Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) are set to establish YuWaah, Generation Unlimited (GenU), a global multi-stakeholder platform in India.
YuWaah Platform
As per the Statement of Intent, the objectives of this project are:
Support young people by providing entrepreneurship classes (online and offline) with successful entrepreneurs and experts, towards establishing an entrepreneurial mindset among young people.
Upskilling of young people on 21st-century skills, life skills, digital skills through online and offline channels and support them through self-learning, for their productive lives and the future of work.
Create linkages with aspirational economic opportunities to connect young people with employment opportunities, including building pathways to connect them with jobs or self-employment.
Providing career guidance support to young people through career portal as well as through job-readiness and self-exploration sessions to make young people career-ready.
The article analyses the challenges in the India-Russia relations against the background of changing global order.
Context
India decided to pull out of Russia’s Kavkaz 2020 military exercises, where it was scheduled to participate alongside other Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states.
Russia’s role in India-China dispute
The ongoing conflict between two prominent members, and both close partners of Russia, has given rise to concerns about its impact on India-Russia ties.
Moscow has been playing a quiet diplomatic role during the recent border clashes without actively taking sides.
Recent visits by India’s Defence Minister to Russia saw detailed discussions around furthering the India-Russia defence relationship alongside the promise to accelerate certain supplies based on New Delhi’s requirements.
The September visit coincided with the biannual Indo-Russian naval exercises, INDRA.
India-Russia relations
India and Russia have spent the past few years strengthening their partnership, particularly since the 2018 Sochi informal summit.
From substantive defence engagement to regional questions in Central Asia, Afghanistan and West Asia, a conversation with Moscow remains an important element of Indian foreign policy.
India and Russia are pragmatic players looking at maximising their strategic manoeuvrability,
Both recognise the value of having a diversified portfolio of ties. .
India on its part has sought to include Russia in its vision of the Indo-Pacific that does not see the region as ‘a strategy or as a club of limited members’.
Reports indicate that a proposal for a India-Russia-Japan trilateral is being explored.
Multilateral forums and Challenges in India-Russia relation
The multilateral forums are important as they foster continued India-Russia cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
Increasingly divergent foreign policies of its members pose challenges of agenda-setting and overall scope.
At this moment of flux, countries such as India and Russia are keeping all their options open.
We live in a ‘curious world’ where one cannot view engagement with different parties as a ‘zero-sum game’.
Worsening India-China ties or a burgeoning China-Russia relationship does not automatically mean a breakdown of the India-Russia strategic partnership.
It is the combination of a changing regional order, closer Russia-China ties and India’s alignment with the United States and other like-minded countries to manage Beijing’s rise that has the potential to create hurdles for India-Russia cooperation in the Asia.
Consider the question “Despite difficulties in pursuing convergent policies, India-China relations retains its relevance. Comment.”
Conclusion
Although the evolving global order makes it difficult for India and Russia to pursue fully convergent policies, it does not preclude the bilateral relationship from retaining its relevance.
The article deals with the issue of importance of parliamentary procedures and how it has been neglected in the passage of several Bills recently.
2 contexts that explain the crisis Parliament faces
1) Neglecting the procedure
Three simple procedural matters are the cornerstone of parliamentary practice.
The first is Question Hour, which was suspended.
Even in taking that decision, the Speaker did not accede to the demand for a division.
The second is referring bills to committees.
It is increasingly the case with important pieces of legislation that they are not being either referred to committees, nor are they being fully debated in Parliament.
The third and most important is “division.”
If a member of a House asks for a division of votes, the Speaker needs to grant it.
The Speaker can refuse under some circumstances, but even then he has to take something like an informal headcount vote before refusing division.
2) Substantive context
There are three bills relating to agriculture that have occasioned serious protests.
There are three far-reaching pieces of legislation pertaining to labour reform.
Each of these bills can be improved and crafted in ways that make them more the object of consensus.
The bills pertaining to agriculture were debated, ffter the debate, deputy chairperson refusesed a division.
By allowing a division we would at least record where each member of Parliament stood on a question of monumental importance.
Concerns
We seem to not want to give flexibility to states when it comes to farmers.
Flexibility is given to states, in the most unrestrained manner possible, when it comes to the interest of capital against labour.
