SIQ Magazine English April 2023 - 1683967834

Monthly IQ
A Comprehensive Current Affairs Magazine for

UPSC CSE Exam
April 2023
Contents
1. INDIAN POLITY �� 4
Role of Governor��4
Lieutenant Governor of Delhi��6
Parliamentary Committees: ��8
Troika for India’s Northeast Region�� 11
Police Reforms in India�� 13
Panchayati Raj Institutions�� 16
Ninth Schedule�� 18
India Justice Report 2022�� 19
Collegium System�� 21
Civil Society Organisations: �� 23
Assam-Arunachal Pradesh Border Dispute�� 25
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS �� 28

Sudan Crisis�� 28
India – US Relations �� 31
India-Russia Relations�� 34
India-Pakistan Relations�� 36
India-SCO�� 39
India-Bhutan Relations�� 41
India and NATO�� 44
3. ECONOMICS �� 48
Role of SEBI�� 48
RBI Keeps Repo Rate Unchanged �� 50
India’s Logistics Sector�� 52
New Foreign Trade Policy 2023-28�� 54
India’s Defence Exports�� 59
Green Deposits�� 61
Global Food Policy Report 2023�� 62
The EU’s new crypto-legislation�� 64
India’s Population Demographic�� 66
Animal Health System Support for One Health�� 69
4. SECURITY�� 72
India Ransomware Report 2022�� 72
Cyber Warfare�� 75
5. ENVIRONMENT�� 78
UN Water Conference 2023�� 78
River Rejuvenation�� 79
Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict�� 81
Carbon Pricing�� 83
Building the Blue Economy�� 87
6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY �� 92

Quantum Computing�� 92
Genome Sequencing�� 93
Amended IT Rules 2021�� 96
India Space Policy 2023�� 99
Artificial Intelligence ��101
7. SOCIAL ISSUES��104
Prison Reforms in India��104
Fight against TB��106
Same Sex Marriage��109
8. ETHICS ��111
CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE APRIL 2023
INDIAN POLITY
ROLE OF GOVERNOR
CONTEXT:
The Supreme Court has taken a decision to remind Governors of their constitutional obligation to make a decision on returning
a Bill to the State Assembly for reconsideration “as soon as possible”.
MORE ON THE NEWS:
This decision was prompted by apparent inaction by the Telangana Governor on several Bills, which led to a petition being
filed with the Court.
The decision could solve the broader controversy surrounding the discretionary powers of Governors in India with respect to
granting assent to Bills, which has been a source of conflict between the government and Raj Bhavan.
This has again brought to fore the issues surrounding the office of Governor
ISSUES SURROUNDING OFFICE OF GOVERNOR
Appointment/removal process: Governors hold office till the pleasure of the president as no grounds for removal is mentioned
in the constitution.
‒ This leads to favouritism in the appointment process and well-suited candidates are ignored in favour of the less
competent individuals.
Acting as an agent of a political party at the centre: Due to favouritism in the appointment and lack of any security of tenure
in the constitution, the office of governor often works as a puppet/agent of the union government instead of acting as a bridge
between state and centre government.
Misuse of discretionary powers:
‒ Hung assemblies: It is a situational discretion where s/he is free to invite a party/alliance to form the government in case
no single party/pre-poll alliance has won the majority of the seats in the state assembly elections.
‒ Reserving a bill for the president’s consideration: It is his constitutional discretion to reserve certain state bills for the
consideration of the president.
‒ Misuse of the emergency powers: Governors have often found to be recommending imposition of the president’s rule in
the state on frivolous grounds, especially when the ruling party at centre is different from that of the concerned state.
Bypassing the elected government: There have been instances when governors were found to give orders to state officials
directly or visit public offices without informing the state governments. This is against his/her constitutional mandate as he
is only a nominal head and expected to act on the advice of the COM in the state.
OBSERVATIONS BY SUPREME COURT
The Court has reminded Governors that when they decide to return a Bill to the State Assembly for reconsideration, they must
do so “as soon as possible” in accordance with Article 200 of the Indian Constitution.
The Court emphasised that this phrase contains significant constitutional content and must be taken into account by
constitutional authorities, and that it would be unconstitutional for Governors to hold on to Bills indefinitely without
communicating their decision to the House.
The issue highlights the controversy surrounding the discretionary powers of Governors in India, particularly with regard to
granting assent to Bills.
Concerns with Article 200: There are three problems associated with Article 200 of the Indian Constitution, which deals with
the Governor’s power to grant assent to Bills.
‒ Firstly, there is no time limit for the Governor to act on Bills, which can lead to indefinite delays.
‒ Secondly, the Governor has the scope to reserve a Bill for the President’s consideration against the advice of the Cabinet,
creating potential conflicts.
‒ Thirdly, there is a concern that the Governor can kill any Bill by declining assent.
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‒ These problems are compounded by Article 163, which prohibits any inquiry into whether a particular matter falls within
the Governor’s discretion or not.
‒ This creates abundant scope for conflict between the government and the Governor’s office.
TACKLING GOVERNOR’S DISCRETION WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE VIRTUE OF FEDERALISM:
Reviving Constitutional Morality and Restoring Convention of Consultation: The issue of Governor’s discretion and its impact
on Federalism has been a topic of debate in India. It has been pointed out that the fault lies not in the Constitution but in
those who run it. Therefore, to uphold the principle of Federalism, the convention of consultation between the Centre and
the Chief Minister before appointing a Governor must be restored.
Suggestions by Sarkaria Commission: The Sarkaria Commission recommended that positive examples of cordiality between
the Governor and the Chief Minister must be highlighted. This can be achieved by adopting a process of consultations and
enlightened deliberations between the two offices. It has also been suggested that the discretion of the Governor must be
bound by procedure, and a code of conduct should be established to limit arbitrary discretion.
Judicial Pronouncement and Constitutional Amendment: Given the confusion and lack of clarity regarding the options
available to the Governor under Article 200, a judicial pronouncement is needed to eliminate ambiguity and provide guidance
to the Governor. Additionally, the scope and range of Article 355 should be widened to ensure that the Governor acts in
accordance with the Constitution and does not sit on Bills indefinitely, thereby creating a situation where governance of the
state cannot be carried on in accordance with constitutional provisions.
LINKING WITH THE STATIC: OFFICE OF GOVERNOR
Following key facts one should know about the Office of the Governor
About Governor:
‒ Governor is a nominal executive head of the state.
‒ He forms an important part of the state executive where he acts as the chief executive head.
Envisaged role of Governor:
‒ Vital link: Between the centre and the states.
‒ Maintenance of national interests, integrity and internal security advocates central supervision for which the governor
is required.
‒ Responsible government: For increasing responsible government in the states.
‒ Smooth functioning: Crucial in smooth functioning of democracy.
‒ Check arbitrariness: Governor is to check arbitrariness of the state government.
Appointment of Governor:
‒ The Governor is neither directly elected by the people nor indirectly elected by a specially constituted electoral college
as is the case with the President.
‒ He/she is appointed by the President of India by warrant under his hand and seal (Article 155).
‒ While drafting the Constitution, the ‘Canadian model of Governor’ appointment by the Centre was accepted in the
Constituent Assembly.
Qualifications:
‒ The Constitution lays down only two qualifications for the appointment of a person as a governor.
9 He/she should be a citizen of India.
9 He/she should have completed the age of 35 years.
‒ Additionally, two conventions have also developed in this regard over the years.
9 He/she should be an outsider, meaning not belonging to the State of appointment so as to remain free from the local
politics.
9 While appointing the Governor, the President is required to consult the Chief Minister of the State concerned, so that
the smooth functioning of the constitutional machinery is ensured.
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Constitutional Position of the Governor:

‒ Article 153: Article 153 of the Indian Constitution mandates the appointment of a Governor in each state. The 7th
Amendment to the Constitution, however, allows for the appointment of the same person as Governor of two or more
states.
‒ Article 154: The Governor shall have executive power over the state, which he shall exercise either directly or through
officers subordinate to him in conformity with this Constitution.
9 Article 163: There shall be a council of ministers, led by the Chief Minister, to assist and advise the Governor in the
exercise of his powers, except when he is compelled to execute his functions at his discretion.
9 Article 164: The council of ministers is collectively responsible to the state’s legislative assembly. This provision is the
cornerstone of the state’s parliamentary system of governance.
‒ The Constitutional power of the Governor related to State Bills:
9 Article 200 says that the Constitution provides certain options for the Governor to exercise when a Bill reaches him
from the Assembly.
9 It deals with the Governor’s powers in relation to assenting to legislation enacted by the State legislature and other
functions of the Governor such as reserving the bill for consideration by the President.
9 There are four possible scenarios:
Assent: He may give assent.
Reconsider: He can send it back to the Assembly requesting it to reconsider some provisions of the Bill, or the Bill itself. In
this case, if the Assembly passes the Bill without making any change and sends it back to the Governor, he will have to give
assent to it.
Reserve: The third option is to reserve the Bill for the consideration of the President.
Withhold: The fourth option, of course, is to withhold the assent.
‒ Veto over State Bills:
9 The governor is empowered to reserve certain types of bills passed by the state legislature for the consideration of
the President.
9 Then, the Governor will not have any further role in the enactment of the bill.
9 The President can withhold his assent to such bills not only in the first instance but also in the second instance.
9 Thus, the President enjoys absolute veto (and not suspensive veto) over state bills.
9 Further, the President can exercise pocket veto in respect of state legislation also.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF DELHI

CONTEXT
The Supreme Court has disputed the Lieutenant Governor’s authority of nominating the members to the Municipal
Corporation of Delhi without the aid and advice of counsel of ministers.
CURRENT GOVERNANCE MODEL OF NEW DELHI:
Delhi enjoys special status in India. The National Capital Territory of Delhi Act (NCTDA), 1991 created Delhi as a special union
territory with the features of a state.
The 69th Amendment of the Constitution in 1991 gave Delhi the special status.
‒ The amendment inserted new Articles 239AA and 239AB after Article 239A of the Constitution.
Article 239: It deals with the Administration of Union territories. It has two provisions:
� A Union territory shall be administered by the President acting through an administrator to be appointed by him with such designation
as he may specify, except as otherwise provided by Parliament.
� The President may appoint the Governor of a State as the administrator of an adjoining Union territory, and he shall exercise his
functions independently of his Council of Ministers.

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PROVISIONS UNDER ARTICLE 239AA:

‒ The ‘Union Territory of Delhi’ came to be known as the ‘National Capital Territory of Delhi’ (NCT).
‒ The ‘Lieutenant Governor’ (LG), became the administrator of the NCT.
‒ A Legislative Assembly with the power to make laws for the NCT with respect to the matters in the State List and
Concurrent List of the Constitution was set up.
‒ However, the Legislative Assembly was not empowered to make laws on public order, the police, and land.
‒ A Council of Ministers and a Chief Minister for Delhi was set up to ‘aid and advice’ the LG on those matters that the
Legislative Assembly was empowered to make laws on.
‒ In case of a difference of opinion, LG shall refer it to the President for decision and act according to the decision given
thereon by the President.
Article 239AB: It provides for president’s rule in Delhi when the administration of the territory cannot be carried on in
accordance with the provisions of Article 239AA. President’s rule is imposed on a report from the LG.
GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021

It amended the Sections 21, 24, 33 and 44 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991.
Key provisions of the amendment include:
‒ Meaning of government: The Amendment Act mentions that the term “government” in any law made by the Legislative
Assembly shall mean the L-G.
‒ Lt. Governor’s upper hand: The act makes it necessary for Delhi government to obtain the opinion of the lieutenant
governor before taking any executive action.
‒ Making rules: The Amendment Act bars the Assembly or its committees from making rules to take up matters concerning
day-to-day administration, or to conduct inquiries in relation to administrative decisions.
‒ Statement of objects & reasons of the Act: The Union government claims that the amendment Act seeks to give effect to
the Supreme Court’s interpretation and that it “further defines” the responsibilities of the elected government and the Lt
Governor in line with the Constitutional scheme.
KEY ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT MODEL OF GOVERNANCE OF DELHI
Undermining the elected government: The LG, who will be the government, is under no obligation to implement any law
passed by the assembly or carry out the directions of the house as he is not responsible to the assembly.
Lack of Executive Accountability: The Lieutenant Governor, who is the head of government, is not accountable to the
assembly, which undermines the principle of executive accountability.
Against the privilege of legislature: Framing the rules to conduct its proceedings is thus a part of the privilege each house of
a legislature enjoys.

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Delay in decision-making: The requirement for LG’s approval for many decisions has led to delays in decision-making, which
has impacted the development and governance of the city.
Accountability issues: The division of responsibilities between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor has led
to difficulties in fixing responsibility for actions and decisions.
Against Co-operative Federalism: The Act not only negates cooperative federalism but also upturns the fundamental principles
laid down by the Supreme Court in Government of NCT Delhi vs Union of India case (2018).
Control over Services Department: Governance has always been a contentious issue since Delhi is not a full state and the
Services department comes under the L-G.
IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT JUDGMENTS
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES:
CONTEXT:
While analysing the importance and relevance of parliamentary committees in the Indian Parliament, it is found that
Parliamentary committees are where the representatives can work more efficiently and effectively without the distractions
of the public and the media.
MORE ON THE NEWS:
On the floor of the House, while the legislators may be more focused on public relations and political posturing, it is in these
committees, they concentrate on the actual work of crafting legislation, debating issues, and making decisions without the
added pressure of public scrutiny.
Thus relevance of parliamentary committees in the Indian Parliament is more.
ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES:
Origin: Parliamentary Committees trace their origins back to the British Parliament.
Appointment: They are a panel of Members of Parliament (MPs) appointed, elected or nominated by the House or Speaker/
Chairman.
These committees operate under the guidance of the Speaker/Chairman and submit their findings to the House or the
Speaker/Chairman.
Constitutional Provisions: They draw their authority from Article 105 and Article 118.

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‒ Article 118: The article empowers Parliament to make rules for regulating its procedure and conduct of business. These
rules often provide for the appointment, composition, and functions of the various Parliamentary committees.
‒ Article 105: Provides for the privileges and immunities of Parliament and its members, which extends to the committees
as well.
TYPES OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
The Indian Parliament has multiple types of committees that can be differentiated on the basis of their work, their membership
and the length of their tenure. However, broadly there are two types of Parliamentary Committees– Standing Committees and
Ad Hoc Committees.
Standing Committees: The Standing Committees are permanent (constituted every year or periodically) and work on a
continuous basis. They can be classified into the following six categories:
‒ Financial Committees
‒ Departmental Standing Committees
‒ Committees to Enquire
‒ Committees to Scrutinize and Control
‒ Committees Relating to the Day-to-Day Business of the House
‒ House-Keeping Committees or Service Committees
Ad Hoc Committees: Ad Hoc Committees are temporary and cease to exist on completion of the task assigned to them. They
are further subdivided into Inquiry Committees and Advisory Committees.
‒ The principal Ad hoc Committees are the Select and Joint Committees on Bills.
EVOLUTION OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES:
Even though a structured committee system was only established in 1993, individual committees have been formed for
various reasons since the country’s independence.
Example of five crucial committees of the Constituent Assembly, which were formed during the process of drafting India’s
constitution.
Five Important Committees: The important committees in the history of the Indian Parliament include:
1. The Ad Hoc Committee on the Citizenship Clause: This Committee on the Citizenship Clause was formed to discuss the nature
and scope of Indian citizenship, and its findings were important in shaping India’s citizenship laws.
2. The Northeast Frontier (Assam) Tribal and Excluded Areas Sub-Committee: This committee chaired by Sh. G.N. Bordoloi
covered a range of issues related to the Naga, Khasi, Garo, Jaintia, and Mikir Hills. It collected important data on the region’s
status quo, including issues related to land, forests, local government, and courts, which were then used to determine rights
and privileges for the region.
3. The Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (Other than Assam) Sub-Committee: This committee chaired by Sh. A.V. Thakkar,
was important in determining the status of areas outside of Assam. It also dealt with scheduled areas in the Chhota Nagpur
Plateau and was an important document that highlighted the concerns of Adivasi leaders regarding the exclusion of certain
districts.
4. Expert Committee on Financial Provisions of the Union Constitution 1947: This committee was responsible for giving
recommendations on Union and Province (State) tax collection, central excise duty, liquor revenue, divisible pool of income
tax, sharing of proceeds among provinces, residuary powers, and the institutions of the Finance Commission and the Auditor
General, among other things.
5. The Advisory Committee on the Subject of Political Safeguards for Minorities 1949: This committee chaired by Sardar Patel,
looked at the abolition of reservations for religious minorities.
IMPORTANCE OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
The significant role played by committees in the functioning of the Indian Parliament include:
‒ The committees are responsible for analyzing specific pieces of legislation, examining their impact on governance, and
making recommendations.

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‒ While the government is not bound to act on these recommendations, it is required to table an ‘Action Taken’ report in
the House to update members on the progress made on the suggestions of the committee.
9 This process ensures that the legislature can provide oversight on the executive.
‒ The committee reports provide objective assessments, free from partisan divides, and enable consensus-building.
9 This is in contrast to discussions on the floor of the House, where parliamentarians are often influenced by their party-
line and voter base.
‒ Examples:
9 The Business Advisory Committee is responsible for preparing the schedule of both Houses of Parliament, ensuring
that the proceedings run smoothly.
9 The papers laid on the table of the House, which are often overlooked, are prepared by a dedicated committee after
a thorough process of deliberation, writing, and screening.
9 The Committee on Rural Development & Panchayati Raj plays a crucial role in identifying inconsistencies on the part
of the government for effective governance.
Legislations Referred to the Committees: The committees have played a significant role in the development and
implementation of important legislation.
1. Digital Data Protection Bill in recent years.
‒ The Justice Srikrishna Committee was formed in 2017 to prepare a data protection framework for India, following the
Puttaswamy judgment that recognized privacy as a fundamental right.
‒ The committee’s final report in 2018 served as the basis for the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, which was tabled in
the Lok Sabha.
‒ The bill was then referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which presented its report in December 2021, leading
to the withdrawal of the bill and the introduction of a new Draft Digital Data Protection Bill for public consultation in
November 2022.
‒ In each iteration, the committees provided insights that helped shape the legislation and ensured that it meets the needs
of a growing economy in the digital age.
2. Other Legislations: Other important laws such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill that seeks to raise the
legal marriageable age of women to 21, the Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill that brings into enactment the UN Convention on the Law
of the Sea for combating piracy in the high seas, the Jan Vishwas Bill that amends 42 laws across sectors like agriculture and
media, the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill that extends the scope of protected species, the Competition (Amendment)
Bill, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, and the Multi-State Cooperative Societies
(Amendment) Bill have all been referred to Committees.
Nation Building: Committees play a crucial role in examining and addressing issues that may not have immediate political
significance, but are important for the long-term development and security of the nation.
‒ Example: The Public Accounts Committee in a 2015 report, highlighted several concerns related to defence shipyards,
such as inadequate shipbuilding practices, delays in finalization of weapon packages, and underestimation of costs by
shipyards.
‒ Such issues may not receive attention in the Lok Sabha or other political forums, but Committees can bring them to the
forefront and make recommendations for their resolution.
CHALLENGES FACED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES N INDIA:
Sidelining of the committees: According to PRS Legislative Research, the number of bills referred to parliamentary
committees has declined over the years. In the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-2014), only 71 out of 328 bills introduced were referred
to committees, while in the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019), only 25 out of 205 bills introduced were referred to committees. This
indicates a trend towards sidelining committees and rushing legislation through without adequate scrutiny.
‒ The sidelining of parliamentary committees can lead to a weakening of parliamentary democracy and a lack of oversight
of the government’s actions.
Other challenges: A study by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) found that committees in India face several
challenges, including a lack of resources, inadequate training and support, and limited access to information and expertise.

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‒ These factors can limit the effectiveness of committees and undermine their ability to provide meaningful oversight of the
executive branch.
WAY FORWARD:
The Indian Parliament should consider adopting a procedure where all Bills that are introduced on the floor of the House
must be referred to the relevant committees for scrutiny and modifications before they are put to vote.
Giving more powers to the committees will enable them to hold the executive accountable and prevent them from being
ineffective.
This, in turn, will help to institutionalise procedures for lawmaking and reduce political considerations from hastening the
process.
Therefore, creating a robust parliamentary ecosystem in India that prioritises accountability and transparency is the need of
the hour.
TROIKA FOR INDIA’S NORTHEAST REGION

CONTEXT
At a conclave on ‘Connectivity and Regional partnership’ between India ,Bangladesh and Japan, representatives of both Bangladesh
and Japan talked about Tripura’s (North east) huge potential of becoming a trade and commerce gateway in the region.
THE NORTH EAST REGION OF INDIA
About: The North East region of India comprises eight states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura – each with its own distinct history and identity.
International Boundaries: The region shares its borders with Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
India’s Act East Policy: It is a diplomatic initiative by India to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic
relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This is done via continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and
multilateral levels thus providing enhanced connectivity to North Eastern states with other countries in our neighborhood.
‒ The North East of India has been a priority in India’s Act East Policy.
‒ This eastward drive started in 1992 under the Look East policy.
IMPORTANCE OF INDIA’S NORTH EAST REGION
Natural Resources: The North-East is a vibrant source of energy, oil, natural gas and limestone supplemented by the perennial
water systems of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. Its geo-strategic location and natural resources also makes it a potential
‘powerhouse of India’ for development and progress.
Flora and Fauna: Northeast of India is home to many wildlife sanctuaries like Kaziranga National Park famous for the one
horned rhinoceros, Manas National Park, Nameri, Orang, Dibru Saikhowa in Assam, Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh,
Balpakram in Meghalaya, Keibul Namjao in Manipur, Intanki in Nagaland, Khangchendzonga in Sikkim.
Trade and Tourism: The fertile Brahmaputra Valley has huge potential for export of a variety of agro products and remarkable
local handicrafts and performing arts can act as a magnet for promotion of international tourism for neighboring as well the
Western countries. Its proximity to international markets to both Southwestern China and Southeast Asia, makes this region
a potentially important base for foreign and domestic investors.
Economic Groupings: The North East is located at the hub of a geographical space which is home to people comprising the
population of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Southwestern China and the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
(ASEAN). Regional groupings such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technology and Economic Cooperation
(BIMSTEC) and the ASEAN can all act as catalysts for promoting wide-ranging economic cooperation for both bilateral and
multilateral trade and commerce.
Strategic Importance: Northeast India has an extraordinarily important international strategic dimension and is a vital part
of the nation’s defence architecture. It is not only India’s land bridge to Myanmar but also a gateway to Southeast Asia and
beyond.

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‒ India’s chicken neck or the Siliguri corridor is a region that shares a border with Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and China with
an area of just over 100 km in India’s control. The trijunction to India, Nepal and Bhutan known as the Doklam regio has
become a standoff point between India and China.
9 The roadways and railways near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are connected by the Siliguri corridor.
9 The corridor has proved significant in countering illegal immigration, cross-border terrorism, and Islamic radicalisation
in the northeastern states.
PROJECTS IN NORTH EAST INDIA
Matarbari Deep Sea Port: Bangladesh has cordial relations with Japan and India. The Matarbari Deep Sea Port (DSP) is being
developed at the southeastern coast of Bangladesh with Japanese assistance and is scheduled to be operational in 2027.
‒ It holds potential to become a regional hub for industrial value chain connecting Northeast India through Tripura with
Bangladesh and onward onto the larger Bay of Bengal region.
Maitri Setu: The inauguration of Maitri Setu over the Feni River was one of those landmark projects between Tripura and
Bangladesh. Tripura will emerge as the gateway to Southeast Asia once the Maitri Bridge, linking Sabroom with Ramgarh in
Bangladesh, is thrown open for the public.
Agartala–Akhaura (Bangladesh) Railway Link: It will connect Gangasagar in Bangladesh to Nischintapur in India and then
connect Nischintapur to Agartala railway station in India.
‒ This rail link will reduce the journey time between Agartala and Kolkata by passing through Dhaka instead of Guwahati.
‒ India also plans to develop an integrated checkpoint and cargo handling facility at Nischintapur, which is the junction point
of the Agartala-Akhaura rail link at Tripura.
Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project: It has been jointly identified by the India and Myanmar to create a multi-
modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the North-Eastern
part of India through Myanmar.
‒ It will connect Sittwe Port in Myanmar to the India-Myanmar border and contribute to the economic development of the
North-Eastern States of India, by opening up the sea route for the products.
‒ It also provides a strategic link to the North-East, thereby reducing pressure on the Siliguri Corridor.
Eastern Grid: India is planning to develop “Eastern Grid,” a 5,000km-long waterway to boost connectivity and trade between
eastern Indian states and BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) nations and amplify trade potential with Southeast
Asian nations as well.
‒ This will also include the 3,500km-long waterways comprising National Waterways-1 (The Ganga), NW-2 (the Brahmaputra)
and NW16 (the Barak).
‒ The Eastern Grid can unlock a multilateral trade potential of $49 billion dollars as the government is committed to
accelerating growth in eastern India. It will also further amplify trade with countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and
Singapore.
‒ The grid also gives the region the strategic advantage of access to international trade routes as well as climate resilience
for an environment-friendly transport mode - powered by green hydrogen, electricity, LNG and others.
India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway: India is pushing for the early completion and expansion of the India-Myanmar-
Thailand Trilateral Highway to improve connectivity in the region. The connectivity to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam is also
seen as a counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP): In 2020, the World Bank-funded Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project
was initiated to “improve and modernize the transport sector and help Meghalaya to harness its vast growth potential for
high-value agriculture and tourism”. The initiative includes 13 projects amounting to Rs 547 crore including the construction
of three major bridges.
CHALLENGES IN THE NORTH - EAST REGION
Physical Connectivity: Difficult and hilly terrain, geographical location and short working season of the northeastern region
pose a challenge to development of optimal infrastructure and communication links within the region and with the rest of
the country.

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Infrastructural Bottlenecks: The infrastructural bottlenecks include inadequate road and railway connectivity, power
transmission and distribution, telecom connectivity and absence of airports in the region.
Digital Connectivity: The objectives of improving mobile connectivity in all the villages in the region, improving high-speed
internet connectivity, and last mile internet connectivity from the village to a consumer have not been achieved satisfactorily.
Trade and Commerce: The industrial scenario is not encouraging in terms of the number of factories as well as the shares of
fixed capital, invested capital, net value-added and the number of workers in the industrial sector as compared to the all-India
position.
Population and Education: While there are a number of colleges and universities, North East Region lags behind in quality
education and lack of constructive higher educational institutions as compared to other regions of India.
Natural Resources and Their Utilization: Northeast India is a storehouse of natural resources which are essential for creating
employment and generation of GDP in Northeast India are either underutilized, unutilized, and mismanaged.
External Security. Security concerns—both external and internal—have played a key role in the context of the North-East.
While all eight states of the North-East have international borders with China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Myanmar or Bhutan,
the whole of Arunachal Pradesh is claimed by China as its territory. Moreover, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are neighbours
to three countries and Assam and Mizoram share borders with two countries.
‒ With such vast borders, there is always room for illegal immigration, arms smuggling, cattle and commodity smuggling.
Internal Security: The North-Eastern states have witnessed a rise of insurgent activities and regional movements with
a feeling of exploitation and alienation from other Indian states. Some of the insurgent groups are United Liberation Front of
Assam (ULFA), People’s Liberation Army, National Socialist Council of Nagaland, All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF).
Territorial Conflicts: There are existing inter-state and international territorial conflicts within the Northeast that are often
based on historical border disputes and differing ethnic, tribal or cultural affinities. Example: Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute.
WAY FORWARD
Roads and ports must be accompanied by job opportunities that can come only from new industrial enterprises set up with
national and foreign investment. A joint focus on comprehensive connectivity and accelerating industrialisation in Bangladesh
and the northeast should be a priority.
China’s aggressive actions in the region can be countered by India and Japan and other like-minded countries who can
cooperate in the wider expanse of the Indo-Pacific
Japan views Bangladesh and other areas to the south as a single economic zone and it will seek to promote the Bay of Bengal-
Northeast India industrial value chain concept in cooperation with India and Bangladesh to foster the growth of the entire
region. This shall require cooperation in food security, climate change, global health and cybersecurity.
Japan is aiming to improve connectivity between the Indian and Bangladeshi economies and work on getting more Japanese
companies to invest in the north east region. Japan as a single investor in the northeast is unworkable. Indian companies too
must invest. India must ease restrictions on the flow of investments from Bangladesh.
The goal of connecting a large part of South Asia with Southeast Asia can come from the triad of Bangladesh, India and Japan
(BIJ). A BIJ Forum should be launched first at the level of Foreign Ministers, a move that will be welcome in the northeast.
POLICE REFORMS IN INDIA

CONTEXT:
The ‘India Justice Report 2022’ notes that the gap between the sanctioned and actual strength in police forces, at a national
level, remains “worryingly large”.
What is the ‘India Justice Report 2022’?
It is an initiative of Tata Trusts in collaboration with Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause and Commonwealth Human
Rights Initiative among others.
It was first published in 2019. It assesses the performance of states in terms of justice delivery, by considering several
parameters such as police, judiciary, prisons, and legal aid to assess the overall performance of each state.
The report collates data from various official sources for 25 ranked States, dividing them into two clusters — 18 large and
mid-sized States and seven small-sized States (populations up to 10 million).

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MAJOR FINDING OF THE REPORT

Vacancies in Police Forces: Overall vacancies in police rose
from 20.3% of the sanctioned strength to 22.1% between
January 2020 and January 2022.
‒ Vacancies in constabulary: As of January 2022, Kerala
was at the top with constable vacancies making up 4.6%
of the sanctioned strength, while West Bengal was the
worst performer with vacancies amounting to 44.1% of
the sanctioned strength.
‒ Officer vacancies: As for police officers (in civil as
well as District Armed Reserve police), Bihar has the
highest percentage of vacancies at 53.8% as against the
sanctioned strength.
Fulfillment of reservation quotas: Despite years of
reservations, Karnataka was found to be the only State to
meet its SC, ST, and Other backward classes quotas, with no other State/UT managing to meet all three of their reservation
targets.
Women’s representation in the police force: The report noted that, on a national level, it will take another 24 years to have
33% women in police forces across States.
‒ State-wise performance: Andhra Pradesh, which reserves 33% of overall police posts for women, performed the best with
21.8%, while Jharkhand was the worst performer with just 6.2%.
POLICE AND POLICING FRAMEWORK IN INDIA
The primary role of police forces is to uphold and enforce
laws, investigate crimes and ensure security for people in the
country.
In a large and populous country like India, police forces
need to be well-equipped, in terms of personnel, weaponry,
forensic, communication and transport support, to perform
their role well.
Constitutional and legal provisions:
‒ Under the Constitution, ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’
are state subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the
Constitution of India. Therefore, each state has its own
police force.
‒ The centre is also allowed to maintain its own police
forces to assist the states with ensuring law and order.
‒ The basic framework for policing in India was laid down in the pre-independence era through the Police Act, 1861.
‒ Apart from the above, several other laws and regulations govern police functioning in India. These include the Criminal
Procedure Code (CrPC), Indian Penal Code (IPC), Evidence Act and various state-specific laws.
MAJOR ISSUES FACED BY POLICE FORCES
The following expert bodies have examined issues with police organization and functioning over the last few decades. They have
identified the major issues, which include:

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Police Accountability to the political executive vs operational freedom: Both the central and state police forces come
accountability under the control and superintendence of the political executive (i.e., central or state government).
The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2007) has noted that this control has been abused in the past by
the political executive to unduly influence police personnel, and have them serve personal or political interests.
Human resources Overburdened police force: United Nations recommended standard is 222 police per lakh persons, while actual
issues police strength in India is at around 137 police per lakh persons.
‒ It leads to increased work stress on police personnel, which compromises the overall performance of police
in the discharge of their duties.
Absence of incentives to perform: 86% of the state police comprises constabulary and lack of promotion
prospects weaken their incentive to perform.
Gender inequality: Women are underrepresented in the police force, constituting only 10.3% of the police force.
Infrastructural Physical infrastructure: Infrastructure is mostly lacking at the level of police stations.
issues ‒ According to Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) data (2020), several police stations have
been found with no wireless, no telephone and no vehicles.
‒ CAG audits and BPRD has found shortages in weaponry and lack of modern weaponry with state police
forces.
Technology: Indian Police forces have not kept pace with changes in technologies like forensics, fingerprinting,
facial recognition etc. For example, Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) is facing
implementation issues like limited usage etc.
Funding issues Insufficient financial allocation: Expenditure on police accounts for about 3% state government budgets.
Underutilisation of funds for modernization: Funds dedicated for infrastructure modernization are typically not
utilized fully. According to the latest data, states/UTs managed to utilize less than 40% of the funds.
Police-public Police require the confidence, cooperation and support of the community to prevent crime and disorder.
relations The Second Administrative Reforms Commission has noted that police-public relations are in an unsatisfactory
state because people view the police as corrupt, inefficient, politically partisan and unresponsive.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS): It is conceptualized by the Ministry of Home affairs, to create a
comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiencies and effective policing at all levels and especially at the
Police Station level.
Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) scheme: It a centrally sponsored scheme, was initiated in 1969-70. Its objective is to
reduce dependence of State Governments on Army and Central Armed Police Forces to control internal security and law and
order situations by adequately equipping State Police Forces and strengthening their training infrastructure.
‒ The Centre has approved the continuation of the Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) scheme for five years up to 2025-
26.
SMART policing: To encourage innovations and the use of modern technologies, SMART Policing has been introduced. It
implies S-Sensitive and Strict; M-Modern and Mobility; o A-Alert and Accountable; R-Reliable and Responsive, and T- Trained
and Techno-savvy.
Model Police Act, 2006: It replaced the Police Act, 1861. The Act provided for social responsibilities of the police and
emphasized that the police would be governed by the principles of impartiality and human rights norms, with special attention
to the protection of weaker sections including minorities.
WAY FORWARD:
Leveraging on technology: Technology helps in increasing the productivity and efficiency of Law Enforcement Agencies. A
strong partnership between police and technology would facilitate quick criminal investigations, greatly reduce crime, and
help to uphold law and order.
Implement Seven directives of Supreme Court in Prakash Singh vs Union of India, 2006: The set of seven directives, aimed
at kick-starting police reforms, was introduced based on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 1996.

