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  • Custodial deaths

    Context

    The recent spate of custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu has yet again highlighted the methods used by the police during interrogation.

    Custodial deaths in India

    • It is not uncommon knowledge that the police, when they grow increasingly frustrated with the trajectory of their interrogation, sometimes resort to torture and violence which could lead to the death of the suspect.
    • Custodial deaths are common despite enormous time and money being spent on training police personnel to embrace scientific methods of investigation.
    • This is because police personnel are humans from different backgrounds and with different perspectives.

    Use of technology by law enforcement agencies

    • There is no doubt that technology can help avert police custodial deaths. For example, body cameras could hold officers liable.
    • Deception detection tests (DDTs), which deploy technologies such as polygraph, narco-analysis and brain mapping, could be valuable in learning information that is known only to a criminal regarding a crime.
    • Among the DDTs, the Brain Fingerprinting System (BFS) is an innovative technology that several police forces contemplate adding to their investigative tools.
    • The technique helps investigative agencies uncover clues in complicated cases.
    • With informed consent, however, any information or material discovered during the BFS tests can be part of the evidence.
    • Police departments are increasingly using robots for surveillance and bomb detection.
    • Many departments now want robotic interrogators for interrogating suspects.
    • Use of robots: Police departments are increasingly using robots for surveillance and bomb detection.
    • Use of robots for interrogation: Many departments now want robotic interrogators for interrogating suspects.
    • Many experts today believe that robots can meet or exceed the capabilities of the human interrogator, partially because humans are inclined to respond to robots in ways that they do to humans.
    • Robots equipped with AI and sensor technology can build a rapport with the suspects, utilise persuasive techniques like flattery, shame and coercion, and strategically use body language.
    • Use of AI/ML: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are emerging as tool of interrogations. AI can detect human emotions and predict behaviour.
    • Therefore, these are also options.
    • ML can in real-time alert superiors when police are meting out inhumane treatment to suspects.

    Issues with the use of technologies

    • Informed consent: In 2010, the Supreme Court, in Selvi v. State of Karnataka, rendered the BFS evidence inadmissible.
    • The court observed that the state could not perform narco analysis, polygraph, and brain-mapping tests on any individual without their consent.
    • High cost of technology: As the BFS is high-end technology, it is expensive and unavailable in several States.
    • There is a lot of concern about AI or robot interrogations, both legally and ethically.
    • Risk of bias: There exists the risk of bias, the peril of automated interrogation tactics, the threat of ML algorithms targeting individuals and communities, and the hazard of its misuse for surveillance.

    Way forward

    • Multi-pronged strategy: What we need is the formulation of a multi-pronged strategy by the decision-makers encompassing legal enactments, technology, accountability, training and community relations.
    • Onus of proof on police: The Law Commission of India’s proposition in 2003 to change the Evidence Act to place the onus of proof on the police for not having tortured suspects is important in this regard.
    • Strict implementation of D.K. Basu case guidelines: Besides, stringent action must be taken against personnel who breach the commandments issued by the apex court in D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997).
    • Law against custodial torture: The draft bill on the Prevention of Torture, 2017, which has not seen the day, needs to be revived.

    Conclusion

    While the technology available to the police and law-enforcement agencies is constantly improving, it is a restricted tool that can’t eradicate custodial deaths. While it might provide comfort and transparency, it can never address the underlying issues that lead to these situations.

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    Back2Basics:  Supreme Court judgement in DK Basu case

    • The DK Basu judgment since 1987 is crucial in dealing with issue of custodial deaths.
    • The judgement has origin from a letter complaint in 1986, which was converted into PIL.
    • 4 crucial and comprehensive judgments — in 1996, twice in 2001 and in 2015 — lay down over 20 commandments, forming the complete structure of this judgement.

