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  • MHA bans PFI for five years under UAPA

    The Union Home Ministry has declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its front organizations as an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

    PFI under the Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act (UAPA)

    • The UAPA is aimed at the effective prevention of unlawful activity associations in India.
    • Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India
    • It is an upgrade on the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act TADA, which was allowed to lapse in 1995 and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) was repealed in 2004.
    • It was originally passed in 1967 under the then Congress government led by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
    • Till 2004, “unlawful” activities referred to actions related to secession and cession of territory. Following the 2004 amendment, “terrorist act” was added to the list of offences.

    What are Unlawful Activities and Associations?

    • The UAPA lays down the definitions and rules for designating an organization as an “unlawful association” if it is engaged in certain types of activities.
    • Under Section 3 of the UAPA Act, the government has powers to declare an association “unlawful”.
    • The government can then issue a notification designating such an organization as a terrorist organization if it believes that the organization is part of “terrorist activities.”

    (1) Unlawful Activites

    • Under section 2(o) of the UAPA, an unlawful activity in relation to an individual or association means – Any action taken by such an individual or association (whether by committing an act or by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representation or otherwise), –
    1. Works for the Cession of a part of the territory of India or the secession of a part of the territory of India from the Union
    2. Disclaims, questions, disrupts or is intended to Disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India; or
    3. which causes or is intended to cause Disaffection against India;
    • Related and ancillary acts, including financing, support or promotion of any such activities are also “unlawful activity”.

    (2) Unlawful Association

    The UAPA also defines an “Unlawful Association” under section 2(p) as meaning any association,–

    1. which has for its object any unlawful activity, or which encourages or aids persons to undertake any unlawful activity, or of which the members undertake such activity or
    2. which encourages or aids persons to undertake any such activity, or of which the members undertake any such activity

    Reading the ban on PFI

    • At present, the MHA notification published has said that the PFI and its affiliated organisations are being notified as “Unlawful Associations” with immediate effect.
    • The charges against PFI are-
    1. Pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize a particular section of society
    2. Working towards undermining the concept of democracy and
    3. Showing sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country
    4. Gathering funds and ideological support from outside the country
    5. Money laundering

    Immediate trigger for PFI’s ban

    • The PFI is accused of engaging in violent and barbaric acts.
    • Criminal violent acts carried out by PFI include chopping off the limb of a college professor, cold-blooded killings of persons associated with organisations espousing other faiths.
    • It has been allegedly involved in obtaining explosives to target prominent people and places and destruction of public property.

    What does the ‘ban’ mean?

    • The notification means that the membership of, support or financing to the PFI and the allied banned organizations, is now ILLEGAL.
    • Any person who is a member of these organisations can face arrest, and joining membership of these organisations is a criminal offence.
    • The government can also seize the properties, bank accounts and offices connected to these organisations.

     

     

  • Centre extends Free Ration Scheme PMGKAY for 3 months

    The Union government has extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for another three months from October 1.

    What is PMGKAY?

    • PMGKAY is a food security welfare scheme announced by the GoI in March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
    • The program is operated by the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
    • The scale of this welfare scheme makes it the largest food security program in the world.

    Targets of the scheme

    • To feed the poorest citizens of India by providing grain through the Public Distribution System to all the priority households (ration card holders and those identified by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme).
    • PMGKAY provides 5 kg of rice or wheat (according to regional dietary preferences) per person/month and 1 kg of dal to each family holding a ration card.

    At what rate are food grains provided under the NFSA?

    • NFSA beneficiaries are entitled to receive foodgrains at highly subsidised rates.
    • Under the food law, rice is provided at Rs 3 per kg, wheat at Rs 2 per kg, and coarse grains at Re 1 per kg.

    Why was such a scheme needed?

    • The devastation by pandemic has increased manifold in the second wave resulting into localized restrictions and lockdowns from the States.
    • This resulted in massive jobs losses in urban areas since the largest employers being construction and hospitality sectors have been completely shut down.
    • The virus penetrated deeper in the countryside in rural areas halting almost every sources of livelihood.
    • These areas are such where 60% of the income was earned from non-pharm activities. This resulted in livelihood losses of large section of population.

