index [] · index september 2016 ... 1.8 maratha reservation protest 1.9 swachh survekshan gramin...

Current Affairs For 2017- (September 2016)

INDEX

September 2016 (Current Affairs for 2017)

1. SOCIAL ISSUES 6-19

1.1 National Policy Of Women, 2016

1.2 National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme 3

1.3 Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC)

1.4 Higher Education Financing Agency

1.5 The Civil Aspects Of International Child Abduction Bill, 2016

1.6 BRICS Conference on Negation of Drug Abuses

1.7 Mission Parivar Vikas

1.8 Maratha Reservation Protest

1.9 Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2016

1.10 Lancet Report on Maternal Health

2. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 20-34

2.1 Advancing The Budget

2.2 Merger of Plan and Non-Plan classification in Budget and Accounts

2.3 Triple Talaq and Need for Judicial Intervention

2.4 Introducing Totaliser Machine In election

2.5 Municipal Bonds in India

2.6 The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016

2.7 Fresh Guidelines for Flexi-Fund for Centrally Sponsored Scheme

2.8 Schemes Need Prior Approval of Finance Ministry

2.9 NITI Ayoga’s Plan for 50 Medals in 2024 Olympics

2.10 National Party Status to Trinamool Congress


3. ECONOMY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 35-48

3.1 Flexi Fare Method of Railway

3.2 New Guidelines to Regulate Indian Direct Selling Industry

3.3 Appointment of Part-time Chairman of UIDAI

3.4 Excess Capacity Issue In Steel Industry

3.5 World Manufacturing Production Report

3.6 Controversy Surrounding Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)

3.7 Stressed Loans

3.8 Micro Finance Sector

3.9 Buffer Stocks Limits Of Pulses Increased

3.10 e-Nivaran

3.11 NIIF to Manage $2-bn Green Energy Fund

3.12 Andhra Becomes Second State To Achieve 100% Access To Electricity

4. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 49-54

4.1 World Land Bridge

4.2 Bratislava Declaration

4.3 Chemical Weapons Used In Iraq

4.4 Impediments To China’s Silk Road

5. INDIA AND WORLD 55-77

5.1 India-Japan Relations

5.2 PM Modi’s Visit To Vietnam

5.3 Egyptian President Visit To India

5.4 President Ghani’s Visit To India

5.5 PM Prachanda Visit’s To India

5.6 Vice President Hamid Ansari Visit To Nigeria


5.7 India – France Rafale Deal

5.8 Oman's Sohar Port

6. SUMMITS AND ORGANISATION 78-89

6.1 28th and 29th ASEAN Summit, Laos

6.2 11th East Asia Summit

6.3 G-20 Summit

6.4 17th NAM Summit

7. DEFENCE AND SECURITY 90-98

7.1 Chinese Transgression In Indian Borders

7.2 Scorpene Data Leak Issue

7.3 Uri Attack And The Follow Up Surgical Strike

7.4 Army Design Bureau

7.5 INS TRIKAND

8. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 99-113

8.1 Zika Spread In Singapore

8.2 Dengue Menace

8.3 Chikungunya Spread

8.4 Sri Lanka Has Been Declared Malaria Free

8.5 Dark Matter

8.6 Stratellite Communication

8.7 GSLV-F05 Rocket Put INSAT-3DR In The Orbit

8.8 Magnetar 1E 1613 :

8.9 Sarathi

8.10 TIHAYU


8.11 Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

8.12 Biodegradable Energy Harvester - From Raw Fish Scales

8.13 Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award

8.14 India Declares itself Free from Avian Influenza (H5N1)

8.15 Tiangong-2

8.16 Synchronising Computers to Indian Standard Time

8.17 Hydrogen-bonded Organic Frameworks (HOFs)

8.18 Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio

8.19 Avoiding Excessive Use Of Pesticides

8.20 Development Of Cheap Solution By IIT Madras To Make Brackish Water Potable

8.21 Aperture Spherical Telescope

8.22 PSLV Puts 8 Satellite Into Orbit

8.23 Rosetta Mission

8.24 Europa

8.25 Mars Orbiter Mission/ Chandrayaan

8.26 A New Handheld Device To Detect Melamine In Milk

8.27 Scrub Typhus

9. ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT 114-131

9.1 U.S. And China Ratified Paris Climate Agreement

9.2 Majuli: World’s Largest River Island

9.3 IUCN and 25th World Conservation Congress

9.4 Environmental Governance At Odds With The Good Governance

9.5 G20 Countries Score Poorly In Climate Goals Report

9.6 Himachal Pradesh Pulls Petition Blocking Tribal Challenge To Power Project

9.7 Anthropocene: Human Induced But Possibly Destructive Epoch

9.8 Sugarcane Waste Yields Carbon For Use In Batteries


9.9 Wildlife Panel Clears First Phase Of Ken-Betwa Project

9.10 BRICS To Set Up Joint Working Group For Environment Issues

9.11 Government Declares BS-VI Rollout From 2020

9.12 Environment Ministry To Allow Hydropower Projects In Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive

Zone

9.13 Quarrying Destroys Laggar Falcon Habitat In Madurai

9.14 In Rwanda, India To Seek Just Deal On Phasing Out Of HFCs


1. SOCIAL ISSUES

1.1 National Policy Of Women 2016

Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) has unveiled a draft National Policy

for Women 2016, which will replace the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women,

2001. Apart from the safety issues, the draft also seeks to address the emerging

challenges confronting Indian women. The policy is based on Pam Rajput Committee

report set up by the MWCD in 2012.

