Apr 9, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 9th April, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 9th April, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC:  General studies 2 Structure, organization and functioning of the Judiciary    Supreme Court: Not a court of everyday appeals India’s Supreme Court Acts as a final court of appeal- decisions are determinative; its pronouncements constitute the law of the land Acts as the ultimate arbiter on disputes concerning any interpretation of the Constitution Enormity of its burden: Core task: deliberating on, and settling, questions of pure constitutional significance Reality:  ruling on run-of-the-mill civil and criminal appeals.   Core task: minimum of five judges sit for the purpose of deciding any case involving a substantial question of constitutional law (Article 145(3) of the Constitution) Reality: the number of cases decided by constitution benches (benches comprising five or more judges), has steadily declined right from the Supreme Court’s inception. Between 2005 and 2009, benches comprising five judges or more decided only a worryingly paltry 0.12 per cent of the court’s total decisions (this manner of functioning is far from what the Constitution’s framers envisaged of the Supreme Court) Core task: Not to be transformed into a forum to argue over ordinary disputes between litigants that had no larger public bearing (designed for the lower judiciary and the various high courts to take it up) Reality: That which was meant to be used only in exceptional cases, where a particular interpretation of a law required definite resolution, is being increasingly used by the judges points out towards a deliberate decisions that is ultimately leading towards the downfall Issues of accessing justice (Lower Judiciary): There is only one judge for every 73,000 people in India At the present rate of functioning- civil cases will never get fully disposed of, and it will likely take more than 30 years to clear all the criminal cases presently on the file of India’s lower courts. Sol: systematic infrastructure and trained personnel (judges) are the need of the hour Easing the Court’s burden Bottom-up approach: Need for the strengthening of the lower judiciary; be viewed as the regular — and, in most cases, final — appellate court, allowing the Supreme Court to be more discerning in its use of discretion, thus substantially reducing its burden of acting as a corrector of simple errors Designating at least two constitution benches to hear cases, Monday through Friday, thereby solving problems concerning the inability of the Supreme Court to devote itself to its most important duty   Nobody likes ‘backlogs’: ‘Delay’ in the context of justice denotes the time consumed in the disposal of case, in excess of the time within which a case can be reasonably expected to be decided by the Court Creation of Additional Judicial Manpower Planning Authority to clear backlogs and initiate swift disposal of new cases, eliminate delays and reduce cost. Target for the disposal level at the national level should be raised from 60% of the total case-load (at present) to 95% of the total case-load in five years Ensuring that not more than 5% of the cases pending before them should be more than 5 years old (5x5 rule) within the next three years   Constructive use of the Subordinate Courts Issue: Tendency to fix many more cases than the Court can possibly hear on a day and then spending considerable time every day in calling certain cases with a view to adjourn them to a future date Sol: An attempt should be made in consultation with Advocates to estimate the time, a particular case will take to hear, leading to reduction in the number of adjournments   Establishment of a National Court of Appeal (NCA)- Would act as an intermediate forum between the Supreme Court and the various high courts of India SC to Union: Ordered notice to the Union of India and proposed to refer questions of law concerning the establishment of such a court to a constitution bench of five judges NCA: To be headquartered in New Delhi, and would have different regional benches, for relieving the Supreme Court of the weight of hearing regular civil and criminal appeals, allowing the court to concentrate on determining only fundamental questions of constitutional importance NCA’s regional benches- would allow greater access to litigants from remote parts of the country, for whom the distance to New Delhi acts as a grave barrier to justice.   IASbaba’s Views: To restore the Supreme Court’s grandeur, the focus ought to be not on altering the core structure of the judiciary, but in aiming to make changes that are more pragmatic, that place an emphasis on the strengthening of the base of India’s judicial edifice. Need to focus and revamp the feeble infrastructure that we have installed to support our justice delivery system by establishing a more robust subordinate judiciary, that would not only negate any requirement on the part of most litigants to approach the Supreme Court, but it would also free the court of its shackles, allowing it to possibly regain its constitutionally ordained sense of majesty. Connecting the Dots: “The justice that we are trying to secure should be “just and ready” as opposed to “rough and ready”. Discuss There is a need to make a scientific and rational analysis of the factors behind accumulation of arrears and devise specific plan to at least bring them within acceptable limit, within a reasonable timeframe-Discuss.   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Science and Technology - developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.   Discover, invent in India India, has a long tradition of excellent science, great scientists and scientific institutions, and rich cultural history that respects learning and excellence which helps in making India a scientific super power. What does India reply on to become a scientific super power: India possesses an immense pool of talented young minds. Many have been attracted abroad, where they have made enormous contributions to science and technology. This overseas community has strong ties to the country of its origin and is an important national resource that could greatly assist in the development of India. Given appropriate opportunities, many would return.   Indian economy is booming, now reaching levels of growth second to none but China. Realising the distant dream of “Make in India”: The present Prime Minister challenged his nation to “Make in India”. But in order to “Make in India” and compete with better or cheaper goods from abroad, one must first “Invent in India”; and in order to “Invent in India” one cannot just rely on the underlying science done elsewhere, one must “Discover in India”. So the strategy is: Discover, invent, and make in India.   Need for India to be a scientific super power: A country that aspires to become an economic superpower must first become a science and technology superpower. China has learnt this lesson well and is on its way to becoming a world leader, both in technology and in basic science. India needs to promote investments in science and technology: Realising the above stated aspiration requires investment. Despite repeated promises, the percentage of India’s GDP devoted to research and development has remained for 15 years at a paltry 0.9 per cent — minuscule in comparison with developed countries. The US figure is 2.7 per cent, South Korea spends 4.4 per cent. In the last 15 years, Chinese investment in technology, higher education and the basic sciences has doubled. China now spends 2.1 per cent, and this percentage is rapidly increasing. In the US, companies spend much on research and development of their products, but have realised that they cannot make truly new products without long-term investments in basic science that are best supported by the government. Problems hindering Indian science: Indian science is burdened with an inflexible, irrational and outdated bureaucracy. India imposes irrational bureaucratic regulations, such as severe restrictions on travel for young Indian scientists and for foreign collaborators, as well as forced retirement at a relatively early age for excellent, and sorely needed, scientific leaders. The system is highly politicised and without it being radically reformed and modified, the scientific picture in India will not change much. What has the government done to promote innovation ? President of India declared decade 2010-20 has the “decade of innovation”. The main aim of this declaration is to develop an innovation eco-system in the country to stimulate innovations and to produce solutions for the societal needs in terms of healthcare, energy, urban infrastructure, water and transportation. Science technology and innovation(STI) policy 2013 :        Key elements of STI policy are : Promoting the spread of scientific temper among all sections of society. Establishing world class infrastructure for R&D for gaining global leadership in some select frontiers of science. Positioning India among top 5 global scientific powers by 2020. Seeding S&T based high risk innovation systems. NITI ayog initiatives : Atal Innovation Mission(AIM) : AIM will be an Innovation Promotion Platform involving academics, entrepreneurs, and researchers drawing upon national and international experiences to foster a culture of innovation, R&D in India. The platform will also promote a network of world-class innovation hubs and grand challenges for India. Self Employment & Talent Utilization(SETU) : SETU will be a Techno-Financial, Incubation and Facilitation Programme to support all aspects of start-up businesses, and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas. Way ahead: Reforming governmental institutions is not simple, and allocating scarce resources for long-term payoffs is difficult. But both are necessary if India is to develop the science and technology necessary for its economic development and to take its rightful place among the scientific leaders of the world. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the measures taken by the government to promote an ecosystem of innovation in India. Innovation is a means of creating sustainable and cost effective solutions for inclusive growth in developing economies. Critically examine the relevance of above statement wrt Indian context. India cannot be an economic super power until it becomes a scientific super power. Critically examine the above statement wrt growth of science and technology sector in India.   MUST READ Welcome waste as new wealth Hindu Related Articles: E-waste Management in India Solid Waste Management: Waste not, want not   Another killing in Bangladesh Hindu   Sort out the tax maze- India needs to rationalise capital controls, simplify its tax regime to mitigate illegitimate cross-border flows. Indian Express Related Articles: The panama papers explained Fiscal responsibility and federalism Gear up for changes in tax laws, treaties   Make in India in defence- For the first time procurement has been linked to production Indian Express Related Articles: Towards Military self-reliance

Apr 9, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - RSTV Media Manthan - Cricket, Nationalism and Media

Archives   RSTV Media Manthan - Cricket, Nationalism and Media   It is recognised that there are close links between sport and politics, and in particular between sport and national consciousness. There is a strong link between cricket and Indian national consciousness which requires detailed analysis. Coming to a clearer understanding of the relationship between the two can demonstrate and provide insights on how these elements of Indian identity can become more relevant. Pre Colonial times This all started with Quadrangular and Pentangular tournaments in Bombay which started in the early 20th century. Parsi merchants were the first to take up cricket in the late 19th century with Hindus and Muslims participating soon after the turn of the century. The Quadrangular tournaments in Bombay consisted of English, Hindu, Parsi, and Muslim teams. Later, they developed into the Pentangular – the fifth team being known as ‘All the Rest,’ comprising Indian Christians, Buddhists and Jews. By the 1920s and 1930s the tournaments had become very popular – about 20,000 fans would attend a match. Some academics suggest that this was in part because they were communal, no other tournament was as popular and the organisers recognised their commercial potential early on. The tournaments were halted in 1945, some say, because it was decided that they were deeply divisive and more popular than Ranji trophy. It should be noted that whilst cricket in Bombay was organized along communal lines, elsewhere in the country it was not. In Bengal and Madras, cricket was adopted by the middle classes and the elites in order to beat their colonial rulers at their own game. Once India gained Test match status in 1932, cricket became a way of settling scores with their colonial rulers. When the Indian team beat the British team, editorials appeared in Indian vernacular newspapers claiming that political equality should follow sporting equality. While it would be too simplistic to argue that cricket became popular in India purely because of its associations with some form of early Indian nationalism, there is no doubt that this was an element that explained its appeal. After Independence, cricket was equated with patriotic virtue – being a good cricketer meant that one was a ‘good’ Indian, Pakistani or Sri Lankan. As cricket lost its associations with colonialism, it became a means for developing national and masculine identities. The decline of sporting success in hockey happened in parallel to India’s growing prominence in cricket, which helped develop cricket as the prime national sport in the country. Politicians and politics One factor in the growing link between cricket and national consciousness was the political classes. Others argue that the relationship between sport and politics in India is mutually beneficial, sport needs politicians in India to get money and cut red tape and politicians use cricket as a way to gain popularity. It should be noted that the links between sport and leaders were developed even before Independence. The BCCI was formed by the Maharajahs of the Princely States, and cricket boards have always been supported by the most powerful people in the area. Media and Multi Nationals Another crucial factor that has increased the link between cricket and national consciousness is the deregulation of the television industry that took place in 1993. Cricket on television is a boon for advertisers because commercials can be shown every five minutes or so, after each over, this combined with the need for the new channels to fill their schedules meant more and more matches being shown. Multinational corporations (MNCs) entered India as the Indian economy opened up and they needed brand ambassadors with whom the population identified. Cricket players provided the perfect vehicle for this which in turn boosted the popularity of the star players. This also allows the poor to interact with global capitalism and forget their own situation for a while. Media’s penchant love for increasing their TRP ratings makes the situation worse. A false pride or a distorted nationalism is promoted through advertisements, debates etc making the sport more like war than just a game. It has been argued that several elements have contributed to the close links between cricket and Indian national consciousness. From a historical perspective, it was a major factor – both as a way of ‘fitting in’ with the British as the Parsis and the local rulers desired, and as a form of non-violent dissent against the colonisers. These two paradoxical reasons for taking up the game in pre-Independent India in the late 19th and early 20th centuries illustrate the complex role that cricket has played in the country. Once the colonisers left, the game continued to flourish which suggests that the roots are deeper than mere anti-colonial or pre-colonial expression. Once the game was established, the media and politicians used cricket as a way of boosting their ratings and popularity. As cricket rose in the national consciousness of India, MNCs latched onto it as a way of enhancing their sales figures. Bollywood also capitalised on the links between anti-colonial feeling and national consciousness, with the movie Lagaan providing the most successful example of this. At the end, cricket is one such game which we got from British. We used it as a tool to fight against British as part of our diplomatic, Non violent channels. Now that the British is gone, the game of cricket should be used to fight against the differences that are present right now between the countries than spewing blind hatred which in turn destroys the true spirit of the game.

