Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 15-03-2021

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 15-03-2021

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Governance and Institutions - First Leaders’ Summit: QUAD - The PM of India addressed the first summit of the leaders' of the QUAD (Quadrilateral Framework). The meeting was hosted by the USA on a virtual platform. Earlier in February 2021, QUAD ministerial meeting discussed issues across Indo-Pacific and the military takeover in Myanmar. QUAD is a grouping of India, USA, Australia and Japan which aims to safeguard the interests of democratic nations in the Indo-Pacific region and address global challenges. On pressing crises, such as Covid-19, climate change and emerging technologies. QUAD pledged to promote a free, open rules-based order, rooted in international law to advance security and prosperity and counter threats to both in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. China said that any grouping should not be made to target a particular nation.
2. Social Issues  - LGBTIQ Freedom Zone in EU - In response to the backsliding of LGBTIQ rights in some EU countries, notably Poland and Hungary, the European Parliament has declared the European Union an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone”.  A majority of countries in the EU (23/27) recognise same-sex unions, with 16 legally recognising same-sex marriage. LGBTIQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Inter-sex and Queer. Same-sex relationships are not legally recognised in Poland, and the country already bans same-sex couples from adopting children together. However, as single people are permitted to adopt, some have managed to get around the ban by applying to adopt as single parents. Now, Poland has come up with the proposal wherein a person is liable to criminal offence if he/she is found to be applying for adoption as a single parent being in a same-sex relationship. LGBTIQ community in Poland is subject to increased discrimination and attacks, notably growing hate speech from public authorities and elected officials. Since March 2019, more than 100 Polish regions, counties and municipalities have adopted resolutions declaring themselves to be free from LGBTIQ “ideology”. The Parliament of Hungary too, adopted constitutional amendments that restrict the rights of LGBTIQ people. Hungary and Poland have been at loggerheads with the European Commission (executive body of the European Union) over an array of issues.
3. Constitution and Law - Wrongful prosecution in India - A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court highlighting the need for the government to frame guidelines for compensating victims of wrongful prosecution by the police or authorities. The petition said the government had not bothered to implement the recommendations made by the Law Commission of India in its 277th report on the miscarriage of justice in 2018. It refers to the cases where the accused was not guilty of the offence, and the police and/or prosecution engaged in some form of misconduct in investigating and/or prosecuting the person. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which is ratified by India creates an obligation on the State parties to enact a law to compensate the victims of such mi scarriage of justice. India has no effective statutory/legal Mechanism for the wrongful prosecutions due to police and prosecutorial misconduct which has resulted in a pandemic of false cases. Due to no fear of being prosecuted by courts and growing tendency to frame innocents for ulterior motives, there has been an unprecedented surge in filing of false cases. The petition said innocents fell victim to the malice of the authorities who used the criminal justice system to settle scores. It has not only destroyed the social fabric of the nation but also affected the over-burdened judiciary with alarming pendency of over 40 million cases.
4. Governance and Institutions - Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 - The Supreme Court asked the Centre to respond to a plea challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 which freezes the status of places of worship as it was on 15th August, 1947. In agreeing to examine the law, the court has opened the doors for litigation in various places of worship across India including Mathura and Varanasi. It seeks to maintain the “religious character” of places of worship as it was in 1947 except in the case of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, which was already in court. Section 3 of the Act bans the conversion of a place of worship or even a section of it into a place of worship of a different religious denomination or of a different segment of the same religious denomination. Section 4(2) says that all suits, appeals or other proceedings regarding converting the character of a place of worship (that were pending on 15th August, 1947) will come to end when the Act commences and no fresh proceedings can be filed. However, legal proceedings can be initiated if the change of status took place after the cut-off date of 15th August, 1947 (after enactment of the Act). The Act also imposes a positive obligation on the State to maintain the religious character of every place of worship as it existed at the time of Independence. This legislative obligation on the State to preserve and protect the equality of all faiths is an essential secular feature and one of the basic features of the Indian Constitution. The SC is now examining it!
