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

    Agriculture: An Inclusive Model of Madhya Pradesh

    op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Agriculture and related issues,Inclusive Growth & Issues

    Agriculture

    Central Idea

    • India is today a $3.5 trillion economy. As per the IMF forecast, If the current growth trend continues, the country is likely to be a $5.4 trillion economy by 2027.  No wonder, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the next 25 years, when India completes 100 years of Independence, as Amrit Kaal. There are lessons from Madhya Pradesh’s agriculture model for inclusive sustainable growth.

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    India’s Growth trajectory

    • India seems to be on the right path and is doing pretty well especially when compared to its progress in the first six decades after 1947.
    • As per IMF, it took India almost 59 years since Independence to become a $0.95 trillion economy in 2006. But then it became a $2.3 trillion economy by 2016 it added $1.35 trillion in 10 years.
    • In 2022, it became a $3.5 trillion economy by adding $1.2 trillion in just six years. If India stays this course, the country could rise to a $25 to $30 trillion economy by 2047.

    How inclusive is this growth?

    • Inclusiveness measurement and performance: Inclusiveness is measured by looking at the record of the laggard states, especially the so-called BIMARU states (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh), and also the performance of the agricultural sector that engages the largest share of workforce 46.5 per cent in 2020-21.
    • Performance of GDP at the state level: The country averaged a GDP growth of 6.7 per cent per annum in this period and its agri GDP growth stood at 3.8 per cent per annum. This is satisfying, though not as outstanding as China’s performance.
    • Of all the major states: Gujarat topped the list in overall GDP growth at 8.9 per cent closely followed by Uttarakhand (8.7 per cent), Telangana (8.6 per cent) and Haryana (8 per cent). At the bottom of this list were Jammu and Kashmir (5.2 per cent), Assam (5.4 per cent), West Bengal (5.5 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (5.6 per cent) and Jharkhand (5.7 per cent).
    • Madhya Pradesh (MP): MP is the only state whose agriculture contribution to overall GDP has increased to 40 per cent, as against 18.8 percent at the all-India level its model should aptly be described as inclusive and sustainable.
    • Jharkhand: Jharkhand has performed exceptionally well in agriculture with a growth rate of 6.4 per cent per annum, largely driven by diversification towards horticulture and livestock.
    • Punjab: In contrast, the Green Revolution champion Punjab hasn’t done well. Its Agri-GDP growth was a meagre 2 per cent per annum over this period.

    Inclusive and sustainable Model of Madhya Pradesh

    • Highest growth rate: Madhya Pradesh has performed very well it has clocked the highest growth rate in agriculture at 7.3 per cent. Its overall GDP growth is a respectable 7.5 per cent.
    • Agri-GDP growth is above India Agri-GDP growth: The state’s agri-GDP growth is way above the all India agri-GDP growth and the state is a shining example of doubling the contribution of horticulture in its value of agriculture and allied sector.
    • Well-diversified portfolio in agriculture: MP has made its mark as a top-notch player in tomato, garlic, mandarin oranges, pulses especially gram and soyabean cultivation. MP is also the second-largest producer of wheat after UP, and the third-largest milk producer after UP and Rajasthan.
    • Doubled irrigation coverage: It is following a well-diversified portfolio in agriculture while doubling irrigation coverage from 24 to 45.3 per cent of its gross cropped area over the last two decades.

    Conclusion

    • Madhya Pradesh agriculture model suggests that a well-diversified portfolio in crops is behind the high growth in the farm sector. This is inclusive and sustainable and offers a path for other Indian states.

    Mains Question

    Q. A well-diversified portfolio in crops could be an engine of high growth in India’s farm sector. Discuss. Support your answer with an illustration.

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  • Organ & Tissue Transplant- Policies, Technologies, etc.

    Organ transplant rules In India: A Significant Step

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

    transplant

    Central Idea

    • The changes to the organ transplant rules announced by the Union health ministry last week, are small, but significant, steps towards giving a new lease of life to many people with failing organs. Despite of performing the third-the greatest number of transplants in the world, only about 0.01 percent of Indians donate their organs after death, according to the World Health Organization.

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    What are the changes introduced?

    • No age ceiling for organ receivers: With the new changes, patients who are 65 years and older can now register for receiving organs from a deceased donor. Now an individual of any age can register for organ transplant.
    • Previously: Previously, the upper age limit for registering patients requiring organs from deceased donors was 65 years, but this ceiling has now been removed.
    • No domicile criteria for receivers: Eliminate the domicile criterion for registering to receive organs, so that patients in need can register in any state.
    • Previously: Currently, certain states restrict registration for deceased organ donors to only those who are domiciled in the state or give them preference. Organs harvested in one state are first shared with other hospitals within the same state, then in the region and then share nationally on the occasion that no match was found.
    • No registration fees: The ministry has also requested that states not impose any fees on patients seeking registration for organ transplantation, as it violates the 2014 Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules.
    • Previously: States such as Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat, and Telangana charge between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 to register patients who need an organ replacement. The health ministry has rightly directed these states to stop charging this fee.

