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Type: Prelims Only

  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    PM and President’s photos in Govt Ads: Judicial Interpretation

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Executive & Judiciary

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Read the attached story

    Mains level: Govt advertisement and related issues

    The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to include the photographs of the President of India and Prime Minister in advertisements on the 44th Chess Olympiad underway in Chennai.

    Why in news?

    • The HC relied on a 2015 Supreme Court ruling that issued guidelines on government spending on advertisements.

    How can we classify Govt Ads with other political ads?

    The primary cause of government advertisement is to use public funds:

    • To inform the public of their rights, obligations, and entitlements
    • To explain Government policies, programs, services and initiatives.

    2015 Supreme Court’s Ruling

    • In Common Cause v Union of India, the Supreme Court sought to regulate the government expenditure on advertisements.
    • It essentially regulated the 2007 New Advertisement Policy of the Government of India.
    • The petitioners had argued that there is arbitrary spending on advertisements by the government.
    • The allegations ranged from wastage of public money for political mileage to using advertisements as a tool to manipulate media.
    • A three-judge Bench comprising then CJI P Sathasivam, and Justices Ranjan Gogoi and N V Ramana had set up a committee to suggest a better policy.

    What are the guidelines?

    • No endorsement: Patronization of any particular media house must be avoided and award of advertisements must be on an equal basis to all newspapers who may, however, be categorized depending upon their circulation.
    • The Government Advertisements (Content Regulation) Guidelines 2014 have five broad principles:
    1. Advertising campaigns are to be related to government responsibilities
    2. Materials should be presented in an objective, fair manner and designed to meet objectives of the campaign
    3. Advertisements must not directed at promoting political interests of a party
    4. Campaigns must be justified and undertaken in a cost-effective manner
    5. Advertisements must comply with legal requirements and financial regulations

    What did the Supreme Court rule?

    • It largely accepted the committee report except on a few issues:
    1. The appointment of an ombudsman to oversee the implementation of the guidelines
    2. A special performance audit of government spending
    3. An embargo on publication of advertisements on the eve of elections
    • The ruling mandated that government advertisements will not contain a political party’s symbol, logo or flag.
    • They are required to be politically neutral and must refrain from glorifying political personalities.

    What about photographs in advertisements?

    • The Supreme Court agreed with the committee’s suggestion that photographs of leaders should be avoided and only the photographs of the President/ PM or Governor/ CM shall be used for effective government messaging.
    • Then-Attorney General had opposed the recommendation arguing that if the PM’s photograph is allowed in the advertisement, then the same right should be available to his cabinet colleagues as the PM is the “first among the equals”.
    • The court, while restricting the recommendation to the photos of the President and Prime Minister, added the photograph of the Chief Justice of India to that list of exceptions.

    What are the takeaways from the SC and HC verdicts?

    • The SC ruling stepped into content regulation, which is a facet of the right to freedom of speech and expression, and was also in the domain of making policy.
    • This raised questions on the judiciary stepping on the executive’s domain.
    • The SC ruling did not mandate publication of the photograph of the PM and President, but only restricts publication of photos of government officials other than the President, PM, CJI, CM and the Governor.
    • In an opposition-ruled state such as Tamil Nadu, exclusion of the PM’s photos is seen as a political move.
    • The HC said that considering the “national interest” in the issue, the “excuses taken by the state” cannot be accepted.

     

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  • International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

    Uncontrolled Descent of Space Debris

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Space Junk

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    A Chinese booster rocket made an uncontrolled return to earth, leading to US furore against Beijing for not sharing information about the potentially hazardous object’s descent.

    Yet another Chinese irresponsibility

    • Ending over a week of global anxiety and alarm, the debris from a large Chinese rocket – the Long March 5B — crashed to earth over the Pacific and the Indian oceans.
    • It felt into the Sulu Sea near Malaysia.
    • The 22-tonne core stage of the rocket hurtled uncontrollably back to earth. There were fears that it might hit a populated area.
    • China, however, had dismissed these fears despite widespread criticism for rocket re-entry risks imposed by it on the world.

    What is an Uncontrolled Re-entry?

    • Generally, the core or first stage of a rocket is made up of heavy pieces that usually don’t reach orbit after liftoff, and fall back safely along a near-precise projected trajectory.
    • If they do enter an orbit, then a costly de-orbit manoeuvre is required for a steered, controlled return using engine burn.
    • Without a de-orbit manoeuvre, the orbital core stage makes an uncontrolled fall.