5. Science and Technology - Genome mapping in Indian Ocean - The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is launching the first-of-its-kind project of Genome Mapping in the Indian Ocean. Indian Ocean is the third largest water body in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth’s water surface. To gather samples for genome mapping of microorganisms in the Indian Ocean. To understand the biochemistry and the response of the ocean to climate change, nutrient stress and increasing pollution. Rs. 25 crore and will take three years to complete. A team of scientists and researchers from the NIO on board its research vessel Sindhu Sadhana will spend 90 days traversing the course of over 10,000 nautical miles in the Indian Ocean on  the research project to reveal the internal working of the body of the ocean at a cellular level. They will course the Indian Ocean from India’s east coast, Australia, Port Louis in Mauritius and up to the border of Pakistan, off India’s west coast.
6. Environment and Ecology - Sangay Volcano: Ecuador - Ecuador’s Sangay volcano erupted recently. It is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world and one of Ecuador's most active ones. Sangay is the southernmost stratovolcano (a volcano built up of alternate layers of lava and ash) in the northern volcanic zone of the Andes. It is 5230 m high. The Andes is the longest above water mountain range in the world and boasts some of the highest peaks. Sangay National Park is located in the central part of Ecuador on the Andes mountains' eastern side. It is a world heritage site. The earliest report of a historical eruption was in 1628. More or less continuous eruptions were reported from 1728 until 1916, and again from 1934 to the present. Sangay has had frequent eruptions in historic times, mostly of strombolian type. Ecuador, part of the Pacific Rim’s “Ring of Fire” region, has eight volcanoes such as Cotopaxi (5,897m), Cayambe (5,790m), Pichincha (4,784m) etc. in its territory.
7. Science and Technology - Asteroid 2001 FO32 - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has predicted that the asteroid ‘2001 FO32’ is the largest to pass by Earth in 2021. It will be at its closest on 21st March. It will provide a rare opportunity for astronomers to get a good look at a rocky relic that formed at the dawn of our solar system. It was discovered 20 years ago and ever since the scientists have been tracking its orbital path around the Sun very accurately. It was discovered in March 2001 by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program in Socorro, New Mexico. 1998 OR2 was the last notably large asteroid that passed close to earth on 29th April, 2020. While 2001 FO32 is somewhat smaller than 1998 OR2, it will be three times nearer to Earth. It is in a highly eccentric orbit around the Sun. It completes one orbit every 810 days (about 2¼ years). The orbit is tilted 39° to Earth’s orbital plane. This orbit takes the asteroid closer to the Sun than Mercury, and twice as far from the Sun as Mars. The asteroid will pass by at about 1,24,000 kph. It is faster than the speed at which most asteroids encounter Earth. The reason for the asteroid’s unusual speed is its close approach to the earth. The near-Earth asteroid will make its closest approach at a distance of about 2 million kilometers or 5 1/4 times the distance from Earth to the Moon. The distance is close in astronomical terms, that's why it has been designated a “potentially hazardous asteroid”. There is no threat of a collision with our planet now or for centuries to come. The asteroid will not come this close to Earth again until 2052, when it will pass by at about seven lunar distances, or 2.8 million km.
8. Indian Economy - The debate on privatisation - Banking operations across India were affected on 15-03-2021 as bankers under the aegis of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) staged a nationwide strike to protest against the proposed privatisation of two state-owned lenders. The UFBU had given a strike call for March 15 and 16, and claimed that about 10 lakh employees will participate in the strike. Meanwhile, news emerged that the government planned to sell its residual stake in the already privatised Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports as part of its ?2.5 lakh crore asset monetisation pipeline to raise additional resources, PTI reported. Thirteen more airports have been identified for privatisation in 2021-22 fiscal. The issue is likely to go to the Cabinet for approval soon.
9. Indian Economy - RBI's forex reserves world's fourth largest - India's foreign-exchange reserves surpassed Russia's to become the world’s fourth-largest, as RBI continues to reserve dollars to cushion the economy against any sudden outflows. India's foreign currency holdings fell by $4.3 billion to $580.3 billion as of March 5, edging out Russia's $580.1 billion pile. China has the largest reserves, followed by Japan and Switzerland on the IMF table. Forex reserves are maintained by the RBI as a cushion against unanticipated currency movements, and to provide a signal to global investors of the continued commitment of India to honour all debt obligations. India has never defaulted on any foreign currency loan.
10. Indian Economy - Do not privatise, warns Raghuram Rajan - Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan said it would be a "colossal mistake" to sell the two public sector banks to industrial houses. He added that there is very little detail on how the proposed privatisation will take place. "It will also be politically infeasible to sell any decent-sized bank to foreign banks," he added. The inherent risks in selling banks to corporates is that there would be all the temptation to indulge in group lending (giving credit preferentially to own firms of the group), thereby seriously diluting the lending norms and building up more risks in the system. A large corporate group running banks would also have an unfair competitive advantage over other corporates that would not own any banks!

