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  • National Pension System (NPS)

    The National Pension System (NPS) will no longer compel investors to convert 40% of their accumulated retirement corpus into an annuity.

    An annuity is a long-term investment that is issued by an insurance company and is designed to help protect you from the risk of outliving your income. Through annuitisation, your purchase payments (what you contribute) are converted into periodic payments that can last for life.

    Why such a move?

    • Poor yields on annuities and high inflation are translating into negative returns.
    • Since annuities are taxable, deducting the tax and factoring in inflation means annuities are yielding negative returns.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Who among the following can join the National Pension System (NPS)?

    (a) Resident Indian citizens only

    (b) Persons of age from 21 to 55 only

    (c) All-State Government employees joining the services after the date of notification by the respective State Governments

    (d) All Central Governments Employees including those of Armed Forces joining the services on or after 1st April 2004

    National Pension Scheme (NPS)

    • NPS is a government-sponsored pension scheme. It was launched in January 2004 for government employees.
    • It was extended to all citizens of Indian on a voluntary basis from May 2009 and to corporates in December 2011 and to Non-Resident Indians in October 2015.
    • PFRDA is the statutory authority established by an enactment of the Parliament, to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the NPS and pension schemes to which this Act applies.
    • The scheme allows subscribers to contribute regularly in a pension account during their working life.
    • On retirement, subscribers can withdraw a part of the corpus in a lump sum and use the remaining corpus to buy an annuity to secure a regular income after retirement.

    Who can join NPS?

    • Any Indian citizen between 18 and 60 years can join NPS.
    • The only condition is that the person must comply with know your customer (KYC) norms.
    • An NRI can join NPS. However, the account will be closed if there is a change in the citizenship status of the NRI.
    • Now, any Indian citizen, resident or non-resident and OCIs are eligible to join NPS till the age of 65 years.

  • Species in news: Azhdarchid Pterosaurs

    Azhdarchid pterosaurs, the giant reptiles that flew in the skies nearly 65 million years ago, had necks longer than that of a giraffe (i.e. more than 6fts).

    What are pterosaurs?

    • Pterosaurs are reptiles that are close cousins of dinosaurs, the first animals after insects to evolve powered flight.
    • Some pterosaurs were as large as an F-16 fighter jet, while others were as small as a paper aeroplane.
    • Pterosaurs went extinct about 65-66 million years ago (end of the Cretaceous period) and while they did not leave any of their descendants behind.
    • One reason for this is that few pterosaurs lived in places where fossils tend to form, because of which their bones are preserved poorly.

    Revise the geological timescale from your NCERT textbook.

    Azhdarchid pterosaurs

    • They are one type of pterosaur and one of the distinguishing characteristics about them is how big they were, especially their long necks.
    • Some of these pterosaurs were the largest animals to have flown in the sky, with wingspans greater than 30 feet.
    • The name azhdarchid, as per a blog on Scientific American comes from Azhdarcho, a Central Asian form named by Russian ornithologist and palaeontologist in 1984.

    What have the researchers found?

    • Researchers involved in this study were curious about how the reptile’s long neck functioned and how it was able to support the pterosaur’s body, allowing them to capture and eat heavy prey animals.

  • [pib] National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI)

    The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) has inaugurated three path-breaking initiatives for the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI).

    What is NIXI?

    National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is a not-for-profit organization (section 8 of the Companies Act 2013) working since 2003 for spreading the internet infrastructure to the citizens of India through the following activities:

    1. Internet Exchanges through which the internet data is exchanged amongst ISP’s, Data Centers and CDNs.
    2. .IN Registry, managing and operation of .IN country-code domain and .भारत IDN domain for India.
    3. IRINN, managing and operating Internet protocol (IPv4/IPv6).

    Which are the three new initiatives?

