supporters continued to fight for justice, and in 2004, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the order of the Supreme Court.
- The CBI conducted a thorough investigation and filed a charge sheet against 19 accused persons, including police officers and doctors who had tried to cover up the crime.
- In 2008, the trial began in a Mumbai court.
Conviction and sentencing
- In 2017, after a long legal battle, a Mumbai court convicted 11 accused persons, including one police officer, for gang rape and murders.
- The police officer, who was the main accused, was sentenced to life imprisonment, while the others were given seven years’ imprisonment.
- The court also acquitted seven other accused persons due to lack of evidence.
Key issue: Release of convicts
- In February 2021, the Bombay High Court acquitted five of the convicted persons, citing lack of evidence.
- The court also upheld the life imprisonment of the police officer and reduced the sentence of the other convicts to three years.
- The convicts were released from prison after serving their sentence.
What are the laws on remissions?
- Prisoners are often granted remission of sentences and released on important occasions such as birth and death anniversaries of prominent leaders.
- The President and the Governors have the power to pardon, suspend, remit, or commute a sentence passed by the courts under Articles 72 and 161 of the Constitution.
- Under Section 432 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the state governments also have the power to remit sentences as prisons are a state subject.
- However, the powers of remission of the state government are restricted by Section 433A of the CrPC.
- It mandates a person serving a life imprisonment sentence for an offence where death is a punishment or where a death sentence has been commuted, cannot be released until they have served at least 14 years in prison.
Critical reception of the judgement
- Justice vindicated: Bano and her family members expressed disappointment with the decision of the court to acquit some of the convicts, and they plan to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.
- Communal angle to the release: Bano has been a symbol of courage and determination for survivors of sexual violence in India, and her case has highlighted the need for justice and accountability for crimes committed during communal riots.
Significance of the case
- The Bilkis Bano case is significant as it highlights the issue of communal violence in India and the failure of the authorities to provide justice to the victims.
- The case also underscores the need for the protection of the rights of women and minorities in India.
- The long legal battle fought by Bano and her supporters shows that justice is possible, but it requires persistence, courage and the support of civil society.
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