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• SECTION 2 - DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

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• 1. ECONOMY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper)

The IIP, inflation and RBI story of Indian economy

• What IIP does: The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) tracks the change in the volume of production in Indian industries (not the value). To do this, a basket of industrial products is defined, and an index is created by assigning different weights to different products. Then the monthly values of this index are checked, and compared with the index value in the same month last year, to arrive at the rate of growth. This rate of growth (positive or negative) in IIP signals India’s industrial health or the lack of it. The IIP contracted by 1.6% YoY in January vs positive growth of 1.6% in December 2020.
• Jan 2021 data: The January IIP is not an outlier, as IIP was weak in the financial year '21, contracting by over 12% between April and January. In other words, the total number of cars, soaps, shirts and machines etc. produced in India this (financial) year was 12% fewer than last (financial) year. In an economy where we add millions each year to the overall population, this is a significant shock. Still, the contraction in January is hardly surprising if the overall GDP growth in the economy is expected to contract by 8% in the current financial year (FY21).
• Question: The contraction does raise a question mark on the robustness of economic recovery that is underway. Moreover, it is important to note that this weakness in IIP is on the base of a contraction (of 0.7%) in IIP in FY20.

• Technical details: There are two ways to classify the basket of products mapped under IIP. The significance of the classification is that it aids analysis of what is working and what is not. (a) One is to look at the sectoral composition. All products in the basket are categorised under one of three sectors: manufacturing, mining or electricity. The relative weights of these three sectors are 77.6% (manufacturing), 14.4% (mining) and 8% (electricity). The IIP witnessed a contraction over a base that contracted in FY20. The maximum contraction is happening in the two sectors — manufacturing and mining — which are also the most crucial sectors for creating new jobs. This again underscores why unemployment is such a growing worry for policymakers. (b) The second way to classify is to look at the use to which this basket of products is put to. As such, there are 6 sub-categories:

1. Primary Goods (consisting of mining, electricity, fuels and fertilisers)
2. Capital Goods (e.g. machinery items)
3. Intermediate Goods (e.g. yarns, chemicals, semi-finished steel items, etc)
4. Infrastructure Goods (e.g. paints, cement, cables, bricks and tiles, rail materials, etc)
5. Consumer Durables (e.g. garments, telephones, passenger vehicles, etc)
6. Consumer Non-durables (e.g. food items, medicines, toiletries, etc)
1.  (c) The most striking entry relates to the production of capital goods, which are demanded by businesses when they start investing in the economy. It has contracted by 9.6% in January — and that too on the base of contraction of over 4% in January 2020. For the April to January period, the decline is a precipitous 25.6% and that too on the base of an almost 12% contraction in 2019-20. What this trend shows is that, even as late as January, businesses in India were unsure of the economic recovery and are holding back from making new investments.

• Consumer non-durables: The other striking number is the 7% contraction in consumer non-durables in January. Typically, this is a category that should not see contraction because these products are relatively cheaper and regularly demanded by a huge chunk of India’s population. For instance, the number of people wanting to buy a car (which is categorised as a consumer durable) is much smaller than the number of people wanting to buy a bar of soap or a bottle of edible oil — both of which are categorised as consumer non-durables. A fall of 7% shows that large swathes of India’s population (especially the less well-off) were still holding back their demand as of January. This continuing weakness in consumer demand, in turn, reflects in the demand for intermediate and capital goods.
• Inflation up: There was a jump in retail inflation in February 2021. The worry was the spike in core-inflation — that is, inflation in the prices of goods other than fuel and food items. Since food and fuel prices tend to fluctuate rather sharply, one can remove them to arrive at a more robust measure of inflation. If core inflation remains low while the headline inflation spikes because of temporary scarcity of fruits and vegetables, policymakers such as the RBI officials conclude that they don’t need to react immediately. But the fact that core-inflation is almost 6% — the outer limit of RBI’s comfort zone for headline inflation — puts the RBI in a serious bind.
• Hobson's choice: As the IIP data shows, India’s recovery is still very tentative. The rise of Covid cases since January and the imposition of localised lockdowns might have made things worse. And inflation is going up — both core and headline (thanks to a rise in food and fuel prices). So a shrinking IIP needs the RBI to maintain low interest rates, while a rising inflation wants RBI to push them up. What will Mr. Das choose to do?

 

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• 2. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper

Sitanadi-Udanti Tiger Reserve of Chhattisgarh 

• The story: Thousands of tribals living in villages located in the core areas of Sitanadi Udanti Tiger Reserve are protesting and demanding the recognition of their Community Forest Resource rights. Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights are given under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA).
• Core: The tiger reserves are constituted on a core/buffer strategy. The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, whereas the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple use area.

Points to note:

1. Provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) - The Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 recognizes and vest the forest rights and occupation in Forest land in Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDST) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) who have been residing in such forests for generations. It strengthens the conservation regime of the forests while ensuring livelihood and food security of the FDST and OTFD. The Gram Sabha is the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of Individual Forest Rights (IFR) or Community Forest Rights (CFR) or both that may be given to FDST and OTFD.
2. Individual Rights - Encompasses Rights of Self-cultivation and Habitation.
3. Community Rights - Such as grazing, fishing and access to Water bodies in forests, Habitat Rights for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any community forest resource for sustainable use etc.
4. Community Forest Resource Rights - These are rights of Adivasi and OTFDs over customary common forest land within the traditional or customary boundaries of the village or seasonal use of landscape in the case of pastoral communities. These can be recognised over any forest land including reserved forests, protected forests and protected areas such as Sanctuaries and National Park.

• About Sitanadi-Udanti Tiger Reserve: The Tiger Reserve came into existence in the year 2008-09, are two separate reserves (Udanti & Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuaries) combined together. It is located in the Gariaband district, Chhattisgarh. It contains various types of forest crop mixed with Sal forest. The Asiatic Wild Buffalo is the key endangered species found in the Core Area. Apart from the tiger, other endangered and rare species are Indian Wolf, Leopard, Sloth Bear and Mouse Deer.
• Rivers: Sitanadi River originates in the middle of Sitanadi Wildlife sanctuary. Udanti River flows from the west to east covering a major part of the Udanti Wildlife sanctuary. Other Tiger Reserves in Chhattisgarh include the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, and Indravati Tiger Reserve.

