Dec 23, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - Can Media Platforms be Alternatives to the Parliament?

Can Media Platforms be Alternatives to the Parliament? Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. The winter session of the Parliament witnessed disruption and chaos as the opposition raised the issue of demonetisation in both houses. Since the winter session of Parliament in 2013, this session has recorded maximum number of lost hours. According to PRS Legislative research, LS has seen only 15% productivity and RS has seen only 18% productivity of the available time. This has resulted in almost washout in the winter session of the Parliament. Also, the focus of the politicians has been to make statements outside the Parliament rather than discussing the crucial issues within the house. Can media replace Parliament? No, it is not possible as both Parliament and media are part of democracy, but both have separate functions. One has a legislative body which deliberates, discusses policies, decisions on laws which are to be made or unmade. On the other hand, media is supposed to project public opinion which can influence all the institutions like Parliament, executive or judiciary. Thus, both are needed by the society and country. Parliament deliberates the policies, forces accountability of the government to MPs and finally people. The press adds to the power of the people to enforce accountability of the decision makers, whether it is Parliament, executive and may be judiciary too. So the roles are different. Currently, what happens is that Parliament gets adjourned and the MPs rush to media outside. Media is just a platform to put forward the voice. But it cannot replace Parliament. If Parliament meets, discusses issues and passes laws in peace, media’s role will be reporting and analysing the deliberations later own. Hence, the media is not saying to neglect Parliament. Not a good precedent Earlier, the Parliament was called a debate house where excellent, scintillating debates were being carried out between Parliamentarians on all issues. There used to be discussions as problems existed even then. Often the government was put on the mat as it was answerable to Parliament. Today, the standards of debates have come down and the standards of behaviour are falling. In the late 1990s, some kind of protests started taking shape inside the house. At that time, there was a reaction to the insensitivity and lack of insensitivity on the part of the government. This is the reason why certain amount of protests formed in the house and started thinking that making a speech is not enough as government will reply and matter will get over but the problem will still remain. So, collective protests came into being, but they were happening very rarely. Disruption of the house happened at couple of occasions. But today, it has become a norm. During the Narsimha Rao government, while demanding the resignation of then communication minister, the Parliament was not allowed to function for three weeks at a go. It is from then, that it became a norm. Instead of discussion or putting pressure on government through occasional protest, the disruptions of the proceedings of the house itself became a kind of protest. The problem is that the positions are not taken on the merit of the issue but on the basis of own convenience and the stand on the issue. If there is really a future desired in which the Parliament functions, then the media will have to insist the politicians to behave and politicians take stand on the issues of procedure and propriety irrespective of their own stand on the issue. Need for tolerance Also, this is the first time that the treasury benches are creating as much ruckus as the opposition. This shows that the leaders are fast losing their interest in the institutions of democracy. In fact, they are willingly subverting democratic procedures because the treasury benches are stalling and disrupting the proceedings. The culture of tolerance is missing in Parliament. Government doesn’t seem like to have dissent being voiced in Parliament. Earlier, Acharya Kriplani, Ram Manohar Lohiya gave tensioned speeches in Parliament against Nehru. But nobody was silenced. Now there is an atmosphere of silencing the opposition which leads to intolerance by the other side also. Thus, tolerance on dissent is very important. There is hardly any hope of changes in near future as the Parliamentarians don’t realise the importance of the function they have to perform. Debate and discussions are sine qua non in a democracy. If that is not allowed to happen, the Parliament as an institutions credibility will get lost. The forum for discussion and passing the laws has to be the floor of the house not outside. The influence of the TV plays a part as the MPs want to show that they are doing hard work of making other party accountable, and hence such disruptions are legitimate. While the Parliament gets adjourned, the committee meetings are in order. Nobody walks out. There are welcoming of ideas across the party lines. Onus on the government It is said that the onus lies on the government to makes sure that the Parliament functions smoothly. The adjournment motion or motion 56 plays an important role here. The opposition seeks to bring in the adjournment motion to raise the issues which seek immediate attention. But it has been seen that the presiding officers very rarely allow the adjournment motion on the floor of the house. There is a sense of fear that if adjournment motion gets passed, the government will be at a loss. But it needs to be understood that government has a majority in house and also, such motion only discusses the matters of grave importance. Similarly, if the opposition demands motion under 184, and it complies with the stipulations of the rules, then it should be allowed. That is why the rule is there and the opposition has to be allowed to bring it in. The presiding officer should be conscious of the rights of the opposition also. They should look at the rules as the rules are to be used and invoked for different purposes and occasions. It has been seen that if there is motion moved under 56 or 184 or give a notice for the same, the presiding officer doesn’t allow it. There can only be 193 motion, where there is discussion without voting. The point is that there should be recognition of the rights of the opposition also. Participation of PM in proceedings The PM has a constitutional duty to come to house, explain the decisions he has taken to both houses. He is the person charged with responsibility of ensuring executive accountability to Parliament as it is constitutional responsibility. It is not that somebody has to invite the PM to the house. It is a constitutional obligation. In the winter session, the problem in both the houses revolved around this issue. For sometime, this has been happening that if there is a ruckus in Parliament, the PM moves away from the house without intervening or bringing the house to order or reaching out to opposition. Even in running the Parliament the consensus is needed which needs to be understood by the Parliamentarians. Conclusion For the government of the day and as an individual, the PM is described as the leader of house and not only the leader of treasury benches. It is certainly the government’s constitutional and moral obligation to create situation conducive for debate, discussion and dissent. If there has to be intolerance for dissent and every critic of the government is termed as anti-national and motivated and inspired across the borders, then there is no place for a healthy discussion. Parliament and media are cornerstones of individual structure. If it is not allowed to function, it will lose its credibility. Even the media is behaving in a peculiar manner, particularly the electronic media and in such situation, there are concerns about future of democracy as a real institutional framework as such. In a democracy or history as such, people who think themselves as very important, come and go but the institutions remain. Thus, institutions are more important than the individual. Key words: Adjournment Motion The primary object of an adjournment motion is to draw the attention of the House to a recent matter of urgent public importance having serious consequences and in regard to which a motion or a resolution with proper notice will be too late. The matter proposed to be raised should be of such a character that something very grave which affects the whole country and its security has happened and the House is required to pay its attention immediately by interrupting the normal business of the House. The adjournment motion is thus an extraordinary procedure which, if admitted, leads to setting aside the normal business of the House for discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance. The subject matter of the motion must have a direct or indirect relation to the conduct or default on the part of the Union Government and must precisely pin-point the failure of the Government of India in the performance of its duties in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and Law. A matter which falls within the jurisdiction of a State Government is inadmissible, but a matter concerning the constitutional developments in a State or atrocities on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections of the society which bring the Union Government into picture may be considered for admission on merits. The refusal to give his consent is in the absolute discretion of the Chair and he is not bound to give any reasons therefor. Connecting the dots: The institutional credibility is always above the individual’s personality. Examine in light of disruptions caused in Parliament and fallouts of the same.