Apr 8, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 8th April, 2016

ArchivesIASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 8th April, 2016INTERNATIONAL/ECONOMICSTOPIC: General studies 3: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.The panama papers explainedWhat are panama papers? The Panama Papers are an unprecedented leak of 11.5m files from the database of the world’s fourth biggest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca. The records were obtained from an anonymous source by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, which shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The ICIJ then shared them with a large network of international partners, including the Guardian and the BBC.Why the name panama?Mossack Fonseca, the law firm is based in panama, hence the name panama papers.Mossack Fonseca provides services like incorporating companies in offshore jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands, it also administers offshore firms for a yearly fee and also wealth management.What do The Panama Papers reveal?The documents show the myriad ways in which the rich can exploit secretive offshore tax regimes.Twelve national leaders are among 143 politicians, their families and close associates from around the world known to have been using offshore tax havens.The papers reveal that Individuals have set up offshore entities through the Panama law firm. Some of the Indians floated offshore entities at a time when laws did not allow them to do so; some have taken a technically convenient view that companies acquired is not the same as companies incorporated; some have bunched their annual quota of remittances to subscribe to shares in an offshore entity acquired at an earlier date. Still, some others have received income earned abroad and deposited it in the entity to avoid tax. Some have opened a bank account to keep payoffs in government contracts, or held “proceeds of crime” or property bought with money made illegally in Trusts/ Foundations.Why float a foreign company, why go all the way to Panama to register it?The two big draws that offshore entities in jurisdictions such as British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Seychelles and more specifically Panama, offer are:Secrecy of information relating to the ultimate beneficiary owner and zero tax on income generated.One more advantage: In fact, in Panama, individuals can ask for bearer shares, where the owner’s name is not mentioned anywhere. Besides, it costs little or nothing to set up an entity abroad. The Registered Agent charges a few hundred dollars to incorporate an entity. It doesn’t take much time to incorporate one either. Companies are available off-the-shelf and can be registered in a couple of days.What’s the kind of secrecy that the Panama agent offered? The offshore entity need not appoint natural persons as directors or have individuals as shareholders. The Registered Agent, Mossack Fonseca in this case, offers its own executives to serve as shareholders or directors. Sometimes, an intermediary law firm or a bank acts as a director or a nominee shareholder. So the real beneficiary remains hidden. The registered agent provides an official overseas address, a mail box, etc, none of which traces back the entity to the beneficial owner. In many cases, the shareholding of these entities is vested in a Panamanian Trust or Foundation. The Foundation further masks beneficial ownership. A professional trustee is often the nominee shareholder of the Foundation. The beneficiaries of the Foundation’s assets are mentioned in the Regulations, and these Regulations do not form part of the Public Deed executed by the trustee.Couldn’t those in the list argue that when they set up these companies, FERA was a draconian law and they had to do this to go around it?Foreign Exchange Regulation Act severely restricted even current account transactions, forget those on capital account. Since India’s foreign exchange holdings were low or inadequate in the 1980s and 1990s, the law was aimed at preventing an outflow of foreign exchange. In those days of controls, many secretly opened Swiss bank accounts and offshore entities by sending money abroad through hawala. It was to these offshore accounts that money flowed in several cases of over invoicing or under-invoicing of trade transactions. But progressively, after liberalisation in 1991, and with an improvement in macro economic indicators, FERA was replaced with FEMA in 1999. And as India’s foreign exchange reserves rose and topped $100 billion in 2004, in January 2004, RBI allowed companies to invest up to 100 per cent of their net worth (now it’s 400 per cent of net worth) abroad by doing away with the $100 million cap and started its experiment with limited capital account convertibility by introducing the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) in February 2004 which permitted resident individuals to remit up to $25,000 a year.This was increased in phases to $200,000 by September 2007, but was reduced to $75,000 in August 2013 to arrest a sharp slide in rupee.The LRS limit was subsequently increased again in phases and now stands at $250,000 a year. This means, an Indian resident individual can invest $250,000 abroad in buying shares or property or gift or donate to anyone living abroad up to this limit every year. But RBI’s intent and internal understanding in opening the LRS windows was to allow resident individuals in the spirit of liberalisation to diversify their assets, promote trade and boost exports and earnings, but not to let them set up companies, which could be put to misuse. So what’s the next step once these names are out? For the Reserve Bank of India, this issue has been work-in-progress. It will have to take a call whether they can allow compounding (recognising that an individual has erred bona fide and regularising the investment in the offshore entity post facto by imposing a penalty) or insist that individuals wind up these investments made prior to August 2013. The Income Tax department will have to probe if there has been ‘round tripping’ of funds i.e. routing of funds invested in offshore entities back to India, and where required, refer the cases to the Enforcement Directorate. It will also have to see if the offshore entities have declared all their incomes and assets to the Income Tax department.What’s the relevance of The Panama Papers to the black money debate? Offshore entities can be and have been used by individuals to remit funds abroad. Globally, they carry a reputation of being vehicles set up by individuals and corporations to evade or avoid tax. Companies call this tax planning, the tax man sees it as tax avoidance. With coordinated moves by G-20 countries to introduce stringent anti-money laundering measures, as part of a global crackdown on tax avoidance, there is rising international scrutiny over such jurisdictions and giant company incorporators such as Mossack Fonseca which facilitate setting up of offshore entities.Connecting the dots: Critically examine the treats to internal security in India with special emphasis on economic security. Critically examine the various measures taken by the government to tackle money laundering in India.SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYTOPIC:  General studies 3 Issues relating to intellectual property rights (IPR) Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.Patents and Innovation Computer Related Invention (CRI) guidelines— Only software involving novel hardware is patentable (will lead to speedy examination of eligible applications for patents)Issues: Loss of legal business (no patents, no patent litigation) MNCs—result in the stifling of innovationIs it really detrimental— No; patents make no sense in the world of software as the underlying platforms for all these areas are patent-safe, open-source software tools.Open-source—The futureWhat is Open Source: software whose source code is available for modification or enhancement by anyone (design being publicly accessible), embracing and celebrating open exchange, collaborative participation, rapid prototyping, transparency, meritocracy, and community developmentIndia: lack of distraction from patentsGovernment-funded SHAKTI processor programme at IIT-Madras: Creating open-source mobile and server processors to replace proprietary processorsLack of clear boundaries in software: Even law-abiding software developers who intend not to violate another’s patent have no clear means of avoiding it and therefore, problem of software patents ends up increasing the cost of software for all of societyExistence of Web: Flexibility and sophistication today depends on freely available scripting languages, such as Perl and PHP, invented by developers who deliberately did not seek patent monopolies for them (Facebook runs on PHP) The current generation innovators — various open-source foundations like the Mozilla, Linux and Apache foundations, Facebook, eBay, LinkedIn, Tumblr and innumerable other start-ups — all share the same credo: royalty-free open source.Connecting the Dots: Critically evaluate the CRI guidelines and its utility in IndiaFor more information on Innovation & Patents refer the below links- Legally Knotted ‘Innovations’India lagging behind in InnovationMUST READLessons from the Chinese vetoHindu Promoting equity with variable feesHindu A Friendly Force- Research on benign effects of bacteria on nutrition has policy implications.Indian Express Aadhaar project: Last chance for a welfare state- That’s what the Aadhaar Act is. It was rightly categorised as a money bill and is wrongly expected to double up as a privacy statuteIndian Express India could be sitting on a gold mine and not know it- Only about 13% of India’s 575,000 square kilometers of land with geological potential has been explored in detail, says Indian Mineral FederationLive MintDeveloped economies reap the whirlwind- They are starting to feel the pain of policy spillback from emerging marketsLive MintMIND MAPS1. Government Advertising

