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

Civilsdaily

Login

Archives: News

  • Terrorism and Challenges Related To It

    What are Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs)?

    31 December 2022 | | Internal Security
    Mains Paper 3: Organized Crime & Terrorism

    India and Saudi Arabia are in talks to sign a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to obtain formal assistance from each other in investigations related to criminal cases.

    Why in news?

    • Saudi Arabia is only among a dozen other countries that does not have either an MLAT or any other bilateral agreement with India to facilitate such investigations.
    • India has so far signed MLATs with 45 countries, and is also in talks to finalise MLATs with Italy and Germany.

    What are MLATs?

    • The MLATs in criminal matters are the bilateral treaties entered between countries for providing international cooperation and assistance.
    • These agreements allow for the exchange of evidence and information in criminal and related matters between the signing countries.

    Benefits of Treaty

    • It enhances the effectiveness of participating countries in the investigation and prosecution of crime, through cooperation and mutual legal assistance.
    • It will provide a broad legal framework for tracing, restraining and confiscation of proceeds and instruments of crime as well as the funds meant to finance terrorist acts.
    • It will be instrumental in gaining better inputs and insights in the modus operandi of organized criminals and terrorists.
    • These in turn can be used to fine-tune policy decisions in the field of internal security.

    Enforcing MLATs in India

    • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the nodal Ministry and the Central authority for seeking and providing mutual legal assistance in criminal law matters.
    • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) may be involved in this process when such requests are routed through diplomatic channels by these Ministries.
    • Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) speaks of reciprocal arrangements to be made by the Centre with the Foreign Governments

    Why is India seeking such a treaty with Saudi?

    • In the past, Saudi Arabia has deported several terror suspects on India’s request.
    • The treat would help in getting a conviction for an accused in a court of law, based on evidence gathered through the mutual agreement.

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

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

  • Financial Inclusion in India and Its Challenges

    In news: Small Savings Schemes

    31 December 2022 | Prelims Only | Economics
    Mains Paper 3: Inclusive Growth & Issues

    The Central government raised interest rates on eight of the 12 small savings schemes by 20 to 110 basis points for the January to March 2023 quarter.

    Small Savings Schemes

    • Small Savings Schemes are a set of savings instruments managed by the central government with an aim to encourage citizens to save regularly irrespective of their age.
    • They are popular as they provide returns higher than bank fixed deposits, sovereign guarantee and tax benefits.

    How are they managed?

    • Since 2016, the Finance Ministry has been reviewing the interest rates on small savings schemes on a quarterly basis.
    • All deposits received under various schemes are pooled in the National Small Savings Fund.
    • The money in the fund is used by the Centre to finance its fiscal deficit.

    What are the different saving schemes?

    The schemes can be grouped under three heads –

    1. Post office deposits
    2. Savings certificates and
    3. Social security schemes

    (1) Post Office Deposits

    • Under this we have the savings deposit, recurring deposit and time deposits with 1, 2, 3 and 5 year maturities and the monthly income account.
    • The savings account currently pays an interest of 4% per annum and can be opened individually or jointly with an initial investment of Rs 500.
    • The recurring deposit that pays 5.8% a year compounded quarterly matures after 60 months from the date of opening.
    • It allows investors to save on a monthly basis with a minimum deposit of Rs 100 per month.
    • Investments under the 5-year time deposit up to Rs 1.5 lakh further qualifies for benefit under section 80C of Income Tax Act.

    (2) Savings Certificates

    • Under this, we have the National Savings Certificate and the Kisan Vikas Patra.
    • The National Savings Certificate pays interest at a rate of 6.8% per annum upon maturity after 5 years. The interest that is earned is reinvested into the scheme every year automatically.
    • The NSC also qualifies for tax saving under Section 80C of the income tax act.
    • The Kisan Vikas Patra, which is open to everyone, doubles your one-time investment at the end of 124 months signifying a return of 6.9% compounded annually.
    • The minimum investment amount is Rs 1000 while there is no upper limit.