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Cyber policing: Cyber-crime cases in India have increased almost 30-fold between 2010 and 2019. Against this backdrop, a
standing committee on home affairs has recommended the following measures.
‒ The Committee recommended that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) may advise states to set up cyber cells in all the
districts.
‒ The States should map the cyber-crime hotspots which will help in quick detection of crimes and taking proactive
measures to prevent cybercrimes.
‒ The Committee also recommends upgrading the existing cyber cells by setting up dark web monitoring cells and social
media monitoring cells to tackle different types of cyber along with traditional police recruitments, there is a need to
induct technical experts into the police force.
Proper training: There is a need for adequate training and firing practices to the police personnel on the latest weaponry
which is being used by them.
Community policing: Community policing requires the police to work with the community for prevention and detection of
crime, maintenance of public order, and resolving local conflicts, with the objective of providing a better quality of life and
sense of security.
‒ Various states have been experimenting with community policing including Kerala through ‘Janamaithri Suraksha
Project’, Rajasthan through ‘Joint Patrolling Committees’, Assam through ‘Meira Paibi’, Tamil Nadu through ‘Friends
of Police’, West Bengal through the ‘Community Policing Project’, Andhra Pradesh through ‘Maithri and Maharashtra
through ‘Mohalla Committees’.
PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS

CONTEXT:
A landmark law on Panchayati Raj institutions that came into effect on April 24, 1993, marks its 30 year anniversary.
PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS
The Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) is a system of rural local self-government in India, which involves the management of local
affairs by elected local bodies.
It aims to build democracy at the grassroots level and promote rural development in the country.
Since its constitutionalization through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1992, PRI has been in existence for over 3
decades.

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EVALUATION OF THE PRI

Significance of PRIs:
1. Political Consciousness: The PRIs have enabled a large number of people, especially women, to acquire leadership at the
local level. This is because one-third of seats are reserved for women candidates. Thus, the PRIs have played a critical role in
raising political consciousness among the masses.
2. Strengthening Democratic Institutions and Processes: The experience gained by the new generation of leadership in democratic
management has raised the quality of legislative debates and working of higher level institutions. PRIs provide opportunities
for the circulation of political elite, which is essential for maintaining democratic forms in their true spirit.
3. Planning and Development: PRIs have contributed significantly as units of planning and development at the district and
lower levels. In several states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal, local level planning has been successfully
formulated and implemented by these institutions.
4. Giving Voice to Local Demands: PRIs have become the connecting link between the Parliament and State Legislature on
the one hand and local bodies on the other. The local members talk about the local needs, urgencies, and difficulties in
implementation, whereas the members of Parliament and State Legislature can explain possible solutions. This two-way link
has served the dual purpose of modifying state policies at the point of maladjustment and communicating the message from
the centre and/or state to the remote corners of rural society.
5. Executive Institution: PRIs carry out certain civic functions such as rural sanitation, public health, street lighting, drinking
water supply, maintenance of village roads, culverts, and management of primary and secondary education.
6. Breaking Hierarchies: PRIs have become a powerful tool where caste and local interests interact, clash, compromise, and
arrive at a common understanding on various issues. Thus, they play a crucial role in breaking hierarchies and promoting
social justice.
Challenges Faced by Panchayati Raj Institutions:
Insufficient Devolution of Power: While local government is a state subject, certain states have not devolved important
subjects like fuel and fodder, non-conventional energy sources, rural electrification, non-formal education, small scale
industries, technical training, and vocational education to PRIs. This limits their scope of work and effectiveness.
Inadequate Grants and Funds: PRIs face financial constraints as the transfers made through State Finance Commissions are
often meagre. Most GPs are also reluctant to raise their own sources of revenue, resulting in a lack of funds for carrying out
their activities.
Persistence of Patriarchal Attitudes: The issue of “Sarpanch Pati” or male relatives of female village heads wielding power and
controlling decision-making processes continues to persist due to gender biases, women’s illiteracy, and patriarchal attitudes
in society.
Infrastructural Deficiencies: Some Gram Panchayats do not have their own buildings or lack basic facilities like toilets, drinking
water, and electricity. Internet connections are also non-functional in many cases, causing delays in data entry and other
processes.
Lack of Support Staff: PRIs suffer from a severe lack of support staff, such as secretaries, junior engineers, computer operators,
and data entry operators. This affects their functioning and delivery of services.
Lack of Convergence of Government Programmes: There is a lack of coordination and convergence among various
development programmes of the Centre and state governments. Different guidelines by different departments hinder the
convergence of activities, resulting in a lack of synergy and duplication of efforts.
WAY FORWARD:
The 2nd ARC has given the following recommendations to improve the functioning of Panchayats:
1. Appropriate size of Gram Panchayats: Wherever there are large Gram Panchayats, Ward Sabhas should be constituted to
exercise certain powers and functions of the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat.
2. Power to recruit personnel: Panchayats should have the power to recruit personnel and regulate their service conditions
subject to the laws and standards laid down by the State Government.
3. Abolish budget approval by higher authorities: The provisions in some State Acts regarding the approval of the budget of a
Panchayat by the higher tier or any other State authority should be abolished.

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4. Local Ombudsman to investigate and recommend action: The powers to investigate and recommend action against elected
representatives on the grounds of abuse of office, corruption, etc. should not lie with the State Government but with the
local Ombudsman, who will send his report through the Lokayukta to the Governor.
5. Comprehensive activity mapping: States, with the help of a Task force must undertake comprehensive activity mapping of all
the matters mentioned in the Eleventh Schedule, covering all aspects of planning, budgeting, and provisioning of finances.
6. Broadening and deepening of the revenue base: A comprehensive exercise should be undertaken regarding the broadening
and deepening of the revenue base of local governments, which should look into four major aspects of resource mobilization,
fixation of realistic tax rates, widening of the tax base, and improved collection.
7. Untied funds for Panchayati Raj Institutions: Except for the specifically tied, major Centrally Sponsored Schemes and special
purpose programs of the States, all other allocations to the Panchayati Raj Institutions should be in the form of untied funds.
8. Timely release of funds: State Governments should release funds to the Panchayats in such a manner that these institutions get
adequate time to use the allocation during the year itself. The fund release could be in the form of equally spaced installments. It
could be done in two installments; one at the beginning of the financial year and the other by the end of September of that year.
9. Encouragement for borrowing from financial institutions: For their infrastructure needs, the Panchayats should be encouraged
to borrow from banks/financial institutions, and the role of the State Government should remain confined only to fixing the
limits of borrowing.
NINTH SCHEDULE
CONTEXT
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister wrote to Prime Minister, urging him to include the state’s amended provisions, which provide 76%
reservation to different communities, in the 9th schedule of the Constitution.
MORE ON THE NEWS
In Chhattisgarh’s case, the two amendment Bills — that pave the way for 76% quota for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes
and Other Backward Classes — were passed unanimously by the State Assembly December 2022, but are yet to receive the
Governor’s nod.
Among the reasons mentioned by the Governor for refusing to sign the Bills was a Supreme Court ruling on capping the
reservations at 50%.
The Chief Minister stated that the socio-economic and educational condition of OBC people in Chhattisgarh is as weak as that
of SC/ST people, and including the amended provision in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution is necessary for justice to be
served to the backward and deprived classes.
In the letter, the Chief Minister cited the example of other States such as Tamil Nadu and a 2022 Supreme Court ruling to
argue in favour of lifting the 50% cap.
NEED FOR NINTH SCHEDULE
The 76% reservation breaches the 50 % ceiling set by the Supreme Court in the 1992 Indra Sawhney v Union of India verdict.
However, placing a legislation in the Ninth Schedule shields it from judicial scrutiny.
Previously, the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational
Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Act, 1993, reserved 69 % of the seats in colleges
and jobs in the state government.
ABOUT 9TH SCHEDULE OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION
The Schedule contains a list of central and state laws which cannot be challenged in courts and was added by the Constitution
(First Amendment) Act, 1951.
Objective: The objective behind adding the Ninth schedule was to protect certain acts and regulations from being declared
void on the ground that they violate the fundamental rights.
Origin: It was created by the new Article 31B, which along with Article 31A was brought in by the government to protect laws
related to agrarian reform and for abolishing the Zamindari system.
‒ While Article 31A extends protection to ‘classes’ of laws, Article 31B shields specific laws or enactments.

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Article 31 A Article 31B

It saves five categories of laws from being challenged and It protects the acts and regulations included in the Ninth
invalidated on the ground of contravention of the fundamental Schedule from being challenged and invalidated on the ground
rights conferred by Article 14 and Article 19. of contravention of any of the fundamental rights.
The five categories include: Specificity: While Article 31A extends protection to ‘classes’ of
‒ Acquisition of estates and related rights by the State; laws, Article 31B shields specific laws or enactments.
‒ Taking over the management of properties by the State; Wider in scope: The scope of Article 31B is wider than Article
‒ Amalgamation of corporations; 31A as it immunizes any law included in the Ninth Schedule
from the Fundamental Rights (unlike Article 31A that protects
‒ Extinguishment or modification of rights of directors or
only five categories).
shareholders of corporations;
Retrospective in nature: If an act is held unconstitutional and
‒ Extinguishment or modification of mining leases.
thereafter is put under 9th schedule, it will be considered as its
It also provides the guaranteed right to compensation in case part since its commencement.
of acquisition or requisition of the private property by the state.
Current status: The first Amendment added 13 laws to the 9th Schedule. Subsequent amendments in various years have taken
the number of protected laws to 284 currently.
‒ While most of the laws protected under the Schedule concern agriculture/land issues, the list includes other subjects.
ARE LAWS IN THE NINTH SCHEDULE COMPLETELY IMMUNE FROM JUDICIAL SCRUTINY?
While the Ninth Schedule provides the law with a “safe harbour” from judicial review, the protection is not blanket.
In I.R. Coelho case (2007), the Supreme Court ruled that laws placed under Ninth Schedule can be challenged on the ground
of violating the basic structure of the Constitution.
Laws placed under Ninth Schedule after April 24, 1973 shall be open to challenge in the court if they violated Fundamental
Rights guaranteed under Article 14, 19 and 21.
WAY FORWARD
Although reservation is necessary, it should also be open to judicial scrutiny in order to ensure any abrupt or irrational policy
initiative by the Executive or the Legislature.
It is imperative to involve multiple stakeholders in addressing any gaps or limitations in the reservation policy. Rather than
taking extreme measures of completely eliminating or completely protecting the policy, a sensible framework should be
established through consensus-building on this controversial issue.
INDIA JUSTICE REPORT 2022

CONTEXT
The third edition of the India Justice Report (IJR) 2022 has been released.
UNDERSTANDING THE NEWS
India Justice Report(IJR): The IJR is an initiative of Tata Trusts in partnership with the Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause,
and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, among others.
9 It was first published in 2019.
‒ It is a first-of-its-kind national periodic report that ranks the capacity of States to deliver justice.
‒ The States are divided into two clusters for ranking:
9 18 large and mid-sized States
9 7 small States.
‒ The report analyses data relating to the four core pillars of justice delivery:
9 Police
9 Judiciary
9 Prisons
9 Legal aid

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Key Findings: Some key findings of the report are:
Justice Delivery in Karnataka has been ranked first in “justice delivery” followed by Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, out of the 18
Large States large and medium-sized states having a population of over 1 crore each.
Uttar Pradesh has been ranked 18, which is the lowest.
Justice Delivery in The list of Seven Small States with a population of less than one crore each, was topped by Sikkim followed
Small States by Arunachal Pradesh.
Police In the Police, women are only about 11.75%, despite their numbers doubling in the last decade.
About 29% of the officer positions are vacant.
The police-to-population ratio is 152.8 per lakh. The international standard is 222.
Karnataka remains the only state to consistently meet its quota for SC, ST, and OBC positions.
Judiciary India’s justice system as a whole remains plagued by low budgets.

Except for two union territories, Delhi and Chandigarh, no State spends more than 1% of its total annual
expenditure on the judiciary.
The report highlights that India has about 20,076 judges for a population of 1.4 billion, indicating a vacancy
of 22% among the sanctioned posts.
Five states (Bihar, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Meghalaya) have no women judges in their High Courts.
Pendency of cases Across all 25 High Courts, the share of cases pending for more than five years stands at 48.3%.
The average pendency in High Courts is highest in Uttar Pradesh (11.34 years) and West Bengal (9.9 years),
while it is lowest in Tripura (1 year), Sikkim (1.9 years), and Meghalaya (2.1 years).
Prisons More than half of jails in the country are overcrowded.

The average national occupancy rate of prisons is at 130%.
The undertrials account for 77% of the entire prison population.
Legal Aid India’s per capita spend on free Legal Aid which 80% of the population is eligible for is a meagre ₹3.87 per
annum.
Although States have increased budget allocation for legal aid, legal aid clinics reduced by 44% between 2019
to 2021.
State Human Rights 33,312 were total number of pending cases across all 25 State Human Rights Commissions in March 2021 .
Commission (SHRC) There is 44% National average vacancy across 25 SHRCs.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REPORT:

Ensure Justice Delivery: Designate the justice delivery system as an essential service and enhance, enlarge, and equip it as a
first responder able to provide effective justice delivery at all times.
Assistance: Ensuring 24*7 legal guidance and representation at police stations and courts at the beginning.
Human Resources: Filling vacancies on an urgent footing to reduce the backlog of cases.
‒ Infrastructure: Building more prisons, training institutes, and court halls and ensuring unrestricted financial resources for
the same.
‒ Technology-enabled Processes: Modernizing court processes with technology to reduce the number of undertrials,
streamline proceedings and dispose of cases quickly.
‒ Promoting Diversity: Increasing diversity of caste, gender, and the specially-abled across subsystems by supporting and
recruiting more people from these communities.
‒ Empowering Victims: Providing education and vocational training to victims, and support services, including legal and
mental health services.
‒ Curtailing Abuse: Fully implementing the Supreme Court’s Paramvir Singh Saini judgment, which mandates every police
station to be equipped with CCTV cameras to check abuse.
‒ Undertrial Review Committees: Ensure Undertrial Review Committees (UTRCs) guidelines of 14 categories of prisoners
to be considered for release.

20
COLLEGIUM SYSTEM
CONTEXT
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended names of three judicial officers for their appointment as judges of the Delhi
High Court.
ABOUT COLLEGIUM SYSTEM
The Collegium system in India also called “Judges- selecting-
Judges”, is an internal mechanism of the judiciary, where the
judges are appointed and transferred only by the judges.
The system has evolved by means of the judgments of the Supreme
Court, and not by an Act of Parliament or by a Constitutional
provision.
Composition of the collegium:
‒ The Supreme Court Collegium is headed by the Chief Justice of
India and comprises 4 other senior-most judges of the SC.
‒ A High Court collegium is headed by its Chief Justice and 4
other senior-most judges of that court.
Need for collegium system:
‒ For strengthening and improving the appointment process of
judiciary.
‒ To ensure that CJI’s opinion is not merely his/her individual
opinion but an opinion formed collectively by a body of people
at the apex level of the judiciary.
‒ Preserve our democratic system by maintaining the
independence of the judiciary as a part of the basic structure
and securing rule of law.
PROCEDURES FOR THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS BY THE
COLLEGIUM
For appointing Chief Justice of India (CJI):
‒ The President of India appoints the CJI and the other SC judges.
‒ The outgoing CJI recommends his successor.
‒ In practice, it has been strictly by seniority ever since the
supersession controversy of the 1970s.
For appointing other SC Judges:
‒ SC judges are recommended by a Collegium consisting of the
CJI and 4 senior-most judges of SC.
‒ The Collegium recommends the candidate to the Law Minister,
who forwards it to the Prime Minister who then advises the
President for the final appointment.
For appointing Chief Justice of High Courts:
‒ President appoints CJ of HC in consultation with CJI (consults
other SC collegium members) and governor of the respective state.
‒ The candidate is selected from outside the respective state.
For appointing other HC judges: HC judges are also appointed by the President who consults the HC Collegium (CJ of HC and
4 senior-most HC judges), CJI (consults other SC collegium members), and the Governor of the respective state.
For appointing Judges of Common HC: Judges of common HC are appointed by the President who consults CJI (consults other
SC collegium members) and Governors of respective states.

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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE COLLEGIUM SYSTEM
Advantages Disadvantages
Independence from politics: Judiciary remains independent Non-transparency: As there is no official procedure for
from the influence of executive and legislative. selection, no written manual for functioning etc.
Increased secrecy: Collegium system ensures secrecy for proper Scope for nepotism and favoritism: No guidelines for selection
functioning of the institution. can lead to nepotism and favoritism.
Prevents transfer of judges: Stops transfer of judges due to Undemocratic: Since judges are not elected by the people, the
political influence and ensures fair functioning. system lacks accountability to the public or anyone else.
Expertise in selection: Collegium system ensures that deserving No testing criteria: No criteria for testing candidates or
candidates are appointed as judges. investigating backgrounds.
Burden on judiciary: Appointment power can lead to burden on
already overloaded judiciary.
Violation of check and balance: Collegium system violates the
principle of check and balance.
NATIONAL JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS COMMISSION (NJAC)

In August 2014, Parliament passed the Constitution (99th Amendment) Act, 2014 along with the NJAC Act, 2014, providing
for the creation of an independent commission to appoint judges to the Supreme Court and high courts to replace the
collegium system.
Composition of NJAC:
‒ The Chief Justice of India as the ex officio Chairperson
‒ Two senior-most Supreme Court Judges as ex officio members
‒ The Union Minister of Law and Justice as ex officio member
‒ Two eminent persons from civil society (to be nominated by a committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India, Prime
Minister of India and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha; one of the eminent persons to be nominated from SC/
ST/OBC/minorities or women).
However, in 2015, the Supreme Court declared both the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014 and the NJAC Act, 2014
as unconstitutional on the ground that it posed a threat to the independence of the judiciary.
‒ The court has held that the appointment of judges, coupled with primacy of judiciary and the CJI, was part of the basic
structure of the Constitution and that the parliament, through NJAC act, violated this basic structure.
WAY FORWARD
Transparency and Accountability: There is a need to make the collegium system more transparent and accountable by
introducing some objective criteria for the appointment of judges and by making the entire process more open to scrutiny.
Criteria for Selection: The collegium should establish clear and consistent criteria for selecting judges based on merit, integrity,
and competence.
Diversity: The collegium should be more diverse in terms of representation from different communities and regions to ensure
that it reflects the diversity of the country.
NJAC Amendment: The NJAC needs to be amended to make sure that the judiciary retains independence in its decisions and
re-introduced in some form or the other.
All India Judicial Services: Apart from reforming the collegium system, the quality of judges can also be improved through the
implementation of All India Judicial Services (AIJS).
Alternative options of appointment of judges:
‒ In USA: The appointments are made by the President. Judges of the Supreme Court are nominated by the President and
confirmed by the United States Senate.
‒ In UK: The SC Judges are appointed by a five people selection commission. That committee consists of SC President, his
deputy and one member each appointed by the JACs which consist of lay person, members of judiciary and the bar; of
England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

22
‒ In Germany: The appointment of the Judges is made through the process of the election. Half the members of the Federal
Constitutional Court are elected by the executive and half by the legislative.
‒ In Canada: The power to appoint the judges resides with the federal Govt. the federal Minister of Justice.
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS:

CONTEXT:
The recurring suppression of civil society organisations (CSOs) and movements in our country has resulted in a decrease in their
ability to shape policy and public discourse.
ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOS)
According to the World Bank, Civil Society refers to a wide array of organizations, community groups, Non-governmental
organizations [NGOs], labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional
associations and foundations.
Globally, the term ‘Civil Society’ became popular in the 1980s, when it started to be identified with non-state movements
defying authoritarian regimes, especially in Eastern Europe and Latin America.
When mobilized, civil society - sometimes called the “third sector” (after government and commerce) - has the power to
influence the actions of elected policy-makers and businesses.
Examples of well-known civil society organizations include Amnesty International, the International Trade Union Confederation,
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Greenpeace and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
CIVIL SOCIETY IN INDIA
Civil society derives its strength from the Gandhian tradition of volunteerism, but today, it expresses itself in many different
forms of activism.
In independent India, the initial role played by the voluntary organizations started by Gandhi and his disciples was to fill in the
gaps left by the government in the development process.
The volunteers organized handloom weavers in villages to form cooperatives through which they could market their product
directly and get a better price. AMUL, a dairy cooperative society is the product of such cooperative movement.
ROLE OF CSOS IN GOOD GOVERNANCE
Civil Society plays a crucial role in good governance. As India is not a participative democracy but a representative democracy,
the government takes all major decisions by itself. Civil Society acts as an interface of interaction between the government
and the governed.
Civil society’s functional contribution to good governance could be:
‒ Watchdog — against violation of human rights and governing deficiencies.
‒ Advocate — of the weaker sections’ point of view.
‒ Agitator — on behalf of aggrieved citizens.
‒ Educator — of citizens on their rights, entitlements and responsibilities and the government about the pulse of the people.
‒ Service provider — to areas and people not reached by official efforts or as government’s agent.
‒ Mobiliser — of public opinion for or against a programme or policy.
CHALLENGES FACED BY CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS
There are a number of challenges and restrictions that civil societies in India are facing that hampers their ability to operate freely.
Suppression of Civil Society Organizations:
‒ Suppression of civil society organizations and movements by State and non-state actors makes it difficult for them to
shape policy and public discourse.
‒ The government’s efforts to restrict civil society are motivated by a perception that CSOs are a new frontier for foreign
interference and war.
‒ As a result of this crackdown, activists, journalists, academics, and students have been targeted by both state and non-
state actors, who have resorted to violence and abuse, both online and offline.

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‒ The government has also restricted the access of civil society organizations to resources, including cancelling Foreign
Contribution (Regulation) Act clearances, revoking 12A/80-G licences, imposing retrospective taxes, and pressuring
private companies and philanthropists to redirect funding.
Limiting CSOs participation in the democratic process:
‒ Currently there have been a number of instances where several civil society organizations that advocate for the welfare
of citizens and address social issues are being portrayed as disruptive to India’s development trajectory and, therefore,
anti-national.
‒ This kind of a portrayal poses a serious danger to India’s political system’s integrity because civil society serves as an
essential safety valve for tensions within a polity.
‒ It will also limit the ability of citizens to participate in the democratic process and address social issues, which could lead
to increased social tensions and political instability.
Restructuring CSOs’ Landscape:
‒ The State has been taking efforts to restructure India’s civil society landscape by promoting institutions affiliated with
political parties.
‒ These affiliated CSOs receive government patronage, as well as corporate social responsibility funds, and have influence
over select departments in state governments, particularly in areas such as education, culture, and welfare for Dalits and
Adivasis.
‒ This has led to programmatic implications, with activities related to women’s welfare, human rights, and freedoms
increasingly shaped by the political paritie’s ideological imperatives.
‒ Impact on other CSOs:
9 The restructuring of civil society in India has had an impact on other CSOs and movements, which are being restricted
as a result of the financial and political power of the affiliated parties.
9 Despite the threat that this poses to civil society, many actors have not adapted their normative and operational
methodologies, continuing to rely on outdated tactics such as sanctioned protests, speeches, and petitions which
prove to be ineffective in influencing the State.
Failure to Integrate socio-cultural values with their work:
‒ Progressive civil society organizations (CSOs) in India have failed to effectively integrate socio-cultural values with their
work towards promoting welfare and protecting constitutional values.
‒ This has resulted in their inability to influence and shape public consciousness, especially among those who have been
radicalised.
‒ Despite securing benefits from progressive CSOs, local communities have been observed to ideologically align with the
political parties.
‒ This dichotomy has led to a sense of exhaustion and questioning of the effectiveness of their work among key activists.
OTHER CHALLENGES:
There is a gap in understanding of rights, human rights and political rights between the State and a section of the civil society.
There is too much dependency on external resources, which brings along with it huge restrictions and application of laws.
Leadership has been a big challenge for the sector as the leadership grows old and gets entrenched in transfer of power
issues and power struggles.
Many CSOs lack the skills and resources to create and maintain professional management systems.
CSOs often face misconceptions about their role in society. This can hinder their ability to gain support from the public and
donors.
TACKLING CHALLENGES FACED BY CSO:
Realignment of Operational Methodologies: There must be a realignment of progressive CSOs’ normative and operational
methodologies.
‒ The realignment should focus on blending socio-cultural values with welfare work and calls to protect constitutional values
to reshape hearts and minds and guide mass consciousness.

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‒ There must also be sustained support for CSOs and their impact on the nation at large.
‒ Migration of CSOs to safer avenues and their political inclination should be taken care of.
9 This would result in a significant reduction in the ability of civil society to hold the government accountable, represent
the voices of vulnerable sections of society, provide constructive feedback on policies and legislation, and promote the
common good.
Persuade young activists to join Political Parties:
‒ Another possible solution to the challenges faced by progressive civil society in India could be for young activists to join
political parties.
‒ By doing so, they could create a moral force within the parties that would balance electoral interests with ethical and
human rights considerations.
‒ This approach would provide parties with a multi-layered and systemic approach to addressing complex issues, rather
than relying solely on electoral strategies.
Collaborating with Progressive Stakeholders:
‒ CSOs must urgently collaborate with other progressive stakeholders, including political parties, to find solutions to the
systemic problems facing the sector.
‒ Private philanthropies and companies have a critical role to play in supporting progressive civil society organizations in
India.
‒ Conscientious Citizens should also work together and collaborate on new methods of supporting and protecting civil
society, which is vital to safeguarding and advancing the constitutional idea of India.
Embrace voluntary work and spirit of voluntarism: The traditional Indian approach to voluntary work, which is inspired by a
sense of indebtedness towards society, should be embraced to restore credibility.
Establish movements for the people: Civil society organisations should aspire to become movements of the people, by the
people, and for the people.
Balance individualism and collective spirit: Indian civil societies should strike a balance between individualism and collective
spirit, as our philosophical approaches have always done.
Repay societal debt through daan: Our ancient scriptures emphasise the importance of daan as a duty and as part of repaying
societal debt, which should be practiced.
Focus on education, public awakening, and mobilisation: Like Tilak, Gandhi, Ambedkar, and Savarkar did during the freedom
struggle, organisations should focus on nationalistic education, public awakening, and popular mobilisation.
Transparency and Accountability: Civil society organisations should be transparent in their functioning and accountable to
the people they serve, to gain their trust and support.
Addressing pressing issues: Civil society organisations should
work towards addressing pressing issues faced by the society,
such as poverty, education, healthcare, environment, and social
justice.
ASSAM-ARUNACHAL PRADESH BORDER

DISPUTE
CONTEXT
The Assam and the Arunachal Pradesh governments signed an
agreement in presence of Union Home Minister to resolve their five-
decade-old border dispute.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AGREEMENT
The two states share a roughly 800-kilometre-long border and
the disputed areas the agreement deals with are 123 border
villages, which span 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and 8
districts of Assam.

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As per the agreement, out of 123 villages ,71 have been amicably resolved so far. This includes 37 villages resolved through
the Namsai Declaration on 15th July 2022 and 34 villages through this current agreement.
This will be final agreement neither of states will make any new claim in future relating to any area or village.
A detailed survey will be conducted by the Survey of India in the presence of representatives from both state governments to
determine the boundaries after the agreement.
ABOUT THE ASSAM-ARUNACHAL PRADESH BORDER DISPUTE
Origin of the dispute: The roots of the dispute traces back to 1954, when North East Frontier Agency or NEFA (former name
of what is now Arunachal Pradesh) was carved out of Assam.
‒ In 1951, a sub-committee led by then Assam Chief Minister Gopinath Bordoloi submitted recommendations on NEFA’s
administration.
‒ As per the report, around 3,648 km of “plain” area in Balipara and Sadiya foothills were transferred from NEFA to Assam’s
Darrang and Lakhimpur districts.
‒ In 1972, when Arunachal Pradesh became a Union Territory, it claimed that certain forested areas in the plains, which
were historically under the ownership of tribal chiefs and communities, were illegally transferred to Assam.
Previous efforts to resolve the border dispute:
MAJOR INTER-STATE BORDER DISPUTES IN INDIA
State/UT State/UT Disputed Area Reason for Dispute

Karnataka Maharashtra Belagavi, Karwar, Nipani State boundaries based on linguistic lines in 1956
Assam Mizoram Lushai Hills district British-era notifications in 1875 and 1933
Haryana Himachal Pradesh Parwanoo region Claim over parts of land
Himachal Pradesh Ladakh Sarchu area Claim over strategic area on route between Leh and Manali
Meghalaya Assam Mikir Hills district Challenging North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971
Assam Nagaland Naga-dominated areas Boundary delineation and demands for inclusion of areas
REASONS WHY INTER STATE BOUNDARIES REMAIN NON RESOLVED

Geographical Complexity: Geographical complexities, such as rivers, hills, and forests straddling two states, can make it
difficult to physically mark borders.
‒ For example, Colonial maps had left out large tracts of the northeast outside Assam as “thick forests” or marked them
“unexplored”.
Linguistic Idea of Reorganization: Although the States Reorganization Commission, 1956 was based on administrative
convenience, states reorganized largely resembled the idea of one language one state.

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Political Interference: Border disputes often become politicized, with politicians using them to further their own interests.
This can make it difficult to reach a mutually acceptable solution.
Neglect of Indigenous Communities: Indigenous communities were not adequately considered during the demarcation of
state boundaries. The boundaries were primarily drawn for administrative convenience, and the needs of these communities
were often ignored.
VARIETY OF MECHANISMS TO RESOLVE INTER-STATE DISPUTES IN INDIA
The judicial mechanism - article 131: It confers, on the Supreme Court of India, exclusive jurisdiction to deal with disputes
involving legal rights. This article covers any dispute
‒ between the Government of India and one or more States; or
‒ between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more other States on the other; or
‒ between two or more States.
Disputes relating to water: Under article 262 of the Constitution, it is permissible for Parliament, by law, to provide for the
adjudication of disputes relating to inter-State rivers or river-valleys.
‒ Accordingly, parliament enacted the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
‒ According to the Act, if a State Government makes a request regarding any water dispute and the Central Government is
of opinion that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations, then a Water Disputes Tribunal is constituted for the
adjudication of the water dispute.
Inter-State Council: Article 263 of the Constitution empowers the President to establish an Inter-state Council if it appears
that the public interests would be served by such a Council.
‒ It serves as a forum for discussion and resolution of disputes between states, as well as for investigating and discussing
subjects of common interest among states or between the Union and one or more states.
‒ In 1990, the Inter-state Council was established through a Presidential Order. In 2021, the Council was reconstituted.

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
SUDAN CRISIS
CONTEXT
The Prime Minister of India has asked officials to prepare a contingency plan to safely evacuate the over 3,000 Indians stuck in
Sudan amid clashes between the army and paramilitary forces.
BACKGROUND OF SUDAN CRISIS
2019 Coup: Former Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir, an ex-army officer who ran the country for 30 years, came to power in
a military coup himself. Al-Bashir overthrew a democratically elected government in 1989 and remained in power until he was
removed from the position by the Sudanese military in 2019. This came after weeks of massive demonstrations.
Transitional Government: Initially, the military refused to give up power. But as popular protests continued, they agreed to
take part in a transitional government made up of both civilian forces and army officers. The transitional government was
supposed to remain in charge until democratic elections could be held in 2023.
2021 Coup: There were growing divisions within both the civilian and military sides, as well as increased competition between
them. In 2021, the military element of the civilian-military coalition charged with transitioning Sudan from its autocratic past
to a more democratic future, seized full control of the country. In 2021, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel
Fattah al-Burhan, took control of the government in a military coup. Since then, Sudan has been run by General Abdel-Fattah
Burhan as de facto ruler.
‒ The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo – who is generally known by the name
Hemedti – has worked alongside the Sudanese army to help keep the military in power.
Recent Crisis between SAF and RSF: The SAF leader Burhan is more inclined towards a civilian rule under the international
pressure while RSF leader Hemediti is opposed this. Moreover, Burhan wants the RSF to come under a unified command of
the SAF. This vicious power struggle within Sudan’s military leadership has caused violence in Sudan.
INDIAN DIASPORA IN SUDAN
India and Sudan: India-Sudan relations go back in history to the time of Indus Valley Civilizations.
‒ India and Sudan have almost 30 bilateral agreements covering trade, science and technology, media, culture, consultations,
business, small industries, legal matters, air services, agriculture.
Indians in Sudan: Indians are working as professionals in key sectors of the Sudanese economy. There are a few Indian civilian
officers working in United Nations missions in Darfur and in Abyei in addition to other UN organisations. The Hakki Pikki tribe
of India has also registered its presence in Sudan.
Importance of Indian Diaspora: The Indian diaspora plays a role of facilitator in globalising the Indian trade/export through
their global network and bringing investment.
‒ Diasporas are symbols of a nation’s pride and represent their country internationally.
‒ Foreign remittances are a vital source of household income in India. They aid in socio-economic development and poverty
reduction.
9 As per the World Bank Migration and Development Brief 2022, for the first time a single country, India, is on track to
receive more than $100 billion in yearly remittances.
‒ They serve as an important ‘bridge’ to access knowledge, expertise, resources and markets for the development of the
country of origin with the rest of the world.
‒ Diasporas are symbols of a nation’s pride and represent their country internationally. They help in building a country’s
value internationally through their huge success stories.

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Related Information: About Hikki Pikki Tribe

The Hakki-Pikkis Tribe
They are a semi-nomadic tribal group belonging to the state of Karnataka.
The Hakki-Pikkis are said to be a matriarchal group.
In Kannada, the word ‘Hakki’ stands for ‘bird’ and ‘Pikki’ stands for the verb ‘to catch’. Therefore, the community is known as the ‘bird
catcher,’ which is their traditional occupation.
The community migrated from Northern India - mainly Gujarat and Rajasthan - is found in Karnataka and are now mainly concentrated
in Shivamogga, Davanagere and Mysuru district of Karnataka.
In different regions, they are known by different names, such as Mel-Shikari in northern Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Despite being surrounded by Dravidian languages and living in southern India, the community speaks an Indo-Aryan language. Their
mother tongue was designated ‘Vaagri’ by scholars. UNESCO has listed ‘Vaagri’ as one of the endangered languages.
Traditionally, Hakki Pikkis lived in forest areas but as the wildlife protection laws became stricter, the Hakki Pikkis in Karnataka started
selling spices, herbal oils, and plastic flowers in local temple fairs. The herbal oil business took off, and now the tribe members go to
many places across the globe to sell their products.