    Details of judgment:

    First 11 commandments in 1996, focused on vital processual safeguards:

    • All officials must carry name tags and full identification, arrest memo must be prepared, containing all details regarding time and place of arrest, attested by one family member or respectable member of the locality.
    • The location of arrest must be intimated to one family or next friend, details notified to the nearest legal aid organisation and arrestee must be made known of DK Basu judgement.
    • All such compliances must be recorded in the police register, arrestee must get periodical medical examination, inspection memo must be signed by arrestee also and all such information must be centralised in a central police control room.
    • Breach to be culpable with severe departmental action and additionally contempt also, and this would all be in addition to, not substitution of, any existing remedy.
    • All of the above preventive and punitive measures could go with, and were not alternatives to, full civil monetary damage claims for constitutional tort.

    8 other intermediate orders till 2015:

    • Precise detailed compliance reports of above orders to be submitted by all states and UT and any delayed responses to be  looked into by special sub-committees appointed by state human rights body.
    • Also where no SHRC existed, the chief justice of the high courts to monitor it administratively.
    • It emphasised that existing powers for magisterial inquiries under the CrPC were lackadaisical and must be completed in four months, unless sessions court judges recorded reasons for extension.
    • It also directed SHRCs to be set up expeditiously in each part of India.

    The third and last phase of judgment ended in 2015:

    • Stern directions were given to set up SHRCs and also fill up large vacancies in existing bodies.
    • The power of setting up human rights courts under Section 30 of the NHRC Act was directed to be operationalised.
    • All prisons had to have CCTVs within one year.
    • Non-official visitors would do surprise checks on prisons and police stations.
    • Prosecutions and departmental action to be made unhesitatingly mandated.

  • [Sansad TV] India’s World – Strategic Importance of Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

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    The strategic importance of IOR is ever increasing to the world order in general and Indian sub-continent in particular.

    What is IOR?

    • The IOR broadly defines areas consisting of littoral states of the Indian Ocean.
    • IOR comprises a number of sub-regions, such as Australia, South East Asia, South Asia, Horn of Africa and the Southern and Eastern Africa.
    • It is marked by a glaring cultural, social, political and economic diversity.

    Significance of IOR

    • Biggest market: The IOR littorals house more than one-third of world’s population.
    • Trade significance: In addition, more than half of the global seaborne trade and commerce passes through the Indian Ocean out of which, almost 70 per cent goes to countries external to the region.
    • Rich in natural resources: The IOR littoral states are rich in producing various raw materials, primarily oil, which are key to development of major manufacturing industries of developed as well as developing nations.
    • Ample marine resources: Complementary to this is the enormous seabed resources possessed by IOR comprising oil and natural gas reserves, minerals and abundance of fishes.
    • Maritime choke-points: The presence of major maritime choke points and Sea Lanes of Communications (SLOCs) in the IOR lends it a strategic importance of gigantic magnitude.

    Geo-Strategic Importance of IOR to India

    • India is at the centre: India’s central position in the IOR gives her an immense advantage and at the same time presents far greater challenges.
    • Energy Security: Taking into account the total oil imports by sea, offshore oil production and petroleum exports, the country’s cumulative ‘sea dependence’ for oil is estimated to be about 93 per cent.
    • Dependence on seas: Today, almost 95 per cent of India’s trade by volume and 68 per cent of trade by value are routed via the Indian Ocean.
    • Fishing and aquaculture: India depends heavily on Indian Ocean resources with her fishing and aquaculture industries being a major source of export as well as providing employment to more than 14 million people.
    • Huge maritime boundary: Militarily, the presence of such long coastline makes India vulnerable to potential threats emerging from the sea.
    • Hostile neighborhood: One of the worst terrorist attacks on India in recent memory – the 2008 Mumbai attack – was perpetrated by terrorists arriving by sea.
    • Unforeseen and non-conventional threats: The presence of non-traditional threats like piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing and human trafficking also present major challenges and hence, a secure Indian Ocean is key to securing India’s national interests.

    Net Security Provider: To Be or Not to Be

    • Peaceful seas: India has been fortunate to have experienced largely peaceful seas for past several decades.
    • Conventional threats: The threats were mostly non-traditional like piracy, drug trafficking, IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing and human trafficking to name a few.