Apr 7, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 7th April, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 7th April, 2016   SECURITY/DEFENCE   TOPIC:  General studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. General studies 3: Security challenges   Nuclear Security Summit “There is no nuclear security as long as nuclear weapons exist”, was the blunt message carried by the demonstrators on the opening day of the Fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on March 31, 2016. This message from the people and the outcomes of the fourth nuclear summit clearly indicate the vulnerability of the nuclear security strategy of the world.     [caption id="attachment_15956" align="aligncenter" width="600"] U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during his press conference at the conclusion of Nuclear Security Summit in Washington April 1, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY[/caption] A history of the Nuclear Security Summits: Key objective of nuclear security summit: The Nuclear Security Summits have been about adoption of measures to prevent terrorist groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda from gaining access to nuclear weapons, fissile or radiological material, or from attacking nuclear facilities, through an array of national, bilateral or multilateral measures. Failure of USA to keep up its promise: It was President Barack Obama, who announced his initiative to convene serial Nuclear Security Summits in his much acclaimed Prague speech in 2009. But his key declaration in the speech was the re-commitment of the US to the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. Thus accepting, nuclear disarmament and nuclear security were integrally linked. What did USA say at the fourth nuclear security summit? On the eve of the summit, the US President said: “we’ve reduced the number and role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy. We have also ruled out developing new nuclear warheads and narrowed contingencies under which the US could ever use or threaten to use nuclear weapons”. This implies USA will not completely zero down its stockpile of nuclear weapons, it will only reduce the number. (by how much ? is the key over here...) A point to note: USA reportedly plans to spend $1 trillion over 30 years on an entire new generation of nuclear bombs, bombers, missiles and submarines. After the Ukraine crisis, USA has reportedly ordered 200 additional nuclear weapons to be deployed in Europe.   Will this imply an act of nuclear disarmament? Outcome of the fourth nuclear summit: The summit adopted a Washington Communiqué and five fairly detailed “action plans” relating to key components of the nuclear security regime. These are all directed towards the laudable aim of securing all nuclear-related materials, devices and facilities so as to prevent access by non-state actors and terrorist groups. For the communiqué and the actions plans, refer the following links: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/568be36505f8e2af8023adf7/t/56fef01a2eeb810fd917abb9/1459548186895/Communiqu%C3%A9.pdf http://www.nss2016.org/2016-action-plans/ India at the fourth nuclear summit: The Prime Minister announced several contributions to nuclear security. India will participate in the informal international “contact group”, which fosters cooperation in countering nuclear smuggling. India’s own Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) will participate in the group on nuclear security training and support centres and centres of excellence. India has also announced that none of its research reactors will be using HEU (highly enriched uranium) henceforth. India also used the summit to focus on the threat to nuclear security posed by state sponsorship of terrorist groups and the pursuit of risky escalatory policies such as the deployment of theatre nuclear weapons. Connecting the dots: Critically examine the nuclear doctrine of India with special emphasis on the cold start strategy.   ECONOMICS TOPIC:  General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; Development processes and the development industry- Governance Issues General studies 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.    Logistics sector in India: Removing the roadblocks in transportation Importance of Logistics: Serves as the prime requirement of a modern economy with a complex supply chain taking care of the procurement, supply, and maintenance Covers all that takes place between producers of various components and producer of the final product and between the latter and the final consumer Road transportation- the most important component of the logistics sector in India; improving the efficiency of transportation would lead to improvement in the efficiency of the logistics sector Existing differential— With an average speed of 20 to 25 km per hour, a vehicle on Indian roads covers 250 to 400 km in a day. In developed countries, the distance covered could be significantly higher - about 700 to 800 km in a day. Thus, vehicles in India cover only 80,000 to 100,000 km in a year; in the US, they cover up to 400,000 km Why— Poor road conditions Old vehicle fleets Delays at toll booths and checkpoints Solution: Better alignment of policies across states and between the states and the Centre and institutions Innovative use of technology   The ‘toll’ on roads— Toll roads: Way of mobilising resources for building better roads and maintaining them properly by applying the "user pays" principle Limited in India; planning underway Issues- Congestion and delays at toll plazas Solution (Nandan Nilekani Committee): Need to expedite introduction of the technology of electronic toll collection (ETC)—ETC allows tolls to be collected while the vehicles move through the toll plaza, without even perceptibly slowing down Need to have in place a proper legal framework for suitable handling of violators Check & ‘Pay’— Issues: Long queues of trucks at border crossings as well as at the border between two states- Two-fifths of the time lost on roads is due to stoppages at state borders (Entry barriers- to prevent leakages and evasion of taxes) Physical verification of road permits and waybills at checkpoints Administrative delays due to paperwork Solution: States need to learn from each other and incorporate the best practice and standardise the form, without detracting from their powers granted by the Constitution. Even in the case of GST, mutually binding agreements among the states and the Centre is required. The move from origin-based value-added tax (VAT) to destination-based goods and services tax (GST) can help states in relaxing the requirement of road permits for outward transportation TIR or Transports Internationaux Routiers (International Road Transport) Convention Concluded in Geneva on November 14, 1975; can be adapted for transportation across states in India Under the TIR: a vehicle remains sealed throughout the journey and is generally not inspected at border crossings, except randomly or if an irregularity is suspected Consignments are sealed at the origin by the relevant Customs authority and technical specifications apply to the construction of load compartments or containers Authorised vehicles carry large blue-and-white TIR plates The International Road Transport Union (IRU) prints and distributes the so-called TIR Carnet, which serves both as international Customs document and proof of guarantee The Customs duties and taxes at risk throughout the journey are covered by an international guaranteeing chain managed by the IRU. Connecting the Dots: Discuss the idea of opening ‘road transport sector’ to the private players.   MUST READ The Panama paper trail Hindu   Making a hollow in the Forest Rights Act Hindu Related Articles: Tribal Ministry relents over Forest Rights Act (FRA) State and the Tribal Communities- Economic Injustice   Act now- Ensure implementation of MGNREGA and Food Security Act to address drought. In long run, water use efficiency is key Indian Express Related Articles: MGNREGA : Don’t dismantle, Reform   No jobs in sight- There is a mounting employment crisis in India. The current growth model, built on large private investments, cannot address the problem. Indian Express   Breakthroughs needed for Digital India- It's time the government accepts that current policies are not enough to bring about Digital India Business Standard Related Articles: India’s digital transformation National Fibre Optic Network Digital India: Its challenges and opportunities Digital India   A long hot summer- Centre and states must prepare for unusual heat Business Standard MIND MAPS   1. Unemployment & Stagnant Economy

Apr 7, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - Launch of Stand Up India Scheme

ARCHIVES Launch of Stand Up India Scheme   Prime Minister Modi launched Stand up India scheme to promote entrepreneurship among dalits, Adivasis, and women. The scheme aims for giving a helping hand in terms of finance and expertise for those sections of people who does not have/had any entrepreneurial background. Explaining his (PM) vision for converting job seekers into job creators, the Prime Minister said the Stand up India initiative will transform the lives of the Dalits and the Adivasis. The broad features of the scheme are as under:- Composite loan between Rs. 10 lakh and upto Rs.100 lakh, inclusive of working capital component for setting up any new enterprise. Debit Card (RuPay) for drawl of working capital. Credit history of borrower to be developed. Refinance window through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) with an initial amount of Rs.10, 000 crore. Creation of a corpus of Rs. 5,000 crore for credit guarantee through NCGTC. Handholding support for borrowers with comprehensive support for pre loan training needs, facilitating loan, factoring, marketing etc. Web Portal for online registration and support services. The overall intent of the proposal is to leverage the institutional credit structure to reach out to these underserved sectors of the population by facilitating bank loans in the non-farm sector set up by such SC, ST and Women borrowers. The initiative will also develop synergies with ongoing schemes of other Departments. The scheme is a boon for unprivileged sections who before despite having a sound idea could not establish a business due to lack funds and legitimate advice. The scheme not only focuses on entrepreneurship but also employment generation. In this aspect stand up India scheme can be a potential game changer in employment generation. Special emphasis to women has been given in this scheme providing them a favourable platform to get them empowered socially, economically. Tribal and others schedule caste women who manage their own micro businesses at village or block level, Stand up India scheme is a great kick starter for such women to improve such businesses to take in to next level. Finally Stand up India scheme is a potential game changer in terms of creating more entrepreneurs, creating employment, and empower women of socially and economically weaker sections of the society.  However the old age issue of implementation is the key. Government needs to take measures like awareness campaign in print and electronic media to promote such schemes so that more number of people makes use of this scheme. Click here and search for Spotlight/ News Analysis dated April 5th 2016