    (3) Social security schemes

    • In the third head of social security schemes, there is Public Provident Fund, Sukanya Samriddhi Account and Senior Citizens Savings Scheme.
    1. Public Provident Fund
    • The Public Provident Fund is a popular saving option for long term goals like retirement.
    • It pays 7.1% a year and qualifies for tax benefit under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
    • Upon maturity of the account after 15 years, it can be extended indefinitely in blocks of 5 years.
    • The accumulated amount and interest earned are exempt from tax at the time of withdrawal.
    1. Sukanya Samriddhi Account
    • The Sukanya Samriddhi Account was launched in 2015 under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign exclusively for a girl child.
    • The account can be opened in the name of a girl child below the age of 10 years.
    • The scheme guarantees a return of 7.6% per annum and is eligible for tax benefit under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
    • The tenure of the deposit is 21 years from the date of opening of the account and a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh can be invested in a year.
    1. Senior Citizen Savings Account
    • And finally, the 5-year ​​Senior Citizen Savings Account can be opened by anyone who is over 60 years to age.
    • It carries an interest of 7.4% per annum payable quarterly and qualifies for Section 80C tax benefit.
    • These time-tested and safe modes of investments don’t offer quick returns, but are safer when compared to market-linked schemes.

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

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

  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    In news: Foundation Day of the INC

    31 December 2022 | Prelims Only |
    Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

    inc

    A political party recently marked the  138th foundation day of Indian National Congress (INC) on December 28.

    How the INC was founded?

    • The INC came into being on December 28, 1885.
    • The English bureaucrat Allan Octavian Hume is credited as the founder of the organisation.
    • On that day, 72 social reformers, journalists and lawyers congregated for the first session of the INC at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay.
    • Stated objectives of INC included-
    1. First, the fusion into one national whole of all the different elements that constitute the population of India.
    2. Second, the gradual regeneration along all lines, spiritual, moral, social, and political, of the nation thus evolved; and
    3. Third, the consolidation, of, the union between England and India.

    Real motive behind: ‘Safety Valve’ Theory

    • At that point, the aim of this group was not to demand independence from the ongoing colonial rule but to influence the policies of the British government in favour of Indians.
    • Its objective is often described as providing a “safety valve” as the time, through which Indians could air out their grievances and frustration.
    • As Mr. Hume explained, the: Congress organization was ‘only one outcome of the labours of a body of cultured men, mostly Indians, who hound themselves together to labour silently for the good of India.’

    Transformation towards freedom movement

    Ans. Famous for 3P’s: Prayers, Protest and Petitions

    • The party’s work continued, to shift the colonial administrators’ attitudes and policies on the rights and powers allowed to Indians.
    • The members frequently protested issues of British colonialism, such as the Bengal famine and the drain of wealth from India.
    • However, these protests were at this point usually limited to prayers, petitions and protests, including writing letters to the authorities.
    • As the British rule continued, there grew differences in what the party’s functioning should be like.

    Strength of INC

    • Diverse participation: One of the biggest strengths of the party, which helped it appeal to a broad section of Indian society, was having members who held different ideological positions.
    • Pan-India organization: Its popularity grew across every corner of India.

    Early criticism of INC

    • Non-effective: Hume and the party were criticised, by the British for attempting to change the existing systems that favoured them and by some Indians for not achieving significant results.
    • Elite-organization: The party largely consisted of educated, upper-class people who were likely to have studied abroad.

    Splits and reconvening

    • In Surat in 1906, the divisions between the ‘moderates’ led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Surendranath Banerjea, and the ‘extremists’ led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak came to the fore and there was a split.
    • While Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai wanted the Congress to boycott the visit of the Prince of Wales in protest against the Bengal Partition a year prior, the moderates opposed any such move.
    • But by 1915, the Bombay session saw these two groups coming together again as one.
    • The pattern of splits and eventual cohesion continued well after Indian independence, even after the party came to completely dominate successive general elections under PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

    Important sessions of INC

        Year     Session President Importance  
        1885 Bombay W C Banerjee First session
        1888 Allahabad George Yule First English President of INC
        1896 Calcutta Rahimtullah M. Sayani National song ‘Vande Mataram’ sung for the first time
        1906 Calcutta Dadabhai Naoroji Dadabhai Naoroji coined the term Swaraj.
        1907 Surat Rash Behari Ghosh Party splits into extremists and moderates
        1911 Calcutta Bishan Narayan Dar National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ sung for the first time
        1916 Lucknow Ambica Charan Mazumdar Reunion of Congress and Lucknow Pact, Joint session with the Muslim league
        1917 Calcutta Annie Besant First Woman President of the INC
        1919 Amritsar Motilal Nehru Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre took place
        1924 Belgaum M K Gandhi Only session where MK Gandhi was the President
        1925 Kanpur Sarojini Naidu First Indian Woman President of INC
        1927 Madras M A Ansari Independence Resolution was put forward
        1928 Calcutta Session, Motilal Nehru All India Youth Congress formed
        1929 Lahore Jawaharlal Nehru Poorna Swaraj Resolution @ 26th January, Civil Disobedience Movement launched
        1931

     

    		 Karachi Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel A resolution on Fundamental Rights and National Economic Progress was passed. Gandhi-Irwin pact was endorsed and  Gandhiji was nominated to represent INC in the second round table conference
        1936 Lucknow Jawaharlal Nehru Idea of Socialism was imbibed
        1938 Haripura Subhas Chandra Bose National Planning Committee set up under Nehru, Haripura Resolution passed, which demanded Poorna Swaraj, including the princely states as well.
        1940 Ramgarh Abul Kalam Azad He was the longest-serving President of INC during British rule.

    Quit India Movement started in 1942
        1946 Meerut J.B. Kripalani Last session before Indian independence

     

     

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Consider the following statements

    1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.
    2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

     

    Post your answers here.

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

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

  • ISRO Missions and Discoveries

    What are Globular Clusters?

    31 December 2022 | Prelims Only | Science and Technology
    Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T

    cluster

    Astronomers and scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) while studying the Omega Centauri have found that hot stars and white dwarfs emitted less ultraviolet radiation than expected.

    Omega Centauri

    • It is the most massive globular cluster system in our galaxy.
    • It was first identified as a non-stellar object by Edmond Halley in 1677 and as globular star cluster orbiting Milky Way galaxy by John Herschel in 1830s.
    • It contains approximately 10 million stars and is about 16,000 light-years away.
    • It also includes stars of a variety of ages, whereas other globular clusters contain stars from only one generation.
    • It is the largest and brightest globular cluster in the Milky Way.

     What is a globular cluster?

    • A globular cluster is a spheroidal conglomeration of stars.
    • Globular clusters are bound together by gravity, with a higher concentration of stars towards their centres.
    • They can contain anywhere from tens of thousands to many millions of member stars.
    • They orbit mostly in the extended stellar halos surrounding most spiral galaxies.

    How are they formed?

    • No one knows precisely how globular clusters formed. Or what role, if any, they played in the development of galaxies.
    • We know globular clusters are the oldest, largest and most massive type of star cluster. And globular clusters contain the oldest stars.
    • Their age is determined by their almost complete lack of what astronomers call metals, the heavier elements forged in star interiors.

    Our Milky Way has over 150 globular clusters

    • Our own Milky Way has over 150 globular clusters, with perhaps more, hidden by galactic dust.
    • The Andromeda galaxy (M31), our neighboring spiral galaxy, appears to have around 300 globular clusters.

    Difference between a globular cluster and an open cluster

    • Globular clusters are big, symmetric and old. They can reach 300 light-years in diameter and contain 10 million stars.  On the other hand, open star clusters, contains sibling stars, scattered through the disk of our galaxy and presumably other galaxies.
    • Globular star cluster are very symmetrical in shape, and are densest toward their centers. Open star clusters are irregular in shape and loosely grouped together.
    • Globular clusters orbit in the halo of our galaxy. Plus, center around the galaxy’s core and expanding above and below the galactic disk. Open star clusters tend to orbit within the disk.
    • Globular star clusters contain million of stars. Yet some globular clusters, like Omega Centauri, contain millions of stars. Open star clusters contain only hundreds of stars.

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

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

  • Climate Change Negotiations – UNFCCC, COP, Other Conventions and Protocols

    Place-Based Conservation Under CBD

    30 December 2022 | op-ed snap | Environment
    Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Conservation

    Context

    • At the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), member countries adopted the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” (GBF) that includes four goals and 23 targets to be achieved by 2030.

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    Conservation

    What is target 30×30 among 23 targets?

    • Conservation through ecological representative: Among the 23 targets, Target 3, colloquially known as “30×30,” requires that “at least 30 percent of terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative.
    • Area-based conservation measures: Such area should be well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.

    Assessment of protected areas

    • Protected area: Place-based conservation has usually taken the form of Protected Areas wherein human occupation or at least the exploitation of resources is limited. The definition provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its categorisation guidelines for protected areas has been widely accepted across regional and global frameworks.
    • Different level of protection: There are several kinds of protected areas that vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international organisations involved.
    • Currently only 17% is protected: Currently, about 17 percent of terrestrial and 8 percent of marine areas are within documented protected and conserved areas.
    • Less than desirable quality: The quality of these areas has fallen far short of the commitments; less than 8 percent of land is both protected and connected. In the face of such a lacuna, the 30×30 target represents a significant commitment.

    What are the challenges towards conservation of biodiversity areas?

    • Improving the quality: One of the main challenges will be to improve the quality of both existing and new areas, as biodiversity continues to decline, even within many Protected Areas. Protected and conserved areas will need to be better connected to each other for movement of species, and for ecological processes to function.
    • Large countries have to take big steps: Demographically large, high population density countries, and the very high density small and city-states are unlikely be able to bring significant additional terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas under Protected Area management.
    • Addressing animal and human settlement: Moreover, species range shifts due to the effects of impacts of climate change will have to be taken into account. Challenges faced by Protected Areas that are experiencing coastal squeeze due to rising sea level on one side, and hard human settlements on the other will also have to be addressed.
    • Investment for management: All of these measures will require significant investments for effective management and community involvement, particularly those areas that harbour megafauna. The track record of the Global North, thus far, has been poor in meeting its commitments on financial support for climate and biodiversity initiatives.

    What should be the way forward?

    • Better connectivity: Innovative area-based conservation measures will have to be considered for better connectivity for movement of species megafauna in particular between protected and conserved areas. Areas adjoining and or connecting Protected Areas that are not formally managed for conservation will have to be considered for protection; agricultural lands.
    • Conservation development mechanism: Akin to the Clean Development Mechanism under the climate convention, UNFCCC, a carbon offset scheme allowing countries to fund greenhouse gas emissions-reducing projects in other countries and claim the saved emissions as part of their own efforts to meet international emissions targets.
    • Mobile protected areas: Innovative management will be required for Protected Areas that are experiencing coastal squeeze due to rising sea level on one side, and hard human settlements on the other. In high altitude and coastal areas, Protected Areas will have to be conceived as mobile rather than static, confined to a set of geographical coordinates. Mangrove and alpine ecosystems

    Conservation

    Conclusion

    • Only declaring the certain area as protected area will not improve the quality of protected area and it is mere a lip service to conservation efforts. Investment backed by effective, result oriented and time bound action plan for place-based conservation should be the path ahead.

    Mains Question

    Q. What is 30×30 target under CBD? What are the challenges in area-based conservation and suggest the way forward?

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

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

  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-China

    India-China relations: China Inconsistent in its words and actions

    30 December 2022 | op-ed snap | International Relations
    Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    India-China

    Context

    • India-China relations have been under enormous strain in recent years. The Indian foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, on many occasions has stated that India-China relations are going through an extremely difficult phase. For the two to return to normalcy in the relationship, he added that it will depend on three mutuals: mutual sensitivity, mutual respect and mutual interest.

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    India-China

    Chinese foreign minister statement

    • Statement by Wang Yi: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that China is ready to work with India in improving bilateral ties.
    • Statement said China will work with India for steady China-India growth: Speaking at a symposium on the international situation and China’s foreign relations in 2022, Wang reportedly said that both countries “have maintained communication through the diplomatic and military-to-military channels, and both countries are committed to upholding stability in the border areas. We stand ready to work with India in the direction toward steady and sound growth of China-India relations.
    • Statement against the backdrop of Tawang clash: The Chinese foreign minister’s statement comes against the backdrop of the December 9 clash near Tawang in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, where soldiers on both sides sustained minor injuries.

    Strained relationship between India-China

    • No sign of taking a back step: Even though the two sides managed to bring the Tawang situation under control, the reality is that the number of forces on deployment on either side of the border after the Galwan clash two years back shows no sign of being pulled back, a stark reminder of the far-from-normal state of relations between India and China.
    • Despite of commander level talks, no fruitful negotiation on disengagement: Despite 17 rounds of military talks at the army commander level, the two sides have not been able to resolve their differences and accomplish a complete disengagement of their military forces.
    • Statement by India: Following the 17th session of military talks last week, the Indian Ministry of Defense issued a statement that blandly stated that both sides will maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector and that they agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest.

    India-China

    Is there any positive change in Chinese strategic thinking?

    • Chinese foreign policy is just the same: It is unclear if Wang’s comment on India-China relations reflects any fundamental change in China’s foreign policy. Clearly, there has been no general softening of China’s attitude.
    • Speech was a part of diplomacy: The minister’s statement on India was part of a long speech taking stock of China’s diplomacy and foreign relations in 2022.
    • Particular focus on United states: In the statement, there was a particular focus on the troubled nature of its ties with the United States, calling out Washington’s erroneous China policy. Wang went on to say that it was U.S. stubbornness in seeing China as its peer competitor and Washington’s “blatant blockade, suppression and provocation against China” that has put the relationship in “serious difficulties.
    • Concerned about Taiwan: The minister noted Taiwan is a red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. He also made note of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan to which the minister said that China has taken firm and resolute measures, which have strongly deterred anti-China elements in the United States and the Taiwan independence forces.
    • Indirect reference to QUAD: The Quad, which comprises the U.S., Japan, India and Australia, also found an indirect mention in Wang’s speech. He stated that China is opposed to “bloc confrontation and zero-sum competition.
    • Aggressive with each of India’s security partner: Each of India’s new security partners among the Quad countries has been subjected to China’s aggressive behavior in military, political and economic terms, which has brought a new depth of strategic purpose to the Quad.

    India-China

    Way ahead

    • India’s relationship with China has been teetering from bad to worse over the last 32 months since the standoff in Ladakh began, and it seems unlikely to improve unless Beijing’s calculus vis a vis India and the region undergoes a drastic change.
    • On the current status of the ties Indian foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, remarked that “the state of the border will determine the state of the relationship.”
    • While Delhi’s G20 leadership may bring opportunities for engagement with Beijing, what is required first is a clear vision and a grand strategy to deal with the China challenge, instead of reacting to each crisis as it emerges

    Conclusion

    • Inconsistencies, both in China’s words and also between words and actions, will likely reduce the willingness of other countries, including India, to take seriously China’s statements about wanting a reset of ties.

    Mains question

    Q. India-China relations, though occasionally showing signs of peace and cooperation, have often been afflicted by tension and mistrust. China is inconsistent in words and actions. Discuss.

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

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

  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-Middle East

    Growing ties Between India-Saudi Arabia

    30 December 2022 | op-ed snap | International Relations
    Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    Saudi Arabia

    Context

    • The presidency, which India has recently assumed for the period between 1 December 2022 and 30 November 2023, will likely open more avenues for cooperation on multiple fronts with countries like Saudi Arabia, a key Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country, also a member state of G20.

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    Saudi Arabia

    India-Saudi Arabia Relationship

    • Fourth largest trading partner: Since the last few years, India-Saudi Arabia relations have become comprehensive and robust, with the kingdom not only becoming New Delhi’s fourth largest trading partner but also an important collaborator in the joint combat against all forms of terrorism, money laundering, and terror financing.
    • 18% of India’s energy Imports: It is noteworthy that the bilateral trade in the fiscal year 2021-2022 stood at US$42.8 billion, and the kingdom alone accounts for 18 percent of India’s energy import, which reflects the significance of the country from the standpoint of New Delhi’s energy and economic security calculus.
    • Collaboration on defence corridor: Simultaneously, military-security and defence cooperation have also gained momentum, which has been triggered by a certain commonality of security threats and challenges, and the interests of the respective governments to collaborate in the defence industrial sector (within the ambit of their military modernisation programmes).
    • Non-oil areas of cooperation: The ties between the two countries, now, are not only concentrated on the oil-energy trade alone (as it has been the pattern) but both sides have started to explore the possibilities of working together on domains such as renewable energy, climate change, healthcare, food security, education, technology, etc.

    Partnership in Green and clean energy

    • Collaboration with Indian companies: In November 2020, Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, called on foreign investors to “invest on their own” or to collaborate with Indian companies in the country’s green energy sector.
    • Reducing dependency on hydrocarbon: Similarly, Saudi Arabia, striving to reduce its dependency on a hydrocarbon-based economy, is investing in the same sector.
    • Saudi Vision 2030 programme: In line with its Saudi Vision 2030 programme, it launched (in 2021) the Saudi Green Initiative which works on “increasing Saudi Arabia’s reliance on clean energy, offsetting emissions, and protecting the environment.
    • Ambitious targets by both country: Riyadh, ushering in a new era of energy diplomacy, is building partnerships with countries that have similar ambitions. This, to a great extent, has facilitated the need to expand cooperation with India in the renewable energy sphere. While the Indian government works towards generating 450 Gigawatt about 60 percent of electricity using renewable and clean sources, Saudi Arabia also aims at about 50 per cent, both to be achieved by the year 2030.

    Saudi Arabia

    India-Saudi Arabia cooperation in health sector and during Covid19

    • Cooperation with west Asia region: India has stepped up its healthcare-related engagements with the wider West Asian region, and, particularly in matters related to the production of vaccines, joint medical researches, exchange of best-fit practices, and so on.
    • Healthcare professionals to Saudi Arabia: During the peak of the aforementioned pandemic, the Indian government assisted its Saudi counterpart in their fight against this outbreak, mainly by dispatching hundreds of Indian healthcare professionals.
    • Vaccine acceptancy: Saudi Arabia was also one of the few countries that recognised “Serum Institute of India’s Covishield as an approved COVID-19 vaccine” for any travellers who wanted to enter the kingdom.
    • MoU on health and medical products: Now, what could act as a catalyst in elevating the interactions from the existing level is the Indo-Saudi Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on health and medical products regulations that were signed during the 2019 visit of Modi to Riyadh.

    Cooperation in Food Security

    • Investment by Saudi and UAE: It could be noted that, in 2019, to act as a safeguard from any food insecurity, UAE and Saudi Arabia GCC states decided to invest in India’s organic and food processing industries.
    • Win-win situation in food cooperation: With India’s expertise in the field of crop production and overall agricultural activities, and also being a net exporter of agricultural commodities (especially rice), strengthening of partnerships could prove to be highly beneficial for the populace of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and other GCC countries that continue to depend on external sources for their food security, mostly owing to the lack of fertile soil.

    Saudi Arabia

    Conclusion

    • While India-Saudi Arabia ties are expected to grow further, there also exists a potential for collaboration beyond this bilateral engagement. This is precisely because, in the emerging international order, there is also a growing call for a collective response to the multidimensional crises the world is facing today.

    Mains Question

    Q. Briefly describe the India-Saudi Arabia relationship? How both countries are collaborating on clean energy and food security?

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

     

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

  • Electoral Reforms In India

    Remote EVM for Migrant Voters

    30 December 2022 | | Polity
    Mains Paper 2: Representation Of People’s Act

    evm

    The Election Commission of India said that it has developed a prototype for a Multi-Constituency Remote Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) which would enable remote voting by migrant voters.

    Electronic Voting Machine (EVM)

    • Electronic voting is the standard means of conducting elections using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in India.
    • The system was developed and tested by the state-owned Electronics Corporation of India and Bharat Electronics in the 1990s.
    • They were introduced in Indian elections between 1998 and 2001, in a phased manner.

    What are Remote EVMs?

    • Remote Electronic Voting Machines (RVM) can handle multiple constituencies from a single remote polling booth.
    • The idea is to implement voter portability as a pilot project in the upcoming Assembly elections in nine states in 2023.
    • This means that if the pilot is successful then in the 2024 general elections voter portability can be fully implemented.

    Need for RVMs

    • Ensuring participative elections: The inability to vote due to internal migration is one of the prominent reasons to be addressed to improve voter turnout and ensure participative elections.
    • Migration-based disenfranchisement: There were multifarious reasons for a voter not opting to register in a new place of residence, thus missing out on exercising the right to vote.
    • Increasing voter turnout: The voter turnout in General Elections 2019 was 67.4% and the ECI is concerned about the issue of over 30 crore electors not exercising their franchise and also differential voter turnout in various States/UT.

    Significance of the move

    • Panacea to migration-led deprivation: Out-migration due to the need to work, marriage, and education, is predominant among the rural population in overall domestic migration.
    • Increasing voter turnout: Approximately 85% of the internal migration is within the States.
    • Multiple booth targeting: This modified form of EVM can handle up to 72 multiple constituencies from a single remote polling booth.

    Challenges for RVMs

    Many political parties have already flagged the inherent issues such as-

    • Defining domestic migrants
    • Implementation of Model Code of Conduct
    • Ensuring secrecy of voting
    • Facility of polling agents for identification of voters
    • Process and method of remote voting and
    • Counting of votes

    Technical issues

    • Amendment to legacy laws: Among the laws and rules which would need an amendment to implement remote voting is The Representation of People’s Act of 1950 and 1951, The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
    • Vagueness over Migration: The definition of migrant voter would also need to be reworked with respect to retaining registration at the original place in the context of the legal construct of “ordinary residence” and “temporary absence”.
    • Territorial constituency concept: The territorial constituency concept of remote voting and defining remoteness itself that is an outside constituency, outside the district or outside state will need to be dealt with.
    • Administrative challenges: These include enumerating remote voters-self declaration, ensuring secrecy of voting at remote locations, provision of polling agents at remote voting booths, and ensuring identification of voters to avoid impersonation.
    • Acceptance issues: Acceptance of EVMs has been a contested issues. This has somehow eased after the introduction of the voters-verifiable paper-audit trial (VVPAT).

    Way forward

    • The initiative, if implemented, can lead to a social transformation for the migrants and connect with their roots as many times they are reluctant to get themselves enrolled at their place of work.
    • Frequently changing residences, not enough social and emotional connect with the issues of an area of migration will no longer remain obstacles.

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

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

  • RTI – CIC, RTI Backlog, etc.

    Tamil Nadu worst performer in RTI responsiveness

    30 December 2022 | | Governance
    Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

    rti

    The State Information Commission of Tamil Nadu has been the worst performing as far as responsiveness under the RTI Act is concerned, furnishing only 14% of the information sought for 2021-22.

    State’s responses to RTI

    • Maharashtra was second-worst, sharing 23% of the information asked for.
    • Only 10 ICs provided full information in response to the RTI applications filed as part of this assessment.
    • These included Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand and northeastern States of Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura.
    • Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh returned around 40% of the appeals or complaints received by them.

    What is the Right to Information (RTI)?

    • RTI is an act of the parliament that sets out the rules and procedures regarding citizens’ right to information.
    • It replaced the former Freedom of Information Act, 2002.
    • Under the provisions of RTI Act, any citizen of India may request information from a “public authority” (a body of Government or “instrumentality of State”) which is required to reply expeditiously or within 30.
    • In case of a matter involving a petitioner’s life and liberty, the information has to be provided within 48 hours.
    • The Act also requires every public authority to computerize their records for wide dissemination and to proactively publish certain categories of information so that the citizens need minimum recourse to request for information formally.

    What led to the introduction of RTI in India?

    There has been a variety of internal and external pressures on governments to adopt RTI.

    • Corruption and scandals: The crisis was brought into force due to a lack of transparency in the working of the government.
    • Modernization and the Information Society: The expansion of the Internet into everyday life has increased the demand for more information by the public, businesses and civil society groups.
    • International pressure: The World Bank, the IMF and others have pressed countries to adopt laws to reduce corruption and to make financial systems more accountable.
    • Wider recognition of Public Interest: Public interest is a nebulous concept, not defined in any freedom of information laws, understandably so, as it is a very subjective concept.

    Governing of the RTI

    The Right to information in India is governed by two major bodies:

    1. Central Information Commission (CIC) – Chief Information commissioner who heads all the central departments and ministries- with their own public information officers (PIO)s. CICs are directly under the President of India.
    2. State Information Commissions (SIC)– State Public Information Officers or SPIOs head over all the state department and ministries. The SPIO office is directly under the corresponding State Governor.

    State and CIC are independent bodies and CIC has no jurisdiction over the SIC.

    Constitutional backing of the RTI

    • The Indian constitution has an impressive array of basic and inalienable rights termed as fundamental rights contained in part-III.
    • These include the right to equal protection of the laws and the right to equality before the law, the right to freedom of speech and expression also the right to life and personal liberty.
    • Since RTI, is implicit in the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, it is an implied FR.
    • These are backed by the right to constitutional remedies that is, the right to approach the supreme court and high court under Article 32 and 226 respectively in case of infringement of any of FRs.
    • The state is not only under an obligation to respect the FRs of the citizens but also equally under an obligation to ensure conditions under which the right can be exercised.
    • The objective of the right to information act is to protect these constitutional rights.

    Benefits of RTI

    • Greater accessibility of information: A person can seek information from any public authority in the form of copies, floppy disks, sample material etc under RTI.
    • Efficient governance: RTI Act helps us in knowing the efficiency of the government functioning.RTI has become a reality consistent with the objectives of having a stable, honest, transparent and efficient government.
    • Citizen’s participation: Information under RTI can be sought easily by requesting the public officer and assistant public officer in any public authority.
    • Government obligation: Obtaining information from any public authority is obligatory for them.
    • Maintenance of public record: Under RTI Act, it is the duty of public authorities to maintain records for easy access and to publish within 120 days the name of the particular officers who should give the information and in regard to the framing of the rules, regulations etc.
    • Empowerment of Citizens: Every citizen has been empowered to be informed about anything that affects their life directly or indirectly.

    Limitations to the RTI

    • Not an absolute right:  The RTI and Right to Privacy are not absolute rights, both the rights, one of which falls under Article 19(l)(a) and the other under Article 21 can obviously be regulated, restricted and curtailed in the larger public interest.
    • Subjected to restrictions: The RTI, being integral part of the right to freedom of speech, is subject to restrictions that can be imposed upon that right under Article 19 (2).
    • Limitations under the rules: Rule 4 of RTI Act puts word limit (No. of words needed in different language is different to express the same idea) as 250 words.  Word Limit, The Hidden power of Information Officer, is the cause of rejection of an application.
    • Only information already available on record is accessible: The RTI Act provides access only to that information that existent and is available in records of the public authorities.
    • Certain information may constitute contempt of court: Any information, the disclosure of which is expressly barred by any Court of law or tribunal or, which may constitute contempt of Court under the Contempt of Court Act, 1971, cannot be released.
    • Information causes a breach of privilege: The Constitution of India provides some privileges to the Parliament and the State Legislature, so it is clear that such information cannot be issued by the public authority.
    • Information relating to Intellectual Property and trade secrets: Any information, including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property cannot be disclosed.

    Way Forward

    • Speedy disposal: The increasing backlog of cases is exacerbated by the fact that most Commissions are functioning at reduced capacity.
    • Prioritization of cases: There should be a prioritization of cases dealing with information related to life and liberty.
    • Digitalization: Governments should put in place a mechanism for online filing of RTI applications and bring all authorities under one platform.
    • Reducing technicalities: The technicalities of filing an RTI application should be more simplified. The literacy rate of rural India is quite low and thus they find it quite difficult to comply with the procedural.
    • Protecting whistleblowers: There is an urgent need to protect the whistle blowers who are targeted or attacked so easily.

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

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

  • Pharma Sector – Drug Pricing, NPPA, FDC, Generics, etc.

    Indian biotech investigated following deaths of Uzbek children

    30 December 2022 | | Governance
    Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

    The Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) are investigating Noida-based firm after the deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan by drinking health syrup contaminated with Diethylene Glycol (DEG).

    India’s response to these deaths

    • It is certainly the responsibility of the importing country to test medicines before releasing them in their market.
    • After being informed about the incident, India’s apex regulatory body, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) opened investigations and lifted control samples.

    Issue: India’s credibility at stake

    • India is one of the leading exporters of medicines.
    • PM Modi recently stressed that Indian drugs had earned the world’s trust and that India could be called the ‘pharmacy to the world’.
    • However, such negative reports on the quality and safety of our medicines will be a massive blow to the country’s image as a source of cheap generic drugs to the world.

    Issues highlighted by the incident

    • Smuggling of cheap drugs: Inquiry reveals that these were imported from an Indian manufacturer, not under public tender but privately.
    • Ignorance by authorities: The drug which is banned for domestic consumption has got exported and led to fatalities. This is a huge blissful mistake by Indian Authorities.
    • Lack of inspection: There are not enough drug inspectors in the country to conduct as many inspections as is ideally required in such as vast set-up.
    • Inadequacies in quality-check: Despite huge production units, there are not an adequate number of laboratories to test the samples in time if all the samples that should be lifted for testing are picked up.
    • Blot on credibility: The matter, if not properly handled, can damage the perception that Indian medicines are trustworthy for many countries and the global South.

    Possible factors behind this tragedy

    • There are rackets of counterfeit Indian medicines turning up in many countries.
    • Some of these were coming from unregistered producers in India, who would produce medicine depending on what cost was paid to them without concern for quality.
    • In some cases, competitors from other countries were known to make counterfeit medicines with Indian markings and dump them in markets where Indian pharmaceuticals were well regarded.

    Way forward

    • The pharmaceutical trade is vital and must be protected from predatory practices and violations of regulatory norms.
    • Regulatory mechanism on both sides should be strengthened.
    • Importers should be given lists of recognised Indian manufacturers.
    • Training should be provided to drug controllers to curtail the menace of counterfeit and poor-quality medicine entering from India.

    Back2Basics: Diethylene Glycol (DEG)

    • A/c to WHO, Diethylene Glycol (DEG) or ethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal.
    • It can cause kidney and neurological toxicity and has been associated with several cases of mass poisoning when consumed via drugs.
    • The chemical tastes sweet and is water-insoluble.
    • The toxic effects of the chemical include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury.

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

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

Join the Community

Join us across Social Media platforms.