Salient Features Of The New Policy

To create a society with women working as equal partners in all spheres of life.

To develop a framework to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women.

The draft has proposed to "improve access to pre-primary education, enrolment and

retention of adolescent girls."

To provide suitable benefits related to maternity and child care services.

To improve child sex ratio (CSR).

To carry out skill development and provide equal employment opportunities.

The draft plans to increase women's participation in the political, administration, civil

services and corporate boardrooms arena.

To address all forms of violence against women.

To make cyber space a safe place for women.

It seeks to review the criminalisation of marital rape keeping women's rights in

mind.

To prevent trafficking at source, transit and destination areas for effective monitoring

of the networks

Review of personal and customary laws in accordance with the Constitutional

provisions and many more.

Operational Strategies

To enable safety and security of women with the help of "One Stop Centres,

Women Helpline, Mahila Police Volunteers, Reservation of women in police force,

Panic buttons in mobiles, Surveillance mechanisms in public places."


To create eco-systems to encourage entrepreneurship amongst women. This has

been proposed to be done through podiums like Mahila E-Haat etc.

Aiding women in workplace through "flexi timings, increased maternity leave,

provision of child care/creches at workplace, life cycle health care facilities."

In Favour Of Policy

Identifying contemporary issues like the changing nature of gender roles in “the new millennium, and the dynamics of a rapidly changing global and national

scenario” is laudable.

Some of the measures like emphasis on collection of gender disaggregated data and

redistribution of gender roles in the household as well as the workplace will help in

combating the mentioned problem. This information will be useful for making policies

that would have a positive effect on redistribution of traditionally compartmentalised

gender roles.

Criticism

The National Policy for Women falls short of being truly a rights-based approach

for policymaking. It continues to posit that women need to be protected and provided

for.

The objectives of the National Policy for Empowerment of Women 2001 and National

Policy for Women 2016 are entirely similar. All of the nine objectives outlined in the

2001 policy form a part of the 2016 policy, almost identically worded. There are only

two additional policy objectives in the 2016 document: one is logistical, concerned

with monitoring evaluation and audit systems and the second is welfare-based,

dealing with development and empowerment of women belonging to vulnerable and

marginalised groups.

The policy is progressive for recognising “single women” as a separate category

requiring special attention. But it has to be seen how the MWCD perceives these

single women. Will it restrict itself to catering to widows, deserted or separated

women or will it recognise the aspirations of the new-age single woman who is

career-oriented? It can only be hoped that the MWCD moves away from its stance

where children are woven into the identity of single women and recognises this new

category of independent working females.

Most of the policy goals mentioned need inter-ministerial collaboration. Six of its

seven priority areas are dependent on collaboration with other ministries—health,


agriculture, environment, human resource and development, finance, labour, skill

and development, information and broadcasting. For example, lack of cooperation

from the finance ministry in making it mandatory for companies to reveal whether

they have put in place an Internal Complaints Committee to inquire into sexual

harassment complaints of women employees, was a major impediment in the

successful implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act,

2013 . For this ambitious policy to work, the MWCD needs to garner support from

other ministries.

The toughest challenge in policymaking, however, does not end in identifying

pertinent issues, but in the implementation of the policy.

Conclusion

The concept of women empowerment has seen changes and in this context this policy

document has rightly aimed at “re-scripting” women’s empowerment by following a “socially inclusive rights-based approach.

However, the need of the hour is not a one-dimensional solution, but a multi-

dimensional one encompassing every aspect of women empowerment. We should keep

in mind that the distance from welfare to a rights-based model cannot be covered only

by outlining contemporary issues. The undercurrents of perception towards women of

the government, society and law also need to be changed.

1.2 National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme

Government has notified National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. It is for the first

time a scheme has been notified to offer financial incentives to employers.

Apprenticeship Training is considered to be one of the most efficient ways to develop

skilled manpower for the country. It provides for an industry led, practice oriented,

effective and efficient mode of formal training.

Scheme will be implemented by Director General of Training (DGT) under the aegis

of Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).

Under the scheme, 25% of the prescribed stipend payable to an apprentice would be

reimbursed to the employers directly by the government of India.

The scheme also supports basic training, which is an essential component of

apprenticeship training by sharing of basic training cost with basic training providers


in respect of apprentices who come directly to apprenticeship without any formal

trade training (fresher apprentices).

Online portal for ease of administering. All transactions including registration by

employers, apprentices, registration of contract and payment to employers will be

made as online mode.

1.3 Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC)

The Central Government launched the biggest Leprosy case detection campaign in

the country.

The districts, having a prevalence rate of more than one case per 10,000

population in the last three years, have been included in the campaign.

The objective is to detect the disease early so that those affected can be saved from

physical deformity. A total of 32 crore people, across 19 states and union territories,

will be screened under the campaign.

The Leprosy Case Detection Campaign is a unique initiative of its kind in the

world where each and every member of the targeted population will be examined by

the search team constituted of one male and one female volunteer at household

level. House to house visits will be done by the search team as per the micro plan

prepared for the local area to detect hidden and undetected leprosy cases.

Some Facts:

India alone, contributes about 58.8% and 81.2% of the newly detected cases of

leprosy globally and in the South East Asian region respectively.

Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae.

Bacteria multiply very slowly and the incubation period of the disease is about

five years.

Leprosy is not highly infectious. It is transmitted during close and frequent

contacts with untreated cases. Untreated, leprosy can cause progressive and

permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes.

Early diagnosis and treatment with multidrug therapy (MDT) remain the key

elements in eliminating the disease as a public health concern.

National Leprosy Eradication Programme was launched in 1983. Since then,

remarkable progress has been achieved in reducing the disease burden. India


achieved the goal of elimination of leprosy as a public health problem, defined as

less than 1 case per 10,000 population, at the National level in the month of

December 2005 as set by the National Health Policy, 2002.

But it has been quoted that as many as 209 districts still record more than 10

cases per 10,000 which is tremendously high. These districts are mainly in Bihar,

Chhattisgarh and Dadar & Nagar Haveli.

Delayed detection could be a major cause of this shift from Paucibacillary to

Multibacillary. In proportion to every case detected there is a large burden of

undetected cases, which are the most important source of infection to the

vulnerable in the community. Hence government has launched the scheme on

such a large scale.

1.4 Higher Education Financing Agency

The Union cabinet cleared a proposal to set up a Higher Education Financing

Agency (HEFA) that will raise Rs 20,000 crore from loans and bond sales to fund

research oriented infrastructure for premiere institutions like IITs, NITs and IIMs.

Creation of a HEFA to finance educational institutions was announced in the Union

Budget 2016-17 to ensure that 20 such places of learning emerge as world class.

The agency will be a special purpose vehicle (SPV) within a PSU Bank/

Government-owned-NBFC (Promoter). The SPV will be a quasi-sovereign agency,

which will borrow funds at close to the 10-year gilt rate, which is around 8% at

present. It will lend to institutions at a slightly higher rate.

HEFA will finance institutions through a 10-year loan. The principal portion of the

loan will be repaid through the ‘internal accruals’ earned through fee receipts, research earnings, etc. The central government will service the interest portion

through the regular plan assistance.

The HEFA would also mobilise CSR funds from PSUs and Corporates, which would

in turn be released for promoting research and innovation in these institutions on

grant basis

Implications Of HEFA

It is expected to ease pressure on the government, which currently is the sole funder

of such institutions.


The move may mark the beginning of a market-linked fee structure in central

government-funded educational institutions, including the Indian Institutes of

Technology (IITs), National Institute of Technology (NITs) and central universities.

Since the institutions will borrow money and return it, they have to be revenue-

surplus, which may make a fee hike the first possibility.

HEFA will instill accountability in higher educational institutions since hike in fee

structure is possible only if better facility and infrastructure is made available.

Also, the institution would like to increase its internal accruals through different

means other than fee hike. Since research earnings form a major part of internal

accruals, this move will force universities to improve the R&D ecosystem.

1.5 The Civil Aspects Of International Child Abduction Bill, 2016

The Union Ministry Of Women And Child Development (WCD) has drafted the Civil

Aspects of International Child Abduction Bill, 2016, that once approved will facilitate

prompt return of any child under 16 who has been “wrongfully removed to or retained in other state which is not his/her habitual residence.”

Why Is The Need Of Such Bill

A large number of Indians live and work abroad. In addition to this, large numbers of

foreign nationals have been arriving to work and live in India, and a number of Indian

nationals who had previously settled abroad are also returning to resume their

residence in India.

The problem arises when one spouse decides to return to India with their child

without permission of other parent. In such cases, it is seen that the welfare of the

child suffers as he is often forcibly uprooted from his habitual residence and made to

take up residence in new and often alien country.

The international community acted to solve such crisis by enacting The Hague

Convention on The Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. India is not a

signatory to the Hague Convention. A country has to have a domestic law in place

before it can become a signatory.

The Law Commission in its 218th report recommended that India should frame a

domestic law and sign the Hague Convention.


Verdict of the Supreme Court in Surya Vadanan v. State of Tamil Nadu (2015) laid

down principles to be followed by courts and tried to evolve a consistent approach in

multi-jurisdictional child custody disputes. However, in absence of legal codes no

uniform policy has been followed by courts. In such cases ultimate sufferer is the

child.

About Hague Abduction Convention

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child

Abduction or Hague Abduction Convention is a multilateral treaty developed by

the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) that provides an

expeditious method to return a child internationally abducted by a parent from one

member country to another.

The Convention was concluded 25 October 1980 and entered into force between the

signatories on 1 December 1983. As of March 2016, 94 states are party to the

convention.

The objects of convention are-

To secure the prompt return of children wrongfully removed to or retained in

any Contracting State; and

To ensure that rights of custody and of access under the law of one

Contracting State are effectively respected in other Contracting State.

Hague convention applies to cases in which –

The Child must be under 16 years of age;

The child must have been habitually resident in a convention country

immediately before any breach of custody or access rights.

