19 - focus december 2015 xaam.in

8/17/2019 19 - Focus December 2015 Xaam.in

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/19-focus-december-2015-xaamin 1/117

FOCUS

FOCUS: RAU’S HOUSE JOURNAL ON CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS | DECEMBER 2015

1

FOCUS

Dear Students,

FOCUS is a Rau’s IAS Study Circle’s monthly publication of current affairs analysis !he publication, as the

name su""ests, focuses solely on such current affair items and ne#spaper editorials #hich are rele$ant to

the dynamic se"ments of the %eneral Studies’ syllabus and are important themes for the &ssay paper of the

Ci$il Ser$ices &'amination

FOCUS is not (ust a collection of current affairs and "eneral )no#led"e items, it is in fact a collecti$e effort

of e'perienced trainers and educators in $aried themes of %eneral Studies to analyse these ne#s items,

research and pro$ide bac)"round and related information, lend a "eneralist $ie#point to these ne#s pieces

and thus prepare critical notes for the study of %eneral Studies’ papers

Feature:

1 All ne#s items are cate"ori*ed and clubbed theme+#ise International, India - the .orld, /ational,

0olity - %o$ernance, Science - !echnolo"y, Defence and so on

2 3aps and fi"ures, #here$er rele$ant, ha$e been pro$ided #ith ne#s

4 5ac)"round information has been added to ma)e ne#s understandable in totality

6 Related and additional information

7 /e#s Analysis

8 3ust read editorials of the month9 &ssay

: Assi"nment ;uestions

< All in a $ery simple and lucid format

H!" t! ue#

1 !his issue is broadly di$ided into t"e$t% &' parts=

a 0arts One to !#enty One are different themes under #hich all ne#s items ha$e been cate"ori*ed

b 0art !#enty !#o contains all the important editorials from different sources #hich #e consider are a

must read for all aspirants

c 0art !#enty !hree contains important articles #hich #e consider are a must read for all aspirantsd 0art !#enty Four on &ssay

e 0art !#enty Fi$e contains a bunch of multiple choice >uestions on current affairs incorporated #ith

emphasis on 0reliminary %eneral Studies + 0aper I and 17 descripti$e type >uestions for $arious core

sections of the 3ain e'am

f 0art !#enty Si' contains solutions and e'planations to multiple choice >uestions incorporated in

FOCUS+/o$ember, 2?17 issue

" Focus Special

2 Study maps and fi"ures carefully It #ill add depth to your )no#led"e

4 /e$er miss the @5ac)"round’ of any ne#s U0SC as)s >uestions from the bac)"round of the ne#s

6 Use @Related Information’ and @Additional Information’ to create e'tra dimensions to your ans#er

7 /e#s Analysis and &ditorial #ill help you de$elop $ie#s about an issue U0SC as)s >uestions based

upon your $ie#s re"ardin" an issue



FOCUS

FOCUS= RAU’S OUS& BOUR/A O/ CURR&/! AFFAIRS A/ASIS E DECEMBER 2015

2

8 3a)e a collection of all these issuespublications and )eep re$isin" them as these notes #ill not only

help you ans#er many >uestions in the %eneral Studies papers but #ill also be $ery helpful for the

&ssay paper

Furt(er A&ta$)e:

1 For further understandin" of any current affair items or editorials, please consult the respecti$e

thematic faculty memberprofessor

2 For clarity on practice multiple choice >uestions 3C;s "i$en in this issue, please consult the

FOCUS+ October issue

4 For clarity on >uestions on %S 3ain &'am, please consult respecti$e thematic faculty

T(e !ur)e *!r a++ t(e $e" &te, a$- !t(er re+ate- &$*!r,at&!$ are:1 !he indu

2 !he !imes of India

4 !he Indian &'press

6 Asian A"e

7 !he !ribune

8 !he &conomic !imes

9 Frontline

: &conomic and 0olitical .ee)ly

< .orld Focus

1? 55C

.!!- Lu)/

RAU’S IAS STUDY CIRCLE

ESSAY RITIN.!he Study Circle in$ites and encoura"es students to #rite essay on any or both of the belo# mentioned topics and

submit to the office for inclusion in the Ja$uar% 2013 issue &ssays can be submitted on any of the follo#in" issues=+

1 .ith "reater po#er comes "reater responsibility

2 Independent thin)in" should be encoura"ed ri"ht from the childhood

• .ord limit= Desired #ord limit is 17?? #ords

• Clarity of thou"ht, lucidity in e'pression, coherence and analytical thin)in" is e'pected from the students

• !imelines= All essays must be submitted either as hard copies at the Office or emailed as scanned copies to

*!)u4rau&a)!, latest by Ja$uar% 61 2013 /o e'tension in the date of submission #ill be considered

• Students can submit essay on either of the topics Do remember to mention your /ame and 5atch number alon"

#ith the essay

N!te: T(e 7et ea%89 !$ t(e 7a& !* ,er&t a$- re+ea$)e t! t(e t!;&) "&++ 7e ;u7+&(e- &$ t(e *!rt()!,&$< &ue



!A5& OF CO/!&/!S


4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FFOOCCUUSS SS==EECCIIAALL :: IINNDDIIAANN CCII>>IILL SSEERR>>IICCEESS:: ==UUBBLLIICC IINNTTEERRFFAACCEE 1111??

=ART ONE | INTERNATIONAL @

1 South China Sea dispute :

2 China consolidates in Africa follo#in" G8? billion pled"e <

4 Saudi ArabiaHs #omen $ote in election for first time 1?

6 U/ Security Council a"rees on Syria peace plan 11

7 ene*uela opposition thrashes JCha$ismoJ to #in le"islature 12

8

%ambia declares itself an @Islamic republic’ 12

9 &uropean 0arliament calls for sanctions a"ainst 3aldi$es 14

: %o$ernin" party loses ma(ority in Spain 14

< U/ launches its bi""est e$er annual appeal for humanitarian fundin" 16

1? China officially ends one+child policy 16

11 Ira> declares Ramadi liberated from Islamic State 18

12 Bapan and South Korea a"ree to settle the issue of Jcomfort #omenJ 18

==AARRTT TT OO || IINNDDIIAA AANNDD TTHHEE OORRLLDD 11@@

1 Indo+Bapan Summit= Key pacts on hi"h+speed rail, nuclear ener"y in)ed 19

2 Indian na$al base in Seychelles 19

4 %o$ernment pitches for "lobal north+south corridor 1:

6 Russia and India cement ties #ith ener"y and defence deals 1<

==AARRTT TTHHRREEEE || NNAATTIIOONNAALL NNEE SS 2200

1 Rural landholdin" almost hal$ed o$er 2? years 2?

2 3ullaperiyar safety= Kerala to mo$e Supreme Court a"ainst !amil /adu 21

==AARRTT FFOOUURR || EECCOONNOOMMYY 2222

1 I3F "i$es ChinaHs currency pri*ed reser$e asset status 22

2 .!O tal)s concludeL India disappointed 22

4 !e'tile industry fla"s concerns o$er %reen norms 24

6 Amended !echnolo"y Up"radation Fund Scheme 26

7 India+Iran trade partnership= Delhi and !ehran to host each other’s ban) branches 27

8 /o 0% subsidy for ta'payers #ho earn o$er Rs 1? la)h annually 27

==AARRTT FFII>>EE || ==OOLLIITTYY AANNDD ..OO>>EERRNNAANNCCEE 22@@

1 Ra(ya Sabha passes Bu$enile Bustice 5ill 29

2 Cabinet clears important 5ills and appro$es pac)a"e for ship buildin" industry 2:

4 Insol$ency and 5an)ruptcy 5ill, 2?17 2<



!A5& OF CO/!&/!S


6

6 !elan"ana is second State to set up Moroastrian (ury 4?

==AARRTT SSII || SSOOCCIIAALL IISSSSUUEESS 6611

1 Ine>uality pulls bac) India= U/D0 41

==AARRTT SSEE>>EENN|| SSCCIIEENNCCEE AANNDD TTEECCHHNNOOLLOO..YY 6666

1 %enome of the Asian elephant se>uenced for the first time in India 44

2 /ASA plans to e'it space station in order to e'plore deeper space 46

4 2?18 set to lift ISRO to#ards hea$y missions 46

6

/e# polymer could purify #ater in seconds 47

7 DA30& 47

8 ISRO launches si' Sin"aporean satellites 48

==AARRTT EEII..HHTT|| EENNEERR..YY 66@@

1 !A0I "as pipeline pro(ect 49

2 Solar capacity crosses 7,??? 3. 4:

==AARRTT NNIINNEE|| DDEEFFEENNCCEE 66

1 Indian /a$y successfully test fires 5ara)+: lon" ran"e missile from I/S Kol)ata 4<

2 Russia+China defence cooperation on rise 4<

==AARRTT TTEENN|| EENN>>IIRROONNMMEENNTT EECCOOLLOO..YY BBIIOODDII>>EERRSSIITTYY ??11

1 0aris= nations adopt historic climate chan"e deal to sa$e planet 61

2 ife e'ploded on &arth after o'y"en rise o$er 1?? million years 62

4 0iscine di$ersity under threat in Krishna ri$er 62

6

Record #armth and retreatin" ice noted for Arctic in annual report on its status 64

7 Researchers name ne# #hale species after mythic creature from 3oby+Dic) 66

8 Krishna 3ystus 66

9 A deadly #ar at the "enetic le$el 67

==AARRTT EELLEE>>EENN|| HHEEAALLTTHH ??33

1 Cardio$ascular disease top )iller 68

2 Colistin use a"ainst resistant infections up 69

==AARRTT TT EELL>>EE|| CCOOMMMMIITTTTEEEESS AANNDD RREE==OORRTTSS ??

1 Deepa) 3ohanty Committee report on @3edium+term 0ath on Financial Inclusion’ 6:



!A5& OF CO/!&/!S


7

==AARRTT TTHHIIRRTTEEEENN|| CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEESS AANNDD SSUUMMMMIITTSS ??

1

China hosts 1st 5RICS media summit 6<

2 SCO concludes prime ministers’ meetin" 6<

==AARRTT FFOOUURRTTEEEENN|| SS==OORRTTSS 5511

1 Fifa= Sepp 5latter and 3ichel 0latini "et ei"ht+year bans 71

2 Indian Super ea"ue 2?17 71

4 A$adh 2?th Common#ealth table tennis championships 71

==AARRTT FFIIFFTTEEEENN|| OORR..AANNIISSAATTIIOONN IINN NNEE SS 5522

1 .orld !rade Or"ani*ation .!O 72

==AARRTT SSIITTEEEENN|| ==EERRSSOONNAALLIITTIIEESS 55??

1 Amitabh Kant 76

2 An"ela 3er)el 76

4 5enedict Anderson 76

6 as)el .e'ler 76

7

3an"esh Kesha$ 0ad"aon)ar 76

8 3ireia ala"una Royo 77

9 3other !eresa 77

: 0eter Dic)inson 77

< RK 3athur 77

1? Sadhana Shi$dasani 78

11 Sharad Boshi 78

12 !irath Sin"h !ha)ur 78

==AARRTT SSEE>>EENNTTEEEENN|| AA AARRDDSS 55@@

1 Dilip Kumar "ets 0adma ibhushan 79

2 Indian American professor #ins top honour for research on tumours 79

4 Bnanpith A#ard 2?17 79

6 I/S iraat #ins last re"atta 7:

7 Indian+ori"in #riter #ins presti"ious a#ard 7:

==AARRTT EEII..HHTTEEEENN|| ==LLAACCEESS 55

1

aranasi and Baipur ma)e it to U/&SCOHs Creati$e City /et#or) 7<

==AARRTT NNIINNEETTEEEENN|| HHIISSTTOORRYY AANNDD CCUULLTTUURREE 3300

1 &$idence of 5uddhist monastery found 8?



!A5& OF CO/!&/!S


8

2 5ishnupur re$eals amal"am of the Kalin"a school and the 5en"al architecture 8?

4 ad"ar+e+!a>seem 81

6 Ancient idol to be restored 82

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY|| BBOOOOSS AANNDD AAUUTTHHOORRSS 3366

1 Copyri"ht of Adolf itlerHs 3ein Kampf e'pires 84

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY OONNEE|| MMIISSCCEELLLLAANNEEOOUUSS 33??

1 Channapatna craft 86

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY TT OO|| EEDDIITTOORRIIAALLSS 3355

1 It’s a deal 87

2 5oostin" ener"y security 87

4 Rural India )ey to spurrin" economy 88

6 Abilities unlimited= Accessible India campai"n needs an inte"rated approach to empo#er the

differently abled 88

7 After the reconciliation 89

8 a#+ma)in" amid moral outra"e 8:

9

/airobi setbac) 8:

: Stron"er to"ether 8<

< Fresh ans#ers= Air pollution threatens many Indian cities, policy must respond to the specific

challen"es of each 8<

1? Ri"ht messa"e 9?

11 3a)in" "old "litter more 9?

12 Cautionary si"nals from the e'port slump 91

14 Splendid decade, but miles to "o 92

16 /o holdin" bac) 92

17

5alance the force 94

18 Budicial o$erreaction 94

19 !ime to abolish criminal defamation 96

1: Sustainin" the success 97

1< !he ri"ht forum 97

2? Cess proceeds in a blac) hole 98

21 0ass ban)ruptcy bill= A modern code can rescue us from ban)ruptcy on (ob creation 98

22 On hold and accommodati$e 99

24 &ndin" politics of remission 9:

26 A "lobal si"h of relief as US Fed hi)es rate 9:

27

Illiberal la#, roll it bac) 9<

28 Do ri"ht by India’s real /RIs 9<

29 A crash in oil price has opened up political space for reforms :?

2: A #in+#in mo$e :?

2< /e# old friends :1



!A5& OF CO/!&/!S


9

4? Only for the richN :2

41 Short+si"hted hi)e in US $isa fee :2

42 Reconciliation in #aitin" :4

44 Cha$ismo #inds do#n :4

46 eal thyself :6

47 3issed call= Di"ital India #ill not succeed if India’s IC! access continues to be so lo# :6

48 In ill health :7

49 Intellectual piracy issues :8

4: i)e dynamite :8

4< %ro#in" nuclear trade :9

6? A line in the #ater :9

61

A coalition a"ainst terror :: 62 Sun to nations’ rescue :<

64 Unfree basics :<

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY TTHHRREEEE|| AARRTTIICCLLEESS 11

1 Secular in spirit and in letter <1

2 India, Bapan chart Asia’s peaceful rise <4

4 At 0aris, somethin" for e$eryone <7

6 A climate more con"enial to India <9

7

0anchayats must not be elitist <<

8 Free run for the rent+see)ers 1?1

9 Crony connecti$ity, and Internet for us 1?2

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY FFOOUURR|| EESSSSAAYY 110055

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY FFII>>EE || AASSSSII..NNMMEENNTT UUEESSTTIIOONNSS 1100

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY SSII|| SSOOLLUUTTIIOONNSS 1111??



0AR! O/&EI/!&R/A!IO/A


:

=ART ONE | INTERNATIONAL

1 S!ut( C(&$a Sea -&;ute

Rival countries have wrangled over territory in the South China Sea for centuries, but tension has steadily

increased in recent years.

China has bac)ed its

e'pansi$e claims #ith island+

buildin" and na$al patrols,

#hile the US says it opposes

restrictions on freedom of

na$i"ation and unla#ful

so$erei"nty claims + by all

sides, but seen by many as

aimed at China Recently, the

US sailed a "uided+missile

destroyer #ithin 12+nautical

miles of the artificial islands

created by China + the first in a

series of actions planned to

assert freedom of na$i"ation

in the re"ion China #arned

that the US should Jnot actblindly or ma)e trouble out of

nothin"J

!he frictions ha$e spar)ed

concern that the area is

becomin" a flashpoint #ith "lobal conse>uences

HAT IS THE AR.UMENT ABOUT#

It is a dispute o$er territory and so$erei"nty o$er ocean areas, and the 0aracels and the Spratlys + t#o island

chains claimed in #hole or in part by a number of countries

Alon"side the fully fled"ed islands, there are do*ens of roc)y outcrops, atolls, sandban)s and reefs, such as the

Scarborou"h Shoal

HY ARE THEY ORTH AR.UIN. O>ER#

Althou"h lar"ely uninhabited, the 0aracels and the Spratlys may ha$e reser$es of natural resources around

them !here has been little detailed e'ploration of the area, so estimates are lar"ely e'trapolated from the

mineral #ealth of nei"hbourin" areas

!he sea is also a ma(or shippin" route and home to fishin" "rounds that supply the li$elihoods of people across

the re"ion

HO CLAIMS HAT#

China claims by far the lar"est portion of territory + an area defined by the Jnine+dash lineJ #hich stretches

hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly pro$ince of ainan

5ei(in" says its ri"ht to the area "oes bac) centuries to #hen the 0aracel and Spratly island chains #ere re"arded

as inte"ral parts of the Chinese nation, and in 1<69 it issued a map detailin" its claims It sho#ed the t#o island

"roups fallin" entirely #ithin its territory !hose claims are mirrored by !ai#an





<

ietnam hotly disputes ChinaHs historical account, sayin" China had ne$er claimed so$erei"nty o$er the islands

before the 1<6?s ietnam says it has acti$ely ruled o$er both the 0aracels and the Spratlys since the 19th

Century + and has the documents to pro$e it

!he other ma(or claimant in the area is the 0hilippines, #hich in$o)es its "eo"raphical pro'imity to the Spratly

Islands as the main basis of its claim for part of the "roupin"

5oth the 0hilippines and China lay claim to the Scarborou"h Shoal )no#n as uan"yan Island in China

3alaysia and 5runei also lay claim to territory in the South China Sea that they say falls #ithin their economic

e'clusion *ones, as defined by U/COS + the United /ations Con$ention on the a# of the Sea

5runei does not claim any of the disputed islands, but 3alaysia claims a small number of islands in the Spratlys

HAT DOES THE REST OF THE ORLD SAY#

Althou"h China has tended to fa$our bilateral ne"otiations behind closed doors, other countries #ant

international mediation 5ut e$en if the 0hilippines is successful in its attempts to pursue China at a U/ United/ations tribunal, China #ould not be obli"ed to abide by the rulin"

Recent attempts by re"ional "roupin" AS&A/ Association of Southeast Asian /ations to discuss ne# ideas for

resol$in" the dispute appear to ha$e left the bloc se$erely di$ided

!he US has #arned China not to Jelbo# asideJ the countries it is in conflict #ith o$er the islands

RELATED INFORMATION: UNCLOS

!he United /ations Con$ention on the a# of the Sea U/COS, also called the a# of the Sea Con$ention or

the a# of the Sea treaty, is the international a"reement that resulted from the third United /ations Conference

on the a# of the Sea U/COS III, #hich too) place bet#een 1<94 and 1<:2

!he a# of the Sea Con$ention defines the ri"hts and responsibilities of nations #ith respect to their use of the

#orldHs oceans, establishin" "uidelines for businesses, the en$ironment, and the mana"ement of marine naturalresources !he Con$ention, concluded in 1<:2, replaced four 1<7: treaties U/COS came into force in 1<<6

.hile the Secretary %eneral of the United /ations U/ recei$es instruments of ratification and accession and

the U/ pro$ides support for meetin"s of states party to the Con$ention, the U/ has no direct operational role in

the implementation of the Con$ention !here is, ho#e$er, a role played by or"ani*ations such as the

International 3aritime Or"ani*ation, the International .halin" Commission, and the International Seabed

Authority ISA

2 C(&$a )!$!+&-ate &$ A*r&)a *!++!"&$< G30 7&++&!$ ;+e-<e

China is set to expand investments in Africa that would help absorb its excess manufacturing capacity as part of

an effort to re-engage with the continent and integrate it within its Belt and Road connectivity framewor. In tune #ith the meetin" in

Bohannesbur", of the Forum on China+

Africa Cooperation FOCAC, #hich

0resident Pi Binpin" and his South

African counterpart, Bacob Muma co+

chaired, China, elaborated on its

collecti$e approach to#ards Africa

0resident Pi announced a G 8?+billion+

dollar pac)a"e that #ill benefit Africa

in 1? ma(or areas= industry, a"riculture,infrastructure, financial ser$ices, "reen

de$elopment, trade and in$estment

facilitation, po$erty reduction and

public #elfare, public health, people+

to+people e'chan"es, and peace and





1?

security

!he summit, in #hich o$er 7? African countries participated, also un$eiled the contours of China’s security

partnership #ith Africa, focused on counter+terrorism, peace)eepin" and fundin" to train troops #ithin the

frame#or) of the African Union AU

BATTLE.ROUND FOR INFLUENCE BETEEN ASHIN.TON AND BEIJIN.

Analysts say that resource+rich Africa has become yet another battle"round for influence bet#een .ashin"ton

and 5ei(in", follo#in" the establishment of the US Africa Command China has also declared that it has

established a lo"istics base in D(ibouti Q a mo$e that critics say is a co$er for a military base in Africa

Analysts point out that the latest Chinese offer to Africa out+scales the G6? billion Sil) Road fund that China has

offered for Asia’s infrastructure de$elopment

.ith its #ell+established clout in infrastructure de$elopment, the Chinese are set to lobby stron"ly for a lion’s

share in Africa’s "ro#in" appetite for rail#ays, hi"h#ays, ports and po#er !his is li)ely to lead to a sur"e inChinese direct in$estment #hich had already scaled G4? billion last year !rade also *oomed to G22? billion Q

Africa’s hi"hest #ith any sin"le country Q thou"h this could taper some#hat as China’s thirst for ra# materials

recedes follo#in" the economic do#nturn, and its ti"hter focus on in$estments in Africa

In the bi""er picture, the Chinese #ant to harmonise Africa’s A"enda 2?84 Q a 7? year de$elopmental

frame#or) dra#n by the African Union Q #ith China’s 5elt and Road blueprint of connectin" &urasia #ith

roads, rail#ays, cyber+optic hi"h#ays, industrial par)s and smart cities

AFRICA’S NORTHSOUTH CORRIDOR

Analysts say that Chinese companies could find further opportunities in Africa’s /orth+South Corridor, #hich

stretches from Durban in South Africa to Dar es Salaam in !an*ania In bet#een it passes throu"h ei"ht

countries in eastern and southern Africa= 5ots#ana, the Democratic Republic of Con"o, 3ala#i, 3o*ambi>ue,South Africa, United Republic of !an*ania, Mambia and Mimbab#e

RELATED INFORMATION: OBOR

!he Sil) Road &conomic 5elt and the 21st+century 3aritime Sil) Road, also )no#n as !he 5elt and Road

abbre$iated 5-R, One 5elt, One Road abbre$iated O5OR or the 5elt and Road Initiati$e is a de$elopment

strate"y and frame#or), proposed by 0eopleHs Republic of China that focuses on connecti$ity and cooperation

amon" countries primarily in &urasia, #hich consists of t#o main components, the land+based JSil) Road

&conomic 5eltJ SR&5 and ocean"oin" J3aritime Sil) RoadJ 3SR

!he strate"y underlines ChinaHs push to ta)e a bi""er role in "lobal affairs, and its need to e'port ChinaHs

production capacity in areas of o$erproduction such as steel manufacturin"

6 Sau-& Ara7&a "!,e$ !te &$ e+e)t&!$ *!r *&rt t&,e

.omen in Saudi Arabia ha$e cast their first $otes in the

countryHs history, in municipal elections

.omen #ere also standin" as candidates, another first,

despite the conser$ati$e )in"dom bein" the only nation

#here #omen are not allo#ed to dri$e

&lections themsel$es are a rare thin" in the Saudi

)in"dom this election is only the third time in history

that Saudis ha$e "one to the polls !here #ere no

elections in the 6? years bet#een 1<87 and 2??7

IN. ABDULLAH’S LE.ACY

!he decision to allo# #omen to ta)e part #as ta)en by the late Kin" Abdullah and is seen as a )ey part of his

le"acy





11

5efore he died, he appointed many #omen to the countryHs top ad$isory Shura Council

? UN Se)ur&t% C!u$)&+ a<ree !$ S%r&a ;ea)e ;+a$

!he "# $"nited #ations% Security Council unanimously agreed on the text of a draft resolution for peace tals

and a ceasefire aimed at ending the war in Syria. All &' members of the council agreed to approve the text.

!he te't

does not

include

mention of

AssadHs fate

or #hich

opposition"roups #ill

be included

in peace

tal)s 5oth

ha$e been

)ey

obstacles in

reachin" an

a"reement

in tal)s thus

far

BAC.ROUND

!he conflict in Syria started in mid+2?11 after protests a"ainst AssadHs rule #ere $iolently put do#n by

"o$ernment security forces

!he #ar has )illed more than 27?,??? people accordin" to some estimates, and sent millions of Syrians fleein"

for nei"hbourin" countries and &urope, "i$in" rise to the #orst refu"ee crisis since .orld .ar II

%roups such as ISI Islamic State of Ira> and the e$ant ha$e also con>uered lar"e tracts of land, from #here

they ha$e planned attac)s on a number of states includin" France, !ur)ey, and ebanon

RELATED INFORMATION: UNSC

!he United /ations Security Council U/SC is one of the si' principal or"ans of the United /ations and is

char"ed #ith the maintenance of international peace and security as #ell as acceptin" ne# members to the

United /ations and appro$in" any chan"es to its United /ations Charter

Its po#ers include the establishment of peace)eepin" operations, the establishment of international sanctions,

and the authori*ation of military action throu"h Security Council resolutionsL it is the only U/ body #ith the

authority to issue bindin" resolutions to member states

!he Security Council consists of fifteen members !he "reat po#ers that #ere the $ictors of .orld .ar IIQ

Russia, the United Kin"dom, France, China, and the United StatesQser$e as the bodyHs fi$e permanent

members !hese permanent members can $eto any substanti$e Security Council resolution, includin" those on

the admission of ne# member states or candidates for Secretary+%eneral !he Security Council also has 1? non+

permanent members, elected on a re"ional basis to ser$e t#o+year terms





12

5 >e$eue+a !;;!&t&!$ t(ra(e KC(a&,!K t! "&$ +e<&+ature

(ene)uela*s opposition, +emocratic "nity coalition, trounced the ruling Socialists to win the legislature for the first time in & years and gain a long-sought platform to challenge resident #icolas aduro*s rule of the

nation.

3aduro >uic)ly ac)no#led"ed the defeat, the #orst for the rulin" JCha$ismoJ mo$ement since its founder

u"o Cha$e* too) po#er in 1<<<

is >uic) acceptance of the results eased tensions in the $olatile nation #here the last presidential election in

2?14, narro#ly #on by 3aduro, #as bitterly disputed and anti+"o$ernment protests last year led to many

deaths

ANOTHER BLO TO LATIN AMERICAS LEFT

Opposition leaders, #ho ha$e lost o$er+and+o$er since

Cha$e*Hs first election $ictory, #ere (ubilant, e$en thou"h

their $ictory #as mainly than)s to public dis"ust at

ene*uelaHs deep economic recession

!he result could also embolden "o$ernment foes to see)

a recall election a"ainst 3aduro in 2?18 if they "arner the

nearly 6 million si"natures needed to tri""er the

referendum

!he "o$ernmentHs defeat #as another blo# to atin AmericaHs left South AmericaHs bloc of left+#in"

"o$ernments, dominant for o$er a decade, has lost some of its clout this year

Center+ri"ht opposition candidate 3auricio 3acri #on Ar"entinaHs presidential election recently, endin" 12

years of left+#in" rule, and 5ra*ilHs leftist 0resident Dilma Rousseff is battlin" impeachment for alle"edcorruption

ECONOMIC =AIN

!he Democratic Unity coalition capitali*ed on discontent amon" ene*uelaHs people #ith the #orldHs hi"hest

inflation and product shorta"es

Critics say failed nationali*ations, ri"id currency controls, and hostility to#ards the pri$ate sector spurred the

economic crisis and that it #as then e'acerbated by a "lobal slump in oil prices ene*uela depends on crude for

<8 percent of its e'port re$enue

3any ene*uelans blame the economic chaos on 3aduro, #ho lac)s the charisma and political s)ills of Cha$e*,

his mentor and ene*uelaHs leader for 16 years before his death from cancer in 2?14

.ith inflation belie$ed to be in triple di"its, $ast lines outside supermar)ets o#in" to shorta"es of basic "oodsand an :? per cent collapse of the currency on the blac) mar)et, it #as the economy that turned ene*uelans

a#ay from the "o$ernment

3

.a,7&a -e)+are &te+* a$ I+a,&) re;u7+&)’

%ambia’s 0resident, ahya Bammeh, declared the tiny .est African country

an Islamic republic, sayin" he decided this because Islam is the reli"ion of

the ma(ority of its citi*ens and to brea) from the nation’s colonial past

About <? per cent of %ambia’s population are 3uslim !he country "ained

independence from 5ritain in 1<87

%ambia is a popular beach destination for 5ritish tourists althou"h 3r

Bammeh’s "o$ernment has been fre>uently criticised by 5ritain and other

.estern po#ers for human ri"hts abuses 3r Bammeh has ruled %ambia

since sei*in" po#er in 1<<6





14

@ Eur!;ea$ =ar+&a,e$t )a++ *!r a$)t&!$ a<a&$t Ma+-&e

!he /uropean arliament called upon the /uropean "nion $/"% and its member states to launch 0targetedsanctions1 against certain members of the aldives government and their leading supporters in the business

community. !he arliament wants the /" to free)e the overseas assets of these persons, apart from imposing

travel bans on them.

!his course of action has been recommended in the face of continuin" democratic bac)slidin" and deterioration

of the human ri"hts situation in the 3aldi$es

!he ouse #anted the 3aldi$ian "o$ernment to release immediately and unconditionally former 0resident

3ohamed /asheed, former ice+0resident Ahmed Adeeb and

other political prisoners

It #anted the 3aldi$ian "o$ernment to safe"uard the ri"hts of

pro+democracy campai"ners, moderate 3uslims and

supporters of secularism, besides ensurin" ade>uate

protection of (ournalists and human ri"hts defenders #ho face

threats and attac)s on account of their le"itimate #or)

BAC.ROUND

0resident ameen’s election #as contro$ersial In the 2?14

election, held after the country’s first democratically elected

0resident 3ohamed /asheed resi"ned amid protests, the Supreme Court annulled the first round of $otin", in

#hich 3r /asheed #as leadin" !he re+$ote #as delayed by the authorities, allo#in" enou"h time for 3r

ameen, a half+brother of former dictator Abdul %ayoom, to ma)e his mo$es

!he ameen 0residency has been criticised #idely for its intolerance of dissent and crac)do#n on theopposition 3r /asheed #as (ailed for 14 years recently on terrorism char"es A United /ations panel had ruled

the (ailin" ille"al and called for his immediate release, a call the "o$ernment re(ected Opposition protests

demandin" 3r /asheed’s release #ere tac)led #ith a hea$y hand

Recently, ice 0resident, Ahmed Adheeb, #as also arrested in the in$esti"ation o$er a speedboat e'plosion

tar"etin" 0resident Abdulla ameen !he arrest of 3r Adheeb, #ho #as pic)ed by the 0resident himself, comes

close on the heels of the sac)in" of Defence 3inister 3oosa Ali Baleel All these point to a "ro#in" sense of

instability surroundin" the ameen re"ime

.!er$&$< ;art% +!e ,a!r&t% &$ S;a&$

!he conservative governing party won the most votes, but lost its ma2ority in parliamentary elections thatunderlined the fragmentation of Spanish politics and left the country3s future leadership unclear.

!he elections are li)ely to force 0rime 3inister 3ariano

Ra(oy of the 0opular 0arty to start complicated

ne"otiations in order to remain in office, at the helm of

either a minority or coalition "o$ernment !he $ote e$en

lea$es the door open for a ma(or post+election turnaround

li)e that in nei"hbourin" 0ortu"al, #here the premiership

chan"ed hands #ithin #ee)s after national elections in

October

3ain opposition Socialists also sa# an erosion of support

#hile the emer"in" parties 0odemos and Citi*ens made

"ains

0odemos and Citi*ens #anted the elections to mar) the end of Spain’s bipartisan system, and they came close to

achie$in" that "oal





16

EROSION OF SU==ORT

!he elections sho#ed an erosion of support for 3r Ra(oy and his party, but also for the Socialists

0odemos #as formed recently as a far+left, anti+austerity party, modelled in part on the success of Syri*a, the

"o$ernin" party in %reece Citi*ens transformed itself from a re"ional Catalan party, fiercely opposed to the

Catalan secessionist mo$ement, into a national party #ith a liberal economic a"enda

RELATED INFORMATION: CATALAN SE=ARATIST MO>EMENT

!he Catalan separatist mo$ement is a political mo$ement, deri$ed from

Catalan nationalism, #hich supports the independence of Catalonia or the

Catalan countries from Spain and France

Recently, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people #ho

openly consider themsel$es independentists, and in recent years there #ere

massi$e demonstrations callin" for independence for Catalonia throu"h a

peaceful, democratic process and non+bindin" and unofficial referendums

in municipalities

UN +au$)(e &t 7&<<et eer a$$ua+ a;;ea+ *!r (u,a$&tar&a$ *u$-&$<

!he United /ations U/ #ill need G2?1 billion to

pro$ide life+sa$in" aid to o$er :9 million people

across 49 countries ne't year, as brutal and

e'tendedT conflicts continue to ta)e their toll

aunchin" the lar"est humanitarian aid appeal in theor"ani*ation’s history, the U/ painted a blea)

picture of the current state of affairs in the #orld

!he fundin" appeal has risen almost si'+fold since

2??7, #hen the U/ sou"ht G49bn Donor countries

are increasin"ly stru""lin" to meet the fundin"

re>uirements= the 2?16 appeal #as only 7? funded

Some critics su""est that an e'pansion of

humanitarian ambitions combined #ith the costs of the comple' and centralised system may also be

contributin" to soarin" costs

!he last fe# years ha$e brou"ht a "ro#th in demand for humanitarian aid, althou"h the picture is comple'

i"hly $iolent conflicts, accordin" to the U/, ha$e nearly doubled in the last decade !he "ro#th in conflicts

combined #ith en$ironmental pressures and social deterioration in parts of the 3iddle &ast, Africa and atin

America has resulted in the number of refu"ees and internally displaced people increasin" by more than 7?

since 2??6

10 C(&$a !**&)&a++% e$- !$e)(&+- ;!+&)%

China officially ended its one child policy, allowing couples to have a second child amid deepening demographic

crisis of shrining worforce and aging population in the world*s second largest economy.

!he contro$ersial policy #as introduced nationally in 1<9<, to slo# the population "ro#th rate It is estimated to

ha$e pre$ented about 6?? million births Couples #ho $iolated the one+child policy faced a $ariety ofpunishments, from fines and the loss of employment to forced abortions o#e$er concerns at ChinaHs a"ein"

population led to pressure for chan"e

Currently about 4? of ChinaHs population is o$er the a"e of 7? !he total population of the country is around

148 billion





17

!he Communist 0arty be"an formally rela'in" national rules t#o years a"o, allo#in" couples in #hich at least

one of the pair is an only child to ha$e a second child

Analysts say that despite the rela'ation of the rules, many couples may opt to only ha$e one child, as one+child

families ha$e become the social norm





18

11 Ira -e)+are Ra,a-& +&7erate- *r!, I+a,&) State

!he 4ra5i city of Ramadi has been liberated from 4slamic State $4S%, the 4ra5i military declared. Ramadi, the capital of the Anbar pro$ince, fell to IS in

3ay 2?17 in an embarrassin" setbac) for Ira>i forces

RamadiHs recapture mar)s a ma(or re$ersal for the

(ihadist "roup Analysts say recapturin" the pro$incial

capital, #hich is (ust 1??)m #est of 5a"hdad, could

depri$e IS of its bi""est pri*e of 2?17

Ira>i "o$ernment forces ha$e been fi"htin" to reta)e it

for a $ery lon" time !he operation to recapture Ramadi

made slo# pro"ress mainly because the "o$ernment

chose not to use the po#erful Shia+dominated

paramilitary force that helped it re"ain the northern city of !i)rit, to a$oid increasin" sectarian tensions

RELATED INFORMATION: HAT IS ISLAMIC STATE#

!he (ihadist "roup Islamic State IS burst on to the international scene in 2?16 #hen it sei*ed lar"e s#athes of

territory in Syria and Ira> It has become notorious for its brutality, includin" mass )illin"s, abductions and

beheadin"s

IS can trace its roots bac) to the late Abu 3usab al+Mar>a#i, a Bordanian In 2??6, a year after the US+led

in$asion of Ira>, Mar>a#i pled"ed alle"iance to Osama 5in aden and formed al+;aeda in Ira> A;I, #hich

became a ma(or force in the insur"ency

After Mar>a#iHs death in 2??8, A;I created an umbrella or"anisation, Islamic State in Ira> ISI ISI #as steadily

#ea)ened by the US troop sur"e and the creation of Sah#a A#a)enin" councils by Sunni Arab tribesmen #hore(ected its brutality

5a"hdadi, a former US detainee, became leader in 2?1? and be"an rebuildin" ISIHs capabilities 5y 2?14, it #as

once a"ain carryin" out do*ens of attac)s a month in Ira>

It had also (oined the rebellion a"ainst 0resident 5ashar al+Assad in Syria, settin" up the al+/usra Front

In April 2?14, 5a"hdadi announced the mer"er of his forces in Ira> and Syria and the creation of JIslamic State in

Ira> and the e$antJ Isis

At the end of December 2?14, Isis shifted its focus bac) to Ira> and e'ploited a political stand+off bet#een the

Shia+led "o$ernment and the minority Sunni Arab community Aided by tribesmen and former Saddam

ussein loyalists, Isis too) control of the central city of Fallu(a

In Bune 2?16, Isis o$erran the northern city of 3osul, and then ad$anced south#ards to#ards 5a"hdad,

massacrin" its ad$ersaries and threatenin" to eradicate the countryHs many ethnic and reli"ious minorities Atthe end of the month, after consolidatin" its hold o$er do*ens of cities and to#ns, Isis declared the creation of a

caliphate and chan"ed its name to JIslamic StateJ

12 Ja;a$ a$- S!ut( !rea a<ree t! ett+e t(e &ue !* K)!,*!rt "!,e$K

6apan and South 7orea have agreed to settle the issue of 8comfort women8

forced to wor in 6apanese brothels during 9orld 9ar :, in their first such

deal since &;'. 6apan has apologised and will pay &bn yen - the amount

South 7orea ased for - to fund victims.

It is estimated that up to 2??,??? #omen #ere forced to be se' sla$es for Bapanese soldiers durin" ..2, many of them Korean Other #omen came

from China, the 0hilippines, Indonesia and !ai#an

!he issue has been the )ey cause for strained ties South Korea has lon"

called on Bapan to issue an official apolo"y, pay compensation to the

sur$i$in" #omen and reco"nise its le"al responsibility



0AR! !.OEI/DIA A/D !& .ORD


19

==AARRTT TT OO || IINNDDIIAA AANNDD TTHHEE OORRLLDD

1 I$-!Ja;a$ Su,,&t: e% ;a)t !$ (&<(;ee- ra&+ $u)+ear e$er<% &$/e-

4ndia and 6apan ined a number of pacts in ey areas of transportation, defence and nuclear energy. 4ndia3s first

bullet train networ will come up between umbai and Ahmedabad at a cost of Rs ;<,=== crore.

!he strate"ic pacts #ere in)ed after the summit bet#een 0rime

3inister /arendra 3odi and his Bapanese counterpart Shin*o Abe

durin" #hich they also discussed international and re"ional issues

of mutual importance includin" U/ United /ations security

reforms

5oth 03 3odi and 03 Abe said the ci$il nuclear deal #as not (ustabout commerce and clean ener"y but also a si"n of mutual

confidence and partnership for a secure #orld

As for the hi"h+speed rail net#or), it #ill be built on the Shi)ansen model )no#n for its reliability and safety

!he "o$ernment noted that Abe’s e'traordinary pac)a"e of appro'imately G12 billion and technical assistance,

on $ery easy terms, for this pro(ect #as "reatly appreciated

5ullet train bet#een the t#o cities #ill cut tra$el time on the route from ei"ht hours to around three In the hope

of attractin" in$estments as #ell as "reater number of tourists from Bapan, India announced that @$isa on arri$al’

#ill be e'tended to all Bapanese citi*ens from 3arch

!he t#o sides also issued a (oint statement on @India and Bapan ision 2?27= Special Strate"ic and %lobal

0artnership .or)in" !o"ether for 0eace and 0rosperity of the Indo+0acific Re"ion and the .orld’

JA=AN JOINS MALABAR NA>AL EERCISES

Chartin" a ne# course, India and Bapan announced a series of military and strate"ic a"reements and

understandin"s !he hi"h point of the ne# strate"ic and military reali"nment is Bapan’s formal entry into the

India+US 3alabar bilateral maritime e'ercises, turnin" it into a trilateral initiati$e aimed at ensurin" peace,

security and freedom of na$i"ation in the Indo+0acific re"ion

!he t#o sides also in)ed a"reements one concernin" the !ransfer of Defence &>uipment and !echnolo"y and

another related to Security 3easures for 0rotection of Classified 3ilitary Information

2

I$-&a$ $aa+ 7ae &$ Se%)(e++e

A plot of land for 4ndia to build its first naval base in the 4ndian >cean region has been allocated by the

Seychelles government in the Assumption 4sland. Seychelles also acnowledged that 4ndia has been steadily

increasing its maritime and security cooperation with Seychelles and that a new patrol vessel from 4ndia will be

handed over to Seychelles.

SI.NIFICANCE

!he pro(ect has ac>uired si"nificance follo#in" China

ac>uirin" its first African na$al base in D(ibouti recently

Once ready, the Indian na$al base in Seychelles, to be

built by the defence forces of India, #ill help India

e'ercise "reater control o$er the Indian Ocean’s #estern

re"ion all the #ay to the piracy+prone eastern African

coastline

!he base #ill be one of the ma(or sta"in" posts for a lar"e





1:

maritime security net#or) that India is settin" up #ith the help of the $arious Indian Ocean re"ion partner

countries

COASTAL RADAR SYSTEM

Apart from the na$al base, India is set to ac>uire a fully operational coastal radar system CRS based in

Seychelles from 3arch 2?18 !he CRS #ill pro$ide India #ith the ability to "ather intelli"ence and assist in

sur$eillance operations of the $ital ener"y lanes near Seychelles

FI.HTIN. =IRACY

Security operation in the Indian Ocean re"ion #ill also be helped by the leadership role that Seychelles has

secured for itself in the Contact %roup for 0iracy off the Coast of Somalia C%0CS, #hich #ill hold its first

meetin" in 3umbai in Banuary, 2?18

6 .!er$,e$t ;&t)(e *!r <+!7a+ $!rt(!ut( )!rr&-!r

4n a bid to boost trade with former Soviet "nion countries, 4ran and Russia, the commerce ministry has pitched

for popularisation of 4nternational #orth-South !ransport Corridor $4#S!C% as an alternative route through

!ehran that significantly reduces costs and travel time.

!he mo$e comes at a time #hen

the "o$ernment has adopted a

mar)et di$ersification strate"y to

help Indian e'porters reduce

their dependence on traditional

mar)ets in the .est #here thereis currently not much demand

and instead "ain more access in

"ro#in" mar)ets in Asia, Africa

and atin America not tapped as

much pre$iously

!he I/S!C is a multi+modal

route ship, road and rail from

3umbai to the Iranian port of 5ander Abbas then $ia !ehran to 5a)u A*erbai(an and further to Astra)han,

3osco# and St 0etersbur" in Russia Alternati$ely, there is also a road route from Iran to former So$iet Union

countries such as A*erbai(an

5esides Iran, India and Russia, countries that are members of I/S!C include Armenia, A*erbai(an, 5elarus,

Kyr"y*tan, Ka*a)hstan, U)raine, !ur)ey, !a(i)istan, Oman, Syria and 5ul"aria obser$er status

OBSTACLES

!he commerce ministry pointed out that e$en 17 years after the formalisation of the I/S!C concept by India,

Iran and Russia in 2???, this alternati$e trade route has not ta)en off in a bi" #ay due to outstandin" issues

concernin" lo"istics, ban)in" connections, insurance co$er as #ell as harmonisation of documentation and

procedures for car"o

0oor rail connecti$ity and the shorta"e of #a"ons in Iran as #ell as the lac) of incenti$es includin" discounts for

usin" the I/S!C #ere also fla""ed by the commerce ministry In addition, the need for impro$in" scannin"

facilitiesQto do a#ay #ith unloadin"reloadin" of car"o and detention of $ehiclestrainQ#as hi"hli"hted byit

!he ministry also #anted ban)s to help in trade finance and insurance companies to pro$ide trade credit

insurance, car"o insurance and ris) mana"ement to play an acti$e role in boostin" traffic throu"h I/S!C

3ean#hile, &'port Import 5an) of India has e'pressed interest in financin" pro(ects in the infrastructure sector

and (oint $entures in$ol$in" Indian companies to better the prospects of I/S!C





1<

? Ru&a a$- I$-&a )e,e$t t&e "&t( e$er<% a$- -e*e$)e -ea+

Russia and 4ndia signed a clutch of defence and energy deals as rime inister #arendra odi visited oscowto reaffirm one of the world*s most valuable military relationships.