    Success of the scheme

    • It was the first step by the government when pandemic affected India.
    • The scheme reached its targeted population feeding almost 80Cr people.
    • It has proven to be more of a safety net to migrant people who had job and livelihood losses.
    • This has also ensured nutrition security to children of the migrant workers.

    Failures

    • The scheme has been affected by widespread corruption, leakages and failure to distribute grain to the intended recipients.
    • Several of the states above have claimed that the ineffective distribution has been caused by the beneficiaries, especially migrant workers, not being available to receive their rations.
    • Out of the 79.25 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), only 55 crore have so far received their 5 kg.
    • However, almost 90% of beneficiaries have received their regular subsidized grain for the month, raising questions over why the free grain has reached fewer beneficiaries.
    • Many people were denied their share due to inability to access ration cards.
    • Livelihood losses led to decline in aggregate demand and resulted into lowest ever consumption expenditure by the people owing to scarcity of cash.
    • This in turn led to selling of the free grains obtained in the local markets for cash.

    Way forward

    • There should be an all-encompassing database for migrant workers and their family. This should accurately capture the data on migration.
    • The One Nation One Ration Card should be implemented in true spirit by all the states.
    • Along with food security, there should be a sustainable income support through schemes like MGNREGS accompanied by free vaccines in nearest future.
    • The leakages in PDS should be minimized through modernize PDS.
    • To avoid leakages, there should be food-token system.

     

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  • Forex Reserves to dip by $23 billion by Dec

    India’s depleted foreign exchange reserves are likely to drop further, falling to their lowest level in more than two years by end-2022.

    Forex to dip

    • In a battle that has so far failed to staunch the rupee’s fall to a record low against the greenback, the RBI has drawn down its foreign exchange reserves by close to $100 billion, to $545 billion.
    • Those reserves are forecast to fall another $23 billion to $523 billion by the end of this year.

    What is Foreign Exchange (Forex) Reserve?

    • Foreign exchange reserves are important assets held by the central bank in foreign currencies as reserves.
    • They are commonly used to support the exchange rate and set monetary policy.
    • In India’s case, foreign reserves include Gold, Dollars, and the IMF’s quota for Special Drawing Rights.
    • Most of the reserves are usually held in US dollars, given the currency’s importance in the international financial and trading system.
    • Some central banks keep reserves in Euros, British pounds, Japanese yen, or Chinese yuan, in addition to their US dollar reserves.

    India’s forex reserves cover:

    • Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs)
    • Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)
    • Gold Reserves
    • Reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

    Countries with the highest foreign reserves

    Currently, China has the largest reserves followed by Japan and Switzerland. India has overtaken Russia to become the fourth largest country with foreign exchange reserves. (Data from August 2022)

    1. China – $3,349 Billion
    2. Japan – $1,376 Billion
    3. Switzerland – $1,074 Billion
    4. India – $612.73 Billion
    5. Russia – $597.40 Billion

    Why are these reserves so important?

    • All international transactions are settled in US dollars and, therefore, required to support India’s imports.
    • More importantly, they need to maintain support and confidence for central bank action, whether monetary policy action or any exchange rate intervention to support the domestic currency.
    • It also helps to limit any vulnerability due to sudden disturbances in foreign capital flows, which may arise during a crisis.
    • Holding liquid foreign currency provides a cushion against such effects and provides confidence that there will still be enough foreign exchange to help the country with crucial imports in case of external shocks.

    Initiatives taken by the government to increase forex

    • To increase the foreign exchange reserves, the Government of India has taken many initiatives like AatmaNirbhar Bharat, in which India has to be made a self-reliant nation so that India does not have to import things that India can produce.
    • Other than AatmaNirbhar Bharat, the government has started schemes like Duty Exemption Scheme, Remission of Duty or Taxes on Export Product (RoDTEP), Nirvik (Niryat Rin Vikas Yojana) scheme, etc.
    • Apart from these schemes, India is one of the top countries that attracted the highest amount of Foreign Direct Investment, thereby improving India’s foreign exchange reserves.