1.6 BRICS Conference on Negation of Drug Abuses

The second Anti-Drug Working Group meeting of heads of anti-narcotics agencies of

BRICS countries was held in New Delhi to discuss issues related to narco-terrorism and

money laundering.

Key Facts

The meeting was organised in accordance with the ‘eThekwani Declaration’ adopted during the BRICS summit in March 2013 at Durban, South Africa.


The international trade in drugs is estimated to be about $500 billion to more than a

$1 trillion.

The aim of the meeting is to evaluate the drug abuse situation in the member

countries and analyze the legislations of BRICS member states as well as devise

modalities to share the best practices of enforcement and demand reduction being

followed in the member countries.

There has been a multipronged effort to contain narcotics problem. If the BRICS

countries try to coordinate their position, then with a greater voice they can speak in

other international forum like United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna

and try to set the agenda and make them take steps which we feel would curb this

menace.

Issue of Drug Abuse in India

India is caught in the vicious circle of drug abuse, and the numbers of drug

addicts are increasing day by day. According to a UN report, One million heroin

addicts are registered in India, and unofficially there are as many as five million.

In India persons addicted to opiates are shifting their drug of choice from opium

to heroin. The intravenous injections of analgesics like dextropropoxphene etc.

are also reported from many states, as it is easily available at 1/10th the cost of

heroin. The codeine-based cough syrups continue to be diverted from the

domestic market for abuse.

Reasons For Widespread Drug Abuse In India

To escape from hard realities of life - The disintegration of the old joint family

system, absence of parental love and care in modern families where both

parents are working, decline of old religious and moral values etc lead to a rise

in the number of drug addicts who take drugs to escape hard realities of life.

Loosening of the traditional methods of social control - The processes of

industrialization, urbanization and migration have led to loosening of the

traditional methods of social control rendering an individual vulnerable to the

stresses and strains of modern life.

Cultural acceptance in some part of the country- In states like Punjab, Haryana

or North eastern States like Manipur use of opium has been widely accepted.

Not only that in many states of India, Bhang(Hemp) is distributed during

some festivals like Holi, Janmashtami, Shivratri, and consuming bhang at such

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janmashtami

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivratri


occasions is common.

Peers pressure – Many youths start using drug under the pressure from their

friends, seniors at educational institutions, or by members of their informal

groupings.

Easy Availability - India is situated in the sense that on its west is the ‘Golden

Crescent’ and on east is the ‘Golden Triangle’. The usage of drugs in India is

increasing, particularly in the border areas due to their porous nature.

Economic prosperity – The agricultural reforms and other industrial activity has

led to increase in income in regions like Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra etc.

Increase in disposable money and easy availability of drugs has led to increase

in its use.

Impacts

Increase in the crime rate - Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Drugs

remove inhibition and impair judgment egging one on to commit offences.

Incidence of eve- teasing, group clashes, assault and impulsive murders

increase with drug abuse.

Loss in terms of human potential - With most drug users being in the productive

age group of 18-35 years, the loss in terms of human potential is incalculable.

The damage to the physical, psychological, moral and intellectual growth of the

youth is very high.

Rise in disease burden - The introduction of synthetic drugs and intravenous

drug use leading to HIV/AIDS has added a new dimension to the problem,

especially in the Northeast states. Increase in incidences of HIV, hepatitis B and

C and tuberculosis due to addiction adds to the reservoir of infection in the

community burdening the health care system further.

Increase in suicide rates – The data provided by NCRB tells that India sees 10

suicides related to drug abuse every day.

Impact on women - Women in India face greater problems from drug abuse. The

consequences include domestic violence and infection with HIV, as well as the

financial burden.

Money laundering and terrorism - Today the drug business generates the

highest illegal fund flows and leads to Narco-Terrorism, which poses a serious

threat to global security and endangers peace, health and stability across


regions. Recently, in Pathankot attack, there were allegations that it was mixed

up with drug trade and drug mafia and that is how they could enter India.

Need of the Hour

Social welfare and rehabilitation: To vain people away, drug rehabilitation and

Society awareness programmers are very important. It includes rehabilitation of

drug addicts as most of them are very poor and bringing them back into society.

Intelligence sharing: Usually the last point peddlers get into police net. The real

movers or illegal traders get away. If any drug carriers and masterminds have

been caught, we should find out what are his/her travel links. This information

can be shared.

Cooperation among countries to increase information exchange on synthetic

drugs, money laundering, banking channel, etc. Synthetic drugs have become a

problem for India, South Africa and Russia. Money laundering channels should

be targeted. Huge amount of money is getting transferred across borders and

somehow it is getting done through banking channels. Hawala money is also

there. Wherever there are tax havens, they need to be plugged.

1.7 Mission Parivar Vikas

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will soon launch “Mission Parivar Vikas” in 145 high focus districts having the highest total fertility rates (TFR) in the country.

These 145 districts are in the seven high focus, high TFR states of UP, Bihar,

Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam that constitute 44% of the

country’s population. Recent data suggests that these 145 districts have TFR of

more than/equal to 3.0.

These districts also have a substantial impact on maternal and child health indicators

as about 25-30% of maternal deaths and 50% of infant deaths occur in these

districts.

The main objective of mission will be to reach the replacement level fertility goals

of 2.1 by 2025 in these districts by accelerating access to high quality family

planning choices based on information, reliable services and supplies within a rights-

based framework.

