What's New :
Gist of India Year Book (IYB) 2024. Download Here...
Thematic Current Affairs Compilation. Download here...

22nd October 2022

Pakistan is out of FATF ‘grey list’ on terror funding

Context

Pakistan won a major reprieve, as the FATF, an international watchdog on terror financing and money laundering agreed to remove Pakistan’s name from the 'grey list'.

More on news

  • Financial Action Task Force has agreed to remove Pakistan’s name from the list of countries under “increased monitoring”.
  • FATF has “welcomed Pakistan’s significant progress” in its Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) mechanisms.
  • India has protested Pakistan’s lack of action against cross-border terror groups responsible for attacks on India.
  • India's other neighbor, Myanmar has been moved from the grey list to the “black list” due to actions by the military leadership after the 2021 coup and will face even more severe financial sanctions and an inability to procure IMF, World Bank, and ADB loans.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF):

  • It was established in July 1989 by a Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Paris, initially to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering.
  • In October 2001, the FATF expanded its mandate to incorporate efforts to combat terrorist financing, in addition to money laundering.
  • Since its inception, the FATF has operated under a fixed life span, requiring a specific decision by its Ministers to continue.
  • The current mandate of the FATF (2012-2020) was adopted at a Ministerial meeting in April 2012.
  • Its secretariat is housed administratively at the OECD.
  • FATF was not formed as a formal international Organisation. Rather, the FATF is a task force composed of member governments who agree to fund the FATF temporarily with specific goals and projects.

How many countries are there in the FATF?

  • The FATF, which reportedly comprises 36 countries and two regional organizations (European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council), works to identify national-level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting the international financial system from misuse.

What are the Black List and Grey List? Those are two types of lists that FATF maintains. A blacklist is given to the countries that FATF considers uncooperative tax havens. These countries are known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs). A Grey list is a warning given to the country that it might come on the Black list. But even when a country comes under a grey list it faces many problems like problems in getting loans Economic sanctions Reduction in trade.

Information and Broadcasting ministry’s orders for the State Governments

Context

In view of the recommendations as per Telecom regulatory authority of India (TRAI), the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has ordered the State Governments’ are not allowed to enter into Educational broadcasting on their own and need to take consent from the public broadcaster, the ‘Prasar Bharati’.

About

The Recent Guidelines:

  • The entry of Central/State/Union Territory governments into the broadcast activity for educational purposes would be allowed through Prasar Bharati route via "suitable"
  • All such existing activities would also have to be brought under its purview.
  • Till then, uninterrupted broadcast of the on-going education channels and other scheduled programmes would be allowed.
  • Under the existing policy guidelines, government universities, colleges, schools, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, certain autonomous bodies and agricultural universities are eligible to set up community radios.

TRAI:

  • TRAI regulates telecom services including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier vested in the Central Government.
  • It also aims to provide a fair and transparent policy environment which promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair competition.
  • Headquarters: The head office of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is located at New Delhi.

Suggestions of TRAI:

  • In 2012, the TRAI had suggested that the Central and State governments, their companies, undertakings, joint ventures with the private sector and the entities funded by the governments should not be allowed to enter the business of broadcasting and, or, distribution of TV channels.
  • It relied upon the Sarkaria Commission’s recommendation and the ‘Cricket Association case’

Supreme Courts’ Verdict:

  • The SC has observed that public service broadcasting should be in the hands of a corporation (s) set up under a statute and the constitution of such a corporation (s) should be such as to ensure their impartiality in political, economic and social matters and on other public issues.

Do States have a call on their own Broadcasting in India?

  • In the context of the demand by some States to have their own broadcasting stations, the TRAI had cited the views of Sarkaria Commission and the Verghese Committee, the power of an exclusive call to the States regarding broadcasting could not be supported.