    (1) IPv6 Expert Panel (IP Guru) (https://nixi.in):

    • IP Guru is a group to extend support to all the Indian entities who are finding it technically challenging to migrate and adopt IPv6.
    • In addition to this, the IPv6 expert group will help in identifying & hiring an agency that will help end customer by providing necessary technical support to adopt IPv6.
    • This panel will guide all such Indian entities and help in increasing IPv6 adoption.

    Note: An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two main functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.

    (2) NIXI Academy (https://training.nixi.in):

    • NIXI Academy is created to educate technical/non-technical people in India to learn and relearn technologies like IPv6 which are normally not taught in Educational Institutes.
    • NIXI academy comprises an IPv6 training portal which is developed with the help of various technical experts in order to provide mass training to the community.
    • The easy-to-use platform helps network operators and educators understand networking best practices, principles and techniques; manage Internet resources better; and use appropriate Internet technologies more effectively.

    (3) NIXI-IP-INDEX (https://ipv6.nixi.in):

    • NIXI has developed an IPv6 index portal for the Internet community.
    • NIXI-IP-INDEX portal will showcase the IPv6 adoption rate in India and across the world.
    • It can be used to compare the IPv6 Indian adoption rate with other economies in the world.
    • NIXI will populate this portal with web adoption in IPv6, IPv6 traffic etc. in the coming days.
    • This portal will motivate organisations to adopt IPv6, provide inputs for planning by technical organisations and research by academicians.

  • Polity Titbits: Fundamental Rights and DPSP, Fundamental Duties

     

    16th Apr 2021

    Fundamental Rights

    Fundamental rights Constitutional rights Legal rights
    Included in part 3 (magna carta of India) of constitution Not in part 3 Not in constitution
    Can directly move supreme court for enforcement under article 32 no no
    Parliament can abridge these rights only in very special circumstances Can be abridged by constitutional amendment By simple legal amendment
    6 Rights included in part 3 No taxation with authority (278),Right to property (Art 300A), freedom to trade (art 301) Right to employment under MGNREGA

    Amendability of Fundamental rights

    Article 13 Laws inconsistent with part 3 (FRs) null and void
    Shankari Prasad Case Amendment under article 368 not law, can be amended
    Golaknath case Law, can not be amended
    Kesavananda Bharati (24/04/73) Not law, can be amended but basic structure can’t be amended
    Minerva mills case Basic structure can’t be amended to implement DPSP

    Special cases

    Fundamental rights not available to foreigners Article 15, 16, 19, 29, 30
    Available against private citizens Article 17
    Suspended automatically during an emergency on grounds of war or external aggression Article 19
    Can’t be suspended even during emergency Article 20,21
    Against exploitation Article 23, 24
    Most fundamental of FRs/ Right to constitutional remedies Article 32

    Procedure Established by Law v/s Due Process

    Procedure Established Due Process
    British, Japanese American constitution
    Arbitrary Administrative actions Arbitrary administrative as well as legislative
    A. K. Gopalan case Maneka Gandhi
    Action according to procedure established by law Law must also be just fair and reasonable

    Titbits:

    1. FRs are not absolute. Parliament can impose reasonable restrictions.
    2. Right to property (art 31) has been deleted from part 3 by 44th amendment and is now a constitutional right under art 300A
    3. Article 31B put acts include under 9th schedule (added by 1st CAA) outside judicial review
    4. But Matters added to 9th schedule after 24th April 1973 (Kesavananda Bharati Case) are not immune to judicial review (I.R. Coelho case)

    DPSPs

      DPSP FRs
    Taken from Ireland America
    Part of constitution Part 4 Part 3
    Legal validity Non-justiciable Justiciable
    Aim Social and Economic Democracy (welfare state) Political democracy

     

    (limit state power)
      Fundamental to governance of country (instrument of instructions under GOI act 1935)  

    Titbits:

    1. DPSPs can be classified into socialist, Gandhian and liberal – intellectual categories
    2. 42nd, 44th, 86th and 97th amendment added new DPSPs

    Fundamental duties: Learn by heart

    Titbits:

    1. Right and duties are correlative yet the original constitution didn’t have FDs
    2. Part 4A, article 51A of the constitution by 42nd amendment
    3. 11th duty added by 86th amendment in 2002 (education of kids)
    4. Taken from USSR constitution based on Swaran Singh Committee report
    5. Applicable only to citizens not to foreigners
    6. Non-justiciable.
     