Follo#in" a meetin" #ith Russian president ladimir 0utin, the t#o leaders announced deals to build Russian+

desi"ned Kamo$ helicopters in India and for the location of a ne# nuclear po#er plant to be built by Russian

state nuclear company Rosatom

India, the #orldHs lar"est importer of defence e>uipment, is set to spend G27?bn o$er the ne't decade

modernisin"

its anti>uated

hard#are 5ut

it has made it

a )ey policy

to push for

these ne#

#eapons

systems and

other

e>uipment to

be made

mostly in

India rather

than abroad

India hailedthe deal for

the

production of helicopters as the first ma(or defence pro(ect under the J3a)e in IndiaJ pro"ramme Under the

deal #ith Rosatom, some e>uipment for nuclear po#er plants #ould also be built in India

Russia and India ha$e lon" been one anotherHs top defence partners, a relationship datin" bac) to So$iet times

5ut in recent years, India has sou"ht to broaden its diplomatic relations and has also been orderin" military

hard#are from a more #ide ran"in" array of suppliers, includin" the US

5ut India has also indicated that it still sees Russia as one of IndiaHs most reliable friends, and has made clear

that it #ishes to re$i$e and deepen the frayed strate"ic ties, especially in areas such as nuclear po#er and

defence

Russia is also )een to de$elop and deepen its So$iet+era economic ties #ith India and sell ne# technolo"ies toone of the #orldHs fastest+"ro#in" economies at a time its o#n economy is sta"nant, hit by .estern sanctions

and a plun"e in "lobal oil prices

TRIUMF AIR DEFENCE MISSILE SYSTEM

Recently India cleared the purchase of S+6?? !riumf lon"+ran"e air defence systems from Russia Russian S+6??

!riumf air defence missile systems can destroy incomin" hostile aircraft, stealth fi"hters, missiles and drones at

ran"es of up to 6??+)m

China is also slated to "et the S+6?? batteries, #hich is desi"nated VSA+21 %ro#lerH by /A!O /orth Atlantic

!reaty Or"ani*ation and ri$als the anti+ballistic missile capabilities of the US 0atriot 0AC+4 system, from 2?19

on#ards

Countries loc)ed in territorial disputes #ith China in the &ast and South China Seas, ran"in" from Bapan and

!ai#an to ietnam and the 0hilippines, are all #orried at the prospect of the 0eopleHs iberation Army "ettin"

such a force+multiplier to dominate the airspace India ob$iously is also #ary of China ac>uirin" such a military

capability, e$en if it is defensi$e in nature, since it can ma)e all the difference durin" a conflict



0AR! !R&& E /A!IO/A /&.S


2?

==AARRTT TTHHRREEEE || NNAATTIIOONNAALL NNEE SS

1 Rura+ +a$-(!+-&$< a+,!t (a+e- !er 20 %ear

!he average rural 4ndian household is a marginal landowner, growing mainly cereals on a small patch of land

and reliant on groundwater for irrigation, new official data show.

O$er :? per cent of rural households

ha$e mar"inal landholdin"s of less

than one hectare 1?,??? s>uare

metres and (ust se$en per cent o#n

more than t#o hectares, data on

household land o#nership from the/ational Sample Sur$ey Office

/SSO sho#

!ribal people are o$er+represented

amon" the landless, Scheduled

Castes SCs amon" mar"inal land+

o#ners, and for#ard castes amon"

medium and lar"e landholders, the

data sho#

LANDHOLDIN.S HA>E

DECREASED IN SIE

Across the country, in e$ery State,

landholdin"s ha$e decreased in si*e,

almost hal$in" in the last 2? yearsL in

1<<2, the a$era"e rural household

#as a small landholder #ith o$er one hectare of land, as compared #ith a mar"inal land+holder as of 2?14 #ith

?7< hectares of land

3i"ration is relati$ely rare amon" a"ricultural households, but is hi"hest amon" households #ith mar"inal

landholdin"s unable to pro$ide the family much incomeL o$er 97 per cent of all mi"rants come from mar"inal

lando#nin" households Amon" families #ith more land, far fe#er ha$e family members li$in" a#ay from

home .hile the ma(ority of Other 5ac)#ard Castes O5C and for#ard caste rural households identify themsel$es as

primarily self+employed in culti$ation, the lar"est chun) of SC households in rural areas are en"a"ed in #a"e

labour or salaried employment

India’s best+educated and most prosperous States Q Kerala, !amil /adu, 0un(ab and imachal 0radesh Q had

the hi"hest proportions of rural households en"a"ed in #a"e employment, #hile in poorer States li)e

Chhattis"arh and Uttar 0radesh, 8? per cent of rural households #ere dependent on culti$ation

O$er half of land+holdin"s used for a"riculture are bein" used to "ro# cereals, the data sho#s 5et#een 8? and

9? per cent of land under culti$ation is bein" irri"ated directly from "round#ater sources li)e tube#ells

RELATED INFORMATION: NSSO

!he /ational Sample Sur$ey Or"anisation /SSO, no# )no#n as /ational Sample Sur$ey Office, is anor"ani*ation under the 3inistry of Statistics

It is the lar"est or"anisation in India conductin" re"ular socio+economic sur$eys It #as established in 1<7?



0AR! !R&& E /A!IO/A /&.S


21

2 Mu++a;er&%ar a*et%: era+a t! ,!e Su;re,e C!urt a<a&$t Ta,&+ Na-u

!he Kerala "o$ernment told that it #as preparin" tomo$e the Supreme Court a"ainst !amil /adu for the

failure to comply #ith dam safety re"ulations

It said as hea$y rain brou"ht the #ater le$el in the

3ullaperiyar dam closer to the permissible limit of 162

feet, a torrential do#npour li)e the one e'perienced by

Chennai recently could pose a dan"er to the nearly

12?+year+old dam

It added it #as unfortunate that !amil /adu had

adopted an indifferent attitude to Kerala’s re>uest to

dra# more #ater from the dam in the li"ht of the

risin" #ater le$el in the reser$oir

BAC.ROUND: MULLA=ERIYAR DAM DIS=UTE

!amil /adu+Kerala dam ro# is an on"oin" ro# and

the lon" le"al battle bet#een !amil /adu and Kerala

about the 3ullaperiyar dam on the 0eriyar ri$er

Althou"h the 3ullaperiyar dam is located in Kerala, it

is operated by the "o$ernment of !amil /adu #hich

si"ned a <<<+year lease a"reement #ith the former

5ritish "o$ernment to irri"ate farmland on its side

!he a"reement #as si"ned by the Secretary of 3adras

State no# !amil /adu under the 5ritish Ra( and the

Kin" of !ra$ancore

Kerala no# says the dam is too old and dilapidated and poses immense dan"er to millions of people li$in" in

the re"ion and that it needs to be destroyed and rebuilt + a mo$e opposed by !amil /adu !amil /adu

maintains that the dam #as repaired in 1<9< and insists the damHs #alls ha$e been stren"thened and that it can

hold more #ater than the current le$el of 148 ft

In 2?16, Supreme Court of India also ruled that #ater le$el in the dam can be increased from 148 ft to 162 ft



0AR! FOUR E &CO/O3


22

==AARRTT FFOOUURR || EECCOONNOOMMYY

1 IMF <&e C(&$a )urre$)% ;r&e- reere aet tatu

!he 4nternational onetary ?und $4?% admitted China*s yuan into its benchmar currency baset, in a

victory for Bei2ing*s campaign for recognition as a global economic power.

!he decision to add the yuan, also )no#n as the renminbi,

to the Special Dra#in" Ri"hts SDR bas)et alon"side the

dollar, euro, pound sterlin" and yen, is an important

milestone in ChinaHs inte"ration into "lobal finances and a

nod to the pro"ress it has made #ith reforms

!o meet the I3F’s criteria, 5ei(in" has underta)en a flurryof reforms in recent months, includin" better access for

forei"ners to Chinese currency mar)ets, more fre>uent

debt issuance and e'panded yuan tradin" hours

!o be included in the SDR bas)et, the yuan had to meet the

criteria to be Jfreely usableJ, or #idely used to ma)e international payments and #idely traded in forei"n

e'chan"e mar)ets, a yardstic) it missed at the last re$ie# in 2?1?

IM=LICATIONS

!he yuanHs inclusion from October 2?18 is lar"ely symbolic, #ith fe# immediate implications for financial

mar)ets 5ut it is the first time an additional currency has been added to the SDR bas)et, #hich determines

#hich currencies countries can recei$e as part of I3F loans

!he addition is li)ely to fuel demand for ChinaHs currency and for renminbi+denominated assets as central ban)s

and forei"n fund mana"ers ad(ust their portfolios to reflect the yuanHs ne# status

5ut analysts said in$estors #ould ne$ertheless remain cautious as lon" as China did not fully liberali*e capital

controls or allo# the currency to float freely

!he I3F also said ChinaHs comparati$ely hi"her interest rates #ould li)ely increase the SDR interest rate,

potentially pushin" up the cost of I3F loans for some borro#ers

RELATED INFORMATION: SDR

!he SDR #as created by the I3F in 1<8< as a supplementary international reser$e asset, in the conte't of the

5retton .oods fi'ed e'chan"e rate system A country participatin" in this system needed official reser$esQ"o$ernment or central ban) holdin"s of "old and #idely accepted forei"n currenciesQthat could be used to

purchase the domestic currency in forei"n e'chan"e mar)ets, as re>uired to maintain its e'chan"e rate 5ut the

international supply of t#o )ey reser$e assetsQ"old and the US dollarQpro$ed inade>uate for supportin" the

e'pansion of #orld trade and financial flo#s that #as ta)in" place !herefore, the international community

decided to create a ne# international reser$e asset under the auspices of the I3F

!he SDR is neither a currency, nor a claim on the I3F Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely usable

currencies of I3F members olders of SDRs can obtain these currencies in e'chan"e for their SDRs in t#o

#ays= first, throu"h the arran"ement of $oluntary e'chan"es bet#een membersL and second, by the I3F

desi"natin" members #ith stron" e'ternal positions to purchase SDRs from members #ith #ea) e'ternal

positions In addition to its role as a supplementary reser$e asset, the SDR ser$es as the unit of account of the

I3F and some other international or"ani*ations

2 TO ta+/ )!$)+u-eP I$-&a -&a;;!&$te-

After hectic ne"otiations, the !enth .!O .orld !rade Or"ani*ation 3inisterial Conference concluded in

/airobi Kenya !he ob(ecti$e of the tal)s #as to lo#er barriers, increase trade and help de$elopin" countries



0AR! FOUR E &CO/O3


24

Countries in the .!O a"reed to abolish subsidies on farmin" e'ports De$eloped countries a"reed to stop the

subsidies immediately and de$elopin" nations must follo# by the end of 2?1:

!he .!O called it Jthe most si"nificant outcome on a"ricultureJ since the bodyHs foundation in 1<<7 Remo$in"

a"riculture e'port subsidies is intended to help farmers in poorer countries to compete more fairly

DOHA DE>ELO=MENT A.ENDA

5ut lon"standin" tal)s on other trade barriers #ere left

unresol$ed at the end of the summit in Kenya India

e'pressed disappointment o$er the lac) of a unanimity in

re+affirmin" to conclude the Doha De$elopment A"enda

!he Doha round of trade tal)s #as launched in the ;atari

capital in 2??1 and has remain stalled because of the deep

di$ide bet#een rich countries and de$elopin" nations onse$eral issues, includin" farm subsidies

!he lac) of pro"ress in the on"oin" Doha Round of tal)s

has led some countries to see) a"reements amon" smaller "roups

DohaHs "oals included increased duty+free access for de$elopin" countriesL lo#er tariffs on a"ricultural products,

te'tiles and clothin"L and the reduction of trade+distortin" subsidies from de$eloped countries

.hile the ma(ority #ere in fa$our of such reaffirmation, a fe# members opposed the reaffirmation !his mar)s a

si"nificant departure from the fundamental .!O principle of consensus+based decision ma)in"

SSM

o#e$er, the members of the "lobal trade body a"reed on a commitment for "i$in" the de$elopin" nations a

ri"ht to ta)e recourse to Special Safe"uard 3echanism SS3 to protect their farmers ++ a lon"+standin" demandof India SS3 is a tool that #ill allo# de$elopin" countries to temporarily hi)e duties to counter import sur"es

and price falls of farm items

obbyin" by India and other de$elopin" countries also led to reaffirmation to decisions ta)en earlier at .!O

.orld !rade Or"ani*ation on the issue of public stoc)holdin", #hich "i$es protection to farmers

6

Te't&+e &$-utr% *+a< )!$)er$ !er .ree$ $!r,

!he textile industry has flagged concerns about an /nvironment inistry move to mandate virtually all textile

firms to reduce their effluent discharge to )ero. !he argument is that such a stipulation goes beyond what the

developed world follows and would mae 4ndian firms even more uncompetitive at a time when export orders are

shrining.

!he te'tile industry is India’s lar"est employer after a"riculture, accountin" for 16 per cent of India’s e'ports,

but has recently lost "round to 5an"ladesh and ietnam in the "lobal mar)et as the preferred supplier for

readymade "arments

DRAFT NOTIFICATION

!he &n$ironment, Forest and Climate Chan"e 3inistry issued a draft notification recently that proposes ne#

pollution control standards for effluents from the te'tile industry

!e'tile units ha$in" #aste #ater dischar"e "reater than 27 )ilo litres a day shall establish Mero i>uid Dischar"e

Q effluent treatment plant, accordin" to the notification It also re>uires all te'tile units set up in clusters to set

up common effluent treatment plants to ensure *ero li>uid dischar"e, irrespecti$e of their #aste #ater >uantity !he ministry has also proposed a $ery strin"ent norm that allo#s $ery limited "round #ater e'traction by units

and #ants the entire #ater reco$ered from the effluent treatment plants to be re+deployed in the production

process



0AR! FOUR E &CO/O3


26

A==REHENSIONS

Industry members ha$e raised their apprehensions about the implications of the ne# norms >uestionin" the

assumption that te'tile units dischar"e effluents #ithout treatin" them

.hile demandin" an increase in the threshold of 27 )ilo litres a day to 1?? )ilo litres a day, industry members

ha$e pointed out that smaller te'tile units #ouldn’t be able to afford the costly e>uipment for treatin" effluents

#ith a *ero li>uid dischar"e approach

!he industry has also re>uested the ministry to consider the flip side of the *ero dischar"e proposal

!echnolo"ies for such treatment plants is steam and electricity+intensi$e, leadin" to hi"her "reen house "as

emissions as India lar"ely relies on coal for po#er, it says

!he definition of *ero effluent dischar"e should include re+use, recyclin" and alternati$e deployment of treated

effluents, industry has su""ested

?

A,e$-e- Te)($!+!<% U;<ra-at&!$ Fu$- S)(e,e

!he textile sector is set to receive some much needed assistance with the Cabinet Committee on /conomic Affairs

$CC/A% approving the Amended !echnology "pgradation ?und Scheme $A!"?S%.

Ori"inally introduced by the "o$ernment in 1<<<, the scheme aims to help the industry up"rade operational

technolo"y and

pro$ides fi'ed

subsidies to

entrepreneurs #ho

in$est in this

re"ard

.hile replacin" theRe$ised

Restructured

!echnolo"y

Up"radation Fund

Scheme RR+!UFS,

the ne# scheme

#ill be

implemented

across t#o broad

cate"ories For the

sub sectors of

apparel, "arment

and technical te'tiles, upto 17 subsidy #ould be pro$ided on capital in$estment, sub(ect to a ceilin" of Rs 4?

crore for entrepreneurs o$er a period of fi$e years !he remainin" sub+sectors #ould be eli"ible for subsidy at a

rate of 1?, sub(ect to a ceilin" of Rs 2? crore on similar lines

ACCOUNTIN. FOR 1?Q OF INDIA’S E=ORTS

!he te'tile industry is India’s lar"est employer after a"riculture, accountin" for 16 of India’s e'ports, but has

recently lost "round to 5an"ladesh and ietnam in the "lobal mar)et as the preferred supplier for readymade

"arments

.hile thousands of crore has been pro$ided as assistance to the industry, the core issue of mass adoption ofne#er technolo"ies, crucial for ma)in" the te'tile industry "lobally competiti$e and reducin" soarin" capital

costs still remains

!he ne# amended scheme aims to plu" the loopholes in the earlier scheme and impro$e &ase of Doin" 5usiness

!he "o$ernment has said it e'pects in$estments #orth Rs one la)h crore to be bolstered throu"h the scheme and

o$er 4? la)h additional (obs



0AR! FOUR E &CO/O3


27

!he ne# scheme lays emphasis on the promotion of !echnical !e'tiles, a sunrise sector, for e'ports It #ill also

encoura"e better >uality in processin" industry and chec) the need for import of fabrics by the "arment sector

Con$ersion of e'istin" looms to better technolo"y looms #ill also recei$e a ma(or push for impro$ement in

>uality and producti$ity

5 I$-&aIra$ tra-e ;art$er(&;: De+(& a$- Te(ra$ t! (!t ea)( !t(er’ 7a$/ 7ra$)(e

4ran3s leading bans will soon open branches in 4ndia to energise commercial ties between #ew +elhi and

!ehran. !he decision was amongst a slew of commercial measures taen by the 4ndia-4ran 6oint Commission that

met for the first time since 4ran and the ma2or world powers struc a deal to end sanctions on 4ran.

After the meetin", India decided to allo# the

0asar"an 5an) and 0arsian 5an) of Iran to set

up branches in /e# Delhi and 3umbaiCurrently both 0asar"an and 0arsian conduct

their transactions throu"h the UCO ban) of

India

!he t#o countries also discussed measures to

boost lo"istic ser$ices, includin" allo#in"

frei"ht for#ardin" companies to ta)e

ad$anta"e of the rupee payment mechanism

and the insurance co$er that are currently

a$ailable only to e'porters and importers

As frei"ht for#arders are neither part of the

rupee payment mechanism nor are "i$en theinsurance co$er on Iran+related transactions,

they are no# forced to route car"o meant for

Iran throu"h Dubai and China and Russia

=REFERENTIAL TRADE A.REEMENT 8=TA9

India and Iran ha$e decided to hold preliminary discussions for a preferential trade a"reement 0!A !he 0!A

is meant to ensure that both the countries #ill cut or eliminate duties on certain mutually a"reed products to

increase bilateral trade

Iran has also sou"ht in$estments from India in se$eral sectors includin" en"ineerin", a"ro+processin",

petrochemicals, tea, pharmaceuticals and irri"ation, besides infrastructure buildin"Q po#er and rail#ays

Iran has sho#n a special interest in e'portin" its crude to Indian refineries that are e>uipped to handle Iranian

crude that has a hi"h sulphur content

3 N! L=. u7&-% *!r ta';a%er "(! ear$ !er R 10 +a/( a$$ua++%

In its first decisi$e mo$e to#ards curbin" the supply of subsidised coo)in" "as, the "o$ernment announced that

ta'payers #ith an annual income of more than Rs 1? la)h #ill not "et subsidised 0% i>uefied petroleum "as

cylinders from the ne# year At present, all households are entitled to 12 cylinders of 162+)" each at subsidised

price

!his #ould, ho#e$er, be done initially on self+declaration basis #hile boo)in" cylinders from Banuary 2?18

on#ards, the "o$ernment added

.I>E IT U=’ CAM=AI.N

In 3arch 2?17, the "o$ernment had as)ed #ell+off peopleT to $oluntarily "i$e up usin" subsidised 0% and

instead buy coo)in" fuel at mar)et price So far, of the estimated 169: crore 0% consumers in the country, o$er

72 la)h are reported to ha$e "i$en up access to subsidised fuel $oluntarily



0AR! FOUR E &CO/O3


28

!he subsidy sa$ed from the @%i$e it Up’ campai"n, the "o$ernment said, is bein" used for pro$idin" ne#

connections to the 50 5elo# 0o$erty ine families !his, accordin" to the ministry, enables the allocation of

0% to poor households and ensures that they replace the use of fuels such as )erosene, coal, fuel #ood



0AR! FI& E 0OI! A/D %O&R/A/C&


29

==AARRTT FFII>>EE || ==OOLLIITTYY AANNDD ..OO>>EERRNNAANNCCEE

1 Ra%a Sa7(a ;ae Jue$&+e Jut&)e B&++

>verlooing reservations expressed by child rights activists and a section of political parties, the Ra2ya Sabha

approved the 6uvenile 6ustice $Care and rotection of Children% Bill, :=&', which lowers age of 2uveniles from &<

to & years for heinous crimes.





2:

!he o) Sabha passed the bill in 3ay 2?17 Once the 0resident "i$es his assent, the ne# la# that #ill come into

bein" #ill treat 18 to 1:+year+olds as adults for heinous offences, after a decision of the (u$enile (ustice board

!his is a si"nificant departure from the earlier la#, #here all children under 1: years of a"e #ere treated

e>ually

Under the ne# la#, (u$enile (ustice boards #ill comprise psycholo"ists, social #or)ers and e'perts, accordin" to

the #omen and child de$elopment ministry All cases #ill be brou"ht before these boards, #hich #ill then

assess the mental and physical capability of the (u$enile and decide #hether he or she is to be tried as an adult

or not

In addition to this, the minimum punishment for heinous crimes has been raised from three to se$en years !he

bill defines heinous offences as any #hich #ould be punishable under the Indian 0enal Code #ith a minimum

of se$en years in prison, #hich #ould include rape, murder, acid attac)s, )idnappin" for ransom and dacoity

#ith murder

O==OSITION

!he Bu$enile Bustice 5ill #as introduced despite opposition, includin" a ne"ati$e by the BS erma Commission,

#hich #as constituted to su""est chan"es to criminal la# !he erma Commission had noted in its report that

the Bu$enile Bustice Act has failed miserably to protect the children in the country .e cannot hold the child

responsible for a crime before first pro$idin" to himher the basic ri"hts "i$en to him by the Indian

ConstitutionT

!he U/ Con$ention on the Ri"hts of the Child re>uires all si"natory countries to treat e$ery child under the a"e

of 1: years as e>ual !he pro$ision of tryin" a (u$enile as an adult contra$enes the con$ention to #hich India is a

si"natory

BAC.ROUND !he le"islation #as passed in the bac)drop of the 2?12 case, #here a 24+year+old student #as fatally "an"raped

in the capital !he incident caused national outra"e, and the culprits, e'cludin" a minor, #ere sentenced to

death

0assa"e of the le"islation "ained ur"ency after the minor, #ho is no# 2? years old, #as released !his #as after

se$eral attempts failed to e'tend the stay of the (u$enile at a place of safety for conductin" a mental assessment

!he Delhi hi"h court declined, sayin" that the ma'imum period of incarceration in the Bu$enile Bustice Act, 2???

#as three years !he Supreme Court a"reed, sayin" there #as no le"al sanction to allo# such an e'tension !he

ensuin" outra"e created public pressure for the enactment of a drastic deterrent

2

Ca7&$et )+ear &,;!rta$t B&++ a$- a;;r!e ;a)/a<e *!r (&; 7u&+-&$< &$-utr%!he "nion Cabinet cleared a Rs.@,===-crore pacage to spur 4ndia3s ship building industry, combined with a

slew of incentives which include the right of first refusal on all government purchases for 4ndian shipyards, tax

incentives and the infrastructure3 status for shipbuilding and ship repair industry that would help them tap

easier financing.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

!o counter the cost+disad$anta"es faced by domestic ship ma)ers, the "o$ernment #ould "rant a financial

assistance of 2? per cent of the contract price or the fair price, #hiche$er is lo#er, follo#in" the deli$ery of the

ship

!his pac)a"e comes at the bac) of an e'emption "ranted by the finance ministry on all ra# materials and partsused in the manufacture of ships$esselstu"s, and others, from customs and central e'cise duties





2<

HI.HER MULTI=LIER EFFECT

.hile the sector is "oin" throu"h an e'tended "lobal slump, the "o$ernment said it is important to promote the

shipbuildin" industry as it has the same impact as infrastructure sector due to its hi"her multiplier effect on

in$estment, turno$er and employment

REAL ESTATE 8RE.ULATION AND DE>ELO=MENT9 BILL

!he Cabinet also cleared the Real &state Re"ulation and De$elopment 5ill, 2?17 that aims to set up State le$el

real estate re"ulators and mandate de$elopers to re"ister their pro(ects and re"ularly disclose milestones to

home and commercial property buyers

!he 5ill had earlier been referred a select committee of the Ra(ya Sabha and #ould no# be ta)en up afresh for

consideration and passin" by the 0arliament

!he 5ill pro$ides uniform re"ulatory en$ironment to ensure speedy ad(udication of disputes and orderly

"ro#th of the real estate sector It #ill boost domestic and forei"n in$estment in the sector and help achie$e the

ob(ecti$e to pro$ide @ousin" for All’ by enhanced pri$ate participation, the "o$ernment said

!he ne# re"ulatory structure en$isa"ed under the bill #ould protect the interest of consumers, promote fair

play in real estate transactions and ensure timely e'ecution of pro(ects, the "o$ernment added

THE NATIONAL ATERAYS BILL

!he Cabinet also appro$ed !he /ational .ater#ays 5ill, 2?17, based on amendments recommended by a

parliamentary panel that #ould desi"nate 1?8 e'istin" inland #ater#ays as national #ater#ays

!he Inland .ater#ays Authority of India #ould de$elop the feasible stretches of these #ater#ays for shippin"

and na$i"ation purposes by raisin" financial resources

BILATERAL =ACTS An appro$al #as also "ranted for a co+operation pact bet#een India and the United Kin"dom on cooperation in

the ener"y sector, under #hich UK #ould pro$ide technical assistance, in+)ind "rants and other support in

areas such as mar)et reforms, re"ulatory structures in distribution and rene#able ener"y

Key focus areas of the pact include inte"ratin" rene#able ener"y into the "rid, creatin" smart "rids and the use

of tidal, off+shore #ind and solar ener"y

!he cabinet also cleared a similar memorandum of understandin" or 3oU bet#een India and Indonesia for a

cooperati$e institutional frame#or) on ne# and rene#able ener"y issues to encoura"e and promote technical

bilateral cooperation

RELATED INFORMATION: INLAND ATERAYS

Inland .ater#ays Authority of India I.AI #as created by %o$ernment of India in 1<:8 for de$elopment andre"ulation of Inland #ater#ays for shippin" and na$i"ation Its head office is at /oida

!he Authority primarily underta)es pro(ects for de$elopment and maintenance of Inland .ater#ay !erminal

infrastructure on /ational .ater#ays throu"h "rant recei$ed from 3inistry of Shippin", Road !ransport and

i"h#ays

6 I$!+e$)% a$- Ba$/ru;t)% B&++ 2015

!he Centre tabled the 4nsolvency and Banruptcy Bill, :=&' in the o Sabha. !he Bill, if passed, should enhance

the ease of doing business in the country.

A recent sur$ey report by "lobal consultancy Al$are* and 3arsal found that the a$era"e duration for insol$ency

resolution in India is si"nificantly hi"her than that in South Asia and in the O&CD Or"anisation for &conomic

Co+operation and De$elopment hi"h+income countries !he .orld 5an)’s &ase of Doin" 5usiness Report also

confirms the lon" duration of insol$ency resolution in India





4?

!he 5ill proposes adherence to strict deadlines to decide #hether to li>uidate a sic) company or not, #herein the

decision to li>uidate a company #ill ha$e to be reached #ithin 1:? days, "o$ernment said addin" this should "o

a lon" #ay in reducin" the time ta)en for insol$ency resolution in India

!he 5ill proposes the settin" up of an Insol$ency and 5an)ruptcy 5oard of India to re"ulate insol$ency

professionals and a"encies It also proposes the settin" up of a fund dubbed the @Insol$ency and 5an)ruptcy

Fund of India’

SI.NIFICANCE

As of no#, there is no sin"le la# that deals #ith insol$ency and ban)ruptcy in India A number of pro$isions

spread across $arious statutes ha$e rendered the insol$ency and ban)ruptcy+related process a le"al >ua"mire

si"nificantly hinderin" the ease of doin" business in the country !he ne# 5ill see)s to consolidate all of this into

a sin"le Code

?

Te+a$<a$a & e)!$- State t! et u; !r!atr&a$ ur%

.ith !elan"ana settin" up a 17+member Moroastrian (ury to aid the

settlement of marria"e and di$orce, the 0arsis in the State can decide

on such matters #ithin the community !elan"ana becomes the

second State after 3aharashtra to set up the Moroastrian (ury

In the matter of di$orces in the State, the 0arsi (ury #ill send its

ad$isory decision to the city ci$il court, the (ud"e of #hich #ill later

pass hisher (ud"ement

Settin" up the (ury is instrumental in aidin" the community that is

d#indlin" in numbers 5efore reachin" di$orce, the community #illfirst try to counsel the parties to a$ert their decision to separate Only

in cases #here di$orce is ine$itable #ill the (ury recommend a separation



0AR! SIP E SOCIA ISSU&S


41

Country DI uman

De$elopmentInde' ran)

/or#ay 1

5ra*il 97

China <?

India 14?

5an"ladesh 162

==AARRTT SSII || SSOOCCIIAALL IISSSSUUEESS

1 I$eua+&t% ;u++ 7a)/ I$-&a: UND=

?or 2ust four per cent of its +, 4ndia could provide 0a basic and modest set of social security guarantees for all

citi)ens with universal pension, basic health care, child benefits and employment schemes1, the "nited #ations

+evelopment rogramme $"#+% said in its Duman +evelopment Report $D+R%, :=&'. !he annual report

loos at the role of wor in improving human development.

NE SOCIAL CONTRACT

In addition to national employment strate"ies, the report calls for a

ne# social contract bet#een "o$ernments, society, and the pri$ate

sector to ensure that all members of society ha$e their needs ta)en

into account in policy formulation, a "lobal deal amon" "o$ernments

to "uarantee #or)ers’ ri"hts and benefits around the #orld and a

decent #or) a"enda, that #ill help promote freedom of association,

e>uity, security, and human di"nity in #or) life !he report

repeatedly sin"les out India’s 3ahatma %andhi /ational Rural

&mployment %uarantee scheme for praise

OMEN =ARTICI=ATION

.or)force participation rates for #omen ha$e dropped "lobally,dri$en lar"ely by declines in the last decade in India and China, the

report finds .omen also consistently earn less than men and are less

li)ely than men to be in leadership positions, the report finds

.ENDER DIFFERENCES IN INDIA

India ran)ed 14? of 1:: countries on the uman De$elopment Inde' DI in 2?16, up mar"inally from 147 in

2?14, and its inde' $alue had impro$ed sli"htly o$er 2?14 .hen ine>uality is factored in, ho#e$er, India loses

o$er one+fourth of its DI $alue, #ith education re"isterin" the hi"hest ine>uality in outcomes !here are also

substantial "ender differences in outcomesL if the #omen of India #ere their o#n country, they #ould ran) 171

out of 1:: countries in human de$elopment, #hile India’s men #ould come in at 12? !he a$era"e adult man in

India "ets t#ice as many years of schoolin" as the a$era"e adult #oman

HUMAN DE>ELO=MENT INDE

!he DI is a composite inde' meant to compare the #ell+bein" of people across countries and #as first

introduced by the U/D0 in 1<<? It is calculated as the "eometric mean of three indicators= life e'pectancy,

education and national income Of the three sub+components, India had a substantially hi"her income per capita

than countries that did better than it on the inde', #hile the a$era"e years of schoolin" that the a$era"e Indian

adult has recei$ed 76 years #as particularly lo# amon" middle income countries

MULTIDIMENSIONAL =O>ERTY INDE

On the 3ultidimensional 0o$erty Inde' de$eloped by the O'ford 0o$erty and uman De$elopment Initiati$e,

#hich measures depri$ation on si' indicators, o$er half of India’s population is multi+dimensionally poor, #hilea further 1: per cent are close to this line o#e$er, the data for this inde' for India dates bac) to 2??7+?8

India’s DI $alues impro$ed far more slo#ly bet#een 2?1? and 2?16 than bet#een 2??? and 2?1?

RELATED INFORMATION: UND=

!he United /ations De$elopment 0ro"ramme U/D0 is the United /ationsH "lobal de$elopment net#or)



0AR! SIP E SOCIA ISSU&S


42

ead>uartered in /e# or) City, U/D0 ad$ocates for chan"e and connects countries to )no#led"e, e'perience

and resources to help people build a better life It pro$ides e'pert ad$ice, trainin", and "rant support to

de$elopin" countries, #ith increasin" emphasis on assistance to the least de$eloped countries

!he status of U/D0 is that of an e'ecuti$e board #ithin the United /ations %eneral Assembly !he U/D0

Administrator is the third hi"hest+ran)in" official of the United /ations after the United /ations Secretary+

%eneral and Deputy Secretary+%eneral

!he U/D0 uman De$elopment Report Office also publishes an annual uman De$elopment Report since

1<<? to measure and analyse de$elopmental pro"ress

Currently, the U/D0 is one of the main U/ a"encies in$ol$ed in the de$elopment of the 0ost+2?17

De$elopment A"enda



0AR! S&&/ E SCI&/C& A/D !&C/OO%


44

==AARRTT SSEE>>EENN|| SSCCIIEENNCCEE AANNDD TTEECCHHNNOOLLOO..YY

1 .e$!,e !* t(e A&a$ e+e;(a$t eue$)e- *!r t(e *&rt t&,e &$ I$-&a

9hy is there an increase in tusless males among Asian elephantsE 9hy do only males have tuss in Asia, while

in Africa, both the sexes have tussE 9hy does the elephant in the sub-continent have a eener sense of smell F

sharper than that of a dog F than its African counterpartsE !he answers to these 5uestions are there in the

genome of the Asian elephant, which has been se5uenced perhaps for the first time in 4ndia.

A team of scientists

from the 5en"aluru+

based Centre for

&colo"ical Science at

the Indian Institute of

Science IISc and the

Indian Institute of

Science &ducation and

Research IIS&R,

0une, ha$e not only

se>uenced the entire

"enome of the animal,

but ha$e also for the

first time mapped the@transcriptome’ Q that

is, a section of "enes

acti$e in a particular

cell Q for the blood

cells of the species

.hile o$er <7 per cent

of the "enes #ere

found to be similar to

the African elephant,

there are still

thousands of bases that are uni>ue to the Asian elephant includin" those responsible for the hei"htened sense ofsmell

!here are o$er 6,??? olfactory receptors in the Asian elephant, double that of a do" #hich is considered to ha$e

the sharpest sense of smell .hat this means also is that pheromones of the Asian elephant #hich mi"rated

around 9 million years a"o from Africa #ill not be smelled by the African species

Similarly, se>uencin" the transcriptome of the blood cell led to the realisation that li)e the African elephant, the

Asian elephant, too, has a particular "ene Q )no#n to inhibit cancer Q that has been copied 2? times, rather

than a sin"le copy present in most mammals

SI.NIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

a$in" the "enome se>uence e$entually builds a foundation for further in$esti"ation into the "enetic ma)e+up

of an elephant, its e$olutionary path, as #ell as the possible conser$ation measures For instance, the elephant’ssusceptibility to certain diseases can be studied Q leadin" to de$isin" methods to shield the endan"ered species

from climate and habitat chan"es





46

2 NASA ;+a$ t! e'&t ;a)e tat&!$ &$ !r-er t! e';+!re -ee;er ;a)e

#ASA3s $#ational Aeronautics and Space Administration% long space ride with the 4nternational Space Station$4SS% in low-/arth orbit will touch the finish line in a decade from now.

!he US space a"ency #ill mo$e up to the cislunar space Q the

area of space surroundin" the moon Q for an ambitious human

e'ploration pro"ramme Accordin" to /ASA, it #ould li)e to see

the pri$ate space industry ta)e o$erT the lo#+&arth orbit

!he orbitin" international laboratory is to become inoperati$e in

either 2?26 or if "i$en another e'tension till 2?2: at the latest

.hen decommissioned, /ASA #ill li)ely deorbit the spacecraft

and &arth’s "ra$itational pull and atmosphere #ill brea) it apart

TEST BED FOR THE TECHNOLO.IES

Celebratin" the feat, researchers, said that the ISS is a uni>ue

laboratory that has enabled "roundbrea)in" research in the life and physical sciences and has pro$ided a test

bed for the technolo"ies that #ill allo# /ASA to once a"ain send astronauts beyond &arth’s orbit

Since 2???, human bein"s ha$e been li$in" continuously aboard the space station, #here they ha$e been

#or)in" off+the+&arth for the benefit of &arth, ad$ancin" scientific )no#led"e, demonstratin" ne# technolo"ies

and ma)in" research brea)throu"hs

RELATED INFORMATION: NASA

!he /ational Aeronautics and Space Administration /ASA is the United States "o$ernment a"ency

responsible for the ci$ilian space pro"ram as #ell as aeronautics and aerospace research 0resident D#i"ht D &isenho#er established the /ational Aeronautics and Space Administration /ASA in

1<7: #ith a distinctly ci$ilian rather than military orientation encoura"in" peaceful applications in space

science

It is head>uartered in .ashin"ton, DC

6 2013 et t! +&*t ISRO t!"ar- (ea% ,&&!$

!he year :=& is set to see the national space programme slowly shift gears

towards large satellites, a heavy-lift launcher and improved /arth observation

capabilities.

!he ten+odd planned missions #ill be mostly bread+and+butter types #ith noma(or e'plorations before Chandrayaan+2, no# slated for 2?19

!he Space a"ency #ill complete on priority the se$en+satellite re"ional

na$i"ation loop, IR/SS Indian Re"ional /a$i"ation Satellite System, in the

first some months, accordin" to Indian Space Research Or"anisation ISRO

IR/SS is already bein" used to some e'tent It #ill ta)e some months to fully

demonstrate its #or)in" At the same time ISRO is #or)in" on the

de$elopment of recei$ers A lar"e number of them ha$e been already realised,

some #ith the ISRO desi"n and some #ith industry desi"n and both to be

made by industry, ISRO said

On the tar"et later in the year is %SA!+11, #hich #ould be the hea$iest Indian

satellite at four to fi$e tonnes and pac)in" many more transponders than

normal Also planned to be tested is a matchin" launcher to lift spacecraft li)e it

to space= the %S+3ar) III %eosynchronous Satellite aunch ehicle hea$y+

lifter #ith a limited $ersion satellite





47

EARTH OBSER>ATION

After a "ap of about three years, a host of functional &arth obser$ation &O or remote+sensin" satellites is lined

up !hey include ne# ones #ith impro$ed $ie#s of &arth as #ell as those to replace older ones that are in orbit

Of these Cartosat+2C #ould sharpen the present ima"ery resolution from ?: metres to ?8 metres and is aimed

for the first half

A ne# &O $ersion called Scatsat is planned, besides continuity missions Resourcesat+2A, Oceansat+4 seriesL and

Insat+4DR on a %S, a replacement 3et sat !he old Cartosat+1 series satellites #ould be replaced

RELATED INFORMATION: ISRO

!he Indian Space Research Or"anisation ISRO is the space a"ency of the Indian "o$ernment head>uartered in

the city of 5en"aluru

Formed in 1<8<, ISRO superseded the erst#hile Indian /ational Committee for Space Research I/COS0AR,

#hich #as established in 1<82 by the efforts of independent IndiaHs first 0rime 3inister Ba#aharlal /ehru, and

his close aide and scientist i)ram Sarabhai !he establishment of ISRO thus institutionalised space acti$ities in

India

? Ne" ;!+%,er )!u+- ;ur&*% "ater &$ e)!$-

Scientists have developed a new reusable polymer that can remove pollutants

from flowing water within seconds, 2ust lie air fresheners trap invisible air

pollutants in the home and remove odours.

Researchers ha$e used the same material found in air fresheners,

cyclode'trin, to de$elop a techni>ue that could re$olutionise the #ater+

purification industry !he team de$eloped a porous form of cyclode'trin that has displayed upta)e

of pollutants throu"h adsorption at rates $astly superior to traditional

acti$ated carbon Q 2?? times "reater in some cases

Acti$ated carbons ha$e the ad$anta"e of lar"er surface area than pre$ious

polymers made from cyclode'trin Q but they do not bind pollutants as

stron"ly as cyclode'trin Recyclability is another ad$anta"e of the polymer

5 DAM=E

China3s +ar atter article /xplorer $+A/% has returned its first data to ground stations. +A/,

which is also nown as 9uong3, after the money ing in the Chinese fairytale 6ourney to the 9est3, was

recently launched from 6iu5uan Satellite aunch Center in ansu province $China%.

It is China’s first space telescope to search for si"ns of the

hypothetical dar) matter

DAR MATTER

Dar) 3atter is thou"ht to account for most of the mass in the

uni$erse, out#ei"hin" atoms by about si' times

It "i$es rise to the other#ise unaccountably fast rotation rates

of most "ala'ies in the uni$erse o#e$er, scientists ha$e yet

to detect a sin"le particle of the stuff !hey are unsure of its e'act nature but calculations su""est

that it #ill be incredibly unreacti$e and so difficult to detect

Dar) matter does not emit electroma"netic radiation, and

remains immune to direct obser$ation Astrophysicists ha$e

so far only obser$ed "ra$itational effects of dar) matter on





48

cosmic ob(ects, such as "ala'ies and "ala'y clusters

Indirect obser$ations include searchin" for e'cess "amma ray emissions, #hich may be the product of #ea)ly

interactin" massi$e particle .I30 decay !he theoretical .I30s are thou"ht to be the main component of

dar) matter

DA30& #ill therefore loo) for "amma rays, electrons and hi"h+ener"y cosmic rays, all of #hich could hold

clues about the nature of dar) matter A similar detector, the Alpha 3a"netic Spectrometer, is attached to the

International Space Station

DA30& #as built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in collaboration #ith the Uni$ersity of %ene$a,

S#it*erland, and Italy’s Istituto /a*ionale di Fisica /ucleare

RELATED INFORMATION: ASTROSAT

!he Indian Space Research Or"anisation ISRO recently launched India’s first dedicated multi+#a$elen"th

space obser$atory+ Astrosat Astrosat aims at understandin" the hi"h ener"y processes in binary star systems containin" neutron stars and

blac) holes, to estimate ma"netic fields of neutron stars, to study star birth re"ions and hi"h ener"y processes in

star systems lyin" beyond the 3il)y .ay "ala'y

3 ISRO +au$)(e &' S&$<a;!rea$ ate++&te

!he Indian Space Research Or"anisation ISRO put Sin"apore’s

first commercial earth+obser$ation satellite in space throu"h a

launch on the polar satellite launch $ehicle 0S

!he !e&OS+I satellite, #as (oined by fi$e other smaller satellites,

all from Sin"apore

RESTART OF THE FOURTH STA.E

!he national space a"ency also tried and successfully tested the

restart of the fourth sta"e of its 0S roc)et in this launch

!he test to restart the fourth sta"e of the 0S roc)et #ould help

the country in its future launches #hile attemptin" to launch multiple satellites in different orbits



0AR! &I%! E &/&R%


49

==AARRTT EEII..HHTT|| EENNEERR..YY

1 TA=I <a ;&;e+&$e ;r!e)t

!urmen resident urbanguly Berdymuhamedov was 2oined by the Afghan resident Ashraf hani, 4ndian

(ice-resident Damid Ansari and aistani rime inister #awa) Sharif in breaing the ground for the

ambitious !A4 $!urmenistan, Afghanistan, aistan and 4ndia% pipeline pro2ect which will provide energy-

hungry 4ndia gas to run its power plants.

