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  • India ranks 135 out of 146 in Gender Gap Index

    India ranks 135 among a total of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index, 2022, released by the World Economic Forum.

    What is Global Gender Gap Index?

    • The report is annually published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
    • It benchmarks gender parity across four key dimensions or sub-indices — economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.
    • It measures scores on a 0-to-100 scale, which can be interpreted as the distance covered towards parity or the percentage of the gender gap that has been closed.
    • The report aims to serve “as a compass to track progress on relative gaps between women and men on health, education, economy and politics”.
    • According to the WEF it is the longest-standing index, which tracks progress towards closing these gaps over time since its inception in 2006.

    How has India fared on different sub-indices?

    Here’s how it stands on different sub-indices:

    (1) Political Empowerment

    • This includes metrics such as the percentage of women in Parliament, the percentage of women in ministerial positions etc.
    • Of all the sub-indices, this is where India ranks the highest (48th out of 146).
    • However, notwithstanding its rank, its score is quite low at 0.267.
    • Some of the best-ranking countries in this category score much better.
    • For instance, Iceland is ranked 1 with a score of 0.874 and Bangladesh is ranked 9 with a score of 0.546.
    • Moreover, India’s score on this metric has worsened since last year – from 0.276 to 0.267.
    • The silver lining is that despite the reduction, India’s score is above the global average in this category.

    (2) Economic Participation and Opportunity

    • This includes metrics such as the percentage of women who are part of the labour force, wage equality for similar work, earned income etc.
    • Here, too, India ranks a lowly 143 out of the 146 countries in contention even though its score has improved over 2021 from 0.326 to 0.350.
    • Last year, India was pegged at 151 out of the 156 countries ranked.
    • India’s score is much lower than the global average, and only Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are behind India on this metric.

    (3) Educational Attainment

    • This sub-index includes metrics such as literacy rate and the enrolment rates in primary, secondary and tertiary education.
    • Here India ranks 107th out of 146, and its score has marginally worsened since last year.
    • In 2021, India was ranked 114 out of 156.

    (4) Health and Survival

    • This includes two metrics: the sex ratio at birth (in %) and healthy life expectancy (in years).
    • In this metric, India is ranked last (146) among all the countries.
    • Its score hasn’t changed from 2021 when it was ranked 155th out of 156 countries.
    • The country is the worst performer in the world in the “health and survival” sub-index in which it is ranked 146.

    Where does India stand amongst its neighbour?

    • India ranks poorly among its neighbours and is behind Bangladesh (71), Nepal (96), Sri Lanka (110), Maldives (117) and Bhutan (126).
    • Only the performance of Iran (143), Pakistan (145) and Afghanistan (146) was worse than India in South Asia.
    • In 2021, India ranked 140 out of 156 nations.

     

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  • Places in news: Paracel Islands

    A US destroyer sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, drawing an angry reaction from Beijing, which said its military had “driven away” the ship.

    About Paracel Islands

    • The Paracel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands and the Hoang Sa Archipelago are a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea.
    • The archipelago includes about 130 small coral islands and reefs, most grouped into the northeast Amphitrite Group or the western Crescent Group.

    What is the South China Sea Dispute?

    • It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas, and the Paracels and the Spratlys – two island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries.
    • China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei all have competing claims.
    • Alongside the fully-fledged islands, there are dozens of rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks, and reefs, such as the Scarborough Shoal.
    • China claims by far the largest portion of territory – an area defined by the “nine-dash line” which stretches hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan.
    • Beijing says its right to the area goes hundreds of centuries to when the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded as integral parts of the Chinese nation.
    • It showed the two island groups falling entirely within its territory. Those claims are mirrored by Taiwan.

    Spat over Chinese claims

    • China has backed its expansive claims with island-building and naval patrols.
    • The US says it does not take sides in territorial disputes but has sent military ships and planes near disputed islands, calling them “freedom of navigation” operations to ensure access to key shipping and air routes.
    • Both sides have accused each other of “militarizing” the South China Sea.
    • There are fears that the area is becoming a flashpoint, with potentially serious global consequences.

