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  • What is the National Health ID System?

    In his address to the nation on Independence Day, the PM has launched the National Digital Health Mission which rolls out a national health ID for every Indian.

    Try this question for mains:

    Q.What is the National Health ID System? How will it benefit transforming healthcare facilities in India?

    National Health ID System

    • This system finds its roots in a 2018 NITI Aayog proposal to create a centralised mechanism to uniquely identify every participating user in the National Health Stack.
    • It will be a repository of all health-related information of a person.
    • According to the National Health Authority (NHA), every patient who wishes to have their health records available digitally must start by creating a Health ID.
    • Each Health ID will be linked to a health data consent manager — such as National Digital Health Mission (NDHM).
    • The Health ID is created by using a person’s basic details and mobile number or Aadhaar number.
    • This will make it unique to the person, who will have the option to link all of their health records to this ID.

    What was the original proposal for the health ID?

    • The National Health Policy 2017 had envisaged creation of a digital health technology eco-system aiming at developing an integrated health information system.
    • In the context of this, the central government’s think-tank NITI Aayog, in June 2018, floated a consultation of a digital backbone for India’s health system — National Health Stack.
    • As part of its consultation, NITI Aayog proposed a Digital Health ID to greatly reduce the risk of preventable medical errors and significantly increase the quality of care.

    Stakeholders in the national health ID

    • As envisaged, various healthcare providers — such as hospitals, laboratories, insurance companies, online pharmacies, telemedicine firms — will be expected to participate in the health ID system.

    Back2Basics:

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/national-digital-health-mission-ndhm/

  • Tweets against CJI amounts to Criminal Contempt

    A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court has found a famous civil rights lawyer guilty of criminal contempt by ‘scandalizing the court’.

    Try this question for mains:

    Q.What is Contempt of Court? Discuss, how free speech can lead to the contempt of courts?

    Contempt of Court

    • According to the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, contempt of court can either be civil contempt or criminal contempt.
    • Civil contempt means willful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or another process of a court or willful breach of an undertaking given to a court.
    • On the other hand, criminal contempt means the publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which
    1. Scandalizes or tends to scandalize, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court; or
    2. Prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or
    3. Interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other manner.

    What did the court rule in this case?

    • The tweets had the effect of attempting to destabilize Indian democracy.
    • A defamatory publication concerning “the judge is a serious impediment to justice”.
    • The court could not ignore the disrespect and disaffection created by the “scurrilous” tweets.
    • If such an attack is not dealt with a requisite degree of firmness, it may affect the national honour and prestige in the comity of nations.

    A suo motu action

    • The prior consent of the Attorney General (AG) of India is not required to suo motu initiate the inherent contempt powers of the Supreme Court.
    • The Contempt of Court Act of 1971 cannot limit this power of the court. The statute only provides the procedure in which such contempt is to be initiated.
    • The suo motu contempt powers of the top court are drawn from Article 129 of the Constitution, which says the Supreme Court, as a court of record, has the power to punish for contempt of itself.

    What would be the penalty?

    • The Contempt of Court Act of 1971 punishes with imprisonment that may extend to six months or fine of ₹ 2,000 or both.
    • This is provided in case the accused may be discharged or the punishment awarded may be remitted on apology being made to the satisfaction of the court.

    Also read:

    Explained: What is Contempt of Court?

  • RBI’s Positive Pay system

    The new ‘Positive Pay’ mechanism was recently introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

    Try this PYQ:

    With reference to digital payments, consider the following statements:

    1. BHIM app allows the user to transfer money to anyone with a UPI-enabled bank account.
    2. While a chip-pin debit card has four factors authentication, BHIM app has only two factors of authentication.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (CSP 2018)

    a) 1 only
    b) 2 only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2

    What is the move?

    • Issuers will be able to send all details to their bank, thereby ensuring faster clearance of cheques above Rs 50,000.
    • All cheques will be processed as per the information sent by the account holder at the time of issuance of cheques.
    • This will cover approximately 20 per cent of transactions by volume and 80 per cent by value.
    • It will make cheque payments safer and reduces instances of frauds.

    What is Positive Pay Mechanism?

    • Positive Pay is a fraud detection tool adopted by banks to protect customers against forged, altered or counterfeit cheques.
    • It crosses verifies all details of the cheque issued before funds are encashed by the beneficiary.
    • In case of a mismatch, the cheque is sent back to the issuer for examination.
    • By following such a system, a bank knows of a cheque being drawn by the customer even before it is deposited by the beneficiary into his/her account.

    How does the mechanism work?

    • Under Positive Pay feature, the issuer will first share the details of the issued cheque like cheque number, date, name of the payee, account number, amount and the likes through his/her net banking account.
    • Along with this, an image of the front and reverse side of the cheque is also required to be shared, before handing it over to the beneficiary.
    • When the beneficiary submits the cheque for encashment, the details are compared with those provided to the bank through Positive Pay.
    • If the details match, the cheque is honoured. However, in the case of mismatch, the cheque is referred to the issuer.
    • In this way, any cheque where any sort of fraud has happened cannot be cleared at all and hence, a depositor’s money can be protected.

  • In news: Mauritius Oil Spill

    A Japanese ship recently struck a coral reef resulting in an oil spill of over 1,000 tonnes into the Indian Ocean near Mauritius.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Recently, “oil zapper’’ was in the news. What is it? (CSP 2011)

    (a) It is an eco-friendly technology for the remediation of oily sludge and oil spills.

    (b) It is the latest technology developed for undersea oil exploration.

    (c) It is a genetically engineered high biofuel-yielding maize variety.

    (d) It is the latest technology to control the accidentally caused flames from oil wells.

    What caused the Mauritius oil spill?

    • A Japanese vessel struck a coral reef resulting in an oil spill of over 1,000 tonnes into the Indian Ocean.
    • The ship was carrying an estimated 4,000 tonnes of oil.
    • The accident had taken place near two environmentally protected marine ecosystems and the Blue Bay Marine Park Reserve, which is a wetland of international importance.

    How dangerous are oil spills?

    • Oil spills affect marine life by exposing them to harsh elements and destroying their sources of food and habitat.
    • Further, both birds and mammals can die from hypothermia as a result of oil spills.
    • For instance, oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters.
    • It also decreases the water repellency of birds’ feathers, without which they lose their ability to repel cold water.

    Some major incidents

    • Some of the world’s largest oil spills include the Persian Gulf War oil spill of 1991 when more than 380 million gallons of oil was poured into the northern Persian Gulf by Iraq’s forces.
    • The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is also considered to be among the largest known accidental oil spills in history.
    • Starting April 20, 2010, over 4 million barrels of oil flowed over a period of 87 days into the Gulf of Mexico.

    How is the oil spill cleaned?

    • There are a few ways to clean up oil spills including skimming, in situ burning and by releasing chemical dispersants.
    • Skimming involves removing oil from the sea surface before it is able to reach the sensitive areas along the coastline.
    • In situ burning means burning a particular patch of oil after it has concentrated in one area.
    • Releasing chemical dispersants helps break down oil into smaller droplets, making it easier for microbes to consume, and further break it down into less harmful compounds.
    • Natural actions in aquatic environments such as weathering, evaporation, emulsification, biodegradation and oxidation can also accelerate the recovery of an affected area. But these occur differently in freshwater and marine environments.

  • [pib] Sarabhai Crater

    The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has named a crater captured by Chandrayaan 2 Orbiter after Vikram Sarabhai.

    Try this PYQ:

    What do you understand by the term Aitken Basin? (CSP 2012)

    (a) It is a desert in southern Chile which is known to be the only location on earth where no rainfall takes place

    (b) It is an impact crater on the far side of the Moon

    (c) It is a Pacific coast basin, which is known to house large amounts of oil and gas

    (d) It is a deep hypersaline anoxic basin where no aquatic animals are found

    Sarabhai Crater

    • “Sarabhai” Crater is named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai and around 250 to 300 kilometres east of this Crater is where the Apollo 17 and Luna 21 Missions had landed.
    • The crater captured in 3D images shows that the Crater has a depth of around 1.7 Kms taken from its raised rim and the slope of Crater walls is in between 25 to 35 degree.
    • These findings will help the Space Scientists to understand further the process of the lunar region filled with lava.

    Who was Vikram Sarabhai?

    • Sarabhai was an Indian physicist and astronomer who initiated space research and helped develop nuclear power in India.
    • He is internationally regarded as the Father of the Indian Space Program.
    • Known as the cradle of space sciences in India, the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) was founded in 1947 by him. He was the founder of ISRO.
    • He started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian satellite.
    • As a result, the first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian cosmodrome.

  • Eye-Opener Coming Up! Catch the First Basic Economic Prelims Test (16th August) to Re-imagine How You Look At UPSC Prelims

    Click here to enroll for the Prime Prelims TS 2021

    What was it that initially made Great Britain bleed but subsequently helped it to secure a smashing victory in the second world war? Enigma it was. Alan Turing built the “Turing Machine” that helped decrypt the seemingly unbreakable German Code. Then something very astonishing followed. Great Britain exploited the loopholes of the Enigma itself and the Germans lost without having the slightest hint of Enigma being compromised.

    For a UPSC Aspirant, isn’t the “unpredictable” paper setting pattern of UPSC a modern-day Enigma? But what if there was a “Turing Machine” that could break into this “Unbreakable” code of UPSC? For your amusement, there is one.

    Talking about UPSC Civil Services Prelims, mock test series has become a Categorical Imperative. But which one truly breaks the “UPSC Enigma”? How about one made by Frontline Warriors themselves (Veteran Aspirants) who have successfully cleared prelims five or six times consecutively? Isn’t the collective wisdom of these “Alan Turings” the closest version of a “UPSC Turing Machine”?

    Now, let us speak about the test in question. It’s the sixth test of the newly launched Prelims Test Series for 2021 by CivilsDaily. It’s a Basic Economics Test. Let’s see how it is the first step towards breaking the “UPSC Enigma”:

    1. CD Special Questions:

    These questions are special due to their;

    • Mind-Twisting Nature (Deceptive questions that fool you exactly as UPSC does in the real exam)
    • Exclusiveness (These Perspectives / Themes are only available in CD tests). 

    Have a look –

    Q1)With reference to Tax Buoyancy, consider the following statements:

    1.It is a measure of the responsiveness of the tax receipts with respect to GDP.

    2.A tax is said to be buoyant if the tax revenues decreases more than proportionately in response to a rise in national income or output.

    3.Tax Buoyancy is also known as bracket creep.

    Which of the statements mentioned above is/are correct?

    • 1 only
    • 2 and 3 only
    • 1 and 3 only
    • 1, 2 and 3

    Try guessing the right answer to this seemingly simple yet tricky question.

    2. Tikdams:

    These are Logical Solving Techniques that help you attempt questions despite having little or no idea about the question. It’s almost like getting a master key to the prelims paper. Have a look –

    Q2) With reference to Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT), consider the following statements:

    1. It was effectively introduced in India by the Finance Act of 1987

    2. It’s aim is to bring Zero Tax Companies into tax realm.

    3. It only applies to private companies and not to public companies.

    Which of the statements mentioned above is/are correct?

    • 1 and 2 only
    • 2 and 3 only
    • 1 and 3 only
    • 1, 2 and 3

    The test explains this basic question by using a Technique we call “Extreme Exaggeration” (assuming you don’t know the correct answer).

    3. Evidence-Based Question Framing:

    To keep close to the real demand of the exam. Have a look –

    3)With reference to WTO, consider the following statements regarding Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights(TRIPS):

    1.TRIPS was concluded during Uruguay Round.of WTO negotiations.

    2. Prior to the TRIPS, IPR concerning the trade were governed by the Paris Convention of 1863.

    Which of the statements mentioned above is/are correct?

    • 1 only
    • 2 only
    • Both 1 and 2
    • Neither 1 nor 2

    4) Consider the following statements regarding the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross Value Added (GVA):

    1.GDP represents the sum total of Gross Value added in all sectors without adjusting for taxes and subsidies by the government.

    2. While the GDP is estimated by the Central Statistical Office (CSO), GVA is estimated by the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).

    3. GVA data helps in tracking the growth of a particular sector in the economy.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    • 1 and 2 only
    • 1 only
    • 3 only
    • 1 and 3 only

    Now, UPSC has asked multiple questions on the basic economic functioning of the economy. You can’t afford to err on a probable question that may be asked on similar lines.

    4. Is the test really BASIC?

    Framing random questions irrespective of the difficulty level of the tests is like serving the same wine in different bottles. Have a look –

    4) Which of the following can be considered as an intermediate goods?

    1. Sugar used for making sweets in sweets shop.

    2. Refrigerator and milk used by ice cream shop owner.

    3. Steel used in production of cars.

    Select the correct statements using the code given below:

    • 1 only
    • 2 and 3 only
    • 1 and 3 only
    • 1, 2 and 3

    The motive to incorporate such questions in the basic test is to garner a general idea of the topics before you as an aspirant are mentally ready to face the advanced tests.

    5. Conceptual vs Factual Categorisation:

    It lets you realise your comparative strength in different types of questions. Have a look –

    Q3. Which of the following statements is NOT correct with reference to Floating Exchange Rate?

    • The exchange rate is determined by the forces of demand and supply.
    • The government never intervenes and allows the market to function and determine the true value of exchange rate.
    • The exchange rate reflects the true value of the domestic currency
    • The foreign investors avoid investing in such countries

    This is a basic Conceptual question. If you get this wrong, you need to rework the concepts of Monetary Dynamics which is an important aspect of Economy Syllabus.

    So come be a part of our “UPSC Enigma” Breaking Endeavour. Like Great Britain, we shall emerge VICTORIOUS.

    Click here to enrol for the Prime Prelims TS 2021

  • [Burning Issue] One Year since the Repeal of Art. 370

    Exactly a year back, on August 5, 2019, the government of India revoked the special status granted under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The move was made on the promise of a better life for every Kashmiri in terms of social and economic parameters.

    So, with one year anniversary, it is the perfect opportunity to analyze what the move has meant for the common people. Did it bring them the development as promised? The article looks at some of the changes that the state has seen in the last 1 year, no judgments(promise!).

    Background

    Read the complete thread here at:

    [Burning Issue] Reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir

    Visible impacts of the move

    (Obviously, the impacts from the repeal of Article 370 cannot be studied in isolation from impacts of COVID in the region.)

    (A) Political Impacts

    The legal talk

    • The abrogation of special status has extended the reach of Parliament and Indian Constitution over the region in its entirety.
    • The reorganization appendix gives an insight to which former laws passed by the state have been retained, repealed, and which central laws have been extended:
    • Example: 164 laws – 153 state laws and 11 Governor’s Acts – have been repealed; 166 state laws have been retained; 7 state laws have been retained with amendments; 106 central laws have been made applicable.
    • The Right to Information Act, 2005 and the Representation of People Act, 1951 are among the laws being extended to the UT in entirety.

    New Domicile Rules

    • This year center came out with a new list of criteria for attaining domicile in J&K.
    • Since then, 4 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir have been issued domicile certificates.
    • A significant proportion has been given out to those who despite living or serving in the state for years were not considered the residents of the state due to the provisions of Artice 35A, which now stands repealed.

    Reduction in Corruption

    • The CMS-India Corruption Study 2017 placed Jammu and Kashmir among the top corrupt states in India, stating that 84 per cent of the people surveyed perceived increased corruption in public services.
    • With corruption almost becoming second nature to the political elites and administrators, the immediate casualty in J&K has been effective governance and justice.
    • This has undermined the trust of the Kashmiris in democracy and shattered their faith in the legitimacy of the politico-administrative setup, posing a direct challenge to peace operations.
    • The situation has relieved(for now) since the abrogation of special status and paves the way for curbing corrupt practices.

    (B) Social Impacts

    Public perception of the move

    • The abrogation of autonomy without the consent of the Kashmiris has raised the threat perception among the people regarding their identity and culture.
    • The lost ‘autonomy’ and Art. 370 had a symbolic and emotional significance for Kashmir’s people.

    New Low in Education 

    • The continued shutdowns and internet blockade has severely affected college and university students and so has the digital learning.
    • College students and research scholars, for instance, have not been able to fill the online forms for competitive exams, scholarship grants and research papers.
    • Most of the hostels in Kashmir University are shut indefinitely.

    Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits

    • Construction of 6,000 transit accommodations for accommodating 3000 Kashmiri migrants and 849 flats have been constructed so far.
    • The Centre also reimburses monthly cash relief to the eligible Kashmiri migrants settled in Jammu.
    • Since the year 2014, the monthly cash relief has been enhanced twice i.e. from Rs 6600/- per family to Rs 10,000/- per family in 2015 and to Rs 13,000/- per family in 2018.

    Era of social security measures

    • The government introduced an array of insurance schemes including the Atal Pension Yojana in the newly carved Union Territory.
    • The Centre also launched 85 people-oriented development schemes, like PM-KISAN, PM-KISAN-Pension, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, and Stand-Up India in Jammu and Kashmir.

    (C) Economic Impact

    Agriculture

    • The apple industry in Kashmir, worth INR 80 billion which contributes 8 per cent of J&K’s GDP, has been worst affected.
    • The farmers have highlighted their troubles in selling the produce in the local APMCs.
    • Threats from militants, coupled with the government’s severe clampdown delayed the harvest for over a month, dealing a crippling blow to the industry during the peak harvest season.

    Industries

    • Core sectors of the economy of J&K have witnessed a steep decline after the abrogation of Article 370.
    • The communications blockade, curfews, and militant threats has taken a toll on the economy of Kashmir by INR 178.78 billion.
    • More than 90,000 jobs in the sectors of handicraft and information technology have been lost.

    Tourism

    • Tourism, which forms 8-10% of J&K’s GDP, is in shambles after the lockdown.
    • Less than 50,000 tourists visited the U.T. between August and December 2019.

    (D) Security Impacts

    • According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), the lockdown and increase in Army presence led to a decrease in terrorism-related deaths.
    • Lesser fatalities: There has been a decrease in terrorism-related deaths.
    • Youth joining militancy: The number of local recruits has increased. In 2020, until March, 87.5% of the militants killed were locals according to SATP.
    • Border intrusion: Infiltration attempts along the LoC, however, remain high as Pakistan-based terrorist groups continue to try to send more militants in the Valley.
    • Reduced covert attacks: There have been fewer improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and grenade attacks this year.

    (E) Geopolitical Impacts

    • The abrogation of Article 370 has also led to the internationalization of the Kashmir conflict.
    • Dividing Ladakh from J&K has not only fulfilled the demands of the people of the region but also has sent a clear message to China that it is an integral part of India where Indian constitution holds despite China sometimes claiming it to be its own territory.
    • Visibly after that, we have witnessed the increased cases of transgression by the Chinese PLA in Ladakh.
    • UNSC has met two times for closed-door meetings on the situation in Kashmir.
    • Pakistan’s quest for garnering Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) support these days is quite prominent than earlier.

    Was Art. 370 the real problem?

    • Article 370, over the decades, was diluted many times but despite these dilutions, it bore great symbolic and psychological significance for Kashmiris.
    • It also displayed India’s asymmetric federalism, which granted differential rights to certain federal subunits, often in recognition of their distinctive ethnic identity.
    • For sure, the educational and health sectors in J&K should be have been improved but the reason for the underperformance of the educational and health sectors in Kashmir is not Article 370.
    • While private enterprises could set up industries in the former State on leased land, as they have over the years, acquisition of land by public sector enterprises from outside the State was never a problem.
    • Private investors do not set up shop in Kashmir due to militancy which is a product of an existing conflict; not because of Articles 370 or 35A.

    Way Forward

    (1) Building trust

    • The foremost challenge for New Delhi is rebuilding trust.
    • To rebuild the trust deficit and to win over the confidence of the Kashmiris, the government must immediately repeal the PSA – which should have become ultra vires, in the first place.
    • This will create a sense of oneness among the Kashmiris and will help change their perception towards New Delhi.

    (2) Addressing the distress 

    • Due attention must be given to address rural economic distress created after the unprecedented, unseasonal snowfall in November.
    • The government should compensate all the farmers with a farm credit or a loan waiver as it is done in other states.

    (3) Approaching with soft policies

    • New Delhi should ensure that the land’s pluralism is defended by assiduously handling the identity, cultural and religious issues.
    • In the present state of affairs, the political process is being hijacked and political leaders are under detention.
    • The release of the political class will send a positive signal.

    (4) Lifting the internet blackout

    • The government must immediately lift the internet blackout in all educational institutions.
    • Prolonging the internet curfew any longer will only alienate the students and the youth, who are already hurt and angered at the Centre’s unilateral action.

    (5) Resume educational institutions

    • Without any delay, the Centre must also announce the establishment of modern higher education institutions and IITs in its new UT.
    • Quality manpower is a prerequisite for the promised economic growth of the region.
    • Simultaneously, the Centre should actively help to restore regular functioning of closed educational institutions that have been shut since a year and equip them with all modern scientific facilities.
    • The Centre must also announce a new set of attractive scholarships for Kashmiri students.

    Conclusion

    Now is the time to renew ties with the region by initiating a series of serious and sincere interlocution measures to win over the confidence of the alienated population.

    It is necessary that focus on pressing local issues increases and we nurture new local leadership, so that, the grip of the political elite in the Valley loosens.

    Kashmir is known for its glorious past and it is high time that this glory returns to the valley.

     

  • 14th August 2020 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 501]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 500]

  • “In love and hate relationship with UPSC” – Chandrima Attri, AIR 72, UPSC 2019 | UNHERD: Civilsdaily’s Topper series | Video inside

    Dear students,

    As a part of our Unherd topper talk series, we’re here with yet another champion.

    Chandrima Attri, AIR 72, UPSC 2019, in conversation with Sukanya ma’am gives an insight into her mind and her thought process. She talks about strategic interventions in her UPSC journey, habits she incorporated, her interests, and her belief system. Watch the video to know why Chandrima is one of the most honest and coolest persons you’ll ever know.

    About Chandrima Attri:

    A Stephanian and a lawyer, Chandrima has practiced in the Supreme Court as well. Post UPSC results she has started learning Guitar and is turning into a Potterhead now. Her other hobbies include reflective journaling, reading non-fiction, and painting. This was Chandrima’s fourth attempt and the first interview.

    Among social causes closest to her heart are universal access to basic necessities of life and women empowerment. She is an inspiration for us all.

    We’re convinced that as a bright IAS officer, she is going to be an asset to Indian administration and society. We are proud of Chandrima and wish her the very best for her future.

    Unherd Topper Talk series is a Civilsdaily’s initiative. We want to highlight what makes these toppers, their approach and strategy different from the herd. And you will also be getting a sneak peek into the moments of their lives that are unheard of.

    Civilsdaily’s Samanvaya form for IAS exam 2020-21: https://bit.ly/Samnvya (We’ll call you)

    Want to see your name in the final list but facing issues like figuring out a successful strategy, or have no guidance, or lack discipline.

    Aspirants, be it at any stage of preparation have a number of questions like: How to start? When to start writing answers? How and from where to cover current affairs? When to start mains? and a lot more of them.

    Well, Don’t keep these questions with you. We are here for you. Let’s talk and discuss.

    Fill this Civilsdaily’s Samanvaya form for IAS exam 2020-21: https://bit.ly/Samnvya (We’ll call you)

  • Myth of the pristine forest

    • The COVID-19 pandemic has driven migrant workers back to their villages, including many situated inside or on the fringes of forested areas, including sanctuaries and national parks.
    • Even as they seek to remake livelihoods there, a new battle has emerged between the forest department (FD) and these local communities.
    • It pertains to the declaration of a Critical Wildlife Habitat (CWH), which a PIL in the Bombay High Court seeks to get the department to urgently notify.

    Try this question for mains:

    Forest dwellers are integral to the very survival and sustainability of the forest ecosystem. Analyse.

    What is Critical Wildlife Habitat (CHW)?

    • CWH is a provision under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA).
    • The Act primarily focuses on recognising the historically-denied rights of forest-dwellers to use and manage forests.
    • The CWH provision, however, is an attempt to assuage concerns of wildlife conservationists.
    • It allows for the possibility that in protected areas (PAs) — wildlife sanctuaries and national parks — these rights could be attenuated, and, if absolutely necessary, forest-dwellers could be relocated in the interest of wildlife conservation.

    Forest dwellers vs. Wildlife

    • Conservationists believe that wildlife needs absolutely “inviolate” areas — those devoid of humans and human activities.
    • Many others believe human-wildlife co-existence is generally possible and must be promoted if we are to have “socially just conservation”.

    Achieving balanced conservation: The FRA provisions

    • A careful reading of the CWH provisions in the FRA shows that it is open to both possibilities, as long as they are arrived at through a rigorous and participatory process.
    • It requires setting up a multi-disciplinary expert committee, including representatives from local communities.
    • It also requires determining — using “scientific and objective criteria” and consultative processes — whether, and wherein the PA, the exercise of forest rights will cause irreversible damages.
    • It then requires determining whether coexistence is possible through a modified set of rights or management practices.
    • Only if the multi-stakeholder expert committee agrees that co-existence or other reasonable options are not possible, should relocation be taken up, again with the informed consent of the concerned gram sabhas.
    • For any such process to commence, the Act requires that all forest rights under the FRA must first be recognised.

    Issues with the FRA

    (1) Concerns of eviction

    • Hardline conservationists took FRA as a great opportunity to complete its agenda of evicting forest-dwellers from PAs.
    • It has been observed that many villages were resettled when they had rights claims pending, others had their claims illegally rejected or incompletely granted, and several had not even applied to this controversy erupted.
    • However, there are settlements in some of these PAs, and of course, people in villages adjacent to all the PAs are likely to have customary rights.
    • In spite of the court ordering rapid completion of the rights recognition process, there has been almost no progress on this front.

    (2) Issues with expert committees

    • The constitution of the expert committees is faulty. They do not contain expert social scientists familiar with the area. Wildlife enthusiasts are sometimes substituted for experts in life sciences.
    • Many members have challenged the very constitutionality of the FRA, making a travesty of the idea of “objectivity” in the process.

    (3) Criteria judging the damages

    • The criteria being used by the committees to determine the threat of “irreversible damage” to wildlife are quite extreme and are not supported by any consensus even among ecologists.
    • There are no objective criteria decided yet by these committees.

    Conclusion

    • The FRA begins by recognising that forest dwellers “are integral to the very survival and sustainability of the forest ecosystem”.
    • In that context, the CWH provision should not be seen as simply a tool for evicting forest-dwellers to create so-called “inviolate” spaces.
    • It is an opportunity to rigorously and participatorily explore all avenues of co-existence.
    • Such co-existence is indeed possible. In general, forest-dwellers harbour both the knowledge and the attitudes needed for conservation.
    • Co-managing PAs is, therefore, the most effective and socially just long-term solution, and relocation should be seen as the absolute last resort.

    B2BASICS

    Forest Rights act

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