    Why did it fell back?

    • Gigantic remnants from China’s Long March 5B rockets’ core stage are known to make such fiery, out-of-control descents back to earth.
    • Most nations’ rockets, separate the launcher from the payload before leaving the atmosphere.
    • An extra engine then gives the payload a final boost.
    • But China’s 5B series does NOT use a second engine and pushes right into orbit, the report points out.

    Why is it difficult to track uncontrolled descents?

    • The variables involved make it difficult to precisely track the re-entry time and drop zone of rocket debris in uncontrolled descents.
    • The factors that make this prediction extremely challenging include atmospheric drag, variations in solar activity, angle and rotational variation of the object among others.
    • A miscalculation of even a minute in re-entry time could result in the final resting place of the debris changing by hundreds of kilometres.
    • It’s important to understand that among the 10 tough things that we do in space, debris re-entry is probably one of the toughest ones to predict.

    Are there laws regulating space junk?

    Yes. The Space Liability Convention of 1972.

    • It defines responsibility in case a space object causes harm.
    • The treaty says that a launching State shall be absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its space objects on the surface of the earth or to aircraft, and liable for damage due to its faults in space.
    • The Convention also provides for procedures for the settlement of claims for damages.
    • However, there is no law against space junk crashing back to earth.
    • In April this year, suspected debris from a Chinese rocket was found in two Maharashtra villages.

    Cases of settlements

    • In 1979, the re-entry of NASA’s 76-ton Skylab had scattered debris over uninhabited parts of Australia, and the space agency was fined $400 for littering by a local government.
    • The only settlement using the Liability Convention was between the erstwhile Soviet Union and Canada over the debris of Soviet Cosmos 954 falling in a barren region.
    • Canada was paid CAD 3 million in accordance with international law for cleaning up the mess.

    Do you know?

    The 1979 Skylab was rumoured to be falling in India. We may ask our parents who were apparently kids at that time. The event was widely perceived as a Pralay (doomsday) in rural India back then! People were in all joy with festive food/partying every day fearing so that they would never see the next dawn!!

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  • Indian Army Updates

    Exercise AL NAJAH-IV

    Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Various Security Forces, Agencies & Their Mandates

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Exercise AL NAJAH-IV

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    India and Oman will carry out a 13-day military exercise with a focus on counter-terror cooperation.

    Exercise AL NAJAH-IV

    • This is the fourth edition of India-Oman joint military exercise ‘AL NAJAH-IV’.
    • It is held between contingents of Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman is scheduled to take place at the Foreign Training Node of Mahajan Field Firing Ranges.
    • The previous edition of the exercise was organised in Muscat in March 2019.
    • The scope of the exercise includes “professional interaction, mutual understanding of drills and procedures, the establishment of joint command and control structures and elimination of terrorist threats”.

    India-Oman Relations: A Backgrounder

    • The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India in the Gulf.
    • Both nations are linked by geography, history and culture and enjoy warm and cordial relations.
    • An Indian consulate was opened in Muscat in February 1955 which was upgraded to a consulate general in 1960 and later into a full-fledged embassy in 1971.
    • The first ambassador of India arrived in Muscat in 1973.

    History of the ties

    • Oman, for many years, was ruled by Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, who was a friend of India.
    • Sultan Qaboos, the longest-reigning leader of the modern Arab world, died in January ‘2020 at the age of 79.
    • He was a man who was, as a student, taught by Shankar Dayal Sharma who went on to become the President of India.
    • Sultan Qaboos’s father, an alumnus of Ajmer’s Mayo College, sent his son to study in Pune for some time, where he was former President Shankar Dayal Sharma’s student.

    Economic ties

    • Expatriate community: Oman has over five hundred thousand Indian nationals living there making them the largest expatriate community in Oman. They annually remit $780 million to India.
    • Bilateral trade: In 2010, bilateral trade between India and Oman stood at $4.5 billion. India was Oman’s second-largest destination for its non-oil exports and its fourth-largest source for Indian imports.
    • Energy: India has been considering the construction of a 1,100-km-long underwater natural gas pipeline from Oman called the South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE).

    Defense cooperation

    Oman is the first Gulf nation to have formalized defense relations with India.