Dec 22, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 22nd December, 2016

  IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 22nd December, 2016   Archives   SOCIAL ISSUES   TOPIC: General Studies 1 Poverty and developmental issues General Studies 2 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes   Missing Children and Trafficking   Missing Children in India – Magnitude Missing children is not a problem restricted to any specific state or part of India but has its arms spread all across. Various shocking numbers related to child related crimes are given below. These highlight the magnitude of this problem. In India, one child goes missing every eight minutes. Over 60,000 children go missing every year in the country. In the past year, approximately 3,000 children have gone missing in the state of Uttar Pradesh alone. Between 2013 and 2014, at least 67,000 children in India went missing out of which 45 per cent were minors.   Missing Children - Causes The number of missing children has been on a rise for a while now. The reasons for the same are as follows: Laxity on the part of State governments in tracing missing children. Lack of coordination between officials of various authorities such as the district administration, social welfare organisations, child welfare committee and the police. Porous borders with countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh which account for a major share in the human trafficking including child trafficking. Lack of effective legislations and penal measures to curb the problem by creating an effective deterrent. Under reporting or no reporting of cases of children going missing. Kailash Satyarthi’s NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan has put the number of missing children as much as 10 times more than what is stated in their findings and research because the majority of trafficking victims are not included in missing cases.   Missing Children – Reporting and Tracking As a result of the writ petition filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan the Supreme Court of India ordered State and Central governments to periodically submit compliance reports in the court relating to the status of missing children in their respective States. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) has also set up a website, trackthemissingchild.gov.in. It contains information relating to missing children in each State, police stations in every State and the number of children missing and traced in real time. gov.in was another portal launched in 2015 where information relating to missing children can be submitted. Childline Services are also available on 24 hour toll free number 1098 which is currently operating in more than 250 cities and districts. Various issues which are against child safety can be reported on this number. In addition to the above measures, various informal methods can also be adopted for dealing with the issue. Images of missing children can be shared on social media, mobile phone applications in an attempt at increasing outreach and tracing them.   The setting up these portals and helplines is a very positive development but greater awareness, sensitisation and specialised manpower are needed to ensure that these measures provide best results in curbing the problem if missing children.   Missing Children – Link with Human Trafficking The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has reported an increase in the incidents of human trafficking year on year. This is one area which needs urgent attention because of its connection with missing children. As per reports, at least 67,000 children in India went missing between 2013 and 2014 out of which 45 per cent were minors who were victims of trafficking for prostitution. Primary causes of trafficking include forced marriage, child labour, procuring of minors as domestic help and sexual exploitation thus providing a direct evidence of a connection between trafficking and missing children. Exclusion of missing cases from reporting of trafficking also leads to under reporting of the problem of missing children.   Missing Children – Need for Crisis Management The reasons behind children going missing need to be identified through specialised studies, unique to different States because the reasons differ across the country. A key cause behind children being kidnapped in one part of the country could be for use as domestic labour whereas in another part of the country could be for prostitution. The rising menace of missing children of India and them becoming victims of trafficking is making international headlines. There is a worrisome growth of trafficking syndicates in the country.   Way Forward The draft Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2016, which seeks to address loopholes in the legal system, impose stronger penal measures and address issues of rehabilitation needs to be taken up in the Parliament very soon. Strong, well-coordinated platforms are needed to deal with the problem of missing children. Sound rehabilitation measures need to be in place for the well-being and protection of rescued children who have been victims of violence.   Connecting the dots: India is witnessing a constant increase in the cases of missing children and child trafficking. Highlight the reasons for this growing number even though various policy measures have been taken to check this problem. Suggest a strategy to handle this issue, highlighting the steps taken by the government to check the problem.   NATIONAL/HEALTH   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.   Reforming healthcare in India   India is the third-largest economy in the world, with annual spending of over Rs. 6 trillion on healthcare on its 1.3 billion population. Currently it represents a USD 40 Billion industry (figure as on 2009 Source: IDFC Securities Hospital Sector November 2010) where hospitals account for nearly 50% with pharmacies (25%), insurance and medical equipment (15%) and diagnostics (10%). Yet, it is faced with a triple disease burden Maternal and child health Infectious diseases Non-communicable diseases To achieve success in it, there need not be a choice between the public and private sectors but can use each where its application is best. The right combination of roles for the public and private sector in health reform is critical for a healthy India.   The healthcare system in India India’s tax-based funding of healthcare is very low. Additionally, it barely supports a government-owned health system which has primary focus on basic maternal and child healthcare. The formal private network is a small component of India’s health sector. It is predominantly focused on secondary and tertiary care for urban India. Moreover, the health insurance covers less than 5% of total health expenditure. As a result, over 60% of healthcare expenditure in India is incurred by individuals whenever they seek care. Money is spent on seeking healthcare services from several informal providers and on purchasing large quantities of irrational medicines directly from pharmacies. Thus, this focuses India’s largely unorganized healthcare sector on curing people rather than preventing sickness itself. Reforming healthcare in India Picture credit: https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-5f6b6c4b0693fc2094343986c9b9cd38-c?convert_to_webp=true   Making the Health care systems robust It has certain peculiar features which prevent free-market solutions to work. Unlike other expenses, healthcare expenses are high on variability and are most often unexpected. The humans have an innate tendency of not to think about health until they get sick. As a result, they don’t buy health insurance, spend less or completely avoid primary care and early diagnosis which leads to spending huge amounts at hospitals. This shows that an average individual is not even aware of his/her health status and is completely dependent on the doctor or surgeon for medical advice. Many countries have built high-performing health systems and have not depended upon free market solutions. A careful study reveals three essential principles central to the design of each of these successful health systems:   Pre-payment with pooling Many countries have either used higher taxation levels or have required residents to mandatorily purchase some form of health insurance. Britain largely relies on tax-financed health systems whereas Germany is largely reliant on mandatory health insurance. Japan mandates its citizens to enrol with one of its several insurers for universal coverage. Thus, the aggregated money is then converted into large pools which are able to absorb the high level of variability of health expenditure.   Concentrated purchasers with organized providers The large pools are managed by one or more large agencies, which use pooled money to pay for healthcare for their members, and thereby discipline both providers and consumers. Britain has public trusts, Germany has sickness funds and Japan uses multiple insurers. Thailand adopts a single national health security office which buys only from primary care-led integrated providers. In many countries, there is a difference between the roles of the purchaser of health services and the providers of healthcare. A public trust or designated organization could receive pooled finances, acting as a purchaser whereas providers could be a mix of public and private accredited facilities that compete for contracts based on high-quality services and on a capitation basis. Health insurers provide a wider suite of innovative products, covering outpatient and primary care. This enables the shift towards a futuristic healthcare design where payments to healthcare providers are based on achievement of outcomes.   Government as an active shaper It is the most crucial principle in all effective health systems as the government plays an active role in designing and supervising the entire health system. It doesn’t solely focus on the management of a health system owned by itself but also looks out at the private establishments.   