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23rd November 2022

Supreme Court on short tenures of Chief Election Commissioners

Context

In a statement came by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, the short tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is hindering the ‘independence of the office’.

About

The Issue:

  • It has been observed over several years that the tenure of the office of CEC remained to be too short. In the year 2014 to 2022, there have been eight CECs were appointed.
  • This has drawn arguments against the Centre’s policy to appoint a person in office whose tenure remains short by default.
  • This disturbs the working and efficiency of the Election Commission. Hence, the bench has seen issues with the appointment of CECs.

The Election Commission of India (ECI):

  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.
  • The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.

It is not concerned with the elections of panchayats and municipalities in the states. For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election Commission.

 

Important Constitutional Provisions:

Part XV (Article 324-329) of the Indian Constitution:

  • Article 324: Superintendence, direction, and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission.
  • Article 325: No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on the grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex.
  • Article 326: Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage.
  • Article 327: Power of Parliament to make provisions with respect to elections to Legislatures.
  • Article 328: Power of Legislature of a State to make provision with respect to elections to such Legislature.
  • Article 329: Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.

Structure of the Commission:

  • Originally the commission had only one election commissioner but after the Election Commissioner Amendment Act 1989, it has been made a multi-member body
  • The Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and a number of other election commissioners if any, as the President may from time to time fix.
  • Presently, it consists of the CEC and two Election Commissioners.
  • At the state level, the election commission is helped by the Chief Electoral Officer who is an IAS rank Officer.

The Chief Election Commissioner:

  • The Chief Election Commissioner of India heads the Election Commission of India.
  • This power of the Election Commission of India is derived from Article 324 of the Constitution of India.

Appointment of CEC:

  • There is no prescribed procedure for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners as per the constitution.
  • Under the Transaction of Business rules, the President shall appoint the CEC and EC based on the recommendations made by the Prime Minister.
  • Therefore, it is the executive power of the President to appoint CEC and ECs.
  • However, according to Article 324(5), the Parliament has the power to regulate the terms of conditions of service and tenure of ECs. It is under this article that the Parliament has made laws to date.

Tenure of Commissioners:

  • They have a fixed tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
  • They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court (SC) of India.

Removal:

  • They can resign anytime or can also be removed before the expiry of their term.
  • The CEC can be removed from office only through a process of removal similar to that of an SC judge by Parliament.

Concerns over the tenure of CEC vs. Centre’s Intervention:

  • Lack of Transparency: Centre’s intervention in the appointment of CEC remains highly at the discretion of the present government and its suggestion to the President.
  • Lack of Consensus-based appointment: There is no procedure to draw suggestions before appointing the CEC.
  • The strategic move by the Centre: As the Election commission is an important and independent body; it must have its head to also be independent of any biases which are withdrawn.
  • As Government tends to appoint a person who works in their favor.

Suggestions:

  • Law Commission 255thReport on Electoral Reforms: Strengthening the office of the Election Commission of India:

The Commission in its report inter-alia suggested, the ECI must be strengthened by:

    • Giving equal constitutional protection to all members of the Commission in matters of removability;
    • Making the appointment process of the Election Commissioners and the CEC consultative; and
    • Creating a permanent, independent Secretariat for the ECI.
  • Need for a Collegium system:  Appointments through collegium or any other system as discussed in the constitutional debate can bring more transparency in the appointment process.

Skill training of MGNREGA workers lags

Context

The ‘Unnati scheme has been launched by the Central government with an aim to enhance the Skill base of MGNREGA workers, which is now being surrounded by arguments for its ignorance to include beneficiaries and failure to address India’s dire need for skilled manpower.

Background:

  • Since its inception in 2020, just a little over 25,000 persons have been trained under the project, falling far short of its target of 2 lakh. The project was estimated to end by March 2022 but has now been extended for two years.
  • The issue rises as on the one hand there are many households who are just dependent on MGNREGA for their livelihood. In contrast, the beneficiaries identified by the states for skill and Training remain short in numbers.
  • The State government’s indifference towards the Unnati project is making the task difficult.
  • The central ministry has ordered the states to cover at least 20% of the households that complete 100 days of work under MGNREGA under the scheme (Unnati) to utilize its potential fully.
About

The Unnati Scheme:

  • The Unnati project is meant for providing training for one adult member (of age 18-45 years old) of a household who has completed 100 days of work under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in the previous financial year from the year of commencement of the project. 
  • Hence, it is a skilling project intended to upgrade the skill base of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA beneficiaries, thereby improving their livelihoods, so that they can move from their current partial employment to full-time employment and hence reduce their dependence on Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.
  • Under the project, the Union Rural Development Ministry wants to link the performances of the States under the project with its labor budget for the upcoming financial year.