The key strategic focus of this initiative will be on improving access to

contraceptives through delivering assured services, dovetailing with new


promotional schemes, ensuring commodity security, building capacity (service

providers), creating an enabling environment along with close monitoring and

implementation.

1.8 Maratha Reservation Protest

Recently the Maratha community, a dominant force in Maharashtra politics, has been

silently protesting in the state.

The Marathas feel that the present scenario tilts the balance a little too much in

favour of Dalits and the protests are to highlight three major demands — reservation

for Marathas, modification of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes

(ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and punishment for the Kopardi rape

accused.

Who Are Marathas And Why Are They Demanding Reservation?

Marathas form nearly 32-40% of the state population. They traditionally belong to the

warrior caste but also include members of the kunbis or the peasant class (Kunbis

have reservations within the OBC block).

The community has been politically and socially influential – 13 of the 18 chief

ministers of the state were Marathas – and have controlled the rural economy by

holding co-operative bodies including banks and sugar co-ops under their command.

But the fruits of development have not seeped through the community. There is a

class differentiation within the community which is highly visible. On one hand

there are sugar barons and wealthy farmers exporting their produce while on the

other, there are also lakhs of farmers holding small land holdings hit by the ongoing

agrarian crisis.

While OBCs and other castes have made progress in education, the Maratha

community has not found edge here. They attribute this to lack of special reservation.

Nature And Possible Impact Of This Protest

So far these protests have been non-violent, although large people especially

youths are participating in the protests.

It has an anti-Dalit overtone and many Bramhin and Muslim organization have also

lent their support to this protest. It could damage the social fabric of the state to an

irreparable extent with two of the most populous communities at loggerheads with

each other.


It is faceless and leaderless. It is similar to a Kumbh Mela where people across age

groups – though it is dominated by youngsters – include men and women and cuts

across all ideologies, progressive and radical within the Marathas are participating.

This is creating difficulty for the government as it remains undecided with whom it

should talk and negotiate.

There is possibility that the political leaders could hijack the agitation and use the

cadres for the next assembly elections which would lead to divisive politics rather

than an effort to find a solution.

Although the demand of reservation stems from the widespread poverty and

unemployment among Marathas due to repeated agrarian crisis, this protest also

reflects the undercurrent of a conflict simmering within the community, which

has revived its demand for reservations. As it will alter the existing quota of OBCs, it

can bring these communities at loggerhead.

Also, it can spread to other parts of the country and many more dominant castes

would start demanding reservation for their community.

Conclusion

The Patel agitation witnessed in Gujarat or the Jat agitation of Haryana is eerily

similar to the one bubbling in Maharashtra in terms of their demand for reservation.

Although these agitations (Patel, Jat, Maratha agitations) have caste overtone, the

root cause is the economic one. Entangling these agitations with caste and identity

issues will divert the attention and could create political storm.

Agrarian reforms along with other economic steps like employment generation and

equal distribution of resources have potential to address the issue.

Q) Quotas and reservations no longer embody a search for justice, but an interest

group politics. Do you agree? Substantiate.

1.9 Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2016

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Rural Development and Panchayati

Raj has recently released the ‘Swachh Survekshan’ for rural India.

A total of 22 hill districts and 53 plain areas were assessed under the Gramin

Swachh Survekshan launched in May 2016. Mandi was judged as the cleanest


district in “Hills” category and Sindhudurg as the cleanest in the “Plains” category, with districts of Sikkim, Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), Nadia (West Bengal) and Satara

(Maharashtra) featuring at the top of the index.

The Ministry had commissioned Quality Council of India (QCI) to carry out the

assessment. Each district has been judged on four distinct parameters, which

include-

(i) Households having access to safe toilets and using them (toilet usage,

water accessibility, safe disposal of waste) (40%)

(ii) Households having no litter around (30%)

(iii) Public places with no litter in the surrounding (10%)

(iv) Households having no stagnant wastewater around (20%)

Sikkim, the small north eastern hill state, is the cleanest in India, with Kerala coming

in a close second on the condition of sanitation in rural areas of 26 states. Sikkim

scored 98.2 % on a scale of 100 in the ranking given on the basis of percentage of

households having sanitary toilets.

Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand was placed last in the survey. Chhattisgarh has

21.2% of households having sanitary toilet while Jharkhand has only 18.8%.

Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Haryana were among the well

performing states, while Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and

Rajasthan were among the states that did not fare well.

Chief Minister of Assam in a statement said the State government has made

mandatory for all "gram sabhas" to give "top priority" to sanitation in their

agenda. The Panchayati Raj Act has been amended, making it mandatory for the

members of the Panchayati Raj institutions to construct toilets in their households,

failing which, the nominations of the members for the Panchayat elections are

rejected.

Sikkim is the only state which has achieved open defecation free status in the

country so far Sikkim was the first Nirmal Rajya in the country, to have achieved 100

% physical coverage in rural Households, schools, anganwadis, institutional and

community toilets.


1.10 Lancet Report on Maternal Health

What Does Report Say

Nearly one quarter of babies worldwide are still delivered in the absence of a skilled

birth attendant.