     

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  • Ranipur TR: 4th Tiger Reserve in UP

    ranipur

    The UP cabinet approved the notification of Ranipur Tiger Reserve under Section 38(v) of the Wild life (Protection) Act of 1972.

    About Ranipur WS

    • Ranipur WS, was founded in 1977, is one of the attractions of Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh.
    • It is spread over 230 sq.km and is noted for its diverse wildlife, but is not very frequently visited by tourists because of the difficult access.
    • The Ranipur TR has tropical dry deciduous forests and is home to fauna such as tigers, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambhar, chinkara and a number of birds and reptiles, the statement added.
    • The Ranipur TR will be the fourth in UP, after Dudhwa, Pilibhit and Amangarh (buffer of Corbett Tiger Reserve).
    • It will also be the first in the state’s portion of the Bundelkhand region, which it shares with neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.

    Why make it a tiger reserve?

    • RWS has no tigers of its own.
    • But pugmarks of the animals are frequently seen there as tigers from nearby Panna frequent it.

     

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  • 28th September 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1          Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

    GS-2          Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

    GS-3          Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. 

    GS-4         Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 Urban flooding has become a recurrent phenomenon that poses a severe risk to the urban ecosystem and critical infrastructure in India. Discuss. (15 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 India’s Higher education institutions (HEIs) are plagued with many administrative and operational issues, Discuss. Suggest ways to overcome them and improve the state of HEIs. (15 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 Semiconductors are the building blocks of almost every modern electronic device. Highlighting the challenges that the Indian semiconductor industry faces, mention the government efforts to give it a push. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity; it is an act of justice.” – Nelson Mandela. What does this quote mean to you? (10 Marks)

     

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

    1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

    2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

    3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

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

    5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

    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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  • Advantage of Market Based Economic Dispatch

    Market Based Economic DispatchContext

    • The game changing scheme is being proposed by the central government in power sector governance. The scheme under consideration is the market-based economic dispatch (MBED). When it comes to any drastic change in the power sector, a clash between the Centre and the states is inevitable.

    What is Market Based Economic Dispatch (MBED)?

    • Market Based Economic Dispatch (MBED) is new approach towards power distribution to help distribution companies save costs and transition to a new form of power market.
    • It is a shift to a centralised framework, marks a radical departure from the current decentralised, voluntary pool-based electricity market.

    Market Based Economic DispatchWhat is the framework under MBED?

    • The cheapest power from across the country will be dispatched to meet the system wide demand. The architecture would also lead to a “Market clearing price”.
    • Sellers and buyers will place their bids for the day market, and an outcome of this will be the discovery of the market clearing price.
    • This process is expected to generate significant savings for consumers.

    What is the Present system of power Distribution?

    • Under the present regime, each distribution company (Discom) is bound by the power purchase agreements (PPAs) that it holds.
    • It can schedule power only from its own PPAs, starting from the cheapest PPA and then moving up; it cannot schedule power from the PPA of some other distribution company.

    Market Based Economic DispatchWhat are the drawbacks of present system?

    • Financial Burdon:
    • The Indian government responded to COVID-19’s economic shock with a stimulus package of Rs.20-lakh crore, out of which Rs.90,000 crore was earmarked for discoms (later upgraded to Rs.1,25,000 crore). While it was called a stimulus, it is really a loan, meant to be used by discoms to pay off generators.
    • Discoms owe one lakh crore rupees to generators, and without such an infusion the chain will collapse.
    • States are defaulters:
    • State governments are the biggest defaulters, responsible for an estimated a third of trade receivables, besides not paying subsidies in full or on time.
    • On an annual cash flow basis, the shortfall in subsidy payments appears very low, only about 1% but cumulative unpaid subsidies, with modest carrying costs, make discoms poorer by over Rs.70,000 crore just over the last 10 years.