Features:

  • The household, from which candidates are selected for the training, continues to enjoy 100 days of work under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.
  • The candidates undergoing training are paid a stipend for a maximum period of 100 days and for one program per household as per the wage rate prevailing in the concerned State/UT as per the provisions of the project.
  • Full expenditures towards a stipend, against wage loss compensation, are entirely borne by the Central Government.
  • A total of 2, 00,000 beneficiaries shall be imparted training under this project in a span of three years in 26 States and 2 UTs.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA):

  • MGNREGA is one of the largest work guarantee programs in the world launched in 2005 by the Ministry of Rural development.
  • The scheme's primary objective is to guarantee 100 days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work.
  • As of 2022-23, there are 15.4 crores, of active workers, under the MGNREGA.

How will it ensure Skill enhancement?

  • Under the project, the selected candidates are skilled using three established training programs — the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushal Yojana (DDU-GKY), the Rural Self Training Institute (RSETI), and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
  • The Grameen Kaushalya Yojana is a placement-linked program, in which 70% of the trained candidates have to be compulsorily employed with a minimum salary of Rs6,000 per month.
  • The RSETI is for entrepreneurial skills where persons in the age group of 18-45 get short-term residential training with long-term hand-holding support for up to two years.
  • Krishi Vigyan Kendratrains candidates in trades related to the agricultural sectors.

Need for Skilled Manpower in India:

  • According to the 2018 report by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), India had about 468 million people in its workforce. Around 92% of them were in the informal sector.
  • Around 31% were illiterate, only 13% had primary education, and only 6% were college graduates.
  • Further, only about 2% of the workforce had formal vocational training, and only 9% had non-formal vocational training.
  • Hence, there is a need for India to increase its skilled manpower.

Challenge with India’s skill development schemes:

  • Fails to understand market demands: A distinct disadvantage of India’s approach towards skilling has been to ignore the needs of the market. For the most part, skills have been provided in a top-down fashion.
  • Thus, most skilling efforts focus almost solely on providing certain skills but fail to “match” them with the market's needs.

Surveillance architecture in India violating privacy of individuals

Context

The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill has been released for public comments recently, which has again faced criticism for breaching the privacy laws of Individuals.

About
  • The journey toward demands for data protection legislation began in 2011 when the Department of Personnel and Training initiated discussions on the Right to Privacy Bill, 2011.
  • Since then civil society organizations, lawyers, and politicians have consistently demanded surveillance reform and drafted suggestions in the field.
  • The re-introduction of the Data Protection Bill, 2022 has also drawn the same comments and blamed to breach the privacy norms of individuals.
  • So, let us assess how laws for data protection breach the Privacy of individuals in India.

Right to Privacy Bill, 2011

  • It creates a statutory Right to Privacy by means of a broad definition and then creates specific protections for it.
  • The government interception and telephone tapping mechanism are changed moderately from the existing system.
  • A regulatory mechanism is created through the Data Protection Authority of India.
  • Further, in the system suggested, the Bill identifies specific officers/position holders in various entities (that may be involved in various breaches of the right) who shall be held responsible, in case of any wrongful act or any default.
  • Disputes under the Bill will be referred to the Cyber Appellate Tribunal which has been set up under the Information Technology Act.

The issue with the new Bill:

  • Clause 18(2); of the Data Protection Bill 2022 allows the Union government to provide blanket exemptions for selected government agencies.
    • However, this Bill also permits exemption to private sector entities that may include individual companies or a class of them, by assessing the volume and nature of personal data under Clause 18(3).
  • The proposed legislation permit security agencies of the European Union and the U.S. to claim exemptions on a case-by-case basis, depending on why they are collecting personal data.
    • They do not contain blanket exemption powers to an entire government entity.
  • Under the new Bill, exempted state agencies and private entities will not be within the purview of the Data Protection Board, the body responsible for imposing penalties in case fiduciaries infringe privacy.