    • Naval cooperation: The Indian Navy has berthing rights in Oman, and has been utilizing Oman’s ports as bases for conducting anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.
    • Tri-services base: In February 2018, India announced that it had secured access to the facilities at Duqm for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Duqm had previously served as a port for the INS Mumbai.
    • Arms trade: The standard issue rifle of the Royal Army of Oman is India’s INSAS rifle.
    • Bilateral exercises: Naseem al-Bahr (Arabic for Sea Breeze) is a bilateral maritime exercise between India and Oman. The exercise was first held in 1993.

    Significance of Oman for India

    • Oman is India’s closest defense partner in the Gulf region and an important anchor for India’s defense and strategic interests.
    • It is the only country in the Gulf region with which all three services of the Indian armed forces conduct regular bilateral exercises and staff talks, enabling close cooperation and trust at the professional level.
    • It also provides critical operational support to Indian naval deployments in the Arabian sea for anti-piracy missions.

    Duqm port and its strategic imperative

    • In a strategic move to expand its footprint in the Indian Ocean region, India has secured access to the key Port of Duqm in Oman for military use and logistical support.
    • This is part of India’s maritime strategy to counter Chinese influence and activities in the region.
    • The Port of Duqm is strategically located, in close proximity to the Chabahar port in Iran.
    • With the Assumption Island being developed in Seychelles and Agalega in Mauritius, Duqm fits into India’s proactive maritime security roadmap.
    • In recent years, India had deployed an attack submarine to this port in the western Arabian Sea.

    Deterrent in ties: Chinese influence in Oman

    • China started cultivating ties with the Arab countries following the former Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.
    • Beijing has cultivated close ties with Oman and the latter was, in fact, the first country to deliver oil to China.
    • As of today, 92.99 per cent of Oman’s oil exports go to China, making China Oman’s largest oil importer.
    • Oman and China signed an agreement to establish an Oman-China Industrial Park at Duqm in 2016.
    • China has identified Oman as a key country in the region and has been enhancing defence ties with it steadily.

    Way forward

    • India does not have enough energy resources to serve its current or future energy requirements. The rapidly growing energy demand has contributed to the need for long term energy partnerships with countries like Oman.
    • Oman’s Duqm Port is situated in the middle of international shipping lanes connecting East with West Asia.
    • India needs to engage with Oman and take initiatives to utilise opportunities arising out of the Duqm Port industrial city.

     

     

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  • Capital Markets: Challenges and Developments

    India’s first Global Bullion Exchange unveiled

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: IIBX

    Mains level: Gold exchange

    Prime Minister has launched India’s first International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) near Gandhinagar.

    What is Bullion?

    • Bullion refers to physical gold and silver of high purity that is often kept in the form of bars, ingots, or coins.
    • It can sometimes be considered legal tender and is often held as reserves by central banks or held by institutional investors.

    When was the IIBX announced?

    • During her 2020 budget speech, Finance Minister announced the setting up of India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) at International Financial Services Center (IFSC) at GIFT City in Gandhinagar.
    • The International Financial Services Centres Authority (Bullion Exchange) Regulations, 2020, was notified in December 2020 for trading of precious metals, including gold and silver.
    • These regulations also cover bullion exchange, clearing corporation, depository and vaults.

    What is the IIBX?

    • India for the first time had liberalised gold imports through nominated banks and agencies in the 1990s.
    • Now, the eligible qualified jewellers in India have been allowed to directly import gold through IIBX.
    • For this, jewellers will have to become a trading partner or a client of an existing trading member.
    • In addition, the exchange has set up necessary infrastructure to store physical gold and silver.
    • The exchange will sell physical gold and silver and aims to be set up on the lines of the Shanghai Gold Exchange and Borsa Istanbul in order to make India a key regional hub for bullion flows.

    How will it work?

    • The thought process behind setting this up is to enable the trading of commodities on an exchange.
    • Since this is international exchange, trading can take place in US dollars as well.
    • India has positioned itself as one of the biggest trading hubs in Asia.
    • Because of the competitive pricing on IIBX, international players will be happy to use our vaulting services.
    • Moreover, with this being a free trade zone, no duty will be paid.

    What was the practice up until now?

    • Currently, gold in India is imported on a consignment model into different cities by nominated banks and agencies approved by the RBI and then supplied to traders/jewellers.
    • The banks and other agencies get a fee from the gold exporter for handling, storage, etc, and also add a premium to the gold while transacting with domestic buyers.
    • The buyer passes this charge on to the value chain until it reaches the end customer.

