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Type: Prelims Only

  • Food Procurement and Distribution – PDS & NFSA, Shanta Kumar Committee, FCI restructuring, Buffer stock, etc.

    What is Essential Commodities Act?

    Prelims Only | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Agriculture and related issues

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Essential Commodities Act

    Mains level: Not Much

    The Centre has invoked the Essential Commodities Act of 1955 to ask States to monitor and verify the stocks of Arhar/Tur Dal available with traders.

    Essential Commodities Act

    • The ECA, 1955 was established to ensure the delivery of certain commodities or products, the supply of which, if obstructed due to hoarding or black marketing, would affect the normal life of the people.
    • The list of items under the Act includes drugs, fertilizers, pulses, and edible oils, as well as petroleum and petroleum products.
    • The Centre can include new commodities as and when the need arises, and takes them off the list once the situation improves.
    • Additionally, the government can also fix the maximum retail price (MRP) of any packaged product that it declares an “essential commodity”.

    How ECA works?

    (1) Centre notifying stock limit holding

    • If the Centre finds that a certain commodity is in short supply and its price is spiking, it can notify stock-holding limits on it for a specified period.
    • The States act on this notification to specify limits and take steps to ensure that these are adhered to.
    • Anybody trading or dealing in the commodity, be it wholesalers, retailers or even importers are prevented from stockpiling it beyond a certain quantity.

    (2) States can opt-out

    • A State can, however, choose not to impose any restrictions.
    • But once it does, traders have to immediately sell into the market any stocks held beyond the mandated quantity.

    What happens for non-compliance?

    • As not all shopkeepers and traders comply, State agencies conduct raids to get everyone to toe the line and the errant are punished.
    • The excess stocks are auctioned or sold through fair price shops.
    • This improves supplies and brings down prices.

    Ex: The Union Government has brought masks and hand-sanitizers under the ECA to make sure that these products, key for preventing the spread of Covid-19 infection, are available to people at the right price and in the right quality. Later this move was reverted.

    What about Food Items?

    (1) Items covered:

    Rice, wheat, atta, gram dal, arhar dal, moong dal, urad dal, masoor, dal, tea, sugar, salt, Vanaspati, groundnut oil, mustard oil, milk, soya oil, palm oil, sunflower oil, gur, potato, onion and tomato.

    (2) Price Stabilization Fund (PSF):

    The government utilizes the buffer of agri-horticultural commodities like pulses, onion, etc. built under Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) to help moderate the volatility in prices.

    Recent amendments to the ECA

    In 2020, the EC Act was amended for the stock limit to be imposed only under exceptional circumstances such as famine or other calamities.

    • Exceptional circumstances: It allowed the centre to delist certain commodities as essential, allowing the government to regulate their supply and prices only in cases of war, famine, extraordinary price rises, or natural calamities.
    • Commodities de-regulated: The commodities that have been deregulated are food items, including cereals, pulses, potatoes, onion, edible oilseeds, and oils.

    Exceptions provided

    • The government regulation of stocks will be based on rising prices, and can only be imposed if there is
    1. A 100% increase in retail price in the case of horticultural produce and
    2. A 50% increase in retail price in the case of non-perishable agricultural food items
    • These restrictions will not apply to stocks of food held for public distribution in India.

     

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  • Poverty Eradication – Definition, Debates, etc.

    SMILE-75 scheme to rehabilitate Beggars

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: SMILE Scheme

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has launched the ‘SMILE-75’ initiative for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging in 75 identified municipalities as a part of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence.

    SMILE Scheme

    • SMILE is an acronym for Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise.
    • This scheme is a sub-scheme under the ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’.
    • It also focuses on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities and intervention, counselling, education, skill development, economic linkages to transgender persons.
    • It covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging.
    • The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on.

    Its implementation

    • The scheme would be implemented with the support of State/UT Governments/Local Urban Bodies, Voluntary Organizations, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), institutions and others.
    • The scheme provides for the use of the existing shelter homes available with the State/UT Governments and Urban local bodies for rehabilitation of the persons engaged in the act of Begging.
    • In case of the non-availability of existing shelter homes, new dedicated shelter homes are to be set up by the implementing agencies.