Other Laws for Data Protection in India violating Privacy norms:

The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022:

  • The law allows for the overzealous collection and storage of biometric data for 75 years, which is in direct contrast with the principles of data minimization and prevention of unauthorized collection of personal data.

The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885;

  • Under Section 5(2) of this law, the government can intercept calls only in certain situations:
    • Interests in the sovereignty and integrity of India,
    • Security of the state,
    • Friendly relations with foreign states or public order,
    • Preventing incitement to the commission of an offense.
  • In Public Union for Civil Liberties v Union of India (1996), the Supreme Court pointed out the lack of procedural safeguards in the provisions of the Telegraph Act and laid down the following observations:
    • Tapping is a serious invasion of an individual’s privacy.
    • It is no doubt correct that every Government exercises some degree of surveillance operation as a part of its intelligence outfit but at the same time citizen’s right to privacy has to be protected.

The Information Technology Act, 2000:

  • Section 69 of the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology (Procedure for Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring, and Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009 were enacted to further the legal framework for electronic surveillance.
  • However, the scope of Section 69 of the IT Act is much broader and vague than the Telegraph Act as the only condition precedent for engaging in electronic surveillance is for the “investigation of an offense”.
  • These provisions are problematic and offer the government total opacity in respect of its interception and monitoring activities.

Threats to Privacy:

  • Affects Fundamental Rights: The very existence of a surveillance system impacts the right to privacy (held by the SC in the K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India case, 2017) and the exercise of freedom of speech and personal liberty under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
  • Authoritarian Regime: Surveillance promotes the spread of authoritarianism in the government functioning since it allows the executive to exercise a disproportionate amount of power over the citizen and impacts their personal lives.
  • Threat to Freedom of Press: Current revelations over the use of Pegasus highlights that surveillance was also conducted on many journalists. This affects the freedom of the press.

Foreign Secretary meets Myanmar military leaders

Context

India’s foreign secretary met with members of Myanmar’s military junta regime, to discuss border management.

Highlights of the meet:

  • Key issues of mutual importance were discussed:
    • Border Management
    • Human Trafficking
    • Revived Infrastructure projects
    • Collaboration in the regional and multilateral context
  • No meeting with the disposed of National Unity Government
  • Made no demand for the release of detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Importance of India-Myanmar relations:

  • Myanmar is geopolitically significant to India as it stands at the center of the India-Southeast Asia geography.
  • Myanmar is the only country that sits at the intersection of India’s “Neighborhood First” policy and “Act East” policy.
  • Myanmar is an essential element in India’s practice of regional diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific and serves as a land bridge to connect South Asia and Southeast Asia.
  • As part of India’s SAGAR Vision, India developed the Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine state which seems to be India’s answer to the Chinese-fronted Kyaukpyu port, which is intended to cement China’s geostrategic footprint in Rakhine.
  • Myanmar is an important member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a multilateral subregional organization that is committed to fostering bilateral or regional cooperation among Bay of Bengal countries.
  • To elevate its “Made in India” arms industry, India has identified Myanmar as key to increasing its military exports.

Challenges in India-Myanmar relations:

  • China Factor: Beijing’s bidding into Myanmar regional affairs. Myanmar is inevitability a “kingmaker” in Sino-Indian relations.
  • Trade deficit: With a total bilateral trade of $2 billion, India’s economic engagement with Myanmar lags behind China.
    • Myanmar is vital to fulfilling India’s ambition to become a $5 trillion economy by 2024.
    • India’s withdrawal from Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership can further increase this trade gap.
  • Rohingya Issue: Rohingya crisis in Myanmar has increased the plight of the hapless Rohingya which is not in India’s national security interest in the northeast.
  • Porous Indo-Myanmar Border: The 1643-km-long Indo-Myanmar border, which facilitates the cross-border movement of militants, illegal arms, and drugs, is extremely porous.
  • Infrastructure and Connectivity: India has cultivated several infrastructure and development projects with Myanmar, which it sees as the “gateway to the East” and ASEAN countries:
    • Operationalization of the crucial Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine state by 2021 is committed.
    • India assists infrastructure projects such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.
    • The Kaladan project will link Kolkata to Sittwe in Myanmar and then from Myanmar’s Kaladan river to India’s northeast.
  • The two countries signed the Land Border Crossing Agreement in 2018, which allowed bona fide travelers with valid documents to cross the border at two international points of entry/exit- Moreh-Tamu and Zokhawthar-Rih.
  • Security: Indian needs perpetual support and coordination from Myanmar for the maintenance of security and stability along its North East border areas.
  • Energy: The two countries are also expanding their partnership in the area of energy cooperation. India approved an investment of over USD 120 million in the Shwe Oil and Gas project.
  • Rohingya Issues: India is committed to ensuring the safe, sustainable, and speedy return of Rohingya refugees from refugee camps in India and Bangladesh.
  • Investment: With Indian investments of over USD 1.2 billion, Myanmar holds considerable importance than any other country in South Asia.

