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[Burning Issue] India’s Afghan Outreach and Taliban
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Context
- For the first time since the Taliban takeover on 15 August 2021, India has sent an official delegation to Afghanistan.
- India discussed a host of issues that included resumption of stalled infrastructure projects, activation of diplomatic ties, and restarting the issue of visas for Afghan students and patients.
Points of Discussion
- Has India officially recognized the Talibans?
- Tashkent held recently meet excluded Pakistan. Is Pakistan out of the Afghan security scenario?
Highlights of the discussion
- With this, it appears that the Indian is now less divided about the need to engage formally with the Taliban and prevent Afghan people getting marginalised.
- Afghanistan is vital to India’s strategic interests in the region where the people’s (and even Taliban’s) affection for India is legendary.
Expected outcomes of the meet
- Recognition of the Taliban government is not on the cards yet.
- The visit may have paved the way for the reopening of the Indian embassy, albeit a downgraded one.
India and Taliban: A quick timeline of engagement
- Initial reluctance: From 1996 to now, India’s journey from first opposition, then diffidence to engaging with the Taliban is in no small measure a story of India’s problematic relationship with Pakistan.
- Beginning of Kashmir Insurgency: In 1996, when the Taliban fought their way through warring mujahideen factions into Kabul for the first time, in India, fearing a spillover on Kashmir insurgency (there was indeed some).
- 1999 hijacking: During the hijacking of IC814, when the Pakistani hijackers took the plane to Kandahar, the then ruling Taliban acted as a support arm of the hijackers.
Since then, any engagement was a standstill.
When did India reach out to the Talibans?
- 9-11 terror attacks: After 9/11, under the US umbrella, India invested money and energy into the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
- But by 2010, with increasing doubts about the US continuance, India was again considering reaching out to the Taliban.
- New Delhi did not want to be left out or marginalised in the Afghanistan of the future.
- After the execution of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011, the Obama Administration was getting ready to declare an end to the war.
Since then, the way was paved for the talks.
How did its neighbors capitalize on the Afghan Crisis?
- Pakistan had delivered the Taliban to the Trump Administration for talks.
- Russia was backing the Taliban fully as the future ruler of Afghanistan, seeing in this sweet revenge for its own defeat in Afghanistan by US-financed, Pakistan-trained mujahideen.
- Iran was also glad at America’s defeat at the hands of the Taliban.
- China leveraged its relationship with Pakistan to get a foot into Kabul.
India’s considerations: Counter-intuitive timing
- Radicalism: India’s cautious opening to the Taliban has come at a time when the group has made it clear it has not changed from its previous satanical radicalism.
- Restrictions on women: This has increased, from not being allowed to attend school to curbs on free movement in public spaces and at work.
- Patronage to terror outfits: Taliban continues to remain close to Al-Qaeda, with a significant presence of its multinational fighting force in Afghanistan.
- Threats in Kashmir: They also flag the JeM and LeT training camps in Nangarhar and Kumar, close to the Pakistan border.
Why is India engaging with the Taliban now?
- Reducing Pakistan’s footprint: It is time to de-hyphenate Pakistan from the Taliban, especially as the Pakistan security establishment is finding the going tough with the Kabul regime.
- Inducing political insight: Another reason advanced for India’s change in policy is that the Taliban in power are more divided than they were as a fighting force.
- Averting another crisis: This situation may provide room for a layered political and diplomatic engagement with different actors.
- Eliminating terrorism: It has also helped that the Taliban have made no hostile statements on Kashmir since taking over in Kabul.
- Afghanistan impacts India’s security: It has, in the past, provided space to al Qaeda with which the Taliban had a special relationship. Afghanistan has an ISIS presence too.
- Humanitarian assistance: India aims at facilitating humanitarian assistance through international organizations, and paving the way for access to consular services.
- Protecting its investment: India built vital roads, dams, electricity transmission lines and substations, schools and hospitals, etc. Total assistance is now estimated to be worth well over $3 billion.
Way forward
- An engagement with the Taliban would at least give an opportunity to convey Indian concerns directly.
- The visit has encouraged those elements within the group who wish to open up its diplomatic choices.
- All in all, the sooner India establishes a permanent presence in Kabul the better for the pursuit of national interests in the external sphere.
