Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UAPA
Mains level: âThe Resistance Frontâ
(Image Source: The Economic Times)
A newly floated outfit, the Resistance Front, has come under the scanner of enforcement agencies for its suspected links with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
This is a very significant development with respect to India’s concern against terrorism. Terrorism and the terror outfits are increasingly becoming more institutionalized and âthe Resistance Frontâ is an another move towards it.
âThe Resistance Frontâ
- TRF, which is owning up terror attacks in Kashmir these days, is an offshoot of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba and is also associated with other terror outfits such as Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed.
- Various reports claim that after the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K, Pakistan decided to increase the terror activities in the Valley.
- However, facing international pressure and to protect itself from being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Pakistan decided to launch a new terror group with a new identity.
- Various Indian security agencies operating in Kashmir feel that the âTRFâ was formed due to the pressure on Pakistan from the FATF to cut down on the funding of the terrorist groups.
A new strategy justifying terrorism
- The word âresistanceâ has been used by Pakistan and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to put in place a new strategy for supporting terrorism against India.
- Pakistanâs plan is to rebrand the terrorists operating under the umbrella of JeM, LeT and Hizbul as ânon-religiousâ rebellion.
- Pakistan wants to project Kashmiri terrorism as a resistance movement by Kashmiris. So far Hizbul and LeT have come under TRFâs umbrella.
Must read:
Explained: Amendments to the UAPA
Back2Basics: What is the FATF?
- FATF is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering.
- The FATF Secretariat is housed at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris.
- It holds three Plenary meetings in the course of each of its 12-month rotating presidencies.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Locusts invasion
Mains level: Locusts invasion and its threats
Locusts normally arrive during July-October but have already been spotted in Rajasthan. At a time India is battling COVID, they present a new worry with their potential for exponential growth and crop destruction.
Along with being a disaster issue, Locust attack is also a challenge for India’s food security. Discuss what socio – economic and technological ways can be adopted to tackle this menance.
What exactly are Locusts?
- The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is a short-horned grasshopper that is innocuous while it is in a âsolitary phaseâ and moving about independently.
- These winged insects differ from normal hoppers and become dangerous only when their populations build up rapidly and the close physical contact in crowded conditions triggers behavioural changes.
- They, then, enter the âgregarious phaseâ, by grouping into bands and forming swarms that can travel great distances (up to 150 km daily), while eating up every bit of vegetation on the way.
- If not controlled at the right time, these insect swarms can threaten the food security of countries.
How seriously should the first sightings be viewed?
- The damage potential of locusts has been limited in India only because of the country hosting a single breeding season â unlike Pakistan, Iran and East Africa, where they also multiply during January-June.
- Thereâs nothing much to worry right now, as the rabi crop has already been harvested and farmers are yet to commence plantings for the new Kharif season.
- The locustsâ bands so observed are less populated. But their timing, though, is cause for concern.
- The normal breeding season for locusts in India is July-October. But this time, they have been sighted by mid-April.
- Last year, too, they were seen towards end-May as isolated grasshoppers.
- The longer time to breed is more conducive for a build-up of gregarious insect swarms, as opposed to solitary, innocuous hoppers.
Control measures in India
- India has a Locust Control and Research scheme that is being implemented through the Locust Warning Organisation (LWO), established in 1939.
- It was amalgamated in 1946 with the Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) of the Ministry of Agriculture.
- The LWOâs responsibility is monitoring and control of the locust situation in Scheduled Desert Areas mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and partly in Punjab and Haryana.
- The LWO publishes a fortnightly bulletin on the locust situation.
What kind of damage can they cause?
- Locusts are polyphagous, i.e. they can feed on a wide variety of crops.
- Secondly, they have the ability to multiply rapidly. A single female desert locust lays 60-80 eggs thrice during its roughly 90-day life cycle.
- It is estimated that a 1-square-km area can accommodate 40-80 million of these insects, making the growth of their swarms exponential quite like the Covid-19 virus.
What is the genesis of the present locust upsurge, particularly in East Africa?
- It lies in the Mekunu and Luban cyclonic storms of May and October 2018 that struck Oman and Yemen, respectively.
- These turned large desert areas in remote parts of the southern Arabian Peninsula into lakes, which allowed the insects to breed undetected across multiple generations.
- The swarms attacking crops in East Africa reached peak populations from November onwards while building up since the start of this year in southern Iran and Pakistan.
- Widespread rains in East Africa in late March and April have enabled further breeding.
- Prior to that, the locusts from spring breeding areas of southwest Pakistan and southern Iran would arrive in Rajasthan and Gujarat during May-June.
- They would, then, breed with the onset of the southwest monsoon rains and continue doing so through the Kharif cropping season.
What can and should be done?
- If the monsoon is good, and in the absence of control operations, the magnitude of attack could be worse than in the 2019-20 rabi season.
- The last yearâs locust incursions were the first and most significant since 1993.
- Local authorities in Rajasthan and Gujarat had to treat over 4.30 lakh hectares of infested areas with sprayers mounted on tractors and other vehicles.
Pesticides give better control
- The old generation organophosphate insecticides such as Malathion (96% ultra-low volume aerial application) are effective against locusts.
- About one litre of the chemical is necessary to treat a hectare of their breeding areas, including trees where they halt for the night.
- There is ample stock of pesticides to control any swarms in India.
Click here to read about the complete genesis of Locusts and their origin:
Locust Invasions and its mitigation
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Urban Ozone
Mains level: Good and Bad Ozone
A Manchester (UK) based research has found that the nationwide lockdown may be leading to the generation of a dangerous pollutant, urban ozone.
The Ozone is formed due to different factors in the Troposphere and the Stratosphere (where the ozone acts as a protective layer). Note these differences from prelims perspective.
Urban Ozone
- The photochemical production of ozone may become more important in urban areas during summertime in these low conditions of oxides of nitrogen.
- As nitrogen oxides reduce, photochemical production may become more efficient and can lead to higher ozone concentrations in the summertime.
- The higher summer temperatures increase emissions of biogenic hydrocarbon from natural sources such as trees. These biogenic hydrocarbons significantly affect urban ozone levels.
- While ozone is important for screening harmful solar UV radiation when present higher up in the atmosphere, it can be a danger at the Earthâs surface and can react to destroy or alter many biological molecules.
Back2Basics: Ozone Gas
- It is a gas that occurs both in the Earth’s upper atmosphere and at ground level.
- Ozone occurs in two layers of the atmosphere. The layer closest to the Earth’s surface is the troposphere.
- Here, ground-level or “bad” ozone is an air pollutant that is harmful to breathe and it damages crops, trees and other vegetation. It is the main ingredient of urban smog.
- The stratospheric or “good” ozone protects life on Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Formation of Ozone
- Ozone is produced naturally in the stratosphere when highly energetic solar radiation strikes molecules of oxygen, and cause the two oxygen atoms to split apart in a process called photolysis. If a freed atom collides with another O2, it joins up, forming ozone.
- The majority of tropospheric ozone formation occurs when nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), react in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight, specifically the UV spectrum.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Arribadas, Olive Ridley Turtles
Mains level: Not Much
Mass hatching of Olive Ridley turtles began at Odishaâs Rushikulya rookery, a major nesting site of these marine turtles.
Mass hatching of Olive Ridley turtles is a very celebrated news every year. Also make sure to look at the Rivers system in the region from the map above.
