Nov 4, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 4th November, 2015

ArchivesIASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 4th November, 2015NATIONAL 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. An unfinished agenda of federalism Promoting both cooperative and competitive federalism has been an overarching theme of the present government. Political analyst K.C. Wheare, in his book Federal Government, defines “federalism” as “the method of dividing powers so that the general and regional governments are each within a sphere coordinate and independent”. This implies a system of governance in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and sub-national political entities.Is India a federal country? Article 1 of the Constitution states, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States”. While the Constitution doesn’t mention the term “federal”, it does provide for a governance structure primarily federal in nature. It provides for separate governments at the Union and in the states. Further, it specifies and demarcates the powers, functions and jurisdictions of the two governments. Last, it details the legislative, administrative and financial relations between the Union and the states.Schedule 7 and a unitary tilt to federalism in India: The distribution of legislative powers has been broken down clearly into three lists: the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List. The Union List, comprising the “vital interests of the State”, is the longest, with 100 items. It includes defence, arms and ammunition, foreign affairs, foreign trade, atomic energy, treaties, war and peace, currency, and the Constitution. The State List (61 items) comprises, among others, public order, police, trade and commerce within the state, agriculture, land revenue and various taxes. The Concurrent List (52 items) includes preventive detention, contracts, economic and social planning, social security, education, labour welfare and electricity.On the Union List, Parliament has exclusive powers to legislate. While the state has exclusive powers to legislate on the State List, in certain situations, Parliament can also do so.As regards the Concurrent List, the issue is more complex. In case of a conflict between a state and a Central legislation, the parliamentary legislation shall prevail (Supreme Court, 2005).  This, coupled with the fact that residuary powers of legislation are vested in the Union, gives a “unitary” tilt to federalism in India. Question on structure of Indian federalism:A disconcerting trend has been observed since 1950. While the Union and Concurrent Lists have expanded, the State List seems to have shrunk.Typically, two opposite forces seem to operate: One, cooperative federalism; and two, competitive federalism. Cooperative federalism implies the Centre and states share a horizontal relationship, where they “cooperate” in the larger public interest. It’s visualised as an important tool to enable states’ participation in the formulation and implementation of national policies. Competitive federalism can refer to the relationship between the Central and state governments (vertical) or between state governments (horizontal). This idea gained significance in India post the 1990s economic reforms. In a free-market economy, the endowments of states, available resource base and their comparative advantages all foster a spirit of competition. States need to compete among themselves and also with the Centre for benefits. Increasing globalisation, however, made the already existing inequalities and imbalances between states starker. This gave rise to concerns about states’ freedom to formulate their own growth policies.Government efforts to promote co operative federalism: The acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations, apart from significantly enhanced devolution, enables states to design and implement programmes better suited to their needs. More importantly, the disbandment of the Planning Commission (PC) and its replacement by the NITI Aayog is specifically designed to promote cooperative federalism. NITI Aayog will concentrate on the broader policy framework instead of micro resource-allocated functions.More ways to promote cooperative federalism: Reactivation of the Centre-State Council. Under Article 263, this council is expected to inquire and advise on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make recommendations for better policy coordination. While competition between states, reflected in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index, has generated interest, this must be a continuing exercise. But states not doing well on the index complain of infirmities of process and procedure. These need to be made more acceptable and transparent. On issues like international treaties, WTO obligations, or the environment, how is the interest of affected states to be protected? An institutional mechanism must be evolved where important decisions are appropriately discussed with states. As India becomes globally more interdependent, these potential contentious issues must be resolved.Way Forward: Cooperative and competitive federalism may be two sides of the same coin. Their complementarity is contingent on many affirmative steps. A considerable progress has been achieved by the present government in this regard, however much needs to be done.Connecting the dots: Critically examine the importance of complementarity between cooperative and competitive federalism in India, to promote economic growth and development. Critically evaluate the various constitutional and statutory mechanisms to promote cooperative federalism in India. Competitive federalism is the panacea for growth and development of the country. Critically examine. TOPIC:  General Studies 2 Structure, organization and functioning of the Judiciary and issuesBurdens the Supreme Court must shed The underlined theory of India’s Supreme Court being the most powerful court in the present democratic world is placed at the right height with execution of powers to the extent that, a Constitutional Amendment, if certified to trouble the basic structure of the Constitution is placed, can be easily dissolved by the Court. The inter-relationship that the legal sphere of the country shares with that of economic reforms or say, normal functioning and mechanisms at various level of administration, cannot be ignored and thus, have had profound implications on the judicial system.Overarching way paved by trivial cases Civil disputes involving land, revenue, disciplinary proceedings against employees, interpretation of wills and other mundane subjects, which should have ended in courts below, have paved way and found out a way to keep re-appearing, overburdening the already burdened judiciary. The lower levels of courts need to be efficient to unburden the courts in the higher level of the hierarchy and therefore, not only merely setting up of these nyayalayas but systematic infrastructure and trained personnel (judges) are the need of the hour. Key bottlenecks that cause delays in civil and criminal proceedings Service of process; Adjournments; Interlocutory Orders; Appearance of witnesses and accused Article 136: This provision allows the losing party to approach the Supreme Court even without the mandatory certificate from the court that delivered the judgement leading to economic as well as time wastages unless it’s a complete travesty of justice Thus, many archaic laws should be done away with and appreciation or re-appreciation of evidence must come to a halt at some stage of the judicial proceedings and cannot percolate to the constitutional court Database for Accountability: There exists no database collecting statistics that are related to the pending cases and Judicial Statistics Bill, 2004, proposed legislations aimed at creating authorities at the national and state level to collect, in a scientific manner, statistics from each and every courtroom regarding the following: Hours taken by the Court to hear the dispute, Time between the filing of the case and hearing by the court, Adjournments granted, Time taken for delivery of judgment after it has been reserved, etc.Passage of the bill could’ve contributed to the much needed efficiency and disposal of cases in a speedy manner. Judicial Infrastructure Lack of legal knowledge creates a void in the dissemination of justice making it a ‘crafted commodity’. Proper probation period and All India Judicial Services can be initiated to fill this gap. Increasing levels of corruption is demeaning the seat of justice due to lack of transparency and appointment of the judges post retirement. An appropriate Judicial Accountability and Judicial Appointments Bill would thus, go a long way in maintaining checks and balances Innovation and Adaptation is expected out of the litigation process transforming the role of the judge from merely deciding the case, to playing an active part in the manner of its resolution.IASbaba’s Views (Key Reforms/Suggestions): 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 Principles and procedures need to be adapted and calibrated to suit the ground realities of the Indian scenario. The growing gap between the rate of disposal and the rate of institution of proceedings should be taken into account while implementing effective strategies for proper case management. Timetables should be worked out and ICT should be employed effectively to monitor the progress Coordination with law-enforcement and other governmental authorities needs to be stepped up to avoid delays and unnecessary executive battlesConnecting the Dots: ‘The efficient judicial enforcement of contractual obligations as well as property rights is a pre-condition for generating confidence among domestic as well as foreign entrepreneurs and investors’. Critically analyse. Can alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods be a ray of hope in the judicial maze that the Judiciary finds itself in? Discuss. Briefly explain the following w.r.t. the Indian scenario: “The justice that we are trying to secure should be “just and ready” as opposed to “rough and ready”.MUST READ Consumer interest in pharma is not served by excessive price control Business LineReform subsidies and redirect expenditure- Wasteful subsidies that do not reach the poor should be reduced. The savings would be better spent and might actually reach the poor, says the author in the second of two articlesBusiness StandardStates abusing law- Time to reform colonial-era sedition law to prevent misuseBusiness StandardEquality pays- A new report highlights that empowering women is smart economicsIndian Express On the wrong foot- India must know it may be engendering resentments in Nepal that will remain long after the current crisis is over.Indian ExpressHinduTowards an honourable exit for all- The recent Vienna meetings of regional powers with the U.S. and Russia have opened up a new diplomatic initiative in the Syrian conflict that has left the country brokenHinduMIND MAPS1. Shortage of Nurses-Business Standard LinkMIND MAPS - Download Here2. Infrastructure Development- Live Mint LinkMIND MAPS - Download Here3. Federalism- Indian Express LinkMIND MAPS - Download Here4. Syria's Future- The Hindu LinkMIND MAPS - Download Here

