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  • Urban Floods

  • Indian Polity | Types of Majorities

    There are 4 main types of Majority. The last one is Special Majority which has 3 sub-types.

    The most important Majorities will be Simple Majority and Special Majority of the 2nd kind. We will use the current strength of the Lok Sabha = 545 in the examples to explain.

    1. Absolute – More than 50% of the Total Strength of the House. Meaning

    1/2 x 545 = 273 or more. 

    This majority is never used anywhere but has a huge significance. If a political party has an Absolute Majority, it means it gets to form the govt., there is stability in the house.  

    1. Simple – Also called functional majority. It means a Majority of more than 50% of members present and voting.

    Let’s assume the members present and voting is 300 (out of 545). We have –

    1/2 X 300 = 150 or more

    Usage

    • When not stated what type of Majority in the Constitution, this majority is assumed.
    • Passage of Ordinary, Money, and Financial Bills.
    • Passage of No-Confidence Motion, Confidence Motion, Vote of Thanks to the President, Censure Motion, Adjournment Motion, Calling Attention Motion.
    • Election of the Speaker, Dy. Speaker, Dy. Chairman of RS.
    • Passage of approval to President’s Rule and Financial Emergency.
    • Approval by LS for discontinuance of Emergency.
    1. Effective – Means Majority of the Effective Strength of the House where Effective Strength is defined as Total Strength – No. of Vacancies. Vacancies arise due to 3 reasons – Death, Disqualification, and Resignation. Some sources mention Absenteeism as a vacancy but that is incorrect.

    Let’s assume the Number of Vacancies is 6. We have

    1/2 X (545-6) = 270 or more

    Usage

    • Removal of the VP. Initiated by the RS, requires an Effective Majority in the RS, thereafter Simple Majority in the LS. (this procedure is assumed since the Constitution doesn’t explicitly state it. Actual text available here)
    • Removal of the Speaker, Dy. Speaker and Dy. Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
    1. Special – This majority has 3 sub-types that require some attention.

    1st kind: Not less than 2/3 of the Members present and voting.

    Usage (only in 2 conditions)

    • Passage of Resolution under Art. 249 and Art. 312. What are they and when have they been used? 

    2nd kind: Fulfills the following criteria

    i) Not less than 2/3 of the Members present and voting.

    ii) Majority of the Total Strength of the House.

    Eg. Out of 545, 450 Members are present and 300 vote in favor. Both the above conditions are satisfied – 300 is more than 2/3 of 450 and 300 is more than 1/2 of 545.

    To make it simpler to remember, it is Special Majority of First kind + Absolute Majority.

    Usage

    • Passage of Constitutional Amendment Bills under Art. 368.
    • Approval by both Houses for the continuance of Emergency.
    • Removal of Judges of SC, High Court, CAG, CEC.
    • Approval for the creation of the State Legislative Council of a State under Art. 169.

    3rd kind:  This is used only once – during the impeachment of the President of India. Is mentioned in Art. 61 of the Constitution.

    2/3rd Majority of the Total Strength of the House.

    2/3 X 545 = 364 or more

    As a rule of thumb, you should never mention Special Majority in any answer as it could mean any of the 3 Special Majorities. 

  • Indian Polity | A Quick Brush up with Our Emergency Provisions

    Indian Polity | A Quick Brush up with Our Emergency Provisions

    Very quickly then, most of us are familiar with the 3 types of emergencies.

    We will study them under 3 heads –

    #a. When can they be imposed?

    #b. Features

    #c. Effects

    #1. Art. 352 – National Emergency

    a. When can it be imposed?

    3 conditions – War, External Aggression, Armed Rebellion

    Note1: Armed Rebellion was changed from Internal Disturbance on the recommendation of the Shah Commission. Internal Disturbance was a vague term prone to misuse.

    Q1: What’s the difference between War and External Aggression?

    No technical difference! The President makes a “Proclamation of Emergency”. If it says its a war, its a war likewise of external aggression.

    b. Features

    Flashback : Lets go back to the time of the Emergency. All it took then was an oral instruction by the then PM Indira Gandhi to President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (who received a lot of criticism).

    To understand National Emergency, we need to examine the 44th Amendment Provisions whose sole purpose was to put a check on such powers of the President.