    What change did IIBX bring?

    • With the IIBX becoming operational today, qualified domestic buyers can, through a branch in Gift City, purchase the bars and coins.
    • This purchase can be done from an international supplier who is a member of the IIBX.

    What is the advantage of an exchange?

    • Through the dis-intermediation by facilitating transactions through an anonymously traded exchange platform, bullion is made available across special economic zones (SEZs) at International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA)-approved vaults.
    • This means the growth of IIBX is not just limited to GIFT City but across jewellery manufacturing hubs nationwide.
    • The qualified jeweller allowed to import gold through IIBX, or a jeweller who is a client of an IIBX member, can view the available stock and place the order.
    • This shall nudge jewellers towards just-in-time inventory management.
    • It will also result in greater transparency in pricing, and order sequencing, thereby removing any room for unfair preference by supplier, importing or logistics agency.

    Which jewellers have come on board?

    • So far, 64 big jewellers have come onboard and more applications are in the pipelines.
    • Some of the big names include Malabar Gold Pvt Ltd, Titan Company Ltd, Bangalore Refinery Pvt Ltd, RBZ Jewellers Pvt Ltd, Zaveri and Company Pvt Ltd.

    What are the new RBI guidelines for importing gold?

    • Banks may now allow qualified Jewellers to remit advance payments for 11 days for import of gold through IIBX in compliance to the extant Foreign Trade Policy and regulations issued under IFSC Act.
    • According to the RBI, all payments by qualified jewellers for imports of gold through IIBX shall be made through the exchange mechanism as approved by IFSCA.

    Who can enrol on the exchange?

    1. Non-Resident Individual / Proprietorship Firm
    2. Registered Partnership Firm
    3. Private Limited Company
    4. Public Limited Company
    5. Qualified Jewellers
    6. Branches of IBU at GIFT City
    7. Foreign Bullion Suppliers who follow OECD guideline
    • In order to become a qualified jeweller, entities require a minimum net worth of Rs 25 crore.
    • And 90 per cent of the average annual turnover in the last three financial years through deals in goods categorised as precious metals.
    • NRIs and institutes will also be eligible to participate in the exchange after registering with the International Financial Services Centre Association (IFSCA).
    • Jewellers will be able to transact on IIBX only as trading members or as clients of a trading member.
    • If one wants to become a trader, a qualified jeweller will have to establish a branch or a subsidiary in IFSC (international financial services centre) and apply to the IFSCA.

    What products does IIBX offer?

    • IIBX offers a diversified portfolio of products and technology services at a cost which is far more competitive than the Indian exchanges as well as other global exchanges in Hong Kong Singapore, Dubai, London and New York.
    • Gold 1 kg 995 purity and gold 100 gm 999 purity with a T+0 settlement (100% upfront margin) are expected to trade at IIBX initially.
    • All contracts will be listed, traded and settled in US Dollar
    • The exchange will have three vaults – one operated by Sequel Global (ready and approved), the second one to be operated by Brinks India is ready and awaiting final approval and the third is under construction.
    • Once the gold is imported by the authorised entities it will be deposited at one of the vaults which will issue bullion depository receipts.
    • These receipts will then be traded in dollars on the exchange.

    Significance of IIBX

    • The IIBX shall be the “Gateway for Bullion Imports into India”, wherein all the bullion imports for domestic consumption shall be channelized through the exchange.
    • The exchange ecosystem is expected to bring all the market participants to a common transparent platform for bullion trading.
    • It would provide efficient price discovery, assurance in the quality of gold, and enable greater integration with other segments of financial markets.

     

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  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    Kerala tops in holding Assembly sittings in 2021

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Parliament & State Legislatures

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: State Assemblies for 2021 Report

    Mains level: States Legislature efficiency

    Kerala, which slipped to the eighth slot in holding Assembly sittings during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, returned to the top spot in 2021, with its House sitting for 61 days, the highest in the country.

    State Assemblies for 2021 Report

    • The report on the functioning of State Assemblies for 2021 is published by the PRS Legislative Research (PRS), a New Delhi-based think tank.

    How did other states fare?

