💥UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (May Batch) + Access XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Archives: News

  • Family Courts: Need for Expansion and Reforms

    op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Schemes For Vulnerable Sections

    Central Idea

    • Mumbai’s only family court, inundated with divorce applications and family disputes, showcases a range of emotions and highlights the need for additional family courts to better address these complex and sensitive issues.

    The Nature of Family Court Cases

    • Mostly divorce cases: Common grounds for divorce include domestic violence, adultery, and dowry, but absurd reasons can also be found among the cases.
    • Other issues and counselling: Family courts handle not only divorce cases but also maintenance, child custody, and alimony cases, with judges first suggesting counseling for couples seeking to end their marriages.
    • Emotional scenes: Family courts witness heightened emotions, such as anger, blame, heartbreak, relief, and joy, as people struggle with the consequences of broken relationships.
    • Inequal treatment: Instances of inequality in the judicial system are evident, with influential individuals sometimes receiving preferential treatment.
    • Role of technology and empathy: During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-custodial parents sought to maintain contact with their children through video calls.
    • For instance: A lactation room was recently inaugurated at the Bandra family court to provide a refuge for women with infants amidst child custody and divorce proceedings.

    Why Family courts were established?

    • Family courts were established to provide a forum for speedy settlement of family-related disputes, emphasizing non-adversarial conflict resolution and promoting conciliation.

    What are the challenges faced by Family courts in India?

    • Backlog of cases: One of the most significant challenges faced by family courts in India is the backlog of cases. Family disputes are often complex and require a significant amount of time to resolve, which results in long waiting periods for litigants.
    • Lack of infrastructure: Many family courts in India lack adequate infrastructure, such as courtrooms, staff, and equipment, which makes it difficult to manage cases efficiently.
    • Shortage of judges: There is a shortage of judges in family courts, leading to delays in the disposal of cases.
    • Low awareness: Many people in India are not aware of the role and functions of family courts, which often leads to confusion and delays in the resolution of disputes.
    • Socio-cultural factors: In many cases, socio-cultural factors such as patriarchy, gender discrimination, and dowry-related issues pose significant challenges to family courts in India.
    • Limited jurisdiction: Family courts in India have limited jurisdiction and can only hear certain types of cases related to family disputes. This can result in some cases being heard by multiple courts, leading to delays and confusion.

    The Need for Expansion and Reform in Family Courts: A Case of Mumbai’s family court

    • With over 5,000 divorce cases pending in Mumbai’s family court, frivolous applications and counter-applications add to the pendency of cases and negatively impact children.
    • The current seven judges at Mumbai’s family court are insufficient to handle the caseload, and the promise of 14 additional family courts in Mumbai, along with one each in Thane and Navi Mumbai, is a much-needed and welcome move.

    Conclusion

    • Mumbai’s family court reveals the complexity and emotional intensity of family disputes, and the urgent need for additional family courts to better address these sensitive issues. Expanding the number of family courts will help ensure that more families receive the support and resolution they need during these challenging times.

    Mains Question

    Q. Establish the purpose of Family courts. Discuss the challenges faced by family court in India.

     

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

  • Water Management – Institutional Reforms, Conservation Efforts, etc.

    India’s Water Vision: Roadmap for a Sustainable Future

    op-ed snap | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Central Idea

    • India’s Water Vision addresses key water-related challenges, highlights ongoing interventions, and offers recommendations for ensuring sustainability and serving as a model for other countries to achieve clean water and sanitation for all.

    India’s Water vision

    • India’s Water Vision is a government initiative aimed at providing clean and safe water to all citizens of India.
    • It was launched in 2019 and aims to provide water security, improve water use efficiency, and increase the use of recycled water.
    • The initiative also focuses on conservation of water resources and promoting sustainable water practices.
    • It is a plan announced as part of the Prime Minister’s Vision India @ 2047 initiative.

    The Importance of India’s Water Vision

    • Climate change: India’s Water Vision comes at a critical time when the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report confirms the adverse impacts of human-caused climate change on water availability and security, and the UN 2023 Water Conference takes place after a 46-year gap.
    • G20 presidency: India’s G20 presidency can set an example for other countries to prioritize water action, leading to a global water action agenda with clear commitments and pledges to accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2030.

    Challenges and Interventions in India’s Water Sector

    • Jal Jeevan Mission: The Jal Jeevan Mission has increased tap connections in rural households, but there is a need to ensure reliability and quality of water supply through investments in source sustainability and water quality surveillance for improved social, economic, and public health outcomes.
    • Groundwater regulation: Strengthen groundwater governance by making substantial progress in decision-making through groundwater atlas, aquifer mapping, and extensive monitoring. Encourage states like Rajasthan and Punjab to pass bills and fully implement the central government’s model law for regulating groundwater.
    • Namami Gange Programme and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation: Focus on pollution abatement and river rejuvenation by improving wastewater management through initiatives like Namami Gange Programme and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. Realize the potential of treated wastewater for irrigation by strengthening treatment infrastructure and pricing freshwater adequately.
    • Per Drop More Crop initiative: Improve water use efficiency in irrigated agriculture by promoting micro-irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler technologies through the Per Drop More Crop initiative. Scale up water-saving technologies through targeted subsidies for small and marginal farmers.
    • Atal Bhujal Mission: Engage local communities in water management through programs like Atal Bhujal Mission, which aims to improve groundwater management in water-stressed blocks by involving communities in the preparation of water security plans, ensuring climate resilience.