    Market Based Economic DispatchWhat will be the Advantages of MBED?

    • Centralized approach: The centralised dispatch will be done with the assistance of electricity exchanges. Each discom and each generator will place a bid in the day-ahead market of the electricity exchanges, which will indicate how much power is being demanded/ supplied at what price.
    • Pan India market: These bids will enable the load dispatcher to construct a pan India demand and supply curve, the intersection of which will determine the market clearing price (MCP). All generators whose variable cost of generation is below the MCP will be asked to dispatch and all of them will receive the same MCP irrespective of what they had bid. Generators whose variable cost is higher than the MCP will sit idle.
    • No loss to discom: The MBED is so devised that its operation will not affect the current finances of either the discoms or the generators for the following reasons.
    • First, the fixed cost of the generators will still be paid by the discoms outside the market as determined by the regulator.
    • Second, if the MCP comes out to be Rs 3 per unit, and if in the case of any PPA, the variable cost is Rs 2.75 per unit, then the generator will compensate the discom to the extent of Rs 0.25 per unit. Similarly, if the MCP so determined is Rs 2.50 per unit, then the discom will compensate the generator to the extent of Rs 0.25 per unit.
    • Increasing efficiency: The logic is that by adopting MBED, only the relatively efficient plants will generate, without affecting the revenues of either the discoms or generators. Hence, the total cost of generation under the MBED system would be less.
    • Less pollution: There would be less coal consumption and less carbon dioxide injected into the atmosphere.
    • Easy integration with renewable: It would also mean less movement of coal leading to decongestion of railway tracks. Further, there would be enhanced renewable integration since the balancing area would shift from state to national level.
    • Single market clearing price (MCP): Incidentally, since there are three electricity exchanges in operation today, there would be three different MCPs determined. What we need is a single MCP for which there will be an institution called the “market coupler”. It will be the job of the coupler to determine a national MCP based on what has arrived at the three different exchanges.

    Why states are opposing?

    • High generation cost: The reason is the state-owned generators are relatively inefficient and may have to sit idle as their variable cost of generation is likely to be more than the MCP.
    • Political backlash: Today, the states are operating their own generators to the hilt, even though they are inefficient, and drawing only the balance from the more efficient interstate generating stations. Keeping state generators idle has its own political implications and no state would be enamoured of this idea.

    Conclusion

    • Power distribution companies (discom) are sinkhole of government finances. Every year budgetary support is needed to this loss-making companies , With due consultation, all states and union territories need to adopt and implement the MBED and save the resources for other development activities.

    Mains Question

    Q. India has became the power surplus nation, however power distribution and financial unsustainability is still a nightmare for union and states. Elaborate.

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  • Urban planning can change the future of cities to happy cities

    Urban planningContext

    • In the recent few years, the growth of the economy and urbanization have accelerated. Rapid unplanned urbanization has put extreme pressure on natural resources.
    • Unplanned urbanization, however, exerts great strain on our cities. In fact, the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the dire need for the planning and management of our cities.

    What does urban planning mean?

    • Urban planning, also known as regional planning, town planning, city planning is a technical and political process that is focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas, such as transportation, communications, and distribution networks and their accessibility.

    What are ‘Happy Cities’?

    • A term that follows the Green City, Sustainable City, Liveable City, in the lingo of urban planning

    What is a smart city?

    • A smart city is one that uses information and communication technologies to enhance citizen engagement. It is a neo-vision which seeks to improve the delivery of services in urban areas. The following story maps out the steps being taken by India to explore this concept in practice.

    What is the Smart Cities Mission?

    • Sustainable cities: The Smart Cities Mission aims at developing 100 cities, which were shortlisted, into self-sustainable urban settlements.
    • Chronology: The mission was launched on June 25, 2015 and was projected as one aimed at transforming the process of urban development in the country.
    • Comprehensive revamp: Among its strategic components is ‘area-based development’, which includes city improvement (retrofitting), city renewal (redevelopment) and city extension (Greenfield development), plus a pan-city initiative in which ‘smart solutions’ are applied covering larger parts of the city.