Nov 4, 2015 AIR

All India Radio- INDIA – ISRAEL, PALESTINE AND JORDAN

ARCHIVES   INDIA – ISRAEL, PALESTINE AND JORDAN   [AIR Spotlight topic on 3rd November 2015 is "Political unrest in Nepal". This is not much useful for the exam. Hence we picked up the summary of "President's Visit to West Asia" from the programme "Weekly Current Affairs"] President of India has recently visited Israel, Palestine and Jordan. The region has been brewing with conflicts since decades and has geopolitical significance to India. Importance of the visit Multi-vector approach adopted in the Indian foreign policy [relations with multiple nations] First ever state visit to these three nations by the Head of the State It is symbolic in nature. Visit conducted at three levels: Political, Bilateral, and People-to-people India - Palestine India recognised the "Palestine state" in 1988 A state should contain Territory People Government Sovereignty External Recognition Many nations did not recognize the Palestine state, including the US In the 1947 UN Resolution of partition of Palestine to create Israel, India voted against the resolution India saw merit in the Palestinian right of "Self Determination" In the UN, many times India has voted in favour of Palestine supporting it in many issues: against Israel's construction of security wall, supporting membership in UNESCO etc. Recently, Palestine admitted into the UN as non-member observer state   India - Israel Israel was created on the basis of religion (Jews) in 1948 according to a UN resolution India recognized Israel in 1950 Full diplomatic relations between India and Israel started from 1992 Defence and Agriculture cover the major part of relations Indian President recently said in Israel "Religion cannot be the basis of a modern state" Within the Jews, there are multiple classifications and cultures: Russian Jews, Black Jews, Arab Jews, Indian Jews, European Jews etc. Growing polarisation between these multiple cultures Israel always had coalition governments Hence, Indian President also emphasized on political stability and social justice   India on Israel and Palestine India wanted to see a Palestine state existing along with Israel with recognized and clearly demarcated borders President quoted Mahatma Gandhi: "Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French" Similarly, India wanted a sovereign, independent, viable and a united Israel with East Jerusalem as its capital In other words, India supports "two state solution" i.e. The state of Israel and the state of Palestine existing side-by-side peacefully. But this is a highly complicated solution. There are issues of: Land settlements Water sharing Prisoners Question of Jerusalem Aggressive govt in Israel India's stand is based on the principles in international law & political theory, and on its long standing support to de-colonisation and self determination. Efforts made in the past to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict: Madrid Peace Conference, Oslo Peace Accord, Camp David Summit, Arab Peace Initiative, Road Map for Peace initiative by the 'quartet' (US, EU, UN, and Russia) and many others.   India - Jordan  India is Jordan's 4th largest trade partner By 2025 bilateral trade can reach $5 billion. This is not very significant. Trade with UAE ~$75 billion Trade with GCC > $125 billion Bulk of the trade with Jordan is in fertilizers (Rock Phosphate) and services Very few population in Jordan and purchasing capacity is less Cooperation and training in higher education is thriving well between India & Jordan Jordan is facing the issues of refugees from Syria spill over effects from Arab Spring, Israel-Palestine conflict political reforms Inflation  