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Reason behind Hakki Pikki tribe being found in Sudan:

There is a huge demand for Ayurvedic products in the African continent. As the Sudanese were unable to afford expensive ‘English
medicines’, they had been looking for cheaper and effective alternatives.
The Hakki-Pikkis have traditional medical knowledge and the community members have been travelling to the continent for the last
many years. They carried the herbs and other medicines required for the treatment from India and sold the items there.
The African countries offer the Hakki Pikki Tribe an opportunity to escape poverty faster as there is growing demand for their products
in the African continent.
KEY FACTS RELATED TO SUDAN

Sudan is a country located in northeastern Africa.
Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, is located roughly in the centre of the country.
Sudan is bounded on the north by Egypt, on the east by the Red Sea, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, on the south by South Sudan, on
the west by the Central African Republic and Chad, and on the northwest by Libya.
Sudan is mainly composed of vast plains and plateaus that are drained by the Nile River and its tributaries.
Sudan has Dinder National Park and Radom National Park, in the southwest, have been designated as UNESCO biosphere
reserves.
The country is dominated by Muslims, most of whom speak Arabic and identify themselves as “Arabs.”

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INDIA – US RELATIONS
CONTEXT:
Eric Garcetti was recently appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to India after a gap of two years.
MORE ON THE NEWS:
This comes ahead of the planned visits of the Indian Prime Minister to the U.S. and the U.S. President to India for the G20
summit later this year.
This will push for increased engagement between the two countries on forums such as the G20, Quad, and I2U2 in the era of
changing geopolitics.
BACKGROUND:
Evolution of India-US Relations:
The relationship between India and the United States has evolved significantly over the years.
During the Cold War, India pursued a non-aligned foreign policy and maintained a distance from both the US and the Soviet
Union.
However, in the early 1990s, India began to open up its markets to foreign investment, including from the US, and undertook
significant economic reforms. This led to a gradual improvement in relations between the two countries.
The two countries have also increased their defence ties, with the US becoming India’s second-largest arms supplier after
Russia.
In recent years, India’s growing strategic importance as a counterweight to China has led to closer ties with the US, particularly
in the security and defence domains.
The US and India have also cooperated on climate change, with both countries announcing ambitious targets to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall, the relationship between India and the US has moved from a period of estrangement to a strategic partnership based
on shared interests and values. While there have been occasional bumps in the road, both countries are committed to deepening
their ties in the years to come.
IMPORTANT AREAS OF COOPERATION:
Trade & Investment:
‒ The total value of trade in goods and services between the two countries was $146 billion in 2019.
‒ In 2020, U.S.-India merchandise trade accounted for about 2% of U.S. merchandise trade and approximately 12% for
India.
‒ The U.S. is the largest destination for India’s merchandise exports, while it ranks as India’s third-largest merchandise
import supplier, after China and the European Union.
‒ During 2020-21, the U.S. replaced Mauritius as the second-largest source of foreign direct investment into India, with
inflows of USD 13.82 billion.
‒ India is one of the top five investment destinations for Indian FDI.
Defence Cooperation:
‒ India and the US have strong defence cooperation, which is based on the “New Framework for India US Defence
Cooperation” that was renewed in 2015 for a period of ten years.
‒ Since 2008, India has procured defence items worth around US$ 21 billion from the US.
‒ In 2016, the US recognized India as a “Major Defence Partner”.
‒ Several defence agreements have been signed, such as the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Association in 2016, the
Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement in 2018, the Industrial Security Agreement in 2019, and the
Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement in 2020.
‒ The two countries conduct a number of bilateral military exercises such as Yudh Abhyaas and Vajra Prahari, and also
participate in defence exchanges to deepen their military-to-military cooperation.
9 In 2019, the two countries conducted a tri-services exercise called Tiger Triumph.

31
International Forums: India and the United States work together extensively at international organizations such as the United
Nations, G-20, ASEAN Regional Forum, IMF, World Bank, and WTO.
‒ During the inaugural Quad (India, Japan, US & Australia) Leaders’ Summit 2021, the two nations reaffirmed their shared
vision for a free, inclusive, and open Indo-Pacific region.
Science and Technology: The India-US Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2005, which was
renewed in 2019 for another ten years.
‒ India and the U.S. have a rich history of collaboration in civil space-related activities such as Earth Observation, Satellite
Navigation, Space Science, and Exploration.
‒ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA have worked towards the development of a joint microwave
remote sensing satellite called NISAR, for Earth observation purposes.
Indian Diaspora: The Indian diaspora in the US is one of the largest and most successful ethnic communities in the country.
According to the US Census Bureau, there were over 4 million people of Indian origin living in the US in 2019, making them
the third-largest Asian group in the country after Chinese and Filipino Americans.
MAJOR CHALLENGES
CAATSA:
‒ The Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) poses a challenge to India-US defence cooperation
as it prohibits defence purchases from Russia, Iran and North Korea, all of which are considered adversaries by the US.
‒ The US views expanding defence ties between India and Russia as a complicating factor that could limit its own defence
cooperation with India.
‒ The US has expressed its concerns over the procurement of the S-400 air defence system by India as it hampers
interoperability and secure communication between the forces of the two countries, and restricts the sharing of sensitive
weapons technologies.
Economic Challenge and Patent Rights: In the economic sphere, there are several differences between India and the US,
including pharma patents, data flows, e-commerce, and regulatory precision.
‒ Specifically, the US prioritizes long-term protection for investments in pharma, while India prioritizes low cost and greater
access.
‒ The US takes a light approach to data privacy with basic consumer protections, which differs from India’s approach.
‒ The US 2021 “Special 301” report listed India on the Priority Watch List, citing concerns about India’s patent treatment,
high rates of intellectual property theft, and weak trade secret protection.
‒ The US and India are currently in a “low-intensity trade war,” which involves imposing tariffs that restrict trade.
‒ The US has concerns about India’s tariff regime, especially in agriculture, while India opposes the US steel and aluminium
tariffs that have been in place since 2018.
‒ Additionally, in 2019, the US cancelled India’s developing country status under the Generalized System of Preferences
(GSP).
Negotiations at the WTO: The US and India have diverging views on several issues concerning the World Trade Organization
(WTO).
‒ Both countries have used the WTO to enforce trade rules and resolve trade disputes against each other.
‒ The US and other developed nations have criticized India, China, and other countries for claiming special and differential
treatment under WTO rules by self-designating as developing countries.
‒ In 2021, the US supported a waiver of certain WTO intellectual property rights obligations for COVID-19 vaccines, while
India and some other nations called for a broader IPR waiver for COVID-19-related health products and technologies.
‒ Other issues under negotiation, such as customs duties for e-commerce and subsidies for fisheries, also remain contentious
between the two nations.
AREAS OF CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE IN INDIA-US RELATIONS:
Divergence between India & the US: There are differences in opinion that need to be addressed between the two countries,
such as:
‒ The U.S.’s desire for India to change its stance on the Ukraine crisis and

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‒ India’s push for the U.S. to take a stronger stance against China.
‒ Also, while India is seeking to strengthen its partnership with the U.S., it is also keen to maintain its longstanding relations
with Russia, which is identified as one of its main allies in its foreign policy strategy.
India and SCO:
‒ India is currently the president of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which includes China and Russia, and that
India’s relationship with NATO will be closely watched as the organization seeks greater participation from India.
‒ Therefore, the complex and nuanced India’s foreign policy should be assessed and the challenges and opportunities that
lie ahead in its relationship with the U.S. and other key global actors should be taken into account in each of India’s
association with the world powers.
Convergence between India & the US: The areas of convergence can be seen in their strategic partnership, particularly in the
areas of technology, defence industrial cooperation, and the Indo-Pacific partnership.
‒ The Indo-Pacific partnership: It is aimed at promoting security and economic growth, increasing trade and investment,
and enhancing connectivity in the region.
9 The partnership is based on the shared vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region that is respectful of the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.
9 The partnership involves a range of initiatives, including joint military exercises, information-sharing on security
issues, and collaboration on economic and infrastructure development projects.
9 One of the key objectives of the Indo-Pacific partnership is to counter the growing influence of China in the region.
9 The U.S. and India share concerns about China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea, its expanding military
presence in the region, and its efforts to establish economic dominance through its Belt and Road Initiative.
‒ The India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology: This was launched in 2022 and is expected to expand the
partnership between the two countries in the field of strategic technology and defence industrial cooperation.
‒ Diversifying Supply Chains away from China:
9 There has been a growing interest in diversifying supply chains away from China and towards India due to geopolitical
tensions, trade disputes, and concerns about over-reliance on a single country.
9 India’s growing consumer market and relatively low-cost labour force make it an attractive destination for U.S.
businesses looking to expand their customer base.
9 However, there are challenges to realigning supply chains to India, such as underdeveloped infrastructure, logistics,
and regulatory systems, as well as a complex legal and bureaucratic system.
‒ U.S.-India Strategic Energy Partnership: To address these challenges, the U.S. and Indian governments have taken steps
to promote closer economic ties and facilitate investment, such as the U.S.-India Strategic Energy Partnership launched
in 2020.
9 The partnership aims to enhance cooperation in areas such as energy security and access, and climate change.
‒ Other Areas of Engagement: Though India-U.S. relationship has had its ups and downs over time, there have been some
key moments in their ties such as the nuclear deal, liberalisation of markets, and outsourcing of Indian tech workers to
the U.S.
9 Indian Americans are among the most successful immigrant groups in the U.S.
9 India can benefit from the knowledge, skills, and investment of the Indian diaspora in the U.S. to regain its global
position.
9 This could include leveraging the expertise of Indian American professionals in fields such as technology and finance,
as well as attracting investment from Indian American entrepreneurs and businesses.
‒ U.S.-aided Green Revolution: The article notes that the U.S. has played a significant role in India’s development in the
past, specifically through the U.S.-aided Green Revolution, which transformed India from a shortage economy to one
with surplus food.

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‒ Combating Climate Change: The United States and India have partnered to combat climate change through various
initiatives such as promoting the use of renewable energy, conducting joint research and development projects, and
investing in renewable energy infrastructure.
9 The two countries also agree on the significance of space technology in addressing global challenges.
HISTORICAL TRUST DEFICIT BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS:
The article highlights the historical trust deficit between India and the U.S.
India is of the view that the U.S. has not always been supportive and has instead favored Pakistan.
The recent American pull-out from Afghanistan has also raised doubts about the U.S. as a trusted partner.
On the other hand, the U.S. has raised concerns about terrorism, human rights, and democracy in India.
Despite these challenges, there is a need to take the relationship forward constructively, look for positive areas of collaboration,
and make the partnership reach its full potential.
INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS
CONTEXT:
During the recently concluded meeting of the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific,
Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), both countries agreed to work towards unlocking the full potential of their
economic engagement, including addressing trade deficit and market access issues.
INTRODUCTION TO INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS
Bilateral ties with Russia are a key pillar of India’s foreign policy.
India sees Russia as a longstanding and time-tested friend that has played a significant role in its economic development and
security.
This longstanding and time-tested partnership is chiefly driven by shared interests of multilateralism; and global peace and
prosperity. It follows the principles of:
‒ Mutual trust;
‒ Respect for each other’s territorial integrity and core national interests, and
‒ Alignment of interests on the most critical international and regional issues of war and peace.
BRIEF EVOLUTION OF INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS

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MAJOR AREAS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN INDIA AND RUSSIA
Defence Russia is a major supplier of defense items to Indian armed forces and both nations are in joint research,
and security development and production of advanced defence items.
cooperation According to the latest SIPRI’s International Arms Transfers 2022 report, Russia continues to be India’s largest
arms supplier.
In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile
systems.
Both countries regularly conduct the Tri-Services exercise ‘INDRA‘.
Trade and Bilateral trade between India and Russia touched $25 billion (2022) on account of increased purchase of
Economic discounted oil from Russia.
Cooperation Bilateral investments between the two countries reached US$30 billion in 2018
Multilateral Russia supports India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and membership of Nuclear
Cooperation Suppliers Group (NSG).
Also, both nations have an active engagement at:
‒ International/Multilateral Organizations (e.g., BRICS and SCO).
‒ Connectivity projects such as INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) etc.
It helps to act decisively against international terrorism and cooperate on matters such as drug trafficking, issues
in Afghanistan etc.
Other Areas of Nuclear Energy: Russia is an important partner for India in the area of peaceful use of nuclear energy. It recognizes
Cooperation India as a country with advanced nuclear technology with an impeccable non-proliferation record.
‒ Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is being built in India.
‒ Both India and Russia are implementing Rooppur Nuclear Power Project in Bangladesh
Space Cooperation: Russia has supported India’s space programme since its early days.
‒ The Soviet Union launched India’s first unmanned satellite Aryabhata in 1975.
‒ Today, Russia is supporting India’s 1st manned space mission ‘Gaganyaan’.
Science and Technology: India-Russia relationship extends to the field of basic sciences as well including Russian-
Indian Network (RIN) of Universities, Arctic and Antarctic research etc.
CHALLENGES TO INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP
OTHER POTENTIAL AREAS OF COOPERATION FOR INDIA-RUSSIA

India and Russia will have to diversify their areas of cooperation beyond energy and defence. The trade relationship remains
weak and needs active intervention to take advantage of policies like ‘Make in India’.

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India can also be of help to Russia in providing manpower for engaging in activities like agriculture, and construction, without
engaging in permanent settlement.
‒ Given that the situation is particularly acute in the Russian Far East, which has a population of only six million and faces
steady out-migration, India can provide a solution to the demographic problem apart from being a partner in investing in
energy and other projects in the region.
An increase in bilateral cooperation between private sector companies of India and Russia, especially in new-age technologies
can be a potential area of cooperation.
The micro, small and medium enterprises should also be encouraged to look at Russia to promote bilateral trade links.
CONCLUSION:
India and Russia’s relationship cannot flourish on defence and historical linkages alone. With systemic changes underway in
international relations, new dimensions of cooperation need to be found to build a strong economic and strategic partnership.
INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS
CONTEXT:
There have been recent efforts for reviving a stalled agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir that was to be signed by
then-Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, and the Pakistan President General Musharraf.
ABOUT THE LOC AGREEMENT:
This agreement between India and Pakistan seeks to establish a “normal border” between the two countries without redrawing
their existing borders.
Objective of the Agreement:
‒ This agreement includes a set of guidelines for any settlement between the two countries, such as a free flow of trade,
ending cross-border terrorism, respect for human rights, and reducing military presence on both sides of the Line of
Control (LoC) in Kashmir.
‒ The idea behind this agreement is that the LoC should be respected like any other normal border between two countries.
Hardships in resolving India-Pakistan Conflict: There are a number of challenges and obstacles that stand in the way of
achieving a resolution between India and Pakistan, particularly in regards to the proposed agreement on a “normal border”
between the two countries.
‒ Many of the key players involved in the talks from 2003-2008 have either passed away or are no longer in power, which
makes it difficult to revive the process.
‒ Additionally, a series of terror attacks, such as the ones in Mumbai, Pathankot, and Pulwama, have created a sense of
mistrust and made it difficult for India to engage in any dialogue with Pakistan.
‒ Furthermore, the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian Government has caused certain hindrances in the
restoration of ties.
‒ As a result, there is currently no political contact, trade, or direct travel links between the two countries, and no High
Commissioners in each other’s countries, which further exacerbates the challenges in resolving the conflict.
Back Channel Diplomacy:
‒ The back-channel focuses on preventing hostilities between the two countries, and has been used in various instances
such as the post-Balakot downing of an Indian Air Force pilot in Pakistan in 2019, the LoC ceasefire agreement of 2021,
and the aftermath of a live missile accidentally launched into Pakistan by the Indian Air Force in March 2022.
‒ The back-channel plays a significant role in preventing escalations and hostilities between India and Pakistan, and shows
that despite the lack of official engagement between the two countries, there are still channels of communication and
efforts to maintain peace.
Suggested solutions to Restore Normalcy:
‒ Corridors of Engagement: In 2018, the ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor was held following the government of India’s
approval to open a visa-free corridor for Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. The corridor is
a good confidence-building measure between the two countries and would improve people to people contacts.

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9 “Sharda Peeth Corridor”and other additional corridors between the two nations can enhance people-people
engagement.
‒ Holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir, reappointing High Commissioners, and restoring visas and people-to-people
ties between the two countries.
‒ Revisiting a nearly-ready agreement that was legally vetted 15 years ago.
‒ Pakistan’s severed trade and travel links shall be revived through negotiations and agreements.
‒ A settlement based on the idea of the Line of Control being respected like a normal border between the two countries,
which was proposed in the earlier agreement, should be made feasible.
‒ Radical measures such as arrests of political and civil society leaders, internet bans, and human rights violations in the
strategically sensitive area should be under control.
‒ Ending cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, which has caused suffering for the people of Jammu and Kashmir for
decades, including the Kashmiri Pandit community.
‒ Any military operation by either India or Pakistan to reclaim the other side should be avoided and “status quo” has to be
maintained to avoid a two-front military engagement and a possible threat from China at the Line of Actual Control that
is more likely to continue to be India’s bigger challenge.
‒ A bilateral agreement enforcing all the above should be signed by both sides.
UNDERSTANDING BASICS:
Line of Control:
The Line of Control (LoC) is a military control line that separates the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and
Kashmir from the Pakistan-administered area of Gilgit-Baltistan.
It came into existence after the first India-Pakistan war in 1947-48, when the UN brokered a ceasefire agreement between
the two countries.
The ceasefire line was later designated as the LoC in 1972 after the Shimla Agreement, which was signed by the Indian and
Pakistani governments.
Shimla Agreement:
The Shimla Agreement, signed in 1972 between India and Pakistan, aimed at resolving the conflict between the two countries over the
state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The agreement was signed by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after the 1971 Indo-
Pakistan war that resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.
Key provisions of the Shimla Agreement included:
‒ The designation of the ceasefire line of December 17, 1971, as the new “Line-of-Control (LoC)” between the two countries, which
neither side is to seek to alter unilaterally.
‒ The agreement also called for both countries to put an end to the conflict and confrontation and work towards establishing a
durable peace in the subcontinent.
‒ It stated that any disputes between India and Pakistan would be settled by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations.
CEASEFIRE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN ON LOC:

Since independence, there have been several ceasefire agreements between India and Pakistan relating to the LoC.
Karachi Agreement: The first such agreement was signed on January 1, 1949, between India and Pakistan, which established
a ceasefire line that was supervised by the UN. The ceasefire agreement included provisions for a plebiscite to be held in
Jammu and Kashmir to determine its future status.
Tashkent Declaration: In 1965, India and Pakistan fought their second war over Kashmir, which ended in a UN-mandated
ceasefire. The Tashkent Declaration was signed in 1966 to restore diplomatic and economic relations between the two
countries and to withdraw to pre-war lines.
Shimla Agreement: In 1971, India and Pakistan fought their third war over East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and the Shimla
Agreement was signed in 1972 to establish the LoC as a permanent ceasefire line between the two countries.

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Lahore Declaration: In 1999, the Kargil War was fought between India and Pakistan along the LoC. The conflict was resolved
with the intervention of the international community, and the two countries signed the Lahore Declaration in February 1999,
pledging to resolve all issues including Kashmir through dialogue.
Ceasefire Agreement of 2003: The agreement prohibits ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary, and
includes mechanisms for communication and coordination between the military authorities of the two countries.
OTHER AREAS OF FRICTION BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN:
Indus Water Treaty: It is an agreement between India and Pakistan that was signed in 1960 with the intervention of the World
Bank.
‒ It allocated three western rivers (Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus) to Pakistan, while India was given control over the three
eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej).
‒ Dissatisfaction with IWT:
9 India’s view is that IWT prevents the country from building any storage systems on the western rivers and that
9 Pakistan’s view is that it objects to Indian claims of not utilizing the share of water in Western rivers, and that
construction of storage dams would not abrogate the treaty.
Cross Border Terrorism:
‒ International Sanctions and Terrorist Groups: India has attempted to have leaders of the terrorist groups put on the UN
list of proscribed terrorists, but China has blocked this designation with a technical hold.
‒ Terrorist Attacks: The Mumbai attack of 2008, Pathankot Airbase Attack in 2016, the Uri attack are all instances of deadly
terror attacks.
Sir Creek Dispute: Sir Creek is a strip of water that spans across 96 km in the Rann of Kutch marshlands, disputed between
India and Pakistan.
‒ The dispute lies in the interpretation of the maritime boundary line between Kutch and Sindh.
‒ Before India’s independence, the region was a part of the Bombay Presidency of British India. But after India’s independence
in 1947, Sindh became a part of Pakistan while Kutch remained a part of India.
‒ Pakistan claims the entire creek while India claims that the boundary lies midchannel.
‒ Sir Creek is considered to be among the richest fishing grounds in Asia. Additionally, there is a possibility of great oil and
gas concentrations under the sea, which are currently unexploited due to the deadlock on the issue.
Dispute over Siachen:
‒ The dispute over the Siachen glacier and the adjoining areas between India and Pakistan is primarily due to their divergent
positions.
‒ The ceasefire line, established in an agreement after the 1947-1948 war, did not provide a clear delineation beyond grid
reference NJ9842.
‒ While Pakistan interprets this as a line proceeding straight to the Karakoram pass on the Sino-lndian border, India insists
that it should proceed north along the Saltoro range to the border with China.
CPEC: The route passes through the disputed Kashmir region, which is under illegal occupation by Pakistan. India’s opposition
to CPEC reflects a concern over the internationalisation of the Kashmir dispute, the growing influence of China in the Indian
Ocean, and the sovereignty issue.
AREAS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
Commercial Relations: The commercial relations between India and Pakistan are significantly affected by the changing
political environment.
‒ The main items of export from India to Pakistan include cotton, organic chemicals, machinery, food products including
prepared animal fodder, vegetables, plastic articles, man-made filament, coffee, tea and spices, dyes, oil seeds and olea,
etc.
‒ On the other hand, the main items of import by India from Pakistan are copper and copper articles, fruits and nuts,
cotton, salt, sulphur and earths and stones, organic chemicals, mineral fuels, rubber plastic products, wool, etc.
People-to-People Contacts:

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‒ The revised Visa Agreement of September 2012 has led to the liberalization of the existing bilateral visa regime and
resulted in increased people-to-people contact.
‒ This Agreement has liberalized provisions concerning “Business Visas”.
‒ It introduced “Visa on Arrival” at Attari/Wagah border for nationals above 65 years of age and “Group Tourist Visa”.
‒ The new provisions allow bonafide business persons Visas with multiple entries and travel in India up to 10 cities for
business purposes.
‒ Additionally, the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor was held in November 2018 following the Indian
government’s approval to open a visa-free corridor for Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.
INDIA-SCO
CONTEXT:
The Chinese and Russian defence ministers have recently attended a ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
(SCO) in Delhi.
MORE ON THE NEWS:
India is currently chairing the forum (rotating presidency), and this meeting will provide an opportunity for India to discuss a
range of bilateral issues with other SCO members, including the ongoing border confrontation with China and Russia’s supply
of spares to their arms inventory amidst the war in Ukraine.
ABOUT SCO
Origin Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an intergovernmental organisation established on June 15, 2001 in
Shanghai, China.
The Headquarters of SCO is located in Beijing. Official languages of SCO are Mandarin and Russian.
Objective SCO aims to form a multilateral association to ensure security and maintain stability across the Eurasian region, come
together to counteract emerging challenges and threats, and enhance trade, as well as cultural and humanitarian
cooperation.
Members China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan. India is currently the chair of SCO.
Observers Afghanistan, Iran, Belarus, and Mongolia. The process of granting Iran “Member State” status has already been
started.
Dialogue Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt will also be granted the
partners status soon.
Functions of The primary function of SCO is to address security-related concerns, with special focus on regional terrorism, ethnic
SCO separatism and religious extremism at the top.
Through Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which was founded in 2004, the SCO members share crucial
intelligence, knowledge, legal expertise as well as allow for extradition of terrorists.
SCO also has a form of military cooperation with Member States holding joint military exercises and ‘war games’.
SCO promotes cooperation in the fields of economics and culture, with focus on regional development for tackling
security issues.
SCO has closely worked with various UN organizations to address various serious global issues.
Structure Heads of State Council – It is the main body of SCO which decides its internal functioning and its interaction with other
States & international organisations, and considers international issues.
Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs – It is responsible for issues related to day-to-day activities.
Heads of Government Council – It is responsible for approving the budget, considers and decides upon issues related
to economic spheres of interaction within SCO.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) – It is responsible for combating terrorism, separatism and extremism.
‒ It facilitates coordination between the SCO member states in the fight against terrorism, extremism and
separatism.
‒ Headquarters of RATS is located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

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Miscellaneous The SCO states make up 40%of the global population, nearly 20% of the global GDP and 22% of the world’s land
mass.
It is located at a strategic point between Asia and Europe. SCO aims to limit the American influence in the region.
It is being seen as a counterweight to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
GEOPOLITICAL EVOLUTION OF SCO:

SCO was jointly founded and nurtured by China and Russia over the last three decades.
Most Demanded Forum for Regional Cooperation: The SCO is experiencing a high level of demand for membership, which
could be considered a measure of its success as a regional forum.
‒ It has been observed that long lines of countries are seeking membership at the doors of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) and the SCO.
‒ There has been growing interest of countries in Central Europe, India’s neighborhood, the Middle East, and the
Subcontinent in joining or becoming observers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
‒ Several countries are queuing up to join or become observers, including Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia.
‒ Countries, such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates from the Middle
East, and Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka from the Subcontinent, have expressed interest in becoming dialogue partners
of the SCO.
‒ The countries are looking to engage more closely with each other on regional issues, including security, trade, and
development.
‒ This underscores the organization’s growing significance as a regional forum for cooperation and dialogue.
More Inclusive in Nature: It is argued that SCO is more inclusive than NATO, and that its growing attractiveness is indicative
of the rise of non-Western security institutions.
‒ Turkey, a long-standing member of NATO, has expressed interest in becoming part of the SCO, which is led by Russia and
China, two countries that are currently at odds with the West.
9 This suggests a shift in global power dynamics and a growing recognition of the importance of non-Western institutions
in addressing regional and global security challenges.
9 This will have potential geopolitical implications for the United States and its allies, which have traditionally dominated
the global security landscape.
CHALLENGES OF SCO
‒ Internal Conflict: There are internal conflicts within the SCO.
9 For Instance, serious conflicts exist between India and China, Delhi and Islamabad, as well as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,
deepening tensions between the Taliban-led Afghanistan and Pakistan.
9 Despite these conflicts, counter-terrorism has been the primary focus of the SCO for many years.
‒ Differing Interests and Vision: While the SCO is becoming increasingly attractive to a growing number of regional states,
the paradox is that its internal contradictions are casting a shadow over its strategic coherence.
9 This means that while the SCO has potential as a regional forum, its member states have competing interests and
differing visions for the organization’s future.
9 These contradictions are creating challenges for the SCO’s strategic direction and coherence, which could undermine
its effectiveness in addressing regional issues.
9 SCO faces a number of challenges in promoting peace in Eurasia, which happens to be one of its main objectives.
Russia’s involvement in the war in Ukraine is raising concerns about the ability to maintain its dominance in the region.
9 At the same time, China’s rise is increasing the prospects for Beijing to become the dominant force in inner Asia,
potentially challenging Russia’s traditional influence in the region.
These factors create a complex and dynamic geopolitical environment in which the SCO operates, and they could have implications
for the organization’s ability to achieve its objectives.

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‒ Non-Satisfactory course of Dispute Resolution: Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has recognized the importance
of preventing conflicts within and between its member states and partner countries.
9 However, the organization’s track record in this regard has not been impressive.
For example,
9 In the case of Afghanistan, the SCO’s efforts to stabilize the country have not been successful. Despite SCO’s ambition
to become a regional security arbiter, it was a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Taliban that
ultimately changed the course of the conflict in Afghanistan.
9 During the internal upheaval in Kazakhstan in 2022, it was not the SCO that intervened to stabilize the situation, but
rather the Russian army.
9 Similar is the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which did not see the intervention of SCO.
IMPORTANCE OF SCO FOR INDIA:
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an important platform for India to pursue its policy of “multi-alignments.” India’s
strategic and geographical position makes it important to have a strong presence in this region, which is closely linked to its
security, economic, and geopolitical interests.
Counter-terrorism and Security: India faces threats from terrorism, radicalism, and instability that pose a significant danger
to its sovereignty and integrity.
‒ As a member of the SCO, India has access to intelligence and information from the Regional Anti-Terror Structure (RATS),
based in Tashkent.
‒ This access provides non-Pakistan-centred counter-terrorism information, which is vital to ensuring a stable Afghanistan.
Transportation and Connectivity: India is building the International North-South Transport Corridor to connect with South
Asian states, which is vital for accessing the landlocked states of Central Asia, especially the doubly landlocked Uzbekistan. The
SCO membership will facilitate better transportation and connectivity between India and the Central Asian region.
Energy and Natural Resources: Central Asia is rich in natural resources and minerals, and India’s major interest is in energy
cooperation. However, India will need to address an assertive China’s Belt and Road Initiative to access these resources.
Pan-Asian Leadership: SCO membership provides India with an opportunity to become a major pan-Asian player, which
is currently limited to the South Asian region. India can build stronger ties with countries in the region, enhancing trade,
investment, policy, security, connectivity, capacity development, and the economy.
INDIA’S VIEW:
India’s engagement with the SCO over the years has been based on the understanding that Russia is the dominant power in
the region and that Moscow supports India’s regional interests.
India sees a strong and independent Russia as critical for maintaining the balance of power in inner Asia.
However, India is not in a position to ensure that Moscow remains strategically independent from Beijing, as this depends on
Russia’s own strategic choices.
Given China’s growing influence in the region, India’s challenge in the SCO now is to protect its own interests amidst a
changing power dynamic that increasingly favours China.
This challenge is made more difficult by the fact that India does not have direct geographic access to the landlocked region.
Despite these challenges, India must continue to engage with the SCO and pursue its interests in the region, as the organisation
plays an important role in shaping the political and economic landscape of Central Asia.
INDIA-BHUTAN RELATIONS
CONTEXT:
Bhutan King Jigme Wangchuk commenced his 3-day visit to India aimed at strengthening bilateral engagement.
KEY OUTCOMES OF THE VISIT:
India would step up its support for Bhutan’s upcoming 13th five-year plan.

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India will also work to extend an additional standby credit facility and shape long-term sustainable arrangements for the
export of agricultural commodities from Bhutan.
Both countries are examining and considering setting up the first Integrated Check Post along the India-Bhutan border, which
would be near Jaigaon.
India and Bhutan will also expedite the proposed Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link project through Government of India support in
consultation with the Bhutanese side.
The Indian government has agreed to a long-pending demand from Bhutan to increase the power tariffs for the Chhukha
hydro-electric project, which began operations with India’s help in 1986.
India has also agreed to discuss buying power from the Basochhu hydel project that was built with Austrian support in 2008.
Also, the two sides would try to expedite the long pending negotiations on the reservoir-based 2,500 MW Sankosh hydel
project, which has been stuck for decades over environmental and cost concerns.
What is the significance of Bhutan to India?

Economic significance: India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner and
Bhutan provides a market for Indian commodities and is a destination
for Indian investment.
Strategic significance: Bhutan is important to India as a buffer state
as it acts as a defence against China by protecting the chicken neck
corridor.
Energy security: Bhutan is a source of hydroelectric power for India,
with most of its power exports going to India.
Cultural significance: India and Bhutan share a deep socio-cultural
connection due to their shared history, principles of Buddhism, and
cultural exchanges.
Significance of India to Bhutan
Economic Support: India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner and provides significant economic support.
Security: India has been playing a crucial role in ensuring the security of Bhutan. For instance, India’s military helps secure Bhutan’s
borders, and India has helped Bhutan in countering insurgent groups.
Diplomatic Support: India has been a strong diplomatic supporter of Bhutan. India has helped Bhutan in its international engagements,
and India’s support has been essential in ensuring Bhutan’s sovereignty.
Socio-economic development: India has been extending assistance to Bhutan’s socio-economic development since the early 1960s,
including multi-sectoral project-tied assistance, small development projects, and direct budgetary support.
BACKGROUND ON INDIA - BHUTAN RELATIONS

Treaty of Friendship: The basic framework of India-Bhutan relations is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in
1949 between the two countries.
‒ It called for peace between the two nations and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.
Diplomatic relations: Formal diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan were established in 1968 with the establishment
of a special office of India in Thimphu.
New friendship treaty: India re-negotiated the 1949 treaty with Bhutan and signed a new treaty of friendship in 2007.
‒ The new treaty replaced the provision requiring Bhutan to take India’s guidance on foreign policy with broader sovereignty
and not require Bhutan to obtain India’s permission over arms imports.
AREAS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN INDIA AND BHUTAN
Trade The trade between the two countries is governed by the India Bhutan Trade and Transit Agreement 1972 which was
last renewed in November 2016.
India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner. Major exports from India to Bhutan are mineral products, machinery,
electrical equipment etc. whereas major items of import from Bhutan are electricity, ferrosilicon, Portland cement
etc.