    Fast Facts – Urbanization in India

    • Most Urbanized States: Tamil Nadu 43.9%; Maharashtra 4%; Gujarat  37.4%
    • 3 out of world’s 21 mega cities: Mumbai (19 mill); Delhi (15 mill); Kolkata (14 mill)

    Urban planningUrban planning challenges

    Planning

    • Many urban governments lack a modern planning framework
    • The multiplicity of local bodies obstructs efficient planning and land use
    • Rigid master plans and restrictive zoning regulations limit the land available for building, constricting cities’ abilities to grow in accordance with changing needs.

    Housing

    • Building regulations that limit urban density – such as floor space indexes – reduce the number of houses available, thereby pushing up property prices
    • Outdated rent control regulations reduce the number of houses available on rent – a critical option for the poor
    • Policy, planning, and regulation deficiencies lead to a proliferation of slums

    Service delivery

    • There is a strong bias towards adding physical infrastructure rather than providing financially and environmentally sustainable services

    Infrastructure

    • Most urban bodies do not generate the revenues needed to renew infrastructure, nor do they have the creditworthiness to access capital markets for funds
    • Urban transport planning needs to be more holistic – there is a focus on moving vehicles rather than meeting the needs of the large numbers of people who walk or ride bicycles in India’s towns and cities.

    Environment:

    • The deteriorating urban environment is taking a toll on people’s health and productivity and diminishing their quality of life.

    Urban planningSolution offered by NITI ayog committee report on urban planning

    • Demystifying Planning and Involving Citizens: While it is important to maintain the master plans’ technical rigour, it is equally important to demystify them for enabling citizens’ participation at relevant stages. Therefore, the committee strongly recommends a ‘Citizen Outreach Campaign’ for demystifying urban planning.
    • Steps for Enhancing the Role of Private Sector: The report recommends that concerted measures must be taken at multiple levels to strengthen the role of the private sector to improve the overall planning capacity in the country.
    • Revision of Town and Country Planning Acts: Most States have enacted the Town and Country Planning acts, that enable them to prepare and notify master plans for implementation. However, many need to be reviewed and upgraded.
    • Revision of Town and Country Planning Acts: Most States have enacted the Town and Country Planning Acts, that enable them to prepare and notify master plans for implementation. However, many need to be reviewed and upgraded.

    Interesting fact

    India is home to 11% of the total global urban population.

    Government initiatives

    • Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT);
    • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) – Housing for all (Urban),
    • Smart Cities Mission (SCM),
    • Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM),
    • Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY);
    • Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).

    Conclusion

    • What is now increasingly understood, is that urban planning and design can be a powerful contributor to the happiness of citizens. The structure and layout of our streets, the availability of green spaces, the possibility of using urban spaces freely, the inclusion of beauty in public space.
    • It is safe to assume that when there are avenues for a community to come together in a pleasant environment, which is accessible to everyone, it can only increase well-being.

    Mains question

    Q. Can urban planning and design change Indian cities to be happy cities? Express your views by addressing the roadblocks in the same.

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  • India and UNSC

    UNSCContext

    • There is greater support for India to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council and also a broad global consensus over the need to reform the Council, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. India has once again renewed its bid for permanent membership of UNSC.

    What is UNSC?

    • The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN Charter.
    • Its powers include establishing peacekeeping operations, enacting international sanctions, and authorizing military action. The UNSC is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions on member states.

    UNSCWhat is the composition of UNSC?

    • Presently there five permanent members (P-5) with veto and 10 non-permanent members without veto elected for tenure of 2 years.
    • India has been the non-permanent member multiple times. Presently India is serving its tenure that will end in December 2022.

    UNSCWho are P-5 members?

    • The victors of World War 2 – USA, RUSSIA, CHINA, UK, FRANCE.

    What are the hurdles that India facing?

