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Content Table

• राष्ट्रीय शिक्षा नीति (संजय घोत्रे)
• सरकार में जवाबदेही (मीनाक्षी गुप्ता)
• भ्रष्टाचार को रोकथाम (टी.एस. कृष्णमूर्ति)
• सरकारी खर्च पर चुनाव: एक अवलोकन (एन. गोपालस्वामी)
• सरकार में सूचना का आदान-प्रदान (सुमिता डावरा)
• कानून का शासन (एस एन त्रिपाठी , सपना चड्डा)
• नैतिकता की कसौटी पर मीडिया (जगदीश उपासने)
• मीडिया संचालन लोकाचार मूल्य और निष्ठा
• कारपोरेट संस्थानों में सदाचरण (डेनियल कोशी)
• सदाचार और नैतिकता : गांधीवादी दृष्टिकोण (प्रो.एन राधाकृष्णन)

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Covered Topics:

• National
• International
• Business And Economy
• Science and Technology
• Environment
• Sports
• MCQ Questions

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Content Table

• National Education Policy (Sanjay Dhotre)
• Accountability in Government (Meenakshi Gupta)
• Fighting Curruption (TS Krishna Murthy)
• Public Funding of Elections (N Gopalaswami)
• Information Sharing in Government (Sumita Dawra)
• The Rule of Law (SN Tripathi, Sapna Chadah)
• Media Governance (Biswajit Das, Ridhi Kakkar)
• Ethics in Journalism (Dr Anand Pradhan)
• Corporate Ethics (Koshy Daniel)
• Gandhian Perspectives on Ethics (Prof N Radhakrishnan)
• Geographic Information System (Arunima Malik, Rimjhim Sharma)

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(Article) PROS & CONS OF NEW EDUCATION POLICY 2020

Context :

Recently, the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 has been approved by the Union Cabinet. Its major aim is to introduce changes in the Indian education system right from the school to the college level of education.

Major highlights : 

• Making “India a global knowledge superpower” is the ultimate objective of the NEP 2020.
• The Ministry of Human Resource Development is renamed as the Ministry of Education.
• It is the third major change in the education systems in India since independence in 1947.
• 1968 and 1986 have seen the earlier two revamps in the education systems prior to NEP 2020.

Key Points :

School Education:

• Pre-school to secondary level education has been universalized with 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by the year 2030.
• This will assist in bringing approx 2 crore children which are currently out of school, back into the mainstream.
• The current education system of 10+2 will be replaced by a new & revamped 5+3+3+4 structure which corresponds to the age group 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years respectively.
• In the current scenario, the age group of 3-6 years is not covered in formal schooling, this will helps in bringing those age groups under the school curriculum. This age group is globally recognized as a crucial stage for the development of the mental ability of a child.
• This system will have 12 years of schooling with three years of Anganwadi / pre-schooling.
• Board examinations of class 10th & 12th will be made easier & will be focussed more on core competencies rather than memorized facts & rote learning. All students will be allowed to take these exams twice.
• A new accreditation framework will be set up along with an independent authority to regulate public and private schools.
• Foundational Literacy and Numeracy will be more focussed.
• There will not be any rigid separation between academic streams, extracurricular activities & vocational streams in schools.
• A provision of Vocational education with internship from Class 6th.
• Mother tongue/regional language will be used for teaching up to class 5th & no language will be rigidly imposed on any students.
• A 'National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCFTE)'  will be programmed by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) in consultation with NCERT.
• A 4-years integrated B.Ed. degree course will be the minimum degree qualification for teaching by 2030.

 Higher Education:

• A target of 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education by 2035 which is currently at 26.3%.
• 3.5 crore seats will be added in higher education.
• Undergraduate courses will be imparted with a flexible curriculum of 3 or 4 years duration with multiple exit options and with certification at different levels.
• All the courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. levels will be made interdisciplinary.
• M.phil. courses will be discontinued.
• 'Academic Bank of Credits' will be established which will facilitate Credit transfers.
• 'Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs)' will be established at par with IITs, IIMs as per the matching global standards.
• An apex body for fostering strong research culture namely 'The National Research Foundation' will be established which will serve the purpose of creating a strong research culture and building research capacity in higher education.
• 'Higher Education Commission of India’ (HECI)' will be established for entire higher education, excluding medical and legal education. Both the public and private higher education institutions will be governed by the same set of norms 
• HECI will have four independent verticals i.e. :

1) National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) to look after the regulatory framework.

2) General Education Council (GEC) to look after standard settings.

3) Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) to look after funding.

4) National Accreditation Council (NAC) to look after accreditation.

• The affiliation system of colleges will be wiped out in 15 years and a mechanism to be implemented for granting graded autonomy to colleges.
• In near future, every college is expected to develop as an autonomous degree-granting College or a constituent college of a university.

Education System In India :

• Part IV, Article 45 and 39 (f) of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) of the Indian Constitution, has a provision for state-funded & an equitable and accessible education to all.
• Education has been moved from the state list to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976.
• The 86th Constitutional Amendment in 2002 made education an enforceable right under Article 21-A of the Fundamental Rights.
• Right To Education (RTE), 2009 is enacted to provide primary education to all children in the age group 6 to 14 years.
• This act also mandates a 25% reservation for the disadvantaged sections of the society in Government Initiatives such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas.

Pros :

• NEP 2020 has changed the structure from 10+2 to 5+3+3+4. It will include kindergarten of 3 years in formal schooling thus increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio.
• Now, we can choose any subject from any academic streams as per the interest.
• Multiple exit options will provide enough flexibility to students to learn & work together with varying certification options at different levels.
• The importance of board exams is made less important thus reducing pressure on students reducing exam phobia.
• Now 6% of GDP will be used as a fund for the policy showing the importance of education.
• NEP 2020 will promote our Indian ethnic culture & hence unity in diversity will be promoted.
• Vocational learning will help students to be job-ready & more skill-oriented from their early ages.
• Higher education & standards of colleges will improve through a common HECI.

Cons :

• Regional and local languages will be promoted but somehow, English will take a back seat.
• English is the language of the world, Indian local & regional languages will not help that much at International level.
• Imposing English in class 6th onwards will not give proper confidence & command in the English language to students.
• Implementing so many regional or local languages in different states will be difficult to assess whether they all are on the same platform or syllabus.
• English is recognized as a global language to communicate & in the IT industry and this is the reason we are booming in other countries than Chinese people. 

Way Forward :

There are always a few merits & demerits in all the systems. Only thing is that we need to constantly improve the system based on its various outcomes. NEP 2020 is aimed at improving the culture & integrity of the country along with the blend of modernity in the education system & should be considered as the welcome step of the government.

MCQs :

1. Under which article of the Indian Constitution, education has been made enforceable right?

Option : a) Article 21

              b) Article 21A

              c) Article 22

              d) Article 22A

Answer: Option: b

2. What is the targeted Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education by the NEP2020?

Option : a) 80%

              b) 75%

              c)  50%

              d)  40%

Answer: Option: c

MAINS :

Critically analyze the importance of the New Education Policy 2020 with respect to the current education policy implemented in 1986.

1. Discuss various efforts done by the Union Governments in improving the Gross Enrolment Ratio in Schools & higher education since independence.

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(Final Result) UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2019

The following are the lists, in order of merit of 196 (106+76+14) candidates who have qualified on the basis of the results of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2019 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission in September, 2019 and SSB interviews held by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence for admission to the 149th (DE) Course of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala and Air Force Academy, Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course i.e. No. 208F(P) Course. 

2. There are some common candidates in the three lists for various courses.

3. The number of vacancies, as intimated by the Government is 100 for Indian Military Academy [including 13 vacancies reserved for NCC ‘C’ certificates (Army Wing) holders], 45 for Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala Executive (General Service)/Hydro [including 06 vacancies reserved for NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders (Naval Wing)] and 32 for Air Force Academy, Hyderabad [03 vacancies are reserved for NCC ’C’ Certificate (Air Wing) holders through NCC Spl. Entry]. 