    • Odisha followed Kerala with 43 sitting days; Karnataka 40, and Tamil Nadu 34 days.
    • But for the top three States, the average number of sittings of State legislatures would have been far lower than the present figure of 21 days.
    • Of the 28 State Assemblies and one Union Territory’s legislature, 17 met for less than 20 days.
    • Of them, five — Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Delhi — met for less than 10 days.
    • The figures for Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Punjab were 17, 16 and 11, respectively.
    • Andhra Pradesh with 20 ordinances and Maharashtra with 15 followed Kerala.

    Why is this ranking significant?

    • The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000-02), headed by former Chief Justice of India M.N. Venkatachaliah, had prescribed the standards for working of legislatures.
    • The Houses of State (/Union Territory) legislatures with less than 70 members, for example, Puducherry, should meet for at least 50 days a year and other Houses (Tamil Nadu), at least 90 days.
    • The Presiding Officers’ conference, held in Gandhinagar in January 2016, suggested State legislatures hold a minimum of 60 days of sittings in a year.
    • Between 2016 and 2021, the PRS points out, 23 State Assemblies met for an average of 25 days.
    • As for the ordinance route, which should be, according to the Supreme Court, used under exceptional circumstances, 21 out of 28 States promulgated ordinances last year.

     

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  • River Interlinking

    Supreme Court orders status quo on Kaleshwaram Project expansion

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP)

    Mains level: Read the attached story

     

    The Supreme Court has ordered status quo on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) after it was told the Telangana government was increasing the capacity of the project without any environmental clearances.

    Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP)

    • The KLIP is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally in Telangana.
    • Currently the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, its farthest upstream influence is at the confluence of the Pranhita and Godavari rivers.
    • The Pranahita River is itself a confluence of various smaller tributaries including the Wardha, Painganga, and Wainganga rivers which combine to form the seventh-largest drainage basin on the subcontinent.
    • It remains untapped as its course is principally through dense forests and other ecologically sensitive zones such as wildlife sanctuaries.

    Grandeur of the project

    • Till date, the biggest lift schemes in the world were the Colorado lift scheme in America and the Great Manmade River in Egypt.
    • The capacities of these schemes are in horsepower and they took over three decades for completion.
    • Now, the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, an Indian lift scheme has become the worlds biggest in terms of capacities.

    Key facts associated

    • Built across Godavari river, KLIP will lift the water to a height of half-a-kilometre.
    • It is designed to irrigate 45 lakh acres for two crops in a year, meet the drinking water requirement of 70 percent of the state and also cater to the needs of the industry.
    • The foundation stone for the Rs 80,500 crore project was laid in 2016 and claimed to be the world’s biggest project of its kind, completed in the shortest time.
    • The government is planning to lift two thousand million cubic (TMC) feet of Godavari water per day from Medigadda barrage.
    • Claimed to be an engineering marvel, the project comprises 1,832 km water supply route, 1,531 km gravity canal, 203 km tunnel routes, 20 lifts, 19 pump houses and 19 reservoirs with a storage capacity of 141 TMCs.
    • It requires nearly 4,992 MW of electricity to pump 2 TMC of water every day in the first phase. The requirement will go up to 7,152 MW for lifting 3 TMC from next year.

    How important is KLIP to Telangana?

    • The project will enable farmers in Telangana to reap multiple crops with a year-round supply of water wherein earlier they were dependent on rains resulting in frequent crop failures.
    • This year, Telangana farmers have already delivered bumper rabi crops of paddy and maize due to better irrigation facilities and an extended monsoon.
    • KLIS covers several districts which used to face rainfall deficit and the groundwater is fluoride-contaminated.
    • Apart from irrigation, a main component of the project is the supply of drinking water to several towns and villages and also to twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
    • Mission Bhagiratha, to supply drinking water to every household in villages, draws a large quantity of water from the KLIS and some quantity from projects on River Krishna.
    • There is a burgeoning freshwater fishing industry in the state.

    Issues with the Project

    • The NGT has observed that the Telangana government subsequently changed the design of the project to increase its capacity.
    • By increasing its capacity to pump 3 TMC water from 2 TMC, large tracts of forest land and other land were taken over and massive infrastructure was built causing an adverse impact on the environment.
    • Extraction of more water certainly requires more storage capacity and also affects hydrology and riverine ecology of Godavari River.
    • Such issues have to be examined by the statutory authorities concerned.

    Back2Basics: National Green Tribunal

    • It is a specialized body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
    • With the establishment of the NGT, India became the third country in the world to set up a specialized environmental tribunal, only after Australia and New Zealand, and the first developing country to do so.
    • NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.
    • The NGT has five places of sittings, New Delhi is the Principal place of sitting and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the other four.