    Where does India stand?

    • Third Highest number of transplants in the world: India conducts the third highest number of transplants in the world every year. Yet barely four per cent of the patients who require a liver, heart or kidney transplant manage to get one.
    • Organ transplants has significantly increased over the past decade: According to latest available official data, the number of organ transplants has significantly increased over the past decade. In 2013, there were 4,990 organ transplants, whereas in 2022, there were 15,561 a jump of 211 percent.
    • Kidney transplants: Specifically, the number of kidney transplants from living donors increased by approximately 181 percent from 3,495 in 2013 to 9,834 in 2022. The number of kidney transplants from deceased donors increased by approximately 193 percent from 542 in 2013 to 1,589 in 2022.
    • Liver transplants: The total number of liver transplants from living donors increased by approximately 350 percent from 658 in 2013 to 2,957 in 2022, and from deceased donors, it increased by approximately 217 percent from 240 in 2013 to 761 in 2022. Deceased donors account for nearly 17 percent of all transplants in India.
    • Heart and Lung transplants: The total number of heart transplants increased by approximately 733 percent from 30 in 2013 to 250 in 2022, while lung transplants increased by approximately 500 percent from 23 to 138.
    • Government hospitals fall behind: Furthermore, private hospitals lead in organ transplants while numbers in government hospitals remain relatively low, sources said.

    transplant

    Challenges to Organ Donation in India

    • Lack of awareness: There is a lack of awareness among the general public about the importance of organ donation, the legal framework governing it, and the procedures involved. This can limit the number of potential donors.
    • Cultural beliefs and superstitions: In India, there are several cultural beliefs and superstitions that discourage organ donation. Some people believe that organ donation is against religious beliefs, or that it can impact the soul or afterlife.
    • Lack of infrastructure: India faces a shortage of hospitals and medical facilities that are equipped to handle organ transplantation. This can limit the availability of organs for transplantation.
    • Regulatory bottlenecks: While the legal framework exists, there is a lack of implementation and enforcement of the law. This can lead to issues such as organ trafficking and black-market activities.

    Did you know?

    • NOTTO Scientific Dialogue 2023 was organized to bring all the stakeholders under one roof to brainstorm ideas about interventions and best practices in the organ and tissue transplant field that can be taken up for saving lives.

    What is National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO)?

    • NOTTO is a national level organization set up under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
    • It has following two divisions:
    • National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network: It functions as apex Centre for All India activities of coordination and networking for procurement and distribution of Organs and Tissues and registry of Organs and Tissues Donation and Transplantation in the country
    • National Biomaterial Centre: The main thrust & objective of establishing the centre is to fill up the gap between ‘Demand’ and ‘Supply’ as well as ‘Quality Assurance’ in the availability of various tissues. The centre will take care of the Tissue allografts such as Bone and bone products, Skin graft, Cornea and Heart valves and vessel.

    Conclusion

    • The percentages are very likely to go up once the changes in the rules announced last week take effect. The organ shortage problem is, however, a complex one, that continues to confound planners, even in nations whose healthcare systems are far better equipped than that of India’s. There is a need to expand the number of institutions where surgeries and transplants are undertaken. A uniform policy, will help patients in seeking transplant from deceased donors at any hospital in the country, giving them a lot of flexibility.

    Mains Question

    Q. Despite of performing the third-the greatest number of transplants in the world, only about 0.01 percent of Indians donate their organs after death. Discuss the recent changes in the rules of transplantation suggested by Union Health Ministry.

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  • Goods and Services Tax (GST)

    GST Appellate Tribunal gets nod

    | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Statutory, Regulatory & Various Quasi-Judicial Bodies

    The GST Council reached a broad consensus on setting up GST Appellate Tribunal; likely to be included in Finance Bill 2023.

    What is GST Appellate Tribunal?

    • The GST Appellate Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body proposed to be established to resolve disputes related to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India.
    • It will function as an independent body to hear appeals against orders passed by the GST authorities or the Appellate Authority.
    • The tribunal will be composed of a national bench and various regional benches, headed by a chairperson appointed by the central government.
    • The proposed tribunal is expected to help expedite the resolution of disputes related to GST and reduce the burden on the judiciary.

    Under GST, if a person is not satisfied with the decision passed by any lower court, an appeal can be raised to a higher court, the hierarchy for the same is as follows (from low to high):

    1. Adjudicating Authority
    2. Appellate Authority
    3. Appellate Tribunal
    4. High Court
    5. Supreme Court

    Why need such Tribunal?