It seems that the hurried interests of corporate India take precedence over farmers and labour, rather than a well negotiated social contract between all three.
Why the farmers are concerned
A lot of the farmers’ legitimate fear is that in a fiscal crunch, MSP will be rolled back or procurement curtailed.
There is genuine uncertainty over what private procurement will mean.
Way forward
It is also possible that in the case of the APMC, a more creative solution could have been found for concerns of the states, like an opt-out clause for them.
In case of amendments to labour laws, there is need to examine whether it fulfils the twin objectives of both protecting workers and being compliance-friendly at the same time.
Conclusion
Some deference to process can build trust because it is a sign of a government that listens. At least on the APMC this was a possibility. Let us hope on labour bills there is more reasoned deliberation. Parliamentary practice will not be able to knit an enduring social contract between labour, capital and farmers if it does not inspire confidence.
Join our Habitat now for Ethics discussion by Sukanya Ma’amat 7:30 pm. Know the best answer writing structure and technique for both section-A and case studies, develop examples/understanding from current, professional/social life, your areas of interest etc.
If you are already on Habitat, you don’t need to register again. Discussion by Sukanya Ma’am will take place in Ethics group at 7:30 pm. Others follow these steps:
Gear up yourselves for the penultimate session(today and tomorrow) on Expected questions for the UPSC CSE Prelims 2020 exam by Zeeshan Sir. You don’t want to miss out on these most important questions.
If you are already on Habitat, you don’t need to register again. Discussion by Zeeshan sir will take place in General group at 8.00 pm. Others follow these steps:
Recently eight Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended for unruly behaviour in the House.
Try this PYQ:
Q.Consider the following statements:
Speaker of the legislative assembly shall vacate his/her office of he/she ceases to be a member of the assembly
Whenever the legislative assembly is dissolved the speaker shall vacate his/her office immediately
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 not 2
What is the reason for suspending an MP?
The general principle is that it is the role and duty of the Presiding Officer — Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman of Rajya Sabha — to maintain order so that the House can function smoothly.
In order to ensure that proceedings are conducted in the proper manner, the Speaker/Chairman is empowered to force a Member to withdraw from the House.
What are the rules under which the Presiding Officer acts?
Rule Number 373 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business provides for the suspension of MPs by the Speaker of the House.
To deal with more recalcitrant Members, the Speaker make take recourse to Rules 374 and 374A.
Rule 374 says: The Speaker may, if deems it necessary, name a Member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing the business thereof.
Rule 374A was incorporated in the Rule Book on December 5, 2001. The intention was to skirt around the necessity of moving and adopting a motion for suspension.
Procedure in Rajya Sabha
It’s largely similar, with one important difference.
Like the Speaker in Lok Sabha, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha is empowered under Rule Number 255 of its Rule Book to “direct any Member whose conduct is in his opinion grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately” from the House.
Unlike the Speaker, however, the Rajya Sabha Chairman does not have the power to suspend a Member. The House may, by another motion, terminate the suspension.
The Chairman may “name a Member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the Council by persistently and wilfully obstructing” business.
In such a situation, the House may adopt a motion suspending the Member from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session.
Is suspending an MP a decent practice?
It is a strong action, but it is not uncommon. In general, a balance has to be struck.
There can be no question that the enforcement of the supreme authority of the Presiding Officer is essential for smooth conduct of proceedings.
However, it must be remembered that the job of the Presiding Officer is to run the House, not to lord over it.
Alternatives to suspension
The solution to unruly behaviour has to be long-term and consistent with democratic values.
A previous Speaker had ordered that television cameras be focussed on the demonstrating members so that people could see for themselves how their representatives were behaving in the House.
Present situation
In the present case, however, the Opposition has accused the Chairman of stopping the telecast of the proceedings in Rajya Sabha.
What cannot be denied is that Speaker’s/Chairman’s actions are often dictated more by expediency and the stand of the party that they belong to, rather than by the Rules and principles.
So, the ruling party of the day invariably insists on the maintenance of discipline, just as the Opposition insists on its right to protest. And their positions change when their roles flip.
The United Nations completed 75 years this year. In order to commemorate the historic moment, world leaders have come together, at a one-day high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly.
