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Daily News Simplified - DNS

18 11 19

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SL. NO.

TOPICS THE HINDU

PAGE NO.

1 Delhi water is 100% safe, say DJB 01

2 Feeling the Pinch 11

3 SC discusses ‘voluntary code of conduct’ for Cabinet Ministers 09

4 Back to the Rajapaksas (Editorial) 10

5 Protest lined up against Citizenship Bill in Assam 06

Dated: 18. Nov. 2019 DNS Notes - Revision

Title 1. Delhi water is 100% safe, say DJB (The Hindu Page No. 01)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – Social Issues (Health)

Theme Clean Safe Water

Highlights Context Recently, government has conducted a study to check the quality of potable water supplied in 21 state capitals. The national capital is at the very bottom of the list, in a ranking based on tap water quality released by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Tuesday. It is among 13 cities, including Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Jaipur and Lucknow, where all tested samples failed to meet the BIS norms for piped drinking water. In fact, Mumbai is the only city where all samples of tap water met all the tested parameters under the Indian Standard 10500:2012 (specification for drinking water) so far. The National Sub-Mission to provide safe drinking water is to be completed on mission mode before March 2020. The urgency of implementation of the mission is due to:

1. Criticality and urgency of the matter

2. Requirement of significant increase in operational efficiency

3. Requirement of additional funds, robust monitoring and surveillance of those

4. Requirement of special technology, manpower and strategy to achieve the

goal

Goal • To cover of all the arsenic & fluoride affected habitations with safe & perennial

surface water based piped Water supply schemes as the permanent &

sustainable solution.

Sub-mission phases The sub-mission will have three phases namely:

1. Diagnostic phase: To correctly determine the action plan based on most

recent and authentic data

2. Implementation phase: Roll-out of area specific schemes as per guidelines

3. Sustain phase: To ensure that schemes are running successfully with adequate

monitoring and surveillance

Standard drinking water quality Bureau of Indian Standards has set specifications in its IS-10500-2012 standards for drinking water. However, this standard is only voluntary in nature and not legally supported for enforcement. This standard has two limits:

• Desirable limits

• Maximum permissible or cause for rejection limits


If any parameter exceeds the cause for rejection limit, that water is considered as contaminated. Broadly speaking, water is defined as contaminated if it is biologically contaminated (presence of microscopic organisms such as algae, Zoo-plankton, flagillates, E-coli etc) or chemical contamination exceeds permissible limits (e.g. excess fluoride D1.5mg/l), salinity i.e.,

• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) (>2,000mg/l),

• Dissolved iron D0.3mg/l),

• Arsenic [>0.01mg/l),

• Nitrates (>45mg/l) etc.).

In rural areas, more than 85% of drinking water sources are ground water based and in the short term, chemical constituents in groundwater do not change much, therefore testing once in a year for chemical contaminants is adequate. Testing for bacteriological contamination is recommended 4 times a year, once in every season. However, every year it should be carried out at least twice i.e. during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. In this context, it is important to understand the initiatives of the government to ensure safe drinking water.

• Jal Jeevan Mission, a central government initiative under the Ministry of Jal

Shakti, aims to ensure access of piped water for every household in India.

• In his Independence Day speech in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said

that half of the country's households did not have access to piped water.

Earmarking Rs 3.5 trillion (USD 70 Billion) for Jal Jeevan Mission, he said the

Centre and states would work towards it in coming years.

• The mission’s goal is to provide to all households in rural India safe and

adequate water through individual household tap connections by 2024.

• The Har Ghar Nal Se Jal programme forms a crucial part of the Jal Jeevan

Mission. The programme aims to implement source sustainability measures as

mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water

management, water conservation, and rain water harvesting.

• The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water.

According to the government, the mission will include information, education

and communication as key components. The mission is meant to create a

people's movement for water, making it everyone’s priority.

Drinking water crisis in India

• India is facing one of its most serious water crises. According to the NITI

Aayog's Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) 2018, 21 Indian cities

could face Day Zero in the coming years. Day Zero refers to the day when a

place is likely to have no drinking water of its own. Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi

and Hyderabad are among the most susceptible.