    • Unburden judiciary: GST Appellate Tribunal will help resolve the rising number of disputes under the 68-month old indirect tax regime that are now clogging High Courts and other judicial fora.
    • Improve efficiency of GST System: Overall, the establishment of the GST Appellate Tribunal is expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the GST system in India.
    • Independent mechanism: The proposed Tribunal will provide an independent and efficient mechanism for resolving disputes related to GST.
    • Avoid tax evasion: It will help to expedite the resolution of disputes, reduce the burden on the judiciary, and promote greater certainty and predictability in the GST system.

    Issues with present litigation

    • Compliance issues: The GST system is relatively new in India, having been implemented in 2017, and there have been several issues with compliance and interpretation of rules and regulations.
    • Complex adjudication hierarchy: The current dispute resolution mechanism involves multiple layers of adjudication, starting with the GST officer and as mentioned above.
    • Time consuming process: This process can be time-consuming, costly, and burdensome for taxpayers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.

    How is it being established?

    • The proposed GST Appellate Tribunal is expected to be included in the Finance Bill 2023.
    • This means that it will become a part of the central government’s budget, and will have legal standing.

    Do you know?

    Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) was the first Tribunal in India to be created on 25th January, 1941 and is also known as ‘Mother Tribunal’! And it functions under the Ministry of Law and Justice and not the obvious looking Ministry of Finance.

    Back2Basics: What is a Finance Bill?

    • A Finance Bill is a proposed legislation that is introduced by the government to implement the financial proposals of the Union Budget for the upcoming financial year in India.
    • It is a comprehensive document that outlines the government’s revenue and expenditure for the year, including changes in tax laws, tariffs, customs duties, and other fiscal measures.
    • Since the Union Budget deals with these things, it is passed as a Finance Bill.

    Types of Finance Bills

    • There are different kinds of Finance Bills — the most important of them is the Money Bill. The Money Bill is concretely defined in Article 110.
    • In India, there are three types of Finance Bills that can be introduced in the Parliament:
    1. Annual Finance Bill: This is the most common type of Finance Bill and is introduced by the government every year to give effect to the tax proposals announced in the Union Budget. It contains provisions related to taxation, expenditure, and revenue collection for the upcoming financial year.
    2. Finance Bill (Money Bill): A Money Bill is a type of Finance Bill that contains only provisions related to taxation and expenditure, but does not include any other matter. Money Bills are deemed to be passed by the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, and do not require approval from the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament.
    3. Finance Bill (Non-Money Bill): This type of Finance Bill contains provisions related to taxation and other matters, such as changes in the structure of regulatory bodies or the introduction of new policies. Unlike Money Bills, Non-Money Bills must be passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to become law.

    How is money bill different from Finance Bill?

    • A Money Bill is certified by the Speaker as such — in other words, only those Financial Bills that carry the Speaker’s certification are Money Bills.
    • Article 110 states that a Bill shall be deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters:

    (a) the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax;

    (b) the regulation of the borrowing of money or any financial obligations undertaken

    (c) the custody of the consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund;

    (d) the appropriation of moneys out of the consolidated Fund of India;

    (e) the declaring of any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure;

    (f) the receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of India or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money or the audit of the accounts of the Union or of a State; or

    (g) any matter incidental to any of the matters specified in sub clause (a) to (f)

     

     

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  • Capital Markets: Challenges and Developments

    The National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC)

    | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    The National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) has decided to involve international property consultancy firms to speed up the process of making money by selling or leasing the land owned by the government.

    What is NLMC?

    • NLMC is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) announced in the Union Budget 2021-22 to carry out monetisation of government and surplus land holdings of public sector undertakings (PSU).
    • It falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance and is set up with an initial authorised share capital of ₹5,000 crore and a paid-up capital of ₹150 crore.
    • It is a firm, fully owned by the government, to carry out the monetisation of government and public sector assets in the form of surplus, unused or underused land assets.

    Aims and objectives

    • Monetize underutilised or unused land parcels of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)
    • Facilitate the monetisation of assets belonging to PSUs that have ceased operations or are in line for a strategic disinvestment.
    • Transfer of revenue rights: When the government monetises its assets, it essentially means that it is transferring the revenue rights of the asset (could be idle land, infrastructure, PSU) to a private player for a specified period of time.
    • Govt as facilitator: In such a transaction, the government gets in return an upfront payment from the private entity, regular share of the revenue generated from the asset, a promise of steady investment into the asset, and the title rights to the monetised asset.