    Recommendations for Ensuring Sustainability of Water Actions

    • Ensure sustainable source: Ensure access to safely managed domestic water services by focusing on source sustainability and water quality surveillance, leading to positive social, economic, and public health outcomes.
    • Prompt groundwater regulation: Encourage all states to fully implement groundwater regulation laws and take prompt action to address groundwater overexploitation, especially in major groundwater-consuming states.
    • Improve wastewater treatment: Strengthen wastewater treatment infrastructure to treat a larger proportion of municipal sewage and ensure that freshwater is adequately priced to promote safe reuse of treated water for irrigation.
    • Efficient water use practice: Scale up water-saving technologies in agriculture by providing targeted subsidies to small and marginal farmers, facilitating the adoption of water-efficient practices and potentially saving 20% of currently used irrigation water by 2050.
    • Improving community engagement: Support ongoing community engagement in water management by ensuring the development and implementation of annual water security plans, taking corrective action when necessary to ensure water security in vulnerable regions.

    Facts for prelims

    Initiative Objective
    Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Ensure piped water supply to every household in the country by 2024
    Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) Improve groundwater management in the country
    Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)              Provide irrigation facilities to all agricultural lands in the country
    National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) Collect, collate, and disseminate water-related data from various sources
    National Hydrology Project (NHP) Improve the country’s hydrological data management system
    Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) Create awareness about water conservation and promote the judicious use of water

    Conclusion

    • India’s Water Vision offers a comprehensive roadmap for addressing water-related challenges and achieving clean water and sanitation for all. By sharing its successes, discussing the sustainability of its initiatives, and offering support to other countries, India can leverage its G20 presidency to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 and serve as a model for global water action.

     

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

  • Electronic System Design and Manufacturing Sector – M-SIPS, National Policy on Electronics, etc.

    India’s Push for Semiconductors

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    semiconductor

    Central idea

    • The Indian government has given ₹1,645 crore in PLI incentives to electronics manufacturers to bring more of the supply chain to India.
    • There is a growing need for semiconductors as they are used in almost all modern electronics.
    • Many countries are moving away from China’s dominance in the sector due to supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical pressures.

    Semiconductor manufacturing in India

    • Invest India agency estimates electronics manufacturing to be worth $300 billion by 2025-26.
    • While finished product facilities have been growing, fabs for chipsets and displays are rarer.
    • Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is set to announce the first semiconductor manufacturing fab soon.
    • Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) suggests India to leverage its strength in the electronics manufacturing value chain.
    • Foundry companies require high investments while OSAT generate better margins.
    • Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) set-ups take care of less capital-intensive parts of chipmaking and run specialized tests.
    • Many chip facilities tend to be captive units of large companies.

    Importance of semiconductor manufacturing

    • Semiconductor fabrication units turn raw elements like silicon into integrated circuits used in practically all electronic hardware.
    • Fabs are highly capital-intensive undertakings costing billions of dollars for large facilities.
    • Fabs require a highly reliable and high-quality supply of water, electricity, and insulation from the elements, reflecting the high degree of precision, cost, and capital needed to make sophisticated circuits.
    • Countries have spotted strategic value in cornering segments of the value chain for fabs.
    • China has pulled ahead of Taiwan last year in terms of global sales from fabs.
    • The US passed the CHIPS Act to provide subsidies and investments to manufacturers opening fabs and making semiconductors in the US.
    • US also pushed some restrictions and sanctions on the Chinese semiconductor industry.

    India’s advantages in semiconductor manufacturing

    • India has an advantage in semiconductor manufacturing as a large portion of semiconductor design engineers globally are either Indian or Indian-origin.
    • Chipmaking firms such as Intel and NVIDIA have large facilities in India that are already flush with Indian talent working on design problems.
    • China is losing control over this advantage in the face of sanctions and an ageing population.
    • Experts believes that without a sustainable pipeline of high calibre talent, China’s goals for the semiconductor sector will not be achievable.