 

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• 3. FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper)

Quad gets the first leaders’ summit 

1. March 2021 Quad summit: The Prime Minister of India addressed the first summit of the leaders' of the QUAD (Quadrilateral Framework). The meeting was hosted by the USA on a virtual platform. Earlier in February 2021, QUAD ministerial meeting discussed issues across Indo-Pacific and the military takeover in Myanmar.
2. What is the Quad: The QUAD is a grouping of India, USA, Australia and Japan which aims to safeguard the interests of democratic nations in the Indo-Pacific region and address global challenges. Mostly it is assumed to be targeted at the rising power of China, and its propensity to flex muscle indiscriminately. It was established in 2007, and is also known as an "Asian" or "mini" NATO, and is viewed as a counterbalance to China's military and economic clout in the Indo-Pacific region. The 2020 US-China Economic and Security Review Commission shows China's growing power projection along the Indian Ocean rim with military or economic activities in countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The QUAD, which used to be known as the quadrilateral security dialogue, is now known as the quadrilateral framework to indicate it has gone beyond a narrow security dialogue.
3. Points to note: The meeting focused on pressing crises, such as Covid-19, climate change and emerging technologies. (a) Pledge - QUAD pledged to promote a free, open rules-based order, rooted in international law to advance security and prosperity and counter threats to both in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. (b)Highlights - (i) Quad Vaccine Partnership - Agreed to ensure “equitable” access to vaccines to counter the pandemic. Agreed to a plan to pool their financial resources, manufacturing capabilities and logistical strengths. Japan, USA and Australia will finance the vaccine initiative that India has welcomed. Appreciated the Vaccine Maitri initiative (India’s Vaccine Diplomacy) of India. Vaccine Maitri Initiative is an initiative launched by India to give Covid-19 vaccines to neighbouring countries. (ii) Discussion on China - The Line of Actual Control (LAC) was discussed by the QUAD leaders as one of several examples of Chinese aggression. Other issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Taiwan Strait and coercion of Australia, harassment around the Senkaku, were also discussed. Concerns regarding Chinese cyberattacks on the USA targets (Microsoft Exchange and SolarWinds) and also cybersecurity incidents in India, Japan and Australia were discussed.
4. America’s Stand: QUAD is not a military alliance or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) equivalent, it is an opportunity to cooperate on economics, technology, climate and security. Maritime security, humanitarian and disaster response are core to the QUAD agenda. The QUAD is going to be a vital arena for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
5. India’s stand: The QUAD is united by its democratic values and will remain an important pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region. India called the meet an extension of the ancient Indian philosophy ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which regards the world as one family.
6. Australia's stand: QUAD grouping could be the start of a new, permanent and powerful regional grouping of like-minded democracies.
7. Japan’s stand: Acknowledged the new dynamism that QUAD has received because of the meeting of the top leaders of the member countries. It will firmly advance its cooperation to realise a free and open Indo Pacific, and to make a tangible contribution to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the region, including overcoming Covid-19.
8. China’s apprehension: Exchanges and cooperation between countries should contribute to mutual understanding rather than targeting a third party and refrain from pursuing exclusive blocs. A meeting between the top diplomats of the USA and China is set to be held in Alaska later in March 2021. The QUAD should uphold the principles of openness, inclusiveness and win-win results and do things that are conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
9. Evolution: The group, which began with an ambitious geostrategic vision 14 years ago, failed to take off initially due to hesitation among the four nations and objections by China. In December 2012, Shinzo Abe again floated the concept of Asia’s “Democratic Security Diamond” involving Australia, India, Japan and the USA to safeguard the maritime commons from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific. In November 2017, India, the USA, Australia and Japan gave shape to the long-pending "QUAD" Coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence (especially China). Since then, QUAD has taken several steps to bolster military and strategic ties with a series of working- and ministerial-level meetings.
10. Participation in Malabar Exercise: In 2020, all four QUAD Countries - Japan, India, Australia and the USA took part in the Malabar exercise. Malabar exercise is an annual trilateral naval exercise between the navies of India, Japan, and the USA which is held alternately in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

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• 4. GOVERNMENT SCHEMES (Prelims, GS Paper 2, Essay paper)