     

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  • [Sansad TV] Mudda Aapka: Mental Illness

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    Context

    • According to a report by the WHO, more than 25 percent increase in mental depression and anxiety was registered in the first year due to the covid-19 pandemic.
    • According to the World Mental Health Report, nearly one billion people, of whom 14 percent were adolescents, were living with some form of mental health issue in 2019.

    What is Mental Illness?

    • Mental health is not just a concept that refers to an individual’s psychological and emotional well-being.
    • Rather it’s a state of psychological and emotional well-being where an individual is able to use their cognitive and emotional capabilities, to meet the ordinary demand and functions in society.
    • According to WHO, there is no single ‘official’ definition of mental health.
    • The social determinants of health predispose individuals and populations to poor physical and mental health, and increased risk for many physical and mental illnesses.

    Mental Illness in India

    • Mental disorders are now among the top leading causes of health burden worldwide, with no evidence of global reduction since 1990.
    • In 2017, an estimation of the burden of mental health conditions for the states across India revealed that as many as 197.3 million people required care for mental health conditions.
    • This included around 45.7 million people with depressive disorders and 44.9 million people with anxiety disorders.
    • The situation has been exacerbated due to the Covid-19 pandemic, making it a serious concern the world over.

    Reasons for Persistence of Mental Illness

    • Stigma to seek help: The staggering figures are void of millions of others directly, or indirectly impacted by the challenge and those who face deep-rooted stigma, many times rendering them unable to seek help.
    • Lack of awareness: This growing challenge in dealing with mental health issues is further compounded by a lack of information and awareness, self-diagnosis, and stigma.
    • Psycho-social factors: Institutions like gender, race and ethnicity, are also responsible for mental health conditions.
    • Post-Treatment gap: There is a need for proper rehabilitation of the mentally ill persons post/her treatment which is currently not present.
    • Rise in Severity: Mental health problems tend to increase during economic downturns, therefore special attention is needed during times of economic distress.

    Need for immediate intervention

    • Neglected Area: Mental health which forms the core of our personhood is often neglected which impeded the development of an individual to full potential.
    • Disproportionate impact: It is the poor, dispossessed and marginalised who bear the greatest burden of mental health problems, but historically their sufferings are dismissed as a natural extension of their social and economic conditions.
    • Vulnerability of the ills: Mentally ill patients are vulnerable to and usually suffer from drug abuse, wrongful confinement, even at homes and mental healthcare facilities which is a cause of concern and a gross human right violation.
    • Suicidal tendencies: Suicidal behavior was found to have relation with female gender, working condition, independent decision making, premarital sex, physical abuse and sexual abuse.
    • Gendered nature: Females are more predisposed to mental disorders due to rapid social change, gender discrimination, social exclusion, gender disadvantage like marrying at young age, concern about the husband’s substance misuse habits, and domestic violence.

    Policy initiatives

    • National Mental Health Program (NMHP): To address the huge burden of mental disorders and shortage of qualified professionals in the field of mental health, the government has been implementing the NMHP since 1982.
    • Mental HealthCare Act 2017: It guarantees every affected person access to mental healthcare and treatment from services run or funded by the government.
    • Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2017: The Act acknowledges mental illness as a disability and seeks to enhance the Rights and Entitlements of the Disabled and provide an effective mechanism for ensuring their empowerment and inclusion in the society
    • Manodarpan Initiative: An initiative under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan aims to provide psycho-social support to students for their mental health and well-being.

    Way Forward

    • Policy boost: Mental health situation in India demands active policy interventions and resource allocation by the government.
    • Public sensitization: To reduce the stigma around mental health, we need measures to train and sensitize the community/society.
    • Awareness: People should be made aware of the significance of mental health, as much as that of physical health.
    • Destigmatising: Sharing one’s story about mental health (through media campaigns) is the most effective strategy to reduce stigma attached with mental illness
    • Community Approach: There is need to deploy community health workers who, with appropriate training and supervision, effectively deliver psychosocial interventions for the needy
    • Broadening the scope: Mental health care must embrace the diversity of experiences and strategies which work, well beyond the narrow confines of traditional biomedicine with its emphasis on “doctors, diagnoses and drugs”.