SI.NIFICANCE

Describin" the potential of the

pipeline pro(ect, #hich India

(oined in 2??:, hopin" to

e'tract from it bet#een 17+

27 of its natural "as needs,

"o$ernment said that it is

"oin" to be a force multiplier

for our de$elopment efforts,

and #ill $ery si"nificantly

chan"e the #ay India and

Central Asia are related

Af"hanistan, #hich #ill

recei$e about 18 of the "as

India and 0a)istan #ill ha$e

a share of 62 each from the

pipeline, #ould also recei$e

transit fees from 0a)istan

Similarly, India #ould pay

0a)istan transit fees for the pipeline that #ill ori"inate in !ur)menistan’s south east areas, tra$el throu"h erat,

Farah and elmand pro$inces of Af"hanistan, enterin" 0a)istan in 5alochistan and then cuttin" across 0a)istan

0un(ab to reach the border area of Fa*il)a+Abohar in Indian 0un(ab

!ur)menistan is belie$ed to ha$e the #orld’s fourth+lar"est "as reser$es, but currently e'ports mainly to China

SECURITY SITUATION

Despite the hopes and e'pectations, the pro(ect faces risin" ris)s and added costs from the deterioratin" security

situation in Af"hanistan .hile the Af"han "o$ernment has promised to secure the pipeline #ith an added

stren"th of 7,???+9,??? Army personnel, recent re$erses for the Af"han army present a blea) picture

!he cost of layin" infrastructure to protect the pipeline from possible attac)s #ill affect the !A0I’s $iability

0a)istan’s insur"ency in 5alochistan #ill further add to the pro(ect, #hose final cost estimation is still to be

done .hile !A0I #as ori"inally promoted by US companies in the 1<<?s, they e$entually pulled out because

of the ris)s and tou"h restrictions on in$estment !ur)men"a* is no# the consortium leader of the pro(ect

BY=ASSIN. RUSSIA

/one of the challen"es facin" !A0I is ne# If the pro(ect has seen pro"ress, it is because of the bac)in" from theUS, #hich is )een that the pipeline open the #ay for other #estern countries #antin" to access Central Asian

ener"y bypassin" Russia

!he US has also pushed the !A0I as an alternati$e to the I0I Iran+0a)istan+India pro(ect so as to brin"

pressure on Iran to deli$er on nuclear safe"uards



0AR! &I%! E &/&R%


4:

2 S!+ar )a;a)&t% )r!e 5000 M

4ndia3s total installed capacity of solar power has crossed the '-9-mar. !he total commissioned utility solarcapacity in the country stands at about @.G 9, while rooftop capacity is ':' 9, according to Bridge to 4ndia,

a solar energy consulting firm.

.hile the central "o$ernment has laid

do#n the ambitious tar"et of 1?? %. by

2?22, states ha$e ta)en the lead o$er central

"o$ernment schemes in the last year

&ncoura"ed by fallin" costs and "ro#in"

need for "reen ener"y, states li)e 0un(ab,

3adhya 0radesh, Karnata)a, !elan"ana,

Andhra 0radesh and !amil /adu ha$e all

announced substantial policy initiati$es, it

said

Ra(asthan, %u(arat and 3adhya 0radesh ha$e historically been the front runners in solar po#er capacity

addition, but the four southern Indian states are e'pected to dominate the mar)et o$er ne't t#o years As of

today, the country has a solar pro(ect pipeline of 179 %. !he fiscal year 2?18+19 #ill be Indian solar mar)et’s

transition year= annual capacity addition could top 8 %. #ith India becomin" one of the leadin" solar nations

"lobally, it added

RELATED INFORMATION: SOLAR ENER.Y COR=ORATION OF INDIA

Solar &ner"y Corporation of India is en"a"ed in implementin" a number of rene#able ener"y pro(ects includin"

settin" up of 2,97? 3. solar po#er pro(ects under %F $iability "ap fundin" schemes, solar 0ar) schemes,roof+top pro(ects and pro(ects in association #ith other or"ani*ations

&arlier "o$ernment a"reed that State+run Solar &ner"y Corporation of India S&CI, formed in 2?11 #ith

charitable ob(ecti$es, #ill be con$erted into a "ro#th+oriented commercial company that #ill "enerate and sell

solar po#er and de$elop other sources of rene#able ener"y

.ith an eye on e'pandin" India’s rene#able ener"y sector and streamlinin" it, the "o$ernment also appro$ed

renamin" S&CI as Rene#able &ner"y Corp of India R&CI

!he mo$e #ill result in the company becomin" a self+sustainin" and self+"eneratin" or"ani*ation #ith its o#n

solar po#er plants that #ill "enerate and sell po#er It #ill also lead to the company e'pandin" acti$ities in

other se"ments of solar po#er, such as manufacturin" of solar products and materials



0AR! /I/& E D&F&/C&


4<

==AARRTT NNIINNEE|| DDEEFFEENNCCEE

1 I$-&a$ Na% u))e*u++% tet *&re Bara/ +!$< ra$<e ,&&+e *r!, INS !+/ata

4n a boost to 4ndia3s maritime prowess, the #avy successfully test-fired the nearly G= 7m range Surface to Air

issile Bara < from 4#S 7olata, paving the way for installation of the system, developed 2ointly by 4ndia and

4srael, on board country3s frontline warships. !he #avy described the maiden firing of its newly developed ong

Range Surface to Air issile $R SA% as a significant milestone in enhancing its anti-air warfare capability.

Apart from the

missile, the system

includes a 3ulti+

Functional

Sur$eillance and

!hreat Alert Radar

3F S!AR for

detection, trac)in"

and "uidance of

the missile

SI.NIFICANCE

Israel made 3F+

S!AR radar

system is capable

of simultaneously

trac)in" hundreds

of airborne tar"ets to a ran"e of more than 27? K3

!hese Surface+to+Air 3issiles are fitted onboard the Kol)ata Class Destroyers and #ould also be fitted on all

future ma(or #arships of the /a$y !he missile alon" #ith the 3F S!AR #ould pro$ide these ships the

capability to neutralise aerial threats at e'tended ran"es 5ara)+: is desi"ned to defend na$al $essels a"ainst

incomin" missiles, planes and drones

.ith the successful pro$in" of these systems, the Indian /a$y has become part of a select "roup of /a$ies that

ha$e this niche capability, #hich #ould pro$ide a fillip to India’s maritime operations

RELATED INFORMATION: AASH

A)ash is a medium+ran"e surface+to+air missile SA3 defense system de$eloped by the Defence Research and

De$elopment Or"ani*ation DRDO

It has the capability to neutrali*e aerial tar"ets li)e fi"hter (ets, cruise missiles and air+to+surface missiles as #ell

as ballistic missiles It is in operational ser$ice #ith the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force

2 Ru&aC(&$a -e*e$)e )!!;erat&!$ !$ r&e

Russia has reached an agreement with the eople3s Republic of China to supply the Asian superpower with

Suhoi $Su-H'%. Russia3s decision to export is highly capable Su-H' planes is expected to strengthen China3s

military presence in the South China Sea. 4t is also set to escalate military technology exchanges that would help

Bei2ing and oscow develop cutting edge weapons.

In ta)in" the mo$e, 3osco# o$errode apprehensions that its panache for re$erse en"ineerin"T Russian

#eapons, could hasten 5ei(in"’s rise as a formidable competitor to Russia, in the "lobal arms mar)et !he 2



0AR! /I/& E D&F&/C&


6?

billion dollar deal means that transfer of technolo"y, #hich 5ei(in" badly re>uires to de$elop the ne't "eneration

of #eapons, is part of the contract

.EO=OLITICS =LAYED A MAJOR =ART

Analysts say that "eopolitics has played a ma(or part in

cementin" the deal 5oth Russia and China are no#

strate"ically #ell ali"ned Russia sa# the topplin" of an

elected "o$ernment in U)raine, as an attempt by the Atlantic

Alliance to dislod"e it from Se$astopol, the head>uarters of

its 5lac) Sea fleet in Crimea

!he Chinese are also #ary of .ashin"ton’s "ro#in" presence

in the #estern 0acific, follo#in" the Asia 0i$otT doctrine of

the Obama administration .ashin"ton’s doctrinal shift#ould bolster the 0acific command, #hich #ould accumulate

nearly 8? per cent of all US forces under the #in"s

China #ill benefit from the purchase of the Russian (ets in three #ays First, the ac>uisition of Su+47 planes

#ould "reatly e'tend China’s reach o$er the South China Sea Su+47 planes, capable of ta)in" off from short

run#ays, #ill co$er a lar"e footprint if deployed from China’s ne#ly de$eloped artificial islands in the South

China Sea Second, the Russian (ets can effecti$ely counter the US F+47 stealth fi"hters Finally, China can

ac>uire $aluable radar and en"ine technolo"y by inductin" the Russian (ets !his #ould plu" a ma(or "ap in

China’s dri$e for de$elopin" home"ro#n planes

!he Su+47 deal has also benefited Russia si"nificantly Cash strapped Russia has ac>uired badly needed funds,

#hich could help alle$iate mountin" e'penses both at home and abroad 3osco# has already profited from the

financial transfers resultin" from its pre$ious decision to e'port its ad$anced S+6?? air defence missile systemsto China

HY=ERSONIC .LIDE >EHICLES

Obser$ers say that #ith tensions #ith .ashin"ton escalatin", the Russians ha$e narro#ed do#n their interest

on ac>uirin" )no#+ho# used in hypersonic "lide $ehicles that are bein" de$eloped by China

ast year, China confirmed that .u+16, hypersonic "lide $ehicle had been tested !he .U+16, launched by an

intercontinental ballistic missile, separated from the missile in the upper atmosphere It then "lided and di$ed

to#ards the earth at a speed that may be 1? times that of the $elocity of sound Q "ood enou"h to breach e'istin"

anti+missile defences



0AR! !&/ E &/IRO/3&/!, &COO% - 5IODI&RSI!


61

==AARRTT TTEENN|| EENN>>IIRROONNMMEENNTT EECCOOLLOO..YY BBIIOODDII>>EERRSSIITTYY

1 =ar&: $at&!$ a-!;t (&t!r&) )+&,ate )(a$<e -ea+ t! ae ;+a$et

A landmar climate agreement was agreed by countries to slow down global warming and save the planet from a

catastrophe after ey players lie 4ndia, "S and China approved the final draft of a 0historic1 measure.

!he a"reement si"ned at a )ey summit in 0aris #ill

le"ally bind the #orld in )eepin" the planet’s

#armin" #ell belo#T t#o de"ree Celsius #ith an

endea$our to limit it to 17 de"rees, the le$el

scientists say is needed to a$ert the #orst effects of

"lobal #armin" !he pact also commits G1?? billion a year from 2?2?

to help de$elopin" countries cope #ith the climate

chan"e problem 5esides, it #ill ma)e it bindin" for

nations to open their boo)s e$ery fi$e years for

scrutiny on their contribution to the "lobal effort to

cut "reenhouse "as emissions

India #as amon" the bloc) of 146 de$elopin" countries called %+99 plus China #hich #elcomed the a"reement,

#ith India sayin" condition of ha$in" differentiation bet#een rich and de$elopin" #orld in all elements has

been met and climate (ustice has found a mention

!he US, #hich had refused to si"n the pre$ious emissions treaty, the 1<<9 Kyoto 0rotocol, and &U &uropean

Union too bac)ed the a"reement after the miti"ation tar"et of rich countries #ere made less strin"ent by

replacin" shallT #ith shouldT

o#e$er, only a fe# countries li)e /icara"ua ob(ected to the accord sayin" the adoption #as a"ainst the U/

United /ations principle of multi+lateralism as its ob(ection #ere not ta)en into account

THE HI.HLI.HTS OF THE DEAL:

1 %oal= !he lon"+term "oal is to limit "lobal #armin" to #ell belo#T 2 de"rees Celsius o$er pre+Industrial

Re$olution le$els, and to try for 17 de"rees if possible

2 0ea)= !he #orld #ill aim for climate+chan"in" "reenhouse "as emissions to pea) as soon as possibleT, probably

in second half of the century

4 Climate action= Intended /ationally Determined Contributions I/DCs are to be re$ie#ed a"ain in 2?24 andthen once e$ery fi$e years to reflect hi"hest possible ambition as per the indi$idual capabilities of countries

6 &mission reduction= De$eloped countries are to ta)e economy+#ise absolute emission reduction no tar"et and

de$elopin" countries to enhance their miti"ation efforts

7 oss and dama"e= !he a"reement includes a section reco"ni*in" loss and dama"eT associated #ith climate+

related disasters !he US #as #orried it #ould lead to claims of compensation for dama"e caused by e'treme

#eather e$ents It #as included #ith a footnote specifically statin" that loss and dama"e does not in$ol$e

liability or compensation

8 Finance= De$eloped countries are to ta)e lead in pro$idin" financial assistance #ith floor of G1?? billion by 2?2?

from $ariety of sources includin" si"nificant roleT of public funds &'pansion of donor base is to be considered

in future

9 !ransparency= !echnical e'pert re$ie# of climate action plans for all parties #ith different le$el for de$elopedand de$elopin" #orld dependin" on national capability and circumstances 5iennial update in form of

established International Assessment and Re$ie# for rich nations and International Consultation and Analysis

for de$elopin" #orld #ill come up



0AR! !&/ E &/IR/3&/!, &COO% - 5IODI&RSI!


62

: !a)in" stoc)= First of climate action plans to happen in 2?24 and then e$ery fi$e years #ith an aim to enhance

$oluntary commitments by each country India has committed emission intensity reduction by 44+47 and a

6? non+fossil ener"y use by 2?4? in its first climate action plan submitted in October 2?17

RELATED INFORMATION: CO=21

CO021 is short for the 21st Conference of the 0arties to the United /ations Frame#or) Con$ention on Climate

Chan"e U/FCCC !he first U/ Climate Chan"e Conference #as held in 1<<7 in 5erlin From 2??7 the

Conferences ha$e also ser$ed as the JConference of the 0arties Ser$in" as the 3eetin" of 0arties to the Kyoto

0rotocolJ C30

!hat lon" #inded title #as created in Rio in 1<<2 #here countries concerned about the impacts of climate

chan"e came to"ether under the United /ations to do somethin" about it

!hey si"ned a con$ention that came into force in 1<<6 and has no# been ratified by 1<7 countries, includin" the

United States Its )ey aim is the Jstabili*ation of "reenhouse "ases in the atmosphere at a le$el that #ould pre$ent dan"erous

anthropo"enic interference #ith the climate systemJ

2 L&*e e';+!-e- !$ Eart( a*ter !'%<e$ r&e !er 100 ,&++&!$ %ear

It too) 1?? million years for o'y"en in the oceans and atmosphere to

increase to the le$el that allo#ed the e'plosion of animal life on the

&arth about 8?? million years a"o, accordin" to ne# research

It is, therefore, li)ely that early animal e$olution #as )ic)+started by

increased amounts of o'y"en, rather than a chan"e in animal

beha$iour leadin" to o'y"enation

E>OLUTION OF CLIMATE

Researchers trac)ed #hat #as happenin" #ith o'y"en le$els "lobally

99?+72? million years a"o usin" ne# tracers in roc)s across the US,

Canada and China

5y measurin" selenium isotopes in the roc)s, the team re$ealed that it

too) 1?? million years for the amount of o'y"en in the atmosphere to

climb from less than one percent to current le$el

!his #as ar"uably the most si"nificant o'y"enation e$ent in &arth

history because it ushered in an a"e of animal life that continues to this day

SCIENTISTS SUR=RISED

Scientists #ere surprised to see ho# lon" it too) &arth to produce o'y"en and findin"s dispel theories that it

#as a >uic) process caused by a chan"e in animal beha$iour

!ill date, it #as not )no#n ho# >uic)ly the &arth’s oceans and atmosphere became o'y"enated and if animal

life e'panded before or after o'y"en le$els rose !he study #as published in the (ournal @/ature

Communications’

6 =&)&$e -&er&t% u$-er t(reat &$ r&($a r&er

Research underta)en has re$ealed that feral ha$in" re$erted to the #ild state, as from the domestication fish

are causin" the decline of presence of other species of 3a(or Indian Carps, 3inor Indian Carps and Catfish in

ri$er Krishna dama"in" the piscine di$ersity of the second lar"est ri$er in South India

!he research team obser$ed that the presence of Indian 3a(or Carps has been declinin" year by year, #hile the

population of Feral Fish /ile !ilapia Oreochromis niloticus, #hich #as introduced for a>uaculture purposes in

India in 1<:9, has been "oin" up





64

NON FOR ITS NOTORIOUS ABILITY

!here #ere do*ens of species of !ilapia #hich #ere

initially found primarily in the ri$ers of #estern

Africa and the 3iddle &ast !he !ilapia fish is

)no#n as most traded food fish internationally

!he fish #as flo#n into the Krishna from

a>uaculture farms durin" the recurrin" floods !he

population of the fish has multiplied o$er the years

/ile !ilapia is )no#n for its notorious ability e$en

in bad #ater and creates its o#n ecolo"y and

repopulates other nati$e species

Researchers said that ri$er %an"a faced a similar

problem in the past !hey added that unless the "o$ernment initiates a conser$ation plan, the /ile !ilapia #illrepopulate the indi"enous species in the Krishna $ery soon

? Re)!r- "ar,t( a$- retreat&$< &)e $!te- *!r Ar)t&) &$ a$$ua+ re;!rt !$ &t tatu

!he #armin" Arctic has set another record !he a$era"e air temperature o$er Arctic land reached 24 de"rees F

14 de"rees C abo$e a$era"e for the year endin" in September !hatHs the hi"hest since obser$ations be"an in

1<??

!he ne# mar) #as noted in the annual Arctic Report Card, released recently by the /ational Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration !he Arctic centers on the /orth 0ole and reaches into /orth America and &urasia

Another record emer"ed for sea ice, #hich appears #hen Arctic Ocean #ater free*es .hen it reached its pea)

co$era"e in February, it #as the lo#est ma'imum e'tent since records be"an in 1<9< !he minimum ice

co$era"e, reached in September, #as the fourth lo#est on record

!he retreat of sea ice is considered a threat to animals li)e #alruses, #hich use it for matin", "i$in" birth and

"ettin" out of the #ater .alruses can use land instead to lea$e the #ater, but they are cro#din" onto beaches



0AR! !&/ E &/IR/3&/!, &COO% - 5IODI&RSI!


66

#here a stampede can be de$astatin" for cal$es .alruses ha$e been haulin" themsel$es out on land in

north#est Alas)a, a recent phenomenon

Sno# co$er in Bune in both the /orth American and &urasian parts of the Arctic #as at the second lo#est le$el

since records be"an in 1<89 Reduced sno# co$er lets more sunli"ht throu"h to the land, #hich absorbs the

ener"y and "ets #armer Since 1<9<, the e'tent of Bune sno# co$er has been droppin" by 1: percent per decade,

the report said

RELATED INFORMATION: NOAA

!he /ational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration /OAA is an American scientific a"ency #ithin the

United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere

/OAA #arns of dan"erous #eather, charts seas and s)ies, "uides the use and protection of ocean and coastal

resources, and conducts research to impro$e understandin" and ste#ardship of the en$ironment

5

Reear)(er $a,e $e" "(a+e ;e)&e a*ter ,%t(&) )reature *r!, M!7%D&)/

Researchers have identified a new species of sperm whale, from its fossil remains, that they have named after the

mythic beast of Derman elville3s oby-+ic. !hey named the genus 0Albicetus1, meaning white whale.

Albicetus #as smaller than its modern cousin, #hich can

"ro# to o$er 1: meters lon" It also had a smaller $ersion

of the sperm #hale’s si"nature feature, the bloc)+shaped

head that cradles a spermaceti or"an

Albicetus li$ed in the 0acific Ocean amon" a really rich

di$ersity of marine mammals, #ith many other #hale

species, early seals and se$eral $arieties of hu"e shar)s !he ne# study could help scientists understand ho#

#hales e$ol$ed sperm #hales are outliers on the

cetacean family tree !hey di$er"ed from other #hales

relati$ely early, and e$ol$ed into hi"hly social animals

#ith uni>ue abilities to di$e and clic)T for communication and echolocation

THE STORY

3el$ille’s #hite sperm #hale #as inspired by t#o stories= the tale of an albino #hale, 3ocha, hunted do#n in

the 0acific in 1:4<, and the true story of the #haleship &sse', #hich #as rammed t#ice by a bull sperm #hale

!he ship san), and its sur$i$ors #ere left scattered and desperate on small #haleboats for <2 days !hat story

#as also adapted to a film, In the eart of the Sea

3 r&($a M%tu

4ndiscriminate fishing may spell doom for 7rishna ystus $Demibagrus maydelli %, the ing of riverine fishes in

the 7rishna.

Accordin" to a study, the species, #hich is called as

@0ondu"a’ locally, is much in demand since it has a

hi"h mar)et $alue !he researchers say that no# the

fish is found $ery rarely

!hey say that thou"h the Krishna mystus is listed inleast concerned cate"ory of IUC/ International Union

for Conser$ation of /ature, its numbers is on the

decline no#





67

RELATED INFORMATION: IUCN

!he International Union for Conser$ation of /ature IUC/ is an international or"ani*ation #or)in" in the field

of nature conser$ation and sustainable use of natural resources

It is in$ol$ed in data "atherin" and analysis, research, field pro(ects, ad$ocacy, lobbyin" and education !he

or"ani*ation is best )no#n to the #ider public for compilin" and publishin" the IUC/ Red ist of !hreatened

Species, #hich assesses the conser$ation status of species #orld#ide

IUC/ #as established in 1<6: Its head>uarters are in %land, S#it*erland

@ A -ea-+% "ar at t(e <e$et&) +ee+

/ntomologists at Bengaluru3s 4CAR $4ndian Council of Agricultural Research%-#ational Bureau of Agricultural

4nsect Resources $#BA4R% have, for the first time, been able to systematically document how the parasitoids pose

a serious threat to the butterfly endangered species through its different life stages. For "enerations, butterflies ha$e been #a"in" a

deadly and lon"+dra#n+out #ar #ith their natural

enemy, parasitoids, insects, #ho in their e"" and

lar$al sta"e, li$e in the tissue of a host and feed on it

Death of the host, in this case the butterfly, is the only

e$entuality Scientists ha$e found that this #ar is

#a"ed e$en at the "enetic le$el

!he e$olutionary studies ha$e found that these

parasitoids and the butterflies co+e$ol$e in the battle

for sur$i$al, #herein both try to chan"e at the "ene

le$el, besides chan"in" the food host plantpreference

A ma(ority of these parasitoids are usually specific to some particular species of butterfly !hese parasitoids

sometimes lay their e""s #ithin the butterfly e""s, or e$en in the caterpillar or pupa itself !he e""s "et

parasitised, pre$entin" the butterfly to mo$e on to the ne't sta"e in its life cycle

SI.NIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

!here are many factors that are detrimental to the conser$ation of butterflies, such as pesticide drifts, industrial

pollution, deforestation, encroachment of natural habitat, lac) of appropriate flora and e$en ille"al butterfly

trade 5ut #hat is i"nored is the role of the natural enemies of butterflies, the parasitoids

/5AIR said that such a study #as the missin" lin) in understandin" the co+e$olution of butterflies and their

associated parasitoids in India It added that it #ill "o a lon" #ay in di$ersity documentation

RELATED INFORMATION: ENTOMOLO.Y

&ntomolo"y is the scientific study of insects, a branch of *oolo"y In the past the term JinsectJ #as more $a"ue,

and historically the definition of entomolo"y included the study of terrestrial animals in other arthropod "roups

or other phyla, such as arachnids, myriapods, earth#orms, land snails, and slu"s



0AR! &&&/ E &A!


68

==AARRTT EELLEE>>EENN|| HHEEAALLTTHH

1 Car-&!a)u+ar -&eae t!; /&++er

Suicide and road accidents are the leading cause of death among young women and men respectively, new data

from the Registrar eneral of 4ndia $R4% shows. ?or the population as a whole, non-communicable diseases

including cancers and digestive disease are bigger illers while infant mortality and diarrhoeal disease are

reducing in impact, the data shows.

Since death certification in India is rare, restricted to urban areas and of poor >uality, the R%IHs office has been

conductin"

$erbal

autopsiesT

on a sample

"roup across

the country

e$ery fe#

years !he

last such

@causes of

death studyH

#as

conducted in2??6+8, and

the R%IHs

office

released data

for 2?1?+14

recently

!he data

sho#s that o$erall, cardio$ascular disease is the top )iller of Indians !he proportion of infant and child deaths

to total deaths has come do#n substantially, and impro$ed healthcare has meant more deaths in the 9?W a"e

"roup instead /oncommunicable diseases account for more deaths in IndiaHs richer states than in its poorer

states

NEONATAL AND INFANT DEATHS

Amon" neonatal and infant deaths, prematurity and lo# birth #ei"ht has become a pro"ressi$ely bi""est cause

of death as more institutional deli$eries ha$e meant fe#er birth trauma+related deaths o#e$er there is a

substantial difference bet#een IndiaHs richer and poorer statesL deaths of children under the a"e of 6 account for

nearly 6? per cent of all deaths in the poorest states includin" 5ihar, Uttar 0radesh and Assam, and (ust 19 per

cent of deaths in the other states !he burden of child death is also hi"her in rural than in urban areas In(uries

ha$e no# surpassed diarrhoeal disease as the leadin" cause of death amon" boys a"ed 1+6 years Unintentional

in(uriesT ha$e also become the leadin" )illers of youn" boys and "irls a"ed 7+16

SUICIDES Amon" youn" adults a"ed 17+2<, road accidents ha$e surpassed suicides as the leadin" cause of death of youn"

men, #hile suicides are not responsible for an e$en lar"er proportion of youn" female deaths Cardio$ascular

disease is the bi""est )iller of older adults, follo#ed by cancers Suicides are particularly hi"h in the southL it is

the si'th lar"est cause of death across a"e "roups in the four southern states, #hile it does not fi"ure amon" the

top ten causes of death in any other re"ion



0AR! &&&/ E &A!


69

2

C!+&t&$ ue a<a&$t re&ta$t &$*e)t&!$ u;?ive years after an antibiotic-resistant superbug was traced to 4ndia, the maret si)e of colistin I the last

antibiotic that can wor on resistant infections I has more than doubled in the country. "sage of the last-resort

drug has shot up in hospitals.

In the critical+care se"ment, colistin, in the past

fi$e years, has emer"ed as the fastest+"ro#in"

dru" .ith doctors prescribin" hi"her dosa"es to

contain resistant infections, companies are no#

launchin" the dru" in hi"her stren"ths Doctors

said the hi"hest stren"th formulation #as the

most consumed, accountin" for 7? per cent of thetotal usa"e

!he dru" #as pulled out from a fi$e+decade

hibernation about si' years a"o to treat resistant

infections 5oth pharma companies and doctors

are no# loo)in" at ho# to effecti$ely administer

this dru", and not compromise its efficacy on

resistant infections

&'perts also note that the rise in colistin usa"e is

almost identical to the sharp increase in the use of

the third+"eneration antibiotic carbapenem bet#een 2??7 and 2?1? /o#, resistance to carbapenem is pe""ed at

7?+ 8? per cent, leadin" to the rise in colistin use

HAT IS ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE#

Antibiotic resistance occurs #hen an antibiotic has lost its ability to effecti$ely control or )ill bacterial "ro#thL in

other #ords, the bacteria are JresistantJ and continue to multiply in the presence of therapeutic le$els of an

antibiotic

HY DO BACTERIA BECOME RESISTANT TO ANTIBIOTICS#

Antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon .hen an antibiotic is used, bacteria that can resist that antibiotic

ha$e a "reater chance of sur$i$al than those that are JsusceptibleJ

Susceptible bacteria are )illed or inhibited by an antibiotic, resultin" in a selecti$e pressure for the sur$i$al of

resistant strains of bacteria

Some resistance occurs #ithout human action, as bacteria can produce and use antibiotics a"ainst other bacteria,

leadin" to a lo#+le$el of natural selection for resistance to antibiotics

o#e$er, the current hi"her+le$els of antibiotic+resistant bacteria are attributed to the o$eruse and abuse of

antibiotics

HO DOES ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE S=READ#

%enetically, antibiotic resistance spreads throu"h bacteria populations both J$ertically,J #hen ne# "enerations

inherit antibiotic resistance "enes, and Jhori*ontally,J #hen bacteria share or e'chan"e sections of "enetic

material #ith other bacteria ori*ontal "ene transfer can e$en occur bet#een different bacterial species

&n$ironmentally, antibiotic resistance spreads as bacteria themsel$es mo$e from place to placeL bacteria cantra$el $ia #ater and #ind 0eople can pass the resistant bacteria to othersL for e'ample, by cou"hin" or contact

#ith un#ashed hands



0AR! !.&& E CO33I!!&&S A/D R&0OR!S


6:

==AARRTT TT EELL>>EE|| CCOOMMMMIITTTTEEEESS AANNDD RREE==OORRTTSS

1 Dee;a/ M!(a$t% C!,,&ttee re;!rt !$ Me-&u,ter, =at( !$ F&$a$)&a+ I$)+u&!$’

4n order to promote financial inclusion, bans should loo beyond traditional business model and go for mobile

technology for last mile3 service delivery, a Reserve Ban panel said. Besides, they have to mae special efforts to

step up account opening for women, and the government may consider a deposit scheme for the girl child

0Suanya Shisha1 F as a welfare measure, it said.

!he Committee on

@3edium+term 0ath on

Financial Inclusion’,

headed by Deepa)

3ohanty, is much

broader in scope, "oin"

beyond the traditional

domain of the central

ban), R5I said #hile

releasin" the report

LININ. OF

AADHAAR

!he report said that "i$en

the predominance of indi$idual account holdin"s <6 per cent of total credit accounts, a uni>ue biometric

identifier such as Aadhaar should be lin)ed to each indi$idual credit account and the information shared #ith

credit information companies to enhance the stability of the credit system and impro$e access

LAST MILE’ SER>ICE DELI>ERY

!o impro$e @last mile’ ser$ice deli$ery and to translate financial access into enhanced con$enience and usa"e, a

lo#+cost solution should be de$eloped by utilisation of the mobile ban)in" facility for ma'imum possible

"o$ernment+to+ person %20 payments, it said

!he Committee felt that althou"h a >uantum (ump in ban)in" access has ta)en place, a si"nificant element of

re"ional e'clusion persists for $arious reasons that need to be addressed by steppin" up the inclusion dri$e in

the north+eastern, eastern and central states to achie$e near+uni$ersal access

INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES

It further said that in some of the areas, mobile connecti$ity may not be commercially $iable to start #ith, but

the telecom ser$ice pro$iders may be encoura"ed to use their corporate social responsibility CSR funds for this

purpose

!he Committee is of the $ie# that the State e$el 5an)ers Committee S5C is an appropriate forum to address

such infrastructure issues in a collaborati$e manner !he use of Uni$ersal Ser$ice Obli"ation Fund USOF, a

non+lapsable fund desi"ned to support a $ariety of inno$ation initiati$es, can also be e'plored in this re"ard

DISTORTED A.RICULTURAL CREDIT SYSTEM

!he panel has also su""ested phasin" out the a"ricultural interest sub$ention scheme #hich has distorted thea"ricultural credit system and plou"hin" the subsidy amount into a technolo"y aided uni$ersal insurance

scheme for mar"inal and small farmers for all crops, #ith a ceilin" of Rs 2 la)h at a nominal premium to end

a"rarian distress



0AR! !IR!&&/ E CO/F&R&/C&S A/D SU33I!S


6<

==AARRTT TTHHIIRRTTEEEENN|| CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEESS AANNDD SSUUMMMMIITTSS

1 C(&$a (!t 1t BRICS ,e-&a u,,&t

&st BR4CS edia Summit concluded with Bei2ing declaration. China too the initiative for creating an

alternative media platform for the emerging economies by hosting the first media summit of countries belonging

to the Bra)il-Russia-4ndia-China-South Africa $BR4CS% grouping.

Do*ens of media or"anisations

participated in the summit, #ith hopes

to create a ne# institutional frame#or)

that #ould be tailored to benefit the

media of fi$e emer"in" economies,

#hich ha$e deep lin)a"es #ith the

%lobal South

!he summit also yielded a si'+point

a"reement on institutional de$elopment

in the 5RICS countries !his included=

establishin" a 5RICS media foundation,

a liaison office that #ould coordinate

summit acti$ities, trainin" of media

personnel, and coordination of 5RICS

media co$erin" %+2? summits, holdin" a

photo e'hibition alon" 5RICS summits and settin" up 5RICS 3edia Bournalism A#ards

INITIATED BY INHUA

China’s Pinhua ne#s a"ency has been the initiator of the pro(ect that is addin" one more dimension to the

5RICS format

!he initiati$e follo#s the formation of the /e# De$elopment 5an), #hich is playin" its part in e$ol$in" a ne#

"lobal financial architecture sensitised to meet the needs of the de$elopin" #orld

RELATED INFORMATION: BRICS

5RICS is the acronym for an association of fi$e ma(or emer"in" national economies= 5ra*il, Russia, India, China

and South Africa !he "roupin" #as ori"inally )no#n as J5RICJ before the inclusion of South Africa in 2?1? !he 5RICS members are all de$elopin" or ne#ly industrialised countries, but they are distin"uished by their

lar"e, fast+"ro#in" economies and si"nificant influence on re"ional and "lobal affairsL all fi$e are %+2? members

Since 2??<, the 5RICS nations ha$e met annually at formal summits Russia currently holds the chair of the

5RICS "roup, and hosted the "roupHs se$enth summit in Buly 2?17

2

SCO )!$)+u-e ;r&,e ,&$&ter’ ,eet&$<

!he Shanghai Cooperation >rgani)ation $SC>% concluded its prime ministers3 meeting in central Chinese city

of Jheng)hou by promising to boost regional economic cooperation. !he SC> currently has six member statesK

China, Russia, 7a)ahstan, !a2iistan, 7yrgy)stan and ")beistan.

0rime ministers of the Shan"hai Cooperation Or"ani*ation SCO member states $o#ed to deepen re"ional

economic cooperation #ithin frame#or)s includin" the 5elt and Road Initiati$e &conomic and trade

cooperation #ill focus on infrastructure and in$estment in production capacity



0AR! !IR!&&/ E CO/F&R&/C&S A/D SU33I!S


7?

SIL ROUTE .LOBAL ORDER

Analysts point out that SCO is part of the

emer"in" &urasia+centred Sil) Road

"eopolitical architecture pillared by China

and Russia, alon" #ith the Central Asian

Republics

5ut the "roupin" is e'pandin" rapidly

to#ards South Asia, #ith the inclusion of

India and 0a)istan as full members

remainin" only a procedural formality

/epal has become an obser$er state, and

Iran’s ele$ation to full membership is also

under acti$e consideration

RELATED INFORMATION: SCO

!he Shan"hai Cooperation Or"ani*ation

SCO is a &urasian political, economic

and military or"anisation #hich #as founded in 2??1 by the leaders of China, Ka*a)hstan, Kyr"y*stan, Russia,

!a(i)istan, and U*be)istan

!hese countries, e'cept for U*be)istan had been members of the Shan"hai Fi$e, founded in 1<<8L after the

inclusion of U*be)istan in 2??1, the members renamed the or"ani*ation

In 2?17, the SCO decided to admit India and 0a)istan as full members, and they are e'pected to (oin by 2?18

It is head>uartered in 5ei(in", China



0AR! FOUR!&&/ E S0OR!S


71

==AARRTT FFOOUURRTTEEEENN|| SS==OORRTTSS

1 F&*a: Se;; B+atter a$- M&)(e+ =+at&$& <et e&<(t%ear 7a$

?ifa president Sepp Blatter and "efa $"nion of /uropean ?ootball Associations% boss ichel latini have been

suspended for eight years from all football-related activities following an ethics investigation.

!hey #ere found "uilty of breaches surroundin" a Jdisloyal

paymentJ made to 0latini in 2?11 !he Fifa ethics committee

found 5latter and 0latini had demonstrated an abusi$e

e'ecution of their positions

Fifa boss since 1<<:, 5latter had already announced he #as

>uittin" #ith a presidential election in February 0latini #as tipped as a future leader of footballHs #orld

"o$ernin" body, Fifa, and is a three+time &uropean

Footballer of the ear e is also a former captain of France

and has been in char"e of Uefa + &uropean footballHs "o$ernin" body + since 2??9 Fifa has been in turmoil for

se$eral months, follo#in" numerous alle"ations of corruption

RELATED INFORMATION: FIFA

!he FXdXration Internationale de Football Association Fifa is the "o$ernin" body of association football, futsal

and beach football

Fifa is responsible for the or"anisation of footballHs ma(or international tournaments, notably the .orld Cup

#hich commenced in 1<4? and the .omenHs .orld Cup #hich commenced in 1<<1

Fifa #as founded in 1<?6 It is head>uartered in MYrich S#it*erland

2 I$-&a$ Su;er Lea<ue 2015

Chennaiyin #ere cro#ned Indian Super ea"ue IS champions after

$ictory o$er FC %oa in the tournamentHs final

!he Indian Super ea"ue IS is a professional football lea"ue in India

!he lea"ue is one of the top+tier football lea"ues in India, the other bein"

the I+ea"ue

!he inau"ural season of the lea"ue too) place in 2?16 in an effort toma)e football a top sport in India and to ma)e Indian football a ma(or

player #orld#ide !he lea"ue operates alon" the lines of the !#enty2?

cric)et Indian 0remier ea"ue, and 3a(or ea"ue Soccer of the United States

6 Aa-( 20t( C!,,!$"ea+t( ta7+e te$$& )(a,;&!$(&;

India put up a confident display to outplay &n"land in the men’s

final of the A$adh 2?th Common#ealth table tennis

championships Indian men’s team last #on the title in 2??6 in

Kuala umpur

In the #omen’s section, Sin"apore defeated India to retain thecro#n



0AR! FIF!&&/ E OR%A/ISA!IO/ I/ /&.S


72

==AARRTT FFIIFFTTEEEENN|| OORR..AANNIISSAATTIIOONN IINN NNEE SS

1 !r+- Tra-e Or<a$&at&!$ 8TO9

!he !enth 9orld !rade >rgani)ation inisterial Conference, which concluded in #airobi, has been

congratulated by the organi)ation for securing a historic agreement on several trade initiatives and

commitments.

!he countries $ie# it as a brea)throu"h, #ith ministerial+le$el decisions on a"riculture and other issues,

includin" a commitment to abolish e'port subsidies for farm e'ports, public stoc)holdin" for food security

purposes, a special safe"uard mechanism for de$elopin" countries, measures related to cotton and preferential

treatment for least de$eloped countries in the area of ser$ices

ABOUT ORLD TRADE OR.ANIATION 8TO9

Formation 1<<7

ead>uarters %ene$a, S#it*erland

Director+%eneral Roberto A*e$Zdo

HISTORY

!he .orld !rade Or"ani*ation .!O came into bein" in 1<<7 It

#as the outcome of the len"thy 1<:8+1<<6 Uru"uay round of

%A!! %eneral A"reement on !ariffs and !rade ne"otiations

!he .!O #as essentially an e'tension of %A!! It e'tended

%A!! in t#o ma(or #ays=

First %A!! became only one of the three

ma(or trade a"reements that #ent into the

.!O the other t#o bein" the %eneral

A"reement on !rade in Ser$ices %A!S and

the a"reements on !rade Related Aspects of

Intellectual 0roperty Ri"hts !RI0S

Second the .!O #as put on a much

sounder institutional footin" than %A!!

.ith %A!!, the support ser$ices that

helped maintain the a"reement had come

into bein" in an ad hoc manner as the need

arose !he .!O by contrast is a fully

fled"ed institution %A!! also #as, at least

formally, only an a"reement bet#een

contractin" parties and had no independent

e'istence of its o#n #hile the .!O is a

corporate body reco"ni*ed under international la#

=RINCI=LES OF THE TO

!he basic principles of the .!O=!rade #ithout Discrimination+

+ /o special deals to tradin" partners + all members of .!O must be treated the same

+ /o /ational Special !reatment + locals and forei"ners are treated e>ually



0AR! FIF!&&/ E OR%A/ISA!IO/ I/ /&.S


74

Freer !rade+

+ 0redictability throu"h 5indin" + promisin" not to raise tariffs is called bindin" a tariff and bindin" leads to

"reater certainty for businesses

0romotin" Fair Competition

&ncoura"in" De$elopment and &conomic Reform

HAT THE TO DOES#

+ Amon" the $arious functions of the .!O, these are re"arded as the most important=

+ It o$ersees the implementation, administration and operation of the co$ered a"reements

+ It pro$ides a forum for ne"otiations and for settlin" disputes

+ Additionally, it is the .!OHs duty to re$ie# and propa"ate the national trade policies, and to ensure the

coherence and transparency of trade policies throu"h sur$eillance in "lobal economic policy+ma)in"

+ Another priority of the .!O is the assistance of de$elopin", least+de$eloped and lo#+income countries intransition to ad(ust to .!O rules and disciplines throu"h technical cooperation and trainin"

+ !he .!O is also a centre of economic research and analysis= re"ular assessments of the "lobal trade picture in its

annual publications and research reports on specific topics are produced by the or"ani*ation

+ Finally, the .!O cooperates closely #ith the t#o other components of the 5retton .oods system, the I3F

International 3onetary Fund and the .orld 5an)



0AR! SIP!&&/ E 0&RSO/AI!I&S


76

==AARRTT SSIITTEEEENN|| ==EERRSSOONNAALLIITTIIEESS

1 A,&ta7( a$t

0rime 3inister+led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has "i$en Industry Secretary Amitabh Kant the

additional responsibility of bein" Chief &'ecuti$e Officer of /I!I /ational Institution for !ransformin" India

Aayo"

2

A$<e+a Mer/e+

!ime 3a"a*ine has named %erman Chancellor An"ela 3er)el as its J0erson

of the earJ !he ma"a*ine cited her role in &uropeHs crises o$er mi"ration

and %ree) debt

Islamic State leader Abu 5a)r al+5a"hdadi #as named runner+up and third

place #ent to US presidential hopeful Donald !rump

6 Be$e-&)t A$-er!$

5enedict Anderson, #ho became one of the most influential $oices in the fields of

nationalism and Southeast Asian studies, passed a#ay

3r Anderson is best )no#n for his boo) @Ima"ined Communities Q Reflections on the

Ori"in and Spread of /ationalism’, #hose contro$ersial thesis is that nationalism is lar"ely amodern concept rooted in lan"ua"e and literacy

?

Ha/e+ e'+er

as)ell .e'ler, the influential cinemato"rapher #ho #on Oscars for his #or) on J.hoHs Afraid of ir"inia

.oolfNJ and J5ound for %lory,J passed a#ay

as)ell .e'ler #as one of the most creati$e and si"nificant cinemato"raphers in mo$ie history !he

cinemato"rapher is primarily responsible for the li"htin" and framin" of films, and .e'ler ++ #ith his dramatic

blac)+and+#hite compositions, his painterly use of colour and his e'pert eye for dramatic an"les ++ #as one of

the best

5

Ma$<e( e(a =a-<a!$/ar

Iconic 3arathi poet and 0adma 5hushan recipient 3an"esh Kesha$

0ad"aon)ar passed a#ay

Alon" #ith poets inda Karandi)ar and asant 5apat, 3r 0ad"aon)ar

#as part of many poetry recitation pro"rammes that #ere held in

3aharashtra in 1<8?s and 1<9?s e has also penned lyrics for many

3arathi films

e #rote a collection of essays and published it under the title

/imbonichya Maadama"e e also translated #or)s of 3irabai, Kabir

and Surdas in 3arathi alon" #ith Sha)espeare’s plays !he !empest,

Bulius Ceasar and Romeo and Buliet

3r 0ad"aon)ar recei$ed se$eral a#ards, includin" the Sahitya Academy

A#ard for his collection of poems Salam





77

3 M&re&a La+a<u$a R!%!

3ireia ala"una Royo of Spain #as cro#ned 3iss.orld 2?17, beatin" other contestants in the pa"eant

held this year in Sanya, China

Sofia /i)itchu) of Russia and 3aria arfanti of

Indonesia #ere the first and second runners+up,

respecti$ely

!he 3iss .orld contest started in the United

Kin"dom in 1<71 and is one of the oldest, most

publici*ed international beauty pa"eants

@

M!t(er Terea 3other !eresa of

Calcutta, the /obel

laureate #ho dedicated

her life to helpin" the

poorest of the poor, #ill

be made a saint of the

Roman Catholic

Church in September

2?18

3other !eresa, #hodied in 1<<9, #as

beatified in 2??4 by the late 0ope Bohn 0aul 5eatification is the last step before sainthood

3other !eresa #as born An(e*[ %on'he 5o(a'hiu of Albanian parents in 3acedonia in 1<1? in #hat #as then

part of the Ottoman &mpire

She founded the 3issionaries of Charity to help the poor on the streets of Calcutta and #on the /obel 0eace

0ri*e in 1<9<

=eter D&)/&$!$

5ritish childrenHs author 0eter Dic)inson, #ho t#ice #on the Carne"ie medal, passed a#ay

!he fantasy #riter #on the presti"ious medal for @!ul)u’ and for @City of %old’ e #rote almost 8? boo)s #hich ha$e been translated into 74 different lan"ua"es

RELATED INFORMATION: CARNE.IE MEDAL

!he Carne"ie 3edal is a 5ritish literary a#ard that annually reco"nises one outstandin" ne# boo) for children

or youn" adults

R Mat(ur

Former Defence Secretary RK 3athur has been appointed as Chief Information Commissioner CIC, brea)in"

a#ay from the con$ention of appointin" the head from amon" the ser$in" Information Commissioners

As per R!I Ri"ht to Information Act, CIC is appointed by the 0resident on the recommendation of the selection

committee





78

10 Sa-(a$a S(&-aa$&

eteran actress Sadhana Shi$dasani passed a#ay A top+run"5olly#ood star in the 1<8?s and 1<9?s, Sadhana #as born in Karachi,

no# in 0a)istan

Sadhana #as )no#n for films li)e o$e in Simla, 0ara)h, um Dono,

.a>t, .oh Kaun !hi

11 S(ara- J!(&

&conomist, a"riculturist, prolific (ournalist and stal#art farmer leader Sharad Boshi, #ho founded the Shet)ari

San"hatana, passed a#ay

One of the tallest leaders to "race 3aharashtra’s politics durin" the 1<:?s, 3r Boshi, #ho hailed from Satara

district in .estern 3aharashtra, #as a much+feted student and a trained economist #ho #or)ed #ith the Indian

0ostal Ser$ices for nearly a decade and ser$ed #ith the United /ations for as nearly as lon"

e came into his o#n #hen he founded the pan+3aharashtra farmer’s or"anisation in 1<9< titled >uite literally

the @Shet)ari San"hatana’ #ith the catchy slo"an @Freedom of access to mar)ets and to !echnolo"y’

!he or"anisation ser$ed as a template for future famers’ outfits in challen"in" the rulin" classes and bar"ainin"

hi"her remunerati$e prices for farmers

12 T&rat( S&$<( T(a/ur

Bustice !irath Sin"h !ha)ur #as s#orn in as the Chief Bustice ofIndia by 0resident 0ranab 3u)her(ee

Bustice !ha)ur #ho #as the senior+most (ud"e of the ape' court too)

o$er from incumbent Bustice Dattu #ho retired

As a Supreme Court (ud"e, he headed the bench #hich had

deli$ered the $erdict to reform cric)et controllin" body 5CCI 5oard

of Control for Cric)et in India in the #a)e of alle"ations of bettin"

and spot+fi'in" scandal in the Indian 0remier ea"ue

Bustice !ha)ur also headed the bench #hich ordered probe into the

multi+crore chit fund scam in eastern India, also )no#n as Saradha

scam



0AR! S&&/!&&/ E A.ARDS


79

==AARRTT SSEE>>EENNTTEEEENN|| AA AARRDDSS

1 D&+&; u,ar <et =a-,a >&7(u(a$

e"endary actor Dilip Kumar #as presented #ith the 0adma

ibhushan

5orn as 3uhammad ousuf Khan in 0esha#ar, Kumar made his

debut as an actor in the film B#ar 5hataT In a career spanned o$er

si' decades, he starred in films of a $ariety of "enres such as the

romantic Anda*T, the s#ashbuc)lin" AanT, the dramatic De$dasT,

the comical A*aadT, the historical 3u"hal+e+A*amT and the social

%an"a BamunaT Called as the @tra"edy )in" of 5olly#ood’, he also did films li)e

KrantiT, Sha)tiT, KarmaT and Sauda"arT and others

e has already been honoured #ith the 0adma 5hushan a#ard and

the Dadasaheb 0hal)e A#ard for his e'ceptional and distin"uished

contribution to the Indian cinema

RELATED INFORMATION: =ADMA >IBHUSHAN

!he 0adma ibhushan is the second+hi"hest ci$ilian a#ard in India Instituted in 1<76, the a#ard is "i$en for

the Je'ceptional and distin"uished ser$iceJ, #ithout distinction of race, occupation, position, or se'

2 I$-&a$ A,er&)a$ ;r!*e!r "&$ t!; (!$!ur *!r reear)( !$ tu,!ur

".S. resident Barac >bama will present the #ational edal of Science to Raesh 7. 6ain, an 4ndian American

professor at Darvard edical School and director of the tumour biology laboratory at assachusetts eneral

Dospital.