Prasar Bharati: Roles and Working

  • Prasar Bharati, is an independent statutory, autonomous body set up by an Act of Parliament.
  • It comprises of the Doordarshan Television Network and Akashvani All India Radio, which were earlier media units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  • The Parliament of India passed the Prasar Bharati Act to grant this autonomy in 1990, but it was not enacted until 15 September 1997.

Do you know?

Reuters Institute’ Digital News Report 2021 ‘revealed that DD News and All India Radio are the most trusted News brands in India.

  • Roles assigned: The TRAI has suggested that the body should fulfil the legitimate aspirations of government entities as regards broadcasting activities, while at the same time recommending the 'arm’s length' relationship between Prasar Bharati and the government be further strengthened to enhance its autonomy and functional independence.
  • Composition:

The Prasar Bharati Act vests the general superintendence, direction, and management of affairs of the Corporation in the Prasar Bharati Board which may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the corporation.

The Prasar Bharati Board consists of:

  • Chairman
  • One Executive Member
  • One Member (Finance)
  • One Member (Personnel)
  • Six Part-time Members
  • Director-General (Akashvani), ex officio
  • Director-General (Doordarshan), ex officio
  • One representative of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), to be nominated by that Ministry and
  • Two representatives of the employees, of whom one shall be elected by the engineering staff from amongst themselves and one, shall be elected by the other employee from amongst themselves.
  • The President of India appoints the chairman and the other Members, except the ex officio members, nominated member and the elected members. Board meetings must be held at least once in every three months each year.

Regulations for Online Child Sexual Abuse in India

Context

Recently, as per the data collected by the CBI via conducting searches across States and Union Territories as part of a pan-India operation, ‘Megh Chakra’ against the online circulation and sharing of Child Sexual Abusive Material (CSAM), growing instances of online child sexual abuses has been found.

There is a need to focus on the legislations regarding the issue.

Background

  • In India, though viewing adult pornography in private is not an offence; seeking, browsing, downloading or exchanging child pornography is an offence punishable under the IT Act.
  • However, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are exempted from liability for any third-party data if they do not initiate the transmission.
  • As the public reporting of circulation of online CSAM is very low and there is no system of automatic electronic monitoring, India’s enforcement agencies are largely dependent on foreign agencies for the requisite information.
  • In November 2021, a similar exercise code-named “Operation Carbon” was launched by the CBI, against the cause.

About

Legislations against Online child sexual abuse in India:

  • The IT Act 2000:
    • Section 67B of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 provides stringent punishment for publishing, transmitting, or viewing child sexual abuse material online.
    • The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 empower the users of Intermediaries and make the social media platforms accountable for their safety.
    • The Rules require the intermediaries to adopt a robust grievance redressal mechanism including time-bound disposal of grievances.
    • The government periodically blocks the websites containing outer child sexual abuse material (CSAM) based on INTERPOL’s “worst of the list” received through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the national nodal agency for Interpol in India.
    • The Information Technology Act, of 2000 provides a legal framework for addressing all types of prevailing cybercrimes reported in the country.
  • POCSO Act:
    • Further, Section 14 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act provides Punishment for using children for pornographic purposes. As per section 14:
    • Whoever uses a child or children for pornographic purposes shall be punished with imprisonment for a term that shall not be less than five years.

Preventing children abuse:

  1. The role of parents: Parents must educate children about sexual advances or threats and protect them from abuse through the concept of unacceptable “bad touch”. This communication must be constant, friendly, and frank, and teach children how their sexuality works so they don’t unknowingly harass others.
  2. Donate money to NGOs: NGOs like Save the Children have dedicated services fighting child sex abuse and providing rehab to victims of abuse. It conducts pan-India programs engaging parents, teachers, communities, and even children about sexual abuse. Adolescents are involved in elaborate projects on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH).
  3. Reporting incidents of child abuse:
    • Online system for children to report sexual abuse
    • Report it to the police

India’s efforts so far:

  • ‘Aarambh India’, a Mumbai-based non-governmental organization, partnered with the IWF and launched India’s first online reporting portal in September 2016 to report images and videos of child abuse.
  • The Supreme Court of India, in Shreya Singhal (2015), said that Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act means that the ISP, only upon receiving actual knowledge of the court order or on being notified by the appropriate government, shall remove or disable access to illegal contents.
    • Thus, ISPs are exempted from the liability of any third-party information.
  • In the Kamlesh Vaswani (WP(C) 177/2013) case, the petitioner sought a complete ban on pornography. 
  • As per Section 88 of the IT Act, the orders were issued in March 2015 to Internet Service Providers to disable nine (domain) URLs that hosted contents in violation of the morality and decency clause of Article 19(2) of the Constitution.

Take immediate action against hate speech: SC

Context

The Supreme Court has said that it would attract proceedings for contempt of court against the officers, found hesitant in taking immediate and sou moto action in cases of hate speech.

Details:

  • The directions were primarily for the police of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
  • The court has issued notices to the three States and asked them to submit reports on actions taken on hate speech cases.
  • SC has also said, that Police should take legal actions against hate-speech makers, "irrespective of their religion so that the secular character of the country is preserved".

What is hate speech?

  • In common language, “hate speech” loosely refers to offensive discourse targeting a group or an individual based on inherent characteristics - such as race, religion, or gender - and that may threaten social peace.
  • According to the 267th Report of the Law Commission of India, Hate Speech is stated as an incitement to hatred primarily against a group of persons defined in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, and the like.

Reasons for Hate Speech:

  • Individuals believe in stereotypes that are ingrained in their minds and these stereotypes lead them to believe that a class or group of persons is inferior to them and as such cannot have the same rights as them.
  • The stubbornness to stick to a particular ideology without caring for the right to co-exist peacefully adds further fuel to the fire of hate speech.

Legal Provisions of Hate Speech in India

  • Responsible speech is the essence of the liberty granted under Article 21 of the Constitution.
  • Article 19(2) of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression to all citizens of India.
  • Hate speech has not been defined in any law in India. However, legal provisions in certain legislations prohibit select forms of speech as an exception to freedom of speech.

Legislations around Hate speech

The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter IPC):

  • Section 124A IPC penalizes sedition
  • Section 153A IPC penalizes ‘the promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.
  • Section 153B IPC penalizes ‘imputations, and assertions prejudicial to national integration.
  • Section 295A IPC penalizes ‘deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.
  • Section 298 IPC penalizes ‘uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person.
  • Section 505(1) and (2) IPC penalizes the publication or circulation of any statement, rumor, or report causing public mischief and enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes.

Migration of Critically endangered Great Indian Bustards to Pakistan

Context

In a recent sighting of three Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) inside the Pakistan’s Cholistan desert has given rise to speculation that the ‘endangered birds’ might have flown across the international border from India’s Desert National Park (DNP) due to loss of habitat for their survival and hunting.

Background

  • The Great Indian Bustard (GIB), which is the State bird of Rajasthan, is also considered India’s most critically endangered bird and is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.
  • Its population of about 150 in Rajasthan accounts for 95% of its total world population.
  • The captive breeding of GIBs was taken up in the DNP through a project executed by the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India in 2019.
About

The Great Indian Bustard (GIBs):

  • The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), is a bustard native to the Indian subcontinent. Bustards are large terrestrial birds found in dry grasslands and steppe regions.
  • It is also known as the Indian Bustard; it is among the heaviest flying birds in existence.
  • It is the State bird of Rajasthan and is considered India’s most critically endangered bird.
  • It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology.
  • The GIB is now found in a small number only in western Rajasthan, while Gujarat claims to have a few females left in its Banni Grassland Reserve.
  • Population: As per the last count of the GIB in 2018, there were around 127 birds in the Desert National Park or the DNP in Rajasthan.

  • Protection Status:
    • International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List: Critically Endangered
    • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix I
    • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
    • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule 1

Reasons behind the Migration of GIBs:

  • As Rajasthan shares the international border with Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces, it is suspected that the GIBs might have flown across to the neighboring country’s desert.
  • The GIBs in the Thar Desert has been facing threat to their survival because of intensive agricultural practices, lying of power lines, and industrialization.
  • Experts have observed that the endangered birds have raised their families within the Desert National Park and outside in the rural pockets, where feed and grassland habitat is available.
  • They also move in the crop fields to pick up insects and lizards and like to hide there.

What are the Concerns over the GIBs’ migration?

  • Pakistan cases of exploiting GIBs: The Concern of India regarding their migration to Pakistan’s desert region is, they are also under the critically endangered species category in Pakistan due to cases of excessive hunting and poaching.
  • India's lack of managing the GIBs: Against the efforts of India to the conservation of GIBs, their habitat still remains to deteriorate and there is a threat to them.

The GIB- Breeding Project:

  • The WII's team has been working on ex-situ breeding of GIB for the last three years. They are aiming at preserving the GIBs, whose population has reduced to less than 150 in the wild.
  • The breeding project focuses on spatial prioritization, risk characterization, and conservation management with endangered species.
  • The laying of clutches of two eggs in 2020 aroused immense curiosity, after which the WII’s experts became vigilant in monitoring the nests to assess if such an instance would get repeated.
  • The state government's Forest Department started the breeding project in collaboration with the WII to raise the new stock of GIB chicks in 2019 after a long wait by environmentalists for nearly four decades.

 

Editorial

A crisis is brewing in the coffee industry

Context:

Coffee cultivation is becoming an increasingly loss-making proposition in India. In addition to high input costs & labor shortages, changes in climate patterns are also affecting the industry.

The destruction caused by Rain patterns

  • Damage due to Erratic weather conditions: The plantation in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu has been devastated by recent heavy rains and dry spells between 2015 and 2018.
  • Need for weather-resistant Varieties: Heavy rainfall and landslides have resulted in infruit rot, stalk rot, and root rot. Sturdy and weather-resistant varieties of coffee may provide a solution.

Cost of financing and weak Infrastructure:

  • Producers are getting marginalized: The market is rapidly turning out to be a buyer-driver and producers are losing their influence.
  • Cost of Financing: The lending rates are at around 12%, which is too high compared to single-digit rates in other countries. Small growers are often left with little money to repay loans.
  • Higher cost Irrigation: Frequent power cuts and increasing cost of diesel make the irrigation activity costlier. There is a need to work on developing a reliable infrastructure.
You must be logged in to get greater insights.

ThinkQ

img
QUIZ - 22nd October 2022

Mains Question:

Question: What are the major socio-economic implications arising out of Child abuse? Also discuss required policy intervention to wipe out child abuse in the country. (150 words)

 Approach 

  • Introduction- child abuse in India (provide data)
  • Discuss socio-economic impact 
    • excessive or prolonged activation of stress response systems, or toxic stress
    • Racism and discrimination 
    • Economic burden
    • inequalities in education
  • India’s legal stance on child abuse and prevention
    • India’s Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act of 2012 (POCSO)
    • Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act
  • Required measures 
    • Implementation and enforcement of laws
    • Education and life skills approaches
    • multi-stakeholder support
  • Conclude accordingly 
GS Mains Classes GS Classes 2024 GS Classes 2024 UPSC Study Material

Verifying, please be patient.

Our Centers

DELHI (Karol Bagh)

GS SCORE, 1B, Second Floor, Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 (Beside Karol Bagh Metro Station Gate No. 8)

Get directions on Google Maps

BHUBANESWAR (Jaydev Vihar)

GS SCORE, Plot No.2298, Jaydev Vihar Square, Near HCG Day Care, BBSR - 751013

Get directions on Google Maps

LUCKNOW (Aliganj)

GS SCORE, 2nd Floor, B-33, Sangam Chauraha, Sector H, Aliganj, Lucknow, UP - 226024

Get directions on Google Maps

Enquire Now