One-third of the total maternal deaths in 2015 happened in India, where 45,000

mothers died during pregnancy or childbirth while Nigeria shouldered the maximum

burden of 58,000 maternal deaths.

Regional differences: According to the report, while progress has been made in

reducing maternal mortality globally, differences remain at international and national

levels. For instance, in the U.S., the maternal mortality ratio is 14 per 1,00,000 live

births compared to 4 per 1,00,000 in Sweden. The sub-Saharan African region

accounted for an estimated 66% (2,01,000) of global maternal deaths, followed by

southern Asia at 22% (66,000 deaths).

Burden on Women: The burden of maternal mortality falls disproportionately on the

most vulnerable groups of women and this presents a challenge to the rapid catch-

up required to achieve the underlying aim of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Why Landscape Of Poor Maternal Health Care

The absence of timely access to quality care.

Over-medicalisation of normal and postnatal care: This problem of over-

medicalisation has historically been associated with high-income countries, but it is

rapidly becoming more common in low and middle-income countries, increasing

health costs and the risk of harm. For instance, 40.5% of all births are now by

caesarean section in Latin America and the Caribbean

Basic facility lacking: According to the report, many birth facilities lack basic

resources such as water, sanitation and electricity.

Lack of trained health personnel in rural ares.

Way Forward

Improved surveillance is needed to understand the causes of maternal deaths when

they do occur.

Awareness campaign citing the benefits of hygiene and sanitation.

Need to use the channel of ASHA and ANMs by providing them proper incentives

and training.


2. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

2.1 Advancing The Budget

Government has cleared the proposal for early budget presentation to be held in first

week of February. Advancing the budget would mean getting the presidential nod a day

before the new financial year (2017-18) begins.

Current Practice

While the Constitution does not mandate any specific date for presentation of

the Budget, it is usually presented on last working day of February and the two-stage

process of Parliamentary approval takes it to mid-May.

Both Houses of Parliament clear the appropriation bill only in the second half of the

budget session, forcing the government to seek Parliament’s approval through a vote on account in March to withdraw money from the consolidated fund of India for

two to three months to meet regular expenditure.

Idea Behind This Move

A January budget will open up more time for Parliament’s focussed attention on non-

budget related lawmaking and debates and discussions as the current

procedures consume a considerable amount of time on the passage of the budget,

leaving fewer hours available for other legislative and reforms businesses.

If the process is initiated earlier, there would be no need for getting a Vote on

Account and a full budget can be approved in one stage process before March 31.

The idea is to present the Budget in last week of January and ramp up the entire

process by March 31.

It will help initiate revenue mobilization and capital expenditure measures right

from the beginning of the fiscal year. Departments will start spending the money

allocated to them right from the beginning of the fiscal year.

It will give individuals and companies more time to firm up savings and tax payout

plans.

Other Changes On Anvil

The annual financial document for 2017-18 is likely to see another major overhaul

with the abolition of ‘Plan and non-plan expenditure’ and replacing it with ‘capital and revenue expenditure’.


Also with the roll out of the GST the need for the Union Government to legislate

changes in the excise duties, service tax and cesses will cease to exist as they

would all be subsumed in the new national sales tax.

The 92-year-old practice of presenting a separate Rail Budget is set to come to an

end from the next fiscal, as the government proposes to merge it with the General

Budget.

Conclusion

Advancing the date of budget presentation is a good step. However, the date of

presentation of the budget may see another change if the Shankar Acharya

committee, tasked to examine the desirability and feasibility of having a new fiscal

year, recommends for the adoption of new fiscal year in its report.

2.2 Merger of Plan and Non-Plan classification in Budget and Accounts

The Union Cabinet approved the proposal to do away with the Plan and Non-Plan

expenditure classification from 2017-18 and replace with ‘capital and receipt’. The

relevance of plan and non-plan expenditure was lost after the abolition of the Planning

Commission. However Budget will continue earmarking funds for Scheduled Castes

Sub-Plan/Tribal Sub-Plan and similarly, the allocations for North Eastern States.

Major Issues Relating To Plan And Non Plan Distinction

The distinction between plan and non-plan expenditure in budgetary system was

brought in when the country adopted a plan model of economic growth. Now that

Planning Commission is gone, its relevance is a big question mark.

The government control and micro-management of the plan model has led to

excessive focus on ‘plan expenditure’ with an equivalent neglect of items such as maintenance which is classified as non-plan. The impression that more plan

expenditure means more development and wellbeing for the public has turned out to

be a misplaced assumption.

The plan process normally should lead either to creation of capital assets or the

posts to aid such creation. Once the plan is over, the posts are shifted to the non

plan side of budget assets created in earlier. As a result, this distinction has created

schools without teachers, institutions without employees.

Maintenance is under non-plan expenditure. Hence the assets created under plan

expenditure get deteriorated in absence of funds for maintenance.


The state resented the tied nature of funds made available by Planning Commission.

In the context of fiscal federalism, this distinction was an obstacle for achieving the

goals of co-operative federalism.

The Ministry of Finance felt that the Planning Commission had been demanding a

larger and larger share of resources in the form of Gross Budgetary Support, thus,

putting pressures on the management of fiscal position.

The ARC report has also pointed out that, the Plan and Non-Plan divide runs too

deep to give a comprehensive idea about resource availability to the departments at

an early stage of budget development.