Try this:
Q.Discuss the various success and failures of the United Nations. (150W)
Birth of United Nations
The United Nations was born out of the horrors of World War II.
At the time of its foundation, it was primarily tasked with the goal of maintaining world peace and saving future generations from the evils of war.
A historical backgrounder
The UN was born out of the ashes of yet another international organisation created with the intention of keeping war away.
The League of Nations was created in June 1919, after World War I, as part of the Treaty of Versailles.
However, when the Second World War broke out in 1939, the League closed down and its headquarters in Geneva remained empty throughout the war.
Consequently, in August 1941, American President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British PM Winston Churchill held a secret meeting aboard naval ships in Placenta Bay, located in the southeast coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
The Atlantic Charter
The heads of the two countries discussed the possibility of creating a body for international peace effort and a range of issues related to the war.
Together they issued a statement that came to be called the Atlantic Charter. It was not a treaty, but only an affirmation that paved the way for the creation of the UN.
It declared the realization of “certain common principles in the national policies of their respective countries on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.”
The name ‘UN’
The United States joined the war in December 1941, and for the first time the term ‘United Nations’ was coined by president Roosevelt to identify those countries which were allied against the axis powers.
On January 1, 1942, representatives of 26 allied nations met in Washington DC to sign the declaration of the United Nations, which basically spelt out the war objectives of the Allied powers.
Over the next couple of years, several meetings took place among the Allied big four — The USA, the Soviet Union, the UK and China — to decide on the post-war charter that would describe the precise role of the UN.
Coming to existence
The UN finally came into existence on October 24, 1945, after being ratified by 51 nations, which included five permanent members (France, the Republic of China, the Soviet Union, the UK and the US) and 46 other signatories.
The first meeting of the General Assembly took place on January 10, 1946.
Its achievements
While at the time of its formation, the UN consisted of only 51 member states, independence movements and decolonization in the subsequent years led to an expansion of its membership.
At present, 193 countries are members of the UN.
It has also expanded its scope to resolve over a large number of global issues such as health, environment, and women empowerment among others.
Soon after its formation, it passed a resolution to commit to the elimination of nuclear weapons in 1946. In 1948, it created the World Health Organisation (WHO) to deal with communicable diseases like smallpox, malaria, HIV.
In 1950, the UN created the High Commissioner for Refugees to take care of the millions who had been displaced due to World War II.
More recently in 2002, the UN established the UN criminal court to try those who have committed war crimes, genocide, and other atrocities.
Various criticisms
The UN has also met with its share of criticisms. In 1994, for instance, the organisation failed to stop the Rwandan genocide.
In 2005, UN peacekeeping missions were accused of sexual misconduct in the Republic of Congo, and similar allegations have also come from Cambodia and Haiti.
In 2011, the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan was unsuccessful in eliminating the bloodshed caused in the civil war that broke out in 2013.
We’re overjoyed to announce the launch of the Samachar Manthan Batch 2 for IAS 2021 – our flagship program for Current Affairs. It will start from 27th September 2020.
What is Samachar Manthan?
Samachar Manthan is our flagship program designed to help you develop a solid command on your newspaper reading and current affairs analyzing skills. We are also going to focus on imparting skills required to utilize current affairs. Since it builds your core, it is important for both Prelims and Mains. (sample lecture below)
Our unique four-stage methodology helps ensure maximum retention and rock-solid preparation. Each component has been meticulously crafted which repeated every week creates a virtuous cycle.
Diversified and Comprehensive coverage
We let news develop over a week, and a team under Sajal Sir daily covers it from various sources which include newspapers (The Hindu, The Indian Express, LiveMint, etc.), magazines (Yojana, Kurukshetra, EPW, Down to Earth), important websites (PIB, PRS, govt ministries, IDSA, etc.).
UPSC is a generalist exam. It’s important to cover more issues than to cover a few, in more depth. Samachar Manthan ensures that fine balance of comprehensive news coverage and detailed discussion on the most important topics.
Videos and Notes
Carefully selected relevant news is analyzed and delivered in a weekly lecture spanning over 3 hours.
You will be getting high quality, well-designed notes. They are detailed with proper categorization of news into the Mains and Prelims category.
Our focus is on conceptual clarity, simplicity, relevance, and making interlinkages between current affairs and basic/static part of the syllabus.