    Reasons to take up the role

    • Obligation for the West: The acceptance of this role, as net security provider, has now become a strategic obligation rather than a matter of choice.
    • US internal crisis: Amidst a turbulent global economic environment marred by industrial recession in European block and a looming threat of trade wars between China and US.
    • Wisdom of Responsibility:  India has been acknowledged as the emerging global power in the international arena. This acknowledgement brings with itself, a commensurate level of international responsibility.
    • Void in capability: considering the perceptible void in the existing capability, the ongoing internal debate echoes in the remarks made by India’s former NSA, Mr Shiv Shankar Menon, when he said, “There is a demand that India be a net provider of security and we need to take a call on that”.

    IOR Threat Mosaic: From Indian Prism

    A quick scan over the IOR brings forth challenges of varied dimensions from India’s perspective. Critical of these areas under:

    • Growing PLAN Presence: Chinese presence on theports like Gwadar, Hambantota, Djibouti to name a few, in guise of maritime Silk Road needs no elaboration.
    • Modernisation of Pakistan Navy (PN): PN has embarked upon a rapid modernisation process with thrust on Undersea Warfare garnering assistance from Turkey and her all-weather friend China.
    • Shifting US Policy: US policies, since Trump, have seen stark deviation from her erstwhile policies on Indo-Pacific Region (IPR).
    • Non-traditional Threats: The challenges from non-state forces to include, piracy, maritime terrorism, drug trafficking, illicit weapons trafficking, illegal migrants, poaching etc. as well as, vagaries of climate change falls within the ambit of non-traditional threat spectrum of conflict..  

    Impediments to India Becoming a Net Security Provider

    • Resource Availability vs. Requirement: The inglorious status of India as the second most populated country in the world with finite resources can muster in the present era of global downtrend.
    • Financial capabilities: Intents cannot be materialised into reality without a robust financial backing. Achieving the status of net security provider calls for manifold increase in existing military hardware.  
    • Existing Civil-Military Relationship: There have been numerous instances of missing out on strategic gains due to differing views of various ministries as well as between civil and military leadership.
    • Nascent Jointmanship: Turf war between three Services has not helped the vision of jointsmanship required for India achieving the status of net security provider.  
    • Non-alignment Policy: India has ideologically followed the principle of military non-alignment with any super power so as to retain its strategic autonomy.  
    • Primacy of Land Operations: India has been persistently focused on dealing with its land boundary with China and Pakistan, and her full-fledged participation in ongoing proxy war.  

    Various steps taken

    • Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and naval exercise MILAN have been a few welcome steps by India in manifesting a coherent strategic intent.
    • This has been further augmented by initiatives like Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), project MAUSAM and the proposed Asia-Africa Growth Corridor.
    • There is an increased participation of Indian Navy in bilateral / multilateral naval exercises and CORPAT (Coordinated Patrol) with Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
    • India is already involved in training of naval personnel from various IOR nations as part of exchange programmes.
    • Further, India has also been supplying naval assets to countries like Mauritius, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Seychelles.

    Way Forward

    • Formulation of a National Defence Policy: It is a miraculous paradox that India, a growing regional power and an aspirant global power, doesn’t have a National Defence Policy.
    • Coherent IOR Strategy: India needs to formulate and adhere to a coherent IOR strategy involving complementary intents and actions in dealing with IOR nations.
    • Strategic Development of Islands:  The world miraculously watched the Chinese expertise in dredging and creating small islets. God’s grace, we have the Andaman, Nicobar and the Lakshadweep Islands.
    • Capability Enhancement of IOR Nations: A thrust on capability enhancement of IOR nations, particularly their respective navies, would accrue immense benefit for the entire IOR.
    • Capability Development and Technical Upgradation: When it comes to indigenisation, the IN has gone way ahead vis-à-vis other two Services i.e. army and air force.

    Conclusion

    • Indian core values of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence generate immense goodwill and inspire confidence in the entire IOR.
    • The smaller nations of the IOR have recognized the genuine intent of the Indian Navy in ensuring freedom of navigation and use of global waters as per existing International Laws.
    • However, this intent needs to be firmly backed by a matching capability and a clearly spelt-out strategy.
    • In the absence of the same, it would be a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ India would find itself struggling to secure its own maritime (and in turn, national) interests.  