Olive Ridley Turtles
- The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a medium-sized species of sea turtle found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
- In the Indian Ocean, the majority of olive ridleys nest in two or three large groups at Rushikulya rookery near Gahirmatha in Odisha.
- The coast of Odisha in India is the largest mass nesting site for the olive ridley, followed by the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica.
- The species is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, Appendix 1 in CITES, and Schedule 1 in Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Special feature: Mass nesting
- They are best known for their behaviour of synchronized nesting in mass numbers, termed Arribadas.
- Interestingly, females return to the very same beach from where they first hatched, to lay their eggs.
- They lay their eggs in conical nests about one and a half feet deep which they laboriously dig with their hind flippers.
- They hatch in 45 to 60 days, depending on the temperature of the sand and atmosphere during the incubation period.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
Mains level: Not Much
A rare Black Panther was spotted in the Netravali WLS in South Goa.
There are many WLS and National Park in the tiny state of Goa. Unlike others, they rarely find any mention in news. Here a quick revision for you.
Make sure to locate them on map.
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Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary,
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Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary,
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Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary,
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Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary,
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Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary,
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Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary,
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Anshi National Park.
Black Panther
- Black Panther or Black Leopard is a color variant of spotted Indian leopards, reported from densely forested areas of south India, mostly from the state of Karnataka.
- A black panther is the melanistic colour variant of any Panthera, particularly of the leopard (P. pardus) in Asia and Africa, and the jaguar (P. onca) in the Americas.
- They are also known as the ghost of the forest.
About Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
- Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is located in South-Eastern Goa, India.
- It constitutes one of the vital corridors of the Western Ghats and covers an area of about 211 sq.km.
- Netravali or Neturli is an important tributary of River Zuari, which originates in the sanctuary.
- Forests mostly consist of moist deciduous vegetation interspersed with evergreen and semi-evergreen habitat; there are also two all-season waterfalls in the sanctuary.
- The Gaur or Indian Bison, Malabar giant squirrel, four-horned antelope or chousingha, leopard, black sloth bear along with a host of other predators and herbivores find home in the sanctuary.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Various passes in news, BRO
Mains level: India's border connectivity and the role of BRO
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has completed the construction of road from Dharchula to Lipulekh along the China Border, famously known as Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra Route.
We can expect a prelims question asking to arrange few passes from West to East or vice versa. Click here to get through all such Himalayan Passes.
Darchula â Lipulekh road
- The road is an extension of Pithoragarh-Tawaghat-Ghatiabagarh road. In this 80 Km road, the altitude rises from 6000 feet to 17,060 feet.
- It originates from Ghatiabagarh in Uttarakhand and terminates at Lipulekh Pass, the gateway to Kailash Mansarovar.
- With the completion of this project, the arduous trek through treacherous high-altitude terrain can now be avoided by the Pilgrims of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the period of journey will be reduced by many days.
(Note: The Lipulekh Pass links Uttarakhand with Chinaâs Tibetan Autonomous Region.)
Significance
- At present, the travel to Kailash Mansarovar takes around two to three weeks through Sikkim or Nepal routes.
- Lipulekh route had a trek of 90 Km through high altitude terrain and the elderly yartris faced lot of difficulties.
- Now, this yatra will get completed by vehicles.
Also read:
The Northern and Northeastern Mountains | Part 2
Back2Basics: Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
- The BRO develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighboring countries and functions under the Ministry of Defence.
- It is entrusted for construction of Roads, Bridges, Tunnels, Causeways, Helipads and Airfields along the borders.
- Officers from the Border Roads Engineering Service (BRES) and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) form the parent cadre of the Border Roads Organisation.
- It is also staffed by officers and troops drawn from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers on extra regimental employment.
- The BRO operates and maintains over 32,885 kilometers of roads and about 12,200 meters of permanent bridges in the country.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NDMA 2005, Epidemics Act 1897
Mains level: Paper 2- Laws invoked for dealing with pandemic.
India lacks specific legislation to deal with pandemics like COVID. While NDMA 2005 and Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 has been invoked to deal with the present situation, both acts lack specific provision in dealing with the pandemics. Here we can take lessons from UKâs Coronavirus Act and Singaporeâs regulations to create a well-drafted Indian COVID 19 law.
Which acts were used for enforcing lockdown?
- The home ministry issued directions to State governments and district authorities under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.
- Under the Act, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was set up under the Prime Minister, and the National Executive Committee (NEC) was chaired by the Home Secretary.
- The State governments and authorities exercised powers under the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 to issue further directions.
- District authorities such as the Commissioner of Police have consequently issued orders to impose Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in public places.
Issues with the laws used for lockdown
- The invoking of the Disaster Management Act has allowed the Union government to communicate seamlessly with the States.
- But serious questions remain whether the Act was originally intended to or is sufficiently capable of addressing the threat of a pandemic.
- The use of the archaic Epidemic Diseases Act reveals the lack of requisite diligence and responsiveness of government authorities in providing novel and innovative policy solutions to address a 21st-century problem.
- Another serious problem is that any violation of the orders passed would be prosecutable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
- But section 188 of IPC is a very ineffective and broad provision dealing with disobedience of an order issued by a public servant.
The UK and Singapore’s laws to deal with the pandemic
- U.K’s Coronavirus Act, 2020:Â It deals with issues including emergency registration of healthcare professionals, temporary closure of educational institutions, audio-visual facilities for criminal proceedings, powers to restrict gatherings, and financial assistance to industry.
- Singapore’s Infectious Diseases Regulations, 2020: These regulations provides for the issuance of stay orders which can send âat-risk individualsâ to a government-specified accommodation facility.
- Both U.K.âs and Singaporeâs laws set out unambiguous conditions and legally binding obligations.
- As such, under Singaporean law, the violators may be penalised up to $10,000 or face six months imprisonment or both.
- In contrast, Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code has a fine amount of âč200 to âč1,000 or imprisonment of one to six months.
- Even then, proceedings under Section 188 can only be initiated by private complaint and not through a First Information Report.
- As such, offences arising out of these guidelines and orders have a weak basis in terms of criminal jurisdiction thereby weakening the objectives of the lockdown.
Problems in the governmentâs approach
- The Union government showed no inclination towards drafting or enacting COVID-19-specific legislation that could address all the issues pre-emptively.
- There has been little clarity on a road map to economic recovery.
- A consolidated, pro-active policy approach is absent.
- In fact, there has been ad hoc and reactive rule-making, as seen in the way migrant workers have been treated.
- This has also exposed the lack of coordination between the Union and State governments.
Consider the question, “Unlike many countries which legislated specific acts to deal with Covid-19 pandemic, India was already equipped with acts which enabled it to deal with the pandemic. Describe the acts and their provisions used to deal with the pandemic. What were the issues with these provisions?”
Conclusion
In past instances, the Union government has not shied away from promulgating ordinances. These circumstances call out for legislative leadership, to assist and empower States to overcome COVID-19 and to revive their economic, education and public health sectors.
Back2Basics: National Disaster Management Act 2005
- On 23 December 2005, the Government of India enacted the Disaster Management Act.
- The act envisaged the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister.
- The act also provides for State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective Chief Ministers.
- NDMA and SDMAs spearhead and implement a holistic and integrated approach to Disaster Management in India.