Nov 4, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 4th November, 2015

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 4th November, 2015     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.   An unfinished agenda of federalism Promoting both cooperative and competitive federalism has been an overarching theme of the present government. Political analyst K.C. Wheare, in his book Federal Government, defines “federalism” as “the method of dividing powers so that the general and regional governments are each within a sphere coordinate and independent”. This implies a system of governance in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and sub-national political entities. Is India a federal country? Article 1 of the Constitution states, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States”. While the Constitution doesn’t mention the term “federal”, it does provide for a governance structure primarily federal in nature. It provides for separate governments at the Union and in the states. Further, it specifies and demarcates the powers, functions and jurisdictions of the two governments. Last, it details the legislative, administrative and financial relations between the Union and the states. Schedule 7 and a unitary tilt to federalism in India: The distribution of legislative powers has been broken down clearly into three lists: the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List. The Union List, comprising the “vital interests of the State”, is the longest, with 100 items. It includes defence, arms and ammunition, foreign affairs, foreign trade, atomic energy, treaties, war and peace, currency, and the Constitution. The State List (61 items) comprises, among others, public order, police, trade and commerce within the state, agriculture, land revenue and various taxes. The Concurrent List (52 items) includes preventive detention, contracts, economic and social planning, social security, education, labour welfare and electricity. On the Union List, Parliament has exclusive powers to legislate. While the state has exclusive powers to legislate on the State List, in certain situations, Parliament can also do so. As regards the Concurrent List, the issue is more complex. In case of a conflict between a state and a Central legislation, the parliamentary legislation shall prevail (Supreme Court, 2005).   This, coupled with the fact that residuary powers of legislation are vested in the Union, gives a “unitary” tilt to federalism in India. Question on structure of Indian federalism: A disconcerting trend has been observed since 1950. While the Union and Concurrent Lists have expanded, the State List seems to have shrunk. Typically, two opposite forces seem to operate: One, cooperative federalism; and two, competitive federalism. Cooperative federalism implies the Centre and states share a horizontal relationship, where they “cooperate” in the larger public interest. It’s visualised as an important tool to enable states’ participation in the formulation and implementation of national policies. Competitive federalism can refer to the relationship between the Central and state governments (vertical) or between state governments (horizontal). This idea gained significance in India post the 1990s economic reforms. In a free-market economy, the endowments of states, available resource base and their comparative advantages all foster a spirit of competition. States need to compete among themselves and also with the Centre for benefits. Increasing globalisation, however, made the already existing inequalities and imbalances between states starker. This gave rise to concerns about states’ freedom to formulate their own growth policies. Government efforts to promote co operative federalism: The acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations, apart from significantly enhanced devolution, enables states to design and implement programmes better suited to their needs. More importantly, the disbandment of the Planning Commission (PC) and its replacement by the NITI Aayog is specifically designed to promote cooperative federalism. NITI Aayog will concentrate on the broader policy framework instead of micro resource-allocated functions. More ways to promote cooperative federalism: Reactivation of the Centre-State Council. Under Article 263, this council is expected to inquire and advise on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make recommendations for better policy coordination. While competition between states, reflected in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index, has generated interest, this must be a continuing exercise. But states not doing well on the index complain of infirmities of process and procedure. These need to be made more acceptable and transparent. On issues like international treaties, WTO obligations, or the environment, how is the interest of affected states to be protected? An institutional mechanism must be evolved where important decisions are appropriately discussed with states. As India becomes globally more interdependent, these potential contentious issues must be resolved. Way Forward: Cooperative and competitive federalism may be two sides of the same coin. Their complementarity is contingent on many affirmative steps. A considerable progress has been achieved by the present government in this regard, however much needs to be done. Connecting the dots: Critically examine the importance of complementarity between cooperative and competitive federalism in India, to promote economic growth and development. Critically evaluate the various constitutional and statutory mechanisms to promote cooperative federalism in India. Competitive federalism is the panacea for growth and development of the country. Critically examine.   TOPIC:  General Studies 2 Structure, organization and functioning of the Judiciary and issues   Burdens the Supreme Court must shed The underlined theory of India’s Supreme Court being the most powerful court in the present democratic world is placed at the right height with execution of powers to the extent that, a Constitutional Amendment, if certified to trouble the basic structure of the Constitution is placed, can be easily dissolved by the Court. The inter-relationship that the legal sphere of the country shares with that of economic reforms or say, normal functioning and mechanisms at various level of administration, cannot be ignored and thus, have had profound implications on the judicial system. Overarching way paved by trivial cases Civil disputes involving land, revenue, disciplinary proceedings against employees, interpretation of wills and other mundane subjects, which should have ended in courts below, have paved way and found out a way to keep re-appearing, overburdening the already burdened judiciary. The lower levels of courts need to be efficient to unburden the courts in the higher level of the hierarchy and therefore, not only merely setting up of these nyayalayas but systematic infrastructure and trained personnel (judges) are the need of the hour. Key bottlenecks that cause delays in civil and criminal proceedings Service of process; Adjournments; Interlocutory Orders; Appearance of witnesses and accused Article 136: This provision allows the losing party to approach the Supreme Court even without the mandatory certificate from the court that delivered the judgement leading to economic as well as time wastages unless it’s a complete travesty of justice Thus, many archaic laws should be done away with and appreciation or re-appreciation of evidence must come to a halt at some stage of the judicial proceedings and cannot percolate to the constitutional court Database for Accountability: There exists no database collecting statistics that are related to the pending cases and Judicial Statistics Bill, 2004, proposed legislations aimed at creating authorities at the national and state level to collect, in a scientific manner, statistics from each and every courtroom regarding the following: Hours taken by the Court to hear the dispute, Time between the filing of the case and hearing by the court, Adjournments granted, Time taken for delivery of judgment after it has been reserved, etc. Passage of the bill could’ve contributed to the much needed efficiency and disposal of cases in a speedy manner. Judicial Infrastructure Lack of legal knowledge creates a void in the dissemination of justice making it a ‘crafted commodity’. Proper probation period and All India Judicial Services can be initiated to fill this gap. Increasing levels of corruption is demeaning the seat of justice due to lack of transparency and appointment of the judges post retirement. An appropriate Judicial Accountability and Judicial Appointments Bill would thus, go a long way in maintaining checks and balances Innovation and Adaptation is expected out of the litigation process transforming the role of the judge from merely deciding the case, to playing an active part in the manner of its resolution.   IASbaba’s Views (Key Reforms/Suggestions): 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 Principles and procedures need to be adapted and calibrated to suit the ground realities of the Indian scenario. The growing gap between the rate of disposal and the rate of institution of proceedings should be taken into account while implementing effective strategies for proper case management. Timetables should be worked out and ICT should be employed effectively to monitor the progress Coordination with law-enforcement and other governmental authorities needs to be stepped up to avoid delays and unnecessary executive battles Connecting the Dots: ‘The efficient judicial enforcement of contractual obligations as well as property rights is a pre-condition for generating confidence among domestic as well as foreign entrepreneurs and investors’. Critically analyse. Can alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods be a ray of hope in the judicial maze that the Judiciary finds itself in? Discuss. Briefly explain the following w.r.t. the Indian scenario: “The justice that we are trying to secure should be “just and ready” as opposed to “rough and ready”.   MUST READ   Consumer interest in pharma is not served by excessive price control  Business Line   Reform subsidies and redirect expenditure- Wasteful subsidies that do not reach the poor should be reduced. The savings would be better spent and might actually reach the poor, says the author in the second of two articles Business Standard   States abusing law- Time to reform colonial-era sedition law to prevent misuse Business Standard   Equality pays- A new report highlights that empowering women is smart economics Indian Express   On the wrong foot- India must know it may be engendering resentments in Nepal that will remain long after the current crisis is over. Indian Express Hindu   Towards an honourable exit for all- The recent Vienna meetings of regional powers with the U.S. and Russia have opened up a new diplomatic initiative in the Syrian conflict that has left the country broken Hindu MIND MAPS   1. Shortage of Nurses-Business Standard  Link MIND MAPS - Download Here   2. Infrastructure Development- Live Mint  Link MIND MAPS - Download Here   3. Federalism- Indian Express  Link MIND MAPS - Download Here   4. Syria's Future- The Hindu  Link MIND MAPS - Download Here