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Development India has provided significant development assistance to Bhutan, including the construction of infrastructure such
cooperation as roads, bridges, and hospitals.
Since the launch of the 1st Five Year Plan (FYP) of Bhutan in 1961, India has been extending financial support. India
has allotted Rs 4500 crore to Bhutan’s 12th FYP.
Hydropower India and Bhutan have cooperated on several hydropower projects, including the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I and
the 720 MW Mangdechhu hydropower projects.
India is the largest market for Bhutanese hydropower, and Bhutan currently exports about 80% of its hydropower
to India.
Educational A large number of Bhutanese students’ study in India. The Government of India provides a number of scholarships
and Cultural to Bhutanese students.
Cooperation Regular cultural exchanges take place between the two countries. One of the basic objectives of India Bhutan
Foundation established in 2003 is to enhance people to people exchange in the cultural field.
Security India provides assistance to Bhutan in border management and training for Bhutanese security forces.
There is also a Border District Coordination Meeting (BDCM) Mechanism between the bordering States and the
Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) to facilitate coordination on border management and other related matters.
Multilateral Both India and Bhutan are founding members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) that
Partnership deals with economic, social and cultural development of the South Asian Region.
Both of them also share other multilateral forums such as BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal), BIMSTEC
(Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) etc.
New Areas of Bhutan became the second country to launch the BHIM app, further deepening the financial linkages between our
Cooperation two countries.
Space cooperation has continued with the two countries collaborating on the development of a small satellite for
Bhutan.
Start-Up ecosystem: Both nations successfully linked up the Start-Up systems of our two countries via structured
workshops; through the National Knowledge Network & the Druk-REN connection.
Maitri Initiative: Bhutan is the first country to receive the Covishield vaccines under India’s Vaccine Maitri Initiative.
MAJOR CHALLENGES IN INDIA-BHUTAN RELATIONS
CHINA FACTOR AND INDIA–BHUTAN RELATIONS

Growing presence of China in Bhutan:
‒ Bhutan has been traditionally cautious in its approach towards China and maintains a close relationship with India.
‒ However, in recent years, Bhutan has been trying to improve its relations with China due to its economic power.
‒ China has been providing economic assistance to Bhutan, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development,
agriculture, and tourism.

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‒ In 2020, the two countries signed an agreement to establish a sister city relationship between Xining, the capital of
Qinghai province in China, and Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.
‒ In recent years, there has been an increase in people-to-people ties between China and Bhutan, with more Bhutanese
students studying in China and Chinese tourists visiting Bhutan.
Implications of China –Bhutan relations on India:
‒ Strategic implications: China’s increasing influence in Bhutan could potentially provide it with a strategic advantage in the
region and pose a threat to India’s security and strategic interests
‒ Economic implications: China’s growing economic influence in Bhutan could also lead to China gaining access to Bhutan’s
natural resources, which could pose a challenge to India’s energy security.
‒ Border disputes: If China gains more influence in Bhutan, it could lead to territorial disputes between Bhutan and China,
which could directly impact India’s border security.
‒ Regional power shift: China’s increasing influence in Bhutan could lead to a shift in the regional power dynamics and
potentially impact India’s role in the region.
WAY FORWARD:
Strengthening Economic Ties: India and Bhutan can work towards enhancing economic cooperation by promoting bilateral
trade and investments in various sectors.
Address China’s concerns: India can try to address some of China’s concerns
regarding its presence in the region, such as by promoting transparency and
dialogue in its engagement with Bhutan and other countries in the neighbourhood.
Resolving Boundary Issues: India and Bhutan should work towards resolving
their boundary issues through peaceful means, which will enhance the trust and
confidence between the two countries.
Use multilateral platforms: India can use multilateral platforms such as the
BRICS and the SCO to engage with China on issues related to the region and work
towards finding mutually acceptable solutions.
Improving Connectivity: India can help Bhutan in improving its connectivity by
providing better road and rail links. This will help in boosting trade and tourism
between the two countries.
Enhancing Defense Cooperation: India and Bhutan can work towards enhancing
their defense cooperation by increasing the frequency of joint military exercises
and training programs.
Addressing Environmental Concerns: India and Bhutan can collaborate on
environmental issues by sharing their knowledge and expertise on sustainable
development. India can also help Bhutan in addressing its concerns over climate
change and natural disasters.
Promoting People-to-People Contact: To strengthen the cultural bond between
the two countries, there should be more exchanges of students, academicians,
and cultural groups between India and Bhutan. This will help in promoting mutual
understanding and respect between the two countries.
INDIA AND NATO

CONTEXT
The US ambassador to NATO has confirmed that there was an “informal exchange”
regarding India-NATO cooperation with Indian counterparts on the sidelines of
Raisina Dialogue and has stated that NATO is “open” to deepening ties with India.

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ABOUT THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO)

Establishment: NATO was formed in 1949 with the aim of acting as a deterrent to the threat of Soviet expansion in Europe
after World War II.
‒ The Washington Treaty – or North Atlantic Treaty – forms the basis of NATO.
Purpose: The organization acts as a collective security alliance with the aim of providing mutual defense through military and
political means if a member state is threatened by an external country. (Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty).
Founders: Its 12 founding members are the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland,
Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal.
Story of NATO Expansion:
‒ The Soviet Union responded to NATO by creating its own military alliance with seven other Eastern European communist
states in 1955, dubbed the Warsaw Pact.
‒ But after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, a number of former Warsaw Pact countries became NATO members.
This includes Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia among others.
‒ The most recent additions were North Macedonia in 2020 and Finland in 2023, bringing the total number of NATO
member states to 31.
NATO’s Open-door policy (Article 10 of the treaty): It enables any European country that can enhance and contribute to the
security of the North Atlantic area to join the alliance.
Major Non-NATO Ally Status: It is a designation given by the US government to close allies that have strategic working
relationships with the US Armed Forces but are not members of NATO.
‒ The US has designated 30 other countries including Japan, South Korea, Japan, Israel etc. as major non-NATO allies.
‒ The status confers a variety of military and financial advantages such as participation in defence research projects and
counter-terrorism initiatives, buy depleted uranium ammunition etc. that otherwise are not obtainable by non-NATO
countries.
ABOUT NATO MEMBERSHIP
Minimum requirements for acquiring NATO membership:
Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty prescribes the following
as requirements for joining NATO as a member:
‒ New members must uphold democracy, including
tolerating diversity.
‒ New members must be making progress toward a market
economy.
‒ Their military forces must be under firm civilian control.
‒ They must be good neighbors and respect sovereignty
outside their borders.
‒ They must be working toward compatibility with NATO
forces.
Procedure for acquiring membership: NATO membership
normally involves a long process, and it requires unanimous
approval, which equals the approval of all 31 existing allied
countries.
Benefits of acquiring NATO membership for a country:
‒ Security: NATO provides a collective defense system that
can deter potential threats and protect member countries
from aggression.
‒ Enhanced military capabilities: NATO membership offers
access to advanced military technology, training, and joint
exercises with other member countries, which enhances a
country’s military capabilities and readiness.

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‒ Political influence: Being a NATO member can provide a country with a stronger voice on the international stage and a
greater say in global security and defense matters.
NATO’S ‘COLLECTIVE DEFENSE MECHANISM’?
Article 5: The principle of collective defence is at the very heart of NATO’s founding treaty. It is enshrined in Article 5 of the
Washington Treaty.
Meaning: Collective defence means that an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies.
Instances where it was used?
‒ NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time in its history after the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States.
‒ NATO has taken collective defence measures on several occasions, including in response to the situation in Syria and the
Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Standing forces: NATO has a number of standing forces on active duty that contribute to the Alliance’s collective defence on
a permanent basis.
‒ These include NATO’s four standing maritime group fleets, which are ready to act when called upon.
‒ Additionally, NATO has an integrated air defence system that links national air defence capabilities together and includes
the Alliance’s ballistic missile defence capabilities.
Troops and Equipment: When the Alliance collectively decides to conduct an operation, it asks Allies for troops and equipment
to be placed under NATO command.
INDIA’S ENGAGEMENT WITH NATO
Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD): In September 2011, NATO invited India to be a partner in its BMD system. This was the first
time that India was invited to participate in a NATO initiative.
‒ However, India did not accept the invitation and expressed concerns over its impact on India’s strategic autonomy and its
relations with other countries, particularly Russia.
First political dialogue: New Delhi held its first political dialogue with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Brussels
on December 12, 2019. Significance of this dialogue includes:
‒ Strengthening diplomatic ties: The talks signify India’s efforts to strengthen its diplomatic ties with NATO, which is a
crucial security alliance in the Euro-Atlantic region.
‒ Countering China and Pakistan: The talks hold significance given that NATO has been engaging both China and Pakistan in
bilateral dialogue. India’s engagement with NATO can help counterbalance China and Pakistan’s influence in the alliance.
‒ Balance in NATO’s perception: Engaging NATO in a political dialogue would provide India with an opportunity to bring
about a balance in NATO’s perceptions about the situation in regions and issues of concern to India.
PERSPECTIVE ON EXTENDING NATO’S MEMBERSHIP TO INDIA
Arguments favouring India-NATO alliance Arguments against India-NATO alliance

Convergence on many issues: There was a convergence in the Divergence on issues: India does not share a common ground
perspectives of both India and NATO on China, terrorism, and with NATO on Russia and the Taliban. Also, NATO’s views on
Afghanistan, including Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan. China are mixed.
Newer perspective of Non-Alignment: India’s refusal to join Endangering Relations with Russia: By becoming a NATO
any military bloc at the time of freedom was based on non- member, India’s long-standing and strong ties with Russia may
alignment, but after the end of the cold-war during 1989-91 the get deteriorated.
situation changed. NATO has also built partnerships with many Threat to Sovereignty: An alliance with NATO might ask for the
neutral and non-aligned. establishment of NATO bases on India’s territory and it may
Creation of Deterrence: NATO’s collective defence mechanism even be considered an infringement of our sovereignty.
would create deterrence for China and Pakistan to attack India. Conflict within NATO: NATO members have often found divided
Military-Strategic Benefits: India would derive military-strategic on how to share the military burden. Further, NATO members
benefits from a partnership with the world’s most powerful have also been found to disagree on policies related to Russia,
alliance. the Middle East, and China.

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RELEVANCE OF NATO IN THE CONTEMPORARY TIMES

To deal with emerging threats: NATO’s core mission of collective defense remains highly relevant in the contemporary
geopolitical landscape, as global security threats such as terrorism, cyber-attacks, and hybrid warfare continue to evolve.
Crisis management: The alliance has played a critical role in managing crises and conflicts around the world, including in
Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq.
Response to COVID: NATO responded to the COVID- 19 crisis by protecting military personnel, facilitating the airlift of critical
medical supplies, and harnessing resources to deliver innovative responses.

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ECONOMICS
ROLE OF SEBI
CONTEXT
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) unveiled its new logo at a ceremony marking the regulatory body’s 35th
foundation day.
SEBI:
‒ Establishment: The Securities and Exchange Board of India was established as a statutory body in the year 1992.
9 The provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 came into force on January 30, 1992.
‒ History: Before SEBI came into existence, Controller of Capital Issues was the regulatory authority; it derived authority
from the Capital Issues (Control) Act, 1947.
9 In 1988, SEBI was constituted as the regulator of capital markets in India.
9 Initially, SEBI was a non-statutory body without any statutory power.
9 Following the passage of the SEBI Act by Parliament in 1992, it was given autonomous and statutory powers.
‒ Structure: SEBI Board consists of a Chairman and several other whole time and part time members.
9 SEBI also appoints various committees, whenever required to look into the pressing issues of that time.
New Logo of SEBI

SEBI’s new logo seeks to reflect the unique combination of rich traditions of SEBI and new data and technology based approach to all the
three areas of its mandate in the securities market - development and regulation of the securities market and investor protection.
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF SEBI:

‒ It is the regulator of the securities and commodity market in India owned by the Government of India.
‒ It is a quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial body which can draft regulations, conduct inquiries, pass rulings and impose
penalties.
‒ It aims to:
9 To protect the interests of Indian investors in the securities market.
9 To promote the development and hassle-free functioning of the securities market.
9 To regulate the business operations of the securities market.
‒ SEBI has powers to regulate any pooling of funds for investments aggregating Rs 100 crore or more by an individual or a
company.

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‒ Chairman SEBI has powers to authorize the carrying out of search and seizure operations.
‒ SEBI also aims to check fraudulence by harmonising its statutory regulations and self-regulating business.
‒ It also enables a competitive professional market for intermediaries.
‒ SEBI provides a marketplace in which the issuers can increase finance properly.
‒ It also ensures safety and supply of precise and accurate information from the investors.
‒ SEBI analyses the trading of stocks and saves the security market from the malpractices.
‒ It controls the stockbrokers and sub- stockbrokers.
‒ It provides education regarding the market to the investors to enhance their knowledge.
Securities Appellate Tribunal:

‒ Securities Appellate Tribunal is a statutory body established under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.
‒ Its main function is to hear and dispose of appeals against orders passed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
‒ The Tribunal has the same powers as are vested in a civil court.
‒ Person aggrieved by any order or decision of Securities Appellate Tribunal can file an appeal to the supreme court.
CHALLENGES FACED BY SEBI:
‒ SEBI as a regulator fuses the three branches of the legislative, executive and judicial. This has created a tremendous
concentration of power and financial firms fear to challenge the regulator.
‒ Also, the SEBI Board lacks a majority of independent directors, which could be a countervailing force.
‒ Punishments are often being imposed without the basic process of an investigation and a hearing.
9 The punishment of stopping financial markets activity imposes high costs upon different firms, and has been a choice
as it helps SEBI staff avoid the work of quantifying the harm caused.
9 The arbitrary power wielded in the executive and quasi-judicial functions at SEBI is inconsistent with a liberal
democracy.
‒ SEBI’s statutory enforcement powers are greater than its counterparts in the US and the UK as it is armed with far greater
power to inflict serious economic injury.
‒ It can impose serious restraints on economic activity, this is done based on suspicion, leaving it to those affected to
shoulder the burden of disproving the suspicion, somewhat like preventive detention.

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‒ The component of prior consultation with the market and a system of review of regulations to see if they have met the
articulated purpose is substantially missing. As a result, the fear of the regulator is widespread.
‒ Regulation, either rules or enforcement, is far from perfect, particularly in areas like insider trading.
‒ The Securities offering documents are extraordinarily bulky and have substantially been reduced to formal compliance
rather than resulting in substantive disclosures of high quality.
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS:
‒ There is need of an attitudinal change, indeed, hundreds of inputs about the market being full of crooks necessitating a
crackdown and severe intervention would be received.
‒ The foremost objective of SEBI should be cleaning up the policy space in this area of the market.
‒ SEBI must give special attention to human resources and matters within the organization. SEBI must encourage lateral
entry to draw the best talent.
‒ Enforcement can be strengthened with continuous monitoring and improving market intelligence.
‒ India’s financial markets are still segmented. One regulator can’t be blamed for another’s failure when the remit over a
financial product overlaps.
‒ In this context, a unified financial regulator makes eminent sense to remove both overlap and excluded boundaries.
RBI KEEPS REPO RATE UNCHANGED

CONTEXT
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI),recently decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged
at 6.5% amid the global banking criris.
BACKGROUND
Repo Rate : The interest rate that the RBI charges when commercial banks borrow money from it is called the repo rate.
Reverse Repo Rate: The interest rate that the RBI pays commercial banks when they park their excess cash with the central
bank is called the reverse repo rate.
Impact of Repo Rate on Economy:
‒ Decrease in Repo Rate: When the RBI wants to encourage economic activity in the economy, it reduces the repo rates.
Doing this enables commercial banks such as the SBI to bring down the interest rates they charge (on their loans) as well
as the interest rate they pay on deposits. This, in turn, incentivises people to spend money, because keeping their savings
in the bank now pays back a little less, and businesses are incentivised to take new loans for new investments because
new loans now cost a little less as well.
‒ Increase in Repo Rate: RBI tries to control inflation in the economy by increasing the repo rate. By doing this, it makes
borrowing a costly affair for businesses and industries and this in turn slows down investment and money supply in the
market. It eventually and negatively impacts the growth of the economy, which helps in controlling inflation.
Sticky Inflation: Being sticky essentially means that inflation is taking longer than expected to fall. Essentially, higher food and
fuel prices make things costlier in an economy .
Disinflation: It is a temporary slowing of the pace of price inflation and is used to describe instances when the inflation rate
has reduced marginally over the short term.
After raising the Repo Rate in six consecutive policies, the RBI, in a surprise move, decided to pause its rate hike cycle amid
sticky inflation and rising concerns over global financial stability. It was widely expected that the RBI would raise the repo rate
by 25 bps and then go for a pause.
‒ Consequently the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate will remain unchanged at 6.25% and the marginal standing facility
(MSF) rate and the bank rate at 6.75%.
Reasons Behind Unchanged Repo Rate:
‒ Moderating Inflation: RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee has marginally lowered its inflation forecast for FY24 from 5.3%
to 5.2%. For the FY 2023, inflation was pegged at 6.5%.

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9 Government interventions have helped in arresting increasing inflation of cereals and products. Food inflation eased
to 4.79% in March 2023 from 5.95% in Feb 2023.
9 Inflation rate for milk and products eased marginally to 9.31% in March 2023 from 9.65% in February 2023.
9 Clothing and footwear inflation eased to 8.18% in March 2023 from 8.79% in Feb 2023 while fuel and light inflation
rate moderated to 8.91% from 9.9%.
9 The RBI’s latest inflation forecast assumes a crude oil price of $85 a barrel, down from $95 in February in 2023.
‒ Rise in GDP: The RBI has marginally raised its GDP growth projection for FY24 to 6.5% from earlier estimate of 6.4 %. This
means that the RBI now expects the Indian economy to grow by 6.5% during the financial year 2023-2024, which is slightly
higher than its previous projection.
‒ Global Banking Crisis.The failure of the US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, and Credit Suisse have
stirred concerns about the deeper problems in the global financial system.
9 Many Indian startups have relied on SVB for funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. SVB bankruptcy led
to a broader impact on the startup ecosystem in India.
9 It has caused a sell-off of banking stocks, and in India, it has led to a decline in the National Stock Exchange’s market
capitalisation indicating that investors are reducing their positions due to the US banking crisis.
9 A sell-off occurs when the price of an asset or security suddenly experiences a sharp decline.
9 The banking indices are facing selling pressure, which could lead to the depreciation of the Indian rupee. The flight of
money due to fear may lead to a reduction in capital inflow, which may have negative effects on the Indian economy.
9 The pause in Repo Rate by the RBI will ensure the growth of the economy. An increase in Repo Rate would have caused
a low demand amid already slowing consumption and low private investment.
Impact of Unchanged Repo Rate:
‒ Relief to Home Buyers: This measure is likely to provide much-needed relief to homebuyers who have been adversely
affected by inflation and increasing interest rates or loan tenures.
9 Higher interest rates discourage home buyers and they also lead to increased borrowing costs for developers thus
impacting project costs. As the repo rate remains unchanged, commercial banks may also keep their lending and
deposit rates relatively stable.
‒ Boost to Real Estate Sector: It will bolster the sentiment for property-buying and contribute to the expansion of the real
estate sector as the cost of financing for both developers and home buyers will not increase.
‒ High Return on Debt Funds: Investors in mutual funds, particularly those who invest in debt funds, can anticipate stronger
returns. Debt funds typically suffer losses when interest rates rise. Due to the inverse relationship between bond yields
and prices, bond prices decline as interest rates rise. In other words, when rates are rising, debt mutual funds give meagre
returns. The rewards are higher when the central bank keeps or lowers rates.
Other Important Monetary Policy Guideline:
‒ UPI To Now Allow Borrowers To Access Digital Credit Lines From Banks: RBI has allowed Credit Lines at Banks through
Unified Payments Interface( UPI).
9 A credit line is a preset borrowing limit that the borrower can use as and when needed, until the limit is reached. As
and when the borrowed money is repaid, it can be borrowed again from the available credit line. A credit line is similar
to a credit card, except that you don’t need to carry any plastic cards in this case.
9 At present, UPI transactions are enabled between deposit accounts at banks, sometimes intermediated by pre-paid
instruments, including wallets.
9 It is now proposed to expand the scope of UPI by enabling transfers to and from pre-sanctioned credit lines at banks,
in addition to deposit accounts.
9 The UPI network will facilitate payments financed by credit from banks. This can reduce the cost of such offerings and
help in the development of unique products for Indian markets.

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IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of RBI: The monetary policy committee is a six-member panel which sets the repo rate.
Repo rate acts as a benchmark for all other interest rates in the economy.
‒ Members of MPC: Out of the six members, three are external. They are appointed for a fixed four year term.
9 Among the three internal members, one is the RBI Governor who chairs the committee.
9 RBI’s deputy governor in charge of the monetary policy is the second internal member.
9 The third member is one RBI official who is nominated by the central board of RBI. The executive director in charge of
monetary policy is typically the third member.
‒ Meeting of MPC: According to the amended RBI Act, the MPC is required to meet at least four times in a year.
9 Once in every six months, the RBI is required to publish a document called the Monetary Policy Report to explain the
sources of inflation and the forecast of inflation for 6-18 months ahead.
Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): The SDF is a liquidity window through which the RBI will give banks an option to park excess
liquidity with it.It is different from the reverse repo facility in that it does not require banks to provide collateral while parking
funds.
Marginal standing facility (MSF): MSF is a window for banks to borrow from the Reserve Bank of India in an emergency
situation when interbank liquidity dries up completely.
INDIA’S LOGISTICS SECTOR

CONTEXT
India has improved its ranking on the World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index 2023 by six spots, now ranking at 38th out of 139
countries.
About the World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index (LPI) 2023

LPI is an interactive benchmarking tool for countries to identify challenges and opportunities in their trade logistics performance.
It comes out every two years (from 2010 to 2018); however, after the COVID-19 break, the report has been released now in 2023.
It measures the ease of establishing reliable supply chain connections and structural factors that make it possible, such as the quality
of logistics services, trade and transport-related infrastructure, as well as border controls.
The LPI 2023 allows for comparisons across 139 countries. The 2023 LPI for the first time measures the speed of trade with indicators
derived from big datasets tracking shipments.
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE INDEX

Top performers: Singapore and Finland.
India’s performance: India has significantly improved its
performance on the LPI, having climbed up the ranking
from 44th in 2018 to 38th in the 2023 listing.
‒ Furthermore, India’s ranking has improved drastically
since 2014, when it was placed in the 54th position on
the LPI.
Reasons behind the improvement in India’s performance:
‒ Investments in Soft Infrastructure: PM Gati Shakti
Scheme; National Logistics Policy; Cargo Tracking, use
of RFID.
‒ Investment in hard infrastructure: e.g., trade-related
infrastructure; reduction of delays in cargo tracking and
dwell times, etc.,
‒ Investment in Technology: Digitalization;
implementation of supply chain visibility platforms.

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SIGNIFICANCE OF LOGISTICS SECTOR IN INDIA

Economic contribution: According to the Logistics Skill Council, the Indian logistics sector is valued at $150 billion, contributing
14.4% of the country’s GDP.
Employment generation: The Indian logistics industry provides employment to more than 22 million people.
High growth potential: According to ICRA, the sector has grown at a CAGR of 7.8% during the last five years and is expected
to grow at 10.5% until 2025.
Export promotion: Improving the logistics sector in India would facilitate a 10% decrease in indirect logistics cost leading to a
growth of 5-8% in exports.
Multiplier effect: Leading industries such as automotive components, pharmaceuticals, cement, textiles, FMCG and
e-commerce depend hugely on warehousing and logistics.
Supply chain resiliency: A good logistics ecosystem leads to effective movement of goods and optimizes the efficiency of
supply chains.
To minimize agricultural wastage: India loses almost 16% of its agricultural output due to improper logistics and supply chain
limitations.
CHALLENGES OF LOGISTICS SECTOR IN INDIA
Infrastructural Overdependence on road transportation: Nearly 60% cargo moved by road and 32% by rail due to over-saturated
rail networks and high rail tariffs.
Inadequate infrastructure: Poor material handling infrastructure and fragmented warehousing, which results in
inventory piling up, and increased distribution and transportation costs.
High turnaround time for ships: The average turnaround time for ships across major ports in India is around 2.2
days, whereas the world average is 0.97 days, as per the UNCTAD.
High logistics cost: Logistics costs in the country are as high as 14% of GDP while it is 8.14% of GDP in US. High
logistics costs impact the profitability and competitiveness of the sector and will put the country’s manufacturers
at a disadvantage.
Administrative Multiple regulatory compliances: Different rules and regulations at different stages are enforced by national,
regional and local authorities. It causes time overruns and disruption in supply chains.
‒ For example, different land-use policies by different states, and multiple zonal permit laws.
Complicated tax regime: Multiple state and central tax compliances lead to considerable loss of time in transit on
roads due to which freight movement often gets delayed.
Structural Lack of formalization in the sector: The logistics industry in India is highly fragmented with a large number of
unorganized players. Only 10-15% of the sector is owned by organized players.
Absence of skilled labour: Lack of adequate training institutions has led to a shortfall in skilled management and
client service personnel.
Insufficient integration: Lack of integration in transport networks and poor integration with modern information
technology leading to inefficient use of resources, high cargo transit times and fleet management.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FOR INDIA’S LOGISTICS SECTOR

National Logistics Policy 2022: Government has unveiled National Logistics Policy (NLP) with the aim of promoting the
seamless movement of goods and enhancing the competitiveness of the industry.
‒ Three targets under NLP 2022:
9 First, to reduce the cost of logistics in India to be comparable to global benchmarks by 2030.
9 Second, improve the Logistics Performance Index ranking, to be among top 25 countries by 2030.
9 Third, create a data driven decision support mechanism for an efficient logistics ecosystem.
‒ Key features of NLP 2022:
9 Multi-modal integration: NLP will facilitate a modal shift in logistics from the current over dependence on roads to
railways and waterways by attempting a synergy between flagship projects such as Sagarmala, Bharatmala and PM
GatiShakti National Master Plan.

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9 Use of technology and digitization: Such as Integration of Digital System (IDS) to 30 different systems of seven
different departments related to logistics sector, and Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) to ensure continuous
monitoring of cargo movement.
9 Ease of doing business: Creation of Ease of Logistics (ELOG) Dashboard to simplify procedures and achieve ease
of doing business and establishment of an empowered group of secretaries (EGoS) to monitor and review the
implementation of the NLP.
Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP):
‒ Freight aggregation and distribution hubs to bring down overall freight transportation costs.
‒ Road, air, railways, and waterways connectivity to facilitate smooth transition of freight across transportation modes and
reduce lead times.
‒ Services like customs clearance and warehouse management systems to reduce inventory holding costs.
‒ Modern mechanised warehousing space.
PM GatiShakti National Master Plan:
‒ It aims to create roads linked to railway lines that will further feed into major and minor ports, leading to the efficient
movement of goods, especially from the frontiers.
‒ It will provide real-time visibility to fill the gap in the movement of goods, reduce costs and enhance the ease of doing
business.
Industrial corridors: To promote manufacturing clusters by connecting them to ports and consumption hubs via roads,
railways and inland waterways.
Sagarmala Project: Doubling the share of seaways in the transport mix over the next decade.
National Logistics Efficiency and Advancement Predictability and Safety Act (NLEAPS):
‒ To modernise and formalise the logistics services and promote digitization in the sector.
‒ To reduce the logistics cost from the present 14% of GDP to less than 10% of GDP.
Logistics division in the Department of Commerce: To improve existing procedures, identify the bottlenecks and introduce
technology-based interventions.
Logistics Data Bank (LDB) Project: Tracks movement of containers through rail or road till the container depot and using RFID
tags.
100% FDI through automatic route: in the storage and warehousing sector.
NEW FOREIGN TRADE POLICY 2023-28

CONTEXT:
The union government recently unveiled a new Foreign Trade Policy
(FTP) 2023-28.
BACKGROUND: FOREIGN TRADE POLICY (FTP) 2015-20
FTP 2015-20 provides a framework for increasing exports of goods
and services as well as generation of employment and increasing
value addition in the country, in line with the ‘Make in India’
programme.
The FTP 2015-20, which was originally scheduled to end on March
31st, 2020, has been extended until March 31st, 2023, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic and the volatile geopolitical situation.
Performance: India has reached record high Export Performance in
Merchandise and Services Exports during this period.
‒ India is projected to achieve a total export figure of US$760
billion by the end of FY 2022-23, up from US$676 billion
recorded in FY 2021-22.

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ABOUT THE NEW FOREIGN TRADE POLICY (FTP) 2023-28

It is a policy document based on continuity of time-tested schemes facilitating exports as well as a document which is nimble
and responsive to the requirements of trade.
Principles: The policy is based on principles of ‘trust’ and ‘partnership’ with exporters.
Goal: FTP 2023 sets a $2 trillion target for exports of goods and services by 2030 with a shift from incentives to remission and
entitlement-based regime.
Open ended: FTP 2023-28 is dynamic and has no end date and will be updated as and when needed.
Four key pillars of the new FTP 2023-28:
‒ A shift from incentives to tax remission
‒ Trade facilitation through technology, automation, and continuous process re-engineering
‒ Export promotion through collaboration: Exporters, States, Districts
‒ Focus on Emerging Areas – ECommerce Exports, Developing Districts as Export Hubs, Streamlining SCOMET policy etc.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEW FOREIGN TRADE POLICY (FTP) 2023-28
Ease of doing Online approvals without physical interface: Automatic approval of various permissions under Foreign Trade Policy
business based on process simplification and technology implementation.
‒ Reduction in processing time and immediate approval of applications under automatic route for exporters.
E-Certificate of Origin: Revamp of the e-Certificate of Origin (CoO) platform proposed- to provide for self-certification
of CoOs as well as automatic approval of CoOs, where feasible.
‒ Initiatives for electronic exchange of CoO data with partner countries envisaged.
Paperless filing of export obligation discharge applications: All authorisation redemption applications to be
paperless. With this, the entire lifecycle of the authorization shall become paperless.
Export Recognition of Exporters: Exporter firms recognized with ‘status’ based on export performance will now be partners
promotion in capacity-building initiatives on a best-endeavour basis.
initiatives ‒ 2-star and above status holders would be encouraged to provide trade-related training based on a model
curriculum to interested individuals.
Towns of Export Excellence (TEE): Four new towns, namely Faridabad, Mirzapur, Moradabad, and Varanasi, have
been designated as TEE in addition to the existing 39 towns.
‒ The TEEs will have priority access to export promotion funds under the Market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme.
‒ The MAI Scheme was launched in 2013 to support the Indian exporters in penetrating and expanding their
exports to foreign markets by providing financial assistance for various export promotion activities.
Promoting Export from the Districts: The FTP aims at building partnerships with State governments and taking
forward the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative.
‒ This would promote exports at the district level and accelerate the development of the grassroots trade
ecosystem.
Rupee payment to be accepted under FTP Schemes: FTP benefits extended for rupee realisations through special
Vostro accounts setup as per RBI circular issued on 11 July 2022.
‒ This is an effective step towards internationalisation of Rupee.
E-Commerce Facilitation for E-Commerce exports: All FTP benefits will be extended to e-Commerce exports.
Exports ‒ Various estimates suggest India’s e-commerce export potential in the range of $200 to $300 billion by 2030.
Dak Niryat facilitation: Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras shall be operationalised throughout the country to work in a hub-
and-spoke model with Foreign Post Offices (FPOs) to facilitate cross-border e-Commerce and to enable artisans,
weavers, craftsmen, MSMEs in the hinterland and land-locked regions to reach international markets.
E-Commerce Export Hubs: Designated hubs with warehousing facility to be notified, to help e-commerce aggregators
for easy stocking, customs clearance and returns processing.

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Streamlining India is placing more emphasis on the “export control” regime as its integration with export control regime countries
SCOMET Policy strengthens.
There is a wider outreach and understanding of SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and
Technologies) among stakeholders.
Amnesty Government is strongly committed to reducing litigation and fostering trust-based relationships to help alleviate the
Scheme issues faced by exporters.
In line with “Vivaad se Vishwaas” initiative, which sought to settle tax disputes amicably, the government is
introducing a special one-time Amnesty Scheme under the FTP 2023 to address default on Export Obligations.
This scheme is intended to provide relief to exporters who have been unable to meet their obligations under EPCG
and Advance Authorizations.
Kirit Parikh Natural Gas Pricing Formula

CONTEXT
The Union government has just announced a new natural gas pricing regime based on the recommendations of the Kirit Parikh
committee.
BACKGROUND
Natural Gas: Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuels among the available fossil fuels. It is a hydrocarbon consisting primarily of
methane and ethane. It is found in oil fields and natural gas fields, and in coal beds.
Uses:
‒ Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): CNG is produced by compressing natural gas. It is popularly used in vehicles as a fuel in
India.
‒ Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): LNG is produced by purifying natural gas. It is used in India for medium and Heavy Duty
Vehicles.
‒ Piped Natural Gas (PNG): One of the biggest uses of Natural Gas is in cooking in domestic households through pipeline,
most commonly known as Piped Natural Gas (PNG).
‒ Fertilizer: Natural gas is used as a feedstock to produce ammonia. Ammonia is further processed to produce different
types of fertilizer.
‒ Electricity: Natural Gas is also used as a fuel for electricity generation, heating purposes in industrial and commercial
units.
The Union Cabinet has approved significant changes in the pricing regime for domestic natural gas under the ambit of the
administered price mechanism (APM), which mainly applies to gas produced by legacy fields, or nomination fields, of national
oil companies Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd and Oil India Ltd (OIL).
Domestic Gas Pricing Guidelines, 2014: Currently, the domestic gas prices are determined as per the new Domestic Gas
Pricing Guidelines, 2014, based on the APM Mechanism.
‒ Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM): Prior to 1990’s, the production of gas in India was very tightly controlled by
the Central Government. The gas fields were allocated to ONGC and OIL by the Government through the process of
nomination fields. Even today, around 65% of domestic gas production in India comes from ONGC and OIL. The prices of
this gas were administered by the Central Government through Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM).
9 APM prices were set based on the weighted average price of four markets for producers - US, Canada, Russia and UK.
9 The prices of locally produced natural gas were fixed bi-annually with a time lag of a quarter.
Need for the Committee: The need for the Committee was felt by the Government due to the following reasons:
‒ Much of the natural gas being produced in the country does not command a market-determined price, that is, it is not
determined by buyers and sellers based on demand-supply dynamics in the market.
‒ The APM formula has no mention about gas actually imported into India. Typically, gas imported in Asian markets is
costlier than many international benchmarks. In effect, the price of domestic gas is lower than that of gas imports.