Apr 6, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 6th April, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 6th April, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC:  General studies 2 Local Government and related issues Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.   Are simultaneous elections to Panchayat, Assembly and Lok Sabha feasible? The present Prime Minister’s recent suggestion that elections to the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and local bodies should be held simultaneously has brought to centre stage an issue that has been raised intermittently, for years. Leaders of several parties also raised the issue, leading to a Parliament committee examining it. Why the issue has resurfaced again? The reasons that have prompted the proposal are Frequent elections bring to a standstill normal functioning of the government and life of the citizens and bring a heavy recurring cost. It is true that normal work comes to a standstill to a considerable extent. Typically, elections to the Lok Sabha are spread over two and a half months. As soon as the Election Commission announces the poll dates, the model code of conduct (MCC) comes into operation. This means that the government cannot announce any new schemes, make any new appointments, transfers or postings without EC approval. Ministers get busy in the election campaign, the district administration machinery gets totally focused on elections. The cost of election, which is a major issue. The costs of election have gone up enormously. It has two components, the cost of management to the EC/ government. And the cost to candidates and political parties. Though there are no exact estimates, one guesstimate puts it at Rs 4,500 crore. The bigger problem is the havoc played by the money power of political parties and contestants. Though the law prescribes a ceiling on the expenditure of candidates, the fact is that it is violated with impunity. Another consequence of frequent elections is the aggravation of vices like communalism, casteism, corruption (vote-buying and fund-raising) and crony capitalism. If the country is perpetually in election mode, there is no respite from these evils.   Is there any benefit from frequent elections? Frequent elections have some benefits too: Politicians, who tend to forget voters after the elections for five years have to return to them. This enhances accountability, keeps them on their toes. Elections give a boost to the economy at the grassroots level, creating work opportunities for lakhs of people. There are some environmental benefits also that flow out of the rigorous enforcement of public discipline like non-defacement of private and public property, noise and air pollution, ban on plastics, etc. An issue that needs attention if the elections are held simultaneously: Voting for the same party: It is a widely held belief among political observers and politicians that the Indian voter is astute and distinguishes between voting for her State government vis-a-vis the national government. As with most such electoral narratives, this too is devoid of any evidence. The analysis shows that on average, there is a 77 per cent chance that the Indian voter will vote for the same party for both the State and Centre when elections are held simultaneously. This trend of choosing the same party has gone from 68 per cent in 1999 to 77 per cent in 2004 to 76 per cent in 2009 and 86 per cent in 2014. Contrary to the popular notion that the average voter is acutely discerning of the difference between voting for her State representative and national, there is very little actual evidence of it. Way ahead: We need to readily acknowledge that in a complex plural democracy such as India’s, electoral outcomes are a manifestation of various factors. Whether elections to Lok Sabha and state legislature happen separately or together, what is important is to curb the role of money and muscle power during elections, as it undermines the democratic setup of the country. Connecting the dots: Critically examine the various factors that determine voter behaviour in India.   NATIONAL TOPIC:  General studies 1 Social Issues Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies; Social empowerment   Trafficking—Time to put an end Millions of men, women and children are victims of human trafficking for sexual, forced labour and other forms of exploitation worldwide. The human and economic costs of this take an immense toll on individuals and communities. The problem of trafficking cuts across a range of development issues, from poverty to social inclusion, to justice and rule of law issues, and thus has relevance for practitioners throughout the development community   West Bengal— A transit point for human trafficking, the hub of internal and cross-border human trafficking in India Existing possibilities: Shares approximately 2,220 km of land border and 259 km of riverine border with Bangladesh- unfenced, making cross-border trafficking in persons, drugs, and fake currency seamless Reasons: Promise of jobs Trafficking in persons— Human trafficking is a process of people being recruited in their community and country of origin and transported to the destination where they are being exploited for purposes of forced labor, prostitution, domestic servitude, and other forms of exploitation 2003 UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, to which India is a signatory— defines trafficking in persons including sex trafficking and forced labour Article 23 of the Indian Constitution: Prohibits human trafficking but does not define the term Criminal Law (Amendment) Act of 2013—defined the term ‘trafficking’ by substituting Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code with 370 and 370A which deals with trafficking of persons for exploitation (‘forced labour’ not included; as well as not adequately addressed in other acts/laws) Critical Concerns: Double victimization of the victim The cross-national victim and the trafficker are arrested in India, they are both charged under the Foreigners Act of 1946—according to the Act, if an offender is a foreigner, he/she should be punished under this Act and deported. As a result, the trafficked person is treated as a criminal for his/her unlawful presence in India. While the perpetrator, if a foreigner, is deported to his/her home country following the completion of the sentence, the victim is transferred to a shelter home in India and is required, as per court orders, to remain there till the court hearing, since he/she is the witness in the case   Aimless targeting: Indian laws do not target traffickers and their associates or penalise them adequately The trafficker can be charged under Section 366B of the IPC which states that importation of a female below the age of 21 years is a punishable offence Provision- is rarely implemented, as police officers are mostly unaware of its existence. Delay in verification of the addresses: May take as long as two or three years Reasons: Delay in confirmation by the Bangladesh government Incorrect, incomplete, or vague addresses given by the trafficked persons IASbaba’s Views: There needs to an increase in NGO’s dealing with cross-border trafficking as well as the lack of adequate human resources needs to be dealt with at a greater pace. Good coordination between the governments and NGOs on either side of the border can be the best foot forward to tackle the issue. The transit homes run by NGOs in collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF) along the Indo-Bangladesh border can be set up. Once the trafficker and the victim are apprehended by the BSF along the border, the victim can be sent to a transit home rather than to a police station till her antecedents are verified by the Bangladesh government. There is also a need for the BSF to develop a good rapport with child care and protection agencies as well as community mobilisation, sensitisation of the BSF on the issue of cross-border trafficking, and good networking between community-based organisations and BSF border outposts. Connecting the Dots: Discuss the role of the stakeholders for responding to human trafficking. Can human trafficking be regarded as a developmental issue? Discuss the risk factors associated with the same.   MUST READ Tilting towards the Saudis Hindu Indian Express Related Articles: West Asia: Saudi Arabia’s deadly gamble OPEC & the present Global Order India’s ties with West Asia : An analysis  (Part I) The sprouting of the “ look west”  policy  (Part III) TLP 2015 http://iasbaba.com/2015/09/1-the-recent-engagements-of-india-and-uae-embark-indias-look-west-policy-but-it-equally-defines-gccs-look-east-policy-for-the-greater-indian-engagements-with-west-asia-elaborate/   Lessons from a massacre – Police Encounter Hindu   New solid waste disposal rules to focus on public facilities- About 450 mn people to be covered; rubbish control through segregation Business Standard Related Articles: E-waste Management in India Solid Waste Management: Waste not, want not   Prompt response- Govt must speed up tax administration reforms Business Standard Panama Paper leaks Business Standard   The new Indian federalism- India is seeing fiscal centralization and fiscal decentralization at the same time Live Mint   Making India a ‘leading power’- New Delhi has been tentative on the international stage despite demands for a stronger Indian role in the world Live Mint MIND MAPS   1. Farmer's Income  

Apr 6, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - FDI in E-Commerce - whom will it Benefit?