    Various challenges

    • Huge Investments involved: Semiconductor Fabrication facility requires many expensive devices to function. Complex tools and equipment are required to test quality and move silicon from location to location within the ultra-clean confines of the plant.
    • Economy of scale:  In semiconductor fabrication, a high volume of production is required to be maintain so as to meet the increasing demand of the marketplace, at the same time, a strong financial backing as Indian market is very much uncertain about financial fluctuations.
    • Requirement highly skilled labour: Semiconductor fabrication is a multiple-step sequence of photolithographic and chemical processing steps during which electronic circuits are gradually created on a wafer made of pure semiconducting material. This actually requires high skills.
    • Scarcity of raw materials: From a value-chain perspective, it needs silicon, Germanium & Gallium arsenide and Silicon carbide which are not available in India and needs to be imported.
    • Uncertain Indian market: A semiconductor fabrication facility in India cannot independently rely on Indian customers for their entire sales structure. They have to maintain overseas customer base to balance inflections from Indian market due to market trends, government policies etc.
    • Disposal of hazardous waste: Many toxic materials are used in the fabrication process such as arsenic, antimony, and phosphorus. Hazardous impact on the environment by the industry may act as an impediment to India’s commitment to mitigate climate change.

    Policy initiatives in India

    • Make in India:This aims to transform India into a global hub for Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM).
    • PLI scheme:In December 2021 the Centre sanctioned ₹76,000 crore under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to encourage the manufacturing of various semiconductor goods within India.
    • DLI scheme:It offers financial incentives, design infrastructure support across various stages of development and deployment of semiconductor design for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked design.
    • Digital RISC-V (DIR-V) program: It intends to enable the production of microprocessors in India in the upcoming days achieving industry-grade silicon and design wins by December 2023.
    • India Semiconductor Mission (ISM):The vision is to build a vibrant semiconductor and display design and innovation ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design

    Way forward

    To ensure greater resilience in a volatile world, India needs to undertake the following measures to sustain the domestic and global semiconductor demand:

    • Policy framework: As foundry setup is highly Capital intensive, it must be supported with a solid long term plan and financial backing. This backing is required from the entrepreneur & the government both.
    • Fiscal sustenance: In text of Indian Government as tax holiday, subsidy, zero duty, financial investment etc. will play an important role in promoting the Fab along with the semiconductor industry in India; this will put further pressure on already large Fiscal Deficit.
    • Support Infrastructure: World class, sustainable infrastructure, as required by a modern Fab be provided, with swift transportation, large quantity of pure water, uninterrupted electricity, communication, pollutant free environment etc.

    Conclusion

    • India’s electronic manufacturing incentive programs are geared towards breaking new ground in ambitious plans connected to popular brands such as Apple.
    • The Indian government is working to create an ecosystem that will facilitate sustainable growth and fiscal feasibility in the semiconductor industry.
    • The electronics value chain must be an international undertaking among like-minded nations with common values to be effective.

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

  • Forest Conservation Efforts – NFP, Western Ghats, etc.

    India’s disputed Compensatory Afforestation (CAMPA) Policy at odds with new IPCC report

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

     

    Central idea

    • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Synthesis Report, where the IPCC notes the significance of preserving natural ecosystems to mitigate climate change.
    • The report has raised concerns about the ongoing policy of afforestation in India that allows forests to be cut down and replaced elsewhere.

    Afforestation in India

    • Afforestation has become an increasingly contested policy in India.
    • The government has pledged to add “an additional (cumulative) carbon sink of 2.5-3 GtCO2e through additional forest and tree cover by 2030”.

    Why is CAMPA invoked in the IPCC report?

    • India’s Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has been accused of facilitating the destruction of natural ecosystems in exchange for forests to be set up elsewhere.

    What is CAMPA?

    • CAMPA is a body established by the Indian government in 2002 on the orders of the Supreme Court.
    • The purpose of CAMPA is to promote afforestation and regeneration activities as a way of compensating for forest land that has been diverted to non-forest uses, such as for dams, mines, and other development projects.
    • The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 requires project proponents to identify land elsewhere for afforestation and pay for the afforestation exercise.
    • The money paid by project proponents is deposited in a fund overseen by CAMPA.

    Controversies surrounding CAMPA

    • Unutilised fund: The money paid to CAMPA sits in a fund, but most of the fund remained unspent until 2013, leading to criticism of facilitating the destruction of natural ecosystems. In 2006-2012, the fund grew from Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 23,600 crore.
    • Threatening endangered landscape: CAMPA also came under fire for funding projects that endangered landscape connectivity and biodiversity corridors.
    • Unsustainability of artificial plantation: CAMPA has been accused for planting non-native species or artificial plantations that don’t compensate for the ecosystem loss.

    Why is forestation under CAMPA unsustainable?

    • Natural ecosystems sequester more carbon: This report highlights the importance of preserving natural ecosystems and reducing the conversion of natural ecosystems to mitigate climate change.
    • Renewable energy installation is more sustainable: The IPCC report also found that solar power has more mitigating potential than reducing the conversion of natural ecosystems, and wind power was the third highest.

    Conclusion

    • Preserving natural ecosystems should be recognized as an essential means to mitigate climate change, and environment impact assessments should include climate costs.
    • Policies such as afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and renewable energy must be carefully evaluated to reduce the impact of the climate crisis.