    • Elite club: Most exclusive club in international relations. All other clubs have been breached. Until a quarter century ago, the nuclear weapon club had five members, the same five as the P-5.India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel have since joined the club. But UNSC is unbreachable till date.
    • All are reluctant: The inescapable fact is that none of the P-5 wants the UNSC’s ranks to be increased. One or the other of them might make some noise about supporting one or more of the aspirants. Each is confident that someone among them will torpedo the enlargement of the club. Declarations of support for India’s candidature need to be taken with a fistful of salt.
    • Veto issue: Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan bluntly told India not to expect to get the veto power. Though India has said it will not accept a seat without veto power.
    • China-Pakistan axis: China, which has historically blocked India’s aspirations to become a permanent member of the UNSC. Beijing has an “all-weather ally” in Islamabad, another neighbour who also strongly opposes India’s candidature to the UNSC.
    • Odd man out: Four out of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have bilaterally expressed official affirmations of support for India’s candidature to a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council.
    • Coffee club opposition: Members like Italy, South Korea, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, Argentina, Pakistan, and others, who have together formed the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) movement. Also known as the Coffee Club, the movement argues that bids for permanent seats by India, Japan, Germany, and Brazil (G4 countries) must not be considered without first reaching an international consensus regarding the form and size of the new Security council.

    UNSCWhat are the Efforts taken by India?

    • Text based negotiation: External affairs minister is canvassing for the country’s candidature, meeting his counterparts from several countries. He has repeated the call, made often in the past, for a text-based negotiation on what has been euphemistically referred to as the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), i.e., negotiation on a written document outlining the proposed reform instead of just holding forth verbally.
    • Woking together with G-4: INDIA, JAPAN, GEMANY, BRAZIL works together to get permanent UNSC seat however these efforts are opposed by coffee club.
    • Multilateral engagements: By expanding its footprint in multilateral organisations, India is gearing up to become a global rule-maker.
    • Distinguished group of experts suggested a few years ago that a new category of semi-permanent members should be created. Countries would be elected for a period of eight to 10 years and would be eligible for re-election. India ought to give serious consideration to this idea.
    • With or without veto: According to former foreign secretary Chinmaya gharekhan, if by some miracle we are offered or manage to obtain permanent membership without veto, we must grab it. Even a permanent membership without veto will be tremendously helpful in protecting our interests.

    Conclusion

    • Looking at the present geopolitical divide India’s dream of seat at the highest table is unlikely to get fulfilled in near future. India must analyse the utility of UNSC membership for securing its national interest. India should not give up anything in bargain against UNSC seat which harms its international interest.

    Mains question

    Q. India’s quest for UNSC is like “Sisyphus carrying the boulder  just to see how it falls”. In this context Analyse the utility of Permanent seat at UNSC.

     

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  • Why India has lashed out at the US over its F-16 package to Pakistan?

    f-16

    EAM S Jaishankar has lashed out at the US for its decision to provide Pakistan with a $450 million package for F-16 case fighter aircraft upgrade.

    F-16 and Pakistan

    • The F-16 is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF).
    • Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft.
    • The F-16 were inducted into Pakistan Air Force in 1983 during the Soviet-Afghan War.

    Suspicion over US move

    • This is the first American military assistance package to Pakistan after the Trump Administration.
    • Mr Trump ended defence and security co-operation with Pakistan in 2018 after accusing it of giving only “lies and deceit” for the billions of dollars that the US had “foolishly” given it.

    What specific reasons has the Biden Administration given for its decision?

    • As per US version, the proposed sale does not include any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions.
    • The upgrade package aimed to retain interoperability with US and partner forces in ongoing counter-terrorism efforts and in preparation for future contingency operations.

    Why did US provide F-16 to the US?

    • India has been concerned about the F-16s from the time the US first gave Pakistan F-16s as a reward for its assistance in the first Afghan war.
    • The US then had supplied weapons and money to Pakistan to unleash armies of jihadists against the Soviet Army.
    • When the US objective was achieved with the Soviet Union’s departure from Afghanistan, the US too resized its relations with Pakistan.
    • The Pressler Amendment, aimed against Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions, froze it out of military assistance.
    • A decade later, the Bush Administration not only approved the release of previously blocked F-16s, but also provided a refurbishment package, and sale of new F-16s.