    Significant outcomes of land monetization

    • Maximum value realization: It will help monetise them in an efficient and professional manner, maximizing the scope of value realisation.
    • Speed up the process: The setting of the NLMC will speed up the closure process of the CPSEs and smoothen the strategic disinvestment process.
    • Capitalize land assets: It will also enable productive utilisation of these under-utilized assets by setting in motion private sector investments.
    • Economic revitalization: It will boost new economic activities such as industrialisation, boosting the local economy by generating employment and generating financial resources for potential economic and social infrastructure.
    • Advisory to the govt: Besides managing and monetising, the NLMC will act as an advisory body and support other government entities and CPSEs in identifying their surplus non-core assets.

    Need for land monetization

    There are different reasons why the government monetizes its assets.

    • New sources of revenue: One of them is to create new sources of revenue essential to fulfil the government’s target of achieving a $5 trillion economy.
    • Plummeting underutilized assets: Monetisation is also done to unlock the potential of unused or underused assets by involving institutional investors or private players.
    • Capital generation: It is also done to generate resources or capital for future asset creation, such as using the money generated from monetisation to create new infrastructure projects.

    Possible challenges for NLMC

    (1) Volatile market situation

    • The performance and productivity of the NLMC will also depend on the government’s performance on its disinvestment targets.
    • In FY 2021-22, the government has hardly been able to raise expected amounts through various forms of disinvestment.

    (2) Issues with transfer of rights

    • The process of asset monetisation does not end when the government transfers revenue rights to private players.
    • Identifying profitable revenue streams for the monetised land assets, ensuring adequate investment by the private player and setting up a dispute-resolution mechanism are also important tasks.

    (3) Unattractiveness of PPP Model

    • Posing as another potential challenge would be the use of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a monetisation model.
    • For instance, the results of the Centre’s PPP initiative launched in 2020 for the Railways were not encouraging.

    (4) Red tapism

    • The success of the initiative will depend on a range of factors, including the availability of suitable land parcels, market demand etc.
    • It will be highly dependent upon the ability of the government to execute the transactions efficiently.

    Conclusion

    • The government’s move to monetize its vast land assets is aimed at reducing the fiscal burden and boosting infrastructure development in the country.
    • By bringing in international property consultants to help with the process, the government hopes to improve efficiency and transparency, and maximize the returns on its land assets.
    • If successful, the government’s land monetization drive could provide a much-needed boost to the economy and create new opportunities for private investment in the real estate sector.

     

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  • Capital Markets: Challenges and Developments

    How is the Stock Market regulated in India?

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

    stock

    The Supreme Court asked the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the government to produce the existing regulatory framework in place to protect investors from stock market volatility.

    Central idea

    • After short-seller Hindenburg Research published a report accusing the Adani Group of stock market manipulation and accounting fraud, its shares plummeted.
    • Investors were reported to have lost lakhs of crores.

    Laws governing the Indian Stock Market

    • The securities market in India is regulated by four key laws —
    1. Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (SEBI Act)
    2. Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (SCRA) and
    3. Depositories Act, 1996
    4. Companies Act, 2013
    • The framing of these laws reflect the evolution and development of the capital market in India.

    Brief explanation of each acts-

    (1) Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (SEBI Act)

    (2) Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (SCRA)

    • The SCRA empowers SEBI to recognise (and derecognise) stock exchanges, prescribe rules and bye laws for their functioning, and regulate trading, clearing and settlement on stock exchanges.

    (3) Depositories Act, 1996

    • As part of the development of the securities market, Parliament passed the Depositories Act and SEBI made regulations to enforce the provisions.
    • This Act introduced and legitimised the concept of dematerialised securities being held in an electronic form.
    • Today almost all the listed securities are held in dematerialised form.

    (4) Companies Act, 2013

    • It is an Act of the Parliament on Indian company law that regulates incorporation of a company, responsibilities of a company, directors, and dissolution of a company.
    • It stipulates the type of Companies that can be formed such as- Public Ltd., Pt. Ltd., One Person Company ex.

    Key role-player: SEBI

    • SEBI set up the infrastructure for doing this by registering depositories and depository participants.
    • The depository regulations empower SEBI to regulate functioning of depositories and depository participants by prescribing eligibility conditions, periodic inspections and powers to impose penalties including suspending or cancelling the registration as well as monetary penalties.

    You should know this!

    Shares and stocks both represent ownership in a company, but they are not the same thing

    • A share is a unit of ownership in a company. It represents a portion of the company’s capital, and the shareholder is entitled to a corresponding portion of the company’s profits or losses.
    • A company can issue different types of shares with varying rights, such as voting rights or dividend payments.
    • Stock, on the other hand, is a broader term that refers to the total capital raised by a company through the issuance of shares.
    • It represents the ownership of a company as a whole, rather than an individual unit of ownership.
    • So, shares are a component of stock, and owning shares of a company means owning a portion of the company’s stock. Stock represents the aggregate value of a company and includes all its shares.

    Can SEBI step in to curb market volatility?