"Mera Ration" Mobile App launched 

1. Putting wings to ration: To facilitate the 'One Nation One Ration Card’ system in the country, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has launched the 'Mera Ration' mobile app to benefit citizens in identifying the nearest Fair Price Shop (FPS). This app will benefit especially those ration card holders who move to new areas for livelihoods.
2. Points to note: The app is developed by the National Informatics Center (NIC). It is currently available in English and Hindi, and it's planned to be introduced in 14 languages which will be identified on the basis of places where most migrant people move.
3. Facilities for beneficiaries: They can identify and locate the nearest fair price shop. Can easily check details of their foodgrain entitlement, recent transactions and the status of Aadhaar seeding. Can register their migration details. An option to enter suggestions/feedback.
4. One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC): The ONORC scheme is being implemented by the Department of Food and Public Distribution for the nation-wide portability of ration cards under National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013. The Act legally entitled upto 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System.
5. Importance: This system allows all NFSA beneficiaries, particularly migrant beneficiaries, to claim either full or part foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in the country through an existing ration card with biometric/Aadhaar authentication in a seamless manner. The freedom of choosing any FPS was not available earlier. States completing the One Nation-One Ration Card system reform were eligible for additional borrowing of 0.25% of gross state domestic product (GSDP). Seventeen states have operationalised 'One Nation-One Ration Card' system with Uttarakhand being the latest to complete the reform.
6. Coverage: The ONORC was started initially in 4 States in the year 2019 and was rolled out in 32 States/UTs by the end of 2020. The integration of the remaining 4 States/UT (Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and West Bengal) is expected to be completed in next few months. It covers nearly 69 Crore NFSA beneficiaries (about 86% NFSA population) in the country and a monthly average of about 1.5~1.6 Crore portability transactions are being recorded under ONORC.
7. Making ONORC available to all: The government supplies 5 kg of subsidised food grains to each person per month through 5.4 lakh ration shops. The integration of Migrants’ Portal with ONROC system is undertaken with the support of the Ministry of Labour & Employment. The ONORC has been made a part of PM SVANidhi program of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. Media publicity of the ONORC has been done with the help of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Press Information Bureau, MyGov, Bureau of Outreach & Communication.

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• 5. POLITY AND CONSTITUTION (Prelims, GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3)

Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 

• Major decision: The Supreme Court asked the Centre to respond to a plea challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 which freezes the status of places of worship as it was on 15th August, 1947. In agreeing to examine the law, the court has opened the doors for litigation in various places of worship across the country including Mathura and Varanasi. That can be very worrisome.

• Points to note:

1. About the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 - It seeks to maintain the “religious character” of places of worship as it was in 1947 except in the case of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, which was already in court.
2. Purpose - Section 3 of the Act bans the conversion of a place of worship or even a section of it into a place of worship of a different religious denomination or of a different segment of the same religious denomination. Section 4(2) says that all suits, appeals or other proceedings regarding converting the character of a place of worship (that were pending on 15th August, 1947) will come to end when the Act commences and no fresh proceedings can be filed. But legal proceedings can be initiated if the change of status took place after the cut-off date of 15th August, 1947 (after enactment of the Act). The Act also imposes a positive obligation on the State to maintain the religious character of every place of worship as it existed at the time of Independence.
3. Secularism - This legislative obligation on the State to preserve and protect the equality of all faiths is an essential secular feature and one of the basic features of the Indian Constitution.

• Exemption: The disputed site at Ayodhya was exempted from the Act. Due to this exemption, the trial in the Ayodhya case proceeded even after the enforcement of this law. Besides the Ayodhya dispute, the Act also exempted any place of worship which is an ancient and historical monument or an archaeological site covered by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, A suit that has been finally settled or disposed of, and any dispute that has been settled by the parties or conversion of any place that took place by acquiescence before the Act commenced.
• Penalty: Section 6 of the Act prescribes a punishment of maximum three-years imprisonment along with a fine for contravening the provisions of the Act.
• Supreme Court’s View (in 2019): In the 2019 Ayodhya verdict, the Constitution Bench referred to the law and said it manifests the secular values of the Constitution and strictly prohibits retrogression.
• Petition arguments: It has been challenged on the ground that the Act violates secularism. It has been argued that the cut-off date of 15th August, 1947 is “arbitrary, irrational and retrospective” and prohibits Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs from approaching courts to “reclaim” their places of worship which were “invaded” and “encroached” upon by “fundamentalist barbaric invaders”. It is argued that the Centre has no power to legislate on “pilgrimages” or “burial grounds” which is under the state list. However, the government had said it could make use of its residuary power under Entry 97 of the Union List to enact this law. Entry 97 confers residuary powers to the Centre to legislate on subjects that are not enumerated in any of the three lists.
• Implications: India as a progressive nation, confronted with serious economic and social issues at present, is in no position to devote national energies to old and antiquated issues related to religious disputes. If this law is 'set aside' by the Supreme Court, on whatever technical grounds, then a flood of new petitions and disputes will commence pertaining to claims and counter-claims on religious sites, by members of various sects. It is highly ill-advised at this moment in the nation's history. This is the defining decade for India, which is anyway tackling a massive challenge from a China that's economically five times stronger now. Better sense must prevail.