India-Australia Trade Agreement

Context

The Australian Parliament has ratified the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) with India. This pact has been seen as an opportunity for growing Indian Businesses.

Background:

  • In September 2021, Australia and India formally re-launched CECA negotiations with the intention of concluding an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA).
  • It aims to swiftly liberalize and deepen bilateral trade in goods and services, and to then use this foundation to resume negotiations on the more ambitious CECA.
About

The India-Australia ECTA:

  • It covers almost all the tariff lines dealt in by India and Australia.

Tariff Lines: It is a product as defined in lists of tariff rates. A specific tariff is a tax imposed directly onto one imported good and does not depend on the value of that imported good. A specific tariff is usually based on the weight or number of imported goods.

  • India will benefit from preferential market access provided by Australia on 100% of its tariff lines.
  • India will be offering preferential access to Australia on over 70% of its tariff lines.
  • Under the agreement, Indian graduates from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) will be granted extended post-study work visas.
  • It will provide zero-duty access to 96% of India’s exports to Australia and will give about 85% of Australia’s exports zero-duty access to the Indian market
  • It will boost bilateral trade in goods and services to USD 45-50 billion over five years, up from around USD 27 billion, and generate over one million jobs in India, according to a government estimate.

Significance:

  • Enhanced Exports: Currently, Indian exports face a tariff disadvantage of 4-5% in many labor-intensive sectors vis-à-vis competitors in the Australian market such as China, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
  • Removing these barriers under the ECTA can enhance India’s merchandise exports significantly.
  • Cheaper Raw Materials: Australian exports to India are more concentrated in raw materials and intermediate products. Due to zero-duty access to 85% of Australian products, many industries in India will get cheaper raw materials and thus become more competitive, particularly in sectors like steel, aluminum, power, engineering, and so on.
  • Change in Perceptions for India: The recent trade agreement will also assist in changing perceptions in the developed world which has always typecast India as ‘protectionist’ and address skepticism around India’s openness to do business with the world.

Impacts on India:

  • Global supply chains get strengthened: India’s rationale for signing a comprehensive economic agreement with these countries is to be part of the global value chains (GVCs), both, trade and foreign investment are central to GVCs.
  • Facilitate global stance: Many recent mega-economic treaties such as the RCEP Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) include chapters on investment protection.
  • Stronger Indo-Pacific: Strong Australia-India economic ties will also pave the way for a stronger Indo-Pacific economic architecture, that’s not just based on flows of physical goods, money, and people, but on the basis of building capacity-led connections, complementarities, sustainable commitments, and mutual dependence across countries and sub-regions.

 

Centre likely to increase its allocation for rural schemes

Context

The Central Government is likely to raise its allocation to the Rural Development Ministry for the current fiscal year.

Details:

Important Schemes

  • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005
  • Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)
  • Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
  • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G)
  • PM-KISAN Scheme
  • Allocation to the rural development ministry is likely to increase by 18% to Rs 1.60 lakh crore ($14.19 billion) for the current fiscal year.
  • India had allocated Rs 1.36 lakh crore for 2022/23 for various schemes in the hinterland.
  • The stress in rural areas has led to increased demand for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA).
  • The rural unemployment rate was 8.04% in October.

Reason for rural areas being under stress

  • Slow recovery to pre-pandemic level
  • Rising Inflation
  • Limited non-farm job opportunities

The declining trend of spending on Government Schemes:

  • Declining fertilizer subsidies: Subsidies have been in decline over the last few years; actual government spending on fertilizers in FY2021 reached Rs1,27,921 crore.