     

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  • Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries Sector – Pashudhan Sanjivani, E- Pashudhan Haat, etc

    In news: Ongole Cattle Breed

    Prelims Only | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Economics Of Animal-Rearing

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Ongole Cattle

    Mains level: Indigenous cattle breedss

    Ongole breed of cattle had remained indispensable for all farm operations for centuries in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh in view of their draught power.

    Ongole Cattle

    • Ongole cattle are an indigenous cattle breed that originates from Prakasam District in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
    • The breed derives its name from the place the breed originates from, Ongole.
    • The Ongole breed of cattle Bos Indicus, has a great demand as it is said to possess resistance to both foot and mouth disease and mad cow disease.

    What’s so special about this breed?

    • Cattle breeders use the fighting ability of the bulls to choose the right stock for breeding in terms of purity and strength.
    • Ongole cattle are known for their toughness, rapid growth rate, and natural tolerance to tropical heat and disease resistance.
    • It was perhaps the first Indian breed of cattle to gain worldwide recognition.
    • Ongole milk is rich in A2 (allele of Beta Casein).
    • They fetches a premium price of over ₹150 per litre as it enables consumers build immunity against viral and other diseases.

    Global Prominence

    • Ongole bulls have gone as far as America, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Indonesia, West Indies, Australia, Fiji, Mauritius, Indo-China and Philippines.
    • The Brahmana bull in America is an off-breed of the Ongole.
    • The population of Ongole off-breed in Brazil is said to number several million.
    • The famous Santa Gertrudis breed developed in Texas, USA have Ongole blood.
    • It has gained global prominence, particularly in Brazil which imported barely hundred animals and produced multiple superior breeds like the world famous Zebu.

     

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  • Banking Sector Reforms

    What happens after a Cooperative Bank to shuts down?

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Deposit Insurance Programme, Banking License

    Mains level: Not Much

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced it had cancelled the banking licence of a Pune-based Rupee Cooperative Bank, and directed the Registrar of Cooperative Societies to liquidate the bank.

    What is a Banking Licence?

    • Financial institutions wishing to carry out banking operations such as accepting deposits or lending have to obtain a licence from India’s central bank.
    • The RBI issues the licence under the Banking Regulation Act of 1949 after carrying out a series of checks about the financial suitability of the applicant institution.
    • Parameters like capital adequacy ratio (CAR) — the ratio of a bank’s available capital to its risk weighted credit exposure — and loan to deposit ratio (LDR) — the ratio of a bank’s total loans to total deposits in the same period — are checked before the licence is granted.
    • The 1949 Act in particular stresses on adequate capital and protection of the public interest before the licence is granted.
    • No company other than one that has been issued a banking licence is allowed to use the word bank in its name while doing business.

    Cancelling the licence of a Bank

    • RBI, which issues the licence, has the power to cancel it as well, in case the bank fails to satisfy laid-down conditions.
    • This could mean an increase in bad debts — and if the RBI feels a bank does not have enough capital to cover its exposure and pay its depositors, its licence can be suspended or cancelled.

    Why did RBI cancel the licence of Rupee Cooperative Bank?

    • The RBI audits banks every year, and can take action if it notes an increase in bad debts or other suspicious activities in their books.
    • In its press release, the RBI gave the reasons for the cancellation of the bank’s licence:
    1. The bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.
    2. The bank has failed to comply with the requirements of certain sections of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949;
    3. The continuance of the bank is prejudicial to the interests of its positions;
    4. The bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full; and
    5. Public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further.

    Section 22 of the Act deals with “licensing of banking companies”, section 11 is about “requirement as to minimum paid-up capital and reserves”, and section 56 is about the applicability of the Act to cooperative societies, subject to modifications.

    Was cancellation of the licence the only option left for RBI?

    • RBI had issued notice to that Cooperative Bank in 2013, and issued directions under the Banking Regulation Act before cancelling its licence.
    • All banking activities like withdrawal were suspended, the then board of directors was superseded.
    • The banker took a number of steps to revive the bank, including filing of criminal cases against defaulting directors, employees, and seizing of their properties.
    • The RBI extended the licence of the bank every three months as these steps were being taken.
    • The administrator also tried to merge the bank with a financially stable bank. But the bad debts scared away most suitors.

    What will happen to the depositors’ money in Rupee Cooperative Bank?