0rof Bain #ill recei$e the honour alon" #ith 18 other #inners of the

/ational 3edal of Science and /ational 3edal of !echnolo"y and

Inno$ation

0rof Bain is re"arded as a pioneer in the area of tumour micro+

en$ironment and #idely reco"ni*ed for his seminal disco$eries in

tumour biolo"y, dru" deli$ery and bioen"ineerin" is #or)includes unco$erin" the barriers to the deli$ery and efficacy of

molecular and nano+medicines in tumours and de$elopin" ne#

strate"ies to o$ercome these barriers

0rof Bain is a member of all three branches of the US /ational

Academies Q the /ational Academy of 3edicine, the /ational

Academy of &n"ineerin" and the /ational Academy of Sciences Q

and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

NATIONAL MEDAL OF SCIENCE

A#arded annually, the /ational 3edal of Science, created in 1<7<, reco"ni*es indi$iduals #ho ha$e made

outstandin" contributions to science and en"ineerin"

6 J$a$;&t( A"ar- 2015

&minent %u(arati no$elist, poet and critic Ra"hu$eer Chaudhary has been chosen for the presti"ious Bnanpith

A#ard for 2?17



0AR! S&&/!&&/ E A.ARDS


7:

Author many boo)s, Chaudhary had be"an his #ritin" career #ith no$els and

poetry, and later $entured into other forms of literature includin" plays, essays and

short stories

e is a %andhian and his #or)s are lar"ely influenced by literary fi"ures li)e

%o$ardhanram !ripathi, Ka)a Kalel)ar, Suresh Boshi, Ramdarash 3ishra and % /

Dic)ey

A prominent fi"ure in the contemporary %u(arati literary scene, Chaudhary’s faith

in the functional aspect of human life is $oiced throu"h his no$els JAmrita,J Jenu

atsalaJ and the JUpar$asJ trilo"y e has also recei$ed the Sahitya A)ademi a#ard for JUpar$asJ

RELATED INFORMATION: JNAN=ITH

Instituted in 1<81, the a#ard by 5haratiya Bnanpith reco"nises Indian litterateurs #ho #rite in one of the 22

Indian lan"ua"es listed in Schedule &i"ht of the Indian Constitution !he recipients of the a#ard are "i$en a cash pri*e, a citation pla>ue and a bron*e replica of %oddess Saras#ati

ast year the Bnanpith a#ard #as "i$en to 3arathi #riter 5halchandra ana(i /emade, reno#ned for his boo)s

JinduJ and JKosalaJ

? INS >&raat "&$ +at re<atta

Aircraft+carrier I/S iraat #on the co$eted Coc)

!rophy durin" the .estern Fleet .haler 0ullin"

Re"atta, ma)in" it the last time the #arship

participated in the e$ent before she is

decommissioned !he #innin" ship #ill be calledthe Coc) Ship till the ne't re"atta

I/S iraat, #hich is e'pected to be

decommissioned soon, had first ser$ed the 5ritish

/a$y for o$er 4? years before bein" bou"ht by

India It #as inducted into the Indian /a$y in

1<:9 after under"oin" e'tensi$e refits

5

I$-&a$!r&<&$ "r&ter "&$ ;ret&<&!u a"ar-

Indian+ori"in #riter Bamaludeen 3ohamed Sali, #hose boo)s are read in uni$ersities, has been declared the

#inner of this year’s presti"ious South &ast Asia .rite A#ard

3r Sali has been #ritin" for o$er 7? years and has se$eral literary a#ards to his credit, includin" Sin"apore’s

presti"ious Cultural 3edallion and a number of them from !amil /adu

5etter )no#n as B3 Sali, the author has #ritten many boo)s, plays and hundreds of short stories includin"

ellai Kodu"al .hite ines and Alai"al 0esu"inrana !he Sound of the .a$es that are no# studied by !amil

literature students in Sin"apore and Indian uni$ersities

RELATED INFORMATION: SEA RITE AARD

!he S&A .rite A#ard, or Southeast Asian .riters A#ard, is an a#ard that is presented annually since 1<9< to

poets and #riters of Southeast Asia

!he a#ard is sometimes "i$en for a specific #or) by an author, or it could be a#arded for lifetime achie$ement

!he types of #or)s that are honoured $ary, and ha$e included poetry, short stories, no$els, plays, fol)lore, and

scholarly and reli"ious #or)s

!he ceremonies are held in 5an")o), #ith a member of the !hai royal family presidin"



0AR! &I%!&&/ E 0AC&S


7<

==AARRTT EEII..HHTTEEEENN|| ==LLAACCEESS

1 >ara$a& a$- Ja&;ur ,a/e &t t! UNESCO Creat&e C&t% Net"!r/

?or the first time, two indian cities have made it to the "#/SC>*s $"nited #ations /ducational, Scientific and

Cultural >rgani)ation% Creative City #etwor. (aranasi and 6aipur have made it to the networ in the

categories I City of Craft and City of usic.

RELATED INFORMATION: UCCN

!he U/&SCO Creati$e Cities /et#or) UCC/ #as created in 2??6 to promote cooperation #ith and amon"

cities that ha$e identified creati$ity as a strate"ic factor for sustainable urban de$elopment

!he cities #hich currently ma)e up this net#or) #or) to"ether to#ards a common ob(ecti$e= placin" creati$ity

and cultural industries at the heart of their de$elopment plans at the local le$el and cooperatin" acti$ely at the

international le$el

UNESCO

!he United /ations &ducational, Scientific and Cultural Or"ani*ation U/&SCO is a speciali*ed a"ency of the

United /ations U/

Its purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promotin" international collaboration throu"h education,

science, and culture to further uni$ersal respect for (ustice, the rule of la#, and human ri"hts alon" #ith

fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United /ations Charter

It is the heir of the ea"ue of /ationsH International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation It is head>uarteredin 0aris, France



0AR! /I/&!&&/ E IS!OR A/D CU!UR&


8?

==AARRTT NNIINNEETTEEEENN|| HHIISSTTOORRYY AANNDD CCUULLTTUURREE

1 E&-e$)e !* Bu--(&t ,!$ater% *!u$-

A treasure trove of historical evidence of immense heritage value has been by found by archaeologists at the

(ommili village of (. adugula mandal in the (isahapatnam district recently.

!he ob(ects retrie$ed from the e'ca$ation include a standin"

ima"e of the a(rayana deity @eru)a’, a terracotta elephant

head, conical mud bo#ls, thumb and fin"er print desi"ns on

pots, polished blac) #are, dull chocolate+coloured slip#are,

etc

SI.NIFICANCE

!he retrie$ed ob(ects indicate that a 5uddhist site flourished

here bet#een 4rd century 5C and :th century AD !his is the

first time that e$idence of a 5uddhist monastery of such an

era has been disco$ered in isa)hapatnam district

3ost of the 5uddhist herita"e sites found in Sri)a)ulam,

i*iana"aram and isa)hapatnam districts are located alon" the coast and had flourished bet#een 4rd century

5C and 4rd century AD 5ut this site is located in the hinterland, far from the coast, and it flourished for about a

thousand years

RELATED INFORMATION: >AJRAYANA

a(rayana is form of !antric 5uddhism that de$eloped in India and nei"hbourin" countries, notably !ibet

a(rayana, in the history of 5uddhism, mar)s the transition from 3ahayana speculati$e thou"ht to the

enactment of 5uddhist ideas in indi$idual life

!he term $a(ra is used to si"nify the absolutely real and indestructible in a human bein", as opposed to the

fictions an indi$idual entertains about himself and his natureL yana is the spiritual pursuit of the ultimately

$aluable and indestructible

2 B&($u;ur reea+ a,a+<a, !* t(e a+&$<a )(!!+ a$- t(e Be$<a+ ar)(&te)ture

Anthropologists tracing and documenting the cultural history of the temple town of Bishnupur in 9est Bengal3sBanura district have found a new dimension to its cultural heritage presenting a uni5ue amalgam of the

7alinga school and the prevalent Bengal architecture.

!his uni>ue cultural e'pression is e$ident not in the only

famous temples of 5ishnupur but also in the other

material and cultural aspects of the to#n such as its

terracotta art, a distinct musical "harana , the distincti$e

art of ma)in" playin" cards, articles of conch cells, bell

metal do)ra craft and also in the stone car$in"s

5ishnupur, the capital of the indu 3allabhum )in"s, #as

founded in the ei"hth century AD and continued till the

late medie$al period !he study of the temple to#n by

anthropolo"ists of the Anthropolo"ical Sur$ey of India

AnSI is part of the pro(ect of 3inistry of Culture aimed at

cultural mappin" of India





81

MUSIC

ittle has been re$ealed about the 5ishnupur "harana of music #hich emer"ed durin" the rei"n of Kin"

Ra"hunath #hen the then reno#ned musician of the Seni "harana , Ustad 5ahadur Khan $isited 5ishnupurL

#ith him started this rich "harana of 3usic !his "harana is still an important part of Indian classical music

TERRACOTTA

Researchers ha$e also traced the e$olution of the characteristic terracotta art #hich had ritualistic ori"ins It #as

the Kumbha)ar or potters of 0anchmura $illa"e, some miles a#ay from 5ishnupur to#n, #ho started to ma)e

the famous 5an)ura horse &arlier these horses #ere offered to the $illa"e deities but no# are used for

decorati$e purposes and can be found all across the #orld

DASHABATAR TASH

!here is also a uni>ue history to the Dashabatar tash a set of playin" cards depictin" the ten incarnations of

ord ishnu !he "ame played #ith this particular dec) of cards started 6?? years a"o in the court of Kin" 5ir

ambir

O>ERALL DECLINE IN CULTURAL =RACTICES

!hou"h the temples, #hich are considered monumental e'pressions of terracotta art in 5en"al, are still popular,

an o$erall decline in other cultural practices is clearly $isible, researchers said

AnSI said there is a need to loo) at 5ishnupur as centre of culture, not only as a temple to#n It is important to

document and restore the cultural traditions, it added

RELATED INFORMATION: ANSI

A premier national institution of repute, Anthropolo"ical Sur$ey of India is the one and the only one of its )indany#here in the #orld to pursue Anthropolo"ical research in a %o$ernmental setup

!he Anthropolo"ical Sur$ey of IndiaHs "enesis #as from the Moolo"ical and Anthropolo"ical section of the

Indian 3useum, #hich became the Moolo"ical Sur$ey of India in 1<18 In 1<67, Anthropolo"y section of the

Moolo"ical Sur$ey #as car$ed out to become the Anthropolo"ical Sur$ey of India AnSI !he head office #as

shifted from 5enaras to Calcutta in 1<6:

6 Ya-<areTaee,

A permanent museum dedicated to the artition of 4ndia in &;@G F to be called Ladgar-e-!a5seem or emories

of artition F will be opened in Amritsar in early :=&G, to coincide with the G=th year of 4ndia3s 4ndependence.

!he brainchild of Kish#ar Desai, a #riter and

former media professional, the 0artition 3useum

#ill be a collaborati$e effort that #ill dra# on

indi$iduals, institutions and resources in India,

0a)istan, 5an"ladesh and the United Kin"dom

!he !rust that #ill run the museum, the Arts and

Cultural erita"e !rust, is re"istered in India !he

!rust is currently in ne"otiations #ith the 0un(ab

%o$ernment, #hich has offered the !rust an old

colonial buildin" near the %olden !emple to

house the museum !he !rust hopes that the

museum #ill attract the pil"rim traffic to the

%olden !emple

In India, the !rust is in touch #ith the herita"e "roup I/!AC Indian /ational !rust for Art and Cultural

erita"e, but #ill be approachin" the /ational Archi$es, !een 3urti ibrary, All India Radio Archi$es, and the

archi$es of ne#spapers It is also hopin" to attract oral accounts from the fast disappearin" 0artition "eneration





82

In 0a)istan, the !rust is tyin" up #ith citi*en’s archi$es and historians #or)in" on the area In the UK, the !rust

hopes to establish a formal collaboration #ith the 5ritish ibrary and /ational Archi$es at Ke#, #hich to"ether

hold a "reat part of the official documents relatin" to the period

? A$)&e$t &-!+ t! 7e ret!re-

Authorities of the iconic ahabaleshwar !emple in the coastal temple town of oarna in northern 7arnataa

have approached officials of the ahalaxmi !emple in aharashtra3s 7olhapur district seeing assistance in the

restoration of a anesha idol.

!he 3ahabalesh#ar !emple, suffused #ith India’s ancient herita"e and reli"iosity, #as built durin" the rei"n of

the Kadamba dynasty that held s#ay o$er the State durin" the 6th+8th centuries C&

istorians say the %anesha idol is one of the oldest #orshipped ima"es of ord inaya)a !he idol bears ancient

ethno"raphic features that date from the 6th century that ma)e it uni>ue

THE MYTHOLO.Y

Accordin" to mytholo"y, the temple, located on the Kar#ar coast, #as established after Ra$ana, an ardent

#orshipper of ord Shi$a, #as on his #ay to Sri an)a from the latter’s abode in Kailash #hen he stopped by at

the spot for e$enin" prayers It is said that there he encountered %anesha dis"uised as a 5rahmin boy

!he idol, contrary to the mythos about e$olution of the four+handed %anesha, depicts a t#o+handed %anapati

seen standin" and clutchin" a radish in lieu of lotus and a "oblet+shaped @moda) patra’ $essel

RELATED INFORMATION: ETHNO.RA=HY

&thno"raphy is the systematic study of people and cultures It is desi"ned to e'plore cultural phenomena #here

the researcher obser$es society from the point of $ie# of the sub(ect of the study



0AR! !.&/! E 5OOKS A/D AU!ORS


84

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY|| BBOOOOSS AANNDD AAUUTTHHOORRSS

1 C!;%r&<(t !* A-!+* H&t+er Me&$ a,;* e';&re

?or the first time in G= years, Adolf

Ditler*s #a)i manifesto ein

7ampf3 is to be available to buy in

ermany. Reprinting the boo was

banned after 9orld 9ar : by

Bavaria*s regional government

$ermany%, which held the copyright.

!he copyright has now expired and

unich*s 4nstitute of Contemporary

Distory is to publish a new edition.

Distorians say the boo helps

academics understand what happened

in the #a)i era.

3ein Kampf #as ori"inally printed in 1<27 + ei"ht years before itler came to po#er After /a*i %ermany #as

defeated in 1<67, the Allied forces handed the copyri"ht to the boo) to the state of 5a$aria

!he local authorities ha$e refused to allo# the boo) to be reprinted to pre$ent incitement of hatred, althou"h the

boo) #as so #idely printed durin" the #ar that it remained relati$ely easily a$ailable



0AR! !.&/! O/&E 3ISC&A/&OUS


86

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY OONNEE|| MMIISSCCEELLLLAANNEEOOUUSS

1 C(a$$a;at$a )ra*t

!he traditional wooden toy-and-doll craft, with perfected lac5uer-ware of Channapatna $on the Bengaluru-

ysuru highway%, may be protected by a geographical indication $4% tag but today a crisis stares the industry

in the face. !he second and third generation craftsmen are looing at other professions and migrating to cities for

better income.

!he Channapatna handcraft can be traced

to the rei"n of !ipu Sultan #ho in$ited

artisans from 0ersia to train local artisans

in the ma)in" of the #ooden toys

Althou"h thousands of families are e$en

no# en"a"ed in the trade, the si"nature

hand de'terity associated #ith

Channapatna lac>uer#are didn’t sur$i$e

!he lac>uerin" art of Channapatna is

)no#n for its mi' of $e"etable dye and

food "rade pi"ments, #ith natural shellac

insect residue obtained from the trees of

Amaltaas and Kusum in .est 5en"al,

Bhar)hand and Orissa

RELATED INFORMATION: .EO.RA=HICAL INDICATION 8.I9

A "eo"raphical indication %I is a name or si"n used on certain products #hich corresponds to a specific

"eo"raphical location or ori"in e" a to#n, re"ion, or country

!he use of a "eo"raphical indication may act as a certification that the product possesses certain >ualities, is

made accordin" to traditional methods, or en(oys a certain reputation, due to its "eo"raphical ori"in



0AR! !.&/! !.OE &DI!ORIAS


87

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY TT OO|| EEDDIITTOORRIIAALLSS

1 It’ a -ea+

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK /nvironment and /cology

For a fe# tense moments, it appeared that the 21st Conference of the 0arties to the United /ations Frame#or)

Con$ention on Climate Chan"e U/FCCC in 0aris #ould dissol$e into bitter acrimony #ithout deli$erin" a deal, li)e

a pre$ious attempt in Copenha"en in 2??< 5ut, perhaps in a si"n of (ust ho# much more seriously "o$ernments no#

ta)e the threat of irre$ersible and catastrophic climate chan"e, ne"otiators held their ner$e to deli$er a historic

a"reement that commits the #orld to holdin" the rise of "lobal temperature to #ell belo#T 2 de"rees C abo$e pre+

industrial le$els, and pursuin" efforts to limit this increase to 17 de"rees C, a much more ambitious "oal than

e'pected !hat 1<8 countries, all battlin" to protect their oft+competin" interests, mana"ed to come to"ether is nothin"less than a diplomatic triumph, and should be reco"nised as such Q e$en thou"h the pact is at times $a"ue, and does

not pro$ide for concrete actions or set specific timescales

Unli)e the 1<<9 Kyoto 0rotocol, the 0aris accord does not set specific le"ally bindin" re>uirements on emissions cuts

for de$eloped nations 5ut, because countries ha$e promised to try to pea) emissions as soon as possible Q #ith the

reco"nition that this #ill be later for de$elopin" countries Q and to arri$e at net *ero emissionsT bet#een 2?7? and

21??, it obli"es e$ery nation, rich or poor, to publish its most ambitiousT proposal to reduce emissions be"innin"

2?2?, for scrutiny !his means that under the a"reement, a re$ie# mechanism #ill e$aluate each country’s climate

plans and, possibly, as) it to ramp up its pled"es thou"h in a strictly ad$isory capacity !hese "lobal stoc)ta)es, the

first of #hich is due in 2?24, #ill li)ely see calls for "reater commitments from countries, since the sum of their pled"es

so far, under the intended nationally determined contributions, if implemented, #ill only be enou"h to limit total

#armin" to 4 de"rees C !hen there is the >uestion of money !hou"h the accord commits #ealthy nations to pro$ide

more climate finance to poorer nations, there is ambi"uity both on ho# much they are obli"ed to assist and on #hat

constitutes climate finance It is similarly #affly on technolo"y sharin" and transfer Q )ey concerns of de$elopin"

nations such as India

Still, as &n$ironment 3inister 0ra)ash Ba$ade)ar noted, the a"reement firmly ac)no#led"es the principle of common

but differentiated responsibilities, #hich accounts for the historical contribution of de$eloped countries in "lobal

#armin" Q a $ictory for India, #hich has re"ularly ris)ed bein" dubbed a spoiler at international summits in its

defence of the principle of climate e>uity It is true that the deal falls short of the soarin" rhetoric employed by most

#orld leaders at the inau"uration of the tal)s 5ut it is an unprecedented political reco"nition of the ris)s of climate

chan"e, dri$in" home the ur"ency and scale of the problem Q and instillin" some confidence that "o$ernments are

committed to their "reen strate"ies

2

B!!t&$< e$er<% e)ur&t%

ioneer M CategoryK /nergy

!#o decades after it #as first proposed, the !rans+Af"hanistan 0ipeline, commonly )no#n as the !ur)menistan+

Af"hanistan+0a)istan+India !A0I pipeline, is finally under#ay !he pipeline should be operational by end 2?1:,

althou"h it #ill ta)e another three to four years after that for the construction of the entire 1,:?? )m+lon" pipeline to be

completed Once the #hole pipeline is in place, it #ill e'port up to 44 billion cubic meters of natural "as a year from

!ur)menistan to Af"hanistan, 0a)istan and India o$er three decades

From an ener"y security point of $ie#, the benefits of this pro(ect are ob$ious= 5oth India and 0a)istan are ener"y+

star$ed nations #hile Af"hanistanHs ener"y appetite #ill only "ro# as it pro"resses on the path of de$elopment andprosperity 3oreo$er, since natural "as is clean ener"y, !A0I #ill be helpin" #ith the efforts of all the three nations to

"ro# and de$elop in a sustainable manner From a financial standpoint, Af"hanistan and 0a)istan #ill be ma)in" a

handsome amount of money in transit fees #hile the entire !ur)men economy stands to "ain once the pipeline is

operationalised !ur)menistan has the #orldHs fourth lar"est pro$en "as reser$es and !A0I #ill allo# it to di$ersify its

e'port mar)et, #hich is currently functionin" belo# potential





88

0re$iously, Russia #as one of !ur)menistanHs bi""est "as clients o#e$er, since the imposition of .estern sanctions,

Russian "as purchases ha$e plummeted and there has been much heartburn bet#een 3osco# and Ash"abat on the

issue of "as prices In this period, China has stepped in, but the !ur)men don’t #ant to be become too dependent on

5ei(in" In terms of "eo+politics, !A0I can "al$anise re"ional diplomacy bet#een South and Central Apart from

addin" a ne# element to bilateral ties, it #ill also spur on"oin" efforts to set up road#ays and rail lines bet#een India

and Central Asia !his in turn #ill deepen economic cooperation, lead to "reater re"ional inte"ration and, for India in

particular, offer an opportunity to emer"e as a ma(or player in &urasia

5ut let us not for"et that there is a reason #hy !A0I hasnHt ta)en off in t#o decades Q the pipeline runs throu"h some

of the most dan"erous parts of the #orld includin" !aliban+stron"holds in Af"hanistan and an insur"ency+infested

5alochistan Q and its physical security remains a matter of concern &$en in a best case scenario, hundreds of soldiers

#ill ha$e to be deployed to protect the pipeline !hat the 0a)istani %o$ernment is considerin" tal)in" to the !aliban

for security underlines the challen"es at hand Still, if the pro(ect is no# ma)in" pro"ress inspite of these concerns, it is

because of chan"in" "eo+politics= For one, !ur)menistanHs economic imperati$es #ere accelerated after the Iraniannuclear deal #hich brou"ht a ne# competitor to the "as mar)et India, for e'ample, is no# also loo)in" at an India+

Oman+Iran pipeline Also, America no# sees !A0I as a tool to undercut Russian and Chinese he"emony in the re"ion

6 Rura+ I$-&a /e% t! ;urr&$< e)!$!,%

!he Asian Age M CategoryK /conomy

It has al#ays been )no#n that the macroeconomic situation is better than #hat is actually seen on the "round at the

micro le$el, and the 3id+ear &conomic Re$ie# authored by chief economic ad$iser Ar$ind Subramanian, presented

recently, confirmed this, attributin" it to poor "lobal demand and the #ea) monsoon .hat is interestin" is that

/ational Institution for !ransformin" India /iti Aayo" $ice+chairman Ar$ind 0ana"ariya says he e'pects the "ro#th

rate to touch ei"ht per cent by the fourth >uarter of this fiscal One #onders if he has a fe# aces up his slee$es that thefinance ministry doesn’t )no# about 3r Subramanian, #hile re$isin" the forecast do#n#ards, said the future is

challen"in" as the economy has been sendin" mi'ed si"nals, ma)in" it difficult to interpret #hat is happenin" in the

economy e cited indirect ta'es as doin" #ell but direct ta'es as not buoyant, indicatin" that the corporate sector still

has hu"e problems !his is also reflected in credit "ro#th #here personal consumer loans are "ro#in" rapidly at 17

per cent #hilst loans to industry are "ro#in" slo#ly !he latter accounts for lac) of in$estment by the corporate sector,

#hich is stiflin" "ro#th It is public sector and "o$ernment in$estment that is )eepin" the economy’s #heels mo$in"

!he situation is li)e a Cha)ra$yuha India Inc #on’t in$est as it is hi"hly le$era"ed so it #on’t "et ban) loans, and has

been tryin" to cut costs and decrease in$estments in order to impro$e its cash flo# Accordin" to one estimate, their

capital e'penditure fell 1< per cent 5an)s are reluctant to lend as they ha$e to clear their current non+performin"

assets and don’t #ant to ta)e on more ris)s

On the e'port front there seems to be little hope of "lobal trade re$i$in" thou"h the re$i$al of the US economy is

reported to be stron"er than e'pected .hether this #ould help India is uncertain as she faces stiff competition from

her eastern nei"hbours #ho ha$e seen a hefty depreciation in their currencies compared to the Indian rupee China has

tried to tac)le this "lobal slo#do#n in trade by ta)in" steps to increase domestic consumption India should seriously

underta)e the same e'ercise instead of (ust tal)in" about it It needs to put more purchasin" po#er in the hands of

consumers in rural India throu"h better, more e>uitable a"ricultural policies and pricin", and throu"h a""ressi$e

implementation of schemes li)e the /ational Rural &mployment 0ro"ramme and S#achh 5harat, entrepreneurship,

and se$eral other initiati$es ta)en by 0rime 3inister /arendra 3odi to empo#er the bottom of the pyramid !hese

#ould "i$e economic empo#erment to rural India #here 8? per cent or more of the population li$es /iti Aayo" needs

to "enerate more inno$ati$e ideas to spur "ro#th if 3r 0ana"ariya’s ei"ht per cent prediction is to materialise

? A7&+&t&e u$+&,&te-: A))e&7+e I$-&a )a,;a&<$ $ee- a$ &$te<rate- a;;r!a)( t! e,;!"er

t(e -&**ere$t+% a7+e-

!he !imes >f 4ndia M CategoryK Social





89

%o$ernment’s launch of the @Accessible India’ campai"n to coincide #ith .orld Disability Day couldn’t ha$e come a

day sooner India fares poorly in infrastructure that’s sensiti$e of those #ith different needs ence, Accessible India’s

aim of ma)in" public transport and spaces, tourist spots, airports, rail#ays and e$en "o$ernment #ebsites friendly for

differently abled people is indeed praise#orthy !hat said, such intentions ha$e been e'pressed before but ha$en’t

yielded the desired results In India only 2 of differently abled people are self+dependent, #hereas in China :? of

those #ith different needs can function independently

It’s been 2? years since the 0ersons #ith Disabilities &>ual Opportunities, 0rotection of Ri"hts and Full 0articipation

Act #as passed 5ut this has mostly remained on paper 3obility and social interactions for differently abled people

continue to be hu"e challen"es !hat in the past three years Delhi Uni$ersity’s >uota of 1,8?? seats for persons #ith

disabilities has ne$er been filled e'emplifies this point For a differently abled person tra$ellin" to uni$ersity can be as

bi" a challen"e as climbin" 3ount &$erest !he problem lies in the "o$ernment’s piecemeal approach &mpo#erin"

those #ith disabilities can’t be restricted to the social (ustice ministry It must necessarily in$ol$e all "o$ernment

a"encies and $erticals Similarly, buildin" public infrastructure that’s disability friendly can’t be e'ecuted in isolationIt needs to be incorporated in the tender and fundin" conditions of construction contracts For disability+friendly

infrastructure automatically translates into pedestrian+friendly infrastructure In this re"ard, Accessible India’s plan to

audit pri$ate firms on an Accessibility Inde' to rate their buildin"s is a step in the ri"ht direction

!he public sector too must do its bit to empo#er the differently abled It’s deplorable that companies in this sector are

#oefully short of fillin" their mandated 4 >uota for persons #ith disabilities in their #or)force !hey must lead the

#ay by surpassin" this tar"et 3ean#hile, only a handful of pri$ate sector companies can boast of recruitin" the

differently abled as a substantial se"ment of their employee base !his can chan"e if industry bodies such as CII

Confederation of Indian Industry, Assocham !he Associated Chambers of Commerce of India and Ficci Federation

of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry ta)e up the issue stron"ly Finally, #hat’s re>uired is a chan"e in

mindset so that the differently abled are $ie#ed as a demo"raphic resource Only then #ill inte"rated solutions to their

problems follo#

5 A*ter t(e re)!$)&+&at&!$

!he !ribune M CategoryK 4ndia and 9orld

.inter #as al#ays "oin" to be a test for /epal as to ho# lon" it could assert its political autonomy a"ainst India

After holdin" out for four months and the passes #ith China continuin" to be bloc)ed, its political leadership has

ac)no#led"ed most of the Indian concerns !his sets the sta"e for reconciliation but not after /epalHs people

under#ent an unbearable sufferin" due to shorta"es of fuel, medicines and other daily essentials !heir tra$ails be"an

soon after /epalHs Constituent Assembly appro$ed its ne# constitution in September 3adhesis, /epalis of the plains,

bloc)aded all access points from India !he tacit support by South 5loc) and the San"h 0ari$ar to the 3adheshi

bloc)ade #as common )no#led"e on both sides of the border

Initially, /epalHs three ma(or parties stood up to the arm+t#istin" !hey too) /epalHs case to the U/ United /ations

and held tal)s #ith China to open more border points 5ut ChinaHs supply of fuel #as inade>uate to ma)e up for the

bloc)ade on the border #ith India India made a subtle concession #hen it si"nalled the indu 0ari$ar hotheads to

bac) off from demandin" /epal be made a indu Rashtra a"ain Kathmandu too played a deft hand It made Deputy

0rime 3inister and indut$a $otary Kamal !hapa the chief interlocutor #ith India Kathmandu also enlisted a

3adheshi firebrand of yesteryear to hold tal)s on the 3adheshi issue

/o# that both countries seem to be ma)in" up, India must hold bac) from any chest+thumpin" It mi"ht con"ratulate

itself on pullin" off a second successful bloc)ade since the late :?s 5ut bitter memories and resentment do not fade

a#ay !he #orld too has chan"ed since then China today is >uite capable of openin" all+#eather crude pipeline and

rail lin)s to /epal India has been rou"h and arro"ant #ith /epal e$er since the dispute be"an ast yearHs 3odi effecthas been irretrie$ably lost and /e# Delhi #ill ha$e to start all o$er a"ain to safe"uard its security interests in /epal as

#ell as brin" to fruition ambitious hydel pro(ects that #ill li"ht up lar"e parts of depri$ed 3adhesh, U0 and 5ihar





8:

3 La",a/&$< a,&- ,!ra+ !utra<e

!he Dindu M CategoryK olity and overnancee"islators actin" in response to moral outra"e seen on tele$ision and durin" street protests and bein" apparently

influenced by the importunate "a*e of $ictims of crime from the "allery, does not au"ur #ell for sound la#+ma)in" It

may not be ri"ht to characterise the >uic) passa"e of the Bu$enile Bustice Care and 0rotection of Children 5ill in the

Ra(ya Sabha as a hasty mo$e because it has already been passed in the o) Sabha in 3ay 2?17 !he draft too had been

sli"htly modified before that, based on a February 2?17 report of a standin" committee of 0arliament et, it is difficult

to o$ercome the impression that some members may ha$e been "ripped by a bout of moral panic after the release of

the youn"est con$ict in the Delhi "an" rape of December 2?12 !he seemin" sense of ur"ency #as undoubtedly

influenced by a section of the media demandin" @(ustice’ after the con$ict #as released from a Special ome on

completin" his three+year term there An impression is sou"ht to be created that the country’s collecti$e conscience

demanded that a tou"h la# be enacted to ensure that (u$enile con$icts committin" heinous crimes do not "et a#ay

#ith li"ht sentences An edifyin" aspect of this le"islati$e episode is that there are enou"h $oices around that

understand that restorati$e (ustice is best ensured for this underclass by addressin" the fundamental problems that

create (u$enile offenders in society in the first place, by ensurin" uni$ersal access to education and social care for all

children

!he 5ill, #hich contains pro"ressi$e aspects such as streamlinin" adoption procedures and e'tendin" the la#’s

protection to orphans and abandoned children, still suffers from the problems hi"hli"hted by the parliamentary panel

!he "o$ernment, unfortunately, did not accept the $ie# that children in a particular a"e "roup bein" sub(ected to the

adult criminal (ustice system #ill $iolate their ri"ht to e>uality under Article 16 and the ob(ecti$e of protectin" children

in Article 174 of the Constitution It, ho#e$er, dropped a clause that pro$ided for treatin" those #ho had committed

crimes before reachin" the a"e of 1: but #ere apprehended after they turned 21, a"reein" that it #as unconstitutional

It e'tended the period of preliminary assessment the ori"inal draft called it @in>uiry’ by the Bu$enile Bustice 5oard todetermine #hether a (u$enile offender should be sent for rehabilitation or tried as an adult, from one month to three

months !he board’s assessment #ill still be sub(ect to (udicial re$ie# and may set off liti"ation o$er #hether one 18+

year+old #as let off li"htly or another #as #ron"ly sent to an adult court Such decisions may also be influenced by the

pre$ailin" public mood It #ould ha$e been #iser to ha$e let the la# stand in conformity #ith the U/ Con$ention on

the Ri"hts of the Child, #hich ad$ocates e>ual treatment of all children under the a"e of 1: !he difference bet#een

sober assessment and mercurial action cannot be more star)ly emphasised

@ Na&r!7& et7a)/

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK /conomy

!he !enth .!O .orld !rade Or"ani*ation 3inisterial Conference, #hich recently concluded in /airobi, has beencon"ratulated by the or"anisation that represents 182 member nations for securin" a historic a"reementT on se$eral

trade initiati$es and commitments !he rich countries $ie# it as a brea)throu"h after 17 years of the Doha round, #ith

si' ministerial+le$el decisions on a"riculture, cotton and other issues, includin" a commitment to abolish e'port

subsidies for farm e'ports, public stoc)holdin" for food security purposes, a special safe"uard mechanism SS3 for

de$elopin" countries, measures related to cotton and preferential treatment for least de$eloped countries in the area of

ser$ices

For India, #hich has held out on the reaffirmation of the declaration and decisions adopted at the Doha meetin" in

2??1, the outcome may #ell be disappointin", as reflected in Commerce 3inister /irmala Sitharaman’s comments in

the aftermath At sta)e #as the ri"ht to pro$ide subsidies to farmers in a country #here :7 per cent of farmers ha$e

holdin"s of less than fi$e acres, and that too "i$en the bac)drop of rural distress after successi$e years of drou"ht At

the /airobi conference, members of de$eloped countries ha$e committed to remo$in" e'port subsidies immediately,

e'cept for a handful of a"ricultural products, #hile de$elopin" countries #ill do it by 2?1:, #ith fle'ibility to co$er

mar)etin" and transport costs for a"riculture e'ports until the end of 2?24 !hese relate to li$elihood issues in an

economy li)e India, e$en as some of the e'periments #ith the Direct 5enefits !ransfer scheme, as in Uttar 0radesh,





8<

sho# that it can "radually eliminate inefficiencies Indeed, it #ould be desirable to hasten the speed of this chan"e but

>uestions of political feasibility #ill also ha$e to be ta)en into account

&>ually important, or more so from the country’s $ie#point, #as the issue of a special safe"uard mechanism or SS3

that allo#s India to raise tariffs to protect the interests of local farmers a"ainst sur"es in imports !he ministerial

decision on SS3 for de$elopin" countries reco"nises that they #ill ha$e the ri"ht to temporarily increase tariffs in the

face of import sur"es #hile committin" members to en"a"e constructi$ely in findin" a permanent solution on public

stoc)holdin" for food security !hat should offer comfort "i$en that food security is an article of faith for the Indian

polity !he percei$ed setbac)s apart, India has sta)es in a multilateral tradin" system, not#ithstandin" the spate of

re"ional trade a"reements A rules+based system has much more to offer

Str!$<er t!<et(er

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK 4ndia and 9orldIn as much as it built on 0rime 3inister /arendra 3odi’s trip to Bapan last year and their meetin"s thereafter, Bapanese

0rime 3inister Shin*o Abe’s much+anticipated return $isit has put the bilateral relationship in perspecti$e 3odi,

#hose personal chemistry #ith Abe has been ma)in" ne#s since last Au"ust, has been successful in ma)in" Bapan

India’s most important partner for de$elopment !he 03’s statement that /o friend #ill matter more in realisin"

India’s economic dreams than BapanT must be read in the conte't of the special focus on infrastructure de$elopment in

the partnership, includin" the hi"h+speed rail#ay to be built on the Shin)ansen model bet#een 3umbai and

Ahmedabad, for #hich Abe has pro$ided a pac)a"e of G12 billion and technical assistance on easy terms !he broad

a"enda that had been laid out in the 3odi+Abe meetin" in !o)yo last year appears to ha$e ta)en se$eral steps to#ards

realisation

!he centrepiece is the brea)throu"h ci$il nuclear cooperation a"reement that India and Bapan ha$e si"ned after a half+

decade of ne"otiations !he nuclear deal, #hich #ill facilitate the buildin" of nuclear po#er plants in India #ith Bapanese reactors and also ease nuclear commerce #ith the .est Q "i$en Bapan’s sta)es in US firms li)e %eneral

&lectric and .estin"house as #ell as France’s Are$a Q is also politically symbolic It has been #or)ed out despite the

entrenched opposition and mis"i$in"s in Bapan $is+a+$is nuclear trade #ith a non+/0! /on+0roliferation !reaty

nuclear+#eapons state li)e India Abe and 3odi had liberated the bilateral relationship from this thorny issue last year,

but its resolution no# remo$es a lon"standin" impediment and it has implications for more than mere commerce and

clean ener"y It, indeed, reflects a ne# le$el of mutual confidence and strate"ic partnershipT !hat bur"eonin"

strate"ic partnership can also be seen in the enablin" a"reements on defence and re"ional cooperation /e# Delhi and

!o)yo ha$e si"ned a deal on defence e>uipment transfer and technolo"ical cooperation, as #ell as a pact on security

measures to protect military information Bapan #ill also, henceforth, re"ularly participate in the India+US 3alabar

e'ercises

!he India+Bapan partnership cannot, ho#e$er, be e'plored #ithout reference to the China factor !he fact that the t#o

sides made an une>ui$ocal mention of the South China Sea Q callin" for all nations to a$oid unilateral actionsT Q in

their (oint statement, for the first time, #ill resonate across the re"ion .hile the #orld does not see China’s ma(or

in$estments in 0a)istan, includin" the economic corridor, in anti+India terms, it is undeniable that China’s rise is

reorderin" the Asian balance of po#er Bapan and India are both adaptin" to that fact and tryin" to impro$e their

indi$idual prospects throu"h a deeper strate"ic collaboration

Fre( a$"er: A&r ;!++ut&!$ t(reate$ ,a$% I$-&a$ )&t&e ;!+&)% ,ut re;!$- t! t(e

;e)&*&) )(a++e$<e !* ea)(

!he !imes >f 4ndia M CategoryK /nvironment and /cologyDesperate anti+pollution measures ha$e been announced in Delhi, cho)in" on dan"erous, particulate+laden air !he

state "o$ernment’s plans include odd+e$en restriction on pri$ate cars, a mo$e to shut do#n pollutin" po#er plants,

fast+trac)in" the mo$e to hi"her emission standards, and the imposition of en$ironment compensation penalties on

construction pro(ects causin" dust pollution !he Supreme Court has no# banned the re"istration of diesel SUs sport

utility $ehicles and lar"e cars #ith en"ine capacities of 2??? cc or more, in the entire national capital re"ion, until





9?

3arch It has also banned the entry of truc)s that pass throu"h the city, and imposed hi"her char"es on Delhi+bound

ones !his focus on diesel e'haust fumes is #elcome, "i$en that they emit harmful nitro"en o'ides, are particularly

dan"erous #hen en"ines are idlin", and ha$e been classified as definite carcino"ens 5ut rather than desperate mo$es

such as bannin" $ehicles of a particular class, sustainable only in the short term and easy to "ame, it #ould be much

better to e>ualise diesel and petrol prices and thus permanently reduce incenti$es for diesel use

!he >uestion is #hat to prioritise Delhi may recei$e disproportionate attention because it has more monitorin"

stations than other cities, but much of urban north India is alarmin"ly polluted In its study of 03 particulate matter

27 le$els, .O .orld ealth Or"ani*ation has estimated that 14 out of the #orld’s 2? most polluted cities are in

India Air pollution is a common, but differentiated problem across India !here simply isn’t enou"h real+time

monitorin" or area+specific, accurate data from these to#ns, #hich could then become the basis for policy

Delhi’s o#n odd+e$en road rationin" scheme has been criticised by many for bein" a )nee+(er) decision rather than one

calculated to brin" do#n pollution A study by II! Indian Institute of !echnolo"y Kanpur su""ested that road+dust,

truc) and t#o+#heeler emissions cause more pollution 5iomass fires and stubble+burnin" from fara#ay fields also#orsen the problem in Delhi

All these #ill ha$e to be comprehensi$ely tac)led, to ma)e a difference to air >uality !he AA0 Aam Aadmi 0arty

"o$ernment’s odd+e$en scheme is meant to temporarily impro$e the air and also to dra# attention to the public health

emer"ency that pollution has become, but #e must "o beyond this 0ublic transport must be impro$ed across Indian

cities on a #ar footin" and pollution boards across India must ta)e concerted action, desi"nin" policy accordin" to the

specific ha*ards in each area !hey must prioritise action that has ma'imal impact and minimal incon$enience

10 R&<(t ,ea<e

!he !ribune M CategoryK /conomy

!he /DA "o$ernment has ta)en a bold step in denyin" the rich the subsidy on coo)in" "as 0% !he step is pro+poor, ma)es fiscal sense and #ould be hailed as a coura"eous political initiati$e, "i$en the potential middle+class

resentment !he mo$e, ho#e$er, #as easy pic)in" Out of the total 16 crore recipients of 0% i>uefied petroleum

"as subsidy, only around 2? la)h stand to be dis>ualified Q indi$iduals #ith Rs 1? la)h of ta'able income !he

sa$in"s #ould thus be of only around Rs 7?? crore a year !he total 0% subsidy bill this fiscal year is li)ely to be

around Rs 1:,??? crore, do#n from around Rs 6?,7?? crore the pre$ious year, principally on account of the fall in

petroleum prices

!he decision is essentially symbolic !hat does not ma)e it insi"nificant, as e$ery step to#ards cuttin" the fiscal deficit

could become the ne't buildin" bloc) !he messa"e has a rob+0eter+to+pay+0aul appeal to it !he decision to limit the

subsidy comes after a lon" period of e'hortations to the rich to $oluntarily surrender it /ot many J0etersJ #ere

forthcomin" Still there is little resentment !his "radual #eanin"+off strate"y should be used to curtail the subsidy

further In due course, the income le$el may be lo#ered Family income, rather than indi$idualHs income, could be

made the criterion !he U0A "o$ernmentHs decision of initially limitin" 0% cylinders per connection to si' a year #as

far bolder, but could not be implemented It #as forced to raise the limit to 12

!here is near+unanimity that the subsidies re"ime is deeply s)e#ed and that rather than ser$e the poor it ends up

introducin" distortions, lea)a"es and petty corruption !he deser$in" remains short+chan"ed, #hile the undeser$in" is

able to soa) the system elpin" the poor is a #orthy public "oal /or is it an e'pensi$e proposition, pro$ided #e can

plu" the lea)a"es, #hether in 0%, )erosene or farm subsidies appily, technolo"y today ma)es that possible

Aadhaar and direct benefit transfer are concepts that need to be $i"orously pursued

11 Ma/&$< <!+- <+&tter ,!re

ioneer M CategoryK /conomy

!hou"h the Union %o$ernmentHs "old monetisation scheme, launched recently, has had a steady thou"h slo# start, it

is heartenin" that temples across the country, #hich house lar"e amounts of the precious metal, are at least considerin"

in$estin" in the scheme 3umbaiHs Siddhi$inaya) temple, one of the fi$e richest temples in the country, has made a

modest start Q it has decided to deposit 6?)" of the "old Others li)e the Da)shines#ar Kali !emple in .est 5en"al





91

and the Somnath !emple in %u(arat ha$e #elcomed the scheme and are loo)in" at different in$estment proposals !he

Union 3inistry of Finance is also reachin" out to temple authorities and #or)in" to brin" them on board

It is estimated that India has about a trillion dollars #orth of pri$ately+held "old and a lar"e percenta"e of this is (ust

sittin" in temple $aults Since the "old isnHt monetised, it isnHt useful for anyone It doesnHt contribute to the #elfare of

the de$otees temples fund their charitable ser$ices throu"h other sources of re$enue, such as cash donations and

definitely does not benefit the economy It is a colossal #aste of a precious resource In contrast, the %o$ernmentHs "old

monetisation scheme is a smart in$estment planL it #ill brin" financial benefits to temple bodies in particular and

buttress the nationHs economic "ro#th in "eneral It #ill help brid"e IndiaHs "ro#in" current account deficit partly the

result of lar"e amounts of "old imports, directly lin)ed to our $oracious appetite for the metal 3oreo$er, it #ill also

relie$e the temple mana"ement of securin" billions of dollars #orth of "old

Of course, in$estin" in the scheme is easier said than done First, there is the issue of reli"ious sentiment Qde$otees

offer their "old and other precious items to "od, and itHs unclear ho# much po#er e$en the temple mana"ement,

primarily tas)ed #ith safe+)eepin" the #ealth, has in decidin" if the offerin" can be used for other purposes 3umbaiHsSai 5aba temple, for e'ample, had earlier #anted to auction some of the temple #ealth to raise money, but after

petitioners appealed a"ainst it, the 5ombay i"h Court stayed the decision

A fe# other temples are also cau"ht up in similar le"al hassles #hich ha$e tied their hands from in$estin" in the

scheme A second sensiti$e issue is that the %o$ernmentHs monetisation scheme re>uires meltin" of the "old to flush

out impurities and allo# for standardisation !emple authorities #orry that this #ill lead to a loss in $alue #hile

de$otees arenHt comfortable #ith such @contaminationH of reli"ious offerin"s !hird, there is the perception problem of

the %o$ernment ta)in" a#ay temple #ealth Q this should be fou"ht bac) #ith the simple fact that the scheme does

not transfer o#nership, and the "old can be ta)en bac) albeit in a different form Finally, #hile the "old monetisation

scheme is a "ood one, the state must not be seen as arm+t#istin" temple authorities to participate in the scheme

12

Caut&!$ar% &<$a+ *r!, t(e e';!rt +u,;

!he Dindu M CategoryK /conomy

!he protracted slump in merchandise e'ports, #hich rounded out a 12th strai"ht drop in /o$ember, is a cause for

serious concern !he sharp, almost 27 per cent, contraction in the o$erseas shipment of "oods from a year earlier to G2?

billion si"nals there is more to this e'tended contraction than (ust the "lobal economic #ea)ness that has cast its

shado# across trade #orld#ide .hile the slide in commodity prices, includin" that of oil and petroleum products,

has contributed to the decline in the $alue of e'ports in dollar terms, of "reater #orry is the continuin" fall in demand

for Indian en"ineerin" "oods, and leather and leather "oods !he leather sector has been hurt by a combination of

economic #ea)ness in &urope, increased competition and poor infrastructure !he theme of infrastructure hobblin"

the country’s trade competiti$eness has been an endurin" one #ith the problems of po#er a$ailability and inade>uate

road and port connecti$ity still continuin" to do" e'porters, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises

3S3& that to"ether accounted for more than 66 per cent of India’s e'ports in the last fiscal year !he 3S3& sector

also pro$ides employment on a si*eable scale, includin" in semi+urban and rural areas, and the e'port slo#do#n is

sure to result in #idespread labour distress that can only #ei"h on sa$in"s and consumption in the broader economy

!he slo#do#n also reflects on the lo# le$el of $alue+addition bein" achie$ed by India’s e'porters, as is e$ident in the

#idenin" trade deficit #ith China Q itself copin" #ith declines in both e'ports and imports .hile the main e'ports to

the northern nei"hbour are lo# $alue+added commodities such as cotton, copper alloys and iron ore, the imports

include machinery, electrical e>uipment and electronics that ha$e resulted in the trade "ap sur"in" 42+fold to G6:7

billion in the decade throu"h 3arch 2?17

!he e'port slo#do#n is at the same time both a symptom and a potential tri""er for domestic economic #ea)ness

Any effort to impro$e business competiti$eness throu"h reforms, includin" in areas such as labour and credit mar)ets,especially for the 3S3& se"ment, can surely "i$e a fillip to the o$erall en$ironment !he 3a)e in India pro"ramme, if

pursued co"ently, can also ser$e as a sprin"board for enhancin" s)ills and technolo"ies that can o$er time help re$erse

and possibly boost both $olumes and the $alue of o$erseas shipments Also, the monetary and fiscal authorities need

to be mindful of the fact that the rupee Q #hile ha$in" #ea)ened a"ainst the dollar, thus appearin" to offer a price

ad$anta"e to e'porters Q has actually appreciated in real terms a"ainst a trade+#ei"hted bas)et of 48 currencies,





92

ma)in" India’s e'ports less competiti$e For this reason, the Reser$e 5an) of India needs to continue its close $i"il o$er

inflation Finally, e$en the pharmaceuticals sector, #here e'ports ha$e "ro#n, can ill afford to be complacent as the

US and &urope ti"hten re"ulatory o$ersi"ht of "enerics and manufacturin" processes in India

16 S;+e$-&- -e)a-e 7ut ,&+e t! <!

!he Dindu M CategoryK Social

!here is no# no doubt that the last 1? years #ere a time of e'traordinary human de$elopment in India .hen the

.orld 5an) decided to raise its "lobal po$erty line from G127 a day in 0urchasin" 0o#er 0arity, or 000, terms to

G1<? in October and update the data for countries, it sho#ed amon" other thin"s that India had #itnessed the fastest+

e$er decrease in the percenta"e of its population belo# the po$erty line bet#een 2??< and 2?11 !he United /ations

De$elopment 0ro"ramme’s U/D0 uman De$elopment Report DR released recently re+establishes this point

India’s %ross /ational Income more than doubled o$er the last 17 years, from G2,722 000 to G7,6<9 bet#een 2??? and2?16, puttin" it into middle income status !his economic "ro#th translated into better human de$elopment outcomes

as #ellL India’s uman De$elopment Inde' DI $alue #ent from ?682 to ?8?< bet#een 2??? and 2?16, a far hi"her

increase than in the pre$ious 17+year period !his #as dri$en by impro$ed economic "ro#th and increase in life

e'pectancy as a result of impro$ed health care, and less so from impro$ements in educational outcomes, #hich ha$e

been harder to achie$e, especially for #omen Similarly stri)in" is the story that emer"es from India ealth Report=

/utrition 2?17 released recently by the 0ublic ealth Foundation of India 0FI Child undernutrition, #hich had

been declinin" slo#ly #hen data #ere last a$ailable in 2??8, has be"un to fall at historically hi"h ratesL bet#een 2??8

and 2?16, stuntin" rates for children under fi$e declined from 6: per cent to 4< per cent, translatin" into 16 million

fe#er stunted children, and declines in #astin" translated into se$en million fe#er #asted children !hese are

e'traordinary achie$ements

Of course, India must not rest on these laurels !he U/D0 report also sho#ed that #hen ine>uality is factored in, Indialoses nearly 4? per cent of its DI $alues, meanin" that outcomes $ary substantially by class, caste and "ender If

India’s #omen #ere their o#n country, they #ould be 4? ran)s lo#er on the DI than the country as a #hole is no#,

#ith far #orse educational outcomes dra""in" them do#n Indian #omen are at a particular disad$anta"e in the

#or)forceL the hi"h proportion up to 4< per cent of %D0 by one estimate of unpaid care #or) that falls on #omen

alone pushes them out of the #or)force, resultin" in one of the #orld’s lo#est female labour force participation rates

!he 2?17 DR, #hich is based on the theme of #or), hi"hli"hts (ust ho# $ulnerable and ill+prepared for the future the

ma(ority of the Indian #or)force is, and #ithout a social protection blan)et !he 0FI report also sho#s that India’s

national successes mas) massi$e inter+State $ariabilityL moreo$er, "ender ine>ualities are possibly ha$in" an impact

on children’s nutritional outcomes Comin" at a time #hen there is a fear of social sector bud"et cuts, these reports

sho# that India must build on its human de$elopment successes #ith better redistributi$e (ustice

1? N! (!+-&$< 7a)/

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK Social

In the fi$e years since the potentially transformati$e Ri"ht to &ducation Act R!& #as implemented, se$eral studies

ha$e documented the decline and sta"nation of learnin" le$els in school !he Annual Status of &ducation Reports ha$e

painted a dismal picture 3ost children emer"e from primary school lac)in" e$en rudimentary arithmetic and readin"

s)ills 5ac) in Au"ust, the Central Ad$isory 5oard of &ducation, emboldened by the recommendations of a

subcommittee headed by former aryana &ducation 3inister %eeta 5hu))al, made a stron" pitch to scrap one of the

R!&’s central tenets Q that no child #ould be detained, or failT, until Class III Amid a reportedly near+unanimous

a"reement to do a#ay #ith the no+detention policy, Union uman Resource De$elopment 3inister Smriti Irani as)edstates to furnish their consent in #ritin", #hich 14 of them did recently Delhi has initiated proceedin"s to abolish the

policy, #hile the Ra(asthan Assembly has already passed a bill amendin" the R!& 5ut brin"in" bac) a pass+fail system

threatens to undermine the e"alitarian promise of the R!&

!here is little doubt that deterioratin" education outcomes are a cause for alarm, and call for an ur"ent re+e$aluation of

the #ay the education system is structured Students should not be blindly promoted only to set them up for failure





94

later, #hen standardised assessments sho# up the $ast "aps in their learnin" le$els 5ut it is the "o$ernment’s

responsibility to set up enablin" education infrastructure Q and this does not (ust mean buildin"s, classrooms,

blac)boards and chal) Q that allo#s students #ho are la""in" behind to catch+up to their a"e+"rade le$el !he R!&

pro$ides for continuous and comprehensi$e e$aluationT CC& Q a necessary corollary of no+detention Q #hich

attempts to eliminate the pre$ailin" end+of+year hi"h+sta)es e'amination system In theory, the CC& allo#s teachers to

trac) each student’s pro"ress and tailor lessons to student capabilities In practice, ho#e$er, muddled CC& "uidelines

and lac) of trainin" ha$e caused confusion amon" teachers on #hat their role is and, as the 5hu))al report notes,

to"ether #ith the no+detention policy, it has bred indifference to#ards #hat little assessment is conducted amon" all

sta)eholders Q teachers, parents and children

Instead of puttin" the onus of failure on children, as scrappin" the no+detention clause #ould do, the "o$ernment

should #or) to, as Delhi &ducation 3inister 3anish Sisodia said, stren"then the CC& system and prepare our

teachersT It ou"ht to e'periment #ith different methods of student assessment and after ade>uately measurin"

learnin" pro"ress, pro$ide remedial classes for those #ho need them !hat #ay, the most disad$anta"ed students #illha$e an e>ual opportunity to complete elementary education, rather than droppin" out, demoti$ated and discoura"ed,

after bein" compelled to repeat a class

15 Ba+a$)e t(e *!r)e

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK #ation

!he Union home ministry’s decision to discontinue collection and publication of data on the share of 3uslims in the

police is mis"uided !his data, #hich had been made public by the /ational Crime Records 5ureau /CR5 e$ery year

since 1<<<, #hen the practice be"an, helped in trac)in" the strides the state had made Q or not Q to#ards ensurin"

that India’s lar"est minority had ade>uate representation in the police After se$eral years in #hich the share of

3uslims in the police force fell, from 977 per cent in 2??9 to 829 per cent in 2?14 Q less than half their share in theo$erall population, #hich is a little o$er 16 per cent Q rather than e'aminin" the reasons for this decline, the

"o$ernment has chosen to dra# a curtain o$er the problem

&numeration is a critical tool in helpin" policyma)ers address a $ital >uestion= Does the police force reflect the

di$ersity of the communities it ser$esN It is important for the police to be seen as di$erse, because that perception

increases its credibility #ith the community, builds trust &$en if police officers from minority communities enforce the

la# in similar #ays to their counterparts, ha$in" a department that represents the composition of the local population

helps burnish the ima"e of an institution that is fre>uently at odds #ith citi*ens, and is routinely accused of unfairness,

and the arbitrary use and abuse of coerci$e state po#er !he Sachar Committee reported that 3uslims lac)ed a sense

of securityT and felt that e$ery bearded man is considered an ISI a"entT by the police and, should any incident occur,

immediately, and li)ely un(ustly, pic)ed up Q this may e'plain #hy, accordin" to /CR5 data, 21 per cent of (ailed

undertrials are 3uslims Indeed, the report su""ests that this intense $ulnerability and fear is accentuated by a

diminished 3uslim presence in the police, #hich also hei"htens insecurities in communally sensiti$e moments, and

recommends that more 3uslims be inducted into the force

Other pluralistic societies li)e the US and UK, for instance, ha$e made conscious efforts to recruit more members from

minority "roups in a bid to address perceptions of institutionalised racism and pre(udice .hile it is true that

representation is only one tool to build public confidence in the police, recordin" the ethnicity of officers is central to

that e'ercise !he "o$ernment should not only count ho# many 3uslim police officers it has, it should also document

the representation of other minorities in local la# enforcement

13 Ju-&)&a+ !errea)t&!$

!he Dindu M CategoryK olity and overnance

!he initiation of criminal contempt proceedin"s a"ainst 5oo)er 0ri*e+#innin" #riter Arundhati Roy by the 5ombay

i"h Court appears to be an e'cessi$e reaction to ad$erse comment Bud"es are e'pected to be uninfluenced by

occasional criticism relatin" to their (udicial orders, especially by (ournalists and #riters #ho are not parties before

them It beho$es the superior (udiciary to i"nore remar)s on court proceedin"s and orders made out of acti$ist *eal In





96

times #hen both mainstream and social media are full of obser$ers, critics, commentators and detractors, courts ou"ht

not to be unduly sensiti$e to outspo)en critics, sub(ect of course to the rule that the criticism is fair and does not

attribute moti$es to (ud"es or malice to (udicial functionin" 3s Roy is no stran"er to the lon" arm of the court’s

contempt (urisdiction !he Supreme Court sentenced her to one day in prison for criminal contempt for @scandalisin"

the (udiciary’ throu"h some remar)s in 2??2 A fe# years earlier, in 1<<<, the Supreme Court decided to be lenient

to#ards her and her associates in the /armada 5achao Andolan for their comments on court orders !he court’s

shoulders are broad enou"h to shru" off their comments,T the 5ench had remar)ed then, in a measure of ho# the

court’s di"nity is better ser$ed if it ta)es routine criticism in its stride and mo$es only a"ainst $icious and tendentious

remar)s or actions that brin" the (udiciary into disrepute or ridicule

3s Roy’s article in a ma"a*ine relatin" to the arrest and denial of bail to %/ Saibaba of Delhi Uni$ersity does not

appear entirely to fall under such a cate"ory !he political sympathies reflected in the article for the #heelchair+bound

lecturer are >uite ob$ious, but it is not possible to discern any #ilful contempt for (udicial processes in its e'pression of

concern for his freedom, health and #ell+bein" Unfortunately, Bustice A5 Chaudhari sees in the piece a "ameplanTto obtain an order of bail )no#in" fully #ell that the plea #as turned do#n by the Sessions Court as #ell as a Sin"le

Bud"e of this CourtT .hile initiatin" action a"ainst 3s Roy for criminal contempt, he seems to ha$e read too much

into an article sharply critical of the "o$ernment and the police that relates only indirectly to the (udiciary in its

comparison of instances of those #ho "ot bail 5abulal 5a(ran"i, 3aya Kodnani and Amit Shah and those #ho did

not !he ma(esty of the court ou"ht to be any (ud"e’s concern, but it is inconcei$able #hy an author’s nastyT lan"ua"e

a"ainst the "o$ernment and the police should be !he conclusion that her article, prima facie, tends to interfere in the

administration of (ustice merely because it appears to ar"ue that 3r Saibaba is entitled to release is unfortunate .hile

safe"uardin" the (udiciary’s reputation and di"nity, courts of la# should not be seen as stiflin" free comment and

suppressin" political dissent !he po#er of contempt should be used sparin"ly and that too, only a"ainst those #ilfully

sub$ertin" (ustice, and not a"ainst critics of the state

1@

T&,e t! a7!+&( )r&,&$a+ -e*a,at&!$


!he obser$ation by the Supreme Court that political leaders should not ta)e criticism as a personal insult hi"hli"hts a

particular )ind of intolerance that is rarely referred to in the on"oin" debate on the sub(ect= the inability of public

fi"ures to tolerate criticism and their repeated resort to criminal defamation proceedin"s to stifle ad$erse comment

/othin" e'emplifies this as much as the 1??+odd prosecutions launched by the "o$ernment of !amil /adu a"ainst

politicians and the media !he court’s remar) came in the conte't of se$eral of cases of defamation reachin" its portals

in recent years Under Chief 3inister Bayalalithaa, the la# of criminal defamation is routinely set in motion #ithin

days of the publication of reports that are e$en remotely critical of her "o$ernance It is al#ays initiated by the public

prosecutors on behalf of the Chief 3inister and members of her Cabinet It is needless to emphasise that criminal

defamation has a chillin" effect on free speech and undermines public interest by coercin" the media to obser$e self+

censorship and self+restraint Sections 6<< and 7?? of the Indian 0enal Code, #hich criminalise defamation in India,

ha$e been challen"ed in the Supreme Court, but so far there is little hope that the State #ill "i$e up the use of this

#eapon a"ainst ad$erse co$era"e It also sho#ed >uestionable *eal in "oin" up to the hi"hest court (ust to obtain the

police custody of Ko$an, a fol) sin"er arrested on @sedition’ char"e, indicatin" a dan"erously illiberal attitude !he

Union "o$ernment has contended, much to the disappointment of proponents of the freedom of e'pression, that these

sections do not ha$e any chillin" effect on free speech

Democratic opinion in many countries is $eerin" around to the $ie# that defamation should be treated as a ci$il #ron"

and should not be pursued as a criminal case, and that the state has no compellin" interest to protect the reputation of

its indi$idual ser$ants by prosecutin" alle"ed offenders In 2?11, the uman Ri"hts Committee of the InternationalCo$enant on Ci$il and 0olitical Ri"hts called upon states to abolish criminal defamation, notin" that it intimidates

citi*ens and ma)es them shy a#ay from e'posin" #ron"doin" Its misuse as an instrument of harassment is per$asi$e

in India Often, the prosecutor’s complaint is ta)en at face $alue by courts, #hich send out routine notices for the

appearance of defendants #ithout any preliminary e'amination #hether the offendin" comments or reports come

under one of the e'ceptions spelt out in Section 6<< !hus, the process itself becomes the punishment It is





97

internationally reco"nised that there ou"ht to be some proportionality bet#een the status and influence of public

officials and ho# far they could be defamed !he hi"her the officials are the "reater #ill be their resources to set ri"ht

any impairment of their ima"e, usin" their #ide reach and influence o$er the public It is time India’s la#ma)ers

scrapped criminal defamation from the statute boo)

1 Suta&$&$< t(e u))e

ioneer M CategoryK 4nternational

It is early to say that the Islamic State IS has suffered an irretrie$able blo# in Ira> after it #as ousted from the city of

Ramadi by Ira>i security forces bac)ed by American airstri)es, but the terror or"anisation has certainly been dealt a

serious setbac) %o$ernment forces ha$e been able to capture the city after it had remained under IS control for se$en

months Ramadi is important because it is the supply line for Fallu(a, a to#n that is e$en closer to the capital 5a"hdad

and controlled by the IS If the forces are able to sustain their hold o$er Ramadi, the terror "roup #ill find it difficult toretain its "rip o$er Fallu(a for lon" And, if the forces are able to e$entually defeat the IS in Fallu(a, it could si"nal

trouble for the militant or"anisation’s rei"n o$er 3osul Of course, capturin" 3osul #ill be far more difficult for the

security forces, partly because of the re"ionHs sheer si*e itHs Ira>Hs second bi""est city, and partly because the IS has

been entrenched there for more than a year no# !his period has allo#ed the or"anisation to "ro# roots 5esides, the

Ira>i re"ime has appeared stran"ely reluctant to put in its full mi"ht in 3osul, e$en disallo#in" Sunni tribesmen to

(oin the #ar a"ainst the IS there !his may possibly be because of its lac) of confidence in the Sunni tribal leadership

!he situation can, of course, chan"e in the comin" months, "i$en that the %o$ernment #ill be enthused by its forcesH

success in Ramadi and, hopefully soon enou"h, in Fallu(a 5ut for no#, the a"encies #ill ha$e to completely secure

Ramadi because, althou"h the Ira>i fla" has been hoisted on the main %o$ernment buildin" there, small poc)ets ha$e

still to be retained And after the city is fully under %o$ernment control, the ne't challen"e #ill be to ensure that peace

and de$elopment #or) is initiated !here #ill be hundreds of fleein" Sunni 3uslims #ho #ill ha$e to be rehabilitatedFor the Islamic State, its ouster from Ramadi is not (ust one setbac)L it has been losin" "round consistently o$er the

past months !he "roup has been routed from 5ai(i, !i)rit, a#i(a and Sin(ir, and it is estimated that its control o$er

Ira>i territory has reduced by nearly 6? per cent !he $ictory in Ramadi is a hu"e morale+booster for the Ira>i forces

#hich had been humiliated #orld#ide after it failed to contain the Islamic StateHs supremacy on 3osul and had

actually abandoned the city, unable to face the sur"e of the Islamic State militants /o#, it must march ahead #ith

rene#ed $i"our

5ut it #ould be na\$e to belie$e that the Ira>i security forces alone can turn the tide a"ainst the terror or"anisation that

has ra$a"ed the country !he continuin" support of the .est, especially the US military, is critical to sustainin" the

"ood ne#s 0resident 5arac) Obama has sho#n si"ns of increasin" his militaryHs en"a"ementL there are no# some

4,7?? American troops, some of #hom ha$e a "ood understandin" of Ira> and its "round situation !he US military

alon" #ith Ira>Hs security forces had #or)ed closely for months before launchin" the successful offensi$e in Ramadi

!he le$el of coordination bodes #ell, because there ha$e been past instances #here the t#o functioned #ith less

coordination than #as needed !he #orld must, ho#e$er, brace for the fallout of the success= !he IS could resort to

terror stri)es to re+assert its supremacy

1 T(e r&<(t *!ru,

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK olity and overnance

Recently, a three+member bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Bustice !S !ha)ur clarified that 0arliament alone

had the po#er to le"islate a uniform ci$il code UCC, and that it #as not for the (udiciary to direct la#ma)ers in this

re"ard !he (ud"es said that the ape' court’s past obser$ations hintin" at the desirability of the UCC #ere in the realmof hope and e'pectationsT and emphasised that it could not issue a directi$e to the "o$ernment on the matter !he

ape' court’s remar)s, made in the conte't of a 0I 0ublic Interest iti"ation that pleaded for a UCC, underline the

separation of po#ers en$isa"ed by the Constitution and point to the primacy of the le"islature in addressin"

contentious issues that re>uire a political process and consensus





98

!he UCC #as a contentious matter e$en at the time of the framin" of the Constitution It is no easy tas) to build a

consensus on a common code, considerin" the di$ersity of faiths and traditions in the subcontinent !he Constituent

Assembly #isely refused to force a UCC on the ne# republic, and left it as a su""estion in the directi$e principles of

state policy in the Constitution !he ape' court recently pointed out that it has read the directi$e principles into the

fundamental ri"hts only in e'ceptional situations and hinted that the UCC did not merit the same consideration !he

court also made it clear, ho#e$er, that its stance should not be read as a refusal to address the discrimination and

ine>ualities embedded in specific personal la#s For instance, if the issue at sta)e is harassment to 3uslim #omen due

to 3uslim personal la# Q as the petitioner, Ash#ini Kumar Upadhyay, a la#yer and 5B0 member, had pleaded Q the

court said, #e may consider it court inter$ention if a 3uslim #oman comes to the court and alle"es

discrimination] et it be left to the community #here discrimination and "ender ine>uality is alle"ed to come to usT

In the past, proponents of a UCC ha$e framed their ar"ument in terms of the imperati$e of national inte"ration, or

presented it as a #omen’s ri"hts issue et, in a climate #here stirrin"s of a ma(oritarian nationalism ha$e sto)ed ne#

apprehensions in minority communities, it is all the more necessary to tread sensiti$ely and carefully on the matter Inany case, as the court has pointed out, the debate and the ne"otiation must be led by the political class and the

le"islature is the ri"ht platform to host it

20 Ce ;r!)ee- &$ a 7+a)/ (!+e


!he /ational Democratic Alliance "o$ernment has (ust introduced a cess of ?7 per cent on all ta'able ser$ices for the

S#achh 5harat campai"n In February 2?18, it #ill introduce a 2 per cent cess on airfares for all domestic flyers e'cept

those flyin" to remote locations, and international tra$ellers !his cess is meant to fund losses that airlines may incur in

connectin" to hinterland locations !he Central "o$ernment lo$es cesses, partly because it doesn’t ha$e to share the

proceeds #ith State "o$ernments It has been le$yin" them for se$eral important causes includin" primary education,secondary education, road de$elopment, the #elfare of construction #or)ers and beedi #or)ers, clean ener"y,

research and de$elopment and uni$ersalisation of telecom co$era"e, amon" se$eral others 5ut "ood intentions often

pa$e the road to hell, as is e$ident from the fact that o$er Rs16 la)h crore of cess proceeds lie unutilised and

inade>uately accounted for in the "o$ernment’s boo)s !a)e, for e'ample, the case of the Secondary and i"her

&ducation Cess paid by all income ta' payers that has yielded o$er Rs86,??? crore bet#een 2??8 and 2?17 /ot a rupee

of that has been spent, #hile hundreds of students no# for) out more for hi"her education since the "o$ernment has

discontinued the non+/ational &li"ibility !est fello#ship !hat the "o$ernment has failed to e$en set up a fund to pool

the proceeds sho#s the lac) of plannin" that precludes and follo#s the le$y of a cess So is the case #ith the proposed

airfare cess !he "o$ernment is yet to identify routes that the cess #ould subsidise, or spruce up the many defunct ci$il

airports

!he point of a cess is that the money it "enerates can only be used for the desi"nated purpose so it can be an effecti$e

policy tool in theory 5ut if the money isn’t spent for the desi"nated purpose, as the audit report of the Comptroller

and Auditor %eneral of India tabled in 0arliament has sho#n, it (ust sta"nates and distorts the economy further= the

additional ta' brin"s do#n real incomes #ithout any accompanyin" "ain in socio+economic indicators as tar"eted

!hen there is the >uestion of #hether a "i$en cess is needed at all 3ost reasons cited for le$yin" a cess, such as

purposes of education, are important enou"h for direct bud"etary allocations Q as happens in the de$eloped #orld

So the "o$ernment can simply raise the ta' rate rather than impose multiple cess le$ies 5ut #ith the Fourteenth

Finance Commission increasin" States’ share of the common pool of resources, cesses are temptin" for the Centre to

shore up its o#n finances If it #ants to )eep complicatin" the ta'ation system for "ood intentions, the "o$ernment

should start disclosin" a deployment plan to achie$e the intended outcomes from cess collections before imposin" the

ne't such le$y on citi*ens

21 =a 7a$/ru;t)% 7&++: A ,!-er$ )!-e )a$ re)ue u *r!, 7a$/ru;t)% !$ !7 )reat&!$

!he !imes >f 4ndia M CategoryK /conomy





99

!he le"al frame#or) "o$ernin" economic acti$ity in India is often out of sync #ith "round reality Unintended

conse>uences of la#s ha$e created an economy filled #ith obstructions and delays !he most pernicious outcome of

this en$ironment has been a slo# pace of (ob creation at a time #hen millions of youn" people are enterin" the

#or)force, "i$in" rise to mass youth unemployment Recently, the "o$ernment introduced a bill to comprehensi$ely

tac)le insol$ency and ban)ruptcy proceedin"s in non+financial firms, an important element in reformin" the le"al

frame#or)

In terms of si"nificance, this bill is as important as the one on %S! %oods and Ser$ices !a' to reform India’s

economy 0arliament needs to debate and pass this bill in the forthcomin" bud"et session 0re$ailin" ban)ruptcy la#s

are not only fra"mented, they are also discriminatory in the sense that they fa$our (ust one set of sta)eholders !he

upshot is that India is amon" the slo#est in #orld #hen it comes to ban)ruptcy proceedin"s, a factor #hich inhibits

in$estment Another per$erse conse>uence of these la#s is that labour intensi$e economic acti$ity is at a disad$anta"e

#hen it comes to raisin" loans as the le"al frame#or) fa$ours borro#ers #ith collateral

!he ne# bill tac)les these problems by creatin" a clean and orderly resolution process Importantly, the resolutionprocess has a deadline and is unbiased !he result of a ne# le"al frame#or) should be a $ibrant bond mar)et and

more importantly, an en$ironment that encoura"es (obs !he ne# ban)ruptcy bill, #hich #as introduced in o) Sabha,

#as referred to a (oint committee #ith members of both houses Appropriately, the (oint committee has a deadline and

is e'pected to submit its report soon after the bud"et session of 0arliament starts Apart from other factors, $ibrancy in

India’s start+up culture needs to be supported throu"h a more encoura"in" le"al frame#or) to raise capital A modern

ban)ruptcy code is a step in that direction

22 O$ (!+- a$- a))!,,!-at&e


!he central messa"e of Reser$e 5an) of India R5I %o$ernor Ra"huram Ra(an’s latest decision to lea$e interest ratesunchan"ed, and stress that the monetary stance remains accommodati$eT, is that neither an economic reco$ery nor

inflation trends are entrenched enou"h at the moment for more decisi$e action !hat the si"ns are far from reassurin"

on both the )ey fronts that inform the central ban)’s policy rationale is abundantly e$ident from the data on hand

&'ternal demand continues to remain #ea) Q #ith "lobal "ro#th and trade becalmed by an anaemic &uro area, a

slo#in" China and a US economy copin" #ith an accumulation of in$entory, year+lo# consumer confidence and a

stren"thenin" dollar On the domestic front, #hile early results from the R5I’s sur$ey of order boo)s, in$entories and

capacity utilisation point to an uptic) in ne# manufacturin" orders in the second >uarter, other indicators, especially

from the si*eable rural economy, are far from reassurin" Consumption demand in the $illa"es and smaller to#ns in

a"rarian heartlands has been #ea)ened by t#o consecuti$e deficient monsoons, and the o$erall outloo) for

a"ricultural "ro#th, as a result of deficient rains, appears at best moderate !he latest /i))ei’s 3anufacturin"

0urchasin" 3ana"ers’ Inde', compiled by 3ar)it, independently buttresses the central ban)’s concern o$er the

sustainability of the reco$ery as it sho#s demand and output continued to soften in /o$ember to damp

manufacturin" "ro#th to the slo#est pace in 27 months

Data on the prices front is e>ually unner$in" Retail inflation as measured by the consumer price inde' accelerated for

the third successi$e month in October, pushed up by a sharp increase in food costs Initial indications of rabi so#in",

coupled #ith lo# reser$oir le$els, also s>uarely laid the onus on astute supply mana"ement by the "o$ernment to help

minimise any shortfall in #inter crop output and the resultant ris) to prices And ta)in" a beni"n oil price

en$ironment for "ranted, "i$en the potential for "eopolitical shoc)s from the $olatile 3iddle &ast, has its o#n inherent

ha*ards 3ore si"nificantly, the R5I has for the moment opted to trust the "o$ernment’s commitment to its fiscal

consolidation "oals in its calculus of the inflationary impact of the Se$enth 0ay Commission’s proposals oluntary

bud"etary restraint, the central ban) belie$es, #ill offset the impact on a""re"ate demand from hi"her #a"es andrents !hat this assumption is only partly predicated on "ood faith is e$ident in the comment in the policy statement

that the implementation of the pay panel’s recommendations #ill be a factor in the Reser$e 5an)’s future

deliberationsT Dr Ra(an has his tas) cut out as he focusses on unclo""in" the monetary transmission pipeline at

ban)s .ith only about half of the 127 basis points cut in the policy rate con$eyed to borro#ers, the R5I is racin" to





9:

ensure that a clean+up of lenders’ balance sheets can help free up funds to#ard producti$e credit flo#s For no#

thou"h, it #ill be a $i"ilant #atch at the R5I

26 E$-&$< ;!+&t&) !* re,&&!$


!he $erdict of a Constitution 5ench of the Supreme Court on le"al >uestions relatin" to "rant of remission to life

con$icts e'poses the haste #ith #hich the !amil /adu "o$ernment acted in February 2?16 in see)in" to release the

se$en persons ser$in" life terms for plottin" to assassinate Ra(i$ %andhi in 1<<1 !he court’s findin" that the Central

"o$ernment has primacy in accordin" remission to life con$icts in a case of this nature is a political setbac) to Chief

3inister Bayalalithaa It #as apparent that she #anted to be seen as a champion of !amil ri"hts rather than the stern

opponent of terrorism that she #as belie$ed to be In to)en compliance #ith a statutory re>uirement, she #rote to the

Centre, "i$in" (ust three days’ time for its opinion on their release Alarmed by the thou"ht of Ra(i$ %andhi’s )illersbein" freed, the then United 0ro"ressi$e Alliance "o$ernment rushed to the Supreme Court to stall the process !hus,

the humanitarian >uestion #hether con$icts #ho had only been accessories in the !!&’s iberation !i"ers of !amil

&elam assassination plot should lan"uish in prison e$en after 24 years #as con$erted into a political issue It became

embroiled in technical >uestions that #ere referred to a Constitution 5ench !he $alidity of the !amil /adu

"o$ernment’s decision #ill be decided separately by a re"ular bench

o#e$er, the lar"er si"nificance here is that the court has barred State "o$ernments from in$o)in" their statutory

remission po#er for the premature release of those sentenced by a i"h Court or the Supreme Court to a specified

term abo$e 16 years #ithout remission It has re(ected the theory that e$ery con$ict, e$en those facin" life+lon"

incarceration, #ill ha$e to be offered a @ray of hope’, placin" the interests of the $ictims of murder abo$e those of the

perpetrators It indicates that those #hose death sentences are altered to life terms #ill ha$e to spend the rest of their

life in prison At the same time, it has )ept a small door open for life con$icts by declarin" that one #ho had "ot thebenefit of commutation of death sentence to life is not barred from "ettin" remission from the e'ecuti$e In any case, it

has said the constitutional po#ers of the 0resident and the %o$ernor for "rant of clemency remain untouched !he

State "o$ernment #ill no# ha$e to "et the concurrence of the Centre in cases in$esti"ated by Central a"encies before it

can use its po#er of remission to release con$icts Also, the sentences they are under"oin" must be for crimes relatin"

to sub(ects fallin" under the Union "o$ernment’s e'ecuti$e po#ers !he court re(ected the idea that a State "o$ernment

can remit prison terms on its o#n #ithout follo#in" the prescribed procedure A lesson to be dra#n from this episode

is that the release of prisoners ou"ht to be dealt #ith on merits on a case+by+case basis by follo#in" statutory

procedures and not throu"h #himsical or partisan acts of political misad$enture

2?

A <+!7a+ &<( !* re+&e* a US Fe- (&/e rate!he Asian Age M CategoryK /conomy

.ith the US Federal Reser$e finally raisin" the interest rate by a >uarter per cent, as #as e'pected after se$en years of

a near *ero rate re"ime, the "lobal stoc) mar)ets breathed a hea$y si"h of relief !he Indian mar)ets, too, #ere robust

and the Sense' closed 4?< points up after #ee)s of instability !he dollar also stren"thened and "old lost some of its

sheen, as #as e'pected R5I "o$ernor Ra"huram Ra(an had e'pressed confidence that the Indian mar)ets and

economy #ere #ell placed to meet any fallout of the Fed hi)e !his is such a contrast to 3ay 2?14 #hen the Fed had

indicated that it #as thin)in" of hi)in" rates Since then the "lobal mar)ets Q both e>uity and currency Q had been

badly hit

!he Fed’s announcement had created hu"e $olatility that affected all economies and mauled their currencies

Fortunately India reco$ered as Dr Ra(an made all the ri"ht mo$es to cushion the economy a"ainst $olatility and the"o$ernment too) measures to stren"then the economy Some analysts no# see the rupee tradin" in a band of V89 to V8<

a"ainst the dollar in the ne't year, but analysts are not al#ays ri"ht India should #orry more about China

depreciatin" the yuan as the t#o countries $ie for the same mar)ets and such a mo$e #ould also ma)e Chinese

imports cheaper





9<

Indian industry is already reelin" under dumpin" of "oods by China, specially steel Companies that ha$e hi"h

e'posure to dollar loans throu"h the e'ternal commercial borro#in" route #ill face a problem as the dollar stren"thens

and ma)es their debt more e'pensi$e Also, companies that ha$e si"nificant in$estment from forei"n institutional

in$estors FIIs may face a fe# problems if the FIIs decide to #ithdra# some of their in$estments

Fed chief Banet ellen indicated that the season of ti"ht monetary policy had started but it #ould be "radual as they

#ould #atch the impact of this hi)e She said they #ould ha$e an accommodati$e policy that #ould depend on the

state of the economy 5ut for no# the uncertainty o$er #hether or not the Fed #ould raise the rate is o$er and it #ill

be some time before the "uessin" "ame starts for the ne't hi)e

Recent hi)e also indicates that the Fed feels the reco$ery of the US economy is stron"er than en$isa"ed earlier and that

there has been "ro#th in pri$ate spendin" and an impro$ement in the housin" sector and labour mar)et !his is "ood

ne#s for e'portin" countries o#e$er, the Fed’s inflation tar"et of t#o per cent is still a lon" #ay off and this, too,

#ould play a part in the Fed’s ne't mo$e

25 I++&7era+ +a" r!++ &t 7a)/


Scan aryana’s statistics on )ey social indicators, and the picture that emer"es is dispiritin" For e'ample, in this State

of rich farmers and net#or)ed urban centres, 61 per cent of Scheduled Caste SC men ha$e not cleared class :L and 8:

per cent of SC #omen ha$e not made it to class 7 Rou"hly 67 per cent of rural households do not ha$e a toilet, and

amon" SC households that fi"ure rises to 77 per cent 0ut to"ether, it is a picture of failure of the "o$ernment to fulfil

the part of the essential contract that binds state and citi*ens= to pro$ide the rule of la# and social ser$ices It #as,

therefore, an odd call to action by the aryana "o$ernment earlier this year #hen it passed the aryana 0anchayati

Ra( Amendment Act to debar e'actly these citi*ens failed by the state from standin" for panchayat elections In a #eb

of dis>ualifications, the full e'clusionary potential of #hich is still not precisely calculated, the la# debars fromcontestin" men #ho ha$e not completed matriculation, #omen #ho ha$e not cleared class : #ith the correspondin"

>ualifications for SC men bein" class : and for SC #omen class 7, people #ho ha$en’t paid arrears for specified

a"ricultural loans or electricity bills, and those #ho do not ha$e a functional toilet at home !he la# #as challen"ed in

court, and recently the challen"e #as set aside by the Supreme Court

It is unli)ely that the "o$ernment #ill file a re$ie# petition, "i$en that the 5haratiya Banata 0arty is in po#er in

aryana and at the Centre o#e$er, the case a"ainst the la# must be made politically, and emphatically so For one,

#hat the courts ha$e done is to uphold the po#er of the State le"islatures to enact such la#s Q it follo#s that ci$il

society must persuade political parties to rethin) such >ualifications, and to repeal the amendment in aryana

specifically and desist from introducin" such le"islation in other States A liberal democracy must of necessity refrain

from certifyin" #ho may contest elections to represent the people It is dan"erously illiberal to debar citi*ens from

contestin" elections #hen they are able to fulfil their responsibilities as panchs, or le"islators, as the case may be

Indeed, curbs on particular cate"ories of people, instead of indi$iduals in breach of particular la#s, from contestin"

elections carries the imprint of authoritarianism, and such restrictions ha$e predictably been popular #ith military

(untas, from 0er$e* 3usharraf’s 0a)istan only colle"e "raduates could contest to present+day 3yanmar the bar on

those #ith forei"n nationals as spouses or children is ob$iously tar"eted at Aun" San Suu Kyi For yet another State in

India to (oin their ran)s, e$en if it is for panchayat elections, is a setbac) for the #orld’s lar"est democracy

23 D! r&<(t 7% I$-&a’ rea+ NRI

!he Dindu M CategoryK 4ndia and 9orld

&$ery detail of the latest story of abuse of Indian #or)ers in .est Asia is both horrifyin" and painfully emblematic ofthe condition of Indian mi"rants to these countries !hree men from Kerala paid an a"ent to "et them employment in

emen, but they #ere ta)en to Saudi Arabia instead !hey #ere trained electricians but #ere made to #or) in a bric)

factory !hey #ere beaten by their employer #ith a #ooden plan) for refusin" to do the #or), the torture captured on

camera and sent home to their families !heirs is far from the first such story of entrapment, deceit and abuse In

October, a #oman #or)er from !amil /adu said that her Saudi employer had tried to chop off her hand #hen she





:?

tried to escape In September, a $ideo emer"ed online #hich seemed to sho# the abuse of an Indian construction

#or)er by his Saudi super$isor Bournalists in$esti"atin" the construction of the 2?22 FIFA International Federation of

Association Football .orld Cup infrastructure in ;atar found Indian #or)ers #ere amon" those li$in" in cramped

accommodation for lo# #a"es and lon" hours under often e'ploitati$e contracts Recently, &'ternal Affairs 3inister

Sushma S#ara( told 0arliament that there #ere o$er 9,6?? complaints of e'ploitation made by Indian #or)ers in %ulf

countries in 2?17 alone

!here are o$er 8 million Indian #or)ers in .est Asia, formin" a >uarter of the re"ion’s total e'patriate #or)force,

includin" 2: million in the UA&, 1: million in Saudi Arabia, and o$er half a million each in ;atar, Ku#ait and Oman

3oney repatriated to India from the %ulf countries #as G429 billion in 2?16, compared to G1? billion from the US

!he International abour Or"anisation estimates that many of the 8??,??? #or)ers in the re"ion #ho are $ictims of

forced labour are Indian citi*ens In fact, the chain of e'ploitation be"ins at the recruitment and mi"ration sta"e in

India, as #as the case #ith the men from Kerala in Saudi Arabia Q a police officer in fact put them in touch #ith the

a"ent !he 3inistry of &'ternal Affairs is a#are of the problemL and 3s S#ara( has been >uic) to respond to outra"eo$er such incidents, offerin" help and support o#e$er, there has not yet been a lastin" fi' to the problemL

recruitment remains lar"ely unre"ulated, India’s push for hi"her #a"es remains unfulfilled, and protections for Indian

#or)ers once they disco$er the nature of their employment are often difficult to come by 3any of these #or)ers are

lea$in" behind impo$erished li$es, and mi"ht not al#ays be in a position to assert their ri"hts in the hope of a better

life for their families !hese are India’s real /RIs /on+Resident Indians Q in numbers and in terms of remittances

and in$estment in their home countries India must do better by them

2@ A )ra( &$ !&+ ;r&)e (a !;e$e- u; ;!+&t&)a+ ;a)e *!r re*!r,

!he !imes Of India E Cate"ory= &conomy

!he collapse in the price of oil has pro$ided the /arendra 3odi "o$ernment a luc)y brea) !#o years a"o, India’seconomy seemed $ulnerable to e'ternal shoc)s !oday, follo#in" a $irtuous cycle tri""ered by crashin" oil prices,

economic fundamentals are relati$ely robust For e'ample, e$en a ti"htenin" of US monetary policy has left India’s

financial mar)ets unscathed

An economy relati$ely insulated from shoc)s represents an opportunity for /DA /ational Democratic Alliance It

has opened up political space to carry out institutional reforms !his is an opportunity that must be sei*ed All that is

re>uired is political #ill

!o "et a sense of #hat this crash has meant, consider some facts In the first se$en months of the financial year, India

imported 9 more petroleum products by $olume !he bill, ho#e$er, #as lo#er by 64 !o /DA’s credit, it used the

opportunity to phase out subsidy on retail price of diesel 5ut the "o$ernment also raised ta'es repeatedly on petrol

and diesel to limit consumer "ains If a crash in oil price allo#ed /DA to enhance ta'es #ithout a public outcry, it

should ma)e sure that #indfall re$enue is #isely spent For instance, it should see throu"h its plan of enhancin"

public in$estment in infrastructure as a #ay to boost economic "ro#th

3oreo$er, it is un#ise to #ait for a more propitious moment for bi"+tic)et reforms as it is premature to #rite off a

cartel such as Opec Or"ani*ation of the 0etroleum &'portin" Countries A year’s fall in oil price has already be"un to

)noc) out some recent entrants in shale oil production and some Opec members such as Saudi Arabia may e$entually

"et more influential

!herefore, the current situation must be $ie#ed as an opportunity to roll out delayed reforms such as cash transfers in

place of product subsidies as #ell as in critical areas such as labour la#s, land ac>uisition and education

2 A "&$"&$ ,!e

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK Social

!he Union "o$ernment’s decision to amend the la# in order to "uarantee #omen #or)in" in the pri$ate sector 28

#ee)s’ maternity lea$e, up from the 12 #ee)s they are no# entitled to, must be unconditionally #elcomed It must be

commended not (ust by those #ho ha$e sta)es in creatin" an en$ironment for the #or)in" #oman that is more (ust

and enablin" It must be #elcomed, most of all, by corporate leaders #ho may be #orryin" #hat this #ill mean for





:1

bottomlines For "enerations no#, ha$in" a child has meant a"onisin" choices for #or)in" #omen, many of #hom

ha$e been forced to put their careers on hold to nurture children throu"h the first critical #ee)s 3any companies, in

turn, ha$e been hesitant to in$est in #omen employees #ho they belie$e #ill lea$e to ha$e children Q doublin" the

barrier to a successful career .omen and Child De$elopment 3inister 3ane)a %andhi has noted that the amended

la# #ill enable #omen to breast+feed children for as lon" as needed !his #ill ha$e substantial benefits, #ith parents

ha$in" to ta)e less time off later to deal #ith childhood illnesses 0aid lea$e, in &urope, researchers from the

Uni$ersity of /orth Carolina ha$e sho#n, has a close relationship #ith reduced infant mortality rates and child health

5ut most importantly, the ne# la# #ill allo# #omen, a "ro#in" part of the pri$ate+sector #or)force, not to ha$e to

choose bet#een children and #or) on"er maternity lea$e #ill allo# companies to retain e'pertise, build loyalty, and

a$oid costly staff turno$er

ar"e s#athes of data on the positi$e effects of e'tended paid maternity lea$e ha$e emer"ed from the United States Q

a country #hich la"s far behind the norm for de$eloped countries ou!ube Chief &'ecuti$e Officer Susan .o(cic)i

has #ritten that the rate at #hich ne# mothers left %oo"le fell by a sta""erin" 7? per cent after it increased paidmaternity lea$e from 12 to 1: #ee)s A Rut"ers Uni$ersity study, li)e#ise, found #omen #ho too) ad$anta"e of the

state of /e# Bersey’s relati$ely "enerous family lea$e policies, #ere far more li)ely to be in employment nine to 12

months after the birth of a child

!his is a "ood time for India to debate #hether similar enablin" pro$isions for fathers ou"ht to be introduced Israeli

medical research has sho#n that father+child bondin" increased #hen they too) paternal lea$e, because of biochemical

chan"es that too) place in men’s brains !his, in turn, led to the better economic outcomes that are associated #ith

stable families From S#eden, moreo$er, there’s e$idence that #omens’ incomes increased an a$era"e of 9 per cent per

annum for e$ery month their partners too) off #or) to help #ith child+care !he case for the ne# la# is simple= 5etter+

off employees’ families mean better+off companies !he only >uestion about this #in+#in mo$e is #hy it has ta)en

India so lon" to ma)e it

2

Ne" !+- *r&e$-

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK 4ndia and 9orld

0rime 3inister /arendra 3odi’s meetin" #ith 0resident ladimir 0utin, the 18th in the series of annual summits

bet#een India and Russia, is ar"uably of "reater "eopolitical si"nificance than any before it !hou"h the public

ta)ea#ays from this summit ha$e to do #ith defence and economic cooperation, the most important con$ersations #ill

ha$e ta)en place behind closed doors !he re"ion is unsettled as ne$er before, holdin" out threats to both countries

!he rise of the Islamic State has empo#ered (ihadists #ho threaten Russia, leadin" it to inter$ene in SyriaL India, for its

part, )no#s that the "rim forces that ha$e risen in .est Asia could imperil its ener"y security and remittance

re$enues !he resur"ence of the !aliban in Af"hanistan, too, has caused "reat concern in both 3osco# and /e# Delhi,

raisin" as it does the prospect of a ne# (ihadist+ruled space in the centre of Asia India and Russia don’t see eye+to+eye

on all these issues In Af"hanistan, for e'ample, Russia has been see)in" an alliance #ith the !aliban and 0a)istan to

hold bac) the Islamic StateL India sees both as the source of the problem !he t#o leaders #ill ha$e #al)ed a#ay #ith

a clearer understandin" of their positions after recent one+on+one meetin", but buildin" a common platform #ill need

focused #or)

0art of the problem has been that Delhi’s sin"le+minded pursuit of its strate"ic relationship #ith the United States has

led 3osco# to reappraise the $alue of the bilateral relationship Delhi has responded #ith a sle# of military deals,

notably the co+manufacture of Kamo$ 228 helicopters and the purchase of the S+6?? !riumf air+defence system

A"reements are due to be finalised for #or) on ne# reactors at the Kundan)ulam nuclear po#er plant in !amil /adu

!he t#o countries ha$e also committed to raisin" bilateral trade from G1? billion a year to G4? billion inside a decade

&ner"y+hun"ry India is, in particular, see)in" "reater access to Russia’s hydrocarbon resourcesIt #ill ta)e more than defence or po#er deals, thou"h, to "i$e the India+Russia relationship the depth and si"nificance

it ou"ht to ha$e !hou"h India’s relationship #ith the US is of enormous strate"ic si"nificance, so too is its relationship

#ith )ey po#ers li)e Russia !he central fact of American po#er is .ashin"ton’s "ro#in" un#illin"ness to ris) the

li$es of its soldiers in distant #ars, the conse>uence of a public that has tired of international commitments on"

considered a mar"inal actor, Russia has sho#n that it can, and #ill, step up to the plate in Asia In future, India #ill





:2

need a $ariety of re"ional and bi"+po#er partners to pursue its interests in a comple' #orld Russia #ill, #ithout

doubt, be amon" the most important of them

60 O$+% *!r t(e r&)(#


Sometimes, #hen the state is faced #ith a le"al challen"e to its policy, all it needs to impress the (udiciary is to ma)e a

suitably pious claim Kerala, a State that accounts for nearly 16 per cent of the country’s li>uor consumption as #ell as

one that boasts of 1?? per cent literacy, has mana"ed to con$ince the hi"hest court in the land that its policy of

restrictin" bars that ser$e li>uor to fi$e+star hotels #ill brin" do#n drin)in" It has successfully claimed that if li>uor is

made prohibiti$ely e'pensi$e, the State’s youth #ould be practically compelled to abstain from public consumption

of alcoholT !he court has accepted its ar"ument that its ob(ecti$e #as to prohibit all public consumption of alcohol,

and that the only reason it made an e'ception in fa$our of fi$e+star hotels #as in the interest of tourism !he court seesno arbitrariness or caprice in this, sayin" e$en if it appears that there may be close similarities bet#een fi$e+star hotels

and four+star or @herita"e’ hotels, it is the preser$e of the "o$ernment to differentiate bet#een them !he (ud"ment

stri)es at the root of non+discriminatory treatment under the Constitution merely on the "round that the issue in$ol$ed

is the business of li>uor At one point, it reco"nises that a ri"ht to trade in li>uor e'ists, and that once the State permits

it any restriction on it has to be reasonable et, it "oes on to hold that a moratorium on other cate"ories of hotels is not

arbitrary or unreasonable because the potable li>uor business, "i$en supposed public health concerns, is res e'tra

commercium, or a thin" outside commerceT

!he reasonin" behind the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Kerala’s latest li>uor policy is t#ofold First, it

une'ceptionably roots its $erdict in the rule that courts ou"ht to be #ary of interferin" in policy matters Secondly, and

some#hat contro$ersially, it accepts a discriminatory classification in fa$our of fi$e+star hotels !he e'ception on the

"round of tourism is >uite curious because tourists, both forei"n and domestic, are not dra#n from the upper echelonsof society alone !he court notes that no one is barred from up"radin" their hotels to fi$e+star "rade, yet it seems to

ha$e accepted a contention by the "o$ernment that it #as not allo#in" bars in four+star hotels because three+star hotels

may "et themsel$es up"raded to four+star status^ .hile total prohibition may be a laudable ob(ecti$e and one of the

Directi$e 0rinciples of State 0olicy, it is doubtful #hether confinin" drin)in" to homes and pri$ate spaces by itself #ill

brin" do#n consumption In a non+permissi$e society, it may only result in con$ertin" drin)in" into a co$ert acti$ity,

a phenomenon re>uirin" policin" and also brin"in" corruption in its #a)e !he $erdict places a hea$y burden on the

State to rehabilitate those left unemployed by the closure of hundreds of bars, as #ell as to ma)e its policy succeed It

also needs to ensure that the s#eepin" discretion conferred on it to differentiate bet#een classes of licensees is not

misused for any e'traneous considerations

61 S(!rt&<(te- (&/e &$ US &a *ee


!he 5arac) Obama administration’s decision to raise the $isa fee for s)illed professionals see)in" temporary #or) in

the US is set to hit Indian companies in the I! Information technolo"y sector /asscom /ational Association of

Soft#are and Ser$ices Companies puts the e'pected losses at about G6?? million a year !he de$elopment comes in the

run+up to the 2?18 presidential elections #hen fear+mon"erin" about American (obs @"oin" to forei"ners’ ine$itably

becomes part of the political rhetoric !he G1:+trillion ta' and spendin" bill, #hich authorises the doublin" of the fee

for certain cate"ories of 15 and 1 $isas to G6,??? and G6,7??, respecti$ely, and #as si"ned into la# by 3r Obama,

has raised concerns in India Bust as capital+surplus countries pitch for easier entry for their capital, India Q #ith o$er

87 per cent of its 127 billion people belo# the a"e of 47 Q ma)es the case for free labour mo$ement Althou"h Indiahas the options to ta)e retaliatory steps or mo$e the .orld !rade Or"anisation’s .!O dispute settlement panel, the

best course #ould be to amicably resol$e the issue at the diplomatic le$el !o successfully challen"e the increase before

a .!O panel, India #ill ha$e to pro$e the discriminatory nature of the fee hi)e on Indian firms $is+_+$is their

competitors from other countries !hat is challen"in" since some Indian I! ma(ors such as Infosys ha$e said the





:4

American mo$e #ill not impact the sector much !a)in" tit+for+tat steps #ould mean )illin" the "oal of boostin"

bilateral trade from G1?? billion today to G7?? billion in the ne't fe# years

American and Indian policyma)ers need to focus on the lar"er picture Bust as a labour+surplus India, a nation #ith

hi"h po$erty le$els #ith almost 4?? million people, close to the entire population of the US, li$in" on G1 a day, #ill

need to "radually ease restrictions on capital inflo#s, a capital+rich US #ith a loomin" labour shorta"e due to the

"ro#in" retiree population #ill ha$e to loo) at remo$in" curbs on labour mobility sooner than later US authorities

and la#ma)ers must also realise that their o#n corporations trust Indian I! ser$ice pro$iders not (ust for their >uoted

rates but for their ability to "et the (ob done 3ore importantly, as a /asscom report of September 2?17 points out,

India+based I! companies pro$idin" ser$ices to American businesses and other customers in$ested o$er G2 billion

bet#een 2?11 and 2?14, and paid G227 billion in ta'es to the US !reasury in those yearsL in fact, they supported more

than 611,??? direct and indirect (obs in the US, includin" 4??,??? held by US citi*ens and permanent residents In

this period, o$er 12?,??? Americans benefited from philanthropic acti$ities by Indian I! companies, #hich focussed on

educatin" more Americans in science, technolo"y, en"ineerin" and mathematics S!&3 s)ills Such contributionsapart, the US must absorb the lar"er point it often ma)es to others= a "lobalisin" #orld see)s "reater interdependence,

and not hi"her #alls

62 Re)!$)&+&at&!$ &$ "a&t&$<

ioneer M CategoryK #ation

!he release on bail of United iberation Front of Asom Ulfa founder and "eneral secretary Anup Chetia pa$es the

#ay for reconciliation tal)s bet#een the Centre and the Ulfa leadership #hich has come on board to establish peace in

the /orth+&ast and Assam in particular It helps that both the Centre and the %o$ernment of Assam are on the same

pa"e on the issue It had been #idely e'pected that ChetiaHs arrest in 5an"ladesh and return to India in /o$ember

#ould ener"ise tal)s bet#een the Union %o$ernment and the insur"ent or"anisation Q or at least its ma(or part o#in"alle"iance to Chetia and others #ho ha$e a"reed to sit across the table and resol$e issues So far, the story has "one

accordin" to the script Chetia has not been absol$ed of the char"es that he faces in a special court in %u#ahati, but the

fact that he has secured bail in the four last cases in #hich he is bein" tried, indicates that it is a matter of time before

the le"al matters "et sorted out for "ood Of course, a "reat deal in that direction depends on de$elopments in the

comin" time and ChetiaHs response to the peace process For no#, there is no reason to belie$e that he #ill not

cooperate After all, he has been sayin" the ri"ht thin"sL he has, for instance, e'pressed re"ret for UlfaHs errorsT and

stated his commitment to #or) alon"side nationalistT or"anisations Chetia has also resol$ed to #or) for a peaceful

settlement of the Indo+Assam conflictT .hile his hyphenation of India #ith Assam Q almost "i$in" the impression

that the t#o are different Q may cause some eyebro#s to be raised, it must not be "i$en e'a""erated importance in the

fresh en$ironment of "i$e+and+ta)e that pre$ails !he other #elcome remar) from the Ulfa leader is that he #ill not

misuse the bail he has been "ranted, to "o under"roundL he did that after he had met then 0rime 3inister /arasimha

Rao in 1<<2 is commitment to the #elfare of the indi"enous communities of AssamT cannot be faulted, because

therein lies the cru' of a fresh accord

!here are t#o challen"es that lie ahead !he first is to sustain the initial success of #hat can at best be termed as a

tentati$e be"innin" !here #ill be hiccups since three sta)eholders are associated #ith the tal)s Q the Centre, the

Assam %o$ernment and the pro+tal)s faction of Ulfa Q and each ha$e had different and lon"+held perspecti$es on the

matter All of them ha$e to no# thin) out of the bo' for a solution to be arri$ed at !he other challen"e emanates from

the anti+tal)s section, primarily the one led by hardline Ulfa leader 0aresh 5arua e remains the party pooper and

there is no indication as of yet that he is #illin" to "i$e up his demand for so$erei"nty for Assam and its

dismemberment from the Indian Union opefully, 5arua #ill either come on board or be mar"inalised as thereconciliation process "ains "round and be"ins to e$ol$e to#ards lastin" peace in the re"ion

66 C(a&,! "&$- -!"$

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK 4nternational





:6

!he opposition Democratic Unity 3UD alliance’s o$er#helmin" $ictory in ene*uela’s le"islati$e elections is not,

technically, the end of the 5oli$arian Re$olutionT 5ut, for all practical purposes, 0resident /icolas 3aduro’s United

Socialist 0arty 0SU is starin" at the end of Cha$ismo after 18 years of absolute dominance !he opposition has #on

a superma(orityT, #ith 1?< out of 189 seats !he 3UD can no# ma)e constitutional amendments and e$en initiate the

process for 3aduro’s recall election, #hich, ne$ertheless, can’t happen before April 2?18, #hen he reaches the

midpoint of his term Althou"h "o$ernin" po#er rests in the e'ecuti$e presidency, it may "et difficult for 3aduro to

pass le"islation And the 3UD’s o#n la#s can be held up by 0SU members #ho staff all state institutions

!he late u"o Cha$e* brou"ht in a socialist paradi"m and then perpetuated it throu"h the ballot, usin" ene*uela’s

oil re$enue to offer the poor subsidies and freebies !hat eased the e'istential stru""le in the barrios but, as often

happens #ith lar"escale redistribution, it ruined the economy .hen oil prices crashed from G16? to G6?, the 5oli$arian

re$olution #as doomed Cha$e*’s handpic)ed successor #as not his match in capability and charisma As essential

"oods disappeared because of price caps and ene*uelan stores became synonymous #ith mile+lon" >ueues, as

inflation soared past 1?? per cent and the economy shran) by 1? per cent, many $oted for the opposition (ust to put anend to their daily stru""le for food

Comin" close on the heels of Ar"entina’s presidential election, the 3UD’s $ictory has added to the slide in the left’s

fortunes in atin America Instead of loc)in" horns from day one, the 3UD and 3aduro #ill need to #or) to"ether on

the economy .ith the situation predicted to #orsen ne't year, the 3UD #ill find it politically difficult to #ithdra#

populist policies, but 3aduro may ha$e to learn the necessity of economic reform

6?

Hea+ t(%e+*

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK Dealth

et a"ain, the ancet has cut deep For the second time this year, the premier medical publication has sniffed at the

Indian "o$ernment for bein" inattenti$e to public health In September, it had published data su""estin" that India#ould miss the tar"et of less than 62 child deaths in the under+fi$e cate"ory per 1,??? li$e births by the end of 2?17

/o#, it has pulled up the /arendra 3odi "o$ernment for defaultin" on its election promise of uni$ersal health

co$era"e !he public health debate tends to concern the containment of communicable and non+communicable

diseases, but the (ournal has mo$ed the focus to the costs associated #ith mana"in" them And since the study #as

piloted by seasoned Indian researchers led by i)ram 0atel and K Srinath Reddy, its findin"s cannot be easily

dismissed

!he ancet paper, Assurin" ealth Co$era"e for All in IndiaT, ran)s India lo#est amon" the 5RICS 5ra*il, Russia,

India, China and South Africa countries for its failure to contain out+of+ poc)et e'penses for healthcare, #hich further

impo$erish the poor #hile denyin" them $alue Indeed, India bears a disproportionate share of the "lobal burden of

disease, and this has not been fallin" as e'pected in recent years On the other hand, the bud"etary allocation for health

has fallen by ?7 per cent of the %D0 o$er the last decade, rou"hly spea)in" %i$en the inflationary sur"es seen after

the meltdo#n of 2??:, the real decline in allocation may be e$en steeper than the numbers su""est !he ob$ious

remedies are to increase public spendin" #hile re"ulatin" pri$ate enterprise in order to deny it #indfall "ains at the

e'pense of the common "ood In addition, primary care must be "i$en primal importance and some ima"ination is

needed to close the "ap bet#een demand and supply of medical staff #here it is needed most, in rural areas

In the literature, public health is one of the components of the idea of common securityT, #hich de$eloped the

concept of security beyond the traditional ambit of military and "eopolitical concerns o#e$er, the problem is as

easily stated in terms of the more readily accessible idea of national security= A nation #ith a population featurin" hi"h

morbidity and mortality due to pre$entable factors is at ris) /either can it actualise its full potential, nor can it

compete effecti$ely #ith its peers in the "lobal mar)etplace Surprisin"ly, for decades, this simple truth has not been

ade>uately reflected in policy

65 M&e- )a++: D&<&ta+ I$-&a "&++ $!t u))ee- &* I$-&a’ ICT a))e )!$t&$ue t! 7e ! +!"

!he !imes >f 4ndia M CategoryK Science and !echnology





:7

!he IC! De$elopment Inde' of the International !elecommunication Union, #hich measures countries on their le$el of

information, communication and technolo"y IC! access, has ran)ed India at 141out of 189 countries .hat’s more,

only 1: of India’s population ha$e access to the net as a"ainst 646 of the "lobal population

!he data do not au"ur #ell for 0rime 3inister /arendra 3odi’s Di"ital India pro"ramme !he cornerstone of the

pro"ramme is internet connecti$ity and brea)in" the di"ital di$ide bet#een to#n and country 5ut #ith internet

penetration continuin" to be dismal, that tas) seems dauntin" A"ain, since <? of internet users in India access it

throu"h their mobile handsets, efficient mobile connecti$ity is crucial to the success of Di"ital India Unfortunately,

despite the hu"e proliferation of mobile telephony in the country accordin" to !rai, India’s total mobile subscriber

base stands at <:?:1 million the >uality of net#or) connecti$ity lea$es a lot to be desired

!elecom minister Ra$i Shan)ar 0rasad has declared that he does not #ish to be )no#n as call drop ministerT An

e'cellent sentiment, no doubt 5ut for mobile connecti$ity to impro$e, both "o$ernment and industry ha$e to adopt

the ri"ht measures .hile telcos telecommunications companies need to in$est in better infrastructure, "o$ernment

must release more spectrum at competiti$e prices Indian telcos command a fraction of the spectrum that "lobal onesdo, #hich is one reason for the hi"h incidence of call drops here Spectrum sharin" and tradin" must be allo#ed to add

to the spectrum pool Other#ise #e #ill continue to lan"uish at the bottom of the "lobal IC! heap and Di"ital India

#ill remain a distant dream

63 I$ &++ (ea+t(

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK /conomy

!he latest financial stability report FSR of the Reser$e 5an) of India R5I hi"hli"hts the #orsenin" state of India’s

ban)in" sector !o a "reat e'tent, the story is about the poor financial state of public sector ban)s 0S5s, #hich

account for almost 9? per cent of the total assets in the ban)in" space Close on the heels of the mid+year economic

re$ie#, #hich sho#ed that economic "ro#th is deceleratin", the FSR paints a "rim picture !he ban)in" stabilityindicator sho#s that ris)s to the ban)in" sector increased since the publication of the pre$ious FSR, mainly on account

of deterioratin" asset >uality, lo#er soundness and slu""ish profitability,T it says Bust bet#een 3arch and September

this year, net /0As /on+performin" assets as a percenta"e of total net ad$ances ha$e increased to 2: per cent from

27 per cent !he public sector is the bi""est culprit, by a lar"e mar"in 0S5s ha$e recorded the hi"hest le$el of stressed

assets 161 per cent, much hi"her than in the pri$ate sector 68 per cent and amon" forei"n ban)s 46 per cent

.hat this means is that, on the one hand, "ro#th is falterin" and on the other, the main financiers of a possible

reco$ery are sin)in" deeper in trouble

!he health of the ban)in" sector started #orsenin" since 2?11, in the aftermath of the financial crisis !he problem lies

#ith the #ay 0S5 boards are run !here is enou"h e$idence Q includin" in the 0B /aya) committee report released

last year Q to pro$e that in comparison to pri$ate sector ban)s, 0S5 boards are neither dri$en by the profit moti$e nor

de$elopmental concerns !he problem lies in the #ay the ban) board members are appointed and the #ays in #hich

they function Research sho#s that the number of ris)+related issues discussed by 0S5 boards is ne"ati$ely correlated

#ith the net /0As as a percenta"e of ad$ances

On the face of it, the /DA "o$ernment has ta)en steps to remedy the situation At the start of the year, 0rime 3inister

/arendra 3odi made it clear that political interference #ill be brou"ht do#n Recently, the "o$ernment launched

IndradhanushT, a se$en+point action plan, to reform the re"ulatory frame#or) 5ut, in reality, there has been no real

structural reform, li)e dilutin" the "o$ernment’s sta)e in 0S5s to belo# 71 per cent and lettin" them function more

freely !he FSR sho#s that the delay in usherin" in reforms is be"innin" to ta)e a toll If some action is not ta)en soon,

India’s "ro#th story #ill be hurt further





:8

6@ I$te++e)tua+ ;&ra)% &ue

ioneer M CategoryK Science and !echnology!hat there is no credible fi"ure on ho# much the Indian film and music industry loses e$ery year due to $arious forms

of copyri"ht $iolations, because there is simply no #ay to estimate ho# much material is bein" pirated in the first

place, spea)s $olumes about the enormity of the problem Recently, film+ma)ers and others associated #ith the

industry discussed the issue at the International Film Festi$al of Kerala and appealed to the %o$ernment to fi"ht

piracy more effecti$ely

As the panelists obser$ed, piracy is hardly ne# In pre$ious years, camcorder recordin"s of film screenin"s #ere the

ra"eL then came the pirated CDs and DDs #hich #ere sold or rented by nei"hbourhood $endors for a fistful of

rupees !oday, much of the piracy business has mo$ed online= Films as #ell as tele$ision sho#s, music albums and

e$en $ideo "ames can be do#nloaded or streamed for free #ithin days or hours of their release !he battle a"ainst

piracy is also one that is bein" fou"ht for a lon" time Q e$en until a fe# years a"o, one #ould hear of police raids in

places li)e DelhiHs 0ali)a 5a*aar and 3umbaiHs amin"ton Road, #hich #ere hotbeds for counterfeit "oods

!oday, online piracy poses a ne# )ind of problem Q the Internet is too bi" and too complicated to be monitored by

any one institution or a"ency If the %o$ernment shuts do#n one or e$en a 1?? sites hostin" ille"al content,

innumerable others mushroom almost immediately A complete ban may ne$er be possible o#e$er, it is possible to

contain the dama"e, as some .estern countries #here piracy and copyri"ht $iolations are ta)en far more seriously

than in India, sho# 3ost recently, Dutch authorities ha$e reportedly struc) a deal #ith !he 0irates 5ay, allo#in" the

founders of the popular torrent+hostin" #ebsite to escape (ail+time in return for $oluntarily suspendin" their ille"al

acti$ities France has introduced a fairly effecti$e system, under #hich offenders are #arned three times before the

authorities crac) do#n on them

IndiaHs battle a"ainst piracy has its o#n uni>ue problems Q apart from the technolo"ical challen"es of enforcement

and the sociolo"ical factors that push piracy far do#n the priority list, the countryHs film industry doesnHt seem to beta)in" much of an initiati$e in this re"ard et, e$en at the start of this decade, there #as more noise about piracy and

ho# it #ould ha$e a debilitatin" impact on the film industry !oday, e$en the anti+piracy coalition of bi" media

players Reliance &ntertainment, 3oser 5aer &ntertainment, U! 3otion 0ictures, &ros International and the 3otion

0icture Dist Association, India, is defunct !his is possibly because the film industry, particularly the one based in

3umbai, is ma)in" hundreds of crores of rupees despite rampant piracy 5ut one cannot afford to be complacent,

especially as international media "iants, such as /etfli', (ostle to enter the Indian industry #ith disrupti$e products

and technolo"ies

6 L&/e -%$a,&te

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK /conomyR5I Reser$e 5an) of India %o$ernor Ra"huram Ra(an has fla""ed, once a"ain, the dan"er of hea$y borro#in" or

o$er+le$era"in" by corporates, $oicin" the #orry of not (ust the central ban) but also the "o$ernment Ra(an told a

"atherin" of students in Kol)ata recently that debt is li)e dynamite, useful in the ri"ht places and e'plosi$e in othersT,

#hile callin" for moderation in debt+ta)in" Official data released recently confirms the ris)s of a debt pile+up Of the

bad loans of ban)s, a""re"atin" Rs 469 la)h crore, those of #ilful defaulters alone account for Rs 86,447 crore

Accordin" to R5I estimates, bad loans account for 11 per cent of all outstandin" loans of Indian ban)s, but Credit

Suisse rec)ons the fi"ure could be as hi"h as 19 per cent Credit Suisse also estimates that the "ross debt of 1? of India’s

most indebted industrial "roups has risen by 12 per cent since 2?14

3uch of the debt can be traced to the hu"e bet on infrastructure in$estments that a "roup of lar"e corporates too)

durin" the U0A United 0ro"ressi$e Alliance "o$ernment’s tenure, only for some of the pro(ects to unra$el o#in" to a

host of reasons, includin" problems #ith appro$als and a slo#do#n in the economy !hose borro#in"s are not only

hurtin" these "roups but also, and more importantly, many lenders, especially state+o#ned ban)s !he "o$ernment

and the R5I ha$e sou"ht to address the issue by pushin" ban)s to act a"ainst defaulters and throu"h initiati$es such as

strate"ic debt restructurin" to ta)e control of the companies 5ut results are bound to ta)e time to sho#, "i$en the slac)

in domestic capacity and the #ea) near+term prospects of a "lobal reco$ery





:9

!his cautionary tale of e'plosi$e corporate debt, ho#e$er, offers an opportunity to policyma)ers to push for much+

needed chan"es in India’s financial sector !o start #ith, re"ulators should ma)e it mandatory for top corporates and

business "roups to access funds from bond mar)ets or other intermediaries after fi'in" a cut+off for borro#in"s from

the ban)in" system Some of that is already happenin" Alon"side, the R5I should mo$e faster on broadenin" and

deepenin" India’s financial mar)ets to ensure financin" for India’s "ro#th It is also time to focus more on the

"o$ernance of institutions and firms /either the "o$ernment nor the R5I can afford to )ic) the can do#n the road

6 .r!"&$< $u)+ear tra-e

ioneer M CategoryK Science and !echnology

!he arri$al of the first shipment of uranium from Canada recently is a reminder of ho# this countryHs position in the

"lobal nuclear trade sector has come a full circle as #ell as ho# important this turnaround is if the fi"ht a"ainst climate

chan"e has to be ta)en to its lo"ical conclusion India recei$ed 27? tonnes of uranium, mined and milled at CamecoHs3cArthur Ri$er and Key a)e operations in the Canadian 0ro$ince of Sas)atche#an !he deli$ery comes ei"ht months

after India si"ned a uranium supply contract #ith Cameco, one of the #orldHs lar"est publicly traded uranium

companies, follo#in" the operationalisation of the nuclear deal #ith Canada !he bilateral a"reement had been si"ned

in September 2?14 but re>uired t#o years of ne"otiations on technical and commercial details before it could be

brou"ht into force in April this year Q durin" 0rime 3inister /arendra 3odiHs $isit to Canada /otably, Canada #as

one of the first countries to supply India #ith nuclear technolo"y but, li)e much of the .estern #orld, ended its

cooperation after IndiaHs first nuclear test in 1<96 For the ne't three decades, India #as shut out of the "lobal nuclear

trade re"ime, and it #as not until the India+US nuclear deal #as si"ned in 2??7 that the situation be"an to chan"e,

slo#ly but steadily As a pre+re>uisite for the India+US deal, the /uclear Suppliers %roup made an e'ception for India,

allo#in" it to en"a"e in nuclear commerce e$en thou"h it #as not a si"natory to the non+proliferation treaty /0!

!oday, India has nuclear trade a"reements #ith se$eral countries includin" Russia, France, Australia, the UK, Bapan,South Korea, Ar"entina, /amibia and 3on"olia !his is, of course, a testimony to IndiaHs impeccable non+proliferation

records, if not a tacit ac)no#led"ement of IndiaHs principled position of the /0! as an un(ust instrument &>ually

importantly, it is also the result of some >uiet pressure from seller in the nuclear mar)et that sees hu"e business

opportunities in a bi" buyer li)e India comin" into the fray It is not for nothin" that Sas)atche#an premier 5rad .all

has described the deli$ery of the first shipment of uranium to India as an economic milestone for our uranium minin"

industry and our 0ro$inceT

!hat the first deli$ery comes at a time #hen #orld leaders are tryin" hard to put to"ether a "lobal effort to fi"ht

climate chan"e, and India itself is playin" a lead role in this, maybe coincidental, but it is still of immense symbolic

$alue As a de$elopin" economy, India desperately needs more ener"y to fuel its economic "ro#th but it can no lon"er

rely hea$ily on coal for this purpose Rene#able sources ha$e been brou"ht into the ener"y bas)et and they are

pro"ressi$ely ma)in" for a lar"er percenta"e of the country’s ener"y mi' but cost and scale+ability are still ma(or

issues !his is #here nuclear ener"y, a clean and po#erful source, can help brid"e the "ap

?0 A +&$e &$ t(e "ater

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK /nvironment and /cology

An inter+ministerial "roup, includin" .ater Resources 3inister Uma 5harti, &n$ironment 3inister 0ra)ash Ba$ade)ar

and 0o#er 3inister 0iyush %oyal, has decided, in principle, that no ne# construction #ould be allo#ed on the Ri$er

%an"a or any of its tributaries !he decision, to be con$eyed to the Supreme Court, has been ta)en to ensure the ri$er’s

minimum en$ironmental flo# and protect the ecosystem that depends on it !his is a #elcome mo$e for t#o reasons

One, it sho#s the ac)no#led"ement, amon" policyma)ers, of the intricate set of factors that must be ta)en into accountto )eep ali$e and re(u$enate a ri$er system li)e the %an"a !#o, in the past, policyma)ers ha$e shied a#ay from

callin" a halt to po#er pro(ects that clearly threatened delicately balanced and e$en critically endan"ered ri$er

ecosystems On this occasion, 5harti has offered to compensate the si' hydroelectric po#er pro(ects &0s to be built

on the Ala)nanda and 5ha"irathi ri$er basins in Uttara)hand, out of the Rs 2?,??? crore appro$ed for /amami %an"e





::

!he decision re$i$es hope of not only re(u$enatin" the %an"a, but also of a$ertin" tra"edies li)e the Uttara)hand

floods in 2?14

!he se>uence of e$ents that led to the decision, ho#e$er, illustrates ho# "o$ernment departments often #or) at cross

purposes In the aftermath of the floods, the Supreme Court had prohibited the settin" up of any ne# &0s in

Uttara)hand In February this year, a four+member committee of the en$ironment ministry e$aluatin" the cluster of si'

&0s ar"ued a"ainst them In October, another e'pert body set up by the en$ironment ministry, #hich included the

Central .ater Commission #hich comes under the #ater resources ministry, o$erturned the first committee’s

recommendation And no#, yet another fi$e+member committee Q this time led by the secretary of the #ater

resources ministry Q has re$erted to the earlier decision a"ainst settin" up the &0s

A lar"e part of the problem is the lac) of ade>uate information about ecolo"ical flo#s !here is hardly any re"ulation

in this re"ard and "uidelines about #hat is optimal or desirable are s)etchy !here is little in terms of mappin" of

a>uatic fauna Dra#in" a line on &0s is (ust one element in the effort to arrest the decline !he Centre mi"ht also

#ant to reloo) at other schemes that sho# more ambition than ecolo"ical sense Q li)e the proposed lin)in" of 1?1ri$ers across the country

?1

A )!a+&t&!$ a<a&$t terr!r

ioneer M CategoryK 4nternational

!here are alliances and then there are alliances And this is #hat #e must )eep in mind in assessin" the ne#est

coalition bein" cobbled to"ether by Saudi Arabia to fi"ht the Islamic State !he "roupin" #ill be a 46+nation 3uslim

military force, head>uartered in Riyadh It is unclear if the team #ill put troops on the "roundL the responsibilities of

each member stateL and e$en its foundational mandate

!hou"h defeatin" the Islamic State in Syria and Ira> is the dri$in" force of the initiati$e, Deputy Cro#n 0rince

3ohammad bin Salman’s description of the alliance as one that #ill tac)le all terrorism in the name of Islam across the#orld, lea$es a lot of space for interpretation For e'ample, #ill the "roupin" also "o after 5o)o aram in /i"eria or,

more contro$ersially, fi"ht the internationally+reco"nised terror "roup e*bollah, #hich is part of the national unity

%o$ernment in 5eirutN !here are many such unans#ered >uestions, and thatHs possibly #hy many of the 44 3uslim+

ma(ority nations listed as members of the "roupin" ha$e responded in a lu)e#arm manner

For e'ample, 3alaysia has refused military help #hile Indonesia, #hich is on the list of countries supportin" the

alliance but not participatin", has said that it is still #aitin" for more details 0alestine has already distanced itselfL

#hile in ebanon, the 0rime 3inister and Forei"n 3inister are in disa"reement o$er #hether their country, home to a

lar"e Christian population, is part of the coalition 0a)istan said that it didnHt e$en )no# it #as on the list until after

the announcement Clearly, a lot of "round#or) is yet to be done For the moment, the alliance is little more than a

concept note at best

5ut e$en if the "roupin" does shape up as planned by the Saudis, it #ill still ha$e a lot of #ea)nesses For one, most of

the member states, be it 5ahrain or Somalia, donHt ha$e proper fi"htin" forcesL the fe# that do ha$e professional

militaries, li)e &"ypt or /i"eria, are cau"ht up in domestic troubles of their o#n In this conte't, it is interestin" to see

the Islamic nations that are not part of the "roupin" Q Al"eria #hich has successfully fou"ht the Al ;aeda and, of

course, Iran one of the fe# 3uslim countries that has a decent military

!he coalition, therefore, is not (ust an anti+terror forceL it is also a definiti$ely Sunni 3uslim "roup !his then raises

concerns about its becomin" a re"ional force a"ainst Iran Q #hich, by no coincidence, comes at a time #hen the Shia

nation is re"ainin" its footin" in the international sphere !his ma)es sense #hen $ie#ed from the $ie#point of Saudi

Arabia, #hich is not (ust see)in" to undercut Iran but also buy bac) bro#nie points in the .est, #here it has been

criticised for not doin" enou"h to clean the mess in its bac)yard, e$en as the US and its allies, #hich hardly face an

e'istensial threat from the Islamic State, do all the hea$y liftin"





:<

?2 Su$ t! $at&!$’ re)ue

ioneer M CategoryK /nvironment and /cology!he "lobal solar alliance, recently launched by 0rime 3inister /arendra 3odi alon" #ith 0resident Fran`ois ollande

at the U/ climate chan"e summit in 0aris, is a remar)able initiati$e oused #ithin the International A"ency for Solar

0olicy and Application, the alliance aims to brin" affordable solar ener"y to all as part of the lar"er "lobal effort to

fi"ht climate chan"e

If successful, it #ill not (ust help India and the other de$elopin" countries that are part of the pro"ramme defend their

people from the ra$a"es of climate chan"e and safe"uard their economic upliftment, it #ill be an important step

to#ards, clichXd as this may sound, sa$in" the only planet that #e call home /otably, the alliance is IndiaHs first ma(or

"lobal diplomatic initiati$e on a @hardH policy issue since non+ali"nment es, there #as the International o"a Day

ID earlier, but #hile that effort #as hu"ely successful, it had more symbolic $alue

It #ill be fair to say, ho#e$er, that the s)ills and e'periences the %o$ernment "ained #ith ID are bein" sharpened

#ith the solar alliance Q puttin" to"ether a pro(ect li)e this #herein so many countries ha$e to be brou"ht on the same

pa"e on a contentious issue, re>uires enormous diplomatic muscle !hat India has been able to deli$er on this count

adds to its credibility as an aspirin" "reat po#er It sho#s that India is not (ust tryin" to fit itself into e'istin" structures

or complainin" about e'istin" narrati$esL it’s also doin" its bit to shape a ne# "lobal architecture

ere, it is important to understand the bac)drop a"ainst #hich the solar alliance has been established= !he "roupin"

comes at a time #hen there is increasin" pressure on emer"in" economies li)e India to @"o "reenH Qe$en thou"h these

countries, #ith si"nificantly lo#er per capita carbon emissions, are yet to ha$e their o#n decades of unhindered

industrialisation of the sort that brou"ht prosperity to the .estern #orld !his issue is at the heart of the principle of

common but differentiated responsibility, #hich e$erybody supports on paper but is hi"hly contested by the .est in

reality

All these years, India has fou"ht bac) a"ainst @e'ceptionalH demands imposed upon it, but no# it too realises that theunfa$ourable nature of the climate chan"e discourse not#ithstandin", it has to ma)e the e'tra effort to "o "reen Q

because not doin" so #ill be detrimental to its citi*ens, thousands of #hom li$e on the frontlines of the climate chan"e

#ar 3oreo$er, the "lobal economy is mo$in" to#ards rene#able sources of ener"y, and s#immin" a"ainst the tide,

beyond a point, #ill ma)e little sense Q thin) of ho# funds dry+up in the fossil fuel sector #ill impact coal companies

In this situation, the 3odi %o$ernment has done #ell to embrace the challen"e and, hopefully, deal #ith it on its o#n

terms Currently, the bi""est problem #ith solar ener"y in particular and rene#ables in "eneral is that the technolo"y

for lar"e+scale use at affordable rates is not a$ailable Sure, the situation is impro$in", but thereHs still a lon" #ay to "o

!his is #here it helps to brin" on board other solar+rich countries and put up a collecti$e front !his #ill also help all

partners to effecti$ely utilise the hu"e amount of funds and technolo"y that is becomin" a$ailable in this sector in a

mutually beneficial manner

?6 U$*ree 7a&)

!he 4ndian /xpress M CategoryK Science and !echnology

!his summer sa# a full+throated battle o$er a notional toss+up bet#een t#o "oals= /et#or) neutrality Q the principle

that internet ser$ice pro$iders must treat all data on their net#or)s e>ually Q and access for those #ho cannot afford

it, a battle that net neutrality ad$ocates appeared to ha$e fortunately #on 5ut Faceboo), ha$in" chan"ed the

nomenclature of its platform from Internetor" to Free 5asics, has made a rene#ed push to persuade the telecom

re"ulator, !rai !elecom Re"ulatory Authority of India, to frame net neutrality rules in a #ay that #ould allo# mobile

carriers to e'empt certain applications from countin" to#ards data usa"e It has launched a massi$e publicity

campai"n that appeals to connected Indians to petition !rai to sa$e Free 5asics Q ar"uin" that the platform #ould

brin" those people online #ho find the cost of usin" mobile data prohibiti$ely e'pensi$e

In a country #here the "ro#th of fi'ed internet infrastructure has stalled and hundreds of millions remain offline, this

is a persuasi$e ar"ument !hat a lac) of internet access #idens ine>uality and limits opportunity is an increasin"ly

accepted notion, and a scheme that purports to narro#, if not brid"e, the di"ital di$ide is li)ely to resonate et,

creatin" "ate)eepin" systems Q #hich a pro"ramme li)e Faceboo)’s does, e$en if it claims all de$elopers can be part





<?

of it as lon" as they meet certain criteria Q has material conse>uences for ho# people percei$e and e'perience the

internet !he freeT in Free 5asics, for instance, is sub(ect entirely to Faceboo)’s, and its mobile operator partners’,

discretion

!he free+#heelin" inno$ation so central to the spectacular "ro#th of the internet #as made possible in no small part

by its openness and le$el playin" field, #hich allo#ed once+upstarts li)e %oo"le and Faceboo) to topple "iants .ith

smartphones and tablets becomin" the default "ate#ays to the .eb for more and more people, the desi"n of telecom

policy is crucial to ensurin" India doesn’t become home to a stratified, uncompetiti$e internet



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


<1

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY TTHHRREEEE|| AARRTTIICCLLEESS

1 Se)u+ar &$ ;&r&t a$- &$ +etter

!he DinduM CategoryK olity and overnance

Secularism is inherent in the basic structure of the Constitution. !he Dome inister cannot presume to forget

constitutional history, and assume that constitutional values such as secularism are 2ust meaningless words to be

redacted from a document......