- This is not an exercise in evangelism but the cold and undeterred pursuit of interests, which often requires supping with the devil — of course, with a long spoon.
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Understanding SEBI Rules on Passive Funds
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently issued a circular on passive funds covering matters related to transparency, liquidity and operational aspects of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and index funds.
What are Passive Funds?
- A passive fund is an investment vehicle that tracks a market index, or a specific market segment, to determine what to invest in.
- Unlike with an active fund, the fund manager does not decide what securities the fund takes on.
- This normally makes passive funds cheaper to invest in than active funds, which require the fund manager to spend time researching and analysing opportunities to invest in.
- Tracker funds, such as ETFs (exchange traded funds) and index funds fall under the banner of passive funds.
What is a passive ELSS scheme?
- Passive funds mimic an underlying index. By contrast active funds are actively managed by fund managers.
- The SEBI has now introduced a passive equity-linked saving schemes (ELSS) category, which will give taxpayers another investment option to avail of tax benefits.
- According to the circular, the passive ELSS scheme will be based on any index comprising equity shares from the top 250 companies in terms of market capitalization.
- Beginning 1 July, a fund house will be able to either have an active ELSS scheme or a passive ELSS scheme, but not both.
What are the norms for debt ETFs?
- Passive debt funds are now divided into three categories:
- Corporate debt funds with exposure to corporate bonds
- G-Sec funds investing in government securities, and
- Hybrid funds where allocation is a combination of corporate bonds and government securities
- Currently, debt funds in the passive category invest only in AAA-rated instruments.
- The Sebi circular introduces norms for each debt fund category, including portfolio exposure limits to each sector, the issuer (based on rating) and group.
- Application of these provisions should help mitigate concentration risk in debt ETFs/ index funds.
What about tracking error?
- As per Sebi’s circular, passive funds must disclose ‘tracking error’ and ‘tracking difference’ in their monthly fact sheets.
- These metrics indicate how different the performance of the fund is compared to its underlying index—an effort to keep investors better informed.
- The circular specifies limits for tracking error and tracking difference, which passive funds must follow.
What is the mandate on disclosing NAVs?
- Because of poor liquidity for ETFs in the secondary market in India, ETF prices could differ widely from the net asset value (NAV) of the fund.
- The NAV of the fund represents the value of the underlying asset of the ETF.
- The Sebi circular mandates disclosure of NAV (indicative) on a continuous basis throughout the day on the stock exchange.
- While the practice is already in existence, Sebi rules institutionalize it.
- Checking the NAV can help one avoid making a transaction at a significant premium or discount.
Can one execute ETF transactions directly?
- Investors can buy or sell units of ETFs only on stock exchanges.
- But, large buy or sell transactions can also be directly placed with the fund house.
- Sebi now says orders greater than ₹25 crore alone can be placed for redemption or subscription directly with the asset management company (AMC).
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What is a Not-for-Profit Company?
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi following a trial court order in a tax assessment case of his not-for-profit company.
What is the case?
- A case alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds on part of the leaders in acquiring the newspaper.
- The alleged persons acquired it through a Section 25 company — in which they have 86% stake.
What is a Section 25 company?
- It is defined under the Companies Act, 1956.
- It is a not-for-profit charitable company.
- It is formed with the sole object of promoting commerce, art, science, religion, charity, or any other useful object.
- It intends to apply its profits, if any, or other income in promoting its objects, and to prohibit the payment of any dividend to its members
- Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 includes other objects such as sports, education, research, social welfare and protection of the environment among others.
Fiscal activities allowed
- While it could be a public or a private company, a Section 25 company is prohibited from payment of any dividend to its members.
- Section 25 states that by its constitution the company is required/ intends to apply its profits, if any, or other income in promoting its objects and is prohibited from paying any dividend to its members.
What are prominent examples of such companies?
- According to details available with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, a large number of companies have been formed under the Section.
- Among these are Reliance Foundation, Reliance Research Institute, Azim Premji Foundation, Coca Cola India Foundation, and Amazon Academic Foundation.
Why are such companies formed?
- Most people looking to form a charitable entity go for forming a company under Section 25, now Section 8, rather than a Trust structure.
- This is because most foreign donors like to contribute to a company rather than Trust because they are more transparent and provide more disclosures.