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  • India & FTA

    Context

    In recent months, India has signed trade agreements with Australia and UAE. n the last week of June, New Delhi began talks for a similar agreement with the EU.

    How FTA with EU could help India

    • India’s successful sectors like textiles, pharmaceuticals and leather could benefit from these deliberations, which would also be keenly watched by representatives of the services and renewable energy sectors.
    • A successful free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU could help India to expand its footfall in markets such as Poland, Portugal, Greece, the Czech Republic and Romania, where the country’s exports registered double-digit annual growth rates in the last decade.

    So, what are the factors India need to consider while signing FTA

    1] Impact of tariff on domestic industry:

    • It has been observed that when India is an importer, the preferential tariffs that accrue as a result of trade agreements are significantly lower than the rates charged from countries given Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status by India.
    • But when the partner country is the importer, preferential tariffs on Indian goods, in most cases, are closer to the MFN tariffs.
    • As a result, Indian exporters do not get the same returns as their counterparts in the partner countries.
    • India’s trade with South Korea is a case in point.
    • Before entering into a trade agreement care should, therefore, be taken to ensure that the domestic industry is not made to compete on unequal terms with the partner countries.

    2] Adherence to the rules of origin

    • The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement sets a good example.
    • It includes a strong clause on the rules of origin.
    • Forty per cent value addition or substantial processing of up to 40 per cent in the exporting country is required to qualify for lower tariffs.
    • Rules of origin have been a bone of contention in most Indian trade agreements.
    • (CAROTAR, 2020): In 2020, the country notified the Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules (CAROTAR, 2020), which require a basic level of due diligence from the importer.

    3] Including the offset clauses

    • “Offset clauses” — where the exporter is obliged to undertake activities that directly benefit the importing country’s economy — should be built into trade agreements, especially for technology intensive sectors.

    4] Emergency action plan

    •  In February 2020, the US made India ineligible for claims under GSP, America’s oldest preferential trade scheme.
    • The US Trade Representative’s Office deemed India as a developed country and suspended beneficial treatment under the GSP.
    • A contingency plan should be in place to tackle such situations.

    5] Inclusion of sunset clause

    • India should also take a cue from the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, to incorporate a “sunset” clause in trade agreements.
    • The pact between the three North American nations provides for periodic reviews and the agreement is slated to end automatically in 16 years unless the countries renegotiate it.

    6] Parity between services and merchandise

    • India should negotiate for parity between services and merchandise.
    • Low trade in services: India’s trade in services is low, and its overall score in the OECD’s Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) exceeds the world average.
    • It is especially high in legal and accounting services due to the licencing requirements in both these segments.
    • Expansion in banking and financial services: There is also significant room for expansion of trade in the banking and financial services industry.

    Conclusion

    A well-crafted trade agreement could help India enhance its share in global trade and help attain the government’s target of making the country a $5-trillion economy.

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    Back2Basics: CAROTAR Rules

    • Importers will have to do their due diligence to ensure that imported goods meet the prescribed ‘rules of origin’ provisions.
    • This is the essential availing concessional rate of customs duty under free trade agreements (FTAs).
    • A list of minimum information, which the importer is required to possess, has also been provided in the rules along with general guidance.
    • Also, an importer would now have to enter certain origin related information in the Bill of Entry, as available in the Certificate of Origin.

    Why need CAROTAR?

    • CAROTAR 2020 supplements the existing operational certification procedures prescribed under different trade agreements.
    • India has inked FTAs with several countries, including Japan, South Korea and ASEAN members.
    • Under such agreements, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate import/customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them.
    • The new rules will assist customs authorities in the smooth clearance of legitimate imports under FTAs.

  • 13th July 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1         Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues.