  • After Ukraine, the new energy disorder

    Context

    Our long-standing “friend“ (Russia) is now in the bad books of our other friends (the US and Europe) and in a deepening relationship with our adversary (China). The Gulf countries are crucial for our energy security but Russia has replaced them as our principal supplier

    How Ukraine war is changing the energy policies

    • Six months back before the start of the Ukrainian conflict, there was a deepening sense that fossil fuels and the industry built around them were in terminal decline.
    • After the Ukraine war began, the petroleum market is tight and prices are ratcheting up.
    • Oil prices are close to $120/bbl and gas prices have jumped 500 per cent year on year in Europe.
    • The regulatory constraints on petroleum exploration and distribution infrastructure have been eased and several countries have removed the output limits on thermal power generation and reopened the coal mines that were closed.
    • The share prices of the oil majors are trading at multi-year highs.

    Three issues that influences India’s energy policy

    1] Long term implications of buying oil from Russia

    • India is now a major purchaser of Russian crude.
    • Last month, it reportedly purchased an average of 1.2 mbd.
    • If this figure is correct, Russia is now our largest provider of crude oil surpassing Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
    • The reason for this ramp-up is the price discount offered by Russia.
    • The decision is driven by good economics and energy security.
    • The Western world does not, however, see it this way.
    •  The question does arise: What might be the medium to longer-term implications of our “support” to Russia on relations with Capitol Hill, the UK and the European Commission?

    2] Increased economic and energy ties of Russia and China

    •  Russia and China have, for long, shared the view that the US is their biggest security threat.
    • China also increased the purchase of Russian oil and gas.
    • This tightened economic and energy embrace has implications for India.
    • Several questions will need to be addressed.
    • Russia’s role in India-China conflict: How might a post-Ukraine weakened Russia that is in hock to China respond to India in the event matters deteriorate on our border with China?
    • Will they be reliable providers of crude oil, military equipment, minerals, and metals essential for our green transition?
    • Will they be politically autonomous or client states?

    3] Important role of the Gulf states

    • The Ukrainian crisis has forced a presidential u-turn. Later this month, President Biden will visit Saudi Arabia.
    • Several other European leaders will also beat a path to the Gulf, all in the hope of extracting a promise of higher production to lower oil prices and some to negotiate gas supply deals.
    • India needs the Gulf producers for supply security. But it also wants oil prices to come down.
    •  The position of these producers in the reordered post-Ukraine energy landscape is, therefore, of relevance.
    • Will they respond positively to the courtship of Russia/China, move back into the Western fold, or stay outside both orbits, neutral and opportunistic?
    • The answer will bear on India’s energy security.

    Way forward

    • Integrated energy policy: What we need is a mechanism for the development and execution of an integrated energy policy.
    • This is because currently there is no executive authority responsible for energy.
    • There are ministries responsible for components of energy policy but no formal mechanism for aligning their separate approaches.
    • The Ukraine war has disrupted the existing energy order.
    • The new energy (dis) order has created fissures that impact our national security, economic growth, trade, clean energy supply lines, transfer of technology and international relations.
    • We cannot, therefore, afford to continue with our existing siloed approach.

    Conclusion

    The Ukrainian crisis has radically altered the contours of the global energy landscape and created a tangle of relationships and issues for India. To smoothen this tangle and address the issues India should adopt “a whole of the system” approach to energy policy.

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  • 4th July 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1        Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone. etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. 

    GS-2        Executive and Judiciary; Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

    GS-3        Agriculture and related issues, Industrial Policy

    GS-4        Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; 

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 What is a cloudburst and what are its effects? Why are they more frequent in the Himalayan region? (10 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 Is technology a solution to the deal with the custodial deaths? What are the issues with the use of technologies by law enforcement agencies? (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 India exported the highest ever volume of rice in 2021-22. What are the concerns with this? Suggest the way forward. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 Identifying the issues associated with utilization of public funds, discuss the various ethical principles which can help devise strategies for better utilization of public funds in India. (10 Marks)

     

    HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

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    4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

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    6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

    7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

    8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

    *In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

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  • Strains on India-Russia Defence Cooperation

    As the war in Ukraine stretches over four months with no end in sight, it has given rise to apprehensions on Russia’s ability to adhere to timely deliveries of spares and hardware to India.