    • No direct meddling: While SEBI does not interfere to prevent market volatility, exchanges have circuit filters — upper and lower — to prevent excessive volatility.
    • Issue directions: SEBI can issue directions to those who are associated with the market, and has powers to regulate trading and settlement on stock exchanges. Using these powers, SEBI can direct stock exchanges to stop trading, totally or selectively.
    • Instant regulation: It can also prohibit entities or persons from buying, selling or dealing in securities, from raising funds from the market and being associated with intermediaries or listed companies.

    What about stock exchanges?

    • The SCRA has empowered SEBI to recognise and regulate stock exchanges and later commodity exchanges in India; this was earlier done by the Union government.
    • In fact, the term “securities” is defined in the SCRA and powers to declare an instrument as a security remain vested in SEBI.
    • The rules and regulations made by SEBI under the SCRA relate to listing of securities like equity shares, the functioning of stock exchanges including control over their management and administration.
    • These include powers to determine the manner in which a settlement is done on stock exchanges (and to keep them with the times for e.g. T+1) etc.
    • It seeks to protect the interests of investors by creating an Investor Protection Fund for each stock exchange.

    Safeguards against fraud

    • Fraud undermines regulation and prevents a market from being fair and transparent. To prevent the two key forms of fraud, market manipulation, and insider trading, SEBI notified-
    1. Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices Regulations, 1995
    2. Prohibition of Insider Trading Regulations, 1992
    • These regulations, read with provisions of the SEBI Act, define species of fraud, who is an insider and prohibit such fraudulent activity and provide for penalties including disgorgement of ill-gotten gains.
    • It must be noted that violation of these regulations are predicate offences that can lead to a deemed violation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

    Do you know?

    • SEBI has been given the powers of a civil court to summon persons, seize documents and records, attach bank accounts and property, and to carry out investigations.
    • Using these powers, SEBI has acted against entities and individuals like Satyam, Sahara India, Ketan Parekh and Vijay Mallya.

     

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Underwater noise emissions pose threat to Indian Marine species: Study

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3:

    noise

    Central idea: The rising man-made (anthropogenic) underwater noise emissions (UNE) from ships in the Indian waters are posing a threat to the life of marine mammals like Bottlenose Dolphin, Manatees, Pilot Whale, Seal, and Sperm Whale.

    What is Underwater Noise Emissions (UNE)?

    • Underwater noise emissions (UNE) refer to sounds that are produced underwater as a result of various human activities such as shipping, oil and gas exploration, military sonar, and construction.
    • UNE can have a significant impact on marine life, as many marine animals rely on sound for communication, navigation, and foraging.
    • Excessive underwater noise can interfere with these activities, and can even cause physical harm to marine animals in some cases.
    • As a result, there is growing concerned about the potential impact of UNE on marine ecosystems, and efforts are being made to better understand and mitigate these impacts.

    UNE and marine life

    • Impacts behavioural aspects: The main form of energy for multiple behavioural activities of marine mammals, which include mating, communal interaction, feeding, cluster cohesion and foraging, is based on sound.
    • Threats posed by UNE: The sound that radiates from ships on a long-term basis affects them and results in internal injuries, loss of hearing ability, change in behavioural responses, masking, and stress.

    Key findings about Indian waters

    • Continuous shipping movement is identified to be a major contributor to the increase in the global ocean noise level.
    • The UNE or underwater sound pressure levels in the Indian waters are 102-115 decibels, relative to one microPascal (dB re 1µ Pa).
    • The East Coast level is slightly higher than that of the West, where there is an increase by a significant value of about 20 dB re 1µPa.
    • “The frequencies of ships’ underwater self-noise and machinery vibration levels are overlapping the marine species’ communication frequencies in the low-frequency range of less than 500 Hz.
    • This is called masking, which could have led to a change in the migration route of the marine species to the shallow regions and also making it difficult for them to go back to the deeper water.

     

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  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    Diyodar meteorite in 2022 was India’s first Aubrite in 170 years

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    meteorite

    Central idea: A rare and unique meteorite, known as the Diyodar meteorite, was discovered in Banaskantha, Gujarat in December 2022. It is significant because it is the first aubrite to be found in India in 170 years.

    What are Aubrites?

    • Aubrites are a type of meteorite that are believed to have formed on a different planet in the early solar system.
    • They are known for their unusual mineralogy and composition and are believed to have originated from a differentiated parent body, such as an asteroid or a planetesimal.
    • They are primarily composed of a mineral called enstatite, which is a magnesium-rich silicate. They also contain other minerals such as nickel-iron, troilite, and chromite.
    • Aubrites are relatively rare, comprising only about 0.1% of all known meteorites.
    • They are believed to have formed under highly reducing conditions, with very little oxygen present.