    • The limiting of withdrawals by RBI had made things difficult for depositors, especially because cooperative banks are preferred by those from the lower income group.
    • The big question before the over 5.5 lakh depositors now is about the fate of their money.
    • The RBI has said that depositors with Rs 5 lakh or less in the bank, would get back all of their money through the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
    • Those who have larger deposits in the bank will not get back their money beyond Rs 5 lakh.
    • In this group are about 4,600 depositors with a total Rs 340 crore in deposits in the bank.
    • These people stand to suffer major losses.

    Back2Basics: Deposit Insurance Programme

    • The bank savings are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) Act providing full coverage to around 98 per cent of bank accounts.
    • Earlier, account holders had to wait for years till the liquidation or restructuring of a distressed lender to get their deposits that are insured against default.
    • Last year, the government raised the insurance amount to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 1 lakh.
    • Prior to that, the DICGC had revised the deposit insurance cover to Rs 1 lakh on May 1, 1993 — raising it from Rs 30,000, which had been the cover from 1980 onward.

    What are new changes?

    • Earlier, out of the amount deposited in the bank, only Rs 50,000 was guaranteed, which was then raised to Rs 1 lakh.
    • Understanding the concern of the poor, understanding the concern of the middle class, we increased this amount to Rs 5 lakh.
    • If a bank is weak or is even about to go bankrupt, depositors will get their money of up to Rs five lakhs within 90 days.

     

     

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  • Zoonotic Diseases: Medical Sciences Involved & Preventive Measures

    What is Langya Virus?

    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: Langya virus

    Mains level: Zoonotic Diseases

    A new virus, Langya henipavirus, is suspected to have caused infections in 35 people in China’s Shandong and Henan provinces over roughly a two-year period to 2021.

    Langya Virus

    • It’s related to Hendra and Nipah viruses, which cause disease in humans.
    • However, there’s much we don’t know about the new virus – known as LayV for short – including whether it spreads from human to human.

    How sick are people getting?

    • Symptoms reported appeared to be mostly mild – fever, fatigue, cough, loss of appetite, muscle aches, nausea and headache – although we don’t know how long the patients were unwell.
    • A smaller proportion had potentially more serious complications, including pneumonia, and abnormalities in liver and kidney function.
    • However, the severity of these abnormalities, the need for hospitalization, and whether any cases were fatal were not reported.

    Where did this virus come from?

    • The authors also investigated whether domestic or wild animals may have been the source of the virus.
    • Although they found a small number of goats and dogs that may have been infected with the virus in the past, there was more direct evidence a significant proportion of wild shrews were harbouring the virus.
    • This suggests humans may have caught the virus from wild shrews.

    Does this virus actually cause this disease?

    • The researchers used a modern technique known as metagenomic analysis to find this new virus.
    • Researchers sequence all genetic material then discard the “known” sequences (for example, human DNA) to look for “unknown” sequences that might represent a new virus.
    • This raises the question about how scientists can tell whether a particular virus causes the disease.
    • Researchers used “Koch’s Postulates” to determine whether a particular micro-organism causes disease:
    1. it must be found in people with the disease and not in well people
    2. it must be able to be isolated from people with the disease
    3. the isolate from people with the disease must cause the disease if given to a healthy person (or animal)
    4. it must be able to be re-isolated from the healthy person after they become ill.

    What can we learn from related viruses?

    • This new virus appears to be a close cousin of two other viruses that are significant in humans: Nipah virus and Hendra virus.
    • This family of viruses was the inspiration for the fictional MEV-1 virus in the film Contagion.
    • Hendra virus was first reported in Queensland in 1994, when it caused the deaths of 14 horses and the trainer Vic Rail.
    • Nipah virus is more significant globally, with outbreaks frequently reported in Bangladesh.

    What lies ahead?

    • Little is known about this new virus, and the currently reported cases are likely to be the tip of the iceberg.
    • At this stage, there is no indication the virus can spread from human to human.
    • Further work is required to determine how severe the infection can be, how it spreads, and how widespread it might be in China and the region.

     

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  • Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

    Drugs shortage haunts HIV-positive community

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: ART therapy

    Mains level: Not Much

    People living with HIV are facing an acute shortage of life-saving drugs, say protesters who have been camping outside the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) office.

    What is NACO?

    • The NACO established in 1992 is a division of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
    • It provides leadership to HIV/AIDS control programme in India through 35 HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Societies.
    • It is the nodal organisation for formulation of policy and implementation of programs for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in India.