• The report also said that 75% of Indian households do not have drinking water

on premise and about 84 per cent rural households do not have piped water

access.


• Water is not properly distributed where it is supplied through pipes. Mega

cities like Delhi and Mumbai get more than the standard municipal water norm

of 150 litres per capita per day (LPCD) while others get 40-50 LPCD.

• The World Health Organization prescribes 25 litres of water for one person per

day to meet all basic hygiene and food needs. Extra available water, according

to WHO estimates, is used for non-potable purposes like mopping and

cleaning.

Personal

Notes


Title 2. Feeling the Pinch (The Hindu Page 11) (Info-Graphic)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper III – Economic Development

Theme Inflation

Highlights About Price Stabilization Fund Rationale:

• The prices of some of the agricultural commodities such as onion, potato and pulses are highly volatile. Sudden increase in the prices of these commodities could adversely affect the consumers.

• In order to mitigate the hardships to consumers, the Government of India approved the creation of a Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) in 2015 with a corpus of Rs.500 crores as a Central Sector Scheme. Initially the fund was proposed to be used for market interventions for onion and potato only and pulses were added subsequently.

Objectives

• Promote direct purchase from farmers /farmers’ association

• Maintain a strategic buffer stock that would discourage hoarding and unscrupulous speculation.

• Protect consumers by supplying such commodities at reasonable prices through calibrated release of stock.

Activities undertaken:

• Procurement of commodities will be undertaken directly from farmers or farmers’ organizations at farm gate/mandi and made available at a more reasonable price to the consumers. Losses incurred, if any, in the operations will be shared between the Centre and the States.

• PSF Scheme provides for advancing interest free loan to State Governments/Union Territories (UTs) and Central agencies to support their working capital and other expenses they might incur on procurement and distribution interventions for such commodities.

Implementation This scheme is implemented by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. The Price Stabilization Fund is managed centrally by a Price Stabilization Fund Management Committee (PSFMC) which approves all proposals from State Governments and Central Agencies. The PSF will be maintained as a Central Corpus Fund by Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC).


Personal Notes


Title 3. SC discusses ‘voluntary code of conduct’ for Cabinet Ministers (The Hindu Page

09)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – Polity and Governance

Theme Voluntary Code of Conduct for Cabinet Ministers

Highlights Context A Supreme Court Constitutional Bench is hearing arguments on whether cabinet ministers at both the Central & State levels should have a “voluntary model code of conduct” which addresses their private & public activities. Two petitions The question was raised after family members of the Bulandshahr rape case victim complained about Ex-Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan’s public statements that the rape case was part of a political conspiracy against the then Akhilesh Yadav Govt. The Bench is also hearing a separate plea filed by a Kerala-based man, Joseph Shine, represented by Senior Advocate Kaleeswaram Raj, about the public comments made by State Minister M.M. Mani. The code of conduct should reflect constitutional morality & values of good governance. The acts of the persons holding public offices can be thus subjected to better & meaningful public scrutiny, which in turn would ensure democratic accountability" Mr Raj argued before the Bench.


Personal

Notes


Title 4. Back to the Rajapaksas (The Hindu Page 10)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper III – International Relations

Theme India-Sri Lanka

Highlights Context

• Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the principle opposition candidate emerged winner in Presidential election in Sri Lanka to become the 7th executive president of Srilanka.

• In this article we will understand the impact of result of presidential election on India-Srilanka relations.

Background: Understanding Srilankan politics today

Election Results

In the Presidential election, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has emerged as the winner riding on the anti-incumbency wave on account of the instability in the government and a host of issues the country has been facing recently.

Major Issues

Economic hardships

• The rural population and lower middle class in Sri Lanka were disgruntled with the Sirisena-Wikramasinghe government due to joblessness, increasing living costs, rise in household debt etc.

Corruption

• In 2015 the government headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa had faced a serious defeat resulting in victory of Sirisena in the Presidential election. This was on account of corruption cases against Rajapaksa.

• In the current election the Sirisena-Wikramasinghe government also was fraught with corruption cases including the Central Bank bond scandal which involved the Central Bank Governor.