    History of the bilateral defence ties

    • India was reliant, almost solely on the British, and other Western nations for its arms imports immediately after Independence.
    • However, this dependence weaned, and by the 1970s India was importing several weapons systems from then USSR, making it the country’s largest defence importer for decades.

    A major chunk of India’s strategic arms

    • Russia has provided some of the most sensitive and important weapons platforms that India has required from time to time including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, tanks, guns, fighter jets, and missiles.
    • According to one estimate, the share of Russian-origin weapons and platforms across Indian armed forces is as high as 85%.
    • Russia is the second-largest arms exporter in the world, following only the United States.
    • For Russia, India is the largest importer, and for India, Russia is the largest exporter when it comes to arms transfer.

    What saw the decline?

    • Between 2000 and 2020, Russia accounted for 66.5% of India’s arms imports.
    • Russia’s share in Indian arms imports was down to about 50% between 2016 and 2020, but it still remained the largest single importer.

    Present status of defence cooperation

    • When the war began, Indian armed forces had stocks of spares and supplies for eight to ten months and the expectation was that the war would end quickly.
    • However, as it stretches on with no clear endgame, there are apprehensions on Russia’s ability to adhere to the timelines for both spares as well as new deliveries.
    • Armed forces are looking at certain alternative mitigation measures and identifying alternate sources from friendly foreign countries.
    • However, in the long term, this is also an opportunity for the private industry to step up production and meet the requirements.

    Impact of the war

    • While some timeline lapses and shipping delays were possible, there would not be any dent on the Army’s operational preparedness along the borders.
    • In addition, the armed forces have also made significant emergency procurements since the standoff in Eastern Ladakh and have stocked up on spares and ammunition.
    • However, Russia has assured India that it would adhere to delivery timelines.
    • Since the war sees no end, Russian industry would be caught up in replenishing the inventories of their own armed forces.

    What is the status of deals underway/new deals pending with Russia?

    • The defence trade between India and Russia has crossed $15 billion since 2018, in the backdrop of some big deals including the $5.43 billion S-400 long range air defence systems.
    • Other major contracts currently under implementation are construction of four additional stealth frigates in Russia and India,
    • There is a licensed production of the Mango Armor-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds for the T-90S tanks as also additional T-90S tanks, AK-203 assault rifles among others.

    Deferred deals in downtime

    • There are several big deals deferred by the Defence Ministry as part of the review of all direct import deals.
    • This is in conjunction with efforts to push the ‘Make in India’ scheme in defence.
    • Russian deals have also been deferred including the one for 21 MiG-29 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) along with the upgradation of 59 existing Mig-29 jets.
    • This also includes the deferment of the manufacture of 12 SU-30 MKI aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

    What is the status of payments?

    • While India continues to remain Russia’s largest arms buyer with a major chunk of legacy hardware from Russia and the Soviet Union, the volume of imports has reduced in the last decade.
    • With Russia being shut out of the global SWIFT system for money transfers, India and Russia have agreed to conduct payments through the Rupee-Rouble arrangement.
    • With several big ticket deals including the S-400 under implementation, there are large volume of payments to be made.

     

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  • Earthquake in Afghanistan

    Recently a powerful earthquake of magnitude 5.9 on the Richter scale struck a remote town in Afghanistan, killing over a thousand and injuring many more.

    How do earthquakes happen?

    • According to the theory of plate tectonics, the Earth’s crust and upper mantle are made of large rigid plates that can move relative to one another.
    • Slip on faults near the plate boundaries can result in earthquakes.
    • The point inside the Earth where the earthquake rupture starts is called the focus or hypocentre.
    • The point directly above it on the surface of the Earth is the epicentre.

    What are Seismic Waves?

    • Any elastic material when subjected to stress, stretches in a proportional way, until the elastic limit is reached.
    • When the elastic limit is crossed, it breaks.
    • Similarly, the Earth also has an elastic limit and when the stress is higher than this limit, it breaks.
    • Then there is a generation of heat, and energy is released. Since the material is elastic, the energy is released in the form of elastic waves.
    • These propagate to a distance determined by the extent of the impact. These are known as seismic waves.