Many countries have adopted these principles and applied to their own sociocultural context as they deemed appropriate. On doing so, these countries have shaped an organized an effective provider institutions over time where healthcare related hardships and impoverishment are being almost entirely eliminated   Conclusion Designing an effective health system of this type is an uphill yet achievable journey. In India, each state represents a different social, economic and cultural environment, and will need a customized approach towards its health systems’ redesign. In the 1960s, countries such as Thailand, Brazil and South Korea had health statistics similar to or worse than India’s in 2010, but transformed the status quo over four decades. It is clear from global experiences that for any country that has achieved successful reform of its healthcare system, these three core design principles have played an outstanding role and thus there is no fundamental reason why each Indian state cannot use these guiding principles to aspire to build a strong health system.   Connecting the dots: The Indian healthcare system requires a reboot. Do you agree? Critically examine the pros and cons of the reforms in healthcare system. With technology picking pace, the health care sector cannot remain immune to it as it can generate many advantages out of it. What are various technological interventions in healthcare sector visible in India? Discuss.   MUST READ   Ending the Manipur blockade Hindu Related articles: Manipur violence- Assessing the internal security Manipur in ILPS turmoil   A year of living dangerously Hindu     Smallness at the border Indian Express     All play Indian Express     Listen please Indian Express     Can punishment change human behaviour? Livemint     A poorly handled army chief appointment Livemint     Where’s money for a big-spend Budget? Business Line     Leadership crisis in public sector banks Business Line    

Dec 21, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - Energy Crisis in India and Hydropower Projects

  Energy Crisis in India and Hydropower Projects ARCHIVES   Search 18th October http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment   Recently, PM dedicated three hydropower project to India. 800 MW hydropower station of NTPC- Koldam 412 MW Rampur Hydro Station of SJVNL projects 520 MW parvati project of NHPC   Implication to economy and environment Himachal Pradesh has highest hydropower installed capacity in India. For hilly states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Sikkim and other north-eastern states, hydropower is important. They have specific place in the economy of the region. At the same time, it also provides electricity to national grid. Thus, these projects are important from that point of view. These projects were commissioned in last couple of years. Also, these projects involve lot of cost. Economically, they cost Rs. 8-10 crores per MW. There are other costs too like environment costs, social costs, opportunity costs etc. Energy crisis in India and hydropower projects Significance of Hydropower Hydropower is basically generating power from flowing water. There are few kinds of hydropower projects. Storage hydropower projects- Sardar Sarovar, Tehri, Bhakra project Run of the river hydropower projects- power is generated from flowing water. There is dam for each of hydropower project and from those dams, the water is diverted to tunnel which come backs to river few kms downstream. The head that the water gets between the points where it enters tunnel and where it exists, is used to generate power. This is run of river hydropower project. On basis of capacity > 25 MW = large hydropower <25 MW = small hydropower Below 2 MW = mini hydropower There are also micro (5-10 KW) and pico (>5 KW) hydropower projects. India has 42000 MW installed capacity of hydropower. It is 16% of installed capacity but the generation is low as it depends on availability of water. During drought, lean, summer season, when less water is available, then generation drops. Issues related to hydropower Two of three projects dedicated by PM is in Satluj basin. This basin has bumper to bumper hydropower projects like Karchum Wangtoo, Naptha Jhakri, Rampur, Luhri, Koldam, Bhakra on the same river. Hence, there are cumulative impacts. Social impact- lot of people get displaced, livelihood resources get affected. Environmental problems- most of the new projects are coming in Himalayan areas which is vulnerable to disasters in terms of earthquakes, landslides, floods, erosion. In the era of climate change, there is problem of glacial snow converting into rivers and thereby creating floods. Significance of hydroelectricity when India is facing electricity surplus. 16% of installed hydropower total capacity is from hydropower. However, the generation from hydropower is 11-12%. And about 70% of the generation is during monsoon. Hence there is a fluctuation. But one key benefit of hydropower is picking power. Picking power means the power supply in the grid. Demand is not constant- it grows during morning hours, declines during afternoon hours, goes up in evening hours and goes down at night. Together, there are seasonal variations and daily variations. A thermal power project cannot be restarted when the demand goes up and shut down when there is less demand. That is possible with hydropower project. Because of the capacity with hydropower, it can generate more power during picking hours. However, this advantage is available only if it is optimises the operational hydropower project to provide maximum picking power. Other advantages of hydropower are clean, cheap, green source of energy. But these are debateable issues. Sustainability of hydropower projects Problems do exist with the hydropower project. Besides the social, environment and the disaster issues, there are also issues of generation performance. A study found that 89% of India’s installed capacity does not generate power at promised level. Each project, when it is given techno economic clearance, it is promises to generate power at 90% dependability, which means that in 90% of the year, it should be generating promised power. But when the actual performance is looked at over the last 30 years for all operating hydropower project, it was found that 89% of the projects generated electricity below the promised level. And half of them generated below 50% of the promised level. Also, there is reduction in units generated by hydropower per million units every year. In last 20 years, per MW generation has gone down by 20%. Also, there exists issues of siltation, maintenance of project, Repair, replacement and so on. This requires cost and if there is not proper allocation of cost for operational functions like maintenance, repair and replacement, then the electricity generation suffers. When silt gathers in storage projects like Bhakra, Tehri, Sardar Sarovar, it reduces storage capacity and proportionally the power generation goes down. So, these issues are important from the sustainability point of view. So, having created the installed capacity of 42000 MW, there should be focus on optimising operation and generation from these projects. Only after it is achieved, new projects should be installed. This will assure better sustainability of benefit from the generation. Carbon footprints and hydropower projects It is assumed that as hydropower projects don’t consume fuel, they do not generate carbon footprints. The World Commission on Dams has shown how power, particularly in tropical countries, reservoirs also generate methane. One molecule of methane is 22 times potent GHG than C02. So there also needs to be assessment of carbon footprint. Also, to make these projects, there is deforestation. Deforestation reduces carbon sink and thus there is addition of more carbon in atmosphere. Water crisis like draught and low levels of water in river leads to closure of dams. Hydropower has to survive the intensity and frequency of droughts and more impacts of climate change. The rainfall pattern will change with larger gaps between two events and high when it occurs. This impacts the power generation capacity of hydropower projects. If it is ensured that appraisal and impact assessment is proper, if the catchment is maintained properly, the hydropower projects can be sustainable. If the catchment is not maintained properly, then whatever rains come as flash floods, it damages the projects. Constraints in hydropower projects Huge costs is one of the constraints in developing hydropower. For this, it is necessary to optimise the generation from existing capacity. There is a need for proper environment impact assessment, including technical assessment. If 89% of hydropower projects are generating below promised level, then serious problem exists within appraisal of the project and method in which techno economic clearance is given. So many projects have been developed in upstream that they are remaining empty. Also, India is using more groundwater. Hence, the surface water flow reduces in downstream area. Every project is plagued by cost and time overruns problem. Even the recent three dedicated projects suffered from it and they also faced disaster during construction. The main reason is the imperfect appraisal of the project, whether technical, hydrological or geological. Conclusion Hydropower generates around 11-12% of India’s electricity capacity. Trajectory of renewable energy is going up. Today, solar and wind energy have overtaken hydropower in installed capacity. So, in future, sustainable benefits from existing hydropower should be used and then go for pico hydropower projects. Later, there should be proper appraisal and public consultation before more projects are involved. Connecting the dots: Can hydropower projects be called renewable energy projects? Examine the pros and cons of such projects with respect to other renewable projects of solar and wind energy.  