    GS-2       Panchayats and urban local bodies

    GS-3        Indian Economy

    GS-4        Human Values- Lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 Colonialism in India gained foothold in distinct stages with debilitating impact on the Indian economy. Discuss. (10 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 The health of municipal finances is a critical element of municipal governance. In context of this, examine the challenges in strengthening the municipal finances and suggest the way forward. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 A well-crafted trade agreement could help India enhance its share in global trade. Therefore, India needs to take care of a few key concerns before entering into trade agreements. What are such concerns India need to address? (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 “All persons ought to endeavour to follow what is right, and not what is established.” ― Aristotle. 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*. 

    1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 
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  • Top 7, Most Important History Books for UPSC | All India Rankers Suggested

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    History is one of the major subjects in the UPSC syllabus. There is a lot of information that needs to be covered from HIstory. History consists of 3 chunks; Ancient, Medieval, and Indian war of independence. So, you have to read a little more about History. 

    “What are the best history books?” “How many more books?” Some thoughts resonate with almost all candidates especially when it comes to IAS history book lists. But wait, you have to shortlist and get your hands on the right ones. So, when you finally sit down to read those books, many times the thought like “too many books, too little time” makes you feel annoyed! Please note that you have to read all of these books selectively and not completely.

    History Books for UPSC

    For a basic preparation for the prelims and mains, students can start with the NCERT history book to begin their history preparation. Apart from these, some other advanced reference books are also recommended. These books have proven to be extremely useful for students coming from business or science backgrounds.

    If you want to read more details for betterment, you can go for..

    • ALL in ONE- An Advanced History of India (R. C Majumdar, H. C Raychaudhuri, Kalikinkar Datta.
    • From Plassey to Partition and After (Sekhar Bandyopadhya)

    Remember: Read the book and never forget to take notes.

    World History:

    Questions from the world history don’t come in the Prelims. You have to prepare World history for UPSC Mains. Read this book.

    • World History-NCERTs Class XI
    • History of the modern world – Jain and Mathu

    So, to make you a little more concerned and to study a little more, we have compiled a complete bibliography for UPSC that is recommended by the toppers. All you have to do is follow a specific UPSC book list so you don’t get too distracted from the main course.

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  • Bonn meet

    Context

    From June 6-16, representatives from more than 100 countries descended on Bonn to hold preliminary discussions on what could be the final communiqué at the conclusion of COP27, to be held at Sharm-el-Sheikh later this year.

    Key takeaways from the discussion

    • Centred on climate finance: Discussions were centred around climate finance and there was hardly any convergence of issues.
    • No convergence: The developed and developing countries or for that matter, big polluters and small polluters, were speaking from the ends of the spectrum with no meeting ground.
    • Focus on adaptation and mitigation: Much of the discussion was around “loss and damage”, which was being experienced by many of the smaller countries, especially with big coastlines, due to rising river levels, loss of agricultural productivity, loss of livelihoods, etc.
    • The idea to provide assistance for “loss and damage” was opposed by the US and the EU.
    • Need for alternative funding: The Green Climate Fund is considered too cumbersome and the process too lengthy.
    • Hence, the need for an alternate funding route was imperative.
    • It was argued that one needs to look into this issue right now and provide financial assistance to cope with it.
    • This brings into focus the debate between adaptation and mitigation.
    • The demand of the developing countries for a provision of climate finance at a scale much higher than $100 billion a year fell on deaf ears.
    • Incidentally, the figure of $100 billion was arrived at arbitrarily and that too way back in 2009.

    Mitigation Vs Adaptation debate

    • More funding directed toward mitigation: It is generally felt that whatever funding has come for climate change issues has mostly been directed towards mitigation.
    • This is primarily because mitigation projects have a cost-benefit analysis and, therefore, it is easy to lend money because you can get it back through interest payments.
    • Cost-benefit analysis: This is primarily because mitigation projects have a cost-benefit analysis and, therefore, it is easy to lend money because you can get it back through interest payments.
    • Mitigation would mean, for example, setting up solar generation units to avoid carbon footprint.
    • Cost-benefit analysis is difficult for adaptation projects, which would be in the form of grants.