Issues with MGNREGA:

  • Low Wage Rate
  • Inadequate Financing
  • Delay in Payment of Wages
  • Ineffective Role of PRI
  • Fabrication of Job cards
  • Reduced budget of MGNREGA: The allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) went down by approximately 25% in FY22-23.
  • Delayed payments for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA): ASHA, who are the first responders, there have been delays in salaries for up to six months.
  • Less funding or wildlife habitat development: Funding under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has declined: from Rs165 crores (FY18-19) to Rs124.5 crores (FY19-20), to Rs87.6 crores (FY2021).

RBI’s concerns on slow deposit growth

Context

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officials, met with MDs and CEOs of public and certain private sector banks on lagging growth in deposits and other issues.

Why have banks been asked to remain “watchful”?

  • The following three Sources are the primary cause of the Present Global headwinds:
  • Russian actions in Ukraine impacting energy supplies and prices
  • Frequent lockdowns in China due to its zero-COVID policy
  • The increased cost of living because of resulting inflationary pressures
  • Monetary policies across the globe: Tightening of monetary policies and spurring concerns about financial stability is a common trend that is resulting in:
  • It is lowering external demand and asking economic growth to be solely driven by domestic demand which might not be sufficiently strong.
  • Higher global inflation and interest rates are impacting the flow of capital into the economy. It is putting pressure on the domestic currency which is resulting in higher imported inflation.

Imported inflation: Increases in the prices of imported fuels, materials, and components increase domestic costs of production and lead to increases in the prices of domestically produced goods.

How are we placed with respect to deposits and credit growth?

  • RBI’s latest weekly data:
  • Aggregate deposits have grown 8.2% in comparison to 11.4% on a year-over-year basis.
  • Borrowing has jumped 17% in comparison to a 7.1% on a year-over-year basis.
  • Slow deposit growth:
  • Deposit rates not going up is a reason for slower deposit growth.
  • This has squeezed the ability of banks to disburse more loans.

Banks’ Asset quality:

  • Gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) have consistently declined.
  • Gross non-performing assets are the sum of all the loans that have been defaulted by the individuals who have acquired loans from the financial institution. Net non-performing assets are the amount that is realized after the provision amount has been deducted from the gross non-performing assets.
  • Corporate deleveraging: Indian corporates over the years have been able to cut down on their debt level and improve their credit profiles.

Economic Effects of Deleveraging:

  • Although deleveraging is typically good for companies, if it occurs during a recession or an economic downturn, it can limit credit growth in an economy.
  • As companies deleverage and cut their borrowing, the downward spiral in the economy can accelerate.
  • Corporate NPAs are expected to come down: The setting up of the National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd is expected to take over some of the legacy corporate loan NPAs which are still with banks.

Role for women in U.N. peacekeeping

Context

At the inaugural of India-ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting at Siem Reap in Cambodia to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of India-ASEAN relations, the Indian defence Minister has made a proposal to include an initiative for women in United Nations Peacekeeping (UNPK) operations.

Key highlights of the event:

The two proposals have been put forward by India for expanding the scope and the depth of the India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) defence relations.

  • Role of women in peacekeeping: One of the initiatives proposed was the ‘India-ASEAN Initiative for women in UNPK operations’ which includes:
    • To conduct tailor-made courses for women peacekeepers of ASEAN member states at the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in India and
    • To conduct a ‘Table Top Exercise’ in India for women officers from ASEAN incorporating facets of UNPK challenges.
  • Plastic: The second initiative on ‘marine plastic pollution’ includes channelizing the ‘energy of the youth’ towards addressing the critical issue of marine pollution highlighting the significant work done by the NCC in the cleaning of Indian beaches and raising awareness about plastic pollution in the coastal community.
  • India also has emphasised on the need for both countries to work together for capability building in critical domains such as military aviation, artificial intelligence and cyber technology.
  • The centrality of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific region is the cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy.