    Meteorite found in Diyodar, Gujarat

    • The Diyodar meteorite is thought to be around 4.5 billion years old, and it is believed to have originated from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
    • Its discovery provides scientists with an opportunity to study the composition and structure of these unique meteorites.
    • This, in turn, can help researchers to better understand the early solar system and the processes that led to the formation of planets.

    Its composition

    • Around 90% of the meteorite was composed of orthopyroxene.
    • Pyroxenes are silicates consisting of single chains of silica tetrahedra (SiO 4); orthopyroxenes are pyroxenes with a certain structure.
    • Pyroxenes such as diopside and jadeite have been used as gems. Spodumene was historically used as lithium ore.
    • Rocks with pyroxene have also been used to make a crushed stone that is used in construction.

     

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  • Higher Education – RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, etc.

    The question in the minds of students: How to be future-ready?

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

    students

    Central Idea

    • Intelligent Machines are revealing glimpses of a future envisaged long ago in science fiction as they steadily morph from human-assist systems to systems-as-human. The currently indispensable face obsolescence. The question in the minds of students entering college is this: How to be future-ready?

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    Learn quickly to swim through these rapidly evolving times

    • Work at the edges of disciplines: Now, one not only needs to be competent in a major area but also learn new topics quickly and deeply and be able to work at the edges of disciplines, while innovating constantly.
    • Skills are new oil: Capability is judged not only by grades, but also by skills demonstrated in complex situations.
    • Rapidly changing times: Worth will also be measured vis-a-vis Artificial Intelligence. Critical and original thinking, quality communication, IQ-EQ balance, and ethics will remain important strengths for swimming through these rapidly evolving times.
    • Change is already in the air: Students and institutions are evolving, the former much faster, to assimilate advancements and prepare for the times ahead.
    • Colleges must enable students to follow flexible pathways: There are options for dual degrees, minors, specialisations across disciplines in their home institutions as well as certifications from worldwide venues. External experiences like internships in industry, academia, research institutions and start-ups add value to a candidate’s capability repertoire.

    students

    What is needed to prepare for entering the world?

    1. Move across disciplines
    • A combination of core and transdisciplinary professional competence: To be prepared for the future, one needs to learn new things quickly and thoroughly, constantly sharpening one’s cutting edge. This attitude needs to be ingrained at this stage.
    • Average performance and shallow knowledge are a recipe for disaster: It is also necessary to demonstrate personal excellence in a few relevant areas. Completing tasks well is really important.
    1. Learn to add value to machine intelligence
    • Grasp and utilise Automation effectively: Automation is not only relieving us of mundane work but slowly and steadily encroaching upon tasks meant for so-called intelligent humans and doing them better. One must effectively grasp and utilise it rather than fear and shy away.
    • For instance, learn from open sources: Many students are building amazingly smart systems using open-source platforms and off-the-shelf components with ambitions to take on giants.
    • Using Artificial Intelligence with consciously: Learning to add value to machine intelligence for solving complex problems better is the mantra here. For this, one needs to understand how it works, what are its current limitations and pitfalls, develop deeper insights and innovate. Blind usage of Artificial Intelligence could be dangerous.
    1. Learn to collaborate
    • Ability to work both alone as well as in a group: The next proficiency to develop is to be able to work both alone as well as in a group, to creatively ideate, lead and collaborate towards success. Often, people who work alone find it difficult working in a team and vice versa. Now both aptitudes are required.
    • Entrepreneurial spirit of sprinting is must: One requires a special bonding of steadiness with speed, constant ideation with dogged persistence. Such an entrepreneurial spirit of sprinting a long-distance race steadily, sometimes in a team, sometimes alone will be needed at every stage of a career, whether at the peak of success or in the trenches of failure.
    1. Remain human
    • Intellectual-emotional balance: Technology has an interesting way of transforming human beings into automatons without the victim being aware. With extensive usage, people begin to think and behave the way machines work. Therefore, a critical aspect to nurture is to remain human.
    • Learn to replenish the mind and body regularly: It is vital to nourish a soulful side through sports, arts, culture, philosophy and humanitarian work, not just as part of a curriculum, but as a passion where one can be blissfully immersed, forgetting everything else for some time.

    students

    Conclusion

    • In the rapidly-evolving world, the key to success is to be future-ready by developing a unique combination of skills that set us apart from machines. Colleges and universities must enable students to follow flexible pathways, combining core and transdisciplinary professional competence, completing tasks well, and developing personal excellence in relevant areas. By embracing these ideas and staying ahead of the curve, we can be confident in our ability to thrive in an increasingly automated and technology-driven world.