Dec 21, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 21st December, 2016

  IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 21st December, 2016   Archives   SECURITY    TOPIC: General Studies 3 Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. Security challenges and their management in border areas;   Manipur violence- Assessing the internal security Manipur has been facing sever hardships in supply of essential items since November 1, 2016 after United Naga Council (UNC) imposed an indefinite economic blockade on the two national highways — NH 2 and NH37 — that serve as lifeline for the state. The economic blockade The state government had announced formation of seven new districts with the reason being administrative convenience. This brings up total districts to 16 from 9. UNC which claims to be a common platform for Nagas in Manipur, feels that the move by the majority Meiteis will hurt their interests. The UNC has claimed that the creation of new districts, especially making Sadar Hills and Jiribam full-fledged districts in the Naga dominated hill areas, will encroach upon and divide the traditional land holdings of Naga tribes. This blockade has not only crippled trade and normal life in the state but also increased the existing divide between the valley and the hill people. The blockade has led to scarcity of goods which has led to price rise. The cost of petroleum products have almost tripled. In addition, the demonetisation move further worsened the situation. However, the market is devoid of essential items which has made people now indifferent to demonetisation move. Cross-border trade with Myanmar at border towns of Moreh in Manipur and Namphalong in Myanmar, legalised since 1995, has also come to a standstill, hit by the double blow of the blockade and demonetisation. Adding fuel to the fire, the tensions in the state has further heightened after suspected UNC militants continued their violent attacks on Manipur Police and other state forces. Though the leadership of National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN(IM)) claims that a political solution on the lines of Greater Nagalim is on the cards, the situation has worsened so much that Manipur Chief Minister urged the Centre in writing to snap all agreements with the NSCN(IM) and revoke the ceasefire at least in Manipur. In the aftermath of economic crisis and insurgency, a group of angry protesters took to streets and torched the vehicles. Actions taken In order to prevent spread of violence, the mobile internet was shut down in Imphal West district. Also, a large number of police personnel were deployed at sensitive areas of the state. The central government had placed 15 companies of central forces stationed in Manipur at the disposal of the state government.   Internal security challenges- nothing new Manipur has faced cycle of violence and insurgency movements within the states due to land and identity issues. Lack of competent governance institutions, infrastructure and economic growth has failed to bring a long term solution to the Manipur crisis. The creation of new districts has been a subject of ethnic strife in Manipur since 1971, when it was first proposed. Successive governments have failed to resolve the festering identity-driven tensions sparked by the exercise. For instance, Naga and Kuki villages are located side by side in all four hill districts of Manipur (Imphal East, Imphal West, Senapati and Tamenglong). The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa) has been in place since 1958. It has continued to alienate the local population, and act as a deterrence for focused modernizing of state police and counter-insurgency forces. The signing of the Naga framework accord between NSCN-IM and NDA government in 2015 has also increased speculation about the territorial disintegration of Manipur. Manipur’s northern districts have been long claimed by Nagas as part of the greater Nagalim territory. Disputes over these lands in the 1990s resulted in targeted attacks against Kukis and tensions between Nagas and other tribes. The creation of 7 new districts, with at least three districts dividing the Naga-dominated areas in northern Manipur, has given new life to this tension.   Solving the instability   There should be phased removal of AFSPA wherein central and state government work together for greater peace establishment in Manipur. There should be implementation of the Sixth Schedule, which gives autonomy to tribal districts, rather than an inner-line permit which will restrict the entry of people. This will give people greater control over their territories. Resolutions involving the various tribes along with possible administrative control over certain regions dominated by the Nagas can ensure better governance in the state. It will also help in removing incentives for the rise of smaller insurgent groups and remove the onus for maintaining peace from the state and on to the groups themselves. Making Manipur a stakeholder in any foreign policy that involves acting east. An Act East policy that uses the growth and regional impact of a stronger, better-governed Manipur will have far greater impact on India’s commitment to its eastern neighbours. Strengthening Manipur-Myanmar international border Manipur shares 355km of its border with Myanmar. It has historical and cultural contiguity with Myanmar, apart from having a clear navigable, active trading route with Myanmar. Manipur remains India’s most economically viable border to the south-east, forms the nucleus of India’s renewed zeal to act east, and therefore requires special focus. India’s planned trilateral highway starts from Moreh and is designed to cross Myanmar, extending all the way to Mae Sot in Thailand. Legalizing, securing, and streamlining this existing natural trade route will ensure economic connectivity remains, and benefits the state. Manipur, after Mizoram, remains the port of choice for drugs and arms originating from the golden triangle on the Myanmar, Laos, Thailand border. Better security infrastructure, a narcotics agency with more powers, better equipment, a modernized border force, and streamlining of trading posts can also help stop illegal cross border imports.   Conclusion The Manipur state elections are approaching in 2017. In this backdrop, these issues should be addressed. The entry of a second national-level party into Manipur could end 15 years of single-party rule. This is needed because political competition would improve the efficiency of the government and moderate the distrust of citizens towards the political system. Tribes of Manipur Tribes of Manipur are one of the most distinctive features of the state include at least 29 communities that originated from Tibetan-Burmese tribal group of Mongoloids. Manipur is largely inhabited by 4 types of tribes along with other tribes. These include the Meities and Pangals who inhabit the lower regions of the valley; while the hilly regions of Manipur are mainly populated by the Naga tribes and Kuki tribes. Tribes of Manipur along with these include some more groups like the Tangkhul tribe which resides in the Indo-Myanmar border occupying Ukhrul District of Manipur. The Meities, who constitute 56% of the state’s population of almost thirty lakh, occupy only ten% of the geographical area particularly the valley region. The Nagas, with a population of approximately seven lakh, reside in the hilly areas of the State and are deeply suspicious of the Meities. The Kukis who are sandwiched between the Nagas and the Meities constitute 7.5% of the population and are demanding a separate Kuki State. Manipur violence- Assessing the internal security Picture credit: http://mdoner.gov.in/sites/default/files/silo4_content/map_icon/Manipur.jpg Connecting the dots: The biggest threat to India is from its internal states than external states. Do you agree? Examine. North east India has long been out of limelight which has resulted into non-recognisance of its concerns. In the backdrop of same, discuss the current problems in Manipur and how to address them.   INDUSTRY AND ECONOMY   TOPIC: General Studies 1 Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India) General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth   Challenges and Scope of Unorganised Manufacturing Sector   Scope of the Small Scale Units The debate on the small units versus large units in industry and agriculture has been going on amongst the industrial academicians since quite a while. Small scale units are said to better in terms of performance indicators and labour absorption. At times it is emphasised that small units are the engines of pro-poor growth. However, one major obstacle the small units face is the access to several kinds of resources, particularly credit and marketing facilities. Due to this they are not able to get benefits of economies of scale and larger units end up having an edge in the market. Unorganised manufacturing sector, both household and non-household units, accounts for a large majority of total manufacturing employment in India. Enhancing the technological capabilities of these units and integrating them into national and regional value chains is important to ensure their economic viability. This economic viability will ensure decent wages to the workers and ensure pro-poor growth. Organised Sector versus Unorganized Sector In terms of technical efficiency and total factor productivity, there is little evidence in favour of positive links between the organised and the unorganised sector units perceived in terms of inter-sectoral efficiency differences and associations between them. The units within the unorganised sector seem to reveal similar characteristics in terms of performance indicators, while organised sector units are much better performers. It is observed that the unorganised sector units are not able to benefit significantly in the process of rapid economic growth. The demand side factor or agglomeration-specific factor does not impact on the performance of unorganised sector enterprises in a favourable way. Organised sector units respond positively to a rise in income in the region where they are located, which could be due to difference in terms of quality of the products manufactured by the organised and unorganised sectors. A rise in income leads to a shift in demand for products away from the unorganised to the organised sector. The process of ancillarisation is expected to benefit unorganised sector by creating greater opportunities through inter-sectoral linkages but the increasing role of labour intermediaries and payment of wages on piece rate basis is not facilitating a positive spill over. Even the level of infrastructure also does not exert a positive impact on the performance of the unorganised sector, while the efficiency of the organised sector improves with a rise in the availability of infrastructure. Unorganised sector enterprises exist to provide means of survival only, which is especially true for household units. Steps for the Unorganised Sector Policies should be framed in a manner which lead to product quality improvement within the unorganised sector and hence give an impetus to the demand for the products. Infrastructure access needs to be enhanced for these units especially for those numerous units operating from remote rural areas. Special facilities have to be provided to these units in terms of credit and market access. Not only accessibility of infrastructure has to be increased but even the affordability has to be increased. Facilities such as electricity need to be priced in a manner which is affordable for the units in the unorganised sector.   