4. The Commission had recommended 2699, 1592 and 0611 as qualified in the written test for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy, respectively. The number of candidates finally qualified are those after SSB test conducted by Army Head Quarters.

5. The results of Medical examination have not been taken into account in preparing these lists.

6. Verification of date of birth and educational qualifications of these candidates is still under process by the Army Headquarters. The candidature of all these candidates is, therefore, Provisional on this score. Candidates are requested to forward their certificates, in original, in support of Date of Birth/Educational qualification etc. claimed by them, along with Photostat attested copies thereof to Army Headquarters /Naval Headquarters /Air Headquarters, as per their first choice. 

7. In case, there is any change of address, the candidates are advised to promptly intimate directly to the Army Headquarters /Naval Headquarters /Air Headquarters.

8. These results will also be available on the UPSC website at http://www.upsc.gov.in. However, marks of the candidates will be available on the website after declaration of final result of Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) for Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2019.

9. For any further information, the candidates may contact Facilitation Counter near Gate ‘C’ of the Commission’s Office, either in person or on telephone Nos.011-23385271/011- 23381125/011-23098543 between 10:00 hours and 17:00 hours on any working day.         

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(IN-DEPTH HOT TOPIC) WHY ASSAM IS FLOODING EVERY YEAR?

Context :

Assam is facing a second wave of flood in July after its first wave of flood in May this year. It is facing almost 3-4 waves of flood every year through the Brahmaputra river system, which affects most of the parts of Assam. Nearly 35 lakhs of peoples are affected in 26 districts of the state with heavy loss to life & submergence of major parts of the Kaziranga National park.

About Brahmaputra River : 

• Originated from Chemayungdung glacier in Tibet (China) known as the ‘Yarlung Tsangpo’ flows through Tibet from west to east, enters Arunachal Pradesh as ‘Dihang (Siang)’, continues to flow in Assam as the Brahmaputra & as the Jamuna in Bangladesh.
• Its main left-bank tributaries are Dibang, Lohit, Dhansiri & Kapili while main right bank tributaries are Subansiri & Manas in India.
• ‘Majuli Island’ is the world’s largest riverine island in Assam surrounded between the channels of Brahmaputra.  
• The Brahmaputra is coursing through almost entire Assam barring a few regions of the Karbi Anglong region.
• It is one of the most voluminous (extreme volume & quantity of water) rivers of India.
• Its basin countries are China, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh.

Factors responsible for flooding :

• Heavy rainfall through south-west monsoon & presence of hills in Meghalaya led to falling of rain-bearing winds.
• Natural & man-made reasons contribute to flooding.
• The Brahmaputra brings an excess quantity of water & silt & deposited it in the basin causing the river to overflow. 
• It also causes a lot of erosion & flood problems.
• Building dams destroyed the ecology.
• Deforestation.
• Embankments supposed to prevent soil erosion also end up a reason for flooding. Heavy rainfall leads to breaking of embankments.
• The immense growth of habitations along the river banks, it doesn't allow the river to expand during its excess quantity of water.
• Destroying wetlands along the river banks which works like a sponge during flooding to absorb water.
• Climate change leads to heavy rainfall in a relatively less period of time which causes intense rainfall & flooding.  

Challenges in capital 'Guwahati' : 

• Guwahati mostly flooded during monsoons due to its topography having a shape like 'bowl' which makes it susceptible to waterlogging.
• 'Mission flood control Guwahati' report of the Assam Government mentions that unplanned expansion of the city, encroachment to wetlands, shrinkage of forest cover, low lying areas & rainwater from the surrounding hills of Meghalaya bring flood in the city. But a proper workout to resolve the issue is yet awaited.  

What can be done?

• Authorities should make a long term plan to build embankments & regular dredging to control the floods.
• countries can go for integrated basin management which will bring all the basin sharing countries together like India, China, Bhutan & Bangladesh.
• Preventive measures should be taken from all the catchment & basin sharing countries in their respective area, otherwise only working at the last resort when flood strike in Assam is only a defensive measure but not a solution.

Benefit due to flood :

• Due to flooding new alluvial soil constantly get deposited in Assam's flood plain leading to continuous increase & recharge of soil & increase in croplands.
• This benefit is only a fraction of whatever losses Assam is facing every year.

Concerns :

• After more than 65 years of independence, a solution to this repeated problem is still awaited.
• The state is mostly dependent upon the embankments which were introduced in the 1950s when the actual hydrology of most rivers including the Brahmaputra was not well-known.
• The river changes its course very frequently, so it is almost impossible to contain it within the embankments.
• The high-pressure flow of the water constantly pressured the embankments wall & subsequent breakage which need frequent reinforcement.

Embankments :

• It is a long ridge made along the river by soil or rock & used to hold or control the flow of rivers or water bodies which might at times get flooded.

Way Forward : 

While India has done tremendous progress in increasing the connectivity with the north-East states, flooding is a repeated problem which still needs a concrete solution. With the growing importance of North-East to India which works as a connecting point with South-East Asia & the rising threat from the neighbouring countries, it is imperative to contain the problem

of flooding. This containment of flooding also helps in achieving most of our goals along with preventing economic & social losses.

MCQs :

1. ‘Yarlung Tsangpo’ is the name of ------------------------ river/s. Choose the correct options.

1. Dihang
2. Brahmaputra
3. Jamuna
4. Kapili

Option :

1) a

2) b, c

3) a, b, c

4) All of the above

ANSWERS (Only for Course Members)

2) The Brahmaputra flows through ------

a) Arunachal, Assam
b) Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal
c) All of the above
d) None of the above

ANSWERS (Only for Course Members)

Mains 

1. Critically analyse the factors responsible for flooding in Assam plains almost every year. Support your reason by examples.
2. Some reports are claiming that Majuli island may be submerged in later years due to extent flooding in the Brahmaputra. What can be the preventive measures for these challenges?

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(IN-DEPTH HOT TOPIC) PLEA BARGAINING - STRENGTHENING OR WEAKENING OF JUDICIARY?

Context : 

Most of the members of ‘Tablighi Jamaat’ belonging to other countries who were charged with spreading of COVID 19 cases have obtained release from the court by way of ‘Plea bargaining’. Most of them are walking freely after pleading guilty to minor offenses & minor fines as imposed by the court. 

‘Plea bargaining’ is a process by which the accused plead guilty to a less serious offense than what is provided in the law & lengthy trials can be avoided.

Plea bargaining’ across the globe : 

• It is the most common practice in the USA avoiding the complicated & lengthy trial. That's why the conviction rate is higher in the USA compared to India.
• In the U.S. and other countries, the prosecutor plays a main role in bargaining with the offender.

Plea bargaining’ in India:

• ‘Plea bargaining’ refers to an accused person with criminal charges, who negotiate with the prosecution for a lower or lesser punishment than what is prescribed in the law by simply pleading to a less serious offense. 
• This can include bargaining on the charges or the type of sentence.
•  In India, ‘Plea bargaining’ is available to the persons charged with criminal offenses subject to conditions stipulated in the law. It is yet not so common in India. 
• 'Plea bargaining' was introduced in India in 2006 as an amendment to the CrPC in chapter XXI-A, sections 265A to 265L.
• While the 'Plead guilty' is always available in the Indian ‘Code of Criminal Procedure’ (CrPC) where the accused can plead guilty instead of his right to full trial.

Process for 'Plea bargaining' :

• In India, this process can be initiated only by the accused via. applying to the court. 
• Only an accused who is charged for an offense that does not carry a death sentence, life sentence or a prison term of more than seven years are eligible to apply for plea bargaining.
• Also, cases that involved offenses affecting 'socio-economic conditions' of the country, a crime against woman & crime against a child below 14 years of age are not covered in this system. 
• The applicant has to reach the court with an application & an affidavit stating that he has understood the nature & extent of punishment as provided in the law for the offense. 
• The final outcome may involve compensation & or other expenses to be borne by the accused.
• Accused may be sent to prison for a term that is half the minimum period fixed by law. In case there is no minimum period prescribed, the sentence can be one-fourth of the maximum sentence prescribed in the law.

What is the stand of the Law Commission of India?

