Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Bidri Craft
Mains level: NA
Bidri craft artist from Karnataka Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri has been conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri Award.
Bidri Crafts
- Bidri ware is a traditional form of handicraft that originated in Bidar, Karnataka.
- It involves the crafting of metal wares using a unique technique that incorporates zinc and copper.
Its history
- Bidri ware has a long history that can be traced back to the 14th century.
- It was introduced to Bidar by Persian artisans during the reign of the Bahmani Sultans.
- The craft flourished under the patronage of the Mughal emperors, and it became a symbol of wealth and status.
Crafting process
- The process of making Bidri ware involves several stages. First, a mould is made of the object to be crafted.
- Next, the object is cast in an alloy of zinc and copper.
- The cast object is then filed and polished to remove any rough edges.
- The design is then etched onto the surface of the object using a sharp chisel.
- The etched areas are then filled with a blackened paste made from a mixture of copper sulphate and mud.
- Finally, the object is polished again to remove any excess paste and to create a smooth finish.
Designs and motifs
- Bidriware is known for its intricate designs and motifs, which are often inspired by nature, Islamic art, and Persian calligraphy.
- Common motifs include flowers, leaves, and geometric patterns.
- Many pieces also feature verses from the Quran or other Islamic texts.
Recognition and awards
- Bidri ware has received several awards and recognition for its craftsmanship and cultural significance.
- In 2006, it was awarded the Geographical Indication status by the Indian government, which recognizes its unique origin and traditional crafting techniques.
- Bidriware has also been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NATO
Mains level: NATO expansion, and its implications
Central Idea
- The induction of Finland into NATO is a significant setback for Russia and President Vladimir Putin, as it has long been neutral in Moscow’s conflict with the West. The move has doubled Finland’s frontier with Russia and has implications for global governance of the Arctic region.
- The recent induction of Finland into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a significant development that has strategic implications for Russia and the Arctic region.
- Finland has traditionally been neutral in the prolonged conflict between Moscow and the West.
- Its inclusion in NATO is seen as a major setback for Russia and President Vladimir Putin, who has cited NATO’s expansion closer to Russia’s borders as a justification for aggression against Ukraine.
What is the North Atlantic Treaty?
- North Atlantic Treaty, often referred to as the Washington Treaty, states the parties to the treaty seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area.
- The signatories affirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and express their desire to live in peace with all people and governments, the treaty states.
Background
- Finlandisation: Finland’s neutrality during the Cold War made Finlandisation a part of the global diplomatic lexicon, referring to a small nation’s political deference to its larger neighbor.
- Russia’s policies in the neighbourhood: Many of Finland’s small European neighbors have been at the receiving end of Russia’s muscular regional policies over the past decade.
- Ukraine invasion: The Ukraine invasion has confirmed their worst fears, and they are seeking protection from the US and NATO.
Russia’s Response
- Countermeasures: Unsurprisingly, Moscow has responded to Finland’s inclusion in NATO by promising countermeasures.
- Encroachment on national interest: Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, called NATO’s inclusion of Finland an encroachment on our security and on Russia’s national interests.
- Monitoring: Moscow will be watching for any NATO military deployments in Finland.
Why does Russia fume over NATO?
- NATO’s expansion: Russia views NATO’s expansion into Eastern Europe as a threat to its security and influence in the region. The alliance’s decision to accept former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact members as members is seen by Russia as a direct challenge to its strategic interests.
- Military exercises: Russia has also expressed concern over NATO military exercises in the region, which it sees as a provocation and a show of force. NATO’s decision to station troops and equipment in Eastern Europe has also been criticized by Russia.
- Missile defense system: Russia has been particularly critical of NATO’s missile defense system, which it sees as a threat to its own nuclear deterrence capabilities. Russia argues that the system is designed to neutralize its strategic weapons and that it undermines global strategic stability.
- Ukraine and Georgia: Russia has accused NATO of interfering in the affairs of Ukraine and Georgia, two former Soviet republics that are seeking closer ties with the West. Russia sees NATO’s support for these countries as an attempt to encircle and contain Russia.
Implications for India and the Arctic region
- Real punch to the Western alliance in the Nordic region: Finland has maintained a small but capable armed force that is well-trained and resilient, and its inclusion in NATO adds real punch to the Western alliance in the Nordic region.
- High north is commercial attraction: As the Arctic ice cap melts amidst global warming, the high north has become attractive commercially and contested geopolitically.
- India is an observer of the Arctic Council: India is an observer of the Arctic Council that seeks to promote wide-ranging cooperation in the polar north.
- China raising profile in the Arctic: The militarisation of the high north appears inevitable as Finland and Sweden turn from neutrals to Western allies and China raises its profile in the Arctic in partnership with Russia.
- Global governance: This might make global governance of the Arctic region increasingly problematic
Conclusion
- The induction of Finland into NATO is a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and the West. The move has implications for the Arctic region, which is attracting global attention due to the melting of the Arctic ice cap. As a stakeholder in the region, India must closely monitor developments and prepare for any geopolitical consequences.
Mains Question
Q. In light of Finland’s recent inclusion in NATO, discuss the strategic implications for the Arctic region and India. India as a stakeholder in the region and what steps can India take to prepare for potential geopolitical consequences?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Police Excesses, Factors, challenges and solutions
Central Idea
- The recent case of human rights violation against an IPS officer in Ambasamudram highlights the need for humane policing in India. The history of police brutality across the globe, including in the US, reveals the need for change in the policing system. The pressure to produce results, coupled with corruption and lack of ethics training, contributes to police excesses, which must be curbed.
History of Policing Excesses
- Policing Excesses in U.S: The history of policing in many countries is pockmarked by episodes of excesses, and the U.S. is one such country which has had far too many instances of police torture.
- For example: The Rodney King incident of 1991 in Los Angeles and the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 are some examples of police brutality.
Factors Contributing to Police Excesses in India
- Corruption among public servants: Corruption is rampant in India and is a major factor contributing to police excesses. Bribery and corruption make it easy for criminals to escape the law and for police officers to use violence and coercion to extract money and other benefits.
- The pressure to produce results: Police officers are often under tremendous pressure to produce results and show that they are making progress in solving cases. This pressure can lead to an overzealous approach to policing, with officers resorting to torture and other illegal methods to extract information and solve cases quickly.
- Lack of ethics training: Police officers in India are not given sufficient training in ethics and human rights. This lack of training makes it easier for officers to resort to violence and abuse of power, as they do not understand the consequences of their actions.
- Political interference: In some cases, politicians and other powerful people may interfere in police investigations or use their influence to protect criminals. This interference can undermine the rule of law and make it more difficult for police officers to do their job effectively and without fear or favor.
- Poor working conditions: Police officers in India often work long hours in difficult and dangerous conditions. This can lead to stress and fatigue, which can in turn lead to a higher incidence of police excesses.
- Lack of accountability: There is often little accountability for police officers who commit excesses. In many cases, officers who are found guilty of human rights violations are simply transferred to another location, rather than being punished or dismissed from the force. This lack of accountability sends a message to other officers that they can get away with abuse of power and violence.
Role of Technology and Ethics in Policing
- Both technology and ethics are necessary for effective policing: While technology can help solve crimes and improve policing efficiency, ethics and a commitment to human rights are necessary to ensure that police officers act within the law and respect the rights of all citizens.