While the Ministry of Finance is charged with the responsibility of maintaining

aggregate fiscal discipline, the allocation of resources was in accordance with

strategic priorities determined largely by the erstwhile Planning Commission and the

line departments were held accountable for the efficient and effective use of

resources. Hence funds allocated did not match policy priorities and often the

spending does not produce the intended results.

Conclusion

The policy regarding what should get classified as plan expenditure and what should

get classified as Non-Plan expenditure has lost clarity. Besides a notion has widely

gained ground among the policy makers at all levels that Plan expenditure is good

and Non- Plan expenditure is bad.

Also, with fragmented distinction, it became difficult not only to ascertain cost of

delivering a service but also to link outlays to outcomes. Outcomes and outputs of

programmes depend on total expenditure, Plan and Non-Plan put together.

Hence doing away with the distinction was a much needed step.

Background:

Plan expenditure, originally meant as development expenditure, is spent on

government programmes and flagship schemes.

Non-Plan expenditure includes spending on defence, subsidies and devolution to

states.

In 1998-99, the then finance minister had advocated the elimination of Plan and

non-Plan distinction.


The Rangarajan committee also recommended the same in 2011

2.3 Triple Talaq and Need for Judicial Intervention

Why In News

A PIL has been filed by Muslim woman, who has challenged the validity of

instantaneous and unilateral pronouncement of triple talaq, apart from a ban on

polygamy. Supreme Court is hearing the case and has asked opinions from All India

Muslim Personal Law Board as well as from Centre.

Over a period of time Supreme Court has intervened in religious and cultural matters. In

this case also the process of talaq is guided by Muslim Personal Laws. Hence, question

is being asked about the need of judicial intervention in such matters.

Arguments Opposing The Need Of Judicial Intervention

Principles of marriage, talaq and polygamy are interwoven with religious and cultural

rights of Muslims. State intervention would be the violation of fundamental right

(Article 25, 26, 29).

Personal laws of a community cannot be rewritten in the name of social reform

as the guiding authority is the religious scriptures. Also, courts cannot supplant its

own interpretation over the text scripture.

It is a matter of legislative policy (enforcement of universal civil code) and

intervention by court would amount to judicial activism.

Religious traditions often respond to top-down reforms by growing more

conservative and hence resist reforms. Universal Civil Code after Shah Bano case

became the ground for communal politics, forcing the then government to nullify the

verdict.

Arguments In Favour Of Intervention

Essential Religious Practices Doctrine, propounded by SC in Durga Committee vs

Syed Hussain Ali Case 1961, had set the outer limit of what could be the sole

domain of religion. The Court held that if the practices, though religious, may have

sprung from merely superstitious beliefs and in that sense be extraneous and

unessential accretions to religion itself, interference by Supreme Court becomes

necessary. Issue of triple talaq, polygamy etc. are not the sole domain of religion as


it has wider social impact. Hence state intervention would not amount to violation of

fundamental right.

Personal laws of a community came into existence by interpretation of various

religious scriptures. The interpretation can change with the changing values and

norms of a society.

Intervention would not amount to judicial activism as legislatures have failed to

intervene due to vote bank politics.

It is not a top-down reform as more than 50,000 Muslim women and men have

signed the petition to abolish these practices. Also, there has been demand from

within the community to change these practices.

The Supreme Court, in Shabnam Hashmi Vs UoI 2014 Case ruled that Muslim

personal law or any other religious code could not prohibit adoption by childless

couples. This was widely accepted by the community.

These practices violate the notion of gender justice and the constitutional right

of equality. Hence it is a case of violation of fundamental rights of women and

Supreme Court is right in intervening.

Conclusion

The issue is not whether a religious community has the right to live by its personal laws

but whether any community has the right to live by rules that subvert the rights

guaranteed to every citizen in the Constitution. Hence, to ensure the gender justice and

too uphold the basic tenets of our constitution, judicial intervention is justified.

However, the goal of judicial intervention should be as much to call for enactment of

modern civil laws as it would be to ensure justice and fair play in personal laws.

2.4 Introducing Totaliser Machine In Election

Why in News

Recently Supreme Court has given a directive to the government to take a final

decision on introducing ‘totaliser’ machines for mixing votes from various booths before counting.

Totaliser is a machine, connected to the control unit of electronic voting machines

(EVM) after polling, that gives out an overall, not booth-wise result.


Also, Law Commission in its 255th report reiterated and endorsed the ECI’s suggestion for introducing a totaliser for the counting of votes recorded in electronic

voting machines.

Prior to the introduction of EVMs, ballot papers could be mixed under Rule 59A of

the Election Rules, although this was not permitted for EVMs.

Merits

Elimination of voter harassment: Booth-level results have been often used by

losing candidates to harass voters of specific villages or castes/communities which

voted against the candidate. In fact, even in the assembly elections in Bengal earlier

this year there were reports of families in East Midnapore who were unable to vote

due to the fear of post-poll reprisal.

Avoid Caste based politics: Parties have fair sense of the social, caste & religion

composition of voters of specific booths because of information collected by local

party workers.

Strengthen principle of secrecy of votes: It would avoid detailed sense of which

caste or community largely voted for or against them booth wise.