  • Untitled post 406651

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  • 15 April 2021 | Nikaalo Prelims Quiz- TS 01 – Polity – Laxmikanth (Up to State Government)

    [WpProQuiz 387]

  • Navigation with permission

    The explains the issues involved in the recent incident in which US position on freedom of navigation under UNCLOS differed from India’s.

    Different positions

    • On April 7, the U.S.’s 7th Fleet Destroyer conducted a ‘Freedom of Navigation Operation’ inside India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
    • This exercise was conducted without requesting India’s consent.
    • Moreover, the U.S. 7th Fleet noted in its press release that India’s requirement of prior consent is “inconsistent with international law”.
    • However, India asserted that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) “does not authorize other States to carry out in the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the continental shelf, military exercises or manoeuvres, in particular those involving the use of weapons or explosives, without the consent of the coastal state”. 
    • The question is, can countries carry out military exercises in another country’s EEZ and if yes, subject to what conditions?

    UNCLOS Provisions for EEZ

    • UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) binds all its signatories and customary international law binds all states, subject to exceptions like the doctrine of persistent objector.
    • As per the UNCLOS, EEZ is an area adjacent to the territorial waters of a coastal state.
    • Under UNCLOS, a sovereign coastal state has rights and duties relating to management of natural resources; establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and structures; marine scientific research; and protection of the marine environment.
    • India is a party to the UNCLOS while the U.S. is not.
    • Article 87 provides for freedom of the high seas under which all states have the freedom of navigation. 
    • Apart from that, states enjoy the freedom of overflight and of the laying of submarine cables and pipelines as well as other internationally lawful uses of the sea.
    •  However, the freedom of navigation is subject to the conditions laid down under the UNCLOS and other rules of international law.
    • In addition to it, Article 58 (3) stipulates another qualification: “In exercising their rights and performing their duties under this Convention in the exclusive economic zone, States shall have due regard to the rights and duties of the coastal State and shall comply with the laws and regulations adopted by the coastal State…”.

    So, what laws and regulation are adopted by India under Article 58 (3) of UNCLOS

    • The relevant Indian law in this regard is the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones of India Act, 1976.
    • Section 7 sub-section 9 of this Act recognises the freedom of navigation of the ships of all States but makes them subject to the exercise of rights by India within the zone.
    • Article 310 of the UNCLOS does permit states to make declarations in order to explain the relationship between the Convention and their own laws.
    • The declaration by India in 1995 also states that India “understands that the provisions of the Convention do not authorize other States to carry out in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf military exercises or manoeuvres.

    Way forward

    • Non-consensual military activities that hinder the lawful enjoyment of rights of coastal states need not be permissible.
    • Also, a coastal state is naturally concerned about military exercises and manoeuvres posing a risk to its coastal communities, its installations or artificial islands, as well as the marine environment.
    • Thus, any state which wishes to conduct such exercises must do so only in consultation with the coastal state since the coastal state is the best judge of its EEZ.
    • Both India and the U.S. should negotiate such concerns for the maintenance of international peace and security.

    Consider the question “What are the rights of coastal state on its Exclusive Economic Zone under UNCLOS? “

    Conclusion

    On a conjoint reading of Articles 58, 87 and 310, it can be argued that freedom of navigation cannot be read in an absolute and isolated manner.

  • 15th April 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 597]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 597]

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  • Tackling second Covid wave

    The article suggests ways to deal with the second wave of Covid in India.