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‒ The averaging of prices with the time lag of a quarter means that the domestic gas price movement does not reflect the
real time changes in the Indian market.
‒ These APM prices also have a very high volatility which are impacted by global events like the Russia-Ukraine war.
‒ The APM prices that were based on the weighted average price of four foreign markets fluctuate widely and did not even
cover the marginal cost of production of ONGC and OIL.
‒ Domestic gas prices have been rising in the past couple of years but due to APM, they are still cheaper than imported gas.
Now, this acts as a disincentive to local producers such as ONGC and OIL who often find that the price is not worth their
time and effort to increase output. Hence, there is increased gas imports at higher prices.
9 Consequently, the consumers have to pay more for the compressed natural gas (CNG) and for the piped natural gas
(PNG).
‒ The government had constituted a committee under Kirit Parikh to look at revision in gas prices that balances both local
consumer and producer interest, while at the same time advances the country’s cause of becoming a gas-based economy.
Revised Domestic Natural Gas Pricing Guidelines:
‒ APM Mechanism With Price Ceiling: For the gas produced by ONGC and OIL from their nomination blocks, APM price
shall be subject to a floor ($4 per mmbtu) and a ceiling ($6.5 per mmbtu).
9 This means that the two companies will get a minimum of $4/ mBtu even if the gas price as per the formula falls to a
lower level.
9 Similarly, no matter how high the formula-based price goes, the maximum price they can realise for APM gas will be
$6.5/ mBtu.
‒ Premium over APM Price: Gas produced from new wells or well-interventions in the nomination fields of ONGC and OIL
would be allowed a premium of 20% over the APM price.
‒ Price Ceiling for 2 Years: The revised APM mechanism will maintain the price ceiling over FY24 and FY25, and allow an
annual increase in the price ceiling thereafter of $0.25.
‒ Setting Price Based on Crude oil: The Government has decided to index the APM prices to the price of imported crude
oil. The price of such natural gas shall be 10% of the monthly average of Indian Crude Basket and shall be notified on a
monthly basis.
Impact of New Guidelines:
‒ The revised gas pricing norms would lend greater stability to gas prices for city gas distributors and sustained
competitiveness with alternative fuels, thus driving demand.
‒ It also protects consumers particularly CNG and PNG users from paying high prices. CNG and PNG prices had witnessed
an 80% jump since August 2021 due to a surge in international energy prices. This new regime will make PNG or cooking
gas cheaper by 10% and lower the cost of CNG by 6-9 %.
‒ Linking gas price to crude will promote use of natural gas as PNG for domestic consumers and CNG for the transport
sector in India. For these users, the alternatives are LPG or diesel, and their prices are linked to crude prices. So, when the
gas price is linked to crude, it will always be comparative to these alternative fuels for PNG and CNG users.
‒ The reduced prices will also lower the fertiliser subsidy burden and help the domestic power sector.
‒ It also provides adequate protection to producers from adverse market fluctuation with incentives for enhancing
production.
‒ The provision for 20% premium for new wells will incentivise ONGC and OIL to make additional long-term investments,
leading to greater production of natural gas.
9 Consequently, there shall be reduction in import dependence on fossil fuels.
‒ This new price regime would help expand the consumption of natural gas in India and contribute to achieving the target
of emission reduction and net zero.
SOME IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
Pre-NELP Field: Between 1990 and prior to implementation of NELP, the Government awarded 28 Exploration Blocks to
private companies to increase their participation.

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New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP): It was approved in 1997. Under NELP, exploration blocks were awarded to Indian,
private and foreign companies where ONGC and OIL competed on equal footing. It aimed for state of art technologies, new
geological concepts and best management practices to explore Oil and Gas resources in India to meet rising demands of Oil
and Gas.
Hydrocarbon Exploration & Production Policy (HELP): In 2016, the Central Government replaced NELP with Hydrocarbon
Exploration & Production Policy (HELP) which was a step towards improving the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in the Indian
Exploration and Production (E&P) sector.
India’s Import Dependence: India is the world’s third-largest crude importer after China and the United States.
‒ There is a wide gap between the production of natural gas and its consumption in India. India is only able to meet 50% of
its gas demand through domestic fields and the rest is met through LNG imports. India is the fourth-largest importer of
LNG.
‒ According to International
Energy Agency:
9 India imports 85% of the
crude oil it processes and
roughly 55% of its natural
gas needs. The oil demand
is growing at 3-4% a year in
India.
9 India’s import of natural
gas will double and that of
oil will rise 50% by 2030
due to soaring domestic
demand while production
remains subdued.
‒ India aims to increase the
share of natural gas in the
energy basket from 6.4%
currently to 15% by 2030. Consequently, when the share goes up to 15%, at the same level of imports, there will be a
huge amount of import bill.

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INDIA’S DEFENCE EXPORTS

CONTEXT
India’s Defence exports reached an all-time
high of approx. Rs 16,000 crore in Financial
Year 2022-23.
News: India exported military
hardware worth ₹16,000 crore in the
financial year 2022-23.
Details: This increase is almost ₹3,000
crore more than the previous financial
year.
‒ It has risen over 10 times since
2016-17.
‒ India is now exporting to over 85
countries.
‒ Presently, there are 100 Indian
firms exporting defence products.
‒ According to Sweden-based
Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) data,
India’s top 3 destinations for
defence exports have been
Myanmar, followed by Sri Lanka,
and Armenia.
Shortcomings in India’s Defence Sector:
‒ Lack of Finance: Though there is a
progressive up-gradation of India’s
weapon systems, but due to budgetary
constraints, India’s defence export is still
54% short of the country’s aim to achieve
an annual export target of ₹35,000 crore
by 2025.
‒ Fall in Domestic Production: The value of
India’s defence production fell by 28% in
FY23, from roughly ₹95,000 to ₹68,000
crore, after rising in the preceding two
years.
‒ Lack of Research: India’s lack of focus on
defence R&D and low overall researcher
density have resulted in lack of new
technologies. Consequently, India remains
the largest arms importer in the world.
‒ Limited Export Portfolio: India’s defence
exports are limited to a few countries and product categories. This limits its potential to tap into the global defence market.
9 According to SIPRI Data, India was not even among the top 25 countries with the largest share in arms exports from
2018-2022, which means its share in the global arms exports was minuscule.

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‒ Lack of Competitiveness: India’s defence

products are often considered to be of lower
quality and higher cost compared to those of
other major defence exporters like the US,
Russia, and Israel.
‒ Less Participation of Private Sector: Despite
the push to privatize the defence sector in
order to become self-reliant in terms of defence
equipment, public sector enterprises continue to
produce a majority of defence equipment (57%).
MAJOR INITIATIVES BY THE GOVERNMENT:
Several policies & initiatives have been implemented
by the Government to boost the Defence sector,
with the vision to make the country a global leader
in the field.
‒ Defence Policy: A Draft Defence Production and
Export Promotion Policy has been formulated
by the Government which aims to make India amongst the leading countries of the world in Defence sector, including
Aerospace and Naval Shipbuilding sectors. It also aims to achieve a turnover of Rs 1,75,000 Crores (US$ 25Bn) in defence
goods and services by 2025.
‒ Export Promotion Council (EPC): It aims to encourage defense exports. Key measures taken to promote such exports
include streamlining export processes, offering financial incentives, and fostering partnerships with overseas firms.
‒ Strategic Partnership Model: The government has introduced a Strategic Partnership Model to boost domestic
production of defence equipment through partnerships with foreign companies. India and Russia have been working on
the development of a hypersonic version of the BrahMos missile.
‒ Enhancing Indigenisation: An Indigenisation portal namely SRIJAN has been launched for Defence Public Sector
Undertakings with an industry interface to provide development support to MSMEs/Start-ups/Industry for import
substitution.
‒ Defence Industrial Corridors: The Central Government has established two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) in Uttar
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to serve as an engine of economic development and growth of defence industrial base in the
country.
‒ Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy: The Government of India has enhanced FDI in Defence Sector up to 74% through
the Automatic Route for companies seeking new defence industrial license.
‒ Level Playing Field: The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 aims to provide the highest degree of probity,
public accountability, transparency, fair competition and a level-playing field for Indian Private Defence Industries. Also,
procurement of capital items from domestic sources is done under it.
‒ Negative List: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has a negative list of countries for defence export.
‒ Ease of Doing Business: Export procedures have been simplified and made industry friendly with end-to-end online export
authorisation curtailing delays and bringing Ease of Doing Business.
‒ License: The Government has notified three Open General Export License (OGEL) for export of Parts and Components/
Transfer of Technology/Major Platforms and Equipment.
9 OGEL is one-time export license, which permits the industry to export specified items to specified destinations,
enumerated in the OGEL, without seeking export authorisation during the validity of the OGEL.
‒ Increase in Budget: The Union Government has earmarked 75% of its defence capital budget for 2023-24 towards
procurements from domestic sources .
SIGNIFICANCE OF DEFENCE EXPORT:
‒ The rising defence exports make the Indian defence Industry a part of the global defence value chain.
‒ It is proof of India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities.

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‒ It encourages the use of new technologies.

‒ It is an eminent step towards India’s self-sufficiency and in line with Make in India initiative.
GREEN DEPOSITS
CONTEXT
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently issued detailed guidelines for acceptance of ‘green deposits’ by banks and Non-Banking
Financial Companies (NBFCs).
News: The RBI has announced the framework for the acceptance of green deposits of regulated entities (RE).
‒ This framework, which will come into effect from June 1, 2023, to foster and develop a green finance ecosystem in the
country.
‒ Regulated entities include banks, primary co-operative
banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies, Credit Information
Companies and also institutions such as EXIM Bank, NABARD,
NaBFID, National Housing Bank (‘NHB’) and Small Industries
Development Bank of India (‘SIDBI’).
Green Deposits: A green deposit is a fixed-term deposit
for investors looking to invest their surplus cash reserves in
environmentally friendly projects.
Aim: It aims to encourage lenders to offer green deposits to
customers, protect interest of the depositors, aid customers
to achieve their sustainability agenda, address green washing
concerns and help augment the flow of credit to green activities.
‒ Greenwashing is the act of making false or misleading statements about the environmental benefits of a product or
practice.
KEY FEATURES:
‒ Applicability: The framework is applicable to Scheduled Commercial Banks including Small Finance Banks excluding
Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks and Payments Banks and all deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Companies
(NBFCs), including Housing Finance Companies.
‒ Sectors: The REs shall be required to allocate the proceeds raised through green deposits towards the following list of green
activities/projects which encourage energy efficiency in resource utilisation, reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse
gases, promote climate resilience and/or adaptation and value and improve natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
‒ Exclusion: Projects involving new or existing extraction, production and distribution of fossil fuels; nuclear power
generation; and direct waste incineration are excluded.
‒ Financing: The green deposits shall be denominated in Indian Rupees only.
9 Banks and NBFCs will have to put in place a comprehensive board-approved policy on green deposits.
‒ Monitoring: The allocation of funds raised through green deposits by REs during a financial year shall be subject to an
independent Third-Party Verification/Assurance which shall be done on an annual basis.
Importance of Green Deposits: This new offering in the market indicates the increased awareness of the importance of ESG
(Environmental, social and governance) and sustainable investing.
‒ Green deposits allow banks and NBFCs to fund eco-friendly initiatives like renewable energy, green transportation, and
sustainable buildings.
‒ Investing in these deposits is a step towards supporting India’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
Green Finance: Green finance is any structured financial activity that’s been created to ensure a better environmental outcome.
‒ It includes a range of financial products, such as green bonds, green loans, green insurance, and green funds, that are
designed to promote environmentally friendly practices and projects.

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Need and Benefits of Green Finance: The financial sector can play a pivotal role in mobilising resources and their allocation
in green activities/projects.
‒ India has updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate
impacts), aiming to reduce the country’s carbon intensity by more than 45% by 2030 from its 2005 levels.
9 As per estimates by the International Finance Corporation, India will need around $403 billion in renewable finance by
2030 to achieve its renewable targets.
‒ Businesses that take to green finance can benefit in various ways. It can help them follow different environmental norms
and regulations and thus avoid possible fines.
9 Since climate change has gained huge public attention, adopting sustainable practices by relying on green finance
enhances brand value and offers a positive differentiator.
9 Customers tend to prefer brands that adopt clear sustainable practices.
GLOBAL FOOD POLICY REPORT 2023

CONTEXT
Recently, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has released the Global Food Policy 2023.
Food Security: Based on the 1996 World Food Summit, food security is defined when all people, at all times, have physical
and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active
and healthy life.
Key Highlights of the Report:
‒ The report called for a more proactive response to food system shocks with focus on three key areas:
9 Crisis prediction and preparation;
9 Building resilience before and during crises; and
9 Making crisis response supportive and inclusive of women, forced migrants and other vulnerable groups.
‒ With climate change, 72 million more people will be undernourished by 2050 Climate crisis also affects conflict and
displacement.
‒ There has been an increase in the number of people at risk due to food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition.
‒ In 2022, the food insecurity was exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war and related spikes in food and fertiliser prices.
‒ Investing in early warning systems is essential to save lives, livelihoods and money.
‒ There is a need to implement effective and accountable governance and institutions, and invest to build resilience against
future crises.
‒ The report advocated strengthening agrifood value chains to support livelihoods and food security during crises.
‒ It advised governments to maintain a business environment that fosters flexibility, technical and financial innovation.
‒ Integrating social protection with gender and climate goals can promote gender equality and sustainability.
‒ An annual investment in the range of $300-400 billion is required to make food systems more resilient and sustainable.
FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA:
‒ In Global Hunger Index 2022, India ranked 107 out of 121 countries and the level of hunger in India was labelled “serious”.
Also, the child wasting rate at 19.3% in India was the highest in the world.
‒ According to the Global Food Security Index 2022, India has a prevalence of undernutrition of 16.3%.
‒ Further, 30.9% of children in India are stunted, 33.4% are underweight, and 3.8% are obese.
CHALLENGES TO INDIA’S FOOD SECURITY:
‒ Lack of Effective Framework: The Public Distribution System (PDS) faces challenges like leakages and diversion of food-
grains, inclusion/exclusion errors, fake and bogus ration cards, and weak grievance redressal and social audit mechanism.

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For instance, many families in Jharkhand were denied food under the PDS as their ration cards were cancelled for putting
in place a digital system. There is a need for a monitoring system for such kinds of programmes.
‒ Lack of Inclusion: There needs to be more access and inclusion of vulnerable population in India’s food entitlements.
These include persons with disabilities, the elderly, single women-led households, transgender persons, HIV-affected
persons, displaced persons, refugees and orphan children.
‒ Climate Change: Massive efforts are needed towards programmes that focus on building resilient agriculture that is
adaptive to changing weather and needs through the introduction of newer varieties of crops, efficient irrigation systems,
and the promotion of crops as per the agro-climate zones.
‒ Lack of Intersectoral Coordination: Lack of coherent food and nutrition policies along with the absence of intersectoral
coordination between various ministries of government such as Ministry of Women and Child Health, Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance etc have added to the problem.
‒ Invasive Weed Threats: In the past 15 years, India has had at least 10 major invasive pest and weed attacks.India had to
import maize in 2019 due to the damage caused by the pest in 2018.
‒ Unemployment and Rising Food Inflation: Problems of hunger and food insecurity are grave in India because of widespread
economic distress, high unemployment and high levels of inequality. A large proportion of the poor is dependent on the
informal economy in which incomes are too low and uncertain. Cost of food in India increased 8.6% year-on-year in
September of 2022, the biggest rate since November of 2020.
‒ Food Wastage: Nearly 40% of the food produced in India is wasted every year due to fragmented food systems and
inefficient supply chains. Between 2017 and 2020, 11,520 tonnes of foodgrains stored in government godowns rotted,
resulting in a loss of about Rs 150 million.
‒ Global Events: The ongoing upheaval caused by the current Russia–Ukraine war, has further put pressure on food prices
and supply chains in India.
INDIA’S FOOD SECURITY FRAMEWORK:
‒ Constitutional Provision: Though there is no specific provision but recently the Supreme Court noted that Right to Food
is a fundamental right available under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
‒ National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA): The Act legally entitles upto 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban
population to receive subsidized foodgrains under the PDS. The eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above
is mandated to be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing of ration cards under the Act.
9 Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Households: The Act entitles 35 kg of foodgrains per AAY Household per month.
9 Priority Households (PHH): The Act entitles5 Kg of foodgrain per PHH Person per month.
9 Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): The Act lays down special provisions for pregnant women and lactating
mothers and children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years, which allows them to receive nutritious meal free of
cost through centres, called Anganwadi Centres and also through schools under Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme.
9 Public Distribution System (PDS):Under the PDS, presently wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene are being allocated to the
States/UTs for distribution. Some States/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS
outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices.
‒ National Food Security Mission: It is a centrally sponsored scheme that aims at increasing production of rice, wheat,
pulses, coarse cereals and nutri-cereals through productivity enhancement, improving soil fertility, farm level productivity
besides, transfer of technology through demonstrations and trainings.
‒ Mega Food Parks: It is a component scheme of Central Sector Umbrella Scheme – Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana
(PMKSY). The primary objective of this scheme is to provide modern infrastructure facilities for the food processing along
the value chain from farm to market.
‒ PM Poshan (Mid-Day Meal Scheme): It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for providing one hot cooked meal in Government
and Government – aided Schools from 2021-22 to 2025-26. There is provision of hot cooked meals to children of pre-
schools or Bal Vatika (before class I) in primary schools in addition to children of classes I to VIII.

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THE EU’S NEW CRYPTO-LEGISLATION

CONTEXT
The European Parliament, the legislative body of the 27-country block European Union, has approved the world’s first set
of comprehensive rules to bring largely unregulated cryptocurrency markets under the ambit of regulation by government
authorities. The regulation, called the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA), will come into force after formal approval by member
states.
ABOUT CRYPTO ASSETS
Crypto assets are purely digital assets that use public ledgers over the internet to prove ownership.
They use cryptography, peer-to-peer networks and distributed ledger technology (DLT) – such as blockchain – to create,
verify and secure transactions.
Crypto is part of the Web 3.0 internet landscape which decentralizes ownership and alters the concept of one or more big
entities wielding control over everyday lives.
Cryptocurrencies, utility coins, stable coins are some of the types of crypto assets.
GROWTH OF CRYPTO ASSETS AROUND THE WORLD

Crypto assets have grown and diversified substantially since Bitcoin was first launched in 2009 and have evolved to serve
different purposes and economic functions.
After reaching a market capitalization of $1 billion in 2010, the crypto asset market had grown to almost $3 trillion in 2021
before falling to around $1 trillion in mid-2022.
The largest proportion of this market, by capitalization, consists of unbacked crypto assets and stablecoins.
Current state of crypto assets in India:
‒ It is estimated that India has 25 to 30 million investors with an exposure to crypto assets. This is set to grow multi-fold
over the next 3-5 years.
‒ According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Report 2021, 7.3% of Indians owned
cryptocurrency in 2021.
‒ India ranked second in a list of 20 countries with the highest cryptocurrency adoption rate, according to the Chainalysis’s
2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index, with a growth rate of 641% over the past year.

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ADVANTAGES OF CRYPTO ASSETS
WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO REGULATE CRYPTO ASSETS?

Protection of investors: The crypto market can be highly volatile and subject to significant price fluctuations. By setting
standards, regulation can help to protect investors by ensuring that they are provided with accurate and transparent
information about crypto assets.
‒ The year 2022 saw some of the biggest failures and wipeouts in the crypto industry involving bankruptcies and fraud
scandals, be it the collapse of the crypto exchange FTX or the failure of Terra LUNA cryptocurrency, hurting investors
across the world.
Prevention of illegal activities: Crypto assets have been associated with illegal activities such as money laundering, terrorism
financing, and tax evasion.
‒ In 2021, illicit transactions using cryptocurrencies were estimated to be $14 billion, 79% increase from $7.8 billion the
previous year, according to blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis.
Financial stability: The growth of the crypto market has raised concerns about its potential impact on financial stability.
Regulation can help to mitigate these risks by setting standards for the conduct of market participants.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MARKETS IN CRYPTO ASSETS (MICA) LEGISLATION
Applicability Applies to:

‒ The MiCA legislation will apply to ‘cryptoassets’, which are broadly defined as “a digital representation of a value or
a right that uses cryptography for security and is in the form of a coin or a token or any other digital medium which
may be transferred and stored electronically, using distributed ledger technology or similar technology”.
‒ This definition implies that it will apply not only to traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum but also
to newer ones like stablecoins.
Does not apply to:
‒ MiCA does not regulate digital assets that would qualify as transferable securities and function like shares or their
equivalent and other cryptoassets that already qualify as financial instruments under existing regulation.
‒ It will also for the most part, exclude non fungible tokens (NFTs).
‒ MiCA will also not regulate central bank digital currencies issued by the European Central Bank and digital assets
issued by national central banks of EU member countries.
Key rules MiCA will impose compliance on the issuers of cryptoassets and cryptoasset service providers (CASPs).
under Requirements for CASPs:
the MiCA ‒ The regulation prescribes different sets of requirements for CASPs depending on the type of cryptoassets.
legislation
‒ The base regime will require every CASP to get incorporated as a legal entity in the EU.
‒ They can get authorized in any one-member country and will be allowed to conduct their services across the 27
countries.
‒ They will then be supervised by regulators like the European Banking Authority and the European Securities and
Markets Authority.

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‒ Besides authorisation, service providers of stablecoins also have to furnish key information in the form of a white
paper mentioning the details such as participants, terms of the offer etc.
Prevention of money laundering and terror financing: Another legislation passed with MiCA requires crypto companies
to send information of senders and recipients of cryptoassets to their local anti-money laundering authority, to prevent
laundering and terror financing activities.
SIGNIFICANCE AND SHORTCOMINGS OF THE MICA LEGISLATION

Having a comprehensive framework like MiCA for 27 countries in Europe not only harmonizes the crypto industry but also
gives the EU a competitive edge in its growth compared to the U.S. or the U.K. which lack regulatory clarity.
However, the regulation is already laggard in covering newer vulnerabilities in the crypto industry. For instance, it does not
cover practices like crypto staking and lending, which led to some of the industry’s biggest failures last year.
AN OVERVIEW OF CRYPTO REGULATION IN INDIA
Cryptoassets in India: In India, they are identified as Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs). Under Section 2 (47A) of the Income Tax
Act (1961), VDAs are defined as
‒ any information or code or number or token (not being Indian currency or foreign currency), generated through
cryptographic means or otherwise, by whatever name called, providing a digital representation of value exchanged with
or without consideration, with the promise or representation of having inherent value, or functions as a store of value or
a unit of account including its use in any financial transaction or investment, but not limited to investment scheme; and
can be transferred, stored or traded electronically;
‒ a non-fungible token or any other token of similar nature, by whatever name called;
‒ any other digital asset, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette specify.
Trade in cryptocurrencies: Cryptocurrencies as a payment medium are not regulated or endorsed by the RBI. There are no
clear guidelines dealing with cryptocurrency or its trade.
‒ Even though crypto currencies have not been banned, their transactions in the country are very low. Majority of them buy
cryptos as an investment.
Taxation: During the Union Budget 2022-23, the Finance Minister announced a 30 per cent tax on gains from crypto assets
and an additional 1 percent TDS on the transfer of the said assets.
‒ This marked the Indian government’s official regulation of cryptocurrency in the country.
Money laundering law: The government has brought crypto currencies and such other digital assets, trading, safe keeping
and related financial services under the ambit of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
‒ It means that entities dealing with crypto assets must follow similar reporting standards and KYC norms as the other
regulated entities like banks, securities intermediaries, payment system operators, etc.
INDIA’S POPULATION DEMOGRAPHIC

CONTEXT:
India has recently become the most populous country in the world, overtaking China in population according to the United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s ‘State of World Population (SOWP) report 2023’.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT:
India’s growing Population size:
India will become the most populous country in mid-2023, surpassing China by approximately 3 million people taking into
consideration the country’s trends in birth, mortality, and international migration.
‒ India has had a fluctuating relationship with its population size, with the growing population being blamed for poverty
and the state’s inability to improve living standards in the socialist era.
‒ This led to controversial sterilization programs that violated people’s dignity and freedom.

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India’s Demographic Dividend:

India’s large working-age population - the demographic dividend, has been viewed as an advantage in the era of globalization
and the opening up of the economy in the 1990s.
‒ It observed that the Indian workers provide skilled and unskilled labour for businesses in West Asia and Africa, as well as
outsourcing projects for developed countries like the US and Europe.
‒ Additionally, Indian students are increasingly enrolling in universities abroad.
TFR Dropping below the replacement level:
India’s population growth is slowing, with the total fertility rate dropping below the replacement level of 2.1 for the first
time, and projections show that the population will reach a peak of 1.7 billion in 2064 before settling at 1.53 billion in 2100.
‒ Population increase is also attributed to new developments such as the climate crisis and increasing numbers of
permanent immigrants.
Enhancing Economic Opportunities: Economic opportunity, rather than national pride, will shape the aspirations of India’s
working population, and that a naturally decelerating population may have limited advantages if economic opportunity is not
present.
UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS:
Population Dynamics in India: From Explosion to Decline and Improvements in Mortality Indicators:
India’s demographic structure has witnessed significant changes since its Independence.
The country has gone through a population explosion in the past, but has also witnessed a decline in total fertility rate (TFR)
over time.
While there have been improvements in various mortality indicators, certain challenges still exist in fully leveraging the
demographic dividend to improve living standards, provide skill and training, and generate employment.
Population Growth:
India’s population currently accounts for 17.5% of the world’s population.
According to the UN World Population Prospects (WPP) 2022, India is expected to become the most populous country in the
world by 2023, with a population of 140 crore, surpassing China.
‒ This marks a four-fold increase in population since Independence when India had a population of 34 crore.
‒ The country is projected to reach 150 crore by 2030 and 166 crore by 2050.
As per UNFPA’s ‘State of World Population (SOWP) report 2023’,
‒ India now has 1,428.6 million people and is the most populous country in the world, outstripping China’s population.
‒ As much as 68% of India’s population belongs to the 15-64 years category, and 26% in the 10-24 years group, making
India one of the youngest countries in the world.
Decline in TFR:
India’s TFR has declined significantly, with the rate slipping below the replacement level fertility of 2.1 children per woman
in 2021.
‒ In the 1950s, India had a TFR of six, but several states have now reached a TFR of two, except for Bihar, UP, Jharkhand,
Manipur, and Meghalaya.
‒ The National Family Health 5 Survey (2019-21) found that India attained a Total Fertility Rate of 2.0 for the first time, less
than the replacement level of 2.1, falling from 2.2 in NFHS 4 (2015-16).
Improvements in Mortality Indicators: Despite the challenges, there have been improvements in various mortality indicators
in India.
‒ Life Expectancy: Life expectancy at birth has seen a remarkable increase from 32 years in 1947 to 71 years in 2023, while
it is marginally lower for women at 74 years.
‒ Infant Mortality Rate: The infant mortality rate has also declined significantly, from 133 in 1951 to 27 in 2020. The current
infant mortality rate for India in 2023 is 26.619 deaths per 1000 live births, a 3.89% decline from 2022.
‒ Under-five Mortality Rate: The under-five mortality rate has fallen from 250 to 35.
‒ Maternal mortality rate: Additionally, the maternal mortality ratio has dropped from 2,000 in the 1940s to 103 in 2023.

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Demographic dividend:
With 68% of its population as youth, and working population, India could have one of the largest workforces in the world,
giving it a global advantage.
‒ And, India has a window of opportunity well into the 2040s for reaping its “demographic dividend”.
Understanding India’s Demographic Dividend and its Evolution Over Time

Demographic Dividend:
It refers to the economic growth potential that can result from changes in a population’s age structure, particularly when there is a
larger share of the working-age population (between 15 to 64 years) compared to the non-working age population (below 14 years and
above 65 years).
Evolution of India’s Demographic Dividend:
In the 1950s, India had a high birth rate, high infant mortality rate, and a low life expectancy.
However, with improvements in healthcare, education, and family planning programs, India’s population growth rate started to decline
in the 1980s.
This decline in population growth rate, combined with improvements in the quality of life and an increase in the number of people
entering the workforce, led to the current demographic dividend that India is experiencing.
Current Demographic Dividend of India:
India is currently experiencing a demographic dividend as it has a large proportion of young people in its population.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India’s median age is 28 years, which is significantly lower than the median
age of 38 in China and the United States, 43 in Western Europe, and 48 in Japan.
This suggests that India has a higher proportion of people in the working-age group who can potentially contribute to economic growth.
State-level Variation in Demographic Dividend:
Southern states, which are more advanced in demographic transition, have a higher percentage of older people compared to the
northern states.
For instance, Kerala’s population is already ageing, while Bihar is predicted to continue to have a growing working-age cohort until
2051.
Advantages of India’s Demographic Dividend:
Fiscal Space: India’s demographic dividend provides an opportunity to divert fiscal resources from spending on children to investing in
modern physical and human infrastructure, thereby increasing the economic sustainability of the country.
Increase in Workforce: With more than 65% of the population in the working-age group, India has the potential to emerge as an
economic superpower, supplying more than half of Asia’s potential workforce in the coming decades. The increase in the labour force
would enhance the productivity of the economy.
Rise in Women’s Workforce: As fertility rates decline, it is expected that more women will enter the workforce, which can be a new
source of growth for the country.
Challenges Associated with India’s Demographic Dividend:
Unfulfilled Educational Requirements: Despite over 95% of children attending primary school in India, poor infrastructure, malnutrition,
and a lack of trained teachers have resulted in poor learning outcomes. Additionally, gender inequality in education is a concern, with
boys more likely to be enrolled in secondary and tertiary school than girls.
Low Human Development Parameters: India ranks 131st in the UNDP Human Development Index 2020, indicating a need for substantial
improvements in health and education parameters to make the workforce efficient and skilled.
Jobless Growth: There is a growing concern that future growth could be jobless due to de-industrialization, de-globalization, and the
industrial revolution 4.0. The informal nature of the Indian economy is also a hurdle in reaping the benefits of demographic transition,
with around half of the working-age population being unemployed.
Policy Paralysis: Without proper policies, the increase in the working-age population may lead to rising unemployment, fueling economic
and social risks.
Rise in the Share of Elderly Population: A greater proportion of youth at present will result in a greater proportion of elderly in the
population in the future. This will create a demand for better healthcare facilities and development of welfare schemes/programs for
elderly people. As people in informal employment do not have social security, it will add to the burden of the respective state.

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INDIA’S POPULATION CONTROL MEASURES SINCE INDEPENDENCE

First Five-year plan: In 1951, India became the first among the developing countries to come up with a state-sponsored family
planning program. It emphasised the use of natural devices for family planning.
Second Five-Year Plan: The number of family planning clinics has increased significantly. But since these clinics were largely
set up in urban areas, they did not provide adequate results.
Third Five-Year Plan: The technique of copper- T was adopted. An independent department called the Family Planning
Department was set up.
Fourth Five-Year Plan: All kinds of birth control methods (conventional and modern) were encouraged
Fifth Five-Year Plan: National Population Policy was announced in 1976. Some important measures under this policy include:
‒ Increasing the minimum legal age of marriage for girls and boys to 18 and 21 respectively.
‒ Improving the literacy levels of females
‒ Popularise family welfare programmes by using all forms of media
‒ Forced sterilization was permitted, which was later on given up.
Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Plans: Efforts were made to control the population by determining long-term demographic aims.
Ninth Five-Year Plan: In 1993, the government had established an expert group under the chairmanship of M.S. Swaminathan
for formulating national population policy.
‒ In 1997, the family planning programme was renamed the ‘family welfare programme’.
National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 was announced on the tenets of free will, informed consent, and achieving a level of
fertility equivalent to replacement.
More substantive poverty reduction schemes and economic reforms have raised labour productivity and employment
opportunities, allowed families to empower women and reduced fertility rates as rational choices.
ANIMAL HEALTH SYSTEM SUPPORT FOR ONE HEALTH
CONTEXT
Recently, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has launched an Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI)
under One Health Approach.

Concept of One Health: One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach ,working at the local,
regional, national, and global levels with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection
between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.
Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative: The initiative is in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global One
Health strategy, which emphasizes the importance of multisectoral collaboration in addressing the threat of zoonotic diseases.
‒ Zoonotic diseases (also known as zoonoses) are caused by germs that spread between animals and people.
Aim of APPI: This initiative aims to enhance India’s preparedness and response to animal pandemics, with a focus on zoonotic
diseases that pose a threat to both animal and human health.
‒ This initiative will help to improve veterinary services and infrastructure, disease surveillance capabilities, early detection
and response, build the capacity of animal health professionals, and awareness among farmers through community
outreach.

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Pillars of APPI: There are 8 Pillars of APPI
Animal Health System Support for One Health: It is a collaborative project between the Department of Animal Husbandry
and Dairying and the World Bank.
‒ It aims to create an ecosystem for a better animal health management system using the One Health approach.
‒ The project will be implemented in five States and envisages improving capacity building of stakeholders involved in
animal health and disease management.
‒ The collaborative project will be implemented over a five-year period as Central sector scheme with a financial provision
of Rs. 1228.70
‒ The project calls for participation by Human Health, Forest and Environment Department at the national, regional as well
as local for creating and strengthening the One Health architecture including community engagement.
‒ The project aims to cover 151 districts with upgradation of 75 district/regional laboratories, and strengthening of 300
veterinary hospitals/dispensaries.
Livestock Sector in India: Livestock
is emerging as the most important
sector in the Indian agri-food system.
‒ India has now become one of
the largest producers of milk and
value-added milk products in the
world.
‒ The livestock sector employs
8.8% of the population and
provides livelihood to two-thirds
of the rural community. Most of
the women are engaged in the
livestock sector.
‒ Livestock sector contributes
4.11% GDP and 25.6% of total
Agriculture GDP.
‒ Therefore, strengthening the
livestock sector means pushing
rural India towards prosperity.