On /o$ember 28, Constitution Day, Union ome 3inister Ra(nath Sin"h bemoaned in 0arliament that secularism #as

the most misusedT term in the country !he framers of the Constitution did not include the #ords @secular’ and

@socialist’ because these $alues #ere already part of Indian ci$ilisation,T said 3r Sin"h e #as essentially $oicin" a

belief that secularism #as alien to the Constitution, and that it #as only durin" the &mer"ency that secularism

stealthily crept into the Constitution !hat belief, thou"h popular, is not >uite ri"ht

!he framers of the Constitution #or)ed a"ainst the bac)drop of t#o "reat instances of human carna"e Q .orld .ar II

and the 0artition of India 5oth #ere the result of an insistence on distincti$eness of "roup identities and their

conse>uent territorial demarcations, #hich e'cluded those #ho did not fall #ithin the dominant "roup

Simultaneously, the process of inte"ration of princely states meant that people not e'posed to e$en limited democracy

became $oters of a republic that promised (ustice, liberty, e>uality and fraternity for all

!he state of the country, as Bustice Aftab Alam reminded us in his %andhi Foundation annual lecture in 2??<, #as that

it #as home to ei"ht ma(or reli"ions of the #orld !he Constitution of India reco"nises 22 lan"ua"es asIndiannational lan"ua"es Indians spea)in" the same lan"ua"e may belon" to different reli"ions Con$ersely, Indians

belon"in" to the same reli"ious "roup may come from different ethnic stoc)s, may spea) different lan"ua"es, dress

differently, eat different )inds of food in entirely different manners and may ha$e completely different social and

economic concernsT

In a nascent republic, #here po#er had for the first time been $ested in the di$erse, hetero"enous people of the

subcontinent, the Constituent Assembly became a trustee and demarcator of the e'tent of that po#er !he document

that they produced after t#o years of intense debate and labour had #ords of comfort for e$eryone

A )!$t&tut&!$a+ a+ue

Secularism is implicit in the entire constitutional frame#or) .hat does secularism in the Indian Constitution meanN!he >uestion admits of no easy ans#er and cannot be restricted to te'tual interpretation alone It is a constitutional

$alue that see)s to mana"e India’s di$erse and plural society, in an atmosphere of cohesi$eness of national purpose

!he "uarantee of e>uality in Article 16L the promise of non+discrimination in Articles 17 and 18L protection from

reli"ious ta'es and reli"ious instruction in state+funded institutions set in Articles 29 and 2:L the permission of

educational institutions of choice to lin"uistic and reli"ious minorities in Articles 2< and 4?L the promise of e>ual

ballots de$oid of sectional preferences in Article 427 Q all ma)e for a constitutional architecture #hich is de$oid of any

reli"ious preference #hatsoe$er %od is si"nificantly absent throu"hout the Constitution One nation under %odT is

not the alle"iance #hich the Constitution see)s of its citi*ens 5elie$er, atheist and a"nostic ali)e, the Constitution does

not differentiate

!here are ho#e$er pro$isions #hich see) to enforce e>uality #ithin the indu reli"ion in Articles 19 and 272b

Deference to indu sentiments on co# slau"hter is also pro$ided for in Article 6:, as is the pious hope for a uniform

ci$il code in Article 66 !a)en as a #hole pac)a"e, the constitutional $ision of secularism is one of principled

e>uidistance from all reli"ious matters, #hile at the same time re"ulatin" its practice in a manner consistent #ith the

demands of a modern society Crucially, in Article 272a, #e can find constitutional permission for the state to



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


<2

re"ulate or restrict any economic, financial, political or other secular acti$ity #hich may be associated #ith reli"ious

practiceT

!hus, it is fallacious to ar"ue that the ori"inal Constitution as adopted, enacted and "i$en to oursel$es on /o$ember

28, 1<6<, #as not a secular document !he inclusion in the 0reamble of the #ords socialistT and secularT by the 62nd

Amendment on Banuary 4, 1<99, only headlined #hat #as already present in the ori"inal te't of the Constitution .e

must also remember that the 0reamble itself #as drafted only after the Constitution #as appro$ed by the Constituent

Assembly !he 0reamble thus became a one+pa"e mission statement of the republic’s intent

De7ate !er a,e$-,e$t

In fact, there is an illuminatin" discussion in the Constituent Assembly debates of /o$ember 17, 1<6<, #hen 0rofessor

K! Shah #anted to include the #ords secular, federal, socialistT in Article 1 of the Constitution, the article that no#

reads, India, that is 5harat, shall be a Union of StatesT

0rof Shah said, As re"ards the secular character of the state, #e ha$e been told time and a"ain from e$ery platform

that ours is a secular state If that is true, if that holds "ood, I do not see #hy the term could not be added or inserted in

the Constitution itself, once a"ain, to "uard a"ainst any possibility of misunderstandin" or misapprehension !he

secularity of the state must be stressed in $ie# not only of the unhappy e'periences #e had last year and in the years

before and the e'cesses to #hich, in the name of reli"ion, communalism or sectarianism can "o, but I intend also to

emphasise by this description the character and nature of the state #hich #e are constitutin" today]T

Dr 5R Ambed)ar, in reply, said, 3r ice+0resident, Sir, I re"ret that I cannot accept the amendment of 0rof K!

Shah 3y ob(ections, stated briefly, are t#o In the first place the Constitution, as I stated in my openin" speech in

support of the motion I made before the ouse, is merely a mechanism for the purpose of re"ulatin" the #or) of the$arious or"ans of the state It is not a mechanism #hereby particular members or particular parties are installed in

office .hat should be the policy of the state, ho# the society should be or"anised in its social and economic side, are

matters #hich must be decided by the people themsel$es accordin" to time and circumstances It cannot be laid do#n

in the Constitution itself, because that is destroyin" democracy alto"ether If you state in the Constitution that the

social or"anisation of the state shall ta)e a particular form, you are, in my (ud"ment, ta)in" a#ay the liberty of the

people to decide #hat should be the social or"anisation in #hich they #ish to li$e It is perfectly possible today for the

ma(ority people to hold that the socialist or"anisation of society is better than the capitalist or"anisation of society 5ut

it #ould be perfectly possible for thin)in" people to de$ise some other form of social or"anisation #hich mi"ht be

better than the socialist or"anisation of today or of tomorro# I do not see therefore #hy the Constitution should tie

do#n the people to li$e in a particular form and not lea$e it to the people to decide it for themsel$es !his is one reason

#hy the amendment should be opposed !he second reason is that the amendment is purely superfluous 3y

honourable friend, 0rofessor Shah, does not seem to ha$e ta)en into account the fact that apart from the Fundamental

Ri"hts, #hich #e ha$e embodied in the Constitution, #e ha$e also introduced other sections #hich deal #ith Directi$e

0rinciples of State 0olicy .hat I #ould li)e to as) 0rofessor Shah is this= If these directi$e principles to #hich I ha$e

dra#n attention are not socialistic in their direction and in their content, I fail to understand #hat more socialism can

be !herefore my submission is that these socialist principles are already embodied in our Constitution and it is

unnecessary to accept this amendmentT

0rof Shah’s amendment #as defeated but t#o thin"s stand out in this e'chan"e First, the economist in Dr Ambed)ar

dominated his e'chan"e #ith 0rof Shah e only discussed the economic philosophy of the Constitution and did not

deal #ith the >uestions of secularism and federalism Second, he felt that #hat #as already e'plicit in the Constitution

need not be reiterated

Ba&) tru)ture

On April 26, 1<94, the Supreme Court, #ith its then full stren"th of 14 (ud"es, ruled in the Kesa$ananda 5harati case

that secularism #as part of the basic structure of the Constitution It also held that elements constitutin" the basic



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


<4

structure #ere beyond 0arliament’s po#er to amend the Constitution !he court reiterated this principle in 1<<6 in the

SR 5ommai case #hen dealin" #ith the challen"e to the dismissal of four 5haratiya Banata 0arty+ruled State

"o$ernments after the demolition of the 5abri 3as(id

Despite the Constitution’s secular nature bein" held to be part of its basic structure, matters did not rest Durin" the

&mer"ency came the 62nd Amendment on Banuary 4, 1<99 Apart from many si"nificant chan"es other#ise, it

resurrected 0rof Shah’s cosmetic su""estion and inserted the #ord secularT in the 0reamble After the &mer"ency,

the 66th Amendment by the Banata "o$ernment undid most of the substantial dama"e achie$ed by the 62nd

Amendment 5ut it, too, chose to preser$e the addition of the #ords socialistT and secularT to the 0reamble

!he a# 3inister #ho piloted the 66th Amendment #as Shanti 5hushan is collea"ues in the ministry #ere K

Ad$ani and A5 a(payee !heir inheritors today cannot presume to for"et constitutional history, and assume that

constitutional $alues such as secularism are (ust meanin"less #ords to be redacted from a document Secularism isinherent in the basic structure of the national boo), and is beyond the po#er of any transient parliamentary ma(ority to

efface or abrid"e

2 I$-&a Ja;a$ )(art A&a’ ;ea)e*u+ r&e

!he DinduM CategoryK 4ndia and the 9orld

All signals point to a new level of partnership between Asia3s two great democracies, imparting new self-confidence to

both nations at a particularly critical moment in Asia3s emerging power structure.......

.hen the purohit at Kashi’s Dashash#amedh %hat applied sandal#ood paste and $ermilion on Bapanese 0rime

3inister Shin*o Abe’s forehead, that red dot on #hite paste loo)ed li)e Bapan’s national fla" !he Sans)rit chantin"

that accompanied the %an"a aarti after sunset symbolised a ne# be"innin" to an old friendship bet#een India and theand of the Risin" Sun

San(aya 5aru Standin" ne't to him on the ban)s of the %an"a, 0rime 3inister /arendra 3odi could #ell ha$e recalled

the #ords of %urude$ Rabindranath !a"ore, uttered a hundred years a"o in Buly 1<18, to an audience of youn"

students in !o)yo= I offer, as did my ancestor rishis, my salutation to that sunrise of the &ast, #hich is destined once

a"ain to illumine the #hole #orldT

Old bonds, ne# *eal

3ore than t#o decades before !a"ore paid his tribute to Bapan’s cultural and ci$ilisational attributes, an Indian

en"ineer, 3o)sha"undam is$es$araya, $isited Bapan and #rote elo>uently about its technolo"ical pro"ress and the

lessons Bapan’s industrial de$elopment and economic rise ha$e for India India’s national leaders dre# inspiration not

(ust from !a"ore’s poetic tributes and is$es$araya’s practical lessons, but e>ually from Bapan’s $ictory o$er Russia at

the be"innin" of the 2?th century Q the first Asian nation to $an>uish a .estern po#er India #as amon" the fe#

countries that stood by Bapan as it e'pressed remorse, nursed its #ounds, and sou"ht to rebuild after the Second

.orld .ar

Despite this bond bet#een these t#o Asian nations, it has ta)en more than a decade of concerted effort to finally "et

both "o$ernments to commit themsel$es to a transformation of a Special Strate"ic and %lobal 0artnership] into a

deep, broad+based and action+oriented partnership, #hich reflects a broad con$er"ence of their lon"+term political,

economic and strate"ic "oalsT !he Boint Statement issued by both 0rime 3inisters clears many cob#ebs out of the

bilateral e>uation, especially on contentious issues such as cooperation in the de$elopment of nuclear ener"y anddefence capability

If United States 0resident %eor"e 5ush had to o$errule #hat strate"ic affairs "uru K Subrahmanyam famously

dubbed as the Ayatollahs of nuclear non+proliferationT in .ashin"ton, DC, to e'tend to India full cooperation in the

field of nuclear ener"y, 0rime 3inister Abe had to battle many post+iroshima "hosts and Bapan’s o#n anti+nuclear



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


<6

fundamentalists ensconced #ithin the safety of the US nuclear umbrella to be able to e'tend to India a hand of

cooperation in the nuclear and defence field

Se$enteen Decembers a"o, and si' months after India declared itself a nuclear #eapon state 0o)hran+II, in$itin"

Bapanese economic sanctions, 0rime 3inister Atal 5ihari a(payee deputed a team of security analysts and retired

officials to reach out to counterparts in Bapan, e'plain India’s strate"ic compulsions to Bapanese opinion+ma)ers, and

secure an end to sanctions In December 1<<:, K Subrahmanyam led a dele"ation that included defence analyst Bas(it

Sin"h, former Defence Secretary // ohra no# %o$ernor of Bammu and Kashmir and Ambassador Ar(un Asrani, a

Bapanese+spea)in" diplomat Realisin" the need to dra# Bapanese attention to India’s economic and business potential,

and not (ust e'plain her security concerns, 3r Subrahmanyam in$ited me, at the time the editor of a financial daily, to

(oin this distin"uished "roup

Our challen"e in usin" the carrot of business opportunity in India a"ainst the stic) of Bapanese economic sanctions #asmade #orse by the fact that Bapanese business #as not only unenthusiastic about India but #as in thrall of the

lucrati$e business opportunity in China !hrou"h the 1<<?s, China #as the bi""est recipient of both Bapanese aid and

in$estment #hile Bapanese teams #ould $isit India only to submit lon" lists of demands and complaints about ho#

inhospitable India #as to forei"n in$estors

T(e C(&$a *a)t!r

!#o thin"s made Bapan #a)e up to the India opportunity First, the fact that countries li)e South Korea be"an to

o$erta)e Bapan in the Indian mar)et Second, the emer"ence of China as the #orld’s second+bi""est economy,

o$erta)in" Bapan o#e$er, more than the chan"e in the business en$ironment in India, it is the "ro#in" challen"e

posed by China’s rise that has finally forced Bapan to in$est in India’s rise

O$er the past decade, successi$e Indian and Bapanese leaders ha$e been payin" "reater attention to the bilateral

relationship, but due credit should be "i$en to 0rime 3inisters Abe and 3odi for ta)in" the relationship to an

alto"ether hi"her le$el of lon"+term strate"ic, economic and cultural en"a"ement !he India+Bapan ision 2?27

statement (ointly issued by both leaders in /e# Delhi last #ee) is the most comprehensi$e statement of lon"+term

bilateral en"a"ement defined by shared interests and $alues

5y crossin" lon"+standin" red lines in a couple of important areas, the (oint statement has cut throu"h some %ordian

)nots First, the a"reement on peaceful uses of nuclear ener"y ends years of painsta)in" ne"otiations, delayed both by

the Fu)ushima nuclear tra"edy in Bapan and India’s o#n confused le"islation of a nuclear liability la# Second, India’s

decision to a"ree to tied aidT, enablin" Bapanese funds to finance Bapanese in$estment, especially in infrastructure and

hi"h+speed rail#ay pro(ects !hird, India’s #illin"ness to promote Bapanese industrial to#nships aimed at ma)in"

India a more hospitable destination for Bapanese business

S(are- trate<&) )!$)er$

!he 66+para"raph Boint Statement sets out a detailed frame#or) for a pri$ile"ed bilateral partnership that see)s to

address a ran"e of Bapanese concerns about the security, $iability and profitability of Bapanese in$estments in India

!his detailin" has no# been made possible because both Bapan and India ha$e come to understand the strate"ic

importance for themsel$es of their bilateral partnership in a #orld in #hich China looms lar"er and the United States

and &urope remain preoccupied #ith their o#n problems

.hile Bapan is a member of the US+led !rans+0acific 0artnership !00 and India is not, both countries are en"a"ed in

creatin" a Re"ional Comprehensi$e &conomic 0artnership RC&0 and Bapan has a"reed to support India’s case for

membership of Asia+0acific &conomic Cooperation A0&C, e$en as the US continues to dra" its feet o$er this !he

Boint Statement repeatedly refers to the Indo+0acific as the shared re"ion of strate"ic en"a"ement for both po#ers



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


<7

!here are se$eral interestin" ne# initiati$es that 3r Abe and 3r 3odi ha$e si"ned on for One of them is an

a"reement for Bapanese fundin" of India’s o#n belt+and+roadT connecti$ity pro(ects across Asia .hile committin"

itself to in$estin" in infrastructure #ithin India to impro$e road and rail connecti$ity, Bapan has also a"reed to

promote India’s Act &astT policy by de$elopin" and stren"thenin" reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructures

that au"ment connecti$ity #ithin India and bet#een India and other countries in the re"ionT aimed at ad$ancin"

Asian industrial net#or)s and re"ional $alue chains #ith open, fair and transparent business en$ironment in the

re"ion Bapan and India can build road and rail connecti$ity across the &urasian landmass, runnin" parallel to China’s

o#n One 5elt, One RoadT pro(ect

All this si"nals a ne# le$el of partnership bet#een Asia’s t#o "reat democracies, impartin" ne# self+confidence to

both nations at a particularly critical moment in Asia’s emer"in" po#er structure In 1<18, %urude$ !a"ore ended his

!o)yo speech #ith these #ords= .hen Bapan is in imminent peril of ne"lectin" to realise #here she is "reat, it is the

duty of a forei"ner li)e myself to remind her, that she has "i$en rise to a ci$ilisation #hich is perfect in its form, andhas e$ol$ed a sense of si"ht #hich clearly sees truth in beauty and beauty in truth She has achie$ed somethin" #hich

is positi$e and complete] Such a ci$ilisation has the "ift of immortalityL for it does not offend a"ainst the la#s of

creation and is not assailed by all the forces of nature I feel it is an impiety to be indifferent to its protection from the

incursion of $ul"arity of po#erT

In 1<18 !a"ore had the $ul"arity of &uropean po#er in mind !oday, Bapan and India are mindful of ne# centres of

asserti$e po#er and ha$e reminded each other of the immortality of their o#n ci$ilisation and the potential of their

partnership in ensurin" Asia’s peaceful rise

6 At =ar& !,et(&$< *!r eer%!$e

!he Dindu M CategoryK /nvironment

!he Agreement is about restricting temperature rise to : NC, but current pledges to reduce emissions may increase

average global temperature by about H NC.....

Representati$es from 1<7 countries at the Conference of the 0arties CO0+21 meetin" in 0aris ha$e soldiered on in

marathon sessions, #or)in" for close to t#o #ee)s, and prepared an international a"reement that lays the foundation

for future action by all countries to contain and respond to the planetary threat of climate chan"e !he 0aris A"reement

is #idely reco"nised as launchin" one of the most si"nificant transformations in human interaction, technolo"y and

landscape

India played a si"nificant role in the process, especially in safe"uardin" differentiation bet#een rich and de$elopin"

countries &n$ironment 3inister 0ra)ash Ba$ade)ar has e'pressed his satisfaction that India’s main concerns in all

areas ha$e been addressed in the 0aris 0act

!he preparation of the te't of the pact, itself an iterati$e process #ith brac)eted #ords in interim drafts indicatin"

lan"ua"e that still needed a"reement, resulted in three $ersions of the document #ith each ne# one ed"in" closer

to#ards the last &$ery country #as re>uired to appro$e the final te't and the deal #ould ha$e crashed e$en if a sin"le

0arty disa"reed !he final te't seems to contain somethin" for e$eryone, thou"h not nearly enou"h to satisfy anyone

fully

C!$te$t&!u &ue

!he main issues of contention ha$e been differentiation, financial support, miti"ation action and loss and dama"e

!hese terms ha$e been interpreted in the follo#in" #ay= maintainin" the difference bet#een rich and de$elopin"countries throu"h the e'pression of Article 4 of the Con$ention, common but differentiated responsibilities C5DRL

pro$idin" support for de$elopin" countries throu"h finance, technolo"y and capacity+buildin" so they can reduce

emissions and adapt to climate chan"e impactsL determinin" #hether all ma(or emitters, rich and de$elopin" countries,

should announce a date #hen their "reenhouse "as emissions #ould pea)L and supportin" poor countries that



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


<8

e'perience loss and dama"e as a result of #armin" and decidin" #hether the lan"ua"e of @liability and compensation’

should be preser$ed

One issue that #as pre$iously contentious and #as mostly resol$ed in an interim draft concerns the a$era"e

temperature rise that #ould be a"reed upon as the tar"et for the Con$ention !he demand of many $ulnerable

countries is that "reenhouse "as emissions need to be reduced to restrict #armin" to under 17 de"rees Celsius Article

2 of the 0aris A"reement says that it is the ob(ecti$e of the Con$ention to limit increase in "lobal a$era"e temperatures

to #ell belo# 2 de"rees C abo$e pre+industrial le$els and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 17 de"rees C,

reco"nisin" that this #ould si"nificantly reduce ris)s and impacts of climate chan"eT arious estimates, ho#e$er,

indicate that current pled"es and policies in the nationally determined contributions to reduce emissions are li)ely to

increase the a$era"e "lobal temperature by about 4 de"rees Celsius as opposed to a business+as+usual rise of about 7

de"rees by the end of the century

!he final te't is di$ided into t#o main parts= the A"reement itself, #hich is seen as a durable set of o$erall

commitments, and the Decision, #hich has many sections co$erin" commitments across se$eral themes and the

institutional arran"ements needed for implementation Since both parts of the te't ha$e been si"ned in 0aris, it is

understood that the #hole document #ill ha$e le"al force, althou"h there is some e'pectation that elements of the

Decision could be chan"ed especially durin" the fi$e+year re$ie#s that are built in

On the o$erall >uestion of #hether the A"reement maintains differentiation bet#een de$eloped and de$elopin"

countries, se$eral e'perts seem to pro$ide a >ualified ans#er in the affirmati$e 3any elements of differentiation are

embedded in $arious parts of the a"reement e$en if the lan"ua"e in the preamble itself is not as stron" as #as hoped

for by many de$elopin" countries

!he lan"ua"e on differentiation C5DR has been e'panded to include the term in the li"ht of different national

circumstancesT, #hich is li)ely to indicate that a pre$iously strict fire#all bet#een de$eloped and de$elopin"

countries has been bro)en do#n Also lost in the maelstrom is e'plicit ac)no#led"ement of the historical

responsibility of de$eloped countries

/e$ertheless, the te't also contains se$eral pro$isions specifically indicatin" de$eloped country obli"ations For

instance, Article < of the A"reement is >uite e'plicit in callin" for financial support from de$eloped countries that is

si"nificantly deri$ed from public funds, #hich should represent a pro"ression beyond pre$ious effortsT It is e'pected

that this #ill result in at least G1?? billion per year to address needs and priorities of de$elopin" countries for

miti"ation and adaptation Furthermore, de$eloped countries are re>uired to pro$ide transparent information on

support to de$elopin" countries and biennially communicate their plans for mobilisation of additional finance

On miti"ation action, de$eloped countries are re>uired to ta)e the lead in settin" absolute emission reduction tar"ets,

but de$elopin" countries are encoura"ed to mo$e o$er time to#ards economy+#ide emission reduction or limitation

tar"ets in the li"ht of different national circumstancesT Under enhanced transparency frame#or)T, all countries are

re>uired to pro$ide updates on their nationally determined contributions e$ery fi$e years startin" in 2?2? !here is no

mention of a pea)in" year for de$elopin" countries, apart from the e'plicit reco"nition that it may ta)e them much

lon"er to start reducin" their emissions in absolute terms

!he te't calls for a comprehensi$e periodic re$ie# or "lobal stoc)ta)eT of the implementation of the 0aris A"reement,

co$erin" all areas in a facilitati$e mannerT and in the li"ht of e>uity and the best a$ailable scienceT Se$eral

commentators feel that this pro$ision is important for re$ie#in" pro"ress in emissions reductions, technolo"y transfer

and finance, #hile also openin" up the possibility for monitorin" differentiation

!he importance of loss and dama"e has been reco"nised clearly in the te't but there is also a clear demarcation in the

Decision thou"h not in the A"reement that this cannot be tied to liability and compensation .ithout liability and



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


<9

compensation there #ill be no scope for $ictims of climate chan"e to file le"al claims, #hich implies that there is no

"uarantee that losses and dama"e associated #ith se$ere #eather e$ents directly as a conse>uence of climate chan"e

#ill recei$e monetary or non+monetary relief from entities that are identified as defendants

I,;+&)at&!$ *!r I$-&a

%oin" for#ard, India #ill ha$e to ma)e considerable efforts to implement the ne# contours of the A"reement,

especially the pro"ressi$e re$ie# of "oals, monitorin" frame#or)s, and the re$ised #ordin" of C5DR to consider

national circumstances in the 0aris A"reement In particular, the #ay in #hich India’s national circumstancesT #ill be

interpreted for financial flo#s, technolo"y transfer, or capacity+buildin" are not clear since India is a lar"e country #ith

hi"h %D0 and millions li$e in po$erty !here are also harsh implications in terms of $ulnerability and adaptation

because of the se$ere impacts of climate chan"e that #e could e'pect if "lobal a$era"e temperatures rise by 2 de"rees

or more

!hen, there is the issue of the sharin" of remainin" carbon space If ade>uate mechanisms to ensure e>uitable sharin"

of the remainin" de$elopment space are not introduced durin" the re$ie#s, there could #ell be a race to the bottom

#here de$eloped countries continue to s#allo# up the remainin" carbon bud"et In such circumstances, India #ould

ha$e to prepare itself to lift millions out of po$erty #hile also claimin" its ri"htful share of de$elopment space

India #ill also need to be concerned about pro$idin" human ser$ices in a sustainable manner to its $ast underser$ed

population 5ut most of all it #ill re>uire a domestic social and economic transformation of a scale and scope that has

ne$er been attempted before .hile this is a challen"e, it is also a tremendous opportunity for the country to

demonstrate an alternati$e model of sustainable de$elopment= one in #hich de$elopment is delin)ed from total

dependence on fossil fuels If it succeeds, India could set an e'ample for other de$elopin" countries

? A )+&,ate ,!re )!$<e$&a+ t! I$-&a

!he DinduM CategoryK /nvironment

!he aris Agreement preserves space for greater energy use, but with the caveat that 4ndia*s actions will be sub2ect to

scrutiny. 9e should use these mechanisms to hold others to account.......

Is the 0aris A"reement on climate chan"e a "ood or bad deal for IndiaN !he comple' te't, produced after four years of

tortuous ne"otiations, does not lend itself to a simple ans#er 5ut this is the >uestion that matters for India, and is

#orth tryin" to ans#er

&fforts at international cooperation imply that countries must concede somethin" #ith the intent of obtainin" some

"reater "ain !he premise of the climate a"reement is that by a"reein" to some chec)s on national "reenhouse "as

emissions, and hence ener"y use patterns, each country benefits from decreased collecti$e e'posure to harmful "lobal

climate chan"e 3ost Indian analyses of the 0aris A"reement ha$e focussed on the concession Q #hat did India "i$e

upN 5ut since India is a country at "reat ris) from climate impacts, a balanced rec)onin" re>uires a close loo) at both

sides of the led"er, the loss and the "ain

Se)ur&$< !ur e$er<% *uture

On the loss side, India’s lon"+standin" ob(ecti$e in climate tal)s is to a$oid undue limits on ener"y options !his is

important, as India #ill re>uire a "reat deal more ener"y in the comin" decades= for commercial coo)in" fuels, access

to electricity, and po#er for industries and commerce to pro$ide li$elihoods Althou"h hu"e, these needs are also

uncertainL much depends on ho# India "ro#s, and on ho# technolo"y chan"es !his uncertainty also ma)esne"otiation difficult, as it is hard to )no# ho# much to bar"ain a#ay #ithout causin" harm

!he bedroc) of India’s approach to ensurin" #e do not "i$e a#ay our ener"y future is the principle of common but

differentiated responsibility and respecti$e capabilitiesT embedded in the underlyin" Frame#or) Con$ention on

Climate Chan"e .ithout this safe"uard, all countries #ould ha$e been placed on the same footin" India, despite



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


<:

contributin" little to the problem and ha$in" limited capacity to address it, #ould ha$e been placed under undue

pressure to prematurely limit emissions De$eloped countries ha$e lon" ar"ued for a dilution of this principle, sayin"

that the #orld has chan"ed since 1<<? #hen the Con$ention #as ne"otiated Q particularly referrin" to the rise of

China Q and that static lists of de$eloped and de$elopin" countries fail to capture this dynamic "lobal conte't

De$eloped+de$elopin" distinction

!his deadloc) #as bro)en at 0aris by ac)no#led"in" that the #orld has indeed chan"ed, yet not so much that these

cate"ories are no lon"er rele$antL de$eloped and de$elopin" country cate"ories are retained but made more fluid

3oreo$er, the A"reement usefully specifies #hat the principle means in practice for )ey climate policy areas such as

miti"ation, adaptation, finance, and transparency pro$isions In this respect, India demonstrated some nimbleness at

0aris, by shiftin" from ar"uin" for blan)et in$ocation of the principle to see)in" its specific application in )ey areas

For e'ample, in the core miti"ation area, the A"reement states that de$eloped countries should ta)e the lead #itheconomy+#ide emission reduction tar"ets, #hile de$elopin" countries should aspire to do so o$er time, reco"nisin"

that they #ill need to "ro# their emissions !his allo#s some countries to cross cate"ories #hen it deems fit, as China

has done by pled"in" a pea)in" yearT for its emissions, #hile allo#in" other, li)e India, to persist #ith an emissions

intensity pled"e, #hich allo#s emissions to rise Si"nificantly, it maintains a distinction bet#een de$eloped and

de$elopin" countries in the pro$ision of climate finance, usin" the same model of creatin" a some#hat porous

boundary !his distinction retains a )ey idea for India Q e'pectations of miti"ation actions by de$elopin" countries are

related to e'pectations of support from de$eloped countries !o"ether, retention of cate"ories of countries and their

operationalisation in )ey pro$isions ensure India’s losses at 0aris are limited An important ca$eat is that #hat #as a

relati$ely imper$ious boundary has been made permeable, increasin" the ris) that India #ill be pressured to

@$oluntarily’ cross that boundary sooner rather than later

On this aspect, one dissonant note in the ne"otiations #as a successful last+minute effort by a coalition of countries to

introduce the idea of attemptin" to limit temperature increase to 17C instead of 2C .hile hi"hly desirable in

principle, this increase in @ambition’ #as not bac)ed by an increase in action, particularly from the de$eloped

countries, increasin" the ris) that India #ill be as)ed to prematurely step up to fill the "ap

Nat&!$a+ ;+e-<e

(at t(e$ are t(e <a&$ *!r I$-&a# .ill India "ain, and ho# much, from the 0aris A"reement in terms of a$oided

climate harmsN One common line of ar"ument is that the 0aris A"reement is relati$ely toothless, does not bind

countries includin" India to actual emission limits, has no mechanisms to enforce actions, and therefore #ill ha$e

little impact If so, India #ould ha$e little to "ain

5ut this description entirely misses the point It rests on a presumption that international a"reements dri$e domestic

actions in countries, e$en a"ainst the run of domestic politics !he 0aris A"reement is built on a different lo"ic= the

moti$e po#er for chan"e in ener"y systems #ill come from domestic politics in country after country, but the

international process can amplify and pro$ide le$era"e for domestic actors 5y this lo"ic, the )ey elements of the 0aris

A"reement are the national pled"es made before 0aris, and the mechanism to encoura"e those pled"es to be ratcheted

up o$er time !his mechanism includes= a mandatory fi$e+yearly update of all pled"esL a technical re$ie# process of

both climate actions and financial contributions that is meant to ensure countries ta)e their updates seriouslyL

transparency pro$isionsL and a "lobal @stoc)ta)e’ on the a""re"ate effect of these actions !he idea is that the 0aris

A"reement #ill set in place mandatory procedures, #hich then stimulate an iterati$e process in country after country,

ideally stimulatin" e$er "reater shifts to lo#+carbon tra(ectories

!he first round of pled"es submitted before 0aris #ere conser$ati$e and ha$e fallen short of #hat is re>uired, brid"in"

only about a >uarter to a third of the necessary "ap bet#een emissions pled"ed and #hat is re>uired by science !his is

#hy the update and ratchet mechanism is essentialL it is desi"ned to stimulate a $irtuous cycle of more ambitious

pled"es, "reater in$estment in lo# emissions options, and lo#er costs and barriers to implementation of those options,



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


<<

leadin" to yet more ambitious pled"es If this #or)s, and it does result in enhanced collecti$e action to limit climate

chan"e, then India #ill be a substantial "ainer

F!r a r!7ut e$er<% ;!+&)%

5ut #ill this #or)N !he ans#er rests, as it probably should, in national political processes in all countries, includin"

India, rather than in the international arena For India, the imperati$e no# is t#ofold First, #e should ma)e sure the

ratchet mechanism sustains pressure on de$eloped countries to ramp up their efforts !his #ill re>uire and up"radin"

our ability to analyse other country contributions and acti$ely shapin" the fine print of implementin" lan"ua"e for the

0aris A"reement in the comin" years

Second, and perhaps more important, #e ha$e to build a robust and on"oin" national process to e'amine our ener"y

and climate future, to replace India’s current ad hoc, disconnected, process of ener"y plannin" and policy !his

re>uires a more co"ent system of ener"y information "atherin" and analysis It also re>uires e'plorin" actions thatbrin" syner"ies across de$elopment and climate outcomes such as ener"y efficiency and public transport and those

that come #ith direct costs to the economy .e also need ans#ers to lon"er+term >uestions salient to future pled"es,

such as= ho# much additional coal ener"y do #e anticipate needin"L and, to #hat e'tent can #e urbanise #hile

limitin" hi"h carbon loc)+inN

oo)in" at both sides of the led"er, India has limited losses because the A"reement preser$es space for "reater ener"y

use, but #ith the ca$eat that #e ha$e to better (ustify our actions throu"h a national process that #ill also be sub(ect to

international scrutiny 3oreo$er, #e can and should use these same mechanisms to hold others to account On the

positi$e side, there is a plausible, if challen"in", path#ay to impro$ed "lobal action to limit climate chan"e and its

harmful impacts And, the 0aris A"reement offers the not tri$ial benefit of inducin" India to establish a more robust

domestic process for ener"y plannin" and policy In my opinion, the balance is, on net, positi$e

5 =a$)(a%at ,ut $!t 7e e+&t&t


4t is unfortunate that the Supreme Court upheld the B6-ruled Dayana government*s attempt to debar certain citi)ens

from standing for anchayat elections........

&yebro#s #ill be raised #hen one finds that the post of %o$ernor has the least >ualifications prescribed under the

Constitution !o become a %o$ernor, one must ha$e completed 47 years of a"e An added dis>ualification for the post

of the 0resident of India is he should not be of unsound mind and an insol$ent All constitutional posts e'cept those

pertainin" to the hi"her (udiciary do not ha$e any educational >ualification to hold the post

o#e$er, the Supreme Court in the Ra(bala $s State of aryana case Dec 2?17 upheld the $alidity of the aryana

0anchayati Ra( Amendment Act re>uirin" that a matriculate alone can hold the post of 0anchayat president or #ard

member Section 197 of the Act pro$ides for a number of dis>ualifications from contestin" a 0anchayat election A

person #ill be disentitled to contest the election if he faces a criminal case for #hich 1?+year imprisonment is

prescribed and a char"e has been framed If he has to pay arrears to a co+operati$e society or has not cleared electricity

bills, then also he #ill be dis>ualified If a person does not ha$e a functional toilet, he #ill be barred from contestin"

the election !hese amendments made by the 5haratiya Banata 0arty "o$ernment in aryana ta)e us bac) to the days

of district boards of the thirties #hen the landed "entry alone #ere eli"ible to hold posts in local bodies

Stra$<e +!<&) !* e')+u&!$

!he Supreme Court adopted a stran"e lo"ic #hile upholdin" these dis>ualifications It held that the proclaimed ob(ect

of such classification is to ensure that those #ho see) election to panchayats ha$e some basic education #hich enables

them to more effecti$ely dischar"e $arious duties #hich befall the elected representati$es of the panchayats !he ob(ect



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


1??

sou"ht to be achie$ed cannot be said to be irrational or ille"al or unconnected #ith the scheme and purpose of the Act

or pro$isions of 0art IP of the ConstitutionT

It did not matter to the Court that out of <8 la)h eli"ible $oters, 62 la)h #ill be dis>ualified from contestin" the

elections In case of Scheduled Castes, 8: per cent #omen and 61 per cent men #ill be dis>ualified from contestin"

!he Court upheld the la# by sayin"= If it is constitutionally permissible to debar certain classes of people from

see)in" to occupy the constitutional offices, numerical dimension of such classes, in our opinion, should ma)e no

difference for determinin" #hether prescription of such dis>ualification is constitutionally permissible unless the

prescription is of such nature as #ould frustrate the constitutional scheme by resultin" in a situation #here holdin" of

elections to these $arious bodies becomes completely impossibleT

Ta/e ;at a ;re)e-e$t It failed to note as to #hy the framers of the Constitution did not thin) it fit to include educational >ualification as a

basic re>uirement for the 3embers of e"islati$e Assemblies and 0arliament !he (ud"es themsel$es #ere appointed

by the 0resident of India, for #hich post itself no educational >ualification is re>uired Article 191 pro$ides for the

composition of e"islati$e Councils in a State It ma)es separate constituencies of "raduates to elect members to the

e"islati$e Council It is obli"atory to be a "raduate to elect a certain proportion of members of the e"islati$e Council,

but it is immaterial if the person elected is a "raduate !he Supreme Court ruled in the S /arayanas#ami $s %

0anneersel$am case in 1<92= !he concept of such representation does not carry #ith it, as a necessary conse>uence,

the further notion that the representati$e must also possess the $ery >ualifications of those he represents] it #ould be

for the members of such a constituency themsel$es to decide #hether a person #ho stands for election from their

constituency possesses the ri"ht type of )no#led"e, e'perience, and #isdom #hich satisfy certain standards It may

#ell be that the Constitution ma)ers, actin" upon such a presumption, had intentionally left the educational>ualifications of a candidate for election from the "raduates constituency unspecifiedT

For better part of the last 9? years, !amil /adu #as ruled by at least se$en Chief 3inisters #ho #ere not matriculates

3any functionaries, both at the Centre and in States, ha$e not completed school It is by a 2??2 constitutional

amendment that education has been made compulsory for all children up to the a"e of 16 years !he la# "i$in" effect

to the pro$ision #as brou"ht in some years later Under that la#, it is compulsory to educate children only up to class

: !he la# made by aryana is really anti+poor, anti+Dalit and pro+rich and if enforced #ill create oli"archies

Stran"e is the lo"ic of dis>ualifyin" persons in arrears to electricity boards and cooperati$e societies /on+payment of

electricity char"es #ill result in disconnection of supply and there may be disputes re"ardin" ser$ice deficiency o#

is such a condition to be made a dis>ualificationN

Similarly, #hen people do not ha$e their o#n shelter, insistin" upon a functional toilet is a clear case of e'cludin" the

poor from the mana"ement of 0anchayats It is a duty of the 3unicipalities under Article 264. to pro$ide for public

con$eniences In the case of 0anchayats, no reference is made to public con$eniences and Article 264% only pro$ides

for panchayats to ta)e care of health and sanitation Crores of public and pri$ate fundin" ha$e "one into pro$idin" for

toilets in rural areas after ta)in" note of lac) of such facilities &$en today rural houses are "i$en plannin" permits e$en

#hen they ha$e no pro$ision for toilets in the plans

A decade a"o, a aryana la# ma)in" the t#o+child norm a re>uisite >ualification for standin" in elections #as upheld

by the Supreme Court Ba$ed $s aryana, 2??4

!he 5B0+ruled States are e'perimentin" #ith the 0anchayat la#s to ma)e them elitist political institutions It is

unfortunate that the Supreme Court should uphold these pro$isions and ma)e 0anchayats non+representati$e bodies



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


1?1

!he fundamental fla# is due to courts holdin" the ri"ht to "et elected as a statutory ri"ht and not a constitutional

empo#erment

3 Free ru$ *!r t(e re$tee/er

!he DinduM /nconomy

9ith the ".S. showing a preference for plurilateral agreements over 9!> multilateralism, developing nations must defend the

global trading system against transnational corporations......

!he 1?th 3inisterial Conference of the .orld !rade Or"anisation .!O, #hich also mar)ed the completion of t#o

decades of functionin" of the most recent of the multilateral institutions, ended #ith an a"reement amon" trade

ministers of the member countries that may ha$e pushed the or"anisation to the precipice !he .!O faces this

e'istential threat for t#o reasons= the post+/airobi #or) pro"ramme has $ery fe# substanti$e issues that can

meanin"fully en"a"e its 182 members, and, more importantly, the Doha De$elopment A"enda DDA, that has beenthe lifeline of the .!O for nearly a decade and a half, no# faces the imminent threat of closure

T(e D!(a a<e$-a

.hen it #as adopted in 2??1, the DDA #as seen as the collecti$e articulation of the de$elopin" countries for #or)in"

to#ards a (ust and e>uitable tradin" system, one #hich #ould pro$ide the opportunities to la""ards in the "lobal

tradin" system to benefit from en"a"in" in trade .!O members a"reed that for realisin" this ob(ecti$e, the rules in

each of the areas must be appropriately desi"ned !hus, it #as a"reed that a"riculture must be stripped of all policy

distortions, includin" the unacceptably hi"h le$els of subsidies that pro$ide unfair ad$anta"e to the lar"e

con"lomerates controllin" "lobal trade in commodities At the same time, it #as decided that the e'istin" A"reement

on A"riculture AoA #ould be amended to address smallholder a"riculture and "i$e de$elopin" countries ne#

instruments to address concerns re"ardin" food security, protection of rural li$elihoods and rural de$elopment !heunderstandin" therefore #as that the trade re"ime #ould pre$ent the occurrence of a situation #here small farmers in

de$elopin" countries are pitted a"ainst the po#erful commercial interests

It #as also a"reed, in the same $ein, that de$elopin" countries #ould be able to en(oy fle'ibility #hile reducin" tariffs

in both a"riculture and industry, so as to ensure that these enterprises are pre$ented from facin" competiti$e pressures

before they are ade>uately prepared to do so And, finally, in the area of ser$ices, most de$elopin" countries, includin"

India, ha$e been see)in" #ays to impro$e their presence in the "lobal ser$ices mar)ets, especially throu"h cross+

border trade in ser$ices and throu"h mo$ement of natural persons the so+called 3odes 1 and 6 respecti$ely

!his approach to#ards the resettin" of trade rules seems tailor+made for India at the present (uncture, "i$en the sle#

of initiati$es that the "o$ernment of the day has ta)en for preparin" the domestic economy to face the multifarious

challen"es !hus, the amendments sou"ht in the AoA #ould ha$e pro$ided to the "o$ernment the fle'ibility to adopt

farmer+friendly policies as #ell as to operate a public distribution system for implementin" the /ational Food Security

Act At the same time, calibrated reduction of tariffs, #hich has been one of the )ey elements of the DDA, must be

considered critical for the pursuit of the @3a)e in India’ pro"ramme

T(e Na&r!7& -&t!rt&!$

o# does the /airobi Declaration affect the DDA and its )ey components mentioned abo$eN !he first and the most

ominous si"n for the DDA is that the .!O members did not unanimously support its continuance !he United States

!rade Representati$e, 3ichael Froman, #as more forthri"ht in his comments on the future of the DDA e said that

#hile opinions remain di$ided amon" the .!O 3embership on the continuance of DDA, it is clear that the road to

a ne# era for the .!O be"an in /airobiT As re"ards the acti$ities of the .!O in the post+/airobi phase, 3r Froman

stated that as .!O members start #or) ne't year, they #ill be freed to consider ne# approaches to pressin"

unresol$ed issues and be"in e$aluatin" ne# issues for the or"anisation to considerT !hus, e$en #hile a $ast ma(ority

of de$elopin" countries, bac) the continuance of the DDA, the US has stated unambi"uously that it is no lon"er

inclined to discuss the DDA and its co$ered issues



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


1?2

If the DDA is bein" abandoned, #hat #ould be the li)ely content of the future deliberations in the .!ON !his ans#er

appears in the 3inisterial Declaration, throu"h the follo#in" obser$ation of the 3inisters= #e note that .!O

3embers ha$e also successfully #or)ed and reached a"reements in plurilateral formatsT !his laudatory statement in

fa$our of the plurilateral formatsT is tacit reco"nition of the conclusion of the !rans+0acific 0artnership !00, one of

three me"a+re"ional trade a"reements the others bein" the !ransatlantic !rade and In$estment 0artnership and the

Re"ional Comprehensi$e &conomic 0artnership !he !00 is a 12+member arran"ement, led by the US, #hose

underpinnin"s are unbridled >uest for mar)ets, #ithout any consideration bein" "i$en to the ability of smaller

countries in the "roupin" to be able to compete #ith the lar"er countriesL in other #ords, countries of $astly une>ual

stren"ths #ould be treated e>ually et another problem #ith the !00 is that it i"nores the presence of lar"e policy

distortions, for instance, the "rantin" of hi"h le$els of farm subsidies by the US #hile pushin" for openin" of mar)ets

5ut abo$e all, the !00 allo#s the lar"e rent+see)ers in the international mar)ets, the transnational corporations, to earnunacceptably hi"h rents throu"h the e'ercise of the e'traordinary ri"hts they ha$e been promised for their intellectual

property and their in$estments !hese transnational corporations are already ma)in" se$eral countries pay $ery hi"h

prices for the products based on their intellectual property, includin" those of life+sa$in" dru"s, somethin" that has

been $ie#ed #ith concern e$en in their home countries At the same time, an increasin" number of these corporations

ha$e successfully brou"ht cases a"ainst their host countries before international arbitration panels #hen the latter ha$e

tried to brin" domestic re"ulations to chec) fla"rant $iolation of norms

.ith the .!O facin" the imminent dan"er of bein" ta)en o$er by a "rossly un(ust and undemocratic "o$ernance

structure that #ould be dominated by the po#erful interests, India and other de$elopin" countries need to seriously

consider the contours of their future en"a"ement #ith this or"anisation 3ore specifically, they must find #ays of

brin"in" bac) centre sta"e in the .!O ne"otiations the issues that #ould help their farmers and the #or)ers in themanufacturin" and ser$ices sectors "et decent (obs and to put their economies on the path of sustainable de$elopment

@ Cr!$% )!$$e)t&&t% a$- I$ter$et *!r u

!he DinduM Science and !ech

9ith the ".S. showing a preference for plurilateral agreements over 9!> multilateralism, developing nations must defend the

global trading system against transnational corporations......