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    Disqualification of a MP over Criminal Charges

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Parliament & State Legislatures

    disqualification

    Central idea: A politician has been sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 defamation case filed against him for his remarks about the surname of a community. This conviction could lead to his disqualification.

    Disqualification of a Lawmaker

    Disqualification of a lawmaker is prescribed in three situations-

    1. Constitutional provisions: First is through Articles 102(1) and 191(1) for disqualification of a member of Parliament and a member of the Legislative Assembly respectively. The grounds here include holding an office of profit, being of unsound mind or insolvent or not having valid citizenship.
    2. Defection: It is in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides for the disqualification of the members on grounds of defection.
    3. Representation of The People Act (RPA), 1951: It provides for disqualification for conviction in criminal cases.

    Disqualification under RPA, 1951

    • It provides for disqualification for conviction in criminal cases.
    • Section 8 of the RPA deals with disqualification for conviction of offences.
    • The provision is aimed at “preventing the criminalisation of politics” and keeping ‘tainted’ lawmakers from contesting elections.

    Section 8(3) states: “A person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release.”

    Appeal and stay of disqualification

    • The disqualification can be reversed if a higher court grants a stay on the conviction or decides the appeal in favour of the convicted lawmaker.
    • In a 2018 decision in ‘Lok Prahari v Union of India’, the Supreme Court clarified that the disqualification “will not operate from the date of the stay of conviction by the appellate court.”
    • This means that Gandhi’s first appeal would be before the Surat Sessions Court and then before the Gujarat High Court.

    Changes in the Law

    • Under the RPA, Section 8(4) stated that the disqualification takes effect only “after three months have elapsed” from the date of conviction.
    • Within that period, lawmakers could file an appeal against the sentence before the High Court.
    • However, in the landmark 2013 ruling in ‘Lily Thomas v Union of India’, the Supreme Court struck down Section 8(4) of the RPA as unconstitutional.

    Lily Thomas Verdict

    • The Lily Thomas verdict was a landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of India in 2013.
    • The verdict struck down a provision in the Representation of the People Act (RPA), which allowed convicted lawmakers to continue in office if they filed an appeal within three months of their conviction.
    • The provision, which was part of Section 8(4) of the RPA, had been criticized for allowing convicted politicians to continue to hold public office while their appeals were pending in higher courts, and for contributing to the criminalization of politics in India.The verdict was seen as a major step towards cleaning up Indian politics and ensuring that convicted criminals do not get to occupy public offices.

     

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    What does ‘Guillotine’ refer to in legislative parlance?

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Parliament & State Legislatures

    Central idea: Amidst the ongoing stalemate in Parliament, some MPs said the government may guillotine the demands for grants and pass the Finance Bill without any discussion in the Lok Sabha.

    What is a Guillotine?

    • A guillotine is an apparatus designed for efficiently carrying out executions by beheading.
    • It consists of a large, weighted blade that is raised to the top of a tall, erect frame and released to fall on the neck of a condemned person secured at the bottom of the frame, executing them in a single, clean pass.
    • The origin of the exact device as well as the term can be found in France.
    • The design of the guillotine was intended to make capital punishment more reliable and less painful in accordance with new Enlightenment ideas of human rights.

    Guillotine Motion in Parliament

    • In legislative parlance, to “guillotine” means to bunch together and fast-track the passage of financial business.
    • It is a fairly common procedural exercise in Lok Sabha during the Budget Session.
    • After the Budget is presented, Parliament goes into recess for about three weeks, during which time the House Standing Committees examine Demands for Grants for various Ministries, and prepare reports.
    • After Parliament reassembles, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) draws up a schedule for discussions on the Demands for Grants.
    • Given the limitation of time, the House cannot take up the expenditure demands of all Ministries; therefore, the BAC identifies some important Ministries for discussion.
    • It usually lists Demands for Grants of the Ministries of Home, Defence, External Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development and Human Resource Development.

    Why use such a motion?

    • Members utilise the opportunity to discuss the policies and working of Ministries.
    • Once the House is done with these debates, the Speaker applies the “guillotine”, and all outstanding demands for grants are put to vote at once.
    • This usually happens on the last day earmarked for the discussion on the Budget.
    • The intention is to ensure the timely passage of the Finance Bill, marking the completion of the legislative exercise with regard to the Budget.

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-Japan

    Changing Geopolitical Landscape and India’s Diplomacy

    op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    Geopolitical

    Central Idea

    • The changing geopolitical landscape, characterized by realignments and recalibrations among major powers, demands nimble, flexible, and open-ended diplomacy from India, as it faces the challenges posed by the deepening partnership between Russia and China.