    Structure of NGT

    • The Tribunal comprises of the Chairperson, the Judicial Members and Expert Members. They shall hold office for a term of five years and are not eligible for reappointment.
    • The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
    • A Selection Committee shall be formed by the central government to appoint the Judicial Members and Expert Members.
    • There are to be at least 10 and a maximum 20 full-time judicial members and Expert Members in the tribunal.

     

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  • Tiger Conservation Efforts – Project Tiger, etc.

    Celebrating World Tiger Day

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Tiger conservation

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    As the world celebrates yet another World Tiger Day July 29, 2022, there is sobering news.

    Why in news?

    • The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently confirmed that the tiger has gone extinct in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

    Tigers in India

    • India is home to a third of the global tiger population and the country’s success in saving the big cat is crucial to global efforts to protect their numbers.
    • India was the first country in the world to champion the cause of conservation of the tiger and its natural habitats.
    • The aesthetic, ethical and cultural value of tigers have also proved to be critical factors for saving tigers, which has also ensured the success of tiger conservation in India.

    Why is it necessary to conserve Tigers?

    The tiger is a unique animal that plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem.

    • Predation balance: It is a top predator which is at the apex of the food chain.
    • Regulation of herbivores: It keeps the population of wild ungulates in check, thereby maintaining the balance between prey herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed.
    • Ecosystem balance: Therefore, the presence of tigers in the forest is an indicator of the well being of the ecosystem.
    • Tourism: Apart from the ecological services provided by the animal, the tiger also offers direct use such as attracting tourists, which provide incomes for local communities.

    Various efforts to save Tigers

    India is home to 70 percent of the global tiger population. Therefore, the country has an important role to play in tiger conservation.

    [1] Project Tiger

    • The Government of India started ‘Project Tiger’ in 1972 with a view to conserving the animal.
    • As part of this project nine core buffer areas for maintaining tiger population were notified. Now, this has >expanded to 48 tiger reserves.

    [2] CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)

    • Besides protecting tiger territory, other measures being taken to save the tiger include: curbing wildlife trade through international agreements.
    • CITES is an international agreement between governments aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants, including tigers, does not threaten their survival. India ratified this treaty in 1976.

    [3] Global Tiger Forum and Tiger Range Countries

    • Established in 1994, the Global Tiger Forum is the only inter-governmental body for tiger conservation.
    • Its membership includes seven tiger range countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam.

    [4] CA|TS

    • 14 tiger reserves have been accredited under CA|TS (Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards) categories.
    • The CA|TS is a set of criteria that examines the management of tiger sites to gauge the success rates of tiger conservation.

    [5] St. Petersburg Declaration

    • This resolution was adopted In November 2010, by the leaders of 13 tiger range countries (TRCs) assembled at an International Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia
    • It aimed at promoting a global system to protect the natural habitat of tigers and raise awareness among people on white tiger conservation.

    [6] Various NGOs

    • International NGO members consist of World Wildlife Fund, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and TRAFFIC.
    • Several national NGOs from India and Nepal are also members.

    Success of these efforts

    The four-year tiger census report, Status of Tigers in India, 2018 shows the number of the big cat has increased across all landscapes.

    The total count has risen to 2,967 from 2,226 in 2014 — an increase of 741 individuals (aged more than one year), or 33%, in four years.

    • At present, India has around 75% of tiger population and its source areas amongst the 13 tiger range countries in the world.
    • 2.24% of country’s geographical area is spread out in 51 tiger reserves in 18 States.

    Various threats to Tigers

    • Despite measures being initiated to protect wild tigers, habitat loss and poaching continue to pose a threat to the animal’s survival.
    • Tiger parts are used in traditional Chinese medicines, tiger skin is used for decorative and medicinal purposes and tiger bones are again used for medicinal purposes for curing body pain, et al.
    • Between 2000 and 2014, TRAFFIC’s research found that parts of a minimum of 1,590 Tigers were seized in Tiger range States, an average of two Tigers per week.