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• 6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

56,000 Greenlanders could shape the future of Rare Earths

1. Green land: In Feb 2021, Greenland’s coalition government collapsed amid an ongoing row over a new rare earth and uranium mine. Now, a new independent report calls for the Five Eyes intelligence alliance of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada to build bridges with the island and its people in order to reduce resource dependency on China. As resource geopolitics become even more contentious, April 2021's snap election could be a turning point for the remote Arctic nation.
2. What is this nation: Observers find themselves paying attention to the operation of a tiny democracy of 56,000 people, most of it conducted in Greenlandic, and the rest in Danish. The same analysts who emphasize Greenland’s importance to securing supply chains also underline the need to develop healthy interfaces with Greenlanders and their democratic institutions. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, free to and keen to develop further its independence from the Danes, yet constrained by its reliance on them for roughly half of its annual budget. Greenland’s citizens, mostly Inuit, are entitled to take over any of the many responsibilities currently fulfilled by Copenhagen—which include immigration, shipping, and some aspects of foreign policy—on the condition that they pick up the cost as well. Full independence is a constitutionally enshrined option, so long as it receives popular backing in a referendum.
3. How big is it: The island’s geographical contours are confusing. Although the Mercator projection vastly exaggerates its size, Greenland is still huge, three times the size of Texas. To get to Japan from Greenland, the proverbial crow would fly north, touching down before a southward-flying competitor reaches Brazil. It’s hard to say where land ends and ice begins. Every year researchers scan the coastline for new islands revealed by the retreating glaciers, heaped upon Greenland’s vast interior, a significant part of which is below sea level. And they are melting at an astonishing rate, opening the land, which is rich in rare-earth minerals and other resources, just as the melting ice opens the surrounding sea.
4. Rare earths, unrare battle: U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to buy Greenland in 2019, which many islanders received as an insult, has impacted official thinking in the United States. Many there are increasingly aware that China is “simultaneously the world’s biggest reserve, producer, consumer, processor, importer and exporter of rare earths. The US has taken notice of China’s recent survey of companies intended to determine how it can use its dominance in rare earths, as well as of suggestions in Chinese state media that rare earths could be a way of responding to new U.S. trade and tech barriers. In February 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order underlining America’s need for “resilient, diverse, and secure supply chains.” Greenland is edging up the priority list in Washington, aided by a new U.S. Consulate in the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk.
5. Production volumes: Rare-earth production grew 9 percent from 2019 to 2020, and around 95 percent of processing is done in China—thanks mostly to cost advantage. Although rare earths are, counterintuitively, quite abundant globally, the 17 elements included in the category have a growing range of uses in emergent and existing high technologies, such as lasers, wind turbines, and nuclear control rods. Their importance to the next generation of green and military technologies is clear. Greenland’s large reserves, described by the U.S. Geological Survey as the world’s largest undeveloped deposits, could prove critical to spurring the West to catch up on processing.
6. Mines: Greenland is home to just two operating mines, and the Kuannersuit project is as exceptionally divisive as it would be large. The site is being developed by the Australian firm Greenland Minerals, whose largest shareholder is the rare-earth giant Shenghe Resources, whose own largest shareholder is a research institute subordinated to a Chinese government department, facts that have attracted the interest of security researchers.
7. Longing to be free: If Greenlanders progress toward independence, the significance of their collective decisions could one day extend beyond rare earths. For now, its defense and foreign affairs are conducted by Copenhagen. The island’s position makes it strategically important to the entire Arctic. Its north hosts the Thule Air Base, originally established following an agreement between Denmark’s U.S. ambassador and the White House during World War 2. During the Cold War, the United States launched the notorious Project Iceworm, a U.S. plan to install nuclear warheads under the Greenlandic ice sheets—without the knowledge of the Danish government.
8. China moves in: Recent developments suggest new bouts of intrigue. In 2016, the Danish defense ministry declined to confirm whether it had prevented a Hong Kong company from buying a disused naval base at Kangilinnguit, instead emphasizing to news agencies that it planned to reopen the base as a storage and training post. The next year, a delegation of “elite” Chinese tourists, a senior naval officer among them, surreptitiously visited the site of a proposed satellite station at Greenland’s main airport. Then, the Danish government announced plans to bolster its presence in the region, aiming to spend lavishly on surveillance drones in response to what the Danish defense minister called an “increase in foreign activities.”
9. Summary: Greenland’s current limbo is one chapter in the long political saga of a people attached to their pristine landscape, yet hungry for change and the prosperity it could bring. They’re determined to declare independence, yet forever delaying it. The growing interest of large companies and foreign governments provides a striking backdrop to April’s election, in which a few thousand swung votes could create a landslide.