ArchivesThe Big Picture - FDI in E-Commerce - whom will it Benefit?Recently government passed an order allowing 100 percent FDI in market place model of e commerce sector with some regulations and restrictions. The industry which has been growing at a phenomenal phase (1 billion $ to 14 Billion $) since few years, the 100% percent FDI in e commerce industry is welcomed with both prudence and Joy. This article deals with certain issues relating to E-commerce industry.Definition of e – commerce:Buying and selling of goods and services including digital products over digital and electronic network.Features of new FDI ruling: 100% FDI allowed in market place model of e-commerce. Market place model and inventory based model of e-commerce well defined. Level playing field to all sellers in market place model. Sales through one vendor not to exceed 25% in market place model.As it turns out, the FDI ruling does not only come as a rude awakening to sellers but buyers as well. According to the guidelines, no seller has the right to revise the price of a product which ensures fair competition. This ruling could mean the end of special sale days like Flipkart’s Big Billion Day or special offers provided by the likes of Amazon, Snapdeal etc. In addition, sellers could be forced to sell products on their platform at prices much higher than what the Indian online shopper is used to. This is could bring brick-and-mortar stores back into the limelight.Following are some of the concerns: Indian market is not yet ready for opening up e-retail space to foreign investors. It will seriously impair small time trading of brick and mortar stores. Small time shopkeepers are not highly qualified and will not be able to compete with sound e-retail business format. Because of scale of economic operations, e-commerce players in the inventory based model will have more bargaining power than standalone traders and will resort to predatory pricing. The infrastructure created by major e-commerce players will be captive and government will not be able to achieve its objective of creating back end infrastructure. Indian e-commerce market is at a nascent stage of development. With FDI in e-commerce, global players will have adverse impact on this domestic industry. It will lead to monopolies in ecommerce, manufacturing, logistics and retail sector. Inventory based e-commerce competes directly with MSMEs. Indian e-commerce B2C is growing in an eco- system with Indian owned/led companies offering open marketplace models which provide a technology platform to help MSME reach across India and even globally. These marketplaces do not compete with MSME or retailers and allow everyone to trade. On the other hand, allowing the entry of inventory based large foreign e-tailers may shrink Indian entrepreneurship and the MSME sector.However there are some advantages too: Boost to the infrastructural development: Impetus to manufacturing sector: Growth in retail sector will have cascading effect in the manufacturing sector which will positively contribute to overall growth of economy and job creation. More efficient supply chain management: Will reduce the need for middlemen leading to lower transaction costs, reduced overhead and reduced inventory and labour costs. Adopting best global business practices: Will lead to better work culture and customer service. Increased outreach: Will provide increased access to buyers/sellers; allow MSMEs and artisans to reach out to customers far beyond their immediate location, both locally within India and abroad. Traceability and transparency: Will not only empower consumers with information and data but also help in better compliance of regulatory framework. Reduced costs: On marketing and distribution, travel, materials and supplies will benefit businesses. Improved customer service: providing more responsive order taking and after-sales service to customers and competitive pricing.With new regulation in place ultimately government is legitimising the sector which before was neither regulated nor well defined. With new regulation in place there is a clarity which can help to assist growth by considering all the stake holders involved in the sector. However there are various concerns listed above that needs to be addressed through holistic approach.

Apr 5, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 5th April, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 5th April, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC:  General studies 2 Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; Governance issues   Towards restorative Criminal Justice Purpose of criminal justice: towards securing life and property The Reality— Fails to deter criminals owing to Delays and uncertainties involved in its processes Ridiculously ineffective punishments imposed on those few who get convicted Provides wide discretion to the police and the prosecution, rendering the system vulnerable to corruption and manipulation and endangering basic rights of innocent citizens Ignores the real victim, often compelling him/her to find extra-legal methods of getting justice Puts heavy economic costs on the state for its maintenance without commensurate benefits in return With nearly 30 million criminal cases pending in the system (the annual capacity of which is only half that number), and with another 10 million or more cases being added every year, whatever is left of the system is bound to collapse completely unless some radical alternatives are adopted urgently. Global Learnings— U.S.: adopted plea bargaining and diversion to administrative and quasi-judicial institutions- less than a third of criminal cases are allowed to go for trial U.K.: Diversion is followed; gave a central role to the victims to direct their cases in the system Russia, Australia, etc.:  the victim is brought centre stage through what is called “restorative justice” to replace unproductive aspects of conventional criminal processes Plea Bargaining & India— India had adopted “plea bargaining” to take out from the system cases punishable up to seven years of imprisonment for negotiated settlement without trial—remains a dead letter Threefold strategy to arrest the drift— A new perspective and a fresh comprehensive look based on changes in society and economy as well as priorities in governance -Guiding principle in the reform process: Decriminalisation wherever possible and diversion, reserving the criminal justice system mainly to deal with real “hard” crimes -Division of the Penal Code into four different codes (systems be accordingly reorganised & made specialised, efficient and accountable) — “Social Offences Code” consisting of matters which are essentially of a civil nature and can be settled or compounded through administrative processes without police intervention and prison terms; “Correctional Offences Code” containing offences punishable up to three years’ imprisonment where parole, probation and conditional sentences can be imposed in lieu of prison terms and can be handled under summary/summons procedure where plea bargaining can be liberally invoked without the stigma of conviction; “Economic Offences Code” where property offences which affect the financial stability of the country are dealt with by a combination of criminal and administrative strategies including plea bargaining (both on charge as well as on punishment) with a view to making crimes economically non-viable; “Indian Penal Code” which will have only major crimes which warrant 10 years’ imprisonment or more or death and deserve a full-fledged warrant trial with all safeguards of a criminal trial Institutional reform of police processes—including investigation of crimes, professionalization and rationalisation of court systems with induction of technology and limiting appeal procedures to the minimum required Victim-oriented criminal justice: restoring the confidence of victims in the system and achieving the goal of justice; the system must confer rights Enabling them to participate in the proceedings Right to be impleaded To engage an advocate in serious offences Right to track the progress of the proceedings Right to be heard on critical issues To assist the court in the pursuit of truth right to seek and receive compensation for injuries suffered including appropriate interim relief irrespective of the fate of the proceedings   Restorative justice: Indigenous systems of quick, simple systems of resolution of wrongs which enjoy community support, victim satisfaction and offender acknowledgement of obligations Takes on board all three parties — the offender, the victim and the community — in a harmonious resolution of the injury, maximising the sense of justice and restoring peace and harmony in the community. Restorative justice is distinct from mediation- directly addresses victim needs and therefore emphasises the private dimensions of a public wrong— help sustain interpersonal relationships while reinforcing offender obligations Reduce the workload on the system Increase the sense of justice, as a whole The new khap— No, due process requirements are followed while participation is enlarged and made transparent, inclusive and accountable IASbaba’s Views: With crime and violence constituting a major impediment for development and social integration for a plural society like India, restorative justice can take the path of accepting ‘diversity’ as a social fact and thus, involving communities in finding ways to correct the wrong. India, should now be more open to experimenting new democratic methods of reconciliation, attempting to bring about a change in the mind-set and leading the concept of reconstruction of social fabric as a norm as well as a necessity for the smooth functioning of the society. Connecting the Dots: Is restorative justice the same as mediation? Sociologically as well as logically, trace the relationship shared between crime and society? Critically examine the notion of victim-centric approach being a critical element that should be included in the criminal justice system   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General studies 2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.   