Advantages of Urban Location Surveys and studies in the past have indicated that those smaller units located in the urban areas have an edge over their rural counterparts. Higher technical efficiency has been observed for small industrial units in urban areas than their counterparts in rural areas. The government policy initiatives for promoting urbanisation in India, particularly the ‘Smart Cities’ programme, are expected to help make unorganised manufacturing more economically viable. Growth of investment in small unorganised sector units is expected once the small towns (census towns) which do not have urban local bodies are officially given the status of urban areas. Sub-contracting activities enhance the technical efficiency of unorganised manufacturing units. It is noticed that incidence of sub-contracting is relatively greater in urban areas. Hence, more urbanisation will lead to more sub contracting and hence higher technical efficiency.   Way Forward In the light of above challenges and the potential of the small scale units belonging to the industrial sector, various measures which can assist these units in growth and efficiency are as follows: Affordable and easy credit Access to markets through emporiums, trade fairs and other forms of consortiums Congenial and growth oriented labour laws making these units fruitful employment centres Tax benefits, exemptions and holidays to the unorganised sector to reduce their cost of operations and also promote infrastructural development. Subsidised provision of electricity, land and other forms of essential infrastructure. Create inter sectoral linkages so that the units feed from each other’s growth and growth of larger units as well through ancillarisation. Connecting the dots How can small industrial units in the unorganised sector act as engines of pro poor growth? Discuss the challenges faced by such units and provide strategy for their growth supported by examples of government policy initiatives.   MUST READ Demonetisation — an unkind postscript Hindu   Leopards in a spot Hindu   The Ambiguities Of Xi Indian Express   Is anyone listening to Ambedkar? Indian Express   The quiet fighter Indian Express   Reforming healthcare in India Livemint   Narendra Modi’s war on cash needed a different approach Livemint    India-Afghanistan bhai-bhai? Business Line   A tale of two demonetisations Business Line   Bringing accountants to account Business Line

Dec 21, 2016 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance: Book Review – Chicken Soup for the Soul – Jack Canfield

Chicken Soup for the Soul: I am sure vegetarians will find the title of this book controversial! Yet for a reader who is looking for inspiration from real people and their stories ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ is really delicious. Short and impactful stories of triumph and success of those who have made a difference in the world to themselves and others, ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ is nourishing, encouraging and uplifting. There are multiple books in this series. All of them are inspiring and fascinating to read. Read this series when you are feeling low and need some inspiration from real people who have overcome real obstacles to succeed. 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' is both light as well as insightful. It offers all kinds of readers, something they are looking for. This book is for everybody.There are moments when we all feel drained of our energies, this book is a real saviour during times of need. “This Book Review is a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Dec 21, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 20th December, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 20th December, 2016   GOVERNANCE    TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes   Bottlenecks in Policy Implementation and Formulation - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)   Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Water, sanitation and hygiene are sectors which are taking a centre stage in terms of policy formulation in most of the emerging and developing countries. With the shift in approach towards sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Goals also lay alot of emphasis on WASH. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is an example of the growing importance of these facilities. However, still there is a huge imbalance in the access to WASH services across different segments of the population. In India alone, 128 million lack safe water services and about 840 million people don’t have sanitation services   Policy Analysis The analysis of policies formulated by the Central and State Government has to be done on the basis of the robustness of WASH policies. The assessment of robustness was based on the comprehensiveness of the policy document. The comprehensiveness in turn will be measured by the following four parameters: The beneficiary segments; Barriers faced by the different segments; Strategies that would be used to improve outcomes; and The type of outcomes, namely, adequacy, accessibility, affordability, and quality and safety. The robustness of the policy can be classified as high, moderate, or low depending on how many of the above four parameters have been clearly addressed in the policy. The better the inclusion and the addressing of these parameters, higher will be the effectiveness of these policies in improving WASH outcomes.   National and State policies The various sectors covered under WASH are concurrent subjects and hence policies have been formulated by both, the Central government and respective State governments. On comparison and appraisal of these policies, it was found that WASH policies formulated by State governments have low robustness as compared to that of national policies even though the state policies are closer to the site of implementation. The capacity for policymaking of State governments thus needs to be further strengthened. On an international comparison with WASH policies in 10 other developing countries within Asia and Africa, it was observed that policy robustness of WASH policies from India was lower than those of the other countries. There is a large scope for improvement in policy robustness for India. In terms of numbers, only 22 per cent of the WASH policies from India could be classified as highly robust, as compared to the 75 per cent number of the other developing countries. To ensure effective implementation of policies and get the best results, there should be a synchronisation of beneficiary segments, barriers, strategies, and outcomes.   Beneficiary Identification Proper identification of the beneficiaries in a policy is a key component for the success of a policy. Accurate beneficiary identification is also helpful in achieving the target of universal coverage for various policies. The needs and barriers for various segments of the population differ and consequently the strategies need to be customised accordingly. Policymakers need to move away from a “one size fits all” approach to a more beneficiary-centric approach. Approach to Beneficiary Identification A traditional approach followed to classify the beneficiaries has been on the basis of geographical and social context (GSS). In this method, the population is divided as rural, urban, low income and so on. Further, a new approach being followed is the segregation of beneficiaries on the basis of the human life cycle (LCS). Beneficiaries are segmented as children, adolescents, adults, senior citizens, and so on. When compared for robustness for both the GSS and LCS segments, policies showed a higher degree of robustness for GSS segments. Certain sections favour adoption of LCS for improving the access to WASH services. However, the Indian policy engine seems to be more attuned to the GSS framework. Hence, to achieve our targets, our policies should combine both the LCS and GSS approaches, rather than restricting to the traditional GSS approach. Identification of Barriers Among the four parameters essential for policy robustness, identification of barriers has been a major obstacle for a majority of the policies. Just 11 per cent of the policies considered for appraisal had identified the barriers for the different segments. The robustness of policies can be enhanced if more and more policies can focus on identifying the barriers faced by the different segments in accessing WASH services. Better identification of barriers would also have a positive impact on subsequent downstream components such as formulation of strategies and outcomes.   Way Forward Policies provide direction to the steering hand and help to keep them on course. A more robust policy would help in achieving better outcomes from WASH projects and programmes. The way forward should include the following elements: WASH policies in India definitely need a robustness enhancement. Policy formulation at the State level should be strengthened. Emerging contemporary approaches such as LCS should be introduced in addition to the traditional GSS approaches. Barriers that come in the way of access to WASH services should be given more importance than they usually are. Connecting the dots What is a bigger challenge in terms of policy for India - policy paralysis or the policy implementation? Discuss the same with respect to policies introduced by India in areas of water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management. Also provide suggestions to overcome the challenges faced.   