Role of Women in UN Peacekeeping:

  • Peacekeeping is a cornerstone of the UN's peace and security work, and women peacekeepers are a key to its success.
  • Today, more women serve in leadership positions in UN Peacekeeping than ever before.
  • Women serve in the UN as part of the military, the police and as civilians.
  • UN Peacekeeping is committed to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security”, which calls for the full realization of the rights of women to sit at both the political table and as the protectors of peace in their own countries.
  • Captains Tamanna and Nayma are Bangladeshi's first female military pilots, serving in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

Benefits of inclusion of women:

  • They strive to be role models for local women and girls while overcoming dangerous challenges in the regions.
  • They can serve in positions of leadership, as well as military observers, staff officers and troops.
  • They can carry out patrols, plan operations, fly helicopters, perform medical outreach, help clear minefields, engage with local communities and much more.
  • Their efforts help protect civilians, deter attacks and help to provide the security necessary for all components of peacekeeping operations to carry out their mandated activities. ?

ASEAN-India relations:

  • In the early 1990s, the significant changes in the world’s political and economic scenario made India march towards economic liberalisation. So, India being a South Asian country started focussing on a strengthened and multi-faceted relationship with ASEAN, an association of South East Asian countries.
  • This search of India for economic space resulted in the ‘Look East Policy. Later, this Look East Policy in 2014 after 12 ASEAN-India summits matured into a dynamic and action-oriented ‘Act East Policy.
  • The up-gradation of the relationship into a Strategic Partnership in 2012 was a natural progression to the ground covered since India became a Sectoral Partner of the ASEAN in 1992, a Dialogue Partner in 1996 and Summit Level Partner in 2002. There are, in total, 30 Dialogue Mechanisms between India and ASEAN, cutting across various sectors.
  • To strengthen engagement with ASEAN, India has set up a separate Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta, Indonesia with a dedicated Ambassador.

India and the Ivory Tussle between CITES and African Countries

Context

The four African Countries namely Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, have approached CITES for the removal of an elephant from Appendix II conservation status for regulation of controlled ivory trade from the region to generate revenue.

Background:
  • At CoP17 and CoP18, India voted against proposals to re-open trade in ivory from the southern African states.
  • In Johannesburg, South Africa, five years ago, India expressed its willingness to share its experiences of protecting elephants and supporting rural development without recourse to trade in ivory.
What is Ivory mean?
  • It is the hard white substance that the tusks of an elephant are made of. Across the world, ivory is viewed as a status symbol.
  • was used to produce ornaments, figurines, and small carvings, as well as items like jewelry, piano keys, and chess sets.
  • Traditional medicine also views ivory as a healing element, using ivory powder to create medicine for a variety of illnesses.
About
About the issue in CoP 19 event:
  • In the ongoing CoP 19 event, Zimbabwe has proposed allowing a regular form of controlled trade in ivory by delisting. The elephant populations of the four countries from Appendix II which got rejected in the event.
  • The coP is the supreme decision-making body of CITES. Which applies a set of biological and trade criteria to evaluate proposals from parties to decide. If a species should be in Appendix I or II.
  • CITES Appendix I list species threatened with extinction — import or export permits for these are issued rarely and only if the purpose is not primarily commercial.
  • CITES Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction but in which trade must be strictly regulated.
The Tussle over Ivory:
  • The international ivory trade was globally banned in 1989 when all African elephant populations were put in CITES Appendix I.
  • However, the populations of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe were transferred to Appendix II in 1997. South Africa 2000 allowed two “one-off sales” in 1999 and 2008 of ivory stockpiled from natural elephant deaths and seizures from poachers.
  • The four southern African countries argue that their elephant populations have bounced back. That their stockpiled ivory if sold internationally, can generate much-needed revenue for elephant conservation and incentivize communities.
  • Opponents of the ivory trade counter that any form of supply stokes demand. Sharp spikes in elephant poaching were recorded across the globe. After the one-off sales allowed by the CITES in 1999 and 2008.
India and ivory trade:
  • The endangered Asian elephant was included in CITES Appendix I in 1975, which banned the export of ivory from the Asian range countries.
  • In 1986, India amended The Wild Life (Protection) Act, of 1972 to ban even domestic sales of ivory.
  • After the ivory trade was globally banned, India again amended the law to ban the import of African ivory in 1991.
  • In 1981 when New Delhi hosted CoP3, India designed the iconic CITES logo in the form of an elephant.
  • Over the years, India’s stand has been unequivocal on the ivory issue.