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• 7. SOCIAL ISSUES (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

LGBTIQ Freedom Zone in EU

• Details: In response to the backsliding of LGBTIQ rights in some EU countries, notably Poland and Hungary, the European Parliament has declared the European Union an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone”. A majority of countries in the EU (23/27) recognise same-sex unions, with 16 legally recognising same-sex marriage. LGBTIQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Inter-sex and Queer.
• Points to note: Same-sex relationships are not legally recognised in Poland, and the country already bans same-sex couples from adopting children together. However, as single people are permitted to adopt, some have managed to get around the ban by applying to adopt as single parents. Now, Poland has come up with the proposal wherein a person is liable to criminal offence if he/she is found to be applying for adoption as a single parent being in a same-sex relationship. LGBTIQ community in Poland is subject to increased discrimination and attacks, notably growing hate speech from public authorities and elected officials. Since March 2019, more than 100 Polish regions, counties and municipalities have adopted resolutions declaring themselves to be free from LGBTIQ “ideology”. Recently, the Parliament of Hungary too, adopted constitutional amendments that restrict the rights of LGBTIQ people.
• Intra-EU struggle: Hungary and Poland have been at loggerheads with the European Commission (executive body of the European Union) over an array of issues, mostly centering around abuses to the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the rights of minorities. The Hungarian and Poland authorities have described LGBTIQ principles of governance as “foreign” ideology.
• The EU Resolution: The EU Parliament resolution declared the entire European Union as an ‘‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone”. The resolution provides LGBTIQ persons everywhere in the EU the freedom to live and publicly show their sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of intolerance, discrimination or persecution. It further urged the authorities at all levels of governance across the EU to protect and promote equality and the fundamental rights of all, including LGBTIQ persons.

• Global Scenario of LGBTIQ Community:

1. Ireland: Ireland legalized same-sex marriage. The country, which had decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, became the first country to allow same-sex marriage at a national level by popular vote.
2. USA: US Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was legal.
3. Nepal: Nepal legalized homosexuality in 2007 and the new Constitution of the country gives many rights to the LGBTIQ community.

• LGBT Community in India: Even after section 377 of IPC was removed by the Supreme Court in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, 2018 case, there is a wide gap in implementing a policy for the LGBTIQ community and making a better environment for them. Right now, they are facing many issues that are underlined below.

1. Family: The problem of sexual orientation and gender identity leads to fighting and family disruption. Lack of communication and misunderstanding between parents and their LGBTIQ children increases family conflict.
2. Discrimination at Work Place: LGBTIQ suffers from the socio-economic inequalities in large part due to discrimination in the workplace.
3. Injustice: Human rights and fundamental rights are applicable to all people, but the state has failed to create special legislation which protects the rights of LGBTIQ Minority community and to provide real justice to them.
4. Health Issues: Criminalisation of homosexuality leads to discrimination and results in LGBTQ people getting poor or inadequate access to services within the health system. It also creates barriers to both the availability and the ability to access HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.
5. Isolation and Drug Abuse: They gradually develop low self-esteem and low self-confidence and become isolated from friends and family. These people mostly get addicted to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco to get themselves relieved of stress and rejection and discrimination.

• Related legal developments:

1. Naz Foundation vs. Govt. of NCT of Delhi (2009) - Delhi High Court struck off section 377, legalising consensual homosexual activities between adults.
2. Suresh Kumar Koushal Case (2013) - SC overturned the previous judgment by Delhi High Court (2009) arguing that "plight of sexual minorities" could not be used as an argument for deciding constitutionality of law.
3. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India (2017) - SC ruled that Fundamental Right to Privacy is intrinsic to life and liberty and thus, comes under Article 21 of the Indian constitution. It held that “sexual orientation is an essential attribute of privacy”.
4. Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union Of India (2018) - Dismissed the position taken by SC in Suresh Kumar Koushal case (2013) and decriminalised homosexuality.
5. Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. and others (2018) - The Supreme Court observed that choice of a partner is a person’s fundamental right, and it can be a same-sex partner.
6. Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019 - The Parliament has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019 which has been criticised for its poor understanding of gender and sexual identity.
7. Same-sex marriage - In February, 2021, the Central Government opposed same-sex marriage in Delhi High Court stating that a marriage in India can be recognised only if it is between a “biological man” and a “biological woman” capable of producing children.

• Summary: The LGTBQ community needs an anti-discrimination law that empowers them to build productive lives and relationships irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation and place the onus to change on state and society and not the individual. Government bodies, especially related to Health, and Law and Order need to be sensitised to ensure that the LGBTQ community is not denied public services or harassed for their sexual orientation.

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• 8. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, GS Paper 1, GS Paper 2)