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States General Studies 1 Social empowerment   Right of Persons with Disabilities Bill 2016- An overview The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016 which replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, has been brought in to comply with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which India signed in 2007. The government has brought in amendments to Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 where the draft legislation is based on the 2010 report of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s expert Sudha Kaul Committee. The 2011 Census put the number of disabled in India at 2.68 crore which is 2.21% of the population. With the passing of the Bill, the official count of disabled in India is set to rise to about 70-100 million. The Bill makes a larger number of people eligible for rights and entitlements by reason of their disability, for welfare schemes and reservations in government jobs and education. Key provisions of the bill Number of disabilities increased The 1995 Act recognised 7 disabilities — blindness, low vision, leprosy-cured, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, mental retardation and mental illness. The 2014 Bill expanded the definition of disability to cover 19 conditions, including cerebral palsy, haemophilia, multiple sclerosis, autism and thalassaemia among others. The Bill also allowed the central government to notify any other condition as a disability. The amended version recognises two other disabilities — resulting from acid attacks and Parkinson’s Disease — taking the number of recognised conditions to 21.   Disability certificate A disability certificate is a basic document for any entitlement. Even for registering a complaint under the Persons with Disabilities Act, a person requires a disability certificate. The 2015-16 annual report of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities reveals that only 49.5% of the disabled population identified by the 2011 census, have been issued certificates as of August 31, 2015. The issuance of disability certificate is a major issue for the vast majority of the disabled people. The certificate issued under current law will be valid throughout the country, which was not the case earlier. Penal provisions The 1995 act had no penal provisions. The 2014 version made violation of any provision of the Act punishable with a jail term of up to 6 months, and/or a fine of Rs 10,000. And subsequent rise in fines if continued with violation of act. The present bill entirely removes the jail term and includes a fine of up to Rs 10,000 for the first violation and not ‘less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh’ for subsequent contraventions.   Employment The 1995 law had 3% reservation for the disabled in higher education institutions and government jobs — 1% each for physically, hearing and visually impaired persons. The 2014 Bill raised the ceiling to 5%, adding 1% each for mental illnesses and multiple disabilities. Now, the new bill has reduced reservation in employment to 4% from 5%. This has raised some concerns as a similar provision in the 1995 Act was misinterpreted by governments to restrict the quota to identified posts only, forcing the Supreme Court to intervene. However, the government has assured that no difficulties shall be encountered by persons with disabilities due to it. Increased scope The amendments include private firms in the definition of ‘establishments’, which previously referred to only government bodies. All such establishments have to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with barrier-free access in buildings, transport systems and all kinds of public infrastructure, and are not discriminated against in matters of employment. Others Two types of guardianship will become available to mentally-ill persons. One will involve a guardian taking decisions jointly with the disabled person and the other, a guardian taking decisions on behalf of the mentally ill person without consulting him or her.   Certain concerns The new bill removes the provision in the 2014 Bill for strong National and State Commissions for Persons with Disabilities, with powers on a par with a civil court. Instead, they will continue with the status quo of having only a Chief Commissioner with far fewer powers. In the past, several favourable orders given by the Chief Commissioner have been quashed by the courts on the ground that the Commissioner has no powers and is only a quasi-judicial body. The bill fails to specify the degree of disability for thalassaemia, learning disabilities or autism in the recognised wider scope of disabilities. The new bill defines discrimination as “any distinction, exclusion, restriction on the basis of disability” which impairs or nullifies the exercise on an equal basis of rights in the “political, social, cultural, civil or any other field”. However, it has been also added that it shall overlook such discrimination if “it is shown that the impugned act or omission is a proportionate means of achieving legitimate aim”. This provision has in the past led to many problems for the disabled people wherein it might give unfettered power to the implementing agencies to discriminate against persons with disabilities, on the pretext of serving a “legitimate aim”. Conclusion Despite its inadequacies, the current legislation is a big advance over the 1995 Act and brings in the rights based perspective. However, as the word goes, earnest implementation of the policy and adherence to provisions is the key to its success. Connecting the dots: What are the key provisions of recently passed disability bill? Discuss the significance and drawbacks pertaining the bill. Will the ‘Divyangs’ be benefited by the new ‘Rights of people with disabilities Act’? Analyse.   MUST READ Grappling with water disputes Hindu   A tale of two schemes Hindu   States need to buck up Hindu   The odd triangle Indian Express   On the brink Indian Express   First economic satyagraha Indian Express   Flaws in the Indian legislative process Livemint   2016’s legacy of economic uncertainty Livemint   The rich, poor and demonetisation Livemint   Unexpected rebound Business Line   Creating a less wasteful economy Business Line   Trump signals an age of economic uncertainty Business Line    

Dec 19, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 19th December, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 19th December, 2016   NATIONAL    TOPIC: General Studies 2 Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.   The Parliament deadlock- Not the right way Parliament makes laws, ensures accountability of the government and scrutinises legislation through the committee system. But above all, Parliament provides a forum and establishes procedures for reflection on, and critical engagement with, what has been done, and what needs to be done in the light of popular expectations. However, Parliament has been often reduced to a medium wherein important discussion are affected- delayed or discarded through disruptions, political theatrics rule over parliamentary etiquettes or petty topics gain momentum, thereby allotting less time for meaningful and critical issues. Today’s Parliament Most Indians have found Parliament irrelevant to the needs of the day. The Parliament meets and disburses. But there is hardly any impact of these meetings/non-meetings on the democratic discourse in the country. The media highlights the wastage of time and taxpayer’s money. Even the analysts regret that widening of the social base of the body has not resulted in meaningful legislation or responsible legislators. Thus, the body which houses the representatives of 1.2 billion people, has not been able to represent the aspirations of the citizens and symbolically failed to enhance the relationship between the citizen and the state, which a representative democracy is expected to do. Statistics that shame Data with Indian think tank PRS Legislative shows that as of December 14, 2016, the Lok Sabha had made 14% progress during the Winter Session, while it was 20% in Rajya Sabha. It also noted that in past 21 sittings, while the Lok Sabha had dedicated 4.3 hours on non-legislative issues, the Rajya Sabha had spent 11.8 hours. The Rajya Sabha committed zero hours on questions, while the Lok Sabha spent 5.1 hours. The deadlock created by Opposition and the ruling government has resulted in considerable losses as whenever a Parliamentary session is disrupted, it is estimated to cost Rs 2 crore per day.   Reasons for the dysfunctional Parliament The Opposition focusses on denigrating the government rather than engaging with policies. Similarly, the government hardly bothers to reply and instead engage in attacks and counter-attacks, sometimes personal, with the opposition. Instead of maintaining the institution’s decorum and dignity through a calm, reflective and reasoned debate, the members have been recently observed to resort to drama and actions on the floor of house. Impact of winter session washout The winter session of Parliament was among the most unproductive in 15 years. Of the eight Bills introduced in this session, only two were passed. Such was the indifference to discuss matters of vital public interest that a critical legislation such as the Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 was passed within an hour of it being introduced. The opposition, which is people’s watchdog in Parliament, was apparently content that only two of the total 330 listed questions in the Rajya Sabha were answered orally. It lost the chance to pass bills critical to the April 1, 2017, deadline for the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax. It also failed to end the session on a note of federal cooperation to set up the shift to Budget day to February 1 from next year. Precious time, money and business was lost in the Lok Sabha as the Government failed to organise a discussion around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sudden demonetisation decision. The leader of the government chose to speak only where the on-the-spot debate was ruled out, such as rallies and radio show. This presents a stark reality that the government was not seemingly serious about upholding the dignity of the house by engaging in frequent disruptions in discussions and transaction of business. The opposition is also not totally immune to blame. It earlier insisted on adjournment and a debate with voting and then, as the session neared to a close, agreed to speak under any rule. It is both the responsibility of the treasury and the opposition to see that the house runs reasonably in each session and the interest of the Parliament is safeguarded. If this fails to take place, the political class can hardly complain of the people losing confidence in the institution of Parliament, if it is not allowed to discharge its Constitutional duties.   