[WpProQuiz 1230]
[WpProQuiz_toplist 1230]
UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)
Search results for: “”
-
Is Judicial Majoritarianism justified?
As the recent majority judgment of the Supreme Court on demonetization comes under criticism, the minority judgment by J. Nagarathna is being hailed for its challenge to the RBI’s institutional acquiescence (reluctant acceptance) to the Central government.
What is Judicial Majoritarianism?
- Numerical majorities are of particular importance to cases which involve a substantial interpretation of constitutional provisions.
- The requirement for a majority consensus flows from Article 145(5) of the Constitution which states that no judgment in such cases can be delivered except with the concurrence of a majority.
- It also provides for judges to freely deliver dissenting judgments or opinions.
- In important cases, Constitutional Benches, consisting of five or more judges, are set up in consonance with Article 145(3) of the Constitution.
- Such Benches usually consist of five, seven, nine, 11 or even 13 judges.
Why in news?
- Blind acceptance: This situation raises questions with respsect to our blind acceptance of numerical majority judgements.
- Disregard for dissent: This flags issues in judicial decision-making and the constitutional disregard of analysis and appreciation of arguments and evidence in dissenting judgments.
- Merits of dissent: Analysts now seek to challenge the weightage given to numerical majorities in judicial decisions by our Constitutional Courts as opposed to the merits in their reasoning.
CASE STUDY: “Why Do Bare Majorities Rule on Courts?”
- Jeremy Waldron has dealt with this concept at length in his work titled ‘Five to Four: Why Do Bare Majorities Rule on Courts?’.
- He proffers that the arguments which are made in defense of judicial majoritarianism cannot explain or justify our adherence to majority decisions –
1. Efficiency through ease of decision-making;
2. Epistemic objectivity through majority adherence; and
3. Equality through fairness,
- He questions why is it that the judges too have to resort to head counting in order to resolve disagreements amongst judges.
Heart of the debate: Why do experts need to resort to ‘majority’?
- Defiance of merit: A meritorious minority decision, irrespective of the impeccability of its reasoning receives little weightage in terms of its outcomes.
- Complex situations: All judges on a particular Bench give their rulings on the same set of facts, laws, arguments and written submissions.
- Nature of bias: Judicial hunches may be an outcome of subjective experiences, outlooks, perceptions, prejudices and biases.
Narrow margin: Some meritorious dissents in India
Our Constitutional history is replete with such meritorious dissents-
- The dissenting opinion of Justice H.R. Khanna in A.D.M. Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla (1976) upholding the right to life and personal liberty even during situations of constitutional exceptionalism is a prime example.
- Another example is the dissenting opinion of Justice Subba Rao in the Kharak Singh v. State of U.P. (1962) case upholding the right to privacy which received the judicial stamp of approval in the K.S. Puttaswamy v. UOI (2017) case.
Do you know? The Kesavananda Bharati verdict (1973) was divided 7–6 majority. And 4 other judges to bench refused to sign the Judgment! It is almost like the Basic Structure Doctrine was rejected. It should have had an overwhelming majority.
Way forward
- Weightage-based assent in judgments: Ronald Dworkin proffers a system that may either give more weightage to the vote of senior judges given that they have more experience or to the junior judges as they may represent popular opinion better.
- Doing away with headcounts: Such alternatives, however, can only be explored once we identify and question the premises and rationales which underlie head-counting in judicial decision-making.
- Imbibe critical discourse: The absence of a critical discourse on judicial majoritarianism represents one of the most fundamental gaps in our existing knowledge regarding the functioning of our Supreme Court.
- Cases to expert benches: As pending Constitutional Bench matters are listed for hearing and judgments are reserved, we must reflect upon the arguments of judicial majoritarianism on the basis of which these cases are to be decided.
Conclusion
- There is a need to reflect upon the concept of judicial majoritarianism.
- The academic discourse on this aspect is still nascent and developing.
-
Who is a Puisne Judge, and what does the term mean?
While recommending two names for appointment as judges of the Supreme Court, the Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said that the collegium had taken into “consideration the seniority of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges…”
Who are Puisne Judge?
- According to the dictionary, the word puisne has French origins, which means “later born” or younger.
- It is pronounced / “puny”, the English word that means small or undersized.
- Puisne is almost always used in the context of judges, and essentially denotes seniority of rank.
- The term puisne judge is used in common law countries to refer to judges who are ranked lower in seniority, i.e., any judge other than the Chief Justice of that court.
Now again, what is common law?
- Common law is the body of law that is created by judges through their written opinions, rather than through statutes or constitutions (statutory law).
- Common law, which is used interchangeably with ‘case law’, is based on judicial precedent.
- The United Kingdom (UK) and the Commonwealth countries, including India, are common law countries.
Legal reference to Puisne Judges
In the Third Judges Case ruling in 1998, one of the two cases that led to the evolution of the collegium system, the Supreme Court clarified that-
- The CJI must make a recommendation to appoint a Judge of the Supreme Court and to transfer a Chief Justice or puisne Judge of a High Court in consultation with the four seniormost puisne Judges of the Supreme Court.
Is a “puisne judge” in India the same as in the UK?
- In the UK, puisne judges are judges other than those holding distinct titles.
- The Supreme Court of Judicature Act, 1877 defined a “puisne judge” as any judge of the High Court besides the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice of England, and the Master of the Rolls.
- In India, all judges have the same judicial powers.
- As the seniormost judge of a court, the Chief Justice has an additional administrative role.
- In India, there is a reference to a puisne judge only while considering the order of seniority for appointments, elevations to High Courts, etc., but it does not have a bearing on the exercise of a judge’s judicial power.
What is the recent context?
- The Supreme Court collegium recommended current Chief Justices of the Allahabad and Gujarat High Courts respectively, for appointment as judges of the Supreme Court.
- While giving reasons for its recommendation, the collegium said that the decision was made taking “into consideration the seniority of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges in their respective parent High Courts.
- This was done because seniority is one of the several criteria that are considered while making appointments to the higher judiciary.
-
Who are the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)?
The Union Budget 2023-24 has provided to launch the Pradhan Mantri PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) Development Mission in order to saturate the PVTG families and habitations with basic facilities.
What is the budgetary announcement about?
- The Pradhan Mantri PVTG Mission will be launched as part of ‘Reaching The Last Mile’, one of the seven Saptarishi priorities enlisted in this year’s Budget.
- More details are awaited for this new.
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
- There are certain tribal communities who have declining or stagnant population, low level of literacy, pre-agricultural level of technology and are economically backward.
- They generally inhabit remote localities having poor infrastructure and administrative support.
- These groups are among the most vulnerable section of our society as they are few in numbers, have not attained any significant level of social and economic development.
- 75 such groups have been identified and categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Origin of the concept
- The Dhebar Commission (1960-1961) stated that within Scheduled Tribes there existed an inequality in the rate of development.
- During the fourth Five Year Plan a sub-category was created within Scheduled Tribes to identify groups that considered to be at a lower level of development.
- This was created based on the Dhebar Commission report and other studies.
- This sub-category was named “Primitive tribal group”.
Features of PVTGs
- The features of such a group include a:
- Pre-agricultural system of existence
- Practice of hunting and gathering
- Zero or negative population growth
- Extremely low level of literacy in comparison with other tribal groups
- Groups that satisfied any one of the criterion were considered as PTG.
- In 2006 the government of India proposed to rename “Primitive tribal group” as Particularly vulnerable tribal group”.
Try this PYQ:
Q.Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India:
- PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
- A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
- There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
- Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (CSP 2019)
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4
Post your answers here.
-
Budget 2023:Push for Digitisation and Green Growth
Context
- The Union Budget speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday highlighted the government’s continuous efforts to push for digitisation in the country. Also the Finance Minister listed ‘Green Growth’ as one of the seven priorities of her Budget.
Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers
Push for digitisation in the country: key highlights
- Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture: It will be an open source, open standard and interoperable public good. The platform will offer inclusive, farmer-centric solutions through relevant information services for crop planning and health, improved access to farm inputs, credit, and insurance, help for crop estimation, market intelligence, and support for the growth of the agri-tech industry and start-ups.
- National Digital Library for Children and Adolescents: This will be established for facilitating the availability of quality books in different languages, genres and at different levels. The government will also try to inculcate a culture of reading by collaborating with NGOs, which will provide age-appropriate reading material to everyone.
- Centres of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence: There is a proposal for setting up three centres of excellence for Artificial Intelligence in top educational institutions. These centres, in partnership with leading players in the industry, will conduct interdisciplinary research and develop cutting-edge applications and scalable problem solutions in the areas of agriculture, health, and sustainable cities.
- National Data Governance Policy: Government will formulate a data governance policy to enable access to anonymised data for innovation and research by start-ups and academia.
- 5G Services: A hundred labs will be established in engineering institutions for developing applications using 5G services to realise a new range of opportunities, business models, and employment potential.
- E-Courts: Government will roll out phase three of the E-Courts project to ensure the efficient administration of justice.
- Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions (Bharat SHRI): A digital epigraphy museum will be established and one lakh ancient inscriptions will be digitised in the first stage.
- Skill India Digital Platform: The digital ecosystem for skilling will be further expanded by launching a unified Skill India Digital platform for enabling demand-based formal skilling, linking with employers including MSMEs and facilitating access to entrepreneurship schemes.
Elements of the Budget’s Green Growth push
- Green Hydrogen Mission: The recently launched National Green Hydrogen Mission, with an outlay of Rs 19,700 crores, will facilitate transition of the economy to low carbon intensity, reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, and make the country assume technology and market leadership in this sunrise sector. India aims to reach a target of an annual production of 5 MMT of green hydrogen by 2030.
- Energy Transition: The Budget has provided Rs 35,000 crore for priority capital investments towards energy transition and net zero objectives, and energy security by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
- Energy Storage Projects: To steer the economy on the sustainable development path, Battery Energy Storage Systems with capacity of 4,000 MWH will be supported with Viability Gap Funding. A detailed framework for Pumped Storage Projects will also be formulated.
- Renewable Energy Evacuation: The Inter-state transmission system for evacuation and grid integration of 13 GW renewable energy from Ladakh will be constructed.
- Green Credit Programme: For encouraging behavioural change, a Green Credit Programme will be notified under the Environment (Protection) Act. This will incentivize environmentally sustainable and responsive actions by companies, individuals and local bodies, and help mobilize additional resources for such activities.
- PM-PRANAM: A new PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth will be launched to incentivize States and Union Territories to promote alternative fertilizers and balanced use of chemical fertilizers.
- GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) scheme: 500 new waste to wealth plants under GOBARdhan scheme will be established for promoting circular economy.
- Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Bio-Input Resource Centres: Proposal to facilitate over the next three years 1 crore farmers to adopt natural farming. For this, 10,000 Bio-Input Resource Centres will be set-up, creating a national-level distributed micro-fertilizer and pesticide manufacturing network.
- MISHTI: Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes, MISHTI, will be taken up for mangrove plantation along the coastline and on salt pan lands, wherever feasible, through convergence between MGNREGS, CAMPA Fund and other sources.
- Amrit Dharohar: The government will promote their unique conservation values through Amrit Dharohar, a scheme that will be implemented over the next three years to encourage optimal use of wetlands, and enhance bio-diversity, carbon stock, eco-tourism opportunities and income generation for local communities.
- Coastal Shipping: Coastal shipping will be promoted as the energy efficient and lower cost mode of transport, both for passengers and freight, through PPP mode with viability gap funding.
- Vehicle Replacement: Replacing old polluting vehicles is an important part of greening our economy. In furtherance of the vehicle scrapping policy states will also be supported in replacing old vehicles and ambulances.
Conclusion
- The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlines the government’s push for digitization and green growth in India. Key highlights suggests that the budget lays the foundation for a more digitally connected and environmentally sustainable India.
Mains question
Q. Recently Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented Union Budget 2023. many suggests that the budget lays the foundation for a more digitally connected and environmentally sustainable India. Discuss.
-
(New batch) Smash Prelims February Edition for UPSC Prelims 2023 – Revamped and more effective | Dual mentorship by Zeeshan sir and Santosh sir | Enrollment Open
Two best UPSC Mentors coming together for UPSC Prelims 2023
February Edition of Smash Prelims 2023 will have 1-1 mentorship by Prelims guru Zeeshan sir and his Destroy Prelims module as the game changer. Read more below
With less than 4 months to go for UPSC Prelims 2023, you stand at a decisive crossroads in your prelims preparation journey.
At this moment it is not just about covering the syllabus or just attempting the mock tests. You have to integrate every element in your preparation to ensure your success in UPSC Prelims 2023.
Syllabus coverage + Mock Tests + Paper attempting skills + Intelligent Elimination Techniques + Revision + Mentorship = UPSC Prelims 2023 success
Launching Smash Prelims February Edition
This Smash Prelims February Edition program is not just about learning, but about balancing syllabus completion with the application of that knowledge, so you can maximize your score and achieve your goal of becoming an IAS in 2023.
Zeeshan Hashmi sir will be the personal mentor for Smash Prelims February edition 
Smash Prelims integrates every element required to help you get in the 1% who will clear UPSC Prelims 2023.
Enrollments are open for Smash Prelims 2023 February Edition
Course completion (GS+Current Affairs) Lectures, Test Series, Destroy Prelims module, 1-to-1 Mentorship by Zeeshan sir, Weekly zoom sessions by Santosh sir, daily quiz on Telegram group, and PDF Notes
Read about our 7 pillared approach
Table of Content:
- About Smash Prelims 2023- February batch
- Why Smash Prelims February Batch for UPSC Prelims 2023?
- Smash Prelims Test Timetable
- Smash Prelims Lecture Timetable
- Program details
- What do our students have to say?
Smash Prelims 2023
Smash Prelims February batch is exactly what you need at this moment for UPSC Prelims 2023 success.
The focus of this program will be on:
- Syllabus completion through LIVE lectures – both GS and Current affairs for 1.5 yrs
- Most important and probable topics will be covered in a timely manner leaving ample time for multiple revisions.
- Special classes on topics including Polity, History, Economics, Geography, Sessions to cover Environment innovatively, Science & Technology and more. (check timetable for lectures here)
- To be done through LIVE lectures, Notes will be shared.
- Comprehensive and exhaustive notes covering everything that is important.
- Dual Mentorship for Time management and result-oriented preparation
- Personalized 1-1 mentorship by Zeeshan sir
- Strategy and plan- both micro and macro. This will ensure syllabus completion and rigorous practice through the test series.
- Santosh sir’s personal guidance through weekly Zoom sessions
- Smash Prelims Test series – Evidence-based questions based on the UPSC’s current trends
- To keep your preparation relevant to UPSC 2023 pattern
- Bringing efficiency to your preparation. Leaving out what is not important.
- Constant and gradual improvement through
- One-to-one mentorship sessions with Zeeshan sir
- Weekly Zoom sessions with Santosh sir
- Daily quiz on Telegram group
- Sessions with UPSC rankers
- Destroy Prelims module by Zeeshan sir: Imparting skills to attempt and solve Prelims paper
- Targeting an accuracy rate of 90% and attempting maximum questions.
- Logical and intelligent question-solving techniques and Practical hacks by Zeeshan sir .
- Evolving your personal approach for attempting UPSC prelims paper
- Accuracy vs a high number of attempts. Accuracy improvement sessions.
- Attempting from question 1 or go section-wise.
- Collaborative learning under Zeeshan sir’s supervision
- Telegram group membership administered by Zeeshan sir
- Daily quiz session on hot topics for UPSC Prelims
February Edition of Smash Prelims 2023 will have 1-1 mentorship by Prelims guru Zeeshan sir and his Destroy Prelims module as the game changer.
What makes Smash Prelims the best program for UPSC Prelims 2023?
1-1 Dedicated Mentorship by Zeeshan sir, Prelims guru who mentored AIR 65, AIR 117, and many more
AIR 117 on Zeeshan sir’s mentorship 
Tavishi failed thrice in the Prelims before but after joining Smash Prelims program and clearing Prelim 2022 in her 4th attempt. 
Smash Prelims 2023: Program inclusion
- One-to-One mentorship for UPSC Prelims 2023 by Zeeshan sir
- Evidence-based and UPSC level test series: 60 Tests
- 44 tests (14 basics + 8 Advanced + 10 FLT + 6 CSAT + 6 CA ) for back to back intensive revision
- 16 Tests for Practice
- Mandatory mentorship and doubt resolution call after every test
- Smash Value LIVE lectures: Most important and probable GS and Current Affairs topics for Prelims 2023. Lectures will be recorded and PDF notes will be share
- Weekly LIVE Zoom sessions with Santosh Sir for strategy, doubt clearance, and QnA
- Destroy Prelims module by Zeeshan sir- Imparting skills to attempt and solve UPSC MCQs
- LIVE MCQs solving session
- Intelligent Elimination techniques and practical hacks for a sure score of 120+ marks
- 1.5 yrs worth of complete current affairs topics (LIVE) covered by the core CD faculty in featured classes with a LIVE discussion + PDF notes
- CA magazine + budget and economic survey will be provided for free
- Telegram group membership for collaborative learning
Smash Prelims 2023 Lecture Timetable
Smash Prelims 2023 Test Timetable
Other Details:
Test start date: 4th Feb 2023
Lecture ongoing
Course fee:
Rs 25,000Rs. 20,000 + GSTYou are 8 times more likely to clear Prelims 2023 with Zeeshan sir’s mentorship under the Smash Prelims program
What CivilsDaily’s Smash Prelims students have to say?
Smash Prelims, a crucial part of the first prelims success for Rahul
A miracle for Debarpita, Smash Prelims 2022 student
Schedule a free mentorship call for prelims 2023 | click and fill up the form
Other messages showering gratitude for Zeeshan sir and Smash Prelims team
February Edition of Smash Prelims 2023 will have 1-1 mentorship by Prelims guru Zeeshan sir and his Destroy Prelims module as the game changer.
-
Opportunity to unlock the full Potential of MSMEs
Context
- India overtook the UK as the world’s fifth-largest economy in 2022, and is on track to achieving PM Narendra Modi’s vision of a $5 trillion economy by 2026-27. Despite concerns of a looming global recession, supply disruptions and the Russia-Ukraine war, India has stood out as a bright spot, growing faster than most major emerging markets. The government’s budget for 2023 presents an opportunity to make the Indian MSMEs competitive and self-reliant.
Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers
What are MSMEs? How are they defined?
- Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 which was notified on October 2, 2006, deals with the definition of MSMEs. The MSMED Act, 2006 defines the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises based on:
- The investment in plant and machinery for those engaged in manufacturing or production, processing or preservation of and
- The investment in equipment for enterprises engaged in providing or rendering of services.
MSMEs in India at present
- The 6.3 crore micro, small and medium enterprises which account for 30 per cent of GDP and employ nearly 11 crore people have demonstrated this spirit of resilience.
- With sales in several industries across the MSME sector reaching 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, India’s small businesses are scripting a turnaround.
Union budget 2023: An opportunity to make MSMEs more competitive and self-reliant
- Streamlining input tax credit for e-commerce suppliers: Currently, suppliers selling on e-commerce platforms need to procure input services like logistics, which are taxed at 18 per cent. This leads to precious working capital getting blocked without any visibility of future realisation, potentially discouraging suppliers from adopting e-marketplaces.
- Adequate working capital for small businesses: From meeting fixed expenses such as electricity, rent and employee wages to investing in future growth, adequate working capital is a must for small businesses.
- Lowering GST rates on input services: By lowering GST rates on input services availed by online sellers, the government will not only shore up their finances but also give a leg-up to their digitisation journey. Further, refunds of accumulated input tax credit will improve their cash flow situation.
- Expedited GST relaxation for small online businesses: There is also a need to expedite GST relaxation for small online businesses. In a landmark move last year, the GST Council announced a relaxation of rules for small businesses looking to go online.
- GST relaxation measures for small online vendors: Among other measures, mandatory GST registration was waived for small online vendors with a turnover of less than Rs 40 lakh and Rs 20 lakh for goods and services, respectively.
- Unlocking the potential of MSMEs through Digitization: With just 10 per cent of our MSMEs currently online, expeditious implementation of these new norms is key to unlocking their full potential. Millions of small businesses are waiting in the wings, hoping to reap the benefits of digitisation such as a much bigger addressable market, increased efficiencies and easier access to capital.
- The National Logistics Policy (NLP) can also be leveraged to make MSMEs competitive: The NLP aims to bring down logistics costs as a percentage of the GDP from 13-14 per cent to 8 per cent, on par with developed nations. While lower costs will encourage more MSMEs to use tech-powered logistics services, they will need support to tap rising e-commerce demand from smaller towns and semi-rural areas.
- Indian post and railways can be utilized for cost effective last mile delivery: The government could rope in India Post as a tech-enabled last-mile delivery partner that can facilitate cash-on-delivery transactions at competitive prices. Similarly, the unparalleled reach of Indian Railways can be synergised to ship wares to the remotest parts of the country quickly and cost-effectively.
Why the MSME sector is important especially for India?
- Employment: The Indian MSME sector provides maximum opportunities for both self-employment and wage-employment outside the agricultural sector.
- Help building inclusive and sustainable society: It contributes to building an inclusive and sustainable society in innumerable ways through the creation of non-farm livelihood at low cost, balanced regional development, gender and social balance, environmentally sustainable development, etc.
- For example: Khadi and Village industries require low per capita investment and employs a large number of women in rural areas.
- Contribution to GDP: With around 36.1 million units throughout the geographical expanse of the country, MSMEs contribute around 6.11% of the manufacturing GDP and 24.63% of the GDP from service activities.
- Exports: It contributes around 45% of the overall exports from India.
Conclusion
- With a visionary government charting out the nation’s growth path, it is anticipated that the budget would certainly deliver on the challenges for MSMEs and take us closer to the dream of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Mains question
Q. Highlight the significance of MSME’s for India. What more efforts can be taken to make MSMEs more competitive and self-reliant?
-
UPSC Notification for Civil Services 2023 and IFoS 2023 released | Only 20 days remain for you to apply for the exam | Number of vacancies 1105 Download it
Civil Services Examination UPSC 2023 NOTIFICATION is out now! Only 20 days remain for you to apply for the exam.
Download the notification inside and fill Samanvaya form to discuss the strategy and approach you should be following. Zeeshan sir will be taking a LIVE webinar for 4 months on strategy for UPSC prelims 2023.
- Exam: UPSC-CSE 2023
- Number of Vacancies: 1105
- Last Date of Application: 21st February 2023
- Date of Prelims: 28th May 2023
With only 116 days till the UPSC preliminary exam, having a structured, organized study plan is crucial and necessary. We advise you to rely on reliable sources, adhere to them, and revise as frequently as you can.
Dear students, UPSC has just now released the notification for Civil Services Exam 2023 and the Indian Forest Services 2023 Exam. You can download the notifications here (Link at the bottom)
Approximately 1105 vacancies are going to be there for UPSC Civil Services. The number for CSE has increased when compared to 2022 (Vacancies were 1011). But the competition isn’t going to be less tough.
The last date to apply for the UPSC CSE (Prelims) 2023 is 21st February, 6 pm. The UPSC CSE Prelims 2023 will be conducted on May 28th.
We’ll share a detailed analysis very soon.
Gear up for UPSC prelims now. Get a 4 months strategy by Zeeshan sir now.
What The Hindu opined about Civilsdaily Mentorship
-
Drugs in the valley: Pakistan’s new weapon to finance terrorism
Context
- With arms and terror infiltration becoming difficult, Pakistan has now resorted to peddling drugs to degenerate the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Narcotics, Pakistan’s new weapon to finance terrorism within the Valley, has been dubbed the biggest challenge confronting Jammu and Kashmir by Police Chief Dilbag Singh.
Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers
Background: Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and its impact
- The culture of violence implemented through constant financial and strategic support to the insurgency in the Kashmir Valley by Pakistan by training and infiltrating weapons and militants impacted society in many ways.
- Pakistan-backed terrorism destroyed the centuries-old socioeconomic and sociocultural fabric of society.
- The deaths, mass exodus of Pandits, and increased unemployment eroded the composite way of life and increased boredom, depression, and anxiety among the masses.
How Pakistan’s designs are failing?
- Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is at an all-time low in Jammu and Kashmir, three years after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
- The number of active militants has fallen from 250 by the end of 2019 to just over 100 by January 2023.
- Security agencies have tried hard to achieve zero terror activities within the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and busted 146 terror modules created by Pakistan in 2022.
- As a result, Pakistan’s design to create a culture of violence in the Valley endorsed by self-serving and incestuous political elite under the guise of autonomy for the last 30 years is failing.
Drug strategy of Pakistan in Kashmir
- Strategy serves dual purpose for Pakistan: Now, with the people of Kashmir increasingly relinquishing terrorism and a culture of violence, the drug strategy serves dual purposes for Islamabad. One, to attack the core of the social well-being, and two, to finance terrorism within the Valley.
- Constant infiltration of drugs in the valley: There is a constant infiltration of drugs by Pakistan via the Valley’s Kupwara and Baramulla districts, less-used other drugs such as brown sugar, cocaine, and marijuana are also readily available within the Valley and even in parts of Jammu.
Drug addiction in Kashmir
- Valley is slowly becoming a drug hub: The Kashmir Valley is slowly becoming a drug hub in Northern India, having more than 67,000 drug abusers, of which 90 percent are heroin addicts, using more than 33,000 syringes daily.
- Emerged as country’s top drug affected region: With 2.5 percent of the population using drugs, Kashmir has emerged as the country’s top-drug-affected region, ahead of Punjab, where 1.2 percent of the population is reportedly addicted to drug abuse.
- Residents affected: In November 2022, the state-level narcotic coordination committee meeting chaired by the Chief Sectary revealed that at least six lakh residents were affected by drug-related issues in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Increasing crime rate: Increasing on average, INR 88,000 are spent by a drug abuser in the Valley yearly, increasing Kashmir’s crime rate.
Reasons for this situation
- Collapse of age-old social discipline: A significant reason for such an alarming situation is the near-total collapse of the Valley’s age-old informal social discipline and control mechanisms enforced by village elders.
- Attack on cultural core: Pakistan’s nefarious attack on the Valley’s cultural core has rendered this traditional mechanism of social control ineffective.
- Few contributes in social degradation: The village elders have also often worked hand-in-glove with Pakistan’s evil designs by remaining silent and endorsing the societal degradation.
Jammu and Kashmir police and war against drugs
- Security agencies have trained their focus on drug peddlers: Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir are known for anti-terror operations. They have successfully created a synergy with the local administration to sabotage Pakistan’s activities and allied forces within the Valley. With Pakistan-sponsored insurgency receding, the security agencies have trained their focus on drug peddlers.
- Security agencies in action: In 2022, under Narcotic Drugs Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the police registered 1,021 cases and arrested 1700 drug peddlers, including 138 notorious peddlers. During the same time, the security agencies seized enormous quantities of contraband, including 212 kilograms of charas, 56 kilograms of heroin, 13 kilograms of brown sugar, 4.355 tonnes of poppy straw and 1.567 tonnes of fukki.
- Busted narco terror modules: The security agencies also busted many narco-terror modules and arrested 36 persons with huge catches of drugs, arms, ammunition, and money.
- Investigation revealed drugs smuggled from Pakistan: In December 2022, police busted a Pakistan-based narcotics module and arrested 17 persons, including five police officials and some political activists. Investigations revealed that over five kilograms of narcotics valued at INR 5 crore were smuggled from Pakistan in three months.
- Launched Nasha-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: The local administration has also launched the Nasha-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan an initiative started by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 15 August 2020 to eradicate the menace of drug addiction in 272 districts across India. This programme has conducted large-scale awareness programmes in colleges, universities, and within communities.
Way ahead
- The Kashmiri society needs to have an internal interlocution and take a serious look at Pakistan’s policies to foment trouble, especially through narco-terrorism.
- Kashmir’s elders and religious leaders through mosques need to get involved in the war against drugs and guide the youth to engage meaningfully with the spate of developmental activities undertaken by the national and Union territory government following the abrogation of Article 370.
- The government should also initiate and enable public-private partnerships, where local police, military, paramilitary, and citizen bodies act in harmony to make Kashmir free of narco-terror and Pakistan-implemented culture of violence.
Conclusion
- With arms and terror infiltration becoming difficult, Pakistan has now resorted to drug trafficking to destroy Kashmir’s youth. Creating a working synergy between Kashmir’s traditional and formal social control system can go a long way in addressing the drug menace.
Mains question
Q. With arms and terror infiltration becoming difficult, Pakistan has now resorted to drug trafficking to destroy Kashmir’s youth. Discuss.
-
1st Feb 23 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions
[WpProQuiz 1229]
[WpProQuiz_toplist 1229]
UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)