    India’s concerns

    • As pointed out by EAM, how the F-16s help in counter-terrorism remains unclear.
    • Jaishankar questioned the merits of the US-Pakistan partnership.
    • He said that the relations had “not served” either country (but created more troubles for India).
    • This move by the US will alter the basic military balance in the region.
    • The decision to provide military aid to Pakistan incensed India as the F-16 was used against Indian warplanes following the 2019 Balakot air strikes.

    Conclusion

    • Washington’s $450 million package has only resurrected old prejudices centred on the US not being a dependable ally for ever.
    • India needs to respond firmly and in no uncertain terms to the PAF’s F-16 upgrade programme to convey the message that India cannot be taken for granted.
    • India will have to effectively enhance the conventional combat capability of the IAF to continue to meet the challenge of a resurgent PAF.

     

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  • [Yojana Archive] Freedom movement in Central India

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    Context

    • The Indian freedom movement was a people’s movement that gained strength as it progressed.
    • This transcended regional and class differences and became an expression of the collective resolve of the people of the entire country well before 1857.
    • The tribal people had revolted against the British in India time and again predominantly in Central India.

    Freedom Movement in Chhattisgarh

    • The East India Company began efforts to annex Chhattisgarh after the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
    • The central part of Chhattisgarh was under the control of the Maratha rulers of Nagpur and the various Princely States.
    • The British got their first success in 1800 when the Raja of Raigad signed a treaty with the Company and made Raigad a part of the Government.
    • They annexed the Maratha empire after its defeat in the war at Nagpur in 1818 and began to rule the central region of Chhattisgarh.
    • However, in Bastar, the south of Chhattisgarh and Surguja in the north, several tribal rebellions arose to save tribal people from the slavery of the Company’s Government.

    Various tribal movements in Central India

    • Halba Rebellion (1774_1779): This was the first rebellion against the British in India, and King Ajmer Singh of Bastar was the first martyr.
    • Kol Rebellion, 1831: The Kols are indigenous people from the Chota Nagpur area, which was part of the Bengal presidency during British control in India. These tribes include the Kols, Bhils, Hoes, Mundas, and Oraons.
    • Tarapur Rebellion 1842: Ruler of Tarapur Bhupaldev refused to raise the annual tax in his area. It was considered an act of rebellion by the British, and an army was sent from Nagpur to suppress it.
    • Dantewada revolt 1842: By the tribals against the order of the British regarding the custom of human sacrifice. The tribal people fought fiercely against the British. After a struggle, the custom of human sacrifice was stopped and a permanent military system was established in Dantewada.
    • First Revolt of 1857 in Sonakan: By Narayan Singh, the tribal landlord of Sonakan of Raipur. He formed an army of tribal youth. After fierce fighting, Narayan Singh was arrested and publicly hanged at Raipur on 10 December 1857. He was declared the first martyr of 1857 in Chhattisgarh by conferring the title of ‘Veer’ in independent India.
    • Muria Raj, 1910: The Muria tribesmen of Bastar defeated the British state and took up an armed revolution to establish the ‘Muria Raj’ in 1910.
    • Tana Bhagat Movement/Oraon Movement (1914-1919): It was against the policies of the local British authorities and exploitative business practices of local zamindars, mostly by Oraon people.

    Conclusion

    • The history of India’s freedom movement is incomplete without recognizing the tribal consciousness.
    • The new system for collection of rent, steps taken to change the traditional social, religious and political system, new rules implemented for forest management, and restrictions imposed on the production of liquor, all affected the unique tribal culture associated with their rights to water, forest and land.
    • By resorting to these measures, the British also bruised the independent tribal consciousness.
    • The tribals resorted to these revolts to protect their culture and autonomy.

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