Need of a Parliament Civil society in India has a large number of organisations- the media, social associations, neighbourhood groups, all kinds of professional lobbies, non-governmental and non-profit organisations, philanthropic bodies, social and political movements and trade unions where each claim to represent the interest of their members. But political representatives are considered more influential as They represent all the members of a territorially delimited constituency, as opposed to say trade unions. They are accountable to their constituents via the route of election. The party representative acquires legitimacy by the fact that she has been elected by the people whose interests she is charged with representing and furthering. Though citizen is considered primary unit of political society, the definition of representative is derivative. Voters authorise representatives to speak and act on their behalf. However, the representatives represent their constituency where it has to ensure that the opinions, interests and needs of its constituents are adequately, competently and effectively represented in forums of decision-making. They have to perform their functions which include assisting in the production of appropriate policies. Thus, a representative democracy will not work successfully if the relation between state and citizen is not working as desired in a democracy. Will democracy lose relevance in India? Fortunately for the Indian political class, the generalised loss of confidence in representative institutions has not led to disenchantment with democracy with the citizens. Surveys show that Indians value democracy as it is this form of government which enables them to realise the primordial desire of each human being to be treated as an equal, at least during election time. The elections are marked by high voter turnouts where voters exercise freedom of choice and elect and dismiss governments in often unpredictable ways. The making of the Indian constitution reflects the faith the Constituent Assembly had put in Indian citizens where adult suffrage was adopted, for both men and women, since its enactment.   IASbaba’s views An unproductive Parliamentary session is reflection of the institutional damage inflicted upon country’s democratic values and principles. If the President of India, Vice-President of India and a veteran Parliamentarian urge the members to let the houses function, it reminds the fact that all sections of house need to introspect. As India’s first PM rightly embossed it in the ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech: “Freedom and power bring responsibility. That responsibility rests upon this assembly, a sovereign body representing the sovereign people of India”. Connecting the dots: Critically examine India’s tryst with representative democracy as the most desired form of government. Parliamentary logjams reflect India’s political class as immature. Comment.   GOVERNANCE   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes   Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana – Mid Term Appraisal   Features of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was launched by the government in January 2016 to replace the existing two crop insurance schemes in India, National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified NAIS. PMFBY was launched with the following features: The scheme covers kharif, rabi crops and commercial and horticultural crops as well. The premium charged for kharif crops would be up to 2% of the sum insured and for rabi crops it would be up to 1.5% of the sum assured. For annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium would be 5 per cent. To provide insurance to the farmers at a subsidized rate of premium, the remaining share will be borne equally by the central and respective state governments. This scheme will cover post-harvest losses also and provide farm level assessment for localised calamities including hailstorms, unseasonal rains, landslides and inundation. To fasten the process of claims, the scheme proposes mandatory use of remote sensing, smart phones and drones for quick damage assessment.   Problems with NAIS and MNAIS The NAIS and the MNAIS were not serving the farmers’ interests well and suffered from following lacunae: The sum insured under MNAIS, particularly for risky crops and districts, was meagre and was based either on the quantum of crop loans or on the capping of the sum insured. The crop damage assessment method based on crop cutting experiments was very slow and time-consuming. The time taken for compensation to reach the farmers often ran into several months. Improvements via PMFBY To overcome the problems and the weaknesses of the NAIS and MNAIS, the government decided to incorporate following essential elements in the new scheme: A technical committee was proposed to be set up in each district to decide the scale of finance for the sum insured. The premiums are to be decided on an actuarial basis which would give credibility to the process of setting premiums. Bids are invited from public and private insurance companies to decide the premiums, thus adding an element of competition which would work in the favour of the farmers. The farmers were required to pay the premiums at a subsidized rate and rest is paid by the government as mentioned above. Use of technology such as smart phones, GPS, drones and satellites to ensure accuracy, transparency, and faster assessment of damages and settling claims.   Impact of PMFBY To know the impact and the results achieved due to the introduction of this scheme, it is essential to know a few numbers in comparison to the erstwhile insurance schemes performance in Kharif 2013 and Kharif 2015. Farmers Insured The number of farmers insured under the PMFBY rose by 193% over Kharif 2013 and by 0% over Kharif 2015. The number of non-loanee farmers also increased by more than six times. Area Covered The area insured also increased from 16.5 million hectares (mha) in kharif 2013 and 27.2 mha in kharif 2015 to 37.5 mha under PMFBY. Sum Insured The sum insured has witnessed a huge rise and has gone up from Rs 34,749 crores in kharif 2013 to Rs 60,773 crores in kharif 2015, and now to Rs 1,08,055 crores under PMFBY.   Challenges faced by PMFBY PMFBY has also had its own share of challenges and shortcomings in terms of implementation. These need to be ironed out to ensure that the scheme serves the farmers well and at a lower cost. Few of the problems faced by PMFBY have been: This scheme has witnessed an increase in the actuarial premium, instead of coming down with the increasing scale of coverage. A major reason for this is high price charged by various insurance companies to increase their profits. The competition in the upcoming seasons will reduce this rate of premium and reduce cost to the government. Areas in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam which faced floods and subsequent loss to farmers saw inspections being done by human eye. Drones were not employed and smart phones which had to be issued to field officials, as per guidelines, were also not issued. States failed to pay premiums to companies in advance in many cases. There has also been a delay in compensating the farmers. The scheme does not cover the risks and losses inflicted by wild animals like elephants and wild boars which is a major problem in certain states.   Conclusion PMFBY has a lot of potential to tackle the impact of vagaries of nature on Indian agriculture. At the rate at which it is increasing the coverage and the scope India may soon have half of its cropped area insured within three to five years. The subsidized premium for farmers is a big boost and will reduce farmer distress as well, although the scheme will increase the cost to the government. Success of PMFBY depends on its sincere implementation and overcoming certain traditional problems faced by Indian agriculture such as poor land records, flawed land titles and corruption. Connecting the dots Critically analyse the provisions of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Discuss the need for the government to introduce Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana even though various agriculture insurance schemes such as NAIS, MNAIS and Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme were already in operation.   MUST READ Bridging the learning deficit Hindu   The UPA’s real growth story Hindu   Illegal cap Indian Express   Same time, same place Indian Express   Putting firewalls in place for a digital economy Livemint   Agriculture a fertile ground for digitization Livemint   GST council, a siege and history Livemint   Securing cashless India Business Line   Uber, taxis and transformations Business Line   Dream handlooms Business Line  

Dec 19, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 83]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Agni – 1P It will replace Prithvi and Agni-1 missiles It has a range of 300 to 700 kilometres Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about ‘Axial Seamount’ It is the youngest volcano and current eruptive centre of the Cobb-Eickelberg Seamount chain It is caused by the movement of two tectonic plates in the region that are gradually spreading apart Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2  Q.3) Consider the following statements about Lake Pulicat It is the largest brackish water lake or lagoon in India It receives water from rivers Kalangi and Swarnamukhi Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) After India’s demonetization, country X’ has followed suit but for a different reason. The oil rich country has decided to take out its currency, bolivar’ out of the market. The country X’ here refers to Libya Nigeria Venezuela Kuwait  Q.5) With regard to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), consider the following It is a statutory body The high courts and supreme courts also have the jurisdiction to order a CBI investigation The Parliament has powers to extend the powers and jurisdiction of CBI Choose the appropriate code 1 and 2 only 3 only 1 only 1, 2 and 3 Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Dec 19, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - Should Indian Startups be given Protection against Foreign Firms?