    What explains the bigger second wave

    • The size of any epidemic is a function of three things:
    • 1) The size of the pool of the susceptible population.
    • 2) The pattern of contact between the members of the population (frequency, mix, closeness and duration).
    • 3) Probability of spread during that contact (infectiousness of the agent).

    Let us have a look at these 3 factors in the current context

    • As many people have already been infected in the first wave, the pool of susceptibles should be smaller.
    • Serosurveys also support this as they found that about 25 per cent of people had already been infected nationally.
    • However, this is an average and hides significant variations by state, age and place of residence.
    • Populations with lower seroprevalence become the potential pool for the second wave.
    • Given India’s large population base, the actual number of people are sufficiently large to enable multiple waves till we achieve a more even spread of protected people.
    • The persistence of protectiveness of antibodies of those already infected and their cross-protectiveness to newer strains is not well established.
    • Vaccination would reduce the pool of susceptibles.
    • However, the current level of vaccination coverage is not sufficient to make a significant difference to this wave, given the fact that we are already riding it.
    • It is a good strategy to prevent the next wave, if we can achieve substantial coverage with it.
    • Vaccination also prevents severe disease, and hence reduces the death toll.
    • With the removal of most restrictions, the probability of contact between individuals has risen sharply.

    Way forward

    • What can and should be avoided are super-spreader events like a crowded park, the Kumbh mela, election rallies, etc.
    • A much stronger community engagement with a robust communication strategy and lesser emphasis on “criminalising” inappropriate behaviour is required.
    • A nuanced communication campaign is the need of the hour and is conspicuous by its complete absence.
    • What is urgently needed is a robust evidence-based communication campaign.
    • Such a campaign would involve proactive serial assessment of the community perceptions and concerns, testing and refining messages through an evolving campaign.
    •  A district-specific strategy of “test, trace, treat” along with containment measures (isolation and quarantine) is still the best way to deal with the situation.
    • We also need to put a stop to political bickering; it erodes public trust and confidence.

    Conclusion

    Dealing with the second wave should be based on the experience drawn from dealing with the first wave and complemented by a better communication strategy.

  • All gold jewellery to bear hallmark

    The Centre will go ahead with its plan to mandate hallmarking of gold jewellery from June 1. The plan had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Note: Gold hallmarking is a purity certification and is voluntary at present.

    What is Hallmark Gold?

    • The process of certifying the purity and fineness of gold is called hallmarking.
    • Bureau of Indian Standards, the National Standards Body of India, is responsible for hallmarking gold as well as silver jewellery under the BIS Act.
    • If you see the BIS hallmark on the gold jewellery/gold coin, it means it conforms to a set of standards laid by the BIS. Hallmarking gives consumers assurance regarding the purity of the gold they bought.
    • That is, if you are buying hallmarked 18K gold jewellery, it will actually mean that 18/24 parts are gold and the rest is alloy.

    Here are the four components one must look at the time of buying gold (they are mentioned in the laser engraving of a hallmark seal):

    1. BIS Hallmark: Indicates that its purity is verified in one of its licensed laboratories
    2. Purity in carat and fineness (corresponding to given caratage KT)
      •     22K916 (91.6% Purity)
      •     18K750 (75% Purity)
      •     14K585 (58.5% Purity)
    3. Assaying & Hallmarking Centre’s mark
    4. Jeweler’s unique identification mark

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2017:

    Q. Consider the following statements:
    1. The Standard Mark of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.
    2. AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

    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

    Why such a move now?

    • As per the new rules, if jewellery or an artefact made of 14-, 18- or 22-carat gold is sold without the BIS hallmark, the jeweller could be penalized five times the cost of the object or imprisoned for up to one year.
    • About 40% of gold jewellery is sold with a hallmark.
    • Mandatory hallmarking would protect the public against lower caratage and ensure consumers did not get cheated while buying gold ornaments and got the purity as marked on the ornaments.

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