If the ob(ecti$e is to connect the #hole #orld to the Internet, then Free 5asics by Faceboo) pre$iously )no#n as

internetor" is a contro$ersial method to achie$e it !he company #ants to pro$ide a subset of the Internet free of

char"e to consumers, #ith mobile telecom operators bearin" the costs of the traffic Faceboo) acts as the unpaid

"ate)eeper of the platform

!his )ind of arran"ement has come to be called *ero ratin"T and attracted criticism from Internet ci$il society "roups

li)e the &lectronic Frontier Foundation It ar"ues that the Free 5asics scheme has one una$oidable, inherent fla#=

Faceboo)’s central role, #hich puts it in a pri$ile"ed position to monitor its users’ traffic, and allo#s it to act as

"ate)eeper or, dependin" on the situation, censor there is no technical restriction that pre$ents the company from

monitorin" and recordin" the traffic of Free 5asics users Unfortunately, this means there is no "uarantee that the "ood

faith promise Faceboo) has made today to protect Free 5asics users’ pri$acy #ill be permanentT

M!$!;!+&t *ree ,ar/et

In India, Internet ci$il society acti$ists are opposin" Faceboo)’s scheme for additional reasons .hile the attempt to

introduce ne# users to the Internet is a "ood thin", they ar"ue, the scheme ris)s brea)in" the net#or) into many

smaller ones and s)e#in" the playin" field in fa$our of apps and ser$ices that en(oy pri$ile"ed pricin"

Mero ratin" in "eneral and Free 5asics by Faceboo) in particular has many defenders amon" ad$ocates of free mar)ets

and capitalism !hey ar"ue that if the mobile operator #ishes to lose money or cross+subsidise some users at the cost of



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


1?4

others, then it should be allo#ed to do so %o$ernment inter$ention in pricin" usually has bad unintended

conse>uences, and it should be no different in the case of Internet traffic

!he !elecom Re"ulatory Authority of India !RAI has re+en"a"ed in a public consultation see)in" submissions on

#hich path it should ta)e= the conser$ati$e path of insistin" on net neutrality, a laisse*+faire approach of non+

inter$ention in the decisions of pri$ate firms, or other options in bet#een these t#o

.hat seems to be ta)en for "ranted but should really surprise us is that companies and policyma)ers accept that

"ettin" the de$elopin" #orld online re>uires methods that are different from ho# the de$eloped countries "ot there

So, ho# did the hundreds of millions of people around the #orld become Internet subscribersN /ot because of

"o$ernment schemes, but because they could afford it !hey could afford it because mar)et forces Q competition Q

dro$e prices do#n to le$els that made an Internet connection affordable Unless "o$ernment policies "et in the #ay,

there is no reason #hy the same forces #ill not reduce prices further to ma)e the ser$ice affordable to e$er morepeople, #ith lo#er disposable incomes

!here is empirical e$idence for this= the <:? million mobile phone subscribers in India are able to ma)e phone calls

because they can afford the char"es &$en after some price cappin" by !RAI, most mobile telecom operators are doin"

#ell Despite persistent call drops and atrocious customer ser$ice, consumers en(oy reasonably "ood ser$ice and the

industry as a #hole is fairly healthy

All this happened #ithout a mobile phone operator pro$idin" free calls to a limited set of numbers in order to

demonstrate the $alue of mobile phones and to encoura"e more people to ta)e up subscriptions Operators did,

ho#e$er, inno$ate in retailin", launchin" prepaid pac)a"es and rechar"in" these connections On the flip side, they

also cut costs by s)impin" on customer ser$ice, o$erloadin" spectrum and sharin" to#er infrastructure

C!,;et&t&!$ & t(e /e%

!RAI should reflect on its o#n success in transformin" India from a lo# teledensity country to a moderately hi"h

teledensity one !his happened not due to no+frills ser$ices for poor and de$elopin" country usersT but by ensurin"

that mar)et competition is allo#ed to ta)e its course !here is no reason #hy mobile Internet ser$ices #ill not become

as popular as mobile phone ser$ices as lon" as there is ade>uate competition

!herefore, the debate on #hether or not to permit *ero ratin" is beside the point .hat !RAI ou"ht to be as)in" is

#hether there is sufficient competition in its current policy frame#or) Should it be licensin" more telecom operatorsN

as the "o$ernment made enou"h spectrum a$ailable so that mobile operators can lo#er prices and ensure ade>uate

ser$ice >ualityN Are there bottlenec)s in the hands of monopolists that raise the costs of ser$iceN

!he path to achie$in" the dream of Di"ital India lies not in forei"n companies decidin" on #hat basic ser$ices India’s

poor ou"ht to access free of char"e, but by encoura"in" e$er "reater competition and a le$el playin" field !his calls for

the re"ulator to ha$e a ha#)ish approach to#ards anti+competiti$e beha$iour by e'istin" mar)et players

/o#, let’s say that the "o$ernment really #ishes to ma)e the Internet affordable to citi*ens #hose incomes are too lo#

to pay for it !here is a "ood case for this based on positi$e e'ternalities= that some benefits of an indi$idual’s

connection to the Internet accrue to society as a #hole 3uch li)e primary education, an Internet connection allo#s a

citi*en to participate in the modern economy Bust as society as a #hole benefits if all citi*ens are educated, it benefits if

all citi*ens are connected !o be clear, this is not an ar"ument for the "o$ernment to run telecom businesses Rather, it

is to say that it is in the public interest for nearly e$eryone to be connected to the Internet



0AR! !.&/! !R&&E AR!IC&S


1?6

.r!"t( a a *!r)e ,u+t&;+&er

.hile it is temptin" to pro$ide free or subsidised ser$ices Q li)e #e do in India for many such thin"s Q the best

method to achie$e this outcome is to raise people’s incomes If the Indian economy "ro#s at : per cent o$er se$eral

years, the income effect #ill ma)e Internet connections more affordable e$en if prices do not fall

In other #ords, the best scheme to brin" the Internet to all in$ol$es boostin" competition to brin" do#n prices and

pursuin" economic "ro#th to raise people’s incomes !his is the formula that has #or)ed else#here in the #orld, has

#or)ed in India and #ill continue to #or) Schemes li)e Free 5asics by Faceboo) and Airtel Mero are unnecessary

from the perspecti$e of connectin" the unconnected

/o#, Faceboo) is not a charity So, it probably must ha$e a "ood e'planation to its shareholders #hy it is spendin" so

much of its time and resources in promotin" a "ood cause !hat e'planation is li)ely to "o= more Internet users in the

#orld means more users for Faceboo), #hich #e monetise in our usual #aysT It mi"ht also hint that bein" the"ate)eeper, ho#e$er open, of Internet content for hundreds of millions of people #ill "i$e it a lot more mar)et po#er

!his is important, for as Chamath 0alihapitiya, $enture capitalist and an early Faceboo) e'ecuti$e says, the company

#orries that it #ill lose out if it does not capture most of the #orld’s Internet content on its o#n platform

!RAI must ta)e a call on #hether such business strate"ies are anti+competiti$e 5ut in dealin" #ith the >uestion, the

re"ulator must not allo# itself to be persuaded that such schemes are necessary for brin"in" the Internet to the masses



0AR! !.&/! FOURE &SSA


1?7

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY FFOOUURR|| EESSSSAAYY

1 C(&+- La7!ur & a 7+!t !$ t(e S!)&et% Mainak Roy

Childhood, as A"atha Christie the famous #riter says, should be en(oyed It is supposed to be the most carefree phase

of life #hen the child "ets to e'plore the #orld #ith all its eccentricities and >uir)s and >uestion each aspect of it It is

the most important de$elopment phase in the life of a human bein" #hen $alues and morals de$elop throu"h

)no#led"e and education bein" imparted %uidance of elders at this sta"e defines the place in the society the child is

"oin" to occupy in future Childhood is a)in to platform of life, often #aitin" to board the ri"ht train in the >uest for a

human bein"’s ultimate "oal in this material #orld e$en thou"h the child is too youn" to comprehend the

importance of the same

5ut, #hat happens, #hen the child boards the #ron" train or inad$ertently "ets to the #ron" platform say bonded

labour at a $ery tender a"e of si', e$en before heshe understands #hat this is all aboutN .hat is the root+cause that

dro$e a child to earn hisher li$elihood #hen heshe should be in school learnin" the basicsN .ho is responsibleN

.hat repercussions does it ha$e on the child and on the society as a #holeN .hat steps should be ta)en to address the

sameN !hese >uestions should intri"ue us as moral responsible citi*ens #ho are often #itness to such instances in our

daily life but ha$e come to accept it as a norm .e need to understand that it not only derails the entire future of the

child, but also has a disastrous effect on the mental #ell+bein" of the child #hich steers much of hisher adult life

Such "ro#nup adults often ha$e a distorted outloo) about life and may pose a threat to the $ery society that pushed

them in the #ron" path

Child labour is a serious blot on our society and our tolerance to#ards it sho#s our cold+heartedness in tac)lin" this

serious issue &ach underpri$ile"ed child, if empo#ered to learn and study durin" the crucial formati$e sta"es of life

can ad$ance our nation to the ne't le$el #e $ery #ell could ha$e a hi"h probability of the ne't 5ill %ates, 3ar)

Muc)erber", Sachin !endul)ar, Chetan 5ha"at, 3ary Kom, Kiran 5edi, future 0rime 3inister, 0resident, Chief of Army

or Chief Bustice of India risin" up from amon" them It should "i$e one much pleasure to ponder on the fact that so

much talent could be harnessed by di$ertin" the ri"ht resources and en$ironment to the needy

!hou"h there has been conscientious effort by both "o$ernment and pri$ate or"ani*ations /%Os to address the issue

of child labour, it has borne little fruit &$ery other day, #e "et to read in the ne#spapers about children bein" rescued

from factories, industrial units, hotels and urban homes !his, despite the fact that Child abour 0rohibition andRe"ulation Act, 1<:8 has been passed, #hich clearly articulates that any child belo# 16years of a"e cannot be

employed in ha*ardous or menial occupation enforcin" Article 26 of Constitution related to fundamental ri"ht a"ainst

e'ploitation !he amendment to the act in 2??8, also prohibits children to be employed as domestic #or)ers and

ser$ants in households Still, #e do come across numerous instances #herein children are toilin" day and ni"ht for a

decent li$elihood #hilst they should be playin" around #ith their peers

.e first need to understand the ma"nitude of the problem U/IC&F estimates that India has 127 million child

labourers accordin" to 2??1 census, the hi"hest number of child labourers in the #orld !his number is a hu"e increase

from 114 million as per 1<<1 census and is a #orryin" trend One aspect is clear there has been little curtail on child

labour, indirectly pointin" to the fact that the measures ta)en to curb includin" penalties are not deterrent enou"h to

stem the tide An article published in the indu dated 21st Buly, 2?16 mentions 6,4?? child labourers bein" rescued

from Delhi alone since 2??< most of them employed in barred places li)e factories and hotels If this number is

compounded #ith the number of metropolitan cities, me"a+cities and tier+1 cities ta)en into account, the count #ould

increase e'ponentially, i"norin" the count of unreported cases





1?8

!he issue needs to be loo)ed at from a 48? de"ree $ie# rather than a piece+meal approach One needs to understand

#hat forces the child to #or) at such a tender a"e, often at places far a#ay from their families and the most basic

reason #ould be the mea"re pecuniary condition of the family the di$ide bet#een the rich and the poor has

increased drastically since the ad$ent of "lobali*ation, #here the "o$ernment pe"s the 50 limit at measly Rs 42 for

rural and Rs 69 for urban spend for an indi$idual For the poor, "ettin" t#o s>uare meals a day becomes a daily

hurdle to be crossed #hich ultimately dri$es the child to fend for himself Desperation also plays an important role,

ta)en ad$anta"e of by the ha#)s a)a a"ents of human traffic)in" on #hose behest the child is often sold at fe#

thousand rupees by needy parentsL such is the real $alue placed on the child

!he child if luc)y enou"h lands up #ith a "ood employer, but more often than not one has to #or) under unbearable

circumstances for lon" hours and no holidays For "irls, the situation is e$en #orse #here they are at the mercy of their

employers and are tar"ets of se'ual predatorsL molestation and at times rapes are recurrin" e$ents of their life 3any of

the unfortunate "irls directly land up in the flesh trade, #hich has the most serious conse>uences on their mental #ell+bein" uman !raffic)in" is one of the #orst crimes that can be ima"ined and the perpetrators should be punished

strictly accordin" to Immoral !raffic 0re$ention Act, 1<78 enforcin" Article 24 of Constitution related to Fundamental

ri"ht to 0rohibition of !raffic in uman 5ein"s and Forced abour

!he pre$alent solution in most of the cases #here children are rescued is repatriation to their nati$e place for

rehabilitation It is to be noted here that most of the rescued children are from poor families of .est 5en"al, Bhar)hand,

Odisha, 3adhya 0radesh, 5ihar and Chhattis"arhL all belon"in" to the bottom >uartile in the list of states as per in the

Indian uman De$elopment Inde' #hile Kerala leads the pac) #ith hi"hest DI !he abour Department sends

Rs27,??? to District 3a"istrates annually for the #elfare of each rescued child, but there are no effecti$e tracin" and

trac)in" mechanism 3ore, importantly, the money is often not enou"h to sustain the basic re>uirements of each child

!he family situation of the child remains same as before and the family still has to stru""le to ma)e both ends meet Itdoes not sol$e the real problem

!he "o$ernment has to de$elop a multi+pron"ed solution to address the root+cause 3uch has been done, but it must

be fool+proof solution First and foremost bein" po$erty alle$iation 3/R&%A is one such initiati$e that touches the

bottom of the pyramid directly 5ut it is mired #ith corruption that needs to be tac)led stron"ly 3ore such initiati$es

need to be ta)en to impro$e financial condition of the poor Secondly, ensurin" that all children "et access to primary

education, a fundamental ri"ht as per article 21a of the Constitution arious incenti$es li)e 3id+day meal schemes

ha$e been a hu"e success in most of the states It has not only resulted in the decline of school drop+outs in primary

classes, but has also pro$ided a cost+effecti$e means for the under+pri$ile"ed child to continue his education, #ho

other#ise may ha$e been forced to ta)e up a (ob An additional aspect is re#ardin" family of "irl child For e'ample,

in 0un(ab, "irl students ha$e been "ifted bicycles to tra$el comparati$ely lar"er distances to reach school alon" #ith

free education It also needs to be mentioned that thou"h R!& has been passed, it needs to be implemented in earnest

at all le$els !hirdly, #ith the passa"e of Food Security Act of 2?14, it is e'pected that the poor are supposed to deri$e

most of the benefits of subsidi*ed food items throu"h tar"eted 0ublic Distribution System 0DS !his should pro$ide

some respite to the poor so that they are not forced to send their #ards to #or) Fourthly, the (udiciary and police

needs to #or) hand+in+hand to curb this menace All cases, pendin" before the /ational Commission and State

Commissions for 0rotection of Child ri"hts and Children’s courts should be fast trac)ed astly, all abour Inspectors

should be held accountable for any child labourer bein" employed under hisher area of (urisdiction Any

lac)adaisical approach should be done a#ay #ith strin"ent puniti$e measures in place

5ut one cannot put the onus on the "o$ernment alone %i$en the $ast si*e of our country, hu"e population and the

economic imbalances, the responsibility to address the issue of child labour lies e>ually #ith the citi*ens of our

country .e, as responsible human bein"s, ha$e to be conscious of the impact of child labour and the ne"ati$e impact

on our society and cannot afford to turn a blind eye All instances of child labour should be promptly reported to the

concerned authorities !o achie$e this, #e need to alle$iate oursel$es to cherish the ideals that the foundin" fathers of





1?9

our nation en$isa"ed, by de$elopin" a stron" sense of moral character #ithin oursel$es and ensurin" that the children

from underpri$ile"ed families also lead a happy and (oyous childhood

For the "ro#th of any nation, youn"sters play a $ery crucial role /ation rides on the #ell+bein" of these youn"sters

#ho are ultimately responsible for leadin" the nations in the #orld+sta"e It is upto us, #hat )ind of future, #e as

responsible citi*ens ima"ine for our successi$e "enerations one, that is compassionate and upholds the freedom for

all, fore"oin" the rooster coop mentality and pullin" up the depri$ed ones by the more fortunate citi*ens as %andhi+(i

en$isioned, or remain self+centered and concerned #ith the #ell+bein" of self, ta)in" full ad$anta"e of the depri$ed

sections of our society, to the e'tent of forcin" a child to fore"o his childhood In case of latter, future of our society #ill

be pretty blea) indeed unless #e stri$e to#ards eradicatin" the blot the child labour in all it forms

As Fran)lin D Roose$elt said, .e cannot al#ays build the future for our youth, but #e can build our youth for the

futureT



0AR! !.&/! FI&E ASSI%/3&/! ;U&S!IO/S


1?:

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY FFII>>EE || AASSSSII..NNMMEENNTT UUEESSTTIIOONNSS

=ART I: Contains multiple choice >uestions 3C;s on current affairs for practice In this issue, #e ha$e

co$ered probable >uestions for %eneral Studies 0reliminary 0aper I dra#n from the O)t!7er 2015 issue of

@FOCUS’ ma"a*ine

;1 .hich of the follo#in" is not a nei"hbourin"

country of %uatemalaN

a 3e'ico

b onduras

c &l Sal$ador

d Costa Rica

;2 .hich of the follo#in" countries does not

border @%ulf of onduras’N

a 5eli*e

b onduras

c &l Sal$ador

d %uatemala

;4 Bimmy 3orales is the ne# president of

a 5oli$iab ene*uela

c Ar"entina

d %uatemala

;6 Mhubi reef is part of the

a Canary islands

b Spratly islands

c 0aracel islands

d Scarborou"h Reef

;7 Bustin !rudeau is the ne# prime minister ofa 5el"ium

b 3e'ico

c Canada

d Denmar)

;8 K0 Sharma Oli is the ne# prime minister of

a Surinam

b Fi(i

c 3auritius

d /epal

;9 5idhya De$i 5handari is the

a first #oman Chief Bustice of Orissa

b first #oman Chief Bustice of /epal

c first #oman 0resident of /epal

d first #oman 0resident of 3auritius

;: !he is a multilateral treaty #hich

ser$es as the ICCHs foundational and "o$ernin"

document

a Rome Statute

b 5erlin Statute

c 0aris Statute

d ienna Statute

;< !he fifth round of India+China (oint military

e'ercises, and+in+and, #as conducted in the

Chinese city of

a 3aomin"

b Kunmin"

c Chon">in"

d /an(in"

;1? !he International Criminal Court ICC as)ed

India to arrest and hand o$er Omar assan al+

5ashir on e'pectation that he #ill attend India+

Africa summit in /e# Delhi Omar assan al+

5ashir accused of "enocide char"es is the

president of

a Sudan

b 3ali

c /i"er

d South Sudan

;11 5uc)in"ham Canal is in the state of

a Orissa

b Andhra 0radesh

c Kerala

d 3aharashtra

;12.hich of the follo#in" countries is not a member

of !rans+0acific 0artnership !00N

a 0eru

b Chile

c 3alaysia

d Indonesia

;14 Consider the follo#in" statements=



0AR! !.&/! FI&E ASSI%/3&/! ;U&S!IO/S


1?<

1 0urchasin" 0o#er 0arity 000 aims to

determine the ad(ustments needed to be made in

the e'chan"e rates of t#o currencies to ma)e

them at par #ith the purchasin" po#er of each

other

2 0urchasin" 0o#er 0arity 000 is used

#orld#ide to compare the income le$els in

different countries

.hich of the statements "i$en abo$e isare

correctN

a Only 1

b Only 2

c 5oth 1 and 2d /either 1 nor 2

;16 !he source for al)aloids such as morphine,

codeine and thebaine is

a 3andra)e

b Opium

c Cannabis

d 3e'ican calea

;17 .hich of the follo#in" replaced %oo"le as the

publicly traded company that #ill house%oo"le’s search and #eb ad$ertisin" businessesN

a Symbol

b /umeral

c Alphabet

d Character

;18 Side#al) abs, a company dedicated to comin"

up #ith technolo"ies to impro$e urban city

infrastructure is a $enture of

a Apple

b %oo"le

c 3icrosoft

d Daimler

;19 .hich of the follo#in" countries attained the

top ran) in the @%lobal Doin" 5usiness Report

2?18’N

a /or#ay

b S#eden

c South Korea

d Sin"apore

;1: .hich of the follo#in" countries attained the

top ran) in the @.orld &conomic Forum .&F

%lobal Competiti$eness Inde' 2?17+18’N

a %ermany

b USA

c S#it*erland

d Sin"apore

;1< Consider the follo#in" statements=

1 !he .orld &conomic Forum .&F is a S#iss

nonprofit foundation, based in %ene$a

2 .&F brin"s to"ether top business leaders,

international political leaders, selected

intellectuals, and (ournalists to discuss the most

pressin" issues facin" the #orld for its annual

#inter meetin" in Da$os

.hich of the statements "i$en abo$e isarecorrectN

a Only 1

b Only 2

c 5oth 1 and 2

d /either 1 nor 2

;2? .hich of the follo#in" committees #as the first

in su""estin" constitution of @/ational Budicial

Commission’ for appointment of (ud"esN

a Bustice Kehar Sin"h Committee

b Bustice en)atachaliah Committeec Bustice S#aminathan Committee

d Bustice !arapore Committee


1 Commission for A"ricultural Costs and 0rices

CAC0 is a decentrali*ed a"ency of the

%o$ernment of India

2 It #as established in the year 1<87 as

A"ricultural 0rices Commission and renamed to

Commission for A"ricultural Costs and 0rices in

the year 1<:7

4 It #as established to recommend the 3inimum

Support 0rices 3S0s to moti$ate culti$ators

and farmers to adopt ad$anced and latest

technolo"y


correctN

a Only 1 and 2

b Only 2 and 4

c Only 1 and 4

d All of the abo$e


1 !he /ational e"al Ser$ices Authority /ASA

has been constituted under the e"al Ser$ices

Authorities Act, 1<:9 to pro$ide free e"al



0AR! !.&/! FI&E ASSI%/3&/! ;U&S!IO/S


11?

Ser$ices to the #ea)er sections of the society and

to or"ani*e o) Adalats for amicable settlement

of disputes

2 /ASA is headed by the Union a# 3inister


correctN

a Only 1

b Only 2

c 5oth 1 and 2

d /either 1 nor 2

;24 .hich of the follo#in" countries attained the

bottom ran) in the @International Food 0olicyResearch Institute IF0RI 2?17 hun"er inde'’N

a Central African Republic

b iberia

c South Sudan

d 3ali


1 @Kisan’ pro(ect en$isa"es use of Space

!echnolo"y and "eoinformatics %IS, %0S and

Smartphone technolo"y alon" #ith hi"h

resolution data from UADrone based ima"in"for impro$ement in yield estimation and better

plannin" of Crop Cuttin" &'periments CC&s,

needed for crop insurance pro"ramme

2 !he pro"ramme #ill be (ointly conducted by

3ahalanobis /ational Crop Forecast Centre,

Indian Space Research Or"anisation, India

3eteorolo"ical Department, State A"riculture

Departments and Remote Sensin" Centres


correctN

a Only 1

b Only 2

c 5oth 1 and 2

d /either 1 nor 2

;27 .hat is @074’N

a it is a ma(or pollutant

b is a compound that suppresses tumour

formation

c is a ne# nuclear tipped missile of /orth Korea

d is a $ariation of sea #eed

;28 3ars+orbitin" 3A&/ is a spacecraft of

a /ASA

b &uropean Space A"ency

c Russian Space A"ency

d Chinese /ational Space A"ency

;29 ChinaHs %eneral /uclear Corporation C%/ #ill

ta)e a one+third sta)e in the planned in)ley

0oint nuclear plant !he plant is proposed to

come up in

a France

b UK

c %ermany

d Australia

;2: I/S Astradharini is a

a indi"enously built attac) submarineb indi"enously built air craft carrier

c indi"enously built !orpedo aunch and

Reco$ery $essel

d indi"enously built "uided missile destroyer

;2< I/S Kochi is a

a indi"enously built lar"est+e$er #arship

b indi"enously built air craft carrier

c indi"enously built mines#eeper

d indi"enously built "uided missile destroyer

;4? Consider the follo#in" statements=

1 Crustaceans form a $ery lar"e "roup of

arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum,

#hich includes such familiar animals as crabs,

lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, )rill and barnacles

2 ermit crabs are ubi>uitous animals often not

considered to be @true’ crabs as they lac) an

e'ternal shell on their soft abdomen #hich

lea$es them $ulnerable to predators


correctN

a Only 1

b Only 2

c 5oth 1 and 2

d /either 1 nor 2

;41 @3usa indandamanensis’ disco$ered in the ittle

Andaman Island is a ne# species of

a 5amboo

b 5anana

c Bute

d Coconut

;42 5otanical Sur$ey of India is head>uartered in

a Kol)ata

b 5hubanes#ar



0AR! !.&/! FI&E ASSI%/3&/! ;U&S!IO/S


111

c 5hopal

d 5an"alore

;44 !he %alpa"os Islands in 0acific Ocean and

Aldabra Atoll in Indian Ocean are the only t#o

locales inhabited by

a Carpet $ipers

b 3u""er crocodile

c Komodo dra"ons

d %iant tortoises

;46 !he Income !a' Department set up a committee

for re$ampin" the Income !a' I+! Act bysimplifyin" its pro$isions to reduce liti"ation

and impro$e doin" business in the country !he

committee is headed by

a Bustice C Ramas#amy

b Bustice Sheila Seth

c Bustice R &as#ar

d Bustice R 0atha)

;47 e#is amilton #on his third Formula 1 .orld

Championship e represents

a Ferrarib 3ercedes

c Sauber

d 3claren

;48 .ho amon" the follo#in" is the youn"est e$er

%3 %randmaster of ChessN

a 3a"nus Carlsen

b 0eter S$idler

c eselin !opalo$

d Ser"ey Kar(a)in

;49 !he first @.orld Indi"enous %ames’ e$ent also

billed as the @Indi"enous Olympics’ #as held in

2?17 in

a 0almas, 5ra*il

b ima, 0eru

c a 0a*, 5oli$ia

d ;uito, &>uador

;4: !he 2?17 Ru"by .orld Cup #as #on by

a Australia

b /e# Mealand

c South Africa

d USA

;4< !he ne# head of the Inter"o$ernmental 0anel on

Climate Chan"e I0CC is

a / Ramani

b %amal al+%hitani

c ennin" 3an)ell

d oesun" ee


1 !he /obel 0ri*e is a set of annual international

a#ards besto#ed in a number of cate"ories by

S#edish and /or#e"ian committees

2 !he 0eace 0ri*e is a#arded in Stoc)holm,

S#eden, #hile the other pri*es are a#arded inOslo, /or#ay


correctN

a Only 1

b Only 2

c 5oth 1 and 2

d /either 1 nor 2

;61 !he !unisian Re$olution #as also )no#n as the

a Basmine Re$olution

b Oran"e Re$olutionc 0in) Re$olution

d iolet Re$olution

;62 !he 3an 5oo)er 0ri*e 2?17 #as a#arded to

a 3arlon Bames Bamaica for @A 5rief istory of

Se$en Killin"s’

b !om 3cCarthy UK for @Satin Island’

c Anne !yler US for @A Spool of 5lue !hread’

d anya ana"ihara US for @A ittle ife’

;64 !he 0ara"lidin" .orld Cup 2?17 #as held in

5ir It is located in the state of

a Arunachal 0radesh

b imachal 0radesh

c Si))im

d Uttara)hand

;66 @Chadar 5adar’ is an art form associated #ith

a 0aintin"

b 0uppetry

c 3usic

d Dance

;67 /atti fol) dance is associated #ith

a 0un(ab

b Uttara)hand



0AR! !.&/! FI&E ASSI%/3&/! ;U&S!IO/S


112

c Bammu and Kashmir

d imachal 0radesh

;68 @Dreamin" 5i"= 3y Bourney to Connect India’ is

an autobio"raphy of

a Sunil 3ittal

b Ratan !ata

c Sam 0itroda

d A*im 0rem(i

;69 Boseph Anton= A 3emoir is an autobio"raphy of

a Salman Rushdie

b !aslima /asreenc S /aipaul

d i)ram Seth

;6: !he #orld’s lar"est boo) fair is

a 5erlin 5oo) Fair

b Fran)furt 5oo) Fair

c Copenha"en 5oo) Fair

d 3adrid 5oo) Fair

;6< Consider the follo#in" statements=

1 Sa)haro$ human ri"hts pri*e #as created in1<:: to honour people and or"anisations

defendin" human ri"hts and fundamental

freedoms

2 Raif 5ada#i, the Saudi blo""er and acti$ist #on

the Sa)haro$ human ri"hts pri*e for 2?17


correctN

a Only 1

b Only 2

c 5oth 1 and 2

d /either 1 nor 2


1 !he 3an 5oo)er 0ri*e for Fiction formerly

)no#n as the 5oo)er+3cConnell 0ri*e and

commonly )no#n simply as the 5oo)er 0ri*e is

a literary pri*e a#arded each year for the best

ori"inal no$el, #ritten in the &n"lish lan"ua"e,

and published in the UK

2 From its inception, only Common#ealth, Irishand Mimbab#ean citi*ens #ere eli"ible to

recei$e the pri*eL in 2?14, ho#e$er, this

eli"ibility #as #idened to any &n"lish lan"ua"e

no$el


correctN

a Only 1

b Only 2

c 5oth 1 and 2

d /either 1 nor 2

=ART II: A bunch of 17 rele$ant >uestions on $arious themes of %eneral Studies 3ain &'amination ha$e been put in

this issue for practice

.ENERAL STUDIES 8MAIN9 =A=ERS

A$"er t(e *!++!"&$<:

T(e,e: H&t!r% I$-&a$ Her&ta<e a$- Cu+ture

;1 Do you thin) 3ahatma %andhi’s support to Khilafat 3o$ement had diluted his secular credentialsN %i$e your

ar"ument based on the assessment of e$ents

;2 5rin" out the ideolo"ical basis of the 3oderate &'tremist di$ide in the Indian /ational Con"ress

;4 o# did the mo$ement for the liberation of #omen recei$e a "reat stimulus from the rise and "ro#th of the

nationalist mo$ement in IndiaN;6 .hy and ho# did Con"ress come to accept the partition of the countryN

;7 !race the de$elopment of %andhara and 3athura schools of art in India

T(e,e: I$-&a$ S!)&et% a$- S!)&a+ Jut&)e

;1 Discuss the $arious factors associated #ith the increase of (u$enile crimes in India



0AR! !.&/! FI&E ASSI%/3&/! ;U&S!IO/S


114

;2 Chan"e in "ender roles is an important factor in the increase of $iolence a"ainst #omen Discuss

;4 Critically e'amine the minimal effect of indu Succession Amendment Act, 2??7 on inheritance of a"ricultural

land by #omen

;6 Increase in elderly population demands a better le"islation for "eriatric care Discuss

;7 Critically e'amine the impact of internal mi"ration on cities and on hinterland

T(e,e: .e!<ra;(%

;1 Sea floor spreadin" helps in e'plainin" the continental drift Comment

;2 .hat are @%laciers’N o# are they formedN 5rin" out the causes of rapid decline in "lacial ice co$er and its

impacts

;4 @!he first "reen re$olution #hich #as confined to limited areas of production has outli$ed its utility ence

there is a need for a e$er "reen re$olution on a lar"er scale’ Su""est measures for implementin" a

comprehensi$e e$er "reen re$olution on 0an+India scale;6 &'amine the causes and e'tent of @landslides’ in India and su""est remedial measures

;7 o# do you distin"uish bet#een the process of soil formation and soil formin" factorsN .hat is the role of

climate and biolo"ical acti$ity as t#o important control factors in the formation of soilsN



0AR! !.&/! SIPE SOU!IO/S


116

==AARRTT TT EENNTTYY SSII|| SSOOLLUUTTIIOONNSS

Solutions are "i$en hereunder for the multiple choice >uestions on current affairs "i$en in /o$ember, 2?17 issue of

@FOCUS’ ma"a*ine

;1+ Ans#er a

;2+ Ans#er c

;4+ Ans#er c

;6+ Ans#er c

;7+ Ans#er b

;8+ Ans#er b

;9+ Ans#er d;:+ Ans#er c

;<+ Ans#er d

;1?+ Ans#er c

;11+ Ans#er c

;12+ Ans#er b

;14+ Ans#er d

;16+ Ans#er a

;17+ Ans#er a

;18+ Ans#er b

;19+ Ans#er b

;1:+ Ans#er c

;1<+ Ans#er b

;2?+ Ans#er b

;21+ Ans#er c

;22+ Ans#er b

;24+ Ans#er d

;26+ Ans#er c

;27+ Ans#er c

;28+ Ans#er c

;29+ Ans#er b

;2:+ Ans#er c;2<+ Ans#er b

;4?+ Ans#er c

;41+ Ans#er d

;42+ Ans#er d

;44+ Ans#er a

;46+ Ans#er c

;47+ Ans#er c



0AR! !.&/! &I%!EI30AC! A/ASIS


117

FFOOCCUUSS SS==EECCIIAALL

INDIAN CI>IL SER>ICES: =UBLIC INTERFACE

Shri Sarveshwar Jha (IAS)

IndiaHs Ci$il Ser$ices ha$e been referred to $ariously, dependin" on #ho the referrer is If he is an academic, he #ould

be faithfully restrictin" himself to the te'tual term, ci$il ser$ices e #ould certainly )eep in his mind the historical

and Constitutional e$olution of different aspects of this institutionL he #ould proudly remember that this inte"ral and

hallo#ed limb of the Indian body politic #as $isuali*ed as a permanent, neutral, apolitical and, abo$e all, a #ell

informed entity, dri$en by an in>uirin" and scientific temperament and spiritL this body #as e'pected to be fired by

unflinchin" commitment to ser$ice of the people, al#ays ready and a$ailable to render the re>uisite ser$iceL it #ase'pected to be manned by men and #omen of absolute inte"rity #ith a hi"h le$el of both academic as #ell as practical

intelli"enceL #hile at the ser$ice of the people, its members #ere to be not only the pathfinders but also the social

harmoni*ers, conflict+bustersL this #ould earn them the most profound respect of all in the society, the heart+ felt from

those #ho are at the lo#est run" !hese true masters of ci$il ser$ants #ould ele$ate their status from public ser$ants

to bein" emancipators !he terms ci$il ser$ant and public ser$ant #ould thus become interchan"eable and

synonymous

In the initial years of the #or)in" of the scheme in the 7?Hs8?Hs #itnessed almost near application of the tenets as

en$isioned in the precedin" lines !his period of about t#o decades of its functionin" on the "round sa# the

emer"ence of a hi"hly scholarly, dedicated, public ser$ice+oriented, ma"nanimous, accessible and intellectually and

morally honest and upri"ht Indian Ci$il Ser$ice #hich set a "reat benchmar) for the future ci$il ser$ants It is certainly

not to say that this period did not ha$e ci$il ser$ants belo# the benchmar) or the later periods did not ha$e its

(e#els !hese periods #ere essentially different in terms of policy pro"ramme initiati$es and ob(ecti$es= the first t#o

decades #ere the foundin" and buildin" days of the nation, and the ci$il ser$ants #ere also dri$en by the spirit of

builders and pioneersL they #ere loo)ed upon #ith "reat hope and admiration by a people #ho #ere dreamin" of a

ne# and resur"ent India, a po#erful and prosperous India, a self+sustainin" and confident India .hile the process of

buildin" the edifice of an economically, socially and militarily stron" nation #as a continuin" endea$our, the fla$our

and orientation of the policies and pro"rammes #as ad(usted to the ne# demands on the nation 5an)s, mines,

insurance and a fe# other ser$icessystems #ere nationalised to mop up "reater resources for fundin" scores of

de$elopment and po$erty alle$iation pro"rammes 11< at one sta"e and also subsidisin" massi$e "reen re$olution

efforts li)e associated R-D , irri"ation, fertili*ers, etc .hile sub(ects li)e Science and !echnolo"y, Space, /uclear&ner"y, 0o#er, Rural De$elopment, to name a fe#, apart from hu"e old sectors li)e Rail#ays, Defence,

Communications ,demandin" e$er+increasin" in$estmentse'penditure, #ere $ery much a part of the priorities of the

country, many more "ot added in the subse>uent decades as the country pro"ressed on the path of multi+ pron"ed

de$elopment It must be remembered that the country had also to fi"ht three #ars forced on her durin" the first t#o

nascent decades of Independence .hile #ars ta)e a hea$y toll on the countryHs economy and resources, the #ar

fou"ht in 1<91 #as preceded by influ' of millions of refu"ees from the eastern nei"hbour, impactin" the employment,

food and price mana"ement scenario All this confronted the Indian Ci$il Ser$ice in their face, unprecedented in

content and ma"nitude !he ci$il ser$ants of the 9?Hs faced this challen"e successfully and earned the appreciation of a

"rateful nation

!hese #ere also the years #hen India hosted a number of international meets, li)e, /on+ali"ned /ationsConferences, Common#ealth eads of %o$ernment 3eet, 3eetin"s of se$eral U/ and other multilateral bodies

apart from scores of bilateral meets at re"ular fre>uencies, e$ents li)e Asian %ames, International !rade Fairs and

Festi$al of India in different parts of the #orld In addition to these, there #ere umpteen departmental meets of pan

Indian and international nature all the year round /e# Delhi became one of the most fa$oured destinations of

national and international e$ents, bein" the capital of federal India and bein" one of the foundin" members of the



0AR! !.&/! S&&/EFOCUS S0&CIA


118

/on+ali"ned %roup of /ations As the lar"est democracy on earth, India #anted to play a si"nificant role in #orld

affairs, and hence it’s determined ur"e to spread its presence on a #ider spectrum of "lobal en"a"ements .ith this

)ind of proacti$e perspecti$e #hich the country had set for itself, the Indian Ci$il Ser$ice had to be a multi+

disciplinary body of most dedicated professionals One can ima"ine the ma"nitude of challen"es #hich this institution

had to address and #hich it did so admirably

o#e$er, this Ser$ice manifested some $ulnerabilities and faultlines in subse>uent years #ith chan"es in policies and

pro"rammes and #ith shifts in the political comple'ion at the Centre and the States .hile #ith the onset of

liberalisation of the economy the ci$il ser$ices had to respond to ne# demands on their professional and academic

e'pertise and acumen apart from displayin" their determination to rise to this uni>ue e'pectation, comin" to po#er in

States of people #ith different political, social and economic a"enda and ideolo"ies brou"ht #ith them une'pected and

unusual challen"es and strains to the ci$il ser$ices

!his led to people ha$in" fla#ed perceptions about these ser$ices 0olicy chan"es "a$e to the country hi"her "ro#th

rate, ne't only to that of ChinaL there #as, ho#e$er, no ac)no#led"ement of the role of the ci$il ser$ants in ma)in"

this achie$ement possible #ith their hard #or), dedication and commitment Instead, they #ere blamed for #hate$er

#ent #ron" #ith the de$elopment profile Some stray cases of irre"ularity and alle"ed cases of corruption #ere

thro#n up to mali"n the entire institution Delays in disposal of administrati$e matters, peoples’ re>uests for se$eral

benefitsfacilities, "rie$ances, applications for settin" up of industries, enterprises in different sectors, non+

performance or deficient performance under umpteen pro"rammesser$ices, etc earned the ci$il ser$ants the

ne"ati$e epithet of HbabusH #ho delayed matters as a matter of habit or routine, also at times for e'traneous reasonsL

this syndrome #as often referred to as HredtapeismH, another ne"ati$e comment on the #or) culture of the ci$il ser$ice

One of the critical refrains a"ainst the ser$ice has been its inaccessibility .hile se$eral instruments and mechanismsha$e been e$ol$ed o$er the years to promote better interaction bet#een the ci$il ser$ants and the public, there ha$e

been occasions #hen the people and media ha$e reasons to feel that the ci$il ser$ants ha$e not been a$ailable for help

and ser$iceL rather, it has at times been alle"ed that they ha$e beha$ed in an authoritarian manner, earnin" them the

unsa$oury reference of HbureaucracyH and the ci$il ser$ants referred to as HbureaucratsH

Another important dimension to the e$olution of the ser$ice came about #ith the introduction of 0anchayati Ra(, first

in the 7?Hs and later in a more authentic and statutory manner in the <?Hs #hen the 94rd and 96th Amendments to the

Constitution #ere enacted .ith these amendments, 0anchayats #ere assi"ned se$eral functions initially 2< and later

7? and decision+ma)in" in these areas passed on to themL ci$il ser$antsH po#ers and authorities in these areas also

passed on to these elected bodies in $aryin" de"rees !housands of 0anchayat functionaries ha$e been recei$in"

trainin" in their ne# dispensationL this has certainly necessitated a ne# adaptation re"ime on the part of the ci$il

ser$ants, ur"in" them to become Hpublic ser$antsH in the true sense of the term

!his brin"s forth a percei$ed desire on the part of some ci$il ser$ants to share publicity #ith the political functionaries

.hile there is no mention of any prescription or proscription in this re"ard in the scheme $isualised for the ser$ice, it

has been considered desirable to a$oid any such temptation, )eepin" in $ie# that the ser$ice is strictly apolitical in

nature It #ould be interestin" to relate an actual incident to buttress this point= in the 1<9?Hs #hen the #riter of this

piece #as an Under Secretary to the %o$t of India and #as, alon" #ith his Boint Secretary, #aitin" in his 3inisterHs

office in connection #ith 0arliament ;uestions, ! cre# entered the office to inter$ie# the 3inisterL the BS ad$ised the

US to be a#ay from the e'posure ran"e of the ! cameraL this #as the sensiti$ity attached to apoliticality of the

ser$ice

Understandin" of the scheme of Indian Ci$il Ser$ice bein" not the same #ith all political parties comin" to po#er

either at the Centre or the States, their relationship #ith them #ould $aryL some of them ha$e had $ery difficult times

mana"in" a cordial and mutually respectful relationship due to this factor In the distant past, this relationship

broadly matched the scheme 5ut later, instances of conflict bet#een the permanent e'ecuti$e, i e, the ci$il ser$ice, and



0AR! !.&/! &I%!EI30AC! A/ASIS

the political e'ecuti$e did occasionally surface, particularly in the States !here ha$e been some instances e$en

recently It #as also obser$ed that some ci$il ser$ants #ere percei$ed to be closer to a certain political dispensation,

and thus they in$ited pre(udicial treatment at the hands of the other political outfits

o#e$er, the truth of the matter has been that the ser$ice, #hile tra$ersin" throu"h the abo$e potholes and ditches,

has essentially retained its basic character of bein" neutral and apolitical, #ell informed and educated, committed to

ser$in" the public and nationHs interests, and retainin" an en>uirin" and scientific temper .hile it has to steer clear of

the ha*ards as mentioned in the fore"oin" para"raphs, it has to )eep stri$in" for e>uippin" itself #ith the best

practices in the field of public ser$ice and "o$ernance in different parts of the country and the #orld It has not only to

)eep learnin" all the time to up"rade its s)ills and professional )no#led"e, but also to di$ersify its e'pertise matchin"

the re>uirements of a fast "ro#in" economy and future #orld po#er Apart from the initial elaborate induction

trainin" pro"ramme #hich the concerned Academies of the Ser$ices ha$e for their officersprobationers, the

%o$ernment of India is ha$in" a massi$e continuin" educationorientation pro"ramme for ci$il ser$ices officers in thebest institutions of the country and the #orld !hese include opportunities for doin" 0ost+%raduate

Diploma3asterHs0hD pro"rammes in the best forei"n Uni$ersitiesInstitutionsL there is also a pro$ision for study

lea$e for hi"her education in the country as #ell as abroad #ith full salary at home !his enables the ci$il ser$ants to

interact #ith participants from different countries in the #orld and to enrich their e'perience !he underlyin" ob(ecti$e

is to e$ol$e the Indian Ci$il Ser$ices into a dynamic, pro"ressi$e, thorou"hly professional and humanistic body of

public ser$ice+oriented members, ha$in" absolute moral and intellectual inte"rity and honest ser$ice of the nation at

heart

19 - focus december 2015 xaam.in

Documents