Security concerns

• Sri Lanka witnessed the deadly terror attack (Easter attacks) in April 2019 killing more than 250 people.

• Despite a number of intelligence inputs including one provided by Indian Intelligence agencies, Sri Lanka failed to prevent the attack.

• As a result in the popular opinion views the government responsible for the security lapse.

Political Crisis

• Sri Lanka witnessed a serious political crisis last year due to infighting in Sirisena-Wikramasinghe coalition.

• Sirisena (President) had dismissed Wikhramasinghe (PM) in October 2018 and had appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as the PM.


• However this decision was struck down by the Supreme Court which led to

reinstatement of Wikramasinghe as the PM of Sri Lanka.

Majority sentiment

• The Rajapaksas enjoy a powerful political base among the majority population, the Sinhalese.

• This is due to the fact that it was during Rajapaksa regime that Sri Lanka defeated the LTTE in 2009.

• Besides the majority Sinhalese sentiment is suspicion on the minorities especially Muslims (islamophobia) and Tamils which is strengthened after the Easter attacks in April 2019.

Note: However the problem with Rajapaksas is that they turned authoritarian especially after 2009 victory over LTTE and thus not well accepted among the Tamil and Muslim minorities in North and East.

India-Srilanka Relations: Major Issues

Strategic Significance: IOR and China Factor

• Sri Lanka is one of the important components of Indo-pacific which has become the key geo-political theatre in the recent times. The 2 powers representing the Quad and China are fighting for stronghold in the region and thus Srilanka is of strategic significance.

• Besides, Srilanka is at the heart of major maritime route in the IOR.

• Srilanka under the Rajapaksa regime tilts toward China as seen during 2004-2015.

• It was during this period that China won the contracts for Colombo Port City Project (part of BRI) and Hambantota port.

• Now China has military assets including nuclear submarine stationed at Hambantota

• In this context, India has deployed radar systems in Srilanka as a part of its Coastal Surveillance Radar System project launched in 2015 during the Sirisena Regime.

Tamil-factor

• India-Srilanka relations are historically dominated by the Tamil factor. India has been pushing for greater devolution of power to Tamil minorities in the North and East.

• Accordingly the 1987 India-Srilanka Accord provided for 13th Amendment through which Provincial Councils were set up in North and East and Tamil was recognized as one of the official languages.

• However the devolution of power has still not happened and India is persuading Sri Lanka in this matter.

• While the Sirisena government was the best bet for India in this matter, Rajapasa regime has historically seen this as interference in domestic matters. Thus the new election results could delay the process of devolution of powers to Tamils in north and east who are wary of Rajapaksas.


Fisherman Issue

• India shares a maritime border with Srilanka as shown in the figure at Indian Ocean in the south, Palk bay and Gulf of Mannar in the middle and Bay of Bengal in the north.

• However fishing in the fluid boundary at Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar has been a serious issue of contention between the 2 countries.

• Indian fishermen facing weakening fishing stocks in Indian side have often taken to fishing across the boundary especially near Kachchaitivu Island leading to more than 200 detentions from Srilankan Navy in the last 2 decades.

• India has been suggesting treating the issue in a humane manner.

Security Relations

• India sent peacekeeping force during the 3-decade long LTTE war.

• In the aftermath of Easter attacks, the PM visited Srilanka in a display of solidarity and agreed for a joint counter-terrorism action.

Trade

• India has FTA with Sri Lanka as a result of which India is Sri Lanka’s largest trade partner globally. ($5 Billion)

Common Membership

• BIMSTEC, SAARC, IOR RIM Association, Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

Conclusion

Sri Lanka’s aspiration for a democratic regime may be hit as the minorities are wary of Rajapaksas.

Way Forward for India

• India’s push for greater devolution for Tamil majority areas should continue. However this issue should be de-linked to other issues including investment in infrastructure projects, trade, counter-terrorism etc as Sri Lanka is a significant


component of IOR and Indo-Pacific under which India has the ambition of being net security provider.

In this context India along with Japan is planning for a trilateral infrastructure project in Srilanka which is a welcome step.