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Challenges in India’s Livestock Sector:

‒ Scarcity of Feed and Fodder: The availability of quality feed and fodder is a pre-requisite for improving reproduction
and productivity. India is short of dry fodder and green fodder by 12%and 30% respectively along with quality seeds of
improved varieties of fodder.
‒ Livestock Disease Burden: Poor animal health and diseases lead to low milk and meat yields. Animals are susceptible to
several diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), brucellosis, or Black Quarter.
‒ Inadequate Veterinary Healthcare Services and Shortage of Vaccines: Many pressing concerns like poor animal welfare
practices and unscientific use of antibiotics stem from lack of trained veterinarians and stewardship. In rural areas, para-
veterinarians tend to fill this widening gap where possible. This group of animal health workers undergo some training but
do not have a university degree in veterinary care which increases the risk of less-understood zoonotic diseases.
‒ Lack of Semen Conservation Facilities: Maintaining genetic purity among indigenous animals requires semen conservation
facilities of indigenous breeds. India is the only country having 50 breeds of cattle, 19 breeds of buffalo, 34 breeds of goat
and 44 breeds of sheep. There is a need to strengthen and upgrade at least 400 semen centres to supply quality semen for
ensuring conception and fertility in cow and buffalo.
‒ Other Challenges: Poor reproductive and productive performance of indigenous animals; late sexual maturity of dairy
animals;indiscriminate breeding under field conditions are also some other major hurdles.
Govt of India’s Initiatives for Livestock Sector: Some initiatives in this direction are:
‒ Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): It is being implemented for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds.
‒ National Livestock Mission: It aims towards employment generation, entrepreneurship development, increase in per
animal productivity and thus targets increased production of meat, goat milk, egg and wool.
National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP): It aims to control of Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis by
vaccinating 100% cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population for FMD with the total outlay of Rs.13, 343.00 crore for five
years (2019-20 to 2023-24).
Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development (AHIDF): With a fund of Rs. 15000 crore, AHIDF facilitates incentivisation
of investments in establishment of infrastructure for dairy and meat processing and value addition infrastructure and
establishment of animal feed plant in the private sector.

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SECURITY
INDIA RANSOMWARE REPORT 2022

CONTEXT
India saw a 53 per cent increase in ransomware incidents in 2022 (year-over-year), according to the “India Ransomware Report
2022” published by the CERT-In.
MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE REPORT

Overall trend: Overall, there is 53% increase in Ransomware incidents reported in 2022 Year over Year.
Critical infrastructure: Ransomware players targeted critical infrastructure organisations and disrupted critical services in
order to pressurize and extract ransom payments.
Sectors: IT (Information Technology) & ITeS (Information Technology enabled Services) was majorly impacted sector followed
by Finance and Manufacturing.
Variants: Variant wise, Lockbit was majorly seen variant in the Indian context followed by Makop and DJVU/Stop ransomware.
‒ Many new variants were observed in 2022 such as Vice society, BlueSky etc. Leaked Ransomware source codes are getting
forked to launch new Ransomware brands.
‒ At large enterprise level, Lockbit, Hive and ALPHV/BlackCat, Black Basta variants became major threats.
‒ Makop and Phobos Ransomware families mainly targeted medium and small organisations.
‒ At individual level, Djvu/Stop variants continued dominance in attacks over the past few years.

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Vulnerabilities exposed: Most of the ransomware groups are exploiting known vulnerabilities for which patches are available.
‒ Some of the product wise vulnerabilities being exploited are in tech companies like Microsoft, Citrix, Fortinet, SonicWall,
Sophos, Zoho. and Palo Alto etc., said the report.
Restoration time: On an average, the restoration time is about 10 days for infections in reasonably large infrastructure
networks.
‒ “For smaller networks/infrastructure, the restoration time is around 3 days and for individual systems it is 1 day,” the
CERT-In report noted.
Innovative Ransomware Tactics: Ransomware gangs are becoming innovative in their approach to improve attack operational
efficiency.
‒ Ransomware builders are focusing on speed and performance. Instead encrypting the entire file, a portion of the file is
getting targeted for encryption to save time.
‒ “Multithreading is getting leveraged for faster encryption and decryption of files,” the report mentioned.
‒ Multithreading is a programming concept that allows a single program or process to perform multiple tasks concurrently
or simultaneously.
Recommendations by the report: As Ransomware incident is a business risk, organisations must prepare themselves to face
this havoc in an efficient manner.
ABOUT RANSOMWARE
Ransomware is a category of malware that gains access to systems and makes them unusable to its legitimate users, either by
encrypting different files on targeted systems or locking the system’s screen unless a ransom is paid.
Ransomware actors also threaten to sell or leak any exfiltrated data, if the ransom is not paid.
Categories of ransomware: Although there are countless strains of ransomware, they mainly fall into two main categories.
‒ Crypto Ransomware encrypts files on a computer so that they become unusable.
‒ Locker Ransomware blocks standard computer functions from being accessed.

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Ransomware attacks: A global problem

Ransomware is big business! In terms of both ransoms paid, spending and lost time in recovering from attacks, an estimated cost to the
global economy is approximately $20 billion in 2021, a 57-fold increase from 2015.
It’s estimated that 45 percent of ransomware attacks target healthcare organizations while 85 percent of malware infections at
healthcare organizations are ransomware.
PRESENT CYBER SECURITY ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA

National Cyber Security Policy, 2013: It was the first comprehensive document brought out by the government to create a
secure and resilient cyberspace ecosystem and strengthen the regulatory framework.
‒ It aims to protect information infrastructure in cyberspace, reduce vulnerabilities, build capabilities to prevent and
minimize damage from cyber incidents through a combination of institutional structures, people, processes, technology
and cooperation.
National Cyber Security Strategy 2020: It was conceptualized by the National Security Council Secretariat to ensure a safe,
secure, trusted, resilient and vibrant cyberspace for Nation’s prosperity.
‒ Pillars of strategy are Secure (the National Cyberspace), Strengthen (Structures, People, Processes, Capabilities), and
Synergise (Resources including Cooperation and Collaboration).
Other initiatives to combat cyber-crime:
‒ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): It was rolled out by Ministry of Home Affairs for the period 2018-2020 to
combat cybercrime in the country, in a coordinated and effective manner.
‒ Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In): It serves as national agency for responding to cyber security
incidents as per provisions of IT Act, 2000. It issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities and
counter measures to protect computers and networks on regular basis.
‒ Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre): It has been launched for detection of malicious
programs and provide free tools to remove the same. o National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: It caters to complaints
pertaining to cybercrimes only with special focus on cybercrimes against women and children.
‒ National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC): It is multi-stakeholder cybersecurity and e-surveillance agency, under CERT-
In. It generates situational awareness of existing and potential cyber security threats and enable timely information sharing
for proactive, preventive and protective actions by individual entities.
‒ National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC): It is created under IT Act, 2000 (amended 2008)
and designated as National Nodal Agency to facilitate safe, secure and resilient information infrastructure for critical
sectors of the Nation.
Cybercrime
It is defined as an unlawful act wherein the computer is tool or target or both. It is a criminal activity that uses computer as instrument
for perpetuating crimes.
Cybercrime in India
Information Technology Act, 2000 provides legal recognition for electronic communication, electronic commerce, and cybercrimes etc.
Stats IQ: Cybercrime in India
As per NCRB data from “Crime in India, 2020”, Cybercrimes have increased four times or 306 percent in the past four years and rate of
cybercrime (incidents per lakh population) increased in 2020.
As per the “Crime in India, 2021” report, during 2021, 60.8% of cyber-crime cases registered were for the motive of fraud followed by
sexual exploitation with 8.6% and Extortion with 5.4%.
India is among the top five targets for cyberattacks in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, particularly security breaches that involve cyber
espionage, as per ‘Cyberthreats to Financial Organizations in 2022’ report.
As per Norton Cyber Safety report 2021: 59% of adults in India have become victim of cybercrime.
Global Cyber Security Index of ITU 2020: India scored 97.5 points to make it to the 10th position worldwide in the GCI 2020. This was
an improvement from 47th rank in 2019.

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CYBER WARFARE
CONTEXT:
With the growing digitization and increasing centrality of the internet, the recently held Army Commanders’ Conference has
decided to operationalize the Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSWs).
ABOUT THE COMMAND CYBER OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT WINGS (CCOSWS)
Under this, the Indian Army will raise dedicated specialized agencies in each of its six operational or regional commands
across the country to handle the cyberspace domain.
The organisation will assist the formations to undertake mandated cyber security functions aimed at strengthening the cyber
security posture of the Indian Army.
The development comes in view of the requirements of the grey zone and the expos of cyber warfare capabilities of nations
such as China.
What are Grey Zone Operations?

Grey zone operations are a type of military strategy that fall
between the traditional definitions of peace and war.
The term “grey zone” refers to the area of ambiguity between
peace and war, where aggressive actions can be taken without
triggering a full-scale military response.
Grey zone operations can take many forms, including
cyberattacks, propaganda campaigns, economic coercion,
political subversion, and support for proxy forces.
They are often used by states and non-state actors to exert
influence and achieve strategic goals without directly engaging
in open conflict.
One of the key challenges of grey zone operations is that they
can be difficult to attribute to specific actors, making it harder
to hold them accountable for their actions.
ABOUT CYBER WARFARE

Cyberwarfare is a type of network- or computer-based conflict in which one nation-state targets another nation-state with
politically motivated attacks.
Nation-state actors engage in these types of attacks in an effort to obstruct the operations of organisations or nation-states,
particularly for tactical, military, or cyberespionage reasons.
Examples of cyber warfare:
‒ According to The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Morris Worm was the first instance of cyberwarfare on
a global level in 1988.
‒ In 2010, the nuclear enrichment facility of Iran at Natanz was targeted by Stuxnet, a digital weapon.
VARIOUS FORMS OF CYBER WARFARE
Cyber-attacks: These are the intrusions where immediate damage or disruption caused are the main concern.
‒ In 2019, it was reported that Chinese state-sponsored hackers had targeted the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in India
using the DTrack malware to steal data from computer systems.
Cyber Espionage: Cyber espionage is an act of intrusion which can provide the confidential or sensitive information needed.
Traditional espionage is not an act of war, nor is cyberespionage, and both are generally assumed to be ongoing between
major powers. For example:
‒ Massive spying by the US on many countries, revealed by Edward Snowden.

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‒ After the NSA’s spying on Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel was revealed, the Chancellor compared the NSA with the
Stasi (the official state security service of the German Democratic Republic).
Cyber sabotage: It is the deliberate use of digital technologies to disrupt, damage, or destroy computer systems, networks,
or digital infrastructure. For example:
‒ WannaCry: This was a ransomware attack that infected hundreds of thousands of computers in over 150 countries in 2017
‒ NotPetya: This was a destructive malware attack that targeted Ukrainian financial, energy, and government sectors in
2017.
Cyber Propaganda: It refers to the use of digital technologies and online platforms to spread false or misleading information
for the purpose of influencing public opinion or behavior. For example:
‒ Cambridge Analytica Scandal: Russian operatives used social media platforms to spread false or misleading information
to influence the outcome of the 2016 US presidential election.
WHY INDIA NEEDS TO SECURE ITS CYBER SPACE:
Increasing cybercrimes: As per the NCRB data from “Crime in India, 2020”, Cybercrimes have increased four times or 306
percent in the past four years and rate of cybercrime (incidents per lakh population) increased in 2020.
‒ India saw a 53 per cent increase in ransomware incidents in 2022 (year-over-year), according to the “India Ransomware
Report 2022” published by the CERT-In.
Digital India: According to a report, the value of digital payments in India will grow close to 1 trillion dollars in FY26 from 300
billion dollars in FY21.
Critical Infrastructure: India’s critical infrastructure, including power plants and power distribution, healthcare, railways and
banking, have witnessed increasing cyberattacks, allegedly from Chinese state-sponsored groups.
Cyber Defence: Presently, the nature of the war in Ukraine indicates that India needs to review its cyber-defence policies.
India also needs to give equal attention to building a deterrent cyber-offensive capability.
‒ Offensive cybersecurity strategies preemptively identify vulnerabilities and security weaknesses before an attacker
exploits them.
Terrorism: As per a report by the International Institute for Counter Terrorism, hacktivism activities have increased in
Southeast Asia, including website defacement, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and information leaks. Such
threats will increase in the coming times.
CURRENT CYBER SECURITY ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA
National Cyber Security Policy, 2013: It was the first comprehensive document brought out by government to create a secure
and resilient cyberspace ecosystem and strengthen the regulatory framework.
‒ It aims to protect information infrastructure in cyberspace, reduce vulnerabilities, build capabilities to prevent and
minimize damage from cyber incidents through a combination of institutional structures, people, processes, technology
and cooperation.
National Cyber Security Strategy 2020: It was conceptualized by the National Security Council Secretariat to ensure a safe,
secure, trusted, resilient and vibrant cyberspace for Nation’s prosperity.
‒ Pillars of strategy are Secure (the National Cyberspace), Strengthen (Structures, People, Processes, Capabilities), and
Synergise (Resources including Cooperation and Collaboration).
Institutional mechanism:
‒ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): It was rolled out by Ministry of Home Affairs for the period 2018-2020 to
combat cybercrime in the country, in a coordinated and effective manner.
‒ Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In): It serves as national agency for responding to cyber security
incidents as per provisions of IT Act, 2000. It issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities and
counter measures to protect computers and networks on regular basis.
‒ Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre): It has been launched for detection of malicious
programs and provide free tools to remove the same. o National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: It caters to complaints
pertaining to cybercrimes only with special focus on cybercrimes against women and children.

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‒ National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC): It is multi-stakeholder cybersecurity and e-surveillance agency, under CERT-
In. It generates situational awareness of existing and potential cyber security threats and enable timely information sharing
for proactive, preventive and protective actions by individual entities.
‒ National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC): It is created under IT Act, 2000 (amended 2008)
and designated as National Nodal Agency to facilitate safe, secure and resilient information infrastructure for critical
sectors of the Nation.
CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS IN INDIA’S PREPAREDNESS OF CYBER WARFARE
Lack of comprehensive strategy: Unlike the US, India still lacks a comprehensive, modern, and updated cyber warfare strategy.
In the preset capacity, India can only address cybersecurity attacks and not cyber warfare.
Lack of Strong Security Culture: India lacks a strong security culture which is quite imperative in the cyber security domain.
Lack of Awareness: Women and children are increasingly becoming victims of cybercrimes such as pornography, stalking,
cheating, and hacking.
“Whack-a-mole” approach: India’s current approach adopts a reactionary “whack-a-mole” approach rather than creating
deterrence.
‒ “Whack – a – Mole’ approach is a style of managing or leading others where a manager waits for something, he/ she
believes to be wrong to happen, and “whacks” the behavior with words and/or actions.
Shortage of Technical Staff for the Investigation of Cybercrime: There have been half-hearted efforts by the States to recruit
technical staff for the investigation of cybercrime.
‒ A regular police officer may be unable to understand the nuances of the working of a computer or the Internet.
‒ It is only a technically qualified staff who could acquire and analyse digital evidence.
WAY FORWARD
National Cybersecurity Strategy: The Union Government is in the process of formulating a National Cyber Security Strategy
which will holistically look at addressing the issue of security of national cyberspace.
Increased Participation and Awareness: There needs to be enhanced private and public sector participation along with data
protection efforts to prevent frequent cyberattacks.
Technological Updation: India also needs to study the evolving tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of hackers and
criminals to be able to prevent these attacks. The cyber forensic laboratories of States must be upgraded with the advent of
new technologies.
Data localisation: Most cybercrimes are trans-national in nature with extra-territorial jurisdiction. The collection of evidence
from foreign territories is not only a difficult but also a tardy process.
‒ Therefore, ‘data localisation’ must feature in the proposed Personal Data Protection law so that enforcement agencies are
able to get timely access to the data of suspected Indian citizens.
Human Resource Development: There is a need to introduce new courses, curriculum and academic institutions in the field
of cyber security, ethical hacking, cryptology etc. to boost human resource in the field of cyber warfare.
Synergy and Coordination: There is a need for coordination, planning, understanding and synergy of efforts amongst all civil,
military, intelligence, law enforcement and educational organisations responsible for cyber security, information assurance,
cyber warfare and perception management.
Budget Allocation: A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recently recommended that funds for cyber security may be
increased on a year on basis to forestall any failures in this domain for sheer lack of funds.

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ENVIRONMENT
UN WATER CONFERENCE 2023

CONTEXT
Recently, the United Nations (UN) 2023 Water Conference in New York culminated with a breakthrough response to the global
water crisis, with governments, businesses and civil society committing billions of dollars to advance the water agenda.
BACKGROUND
Global water crisis: Recently published ‘UN World Water Development Report 2023’ drew attention to the water crisis that
is being experienced around the world.
‒ Global: Globally, two billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and 3.6 billion lack access to safely managed
sanitation.
‒ India: 80% of people living under water stress lived in Asia; in particular, northeast China, as well as India and Pakistan.
‒ Urban water scarcity: The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from one-third (2016) to
nearly half of the global urban population in 2050, with India projected to be the most severely affected.
WHAT IS THE WATER CONFERENCE?
About the UN Water Action Decade 2018-2028
The UN proclaimed the Water Action Decade at the 66th General Assembly to address global challenges associated with access to
water.
The UN Water Action Decade started on 22 March 2018 and ends on 22 March 2028. It pursues two main goals:
‒ To improve knowledge sharing related to water and water pollution control, including information on the water-related SDGs.
‒ To improve communication to achieve the water-related SDGs.
It is a global conference organized by the UN to bring together experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders to discuss
water related issues.
‒ The UN Water Conference 1977: It was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The conference was the first of its kind to focus
specifically on water-related issues.
9 Mar del Plata Action Plan: The conference resulted in the adoption of the Mar del Plata Action Plan, which outlined
a series of recommendations for improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and promoting sustainable
water management.
9 This has led to several decades of global funding and concerted effort to lower the population without access to safe
drinking water.
‒ The UN Water Conference 2023: It marks the first such summit on water in the past 46 years.
9 It took place at UN Headquarters in New York. It was co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands.
9 The conference coincided with the mid-term comprehensive review of the ‘UN Water Action Decade 2018-2028’.
KEY OUTCOMES OF THE UN WATER CONFERENCE 2023
Water action agenda: As part of the agenda, there were 713 voluntary commitments made by philanthropists, governments,
corporations, and NGOs to deal with the global water crisis.
‒ They included a $50-billion commitment from the Indian government to improve rural drinking water services under its
Jal Jeevan Mission.
Climate resilient water and sanitation infrastructure: USA announced a commitment of up to $49 billion in investments to
support climate resilient water and sanitation infrastructure and services.
Quality Infrastructure: Japan announced that it will contribute 500 billion yen to the solution of water-related social issues
faced by the Asia-Pacific region by developing quality Infrastructure.

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River basins management and clean running water: Vietnam pledged to develop policies for major river basins management
by 2025 and clean running water by 2030.
Africa’s water investments gap: The African Union Commission and Continental Africa Investment Programme (AIP) aims to
close Africa’s water investments gap by mobilizing at least $30 billion per year by 2030.
European Union (EU): The EU aims to support 70 million individuals to an improved drinking water source and sanitation
facility by 2030.
Water Convention and transboundary cooperation: Switzerland submitted 5 commitments in the areas of Water Convention
and transboundary cooperation.
KEY GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS FOR WATER RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
Atal Bhujal Yojana It is a Central Sector Scheme and partially funded from World Bank. It seeks community participation and
demand side interventions for sustainable ground water management.
PM Krishi Sinchayee It is a centrally sponsored scheme to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area
Yojana (PMKSY) under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation
practices, etc.
Atal Mission for To develop basic infrastructure, in the selected urban areas, across sectors of water supply; storm water
Rejuvenation and Urban drainage; green spaces and parks; sewerage and septage management; and non-motorized urban transport.
Transformation (AMRUT)
Jal Shakti Abhiyan It promotes water conservation and water resource management by focusing on rainwater harvesting,
renovation of traditional water bodies, and intensive afforestation and watershed development.
Mission Amrut Sarovar It focuses on a target to construct or rejuvenate 50,000 Amrit Sarovar ponds across India, with an objective of
promoting sustainable use of water.
Sahi Fasal campaign It is an awareness campaign with the objective of weaning away the farmers from growing water intensive
crops and using micro-irrigation techniques to increase water use efficiency in agriculture.
RIVER REJUVENATION
CONTEXT
The rejuvenation of the Kuttamperoor river in Alappuzha has been completed after 6 years, through public participation and
government intervention.
RIVER REJUVENATION OF KUTTAMPEROOR RIVER
Kuttamperoor River: The Kuttemperoor river in Kerala, a tributary of both Pamba and Achankovil rivers.
‒ The Kuttamperoor river emanates from the Achencoil river at Ulunthy and meanders through Bhudhanoor, Chennithala
and Mannar grama panchayats before joining the Pampa river at Kadampur (Illimala).
Rejuvenation of the Kuttamperoor: This river died a slow death around 2005 due to years of waste dumping, encroachments
and other anthropogenic activities.
‒ The Major Irrigation department removed encroachments, deepened the channel and constructed bunds on both sides.
‒ A number of residents along the river provided land for the river project.
Impact: The revival of Kuttamperoor river would boost tourism in the region. The river will be linked to Mannar- Chengannur-
Aranmula heritage tourism project.
‒ The restoration of water flow has brought many freshwater fish species back to the river and is expected to help control
floods in the region.
GROWING RIVER POLLUTION IN INDIA
Polluted River Stretches in India: Maharashtra has the highest number of polluted river stretches (53), followed by Assam
(44), Madhya Pradesh (22), Kerala (21), Gujarat (20), Odisha (19), and West Bengal and Karnataka (17).

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Polluted Rivers in India: In a recent report, the Central Pollution Control Board has termed the Cooum river in Chennai the
“most polluted” river in India. Other highly polluted rivers in the country are Sabarmati in Gujarat and Bahela in Uttar Pradesh.
Causes of River Pollution: Rivers in the country are polluted mainly due to:
‒ Discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage from cities / towns and industrial effluents in their respective
catchments/
‒ Problems in operation and maintenance of sewage / effluent treatment plants/
‒ Lack of dilution, dumping of solid waste on river banks and other non-point sources of pollution.
‒ Rapid urbanisation and industrialization.
RIVER REJUVENATION IN INDIA
Need for River Rejuvenation: Growing water crisis on account of depleting fresh water resources due to shrinking and
degradation of river ecosystems is a major impediment to achieving national goals pertaining to environment, conservation,
climate change and sustainable development.
National Mission for Clean Ganga
This initiative by Union Government aims to ensure effective abatement of pollution and rejuvenation of the river Ganga by adopting a
river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral co-ordination for comprehensive planning and management.
Under it, Namami Gange Programme’, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government aims to accomplish effective
abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
The United Nations (UN) has recognized Namami Gange initiative as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships to revive the natural
world.
The ‘Namami Gange’ has also been called as the “beacon of hope” and an inspirational story at the recently held UN 2023 Water
Conference.
Detailed Project Reports of 13 Rivers: Recently, detailed project reports (DPRs) on rejuvenation of 13 major rivers was
released by the Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
‒ The DPRs are for Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Luni, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna,
and Cauvery Rivers.
‒ The 13 rivers collectively cover a total basin area of 18,90,110 square kilometres that represents 57.45% of the geographical
area of India.

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‒ Method: The different models of forestry plantations including timber species, medicinal plants, grasses, shrubs and fuel
fodder and fruit trees are aimed to augment water, ground water recharge and contain erosion.
‒ Aim: The DPRs focus on protection,
afforestation, catchment treatment, ecological
restoration, moisture conservation, livelihood
improvement, income generation, ecotourism
by developing river fronts, eco-parks and
bringing awareness amongst the masses.
‒ Potential Benefits:
9 Creation of green cover expansion to
achieve a ‘Green India’ through the
‘Van Bhagidari and Jan Bhagidari’ of the
current generation.
9 Forestry interventions will increase the
cumulative forest cover by 7,417.36 km2
across 13 riverscapes.
9 The proposed interventions would help to
sequester 50.21 million tons CO2.
9 The proposed interventions will help in
ground water recharge and reduction in
sedimentation .
9 Rs. 449.01 crore is likely to be generated
from expected non-timber and other forest
produce.
9 Employment of 344 million man-days shall
be generated through planned activities as
provisioned in 13 DPRs.
9 The efforts will help in achieving the international commitments of India such as:
9 Creation of additional carbon sink of 2.5 -3 billion tons of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by
2030 under the Paris Agreement of UNFCCC.
9 Restoration of 26 million hectare of degraded lands by 2030 as a land degradation neutrality target under UNCCD.
9 Halt the biodiversity loss by 2030 under Convention on Biological Diversity and Sustainable Development Goals.
CONFERENCE ON HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT

CONTEXT
Recently, the International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence was held in Oxford, the United Kingdom.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: Human-wildlife conflict is when encounters between humans and wildlife lead to negative results,
such as loss of property, livelihoods, and even life.
‒ As human populations and demand for space continue to grow, people and wildlife are increasingly interacting and
competing for resources, which can lead to increased human-wildlife conflict.
The Conference:This Conference brought together representatives from conservation organisations, academia, governments,
businesses and indigenous as well as local communities from six continents to address Human-Wildlife Conflicts.
‒ It was organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, the UN Development Programme.

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Aim of the Conference: The parties involved in the Conference aimed to achieve the following:
‒ Facilitate dialogue and peer-to-peer learning
across sectors and actors on the topic for
partnerships and collaboration across people and
institutions working on human-wildlife conflict.
‒ Generate interdisciplinary and shared
understanding of the latest insights, technologies,
methods, ideas, and information from the field
of human-wildlife conflict, coexistence and
interactions.
‒ Mainstream human-wildlife conflict as one of the
top global priorities in biodiversity conservation
and the Sustainable Development Goals for the
next decade, catalysing opportunities for working
together on national, regional or global policies
and initiatives.
‒ Identify and develop a collective way forward
for addressing knowledge and implementation
gaps for effective efforts to reduce and manage
human-wildlife conflict.
Significance of the Conference: Human-wildlife
conflicts across the world are a major challenge to
conservation of species and the global conference
aimed to address the problem by facilitating
collaboration between sectors and disciplines.
‒ Human-wildlife conflicts makes co-existence with nature difficult and hinders biodiversity protection.
9 For instance, conflict-related killing affects more than 75% of the world’s wild cat species, according to the United
Nations Environment programme.
‒ The Conference provided a platform for experts from the fields of ecology, animal behaviour, psychology, law, conflict
analysis, mediation, peacebuilding, international development, economics, anthropology and others, to understand
human-wildlife conflict through various viewpoints, learn from each other, and build new links and collaborations.
‒ Effective management of human-wildlife interactions has been prescribed in Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework agreed at the UN Biodiversity Conference in December 2022. Some key provisions of the Kunming-
Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework are:
SOME IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
Impact of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC):
‒ Habitat Disturbance: Habitat disturbance is destruction of the home of wild animals. Humans kill or chase wild animals
by digging, cutting, sealing by stones and smoking their natural habitat. This method is a main cause of the decrease or
extinction of wild animals.
‒ Economic Losses: Human-animal conflict can result in significant economic losses for people, especially farmers and
livestock herders. Wild animals can destroy crops, damage infrastructure, and kill livestock, leading to financial hardship.
In places where pastoralism remains the main source of livelihood for many people, attacks on livestock is a major concern.
‒ Threat to Human Safety: Wild animals can pose a threat to human safety, especially in areas where people and wildlife
coexist. Attacks by large predators such as lions, tigers, and bears can result in serious injury or death.
‒ Ecological Damage: Human-animal conflict can have a negative impact on the environment. For example, when humans
kill predators, it can lead to an increase in prey populations, which can then cause ecological imbalances.
‒ Poaching: Poaching is the unauthorized trade of wild flora and fauna run by sophisticated, well organized and most
dangerous international networks. Wildlife, animal parts are trafficked much like illegal drugs and arms.

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‒ Transmission of Diseases: Serious diseases are known to be transmitted by wildlife to domestic livestock and possibly
also to humans (i.e. rabies). Scavengers and predators, such as wild dogs, jackals, lions and vultures, also play a role
in disseminating pathogens by opening up, dismembering and dispersing parts of infected carcasses. Also foraging by
domestic cattle in wildlife habitats results in transmission of diseases such as foot and mouth disease.
GOVT OF INDIA’S INITIATIVES TO REDUCE HUMAN - WILDLIFE CONFLICTS
‒ Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: It was enacted with the objective of effectively protecting the wildlife of India and to
control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife and its derivatives.
‒ Biological Diversity Act of 2002: It provides for conservation of biological diversity in India, sustainable use of its
components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources.
‒ National Wildlife Action Plan: India’s National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) for the period 2017-2031 aims to strengthen
and promote the integrated management of wildlife and their habitats.
‒ Project Tiger: It is an ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
providing central assistance to the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves.
‒ Project Elephant: It was launched by the Government of India in the year 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to protect
elephants, their habitat & corridors and to address issues of man-animal conflict.
‒ Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats: Financial assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments
under this Centrally Sponsored Scheme for better protection to wildlife and improvement of habitat.
‒ WildLife Crime Control Bureau: It coordinates with State/UTs and other enforcement agencies to gather intelligence
about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles.
CARBON PRICING
CONTEXT:
Recent studies have stressed on the need to address the environmental destruction caused by economic growth through pricing
carbon emissions.
MORE ON THE NEWS:
It has been observed that carbon pricing can help in effectively mitigating the impacts of climate change.
This is because countries have prioritized economic growth at the expense of the environment, in the absence of a price for
the use of natural resources such as air and forests, leading to the emission of carbon and other greenhouse gases, causing
climate change.
ABOUT CARBON PRICING
Carbon pricing is a market-based mechanism used to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
It works by putting a price on carbon emissions, either through a carbon tax or an emission trading system, in order to create
an economic incentive for individuals and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.
NEED FOR CARBON PRICING:
Climate change mitigation: Carbon pricing supports climate change mitigation efforts by encouraging individuals and
businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.
‒ Eg: British Columbia implemented a carbon tax in 2008, which has since been credited with reducing the province’s
greenhouse gas emissions by 5-15%. The tax has incentivized individuals and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint
by switching to cleaner energy sources and adopting energy-efficient practices.
Revenue generation: Carbon pricing can generate revenue for environmental programs that promote sustainable practices
and research into new technologies.
‒ Eg: In British Columbia, the revenue-neutral carbon tax of CAD 10 per ton of CO2, was gradually increased to CAD 30 per
ton by 2012.
‒ The revenue generated from the tax was returned to taxpayers through reductions in other taxes, such as personal and
corporate income taxes.

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‒ This helped to support sustainable practices and research into new technologies, such as renewable energy, while also
creating a shift towards a low-carbon economy.
Encouraging Sustainable Business Practices: Carbon pricing can encourage sustainable business practices by making them
more cost-effective than environmentally harmful practices.
‒ Eg: One example of a country that has successfully encouraged sustainable business practices through carbon pricing is
Sweden.
‒ The country has had a carbon tax since the early 1990s, which has helped to drive down emissions while also generating
revenue for sustainable programs and technologies.
‒ This has encouraged businesses to invest in sustainable practices and technologies to reduce their carbon footprint and
avoid paying the tax.
TYPES OF CARBON PRICING MECHANISMS
LANDSCAPE OF CARBON PRICING ACROSS THE GLOBE:

Carbon pricing
has become
an increasingly
popular policy
tool for addressing
climate change
around the world.
As of 2021, over
60 carbon pricing
schemes are
in operation or
scheduled for
implementation in
46 countries and
regions.
Here are some
prominent
examples of
carbon pricing policies from around the world:
‒ European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS): This is the world’s largest carbon pricing system. It operates on a
cap-and-trade system, with the cap declining over time.

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‒ China’s Emission Trading Scheme: China introduced its first national carbon market in 2021, which covers the power
sector and is expected to expand to other industries.
‒ California’s Cap-and-Trade Program: This program covers around 450 businesses in California and has been successful in
reducing emissions while generating revenue for the state. It operates on a cap-and-trade system, with the cap declining
over time.
‒ South Korea’s Emission Trading Scheme: This scheme covers around 600 businesses and is the second-largest carbon
pricing scheme in the world. It operates on a cap-and-trade system, with the cap declining over time.
LIMITATIONS OF CARBON PRICING:
Impact on Low-Income Households: Carbon pricing can have a regressive impact on low-income households, as they may
spend a larger portion of their income on energy and other goods and services that are subject to carbon pricing.
Impact on Industries: Carbon pricing can also have a negative impact on industries that are heavily reliant on carbon-intensive
processes, such as the oil and gas industry.
Difficulty in Implementing: Implementing carbon pricing can be difficult, as it requires a complex regulatory framework and
monitoring system to ensure compliance.
Limited Scope: Carbon pricing alone may not be sufficient to achieve the necessary emissions reductions to combat climate
change.
Carbon Leakage: Carbon pricing in one country or region can lead to carbon leakage, where emissions-intensive industries
move to countries or regions with weaker carbon pricing or regulatory systems, resulting in no overall reduction in global
emissions.
Political Opposition: Carbon pricing can be a controversial policy measure, and it may face opposition from industry groups,
politicians, and the public who are concerned about its impact on the economy or personal finances.
INDIAN SCENARIO:
Ways of Carbon Pricing & Significance:
‒ There are three ways to price carbon: carbon tax, emissions trading system, and import tariffs.
‒ 46 countries have implemented carbon pricing, but it only covers 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions at an average
price of $6 per ton of carbon, which is lower than the estimated harm caused by pollution.
‒ The International Monetary Fund has proposed minimum carbon prices of $75, $50, and $25 per ton for the US, China,
and India, respectively.
‒ Carbon pricing has more benefits than costs in the EU, British Columbia, Canada, and Sweden. It encourages investment
in renewable energy like solar and wind, which has great potential in India.
Carbon tax: A carbon tax is a direct tax on the carbon content of fossil fuels. It is designed to increase the cost of fossil fuels, thereby
incentivizing consumers to switch to cleaner alternatives. A carbon tax can be applied to a wide range of emissions sources, including
electricity generation, transportation, and industrial processes.
Emissions trading system: An emissions trading system (ETS) is a market-based mechanism that sets a cap on the total amount of
greenhouse gases that can be emitted by covered entities such as power plants, factories, and airlines. Companies are then allocated
permits that allow them to emit a certain amount of greenhouse gases. Companies that emit less than their allowance can sell their
unused permits to companies that exceed their limit. This creates a market for emissions allowances and provides an economic incentive
for companies to reduce their emissions.
Import tariffs: Import tariffs are taxes imposed on goods imported from countries that do not have a carbon pricing policy. This is
intended to level the playing field between domestic producers who are subject to carbon pricing and foreign producers who are
not. The goal is to discourage the import of goods that are carbon-intensive and incentivize the production of low-carbon products
domestically.
BEST PROVISION FOR INDIA

‒ Carbon Tax in place of Petroleum Tax: Among the various ways of pricing carbon, India may find a carbon tax appealing
as it can directly discourage fossil fuels, while raising revenues that can be invested in cleaner sources of energy or used
to protect vulnerable consumers.
9 India could start with a carbon tax rate of $25 a ton, as proposed by the IMF, to discourage the use of fossil fuels and
promote cleaner sources of energy.