    Main question

    Q. The future of society is not as much dependent on whether machines will become human-like but more on whether humans will become machines. Discuss

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  • Terrorism and Challenges Related To It

    An Overview : UAPA and The Concerns

    op-ed snap | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3:

    UAPA

    Central Idea

    • India’s anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has been misused and turned into a tool of terror. There are two examples of this misuse in recent times. In 2021, Muhammad Manan Dar, a young Kashmiri photojournalist, was arrested and imprisoned for documenting the daily lives of common Kashmiris with his camera. A year earlier, another journalist, Sidheeque Kappan, was charged with participating in a plot to ignite rioting in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh.

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    Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act (UAPA)

    • Background: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is an anti-terrorism law in India that was first introduced in 1967.
    • Purpose: The purpose of UAPA is to prevent unlawful activities that threaten the sovereignty and integrity of India.
    • Amendments: UAPA has undergone several revisions since its introduction, with each revision making the law more stringent. Till 2004, “unlawful” activities referred to actions related to secession and cession of territory. Following the 2004 amendment, terrorist act was added to the list of offences.
    • Provisions: UAPA provides for the designation of individuals and organizations as “terrorists” and allows for their arrest and detention without trial for up to 180 days.
    • Criticisms: UAPA has been criticized for being used to stifle dissent and suppress political opposition. Critics argue that the law is vague and overbroad, allowing for its misuse and abuse.

    What is Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA)?

    • Overview: TADA was an anti-terrorism law in India and enacted in 1985 and was in force until 1995. It was enacted to strengthen the legal framework to deal with terrorist activities in India.
    • Provisions: TADA provided for the detention of suspects without trial for up to 180 days. It also allowed the setting up of special courts to conduct trials in cases related to terrorism and provided for the admissibility of confession made to a police officer. TADA also made certain activities punishable as terrorist acts, including illegal arms trade, financing terrorism, and disrupting the sovereignty of India.
    • Criticism: TADA was also criticized for its vague and broad definition of terrorism, which allowed for the targeting of political dissidents.
    • Repeal: TADA was allowed to lapse in 1995 after it was deemed to be incompatible with the Indian Constitution and the principles of democracy and the rule of law. The law was replaced with the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) in 2002, which was also criticized for its draconian provisions and misuse by law enforcement agencies.

    What is Prevention of Terrorism Act 2004 (POTA)?

    • Objective: To provide the government with legal tools to combat terrorism and punish those who support or engage in terrorist activities.
    • Key Provisions: Broad powers to investigate and prosecute individuals suspected of terrorism-related activities. Power to detain suspects for up to 180 days without charge. Use of confessions made to police officers as evidence in court
    • Criticism: Potential for misuse and infringement on civil liberties. Could be used to target religious and ethnic minorities. Could be used to silence political dissent
    • Repealed: 2004 by the United Progressive Alliance government, citing concerns about misuse and potential for human rights abuses.
    • Replacement: Some provisions of POTA were incorporated into the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), which remains in force in India today.

    Worrying statistics

    • UAPA has one of the worst records for prosecution success.
    • According to a PUCL report in 2022, less than 3 per cent of arrests made under the UAPA resulted in convictions between 2015 and 2020.
    • Only 1,080 of the 4,690 people detained under the UAPA between 2018 and 2020 received bail, according to the report.
    • Unlike TADA and POTA, UAPA has never been constitutionally reviewed. Its repeated abuse is a blot on our democracy.

    UAPA

    Some of the key concerns regarding the UAPA

    • Misuse: The UAPA has been criticized for being misused by authorities to target human rights defenders, activists, and dissenters. Critics argue that the act has been used to stifle free speech and to quell any form of peaceful protests.
    • Lack of accountability: The UAPA allows for the designation of an individual or organization as a terrorist entity, without providing adequate means for challenge or appeal, which many argue is against the principles of natural justice.
    • Vagueness: The definitions of “terrorist acts” under the UAPA are broad and vague, and can be interpreted in a way that infringes on the freedom of speech and assembly, leading to the potential for misuse.
    • Restrictions on bail: The UAPA has provisions that make it difficult for people charged under the act to obtain bail, as it requires that the accused show that they are not guilty, shifting the burden of proof from the prosecution to the accused.
    • Excessive punishment: The UAPA provides for harsh punishments, including life imprisonment and the death penalty, for offenses related to terrorism, which many argue are disproportionate and infringe on human rights.

    Why UAPA is necessary?

    • Legal tools to investigate: The UAPA provides the government with legal tools to investigate and prosecute individuals and organizations involved in terrorist activities.
    • Special courts to conduct trials: It allows for the setting up of special courts to conduct trials in cases related to terrorism and provides for stringent punishment for offenses related to terrorism. It also allows the government to designate individuals or organizations as terrorist entities and freeze their assets.
    • Necessary measure to maintain sovereignty and integrity: The act is aimed at countering not just terrorism but also other forms of unlawful activities, such as organized crime, money laundering, and trafficking. It is considered to be a necessary measure to maintain the sovereignty and integrity of the nation, and to protect the lives and property of its citizens.
    • To balance national security and civil liberties: It is necessary to strike a balance between national security and protection of civil liberties. The act can be an effective tool in the fight against terrorism, as long as it is implemented in a fair and just manner and its provisions are not misused to stifle legitimate forms of dissent or activism.