- If a company has to be converted into a not-for-profit company, they can’t be converted into a Trust, however, they can be converted into a Section 25/ Section 8 company.
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How are Rajya Sabha MPs elected?
Ahead of Rajya Sabha elections in four states, various parties have accommodated legislators from at least three states in resorts, away from potential poaching by rival parties.
Do you know?
- Only two UTs elect members to the Rajya Sabha, not all.
- Polling is held only if the number of candidates exceeds the number of vacancies.
- Independent members can also be elected etc.
Read this newscard for all such interesting facts which can be directly asked in the prelims.
Rajya Sabha Polls
- A third of MPs in the Rajya Sabha (which is a permanent House and is not subject to dissolution), from each State, retire once in two years and polls are held to fill up the vacancies.
- Only elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies can vote in a Rajya Sabha election.
- The legislators send a batch of new members to the Upper House every two years for a six-year term.
- In addition, vacancies that arise due to resignation, death or disqualification are filled up through by-polls after which those elected serve out the remainder of their predecessors’ term.
Composition of Rajya Sabha
- A bloc of MPs belonging to one or more parties can elect a member of their choice if they have the requisite numbers.
- This is to avoid the principle of majority, which would mean that only candidates put up by ruling parties in the respective States will be elected.
- The Delhi and Puducherry Assemblies elect members to the Rajya Sabha to represent the two UTs.
What is the election process?
- Polling for a Rajya Sabha election will be held only if the number of candidates exceeds the number of vacancies.
- Since the strength of each party in the Assembly is known, it is not difficult to estimate the number of seats a party would win in the Rajya Sabha poll.
- In many states, parties avoid a contest by fielding candidates only in respect to their strength. Where an extra candidate enters the fray, voting becomes necessary.
- Candidates fielded by political parties have to be proposed by at least 10 members of the Assembly or 10% of the party’s strength in the House, whichever is less.
- For independents, there should be 10 proposers, all of whom should be members of the Assembly.
Voting procedure
- Voting is by single transferable vote, as the election is held on the principle of proportional representation.
- A single transferable vote means electors can vote for any number of candidates in order of their preference.
- A candidate requires a specified number of first preference votes to win. Each first choice vote has a value of 100 in the first round.
- To qualify, a candidate needs one point more than the quotient obtained by dividing the total value of the number of seats for which elections are taking place plus one.
Example: If there are four seats and 180 MLAs voting, the qualifying number will be 180/5= 36 votes or value of 3,600.
Why do not the Rajya Sabha polls have a secret ballot?
- The Rajya Sabha polls have a system of the open ballot, but it is a limited form of openness.
- As a measure to check rampant cross-voting, which was taken to mean that the vote had been purchased by corrupt means.
- There is a system of each party MLA showing his or her marked ballots to the party’s authorised agent (called Whip), before they are put into the ballot box.
- Showing a marked ballot to anyone other than one’s own party’s authorised agent will render the vote invalid.
- Not showing the ballot to the authorised agent will also mean that the vote cannot be counted.
- And independent candidates are barred from showing their ballots to anyone.
Is there any NOTA option in voting?
- The ECI issued two circulars, on January 24, 2014, and November 12, 2015, giving Rajya Sabha members the option to press the NOTA button in the Upper House polls.
- However, in 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the provision, holding that the ‘none of the above’ option is only for general elections.
- It cannot be applied to indirect elections based on proportional representation.
Does cross-voting attract disqualification?
- The Supreme Court, while declining to interfere with the open ballot system, ruled that not voting for the party candidate will not attract disqualification under the anti-defection law.
- As voters, MLAs retain their freedom to vote for a candidate of their choice.
- However, the Court observed that since the party would know who voted against its own candidate, it is free to take disciplinary action against the legislator concerned.
Can a legislator vote without taking oath as a member of the Assembly?
- While taking oath as a member is for anyone to function as a legislator, the Supreme Court has ruled that a member can vote in a Rajya Sabha election even before taking oath as a legislator.
- It ruled that voting at the Rajya Sabha polls, being a non-legislative activity, can be performed without taking the oath.
- A person becomes a member as soon as the list of elected members is notified by the ECI, it said.
- Further, a member can also propose a candidate before taking the oath.