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9 However, industrial firms may oppose this due to concerns about losing their competitive advantage to exporters
from countries with lower carbon prices.
‒ Possible Solution: To address this issue, all countries within the same income bracket should set the same rate to ensure
a level playing field (a higher tax rate could encourage greater reductions in greenhouse gas emissions).
9 Companies should be allowed to use high-quality international carbon credits to offset a certain percentage of their
taxable emissions.
9 Example: EU, which excludes transport from the carbon tax to avoid passing on higher costs to consumers directly.
Singapore provides vouchers to consumers impacted by rising utility prices, and California uses proceeds from carbon
permits sales to subsidize purchases of electric cars.
9 Certain emission-intensive trade-exposed enterprises should be exempted from the carbon tax, but output-based
rebates would be a better approach to achieve the same goal.
Challenges and Political Opposition: Carbon Pricing has faced a lot of political opposition.
‒ Examples:
9 Australia saw its carbon tax repealed just two years after its introduction when a new conservative government came
to power.
9 The EU, of late, has been facing a lot of challenges in maintaining carbon prices in the face of soaring energy prices
and these repercussions due to political pressures can make it difficult to implement effective carbon pricing policies.
9 However, it is to be noted that Sweden has been successful in presenting the carbon tax as part of a larger package
that includes lower taxes and new social safety nets.
INDIA’S ADVANTAGE AS G20 PRESIDENT:
India, as the current president of the G-20, can play a key role in advancing this carbon pricing agenda.
The G-20, which represents the world’s largest economies, can take the lead in valuing nature and pricing carbon emissions
that can create incentives for businesses and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint and invest in renewable energy,
which can open up unexpected avenues for decarbonization.
Decarbonising targets of India:

India has set a goal to achieve a net-zero emissions economy by 2070.
Additionally, the country aims to generate 40% of its total energy needs from renewable sources by 2030, and it has a target to install
450 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of its economy by 33-35% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
POLICIES AND INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS:

1. National Solar Mission: The National Solar Mission was launched in 2010 with a goal of deploying 20,000 MW of grid-connected
solar power by 2022. The mission has since been expanded to a target of 100,000 MW by 2022.
2. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is a scheme launched by the Indian government to provide
free LPG connections to women from below-poverty-line households.
3. Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme: Launched in 2015, the FAME scheme
aims to promote the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles in the country.
4. Smart Cities Mission: The Smart Cities Mission is a project launched by the Indian government to develop 100 smart cities
across the country. The project includes a focus on sustainable urban planning and the adoption of renewable energy.
5. Green Energy Corridors: The Green Energy Corridors project is a scheme to develop transmission infrastructure for renewable
energy in the country.

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Recent Achievements: India has made significant progress in reducing its carbon emissions in recent years. Here are some of the achievements:
1. Rapidly growing renewable energy sector: India has become one of the world’s largest renewable energy producers, with a target of
175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022. As of 2021, India had achieved a total renewable energy capacity of 94.4 GW, including
39.2 GW of solar and 38.6 GW of wind power.
2. Decrease in coal consumption: India has decreased its coal consumption over the last few years, with coal consumption declining by
9.3% in 2020.
3. Increase in forest cover: India has increased its forest cover over the past few years, with the country’s total forest and tree cover
increasing to 24.56% of the total geographical area in 2021, up from 24.39% in 2019.
4. National Clean Air Program (NCAP): The NCAP is a comprehensive plan to reduce air pollution in the country by 20-30% in the next five
years. The program focuses on 122 cities with high levels of air pollution and aims to reduce particulate matter by 20-30% by 2024.
5. LED bulb distribution: India has distributed more than 36 crore (360 million) LED bulbs under the Ujala scheme, which has resulted in
energy savings of 47 billion kWh per year and a reduction of 38.4 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
BUILDING THE BLUE ECONOMY

CONTEXT
India needs to build modern harbours and deep-water fishing fleet to facilitate its economic and security goals.
BACKGROUND
As less availability of farmland forced China to become a net importer of food grain, it has mobilised the fishing industry to
meet the rising demand for protein in the Chinese diet.
China is a “fishery superpower”, which owns the world’s largest deep-water fishing (DWF) fleet, with boats that stay at sea
for months or even years.
With an eye on “protein and profit”, China has negotiated contracts to fish in the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of other
many countries in Asia and Africa.
China also uses a part of its fishing fleet as a “maritime militia”, which assists the navy and coast guard in their tasks.
Against such backdrop, India too should focus on building and strengthening its blue economy.
ABOUT BLUE ECONOMY

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The World Bank defines “blue economy” as “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods
and jobs, while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem”.
14th SDG Goal: Developing a blue economy is also linked to the 14th Sustainable Development Goal. It aims to protect “life
below water”, which involves the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for development.
Activities: Seafood harvesting (fishing and aquaculture), extraction and use of marine non-living resources (such as minerals
and oil and gas), generation of renewable energy (such as offshore wind), and commerce and trade are examples of activities
that could count towards a blue economy.
INDIA AND BLUE ECONOMY
India envisions a blue economy that will contribute to food security, poverty alleviation, the mitigation of and resilience to the
impacts of climate change, enhance trade and investment, enhance maritime connectivity, boost diversification, job creation and
socio-economic growth.
Facilitate Economic Growth: India is the third
largest fish producing country, contributing
8% to the global fish production and ranks
second in aquaculture production.
‒ With12 major ports and 187 non-major
ports, handling about 1,400 million tonnes
of cargo, 95% of India’s trade by volume
transits by sea.
‒ India’s Exclusive Economic Zone is rich in
living and non-living resources and holds
significant recoverable resources of crude
oil and of recoverable natural gas.
Marine Biotechnology and Food Security:
Fish, being an affordable and rich source of
animal protein, is one of the healthiest options
to mitigate hunger and malnutrition in India.
‒ Aquaculture & Marine Biotechnology
programme was initiated during 1988-
89 to support R&D projects towards
development of useful products and
process from the marine resources.
9 It is an important sector of food production providing nutritional security, besides livelihood support, gainful
employment and its emergence as largest group in agricultural exports from India.
Fisheries as a Commercial Enterprise: Having commenced as a purely traditional activity, India’s fisheries are being transformed
into a commercial enterprise.
‒ The sector has shown steady growth and has become a major contributor of foreign exchange. India is among the top 5
fish exporting countries in the world.
Generation of Jobs: Fisheries provide livelihood to about 15 million fishers and fish-farmers at the primary level in India.
‒ This sector also generates almost twice the number of jobs, along the value-chain — in transportation, cold-storages, and
marketing.
Marine Tourism: Marine tourism is also a sector that has been one of the fastest growing globally and in India. Particularly
in coastal states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, coastal tourism has contributed largely to both the state economies
and livelihood creation.
CHALLENGES IN BUILDING INDIA’S BLUE ECONOMY
Lack of Investment: There is lack of investment in India’s deepwater fleet. Indian fishing vessels do not venture into rich
fishing grounds and most of the fishing is being undertaken in coastal waters.

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‒ Consequently, Indian fishermen have to compete with those of neighbours, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, in restricted fishing
grounds.
‒ Fishing vessels often drift into foreign waters leading to apprehension by navies/coast guards and prolonged imprisonment
of the crew.
Lack of Infrastructure: Since Independence, India’s marine fishery has been dominated by the “artisanal sector” i.e. poor,
small-scale fishers who can afford only small sailboats or canoes to fish for subsistence.
‒ India’s artisanal fishers deliver only 2% of marine fish to the market, while 98% is caught by mechanised and motorised
craft.
‒ The rich resources in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone remain underexploited. Much of the catch from India’s fishing
grounds is taken away by the better equipped fishing fleets of other Indo-Pacific countries.
9 These countries also indulge in Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing which has serious security and
environmental implications.
Low Level Value Addition: Currently, most of India’s fisheries exports are at a low level of value addition in frozen and chilled
form, without going for higher-order “ready-to-eat” or “ready-to-cook” marine products.
Stress on Coastal Ecosystem: India needs to curb uncontrolled and unplanned tourist activities that cause stress on the
carrying capacity of coastal ecosystems, especially those on fragile island territories.
Environmental Issues: The increase in human activity, trade and commerce and the construction of large-scale infrastructure
around these areas, pose a significant threat to the sustainability of these zones.
‒ Due to fishing or fishing accidents and bad weather, a huge amount of fishing net and gears are lost and remain in the
ocean as waste (ghost net). Throughout their lifetimes, they keep killing marine species. There is a dire need to curtail
such waste.
Lack of Skilled Human Resource: Shipping and ports require skilled manpower, but to meet the growing and changing
demands in this sector India would require re-skilling and upskilling in the future.
INDIA’S INITIATIVES FOR BLUE ECONOMY
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: The Union Government had launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
in 2020 for sustainable development of India’s fisheries sector with an estimated investment of Rs 20,000 crores over the next
five years.

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Draft Blue Economy Policy: It envisages optimal utilisation of all sectors of the maritime domain, from living and non-living
resources to tourism and ocean energy for sustainable development of coastal areas. The 7 key areas are:
Sagarmala Initiative: A Union Government’s initiative that aims to promote port-led direct and indirect development and
provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): It was launched by the Union Government in 2018 with a
total fund size of Rs 7522.48 crore with the aims to achieve a sustainable growth of 8-9%, in a move to augment the country’s
fish production to the level of about 20 million tonnes by 2022-23.

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WAY FORWARD
India needs to evolve a long-term vision for its fishing industry with focus on four areas:
‒ Mechanisation and modernisation of fishing vessels by providing communication links and electronic fish-detection
devices, with artisanal fishers being funded for this.
‒ Developing deep-water fishing fleets, with bigger, sea-going vessels equipped with refrigeration facilities.
‒ A DWF fleet will have to be built around the “mother ship” concept, wherein a large vessel would accompany the fleet to
provide fuel, medical and on-board preservation/processing facilities.
‒ Development of modern fishing harbours with adequate berthing and post-harvest facilities, including cold storage,
preservation, and packaging of fish.

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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
QUANTUM COMPUTING
CONTEXT
Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the ₹6,003 crore National Quantum Mission (NQM) that will fund research and development
of quantum computing technology and associated applications.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL QUANTUM MISSION (NQM)
Implementing The mission will be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science &
agency and Technology from 2023 to 2031.
Duration
Key features of The new mission targets developing-

the mission ‒ Intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in various platforms like
superconducting and photonic technology,
‒ Satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations over a range of 2000 kilometers
within India,
‒ Long-distance secure quantum communications with other countries,
‒ Inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km as well as,
‒ Multi-node Quantum network with quantum memories.
The mission will help develop magnetometers with high sensitivity for precision timing (atomic clocks),
communications, and navigation.
It will also support design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor
structures and topological materials for fabrication of quantum devices.
Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) would be set up in top academic and National R&D institutes on the domains of
Quantum Technology:
‒ Quantum computation
‒ Quantum communication
‒ Quantum Sensing & Metrology
‒ Quantum Materials & Devices.
Significance of The mission aims to scale up scientific and industrial R&D, for accelerating Quantum Technology-led economic
the mission growth and leverage India into a leading nation in the area.
With the launch of this mission, India will be the seventh country to have a dedicated quantum mission after the
US, Austria, Finland, France, Canada and China.
ABOUT QUANTUM COMPUTING?

Quantum Computing utilizes principles of quantum mechanics to carry out computation.
Unlike classical computing, which uses bits that can only be in one of two states (0 or 1), quantum computing uses quantum
bits (qubits) that can be in multiple states at once.
This allows quantum computers to perform certain types of calculations faster than classical computers, and to solve problems
that are difficult or impossible for classical computers to solve.
Properties of Quantum Computing:
‒ Superimposition: Superposition is the ability of a Quantum Computing system to be in multiple states simultaneously.
‒ Entanglement: It is the state where two systems are so strongly correlated that getting information about one system will
give immediate information about the other, even if they are far apart.
‒ Interference: Interference can control quantum states and amplify the signals that go towards the right answer, while
signals that are leading to the wrong answer are cancelled.

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BENEFITS OF QUANTUM COMPUTING

Increase processing speed: Compared to classical computers,
including super computers, Quantum Computing can process
information faster.
Scientific discoveries: Quantum Computer can be used to
fasten scientific discoveries of life-saving drugs, and improve
supply chains, logistics and the modelling of financial data.
Higher privacy: The security of Quantum Computing is very
high. Quantum Computing are difficult to be hacked due to
their use of qubits.
Emerging technologies: Quantum Computing have application
in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and
Machine Learning due to their faster processing.
Disaster prediction: Quantum Computing can be used to predict
disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, droughts etc.
through advanced calculation.
CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH QUANTUM COMPUTING
Higher cost: The cost of setting of Quantum Computing system
is high. It will require a significant support from multinational
companies.
Temperature control: Quantum computers dissipate high heat
and consume high amount of electric power. They require low temperature for operation.
High error rate: The error rate of Quantum Computing is high in comparison to error rate of conventional computers.
Sensitivity to Environment: Quantum technology is highly sensitive to environmental interference, such as temperature
changes, magnetic fields, and vibrations.
‒ Qubits are easily disrupted by their surroundings which can cause them to lose their quantum properties and make
mistakes in calculations.
Limited Control: It is difficult to control and manipulate quantum systems. Quantum-powered AI could create unintended
consequences.
OTHER IMPORTANT INITIATIVES BY THE GOVERNMENT
Quantum-Enabled Science Department of Science and Technology (DST) will invest to develop infrastructure and facilitate research in
and Technology (QuEST) the field of quantum technologies.
Quantum Frontier mission The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) will promote
understanding and control of quantum mechanical systems.
Quantum Computer This will help researchers and students to write and debug Quantum Code that is necessary for developing
Simulator Toolkit (QSim) Quantum Algorithms and carry out research in the field.
I-HUB QTF DST and research groups from IISER have launched I-HUB Quantum Technology Foundation (I-HUB QTF) to
develop quantum technology.
Quantum Computing Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has collaborated with Amazon Web Services
Applications Lab (AWS) to establish a to facilitate quantum computing-led research and development.
GENOME SEQUENCING
CONTEXT
The Department of Biotechnology recently said that the exercise to sequence 10,000 Indian human genomes and create a
database under the Centre-backed Genome India Project is about two-thirds complete.

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ABOUT GENOME
A genome is all of the genetic material in
an organism.
It is made of DNA (or RNA in some
viruses) and includes genes and other
elements that control the activity of those
genes.
Genome v/s Gene: Genome is the entire
set of genetic material or DNA, while gene
is a specific segment of DNA that codes
for a particular protein or RNA molecule.
Human genome:
‒ The human genome is the entire
set of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
residing in the nucleus of every cell of
each human body.
‒ The DNA consists of a double-
stranded molecule built up by four
bases – adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). Every base on one strand pairs with a complementary
base on the other strand (A with T and C with G).
‒ In all, the genome is made up of approximately 3.05 billion such base pairs.
GENOME SEQUENCING
Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the order of Adenine, Cytosine,
Guanines, and Thymine that make up an organism’s DNA.
While the sequence or order of base pairs is identical in all humans, compared to that of a mouse or another species, there
are differences in the genome of every human being that make them unique.
METHODS OF GENOME SEQUENCING
Major genome sequencing methods are the clone-by-clone method and the whole genome shotgun sequencing.
The clone-by-clone method:
‒ It involves constructing a physical map of the genome by cutting the DNA into small fragments, cloning these fragments
into bacterial or yeast artificial chromosomes (BACs or YACs), and then mapping the location of each fragment within
the genome.
‒ The DNA in each BAC or YAC clone is then sequenced, and the sequences are assembled to reconstruct the entire genome.
‒ It works well for larger genomes like eukaryotic genomes but it requires a high-density genome map.
The whole genome shotgun sequencing method:
‒ It involves randomly fragmenting the genome into small pieces, sequencing each piece, and then using computational
algorithms to assemble the sequences into a complete genome.
‒ This method was made possible by the development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, such as next-generation
sequencing, which can generate large amounts of sequence data rapidly and inexpensively.
‒ It is a faster method of sequencing but is not suitable for larger genomes like eukaryotic genomes as they have a number
of repetitive DNA sequences in which the assembling process is challenging.
APPLICATIONS OF GENOME SEQUENCING
Disease risk assessment: Genomic sequencing can identify genetic variants associated with increased risk of certain diseases,
such as breast cancer or Alzheimer’s disease.
‒ Genome sequencing has been used to evaluate rare disorders, preconditions for disorders, even cancer from the viewpoint
of genetics, rather than as diseases of certain organs.

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‒ Nearly 10,000 diseases — including cystic fibrosis and thalassemia — are known to be the result of a single gene
malfunctioning.
Ancestry tracing: Genomic sequencing can provide information about an individual’s ancestry and genetic heritage.
Cancer diagnosis: Liquid biopsies, where a small amount of blood is examined for DNA markers, could help diagnose cancer
long before symptoms appear.
Halting disease transmission: In public health, however, sequencing has been used to read the codes of viruses—
‒ For Example: One of its first practical usages was in 2014, when a group of scientists from M.I.T and Harvard sequenced
samples of Ebola from infected African patients to show how genomic data of viruses could reveal hidden pathways of
transmission, which might then be halted, thus slowing or even preventing the infection’s spread.
‒ Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, genomic sequencing helped to identify the virus, track its spread, identify new
variants, understand how the virus spreads, and develop vaccines.
Pharmacogenomics: Genomic sequencing can identify genetic variants that affect an individual’s response to certain
medications.
CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH GENOMIC SEQUENCING
Privacy concerns: As genomic sequencing involves the collection and analysis of genetic data, there are concerns about
privacy and the potential misuse of this information.
High Costs: Genomic sequencing can be expensive, which can limit access to this technology for some patients or researchers.
Misuse: There is a risk that genomic sequencing data could be used for nefarious purposes, such as genetic discrimination or
targeting of individuals based on their genetic profile.
Psychological impact: Knowing one’s genetic risk factors can have a psychological impact, including increased anxiety or
depression. Individuals may also face stigma or discrimination based on their genetic risk factors.
Data interpretation and accuracy: Errors in data interpretation or analysis could lead to incorrect diagnoses or treatment
decisions.
ABOUT THE GENOME INDIA PROJECT
It is a government-led initiative launched in 2019 that aims to sequence the genomes of over 10,000 Indians from diverse
socio-economic, geographical and linguistic backgrounds to create a comprehensive genomic database of the Indian
population.
The project involves about 20 institutions across India and with analysis and coordination done by the Centre for Brain
Research at IISc, Bangalore.
Significance of the project:
‒ India’s 1.3 billion-strong population consists of over 4,600 population groups, many of which are endogamous. Thus,
the Indian population harbours distinct variations, with disease-causing mutations often amplified within some of these
groups. Creating a database of Indian genomes allows researchers to learn about genetic variants unique to India’s
population groups and use that to customize drugs and therapies.
‒ The project will also help “unravel the genetic underpinnings of chronic diseases currently on the rise in India, (for)
example, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer”.
OTHER INITIATIVES BY THE GOVERNMENT
Indian Genome It is a network of researchers and institutions that are working to map the genetic variation in the Indian
Variation Consortium population and understand its implications for health and disease.
Genome Valley 2.0 Genome Valley 2.0 is a project aimed at creating a genomic database of the Indian population and developing
personalized healthcare solutions. It is a joint initiative between the government of Telangana and several
research institutions and companies.
IndiGen IndiGen programme aims to undertake whole genome sequencing of thousands of individuals representing
diverse ethnic groups from India. The objective is to enable genetic epidemiology and develop public health
technologies applications using population genome data.

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AMENDED IT RULES 2021

CONTEXT:
Various reports and observations have warned about the possible negative impact on freedom of speech and expression online
that the recent amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules,
2021 would pose.
MORE ON THE NEWS:
It is argued that the rules will make it more difficult for individuals and media outlets to criticize the government and other
authorities, and that they could be used to silence dissent and curtail civil liberties.
While on one side, the rules are criticized for having given the government too much power to regulate online speech, on the
other hand, alternatives are recommended to address concerns about the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and other
harmful content online.
BACKGROUND:
The evolution of online speech and the need for regulating it:
Online speech has evolved tremendously with the rise of the internet and social media platforms.
It has given people around the world a platform to express themselves, share ideas and information, which has led to a
democratization of information and communication.
However, with the growth of online speech, there have also been concerns about the spread of misinformation, hate speech,
cyberbullying, and other forms of harmful content.
This has led to a need for regulation of online speech, to balance the rights to free expression and privacy with the need to
protect individuals and society from harm.
EVOLUTION OF REGULATORY LANDSCAPE OF ONLINE SPEECH IN INDIA:
Section 66A of IT Act 2000: The Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 was amended in 2009 to insert a new section, Section
66A which was said to address cases of cyber-crime.
‒ Section 66(A) of the Act criminalizes the sending of offensive messages through a computer or other communication
devices.
‒ However, the Supreme Court struck down Section 66A as unconstitutional in Shreya Singhal vs Union of India, 2015 for
“being violative of Article 19(1)(a) and not saved under Article 19(2).”
Section 69A of IT Act 2000: It confers on the Central and State governments the power to issue directions “to intercept,
monitor or decrypt any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource”.
‒ In Shreya Singhal vs Union of India, 2015 case, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the section.
IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021:
‒ In a bid to keep up with the issues of the social media intermediaries (SMIs), the government replaced its decade old
regulations on SMIs with the IT Rules, 2021.
‒ IT Rules 2021 were released under section 87 of the IT Act, 2000 for Social-Media, Digital Media, and OTT platforms.
KEY PROVISIONS OF THE IT RULES 2021 INCLUDE:
Appointment of Grievance Officer: All SMIs must appoint a Grievance Officer who will be responsible for addressing user
complaints and ensuring their resolution within 15 days.
Compliance Officer: Intermediaries with more than 50 lakh registered users are required to appoint a Compliance Officer who
will be responsible for ensuring that the intermediary is complying with the IT Rules 2021.
Content Takedown: SMIs must take down any content flagged as inappropriate within 36 hours of receiving a complaint, and
must also remove content flagged by government authorities.
Identification of First Originator: In case of any messages which could harm the interest of the country, platforms must reveal
the identity of the first originator of the message.

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IT AMENDMENT RULES 2022:

On 28th October 2022, the Ministry of Electronics, and Information Technology(“Meity”) published IT (Intermediary Guidelines
and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules 2022.
Need to amend the IT Rules 2021:
‒ There was a need to ensure that the interests and constitutional rights of netizens are not being contravened by big tech
platforms.
‒ There was also a need to strengthen the grievance redressal framework in the Rules, and Compliance with these should
not impact early-stage Indian start-ups.
Key features of IT Amendment Rules 2022:
‒ Obligations of intermediaries: The amendment requires intermediaries to respect the rights guaranteed to users under
the Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, therefore, including a reasonable expectation of due diligence,
privacy and transparency.
‒ Appeal mechanism against decisions of grievance officers: The Amendment adds that the central government will
appoint Grievance Appellate Committee(s) to hear appeals against the decisions of grievance officers.
‒ Expeditious removal of prohibited content: The Amendment adds that complaints regarding the removal of specified
prohibited content must be addressed within 72 hours.
Key concerns with IT Amendment Rules, 2022:
‒ A government-appointed censorship body: The creation of a Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) makes the Union
Government the arbiter of permissible speech on the internet, potentially incentivizing suppression of speech unpalatable
to the government.
‒ Legislative uncertainty: The IT Amendment Rules empower the government to censor speech on grounds not stated in
the IT Act or the Constitution, and the GAC itself has no legal basis.
‒ Lack of operational transparency: The absence of details on the functioning of the GAC and its methods of choosing
appeals for review raises doubts about its independence and transparency.
‒ Definitional vagueness: Several grounds mentioned in Rule 3(1)(b) remain undefined, making them vague, impossible to
implement consistently, prone to misuse, and potentially leading to arbitrary censorship.
DRAFT IT AMENDMENT RULES 2023:
Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and IT notified amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, which allows the
Ministry to appoint the fact-check body.
Key provisions of the amendment rules:
‒ Appointment of Fact-check Unit: The Central Government will allow a fact-check body appointed by it to label online
content related to the Union Government as “fake” or “misleading”.
‒ Removal of Fake Content: If any piece of information is marked as fake by the upcoming fact check unit, online
intermediaries will be required to take it down. Internet service providers will have to block URLs of such content.
9 If online intermediaries fail to remove such content, they would risk losing their safe harbour, which protects them
from litigation against third-party content.
‒ Efforts to Reduce Fake Content: Online intermediaries and internet service providers should make “reasonable efforts”
to not host content related to the Central Government that is “identified as fake or misleading” by the fact check unit.
‒ Framework on Online Gaming: Online intermediaries should make reasonable efforts to not host, publish or share any
online game that can cause the user harm, or that has not been permitted by an online gaming self-regulatory body
designated by the Central Government.
9 The intermediary will also have to ensure that no advertisement or promotion of an online game that is not a
permissible online game, is hosted on its platform.
9 The amended rules also cast additional obligations on online gaming intermediaries in relation to online games
involving real money.
9 The Government may create a Board of Directors representing the online gaming industry. It shall have experts,
including online games users, educationists, psychology or mental health experts, ICT experts etc.

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Significance of the new amendment rules:

‒ More Diligence: They enforce greater diligence by online gaming and social media intermediaries in respect of online
games and fake or false misleading information related to Government business.
‒ Facilitate Gaming Industry: The Indian online gaming ecosystem will grow into a multi-billion-dollar industry and be an
important catalyst to India’s One trillion-dollar Digital economy goal by 2025-26.
‒ Policy Framework for Gaming Startups: Online gaming startups and innovation are being powered by young Indians
across the country and these rules will provide clarity and certainty in terms of policy framework for them.
Challenges:
‒ The New Rules gives the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) the power to create a “fact
check unit” to identify false or misleading online content related to the central government’s business.
‒ No “safe harbor” immunity: If social media intermediaries fail to prevent users from hosting or publishing such false or
misleading content, they will lose their “safe harbor” immunity. This means that they will no longer be protected from
criminal prosecution for the content posted on their platforms.
‒ Govt to crack down fake news: Essentially, the amendment aims to crack down on fake news and misinformation on the
internet in India, particularly related to the central government’s business.
9 The Government now has the authority to determine what is “bogus” or false information and can use this power to
censor online content.
‒ Against Constitutional Values: The new regulation is deeply problematic and goes against the principles of free information
and free expression.
Other Criticisms:
Censorship of Press: The Editors Guilds of India has stated that these amendments will have deeply adverse implications for
press freedom in the country. The determination of fake news in the sole hands of the government will result in censorship
of the press.
More Power to Fact Checking Unit: New rules may make it easier to muzzle the free press, and will give sweeping powers to
the agency authorized by the Central Government for fact checking, to force online intermediaries to take down content that
the government may find problematic.
Curb Legitimate Criticism: New amendments stifle legitimate criticism of the government and will have an adverse impact on
the ability of the press to hold governments to account, which is a vital role it plays in a democracy.
Lack of Governing mechanisms: New rules do not mention any governing mechanism for a fact-checking unit, the judicial
oversight, the right to appeal, or adherence to the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India.
WAY FORWARD:
Combating False Information: The best way to combat false information is through open discussion and education, not
censorship. However, this approach may not always be effective in addressing structural inequalities in society, and that
speech can sometimes be harmful.
Abiding by Constitutional Virtues: The IT Rules, which seek to address the problem of misinformation on the internet, impose
restrictions not through legislation but through executive diktats, which go against the constitutional guarantees of freedom
of speech and expression.
‒ The Constitution of India grants every citizen the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a), which
can only be limited through reasonable restrictions made by law on certain grounds specified in Article 19(2), such as the
interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order,
decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to an offence.
Framing a Comprehensive Law: The article suggests that any effective and constitutionally sound effort to combat fake news
should start with the creation of a comprehensive law by Parliament, which would set limitations on free speech according
to the grounds listed in Article 19(2).
‒ Such a law would also ensure that the government could not act as a judge in its own cause.
‒ Example: The example of France, where legislation exists to prevent the spread of misinformation during elections, is cited
as a model. Here, an independent judge makes the determination of whether information is false or not, rather than the
government.

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INDIA SPACE POLICY 2023

CONTEXT:
The recently released ‘Indian Space Policy 2023’ provides a much-needed impetus for India’s entry into the Second Space Age,
laying the foundation for private sector participation.
OVERVIEW ON INDIA’S SPACE SECTOR
The Indian space sector has evolved from its early days of satellite development and launching capabilities to achieving
milestones in lunar exploration, Mars mission success, and expanding applications of space technology for societal
development.
The Indian space sector constitutes just 2% of the global market share, which has potential to become 9% by 2030. (USA
comprises 40%).
The Indian Space Sector has been globally recognised for building cost-effective satellites, and now India is even taking
foreign satellites to space.
Today, while ISRO’s budget is approximately $1.6 billion, India’s space economy is over $9.6 billion. It is estimated that with an
enabling environment, the Indian space industry could grow to $60 billion by 2030, directly creating more than two lakh jobs.
MAJOR PROVISIONS OF INDIAN SPACE POLICY (ISP) 2023
Vision of the policy: To “enable, encourage and develop a flourishing commercial presence in space”.
Delineation of Roles: ISP delineates responsibility to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), New Space India Limited
(NSIL), and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).
NSIL The operational part of ISRO’s missions will be moved to the NSIL.
Strategic activities related to the space sector will be carried out by NSIL in demand-driven mode.
NSIL is a wholly owned Government of India company, under the administrative control of Department of Space.
As ISRO’s commercial arm, NSIL will become the interface for interacting with the industry, undertake commercial negotiations
and provide hand-holding support to ensure smooth and efficient transfer of technologies.
ISRO ISRO will transition out of the existing practice of being present in the manufacturing of operational space systems. Hereafter,
mature systems shall be transferred to industries for commercial exploitation.
ISRO shall focus on R&D in advanced technology, proving newer systems and realisation of space objects for meeting national
prerogatives.
Another of ISRO’s tasks in the new policy is to “share technologies, products, processes and best practices with NGEs (non-
government entities) and/or Government companies”.
INSPACe This agency will be the interface between ISRO and non-governmental entities.
To facilitate private sector participation, the government has created the IN-SPACe, as a single window, independent, nodal
agency under Department of Space. Its main mandate is to promote and enhance the role of Non-Government Entities in the
space sector by providing them with a level playing field.
Finally, IN-SPACe is expected to create a “stable and predictable regulatory framework” that will ensure a level playing field
for the NGEs. It will act as a promoter by setting up industry clusters and as the regulator, issue guidelines on liability issues.
Private Sector Participation: ISP seeks to institutionalise the private sector participation in the space sector, with ISRO
focusing on research and development of advanced space technologies.
‒ NGEs (this includes the private sector) are “allowed to undertake end-to-end activities in the space sector through
establishment and operation of space objects, ground-based assets and related services, such as communication, remote
sensing, navigation, etc.”.
‒ Satellites could be self-owned, procured or leased; communication services could be over India or outside; and remote
sensing data could be disseminated in India or abroad
‒ NGEs can design and operate launch vehicles for space transportation and establish their own infrastructure.
‒ NGEs can now make filings with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and engage in commercial recovery of
asteroid resources.

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‒ In short, the entire gamut of space activities is now open to the private sector. Security agencies can task NGEs for
procuring tailor-made solutions to address specific requirements.
NEED FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE SECTOR IN INDIA’S SPACE POLICY
India Lagging Behind Other Nations: Though private startups such as Agnikul Cosmos, Skyroot Aerospace, and Dhruva have
launched their respective missions, India is still at a nascent stage in the private space race, well behind other nations.
‒ Though the government has taken steps to boost private-sector participation in space, many companies have said the
large number of approvals required remains a huge barrier.
‒ ISP will pave the way forward with much-required clarity in space reforms and augment private industry participation to
drive the space economy opportunity for the country.
Emerging Space Industry: Indian space industry comprises of just 2% of global market share, and this space policy will help it
increase substantially to 10% in the future.
Break the Monopoly of ISRO: The space sector has remained within the confines of ISRO with full budgetary support from the
government. By institutionalizing the private sector, the ISP breaks the monopoly ISRO-driven space sector.
Boost Investment by Private Sector: Allowing private companies to perform space missions has benefited nations such as the
United States by promoting private sector investment.
‒ For example, Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rockets have become a popular choice for space missions around
the world.
Foster Innovation in Space Sector: Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and Arianespace have revolutionized
the space sector by reducing costs and turnaround time, with innovation and advanced technology.
‒ In India however, players within the private space industry have been limited to being vendors or suppliers to the
government’s space program.
‒ ISP’s thrust on privatization will enable the space sector to be more innovative and sustainable. It is crucial if India wants
to be competitive in global space ecosystems.
Boost Employment: Promoting the private sector will enable the Indian space program to remain cost competitive within the
global space market, and thus create several jobs in the space and other related sectors.
Better Governance: Optimal utilization of space technologies can revolutionize delivery of governance services and boost
developmental efforts.
Foster National Security: India needs to actively participate in the emergence of cutting- edge space technology, to ensure
national security and aligned strategic interests.
GAPS IN THE INDIAN SPACE POLICY 2023
Lack of Timeframe: The policy lacks a specific timeframe for implementation and the transition of ISRO’s practices, as well as
the establishment of the regulatory framework by IN-SPACe. This makes it difficult to assess the progress and implementation
of the policy.
Absence of Clear Rules and Regulations: The policy framework requires clear and detailed rules and regulations in several
areas, including foreign direct investment (FDI) and licensing, government procurement to support new space start-ups,
liability provisions in case of violations, and an appellate framework for dispute settlement.
Ambiguity in IN-SPACe’s Position and Authority: Currently, IN-SPACe’s position is ambiguous as it functions under the
purview of the Department of Space. The Secretary (Space) is also Chairman of ISRO, the government entity to be regulated
by IN-SPACe.
Legislative Authority: The establishment of a regulatory body like IN-SPACe requires legislative authority to ensure its
effectiveness and legitimacy. The absence of a dedicated legislation could hinder its ability to enforce regulations and provide
a robust regulatory framework for the space industry.
WAY FORWARD
Addressing the above gaps would involve providing a specific timeframe for implementation, formulating clear rules and
regulations, clarifying IN-SPACe’s position and authority, and enacting dedicated legislation to empower the regulatory body.
These steps are crucial to translate the vision of the ISP 2023 into a comprehensive and actionable plan to propel India into
the Second Space Age successfully.