    Actions needed to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius

    • 2.4°C by NDC: The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as on date, are good enough to limit temperature rise to 2.4 degrees centigrade, provided all the targets are met.
    • 1.8°C with net-zero commitment: In addition, if countries also meet their net-zero commitments by 2050, the temperature rise will still be around 1.8 degrees centigrade.
    • 1.5°C:  To limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees centigrade, emissions will have to be cut down by half by 2030.
    • The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) expressed the view that to be more meaningful, the aim should be to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2025 itself.
    • The logic is that the next round of NDCs is due only in 2025 and by that time, it would be too late to formulate a plan that is achievable by 2030.

    Issue of using remaining carbon space

    • The use of the remaining carbon space available to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees centigrade, a highly contentious issue, was also discussed in Bonn.
    • The US resisted being labelled as a “big emitter” and was not willing to take responsibility for its historical emissions.
    • There is no single estimate of how much carbon space is really available as on date, but broad indications are that at the given emissions rate, it would be roughly 10 years.
    • The raging debate is how to distribute this available space equitably amongst countries, which would mean that someone has to take the burden of stiffer targets.
    • What the US wanted other big emitters like China and India take on greater responsibilities for cutting down emissions.
    • However, the like-minded group of developing countries (LMDCs) — which included China, India, Saudi Arabia and the Arab countries — were opposed to this.

    Conclusion

    If there was any hope that discussions at Bonn would provide an acceptable draft, which could be taken forward during COP27, it was misplaced.

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    Back2Basics: The Paris Agreement

    • The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016.
    • Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
    • To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century.
    • It is a landmark process because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.
    • Implementation of the Paris Agreement requires economic and social transformation, based on the best available science.
    • The Agreement works on a 5- year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by countries.
    • By 2020, countries submit their plans for climate action known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

    NDCs

    • In their NDCs, countries communicate actions they will take to reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions in order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement.
    • Countries also communicate in the NDCs actions they will take to build resilience to adapt to the impacts of rising temperatures.

  • After failing 4 times, how did Rohan Kadam clear UPSC 2021 with flying colours? | Role of tireless mentorship of Sajal Sir | Register to talk to Rohan’s Mentor

    Rohan Kadam Civilsdaily Samsh Mains (Sajal Sir’s) Mentorship Student
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    Rohan Kadam was one of the mentorship students under Sajal sir, Sukanya ma’am, and other CD mentors under the *Smash Mains program. After failing in the first 4 attempts, he realized that If you have to clear UPSC, only studying is not enough. It needs a Guru. He became an active member of Civilsdaily’s ‘Smash Mains’ & ‘Smash Ethics’ Programs. 

    In his interview, Rohan elaborated on 5 ways how he got massive help from CD Mentorship programs.

    • The collective effort of Sajal Sir & Sukanya Ma’am made him pick loopholes in his preparation.
    • Sajal Sir’s tireless mentorship helped him a lot. He even connected for 2 hrs over the phone. And this evaluation brought many micro-level success-oriented suggestions.
    • Those Model Answers shared in Smash Programs, are extremely needful to understand UPSC’s demand.
    • Other Toppers’ copies are shared so that anyone can enhance writing acumen.
    •  Resource consolidation on Mains’ Preparation.

    Rohan hails from Maharashtra and has been exceptional in his studies all through school and college. He is an economics graduate by education.

    Rohan has made us proud by securing AIR 295 in UPSC 2021 exam. It is yet another validation of CivilsDaily’s vision and approach to personalized mentorship.

    click:- book your slot with your personalized mentors | free registration

    In a candid conversation with Siddhart sir, Rohan shared his journey, motivations, up and downs, lessons learned, and his secret of what kept him going. Listen to his story.

    Rohan has given us inspiration and we wish him all the best. He’s going to be an administrator of great integrity!