    Functions of NACO

    • Along with drug control authorities and NACO provides joint surveillance of Blood Bank licensing, Blood Donation activities and Transfusion Transmitted infection testing and reporting.
    • NACO also undertakes HIV estimations biennially (every 2 years) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Medical Statistics (NIMS).
    • The first round of HIV estimation in India was done in 1998, while the last round was done in 2017.

    Why in news?

    • Activists allege rationing of medicines, arbitrary change in the drug regimen and even complete deprivation of life-saving paediatric drugs.
    • They fear that treatment will be interrupted, leading to drug resistance and deaths from AIDS.

    NACO stand

    • The protesters noted that the NACO, in its public communication, had claimed that 95% of the recipients had not faced any shortage.
    • Going by the figure, 5% of 14.5 lakh, or 72,500 people, are being affected by the current shortage and stock-out.
    • The impact is severe and far-reaching.

    What drugs are protestors talking about?

    • Protestors are for a stock-out of ART (antiretroviral) drugs such as Dolutegravir 50 mg, Lopinavir/Ritonavir (adult and child doses), and Abacavir in several states.

    What is ART?

    • The medicines that treat HIV are called antiretroviral drugs.
    • There are more than two dozen of them, and they fall into seven main types.
    • Each drug fights the virus in your body in a slightly different way.
    • Research shows that a combination, or “cocktail,” of drugs is the best way to control HIV and lower the chances that the virus will become resistant to treatment.

    Back2Basics: HIV/AIDS

    • HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases.
    • First identified in 1981, HIV is the cause of one of humanity’s deadliest and most persistent epidemics.
    • It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex, or through sharing injection drug equipment.
    • If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
    • The human body can’t get rid of HIV and no effective HIV cure exists.

    Treating HIV

    • However, by taking HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART), people with HIV can live long and healthy lives and prevent transmitting HIV to their sexual partners.
    • In addition, there are effective methods to prevent getting HIV through sex or drug use, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

     

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  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-United States

    In news: Commission of Global Notables

    Prelims Only | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Commission of Global Notables

    Mains level: NA

    Mexican President has proposed the setting up of a commission called ‘Commission of Global Notables’ comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Commission of Global Notables

    • Apart from Mr. Modi, the proposed “commission of global notables” includes Pope Francis and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
    • This is yet a proposal in writing presented to the UN
    • It is understood that the list will find mention during the annual session of the UN General Assembly that will convene in September.
    • PM Modi and other leaders of the Member States are expected to participate in the session when the global body will discuss the crises in Ukraine, Gaza Strip and the regional tension over Taiwan.

    Significance for India

    • This shows significance of India under the present regime under PM Modi. We have to admit that India’s soft power is ever increasing.
    • PM Modi has also received high honours from the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan and several other countries since since the beginning of his first stint in May 2014.
    • That apart, he has also received awards from international non-government organisations.

     

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    History of popular slogans raised during Freedom Struggle

    Prelims Only | | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Famous slogans in news

    Mains level: Not Much

    Inspiring and controversial, this article explains the history of slogans that have endured in India’s politics.

    (1) ‘Jai Hind’ by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

    • Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose popularised ‘Jai Hind’ as a salutation for soldiers of his Indian National Army (INA), which fought alongside Netaji’s ally Japan in the Second World War.
    • But according to some accounts, Netaji did not actually coin the slogan.
    • A book says the term was coined by Zain-ul Abideen Hasan, the son of a collector from Hyderabad, who had gone to Germany to study.
    • There, he met Bose and eventually left his studies to join the INA.
    • Khan was tasked by Bose to look for a military greeting or salutation for the INA’s soldiers, a slogan which was not caste or community-specific, given the all-India basis of the INA.
    • The idea for ‘Jai Hind’ came to Hasan when he was at the Konigsbruck camp in Germany.

    (2) ‘Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe aazadi doonga’ by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

    • This slogan had origins in a speech Netaji made in Myanmar, then called Burma, on July 4, 1944.
    • Underlining his core philosophy of violence being necessary to achieve independence, he said, “Friends! My comrades in the War of Liberation! Today I demand of you one thing, above all.
    • He ended the speech saying “Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe aazadi doonga” (Give me blood and I promise you freedom).