Short Articles

Topic:Polity & Governance

Karmayogi Prarambh module under Rozgar Mela

  • Prime Minister launched the Karmayogi Prarambh module.
    • The module is an online orientation course for all new appointees in various government departments.
    • It will include a code of conduct for government servants, workplace ethics and integrity, human resource policies and other benefits and allowances that will help them to get acclimatised to the policies and transition smoothly into the new roles.
  • As part of the ‘Rozgar Mela’, Prime Minister also distributed about 71,000 appointment letters to new recruits.

Topic:Polity & Governance

FRO killed allegedly by Gutti Koya tribals

  • A Forest Range Officer (FRO) was brutally killed allegedly by a group of Gutti Koya Adivasis with axes and sickles over a “podu land” issue in Errabodu forest area in Telangana.

The tribe

  • The Koya are one of the few multi-racial and multi-lingual tribal communities in India.
  • Koya population is mostly spread out in the Eastern ghats especially southern region of India, particularly in the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. 
  • Koyas are one of the major peasant tribe of Telangana.
  • The Koyas speak the Koya language, which is a Dravidian language related to Gondi.

Topic:Environment

Tamil Nadu gets its first biodiversity heritage site

  • The Tamil Nadu Government issued a notification declaring Arittapatti, Madurai biodiversity heritage site.
  • Arittapatti village, rich in ecological and historical significance, houses around 250 species of birds including three important raptors -- birds of prey, namely the Laggar Falcon, the Shaheen Falcon and Bonelli’s Eagle.
  • It is also home to wildlife such as the Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris and pythons.
  • The biodiversity-rich area is surrounded by a chain of seven hillocks or inselbergs that serve as a watershed, charging ‘72 lakes, 200 natural springs and three check dams.
  • Several megalithic structures, rock-cut temples, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions and Jain beds add to the historical significance of the region.

Topic:Environment

Indian wildlife biologist honoured with UN's highest environmental award

  • Indian wildlife biologist Dr Purnima Devi Barman has been honoured with the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) 2022 Champions of the Earth award in the Entrepreneurial Vision category.
  • A wildlife biologist, Barman leads the "Hargila Army", an all-female grassroots conservation movement dedicated to protecting the Greater Adjutant Stork from extinction.
  • The women create and sell textiles with motifs of the bird, helping to raise awareness about the species while building their own financial independence.

The Award

  • Since its inception in 2005, the annual Champions of the Earth award has been awarded to trailblazers at the forefront of efforts to protect our natural world.
  • It is the UN's highest environmental honour.
    • To date, the award has recognised 111 laureates: 26 world leaders, 69 individuals and 16 organisations. This year a record 2,200 nominations from around the world were received.

Editorial

‘India pole’ in international politics

Context:

‘India’s stand on issues of global importance indicates that it takes positions that not only suit its interests but are also informed by its sense of being a unique player on the global stage.

India is ‘a side’

  • Unique foreign policy identity: India’s desire for this identity can be found in India’s long struggle for independence, and the articulations of its leaders: both pre- and post-independence.
  • India’s view of itself as a pole: This view is evident from the manner in which it used to pursue non-alignment, conveying its ability to take a position on a given issue on a case-by-case basis.

What it entails

  • Being a pole: For India, it means, not seeking to dominate the South Asian regional subsystem; refusing to seek camp followers or allegiances.
  • Elements of India’s idea of being a pole: Strategic periphery in South Asia; discouraging interference by other powers in that space; welcoming the rule of law and regional order.
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ThinkQ

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QUIZ - 23rd November 2022

Mains Question:

Question: Discuss how rural India is facing financial distress and also examine the steps to ease the situation of financial distress of Rural India? (150 words)

Question Mapping

  • Subject: Economy (GS-III)
    • Sub-topic: Indian Economy, Growth & Development
  • Introduction: Initiate the discussion with a report specifying financial crisis in Rural India.
  • Enumerate the reasons for financial distress like
    • Monsoon failure
    • Droughts, floods, cyclones, etc.
    • Institutional and non-institutional loans
    • Inflation
  • What can be the steps taken to ease their situation
    • Agricultural crop security
    • Increased financial assistance through MGNREGA scheme
    • Easing inflation in India
  • Also discuss other schemes of government for supporting Rural India financially.
  • Conclude with the upliftment and socio-economic development of Rural India.
GS Mains Classes GS Classes 2024 GS Classes 2024 UPSC Study Material
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