    Register for Rohan’s mains answer copies and notes.

    Schedule your FREE mentorship session with Rohan’s mentors.
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  • Bail Law and Supreme Court call for Reform

    The Supreme Court underlined the pressing need for reform in the law related to bail and called on the government to consider framing a special legislation on the lines of the law in the United Kingdom.

    What is Bail?

    • Bail is the conditional release of a defendant with the promise to appear in court when required.
    • The term also means the security that is deposited in order to secure the release of the accused.

    Types of Bail in India

    • Depending upon the sage of the criminal matter, there are commonly three types of bail in India:
    1. Regular bail: A regular bail is generally granted to a person who has been arrested or is in police custody. A bail application can be filed for the regular bail under section 437 and 439 of CrPC.
    2. Interim bail: This type of bail is granted for a short period of time and it is granted before the hearing for the grant of regular bail or anticipatory bail.
    3. Anticipatory bail: Anticipatory bail is granted under section 438 of CrPC either by session court or High Court. An application for the grant of anticipatory bail can be filed by the person who discerns that he may be arrested by the police for a non-bailable offense.

    Conditions for Grant of Bail in Bailable Offences

    • Section 436 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, lays down that a person accused of a bailable offense under IPC can be granted bail if:
    1. There are sufficient reasons to believe that the accused has not committed the offence.
    2. There is sufficient reason to conduct a further inquiry in the matter.
    3. The person is not accused of any offence punishable with death, life imprisonment or imprisonment up to 10 years.

    Conditions for Grant of Bail in Non-Bailable Offences

    • Section 437 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 lays down that the accused does not have the right to apply for bail in non-bailable offences.
    • It is discretion of the court to grant bail in case of non-bailable offences if:
    1. The accused is a woman or a child, bail can be granted in a non-bailable offence.
    2. There is a lack of evidence then bail in non-Bailable offenses can be granted.
    3. There is a delay in lodging FIR by the complainant, bail may be granted.
    4. The accused is gravely sick.

    What is the recent ruling about?

    • The Supreme Court underlined that arrest is a draconian measure that needs to be used sparingly.
    • The ruling is essentially a reiteration of several crucial principles of criminal procedure.

    Why bail needs reform?

    • Huge pendency of undertrials: Referring to the state of jails in the country, where over two-thirds lodged are undertrials,
    • Indiscriminate arrests: Of this category of prisoners, majority may not even be required to be arrested despite registration of a cognizable offense, being charged with offenses punishable for seven years or less.
    • Disadvantageous for some sections: They are not only poor and illiterate but also would include women. Thus, there is a culture of offense being inherited by many of them.
    • Colonial legacy: Theoretically, the court also linked the idea of indiscriminate arrests to magistrates ignoring the rule of “bail, not jail” to a colonial mindset.

    What is the law on bail?

    • The CrPC does not define the word bail but only categories offences under the Indian Penal Code as ‘bailable’ and ‘non-bailable’.
    • The CrPC empowers magistrates to grant bail for bailable offences as a matter of right.
    • This would involve release on furnishing a bail bond, without or without security.

    And what is the UK law?

    • The Bail Act of the United Kingdom, 1976, prescribes the procedure for granting bail.
    • A key feature is that one of the aims of the legislation is “reducing the size of the inmate population”.
    • The law also has provisions for ensuring legal aid for defendants.
    • The Act recognises a “general right” to be granted bail.

    What has the Supreme Court held on reforms?

    The court’s ruling is in the form of guidelines, and it also draws the line on certain procedural issues for the police and judiciary:

    • Separate law on Bail: The court underlined that the CrPC, despite amendments since Independence, largely retains its original structure as drafted by a colonial power over its subjects.
    • Uniform exercise of discretionary powers: It also highlighted that magistrates do not necessarily
    • Avoid indiscriminate arrests: The SC also directed all state governments and Union Territories to facilitate standing orders to comply with the orders and avoid indiscriminate arrests.

     

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  • 13th July 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    13th July 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 1059]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 1059]

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