    (3) ‘Vande Mataram’ by Bankim Chandra Chatterji

    • The term refers to a sense of respect expressed to the motherland.
    • In 1870, Bengali novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote a song which would go on to assume a national stature, but would also be seen as communally divisive by some.
    • Written in Bengali, the song titled ‘Vande Mataram’ was not introduced into the public sphere until the publishing of the novel Anandamath in 1882, of which the song is a part.
    • Vande Mataram soon became the forefront of sentiments expressed during the freedom movement.
    • The novel, set in the early 1770s came against the backdrop of the Fakir-Sannyasi Rebellion against the British in Bengal.

    (4) ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ by Maulana Hasrat Mohani

    • ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ (Long live the revolution) was first used by Maulana Hasrat Mohani in 1921.
    • Hasrat was his pen name (takhallus) as a revolutionary Urdu poet, which also became his identity as a political leader.
    • Hasrat Mohani was a labour leader, scholar, poet and also one of the founders of the Communist Party of India in 1925.
    • Along with Swami Kumaranand — also involved in the Indian Communist movement — Mohani first raised the demand for complete independence or ‘Poorna Swaraj’, at the Ahmedabad session of the Congress in 1921.
    • His stress on Inquilab was inspired by his urge to fight against social and economic inequality, along with colonialism.
    • Before Mohani coined this slogan, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia made the idea of revolution symbolic of the struggle for oppressed nationalities globally.
    • It was from the mid-1920s that this slogan became a war cry of Bhagat Singh and his Naujawan Bharat Sabha, as well as his Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).

    (5) ‘Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna’ by Bismil Azimabadi

    • This is the first line of a poem written by Bismil Azimabadi (and NOT Ramprasad Bismil), a freedom fighter and poet from Bihar, after the Jallianwalah Bagh Massacre of 1921 in Amritsar, Punjab.
    • The lines were popularised by Ram Prasad Bismil, another revolutionary.
    • He was a part of the Kakori train robbery, a successful and ambitious operation in which a train filled with British goods and money was robbed for Indian fighters to purchase arms.

    (6) ‘Do or Die’ by Gandhi Ji

    • In 1942, the Second World War commencing and the failure of Stafford Cripps Missions – which only promised India a ‘dominion status’ where it would still have to bear allegiance to the King of England .
    • This made Gandhi Ji realise that the movement for freedom needed to be intensified.
    • On August 8, 1942, the All-India Congress Committee met in Gowalia Tank Maidan (August Kranti Maidan) in Bombay.
    • Gandhi addressed thousands after the meeting to spell out the way forward.

    (7) ‘Quit India’ by Yusuf Meherally

    • While Gandhi gave the clarion call of ‘Quit India’, the slogan was coined by Yusuf Meherally, a socialist and trade unionist who also served as Mayor of Mumbai.
    • A few years ago, in 1928, Meherally had also coined the slogan “Simon Go Back” to protest the Simon Commission – that although was meant to work on Indian constitutional reform, but lacked any Indians.
    • Meherally was a Congress Socialist Party member who was actively involved in anti-government protests.

     

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  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-Australia

    India, Australia Relations

    Prelims Only | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: NA

    Mains level: India-Australia relations

    The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of an Audio Visual Co-production Treaty between India and Australia, which is aimed at facilitating joint production of films between the two countries.

    India – Australia Relations

    • Both the countries share the ethos and values of pluralism, liberal democracy, steadfast commitment to rule of law, Commonwealth traditions, international peace, development and security.
    • The establishment of diplomatic relations between them dates back to the Pre-independence era. It started with the opening of the Consulate General of India as a Trade Office in Sydney in 1941.
    • Since then the ties have blossomed and currently, they enjoy a multi-faceted cooperation spanning areas of political interactions, economic collaboration, scientific research, strategic convergence, friendly people-to-people ties especially diaspora links and sporting ties of hockey and cricket.

    Areas of cooperation

    1.Political Dimension

    • Both the countries are members of G-20, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association), Asia Pacific Partnership on Climate and Clean Development, East Asia Summit and the Commonwealth. Australia has been extremely supportive of India’s quest for membership of the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation).
    • Australia whole-heartedly welcomed India s joining of the MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime).