    • Can only be proclaimed on the written advice of the Union Cabinet (not the PM). Perhaps, this is the only place where Union Cabinet has a role.
    • Expires in 1 month from its issue unless approved by a Special Majority (of the second kind*) – Not less than 2/3rd of the Members present and voting + Absolute Majority – in both the houses of the Parliament.
    • If the LS is dissolved, then RS shall approve it within 1 month and the re-constituted LS shall ratify within 30 days.
    • Once approved, the proclamation is extended for 6 months, which can be extended again for 6 more months.
    • Not less than 1/10th of the Members of the LS(this can only be initiated in the LS) may give notice in writing to the Speaker or President (when LS is not in session). If there is no session, a special sitting of the LS shall be held within 14 days. If the resolution, the President has to revoke the Emergency.

    c. Effects

    • Executive : State Govt. is not suspended. Union Govt. can issue orders to the State Govt. on subjects on the State List (something that it can’t normally do).
    • Legislature : State Legislature is not suspended. However, Parliament can make laws on the State subjects. Such laws remain valid for 6 months after the Emergency ceases to be.
    • Financial : Distribution as per the President’s will subject to approval by the Parliament.

    Effect on FR (2 clauses here)

    • Art. 19 automatically suspended (only in case of War and External Aggression)
    • President by a further order can specify other FRs that wont be operative, excepting Art. 20 and 21.

    Art. 20 and 21 are fundamental of the FRs and cannot be suspended. Interested readers can read the story of Judge Khanna’s courage here.

    #2. Art. 356 – President’s Rule

    a. When can it be imposed?

    If the President is satisfied that there exists a situation where the State Admin. cannot be carried in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, he can make a Proclamation of Failure of Constitutional Machinery in a State.

    Ambedkar had envisaged Art. 356 to remain a dead letter in the Constitution. Much to his surprise it has been used not less than 119 times during the first 63 years.

    b. Features

    Such a proclamation lapses after 2 months, unless approved by the Parliament by a simple majority. Once approved, it lasts for 6 months which can again be extended for 6 more months subjected to maximum of 3 years.

    To extend it beyond 1 year, 2 conditions must be fulfilled

    • National Emergency should be in operation (in whole of India or whole or any part of the State).
    • ECI certifies that elections cannot be conducted in the state.

    c. Effect

    The President can

    • declare Executive powers of the State rest with him. He can also delegate the same to any other authority (like the Governor) as per his liking.
    • dissolve or suspend the State Legislature. If suspended, the Parliament can exercise its legislative powers. (or delegate it to any other authority)

    Effect on FR : No Effect

    #3. Art. 360 – Financial Emergency (^Never imposed till date)

    a. When can it be imposed? 

    If the President is satisfied that a situation has arisen whereby the financial stability or credit of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, he may by a Proclamation make a declaration to that effect.

    b. Features

    It will ordinarily remain in force for 2 months, unless its is approved by both the houses. If LS is dissolved in this period, similar clause as that of the National Emergency applies.

    c. Effect

    The financial autonomy of the states is transferred. The President can

    • suspend distribution of financial resources.
    • issue directions to follow canons of finance.
    • direct the State Govt. to reduce the Salaries of their employees.
    • direct the governors to reserve all financial and money bills for his consideration.

    Effect on FR : No Effect

    Now is the time for 2 quick questions

    1. Attempt the following table. You need to give me the dates corresponding to A,B,C,D,E,F.
    TypeDate of IssueLast Date of ApprovalLast Date of Validity
    3521/1/2016AB
    3561/1/2016CD
    3601/1/2016EF
    1. Mention that checks and balances put in place to curb the improper use of Art. 356.

    Hint : R. Bommai vs Union Of India

    Additional Reads 

    1. Click here for everything on the types of Majority.
    2. Justice Khanna’s Courage 

  • Freedom of Speech and Criminal Defamation Law

    Recently, Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on constitutional validity of criminal defamation law.

    Lets try to understand the concept of defamation and then we will move on to criminal defamation and its relation with fundamental rights, which is the center-point of the debate.

    What is Defamation?

    Defamation means destroying the reputation of an individual or organisation through slander (speech), libel (written) or both.

    Slander: To make a false spoken statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of someone.
    Libel: The act of publishing a false statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of someone.

    Defamation gives rise to both civil and criminal liability.
    This means that the guilty may be punished with a simple imprisonment of less than 2 years arising out of criminal liability and/or he may be subjected to monetary compensation arising out of civil liability.

    What does IPC have to say about Defamation?

    There are two sections under IPC, viz. Sec 499 and Sec 500, which pertains to the criminal defamation.