• 142nd report of the Law Commission of India given the idea of 'concessional treatment' to those accused who plead guilty on their own will.
• The commission also warned to be careful that this 'concessional treatment' should not involve 'Plea bargaining' with the prosecution.

What are its PROS?

• The ‘Malimath committee’ on reforming the ‘criminal justice system’ has recommended many recommendations of the Law Commission with respect to plea bargaining. 
• This will ensure a speedy trial & end the uncertainty over the trial outcome.
• It will save trial, litigation & administrative cost.
• Parties can be relieved from anxiety.
• It can increase conviction rates.
• Reduce pendency of cases, overcrowding of prisons due to less term punishment, fast trial.
• Offenders can start afresh their life as early as possible.

What are its CONS?

• Some experts disapprove of bargaining with the accused saying that lenient sentences should be considered depending upon the circumstances after a full-length regular trial.
• Many socio-economical reasons like poverty, ignorance & pressure of the prosecution may lead to pleading guilty of someone who may not have committed the crime.

Way Forward :

‘Plea bargaining’ was introduced in 2006, but still not much utilized in India. If a law is introduced it should have a purpose or otherwise, it will defeat the purpose for which it is introduced. The only need is to properly implement it & examine it at every step so that the real purpose can be met along with a stricter check balance.

MCQs :

1) What is/are correct w.r.t 'Plea bargaining' ? Select the correct option/s .

a) The judge of a court asks the offender to write an application for seeking a reduction in sentence.

b) Offender writes an application along with an affidavit & submits it to the court.

c) The offender is asked to write his acceptance of doing a crime in the police station. 

d) Offender pleads guilty to a less serious offense than what is prescribed in the law.

Answer: Option - b, d

2) When was 'Plea bargaining' introduced in India?

a) 2005

b) 2006

c) 2007

d) 2004

Answer: option -b

Mains Questions :

1) Elaborate on the critical differences with examples between 'Plead guilty' & 'Plea bargaining'. Discuss the pros & cons of each system.

2) Do you think the Indian Judiciary system has improved since the introduction of 'Plea bargaining'? If not, what can be done further to strengthen it? Critically examine each point with reference to the system prevailing worldwide. 

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(IN-DEPTH HOT TOPIC) Chabahar Rail Project - Why Is India dropped?

Context :

Iran has decided to drop India from the Chabahar Rail Project connecting Chabahar port to 

Zahedan (Iran's bordering region to Afghanistan).

Recent events :

• Iran has inaugurated track-laying project from Chabahar port to Zahedan without involving India citing reasons for delayed funding from India. 
• Iran is investing Dollar 400 million from its National Development Fund of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• India's owned Ircon International Limited (IRCON) was associated with this rail project.
• India has developed Chabahar port facilities which have grown over the years & now compromises of a port, a free trade zone & the 628km long railway line to Zahedan.

About Chabahar Project :

• Chabahar literally means 'four seasons'. 
• Chabahar port project is lying at Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province along its southern coast with proximity to the Persian Gulf & the Gulf of Oman,
• Gwadar port in Pakistan developed by China is nearly 100km away by sea route from Chabahar port. 
• Chabahar port project was agreed between Iran & India in 2003 & further strengthened by 2016 trilateral agreement between India, Iran & Afghanistan connecting Chabahar port to Zahedan & then to Kabul in Afghanistan. 
• This project will permanently bypass its troublesome neighbor Pakistan & is also a strategic answer to the Gwadar port of Pakistan.

Importance of Chabahar to India : 

• India & Iran have historic relations over the centuries & both have sought to maintain these ties in the face of any challenges.
• India maintained these relations despite challenges from Iran’s adversaries like the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
• India has facilitated & invested in its ambitious & strategically located Chabahar project which will bypass Pakistan’s Karachi & Gwadar port to reach Afghanistan, Central Asia, Russia & eventually to Europe someday.
• Chababahr trade region is important for India’s energy imports & food and material exports from its Kandla and Mundra ports.
• Chabahar rail project would have allowed India, an independent corridor to Afghanistan, Russia, Central Asia.
• The Persian Gulf is a storehouse of petroleum & natural gas & the Gulf of Oman is a gateway to the Persian Gulf. This is an opportunity for India to increase its influence over the region.
• Its proximity to the Persian Gulf can further save the transportation & storage cost of the petroleum products for India.
• Chabahar project can assist in the inflow of the foreign capital to India through its trade, employment & uses by other countries as a trans-shipment terminal.
• It can check the growing influence of China over the Arabian sea region & its neighboring countries.

Chabahar Rail Project : 

• Chabahar port development has moved ahead in the last few years while the Chabahar Rail project was lingering.
• Chabahar rail project proposed to connect Chabahar port to Zahedan (In Iran bordering Afghanistan). Zahedan will further connect to Afghanistan's Kabul & INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor).
• Thus, Chabahar is a gateway for India to Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Russia & Europe.
• As per the Ministry of External Affairs sources, IRCON has completed its feasibility study by December 2019, three years after the agreement & after that, it has not heard anything from Iran's side.

Where is the issue?

• In spite of all these geo-political & economical advantages of the Chabahar project, India has mostly seemed to be in captivity to International policy shifts on Iran.
• USA policy particularly on Iran keeps on shifting to & fro in the last two decades. 
• USA placed sanctions on Iran in 2006 which ended with the ‘Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action’ (JCPOA) in 2015.
• In between these years, India continued its discussions with Iran but finally make headway after lifting sanctions by the USA.
• A trilateral agreement was signed in 2016 between India, Iran & Afghanistan for establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor.
• This agreement included the port project & the railway line to be constructed & funded by India's owned IRCON.
• However, in 2018 USA overturned JCPOA & re-imposed heavy sanctions on Iran. 
• Since Iran constitutes be third-largest energy supplier to India, energy imports from Iran had to be dropped to nearly NIL.
• Rupee-Rial exchange mechanism for bilateral trade between India & Iran stopped.
• Although India got a waiver from the USA for Chabahar port & railway line, sanctions made it very tough for companies dealing with the USA to participate in this project, throwing a set back to this ambitious project.

What about other projects? 

• ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) has been in discussion with the Iranian gas field project, Farzad B since 2009. Now, this project will also go to an Iranian company due to a combination of US sanctions, fluctuating prices & India's delayed response.

What’s the future of India with respect to Chabahar project :

• After losing these two important projects definitely a major setback to India.
• India should ensure that this setback should not be an advantage for other countries like China or Pakistan. 
• Since China is always looking for such type of prey to trap in its debt trap.
• India’s position at Chabahar port will remain strong doesn't matter who builds the railway line.
• Although it’s a big loss to the reputation of India & can be a gain for China. 

Way Forward :

By acting proactively India should find a way out to this situation. Citing the geo-political & economical importance of this project & to counter the effect of troublesome neighbors like China & Pakistan, it is in the larger interest of India to solve this issue & grab this opportunity without any delay. 

It’s better late than never!

Multiple Choice Questions :

1. Which Indian port is in close proximity to the Chabahar port project?

1. Cambay port
2. Bombay High port
3. New Mangalore port
4. Kandla Port

Answer: Option d

2) India recently loses an overseas rail project in Iran. Which two important locations were to be connected with this lost project?

1. Chabahar port to Kabul
2. Kandla port to Chabahar port.
3. Chabahar port to Zahedan
4. Chabahar port to Tehran

Answer; Option C

Mains Questions 

1. Critically examine the reasons through which India loses Chabahar Rail Project. Do you think India should be more aggressively put his points to get back the project? Give suitable examples for your views.

2. How the sanctions imposed by the superpowers of the world affect a country & its partner countries? What should be the strategy of India if any sanctions imposed on its partner countries? Cite a few recent examples.

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(IN-DEPTH HOT TOPIC) INDIA TIGER CENSUS 2018 - GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORD

 Context: 

• India's Tiger Census-2018 has recorded its name in the 'Guinness Book of World Record' for its world's largest camera trapping wildlife survey. 
• As per the commitment made by India to double its tiger populations by 2022 at St. Petersburg Tiger Summit -2010. 
• India has successfully fulfilled its commitment to double the number of tigers much before the target year of 2022.
• The Tiger population in India rose to 2976 in 2020 from 1500 in 2010.