    Other existential threats to tigers

    • Man-Animal conflict: This largely seems a normal phenomenon in India. We broadly remember the case of Tigress Avni which was finally shot dead by the forest officials in Maharashtra.
    • Shrinking habitat: This often leads to territorial conflicts among the Tigers.
    • Issues with Tourism: Excess of tourist activities is problematic for animals. Frequent visits in reserved forests areas disrupt them to move freely for their prey.
    • Climate Change: The effects of climate change and floods are a major problem.  The latest study by WWF shows that Sundarban which is one of the biggest home of tigers in India would sink entirely in 2070.

    Way forward

    • The process of tiger conservation should be more dynamic and compatible with the future possibilities of climatic changes as well.
    • The Forest Department and the Central government can collaborate to protect the natural corridors to ensure the free movement of the tigers for better food resources.
    • Campaigns such as ‘Save the Tiger’ are recommended as effective measures to make people across the country and globe aware of the significance of conserving tiger species.
    • Sensitization of local communities against poaching is also a crucial measure in this regard.
    • We have to make the environment and development co-exist and go hand in hand by planning our future developmental goals in such a manner that our environmental goals are not compromised.

     

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  • Indian Navy Updates

    INS Vikrant inducted into Indian Navy

    Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Various Security Forces, Agencies & Their Mandates

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: INS Vikrant

    Mains level: Indigenization of defense production

    The Indian Navy took delivery of IAC-1 the ‘Vikrant’, the nation’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier from its manufacturer, Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

    Vikrant

    • INS Vikrant also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC-1), is an aircraft carrier constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the Indian Navy.
    • It is the first aircraft carrier to be built in India.
    • It is named ‘Vikrant’ as a tribute to India’s first aircraft carrier, Vikrant (R11).
    • The name Vikrant means “courageous” in Sanskrit.
    • Work on the ship’s design began in 1999, and the keel was laid in February 2009.
    • The carrier was floated out of its dry dock on 29 December 2011 and was launched on 12 August 2013.

    Why is it important for India to have an aircraft carrier?

    • An aircraft carrier is one of the most potent marine assets for any nation, which enhances a Navy’s capability to travel far from its home shores to carry out air domination operations.
    • Many experts consider having an aircraft carrier as essential to be considered a “blue water” navy — that is, a navy that has the capacity to project a nation’s strength and power across the high seas.
    • An aircraft carrier generally leads as the capital ship of a carrier strike/ battle group.
    • As the aircraft carrier is a prized and sometimes vulnerable target, it is usually escorted in the group by destroyers, missile cruisers, frigates, submarines, and supply ships.

    And why is it a big deal that this warship has been Made in India?

    • Only five or six nations currently have the capability of manufacturing an aircraft carrier, and India has joined this prestigious club now.
    • Experts and Navy officials said India has demonstrated the capacity and self-reliance to build what is considered to be one of the most advanced and complex battleships in the world.
    • India’s has had aircraft carriers earlier too — but those were built either by the British or the Russians.
    • The ‘INS Vikramaditya’, which was commissioned in 2013 and which is currently the Navy’s only aircraft carrier, started out as the Soviet-Russian warship ‘Admiral Gorshkov’.
    • India’s two earlier carriers, the ‘INS Vikrant’ and the ‘INS Viraat’, were originally the British-built ‘HMS Hercules’ and ‘HMS Hermes’.
    • These two warships were commissioned into the Navy in 1961 and 1987 respectively.

    Why will this new warship be named ‘INS Vikrant’?

    • IAC-1 — as the carrier is currently codenamed — has been designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND), and built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
    • Once commissioned, it will be called ‘INS Vikrant’, the name that originally belonged to India’s much-loved first aircraft carrier.
    • It was a source of immense national pride over several decades of service before it was decommissioned in 1997.
    • The original ‘Vikrant’, a Majestic-class 19,500-tonne warship, which was acquired from the UK in 1961, played a stellar role in the 1971 War with Pakistan.

    What weapons and equipment will the new ‘Vikrant’ have?

    • The new warship is comparable to India’s existing carrier ‘INS Vikramaditya’, which is a 44,500-tonne vessel and can carry up to 34 aircraft, including both fighter jets and helicopters.
    • The Navy had earlier said that once commissioned, IAC-1 will be “the most potent sea-based asset”, which will operate the Russian-made MiG-29K fighter aircraft and Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters.
    • The new ‘Vikrant’ will also operate the soon-to-be-inducted MH-60R Seahawk multirole helicopter manufactured by the American aerospace and defence company Lockheed Martin.
    • It will also take onboard the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) built by Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

     

     

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  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    Money Bill verdict holds the key: SC

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Parliament & State Legislatures

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Money Bill

    Mains level: Issues with PMLA

    The court has left it open for a seven-judge Bench to decide whether the amendments to the PMLA could have been made to the PMLA through the Money Bill route.