    2. Economic Dimension

    • In recent years, the India-Australia economic engagement has magnified significantly. Australia has been very appreciative of economic reforms undertaken by India and its improving ease of doing business rankings because of the reforms was undertaken by the current government. India has welcomed Australia to participate in its Make in India, Smart Cities, AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation), Clean Ganga Project etc. initiatives.
    • India and Australia are partners in the trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) arrangement along with Japan which seeks to enhance the resilience of supply chains in the Indo-Pacific Region.
    • Recently, India signed a historic trade agreement with Australia, the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind- Aus ECTA).
    • It is the first Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that India has signed with a major developed country in over a decade.
      India reaches out to Australia, set to start trade talks again | Business Standard News
      Credit: Business Standard
    • The current government has invited Australia s private sector participation in Indian economy. It says red tape in India has been replaced by red carpet and has welcomed private investors.

    3.Trade and Economic

    • The establishment of India-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in 1989 encouraged dialogue at a government and business level on multiple issues of trade and investment.
    • India-Australia CEO Forum is a significant mechanism through which business leaders from both nations engage in mutually fruitful dialogue to enhance bilateral trade and investment relationship. The Forum consists of heads of Indian and Australian business from multiple sectors like energy and resources, agri-business, financial sector, telecommunications, IT, education and pharmaceuticals. The last meeting of the Forum was held in New Delhi on 29th August 2017.
    • The city of Canberra, Australia hosted the seventh India-Australia Economic Policy Dialogue during 16-18 July 2017.
    • India’s main exports to  Australia  are  Refined  Petroleum,  medicaments, while our major imports are Coal, copper ores & concentrates, Gold, and  education related  services.
    • India s major imports from Australia are coal, non-monetary gold, copper, wool, fertilizers, wheat, vegetables and education-related services.
    • India and Australia have been each other’s important trading partners.
      • Australia is the 17th largest trading partner of India and India is Australia’s 9th largest trading partner.
      • India-Australia bilateral trade for both merchandise and services is valued at USD 27.5 billion in 2021.
      • India’s merchandise exports to Australia grew 135% between 2019 and 2021. India’s exports consist primarily of a broad-based basket largely of finished products and were USD 6.9 billion in 2021.
      • India’s merchandise imports from Australia were USD 15.1 billion in 2021, consisting largely of raw materials, minerals and intermediate goods.

    4.Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

    • A Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the two countries was signed in September 2014 during the visit of the Australian Prime Minister to India. The agreement came into force from 13 November 2015.
    • The Australian Parliament passed the “Civil Nuclear Transfer to India Bill 2016” on 01 December, 2016 which ensures that Uranium mining companies in Australia may fulfil contracts to supply Australian uranium to India for civil use with confidence that exports would not be hindered by domestic legal action challenging the consistency of the safeguards applied by the IAEA in India and Australia’s international non-proliferation obligations.
    • It also ensures that any future bilateral trade in other nuclear-related material or items for civil use will also be protected.

    5.Defence Cooperation

    • The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement has been signed during the summit that should enhance defence cooperation and ease the conduct of large-scale joint military exercises.
    • There is a technical Agreement on  White  Shipping Information  Exchange.
    • Recently Australia and India conducted AUSINDEX,their largest bilateral naval exercise, and there are further developments on the anvil, including Australia’s permanent inclusion in the Malabar exercise with Japan. 
    • In 2018, Indian Air Force participated for the first time in the Exercise Pitch Blackin Australia. The third edition of AUSTRAHIND(Special Forces of Army Exercise) was held in September 2018.
    • A broader maritime cooperation agreement with a focus on Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is also in the works and Australia has agreed to post a Liaison Officer at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) at Gurugram. 

    6.Education 

    • Under the New-Colombo Plan of Australian government, 900 Australian undergraduates have studied and completed internships in India during the period 2015-16

    7.Diaspora

    • The Indian community in Australia has the population of nearly half a million (2.1 % of the population), and another over 1,50,000 persons of Indian descent immigrated from other countries (Fiji, Malaysia, Kenya and South Africa).
    • India is one of the top sources of skilled immigrants to Australia.

    8.Energy Cooperation

    • A Joint Working Group on Energy and Minerals was established in 1999 to expand bilateral relationship in the energy and resources sector. The 8th JWG meeting held in New Delhi in June 2013.
    • As energy is one of the central pillars of economic cooperation, both sides agreed during the visit of our Prime Minister to Australia in November 2014 to cooperate on transfer of clean coal technology and welcomed Australia’s desire to upgrade the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad.