St. Petersburg Tiger Summit-2010 :

• The world's first-ever 'Global Tiger Summit' to save the tigers from extinction was organized at St. Petersburg- Russia in November 2010. 
• This summit was participated by thirteen tiger habitat countries i.e. India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Russia, who was also a host of the said event.
• Besides these participating nations, various international organizations & stakeholders on tigers also participated.
• They together endorsed a plan called 'Global Tiger Recovery Programme' to double the number of tiger population by the year 2022.

Tiger Census-2018 :

• This was the fourth cycle of the Tiger Census 2018 conducted in 2018-19.
• India is recorded to have 2976 tigers which are almost 75% of the world's tiger population.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is doing this census every four years with the assistance of Wildlife Institute of India & cooperation with the respective State forest department.

The process adopted for the census :

• Camera traps were plotted at various locations & eventually surveyed an area of 121,337 sq km. 
• Camera traps are outdoor recording devices which automatically record the movement when an animal passes by the camera.
• Foot surveys are done to know about habitat plots for vegetation & about its prey.
• Out of all the pics that are taken, 83% of the population was identified by the stripe-pattern recognition software (M-STriPES) which identifies the tigers based on their different pattern of stripes.

Project Tiger :

• Project Tiger was launched in 1973 with initially 9 tiger reserves to conserve the tigers.
• This scheme is still operational under the Ministry of Science, Forest & Climate Change & sponsored by the union government.
• Currently, Project Tiger has 50  tiger reserves in 18 states amounting to 2.21% of the geographical area of India.

About Tiger Reserves :

• Tiger reserves are having a core area with a legal provision of a national park or sanctuary.
• Its buffer area is a mix of forest & non-forest land & used as a multiple-use area.

National Tiger Conservation Authority :

• NTCA was constituted in 2005 after the recommendation of the 'Tiger Task Force'.
• NTCA is a statutory body of the ministry with supervisory & coordination capacity as mandated in the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

M-STriPES :

• Monitoring System for Tiger Intensive Protection & Ecological Status (M-STriPES) is app-based monitoring software.
• It was introduced by NTCA in 2010 across all the tiger reserves of India.

Ecological Importance Of Tiger:

• Tiger is the apex consumer in the ecological food pyramid, thus their conservation results in conservation of all trophic levels in the food pyramid.

Threats to Tigers: 

• Destruction & fragmentation of the habitat.
• Poaching.

Protection Status :

• Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Schedule-1.
• International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) -Red List (endangered)
• Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna & Flora (CITES) - Appendix-1

About Tiger :

• Scientific Name - Panthera Tigris
• Indian Sub-species - Panthera Tigris Tigris
• Tiger is the largest Cat species & a member of the Genus Panthera.
• Its normal habitat is from Siberian temperate forests to sub-tropical & tropical forest of the Indian subcontinent & up to parts of Indonesia.
• There are eight sub-species of Tiger :

• Bengal Tiger - India
• Amur Tiger - Russia, China, North Korea
• Javan tiger (extinct) - Java -Indonesia
• Caspian tiger (extinct)- Turkey (Central & West Asia)
• Bali Tiger (extinct) - Bali -Indonesia
• South China tiger- South-Central China
• Sumatran Tiger- Sumatra-Indonesia 
• Indo-Chinese tiger - Southeast Asia

• Bengal Tiger is designated as the National Animal of India having dark vertical stripes on orange-brown fur.
• Largest Tiger reserve of India - Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam tiger reserve (Andhra Pradesh)
• Smallest Tiger reserve of India - Orang national park-Assam
• Total Tiger reserves in India- 50

MCQs :

1) State the reason/s for which Tiger Census-2018 is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. 

a) for its world's largest camera trapping wildlife survey. 

b) for doubling the tiger population in India before the set target of 2022.

c) for its stripes pattern recognition software.

d) for its active participation in various tiger summits.

Answer: Option-a

2) If a goat is placed under schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, it means 

a) Rat & goat can't be placed in schedule 1 of WPA 1972.

b) It will have the same protection as available to the tiger.

c) The goat should always be placed in IUCN lists. 

d) Goat is a pet animal so it can't be placed in the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

Answer: Option -b

Mains Questions

1) Critically examine the various steps taken by the Indian Government & its neighboring countries to preserve the tigers from extinction. State the reasons why India is successful in doubling the tiger population before the set target of 2022.

2) What will be the consequences & after effect to our ecological system if all the tiger population get extinct in India? How it will affect the economic condition of India?

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(Article) LANCET REPORT- INDIA'S POPULATION FORECAST BY the YEAR 2048 TO 2100 & ITS CHALLENGES

Context :

The latest analysis report presented by Lancet shows that India's population is forecasted to be around 1.60 billion in 2048 from 1.38 billion as in 2017. In due course, it will show a 32% decrease & will be around 1.09 billion in 2100.

Basis:

• Researchers & experts used data from the 'Global Burden of Diseases studies 2017'.

• Global Burden of Disease study: It was initiated in 1990 with the collaboration of the World Health Organisation (WHO) & World Bank, where researchers & experts participate from all over the world. It is an overall global & regional level assessment considering mortality & disability due to major diseases, injuries & also risk factors.

• Total Fertility Rate (TFR): TFR is the average number of children who are expected to be born from a woman during her reproductive period from 15-49 years of age.

• Replacement Level Fertility: It is the number of children required to replace the parents after accounting for fatalities, infant mortality, skewed sex ratio, etc.   

Forecasts related to India :

• Countries such as India & China will face a decline in the working-age population which will ultimately hamper economic growth.
• India will be the world's most populous country by the year 2100.
• India's working-age population aged 20-64 years is expected to decline to 578 million in 2100 from 762 million in 2017. In spite of this population reduction, India will still have the largest working-age population in the world.
• The study also showed that India will surpass China's workforce population by 2020s.
• China's current working-age population is 950 million in 2017 & expected to decline up to 357 million in 2100.
• Considering the year 2017 to 2100, India is expected to rise the global GDP ranking from 7th to 3rd in terms of nominal GDP.
• India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is less than 2.1 in 2019 & will keep on declining to 1.29 in 2100.
• India is also expected to have the world's second-largest immigration in 2100 with 0.5 million more immigration to the country than emigrating out in 2100.
• India is having the potential to offer a big manufacturing base for most of the immigrants who want to work here.

Global Forecast:

• The global population will be at its maximum level of 9.7 billion in 2064 & decline to 8.8 billion in 2100.
• The population of almost 23 countries like Japan, Thailand, Italy, Spain will shrink by more than 50%.
• 183 of 195 countries will have a TFR below the replacement level of 2.1 berths/woman.
• Global TFR will also decline from 2.37 in 2017 to 1.66 in 2100, which is again lower than the minimum required rate of 2.1
• Globally, the age structure will shift, where people having more than 65 years of age will be 2.37 billion by 2100 as compared to 703 million in 2019.

Challenges :

• Shrinking workforce, disease burden & social support for aging populations will be a big challenge for the economic & social growth of the country.
• Fertility reduction is bound to happen while giving priority to economic growth.
• Better life & improving health facilities will help in increasing the aging population.
• There is a big challenge to skillfully employ, skills-building to this huge working-age population of India, which otherwise may get wasted if not utilized properly or can turn into a demographic disaster.

Suggestions :

• To counter the shrinking working population, some liberal immigration policies can be adopted for the time as required.
• These migrants, new innovations in science & technology & new skills will subsequently boost the number of the working population.
• Technological advancements to be promoted can take over the working population shortage.
• To improve the women's fertility, the health system as well as greater economic freedom to be inculcated so that women can negotiate & live their life on their own terms.

Way Forward :

India is on the right track, since it is having enough workforce in this developing stage, only need is to use it efficiently. After having achieved a level of development policies can be aligned as per the population shift. Efficient human capital formation by skilling, training & education can be done to utilize them effectively.

MCQs

1. What is Replacement level fertility?

1. To replace the fertility of any human being.
2. The number of children required to replace the parents.
3. No. of children born from a woman during her lifetime.
4. None of the above

Answer: Option b

2) Which organization/s is/are associated with the ‘Global burden of disease studies’?

1. IMF, WHO, World Bank
2. United Nations, SAARC, ASEAN
3. WHO, World Bank only
4. All of the above

Answer: c

MAINS

1. Examine the pros & cons of India having the largest number of working-age populations. Explain it in context with neighboring countries like China.

2. How skilling of the workforce should be done to utilize the working-age population. Is it a boon or curse to have a huge working population & how it affects the economic growth of the country?

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Building Post-CovidSociety (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 3:Economy 
Prelims level: MSP 
Mains level: Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints

Context:

• Agriculture has been the source of strength in these distressing times for the Indian economy. Policy groups have focussed on the theme. 
• The monsoon has been good. Kharif sowing is at its peak. Government policies have been supportive. 
• The challenge is to maximise the growth impulse and strengthen it as much as possible so that the deceleration in the economy is compensated to the greatest extent. 
• Markets and price support are a focus of policy. MSPs have been announced and market access has been emphasised. This is important for the Northwest region.

Bottleneck:

• In the rest of India, procurementprices are largely irrelevant. India has the largest system of agricultural markets in the world. But what does a “market” mean? 
• Most agricultural trade actually takes place outside APMCs. The facilities are abysmal.
• In this period, we can do much to strengthen both the first stage agro-processing infrastructure (supply chains) and the functioning of markets.
• The real bottleneckin the COVID-19 kind of pandemic is the “lockdown”. 
• Markets are a place of trade. Trade and transport are two sides of the same coin as any regional economist will tell you. 
• Lockdowns block transport. The railways are not functioning. A lot of agricultural trade uses the railway as its mode of transport. 
• The doodhwallas and sabzi and fruit bais are dependent on regional and local trains as much as the “regular” passengers in the Nashik-Mumbai or Ahmedabad-Surat-Valsad locals.

Allowing under special condition:

• Trucks can be subjected to random lockdowns by local authorities. One can’t really criticise the authorities because COVID-19 is a matter of life and death. 
• We cannot quibblewith their priorities. Similarly, economists are not good on matters of death — they are trained to analyse matters of life. 
• We have to suggest policies for agriculture within the context of the lockdown. 
• One possibility is to allow trucks for agriculture transport under special conditions. The same can be designed at the government level for the railways.
• A great movement has taken place from the small villages to the big ones and from there to small towns, but we have not supported this trend. 
• More than a million farmers have moved to Census towns in most states. 
• These don’t get priority when it comes to providing marketing infrastructure. 
• For example, even now, private warehouses are starved of funds. Generally, migrants get the short end of the straw. All this undermines the income potential of agriculture. 
• It is also feared that the many generous funding and credit schemes being announced may face the same bottlenecks as the ones earlier in covering the last mile.
• Maybe we can do something in these difficult times.

Covering last mile:

• Will it be possible to cover the last mile in reaching the small farmer and landless labourer? 
• There should be a moratoriumon announcing schemes till the ones in operation show progress. 
• In Gujarat, the concern is the waters of the Sardar Sarovar. Water was diverted into the main canal in 2002, the year Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the chief minister of Gujarat. 
• In the first week of August, around a sixth of the farmers in one minor (canal) did not get their share of water.
• The desired strategy has to be one that links the large villages, medium and small towns with the urban areas, not only through the development of economic infrastructure (roads, markets, electricity etc), but also building social facilities in the “rural-urban continuum”. 
• We cannot only concentrate on public private partnerships (PPP) in large cities. In the towns, CRISIL tells us, PPPs do not have much comfort in terms of paying capacity. 
• Policymaking has to take the lead in addressing such disparities. Similar problems exist elsewhere. Difficult policy challenges have to be met. 

 Conclusion:

• In the COVID-19 phase, shall we see to it that the successes are more than the failures? 
• That will be the best tribute to the COVID-19 warriors in rural areas.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, consider the following statements:
1. The Union Cabinet had approved the Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of 1 Lakh Crore rupees. 
2. Only farmers will be the beneficiaries of the scheme. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Mains Questions:
Q.1)What is the significance of agriculture sector in the economy? What are the challenges being faced by it due to pandemic?

Make it less taxing (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 3:Economy 
Prelims level: Tax to GDP ratio
Mains level: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

Context:

• Last week, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the “Transparent Taxation — Honouring the Honest” platform, aimed at easing the compliance burden and rewarding honest tax payers.
• Later, a tweet put out by MyGovIndia, a platform of the government, proposed an increase in the list of reportable financial transactions by individuals, apparently in a bid to widen the tax base. 

Bureaucratic overreach:

• In a country where only a minuscule portion(1.5Cr) of the population pays taxes, efforts to widen the tax base and curbleakages need to be encouraged. 
• However, widening the list of reportable transactions, which will dramatically increase the compliance burden of honest taxpayers, and create even more space for harassment by an overzealous tax administration, is not the way to do this. 
• While the tweet has since been removed, it may be indicative of the dissonanceacross various government departments on the approach to tax administration. 
• Proposals such as these reekof bureaucratic overreach, and would increase the degree of complexity of the tax regime, adding to both the time taken and cost of complying with it.

Increase in external and internal price:

• The proposal that was being contemplatedentailed covering financial transactions, including, among others, hotel payments over Rs 20,000, life insurance premium above Rs 50,000, and health insurance premium over Rs 20,000. 
• Such transactions are incurred by large sections of the salaried middle class — the honest taxpayers the government seeks to reward. 
• It is possible that the costs of complying with such proposals are distorting for salaried individuals while being progressive for non-salaried taxpayers. 
• But they would lead to an increase both in the internal and external price paid for compliance for all individuals. 
• Further, most high value transactions today require an individual to disclose her permanent account number (PAN), which is linked to the Aadhaar number. 
• Surely, in the age of big data, there are better ways of sourcing and cross-checking this data to check for evasion rather than putting the burden of compliance on taxpayers.
• The dissonance between the prime minister’s talk of a tax system that is “seamless, painless and faceless”, and such proposals is too obvious to ignore. 

Conclusion:

• Complex laws and procedures, compoundedby an inefficient and uncooperative tax department will further disincentivisecompliance. 
• Rather, the focus should be on building up the capabilities of the tax department to check tax evasion.
• Increasing burden of compliance on taxpayer is a bad idea. Better ways of checking tax evasionmust be found.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Quit India movement, consider the following statements:
1. On August 8, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave the clarion call of Do or Die to all Indians to drive away Britishers from the country. 
2. The movement had begun from Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Mains Questions:
Q.1)What are the major objectives of the Transparent Taxation?

What is criticism and what is contempt?(The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:Polity 
Prelims level: Contempt of Court
Mains level: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability

Context:

• A recent order of the Supreme Court found senior advocate Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt for two tweets.

Criminal contempt:

• For the purpose of the topic at hand we are concerned only with criminal contempt and not those wilfully disobedient litigants who ignore the orders of the courts. 
• Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 defines criminal contempt. 
• It defines as the publication of any matter or the doing of any other act which lowers the authority of any court; or prejudices or interferes with the due course of any judicial proceeding; or obstructs the administration of justice.
• Does this mean that one can never voice any criticism of the judiciary? No. 
• What the law permits you to say regarding the functioning of Indian courts forms the basis of this particular article, i.e., there is a thin line separating criticism and contempt.
• Freedom of speech is a fundamental right guaranteed to every Indian citizen under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, albeitsubject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2). 
• In C.K. Daphtary v. O.P. Gupta (1971), the Supreme Court held that the existing law of criminal contempt is one such reasonable restriction. 
• That does not mean that one cannot express one’s ireagainst the judiciary for fear of contempt.

Fair critique of a judgement:

• As long back as in 1968, Lord Denning M.R. set out guidelines in matters of contempt of court. He stated that contempt is not the means to uphold the court’s dignity. 
• What does the Indian judiciary deem permissible and impermissible? 
• The Supreme Court has held that if a comment is made against the functioning of a judge, it would have to be seen whether the comment is fair or malicious. 
• If the comment is made against the judge as an individual, the Court would consider whether the comment seeks to interfere with the judge’s administration or is simply in the nature of libel or defamation. 
• The Court would have to determine whether the statement is fair, bona fide, defamatory or contemptuous. 
• A statement would not constitute criminal contempt if it is only against the judge in his or her individual capacity and not in discharge of his or her judicial function. 
• Criminal contempt does not seek to afford protection to judges from statements which they may be exposed to as individuals. Such statements would only leave the individual liable for defamation. 
• Statements which affect the administration of justice or functioning of courts amount to criminal contempt since public perception of the judiciary plays a vital role in the rule of law. 
• An attack on a judge in his or her official capacity denigratesthe judiciary as a whole and the law of criminal contempt would come down upon such a person unless it is a fair critique of a judgment.

Various example:

• Sections 4 and 5 of the Contempt of Courts Act are akinto a defense a person may take in a case of defamation i.e., fair comment. 
• In Re: S.Mugolkar v. Unknown (1978), the Supreme Court held that the judiciary cannot be immunefrom fair criticism, and contempt action is to be used only when an obvious misstatement with malicious intent seeks to bring down public confidence in the courts or seeks to influence the courts. 
• In this judgment, Chief Justice M.H. Beg opined that at times the judiciary adopts a “magnanimously charitable attitude even when utterly uncharitable and unfair criticism of its operations is made out of bona fide concern for improvement.” 
• The same Justice Beg remarked post-retirement that Justice H.R. Khanna’s famous dissent in the ADM Jabalpur case (1976) made no contribution to law but only to his popularity. 
• The Allahabad High Court citing Brahma Prakash Sharma (1953) did not find Justice Beg guilty of contempt.
• Speaking for the Supreme Court in 1988, Justice Sabyasachi Mukherjee found that these statements did not impairthe administration of justice. 
• He only opined that the language could have been milder given the Minister’s own legal background. 
• He also said: “If antisocial elements and criminals have benefited by decisions of the Supreme Court, the fault rests with the laws and the loopholes in the legislation. The Courts are not deterred by such criticisms.”

Conclusion:

• The above cases would show that whether a comment would constitute criminal contempt or not depends entirely on the facts and circumstances of each case. 
• In conclusion, tweets or remarks by conscientious citizens certainly do not affect the dignity of the Indian judiciary.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to marketing of petrol and diesel, consider the following statements:
1. The Ministry of petroleum and Natural Gas has simplified the guidelines for grant of authorization for bulk and retail marketing of Motor Spirit (Petrol) and High Speed Diesel (Diesel). 
2. The simplified guidelines aim at increasing private sector participation in the marketing of Motor Spirit (Petrol) and High Speed Diesel (Diesel). 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) What are the types of contempt of court? 

Jurisdictional conflict in the running of Delhi (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:Polity 
Prelims level: NCT of Delhi
Mains level: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

Context:

• Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in Government of NCT of Delhi vs. Union of India (2018) said the following-
• “The exercise of establishing a democratic and representative form of government for NCT of Delhi by insertion of Articles 239AA and 239AB would turn futileif the Government of Delhi that enjoys the confidence of the people of Delhi is not able to usher in policies and laws over which the Delhi Legislative Assembly has powers to legislate for the NCT of Delhi.” 
• The issue before the Supreme Court was the jurisdictionalconflicts between the government of NCT and the Union Government and its representative, the Lieutenant Governor.

Issues and Possible Solution:

• The judgment which runs into more than 1,000 pages analyses the contentious issues which hobbledthe State government and attempts to resolve them. 
• Very lofty principles concerning constitutional morality, co-operative federalism, constitutional conscience, pragmatic federalism, etc., have been enunciatedin this judgment. 
• It reminds the Lt. Governor what his real functions are. 
• It tells the State government that it should remember that Delhi is a special category Union Territory and lays down the parameters to enabling the harmonious functioning of the government and the Lt. Governor.
• The judgment clarified and settled many contentious issues such as the powers of the Lt. Governor vis-à-vis the elected government.
• It also clarified Lt. Governor’s discretionary powers, the extent of the executive powers of the State government, etc. 
• On the face of it, it did not very clearly delineatethe issues in respect of which the Lt. Governor can refer a decision taken by the Council of Ministers to the President in the event of a difference of opinion between the Lt. Governor and the State government. 
• Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has settled the law in regard to the ‘aid and advice’ of the Council of Ministers by affirming that the Lt. Governor is bound to act on the aid and advice except in respect of ‘Land’, ‘Public Order’ and the ‘Police’.

Loophole:

• The Court has also made it clear that there is no requirement of the concurrence of the Lt. Governor and that he has no power to overrule the decisions of the State government. 
• However, there is a catch here — in the operationalisation of Article 239AA (4) (proviso) which says that in the case of a difference of opinion between the Lt. Governor and his Ministers on any matter, the Lt. Governor shall refer it to the President for decision and act according to that decision.
• In the meantime, if the Lt. Governor thinks that the matter is urgent he can take immediate action on his own. 
• So, ultimately things are back to square one. 
• If a Lt. Governor, for example, wants to frustrate the efforts of the government, he can declare that there is a difference of opinion on any issue decided by the elected government and refer it to the President which in reality means the Union Home Ministry. 
• The Lt. Governor being its representative, it is easier for him to secure a decision in his favour. The State government will be totally helpless in such a situation.

Delhi Riot cases:

• The recent appointment of prosecutors for conducting the Delhi riot cases in the High Court is a case in point. 
• As per the High Court and the Supreme Court, the appointment of prosecutors is exclusively within the purview of the State government. 
• When the government decided to appoint them, the Lt. Governor referred it under proviso to Article 239AA (4) to the President stating that there is a difference of opinion between him and the government over this matter. 
• In the meantime the Lt. Governor appointed all the prosecutors whose names were submitted by the Delhi Police and thus the State government’s list was rejected.
• This episode clearly points to the faultlines which still exist in the power equations in the capital’s administrative structure. 
• The key question is whether the Lt. Governor can refer a routine administrative matter such as the appointment of prosecutors to the President.
• A close reading of the Supreme Court judgment in the NCT Delhi case (supra) would reveal that he cannot. Just take a look at what the Supreme Court says. 
• “The words ‘any matter’ employed in the proviso to Article 239AA (4) cannot be inferred to mean ‘every matter’. 
• The power of the Lieutenant Governor under the said proviso represents the exception and not the general rule which has to be exercised in exceptional circumstances by the Lt. Governor. 

Matters of Jurisdiction:

• The Court further says, “the Lieutenant Governor should not act in a mechanical manner without due application of mind so as to refer every decision of the Council of Ministers to the President.” 
• The highest judicial forum in the country in its own majestic style directs the Lt. Governor not to refer to the President normal administrative matters. 
• Doing so would disturb the concept of Constitutional governance, principles of collaborative federalism and the standards of Constitutional morality. 
• Reference of the appointment of Prosecutors by the Lt. Governor to the President seems to be a negation of these principles.
• There is another point which emerges from the judgment and attention needs to be paid to it. 
• That is that the executive power of the Union does not extend to any of the matters which come within the jurisdiction of the Delhi Assembly. 
• Parliament can legislate for Delhi on any matter in the State List and the Concurrent List but the executive power in relation to Delhi except the ‘Police’, ‘Land’ and ‘Public Orders’ vests only in the State government.
• The Supreme Court says, “Article 239AA (3)(a) reserves the Parliament’s legislative power on all matters in the State List and Concurrent List. 
• But clause (4) explicitly grants to the Government of Delhi executive powers in relation to matters for which the Legislative Assembly has powers to legislate.” 
• This statement of law by the Supreme Court implies that the Union Government is not empowered to exercise executive authority on a matter which comes within the exclusive jurisdiction of the State government. 
• The only occasion when the Union Government can overrule the decision of the State government is when the Lt. Governor refers a matter to the President under the proviso to clause (4). 
• But this proviso cannot totally override the executive decisions of the State government under clause (4).

Resolving the contradiction:

• The judgment of the Supreme Court resolves this apparent contradiction between the powers of Lt. Governor and State government. 
• It enjoinsthe Lt. Governor to keep in mind while making a reference to the President the constitutional morality, principles of collaborative federalism, concept of constitutional governance, objectivity, etc. 
• Although the Court did not specify the matters which can be referred by the Lt. Governor to the President, the high principles described above broadly indicate what can be referred and what cannot. 
• In any case it is unambiguously clear that the executive decisions of the State government cannot be referred to the President merely because the Lt. Governor has a different personal opinion about some of them. 
• The top court wants the Lt. Governor and the Council of Ministers to use in full the mechanism provided in the Government of NCT of Delhi Act and the Transaction of Business Rules to thrash out differences. 
• The Court seems to elevate to a higher level the issues that can be referred to the President as distinct from the normal decisions taken in exercise of the executive powers of the State. 
• The President is the highest Constitutional authority and his decision should be sought only on constitutionally important issues.

The last word:

• Finally, the Supreme Court gives wise advice to the Lt. Governor. 
• “We may reiterate that the Constitutional scheme adopted for the NCT of Delhi conceives of the Council of Ministers as the representatives of the people on the one hand and the Lt. Governor as the nominee of the President on the other who are required to function in harmony within the Constitutional parameters. 
• In the said scheme of things, the Lt. Governor should not emerge as an adversary having a hostile attitude towards the Council of Ministers of Delhi; rather, he should act as a facilitator.”
• So, when we analyse the reference by the Lt. Governor to the President the issue of appointment of prosecutors within the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court, we find that it is not in consonance with these principles enunciatedby the Court. 
• It is against constitutional morality which requires strict adherence to the constitutional principles of collaborative federalism, constitutional balance and the concept of constitutional governance. 

Conclusion:

• All these principles act as bulwarkagainst the usurpationof powers of the State by the Union. 
• When the Court declares the law and requires the constitutional authorities to follow it, they have to act in compliance and not in defiance.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, consider the following statements:
1. It is being observed on August 9.
2. This year’s theme is “COVID-19 and indigenous peoples’ resilience”.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1)What the Supreme Court verdict says regarding Jurisdictional conflict in the running of Delhi? What is the statutory basis for contempt of court? Also highlights its significance and criticism.

A better test: on rapid, inexpensive, saliva test for coronavirus (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:Health 
Prelims level: Saliva Test
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context:

• On August 15, six and a half months after the first novel coronavirus case was reported in the country, India crossed another grim milestone — 50,000 deaths. 
• The total number of cases reported as on Saturday stood at nearly 2.6 million; India has been reporting the most fresh cases in a day in the world since August 2. 
• More than the total death toll, now 51,045, what is troubling is the shorter time taken for the death toll to double.

 Underreporting:

• The toll count crossed 25,000 on July 16 and doubled to over 50,000 in just 30 days. 
• It is certain that there is some extent of underreporting of deaths across the country, especially when deaths have occurred outside the health-care system. 
• For instance, reporting of COVID-19 cases and deaths by States such as Gujarat, West Bengal and Telangana have been suspect right from the beginning. 
• The pandemic-defying trend seen in these States is in stark contrast to the rest of the country. 
• No combination of factors can explain the low daily mortalityfigures in Gujarat and Telangana. 
• In fact, in the last one month, the death toll on any single day in Telangana has never crossed 15 and has been in single digits on many days; the State even reported zero deaths on July 26, while in Gujarat, deaths have never crossed 30, except on one day. 
• However, under-reporting notwithstanding, it is unlikely to be huge enough to change the death toll several-fold.

Saliva Test:

• Like in most Southeast Asian countries, deaths per million population have been low in India. 
• While the case fatality rate too has been low, the continuous dip in the rate might be due to more cases, including asymptomatic ones, being detected due to increased testing with rapid antigen tests. 
• Also, large cities that witnessed strained health-care infrastructure due to the surgein cases, leading to more deaths, seem to have passed the peak. 
• A big shortcoming of rapid antigen tests is their low sensitivity, and despite the ICMR’s recommendation, most States have very low rates of validation of negative test results using the molecular method. 
• Relying mostly on rapid antigen tests will result in many of the infected continuing to spread the virus. 
• If speed, low cost and constraints of molecular testing capacity are the reasons why many States have embraced rapid antigen testing, the emergency use authorisation granted recently by the U.S’s FDA for a saliva test developed by Yale University should be good news for India. 
• This rapid, inexpensive, non-invasive and highly sensitive test that uses saliva samples will not only help detect more cases but also reduce the need for trained care workers to collect samples. 
• With the testing protocol made freely available, India should facilitate rapid adoption of the tests by States, after local validation.  

Conclusion:

• Early results of the saliva test have been encouraging and India will hugely gain by embracing it in lieuof the unreliable rapid antigen test, particularly when the virus spreads to rural areas.
• India should quickly adopt the rapid, inexpensive, and sensitive saliva test.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the pyrolysis, consider the following statements:
1. Plastic from used personal protective equipment (PPE) can be transformed into renewable liquid fuels, according to a new study published in the journal Biofuels.
2. The researchers call for PPE waste to be converted into fuel using chemical a process called pyrolysis.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1)What are different tests used to detect the COVID-19 like one is Rapid-Antigen Test? What are the other mitigation strategies needed? 

Democracy needs an Internet ombudsman (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:Governance 
Prelims level: Personal Data Protection Bill
Mains level: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability

Context:

• In any triangle of relationship, trust is the first casualty. 
• In the interplay between government, companies and citizens for big data, information asymmetry has become so skewedthat it has eroded the very spirit of democracy by limiting the unbiased communication of ideas. 
• Governments and private companies are using the Internet as ‘a means of control and surveillance, extending from cases of fraud detection, storage and exchange of criminal and financial records to those of political surveillance and control’. 
• Citizens who receive a flood of unfiltered information, information with colour but no patterns, information with images that can never add up to the real picture, recirculate the same back into the infantileworld for greater chaos. 

No security:

• The Internet is the new jazz and a tool as also a venue for all political hues.
• It is important to understand how government, political parties and citizens are responding to this new triangular interplay between data protection, privacy and a flow of information. 
• When the Government of India banned 59 Chinese apps on the ground of transgressing Indian security, the question as to why in the first instance were they allowed into India did not get sufficient importance. 
• Was there no security or privacy audit? While Facebook and Amazon are facing scrutiny on their own soil for their data mining policies, how did we allow so many apps without any check? 
• Government policy on national security should be based on advance strategic assessment rather than on a reactive basis.

Control and also data theft:

• On the privacy front, even after the SC had declared privacy as a fundamental right, the government insisted on affidavit in the top court that informational privacy or data privacy cannot be a fundamental right. 
• The Aadhar Act diluted the notion of ‘privacy’ and the standard of proportionality test set up by the Supreme Court. 
• In an ongoing dilemma, even the ‘Aarogya Setu’ app is battling to satisfy the conscience of privacy overseers. 
• The clear impression is that the government is more interested in ‘control’ than ‘protection’ of data. A national policy on data privacy of individuals is still a non-starter. 
• People continue to suffer because of the regular incidents of data theft. India’s cybersecurity watchdog, CERT-In, last year reported huge data theft of Facebook and Twitter users by malicious third party apps. 
• Reportedly, more than 1.3 million credit and debit card details from Indian banks and the data of 6.8 million users from an Indian health-care website were stolen in the same year.

Private firms and elections:

• Private data analytics companies have emerged to exploit the electoral process with the sole objective of customising political messaging. 
• While the customisation of political messaging is not per se illegal, it certainly is unlawful to indulge in unauthorised data mining and collection by the industry. 
• According to a report by Omidyar Network India and Monitor Deloitte, many private enterprises routinely share the personal data of individuals with third parties including political organisations. 
• The fact that there are dedicated IT cells which carry out a digital form of warfare with propaganda and fake news being two powerful weapons is making things more complicated. 
• The present legal framework leaves these menaces outside the ambit of election laws as they were framed in a time and space that was primitive when compared to contemporary technological advancements.
• For citizens, digital media are carriers of images and sounds, rather than words and thoughts, and the system where images run faster than thoughts is suitable for the spread of fake news. 
• Times of fear and uncertainty also provide a fertile ground for disinformation to grow. 
• The fake WhatsApp forwards that triggered the primitive “Us v/s Them” group mentality and is manifested in Delhi riots reports, and the forwards on the novel coronavirus which declare COVID-19 a bacteria and the World Health Organization stating that vegetarians cannot be infected with COVID-19, are all reminders of the potency of data, true or false, in a democracy.

Regulation and independence:

• Should there be a gatekeeper to balance appetites for technology, security and privacy? 
• The answer is yes, so long as the gate keeper is for regulation, not surveillance, and so long as it is completely and genuinely independent. Otherwise it will perform an unacceptable legitimation function. 
• The Personal Data Protection Bill, struggling to be born in Parliament despite conception in 2018, is more about control and surveillance than about promoting privacy and protection of data. 
• Far-reaching exemptions, in large measure swallowing the rule, have been carved out where personal data can be processed. 
• Section 35, which provides the government with unfettered access to personal data, negates the three tests of legality, necessity and proportionality given by the SC. 
• The Bill also allows State and private parties to process personal data without obtaining consent.
• Such broad exemptions would not only open the floodgates for misuse but also reduce India’s prospects of entering into bilateral arrangements for law enforcement access. 
• Selection committees, terms of appointment and of removal establish beyond doubt that the Authority is likely to be like a rehabilitation centre for retired bureaucrats, yet a sinecure wholly controlled by the government. 
• It is a classic case of rolling up judge, jury and executioner. 

Way forward:

• Only an Internet ombudsman with experts on cyber and Internet laws, IT, data management, data science, data security, public administration and national security, and consciously involving eminent sections of civil society, can be an effective antidoteto unregulated technological disruptions.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the online patriotic film festival, consider the following statements:
1. It is organized by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). 
2. The festival is a part of Independence Day Celebrations by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1)Governments and private companies are using the Internet as ‘a means of control and surveillance, in this context, examine whether this surveillance is a threat to privacy and what are the safeguards available?

Limited peace: On UAE-Israel peace agreement (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:International Relations 
Prelims level: UAE-Israel peace agreement
Mains level: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Context:

• The peace agreement reached between Israel and the United Arab Emirates has formalised the thawin Arab-Israeli relations that has been under way for a few years. 
• As part of the deal announced by U.S. President Trump on Thursday, the UAE would recognise the state of Israel and establish formal diplomatic relations. 
• Israel too would haltits controversial plan to annex swathes of the Palestinian West Bank. 

Significance of the landmark agreement:

• It is a landmark agreement given that the UAE is only the third Arab country and the first in the Gulf recognising Israel. 
• It could pave the way for the region’s Sunni Arab kingdoms and the Jewish-majority Israel enhancing regional cooperation against their common foe, Shia Iran. 
• Israel has said it would focus on “expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world”.
• The U.S. has expressed hope that more Arab countries would follow the UAE’s lead — Arab-Israeli relations have largely been conflict-ridden ever since the state of Israel was declared in 1948. 
• For Mr. Trump who played a critical role, it is a rare diplomatic victory just months before he seeks re-election. 
• His other foreign policy bets — Iran, North Korea or Afghanistan — were either disastrous or inconclusive. But in the case of Israel and the UAE, both allies of the U.S., quiet diplomacy worked. 
• The U.S. had arranged several meetings between Israeli and Emirati officials last year, which probably laid the foundations for the agreement.
• While the deal has the potential to change Arab-Israeli relations for good, it also shows how the Arab countries are gradually decoupling themselves from the Palestine question. 
• The UAE offered full diplomatic recognition in return for Israel’s suspension of a planned annexation, not for any relaxation of the actual occupation. 
• As Prime Minister Netanyahu said, Israel made peace with an Arab country without “our returning to the 1967 borders”. 
• The Arab Peace Initiative, a Saudi Arabia initiative endorsed by the Arab League, offered recognition to Israel in exchange for its full withdrawal from the occupied territories. 
• Ironically, the UAE’s peace agreement comes close on the heels of the Trump administration’s back-to-back decisions to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and its sovereignty over the Syrian Golan Heights. 
• Clearly, the UAE has moved away from the Arab initiative. 
• The question now is whether the Emiratis would be able to press the Jewish state to relax its inhuman and illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories and start talks between the occupier and the occupied. 
• If it cannot, the UAE-Israel deal would be of little significance for the Palestinians. 

Conclusion:

• The Palestinian leadership, on its part, should understand the emerging reality in West Asia — the Arab-Israel conflict is coming to a close, but the Palestine-Israel conflict is to continue without any respite.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the National Handloom Day, consider the following statements:
1. National Handloom Day is being organised on August 7 by the Ministry of Textiles. 
2. It aims to commemorate the Quit India Movement which was launched on the same date in the year 1942.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Mains Questions:
Q.1)Highlights the significance of the landmark agreement between Israel and UAE. Also discuss its impact on India.

Talking tough: On the Naga issue (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3:Security 
Prelims level: Nagaland- Isak-Muivah
Mains level: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security

Context:

• Five years since the signing of a framework agreement between the Indian government and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), the deadlock in the talks that came about in October 2019 persists with the emergence of bottlenecks.
• The NSCN (I-M) has demanded that Nagaland Governor R.N. Ravi should be removed as the interlocutorfor talks on the Naga accord. 

Parallel government:

• Talks were expanded in 2017 by including other Naga groups under the banner, the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs). 
• Clearly, the Governor’s letter in June addressed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, alleging the collapse of law and order and that armed gangs “who question the sovereignty and integrity of the nation” were engaging in “blatant extortion”, touched a sore spot for the NSCN (I-M). 
• While the group defended the practice by terming it “tax collection”, the letter was not entirely off the mark. 
• Yet, this has become an issue for the peace process with the NSCN (I-M) going on to release details of the 2015 framework agreement that has not been shared in the public domain so far. 
• While the other Naga groups also took exception to the Governor’s remarks to the Chief Minister, they have differed with the NSCN (I-M) on the demand for Mr. Ravi’s removal as interlocutor.

Greater Nagalim:

• Since 2015, the engagement with other Naga groups has increased, even if the NSCN (I-M) is perceived as the major rebel organisation. 
• The differences between the NNPGs and the NSCN (I-M) are not insignificant. 
• The NSCN (I-M) still insists on a “Greater Nagalim” beyond the boundaries of Nagaland State besides seeking a flag and constitution. 
• Most of the NNPGs based in Nagaland on the other hand have sought to settle the issue without disturbing the State boundaries while keeping the “Greater Nagalim” question in abeyance. 
• Any moves to alter boundaries will intensify ethnic conflicts and insurgencies beyond Nagaland, especially in Manipur. 
• The increasing support in Nagaland for a solution without affecting boundaries should have compelled the NSCN (I-M) to move away from its intransigent position. 
• Instead, the rebel group has sought to redefine the talks process by expressing its lack of confidence in Mr. Ravi. 
• The NNPGs, political parties and other civil society organisations also took exception to the Governor’s stern letter that went beyond raising concerns over law and order. 
• Mr. Ravi wrote that functions such as the “transfer and posting of officials” in charge of law and order above the district level would be done with his approval. 
• But they have delineated clear differences with the NSCN (I-M) on the peace talks issue. 

Conclusion:

• The Central government needs to take their concerns on board and reiterate its commitment to finalising the Naga accord while seeking to re-engage with the NSCN (I-M) without giving in to its arbitrary demands.
• The Centre must re-engage with NSCN (I-M) without giving in to its arbitrary demands

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the National Awards for excellence in Earth System Science, consider the following statements:
1. This year the Life Time Excellence Award is being awarded to Professor Ashok Sahni. 
2. The National Award for Ocean Science & technology is being awarded to Dr. V. V. S. S. Sarma. 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1)What was the Ceasefire Agreement which was signed in 2015?What has happened in the year’s post signing the agreement?What are the present grievances of NSCN-IM?