INS Jalashwa arrives at Port Anjouan

1. A new member: The Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa has reached the port of Anjouan in Comoros on March 14, 2021. The ship was carrying a consignment of 1000 metric tonnes of rice. The ship will be received by the Foreign Minister of Comoros, H.E. Dhoihir Dhoulkamal during a ceremony on March 15, 2021.
2. Background: This consignment of 1000 metric tonnes of rice as food assistance were flagged off to Comoros in the light of promise made by the Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu during his brief visit to Comoros in the month of October 2019.
3. India-Madagascar Cooperation: After handing over the consignment to Comoros, the INS Jalashwa will travel to the Port of Ehoala so as to deliver another consignment of 1000 metric tonne of rice and 1,00,000 tablets of HCQ. This consignment will be delivered in accordance with the promise of External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar. He made his promise after the Madagascar asked for the solidarity and assistance from the Indian side to deal with the humanitarian crisis in South of Madagascar because of severe drought. The ship will also deploy the Indian Naval Training Team in Madagascar for capacity building and training of the Malagasy Special Forces for two weeks.
4. INS Jalashwa: It is an amphibious transport dock which presently serves the Indian Navy. This ship was procured from the United States for US $90 million in the year 2005. The ship then was commissioned to the service in June 2007. This is the only Indian naval ship that has been procured from United States. It is based in Visakhapatnam under Eastern Naval Command.
5. Eastern Naval Command: It is one among the three command-level formations of Indian Navy. It is based in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This command level is responsible for all the naval forces in Bay of Bengal, parts of Indian Ocean and naval establishments on east coast of India. This command was set up in March 1968. It is commanded by a Three Star Flag Officer of the rank of Vice Admiral. The vice admiral flag officer is titled as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command.

 

Parcel Management System of Indian Railways to be extended

• The story: The new parcel management system (PMS) of Indian Railways will be extended to 523 locations now. Earlier this system was only in place at 84 locations. This decision was taken in a bid to provide transportation for small consignments across a huge network of stations.
• Points to note: As per Indian Railways, the small businesses and traders in the small cities and towns have been using these services to transport their merchandise from the big cities and production centres to a place where business is fast, reliable and cheap. Under this, the charging of the parcels is based on the weight and volume of the commodity and not the type of commodity.

• Parcel Management System: Phase three of the computerisation of the PMS will be rolled out under which, this system will be extended to 523 locations from 84 locations to additional 143 locations in phase-II. The extension of the system will bring following changes:

1. It will include the provision of 120 days advance booking,
2. The system will show the availability of parcel space on online e-forwarding note module on the website of PMS.
3. It will also help in generation of forwarding note online by registered customers along with the fare estimate.
4. Booking of parcel or luggage across the parcel office at stations with the help of computerised counters
5. Automatic capturing of weight by electronic weighing of consignment
6. Barcoding of the consignment to track and status updates of packages using the GPRS network transmission of data
7. SMS updates to customers at each stage.
8. The new Parcel Management System will also comprise of an Freight System Ledger Accounting (FSLA) module do to online preparation of manifest for registered newspapers and magazines.

 

New Scheme for Tourist Vehicle Operators

1. The story: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced a new scheme with the objective of promoting tourism and increasing state revenues. The new set of rules will be known as “All India Tourist Vehicles Authorization & Permit Rules, 2021”. The new scheme was announced in the light of increasing travel and tourism in India.
2. Points to note: These new rules under the scheme will be applicable from April 1, 2021. Under the scheme, any tourist vehicle operator can apply to get “All India Tourist Authorization or Permit” in the online mode. The ministry highlighted that, permit will be issued after submitting relevant documents and fees within 30 days of submitting such applications. However, the existing permits will be in force until their validity. The rules notified by the Ministry are in line with providing seamless movement for the tourist passenger vehicles. The rules were notified after goods carriage vehicles under National Permit Regime got successful. The scheme allows the flexibility in form of authorization or permit being granted. Flexibility is allowed for a period of three months or its multiples however, it shall not exceed three years at a time.
3. Importance: These new set of rules for the tourist vehicle operators and permits will help in promoting the tourism across the states in India. It will also help in increasing the revenue of state governments. It will help in consolidating a central database and fees of all the authorization or permits.
4. Background: These rules were notified after the 39th and 40th Transport Development Council meetings. The Transport Development Council is the highest body that advise the Government with respect to the matters related to roads and road transport. The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways acts as the Chairman of this Council. The council held its meeting at least one time in a year.

Army to procure Mobile Integrated Network Terminal (MINT) systems

1. The story: The Indian army is all set to procure Made in India “Mobile Integrated Network Terminal (MINT)” systems providing a huge boost to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan of the government.  The MINT system will enhance the operational communication capability of the Indian Army in accordance with the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.
2. Highlights: The Ministry of defence highlighted that; Indian Army is in the process of procuring the MINT systems under the Make II Category of DAP 2020. This system is a portable, lightweight, state of art integrated communication solution comprising of the satellite backhaul and wireless access system to provide the support voice, video and data.
3. ‘Make-II’ category: The ‘Make-II’ category projects which comprises of the prototype development of system, equipment, platform or their upgrades. Such projects are ‘Industry Funded’. the projects could also comprise of the sub-systems or sub-assembly or assemblies or components of the developing systems. This category of the project provides for a focus on the import substitution and innovative solutions. For prototype development purposes under this category, no government funding is provided.
4. Buy (Indian-IDDM) category: It refers to the acquisition of products of the Indian vendor who have indigenously designed, developed and manufactured the product with a minimum of 50 per cent Indigenous Content. The indigenous content is used on the cost basis of base contract price which is the total contract price minus the taxes and duties.

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• SECTION 3 - MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

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