    9. International cooperation

    India and 62 other countries have backed a draft resolution led by Australia and the EU to ‘identify the zoonotic source’ of Covid-19 and its ‘route of introduction’ to humans.

    • Australia supports India’s candidature in an expanded UN Security Council.
    • Both  India  and  Australia  are members of the Commonwealth, IORA, ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia Pacific Partnership on Climate  and  Clean  Development,  and  have  participated  in  the  East  Asia  Summits.  
      • Australia   is   an   important   player   in   APEC   and   supports   India’s membership of the organisation. In 2008, Australia became an Observer in SAARC.
    • Both countries have also been cooperating as members of the Five Interested Parties (FIP) in the WTO context.

    An India Economic Strategy to 2035

    • In 2018, Australia’s Prime Minister has announced implementation of “An India Economic Strategy to 2035”, a vision document that will shape India-Australia bilateral ties.
    • It is based on three-pillar strategy- Economic ties, Geostrategic Engagement and Rethinking Culture-thrust on soft power diplomacy.
    • The focus of this report is on building a sustainable long-term India economic strategy.
    • The report identifies 10 sectors and 10 states in an evolving Indian market where Australia has competitive advantages, and where it should focus its efforts. These are divided into a flagship sector (education), three lead sectors (agribusiness, resources, and tourism) and six promising sectors (energy, health, financial services, infrastructure, sport, science and innovation).

    Significance of the Relations

    • Australia is one of the few countries that has managed to combat COVID-19 so far through “controlled adaptation” by which the coronavirus has been suppressed to very low levels. Two of the leaders of this great Australia-wide effort are Indian-born scientists.
    • From farming practices through food processing, supply and distribution to consumers, the Australian agribusiness sector has the research and development (R&D) capacity, experience and technical knowledge to help India’s food industry improve supply chain productivity and sustainability and meet the challenges of shifting consumption patterns.
    • Australia is the 13th largest economy in the world, following closely behind Russia which stands at $1.6 trillion.
      • Australia is rich in natural resources that India’s growing economy needs.
      • It also has huge reservoirs of strength in higher education, scientific and technological research.
      • The dominance of Indo-Pacific countries in India’s trade profile: Fostering deeper integration between India and Australia will provide the necessary impetus to the immense growth potential of the trade blocs in this region.
    • The two countries also have increasingly common military platforms as India’s defence purchases from the U.S. continue to grow.
      • Australia has deep economic, political and security connections with the ASEAN and a strategic partnership with one of the leading non-aligned nations, Indonesia. Both nations can leverage their equation with ASEAN to contain China.
      • The Indo-Pacific region has the potential to facilitate connectivity and trade between India and Australia.
      • Being geographically more proximate than the US or Japan, India and Australia can emerge as leading forces for the Quad.

    Associated Issues

    • Trade deficit: India’s trade deficit with Australia has been increasing since 2001-02 due to India-Australia Free Trade Agreement. It is also a contentious issue in the ongoing RCEP negotiations which India left.
    • India’s desire for visa reforms in Australia, which would permit more Indian workers to seek employment in Australia, remains unmet. India wants greater free movement and relaxed visa norms for its IT professionals, on which Australia is reluctant. Australia and India are yet to nurture a common bilateral ground to figure out the basis of their cooperation.
    • The formation of the Japan–America–India (JAI) partnership at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires in 2018 is cause for Australian concern. India’s unwillingness to invite Australia to participate in the Malabar naval exercise, despite Australian lobbying, has sparked speculation over the fate of the Quadrilateral Consultative Dialogue (the ‘Quad) involving India, Australia, Japan and the United States.
    • Building consensus on non-nuclear proliferation and disarmament has been a major hurdle given India’s status as a nuclear power. Trade and maritime security on the other hand seem the most viable points of collaboration. Although a defence agreement was signed in 2014, the defence relationship has yet to develop fully.
    • Although security has received a lot of significance in the relationship, in practice Australia-India defence cooperation remains relatively undeveloped. There are a considerable number of defence and security dialogues between the two countries, but none has been translated into more substantive cooperation.
    • Increasing Racist attacks on Indians in Australia has been a major issue. The relationship was further strained over the attacks on Indian students studying in Melbourne, and the resulting media coverage caused serious damage to Australia’s standing in India.