Samachar Manthan will also help you understand how to utilize current affairs in all your Prelims and Mains papers. A part of which is done by tests.
Weekly Mains Test and Evaluation
Because learning is not enough, you must apply. Every week a 10 question UPSC level current affairs test follows with video and notes. The focus here is on Mains answer writing skills and practice.
It’s a skill that is learned, honed, and perfected gradually. And this is why it should be done regularly. Our team of subject experts evaluate your answers and provide you with feedback. Answer enhancement is one of the objectives of this exercise.
This was a feedback that we had received from our students. Now every month we provide a Current Affairs prelims test package.
All this completes a study loop and enhances your retention.
Civilsdaily Handholding
You’ll be assigned to a special group on Civilsdaily’s Habitat, it’s headed by Sajal Sir, Atul Sir, Ravi Sir and rankers like Dr Vipin Garg (AIR 20), Swapnil Pawar (AIR 525) and others.
Habitat is where everything comes together learning, doubt clearing, notes, references, mentors, and a focussed community. You’re going to learn and discuss like never before.
How will your queries be resolved?
The moment you have a query, you post it in the group. At 11PM, 3AM, doesn’t matter. No need to schedule a call, or drop an email. Just drop a chat. Once our team is up, it will be resolved.
More often than not, your peers will take part in your doubt discussions adding a lot of value.
Besides doubts, what else is there on Habitat?
#DDS sessions – We have dedicated sessions every day to resolve doubts in real-time. Never keep a doubt to yourself.
An ecosystem for co-learning and active learning.
A highly motivated community to bring flexibility and consistency to your preparation.
That’s not all, we’ve Daily news analysis and Op-ed discussion sessions on Habitat. Other activities like revisions, quizzes, test discussion, CSAT, etc. are also planned.
Civilsdaily’s Habitat – Desktop and Mobile view
Program inclusion
1. Weekly 3+ hours video lecture
2. High-quality Notes and reference material
3. Admission to Samachar Manthan special group on Habitat
4. Weekly Current Affairs based Mains Test (10 Questions) and Evaluation
5. Current Affairs Monthly Prelims Test package
How to cover Samachar Manthan Week 1-16?
Since you will be getting Samachar Manthan Week 1-16 (From June till date), we need to cover them as well. Starting this week you will need to cover two per week. For e.g. Week 1 and Week 16 this from Monday, Week 2 and Week 17 from the following week and like that.
Going in this manner your backlog will be over and you will be on track. We are always available for you to discuss this.
This is what our students have to say about Samachar Manthan and Sajal Sir.
There is no doubt that Current Affairs is an important part of IAS exam preparation. But it should be done in a planned and strategic manner where every action of yours is objectively defined and results, measurable.
Should you have any doubt or query reach out to us at hello@civilsdaily.com or call us at +91 8929987787.
The Centre is set to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and has proposed to make Aadhaar a mandatory identification document for all the office-bearers, directors and other key functionaries of an NGO or an association eligible to receive foreign donations.
What are the news Amendments?
(1) Prohibition to accept foreign contribution:
Under the Act, certain persons are prohibited to accept any foreign contribution.
These include election candidates, editor or publisher of a newspaper, judges, government servants, members of any legislature, and political parties, among others.
The Bill adds public servants (as defined under the Indian Penal Code) to this list.
Public servants include any person who is in service or pay of the government or remunerated by the government for the performance of any public duty.
(2) Transfer of foreign contribution:
Under the Act, foreign contribution cannot be transferred to any other person unless such person is also registered to accept foreign contribution (or has obtained prior permission under the Act to obtain foreign contribution).
The Bill amends this to prohibit the transfer of foreign contribution to any other person. The term ‘person’ under the Act includes an individual, an association, or a registered company.
(3) Aadhaar for registration:
The Act states that a person may accept foreign contribution if they have: (i) obtained a certificate of registration from central government, or (ii) not registered, but obtained prior permission from the government to accept foreign contribution.
Any person seeking registration (or renewal of such registration) or prior permission for receiving the foreign contribution must make an application to the central government in the prescribed manner.
The Bill adds that any person seeking prior permission, registration or renewal of registration must provide the Aadhaar number of all its office bearers, directors or key functionaries, as an identification document.