- Technology alone is not enough: The technology has played a significant role in improving policing in India, with many officers now trained in the use of modern tools and techniques to solve crimes. However, technology alone is not enough, and that ethics must also be prioritized in policing.
- Training in ethics must be prioritized at all levels of the police force: Many police officers in India lack sufficient training in ethics and human rights, which makes it easier for them to resort to violence and abuse of power. Training in ethics must be prioritized at all levels of the police force, from the highest-ranking officers to those on the front lines.
- Police leaders are crucial players: The police leaders, such as DGPs and IGPs, have a crucial role to play in indoctrinating young recruits on the value of sticking to the law and civilised behaviour.
What is mean by humane policing?
- Humane policing refers to a style of law enforcement that places a greater emphasis on preserving the human rights and dignity of individuals.
- Humane policing recognizes that police officers are entrusted with great power and authority and that they have a duty to exercise this power with respect, compassion, and professionalism.
- It prioritizes building trust and positive relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
- Humane policing It seeks to avoid the use of excessive force, unnecessary aggression, or intimidation in policing activities.
- It recognizes the importance of accountability and transparency in law enforcement.
- It also recognizes the importance of training and education for police officers in areas such as cultural competence, mental health awareness, and conflict resolution.
Conclusion
- It is sad and equally true that many in the political firmament subscribe to the philosophy that without physical force on misbehaving citizens, the quality of policing cannot improve and law and order cannot be maintained. This perception has to be changed. India needs a human policing. Moreover, the authorities must take swift action against offending officials to send a strong message that no illegal physical treatment of crime suspects will be tolerated.
Mains Question
Q. Rising cases of police excesses reveals the need for change in the policing system. In this backdrop highlight the factors behind Policing Excesses in India and what steps can be taken to promote humane policing?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Aquaculture, Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023
Mains level: Read the attached story
The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced in the Lok Sabha.
What is Aquaculture?
- Aquaculture essentially means, breeding, raising, and harvesting fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants.
- In a nutshell, it’s farming in water.
- Saline water along the coast has been found to be suitable for practising aquaculture which produces shrimp, majorly.
- If aquaculture is not practised on this land, it will be left idle and uncultivated as it is not suitable for the cultivation of crops.
- Aquaculture can be practised on about 12 lakh hectares in the country along the coast, of which only 14% has been utilized so far.
Key highlights of the amendment
- Decriminalisation of certain offences: The Bill aims to decriminalize the offences under the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act.
- Fine-tuning operational procedures: It seeks to promote ease of doing business and to fine-tune the operational procedures of the authority.
- Promotion of environment-friendly coastal aquaculture: The Bill also aims to promote newer forms of environment-friendly coastal aquaculture, such as cage culture, seaweed culture, marine ornamental fish culture, and pearl oyster culture.
- Create employment opportunities: These newer forms of coastal aquaculture have the potential to create additional employment opportunities.
- Prevention of use of harmful substances in coastal aquaculture: The Bill also includes a provision to prevent the use of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances that are harmful to human health in coastal aquaculture.
About the Coastal Aquaculture Act
- This Act was enacted in the year 2005 for the establishment an authority to regulate activities in this sector.
- It is a parliamentary act that establishes the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) for the regulation and registration of coastal aquaculture farms in India.
Overview
- The CAA Act, of 2005 mandates the Central Government to take measures to regulate coastal aquaculture and ensure that it does not cause any harm to the coastal environment.
- The guidelines prescribed by the government aim to promote responsible coastal aquaculture practices that protect the livelihood of various coastal communities.
Key features
- The CAA Act, 2005 provides for the establishment of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority to regulate the activities related to coastal aquaculture.
- The Central Government is responsible for prescribing guidelines to regulate coastal aquaculture activities and ensure responsible practices.
- The guidelines aim to protect the livelihood of coastal communities and prevent any harm to the coastal environment.
- The Act also mandates the registration of coastal aquaculture farms to ensure their compliance with the guidelines.
- The CAA is a strong force in enforcing the regulations and registration of coastal aquaculture farms in India.
Significance
- The Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, of 2005 is significant in promoting responsible coastal aquaculture practices and protecting the livelihood of coastal communities.
- The act ensures that coastal aquaculture activities are regulated and registered, which helps prevent harm to the coastal environment.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Plant Breeders' Rights, Open Source Seeds
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea
- The article discusses the concept of open-source software and its parallels with open-source seeds.
- Richard Stallman pioneered the Free Software Movement and developed the General Public License (GPL) to protect users’ rights and prevent code misappropriation.
- Farmers have been innovating and sharing seeds without intellectual property rights (IPR) claims for centuries.
Backgrounder: Plant Breeders’ Rights
- Plant breeders’ rights (PBR) granted exclusive rights to breeders and developers of new varieties.
- Farmers’ rights were limited under this regime.
- The TRIPS agreement established a global IPR regime over plant varieties.
- The consolidation of the seed sector raised concerns about the freedom to innovate.
Forms of IPR Protection in Agriculture
- There are now two forms of IPR protection in agriculture: PBR and patents.
- Together, they restrict farmers’ rights and the freedom to develop new varieties.
- The use of genetically modified seeds and IP claims triggered many problems, including State intervention on Bt cotton seeds in India.
- The decline of public sector breeding and the dominance of the private sector in the seed sector increased the need for alternatives.
What are Open Source Seeds?
- The success of open-source software inspired a solution for seeds.
- In 1999, a Canadian plant breeder named T.E. Michaels suggested an approach to seeds based on the principles of open-source software.
- In 2012, Jack Kloppenburg launched the Open Source Seeds Initiative (OSSI) in Wisconsin.
- Agrecol launched another initiative in Europe, and similar programs have come up worldwide.
Open Source Seeds Initiatives in India
- In India, the Hyderabad-based Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA), part of the Apna Beej Network, developed a model incorporated into an agreement between CSA and the recipient of the seed/germplasm.
- CSA’s Open Source Seeds Initiative uses a contracts approach similar to Agrecol’s strategy.
- The number of seed firms using open-source models and the crop varieties and seeds made available thereunder is small but growing.
- India is yet to test and adopt it widely.
Potential Applications of Open-Source Seeds
- Open-source principles can help promote farmer-led participatory plant-breeding exercises.
- Traditional varieties often lack uniformity and aren’t of excellent quality, but open-source principles can facilitate testing, improvisation, and adoption.
- Open-source principles can be used in farmer-led seed conservation and distribution systems.
- The government and other stakeholders can consider adopting this approach to more widely adopt traditional varieties.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Dibang WLS, Idu Mishmi
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority has proposed to notify Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh as a tiger reserve, causing concerns among the Idu Mishmi community.
- The Idu Mishmi community has a unique cultural relationship with the forest, particularly with tigers.
- This article explains who the Idu Mishmis are, their relationship with the forest, the move to propose a tiger reserve, and the community’s resistance.
Who are the Idu Mishmis?
- The Idu Mishmi community is a sub-tribe of the larger Mishmi group, primarily living in the Mishmi Hills bordering Tibet in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The tribe has strong ties with the flora and fauna of the region, particularly tigers, which are considered their “elder brothers” in their mythology.
- Despite traditional hunting practices, the tribe follows a belief system of myths and taboos that restrict them from hunting many animals, including a complete prohibition on killing tigers.
- This belief system has led to a unique model of wildlife conservation, according to anthropologists and researchers.
Overturning Dibang WLS into Tiger Reserve
- Plans to declare Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve have been ongoing for a while now.
- The sanctuary, home to rare Mishmi takin, musk deer, goral, clouded leopards, snow leopards, and tigers, was notified in 1998.
- The Wildlife Institute of India carried out a survey in 2014 to determine the presence of tigers in the area based on photographic evidence via camera trapping.
- The study recorded the presence of tigers in the highest reaches of the Mishmi Hills, forming the basis of the proposal to declare the sanctuary as a tiger reserve.
Why are the Idu Mishmis resisting the move?
- The community’s access to the Dibang forests has not been impacted as a wildlife sanctuary, but many believe a tiger reserve would increasingly restrict access.
- The upgrade to a tiger reserve would feature stricter security measures, such as a ‘Special Tiger Protection Force,’ which would hinder the community’s access to their forest lands.
- The community has declared part of its forest land as a ‘Community Conserved Area,’ governed entirely by local populations, where they ban hunting, felling trees, and implement other conservation measures.
- The community alleges that the Dibang WLS was created without their consent or knowledge.
Back2Basics: Mishmi Tribe
|
Information |
| Name and Location |
Mishmi people, an indigenous group living in the northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, as well as parts of Tibet and Myanmar |
| Subgroups |
Idu Mishmi, Digaru Mishmi, and Miju Mishmi |
| Migration and Language |
Believed to have migrated from the Mongoloid race, their languages belong to the Tibeto-Burman family |
| History |
Rich and complex history dating back several centuries, involved in conflicts with neighboring tribes and states, affected by British colonialism and creation of McMahon Line, played important role in Sino-Indian War |
| Culture |
Rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, unique customs and practices related to birth, marriage, and death, known for craftsmanship skills in weaving, woodcarving, and metalwork, rich mythology |
| Religion |
Primarily animists, believe in spirits in nature, worship ancestors and spirits of forests and mountains, rich tradition of shamanism |
| Livelihoods |
Primarily agriculturists, with rice as staple crop, engage in animal husbandry, fishing, beekeeping is an important source of income, hunting restricted |
| Challenges |
Struggling to protect ancestral lands from outsiders, culture and way of life threatened by modernization and globalization, vulnerable to effects of climate change |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Dhawan II engine
Mains level: Privatization of space activities
In Telangana, private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace has test-fired its 3D-printed Dhawan II engine.
Dhawan II Engine
- The Dhawan II engine is a cryogenic engine developed by Skyroot Aerospace for use as the upper stage of the updated version of their Vikram II rocket.
- The engine was recently test-fired for a duration of 200 seconds and demonstrated impressive performance results.
- Cryogenic engines use extremely cold liquid propellants, which can provide greater thrust and enhance the payload-carrying capacity of a rocket.
- The engine was developed using advanced technologies like 3D printing and green propellants.
- Its successful testing marks a significant milestone for Skyroot Aerospace in their efforts to become the first private launcher from South Asia.
Stipulated use
- The Dhawan II engine will be used as the upper stage of the updated version Vikram-2.
- Using a cryogenic upper stage instead of a solid fuel stage enhances the payload carrying capacity of a rocket.
- The updated Vikram II rocket is scheduled to become launch-ready by next year, making Skyroot the first private launcher from South Asia.
Skyroot’s other sub-orbital and orbital flights
- Skyroot carried out its first sub-orbital flight in November 2021, using a single-stage solid fuel Vikram S rocket.
- The company plans to carry out its first orbital flight by the end of this year using the updated Vikram II rocket.
- The Vikram-1 rocket, the first in the series of rockets being developed by Skyroot, will use three solid-fuel stages to take satellites to orbit.
Impressive performance results and advanced technologies
- The endurance test of Dhawan-II demonstrated impressive performance results.
- The company is proud to be at the forefront of developing cutting-edge cryogenic technologies in the private space sector of India.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UN Water Action Conference
Mains level: Water agenda, voluntary commitments and challenges
Central Idea
- The International Water Action Conference held by the United Nations in March 2023, which resulted in over 670 commitments from various governments, multilateral institutions, businesses, and non-governmental organizations to address water security issues. There are implications of these commitments which needs to be examined the challenges associated with achieving universal, safe, affordable, and equitable access to water in line with SDG 6.
- First UN conference on freshwater: The Water Action Conference held in March 2023 was the first UN conference on freshwater in almost 50 years.
- Aims to advance water agenda and achieve SDG 6: The conference aimed to review the Water Action Decade 2018-2028, which aims to advance the water agenda and achieve SDG 6, sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Themes of the conference
The Conference has five themes that support the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework:
- Water for Health: Access to ‘WASH’ (Global Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) including the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation
- Water for Sustainable Development: Valuing water, the water-energy-food nexus and sustainable economic and urban development.
- Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment: Source to sea, biodiversity, climate, resilience and disaster risk reduction.
- Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and international water cooperation, cross sectoral cooperation and water across the 2030 Agenda.
- Water Action Decade: Accelerating the implementation of the objectives of the Decade for Action, including through the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan.
What is Water Action Decade (2018–2028)?
- In December 2016, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution International Decade (2018–2028) for Action Water for Sustainable Development to help put a greater focus on water during ten years.
- It aims to advance the water agenda by energizing existing programs and projects and inspiring water action to achieve the 2030 Agenda, in particular, Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which envisions the sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
- The initiative focuses on promoting action-oriented partnerships to improve water resources management, water-use efficiency, and access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. The Decade aims to create a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences, promoting innovation, and building capacity for sustainable water management.
The International Water Action Agenda and commitments made
- International Water Action Agenda: The conference resulted in the international Water Action Agenda, to which over 670 commitments were made by governments, multilateral institutions, businesses, and non-governmental organizations to address water security issues.
- Commitments are voluntary: Nearly 164 governments and 75 multilateral organizations made commitments, but these commitments are voluntary and legally non-binding.
Implications of commitments made
- The commitments embodied in the Water Action Agenda must be scrutinized to see whether they will yield universal, safe, affordable, and equitable access to water that is consistent with SDG 6.
- Meeting this target by 2030 will require capital expenditures of $114 billion per year.
- The recurring operations and maintenance for basic water and sanitation service (WASH) costs are estimated to rise from about $4 billion to over $30 billion per year by 2030.
Challenges associated with achieving SDG 6
- Funding: Funding from regional, national, and international sources prioritizes new water infrastructure rather than water maintenance services, resulting in decreased service for water customers.
- Investment: The investment required would require valuing water, which in turn requires robust water measurement and accounting.
- Limitations: There are serious limitations in our knowledge about the volume, flux and quality of water in lakes, rivers, soils and aquifers. There are huge gaps in water usage data.
India’s commitments and challenges
- India made two significant commitments at the conference:
- An investment of $240 billion in the water sector and
- Efforts to restore groundwater levels.
- However, groundwater extraction in India increased from 58% to 63% between 2004-17, further exacerbated by climate change resulting in intermittent rainfall, which further undermines the recharge potential.