India’s new federal polity takes root - with special reference to ‘14th Finance Commission’ The state budgets are now beginning to reflect the radical makeover in fiscal relations between the Union government and the states. The above radical makeover can be linked to the implementation of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission (FFC). One size cannot fit all: At its core, the FFC championed the idea that one size cannot fit all; particularly relevant in such a large country like India, which is culturally, topographically and economically so diverse. To be sure, this shift has been in the making, incrementally albeit, for the past two decades beginning with the 10th Finance Commission; what the FFC has done is to accelerate this pace dramatically.   Increased trust on states to manage their own fiscal future: The FFC abandoned the idea of tied aid, in the form of centrally sponsored programmes and grants and instead trusted states to manage their own fiscal future. Not only did the states get the freedom to prioritize spending, the new formula sharply increased the share from 32% to 42% of net Union tax receipts of fiscal resources accruing to states. It further allowed states committing to greater fiscal discipline greater leeway to borrow from the market to fund their development priorities. Sowing the seeds of co operative federalism: Effectively, the FFC had sowed the seeds of cooperative federalism as states have been accorded unprecedented fiscal freedom. For the first time, public expenditure is now decisively in the jurisdiction of states. Consequently, states are now greater stakeholders and the implementation of the single goods and services tax pending before Parliament for the past 10 years and more will only bind this relationship further. Clean-up of the power sector: The Union government recently launched an unprecedented clean-up of the power sector mired in accumulated debt of nearly Rs.4 trillion, which was not only impeding fresh investments, but also threatening to snowball into a balance sheet crisis for banks that had loaned funds to state power utilities. Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana or UDAY:  The scheme launched last November 2015, drew up a contract between the Union government and volunteering state governments (Nine, including Uttar Pradesh ruled by an opposition party, have inked this deal and have already begun implementing it) wherein the discom debt was transferred to the state government—who, in turn, would float bonds to fund it. Further, the discoms were required to adopt transparent pricing rules and also overhaul the creaking power infrastructure in their state with the end objective of providing 24x7 power. Way ahead: Taking the two developments together, a new formula to share fiscal resources and a structural fix to the power sector, means the Union and state governments together have hit the reset button on the federal polity. While one would resolve a key infrastructure bottleneck (even while it addresses a mindset about public utilities being required to bear the burden of political populism), the other provides unprecedented fiscal room to states. Effectively, it confirms a new federal compact: an India where the sum of the parts will be greater than the whole. Connecting the dots: Critically examine the evolution of centre state financial relations in India since independence.   MUST READ The importance of listening to patients - TB Hindu   Family planning is critical for our nation’s economic development- Family planning is at the core of the mission to reduce maternal and child mortality. Indian Express Related Articles: Contraception—a woman’s burden   Returning India to the Gulf- India needed to drop its posturing and step  up political and security engagement.  That’s what PM Modi is doing Indian Express Hindu Related Articles: http://iasbaba.com/2016/01/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-7th-january-2016/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/12/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-12th-december-2015/   Avert raw deal on EU-India trade pact- Investment and agricultural imports are not new issues. The government is retreating from the same battles it fought during the Uruguay Round of the World Trade Organisation in 1995 Business Standard Related Articles: India, EU summit agrees on new agenda for strategic partnership   India’s great power aspirations-Narendra Modi seeks to transform India into an entity whose weight and preferences define international politics Live Mint   Why local body polls aren’t free and fair- Bringing the administrative control of State Election Commissions under the purview of the Central Election Commission will never be accepted by the parties in power in the states Live Mint   MIND MAPS   1. Obsolete NATO & India

Apr 5, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - Role of UN in Combating International Terrorism

ARCHIVES   Role of UN in Combating International Terrorism   Prime Minister Modi visited Washington to attend nuclear security summit and has emphasised on various steps that the world should take in order to prevent terrorism and stop the access of nukes to non state actors. He also called for institutionalizing the global actions against terrorists. India has been advocating having a global terrorism conference since 1996 but it is not realised due to lack of political consensus among the International community. Even after 9/11 few countries are reluctant to accept terrorism as a serious issue. This is evident from the fact that Russian head did not attend the nuclear security summit, China blocked Pathankot terror attack master mind to list as a terrorist under UN. The problem that few countries are involved in Selective interpretation and following double standards is hampering the process of cooperation in terrorism. The role of media in addressing issues related to terrorism is also important. Media should refrain from adopting any double standards ( Gun violence in USA, Protecting country’s self interest by invading Foreign countries, where as it is reported as Communalism, minority issue, etc in India and south Asia) when it comes to reporting of terrorism in different parts of world. Terrorism is an Ideological issue. On a longer run, terrorism needs to be dealt by addressing issues of conflict within Islam by involving intellectuals other experts. India expects that the recent summit would contribute further to raising high level awareness of the threat of terrorism and the need to strengthen international cooperation against terrorists and nuclear traffickers. And also pushing for those who are not signatory to convention related to nuclear summit to sign up to and implement the legally binding instruments like The International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, obligatory reporting under the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 which was adopted in 2004 and which has prohibitions and obligations related to non-state actors and export controls. These are some of the measures to prevent and combat terrorism listed in the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy To refrain from organizing, instigating, facilitating, participating in, financing, encouraging or tolerating terrorist activities. To cooperate fully in the fight against terrorism, in accordance with our obligations under international law. To ensure the apprehension and prosecution or extradition of perpetrators of terrorist acts, in accordance with the relevant provisions of national and international law. To intensify cooperation, as appropriate, in exchanging timely and accurate information concerning the prevention and combating of terrorism. To strengthen coordination and cooperation among States in combating crimes that might be connected with terrorism. To consider becoming parties without delay to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and to the three protocols supplementing it, and implementing them. To encourage relevant regional and sub-regional organizations to create or strengthen counter-terrorism mechanisms or centres. The importance India attaches to the UN’s role as a universal platform to bring together different strands of work on nuclear security is immense. The UN is the forum where India moves every year a consensus resolution on WMD terrorism. India believes that that is very important to ensure that non-state actors do not get access to nuclear material and nuclear technologies and those countries around the world strengthen their export control measures.