    Need of the Hour

    • Upgradation of 2+2 talks. In addition, it may be prudent too for New Delhi and Canberra to elevate the ‘two plus two’ format for talks from the Secretary level to the level of Foreign and Defence Ministers.
    • Utilising current innovations in digital trade; such digitisation of economic activities has changed the landscape of trade, enhancing associations between economies and, in particular, South-South flows.
    • Removal of trade barriers would lead to an increase in the exports of these commodities, although the increasing number of disputes at the WTO with regard to the Australian sector can act as a serious impediment.
    • India and Australia have a strong track record of collaborating in research and innovation. The $84 million Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) is Australia’s largest. The Australian Government’s $1.1 billion National Innovation and Science Agenda presents new opportunities to engage with India. The agenda resonates well with India’s ‘Start-up India’ and ‘Make in India’ campaign.
    • It is evident in policy areas such as maritime security, climate change, energy security, law enforcement, governance and the politics of security institutions.
    • Engaging Indonesia, Japan, France and Britain for securing Indo-Pacific
    • An ‘engage and balance’ China strategy is the best alternative to the dead end of containment. The role of the US is of particular importance as it has recently been a driver of efforts towards bringing similarly aligned states in counterbalancing China.

    Conclusion

    • Their ties are extremely important for the Indo-Pacific region which is in flux. They stand out for their solemn commitment towards democratic values, international peace, rule of law, development and multiculturalism.a

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  • Child Rights – POSCO, Child Labour Laws, NAPC, etc.

    Panel bats for Equality in Child’s Guardianship

    Prelims Only | Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Salient features of Indian Society

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Guardianship in India

    Mains level: Not Much

    A mother and father should have equal rights as guardians of their children and the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act (HMGA), 1956 should be amended as it discriminates against women, a parliamentary panel has recommended in its report.

    Why in news now?

    • The said Act does NOT provide for joint guardianship.
    • NOR does it recognise the mother as the guardian of the minor legitimate child unless the father is deceased or is found unfit.
    • The Act gives preference to father over mother.
    • Thus it goes against the right to equality and right against discrimination envisaged under Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution.

    What is Guardianship?

    • A guardian is a person appointed to look after another person or his property in India, as per the personal laws of the religion into which the minor was born.
    • He or she takes on the responsibility of caring for and protecting the person for whom he or she has been appointed guardian.
    • On behalf of the ward’s person and property, the guardian makes all legal decisions.

    Guardianship under the Hindu law

    • The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, regulates guardianship of minor children in Hindu law (covers Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists in India).
    • A minor is described as anyone under the age of eighteen, according to Section 4(a) of the Act.
    • A guardian, according to Section 4(b) of the Act, is an individual who is responsible for the child’s care, property, or both.
    • The various forms of guardianship in India include:
    1. Natural guardian: Only three people are considered natural guardians, according to Section 6 of the 1956 Act: the mother, father, and husband.
    2. Testamentary guardian: A testamentary guardian is a guardian appointed in a will by the natural guardian. A father has the testamentary right to appoint a guardian for his legitimate children or property or both. If the mother is alive after the father’s death, she will be the guardian of the children, and the fathers will be restored only if the mother dies without appointing a guardian.
    3. Guardian appointed by the court: The court can appoint a guardian to a child under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 who would be called a certified guardian. The powers of the certified guardian are also stated in the Act. The Act confers power to district courts.
    4. De facto guardian: A de facto guardian is someone who has consistently shown an interest in caring for, handling, or managing the infant, his or her property, or both. A de facto guardian is not a legal guardian, and therefore, has no legal authority over the child or the child’s property, but he has assumed responsibility for the child and the property.
    5. Guardians by affinity: The guardianship of a minor widow by a relative within the degree of sapinda (generation of ancestors) is known as affinity guardianship.

    Guardianship under Muslim law

    The law of guardianship in Muslims came from certain verses in the religious texts.

    1. Natural guardian: The only father is considered the natural guardian of a child under Muslim law, and the mother is not considered a natural or other guardian even after the father’s death.
    2. Testamentary guardian: The term wali, guardian, amin, or kaim-mukam refers to a testamentary guardian.
    3. Guardian appointed by the court: When natural and testamentary guardians fail, the court has the right to appoint a guardian for the child. The Guardians and Wards Act of 1890 governs the appointment of a guardian for a child from any group.

     

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