Archives   Should Indian Startups be given Protection against Foreign Firms?   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation   India’s most successful internet entrepreneurs Flipkart and Ola have raised the banner of nationalism in their fight against foreign origin rivals, urging the government to design policies which will favour home grown companies. This coordinated push, amounts to seeking protectionist stand against US internet giants- Amazon and Uber. The two poster boys of Indian internet defined their battle as the one in which the capital plays the most important part and not innovation implying that the US companies are burning cash in the price war. Protectionism and its need The murmur started a long time back when the startups said that they should get protection from foreign giants. But this was the first time it was publicly spoken about. This was prompted by the competition and tilt towards certain companies. Demand for level playing field is justified and valid. But beyond that, because one company calls itself Indian and should get protection is not how the business works anymore. Though the foreign companies have large capital but then the Indian companies are also financed by the same source of capital. So, it should be about who is able to bring in more capital, who is having a nimbler business skills, who understands local demands better and the competition should be about it. The request comes from a certain segment of industry which survives entirely on cycle of investments and function on wafer-thin margins and sometimes non-existent margins. This industry suffers from extreme attrition and it’s also an industry where the top management is sometimes accused of perhaps benefiting the most in terms of making the best of pay scales from each cycle of investments. So, if the question is asked if there is any other way in which the business can be run better and expecting spontaneous help and support from government is not possible in this day and age. Zomato is an India based company and is now spreading tis wings to other countries. If other countries also followed a protectionist policy, Indian companies would not have realised their potential. So things have to be looked at in terms of level playing field. Should there be protectionism? Asking for level playing field is one thing, but asking for protectionism doesn’t work. It shouldn’t be encouraged as it further encourages the mindset of a trader and not of an entrepreneur. India needs to encourage entrepreneurship more than mindset of trader where there is need to move to next level, and this is not going to come through protectionism. Asking the government to help fund innovation is different question but asking the government to fend off competition is not the right thing. The work approach Giants like Ola and Flipkart don’t require protectionism. When the business is run on losses to capture the market, it is not a favourable way to do business. These giants are burning money and destroying the whole business system of the country. The retail business is being spoiled as they come out with certain prices which are below their purchase price and they are fighting war there. So, no government can come out with a policy where they can take care of such war. There should be laws to tell these companies that money cannot be given away as humongous discounts. There has to have a system which makes the business profitable rather than keep on giving deep discounts which are not sustainable. If there is an indigenous entity in competition with an overseas company with deeper pocket and want to wash out the company, then there has to be seen what kind of protection can be given. Categorisation of startups It should be understood that companies like Flipkart and Ola can’t bring in radical innovations, hence, there needs to be categories of companies. Protectionism depends upon the category of the entrepreneur. Manufacturing startup gets some kind of protection from government as they are capable of innovating and contributing. Import duty is a form of protection that domestic manufacturers get. They have other advantages of knowing the local customer, having a distribution network etc. On one hand if there is a talk about a culture of innovation that needs to be brought into. When there is large scope of innovation into manufacturing industries, it is perhaps easier to discuss, even in small scale or startup category. In services industry, there are fixed things and they have to be dealt with as it is the nature of business. The plunge into the business by Flipkart and Ola has been taken with full knowledge that scope for innovation is limited. Hence, they need to figure out India and startups For Indian business, the world is a playing field. They have the imagination to think big and operate big. Funds and talent is available more in India than elsewhere. So it is actually upto one’s entrepreneurial daring and imagination to do business. Policies in place Policy on FDI and retail actually says that the company cannot discount a product and subsidize the sale. The subsidies has to come from seller. The Competition Commission of India has to play a more active role to make sure that the competition is fair. As far as protectionism is concerned and the government brings it into being, protectionism within the realm of legal framework has severe consequences and implications. There will be a race triggered between several countries where there will be retaliation from other countries. If all started playing the nationalistic card in the context of entrepreneurship, it wont go down well particularly in the backdrop of India’s obligations treaty under the WTO and TRIPS. If somebody uses trade barriers as a way of protecting their own national interest or get protectionist about it, they end up setting the ball rolling as far as international dispute resolution is concerned. The message sent out to people in terms of foreign investors is that wrt to certain segments of industry which is burning cash, there should be protectionist measures. Predatory pricing is one thing that e-commerce industry has been accused of. Fairly or not, rightly or not is a different question. But these are not issues that CCI can seize unless and until certain conditions are satisfied within the realm of competition act. So, the act of predatory pricing would amount to dominance of position provided the company is in position of dominance. Innovation and investments During the recession in US and Europe, the German government’s policy needs to be looked at to know how to deal with recession. Most countries said that there was no point in investing in R&D during recession because there was capital investment into something that may not have immediate dividends. But Germany chose to invest in higher education, research, innovation and particularly giving impetus to innovation in small scale industries and startups. Thus, startups provide that push when the situation demands out of the box thinking. Similarly, Silicon Valley gets its reputation due to startups and not due to established bigwigs. Thus there is need to focus more on innovation and see how it is that the government can leverage its policies to give impetus to innovation to all forms and all segments where innovation is possible. Hence, bail outs are not the best option. This argument is being done much late given that how much inroads the foreign firms have already been given. Now doing anything will send a wrong message. Venture capital and India Venture capitalists view has developed over time. The indigenous giants have gone way beyond the capacity of capital that India can provide. They are doing this because they did not think India had protective market. They wanted to run a business and get returns on investment. Over the time, as it happens across the markets in the world, there is complete realisation that the Indian market is largest and fastest growing consumption market in the world. Thus, everybody wants to have a piece of this market. Amazon and uber had tough time in china because of local rules and competition. The complicated part of argument is that capital does not follow a level playing field. Once the large investors have realised that it has become battle between infinite fund raising capability of global giants and the investor capital base, they make a tough decisions. So there is a growing awareness that the competition is with deep pockets. As a result, in last 6-12 months, there has been gradual withdrawal of investors. Hence there is no level between what an Indian company can source with its global counterparts. Capital entry into India should not be restricted. Successive governments have gradually liberalised FDI into various sectors of economy. So more and more capital can come in and improve the prospects of new business seeding. It will create value for investors abroad but also for domestic employees and shareholders. So it is a great way of improving life in business. Paytm has grown phenomenally, so the other e-wallet companies cannot say that as it has foreign investors and hence they all should be protected. India has a large amount of foreign capital. Foreign capital has been made part of overall financial ecosystem. Foreign firms bring in expertise also. Advantage Indians Indian companies should cash on their advantage which is that they understand consumer better than global companies. There should be innovation in providing better services. There cannot be a stagnation in e-commerce site in providing a better service. Only providing discount is not answer. This happened in China where didi overtook uber. Now uber has small stake in it. So, just more capital and discounts doesn’t guarantee success. This is lesson for Ola in India too. The aftersale services is one area which can be improved. This is something which is not widely advertised in the local market. Other options are invest more in market research, data analytics and reaching out to the untapped markets. For example, NDA government won in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 Lok Sabha elections is because they managed to reach out to those parts of UP which were previously not tapped. Thus, it was a strategy of ‘taking your message to the audience’. Entrepreneurs have to learn from these strategies and know how to go beyond tier 1 cities to tier 2 cities and reach out to other side of market. Implications of protectionism Push back venture capitalism growth behind several years because the late stage investors who have come into India and backed these companies. India has a achieved an internet network early by 5 years. This was possible due to large amount of venture capitalism. It will have flow over effect to younger companies. If they don’t have large markets getting built for them and late stage investors investing in India, they will have a smaller future compared to others. There is lot of scope for innovation and importantly, as far as completion or legal framework is concerned, it is not to protect any particular player or class of players. It is meant to protect the consumer at the end of day and sees that it doesn’t run out of choices. Conclusion Protectionism is like an unreserved compartment of Indian train. Everyone who gets in first gets a seat and doesn’t want other person to have it. That’s the nature of protectionism. The ecommerce’s policies are not correct. Deep discounts is not a good idea for e-commerce sites. The service is the delivery point. Each startup which is coming up has to understand that they have to make a difference in the system so that they can market themselves. Unless the differentiation is created and the value proposition is given, they will not succeed. Connecting the dots: What is protectionism? How will it affect Indian economy? Critically analyse.  

Dec 18, 2016 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Story of a drifter – Inspirational &amp; Educative Articles

Story of a Drifter: Story of man can be divided into two very distinct categories. One is that of a firm rooted purposeful individual and the other is of a drifter. Unfortunately most individuals fall into the category of drifters. Let us try and define a drifter. A drifter is someone who has a problem with focusing on one single all important goal to work towards. A drifter tries a few things passionately only to move on to other things. A drifter is someone who has not learnt the art of focusing and being rooted in the present. Life of a drifter is very painful and unpredictable. He is always at the mercy of the winds. Like an uprooted tree that can be easily pushed around by a strong gust of wind, he moves here and there trying to find a resting place of certainty. A drifter is always in confusion and fear. Fortunately there is a way to move from being a drifter to a firmly rooted individual. Almost all start as drifters and few among them find a strong foothold to spread their roots and limbs. The journey from being a drifter to an individual of purpose and meaning is all our stories. Ask yourself this question with absolute honesty. Are you a drifter, who is struggling to understand where life is taking you; are you uncertain about your future; are you afraid of your actions and decisions; if the answer to any of these questions is a yes, then you are a drifter. It is never too late to start finding your ground and establishing firm rules about yourself and your way of life. The fundamental difference between a drifter and a man of purpose and vision is that a drifter simply doesn’t stick to anything for long. He is constantly looking for new stimulations and excitement, in the process constantly getting lost. The story of a drifter is the story of an aimless, rudderless ship that is simply afloat, completely at the mercy of the winds. The story of a drifter is the story of aimless wandering through endless experiences of life. The story of a drifter is the story of many. It takes a lot of character and strength to establish an identity for oneself and then grow as a gigantic tree that provides shade and fruits to many. People seek out a strong tree to rest under. A drifter is always ignored and avoided. Let your story not be that of a drifter. “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”