- The revised Groundwater Bill 2017 vests State groundwater boards with creating laws, managing water allocation and other relevant issues.
- The State boards are understaffed, and lack in expertise and prioritizing socio-political conflicts over groundwater resources.
Facts for prelims
| Initiative |
Objective |
| Jal Shakti Abhiyan, 2019 |
Ensure water conservation and management in 255 water-stressed districts across India |
| Atal Bhujal Yojana, 2019 |
Improve groundwater management and promote community-based groundwater management |
| Namami Gange Project, 2014 |
Clean and rejuvenate the Ganges river and address pollution through treatment of sewage and industrial effluents |
| Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, 2014 |
Improve sanitation and cleanliness across the country and promote hygiene practices |
| Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. 2015 |
Improve irrigation efficiency and increase water use efficiency in agriculture |
| National Water Mission, 2011 |
Ensure sustainable water management and water security in the country and improve water use efficiency |
| National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM), 2012 |
Map the aquifers across the country and develop a groundwater management plan |
| Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), 2009 |
Enhance soil and water conservation practices in rainfed areas and promote the development of rainwater harvesting structures to enhance groundwater recharge |
Conclusion
- The international Water Action Conference resulted in over 670 commitments to address water security issues. These commitments are voluntary and legally non-binding, but they are expected to inspire collective political will to address the many water challenges.
Mains Question
Q. What is Water action decade? Discuss the challenges associated with achieving universal, safe, affordable, and equitable access to water in line with SDG 6.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Foreign trade policy, 2023
Mains level: Foreign trade policy, 2023, problems and solutions
Central Idea
- The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 (FTP 2023) has been recently introduced, but it falls short of addressing the challenges that Indian exporters are likely to face in the global market. India needs to adopt 21st-century trade policy instruments such as product and process standards to improve the quality and efficiency of products.
- The policy is dynamic and open-ended to accommodate the emerging needs of the time.
- It aims to promote India’s overall exports, which has already crossed US$ 750 Billion.
- The key approach to the policy is based on these 4 pillars:
- Incentive to Remission,
- Export promotion through collaboration – Exporters, States, Districts, Indian Missions,
- Ease of doing business, reduction in transaction cost and e-initiatives and
- Emerging Areas – E-Commerce Developing Districts as Export Hubs and streamlining SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies) Policy
FTP 2023’s inadequate focus on 21st-century trade policy instruments
- 20th-century mindset: The FTP 2023’s primary focus is on regulating, prohibiting, and restricting trade, which is a 20th-century mindset. In contrast, most countries today rely on improving product quality and production efficiencies by rapidly infusing technology to expand their presence in global markets.
- Focus on upgrading the current standards: India needs to focus on upgrading institutions, production facilities, and promoting the development and facilitation of trade to meet the current standards.
Rejigging of export promotion schemes
- Export promotion schemes: Export promotion schemes were modified after a WTO dispute settlement panel ruled against India in 2019, which found that these schemes provide export subsidies that are not allowed under WTO rules.
- Remission of Duties: The Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) Scheme was launched in 2021 to neutralize the effect of taxes and duties included in exported goods. The Rajya Sabha’s Standing Committee on Commerce found several weaknesses in the scheme, and FTP 2023 should have responded to the recommendations.
Developing districts as export hubs
- FTP 2023 introduces the novel idea of developing districts as export hubs, which could help achieve the objective of balanced regional development.
- However, the policy only speaks of setting up export promotion committees at the district and state/UT levels, with no mention of supporting efficient infrastructure.
E-commerce and India’s readiness to engage in the WTO
- E-commerce is a focus area of FTP 2023, but India has opposed discussions on extending the rules of the WTO in this area.
- Moreover, advanced countries have been seeking data portability, which India has refused to accept.
- It remains unclear whether the mention of e-commerce in FTP 2023 implies that India is ready to engage in the WTO on this matter.
Conclusion
- FTP 2023 falls short of addressing the challenges that Indian exporters are likely to face in the global market. It needs to focus on upgrading institutions, production facilities, and promoting the development and facilitation of trade, which requires the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to coordinate with all the standard-setting agencies of the government and relevant institutions in the private sector. Developing districts as export hubs could help achieve the objective of balanced regional development, but supporting efficient infrastructure is critical for the programme’s success.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Overview of various pension schemes
Mains level: Issues with OPS and NPS
Central Idea
- The New Pension Scheme (NPS) implemented by the NDA government in 2003-04 was a far-sighted reform that moved towards a sustainable contributory pension system. However, some state governments have reversed the pension reform and returned to the financially burdensome and fiscally non-viable Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
What is pension?
- A pension is a retirement plan that provides a stream of income to individuals after they retire from their job or profession. It can be funded by employers, government agencies, or unions and is designed to ensure a steady income during retirement.
What is OPS?
- The OPS, also known as the Defined Benefit Pension System, is a pension plan provided by the government for its employees in India.
- Under the OPS, retired government employees receive a fixed monthly pension based on their last drawn salary and years of service.
- This pension is funded by the government and paid out of its current revenues, leading to increased pension liabilities.
- NPS is a market-linked, defined contribution pension system introduced in India in 2004 as a replacement for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
- NPS is designed to provide retirement income to all Indian citizens, including government employees, private sector workers, and self-employed individuals.
Negative impacts of the reversal to OPS
- The reversal to OPS would have negative impacts, especially on the poor and vulnerable population, including women and children. Here are some potential impacts:
- Reallocation of resources: The reversal to OPS would lead to a reallocation of resources away from the state’s development expenditure, which benefits the poor, and towards a much smaller group of people who have benefited from a secured and privileged job throughout their working life. It could worsen inequality and lower economic growth in the states.
- Reduction in productivity: Going back to OPS would reduce the productivity of the poor, further diminishing their future economic prospects. Economic services such as infrastructure and rural and urban development would be affected more severely than social services.
- Fiscal burden: The old pension scheme (OPS) was financially burdensome and fiscally non-viable. As public employees’ life expectancy increased, the state’s fiscal burden under the OPS began to rise exponentially, necessitating pension reforms. Reversing to OPS would put the fiscal burden back on the government, which could have negative impacts on the state’s finances.
- Tradeoff between pensions and development expenditure: Pension reforms were a watershed moment for the states, and reversing to OPS would result in a tradeoff between pension and development expenditure of the states. The pension reforms aimed to finance the increased non-development expenditure related to pensions through taxes or borrowing. However, our analysis revealed that from 1990 to 2004, the states’ revenues did not match the state’s increased expenditure, resulting in a higher fiscal deficit.
Facts for prelims: NPS vs OPS
| Parameter |
National Pension System (NPS) |
Old Pension Scheme (OPS) |
| Type of System |
Defined Contribution System |
Defined Benefit System |
| Funding |
Contributions from employee and employer |
Government-funded |
| Investment |
Market-linked investments in various asset classes |
No direct investment involved |
| Returns |
Subject to market risks |
Predetermined and not market-linked |
| Pension Amount |
Depends on accumulated corpus and investment returns |
Based on last drawn salary and years of service |
| Annuity & Lump-sum Withdrawal |
Minimum 40% corpus used to purchase annuity, remaining can be withdrawn as lump-sum |
Fixed monthly pension, no annuity or lump-sum withdrawal |
| Portability |
Portable across jobs and sectors |
Limited to government employees |
| Flexibility |
Choice of investment options, fund managers, and asset allocation |
No flexibility, pension determined by predefined formula |
Conclusion
- The state governments should not ignore the impact of the OPS on the poor and vulnerable, particularly women and children. The reversal will deprive them of essential services such as health and education and prevent them from participating in growth opportunities. Therefore, state governments should not reverse the far-sighted pension reform and should continue to focus on development expenditure that benefits the poor.
Mains Question
Q. What is the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and how does it differ from Old Pension Scheme (OPS) Now states are reversing to OPS as a populist measure, discuss its the negative impacts.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Indian economy challenges
Central Idea
- The current paradigm of economics in India is inadequate in providing solutions to the three major economic challenges the country is facing. The economists need to break out of their self-referential silo and examine the science of complex self-adaptive systems.
The Poly-crisis faced by India
- The Indian government is grappling with three economic challenges at the same time:
- Management of inflation,
- Trade agreements, and
- Employment
- Economists do not have a systemic solution for this poly-crisis. Consensus among them has broken down even about solutions to its separate parts.
Lessons from China and Vietnam
- Foreign investment in China: China and India opened their economies to global trade around the same time, some 35 years ago. Since then, China attracted foreign investment that was many times more than in India, and the incomes of its citizens increased five times faster.
- Vietnam emerging as more attractive destination: To attract investors, India must compete with other countries. Vietnam is often cited as a country that is proving to be more attractive than India to western and Japanese investors. However, when looking into Vietnam, they rediscover what was learned from China.
- High levels of human development: When both countries opened to foreign investors China before Vietnam, they had already attained high levels of human development, with universal education and good public health systems.
The Problem with the Current Paradigm
- There are some fundamental flaws in the current paradigm of economics.
- Economists often cite Tinbergen’s theory, which states that the number of policy instruments must equal the number of policy goals. This is a mechanical and linear view of how a complex system works.
- In complex organic systems, root causes contribute to many outcomes. The behaviour of the system cannot be explained by linear causes and effects. The causes interact with each other, and effects also become causes.
Facts for prelims: What is Tinbergen’s theory?
- Tinbergen’s theory states that the number of policy instruments (P) must be equal to the number of policy goals (G), in order to achieve the desired outcome.
- In other words: P = G
- This means that for each policy goal, there should be at least one policy instrument to achieve it.
- For example, if the policy goal is to reduce inflation, then there should be a policy instrument such as interest rate changes to achieve that goal. Similarly, if the policy goal is to promote employment, then there should be a policy instrument such as job creation programs to achieve that goal. Tinbergen’s theory emphasizes the importance of having a clear and consistent policy framework to achieve desired outcomes
Crises and the Inadequacy of the System
- Policies that fit one country may not fit the needs of others: Macro-economists search for global solutions, but trade and monetary policies that fit one country may not fit the needs of others. Their needs have emerged from their own histories.
- Emphasis on data trends: Economists arrive at solutions by comparing data trends of different countries, and in their models, people are numbers. Economists do not listen to real people, whereas politicians try to at least.
- For instance: The inadequacy of the current paradigm was revealed by several crises in this millennium, the 2008 global financial crisis, inequitable management of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the looming global climate crisis.
Conclusion
- A new economics is required to solve the poly-crisis faced by India. A movement to change the paradigm of economics’ science to bring perspectives from the sciences of complex self-adaptive systems has begun even in the West. India’s economists must step forward and lead the change towards a new economics paradigm based on the sciences of complex self-adaptive systems. India’s policymakers will have to find a way to strengthen the roots of the economic tree while harvesting its fruits at the same time, and the current paradigm of economics cannot provide solutions.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: India Justice Report
Mains level: Read the attached story
Central idea: The third India Justice Report, 2022 analyses the changes – both positive and negative – in India’s justice delivery system across four parameters: police, judiciary, prisons and legal aid.
India Justice Report
- The IJR is an initiative of Tata Trusts in collaboration with Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative among others.
- It was first published in 2019.
|
Below are some of the salient findings of the report – overcrowded prisons, not enough training centres for police personnel, a rising number of pending cases per judge, and more.
Finding
|
Highlights
|
Recommendations
|
| 1. Policing concentrated in urban areas |
- 60% of India’s population lives in rural areas, yet police forces are concentrated largely in urban areas.
- Only six states meet the recommended area coverage of 150 sq. km for a rural police station.
|
- Increase recruitment and training of police personnel in rural areas to ensure adequate coverage.
- Increase police-community engagement and build trust in rural communities.
|
| 2. Police training academies are overloaded |
- India has only 211 training schools and academies for 26.88 lakh police personnel.
- Training across fields cannot be a one-off event for police personnel.
|
- Increase the number of training institutes and the number of personnel trained each year.
- Allocate a larger portion of the police budget to training.
|
| 3. Prison overcrowding is getting worse |
- Prison populations have risen steadily with the number of people admitted to 1,319 prisons during 2021 increasing by 10.8%.
- The average prison in the country has an occupancy rate of 130%. In some states, this number is far worse.
|
- Invest in building new prisons and expanding existing ones.
- Explore alternative forms of punishment and rehabilitation for non-violent offenders.
|
| 4. Number of undertrial prisoners increasing |
- 77% of the incarcerated population comprises undertrials.
- This number has nearly doubled since 2010.
|
- Streamline legal processes to reduce the number of undertrials.
- Increase the use of bail and release on personal recognizance.
|
| 5. Cases pending per judge rising |
- 4.9 Crore cases remain pending across high courts and district courts in the country.
- Many cases have been pending for over 10 years.
|
- Increase the number of judges to reduce the backlog of cases.
- Modernize court processes with technology to streamline proceedings.
|
| 6. Share of women high court judges remains low |
- Between 2020 and 2022, there was a little less than a two percentage point increase in women’s representation in high courts.
- Women account for 35% of the total number of judges at the district court level.
|
- Implement policies to encourage more women to become judges.
- Provide training and support for women judges to advance in their careers.
|
| 7. No state/UT fulfilled all quotas for SC/ST/OBC judges at district court level |
- No state/UT could fully meet all its quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
|
- Increase recruitment of judges from marginalized communities.
- Implement policies to encourage and support their advancement in the judiciary.
|
| 8. Allocation to legal aid increasing, but no state/UT used its entire budget allocation |
- Over the last two years, the overall allocation for legal services has increased substantially.
- No state/UT used its entire budget allocation for legal aid.
|
- Ensure efficient utilization of resources for legal aid.
- Implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the impact of legal aid on access to justice.
|
| 9. Implementation of victim compensation schemes remains subpar |
- Implementation of victim compensation schemes “remains subpar.”
- State Legal Aid Service Authorities disposed of only 66% of the 97,037 applications seeking compensation received.
|
- Increase awareness of victim compensation schemes. Improve efficiency in processing and disposing of compensation applications.
- Provide support services for victims, including legal and mental health services.
|
Conclusion
- The report highlights that India’s criminal justice system continues to face a wide range of challenges and shortcomings that need to be addressed to ensure the rule of law and equal access to justice.
- Some of the key areas that require immediate attention include the need for better police training and infrastructure, reducing overcrowding in prisons, and improving the speed and efficiency of the judicial system.
- Additionally, the report calls for greater attention to be paid to the needs of victims of crime, including improving access to legal aid and victim compensation schemes.
- By addressing these challenges, India can move closer to achieving a more equitable and effective criminal justice system.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: McMahon Line
Mains level: LAC disputes
Central idea: The Chinese government has announced it would “standardize” the names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh.
MEA clarification
- The Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed the Chinese “invention”.
- Arunachal Pradesh has always been, and will always be, an integral part of India, said MEA.
Why is China giving names to places that are in India?
- China claims some 90,000 sq km of Arunachal Pradesh as its territory.
- It calls the area “Zangnan” in the Chinese language and makes repeated references to “South Tibet”.
- Chinese maps show Arunachal Pradesh as part of China, and sometimes parenthetically refer to it as “so-called Arunachal Pradesh”.
- China makes periodic efforts to underline this unilateral claim to Indian territory.
- Giving Chinese names to places in Arunachal Pradesh is part of that effort.
Earlier unilateral renaming
- This is the third lot of “standardized” names of places in Arunachal Pradesh that China has announced.
- Earlier in 2017, it had issued “official” Chinese names for six places spanning the breadth of Arunachal Pradesh
What is China’s argument for claiming these areas?
- The PRC disputes the legal status of the McMahon Line, the official boundary under the ‘Convention between Great Britain, China, and Tibet’ — of 1914 (Simla Convention).
- China was represented at the Simla Convention by a plenipotentiary of the Republic of China, which had been declared in 1912 after the Qing dynasty was overthrown.
- The present communist government came to power only in 1949, when the People’s Republic was proclaimed.
- The Chinese representative did not consent to the Simla Convention, saying Tibet had no independent authority to enter into international agreements.
What is the McMohan Line?
- The McMohan Line, named after Henry McMahon, the chief British negotiator at Shimla, was drawn from the eastern border of Bhutan to the Isu Razi pass on the China-Myanmar border.
- China claims territory to the south of the McMahon Line, lying in Arunachal Pradesh.
- China also bases its claims on the historical ties that have existed between the monasteries in Tawang and Lhasa.
Intention behind these renamings
- This renaming is a part of the Chinese strategy to assert its territorial claims over Indian territory.
- As part of this strategy, China routinely issues statements of outrage whenever an Indian dignitary visits Arunachal Pradesh.
- Beijing keeps harping on its “consistent” and “clear” position that the Indian possession of Arunachal Pradesh.
- These claims have been firmly established and recognized by the world, as “illegal”.
Arunachal not all-alone
- Laying aggressive claims to territories on the basis of alleged historical injustices done to China is a part of Beijing’s foreign policy playbook.
- The claim on Taiwan is one such example, as are the consistent efforts to change the “facts on the ground” in several disputed islands in the South China Sea.
- The aggression is at all times backed in overt and covert ways by the use of China’s economic and military muscle.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UN Water Conference
Mains level: Water conservation efforts
Central idea
- The UN 2023 Water Conference was held in New York from March 22-24.
- It was the first such meeting on water in 46 years.
- The conference aimed to identify game-changing ideas and make recommendations to policymakers on how to speed up and scale up change in the water sector.
What is the UN Water Conference?
- The UN Water Conference is an international conference that aims to better align activities by governments, companies, NGOs, and funders around a few grand challenges in the water sector.
- It serves as a platform for countries to learn from the experiences of others, transfer technology, and invest.
- The last UN Water Conference was held in 1977.
- It resulted in the first global ‘Action Plan’ recognizing that all people have the right to access safe drinking water and sanitation.
- This led to several decades of global funding and concerted effort to provide drinking water and sanitation for all.
Themes of the conference
The Conference has five themes that support the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework:
- Water for Health: Access to ‘WASH’ (Global Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) including the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation
- Water for Sustainable Development: Valuing water, the water-energy-food nexus and sustainable economic and urban development.
- Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment: Source to sea, biodiversity, climate, resilience and disaster risk reduction.
- Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and international water cooperation, cross sectoral cooperation and water across the 2030 Agenda.
- Water Action Decade: Accelerating the implementation of the objectives of the Decade for Action, including through the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan.
Purpose of the conference
- International conferences on water aim to better align activities by governments, companies, NGOs, and funders around a few grand challenges.
- They help countries learn from the experiences of others, transfer technology, and invest.
- Water problems tend to be local and need local solutions, so there is a challenge of mobilizing globally to solve local water problems.
Water challenges discussed
- While access to safe drinking water and sanitation is challenging, extending services to underserved populations is relatively uncontroversial.
- However, improving access to water and sanitation no longer translates directly to sustained access.
- The water problem is no longer about access to water and sanitation; the remaining SDG 6 targets address the need to sustain agriculture, industry, and natural ecosystems.
Outcomes of the 2023 Conference
- The conference’s proceedings resulted in a lot of talk, fragmented discussions, and no binding commitments.
- There were 713 diverse voluntary commitments by philanthropic donors, governments, corporations, and NGOs, with 120 relevant to India.
- Commitments included a $50-billion commitment from the Indian government to improve rural drinking water services under its Jal Jeevan Mission.
Examples of Commitments
- Technology: Specific innovations in wastewater treatment or solar treatment of water in remote areas, and a number of proposals for incubation platforms.
- Data and Models: Cost-effective approaches to data-generation included sensors and satellite data. Other efforts offered data analysis tools.
- Knowledge Sharing: One useful tool was the W12+ Blueprint, a UNESCO platform that hosts city profiles and case studies of programs, technologies, policies that addresses common water security challenges.
- Capacity Building: Efforts offered to help marginalized communities and women understand how to exercise their rights.
- Civil Society: Platforms for collective action by civil society groups lobbying for changes in regulations.
- Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance: The conference concluded that effective water governance hinges on these broad areas, and weaving them into the Water Action Agenda is a step.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Performers' Right
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea
- This article discusses a recent case involving Bollywood actor and producer, in which the Bombay High Court ruled that sales tax cannot be levied on the transfer of copyright.
- The ruling has implications for the entertainment industry, particularly in terms of taxation and copyright protection as well as performer’s rights.
What are Performer’s Rights?
- It refer to the legal rights granted to performing artists or performers in relation to their performances.
- These rights generally include the right to control and protect their performances from unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, and public performance.
- Performer’s rights may include the right to control the following:
- Recording: Performers have the right to prevent others from recording their live performances without their consent.
- Broadcasting and Communication to the Public: Performers have the right to control the broadcasting, communication, and distribution of their performances to the public, including radio, television, and online streaming platforms.
- Reproduction: Performers have the right to control the reproduction of their performances in any media format.
- Adaptation: Performers have the right to control the adaptation of their performances into other forms, such as musicals or films.
- Attribution: Performers have the right to be identified as the performers of their works, and to prevent others from falsely claiming authorship of their performances.
Legal protection of performer’s right
Legal protection of performers’ rights has evolved over time through international treaties and national laws.
- The Rome Convention in 1961 was the first significant development in the protection of performers’ rights.
- Performers’ rights are protected under various international treaties such as the Rome Convention and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
- In 1996, WIPO Performance and Phonogram Treaty (WPPT) recognized the moral rights of performers for the first time in any international treaty.
- In India, performer rights were recognized under the Copyright Act of 1957 in 1994.
- The Copyright Act is in conformity with the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), both concluded in 1996.
- The protection of performers’ rights in India lasts for 50 years from the end of the year in which the performance was fixed or took place.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Nathu La Pass
Mains level: Not Much
Several people have been killed and many others are feared trapped under snow after a massive avalanche near Sikkim’s Nathu La Mountain pass.
Nathu La Pass
| Location |
Sikkim, on the border between India and China |
| Altitude |
4,310 meters (14,140 ft) |
| Importance |
Historical Silk Route |
| Trade |
Reopened in 2006 for border trade between India and China |
| Restrictions |
Only for Indian and Chinese nationals with a valid visa |
| Connectivity |
Connects the Indian state of Sikkim with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China |
| Military importance |
Strategic importance in the Sino-Indian War of 1962 |
| Tourism |
Restricted due to the sensitive nature of the region |
| Weather |
Harsh and unpredictable, with heavy snowfall in winter months |
| Border dispute |
The pass was closed by China after the 1962 war and was reopened only after the Chinese president visited India in 2003. |
How has it been at the centre stage of India-China disputes?
- Sino-Indian War: In 1962, Nathu La pass was a battleground between the Indian and Chinese armies during the Sino-Indian War. The conflict resulted in casualties on both sides, with China ultimately capturing the pass.
- Skirmishes in 1967: In 1967, there were several minor skirmishes between the Indian and Chinese armies near Nathu La pass. The conflict was resolved through diplomatic negotiations.
- Standoff in 2017: In 2017, there was a 73-day-long standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies near the Doklam plateau, which is close to Nathu La pass. The dispute was over the construction of a road by China in the disputed area. The standoff ended with both sides agreeing to disengage.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Basohli Paintings, GI tag
Mains level: Not Much
The famous Basohli Painting, known for its miniature art style from Kathua district, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
Basohli Paintings
- Basohli Paintings are a form of miniature paintings that originated in the town of Basohli in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.
- They are known for their vibrant color, intricate details, and depictions of Hindu mythology and legends.
- Basohli Paintings date back to the 17th and 18th centuries and are considered to be the earliest examples of Pahari paintings.
Key features
|
Description |
| Miniature art |
Known for their miniature art style, characterized by intricate and detailed work |
| Bold and vibrant color |
Made from natural dyes and pigments |
| Depiction of Hindu mythology |
Life of Lord Krishna and stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata |
| Elaborate compositions |
Multiple figures and scenes depicted in a single painting |
| Fine detailing |
Intricate patterns and designs that are often difficult to replicate |
| Gold and silver accents |
Such accents add to their ornate and intricate appearance |
Other GI products from J&K
- The UT of Jammu and Kashmir has included 33 products on the list that have received the GI tag on 31 March 2023.
- The products that received the GI tags include Basohli Pashmina Woolen Products (Kathua), Chikri Wood Craft (Rajouri), Bhaderwah Rajma (Doda), Mushkbudji Rice (Anantnag), Kaladi (Udhampur), Sulai Honey (Ramban), Anardana (Ramban), and Ladakh Wood Carving (Ladakh).
Back2Basics: Geographical Indication (GI)
- A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
- Nodal Agency: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 w.e.f. September 2003.
- GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.
- The tag stands valid for 10 years.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Same-sex marriage, Read the attached article
Central Idea
- The Centre’s opposition to the legalization of same-sex marriages based on cultural and societal concepts of marriage and family is examined and critiqued.
The Centre’s Argument
- The Centre argues that same-sex marriages are not recognized in Indian traditions, ethos, culture, and societal concepts of marriage.
- The Parliament, and not the Court, should decide on legalizing same-sex marriages.
Societal Conceptualization of Marriage
- Marriage is a social institution, and the Centre’s stance finds backing in four interrelated sub-arguments.
- Same-sex marriages demand nuanced alteration of the conventional understanding of marriage.
- The current legislative framework promotes the conventional understanding of marriage.
- Religious and societal morality still conceptualizes intercourse as a procreative activity.
- Conventional conceptualisations of family and marriage are facing evolutionary challenges.
- Same-sex marriage is the legal recognition of a marriage between two individuals of the same sex.
- It grants same-sex couples the same legal and social recognition, rights, and privileges that are traditionally associated with marriage, including property rights, inheritance rights, and the ability to make decisions for each other in medical emergencies.
- The recognition of same-sex marriage varies around the world, with some countries legalizing it while others do not.
- The issue has been the subject of much debate and controversy, with arguments for and against same-sex marriage based on religious, cultural, social, and legal considerations.
The Language of Rights
- The Court must evaluate the Centre’s argument on its own merits.
- While addressing the violations of fundamental rights resulting from non-recognition of same-sex marriages, the question of same-sex marriages is about the rights of a society to conserve traditions and an individual’s constitutional freedoms.
Back to Basics: Special Marriage Act?
- The Special Marriage Act is a law in India that allows individuals of different religions or nationalities to marry each other.
- It was enacted in 1954 and came into effect from 1955.
- The Special Marriage Act allows for inter-caste and inter-religious marriages, and couples who register under this act are not required to change their religion or follow any religious rites or rituals.
- The act also provides for divorce on certain grounds and maintenance to the spouse and children.
Conclusion
- While the rights issues concerning same-sex couples are substantial, the implications of recognizing same-sex unions as a couple require a broader debate in society and the legislature. The push to formalize the institution of same-sex unions must come from representative bodies such as Parliament.
Mains Question
Q. Provide a detailed analysis including relevant legal, social, cultural, and ethical considerations of same sex marriage in India along with a way ahead
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Related facts
Mains level: Sodium Intake, and burden of Hypertension and cardio vascular diseases
Central Idea
- The WHO recently published the ‘Global Report on Sodium Intake Reduction’ which sheds light on the progress of its 194 member states towards reducing population sodium intake by 30% by 2025. Regrettably, progress has been lethargic, with only a few countries making considerable headway towards the objective. Consequently, there is a proposal to extend the deadline to 2030.
The target of reducing population sodium intake
- The target of reducing population sodium intake by 30% by 2025 was set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in 2013.
- The plan aims to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, by 25% by 2025, and to achieve a 30% reduction in the mean population intake of salt/sodium.
- The target of reducing population sodium intake is aimed at reducing the burden of hypertension, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Why reducing sodium intake is essential for India?
- Reduced sodium intake and decreased blood pressure: There is a strong correlation between reduced sodium intake and decreased blood pressure, leading to a decrease in stroke and myocardial infarction incidence. Lowering sodium intake by 1 gram per day leads to a 5 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure, as per a study in The BMJ.
- Cardiovascular disease: Elevated BP is a critical risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. It contributed to 54% of strokes and 47% of coronary heart diseases globally in 2001.
- Economic impact of cardiovascular disease on LMICs: Cardiovascular disease has a staggering economic impact on LMICs, estimated at $3.7 trillion between 2011 and 2025 due to premature mortality and disability. This represents 2% of the GDP of LMICs. The Indian economy alone faces losses surpassing $2 trillion between 2012 and 2030 due to cardiovascular disease, highlighting the need for effective interventions to mitigate the economic and health consequences of the disease in LMICs.
How cardiovascular disease and hypertension pose significant challenges in India?
