Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA)
Mains level: Paper 2- India-UAE FTA
Context
India has embarked on a new journey — a new free trade agreement (FTA) journey to be precise — with renewed zeal and vigor.
India’s revamped FTA strategy
- Gaining meaningful market access: India’s approach towards FTAs is now focusing more on gaining meaningful market access and facilitating the Indian industry’s integration into global value chains.
- Under the revamped FTA strategy, the Government of India has prioritized at least six countries or regions to deal with, in which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) figures at the top of the list for an early harvest deal.
- The others are the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Canada, Israel, and a group of countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
- The early harvest deal is to be enlarged into a comprehensive FTA in due course of time.
Why does the FTA with UAE matter?
- Important economic hub: The UAE has emerged as an important economic hub not just within the context of the Middle East/West Asia, but also globally.
- Strategic location: The UAE, due to its strategic location, has emerged as an important economic centre in the world.
- Although the UAE has diversified its economy, ‘the hydrocarbon sector remains very important followed by services and manufacturing.
- Within services, financial services, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate and business services are the main contributors.
- As part of the GCC, the UAE has strong economic ties with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, meaning the UAE shares a common market and a customs union with these nations.
- Under the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) Agreement, the UAE has free trade access to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Syria, Libya, and Yemen.
India-UAE trade and investment ties
- India and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 1972.
- The India-UAE total trade merchandise has been valued at U.S.$52.76 billion for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2021-22, making the UAE India’s third-largest trading partner.
- As India and the UAE strive to further deepen trade and investment ties, the soon-to-be-announced early harvest agreement comes at the most opportune time.
- The aim is to boost bilateral merchandise trade to above U.S.$100 billion and services trade to U.S.$15 billion in five years.
- Attractive export market: As we are witnessing a big turnaround in manufacturing, the UAE would be an attractive export market for Indian electronics, automobiles, and other engineering products.
- Ninth biggest investor: The UAE’s investment in India is estimated to be around U.S.$11.67 billion, which makes it the ninth biggest investor in India.
- On the other hand, many Indian companies have set up manufacturing units either as joint ventures or in Special Economic Zones for cement, building materials, textiles, engineering products, consumer electronics, etc.
Challenges
- The UAE tariff structure is bound with the GCC, and the applied average tariff rate is 5%. Therefore, the scope of addressing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) becomes very important.
- The reflection of NTBs can be seen through Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) which have mostly been covered by Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). The UAE has 451 SPS notifications.
- Most of the notifications are related to consumer information, labelling, licensing or permit requirements and import monitoring and surveillance requirements.
- These compliances pose a challenge for Indian exporters.
Conclusion
This FTA with the UAE will pave the way for India to enter the UAE’s strategic location, and have relatively easy access to the Africa market and its various trade partners which can help India to become a part of that supply chain, especially in handlooms, handicrafts, textiles and pharma.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UN Refugee Convention, 1951
Mains level: Not Much
Model laws on asylum and refugees that were drafted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) decades ago but not implemented by the government could be revised by an expert committee.
Why in news?
- India is not having a specific law for refugees and asylum-seekers.
- Though India has not signed the United Nations Refugee Convention, 1951, the refugees and asylum seekers were entitled to the rights in Articles 14, 20 and 21 of the Constitution.
UN Refugee Convention, 1951
- The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees was the first comprehensive attempt to define refugees and charted a detailed guideline for host countries to ensure the adequate protection and preservation of the rights of all refugees.
- It puts out clearly who a refugee is and what kind of assistance, rights and legal protection a refugee is entitled to receive.
- It also lays down the obligations of refugees towards the host countries.
- The Convention also specifies certain categories of people, such as war criminals, who do not qualify for refugee status.
Definition of Refugee:
The 1951 convention defines a refugee as:
- A person who is outside his or her country of nationality or habitual residence
- Has a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion
- Unable or unwilling to avail him— or herself of the protection of that country, or
- Unable to return there, for fear of persecution
Various Rights conferred to Refugees
- The right not to be expelled, except under certain, strictly defined conditions.
- The right not to be punished for illegal entry into the territory of a contracting State.
- The rights to work, housing, education, public relief and assistance, freedom of religion, access courts, and freedom of movement within the territory.
- The right to be issued identity and travel documents.
- The right to be protected from refoulement apply to all refugees.
Why hasn’t India signed this convention?
- Dispute over definition: Another reason why India has not signed the Convention is the narrow definition of refugee under it. For instance, it does not include deprivation of economic rights as an eligibility criterion.
- National security: It is believed that the chief reason is related to security issues.
- Porous and open borders: South Asian borders are porous and any conflict can cause a huge displacement of people.
- Cultural strain: Finally, sometimes refugees also pose a threat to law and order due to cultural differences. Ex. North East states.
- Strain on economy: An influx of people during such times can put a lot of strain on the resources of the local economy and also, it can cause an imbalance in the delicate demography of the region.
- Many inhabited refugees: India has already houses many refugees and in many cases, without the support of the UN.
- Loss of sovereignty: Signing the convention would have meant allowing international scrutiny of ‘India’s internal security, political stability and international relations’.
- Ad-hocism of the convention: The convention lacks a strong implementation policy which has given rise to ad-hocism and warehousing of refugees.
Way forward
- The inability of international refugee law to reconcile itself with the practical realities that constrain states has culminated in its failure to provide asylum to persecuted persons.
- In these circumstances, India needs a specific legislation governing refugees and asylum seekers.
- Such a law would give legal sanctity and uniformity, ensuring the protection of human rights.
- Along with this, each state must take responsibility for hosting refugees during their darkest hours by devising a burden-sharing system.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Extended Producers Responsibility
Mains level: Need for plastic waste management
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has notified the Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility on plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
What is EPR?
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) means the responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the product (plastic packaging) until the end of its life.
- India had first introduced EPR in 2011 under the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, and E-Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2011.
What are the new EPR rules for Plastic Waste?
(A) Plastic packaging
- The new EPR guidelines cover three categories of plastic packaging including:
- Rigid plastic
- Flexible plastic packaging of a single layer or multilayer (more than one layer with different types of plastic), plastic sheets and covers made of plastic sheet, carry bags (including carrying bags made of compostable plastics), plastic sachet or pouches
- Multi-layered plastic packaging has at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material other than plastic.
- It has also specified a system whereby makers and users of plastic packaging can collect certificates — called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates — and trade in them.
(B) Ineligible plastics for EPR
- Only a fraction of plastic that cannot be recycled will be eligible to be sent for end-of-life disposals such as road construction, waste to energy, waste to oil, and cement kilns.
- Only methods prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board will be permitted for their disposal.
Targets for recycling
- In 2024, a minimum of 50% of their rigid plastic (category 1) will have to be recycled as will 30% of their category 2 and 3 plastic.
- Every year will see progressively higher targets and after 2026-27, 80% of their category 1 and 60% of the other two categories will need to be recycled.
- If entities cannot fulfill their obligations, they will on a “case by case basis” be permitted to buy certificates making up for their shortfall.
Effects on non-compliance
- Non-compliance, however, will not invite a traditional fine.
- Instead, an “environmental compensation” will be levied, though the rules do not specify how much this compensation will be.
Challenges in mandatory EPR
There are several challenges faced by both producers and bulk consumers that hinder proactive participation.
- Consumer awareness: Waste segregation has been the greatest challenge in India owing to the lack of consumer awareness.
- Lack of compliance: The plastic producers do not wish to engage in the process holistically and take the effort to build awareness.
- Large-scale involvement: The EPR doesn’t take into account the formalization of informal waste pickers, aggregators, and dismantlers.
- Lack of recycling infrastructure: These challenges range from lack of handling capacity to illegitimate facilities in the forms of multiple accounting of waste, selling to aggregators, and leakages.
Way forward
- Tracking mechanism: Develop tracking mechanisms and provide oversight of waste compliance, in order to ensure that the mechanism of waste disposal is streamlined.
- Strict enforcement: While enforcement strictness is of paramount importance, it is also vital to build an incentive structure around this to ensure better complicity by the producers.
- Innovation: The time is ripe for innovators to come up with an alternative for plastics and the strong will of the Government to rid the toxic waste in a sustainable and safe manner.
Try answering this PYQ:
Q.In India, ‘extended producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following?
(a) The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998
(b) The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999
(c) The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011
(d) The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011
Post your answers here.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
Mains level: India and its trade agreements
India and the United Arab Emirates will sign the first-ever bilateral Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.
What is CEPA?
- The partnership agreement or cooperation agreement is more comprehensive than an FTA.
- CECA/CEPA also looks into the regulatory aspect of trade and encompasses an agreement covering the regulatory issues.
- CECA has the widest coverage. CEPA covers negotiation on the trade in services and investment and other areas of economic partnership.
- It may even consider negotiation in areas such as trade facilitation and customs cooperation, competition, and IPR.
- India has signed CEPAs with South Korea and Japan.
What is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?
- An FTA is a pact between two or more nations to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them.
- Under a free trade policy, goods and services can be bought and sold across international borders with little or no government tariffs, quotas, subsidies, or prohibitions to inhibit their exchange.
- The concept of free trade is the opposite of trade protectionism or economic isolationism.
Key benefits offered by FTA
- Reduction or elimination of tariffs on qualified: For example, a country that normally charges a tariff of 12% of the value of the incoming product will rationalize or eliminate that tariff.
- Intellectual Property Protection: Protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the FTA partner country is upheld.
- Product Standards: FTA enhances the ability for domestic exporters to participate in the development of product standards in the FTA partner country.
- Fair treatment for investors: FTA provides treatment as favorably as the FTA partner country gives equal treatment for investments from the partner country.
- Elimination of monopolies: With FTAs, global monopolies are eliminated due to increased competition.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: HIV/AIDS
Mains level: Communicable diseases burden on India
There is considerable excitement in the world of medicine after scientists reported that a woman living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and administered an experimental treatment is likely ‘cured’.
What is HIV/AIDS?
- HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases.
- First identified in 1981, HIV is the cause of one of humanity’s deadliest and most persistent epidemics.
- It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex, or through sharing injection drug equipment.
- If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
- The human body can’t get rid of HIV and no effective HIV cure exists.
Treating HIV
- However, by taking HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART), people with HIV can live long and healthy lives and prevent transmitting HIV to their sexual partners.
- In addition, there are effective methods to prevent getting HIV through sex or drug use, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
What is the new breakthrough?
- US researchers have described the case of a 60-year-old African American woman who was diagnosed with an HIV infection in 2013.
- She was started on the standard HIV treatment regimen of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) therapy consisting of tenofovir, emtricitabine, and raltegravir.
- She was given cord blood, or embryonic stem cells, from a donor with a rare mutation that naturally blocks the HIV virus from infecting cells.
- She was also given blood stem cells, or adult stem cells, from a relative.
What actually worked?
- The adult stem cells boosted the patient’s immunity and possibly helped the cord blood cells fully integrate with the lady’s immune system.
- Now she has no sign of HIV in her blood and also has no detectable antibodies to the virus.
- Embryonic stem cells are potentially able to grow into any kind of cell and hence their appeal as therapy, though there is no explanation for why this mode of treatment appeared to be more effective.
Is this treatment the long-sought cure for AIDS?
- Not at all. While this approach is certainly a welcome addition to the arsenal of treatments, stem cell therapy is a cumbersome exercise and barely accessible to most HIV patients in the world.
- Moreover, this requires stem cells from that rare group of individuals with the beneficial mutation.
- Anti-retroviral therapy, through the years, has now ensured that HIV/AIDS isn’t always a death sentence and many with access to proper treatment have lifespans comparable to those without HIV.
- A vaccine for HIV or a drug that eliminates the virus is still elusive and would be the long-sought ‘cure’ for HIV/AIDS.
What is the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in India?
- As per the India HIV Estimation 2019 report, the estimated adult (15 to 49 years) HIV prevalence trend has been declining in India since the epidemic’s peak in the year 2000 and has been stabilizing in recent years.
- In 2019, HIV prevalence among adult males (15–49 years) was estimated at 0.24% and among adult females at 0.20% of the population.
- There were 23.48 lakh Indians living with HIV in 2019.
- Maharashtra had the maximum at 3.96 lakh followed by Andhra Pradesh (3.14 lakh) and Karnataka.
- ART is freely available to all those who require and there are deputed centers across the country where they can be availed from.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 2- Preventing targeting of Muslim women online
Context
The auctioning of Muslim women first on Sulli Deals and now through Bulli Bai is shocking and it is our collective responsibility to make sure it never happens again.
How to prevent such incidents from happening?
- Even a good system of blocking this app from mainstream online platforms is a short-term technical solution.
- We have on our hands a problem of a few active bad actors and many passive ones.
- Systems to identify and remove content on Social media: For over a decade, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and YouTube have been at the center of controversy.
- Over time, they have developed elaborate systems through which harmful content can be identified and removed.
- What is key is that this content is usually legible to a wide range of people.
How GitHub is different?
- GitHub’s content is code.
- GitHub is a specialist platform that is not accessible or legible to everyone.
- It is, however, working towards more sophisticated content moderation.
- There is great value in a platform that shares code.
Challenges in finding and punishing perpetrators
- US laws: The United States of America’s laws require companies not to share private information unless the request is made through an onerous process.
- Delay in sharing information: This is a pre-internet process for law enforcement requests from other countries.
- After the internet made American platforms intermediaries of communication worldwide, the number of requests for information from these companies escalated dramatically.
- The system does not have the resources to cope with the increased demand and there is a delay before requests can be processed.
- This is why it is a waste of time calling for GitHub to hand over the names of the authors of the code.
Suggestion
- Automated detection system: To address non-consensual sexual media, platforms maintain a shared database of reported videos and images which they remove the instant they are re-published or shared.
- At least in the short term, GitHub needs to work with the group being targeted towards an automated detection system that will restrain this new disturbing trend in targeting Muslim women.
Conclusion
Our focus in the short term should be on finding a way to make sure that any recurring versions of this code are blocked proactively by GitHub.
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