    Sec 499: Whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except in the cases hereinafter expected, to defame that person.

    Sec 500: Punishment for defamation: Whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

    PIL petitions were filed before the SC arguing that criminalisation of defamation deters free speech.

    What was government’s stand in the SC?

    • Govt argued that in India citizens are unlikely to have enough liquidity to pay damages for civil defamation.
    • Online defamation in the Internet age can be effectively countered only by making it a criminal offence, and that the law is part of the state’s compelling interest to protect the dignity and reputation of citizens.

    What is the criticism of criminal defamation?

    • Citizens are afraid of expressing their opinion freely and openly because of possible fear of punishment.
    • It indirectly violates the freedom of press, as it has chilling effect on the publication of free and independent news articles.
    • Section 499 and 500 prevent the citizens from even expressing their legitimate criticism of govt. and public officials.
    • The recent history of defamation laws is riddled with misuse by politicians and corporate’s to silence the media, activists and criticism.

    Why there are concerns regarding its misuse?

    • It is liable to be misused where many complaints can be filed across the country in various courts against the person for allegedly making a single defamatory statement.
    • This possibility of misuse of Sec 499 and 500 has an intimidating effect on the citizen and they are afraid of using their right under Article 19(1)(a) freely.
    • Critics of such a law argue that civil liability is a sufficient means of safeguarding the reputation of person.

    Let’s know a bit about Article 19(1)(a) and Art 19(2)

    Article 19(1)(a) confers right to freedom of speech and expression on all citizens.

    Article 19(2) allows the state to make laws which impose reasonable restrictions on this right in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.

    What are concerns, if the criminal liability is removed?

    • The argument says that in the absence of penal provisions, there will be no deterrence against the misuse of free speech to destroy the reputation of a person which is earned over his lifetime.
    • If the defamation is to be treated merely as a civil liability, then the defamer may be too poor to pay compensation to the victim and it cannot act as a sufficient deterrent.
    • During elections, the absence of criminal liability will give rise to hate speeches more frequently destroying the free and fair nature of elections in the country.

    How to strike the balance between the two extremes?

    There is a need to balance free speech and dignity of an individual which is possible only by retaining the criminal nature of defamation.

    If Sec 499 and 500 are misused, the logical approach should be to place a regulatory mechanism to prevent that misuse, but not to withdraw them.

     

    Published with inputs from Pushpendra

     

  • Corruption Challenges – Lokpal, POCA, etc

  • Khawalailung village: A Mizo ‘role model’ of Peace and Development

    On 25th October 2015’s ‘Mann-ki-Baat’ radio programme through All India Radio, when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the name of the hitherto little known Mizoram’s Khawalailung village from the remote Champai district, most Mizos were impressed.

    Almost the entire state echoed in one tone ‘kalaw mein’ (Thank You in Mizo language) to the Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi for his radio talk.

    Khawahlailung_village_mizoram

    So, What’s special about Khawalailung villages?

    Most Mizo villages are community maintained, disciplined and clean. Visitors are often stunned to witness the kind of self-governing mechanism, even symbolism and perfectionist methods are maintained on the movement of dogs, cattle and chickens in these villages.

    Community and voluntary works are held to clean the village frequently, butchering of animals and selling meat on roadsides are banned and animals are slaughtered only in an appointed slaughterhouse and meat, staple food of the natives are sold only in a designated meat market. There are also segregated areas for selling fish.

    How is this change inclusive of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan? 

    Cleanliness of villages across Mizoram, across northeastern India and the rest of India is also part of an ambitious national programme being undertaken under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

    Now the village Khawalailung will be perhaps in a position to be showcased as a model village under both National Clean Mission and also Sansad Adarsh Gram Yozana.

    The new Adarsh Gram Yojana is a Rural Development programme, broadly focusing upon the development in the villages which includes social development, cultural development and spread motivation among the people on social mobilization of the village community. This programme was also launched by the on the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan on 11 October, 2014.

    Some statistics about this special village

    To start with, one vital statistics about the village Khawlailung is that the hamlet has higher literacy rate compared to the state’s (Mizoram) own records. In 2011, literacy rate of Khawlailung village was 95.05 per cent compared to 91.33 per cent of Mizoram. In Khawlailung Male literacy stood at 97.01 per cent while female literacy rate was 93.10 per cent.

    How do Mizo villages transform into Model Villages?

    Under the ‘model village’ or Adarsh Gram programme, Khawlailung village with a population of 520 villagers has already taken important initiatives, like a Joint Action Committee (JAC) was constituted in the village to check the menace of drugs and alcohol-related problems.

    Seminars on importance of cleanliness were held many times in the village and many sanitation groups were formed to undertake practical work.

    For projects under the aegis of Agriculture sector, the village was also benefitted with the grant of machines for juicing sugarcane for 22 families engaged in manufacture of molasses/raw sugar (gur) at a highly subsidised rate.

    Similarly, beneficiaries were identified and assistance provided under the Integrated Wasteland Development Project (IWDP) for construction of farm pond and terrace.

    Under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) families were also identified and provided with one piglet each. In fact, the list of good works in the tiny village can go on.

    But what needs to be appreciated and in fact emulated is the pragmatic and inherently hard working nature of the Mizo people.

    If the villagers in other northeastern states and more so in rural areas in states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh can emulate the Mizo people, things can change a lot.

    Originally a primordial economy, Mizoram today represents a modern society with higher rate of literacy, good knowledge bank of English education and quality works in cane works, handloom and agriculture.

    Truly, going by the spirit of the statement, it is high time for the people of the region to mobilise wider public opinion against all sorts of violence and bring about lasting peace in the north east region.

     

    Source - PIB features | Pic - Mizo

  • Labour, Jobs and Employment – Harmonization of labour laws, gender gap, unemployment, etc.

    The lagging manufacturing sector

    • Despite low wages, India is not a global manufacturing hub, even while being one of the fastest growing service sectors in the world
    • India’s service sector has grown at an annual rate of 9% since 2001, and contributed 57% of the GDP in 2012-13
    • The industrial sector, meanwhile, only recorded a negligible increase and contributes nearly half at 26% of GDP
    • Despite the availability of human resources, India has not been able to leverage its demographics for industrial development

    This disparity is considered to be an outcome of:

    1. High rates of corruption
    2. Excessively complex worker-centric labour regulations
    3. Low labour productivity

    Issues in Indian labour laws:

    #1. Archaic laws

    • In the pre-independence period, British colonialists in India suppressed labour rights, trade unions and the freedom of association among workers. As a result, labour activism became a part of the Indian freedom struggle
    • In 1950, the newly framed Constitution of India looked to undo these wrongs by including fundamental labour rights, along with complex labour laws. These laws made hiring additional workers increasingly difficult
    • Despite several decades of economic progress, these laws have not been amended or reformed in order to foster a friendlier climate for business

    #2. Labour productivity

    • India has low labour productivity in comparison with other developing nations
    • As a result, in the early days of offshoring, Western firms showed greater interest in setting up manufacturing facilities in Thailand, Mexico, China, Vietnam and Philippines rather than in India
    • All of these countries had as bad a record of bureaucratic corruption as India did at the time, but labour productivity was found to be higher

    #3. Politics

    • In Kerala alone, for example, there were nearly 363 hartals between 2005 and 2012, causing loss of working days
    • In addition, in the 1970s and 1980s, Indian politics was dominated by socialists who created the impression that profit making by private enterprises is undesirable
    • Policymakers also further strengthened India’s complicated labour laws

    #4. Complexity

    • Labour is a subject in concurrent list of the Constitution of India. Thus both centre and states can enact laws on labour matters
    • There are about 45 central government laws and more than 100 state statutes, sometimes overlapping or contradicting

    #5. Rigidity

    • India has one of the most rigid labour regulatory frameworks in the world
    • Example- Industrial Disputes Act of 1947 stipulates that a firm with 100 employees or more cannot close down without government permission
    • Such laws curtail the growth of a firm by forcing it to hire fewer workers and remain small

    #6. Cost of compliance

    • There are also high costs involved in complying with several labour laws
    • Example- under the Factories Act, firms with 10 or more workers and firms which use electric power are required to keep records and file regular reports on matters such as overtime work, wages, attendance, sick leave and worker fines

    Need for reforms:

    • As early as in 2002, the Second National Commission on Labour suggested the formulation of labour codes similar to those in Russia, Germany, Poland, Hungary and Canada
    • The commission recommended that labour legislation be divided into five broad areas: industrial relations, wages, social security, safety and welfare, and working conditions
    • It is predicted that the size of India’s workforce will swell to 249 million by 2050, while China’s is set to decline to 166 million during the same period

    So how should the Indian government and Indian industry build India’s human resources for the cause of future growth?

    Way ahead:

    • Legislative reforms such as those taken up recently by central government and states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP are very much needed
    • Empowering women to enter the workplace and providing them additional support
    • Physically challenged- Increasing current 3% reservation in governmental and government-funded jobs. Also ensuring that workplaces are disabled-friendly
    • Example- Karnataka granted exemptions to IT industries from the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act of 1946. It undermines the employer’s autonomy in determining the terms of employment, working hours, leave grant and similar matters
    • Providing social security to workers in the informal sector would also pave the way for a more satisfied and productive workforce
    • Training and skilling- India has a demographic advantage but in order to utilize this dividend, India needs to invest heavily in training its talent
    • India’s supply of labour presently outnumbers industry’s demand for them. As a result, the government and manufacturing firms need to invest in training and skilling

    Conclusion:

    The guiding principle for India’s labour policy reformers should not merely be ring fencing jobs but safeguarding workers through social assistance, re-employment support (such as that which is provided in several Western nations) and skill building, and supporting employers in employee training and development.

     

    • From our collection on Govt schemes:
    1. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram
    2. From Jan Dhan to Jan Suraksha
    Published with inputs from Swapnil

  • Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

  • UNFCCC Updates : Lima-Paris Action Agenda

    As we know, 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris making a progress on crucial climate change issue. Let’s take a glance on Lima-Paris Action Agenda

     

    What’s the prime motive of LPAA?

    1. The Lima-Paris Action Agenda (LPAA) is a joint undertaking of the Peruvian and French COP presidencies, the Office of the Secretary-General of United Nations and the UNFCCC Secretariat.
    2. It aims to strengthen climate action throughout 2015, in Paris in December and well beyond through mobilizing robust global action towards low carbon and resilient societies.

    What are the LPAA initiatives – addressing Water and Ocean Resilience?

    • Paris Pact on Water and Adaptation
    • MegaCities Coalition on water
    • Business Alliance for Water and Climate Change
    • Adaptation of the West African coastal areas
    • Maritime Regions in Action against Climate Change.

    What’s the Paris Pact on Water and Climate Change Adaptation?

    • A broad coalition of nations, river basin organizations, business and civil society announced the creation of the international Paris Pact on Water and Climate Change Adaptation.
    • This is to make water systems, the very foundation of sustainable human development, more resilient to climate impacts.
    • Water Resilience Focus event highlighted key partnerships and coalitions to make river basins, lakes, aquifers and deltas more resilient to climate change and reduce human interference with oceans.
    • Almost 290 water basin organisations are engaged under pact.

     

    What’s the scope of Paris pact on Water?

    These major collaborative projects combined represent over US$20 million in technical assistance and potentially over US$ 1 billion in financing.

    They include –

    • A financial commitment by India to build climate resilience through improved groundwater management.
    • In the Niger Basin (9 African countries involved), the launch of a 10-year investment plan to strengthen resilience to climate change.
    • In Jordan, Lebanon, Monaco, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia, a 7-year commitment under Mediterranean Water Platform to assess the state and trends of water resources, supported by the European commission.
    • In China, a 3-year commitment to improve management of the Hai river basin, supported by France.

    What about Cities? Are they committing to strengthen the resilient water systems?

    • Indeed, the Mega Cities Coalition, involving 10 megacities with 85 million people, is establishing a knowledge exchange platform.
    • The World Bank Group’s financial commitment of USD 200 million to enhance Water Security and Climate Resilience in Kenya’s Coastal Region.
    • A financing program, including 50 million euros from AFD and 15 million euros from Senegal, to protect 300 000 people from flooding Pikine, a suburb of Dakar.

    How many countries planning to join a coalition to enhance resilience of deltas?

    • The Delta Coalition includes 12 countries (Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, South-Korea, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, Philippines, Vietnam, France and Bangladesh).
    • To bring deltas to the forefront of global policy discussions, build partnerships and focus on action, aiming to increase resilience for almost 250 million people in deltas in these 12 countries.

    How does it enhance the action on conservation and resilience of oceans to climate change?

    • Commercial shipping: The maritime transport sector is taking action to reduce greenhouse gases emissions 20 % by 2020 in tonnes-km, and 50 % by 2050.
    • Adaptation and marine ecosystem conservation: More marine protected areas, World Heritage recognition, children’s education, innovative funding support such as debt-for-nature swaps.
    • Coastal risk management and adaptation: Solutions to rising sea levels, coastal erosion, flooding and extreme climate.

    Do you really think that, Lima-Paris Action Agenda would pave the way for sustainable development and climate change? Why or why not?

     

    Published with inputs from Arun

  • The Crisis In The Middle East

    What exactly is this Syrian civil war?

    1. An ongoing armed conflict between the Syrian government and the rebel forces within Syria.
    2. It started in the spring of 2011 with the context of Arab spring.

    To understand the conflict let us know the historical background of Syria. So, where is Syria?

      1. Syria is one of the Arab Nations which shares its borders with Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Iraq.
      2. Damascus – capital of Syria.
      3. Syria became independent in 1946.
      4. Democratic rule was ended by a military coup in 1949.
      5. The military rule ended in 1954.
      6. From 1958-1961 Syria and Egypt were part of a union called as ‘United Arab Republic’ with Cairo as capital and Gamal Abdel Nasser as President.
      7. In 1961, Syria seceded from the Union after the Syrian Coup d’êtat – uprising by the Syrian Army officers.
      8. The country was named as Syrian Arab Republic.
      9. But the government was weak. Why? Due to the influence of United Arab Republic and a military coup happened in 1963 and 1966.

    That’s pretty complex! But UPSC is famous for asking about the details. What happened then? 

    In 1970, in another coup General Hafez al -Assad, the Minister of Defence seized the power.

    1. He became the P.M of Syria.
    2. In 1971, he was declared the President of Syria (until his death in 2000).
    3. Syria was a single-party state.
    4. Syrians could approve the President by referendum until the government controlled multi party 2012 election.
    5. The Syrians could not vote in multiparty elections for the legislature.

    The ascension of Bashar Al-Assad and the Shia-Sunni conflicts

    1. Son of Hafez al-Assad – Took over as the President of Syria after his Father’s death.
    2. The Syrians wanted democratic form of government but, ah well!
    3. The Assads belong to minority group Alawite (an offshoot of Shia which constitutes 12% of the total population).
    4. They controlled Syria’s security services which generated resentment among the Sunni Muslims (majority in Syria).

    Phew! That is a very complex history. What happened next that finally led to the war? It is important to cover the story comprehensively for an IAS Aspirant.

      1. Well, the discontent was high against the government in poorer areas among Sunnis + High poverty and drought.
      2. Socio-economic inequality increased after free market policies initiated by Hafez al-Assad.
      3. Bashar continued those policies and only the minorities (Shias) and Sunni merchant class benefited through that.
      4. Standard of living deteriorated + High youth unemployment rates.

    Then there were a few violation of human rights and eventually an uprising!

    In 2010 the protests from Tunisia spread across the Arab world. In 2011 Tunisia and Egypt experienced revolution. Libya had its own civil war. The Tunisia and Egypt revolution inspired the Syrians to protest against their government.

    Wow, that escalated quickly. So how did the protests turn into an armed rebellion?

    1. March 2011 – The initial protests were aimed at democratic reforms which started in Damascus.
    2. Till April 7, 2011, the protesters demanded democratic reforms, release of political prisoners, more freedom, abolition of emergency law and an end to corruption.
    3. On April 8, 2011, the protesters demanded Bashar’s resignation and protests spread across major cities in Syria.
    4. On 4th June, 2011, the Syrian security forces guarding on the roof of a post office fired at a funeral demonstration.
    5. The protesters set fire to the post office and killed the security officers and then seized weapons from a police station.
    6. The soldiers who refused to kill the protesters were executed and that led to the inclusion of soldiers into the protests to protect the protesters.

    And that led to the formation of the Free Syrian Army

    1. Formed by 7 Syrian officers who defected the Syrian armed forces. The other soldiers joined them.
    2. The aim was to bring down Assad government.
    3. Then the fight started between Free Syrian Army (FSA) and the Syrian Armed Forces.
    4. The people protested one side, the Syrian Kurds, FSA, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) started armed rebellion against the Syrian government.
    5. ISIL controlled a third of Syrian territory and most of its oil and gas production.
    6. This led to a major twist in the Syrian civil war.
    7. Due to the civil war in the country huge scores of people died and many were displaced.
    8. Many people fled from Syria to other nations as refugees.
    9. This led to a major migrant crisis in the Middle East.

     

    UPSC will probably grill you down to your guts on how this issue will complicate situation in the middle east. These are the current themes doing rounds as the news evolves and you need to keep a tab on these developments for the IAS Mains.

     

    Published with inputs from Vinoth.

     

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