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
CONTEXT:
A recent preliminary deal has been reached by members of the European Parliament on a new draft of the European Union’s
Artificial Intelligence Act.
MORE ON THE NEWS:
The AI Act was formed by the European Union in 2021 through a lengthy and consultative process.
The Act that aims to regulate the use and development of general-purpose artificial intelligence systems like OpenAI’s
ChatGPT.
The AI Act is intended to provide a comprehensive framework for regulating AI in the European Union.
It aims to ensure that AI is developed and used in a responsible and ethical manner.
The Act seeks to strike a balance between promoting the adoption of AI and mitigating the potential risks and harms
associated with certain uses of the technology.
The goal is to create a framework that promotes transparency, trust, and accountability in AI, while also protecting the safety,
health, fundamental rights, and democratic values of the European Union.
Similar to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the aim of the AI Act is to establish Europe as a global leader in AI while
ensuring that AI in Europe is developed and used in accordance with the values and rules of the European Union.
‒ GDPR was a landmark data protection law passed by the European Union in 2018 that established strict rules on data
protection and privacy.
The original draft of the Act was first created two years ago, and this new draft is an updated version that takes into account
the latest developments in the field of AI.
ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a concept that refers to the ability of machines to accomplish tasks that historically required
human intelligence.
It includes various technologies such as machine learning, pattern recognition, big data, neural networks, and self-algorithms.
AI involves complex processes such as feeding data into machines and making them react as per different situations. The goal
of AI is to create self-learning patterns where the machine can give answers to never-before-answered questions in a way that
a human would.
Some examples of AI in action include:
‒ Virtual personal assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, which use natural language processing and machine
learning to perform tasks such as setting reminders, playing music, and answering questions.
‒ Recommendation systems used by online retailers and streaming platforms, which use machine learning algorithms to
suggest products or content based on user preferences and behaviour.
‒ Fraud detection systems used by banks and credit card companies, which use machine learning to analyse transaction
data and identify patterns that may indicate fraudulent activity.
‒ Autonomous vehicles, which use sensors, machine learning algorithms, and other AI technologies to navigate roads and
avoid obstacles.
‒ Smart home devices, such as thermostats and security systems, which use machine learning to learn user behaviour and
preferences and adjust settings accordingly.
EVOLUTION OF AI: TIMELINE
The evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be traced back to the mid-20th century when computer scientists first started
developing machines that could perform tasks requiring human intelligence.
The birth of AI: In 1956, the field of AI was born when John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester, and Claude
Shannon organized the Dartmouth Conference, which is considered the birthplace of AI.
Rule-based systems: In the 1960s and 1970s, AI research focused on developing rule-based systems that could mimic human
reasoning and decision-making.

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Expert systems: In the 1980s, expert systems were developed that could perform specialized tasks by emulating the decision-
making processes of human experts.
Machine learning: In the 1990s, machine learning algorithms were developed that could learn from data and improve their
performance over time.
Big data: In the 2000s, the rise of big data and cloud computing made it possible to process massive amounts of data and train
more powerful AI models.
Deep learning: In the 2010s, deep learning algorithms were developed that could analyze large amounts of data and recognize
patterns with unprecedented accuracy.
Neural networks: In recent years, the development of neural networks has led to breakthroughs in natural language processing,
image recognition, and other areas.
BRANCHES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:
Branch of AI Description
Expert systems AI systems that use knowledge and rules to make decisions
Machine learning A technique that enables machines to learn from data and improve their performance
Deep learning A subfield of machine learning that uses neural networks to analyze large amounts of data
Natural language processing A technique that enables machines to understand and process human language
Computer vision A technique that enables machines to interpret and understand visual information
Robotics A field that combines AI with engineering to create machines that can perform physical tasks in the real world
Fuzzy logic A technique that allows for imprecision and uncertainty in decision-making
Evolutionary algorithms A technique that uses evolutionary principles to optimize AI systems
Swarm Intelligence A technique that models collective behavior in groups of animals to solve problems
Artificial neural networks A technique that uses interconnected nodes to process and analyze data
INDIA AND AI:

India is rapidly emerging as a major player in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The country has a large pool of talented
engineers, data scientists, and researchers who are working on cutting-edge AI projects.
As per the recent Global AI Index report, India is ranked 20th among 172 countries in terms of AI readiness and deployment.
The report takes into account various factors such as talent, infrastructure, policy environment, research, and development,
and commercial applications to assess the AI readiness of countries.
‒ India’s ranking in AI has improved compared to the previous years.
‒ The report highlights India’s strong talent pool and its potential to become a global leader in AI research and development.
‒ However, it also notes that there is a need for more investment in AI infrastructure and policies to support the growth
of AI in India.
Contribution to GDP: It is estimated that AI will add 957 billion dollars to India’s GDP by the year 2035 boosting India’s annual
growth by 1.3% points.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS RELATED TO AI IN INDIA:
National AI Strategy: In 2018, NITI Aayog published a draft national AI strategy with the aim of positioning the country as a
global leader in AI research and development. The strategy focuses on five key areas: healthcare, agriculture, education, smart
cities, and infrastructure.
AI Research Institutes: The Indian government has set up several research institutes dedicated to AI, such as the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), and the Centre for Excellence
in Artificial Intelligence.

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Startup Ecosystem: India has a vibrant startup ecosystem, and several AI startups have emerged in recent years. Some of the
notable startups include Haptik, Niki.ai, and Mad Street Den.
Corporate Investments: Several major corporations have also invested in AI research and development in India. For example,
Google has set up an AI lab in Bangalore, while Microsoft has established an AI research lab in Bangalore and an AI engineering
hub in Hyderabad.
RBI’s Initiative: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued guidelines for the use of AI in the banking sector, which include
requirements for explainability and transparency in AI decision-making. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
has also proposed guidelines for the use of AI in the capital markets, which include requirements for data quality, model
validation, and explainability.
AI Applications: AI is being used across various sectors in India, such as healthcare, agriculture, finance, and education. For
example, AI is being used to improve crop yields and predict weather patterns in agriculture, while it is being used to improve
patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs in healthcare.
STEPS THAT INDIA CAN TAKE TO REGULATE AI:
Develop a comprehensive national AI strategy: India can start by developing a comprehensive national AI strategy that
takes into account the economic, social, and ethical implications of AI. This strategy should involve all stakeholders, including
government, industry, academia, and civil society.
Establish an AI regulatory body: India can create a dedicated AI regulatory body to oversee the development and deployment
of AI technologies. This body should be responsible for setting standards, monitoring compliance, and enforcing regulations
related to AI.
Encourage responsible AI development: India can encourage responsible AI development by promoting ethical principles
and best practices. This can be achieved through the development of codes of conduct and certification programs for AI
developers.
Foster AI research and development: India can foster AI research and development by investing in AI education and training,
supporting AI startups, and providing funding for AI research.
Collaborate with other countries: India can collaborate with other countries to develop international standards and guidelines
for AI. This can help to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed in a responsible and ethical manner.

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SOCIAL ISSUES
PRISON REFORMS IN INDIA

CONTEXT:
The Centre has decided to launch a special scheme named ‘support for prisoners’ to provide financial support to prisoners who
are unable to afford the penalty or the bail amount.
ABOUT THE ‘SUPPORT FOR PRISONERS’ SCHEME
Objective: By providing financial support to poor prisoners, the scheme will help them get out of prison and decongest the
prisons.
The announcement of the scheme is in line with one of the Union Budget 2023-24 announcements, ‘Help for Poor Prisoners.’
Implementing agency: Ministry of Home Affairs
Key features of the scheme:
‒ Under the scheme, the Centre will provide financial support to States to extend relief to those poor prisoners who are
unable to avail bail or get released from prisons due to non-payment of fine, on account of financial constraints.
‒ To further strengthen the process, technology-driven solutions will be put in place to ensure that benefits reach the poor
prisoners.
‒ The scheme will work towards strengthening the District Legal Services Authority and sensitization and capacity building
of stakeholders to ensure that quality legal aid is made available to needy poor prisoners.
PRISONS AND THEIR GOVERNANCE IN INDIA
Prisons serve as correctional homes that are designed to punish and
rehabilitate individuals who have been convicted of crimes.
They are an integral part of the criminal justice system (CJS) that deals
with crime prevention, investigation, prosecution, punishment and
correction.
Prison governance in India:
‒ Prison is a State subject under List-II of the Seventh Schedule in the
Constitution.
‒ The modern prison system was conceptualized by TB Macaulay in
1835.
‒ The management and administration of Prisons falls exclusively
in the domain of the State Governments, and is governed by the
Prisons Act, 1894 and the Prison Manuals of the respective State
Governments.
‒ However, the Ministry of Home Affairs provides regular guidance
and advice to States and UTs on various issues concerning prisons and prison inmates.
NEED FOR REFORMS IN INDIAN PRISONS
Overcrowding of prisons: According to the ‘Prison Statistics 2021’, the average prison in the country has an occupancy rate
of 130%.
‒ This undermines the ability of prison systems to meet the basic needs of prisoners, such as healthcare, food, and
accommodation.
‒ This also endangers the basic rights of prisoners, including the right to have adequate standards of living and the right to
the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health.
Undertrials: Based on the ‘Justice India Report 2022’, 77 percent of the prisoners were undertrials. The pendency of cases is
a main reason for undertrials remaining in prison.

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‒ As these awaiting trial inmates come into touch with their incarcerated inmates, they get influenced into the world of
crime.
Custodial Tortures /Deaths: Brutal physical treatment in custody by police officials is another major problem of jails in India.
‒ According to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the last decade (2010-2020) on an average 5 people died
in judicial custody every day.
Staff shortage: India’s prisons are understaffed by at least 33 per cent with the highest vacancies found at the officer and
correctional staff levels.
‒ This has increased the workload of the staff and is having an impact on the ‘correctional’ aspect of imprisonment.
Lack of infrastructure: Most jails in India suffer from lack of basic prison infrastructure such as sleeping quarters, hygienic
washrooms, and health clinics.
‒ The budgetary support for the prison system has not increased proportionally to the population.
Hygiene: Indian prisons are considered some of the most unhygienic in the world. Prisoners housed in these prisons suffer
from diseases such as jaundice, hepatitis etc.
Issues of women prisoners: There is a severe lack of female staff, inadequate numbers of toilets, bathrooms and other basic
preconditions for sanitation and hygiene. They also remain particularly vulnerable to custodial sexual abuse.
Insufficient Legal Aid: There are many accused individuals who are forced to stay in prison due to their inability to pay legal
fees to fight their case.
Mentality of the system: People involved in prison management suffer from a colonial hangover, which prescribes harsh
treatment for prisoners. They still believe that prisoners must be treated harshly.
VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND THEIR SUGGESTIONS ON PRISON REFORMS
Justice Mulla Committee All India cadre for prison staff and bringing prison under the concurrent list;
(1983) Government should form a National Policy on Prisons;
Government to use alternatives to imprisonment such as community service etc.
Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer Separate institutions with women employees alone for women offenders;
Committee on Women Necessary provisions to restore the dignity of women even if convicted.
prisoners (1987)
Committee under the It used the reports of Justice Mulla Committee Report and Justice Krishna Iyer Committee and made
Chairmanship of Director several additional and new recommendations.
General, Bureau of Police It also drafted a National Policy on Prison Reforms and Correctional Administration, 2007.
Research and Development
(BPR&D) (2005)
Justice Amitava Roy Panel on Overcrowding:

Prison Reforms (2018) ‒ Special fast-track courts should be set up to deal with petty crimes;
‒ Lawyers – Prisoners Ratio: There should be at least one lawyer for every 30 prisoners;
Understaffing:
‒ The Supreme Court should pass directions to start the recruitment process against vacancies;
‒ There should be use of video-conferencing for trials;
Prisoners:
‒ Every new prisoner should be allowed a free phone call a day to his family members to see him
through his first week in jail;
‒ Alternative punishments should be explored.
VARIOUS INITIATIVES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF CONDITIONS IN INDIAN PRISONS

Modernisation of Prisons (MoP) Project: Government of India has decided to provide financial assistance to States and UTs,
through MoP for using modern-day security equipment in Prisons for
‒ Enhancing the security of jails and
‒ To facilitate the task of reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners through correctional administration programmes.

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E-Prisons Project: The E-Prisons project aims to introduce efficiency in prison management through digitization.
Model Prison Manual 2016: The manual provides detailed information about the legal services (including free services)
available to prison inmates.
Fast Track Courts: Fast Track Courts (FTC) are the type of courts that provide swift justice and are established after consultation
with respective High Courts.
e-Courts Project: The project will streamline the judicial processes and transform the Indian Judiciary by ICT enablement of
Courts.
‒ This will reduce pendency in the judiciary and help the litigants.
WAY FORWARD:
Use of technology: Technological upgradations such as biometric identification facilities, prisoner information system,
provision of CCTVs, video conferencing facilities along with critical infrastructure such as hospital, sanitation systems are
needed.
Open Prisons: In 1980, the All-India Committee on Jail Reform suggested that open prisons be established in all of the states
and UTs.
‒ Open prisons have relatively less stringent rules as compared to controlled jails. They go by many names like minimum-
security prison, open-air camps or prison without bars.
Reducing undertrials:
‒ Timely and complete production of under trials before the court so that a trial is not prolonged.
‒ Introducing the system of plea bargaining which refers to negotiation where the accused agrees to plead guilty in exchange
for certain concessions by the prosecution.
‒ Capacity building in lower judiciary to reduce the number of adjournments while hearing bail pleas.
Improving the system of Parole and Furlough: To enable prisoners to preserve their social connections and mitigate the
effects of overcrowding in prisons.
‒ Grant of parole and furlough must be balanced against public interest and can be refused to certain categories of prisoners.
A robust grievance redressal mechanism: should be put in place in all prisons to ensure the rights of prisoners are not violated
and their concerns are heard impartially.
Skill development: Upgrading the educational facilities, vocational training, and skill development programs within prisons
can not only enhance the daily lives of prisoners but also provide them with economic support upon release.
Adherence to key international rules and standards such as:
FIGHT AGAINST TB
CONTEXT
At the One World TB Summit in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on March 24, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s
commitment towards elimination of Tuberculosis (TB).

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WHAT IS TUBERCULOSIS (TB)?

TB: Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that is a major
cause of ill health and one of the leading causes of death
worldwide.
‒ TB is caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
which is spread when people who are sick with TB expel
bacteria into the air.
World TB Day : The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi,
addressed the One World TB Summit at Rudrakash Convention
Centre in Varanasi on 24th March 2023. Various initiatives
were launched by the PM to eliminate TB by 2025 in India.
PREVALENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS
Global: An estimated 10·6 million people became ill with
tuberculosis in 2021, compared with 10·1 million in 2020, and
1·6 million people died from tuberculosis in 2021.
‒ The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a damaging
impact on access to TB diagnosis and treatment and the
burden of TB disease.
‒ Its immediate impact was a large global drop in the reported number of people newly diagnosed with TB. From a peak of
7.1 million in 2019, this fell to 5.8 million in 2020.
India: The recent National TB Prevalence Survey (in India) found that 64% of people with infectious TB did not seek care. As
a result, national-level estimates suggest that for every person notified with TB, we miss detecting almost two more cases.
‒ Also, as per the Global TB Report, 2022, the incidence of TB in India has reduced by 18% from 256/lakh population in
2015 to 210/lakh population in 2021, which is 7% points better than the global average of 11%.4.
HOW CAN INDIA LEAD IN GLOBAL TB ELIMINATION
India Focusing on Health in G20: India identified concerns of global importance as health priorities under its G20 Presidency.
These include:
‒ Improving effectiveness and reach of health services using digital solutions;
‒ Strengthening cooperation to enhance pharmaceutical development and manufacturing capabilities;
‒ Dealing with anti-microbial resistance;
‒ Focusing on ‘One Health’.
‒ All of these have strong resonance with India’s and the world’s fight against TB.
Enhancing Research Capabilities: India has long
recognised the importance of investing in health research
and development. Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR) and its associated institutes are working to
strengthen testing, reporting and treatment & generate
evidence to achieve the target of eliminating Tuberculosis
(TB) by the year 2025.
‒ Recently, the National Centre for Disease Control
& High Containment Laboratory and site for the
Metropolitan Public Health Surveillance Unit were
inaugurated in Varanasi by India’s PM.
‒ ICMR institutes like National Institute for Research in
Tuberculosis (NIRT) has completed the world’s largest
National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey which helped India understand the TB burden at the state level for targeted
programmatic interventions.

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‒ The Standard Treatment Workflow (STW) for Management for Extra-pulmonary TB & Paediatric TB by ICMR aims to
empower the primary, secondary and tertiary care physicians towards TB elimination by increasing detection of Paediatric
TB and Extrapulmonary TB.
‒ India is moving towards the establishment of centres of excellence, which will facilitate collaboration between ICMR
laboratories and the private sector to strengthen and expand research and development efforts for TB. It will help India
(and other developing countries) meet the End TB targets.
Prioritise TB Vaccine Trials: India must prioritise and find an effective TB vaccine. The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine
for is used for TB, but it does not adequately protect adolescents and adults who are at the highest risk for developing and
spreading TB.
‒ The Mission COVID Suraksha programme to develop vaccines was a good example of a public-private partnership in India,
with clear goals and outcomes.
‒ There are currently over 15 TB vaccine in the pipeline; India must ensure that their clinical trials are prioritised to assess
their efficacy in various community settings and for different target groups.
Diagnostic Tests: Testing for, and diagnosing TB needs to become more accessible and affordable so much so that each person
with suggestive symptoms or frontline worker can test and get results within minutes, at minimal costs.
‒ Point-of-Care Tests (POCTs), such as home-based tests for COVID, allowed decentralised, rapid and low-cost diagnostics
to provide results within minutes.
‒ New innovations such as nasal and tongue swab-based tests for TB can be a game changer by reducing diagnostic delays.
‒ Further, handheld digital x-ray machines (with artificial intelligence-based software) can now be taken to villages and
urban settlements to screen large numbers of high risk individuals, safely and conveniently.
New Therapeutic Molecules: The development and introduction of new therapeutic molecules can play a crucial role in
eliminating TB.
‒ Shorter, safer, and more effective regimens do exist and
include the 1HP regimen for latent TB infections, the four-
month regimen (HPZM) for drug-susceptible TB, and the six-
month regimen (BPaL/M) for drug-resistant TB.
‒ Recently, India has launched TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative,
a pan-India rollout of a shorter preventive treatment and
family-centric care model.
‒ Also, India’s pharma industry meets almost 80 % of the global
demand for TB drugs.
Better Policy Framework: There needs to be better regulatory
and policy frameworks so that the treatment of TB reaches to the
people in time.
‒ India is the only country in the world to implement a Sub-
National Certification (SNC) exercise, a novel scientific
method through which districts are verified for their progress
of elimination towards TB.
‒ Ni-kshay portal is an exemplary model that tracks the entire
cascade of care for each TB patient in India.
‒ The PM of India recently awarded select States/UTs and
districts for their progress towards ending TB.
9 The recipients of the awards were Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir on the State/UT level and The Nilgiris, Pulwama
and Anantnag at the district level.
WAY FORWARD
India has a unique position to spearhead the global TB response with its strength in technology, digital innovations, data
science and epidemiology.
India has highlighted the 5T approach (trace, test, track, treat & technology) for TB as was done for COVID.

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Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is among the health targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
and this requires greater collaboration between policymakers, scientists, product developers and clinical researchers across
the country and even across regions and their governments.
SAME SEX MARRIAGE

CONTEXT:
A Supreme Court Bench led by the Chief Justice of India has recently referred petitions to legally recognize same-sex marriage to
a five-judge constitution bench.
MORE ON THE NEWS
The Court has been hearing multiple petitioners’ requests for legal recognition of same-sex marriages under a special law.
The petitioners cited the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which provides a civil marriage for couples who cannot marry under
their personal law, and appealed to the Court to extend the right to the LGBTQIA+ community, by making the “marriage
between any two persons” gender neutral.
However, the Central government filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court, opposing the legal recognition of same-sex
marriage in India.
CENTRE’S STAND
Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage: The Centre has opposed same-sex marriage stating that the “notion of marriage itself
presupposes a union between two persons of the opposite sex”.
Delicate Balance of Personal Laws: According to the centre, judicial interference in this matter will cause “complete havoc
with the delicate balance of personal laws” in the country.
No Fundamental Right to Same-Sex Marriage: The centre has also stated that despite the decriminalisation of Section 377 of
the IPC, same-sex marriage cannot be treated as a fundamental right and be recognised under the laws of the country.
Legislative Curtailment of Rights: Even if a right to same-sex marriage is claimed under Article 21, the centre argues that the
right can be curtailed by competent legislature on permissible constitutional grounds including legitimate state interest.
ABOUT THE SAME SEX MARRIAGE
Same-sex marriage is the marriage of two people of the same sex.
Global acceptance: In 133 countries homosexuality decriminalised, but only in 33 of them same-sex marriage is legal.
Status in India: Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in India, and the existing marriage laws, such as the Hindu
Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act, only recognize marriages between a man and a woman.
‒ However, it should be noted that, Special Marriage Act uses gender neutral terms as its Section 5 says “a marriage between
any two persons may be solemnized under this Act”.
‒ Similarly, Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act mentions marriage between “any two Hindus”.
Arguments for and against same sex marriages:

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Arguments for Arguments against

Equality: All individuals should have the same rights and Traditional definition: Marriage has traditionally been defined
opportunities, including the right to marry the person they love, as a union between a man and a woman, and changing this is
regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. seen as undermining the institution of marriage.
Love and Commitment: Allowing same-sex couples to marry Religious Beliefs: Same-sex marriages go against the teachings
recognizes and affirms these relationships. of many religions, and legalizing them would infringe on the
Social Acceptance: Legalizing same-sex marriages sends a religious freedom of those who oppose them.
message of social acceptance and inclusion, and can help reduce Parenting: Legalizing same-sex marriages is believed to harm
stigma and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. children’s psyche.
Human Rights: Marriage is a fundamental human right, and Slippery Slope: Legalizing same-sex marriages could lead to the
denying same-sex couples the right to marry is a violation of recognition of other non-traditional forms of relationships, such
their human rights. as polygamy or incest.
Related information: Status of LGBTQ+ Community in India:

The Constitutional status of the LGBTQ+ community in India has been a topic of debate and struggle for many years.
Decriminalization of Homosexuality: Prior to 2018, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code criminalized homosexual acts, making it illegal
to engage in same-sex sexual activity.
‒ This provision was struck down by the Supreme Court in September 2018 in a landmark judgment, Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of
India, which decriminalized consensual same-sex relationships.
‒ However, there is no specific constitutional protection for the community in India. The Indian Constitution does not explicitly
mention sexual orientation or gender identity as protected characteristics, nor does it provide explicit anti-discrimination
protections based on these characteristics.
The Supreme Court has made several judgments in recent years that recognize the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals. For
example:
‒ National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (2014): This landmark judgment recognized transgender people as a third
gender, and directed the government to take steps to provide them with legal recognition, provide access to education, employment,
and healthcare services and protection from discrimination.
‒ S. Swapna v. Government of Kerala (2015): In this case, the Supreme Court ordered the Kerala government to provide transgender
people with access to healthcare facilities and to establish separate prison facilities for them.
Constitutional Provisions for the Protection of LGBTQ+ Community:
‒ Right to Equality: Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees the right to equality before the law and the equal protection of the law to
all individuals, regardless of their sex, caste, religion, or place of birth. The Supreme Court has interpreted this provision to include
sexual orientation as a protected ground.
‒ Right to Non-Discrimination: Article 15 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or
place of birth.
‒ Right to Freedom of Expression: Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression to all individuals.
This provision can be used to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals to express themselves and advocate for their rights.
‒ Right to Life and Personal Liberty: Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the right to life and personal liberty to all individuals.
The Supreme Court has interpreted this provision to include the right to live with dignity, which includes the right to make choices
about one’s sexuality and gender identity.
‒ Right to Privacy: The Supreme Court has recognized the right to privacy as a fundamental right under the Constitution. This includes
the right to make choices about one’s sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of discrimination or harassment.
About the Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954
Marriages in India can be registered under the respective personal laws Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Muslim Marriage Act, 1954, or under
the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
It is the duty of the Judiciary to ensure that the rights of both the husband and wife are protected.
The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India with provision for civil marriage for people of India and all Indian
nationals in foreign countries, irrespective of religion or faith followed by either party.
When a person solemnises marriage under this law, then the marriage is not governed by personal laws but by the Special Marriage
Act.

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ETHICS
Case Study on Human-wildlife conflict-
You are the District Collector of your District. You have gotten instructions to celebrate 50 years of Project Tiger in your district.
However, for the past few years, a rise has been seen in the human-wildlife conflicts in your district which was neglected for the
last few years, led to large scale outrage of the public against wild animals including tigers. There have been many cases reported
in your area but no proper action was taken yet. Many wild animals are culled, many humans lost their lives and there is a large-
scale destruction of crops and property because of human-wildlife conflicts. . Local media and national media are also highlighting
this issue and the debate is raging because of similar incidents reported across India. Recently, few videos of human-wildlife
conflicts went viral like- a tiger is struggling to cross the road barrier in MP, a wild elephant angrily chases people after they try to
scare it away in Assam. And in another shocking video, a leopard attacked a cyclist in Uttarakhand.
Some Environmental activists are questioning the present model of development in your district. Some Animal activists are also
upping their anti-culling stance and attacks on wild animals, and they have written to the Animal Welfare Board of India. In this
context, there is a pressure on you to act promptly to resolve these issues.
A. What are the possible reasons for human- wildlife conflicts?
B. What are the Ethical dilemmas involved in this case?
C. What course of action will you take for the smooth conduct of Project Tiger 50 year celebration and to address the issue of
human-wildlife conflict in your area?
D. What are the policy suggestions you will give to higher competent authorities to address this issue of human-wildlife conflicts?
DISCUSSION:
With the increase in population pressure on resources and unsustainable development models with encroachment of Forests,
there is a rise in the incidents of Human-Wildlife conflicts in India. Though Project Tiger is successful in doubling the tiger population
in India, there are other objectives which are not implemented properly. As per MoEFCC data, Between 2018-19 and 2020-21,
222 elephants were killed by electrocution across the country, 45 by trains, 29 by poachers and 11 by poisoning. Among tigers,
too, 29 were killed by poaching between 2019 and 2021, while 197 tiger deaths are under scrutiny. Among human casualties of
conflict with animals, elephants killed 1,579 humans in three years — 585 in 2019-20, 461 in 2020-21, and 533 in 2021-22. Tigers
killed 125 humans in reserves between 2019 and 2021. Human rights and animal rights have also been recognised and there is
increasing pressure to adopt a sustainable development model.
STAKEHOLDERS AND THEIR INTERESTS IN THE GIVEN CASE/SITUATION:
Stakeholders Interests of the stakeholders

Wild animals like tigers, elephants etc. Their welfare and prevention of cruelty against them
Local People Protection of Human rights

Protection from wild animals and their attacks including long term protection from zoonotic
diseases.
Local Government (Municipality and Duty towards citizen

Rural panchayats) Responsibility of reducing man-wildlife conflicts, awareness on zoonotic diseases transmission.
Local Media and national media Highlighting public issues

Acting as a channel of communication between government authorities and public
Social Media like whatsApp etc. A medium for content sharing and community interaction
Animal Rights Activists Fighting for animal rights and highlighting issues faced by them
Animal Welfare Board of India Protection of animal welfare
District Collector of the affected Duty to serve public interests

district (Me) Responsibility to manage district properly

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A. The various possible reasons behind the Human-wildlife conflict could be as follows:
Habitat fragmentation: The creation of designated tiger reserves has led to habitat fragmentation, which can result in isolated
tiger populations that are more vulnerable to genetic problems, disease, and other threats.
Human wildlife conflicts and Retaliatory killings: Human-tiger conflict has increased in recent years due to factors like-
habitat loss/fragmentation/degradation, saturation of tiger populations in certain regions, increase in human settlements and
agricultural lands around protected areas etc.
Movement of wild animals from forests area to human-dominated landscapes for food and fodder
Movement of human beings to forests for illegal collection of forest produce
Habitat degradation due to the growth of invasive alien species, etc.
B. The various ethical dilemmas involved in this case are as follows:
With respect to District collector With respect to Local People/ Local With respect to Local Government
Media and vigilante Groups (Municipalities and other local bodies),
Human and Animal Rights bodies
Animal rights vs Human rights: Empathy towards animals by Seek balance between human and
Whether to give preference to human considering their right to life. animal rights and taking right course of
rights or animal rights or to seek Issue of responsible citizen action in such situations
balance between them. participation: Whether to take action Issue of upholding Constitution (Article
Legal vs Illegal (Wild Life protection Act, by themselves or wait for corrective 21 and Article 51A etc. ), and various
1972): Whether he should recommend steps by administration. International Covenants related to
to higher authorities for culling of wild Meaningful participation of locals: is human and animal rights with best
animals or to consider human welfare. required for success of programs like practices.
Utilitarianism (maximum good for the Project Tiger.
maximum number of people) versus Loss of lives of local people vs their
libertarianism ( animals have the same role in conservation of wild life habitat
right to life as humans). and wild animalsfor sustainable
development.
C. As a District collector of the affected district, I will be taking following course of actions:
Short Term Measures Medium and Long-term Measures
Identification of hotspots: Immediately identify areas where the human- Educate people through awareness: Involve NGOs
wildlife conflicts are there with the help of drone technology. in creating awareness about the right behaviour
Mitigation- Use of preventive measures like the use of fences and noise to with respect to stray and pet dogs.
drive wildlife away, use of electric fencing etc. Advisory for Management of Human-Wildlife
Treatment of Victims: Ensure wildlife attacked people are given due care at Conflict (HWC): This has been issued by the
public and private hospitals. Standing Committee of the National Board of
Issue an immediate advisory: to the local residents and advising them not Wildlife (SC-NBWL).
to poke wild animals out of anger. Empowering Local Bodies: Empower Gram
Helpline: Initiate a helpline, where people would get all sorts of help in such Panchayats: The advisory envisages empowering
cases and to report wildlife attacks. gram panchayats in dealing with problematic wild
animals as per the WildLife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Empathy with the victims: Meet the family of the victims and express my
condolence through Local committees. Provide Insurance: Utilising add-on coverage under
the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna for crop
Community patrol members- to report the issues proactively.
compensation against crop damage due to HWC.
Creating alternative water points for wildlife to steer them away from
Augmenting Fodder: Envisages augmenting fodder
community water sources
and water sources within the forest areas.
Take Proactive Measures: Prescribes inter-departmental committees at the
Adjusting Land use patterns in such fragile wild life
local/state level, adoption of early warning systems, creation of barriers,
areas.
dedicated circle-wise Control Rooms with toll-free hotline numbers,
Identification of hotspots, etc.
Provide Instant Relief: Payment of a portion of ex-gratia as interim relief
within 24 hours of the incident to the victim/family.

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Case study- Ex- WildSeve mobile technology tool used by farmers in some villages in India to report wildlife conflicts, resulting
in immediate assistance from WildSeve responders on motorcycles. The responders assist families in filing compensation forms
with the government, including fair assessment of the damage, and - they act as intermediaries between people and government
agencies, ensuring transparency.
FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT TIGER PROGRAM 50 YEAR CELEBRATIONS-
Role of human rights and Animal rights activists- to create awareness on the need of sensitization among the locals for smooth
conduct of this program.
Local youth committees’ mobilisation for successful implementation of this program.
Convincing the local people- by persuading them with the relevant information on what steps will be taken in future to reduce
such human-wildlife conflicts.
Awareness creation and sensitisation- with the help of local TV channels and cable networks, local media and Whatsapp
groups etc.
D . Some of the policy suggestions you will give to higher competent authorities to address this issue of human-wildlife
conflicts:
Community led development model- This is the key to avoid such attacks in future. Ex- The Elephant Whisperers story based
on a real life incident in Mudumalai Wildlife sanctuary.
Sustainable development model- Based on analysis of local ecology and environment; need to adopt agricultural practices,
inhabiting the wild areas etc. So striking such a balance and implementing it is key to avoid such future conflicts.
One health concept design and implementation- To avoid the spread of zoonotic diseases in future and ensure health of
wildlife, domestic animals and local inhabitants.
Alternative livelihood to forest dwellers including Minor Forest produce and their marketing.
Insurance including Natural insurance for local farmers- Animal Husbandry and other allied activities support. And also to
cover them under programs like PM Fasal Bhima yojana,
Local language education for awareness creation, larger outreach of conservation measures and for sustainable livelihood
promotion.
Role of Technology in wildlife conservation and to reduce human wildlife conflicts- Ex- Designing and installing predator-
proof roofs on livestock corrals to make them impenetrable to snow leopard attacks at night. WWF found that the loss of
livestock in Ladakh, India, dropped from 38 percent to 1 percent after the improvement of livestock corrals.
CONCLUSION
Wild life is critical for human survival and for a healthy ecosystem and ecology. So Balanced approach to tackling human-
wildlife conflicts is the need of the hour. The most widespread methods for lessening human-wildlife conflict come in the form
of mitigation, or finding ways to keep wildlife out of areas with high human population or agricultural density.

113

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Monthly IQ

A Comprehensive Current Affairs Magazine for

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 Constitutional Position of the Governor:

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Article 31 A Article 31B

INDIA JUSTICE REPORT 2022

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 Key Findings: Some key findings of the report are:

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Constitutional Position of the Governor:

Key Findings: Some key findings of the report are:

Judiciary India’s justice system as a whole remains plagued by low budgets.

Prisons More than half of jails in the country are overcrowded.

Securities Appellate Tribunal:

Applicability Applies to: