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Subject: Internal Security

  • [pib] Bay of Bengal Offshore Sailing Expedition (BBSE)

     

    Indian Naval Sailing Vessels Mhadei and Tarini set sail for the Bay of Bengal Offshore Sailing Expedition from the Indian Naval Ocean Sailing Node at Goa.

    BBSE

    • This would be the maiden major mixed crew sailing expedition of the Indian Navy with crew composition of five naval officers including two women officers in each boat.
    • It would be covering a total distance of 6,100 Nautical miles each and will be at sea for 55 days.
    • The prolonged voyage of nearly three months during this expedition would showcase harnessing of renewal energy namely wind energy to propel the boats.
    • The expedition is also in pursuance of the GOI mission of ‘Nari Shakti’ providing opportunity to women officers at par with men.
    • The sailing vessels as part of the expedition would make replenishment halts at ports of Phuket, Yangon, Chittagong and Colombo.

    About the vessels

    • Mhadei and Tarini inducted in the Indian Navy on 08 February 2009 and 18 February 2017 respectively have been the vessels of choice for the naval expeditions in various sailing expeditions, including three circumnavigations and thus have thousands of miles tucked under their belt.
    • Mhadei has successfully completed two circumnavigations, three Cape to Rio trans-Atlantic races and several other expeditions around various continents.
    • The vessel has covered in excess of 1,36,000 nautical miles.
    • Tarini created history in 2017-18 when six Indian Naval women officers sailed the vessel on maiden circumnavigation voyage titled Navika Sagar Parikrama.
    • She thereafter also participated in mixed crew Kochi to Seychelles sail training expedition during the 10th-anniversary celebration of the IONS.

  • May the Force be strengthened

    Context

    The functioning of the CRPF needs to be revisited.

    Historical background and present status of CRPF

    • Crown Representative Police: In the wake of Independence, a contentious administrative issue was over the retention of CRP (Crown Representative Police).
      • The question over the relevance of the force: As the Constitution designated ‘law and order’ as a State subject, the relevance of having a Central police force was questioned by everyone
      • But Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel argued vehemently and boldly in favour of it.
    • Present-day relevance of the force
      • From having just two battalions as the CRP, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has now expanded to being a three-and-a-half lakh-strong force.
      • Consisting of specialist wings like-
      • The Rapid Action Force.
      • The COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action).
      • The Special Duty Group.
      • Largest Paramilitary force: It is the largest paramilitary force in the world and no other security force of the country has seen expansion at such a rapid rate.
    • Importance of the force
      • Security to the country: Providing integrated security to a diverse country of continental size is not an easy task.
      • Immediate solution situation: Resolving certain conflicts requires immediate solutions for which regular armed forces cannot be deployed.
      • Peacekeeper of the nation: For the reason cited above, we require paramilitary forces, and the CRPF is the most sought-after one because of its flexibility and versatility.
      • The force has earned its place as the ‘peacekeeper of the nation’.

    Problems faced by the CRPF

    • A year after Pulwama attack, it is time for the nation to take a relook at the main agency dealing with conflicts in different territorial zones. The following 3 are the major concerns of the force.
    • 1. Pressure taking its toll: The frequent movements lock, stock and barrel are taking its toll.
      • There are increasing cases of suicides and fratricides.
      • The anguish caused because of prolonged periods of duty away from one’s family members adds to the pressure experienced the soldiers having their fingers constantly on the trigger guard.
    • What is being done or needs to be done to address the problem?
      • 100-days leave: Though the Home Minister recently stated that CRPF jawans would get to spend 100 days with their families every year, considering the present levels of commitment, 100 days of leave is an impossible dream for a soldier.
      • Need to revisit the decision of assigning exclusive operations: An easier way out here would be to revisit the government’s decision on tasking specific Central Paramilitary Forces exclusively with certain operations.
      • It should be compulsory for recruits to all Central Police Forces to be deployed to anti-insurgency roles during their first 15 years of service.
      • They can be shifted, in the next 10 years, to border duties.
      • The last phase of their career should be in static duties.
    • 2. Rehabilitation of retired personnel
      • Care of welfare and morale: As the Force is deployed to the last man, the welfare and morale of the soldiers need to be taken care of.
      • No rehabilitation policy: A large number of personnels are taking voluntary retirement, but there is no rehabilitation policy.
    • What is being done or needs to be done to address the problem?
      • The creation of a Welfare and Rehabilitation Board has not made any impact. Provision of canteen facilities, without tax exemption, hardly gives the soldiers any relief.
      • Another demand that needs to be considered is that of One Rank, One Pension scheme.
    • 3. Leadership issue
      • It is high time the Force develops home-grown leadership.
      • Elements like healthy work culture, ethos and regimentation are very crucial for any armed force and they are best guarded by officers born on the cadre.
    • Steps taken to address the issue
      • The long-overdue Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFU) materialised only after the judicial intervention.
      • However, the top leadership- made up of IPS officers on deputation- is reluctant to implement it.

    Conclusion

    The first anniversary of the Pulwama attacks should enable all stakeholders to devise ways and means to plug the loopholes and address the system failures in a Force that still remains the most formidable in internal security matters.

     

  • Permanent Commission to Women in Indian Army

     

    • The Supreme Court brought women officers in 10 streams of the Army on a par with their male counterparts in all respects, setting aside longstanding objections of the government.
    • The case was first filed in the Delhi High Court by women officers in 2003 and had received a favourable order in 2010. But the order was never implemented and was challenged by the government.

    Women in Army: Background of the case

    • The induction of women officers in the Army started in 1992.
    • They were commissioned for a period of five years in certain chosen streams such as Army Education Corps, Corps of Signals, Intelligence Corps, and Corps of Engineers.
    • Recruits under the Women Special Entry Scheme (WSES) had a shorter pre-commission training period than their male counterparts who were commissioned under the Short Service Commission (SSC) scheme.
    • In 2006, the WSES scheme was replaced with the SSC scheme, which was extended to women officers. They were commissioned for a period of 10 years, extendable up to 14 years.
    • Serving WSES officers were given the option to move to the new SSC scheme or to continue under the erstwhile WSES.
    • They were to be, however, restricted to roles in streams specified earlier — which excluded combat arms such as infantry and armoured corps.

    2 key arguments shot down

    • The Supreme Court rejected arguments against a greater role for women officers, saying this violated equality under the law.
    • They were being kept out of command posts on the reasoning that the largely rural rank and a file will have problems with women as commanding officers. The biological argument was also rejected as disturbing.
    • While male SSC officers could opt for permanent commission at the end of 10 years of service, this option was not available to women officers.
    • They were, thus, kept out of any command appointment, and could not qualify for government pension, which starts only after 20 years of service as an officer.
    • The first batch of women officers under the new scheme entered the Army in 2008.

    Arguments by the govt.

    • The government put forth other arguments before the Supreme Court to justify the proposal on the grounds of permanent commission, grants of pensionary benefits, limitations of judicial review on policy issues, occupational hazards, reasons for discrimination against women and rationalization on physiological limitations for employment in staff appointments.
    • The apex court has rejected these arguments, saying they are “based on sex stereotypes premised on assumptions about socially ascribed roles of gender which discriminate against women”.
    • It has also said that it only shows the need “to emphasise the need for change in mindsets to bring about true equality in the Army”.

    Implications of the judgement

    • The SC has done away with all discrimination on the basis of years of service for grant of PC in 10 streams of combat support arms and services, bringing them on a par with male officers.
    • It has also removed the restriction of women officers only being allowed to serve in staff appointments, which is the most significant and far-reaching aspect of the judgment.
    • It means that women officers will be eligible to tenant all the command appointments, at par with male officers, which would open avenues for further promotions to higher ranks for them.
    • It also means that in junior ranks and career courses, women officers would be attending the same training courses and tenanting critical appointments, which are necessary for higher promotions.

    Way Forward

    • The implications of the judgment will have to be borne by the human resources management department of the Army, which will need to change policy in order to comply.
    • But the bigger shift will have to take place in the culture, norms, and values of the rank and file of the Army, which will be the responsibility of the senior military and political leadership.
    • After the Supreme Court’s progressive decision, they have no choice but to bite the proverbial bullet.

  • Conviction of Hafiz Saeed

    The Lashkar-e-Taiba founder (LeT) and Jamat-ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was convicted by a Pakistan court in two terror-financing cases and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison concurrently.

    Why such move?

    • With pressure from the international community building up, Pakistan has been trying to convince the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to prevent it getting blacklisted.
    • Saeed’s conviction is perhaps a reflection of Pakistan’s changing approach towards its treatment of terror groups, given the FATF’s actions and warnings.

    Who is Hafiz Saeed?

    • Hafiz Saeed is the founder and leader of the fundamentalist terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is a group that follows an extreme interpretation of religious texts.
    • It was founded in 1990 and its goals include conducting jihad, preaching the true religion and training the new generation along true religious lines.
    • Some of its goals are aligned with that of Pakistan, including the liberation of Kashmir from India.

    Why his conviction matters?

    • Saeed is also the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.
    • Other attacks that LeT has been involved in include the 2001 shootout at Parliament House in New Delhi, and, most recently, the 2016 attack on the military headquarters in Uri.
    • In 2012, in order to support India in its attempt to extradite Saeed, the US State Department offered a bounty of up to $10 million for information that could lead to his arrest or conviction.
    • Moreover, the US Department of the Treasury has marked Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist since 2012.
    • ISI and the Pakistani government too help the LeT bring in funds, and it is believed to have fund-raising offices in Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and the Gulf region.

    A shield against FATF actions

    • The FATF placed Pakistan in the grey list in July 2018 nonetheless.
    • Before Saeed’s arrest, the FATF had warned Pakistan to deliver on its commitments to curb terror financing. Pakistan feared being a part of FATF’s “Grey List”.
    • Significantly, if Pakistan did not follow up on FATF’s warnings, it could potentially be downgraded to the Black List, which would make things more difficult for the country.
    • FATF is de facto run by the US Treasury Department.

  • [pib] Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR-2020

    Fifth edition of Joint Military Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR-2020 between India and United Kingdom will be conducted at Salisbury Plains, United Kingdom.

    Ex. AJEYA WARRIOR

    • Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR with United Kingdom is an important exercise in terms of the security challenges faced by both the nations in the realm of changing facets of global terrorism.
    • The exercise will comprise of 120 soldiers each from Indian and United Kingdom Army who would be sharing their experiences gained during conduct of various counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations in the past.
    • The aim of this exercise is to conduct company level joint training with emphasis on counter terrorists operation in Urban and Semi Urban areas.
    • The exercise is conducted alternatively in United Kingdom and India.

  • Sharang Artillery Gun

     

    The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has handed over Sharang, the first 130mm M-46 artillery gun upgraded to 155mm to the Indian Army.

    About Sharang

    • Sharang is the 130mm artillery gun ‘up-gunned’ to 155mm, 45 calibre up-gunning based on the Army’s tender.
    • The gun’s range has now gone from 27km to over 36km with the upgrade.
    • It also has more explosive capability and hence and more damage potential.
    • This step will reduce the logistic trail of the Army as it does away with the need to carry 130mm shells and support equipment as the mainstay of the Army’s long range artillery is 155mm guns.

    Other artilleries of Indian Army

    • After close to three decades, the Army inducted its first modern artillery guns system in November 2018.
    • These include M-777 Ultra Light Howitzers (ULH) from the U.S. and K9 Vajra-T self-propelled artillery guns from South Korea.
    • The Army has the older, battle-proven Bofors 155mm guns in service. The 155mm Dhanush towed gun system, developed based on the Bofors guns by OFB, is under induction.
    • In October last year, the Army procured and inducted 155mm Excalibur precision guided ammunition from the U.S. which gives its 155mm artillery guns extended range and also the ability to hit targets with very high accuracy.

  • [pib] Functions of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

    The Ministry of Defence has outlined various functions and duties for the post of CDS.

    Duties and Functions of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

    • To head the Department of Military Affairs in Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
    • To act as the Principal Military Advisor to Raksha Mantri on all Tri-Service matters.
    • To function as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
    • To administer the Tri-Service organizations/agencies/commands.
    • To be a member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Raksha Mantri.
    • To function as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.
    • To bring about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance, etc of the three Services.
    • To ensure optimal utilization of infrastructure and rationalise it through jointness among the Services.
    • To implement Five-Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan and Two-Year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plans, as a follow up of Integrated Capability Development Plan.
    • To bring about reforms in the functioning of three Services with the aim to augment combat capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.

  • [op-ed snap] We should offer to safeguard the world’s telecom networks

     Context

    India should grab cybersecurity opportunities instead of focusing on smaller issues like import tariffs during Trump’s visit.

    Opportunity for India in the US-China trade war

    • Technology will be an important front in the emerging trade war between the US and China.
      • It will create significant opportunities for India as global supply chains re-adjust to geopolitical pushes and pull.
      • In manufacturing: The immediate opportunity is in across-the-board manufacturing, especially if the Government puts in place a special task force to unclog the regulatory issues.
      • In cybersecurity: Beyond manufacturing, the unfolding US-China technology war is creating opportunities for India in the cybersecurity space on a scale that could match Y2K.

    Balance national security and industry economics

    • The UK’s approach: It is a carefully constructed middle path.
    • Not allowing high-risk vendors: The UK decided that “high-risk vendors” will not be permitted in its core networks.
      • High regulatory and security oversight: High-risk vendors will also be subject to higher levels of regulatory and security oversight.
      • Ability to switch: Operators are expected to have the ability to switch away from such vendors should the government so require.
    • 35% restriction: The UK restricted to less than 35% of the equipment base of each telecom operator.
    • The EU approach:  The European Union is likely to adopt some variant of the British approach.
      • This means Chinese-made equipment will be deployed across EU countries but under tighter surveillance, audit and assurance regime.

    How is it going to create opportunities?

    • 5G and more need for more security professionals
      • More base stations: 5G networks will employ many more base stations than existing networks.
      • The internet of things (IoT) is set to bring billions of connected sensors and devices online.
      • The requirement of security professionals: Tightening security norms will require both telecom firms and their customers to employ a lot of cybersecurity professionals in a wide range of roles, of varying levels of sophistication and sensitivity.
    • Shortage of cybersecurity professionals
      • The problem is: the world is already short of cybersecurity professionals.
      • Even before 5G networks are rolled out, estimates suggest that there are 2 to 3 million unfilled cybersecurity vacancies around the world.
      • Scrutiny of the Chinese vendors and employment opportunities: The more stringent the security regimes around Chinese vendors, the greater the demand for cybersecurity professionals security regimes around Chinese vendors, the greater the demand for cybersecurity professionals.
    • Where is the opportunity for India? The industry is responding to this shortage by employing more automation.
      • But demand for human will increase: The demand for trustworthy, reliable and competent human beings to keep an eye on cyber threats will only increase.
      • Where can hundreds of thousands of technology professionals who might be able to fill this gap come from? India and China.
      • Advantage India: Chinese firms and individuals are unlikely to be chosen to keep an eye on Chinese equipment makers and state-linked cyber attackers, it is advantage India.

    Can India grab this opportunity?

    • Inadequate professionals in India: India doesn’t have adequate numbers of cybersecurity professionals either.
      • Skill initiative by the government: The government has launched a skills initiative to plug the shortage, but we’re far away from addressing our own cybersecurity needs.
      • India has all the necessary conditions to become as big a player in the global cybersecurity market.
      • India has the numbers, the companies and the market-driven economic models that can produce the skills that the industry wants.
    • Private sector’s role: During the 1990s’ information technology boom, India produced hundreds of thousands of software engineers not because of any government skills development programme, but because private firms popped up and supplied the skills that people and their employers wanted.

    Way forward

    • Government to government arrangements: Unlike the Y2K days, the global demand for cybersecurity professionals has entry barriers that firms and individuals cannot easily cross on their own. Government-to-government arrangements can help Indian firms and individuals get clearances for cybersecurity roles.
    • Developing cybersecurity partnership: India will have to work on developing cybersecurity partnerships with the US, UK and the EU, focused on opening up their markets to Indian firms.
    • Win the trust: The latter, for their part, must work on gaining the trust of the West’s national security establishments.

     

     

  • No-fly List

    Four airlines in India have banned a stand-up comedian from taking flights after he allegedly heckled television news anchor on-flight.

    No-Fly List

    • In 2017, the government issued rules for preventing disruptive behaviour by air travellers and laid down guidelines for a no-fly list.
    • As per the rules, a complaint of unruly behaviour needs to be filed by the pilot-in-command, and this is to be probed by an internal committee to be set up by the airline.
    • During the period of pendency of the inquiry, the rules empower the concerned airline to impose a ban on the passenger.
    • The committee is to decide the matter within 30 days, and also specify the ban duration.
    • Any aggrieved person, upon receipt of communication of a ban from the airline, may appeal within 60 days from the date of issue of the order, to an Appellate Committee constituted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

    Three categories of unruly behaviour:

    • Level 1 refers to behaviour that is verbally unruly, and calls for debarment up to three months;
    • Level 2 indicates physical unruliness and can lead to the passenger being debarred from flying for up to six months;
    • Level 3 indicates life-threatening behaviour for which the debarment would be for a minimum of two years.

     

  • [pib] Operation Vanilla

    Indian navy will perform HADR operations in Madagascar under ‘Operation Vanilla’.

    Operation Vanilla

    • Indian Navy Ship Airavat whilst mission deployed in the Southern Indian Ocean has been diverted to Antsiranana based on request recieved from Madagascar.
    • The ship will undertake Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission as part of ‘Operation Vanilla’.
    • It has been launched to provide assistance to the affected population of Madagascar post devastation caused by Cyclone Diane.