    Conclusion

    • Concerns over the UAPA highlight the need for a balanced approach in the fight against terrorism, one that protects national security while also ensuring the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.

    Mains question

    Q. UAPA is continuously in the headlines from the time of its inception. Discuss the concerns and necessity of such Act.

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  • Judicial Reforms

    Supreme Court says NO to Sealed Cover suggestions

    | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Executive & Judiciary

    seal

    Central idea: The Supreme Court has said it did not want to accept in a “sealed cover” the Centre’s suggestions on who could be the members of a committee the court had proposed to assess the market regulatory framework and recommend measures, if any, to strengthen it in the wake of the Adani-Hindenburg affair.

    What is the news?

    • The article is about a public interest petition filed in the Supreme Court that calls for the establishment of an expert panel to strengthen regulatory mechanisms related to the Adani Group.
    • The petitioners argue that the Adani Group has been able to bypass regulatory hurdles through its influence on government officials and agencies.

    What is Sealed Cover Jurisprudence?

    • It is a practice used by the Supreme Court and sometimes lower courts, of asking for or accepting information from government agencies in sealed envelopes that can only be accessed by judges.
    • A specific law does not define the doctrine of sealed cover.
    • The Supreme Court derives its power to use it from Rule 7 of order XIII of the Supreme Court Rules and Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.

    Need for sealed cover jurisprudence

    There are several reasons why sealed cover jurisprudence is used-

    • National security: For example, in cases involving sensitive information related to defense or intelligence agencies, the disclosure of such information in open court proceedings could compromise national security.
    • Individual privacy: It is also used to protect the privacy in cases involving sensitive personal information. In such cases, the court may allow the submission of such information in a sealed cover to protect the privacy of the individual concerned.
    • Protect commercial or trade secrets: In cases involving disputes between companies, the disclosure of confidential information related to their business operations could harm their commercial interests.

    Nature of the power: Upholding Secrecy

    • If the Chief Justice or court directs certain information to be kept under sealed cover or considers it of confidential nature, no party would be allowed access to the contents of such information.
    • There is an exception to this if the Chief Justice himself orders that the opposite party be allowed to access it.
    • It also mentions that information can be kept confidential if its publication is not considered to be in the interest of the public.
    • As for the Evidence Act, official unpublished documents relating to state affairs are protected and a public officer cannot be compelled to disclose such documents.

    Grounds of such secrecy

    Other instances where information may be sought in secrecy or confidence is when its publication:

    1. Impedes an ongoing investigation of cases related to national security
    2. Details that are part of the police’s case diary or
    3. Breaches the privacy of an individual

    Prominent cases of sealed jurisprudence

    Sealed cover jurisprudence has been frequently employed by courts in the recent past.

    (1) Rafale Deal

    • In the case pertaining to the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal, a Bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi in 2018, had asked the Centre to submit details related to deal’s decision making and pricing in a sealed cover.
    • This was done as the Centre had contended that such details were subject to the Official Secrets Act and Secrecy clauses in the deal.

    (2) Bhima Koregaon Case

    • In the Bhima Koregaon case, in which activists were arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
    • The Supreme Court had relied on information submitted by the Maharashtra police in a sealed cover.

    Issues with such jurisprudence

    • Undermines open justice: This practice appears to be unfavorable to the principles of transparency and accountability of the Indian justice system.
    • Erodes public faith: It stands in contrast to the idea of an open court, where decisions can be subjected to public scrutiny.
    • Increases arbitrariness: It is also said to enlarge the scope for arbitrariness in court decisions, as judges are supposed to lay down the reasoning for their decisions.
    • Unfair trials: Besides, it is argued that not providing access to such documents to the accused parties obstructs their passage to a fair trial and adjudication.

    Way forward

    • Conduct an independent and thorough investigation: Inquire into the allegations raised in the petition, and take appropriate legal action against the Adani Group if they are found to have violated environmental regulations.
    • Establish an expert panel as suggested by the petitioners: To review the regulatory framework and suggest measures to strengthen it. The panel should include experts from various fields, including environmental science, law, and economics.
    • Ensure transparency and accountability in the regulatory process: Foster a culture of environmental awareness and responsibility among businesses by promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices. This could involve providing incentives and support to companies that adopt such practices.
    • Review the use of sealed cover jurisprudence: Ensure that it is used judiciously and only in cases where it is necessary to protect sensitive or confidential information.

     

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