- Cardiovascular diseases as primary cause of mortality and morbidity:
- As per data from the Registrar General of India, WHO, and the Global Burden of Disease Study, cardiovascular diseases have emerged as the primary cause of mortality and morbidity. Data from the Registrar General of India, WHO, and the Global Burden of Disease Study
- Age-adjusted cardiovascular disease mortality rate increased by 31% in the last 25 years
- Hypertension as leading risk factor for such diseases in India
- Prevalence of hypertension in India:
- More prevalent among men aged 15 and above compared to women
- More common in southern states, particularly Kerala, while Punjab and Uttarakhand in the north also report high incidence rates
- Pre-hypertensive population in India
- Defined by systolic blood pressure levels of 120-139 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure levels of 80-89 mmHg
- 5% of women and 49.2% of men at the national level
- Significant risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and premature mortality for Indians with BP readings between 130 and 139/80-89 mmHg
- Many Indians classified as pre-hypertensive are now included in the newly defined stage-I hypertension by the American guidelines.
- Circulatory system diseases: The 2020 Report on Medical Certification of the Cause of Death shows that circulatory system diseases account for 32.1% of all documented deaths, with hypertension being a major risk factor.
Global Efforts to Reduce Sodium Intake
- The WHO aims to reduce population sodium intake by 30% by 2025
- Only a few countries have made considerable progress towards the objective
- India’s score of 2 on the WHO sodium score signifies the need for more rigorous efforts to address the health concern
Government Initiatives
- Voluntary programmes: The Union government has initiated several voluntary programmes aimed at encouraging Indians to decrease their sodium consumption
- Eat Right India: The FSSAI has implemented the Eat Right India movement, which strives to transform the nation’s food system to ensure secure, healthy, and sustainable nutrition for all citizens
- Aaj Se Thoda Kam: FSSAI launched a social media campaign called Aaj Se Thoda Kam.
Urgent Need for a Comprehensive National Strategy
- Despite of awareness efforts, the average Indian’s sodium intake remains alarmingly high. Evidence shows an average daily consumption of approximately 11 grams.
- India needs a comprehensive national strategy to curb salt consumption
- Collaboration between State and Union governments is essential to combat hypertension, often caused by excessive sodium intake
Conclusion
- The excessive consumption of salt can lead to severe health consequences, and India has a pressing need to reduce its sodium intake. While the government has initiated several voluntary programs, these have fallen short of the goal. India needs a comprehensive national strategy, engaging consumers, industry, and the government, to curb salt consumption. Collaboration between State and Union governments is essential to combat hypertension, often caused by excessive sodium intake.
Mains Question
Q. Reducing population sodium intake is a critical step towards preventing and controlling non- cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. Comment.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: GHG's, carbon tax,
Mains level: Carbon pricing mechanism, global efforts
Central Idea
- Environmental destruction has been a consequence of boosting GDP growth in every country due to the absence of a price for natural resources like air and forests. To combat this, the biggest economies of the G-20 must agree on valuing nature, including by pricing carbon effluents. As president of the G-20 this year, India can take the lead in carbon pricing, which will open unexpected avenues of decarbonization.
Pricing Carbon at present
- Three ways of pricing carbon: carbon tax, emissions trading system (ETS), and import tariff on the carbon content
- GHG emission: 46 countries price carbon, covering only 30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
- IMF’s proposed price: International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposed price floors of $75, $50, and $25 a ton of carbon for the United States, China, and India, respectively
- Benefits: Economy-wide benefits of carbon pricing in terms of damages avoided generally outweighed the cost it imposed on individual industries in EU, British Columbia, Canada, and Sweden
- Boost to renewables: Carbon pricing makes investment in renewable energy such as solar and wind more attractive.
Facts for prelims
| Carbon Pricing Method |
Description |
| Carbon Tax |
A domestic tax imposed on carbon emissions, directly discouraging the use of fossil fuels and raising revenue for investment in cleaner sources of energy or protection of vulnerable consumers. Example: Korea and Singapore. |
| Emissions Trading System (ETS) |
A system that allows entities with excess emissions allowances to sell them to those that are emitting more than their allotted limit. Example: European Union and China. |
| Import Tariff on Carbon Content |
A tax on imported goods based on the amount of carbon emissions produced during their manufacturing process, designed to discourage importing high-emissions products. Example: Proposed by the European Union. |
| Carbon Offsets |
A voluntary mechanism in which companies or individuals pay for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These projects may include reforestation, renewable energy, or energy efficiency initiatives. The amount of emissions reduced by the project can then be used to offset the emissions of the buyer. |
- Among the three ways of pricing, India could find a carbon tax appealing as it can directly discourage fossil fuels, while raising revenues which can be invested in cleaner sources of energy or used to protect vulnerable consumers
- IMF proposed $25 a ton as a starting point for India
- The main obstacle is the argument by industrial firms about losing their competitive advantage to exporters from countries with a lower carbon price
- All high, middle, and low-income countries should set the same rate within each bracket
Way ahead: Need for Global Carbon Pricing
- The first movers will be the most competitive: High enough carbon tax across China, the US, India, Russia, and Japan alone (more than 60% of global effluents), with complementary actions, could have a notable effect on global effluents and warming. The first movers will be the most competitive
- India’s leadership: India can play a lead role by tabling global carbon pricing in the existential fight against climate change as president of the G-20 summit this September
- Communication is important: Any type of carbon pricing faces stiff political opposition therefore communicating the idea of wins at the societal level is vital.
Back to Basics: GHG’s
|
Greenhouse Gas
|
Properties |
Major Sources |
Impact
|
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) |
-Long-lived in atmosphere.
-Traps heat from the sun |
– Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
-Deforestation |
– Accounts for 76% of global GHG emissions – Primary cause of climate change |
| Methane (CH4) |
– Short-lived in atmosphere
– Traps more heat than CO2 |
– Agriculture (livestock digestion, manure management)
– Energy production
– Landfills |
– Accounts for 16% of global GHG emissions – Contributes to both climate change and air pollution |
| Nitrous Oxide (N2O) |
– Long-lived in atmosphere
– Traps more heat than CO2 |
– Agriculture (fertilizer use, manure management)
– Industrial processes
– Combustion of fossil fuels |
– Accounts for 6% of global GHG emissions
– Contributes to both climate change and air pollution |
| Fluorinated Gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6) |
– Can have high global warming potential |
– Industrial processes (refrigeration, air conditioning)
– Semiconductors
– Electrical transmission equipment |
– Accounts for less than 3% of global GHG emissions
– Can have very high global warming potential |
| Ozone (O3) |
– Not a GHG, but plays a role in climate change |
– Human-made chemicals that release ozone into the atmosphere |
– Contributes to climate change by trapping heat |
| Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) |
– Human-made chemicals that destroy ozone in the atmosphere |
– Used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol sprays |
– Contributes to climate change by destroying ozone, which leads to greater heat-trapping |
Conclusion
- India can take the lead in carbon pricing as president of the G-20 this year. By pricing carbon effluents, India can promote investment in renewable energy, protect vulnerable consumers, and contribute to the global fight against climate change. However, there is a need for effective communication to ensure that the idea of carbon pricing is understood at the societal level, and any type of carbon pricing faces stiff political opposition.
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