In case of a foreigner, they must provide a copy of the passport or the Overseas Citizen of India card for identification.
(4) FCRA account:
Under the Act, a registered person must accept foreign contribution only in a single branch of a scheduled bank specified by them.
However, they may open more accounts in other banks for utilization of the contribution.
The Bill amends this to state that foreign contribution must be received only in an account designated by the bank as “FCRA account” in such branch of the State Bank of India, New Delhi, as notified by the central government.
No funds other than the foreign contribution should be received or deposited in this account.
(5) Restriction in the utilization of foreign contribution:
Under the Act, if a person accepting foreign contribution is found guilty of violating any provisions of the Act or the unutilized or unreceived foreign contribution may be utilized or received, only with the prior approval of the central government.
This amendment Bill also seeks to prohibit the transfer of FCRA funds to other persons or organisations.
The Bill adds that the government may also restrict usage of unutilized foreign contribution for persons who have been granted prior permission to receive such contribution.
This may be done if, based on a summary inquiry, and pending any further inquiry, the government believes that such a person has contravened provisions of the Act.
(6) Renewal of license:
Under the Act, every person who has been given a certificate of registration must renew the certificate within six months of expiration.
The Bill provides that the government may conduct an inquiry before renewing the certificate to ensure that the person making the application: (i) is not fictitious or benami, (ii) has not been prosecuted or convicted for creating communal tension and (iii) has not been found guilty of diversion or misutilisation of funds, among others conditions.
(7) Reduction in use of foreign contribution for administrative purposes:
Under the Act, a person who receives foreign contribution must use it only for the purpose for which the contribution is received.
Further, they must not use more than 50% of the contribution to meeting administrative expenses. The Bill reduces this limit to 20%.
(8) Surrender of certificate:
The Bill adds a provision allowing the central government to permit a person to surrender their registration certificate.
The government may do so if, post an inquiry, it is satisfied that such person has not contravened any provisions of the Act, and the management of its foreign contribution (and related assets) has been vested in an authority prescribed by the government.
(9) Suspension of registration:
Under the Act, the government may suspend the registration of a person for a period not exceeding 180 days.
The Bill adds that such suspension may be extended up to an additional 180 days.
Significance of the amendment
1.Prevent misuse:
The annual inflow of foreign contribution has almost doubled between the years 2010 and 2019, but many recipients of foreign contribution have not utilised the same for the purpose for which they were registered or granted prior permission under the FCRA 2010.
Recently, the Union Home Ministry has suspended licenses of the six (NGOs) who were alleged to have used foreign contributions for religious conversion.
2.Strengthen National security
Many persons were not adhering to statutory compliances such as submission of annual returns and maintenance of proper accounts.
Such a situation could have adversely affected the internal security of the country.
3.Transparency and accountability
The new Bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions and facilitating the genuine non-governmental organisations or associations who are working for the welfare of society.
Criticism of the FCRA Bill, 2020
The legislation may be used to target political opponents and religious minorities.
Effects NGO Functioning: Due to the 20% cap, many NGOs will shut shop and many people will become jobless.
Inconsistency: On one hand the government invites foreign funds, but when such funds come for educational and charitable purposes, it is prevented.
High compliance rate: According to the GoI’s FCRA dashboard, there are 22,447 active FCRA registrations in India today. In 2018-19, 21,915 annual returns were filed – a compliance rate of 97.6%.
Double standards: PM CARES fund had received exemptions from complying with FCRA provisions when it is headed by Union cabinet ministers and administered by PMO officials.
Licence-Raj on NGOs: The Bill assumes that all NGOs receiving foreign grants are guilty and thus makes Aadhar of office bearers as mandatory requirement.
Bureaucratic Discretion: There is a thin line between enforcing transparency and using rules to allow official interference and harassment in the sector. Much of the present bill crosses that line and introduces a questionable degree of micro-management.
Way Forward
NGOs are helpful in implementing government schemes at the grassroots. They fill the gaps, where the government fails to do their jobs.
The government must stick to the ancient Indian ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as the framework for its global engagement and should not act with vendetta against the NGOs who criticize its working.
Seamless sharing of ideas and resources across national boundaries is essential to the functioning of a global community, and should not be discouraged unless there is reason to believe the funds are being used to aid illegal activities.