Try this PYQ:
Q. Consider the following statements:
- The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill.
- The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.
- The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(c) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
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Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
Setting the stage for appointment of the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the government has amended Service Rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The post of CDS has also been lying vacant since the demise of Late. Gen. Bipin Rawat.
What is the update in rules?
- The govt has allowed retired Service Chiefs and three-star officers eligible for consideration for the country’s top military post.
- However, with an age limit that the retired officer should not have attained 62 years on the date of appointment.
- Retired Service chiefs are largely ruled out, especially so for the present consideration.
Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
- The CDS is a high military office that oversees and coordinates the working of the three Services, and offers seamless tri-service views and single-point advice to the Executive.
- On long-term it provides for defence planning and management, including manpower, equipment and strategy, and above all, “joint manship” in operations.
- In most democracies, the CDS is seen as being above inter-Service rivalries and the immediate operational preoccupations of the individual military chiefs.
- The role of the CDS becomes critical in times of conflict.
Duties and Functions of the CDS
The Ministry of Defence has outlined various functions and duties for the post of CDS:
- To head the Department of Military Affairs in Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
- To act as the Principal Military Advisor to Raksha Mantri on all Tri-Service matters.
- To function as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
- To administer the Tri-Service organizations/agencies/commands.
- To be a member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Raksha Mantri.
- To function as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.
- To bring about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance, etc of the three Services.
- To implement Five-Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan and Two-Year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plans, as a follow up of Integrated Capability Development Plan.
- To bring about reforms in the functioning of three Services with the aim to augment combat capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.
Why need CDS?
- Tri-services coordination: The creation of the CDS will eventually lead to the formation of tri-service theatre commands intended to create vertical integration of the three forces.
- Single-point military advisory: The CDS will be a single-point military adviser to the government and synergise long term planning, procurements, training and logistics of the three Services.
- Efforts saving: This is expected to save money by avoiding duplication between the Services, at a time of shrinking capital expenditure within the defence budget.
- Military diplomacy: This is today supporting conventional diplomacy. That can’t be done by different Services.
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What are ‘Green Jobs’, mentioned by PM in his Environment Day speech?
At an event to mark World Environment Day recently, PM mentioned India’s efforts to create ‘green jobs’.
What are ‘Green Jobs’?
- ‘Green jobs’ refer to a class of jobs that directly have a positive impact on the planet, and contribute to the overall environmental welfare.
- Jobs involving renewable energy, conservation of resources, ensuring energy efficient means are categorised under the same.
- In all, they are aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of economic sectors and furthering the process of creating a low-carbon economy.
- The idea behind a low-carbon economy or decarbonisation is fairly simple — it is about maintaining a sustainable economy.
India and ‘green jobs’
- The Skill Council for Green Jobs was launched by the Union government on October 1, 2015.
- Aligned to the National Skill Development Missions, it was set up to be a not-for-profit, independent, industry-led initiative.
Why need Green Jobs?
- The UNEP’s 2019 Emissions Gap report dictates that it is essential for greenhouse gas emissions to reduce by 7.6% per annum between the years 2020 to 2030.
- This is necessary to reach the target that was set during the Paris Agreement.
- Failing to meet the same would consequently result in a failure to effectively combat global warming.
- Consequently, a decarbonized economy plays a key role in ensuring a greener, safer, healthier and more sustainable planet to inhabit.
Way forward
- According to the ILO, India moving to a green economy by the next decade would alone create about 3 million jobs in the renewable energy sector.
- The renewable energy sector created about 47,000 new jobs in 2017 accounting for a 12% increase in just the span of a year.
- For India ‘green jobs’ can prove immensely useful to the country with sectors like renewable energy, waste management, green transport and urban farming.
- An integrated, systematic approach is crucial to ensuring this.
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Tamil Nadu tops State Food Safety Index (SFSI)
Tamil Nadu topped the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) this year.
Food safety has been in news this year quite frequent. Do make a note of following – Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Red Octagon, Eat Right Movement, Food Safety Mitra etc.
State Food Safety Index (SFSI)
- FSSAI has developed State Food Safety Index to measure the performance of states on various parameters of Food Safety.
- This index is based on the performance of State/ UT on five significant parameters set by the Health Ministry, namely
- Human Resources and Institutional Data
- Compliance
- Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance
- Training & Capacity Building and
- Consumer Empowerment
- The Index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs.
Highlights of the 2022 Report
- Tamil Nadu is followed by Gujarat and Maharashtra. Among the smaller States, Goa stood first, followed by Manipur and Sikkim.
- Among the Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh secured the first, second and third ranks.
Back2Basics: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- The FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
- It has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
- It is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
- It is headed by a non-executive Chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
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Festivals in news: Mela Kheerbhawani
Kashmiri Hindus, locally known as Pandits, will celebrate the Zyestha Ashtami at the Mata Kheerbhawani temple at Tulmulla in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal.
Kheerbhawani Temple
- The temple is dedicated to the goddess Ragnya Devi.
- The festival, known as Mela Kheerbhawani, is the largest gathering of Hindus in Kashmir after the annual Amarnath Yatra.
- Situated 30 km from Srinagar city, it is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Kashmiri Hindus.
- The temple gets its name from kheer, or milk and rice pudding that pilgrims pour into the spring inside the temple complex as an offering to the goddess.
- Hundreds of local Muslims, too, traditionally join the celebrations.
Legend of the festival
- Legend has it that the water of the temple’s spring changes colour from white to red and black.
- The colour of the water is said to predict the impending future.
- If it changes to black, it is seen as inauspicious or an impending disaster.
- Kashmiri Pandits say that the water had turned black before they were forced to flee Kashmir during the militancy of 1990.
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Try this PYQ:
Q.Consider the following pairs:
Traditions- Communities
- Chaliha Sahib Festival- Sindhis
- Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra- Gonds
- Wari-Warkari- Santhals
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) None of the above
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The problem with putting the civil services on a pedestal
Context
Recently, two IAS officers were the subject of widespread public derision for misuse of power. A week later, the media and the public feted those who had successfully cracked the UPSC examination in order to become bureaucrats of the future.
About Indian Administrative Service
- Civil Services refer to the career civil servants who are the permanent executive branch of the Republic of India.
- The modern Indian Administrative Service was created under Article 312(2) in part XIV of the Constitution of India, and the All-India Services Act, 1951.
- It is the backbone of the administrative machinery of the country.
- As India is a parliamentary democracy, the ultimate responsibility for running the administration rests with the people’s elected representatives.
- The elected executive decides the policy and it is civil servants, who serve at the pleasure of the President of India, implement it.
- Article 311 of the Constitution protects Civil Servants from politically motivated vindictive action.
What makes civil services favourable in India
- Most countries in the world have a cadre of professional civil servants but nowhere are new entrants to the system of government celebrated like in India.
- Colonial legacy: The fact is that, 75 years after independence and 30 years after liberalisation, there is still an overhang of the all-powerful, all-pervasive state.
- There are good reasons for a favourable view of the civil services.
- Merit based selection: For one, candidates are selected on merit based on an open examination and interview.
- Job security: Then there is the job security that comes with gaining entry.
- Unless a civil servant does an extraordinary wrong, she has a job for life, and steady, time-bound promotions which ensure that everyone retires at the top irrespective of performance.
Issues with public perception
- However, in the perceived strengths of the civil services lie its weaknesses.
- Single exam: The single UPSC examination is treated as gospel.
- But merit and competence cannot be judged by a single exam.
- Permanence is a problem: The permanence of the job is a problem too.
- Punishment for over-reach or misuse of power is a transfer, either from a weightier ministry to a lighter one or from high-profile capitals to geographically remote ones.
- A system of limited accountability: The result is that all civil servants, never mind their ability or competence, operate in a system of limited accountability with few incentives to perform and plenty of opportunities to use and abuse their powers.
Way forward
- Placing civil servant at par with other professions: The civil services system needs to be brought down from its pedestal and placed at par with every other profession like elsewhere in the world.
- This will not happen via political diktat. It requires the weight of public opinion.
- Broaden the selection criteria: The system must be manned by capable, competent individuals. This cannot be decided on the basis of one exam.
- Remove the job permanency: The underperforming officers need to be separated which cannot happen when the job is for life.
- It may sound radical for India’s civil services but that is the way the rest of India and the world function, including the UK from where we inherited the structure.
Conclusion
If we can make these changes in the civil services, India will get the government it needs for the 21st century.
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