Personal

Notes


Title 5. Protest lined up against Citizenship Bill in Assam (The Hindu Page 06)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – Polity and Governance

Theme Citizenship Bill

Highlights Context BJP has re-introduced the Citizenship Amendment Bill during the winter session of the parliament. The bill seeks to fast track grant of Indian Citizenship to non-Muslims who have fled religious persecution from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan till December 31, 2014.

About the Citizenship Act, 1955

• Citizenship may be acquired - Birth, descent, registration, naturalization and by

incorporation of territory into India.

• It also regulates the registration of Overseas Citizen of India Cardholders (OCIs), and

their rights. A foreigner may register as an OCI under the 1955 Act if they are of Indian

origin (eg. former citizen of India or their descendants) or the spouse of a person of

Indian origin. This will entitle them to benefits such as the right to travel to India, and

to work and study in the country.

• Citizenship by naturalisation: One of the qualifications to get citizenship by

naturalisation is that the person must have resided in India or been in service of the

central government for at least 11 years before applying for citizenship.

Illegal Migrants

• The Act prohibits illegal migrants from acquiring Indian citizenship.

• It defines an illegal migrant as a foreigner: (i) who enters India without a valid passport

or travel documents, or (ii) stays beyond the permitted time

• Illegal migrants may be imprisoned or deported under the Foreigners Act, 1946 and

the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920.

• The 1920 Act mandates foreigners to carry passport, while the 1946 Act regulates the

entry and departure of foreigners in India.

• In 2015 and 2016, the central government issued two notifications exempting certain

groups of illegal migrants from provisions of the 1946 and the 1920 Acts.

• These groups are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from

Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who arrived in India on or before December 31,

2014.

Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019

• Illegal migrants : The following groups of persons will not be treated as illegal migrants:

• (i) Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh

and Pakistan,


• (ii) who have been exempted from provisions of the Passport (Entry into India) Act,

1920, and the Foreigners Act, 1946 by the central government. The 1920 Act mandates

foreigners to carry passport, while the1946 Act regulates the entry and departure of

foreigners in India.

• Relaxation in Naturalisation clause: The Bill creates an exception for these 6

communities from these 3 countries and reduces the 11 year requirement to 6years.

• Cancellation of registration of OCIs: The Citizenship Act 1955 provides that the central

government may cancel registration of OCIs on certain grounds.

• These include: (i) if the OCI has registered through fraud, or (ii) within five years of

registration has been sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more, or (iii) it

becomes necessary in the interest of sovereignty and security of India, etc.

• The Bill adds one more ground for cancelling registration, that is, if the OCI has violated

any law that is in force in the country.

Issues:

1. Violative of Basic structure as against Article 14

• Illegal migrants from these countries who are Muslims, other minorities who do not

belong to the above groups (eg. Jews), or Atheists who do not identify with a religious

group will not be eligible for citizenship.

• It violates the right to equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution because

it provides differential treatment to illegal migrants on the basis of their religion.

2. Subvert Assam Accord 1985 and section 6A of the Act

• Section 6A pertains to special provision as to citizenship of persons covered by the

Assam Accord.

• It mentions that all those who came to Assam on or after 1st January 1966 but before

25th March, 1971 from Bangladesh and since then have been ordinarily resident in

Assam, must register themselves with the government of Assam.

• it doesn't not differentiate on the ground if religion.

Assam Accord

• As per the Accord, 1st January, 1966 shall be the base date and year for purposes of

detection and deletion of foreigners.

• Foreigners, who came to Assam after 1st January, 1966 and upto 24th March, 1971

shall be detected in accordance with the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and

the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order 1964. They will have to register themselves before the

Registration officers and their name will be deleted from the electoral roll for a period

of 10 years.

• Foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971 shall continue to be

detected, deleted and expelled in accordance with law.


3. Wide ground for cancelling OCI registration

• Even offences with: (i) lesser penalties, or (ii) which have been committed after five

years of registration could be covered under the Bill making the earlier provision

redundant.

• Grants the central government wide discretion to cancel OCI registration for a range

of violations including minor or petty offences. The question is whether minor violations should result in cancellation of OCI registration, which may require an OCI who is staying in India to leave the country.

Personal

Notes

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