    Why Earthquake in Afghanistan?

    • Afghanistan is earthquake-prone because it’s located in the mountainous Hindu Kush region, which is part of the Alpide belt — the second most seismically active region in the world after the Pacific Ring of Fire.
    • The Alpide belt runs about 15,000 kilometers, from the southern part of Eurasia through the Himalayas and into the Atlantic.
    • Along with the Hindu Kush, it includes a number of mountain ranges, such as the Alps, Atlas Mountains and the Caucasus Mountains.
    • Additionally, the Earth’s crust is especially lively in Afghanistan because it is where the Arabian, Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
    • The boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates exists near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan.

    How are earthquakes measured?

    • Earthquakes are measured by seismographic networks, which are made of seismic stations, each of which measures the shaking of the ground beneath it.
    • In India, the National Seismological Network does this work.
    • It has a history of about 120 years and its sensors can now detect an earthquake within five to ten minutes.

    Issues with Earthquake measurement

    • Everywhere, the wave parameters are measured, not the total energy released.
    • There is a direct relationship between the quantum of energy released and the wave amplitude.
    • The amplitude of the wave is a function of the time period of the wave.
    • It is possible to convert the measured wave amplitude into the energy released for that earthquake.
    • This is what seismologists call the magnitude of the earthquake.

    What is the Richter magnitude scale?

    • This is a measure of the magnitude of an earthquake and was first defined by Charles F. Richter of the California Institute of Technology, U.S., in 1935.
    • The magnitude of an earthquake is the logarithm of the amplitude of the waves measured by the seismographs.
    • Richter scale magnitudes are expressed as a whole number and a decimal part, for example 6.3 or 5.2.
    • Since it is a logarithmic scale, an increase of the whole number by one unit signifies a tenfold increase in the amplitude of the wave and a 31-times increase of the energy released.

    How are zones designated?

    • Based on seismicity, intensity of earthquakes experienced, and geological and tectonic qualities of a region, countries are divided into several zones.
    • In India, for example, there are four zones, designated Zone II-Zone V. Among these, Zone V is the most hazardous and Zone II the least hazardous.

    Can we predict Earthquakes?

    • Since parameters of the earthquake are unknown, it is near impossible to predict an earthquake.
    • The problem with earthquakes is that they are heavily dependent on the material property, which varies from place to place.
    • If there are elastic waves propagating through a material, there are two kinds of waves — the primary wave which reaches first, and the second one called the secondary wave, which is more destructive.
    • If it is known that the amount of energy released is extremely high, trains and power grids can be shut down and the damage minimised.
    • This has worked in some locations, but not on a large commercial basis.

    Successful attempts made so far

    • The most successful early warning systems are in Japan.
    • They have several hundreds of thousands recording devices.
    • Responses are sent to a central point where they estimate whether it is large enough to form a tsunami or some other hazard, and precautionary steps are taken.

     

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  • Functioning of the National Investigation Agency (NIA)

    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe into the terrible beheading of a person in Udaipur by Jihadi radicalists.

    What is the NIA?

    • Headquartered in Delhi, the NIA has its branches in Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, Raipur, Jammu, Chandigarh, Ranchi, Chennai, Imphal, Bengaluru and Patna.
    • It is a central agency mandated to investigate all the offences affecting:
    1. Sovereignty, security and integrity of India
    2. Friendly relations with foreign states
    3. Offences under the statutory laws enacted to implement international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organisations
    • The offense include terror acts and their possible links with crimes like smuggling of arms, drugs and fake Indian currency and infiltration from across the borders.
    • The agency has the power to search, seize, arrest and prosecute those involved in such offences.

    When did the NIA come into being?

    • In the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in November 2008, which shocked the entire world, the then United Progressive Alliance government decided to establish the NIA.
    • In December 2008, former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram introduced the National Investigation Agency Bill.
    • The agency would deal with only eight laws mentioned in the schedule and that a balance had been struck between the right of the State and duties of the Central government to investigate the more important cases.
    • The agency came into existence on December 31, 2008, and started its functioning in 2009.
    • Till date, the NIA has registered 447 cases.

    What are the scheduled offences?

    The list includes the

    1. Explosive Substances Act,
    2. Atomic Energy Act,
    3. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,
    4. Anti-Hijacking Act,
    5. Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act,
    6. SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act,
    7. Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act,
    8. Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act and
    9. Relevant offences under the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act and
    10. Information Technology Act
    • In September 2020, the Centre empowered the NIA to also probe offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act that are connected to terror cases.

    How wide is NIA’s jurisdiction?

    • The law under which the agency operates extends to the whole of India.
    • It also applies to:
    1. Indian citizens outside the country;
    2. Persons in the service of the government wherever they are posted;
    3. Persons on ships and aircraft registered in India wherever they may be;
    4. Persons who commit a scheduled offence beyond India against the Indian citizen or affecting the interest of India.

    How does the NIA take up a probe?

    • As provided under Section 6 of the Act, State governments can refer the cases pertaining to the scheduled offences registered at any police station to the Central government (Union Home Ministry) for NIA investigation.
    • After assessing the details made available, the Centre can then direct the agency to take over the case.
    • State governments are required to extend all assistance to the NIA.
    • Even when the Central government is of the opinion that a scheduled offence has been committed which is required to be investigated under the Act, it may, suo motu, direct the agency to take up/over the probe.

     

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  • 100 years of Rampa or Manyam Rebellion

    Hundred years ago, in August 1922 the “Rampa Rebellion” or “Manyam Rebellion” took place in the forests of the Godavari Agency in the Madras Presidency.

    Rampa Rebellion

    • The Rampa Rebellion of 1922, also known as the Manyam Rebellion, was a tribal uprising led by Alluri Sitarama Raju in Godavari Agency.
    • It began in August 1922 and lasted until the capture and killing of Raju in May 1924.
    • Forced labour, embargoes on collecting minor forest produce and bans on tribal agriculture practices led to severe distress among the Koyas in the area.
    • Sitarama Raju did not belong to the tribal community, but understood the restrictions that the British colonial administration placed on the tribal way of life.

    Background of the revolt

    • The Rampa administrative area comprised around 1,800 square km and had a mostly tribal population of approximately 28,000.
    • They had traditionally been able to support their food requirements through the use, in particular, of the podu system, whereby each year some areas of jungle forest were burned to clear land for cultivation.
    • The British Raj authorities had wanted to improve the economic usefulness of lands in Godavari Agency, an area that was noted for the prevalence of malaria and blackwater fever.
    • The traditional cultivation methods were greatly hindered when the authorities took control of the forests, mostly for commercial purposes such as produce for building railways and ships.
    • This was done regardless of the needs of the tribal people.

    Why did people revolt?

    • The tribal people of the forested hills, who now faced starvation had long felt that the legal system favoured the muttadar (estate landowners) and merchants.
    • This had also resulted in the earlier Rampa Rebellion of 1879.
    • Now they objected also to the Raj laws and continued actions that hindered their economic position and meant they had to find alternate livelihood.
    • They objected to attempts at that time to use them as forced labour in the construction of a road in the area.

    Role of Raju

    • Raju was a charismatic sanyasin, believed by many tribal people to possess magical abilities and to have an almost messianic status.
    • He saw the overthrow of colonial rule in terms similar to a millenarian event and he harnessed the discontent of the tribal people to support his anti-colonial zeal.

    Course of revolt

    • Alluri Sitarama Raju, along with 500 tribal people, attacked the police stations of Chintapalli, Krishnadevipeta and Rajavommangi.
    • They walked away with 26 police carbine rifles and 2,500 rounds of ammunition.
    • Legend has it that Alluri himself would forewarn the British officers of an imminent attack and would challenge them to stop him with the superior resources that they had at hand.
    • He was finally captured, tied to a tree and shot dead.

     

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following event?

    (a) The Revolt of 1857

    (b) The Mappila Rebellion of 1921

    (c) The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60

    (d) Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899-1900

     

    Post your answers here.

     

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  • Researchers found gene regulating Nitrogen absorption in Plant

    Researchers led by those from the National Centre of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru (NCBS-TIFR), have found a new pathway that regulates nitrate absorption in plants.

    Nitrogen in plant nutrition

    • Nitrogen is one of the most important macronutrients needed for development of a plant.
    • It is a part of chlorophyll, amino acids and nucleic acids, among others.
    • It is mostly sourced from the soil where it is mainly absorbed in the form of nitrates and ammonium by the roots.
    • Nitrates also play a role in controlling genome-wide gene expression that in turn regulates root system architecture, flowering time, leaf development, etc.
    • Thus, while a lot of action takes place in the roots to absorb and convert nitrogen into useful nitrates, the absorbed nitrates in turn regulate plant development apart from being useful as a macronutrient.

    What is MADS27?

    • The gene MADS27, which regulates nitrate absorption, root development and stress tolerance, is activated by the micro-RNA, miR444, therefore offers a way to control these properties of the plant.
    • The researchers studied this mechanism in both rice (monocot) and tobacco (dicot) plants.

    Regulatory switches

    • In addition to this route, several gene regulatory switches that regulate nitrate absorption and root development, such as the micro-RNA, miR444, are known in monocot plants, such as rice.
    • The micro-RNA ‘miR444’ is specific to monocots.
    • When this is not made, its target, MADS27, is produced in higher abundance, and it improves biosynthesis and transport of the hormone auxin, which is key for root development and its branching.
    • This regulatory miR444 switch is known to turn off at least five genes called MADS box transcription factor genes.
    • The speciality of the MADS box transcription factors is that they function like switch boxes of their own.
    • They bind to their favourite specific DNA sequences and they switch the neighbouring genes “on.”

    Why is the discovery important?

    • Presence of nitrates is important for the plant development and also for grain production.
    • However, the overuse of nitrates in fertilizers, for instance, can lead to the dumping of nitrates in the soil which leads to accumulation of nitrates in water and soil.
    • This accumulation adds to soil and water pollution and increased contribution to greenhouse gases.
    • Also, since the whole process of nitrate absorption takes place in the roots, a well-developed root system is needed for this to take place optimally.
    • At one level, it is known that the hormone auxin is responsible for well-developed roots across all plants.
    • A number of genes are known to help with auxin production, improved nitrate transport and assimilation in plants.

    Significance of MADS27

    • The MADS27 transcription factor has a three-pronged effect on the plant.
    • First, it regulates nitrate absorption by switching “on” proteins involved in this process.
    • Second, it leads to better development of the roots by regulating auxin hormone production and transport.
    • Finally, and somewhat surprisingly to the researchers, it helps in the abiotic stress tolerance by keeping the main stress player proteins “on.”

     

     

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  • Mayurbhanj’s superfood ‘Ant Chutney’

    The Kai Chutney made from Red Ants by the tribals of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha are seeking a Geographical Indications (GI) tag.

    Ant Chutney

    • Despite this, weaver ants are popular among the people, mostly of the tribes,
    • This food item, rich in proteins, calcium, zinc, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, fibre and 18 amino acids, is known to boost the immune system and keep diseases at bay.
    • Applied under food category, the GI tag will help develop a structured hygiene protocol in the preparation of Kai chutney for standard wider use.
    • Geographical Indications labels enhance the reputation and value of local products and support local businesses.

    How is the Chutney prepared?

    • Weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina, are abundantly found in Mayurbhanj throughout the year.
    • They make nests with leaves of host trees.
    • The chutney is prepared by mixing and grinding salt, ginger, garlic and chilly and is sold by tribal people in rural markets.

     

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status?

    1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
    2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
    3. Tirupathi Laddu

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

    Post your answers here.

    Back2Basics:  Geographical Indication

    • A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
    • Nodal Agency: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
    • India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 w.e.f. September 2003.
    • GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.
    • GI is granted for a term of 10 years in India. As of today, more than 300 GI tags has been allocated so far in India (*Wikipedia).
    • The tag stands valid for 10 years.

     

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