Nov 3, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 3rd November, 2015

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 3rd November, 2015     SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY   TOPIC:  General Studies 3 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.   Nuclear power: Fast forwarding to thorium Nuclear power is the fourth-largest source of electricity in India after thermal, hydroelectric and renewable sources of energy. As of 2013, India has an installed nuclear capacity of around 5780 MW, also 6 more reactors are under construction and are expected to generate an additional 4,300 MW. The nuclear power generation in India is very less compared to 63130 MW in France, 99244 MW in USA and 42388 MW in Japan. India’s power crises: India is facing a huge demand supply mismatch in power sector. As the country’s population grow the gap also widens, creating a headache for policy makers and the common people. Coal remains an essential staple to India's energy needs and even though the country produced 500 million tonnes of coal in 2012-13, it is still not enough to satiate the country's growing demand for energy, what with growing population and increasing affluence. Domestic natural gas production has fallen in recent years, with further drop-offs expected in 2014-15. India currently imports over 35% of its gas demand and this number is set to increase over the years. According to one census, 77 million households in India still use kerosene for lighting. The problem is even more acute in rural India where up to 44 percent of households lack access to electricity. Solution lies with nuclear energy : One solution which India can rely upon to solve power crises is the nuclear energy. However the problem is, India lacks uranium fuel which is very important for the generation of nuclear energy. It is very difficult for India to access uranium through imports as India is not a signatory to NPT and CTBT.   Panacea lies with Thorium: What is the single greatest factor that prevents the large-scale deployment of thorium-fuelled reactors in India? Most people would assume that it is a limitation of technology, still just out of grasp. After all, the construction of the advanced heavy-water reactor (AHWR) — a 300 MW, indigenously designed, thorium-fuelled, commercial technology demonstrator has been put off several times since it was first announced in 2004. However, scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre have successfully tested all relevant thorium-related technologies in the laboratory, achieving even industrial scale capability in some of them. In fact, if pressed, India could probably begin full-scale deployment of thorium reactors in ten years. But why is India not stressing on thorium as a fuel ? The single greatest hurdle, to answer the question, is the critical shortage of fissile material. A fissile material is one that can sustain a chain reaction upon bombardment by neutrons. Thorium is by itself fertile, meaning that it can transmute into a fissile radioisotope but cannot itself keep a chain reaction going. In a thorium reactor, a fissile material like uranium or plutonium is blanketed by thorium. The fissile material, also called a driver in this case, drives the chain reaction to produce energy while simultaneously transmuting the fertile material into fissile material. India has very modest deposits of uranium and some of the world’s largest sources of thorium.   A 3 stage Indian nuclear power programme to suit the country’s resource profile: In the first stage, heavy water reactors fuelled by natural uranium would produce plutonium; The second stage would initially be fuelled by a mix of the plutonium from the first stage and natural uranium. This uranium would transmute into more plutonium and once sufficient stocks have been built up, thorium would be introduced into the fuel cycle to convert it into uranium 233 for the third stage. In the final stage, a mix of thorium and uranium fuels the reactors. The thorium transmutes to U-233 as in the second stage, which powers the reactor. Fresh thorium can replace the depleted thorium in the reactor core, making it essentially a thorium-fuelled reactor even though it is the U-233 that is undergoing fission to produce electricity. However, experts estimate that it would take India at least another four decades before it has built up a sufficient fissile material inventory to launch the third stage. However, India cannot wait that long. Procuring fissile material : The obvious solution to India’s shortage of fissile material is to procure it from the international market. As yet, there exists no commerce in plutonium though there is no law that expressly forbids it. In fact, most nuclear treaties such as the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material address only U-235 and U-233, presumably because plutonium has so far not been considered a material suited for peaceful purposes. The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) merely mandates that special fissionable material which includes plutonium  if transferred, be done so under safeguards. Thus, the legal rubric for safeguarded sale of plutonium already exists. The physical and safety procedures for moving radioactive spent fuel and plutonium also already exists. If India were to start purchasing plutonium and/or spent fuel, it would immediately alleviate the pressure on countries like Japan and the U.K. who are looking to reduce their stockpile of plutonium. India is unlikely to remain the only customer for too long either. Thorium reactors have come to be of great interest to many countries in the last few years especially for the European countries. Advantages of thorium over other nuclear fuel: Thorium reactors produce far less waste than present-day reactors. They have the ability to burn up most of the highly radioactive and long-lasting minor actinides that makes nuclear waste from Light Water Reactors a nuisance to deal with. The minuscule waste that is generated is toxic for only three or four hundred years rather than thousands of years. Thorium reactors are cheaper because they have higher burn up. Thorium reactors are significantly more proliferation-resistant than present reactors. This is because the U-233 produced by transmuting thorium also contains U-232, a strong source of gamma radiation that makes it difficult to work with. Its daughter product, thallium-208, is equally difficult to handle and easy to detect. Way Forward : The mainstreaming of thorium reactors worldwide thus offers an enormous advantage to proliferation-resistance as well as the environment. Scientists predict that the impact of climate change will be worse on India. Advancing the deployment of thorium reactors by four to six decades via a plutonium market might be the most effective step towards curtailing carbon emissions. Connecting the dots: Critically evaluate the nuclear power programme of India. Critically examine the advantages of thorium over other nuclear fuels. Between nuclear and renewable energy, which is the suitable energy for a sustainable energy scenario in India? Comment on the power crises in India.   ECONOMICS   TOPIC:  General Studies 3 Government Budgeting Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development  Tax Reform-Changing Paradigms (Post the broader frameworks of the required tax-reforms, we’ve tried to reason out the recommendations by the Shome Panel (other panels are also there-Research and make a note of them for further revision) to bring in more clarity and an analytical perspective behind these recommendations-- Hope this helps)   If we talk about the most important reforms that the country is waiting for, it’ll undoubtedly be in the ‘tax-maze’ of our country. But are reforms the only solution to the larger issues- while also considering, the prevailing fault-lines aligning it with the reasons that bring upon deeper troubles to the country’s economy? Risks and Solutions Legal Character:   Re-defining the tax policy and working upon the strong foundations to enable a synergy between policies and the decisions being taken is extremely important Private sector needs to be made aware of the set policies well beforehand, to avoid bottlenecks later and taxation and exemptions need to be levied properly and be made known to the companies systematically to avoid complexity, unpredictability and legal risks (Transfer Pricing Issue) Awareness drives or appointment of a legal authority who is well-versed with the policies in the company can help bridge the gap and lessen the ‘tax-terrorism’ which has rendered the country unfriendly to business Ideation: Drafting of the laws and usage of proper and to-the-point phrases are needed to avoid initiation of chronic battles. The drafting has to conform to high standards of legal language, should be proof-read properly and issues dealt with one-on-one basis and not be left for situations or ‘provisions’ subject to varied interpretations- tax changes are often done in a hurry with little or no analysis or impact assessment and that is why it is critical that the tax department acquires the specialisation to draft the law. A comprehensive ‘Impact Survey’ needs to be carried out before incorporating the changes and an assessment of costs or benefits needs to be done after the change is implemented-- to make it more people-centric as evaluation of the impact on revenues vis-à-vis compliance costs to the taxpayer would help eliminate taxes that are no more required Foundations: The organisational structures and the basis of public administration needs to be re-defined within the purviews of the strategy required by modern states to work upon also, on the proper devolution of duties Tax administration shouldn’t have a say in tax policy and this is done to evade growing politicization and tailor made choices of taxation by the administrators, for their own whims A procedural tax administration law is required to specify the organisation of legislative, executive and quasi-judicial functions in tax administration Also, statutory tax-base surveys should be made compulsory to be able to set and achieve targets in an effective manner and a holistic system-driven approach is a pre-requisite to drive the expansion in tax base. Background: The direction of tax-reform in developing countries includes: Scaling down of and possible elimination of trade taxes over time Reform of existing domestic indirect taxes to transform them into comprehensive consumption taxes on goods and services: this should cover both national and sub-national taxes A moderately progressive personal income tax A corporate income tax at a rate equivalent to the highest marginal rate of the personal income tax Tax Administration Reform Commission: Shome Panel Government, in 2014, had set up a Tax Administration Reform Commission comprising officials from public and private sector agencies   Objectives: To work on bringing in more transparency in the tax department and in the collection of taxes To counter the “distrust” that has emerged between the tax department and the tax payers Review the existing mechanism of dispute resolution covering time and compliance cost and recommend measures for strengthening them for both domestic and international taxation To enforce better tax compliance — by size, segment and nature of taxes and taxpayers, that should cover methods to encourage voluntary tax compliance Major Recommendations: Abolition of post of Revenue Secretary: They come from the Civil Services having little experience or familiarity with tax laws and administration and international practices. Thus, he tends to focus more on the administrative aspects and not on modernising the tax system. A governing council is thus suggested to work upon the policy formulation backed by proper analysis and years of experiences. Specialization of the officer (respective field) is required to augment the decisions with proper data Unachievable set of targets: Tax projections need to be backed by analysis and therefore, there is a need to set up a knowledge, analysis and intelligence centre which can help in forecasting, data analytics and research Need to strengthen the database and inter-agency information sharing, not only between the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the Central Board of Excise and Customs but also with the banking and financial sector and other agencies such as Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Enforcement Directorate to ensure better tax compliance through sharing of such data IASbaba’s Views: Tax reform is an ongoing process, and with the fiscal imbalance in India looming large, reforms to improve long-run revenue productivity will have to continue with coordinated reforms being undertaken at the central, state, and local levels. Making the transition to information-based tax administration, online filing of tax returns and compiling and matching information has been the major drivers of tax administrative reform but both tax policy and tax administration cannot work in an isolated manner and requires much tandem between each other to steer the development of the economy. Components like Goods and Services Tax and Direct Tax Code may bring in a sigh of relief and thus needs to be aligned with the broader framework of reforms that can be workable for the country. Connecting the Dots: Examine the ways in which tax reforms enhances the performance of labour utilisation, investment and productivity in a country? Enumerate the several effects of globalisation that needs to be taken into account while formulating a country’s tax policy   MUST READ Misuse of sedition law Hindu   For detailed Analysis on ‘Sedition Law refer the below link- http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-14th-october-2015/   Portents of a religious autocracy- Cultural intolerance is a dominant element in the functioning of the present government, which wants to decide what we eat, wear, read, watch and who we love Hindu   A blast from the colonial past Hindu   Downstream concerns on the Brahmaputra Hindu   Over the barrel: The dilution of Brand India- Is India liberal, tolerant and democratic? Or is it conservative, atavistic and authoritarian? Investors want to know Indian Express   The farm test- Government cannot afford to wait any longer to address the building agricultural distress Indian Express   MIND MAPS Agriculture through PPPs - Livemint       Civil Aviation Policy - Business Standard       India's Nuclear Programme - The Hindu       Tax Reforms - Indian Express   