    What was the case about Money Bill?

    • In November 2019, a five-judge Bench led by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi had referred to a larger Bench the issue and question posed in the Roger Mathew vs South Indian Bank Ltd. Case.
    • It inquired to whether amendments like these can be passed as a Money Bill in violation of Article 110 of the Constitution.
    • The petitioners had questioned the legality of the PMLA amendments which were introduced via Finance Acts/Money Bills.

    Correlation Money Bill

    • A Money Bill is deemed to contain only provisions dealing with all or any of the matters under clauses (a) to (g) of Article 110(1), largely including the appropriation of money from the Consolidated Fund of India and taxation.
    • In other words, a Money Bill is restricted only to the specified matters and cannot include within its ambit any other matter.

    What is a Money Bill?

    • A money bill is defined by Article 110 of the Constitution, as a draft law that contains only provisions that deal with all or any of the matters listed therein.
    • These comprise a set of seven features, broadly including items such as-
    1. Imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax
    2. Regulation of the borrowing of money by the GOI
    3. Custody of the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of money into or the withdrawal of money from any such fund
    4. Appropriation of money out of the CFI
    5. Declaration of any expenditure charged on the CFI or increasing the amount of any such expenditure
    6. Receipt of money on account of the CFI or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money, or the audit of the accounts of the Union or of a state
    7. Any matter incidental to any of the matters specified above.

    Who controls such bills?

    • In the event proposed legislation contains other features, ones that are not merely incidental to the items specifically outlined, such a draft law cannot be classified as a money bill.
    • Article 110 further clarifies that in cases where a dispute arises over whether a bill is a money bill or not, the Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision on the issue shall be considered final.

    Difference between money and finance bill

    • While all Money Bills are Financial Bills, all Financial Bills are not Money Bills.
    • For example, the Finance Bill which only contains provisions related to tax proposals would be a Money Bill.
    • However, a Bill that contains some provisions related to taxation or expenditure, but also covers other matters would be considered a Financial Bill.
    • Again, the procedure for the passage of the two bills varies significantly.

    Issues with notifying a bill as Money Bill

    • The Rajya Sabha (where the ruling party might not have the majority) has no power to reject or amend a Money Bill.
    • However, a Financial Bill must be passed by both Houses of Parliament.
    • The Speaker (nonetheless, a member of the ruling party) certifies a Bill as a Money Bill, and the Speaker’s decision is final.
    • Also, the Constitution states that parliamentary proceedings, as well as officers responsible for the conduct of business (such as the Speaker), may not be questioned by any Court.

     

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  • Digital India Initiatives

    Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: USOF

    Mains level: Expansion of internet connectivity

    The Union Cabinet has approved a project for providing 4G mobile services in thousands of villages across the country under the USOF.

    What do you mean by Universal Service?

    • In the modern world, universal service refers to having a phone and affordable phone service in every home.
    • It means, providing telecommunication service with access to a defined minimum service of specified quality to all users everywhere at an affordable price.
    • In 1837, the concept was rolled on by Rowland Hill, a British educator and tax reformer, which included uniform rates across the UK and prepayment by sender via postage stamps.

    What is USOF?

    • The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was formed by an Act of Parliament, was established in April 2002 under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act 2003.
    • It aims to provide financial support for the provision of telecom services in commercially unviable rural and remote areas of the country.
    • It is an attached office of the Department of Telecom, and is headed by the administrator, who is appointed by the central government.

    Scope of the USOF

    • Initially, the USOF was established with the fundamental objective of providing access to ‘basic’ telecom services to people in rural and remote areas at affordable and reasonable prices.
    • Subsequently, the scope was widened.
    • Now it aims to provide subsidy support for enabling access to all types of telecom services, including mobile services, broadband connectivity and the creation of infrastructure in rural and remote areas.

    Funding of the USOF

    • The resources for the implementation of USO are raised by way of collecting a Universal Service Levy (USL), which is 5 percent of the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of Telecom Service Providers.

    Nature of the fund

    • USOF is a non-lapsable Fund.
    • The Levy amount is credited to the Consolidated Fund of India.
    • The fund is made available to USOF after due appropriation by the Parliament.

     

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