Apr 4, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 4th April, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 4th April, 2016   INTERNATIONAL   TOPIC:  General studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.   Why migrants are Europe’s litmus test? After the terror attack in Brussels on March 22 morning, two claims are being made on the European land by few of the political leaders as well as the angered public. The immediate association between the attacks and the migrant crisis, the argument being that the Islamic State (IS), which claimed responsibility for the attacks, was sending in armed jihadists with the vast migrant flow coming into Europe. The hardening of Euroscepticism and mounting criticism against the open border policy of the Schengen bloc.   Conflict over migrant policy supports jihadist project: The above positions are not representative of majority public or political opinion yet, but with the IS expected to step up its acts of targeted terror in Europe as a response to the reverses its forces on the ground in Syria and Iraq are facing, the misconceptions have gained considerable traction. The conflict over migrant policy within the countries of the European Union can only strengthen the jihadist project, as commentators have pointed out, and threaten the safety of the thousands who are fleeing from conflict and jihadist terror in West Asia and northern Africa.   Rising anti-migrant sentiment: The first sign of the spurt in anti-migrant and, more worryingly, anti-Muslim sentiment was the appearance of the hashtag #StopIslam which started trending on social media worldwide. The Polish government announced that it was suspending its commitment to take in its share of migrants, and reports of attacks against immigrants in the country and elsewhere in Europe surfaced. In the U.K., which is due for a referendum on June 23 to decide whether it will stay or leave the EU, the United Kingdom Independence Party, which is in the forefront of Brexit, used the Brussels attack to reiterate its anti-immigration and anti-migrant policies. Looking into the new focus: The new focus is on three things Islam in general and the conflation of 1.6 billion people with the acts of three people in Brussels. The worrying association of the attacks with migrants. Threats to the Schengen area, an alarming one. However one important thing to be noted here if one travels freely between different countries, it doesn’t mean that he will penetrate an act of terrorism. Right wing parties starting to gain ground in Europe : In Europe, where job insecurities have fed into threat perceptions on the erosion that immigration poses to national identity, right-wing xenophobic parties have gained ground. An incident of sexual abuse of women on New Year’s night in Cologne (Germany) by migrant youth was linked in public perception to the terror attacks, strengthening the popular belief that the EU has no effective policy to address either terrorism or migrant flows. In Germany, which has promised to relocate the largest number of the 1.3 million asylum applications in the EU, the liberal immigration policies of Chancellor Angela Merkel have contributed to the defeat of her party to the hard-right Alternative for Germany party in two of three regional elections held two weeks ago.   Foreign policy of western governments owes responsibility for the act: The big waves of recent migration into Europe are a direct response to Western foreign policy interventions in West Asia. The migrant surge first came from Afghanistan and Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. This was followed by migration from conflict zones in North Africa through Libya that followed the intervention of Britain and France in Libya in 2011. Most recent is the migrant exodus from Syria, which began after Western intervention in that country in 2013. The common denominator is the foreign policy of Western governments. They are ultimately responsible for the appalling attacks in Brussels and Paris.   Controversial EU-Turkey agreement: The controversial agreement signed between the EU and Turkey last week, intended to seal illegal migration, has been criticised by aid agencies as inhumane and violative of EU law. An illegal immigrant now arriving in Greece through the Aegean Sea route can be expected to be sent back to Turkey if the person does not apply for asylum or his claim is rejected. Turkey today hosts three million Syrian refugees, more than any other country. Besides, the deal has not had the intended effect. There are currently over 49,000 migrants in Greece in overcrowded and squalid camps waiting for asylum in Europe, and the numbers have grown since the EU-Turkey deal. Connecting the dots: Critically examine the reasons for the ongoing refugee crises in Europe. To what extent do you think the EU- Turkey agreement can solve the refugee crises?   NATIONAL TOPIC:  General studies 1: Effects of globalization on Indian society. General studies 2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.   The Elderly—as a resource Statistics behind the increase in life expectancy at birth: 1950-55: Life expectancy at birth in India was 36.6 years, whereas the average in the world was 46.8 years 2010-15: Life expectancy in India had almost caught up with the global average: 67.5 years in India, compared with 70.5 years globally        Result of Reduction in poverty Improvement in healthcare and general social conditions India will have 330 million elderly people (19.4% of the population) by 2050 Problem of ageing populations This profound shift in the share of older Indians—taking place in the context of changing family relationships and severely limited old-age income support—brings with it a variety of social, economic, and health care policy challenges. Issues Modernization: Becomes an obligation Increase in Life Expectancy + Mortality Rate (decrease)Dependency (HIGH) Rural: Outward Migration to urban areas Abandonment Worst case: Aged women (Mathura Case); Widowhood Enhanced dependency Work Status: Agriculture + industries: Adversely affected the participation rate of the elderly + less scope of financial assistance Organized sector- Mandatory retirement Women: Immense contribution but with no ‘counted’ economic value Gender Ageing Early marriage + Prohibition on remarriage- Widowhood prevails (Double jeopardy) Health & Disability Low: Literacy level + present healthcare conditions Transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases Increased disability in female Rise in suicide cases: Depression + destitution + Socio-economic factors Action—Help Age India: Comprehensive Plan + Program + Action Kinship bonds Social Security: Weakened + Declining Decline in Joint Family Decrease in interaction & expression of emotions— Alienation Ways of Inclusion Liberate them from repetitive exclusion from all spheres of life: Social + Economic + Political Rectify the negligence awarded by valuing their wisdom (fastest growing, but underutilized resource available to humanity), insights and values—Induction in advisory groups (turning the ‘problem’ of the elderly into a ‘solution’ for other social problems) Creation of a sense of social identity of aged—Social Security cover; Evolving an indigenous care module and an overall family & community care system Increased interactions with the youth (Sense of value + Ways of imparting traditions) More research needs to be employed in the healthcare dimension of the ‘aged’ population   The paradigm shift required in perspective— India: SEWA (the self-employed women’s association), founded by Ela Bhatt, is one of the best examples which organizes the women in self-help groups and improve the quality of lives.   Vietnam— Old People’s Associations (OPAs) are improving the lives of the elderly Out of 90 million people, as many as 8.5 million are members of OPAs in their village and town communities which are democratically run by the elderly in the communities— set their own agendas, choose what community causes to apply themselves to, which elderly persons need special assistance and assign responsibilities among themselves They represent the needs of the community and the elderly to government agencies, who also see them as a vital support for the government’s outreach programmes into communities. Women constitute the majority in OPAs since they live longer than men Youth volunteers support the OPAs, providing energy and expertise that the elders may not have Great benefit— of ‘inter-generational self-help groups’ (as the OPAs are called) is the social capital they accumulate and the cohesion they enable within communities   Anubandh—Bhatt advocates the building of ‘hundred-mile communities’ as a way to improve the world for everyone; encourages us to follow the links of mutual interconnectedness towards a sense of wholeness IASbaba’s Views: For sustainable and inclusive growth, local communities must be enabled to govern themselves. Rather than isolating them and making them dependent on others’ charity for their own survival, the integration of elders can help communities to survive and to thrive. Elders can act as a glue providing cohesion with tradition, and that brings together conflicting movements for ‘special causes’. Investing a little to engage the elderly in communities can improve the health and well-being of the elderly as well as improve the health and well-being of communities. Connecting the Dots: India should lay the groundwork for increased economic productivity and “ease the process of caring for growing numbers of older Indians in the future”. Discuss.   MUST READ Revisiting the EPF rollback Hindu Related Articles: Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Tax- Is it a Healthy proposal?   Understanding the Islamic State Hindu   The need to pre-empt nuclear terrorism Hindu   Out of depth- Oil and gas exploration Hindu   The gas opportunity-The new hydrocarbon policy can help India reduce its import dependency Indian Express Related Articles: New regime in oil and gas exploration   When less is not more- Simultaneous elections to panchayat, assembly and Lok Sabha may be desirable. They are not feasible. Indian Express   Not just a flyover collapse- Malaise afflicting infrastructure projects runs deep Business Standard   India’s new federal polity takes root-The 14th Finance Commission championed the idea that one size cannot fit all; relevant in such a large country like India Live Mint MIND MAPS   1. Modi's Saudi Visit