    Geopolitical

    Changing geopolitical landscape

    1. Geopolitical Churn overview:
    • Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida aims to elevate Indo-Pacific partnership with India.
    • Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Moscow to consolidate the Eurasian alliance with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
    • Recalibration of relations among major middle powers, such as the thaw between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
    • Such events signify the ongoing realignment of major powers in the world.\
    1. Realignment and Dealignment:
    • The breakdown of the post-Cold War world order has accelerated due to Russian aggression against Ukraine and the conflict over Taiwan.
    • Countries are adapting to the breakdown of the old order at different speeds and with varying senses of urgency.
    • Some trends in the geopolitical landscape are enduring, while others represent short-term adjustments.
    1. Middle East Dynamics:
    • Saudi-Iran rapprochement could be tactical or strategic, but the regional powers have some room for bargaining with both Russia-China and the West.
    • Domestic crises in Turkey and Iran might encourage them to scale down their foreign policy adventurism.
    1. East Asia Developments:
    • The recent summit between South Korea and Japan marked the first meeting between the two leaders in nearly twelve years.
    • The volatile domestic politics of South Korea and its deep economic relationship with China make the regional dynamic uncertain.
    • India needs to navigate this shifting regional landscape with agile diplomacy.
    1. Russia-China Partnership:
    • The deepening partnership between Russia and China poses challenges for India.
    • Different perspectives on how this partnership might affect India-Russia relations.

    Geopolitical

    Significance of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to India

    • Strengthening the Strategic Partnership: The visit helps to reaffirm and expand the strategic partnership between India and Japan, which is crucial for maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Both countries share common concerns about China’s growing influence and assertiveness, and the visit highlights their commitment to working together to address these challenges.
    • Enhancing Defense Cooperation: Kishida’s visit to India provides an opportunity for both countries to discuss ways to enhance defense cooperation, including joint military exercises, defense technology transfers, and collaboration on defense research and development. This collaboration could help both countries build their capabilities to address regional security challenges.
    • Expanding Economic Ties: The visit offers an opportunity to further expand trade and investment relations between India and Japan, which are already robust. Both countries can explore new areas of economic cooperation, such as infrastructure development, technology collaboration, and supply chain diversification, thereby reducing their dependence on China.
    • Focus on Connectivity and Infrastructure: Japan has been actively involved in major infrastructure projects in India, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and high-speed rail projects. Kishida’s visit could lead to further collaboration in connectivity initiatives, both within India and across the Indo-Pacific region.
    • Collaboration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Both India and Japan are committed to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development. Kishida’s visit can help strengthen cooperation in areas such as clean energy, low-carbon technologies, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
    • People-to-People Exchanges: The visit can also contribute to enhancing people-to-people exchanges between India and Japan, such as academic exchanges, cultural programs, and tourism promotion, which can foster greater understanding and goodwill between the two nations.

    Value addition

    The deepening partnership between Russia and China in recent years

    • Shared Interests: Both Russia and China have an interest in creating a multipolar world and countering Western dominance. They often share similar perspectives on international issues and work together in organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS.
    • Economic Ties: China has become Russia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching over $110 billion in 2020. Both countries have been working to strengthen their economic cooperation in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and technology.
    • Energy Cooperation: Russia is a major exporter of natural resources like oil and gas, and China is the world’s largest energy consumer. The two countries have signed numerous agreements on energy cooperation, including the construction of pipelines and joint development of natural gas projects.
    • Military Collaboration: Russia and China have increased their military cooperation in recent years, conducting joint military exercises and sharing defense technologies. Russia has been a significant arms supplier to China, helping to modernize the Chinese military.
    • Political Support: Both countries have supported each other on the international stage, often backing each other’s positions in the United Nations and other international forums. For instance, China has supported Russia’s stance on issues like Crimea and Syria, while Russia has backed China on issues related to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
    • Response to Western Sanctions: In the face of Western sanctions imposed on Russia due to its actions in Ukraine, the partnership with China has become increasingly important for Moscow. China has provided economic support to Russia, helping to mitigate the impact of these sanctions.
    • The US Factor: The United States’ strategic pivot to the Indo-Pacific and its efforts to counter China’s rise have pushed Beijing closer to Moscow. Likewise, strained US-Russia relations have led Moscow to seek stronger ties with Beijing.

    Russia and China axis: Implications for India

    • Strategic Concerns: A closer Russia-China alliance could potentially undermine India’s strategic interests, as both countries are India’s neighbors and have had historical disputes with it. A stronger partnership between Russia and China could complicate India’s efforts to maintain a balance of power in the region.
    • Impact on India-Russia Relations: India has traditionally enjoyed a strong relationship with Russia, especially in defense cooperation. However, Russia’s growing ties with China could potentially affect this relationship, as Moscow may prioritize its partnership with Beijing over New Delhi.
    • Influence in the Indo-Pacific: A stronger Russia-China partnership could challenge India’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region, where both countries are trying to expand their presence. This might lead to increased competition and tensions between India and the Russia-China alliance.
    • Security Challenges: Increased military cooperation between Russia and China might pose security challenges for India, as it could result in a more assertive and capable China in the region. This could also affect India’s efforts to maintain a stable security environment along its borders.
    • Multilateral Forums: India’s role in multilateral forums such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) might be impacted by the Russia-China partnership. India may find it challenging to pursue its interests in these forums if both countries work together to promote their shared goals.
    • Diplomatic Balancing Act: India will need to navigate a delicate diplomatic balancing act as it seeks to maintain strong ties with both Russia and the US, while also pursuing closer relations with countries in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s rise.
    • Economic Implications: India’s trade and investment relations with Russia and China could be affected by the evolving geopolitical situation. India might need to diversify its economic partnerships to minimize the risks associated with the Russia-China alliance.

    India’s diplomacy in response to the changing geopolitical landscape

    • Act East Policy: India has strengthened its focus on East and Southeast Asia, both economically and strategically, through the Act East Policy. This approach aims to deepen India’s engagement with the ASEAN countries, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, promoting regional connectivity, trade, and investment while also addressing shared security concerns.
    • Indo-Pacific Strategy: Recognizing the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region, India has been actively participating in regional forums and partnerships, such as the Quad (comprising India, Japan, Australia, and the United States). This strategy aims to maintain a rules-based order, ensure freedom of navigation, and promote regional stability in the face of China’s growing influence.
    • Balancing Relations with Major Powers: India has been navigating its relationships with major powers, such as the United States, Russia, and China. While India has strengthened its strategic partnership with the US, it also maintains its long-standing ties with Russia, despite Moscow’s growing closeness to Beijing. At the same time, India seeks to manage its complex relationship with China, balancing cooperation on regional and global issues with competition and strategic rivalry.
    • Neighbourhood First Policy: India has been prioritizing its relationships with its immediate neighbors in South Asia, focusing on enhancing connectivity, economic integration, and people-to-people exchanges. This policy aims to foster regional stability, counterbalance China’s growing influence, and promote India’s leadership role in the region.
    • Multilateralism and Global Governance: India has been actively participating in and seeking reforms in global governance institutions, such as the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council reflects its ambition to play a more significant role in shaping global norms and addressing shared challenges, such as climate change, sustainable development, and international terrorism.
    • Economic Diplomacy: India has been leveraging its economic diplomacy to attract foreign investment, promote its exports, and diversify its supply chains. By engaging with various regional trade blocs and negotiating bilateral trade agreements, India aims to integrate itself more closely with the global economy and enhance its economic competitiveness.

    Conclusion

    • As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift and evolve, India needs to adapt its diplomacy to navigate the changing dynamics effectively. The deepening partnership between Russia and China requires India to reassess its strategic relationships and adopt a flexible approach in dealing with both traditional and emerging partners.

    Mains Question

    Q. India-Japan relations have witnessed a significant transformation in recent years. Discuss the strategic significance of the bilateral partnership and also evaluate the challenges in further strengthening the relationship.

    Are you an IAS Worthy Aspirant? Get a reality check with the All India Smash UPSC Scholarship Test

    Get upto 100% Scholarship | 900 Registration till now | Only 100 Slots Left

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

  • Tuberculosis Elimination Strategy

    Strengthening the Fight Against Tuberculosis (TB)

    op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

    Tuberculosis

    Central Idea

    • The fight against tuberculosis (TB) has been going on for over 30 years since it was declared a global health emergency, yet the goal of ending TB by 2030 is still uncertain. The fight against TB needs a renewed focus on three key areas i.e., vaccine development, newer therapeutic agents, and improved diagnostics to meet the goal of ending TB by 2030.

    Background

    • In 1993, the World Health Organization declared TB a global health emergency and the 1993 World Development Report stated that TB treatment for adults was the best buy among all developmental interventions.
    • Since then, the global response to TB has been slow and lacks urgency.

    Global Fund

    • The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria was created in response to the call for action against TB at the G7 summit in Okinawa, Japan, in 2001.
    • The Global Fund has become the single largest channel of additional funding for global TB control.
    • However, it faces constraints due to zero-sum games from donor constituents and competition between the three diseases it finances.

    Tuberculosis

    StopTB Partnership

    • The StopTB Partnership was constituted to mobilize and marshal a disparate set of actors towards the goal of ending TB.
    • It has been adapting to changes, such as using molecular diagnostic tools developed to respond to bioterrorism to diagnose TB and using social safety programs to address the poverty drivers of the TB epidemic.

    Facts for prelims: Basics of TB

    • Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
    • It mainly affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body such as the kidneys, spine, and brain.
    • TB spreads through the air when a person with active TB disease in the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
    • Symptoms of TB include coughing that lasts for three or more weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood, fatigue, fever, and weight loss.
    • TB can be treated with antibiotics, but drug-resistant forms of TB are a growing concern.

    Tuberculosis

    Three key areas that need attention

    1. Vaccine development:
    • The development of an adult TB vaccine is the first area that needs urgent attention.
    • The current vaccine is 100 years old, and the development and wide use of an adult TB vaccine are essential to ending TB.
    • COVID-19 vaccine development process provides insights into accelerating the process.
    • India’s capabilities can play a significant role in vaccine development and equitable distribution.
    1. Newer therapeutic agents for TB:
    • A few new anti-TB drugs are available but face cost and production constraints.
    • Shorter, injection-free regimens are needed to improve compliance and reduce patient fatigue.
    • A continuous pipeline of new drugs is essential to combat drug resistance.
    1. Improved diagnostics:
    • AI-assisted handheld radiology and passive surveillance of cough sounds can revolutionize TB diagnostics.
    • Incentivize biotech startups to disrupt the complexity and price barriers of molecular testing.

    Tuberculosis

    Conclusion

    • India’s leadership role in the G20 and the upcoming StopTB Partnership board meeting in Varanasi provide the perfect opportunity for India to lead the way in ending TB. With the collective will and action of leaders, it is possible to end TB sooner rather than later.
    Are you an IAS Worthy Aspirant? Get a reality check with the All India Smash UPSC Scholarship Test

    Get upto 100% Scholarship | 900 Registration till now | Only 100 Slots Left

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

  • Financial Inclusion in India and Its Challenges

    Old Pension Scheme (OPS): A Call for Equitable Distribution of Resources

    op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    Pension

    Central Idea

    • The demand for the old pension scheme (OPS) is growing in India, particularly after some states announced plans to revert to it. The mainstream critique of OPS is centered around inefficiency and fiscal deficit concerns. However, it is crucial to examine the policy from the class and welfare perspectives.

    What is pension?

    • A pension is a retirement plan that provides a stream of income to individuals after they retire from their job or profession. It can be funded by employers, government agencies, or unions and is designed to ensure a steady income during retirement.

    What is Old Pension Scheme (OPS)?

    • The OPS, also known as the Defined Benefit Pension System, is a pension plan provided by the government for its employees in India.
    • Under the OPS, retired government employees receive a fixed monthly pension based on their last drawn salary and years of service.
    • This pension is funded by the government and paid out of its current revenues, leading to increased pension liabilities.

    Pension

    Did you know: The National Pension System (NPS)?

    • NPS is a market-linked, defined contribution pension system introduced in India in 2004 as a replacement for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
    • NPS is designed to provide retirement income to all Indian citizens, including government employees, private sector workers, and self-employed individuals.

    Analyzing the Impact of OPS on India’s Socio-Economic Landscape

    1. Inequality and Regressive Redistribution: Under the National Pension System (NPS), the Sixth Pay Commission increased the basic salary of government employees to cover pension contributions and promote post-retirement savings. As a result, the salary of a government employee is higher than the income of more than 90% of the population. The OPS thus acts as a regressive redistribution mechanism favoring a better-off class.
    2. Rising Pension Liabilities: Pension liabilities of the government increased substantially due to the Sixth pay matrix, reaching 9% of total state expenditure. By 2050, pension expenditure will account for 19.4% of total state expenditures, assuming the current growth rate remains constant.
    3. Disproportionate Burden on the Lower Class: The bottom 50% of the population faces the inequitable burden of indirect taxation, six times more than their income. Due to OPS, they must bear the burden of supporting government employees’ pensions, which could push them further into poverty.
    4. Expenditure Challenges and Public Goods: As India’s population ages and public provision of education and healthcare becomes more critical, OPS poses expenditure challenges for providing public goods. This situation compels governments to compress already low social sector expenditures, pushing marginalized groups into further destitution.
    5. Monopolization of Future Labor Markets: The OPS facilitates the monopolization of future labor markets in the private sector by a proprietary class, allowing supervisory bureaucracy to consolidate its position and emerge as a dominant group.

    Pension

    Recommendations for Equitable Resource Distribution

    • Opposition to the OPS should focus on equitable distribution of resources and expansion of universal provisions of public goods.
    • Implement a participatory pension system for government employees to provide more egalitarian outcomes.
    • Tweak the NPS to provide a guaranteed monthly return for lower-rung employees.
    • Address unequal pay among various ranks of employees through administrative reforms.
    • Advocate for progressive taxation of the top 10% and a rationalization of political executives’ pensions and profligacy.

    Facts for prelims: NPS vs OPS

    Parameter National Pension System (NPS) Old Pension Scheme (OPS)
    Type of System Defined Contribution System Defined Benefit System
    Funding Contributions from employee and employer Government-funded
    Investment Market-linked investments in various asset classes No direct investment involved
    Returns Subject to market risks Predetermined and not market-linked
    Pension Amount Depends on accumulated corpus and investment returns Based on last drawn salary and years of service
    Annuity & Lump-sum Withdrawal Minimum 40% corpus used to purchase annuity, remaining can be withdrawn as lump-sum Fixed monthly pension, no annuity or lump-sum withdrawal
    Portability Portable across jobs and sectors Limited to government employees
    Flexibility Choice of investment options, fund managers, and asset allocation No flexibility, pension determined by predefined formula

    Conclusion

    • It is essential to recognize the disenchantment with neoliberalism driving the demand for the OPS. Government employees and policymakers must work together to address the challenges posed by OPS and implement pension reforms that prioritize equitable resource distribution, efficient allocation, and social welfare.

    Mains Question

    Q. Compare and contrast OPS with the National Pension System (NPS) and discuss the impact of Old Pension Scheme (OPS) on India’s socio-economic landscape.

    Are you an IAS Worthy Aspirant? Get a reality check with the All India Smash UPSC Scholarship Test

    Get upto 100% Scholarship | 900 Registration till now | Only 100 Slots Left

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

  • Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

    Rajasthan becomes first state to guarantee Right to Health

    | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

    health

    The Rajasthan Assembly passed the Right to Health (RTH), even as doctors continued their protest against the Bill, demanding its complete withdrawal.

    Right to Health (RTH): A conceptual insight

    • RTH is a fundamental human right that guarantees everyone the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
    • It is recognized as a crucial element of the right to an adequate standard of living and is enshrined in international human rights law.

    Scope of RTH

    • RTH covers various health-related issues, including-
    1. Access to healthcare services, clean water and sanitation, adequate nutrition, healthy living and working conditions, health education, and disease prevention.
    2. Accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services,
    3. Eliminating barriers to healthcare access
    4. Informed consent to medical treatment and accessing information about their health.

    What is the Rajasthan Right to Health Bill?

    • Free treatment: RTH gives every resident of the state the right to avail free Out Patient Department (OPD) services and In Patient Department (IPD) services at all public health facilities and select private facilities.
    • Wider scope of healthcare: Free healthcare services will include consultation, drugs, diagnostics, emergency transport, procedures, and emergency care. However, there are conditions specified in the rules that will be formulated.
    • Free emergency treatment: Residents are entitled to emergency treatment and care without prepayment of fees or charges.
    • No delay in treatment: Hospitals cannot delay treatment on grounds of police clearance in medico-legal cases.
    • State reimbursement of charges: After emergency care and stabilisation, if patients do not pay requisite charges, healthcare providers can receive proper reimbursement from the state government.

    Existing schemes in Rajasthan

    • The flagship Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme provides free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh, which has been increased to Rs 25 lakh in the latest budget.
    • The Rajasthan Government Health Scheme covers government employees, ministers, current and former MLAs, etc.
    • The Nishulk Nirogi Rajasthan scheme provides free OPD and IPD services in government hospitals and covers about 1,600 medicines, 928 surgicals, and 185 sutures.
    • The Free Test scheme provides up to 90 free tests in government hospitals and has benefited 2.93 crore persons between March-December 2022.

    Need for the RTH Scheme

    • The state prioritizes healthcare and wants Rajasthan to be a great example of good health.
    • The Health Minister has received many complaints about private hospitals asking for money from patients who have the Chiranjeevi card.
    • So, they are bringing in a new law to stop this.
    • The new law will make sure that future governments follow it and provide free healthcare to everyone.

    Controversy with the RTH Law: Emergency Care Provisions

    • Emergency care was a contentious issue in the RTH.
    • The clause states that people have the right to emergency treatment and care for accidental emergency, emergency due to snake bite/animal bite and any other emergency decided by the State Health Authority under prescribed emergency circumstances.
    • Emergency treatment and care can be availed without prepayment of requisite fee or charges.
    • Public or private health institutions qualified to provide such care or treatment according to their level of health care can offer emergency care.

    Issues raised by healthcare professionals

    • Existing burden of schemes: Doctors are protesting against the RTH because they question the need for it when there are already schemes like Chiranjeevi that cover most of the population.
    • Specialization concerns: They are also objecting to certain clauses, such as defining “emergency” and being compelled to treat patients outside their specialty as part of an emergency.
    • Unnecessary obligations: The Bill empowers patients to choose the source of obtaining medicines or tests at all healthcare establishments, which means that hospitals cannot insist on in-house medicines or tests.

    Way forward

    • Given the contentious nature of the Bill, it is important for all stakeholders to come to the table and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the issues at hand.
    • It should involve liaison between government, doctors, patient advocacy groups, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the concerns raised by all parties and identify potential solutions.
    • This could be followed by a revision of the Bill, incorporating feedback and suggestions from all stakeholders, and a renewed effort to build consensus and support for the legislation.
    • Additionally, greater efforts could be made to improve transparency and accountability in the healthcare system, with a focus on educating patients about their rights.

     

    Are you an IAS Worthy Aspirant? Get a reality check with the All India Smash UPSC Scholarship Test

    Get upto 100% Scholarship | 900 Registration till now | Only 100 Slots Left

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Join the Community

Join us across Social Media platforms.