Nov 3, 2015 AIR

All India Radio- Drug Pricing Policy

ARCHIVES     DRUG PRICING POLICY   Government has constituted an Inter Ministerial Committee to review the Drug Price Control Order, 2013. The committee will look into the drug pricing mechanism. The Supreme Court had, earlier in this year, declared the Drug Pricing Policy as irrational and unreasonable. It also observed that the centre has been fixing the maximum price for a medicine above the retail price. The drug pricing mechanism was termed irrational and unreasonable because: The market prices of all the medicines enlisted in the control order were not collected. The collected data was inadequate and sometimes faulty also. There were some instances where the selling prices of certain medicines were higher than the prices of market leader for such medicines. The order has not covered all the dosages of a same drug (only one or two dosages covered). If a price controlled drug is combined with a non-price controlled drug, then it is out of the purview of the control order. Drugs like cardiovascular drugs, anti-diabetic drugs, which are required for life-long therapy, are excluded from the control order. 108 such drugs were put under National Pharma Pricing Authority (NPPA) which controls their prices. However, all the drug manufacturers are not following the NPPA's orders. Action has not been taken on those who are not following. The 2013 order fixes the ceiling price of essential medicines listed in Schedule 1. No one can sell the scheduled medicines at a higher price than the one prescribed by the NPPA. However, the number of such medicines covered in the Schedule are only 14.3% of the total medicines sold in the country. Pharma industry is a major industry in India. As per 2013 figures, the pharma industry has a: Turn over: $25 billion, of which 60% domestic and 40% exports. Cumulative Average Growth Rate: 14% since last 5 years of 2013. Ranked 3rd globally in terms of volume and 14th in terms of value. The government has launched "Jan Aushadi" stores to ensure availability of quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all.  However, there are certain lapses in the scheme. 90% of the doctors do not give prescriptions in generic names. Besides, the network connectivity of Jan Aushadi stores is poor. Two areas where there is a lack or absence of government regulation are: Medical equipment and Diagnostics. This is one of the reasons for incurring high expenditures on health care. In India, only about 35% of people have access to essential medicines, as per WHO report "World Medicine Situation" 60% of the out-of-pocket expenditure on health goes for buying medicines. States like Tamil Nadu provide free medicines to their people. It has a very well organized procurement, distribution and quality control networks. Countries like Brazil also provide free medicines. India should also try to implement free health care to its people. The draft National Health Policy, 2015 highlights this. It proposes to raise the health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP and to ensure universal access to free drugs, diagnostics in govt. Hospitals. Health care should be made a fundamental right.

Nov 2, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 2nd November, 2015

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 2nd November, 2015     NATIONAL TOPIC:  General Studies 2 : Indian Constitution – Fundamental Rights Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these; Governance Issues   Legal checks to political vandalism   The increasing intolerance of dissenting views in today’s India is an extremely worrying trend for most Indians. It is the political parties and their associates, who are mainly responsible for the intolerant activities. But what is perplexing is that these organisations can commit criminal acts in furtherance of their extremist ideologies and yet not face any repercussions.   Important to note: Some such intolerant acts (like the Babri Masjid demolition) may be too big to be dealt with by regular courts of law. But most other criminal acts perpetrated for political goals can be dealt with within the existing system.  The recent instances of ink-throwing by the Shiv Sena in Mumbai and the Ram Sena in Kashmir are perfect examples. While the acts themselves may not be serious criminal offences, their effect on the political environment is proportionately higher.   Laws that are currently in place to deter such acts: The Representation of People Act, 1951: The act governs political parties in India. However, despite containing a list of barred activities, the Election Commission can only censure individual party members. The Act does not provide for the punishment of political parties for any criminal activities their members commit. The Supreme Court has held that in the absence of such a provision, the EC cannot even de-register parties as it would amount to a quasi-judicial action being committed without a fair trial, a basic requirement of natural justice.   Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967: It has been used to ban associations like the Communist Party of India (Maoist) for engaging in “unlawful activity” and “terrorism”. However, these terms can legally be applied to only a few criminal activities. For example, the definition of “unlawful activity” only covers activities questioning and prejudicing the sovereignty and integrity of the Indian state. Moreover, the decision to ban an association is the prerogative of the Central government and not the judiciary. Ruling parties would obviously make no efforts to censure themselves and any action against opposing parties would inevitably lead to a media furore that would probably culminate in a logjam in Parliament. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) : It empowers State governments, via a magistrate, to issue an order “in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger”. Governments generally use it to prevent acts or prohibit organisations if they feel it is in the public interest to do so. In a recent use of Section 144, the Goa government banned the Sri Ram Sena from enforcing its policy of moral policing in the State. However, Section 144 has also failed to prove a sufficient deterrent to parties because the response is determined by the discretion of politicians and is not automatic as with most crimes. Constitutional rights violated due to such intolerant acts: The following are the constitutional rights available for a person in support of difference of opinion Article 19(1)(a) - Freedom of speech and expression. Article 25 - Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. However the above fundamental rights are not absolute, the constitution places some restriction on the above fundamental rights. Way Forward : It is high time that other organisations like political parties are also made liable for actions committed through their agents. Given their importance in democratic republics, it is not absurd to formulate a separate body of jurisprudence regarding their regulation. The Constitution disqualifies party members whose voting behaviour is contrary to party instructions (10th schedule). If there is a constitutional assumption that party members must follow the party line inside Parliament, it is not unreasonable to extend this assumption outside of Parliament. It becomes entirely absurd not to do so when the criminal actions have received official approval. Connecting the dots: In the wake of growing intolerance towards difference of opinion in India, critically examine the various constitutional safeguards provided for such individuals with difference of opinion. Critically examine the various statutory provisions that deal with intolerant political acts in India. Explain the following terms : Saffronisation. Sanskritization. Socialisation. Westernisation. Modernisation     TOPIC:  General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.    An Effective Architecture: India’s demographic dividend With the opening up of the economy and a long drawn silence lurking behind the insufficient opportunities, evolution of a ‘skills’ culture has activated the ‘red’ signal for the policy-makers to develop a transformational landscape, in the ever-changing scenario of the country’s progress story. While the mismatch in terms of quantity, quality and qualification; have caused widespread disappointment, the constant rising influence of globalization, is propelling India to shed its grievous circumstances by changing the mind-set of the policymakers. Major challenges faced: Increasing capacity and capability of the existing system to ensure equitable access for all Maintaining quality and relevance Creating effective convergence between school education and the government’s skill development efforts Creating institutional mechanism for research development quality assurance, examinations and certification, affiliations and accreditation Mobilizing adequate investment for financing skill development     Image Courtesy- Click Modern Approach The ‘assembly-line model’ days are over and the traditional lackadaisical efforts should pave way for an ever-changing corresponding numbers, figures and training programs-not staying limited to past estimations. Inclusion of training programs of one’s choice in the educational curriculum, from the very beginning, will be helpful in creating a vocational environment and not just a requirement to be fulfilled. Specialization courses can also be developed for them who want to pursue it further. Flexibility should be at the core of the design of these programs-dependent upon the mind-set and experiences of the learners and not the trainers or policymakers.   Deconstruct It is necessary to develop proper skill training mechanisms in a different manner per sector as the skill set required in the field of agriculture would be different than what is required in the software industry and in a manufacturing unit. With the recent boom in technology and the process of outsourcing, the ‘factory landscape’ seems to have been globalised and been presented with a whole range of optional networks and capabilities to be established and worked upon Quest for Learning As a human being, completely packaged with emotions, feelings and aspirations from his/her employers, steps into the workplace, the employer should also enter with a range of carefully placed objectives, tailor made incentives and by making available a range of diverse offerings; from motivation to innovative solutions to base their relationship upon. Human development and their happiness thus, works wonders in enhancing the capabilities of the machinery as well as the overall performance of the company and therefore workers benefits and satisfaction should be given due importance in charting out the success story of the company. This will impart an element of ‘sustainable competitive advantage’ to “Make in India”, bringing in an era of employed human beings than mere low-cost labour   Co-evolution:   Skill development, enterprise formation and job creation must co-evolve as ‘Team India’ to take on the blows of the winds of change facilitated by the undercurrents of technology and innovation. IASbaba’s Views: Policymakers need to identify the particular details and not the massive needs as these solutions can work well subject to its embedment with the already established infrastructure, capacity and institutions. New mechanisms based on a sense of innovation and entrepreneurship can be worked upon and can be applied in the field of ‘delivery’ of these social innovations to the concerned population. The institutional framework should thereby harness and deliver the promises of a market-driven approach with a learner at the fulcrum of ‘growth and willingness’. Connecting the Dots: Many skills are culturally and historically associated with a specific gender. Do you agree? What are the steps that have been taken by India to shed this notion? State the parameters which have been witnessed via the sharp rise in learners at the graduation and post-graduation level? What are the differences in the challenges faced by the rural and urban unskilled forces in terms of availability, accessibility, adaptability and acceptability?   MUST READ:   For a truer decentralisation Hindu   Warning signals - Centre cannot afford to ignore the message in the downward revision of growth estimates. Indian Express   A Self-Goal In Ink- Protestors should have asked Kasuri questions. They have given him the high ground. Indian Express   Rear View: Judges versus politicians- This is how it all began, on February 27, 1967 Indian Express   For detailed Analysis on ‘National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act’ refer the below link- http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-19th-october-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-20th-october-2015/   Reverse swing: Modi’s biggest failure to date is one of foreign policy. The government has scarred its foreign policy with its stupidity on Nepal. Indian Express   Mudra Bank - politics over economics? Business Standard   The World Bank’s distorted rankings The Bank’s Doing Business survey is a ranking of institutional good intentions, which explains why so many politicians swear by it Live Mint     MIND MAPS   The Hindu - Modern Day Refugees Link     Indian Express- China's Child Policy Link     Live Mint- ART Link     Business Standard- Fiscal Framework for Missions Link

Nov 2, 2015 AIR

All India Radio - Contribution of Sardar Patel in Nation Building

CONTRIBUTIONS OF SARDAR VALLABH BHAI PATEL IN NATION BUILDING 31st October 2015   India is celebrating the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Vallabhai Patel was given the title "Sardar" by the women of the Bardoli taluqa of Surat District in Gujarat, during the "Bardoli Satyagraha" of 1926-28. He was a disciple of Gandhiji. He was attracted to the Gandhian methods of struggle during the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917-18. He was called "The Iron Man of India" for his contribution to the integration of princely states into India immediately after Independence. He was the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of post partition India. He also took the charge of the States Department which was newly created to look after the issue of integration of post-partition India. V P Menon was its secretary. With the partition, the British Paramountcy ended and the Princely States were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent. Sardar undertook the daunting task of integrating these princely states into the Indian Union. There were over 625 princely states in the British India. The Princes of most of these states aspired autonomy and independence. However, the people wanted a democratic form of govt and merger with the Indian Union. The States' Peoples' Conference was spearheading the people's movement against the princely states' authority. Sardar Patel had gone about the process of integrating these princely states into Indian Union in two phases. In the first phase, he appealed to all the princes to sign the Standstill Agreement with the Indian Union. As per this agreement, the Defence, External Affairs and Communications were surrendered to the Indian Govt. By 15 August 1947, all the princely states joined the Indian Union, except Hyderabad, Junagarh and Jammu and Kashmir. In return for signing the agreement, the states were offered Privy Purses and additional privileges. Lord Mountbatten also played a crucial role in this regard helping Sardar Patel. Military action had to be taken to integrate Hyderabad under Operation Polo. A Plebiscite was conducted in Junagarh which favoured integration with India. With Kashmir, however, the matters were deadlocked due to bringing the UN into the picture after military occupation of Kashmir by Pakistani militants. Sardar Patel favoured military action against Pakistan. However, Nehru wanted the UN to intervene and settle the matter, which never happened. In the second phase, the acceded small princely states, which were hundreds in number, were integrated with the neighbouring states. Thus, Sardar Patel had laid the structure of political map of post-independent India. For these contributions he was also called the "Bismarck of India" He also played a crucial role in the Constituent Assembly for supporting the fundamental rights to minorities (Articles 29 and 30). He dedicated his life for achieving the vision of Unity in Diversity. PIB Article on Sardar Patel: Click Here IASbaba

Nov 2, 2015 AIR

All India Radio- Prime Minister Call for Unity

ARCHIVES     PRIME MINISTER'S CALL FOR UNITY (Questions for Mains and Essay)   The President, the Prime Minister and the Reserve Bank of India Governor has recently spoke about rising intolerance in the Indian society and the need to uphold Unity in Diversity. In this regard, several statements given by them and others, can be useful for the examination, either in Essay or for giving conclusions to questions in GS papers. Prime Minister: "The biggest strength the country has was its Unity. Peace and harmony are essential if India has to move forward and attain new heights of development."   [Question can be: What role did various nationalist leaders played during the national movement to uphold unity, peace and harmony of  the country.] President: "It is imperative for the country to preserve pluralism and multiplicity. Our country has thrived due to its power of assimilation and tolerance. Our pluralistic character has stood the test of time."   [Question: Give few examples to show that how India had assimilated and tolerated its pluralistic character.] RBI Governor: "There has to be discussions, and questions must be raised about various issues. Only then will we move forward in any kind of progress that we need to have in this country."   [Question: What is the role of discussion, dissent and debate in a democratic set up.] "India's tradition of debate and open spirit of enquiry is critical for its economic progress."   [Question: Illustrate how debate and spirit of enquiry are crucial for the economic progress of a country.] Mahatma Gandhi: "The total agreement on any issue is practically impossible and so there is a particular commitment to truth as people see it, and that's why plurality of opinion is to be ushered." {you can prepare a question for yourself.} Voltaire: "Free speech is the basis of modern civilization and there is no compromise on it." [Jot down the articles related to freedom of speech and expression, supreme court judgement and important cases on free speech.] "Modern democracy is essentially a pluralistic democracy which needs to protect the rights of minorities." [Make a note on articles related to the rights of minorities, for ex. Article 29, 30]  

Nov 1, 2015 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Psychology & Religion – Inspirational & Educative Articles

Psychology & Religion Of those who are sincerely seeking truth and happiness; the world is divided into two main divisions of Psychology and Religion. There are those who obsessively hold on to the study and understanding of the mind, and then there are those who strongly believe in the religious scriptures and their teachings. Leaving an exceptional few, almost all are either psychological or religious in their approach to life. The only trouble is, neither of these paths can take us where we want to go. Both of these paths taken independently will lead us nowhere. If we take the road of psychology; it will lead us right to the middle of the war zone of our mind; there are no directions, no sign posts to guide us here; we have to rely solely on our own ability to understand what is happening. Only a few lucky ones who survive here, will eventually find a way out. For most others, life simply becomes an unending battle with the mind. If we take the path of religion; it will lead us to the nearest war museum. Here everything is paused, cataloged, and neatly arranged for us to understand things clearly. But it does not provide the necessary challenge for learning. We will spend the rest of our lives just admiring the relics of the frozen truth, all the while falsely believing that we are getting somewhere. Only a psychological approach to religion will lead us in the right direction. While religion contains the expressions of truth, psychology provides us with the methods to explore it. If we can study the scriptures for guidance and use our own mind as a battle ground of understanding, we will eventually get there. Psychology is blind and Religion is crippled, the only way to move ahead is to put them together. “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.” Read more such articles– Click Here

Oct 31, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 31st October, 2015

Archives     IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 31st October, 2015   NATIONAL   TOPIC:  General Studies 2 : 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.  Draft National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2015   The government has come up with a new draft national civil aviation policy 2015 with the mission of providing safe, secure, affordable and sustainable air travel with access to various parts of India and the world. Vision statement: To create an eco-system to enable 30 crore domestic ticketing by 2022 and 50 crore by 2027. Similarly, international ticketing to increase to 20 crore by 2027. Objectives: Ensure safe, secure and sustainable aviation industry through use of technology and effective monitoring. Enhance regional connectivity through fiscal support and infrastructure development. Enhance ease of doing business through deregulation, simplified procedures and e-governance. Promote the entire aviation sector chain: cargo, MRO, general aviation, aerospace manufacturing and skill development. The policy: NCAP 2015 covers issues ranging from safety, regional connectivity, 5/20 rule, airports authority of India etc. A look into the important contents of the policy: Regional connectivity scheme(RCS): It is aimed at improving access to remote areas, fiscal and other concessions aimed at helping airlines and operators to lower their operational costs. To finance RCS, a 2 per cent levy to ensure an all inclusive airfare not exceeding Rs 2,500 per passenger for one hour of flying on some regional routes and plans to revive at least 300-odd airports in various parts of the country that are not in use by upgrading their infrastructure to equip them as no-frills airports at an investment of Rs 50 crore each. 5/20 rule : The Union Cabinet had stipulated that for Indian carriers to fly abroad, they must fly on domestic routes for 5 years and have a fleet of 20 aircraft. MoCAis proposing to introduce the concept of Domestic Flying Credits (DFC). A lot of opposition is seen to this move, however its left to the ministry to take a final call on this after due consultation. Open sky proposal : The open sky proposal will allow India to enter reciprocal agreements with South Asian neighbours and countries beyond 5,000 km. This will result in unlimited flights to and from Europe and the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). Aviation Safety : The government places topmost priority on aviation safety. Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will strive to create a single-window system for all aviation related transactions, queries and complaints. The services rendered by DGCA will be fully automated by 1 April 2016 by implementing eGCA project on priority. DGCA will ensure real-time safety tracking and prompt incident reporting. The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau (AAIIB) will be strengthened in order to undertake speedy, professional and effective investigations.  Code Share Agreements (CSA): A Code-Share Agreement between two airlines allows one airline (‘Marketing airline’) to sell seats on a flight run by another airline (‘Administrating airline’), with the airline code and flight number of the marketing airlines. This helps in seamless connectivity for passenger. Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO): The MRO business of Indian carriers is alone around Rs 5000 crore, 90% of which is currently spent outside India – in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE etc. Given our technology base, the government is keen to develop India as an MRO hub in Asia, attracting business from foreign airlines. Air Navigation Services (ANS): Airport Authority of India (AAI) is ranked among the top ANS providers in the world. Upgradation and modernisation of ANS in India is line with global trends. With the launch of GAGAN, India becomes the fourth nation in the world to use satellite-based navigation system. Aeronautical ‘Make in India’: Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Ministry of Defence(MoD) will work together to ensure that commercial aero-manufacturing is covered under defence offsets requirements. Area where aero-manufacturing takes place will be notified as SEZ. The government will provide fiscal and monetary incentives and fast-track clearances to global OEMs and their ancillary suppliers. Sustainable aviation: MoCA will strive to develop a sustainable Indian aviation industry. It will work with DGCA and industry stakeholders to develop an action plan for making all Indian airports carbon neutral by 1 April 2030. MoCA will strengthen policy guidelines on energy conservation, sustainable practices, improvements in emission measurement and information dissemination; training and awareness building. Connecting the dots: Critically examine the need for a national aviation policy in India. Critically examine the various factors hindering the development of aviation industry in India. Critically examine the need to replace DGCA with Civil Aviation authority in India with special reference to civil aviation authority bill 2013. Critically examine the issues associated with controversial 5/20 rule in aviation industry of India. Write a note on no frills airport in India.   TOPIC:  General Studies 1:  Social Issues General Studies 2 : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.    Surrogacy: Wombs for Rent The reproductive tourism may have been in vogue for more than one decade now, but only recently, fresh perspectives have started emerging from all sectors of the country. While the issues at hand are worth more than what it really deserves, a closed view lens leads us to a myriad number of loopholes that has been prevalent in the country, largely impoverished. With the recent PIL filed by Ms. Jayashree Wad (a lawyer) asking Supreme Court to put a ban on the use of Indian surrogate mothers by foreigners, the government has also held up its hand in support of the PIL and has declared its stance; confirming its ‘No-support for commercial surrogacy’ stand.  Concerning Loopholes: Simply not enough: Women have been urging for increased compensation as the present figures with the increasing living standard and costs do not emerge as a real deal for the pain, sweat, the emotional trauma and the socio-economic vulnerabilities they counter. Sometimes surrogates do not have a uniform payment structure and aren’t provided with written contracts, and some are even subjected to forced impregnations and abortions without their knowledge Fair remuneration and pricing standards should be followed strictly and should not be dependent upon the doctor’s varying demands.   Unifying Bond: The relationship between the surrogates and the commissioning parents should undergo a change as surrogacy isn’t just a business deal and there exists a greater need to foster connections, at least during the time of negotiation and, the process of embryo-transfer. Contractual details should be between the surrogates and the commissioning parents to increase transparency and provide attention to the social relations that are embedded in the process of surrogacy. Socio-Emotional-Eco strands: Easy Money: It is the single-most factor involved sometimes and the ‘need of money’ gets overshadowed with this practice. The woman involved, thus has no say w.r.t. her own body, soul and life. Citizenship: 2014 brought with itself a case of a German Couple and their kid who was denied nationality of Germany. The long drawn legal battles thus, put the child’s life and upbringing at stake. Unfavourable Outcome: If, unfortunately, the outcome is unfavourable, the surrogate mothers are denied money and are left out with no insurance or post-pregnancy medical or even psychiatric treatment/psychological support. Death and cases of babies born with disabilities or an unplanned twin being abandoned by the intended parents has started becoming a common concern. Away from Home: At times like these, they are shifted to homes especially catering to the surrogate mothers and this leaves them without their own family support. It leads to mental trauma, for most of the mothers, to leave their own children in the process of giving birth to other’s child. Policy crippled Industry: Background: 2008 had brought with it ‘The Manji’s case’ wherein Supreme Court had allowed commercial surrogacy. But due to the aforementioned issues, a draft ‘Assistive Reproductive Technologies (Regulation) Bill, 2013” was put across for regulation. Issues with the draft ‘Assistive Reproductive Technologies (Regulation) Bill, 2013’ No stipulation on the number of attempts to practice surrogacy While ‘21’ is the minimum age, no maximum age limit has been specified No attempt to understand the socio-economic family background Sex-selective surrogacy is not allowed but compliance to the same is majorly in question due to overarching patriarchal values deeply entrenched in the society Conduct ad operations as well as the NGO’s that are participating in the same should be regulated and be taken care under the ambit of the Government run agency   IASbaba’s Views: Research has shown that increasingly poor women who rent their wombs for money--ignoring social stigma, health hazards, fear and mental stress, are more vulnerable to exploitation. Policies need to be framed by doing an ample amount of groundwork and sticking to the reality than on the basis of an abstract rules or principles assumed. This situation calls for an evidence-based approach that would take into account the interests of the actors involved and would try and connect with the social scientific knowledge to policy programs and practices, leading to a more balanced and effective policy that addresses the needs of surrogate mothers and egg donors. Proper (& binding) regulation (protection to the vulnerable in surrogacy agreements) than a complete ban as a knee-jerk reaction should be the way ahead. Heavy penalties should be imposed on couples going back on their word and the rights of the surrogate mother should be prioritised (maintenance of bargaining capacity); ensuring adequate checks and balances and adoption process to be allowed via a strict and rigorous mechanism provided by CARA. Connecting the Dots: Can the practice of surrogacy or its heavy demand be considered as a stifled cry of the women overburdened with the ever-growing patriarchal mind-set? Discuss The ‘reproduction rush’ has facilitated a new element in the era of Globalisation. What is India’s position and the laws guiding India towards the same?   MUST READ    Overcoming the stasis in Nepal Hindu   A different social justice- Disprivilege and backwardness can be addressed without resort to fixed quotas Indian Express   Myanmar: What makes the November 8 elections so significant- A transparent and peaceful election will be an important step towards normalcy. Indian Express   A consensual approach to labour reform - Creating an ambience where both workers and managements understand their rights and duties is no tall order Business Line   Europe’s politics of dystopia- Failure to act decisively now will lead to the eventual failure of the peaceful EU and the rise of dystopian nationalist regimes Live Mint