- The NDMA was formally constituted on 27thSeptember 2006, in accordance with the Disaster Management Act, 2005 with Prime Minister as its Chairperson and nine other members, and one such member to be designated as Vice-Chairperson.
- According to the Disaster Management Act, 2005 a disaster is defined as-
- A catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or manmade causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area.
- The MHA has defined a disaster as an âextreme disruption of the functioning of a society that causes widespread human, material, or environmental losses that exceed the ability of the affected society to cope with its own resources.
Epidemic Diseases Act  1897
- The Epidemic Diseases Act is routinely enforced across the country for dealing with outbreaks of diseases such as swine flu, dengue, and cholera.
- The colonial government introduced the Act to tackle the epidemic of bubonic plague that had spread in the erstwhile Bombay Presidency in the 1890s.
- Using powers conferred by the Act, colonies authorities would search suspected plague cases in homes and among passengers, with forcible segregations, evacuations, and demolitions of infected places.
- Historians have criticised the Act for its potential for abuse.
- In 1897, the year the law was enforced, Lokmanya Tilak was punished with 18 monthsâ rigorous imprisonment after his newspapers Kesari and Mahratta admonished imperial authorities for their handling of the plague epidemic.
Provisions of the 1897 Epidemic Diseases Act
- The Act is one of the shortest Acts in India, comprising just four sections. It aims to provide for the better prevention of the spread of Dangerous Epidemic Diseases.
- The then Governor-General of colonial India had conferred special powers upon the local authorities to implement the measures necessary for the control of epidemics.
- Although, the act does define or give a description of a âdangerous epidemic diseaseâ.
Its various sections can be summarized as under
- The first section describes all the title and extent, the second part explains all the special powers given to the state government and centre to take special measures and regulations to contain the spread of disease.
- The second section has a special subsection 2AÂ empowers the central government to take steps to prevent the spread of an epidemic, especially allowing the government to inspect any ship arriving or leaving any post and the power to detain any person intending to sail or arriving in the country.
- The third section describes the penalties for violating the regulations in accordance with Section 188 of the IPC. Section 3 states, âSix monthsâ imprisonment or 1,000 rupees fine or both could be charged out to the person who disobeys this Act.â
- The fourth and the last section deals with legal protection to implementing officers acting under the Act.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much.
Mains level: Paper 2- Adoption of technology by judiciary in its functioning.
COVID pandemic has been changing many aspects of our life and forcing us to innovate or embrace the novel changes. The judiciary is not immune to this change. This article advocates for the adoption and popularization of online court. But there were several attempts at the adoption of technology in the working of courts even before the pandemic. Time has now come to its adoption on a wider scale.
Three types of courts in our justice delivery system
- First, conventional courts located in court complexes where judges, lawyers and litigants are physically present.
- Second, online courts where the judge is physically present in the courtroom but the lawyer or litigant is not.
- This is the present arrangement, except that now the courtroom is the residential office of the judge, due to the lockdown.
- Third, virtual courts where there is no judge, lawyer or litigant and a computer takes a decision based on the inputs of the litigant.
Pilot project with Tihar Jail
- The pilot was for dealing with routine remand cases of prisoners.
- The procedure postulated prisoners being produced in court, not physically but through video conferencing (VC), hence an online court.
- The pilot project started tentatively with some hiccups but proved to be a success.
- Now several courts have adopted the online process with varying degrees of commitment.
District courts and High Courtsâ adoption of online route
- A few district judges have taken a step forward and recorded the statement of parties in cases of divorce by mutual consent.
- As of now, several such cases, including those involving NRIs, are dealt with through VC in online courts.
- Punjab and Haryana judges have gone even further ahead. The online courts record the expert evidence of doctors from PGIMER through VC.
- This has freed the doctors from time-consuming trips to the courts and has resulted in savings of several crores for the exchequer.
- A determined and concerted effort is necessary to popularise online courts at the district level.
- Some high court judges in Delhi and Punjab and Haryana have completely dispensed with paper.
- In these high courts, everything is on a soft copy, through e-Filing and scanned documents.
- Lawyers and judges have made necessary adjustments to the new regime and the cases are conveniently heard and decided in âpaperless courtsâ.
- A few other high courts initiated similar steps, but have yet to institutionalise âpaperless courtsâ.
What are the problems?
- Unfamiliarity with the medium of communication is the major issue. Judges are simply not used to consciously facing a camera generally and in particular while hearing a case.
- Similarly, lawyers find it difficult to comfortably argue while seated.
- Body language, facial expressions, the tone and tenor, both of the judge and the lawyer, make for important signals and clues which cannot be captured in VC.
- Some technical problems in conducting online hearings have also surfaced. The bandwidth is not adequate or stable enough.
- The picture sometimes breaks or gets frozen and the voice often cracks.
- Consultations are also a problem. Lawyers occasionally need to consult their client or the instructing advocate; judges also need to consult each other during a hearing.
- Attention needs to be paid to these real-time issues otherwise lawyers will harbour misgivings about a fair hearing.
- The chairman of the Bar Council of India has voiced a concern that 90 per cent of the lawyers are not computer literate or tech-savvy.
eCourts Project: A virtual court
- A virtual court is a unique contribution of the eCourts Project.
- A pilot virtual court was launched in August 2018 in Delhi for traffic offences and it has been a great success.
- Virtual courts have been successfully tried out in Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
- A virtual court is a simple programme through which a person can find out if a challan has been issued to him or her through a search facility.
- If a challan has been issued, the details are available online and the person may plead guilty or not guilty.
- On a guilty plea, the minimum fine is imposed and on a not-guilty plea, the case is electronically transferred to the traffic court for trial.
- At the end of the day, a judge reviews the cases and disposes of them electronically depending on the option exercised.
- One judge is all it takes to manage the virtual court for Delhi or an entire state.
- With the launch of virtual courts, the daily footfalls to the courts have drastically reduced and thousands have pleaded guilty and paid the fine electronically.
Potential of the virtual courts
- The virtual court system has the potential of being upscaled and other petty offences attracting a fine such as delayed payments of local taxes or compoundable offences can also be dealt with by virtual courts.
- This will ease the burden on conventional courts and therefore must be strongly encouraged.
Consider the question- “Covid-19 pandemic has been forcing judiciary for faster adoption of technology. Discuss the issues and advantages of the adoption of technology such as video conferencing by the judiciary”
Conclusion
Post lockdown, justice delivery will certainly undergo a transformation. And judges, lawyers and litigants will need to adapt to the new normal. Several countries and courts have made adjustments not only for the period of the pandemic or lockdown but also for the future. We should certainly not be left behind but must also make a roadmap to meet the challenge.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much.
Mains level: Paper 3- Transforming military
The COVID blaze caused economic disruption and now even the military is feeling the heat. The military is grappling with multiple issues like freezing of fresh capital acquisition and delay in procurement. But this could also be considered as an opportunity to transform the Indian military. 4 areas where this transformation could start are discussed in this article. Read to know more.
The difference in approaches to security
- Pakistanâs approach: Pakistan stagnates in an existential-threat-based and India-centric approach to national security.
- What is Chinaâs approach? Chinaâs expansive global strategy and unbridled capability-based development surge have overcome the dangers of direct competition with the US.
- It has closed the gap through an âindirect approach to international securityâ.
- This indirect approach looks at building on strengths in areas such as cyberspace, non-contact warfare, economic and diplomatic coercion.
So, what should be Indiaâs approach to security?
- Strategic guidelines for Indiaâs must shift from a threat-based methodology to a multi-disciplinary capability.
- An outcome-based orientation to fit with the nationâs power aspirations.
4 most critical means to kick-start the transformation:
1. Creation of indigenous defence capability
- Doing this without brushing away the short and medium-term requirement of selective imports will be the key to a calibrated march to self-sufficiency.
2. Leadership
- Indiaâs military leadership is very hierarchical and sequential in its approach.
- However, this same leadership has superb operational skills and possesses a quick understanding of technology, tactics, techniques and procedures.
- Consequently, strategic leaders need to be identified and their transition towards becoming more than mere executors of operational plans and campaigns needs to be enabled.
- Multi-disciplinary thinking, lateral assimilation and a world-view are among the specific skill-sets that need to be nurtured.
3. Training and Education
- Training and education form the next two silos in the process of transformation.
- The US example: Several military officers at the colonel level â fresh out of war colleges and the university environment where they spend a year of education (not training) â are posted at the Pentagon and NATO HQ.
- Here, they work alongside civilians, politicians, lawmakers, not forgetting their own joint leadership.
- In such an environment, it is not difficult to mark, train and recognise talent in ways that go beyond the mere rank structure.
- It is high time India goes down that road because even though economic globalisation may be on hold for a while post-COVID-19, there is going to be a flattening of the world from a security perspective.
- There will be common threats that would need to be fought jointly by nations.
- The three pre-requisites in these silos will be an amalgam of 1)service-centric and joint operations expertise, 2) operational acumen in a global environment, and 3) broad-based education that develops intellectual capital.
- Training in the Indian military is top-notch and needs a little tweaking to help officers and men understand the rules of engagement in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) world.
- It is diversified education at all levels of leadership that is a weak area.
4. Jointness and integration
- Finally, the silo of jointness and integration without losing identities and compromising competencies is an outcome that needs to be chased down with focus and determination.
Consider the question based on the issues discussed in the article “Strategic guidelines for Indiaâs security managers must shift from a threat-based methodology to a multi-disciplinary capability and outcome-based orientation to fit with the nationâs power aspirations. Based on some expert committee reports, discuss the ways which the Indian military follow to achieve the transformation to satisfy the nation’s power aspirations.”
Conclusion
Some difficulties caused to the military due to COVID pandemic should be considered as an opportunity. It should be an opportunity to evolve a transformational culture in the Indian military. This should be based on clear political guidelines driven by existing and futuristic capabilities, expected strategic outcomes and anticipated strategic challenges.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not Much
Mains level: World History: Pearl Harbor Attack and its aftermath
US President Mr Trump has said the COVID-19 pandemic is a worse âattackâ on the U.S. than either Pearl Harbor or 9/11.
Practice Question :
Discuss how the world order changed post Pearl Harbour attack with context to the US hegemony in Asia-Pacific.
Attack on Pearl Harbor
- The December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour was among the most significant moments of the World War II.
- It signalled the official entry of the US into the hostilities, which eventually led to the dropping of nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
- Significantly, in December 2016, Shinzo Abe became the first sitting Japanese Prime Minister to visit Pearl Harbour.
What led up to the attack on Pearl Harbour?
- Before Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941, relations between the US and Japan were already worsening.
- In 1910, Japan annexed Korea and, in 1937, it invaded China, sending alarm bells ringing in the US and other Western powers about Japanâs manifest expansionist agenda.
- Between December 1937 and January 1938, an episode which is referred to as the âNanking Massacreâ or the âRape of Nankingâ, occurred â Japanese soldiers killed and raped Chinese civilians and combatants.
- Japanese historians estimate that anywhere between tens of thousands and 200,000 Chinese were killed.
- The US was against Japanâs aggression in China, and imposed economic sanctions and trade embargoes after its invasion.
Immediate causes
- Japan was reliant on imports for oil and other natural resources â this was one of the reasons why it invaded China and later French Indo-China (present-day Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia).
- The intention was to take control of the major Chinese ports to have access to resources such as iron, rubber, tin, and most importantly, oil.
- In July 1941, the US ceased exporting oil to Japan.
- Negotiations between the two countries ended with the âHull Noteâ, the final proposal delivered to Japan by the US. Essentially, the US wanted Japan to withdraw from China without any conditions.
- Ultimately, the negotiations did not lead to any concrete results, following which Japan set its task for Pearl Harbour in the last week of November 1941.
- Japan considered the attack to be a preventive measure against the US interfering with Japanâs plans to carry out military operations in some parts of Southeast Asia.
What happened at Pearl Harbour?
- About 7.55 am on December 7, 1941, about 180 aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the US Naval base at Pearl Harbour on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
- The bombing killed over 2,300 Americans and destroyed the battleships USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma.
- Roughly 160 aircraft were destroyed, and 150 were damaged.
Impact on the US
- In the short term, the American naval presence in the Pacific was severely weakened.
- However, the Japanese had largely ignored the harbourâs infrastructure, and many of the damaged ships were repaired on-site and returned to duty.
- American opinion immediately shifted to favouring war with Japan, a course that would conclude with Japanâs unconditional surrender less than four years later.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Styrene gas, Various acts governing hazardous chemicals
Mains level: Loopholes in handling of Hazardous chemicals in India
A gas leak has claimed at least 11 lives and affected thousands of residents in five villages in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Â The source of the leak was a styrene plant owned by South Korean electronics giant LG.
Practice question:
Despite a robust policy framework governing the hazardous chemicals in India, the recent gas leakage incident in Vizag highlights India’s unaddressed vulnerability to chemical disasters. Criticallly comment.
Vizag gas lead: What is styrene?
- It is a flammable liquid that is used in the manufacturing of polystyrene plastics, fibreglass, rubber, and latex.
- Styrene is also found in vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke, and in natural foods like fruits and vegetables.
- According to The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989, styrene is classified as a toxic and hazardous chemical.
What happens when exposed to styrene?
- A short-term exposure to the substance can result in respiratory problems, irritation in the eyes, irritation in the mucous membrane, and gastrointestinal issues.
- And long-term exposure could drastically affect the central nervous system and lead to other related problems like peripheral neuropathy.
- It is, likely, a carcinogenic substance that can react with oxygen in the air to mutate into styrene dioxide, a substance that is more lethal.
- However, there is no sufficient evidence despite several epidemiology studies indicating there may be an association between styrene exposure and an increased risk of leukaemia and lymphoma.
What are the symptoms?
- Symptoms include headache, hearing loss, fatigue, weakness, difficulty in concentrating etc.
- Animal studies have reported effects on the nervous system, liver, kidney, and eye and nasal irritation from inhalation exposure to styrene.
How bad is the situation in Visakhapatnam?
- It is yet unclear whether the deaths are due to direct exposure to styrene gas or one of its byproducts.
- However, hundreds of people including many children were admitted to hospitals.
- The cases are high as the gas leak was only detected at 3 am in the morning, meaning several crucial hours have been lost till safety precautions were taken.
- More fatally, the gas was leaked while people were fast asleep.
What caused the leak?
- Styrene monomer was used at the manufacturing plant to produce expandable plastics.
- The storage requirement of styrene monomer strictly mentions that it has to be below 17 degrees Celsius.
- There was a temporary and partial shutdown of the plant because of the nationwide lockdown.
- The leak occurred as a result of styrene gas not being kept at the appropriate temperature.
- This caused a pressure build-up in the storage chamber that contained styrene and caused the valve to break, resulting in the gas leakage.
Is it under control?
- The leak has been plugged and NDRF teams moved into the five affected villages and have started opening the houses to find out if anyone was stranded inside.
- The Covid-19 preparedness helped a lot as dozens of ambulances with oxygen cylinders and ventilators were readily available.
- The spread of the gas depends on wind speeds. So far it is estimated that areas within a five-kilometre radius have been affected.
What are the guidelines on the storage of hazardous chemicals in plants?
After the Bhopal disaster, much legislation was enacted starting from the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991. They are-
| Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 |
Omnibus act, which gives sweeping powers to Central government to take all measures to protect the environment |
| Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 |
Set discharge and product standards â source standards for restricting pollution; product standards for manufactured goods and ambient air and water standards â for regulating quality of life and environmental protection |
| Hazardous Waste (Management Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 1989 |
Industry required to identify major accident hazards, take preventive measures and submit a report to the designated authorities |
| Manufacture, Storage And Import Of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989 |
Importer must furnish complete product safety information to the competent authority and must transport imported chemicals in accordance with the amended rules. |
| Chemical Accidents (Emergency, Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996 |
Centre is required to constitute a central crisis group for management of chemical accidents; set up quick response mechanism termed as the crisis alert system. Each state is required to set up a crisis group and report on its work. |
| Factories Amendment Act, 1987 |
Provision to regulate siting of hazardous units; safety of workers and nearby residents and mandates for on-site emergency plans and disaster control measures |
| Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 |
Imposes a no-fault liability on the owner of hazardous substance and requires the owner to compensate victims of accident irrespective of any neglect or default. For this, the owner is required to take out an insurance policy covering potential liability from any accident. |
|
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: African Swine Fever
Mains level: Not Much
- Amid the coronavirus pandemic, another disease outbreak is affecting thousands of animals in Assam.
- Since February, over 2,900 pigs have died in the state due to African Swine Fever (ASF), which does not affect humans but can be catastrophic for pigs.
- This is the first time that an ASF outbreak has been reported in India.
As Flu is nowadays a lot in news, keep a tab on them for prelims. Be it the Swine Flue, African Swine Fever or even H5N1.
African Swine Fever (ASF)
- ASF is a severe viral disease that affects wild and domestic pigs typically resulting in an acute hemorrhagic fever.
- The disease has a case fatality rate (CFR) of about 100 per cent.
- Its routes of transmission include direct contact with an infected or wild pig (alive or dead), indirect contact through ingestion of contaminated material such as food waste, feed or garbage or through biological vectors such as ticks.
- The disease is characterized by the sudden deaths of pigs.
- Other manifestations of the disease include high fever, depression, anorexia, loss of appetite, hemorrhages in the skin, vomiting and diarrhoea among others.
How did the current outbreak start?
- As per the latest update issued by FAO, the current outbreak of ASF has affected China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Republic of Korea and Indonesia among others.
- In China, the first ASF outbreak was confirmed in August 2018 and since then more than 1 million pigs have been culled in the country.
- ASF came into India through Tibet into Arunachal Pradesh and then into Assam, the state with the highest population of pigs in the country.
How is ASF different from swine flu?
- Swine influenza or swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs, which is caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pig populations.
- While the swine flu causing virus leads to a high number of infections in pig herds, the disease is not as fatal and causes few deaths. Specific swine influenza vaccines are available for pigs.
- The swine flu viruses are spread among pigs through close contact and through contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs.
- Symptoms include fever, depression, coughing, discharge from the nose and eyes, eye redness or inflammation.
Vaccines availability
- As of now, there is no approved vaccine, which is also a reason why animals are culled to prevent the spread of infection.
- It is important that determination of ASF is made through laboratory testing and it is differentiated from Classical Swine Fever (CSF), whose signs may be similar to ASF, but is caused by a different virus for which a vaccine exists.
- Even so, while ASF is lethal, it is less infectious than other animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.
What is the impact ASF will have on pig farmers?
- Pig farmers in Assam describe the outbreak as a âdouble whammyâ since the COVID-19 lockdown was already impacting sales negatively.
- The outbreak has ruined the prospect of the Northeastern states as a hub for the export of pork products.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Luhman 16A, Binary star system
Mains level: Not Much
A group of international astrophysicists have identified cloud bands on the surface of Luhman 16A, one of a pair of binary brown dwarfs in the Vela constellation.
Space terminology has gained importance in prelims. The Luhman 16A coupled with few more examples of space concepts like binary star and dwarf star are discussed in this newscard.
Luhman 16A
- Luhman 16 is a binary star system, the third closest system to the Sun after Alpha Centauri and Barnardâs star.
- At a distance of about 6.5 light-years from the Sun, this pair of brown dwarfs referred to as Luhman 16A and Luhman 16B orbit each other, casting a dim light.
- Brown dwarfs are also called failed stars because their masses are intermediate to the largest planets and the smallest main sequence stars.
- Their masses being too small, they are unable to sustain fusion of their hydrogen to produce energy.
- It is believed that some of the more massive brown dwarfs fuse deuterium or lithium and glow faintly.
The cloud band over Luhman
- The group, by using the Very Large Telescope at European Southern Observatory, Chile, found that Luhman 16A had band-like clouds in its atmosphere, whereas the same was not true of Luhman 16B.
- Many astronomers detected polarization of brown dwarfs.
- But what is special in the newest study of Luhman 16 is that the researchers have found the actual structure of the clouds â that they form bands over one of the pair.
- Understanding the cloud system over a brown dwarf can shed light on the pressure, temperature and climate on the surface of the celestial body.
Why it has made into a headline?
- The researchers have used an idea put forth nearly two decades ago by Indian astrophysicist Sujan Sengupta, who works at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru.
- Sengupta had propounded the light emitted by a cloudy brown dwarf, or reflected off an extrasolar planet, will be polarized.
- He then suggested that a polarimetric technique could serve as a potential tool to probe the environment of these objects.
Back2Basics: Binary Star System
- A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common barycenter.
- Systems of two or more stars are called multiple star systems.
- These systems, especially when more distant, often appear to the unaided eye as a single point of light, and are then revealed as multiple by other means.
- Binary star systems are very important in astrophysics because calculations of their orbits allow the masses of their component stars to be directly determined.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Glaciers mentioned in the newscard
Mains level: Glacial surges and their impacts
Indian researchers have found a seasonal advancement in 220 surge-type glaciers in the Karakoram Range of Ladakh.
Points to note:
1) Open you map and revise the glaciers of Himalayan region.
2) Glacial landforms as Geographic phenomenon.
What are Glacial Surges?
Click here to see the animated view
- Glacial surges are short-lived events where a glacier can advance substantially, moving at velocities up to 100 times faster than normal.
- Until recently, most glaciologists believed that a glacier’s physical characteristics, such as its thickness and shape, and the properties of the terrain it sits on determining whether it can surge.
- Now, it is proved to believe an external factor also plays a major role: water from precipitation and melting.
- Pooling on the surface, it can infiltrate the glacier through crevasses and reach its base, warming, lubricating, and, ultimately, releasing the ice.
Why surging in the Karakoram is a concern?
- The behaviour of these glaciers, which represent 40% of the total glaciated area of the Karakoram, goes against the normal trend.
- Surging of glaciers is potentially catastrophic as it can lead to the destruction of villages, roads and bridges.
- It can also advance across a river valley and form the ice-dammed lake.
- These lakes can form catastrophic outburst floods.
- Therefore, monitoring of glacier surges, ice-dammed lake formation, and drainage is of paramount importance.
Which are these glaciers?
- The scientists focused on the Shispare and Muchuhar glaciers, former tributaries of the once larger Hasanabad Glacier situated in Hunza Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan.
Significance of the study
- The Surge-type glaciers oscillate between brief (months to years) rapid flow and lengthy (tens to hundreds of years) slow flow or stagnation, which are called the âactiveâ (or âsurgeâ) and âquiescentâ phases, respectively.
- This unsteady glacier flow makes it difficult to accurately assess individual glacier mass balances using in-situ observations.
- The study will help to understand the diversity of glacial behaviour and help make accurate assessments of individual glacier mass balances for disaster planning and management.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Various schemes mentioned in the newscard
Mains level: Energy saving and its significance in carbon emissions reduction
The Union Ministry of Power has released a Report on âImpact of energy efficiency measures for the year 2018-19â.
Things to note:
1) UJALA Scheme
2) PAT Scheme
3) Standards & Labeling Programme
Possible mains question:
Q. Discuss the role of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in “institutionalizing” energy efficiency services in India.
About the report
- This report was prepared by an Expert agency PWC Ltd, who was engaged by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
- The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance and impact of all the key energy efficiency programmes in India, in terms of total energy saved and the related reduction in CO2 emissions.
Data on energy savings
- With our energy efficiency initiatives, we have already reduced the energy intensity of our economy by 20% compared to 2005 levels. This includes both the Supply Side and Demand Side sectors of the economy.
- The implementation of various energy efficiency schemes has led to total electricity savings to the tune of 113.16 Billion Units in 2018-19, which is 9.39% of the net electricity consumption.
- Energy savings (electrical + thermal), achieved in the energy-consuming sectors is to the tune of 16.54 Mtoe, which is 2.84% of the net total energy consumption in 2018-19.
- Overall this has translated into savings worth INR 89,122 crores against last yearâs savings of INR 53,627 crore.
- These efforts have also contributed to reducing 151.74 Million Tonnes of CO2 emissions, whereas last year this number was 108 MTCO2.
(Note: Mtoe= million Tonne of Oil Equivalent)
What led to this significant savings?
- The study has identified the following major programmes, viz. Perform, Achieve and Trade Scheme, Standards &Labelling Programme, UJALA Programme, Municipal Demand Side Management Programme, etc.
- There is huge capacity still for bringing efficiencies especially in MSME sector and a Housing sector that has now been taken up.
About the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
- The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is an agency under the Ministry of Power created in March 2002 under the provisions of the nation’s 2001 Energy Conservation Act.
- Its function is to develop programs which will increase the conservation and efficient use of energy in India.
- The mission of BEE is to “institutionalize” energy efficiency services, enable delivery mechanisms in the country and provide leadership to energy efficiency in all sectors of the country.
Back2Basics
1) PAT Scheme
- Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme is a flagship programme of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).
- NMEEE is one of the eight national missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) launched in the year 2008.
- The scheme aims to reduce specific energy consumption in energy-intensive industries through certification of excess energy saving which can be traded.
- It refers to the calculation of Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) in the baseline year and projected SEC in the target year covering different forms of net energy going into the boundary of the designated consumersâ plant and the products leaving it over a particular cycle.
- Those eight Energy Intensive Sectors included are Chlor-alkali, Pulp & Paper, Textile, Aluminum, and Thermal Power plants, Fertilizer, Iron & Steel and Cement.
2) Standards & Labeling Programme
- It is one of the major thrust areas of BEE.
- A key objective of this scheme is to provide the consumer with an informed choice about the energy-saving and thereby the cost-saving potential of the relevant marketed product.
- The scheme targets display of energy performance labels on high energy end-use equipment & appliances and lay down minimum energy performance standards.
3) UJALA Scheme
- Launched in 2015, the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA), in a short span of time, has emerged as the worldâs largest domestic lighting programme.
- The main objective is to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient equipment which reduces electricity bills and helps preserve the environment.
- The Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) a public sector body of the Ministry of Power is implementing the programme.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Photodetectors and their applications
Mains level: NA
Indian scientists have fabricated an economical and energy-efficient wafer-scale photodetector using gold â silicon interface, for security applications.
A basic question on the working principle of Photodetectors can be asked in the Prelims.
What are Photodetectors?
- Photodetectors, also called photosensors, are sensors of light or other electromagnetic radiation.
- A photodetector has a pân (positive-negative) junction that converts light photons into the current.
- The absorbed photons make electron-hole pairs in the depletion region.
- Photodiodes and phototransistors are a few examples of photodetectors. Solar cells convert some of the light energy absorbed into electrical energy.
- The material cost and the intricate fabrication processes involved in realizing high-performance detectors make them unaffordable for day to day applications.
Applications
- Photodetectors are the heart of any optoelectronic circuit that can detect light.
- They are employed for a wide variety of applications ranging from controlling automatic lighting in supermarkets to detecting radiation from the outer galaxy as well as security-related applications.
- They range from simple devices that automatically open supermarket doors, to receivers on the TV remote controls.
What did Indian researchers achieve?
- The scientists have fabricated gold (Au) â silicon (Si) interface, which showed high sensitivity towards light demonstrating the photodetection action.
- The AuâSi interface was brought about by galvanic deposition, a technique for electroplating of metals, wherein water-based solutions (electrolytes) are used, which contain the metals to be deposited as ions.
- In addition, a nanostructured Au film also was deposited on top of p-type silicide (having an excess of positive charges), which acts as a charge collector.
Benefits
- Being a solution-based technique, the method is highly economical and enabled large-area fabrication without compromising the detector response.
- The process is quick, taking only minutes to fabricate a detector of any arbitrary area and exhibited a rapid response of 40 microseconds.
- This photodetector displayed long-term environmental stability.
- The Indian invention provides a simple and cost-effective solution-based fabrication method for high-performance photodetector.
- It could help detect weak scattered light as an indication of unwanted activity.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much.
Mains level: Paper 2-Challenges to the globalisation due to covid pandemic, apportunities for India
Multilateralism has been on the decline for some time now. The corona pandemic has acted like a catalyst to heightene this crisis. Chinaâs role in weaponising the interdependence of multilateralism would have far-reaching consequences to the world as we know it. Yet, the crisis presents India with some unique opportunities. What are these opportunities? How can we save multilateralism? or do we even need to? These questions and such other issues are discussed in the article.
The basic Idea
- Multilateralism has its benefits like to reduce the further spread of the virus, to develop effective medical treatments, and to curtail the worst effects of the inevitable recession- cooperation among nations will be necessary.
- But the very foundation of multilateralism is shaking today. Hence, the need of the hour is a meaningful fix.
- The US faces multiple internal challenges like the divisive Presidential election in November and China is facing a global crisis of credibility.
- Thus, India is uniquely positioned to help resuscitate multilateralism.
- New Delhi can assume leadership in strengthening constructive transnational cooperation.
- India may also help China: Through mediation to temper what is increasingly seen as Beijingâs unilateralist revisionism; revive the promise of the gradual socialisation of China into the international system; and its acceptance of the norms and rules that regulate the principal multilateral institutions.
So, when did the crisis of multilateralism start?
- The malaise that afflicts multilateralism is not new.
- 1) The paralysis of all three functions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) â negotiation, dispute settlement, and transparency â was one sign of that deep-rooted malaise.
- 2) The severely dented credibility of the World Health Organization (WHO) is just another more recent indicator.
- The pandemic has heightened the crisis of multilateralism, not created it.
- Pandemic has highlighted the misuse of international institutions (like WHO) and multilateralism is incapable of dealing with it.
Weaponisation of the global supply chain by China
- Post-war multilateral system was based on the idea of peace and prosperity.
- It was expected that economic inter-mingling among various countries would lead to peace.
- Most of the countries of were democratic and countries with a different system of governance were not part of this system.
- Our multinational institutions were not designed to handle the situation in which one country starts misusing its dominant position in interdependence (ex. global supply chains).
- The misuse of existing loopholes within the existing rules by China to gain an unfair advantage in trade relations was already attracting critique in the last years.
- China has been accused of forced technology requirements, intellectual property rights violations, and subsidies.
- But the pandemic has provided us with some even more alarming illustrations of how damaging the weaponisation of global supply chains can be.
Examples of China weaponising interdependence
- When India complained that test kits imported from China were faulty, China slammed it for âirresponsibleâ behaviour.
- When Australia indicated that it would conduct an independent investigation of Chinaâs early handling of the epidemic, China threatened it with economic consequences.
- Several actors, including the EU and India, were alarmed at the prospects of predatory takeovers of their companies by China.
Against this background, repeated calls by heads of governments and international organisations urging countries to remain committed to multilateralism ring hollow.
So, what are remedies to save multilateralism?
- 1. Policies with renewed commitment
- There is the need for reassurance and policies that reflect a renewed commitment to the raison dâĂ©tre of multilateralism.
- A âretreatingâ United States must demonstrate that it remains committed to strengthening global supply chains.
- Global supply chains must be based on the promise of ensuring global stability and the attendant promise of peace and prosperity.
- 2. Strategic separation of value chains
- There is an urgent need for some strategic decoupling, handled smartly in cooperation with other like-minded countries.
- It will undoubtedly cause considerable disruption to existing global value chains.
- We will be less prosperous. But we will also be more secure.
- 3. Closer integration with some distancing from others
- A multilateralism that recognises the need for decoupling will necessitate closer cooperation with some and distancing from others.
- Membership of such renewed multilateral institutions would not be universal.
- Rather, one would limit deep integration to countries with which one shares values â such as pluralism, democracy, liberalism, animal welfare rights, and more.
Opportunities for India
- India is a country whose pluralism, democracy and liberalism have often been underestimated by the West.
- As some constituencies in the West seek a gradual decoupling from China, they would be well served to look toward India.
- To make use of the opportunities, for itself and for the provision of certain global public goods, Indiaâs cooperation with like-minded actors will be key.
- India could work closely with the Alliance for Multilateralism, an initiative launched by Germany and France, to shape both the alliance itself and the reform agenda at large.
- Working together with a group of countries from the developed and developing countries could further amplify Indiaâs voice.
- China may recover faster than most economically, and its military might remains intact, its image as a reliable partner has suffered a huge dent.
- India could lead a coalition to bridge the deficit of trust between China and the rest of the world.
Consider the following question “Covid pandemic has been acting as a catalyst in precipitating the fall of global order and multilateralism. At the same time, we are well aware of the utility of the multilateralism. Examine the opportunities that falling global order provides for India in restoring it in the new form.”
Conclusion
The disruption in the global order provides India with a unique opportunity. One the one hand it has to steer the gradual decoupling with China and on the other hand, it has the opportunity to lead the coalition to bridge trust deficit with China. India should not squander these opportunities.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Perpetual bonds.
Mains level: Paper 3- What are the option available with the government to raise the money to fight the covid pandemic?
The government is exploring ways to raise money to deal with the destruction caused by COVID pandemic. One of the suggestion is the monetisation of fiscal deficit. But this article looks into an alternative approach of issuing bonds based on the idea of Consol bond issued by the British government during WW 2. So, how much amount needs to be raised? and why a perpetual bond like Consol bond is a suitable option for India? Read to know!
A gathering financial storm
- India projected a deficit of âč7.96-lakh crore in the Budget before the pandemic.
- Adding to the above concern: 1) Off-balance sheet borrowings of 1% of GDP. 2) The overly excessive target of âč2.1 lakh crore through disinvestments.
- Thus, financial deficit number is set to grow by a wide margin owing to corona crisis.
- There will be revenue shrinkage from the coming depression that will most certainly be accompanied by a lack of appetite for disinvestment.
Need for stimulus package and measures taken by the RBI
- In addition to the expenditure that was planned, the government has to spend anywhere between âč5-lakh crore and âč6-lakh crore as a stimulus package.
- The stimulus provided by the government so far and recent announcements by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) achieved little.
- All the RBIâs schemes are contingent on the availability of risk capital, the market for which has completely collapsed.
- The government and the RBI have tried several times to increase lending to below investment grade micro, small and medium enterprises, but have come up short each time.
- Furthermore, while the 60% increase in ways and means limits for States is a welcome move, many States have already asked for doubling the limits due to the shortages in indirect taxation collections from Goods and Services Tax, fuel and liquor.
- The government and the central bank need to understand that half measures will do more harm than good.
What is the Consol Bond?
- Consol bond is a form of British government bond that has no maturity and that pays a fixed coupon.
- Consols are basically rare examples of actual perpetual bonds.
- The bonds were issued in 1917 as the government sought to raise more money to finance the ongoing cost of the First World War.
So, why bond like Consol Bonds is a good option for India?
- There is no denying the fact that the traditional option of monetising the deficit by having the central bank buy government bonds is one worth pursuing.
- Citizensâ active participation is ensured in Consol Bond type alternative.
- Furthermore, with the fall of real estate and given the lack of safe havens outside of gold, the bond would offer a dual benefit as a risk-free investment for retail investors.
- When instrumented, it would be issued by the central government on a perpetual basis with a right to call it back when it seems fit.
- An attractive coupon rate for the bond or tax rebates could also be an incentive for investors.
- The government can consider a phased redemption of these bonds after the economy is put back on a path of high growth.
The solution of bond offered here could be a valuable addition in points to the answer to the question which asks about the ways to raise money. Consider the question, “Economic devastation caused by the COVID pandemic has forced the government to explore the various ways to raise the money. Discuss the options available with the government and issues associated with the options.”
Conclusion
Politicians and epidemiologists across the world have used the word âwarâ to describe the situation the world is currently in. So, to raise the money to fight this war against Covid-19, we can take the cue from past and issue bond based on the Consol bond.
Back2Basics: What is fiscal deficit?
- A fiscal deficit is a shortfall in a government’s income compared with its spending.
- The government that has a fiscal deficit is spending beyond its means.
- A fiscal deficit is calculated as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).
- There can be different types of deficit in a budget depending upon the types of receipts and expenditure we take into consideration. Accordingly, there are three concepts of the deficit, namely-
- Revenue deficit = Total revenue expenditure â Total revenue receipts.
- Fiscal deficit = Total expenditure â Total receipts excluding borrowings.
- Primary deficit = Fiscal deficit-Interest payments.
- Primary deficit shows how much government borrowing is going to meet expenses other than interest payments.
- Thus, zero primary deficits mean that the government has to resort to borrowing only to make interest payments.
- To know the amount of borrowing on account of current expenditure over revenue, we need to calculate the primary deficit.
- Thus, the primary deficit is equal to fiscal deficit less interest payments.
Perpetual Bonds
- A perpetual bond, also known as a “consol bond” or “prep,” is fixed income security with no maturity date.
- This type of bond is often considered a type of equity, rather than debt. One major drawback to these types of bonds is that they are not redeemable.
- However, the major benefit of them is that they pay a steady stream of interest payments forever.
- Perpetual bonds exist within a small niche of the bond market.
- This is mainly due to the fact that there are very few entities that are safe enough for investors to invest in a bond where the principal will never be repaid.
- AT-1 bonds which were recently in news due to YES bank failure is an example of a perpetual bond.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Fiscal deficit.
Mains level: Paper 3- Stimulus package to tackle the covid-19 impact.
There are many suggestions and expectations around the stimulus package deal to revive the economy crippled post corona pandemic. While everyone agrees over the need of stimulus but there are several opinions and suggestion around the various aspects of the package like size, time, source of revenue etc. But we must be mindful of the pitfalls and constraints while thinking about the stimulus package. So, what are the suggestion and expectation and what are the limitations? Read to know!
1. Supply-side constraints on stimulus
- It is argued that a fiscal stimulus package has to follow the timeline.
- But you cannot âstimulateâ an economy during a supply-side lockdown.
- And that there are âannouncement effectsâ â both good and bad â that go with the stimulus.
- So, any âgood stimulusâ can only come into effect post lockdown and extensive consultations are on with everyone for that.
2. What should be the size of the stimulus package?
- While thinking about the stimulus, we cannot forget that government revenues too will be seriously hit.
- The government revenue will be hit by 2-3% of GDP, given that disinvestment target itself is 1% of GDP and the realisation is likely to be close to zero in the current financial year.
- So, the effective fiscal deficit is going to be somewhere around 7.5 % if you take into account all the off-balance sheet borrowings.
- The U.S. government has set aside $2 trillion for bailouts or 9% of its GDP.
- Indiaâs starting point is going to be at around 7.5% of GDP fiscal deficit, then how much more can we afford on top of that?
- On top of this is all the âmerit expenditureâ on health and direct income support to the poor cannot be reduced.
- Can we still formulate a stimulus package comprising 10% of GDP, to be footed by the Central government alone?
  Monetising the deficit and debt-to-GDP ratio
- From 1947 to 1997, the Central government always routinely monetised its deficit, without leading to high rates of inflation, much less hyperinflation.
- The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) limits are hardly a success and routinely all governments have broken the barrier.
- Other countries with huge debt-to-GDP ratios like Japan (>200%) and U.S. (125%) get away with barely a rap on the knuckles.
- But India is pulled up for minor slippages on a 70% debt-GDP ratio.
3. Should we pay attention to needs and forget about affordability?
- Some have argued that bailouts should be based on need and not affordability.
- Can printing money be a solution out of this situation?
- Possible dangers of printing money: The currency could plunge, inflation soar high and rating agencies could downgrade us to junk.
- So, shouldnât there be a more nuanced approach to what constitutes a âgoodâ stimulus?
4. The problem of low credit flow despite high liquidity
- There is a lot of liquidity in the economy, but limited credit is flowing due to anaemic lending.
- Thus, another mantra being espoused is that bank managers should be incentivised to lend and the government should indemnify loans given during this period.
- This could well lead to bogus companies springing up overnight to grab the stimulus in collusion with banks.
- The government owes about âč1 lakh crore on tax refunds and also had promised to make up for any difference to the States, if the GST did not grow by 14% per annum.
- This is the time for it to transfer this to the States as a grant, for one year, to offset the revenue loss to States.
5. Should we go to the IMF?
- There is talk of going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- Do we really need the IMFâs bailout which comes with conditions when there is no foreign exchange crisis for financing rupee expenditure?
- Moreover, there is a perceived global stigma attached to doing so.
- Wonât the conditionality-led cure be worse than the disease?
Consider the following question based on the issue “Economic crises accentuate the role of governments. Covid-19 has not been different. In light of the above statement, discuss the various issues that the government faced while coming up with a stimulus package to revive the economy. What are the sources of revenue to be tapped by the government?”
Conclusion
Fate is what happens to us. Destiny is what we make in spite of our fate. Indiaâs destiny appears relatively safe, if we cast the mindâs eye around the globe. Lifting the lockdown will be the first step towards a good stimulus and one does need to un-handcuff a billion people to save their lives too.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Sarfaesi Act, 2002
Mains level: NPA issue
A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that all co-operative banks in the country could make use of the SARFAESI Act to make recovery against defaulting persons.
Possible mains question:
What is the SARFAESI Act, 2002? Discuss its various provisions and efficacy to curb Non-Performing Assets (NPAs)?
What is Sarfaesi Act, 2002?
- Sarfaesi is an acronym for Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest.
- It allows banks and other financial institution to auction residential or commercial properties (of Defaulter) to recover loans.
- The first asset reconstruction company (ARC) of India, ARCIL, was set up under this act.
- Under this act secured creditors (banks or financial institutions) have rights for enforcement of security interest under section 13 of SARFAESI Act, 2002.
Provisions of the Act
- If the borrower of financial assistance makes any default in repayment of a loan or any instalment and his account is classified as NPA by secured creditor, then secured creditor may require before the expiry of a period of limitation by written notice.
- The act does not apply to unsecured loans, loans below âč100,000 or where remaining debt is below 20% of the original principal.
- This law allowed the creation of asset reconstruction companies (ARC) and allowed banks to sell their non-performing assets to ARC’s (which are regulated by the RBI).
- Banks are allowed to take possession of the collateral property and sell it without the permission of a court.
To summarize, the SARFAESI Act empowers financial institutions to âseize and desistâ. They should give a notice to the defaulting borrower asking to repay the amount within 60 days.
If the debtor doesnât comply, the bank can resort to one of the three following measures:
1) Take possession of loan security
2) Sell or lease or assign the right over the security
3) Manage the asset or appoint someone to manage the same
Ambit of the Act
- The recent judgment said that the SARFAESI Act qualifies the test of legislative competence, as well as the definition, cannot be said to be beyond the competence of the Parliament.
- In 2013, the Gujarat High Court had, while hearing a challenge to the amendment of Banking Regulation Act of 1949, to include cooperative societies as financial institutions, ruled it null and void.
- The high court had then agreed with the submissions of the petitioners who had argued that Sarfaesi would not be applicable to cooperative banks formed under the state law.
- The Delhi High Court had, on the other hand, ruled that the cooperative banks and societies were for all purposes banks and financial institutions and thus were allowed to use Sarfaesi to make recoveries against defaulters.
- In its judgment, the apex court held that all such cooperative banks involved in the activities related to banking are covered within the meaning of âbanking companyâ.
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