No effect on booth management strategy of parties: The mixing of votes of

different polling booths, per se, should not hamper political parties from devising

booth-level mobilisation strategies. Parties and candidates contesting elections

anyway have a fair sense of the social composition of voters of specific booths

because of information collected by local party workers. The efficiency of the booth-

level strategy is a function of the financial and human resources at a party’s disposal but in theory, the information available is equal.

Demerits

Affect party’s strategies: Party work on booth-wise performance based strategies

which is important for parties to win elections. It helps in planning strategy at the

booth level for the next electoral battle.

Result in low voting percentage: Campaigns which encourage voters to cast vote

based at booth level would be affected which may result in low voting.

Conclusion

Given the social diversity of Indian voters and the frequency of elections at various

levels, there is no harm in revising the rules of conduct of elections if the need arises.

The introduction of the ‘totaliser’ would be a move forward.


Some parties may have reservations about its use initially, but in due course of time they

would realise the importance of this new, simple but immensely useful technology. After

all when EVMs were introduced, there were many sceptics; their utility for such a vast

country as India is now beyond dispute.

2.5 Municipal Bonds in India

Why In News

A credit rating of cities was launched by Ministry Of Urban Development to effectively

utilize the municipal bonds by the local municipal bodies.

To begin with, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and New Delhi Municipal Council

have been rated as A. In all, 85 cities would be given credit rating by March 2017.

Municipal bond, a term commonly used in the US, is meant to finance public projects

such as roads, schools, airports and infrastructure. Oxford defines it as a security

issued by or on behalf of a local authority.

SEBI has announced regulatory norms for issuance of municipal bonds in July 2015

but this is yet to take off In India.

Why Is It Needed

Conventional source of revenue such as local taxes, funds/grants from Central and

State etc are not sufficient to finance local level requirements. Resource constraints

at the local level push to find alternate avenue for resource generation.

Further, constraints in revenue generation especially when Octroi will go away after

GST comes into implementation.

To meet the infrastructural need such as smart cities.

Ensure better compliance and accountability in the system

Ensure effectiveness of the accounting and fund management in the local bodies.

Problems Of Municipal Bonds In India

Lack of incentives for municipal bodies to tap debt market.

Conservative approach of insurance and pension firms to invest in Municipal bonds.

Lack of a secondary market for the trading of such bonds is another hindrance

Preponderance of institutional finance.


Limited credit enhancements for municipal bonds.

Absence of any particular requisites to issue bonds.

In many ULBs, the accounting is done through a single entry system, instead of the

standard practice of accrual-based double entry accounting.

The account books of many of these ULBs are not very transparent, whereas to

issue the bonds, the bodies will have to do full disclosure of finances, management,

projects etc.

The Way Forward

Rating agency CARE estimates that large municipalities in India could raise Rs.1,000 to

Rs.1,500 crore every year through municipal bond issues. However, careful efforts need

to take care-

Incentivizing municipal corporations for bond issuance

o Incentivize by way of additional grant

o Grants should be provided on the basis of credit rating of municipalities.

o Link the borrowings of the municipal corporations from financial institutions

such as HUDCO etc. to the bond market.

Incentivizing investors to invest in Municipal Bonds

o Minimum tenure of the bond should be increased to 5 years from the current 3

years.

o All bonds issued by Municipals should be made tax-free.

o The ceiling of 8% on interest rate should be withdrawn for such bonds

o Banks should be mandated to lend to ULBs as a part of the ‘priority sector’.

o Alternatively, bank holdings of municipal bonds should also be given space in

the SLR requirements provided they are of certain specified category

GS3

Municipal bonds in India have been introduced in 2015 yet it is not very popular among the

municipal authorities of the country. In view of this discuss the problems before it. What

suggestion you would like to offer to popularize these bonds.

2.6 Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016


The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 has been passed in the Lok

Sabha. The Supreme Court in NALSA vs. Union of India Judgement 2014 gave, for

the first time, transgender persons the right to self-determine their identity. The current

bill comes on the back of this judgement with an aim to evolve a mechanism for their

social, economic and educational empowerment.

Highlights Of The Bill

Definition of a transgender person: The bill clearly defines the transgender leaving

behind any ambiguities.

Prohibition against discrimination: The Bill prohibits the discrimination against a

transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to

different services such as education, employment, healthcare and other services.

Right of residence: It provides transgender person a right to reside and be included

in his household. If the immediate family is unable to care for the transgender

person, the person may be placed in a rehabilitation centre, on the orders of a

competent court.

Employment: Besides prohibiting discrimination in employment, the bill requires

entity having more than 100 persons to designate a person to be a complaint officer

to deal with complaints in relation to the Act.

Healthcare: It aims to provide health facilities to transgender persons including

separate HIV surveillance centres, sex reassignment surgeries, etc. The

government shall review medical curriculum to address health issues of transgender

persons, and provide comprehensive medical insurance schemes for them.

Certificate of identity for a transgender person: It enables the District Magistrate

to issue a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as ‘transgender’ based on the recommendations of a District Screening Committee.

Welfare measures by the government: The bill aims to take steps for their rescue

and rehabilitation, vocational training and self-employment, create schemes that are

transgender sensitive, and promote their participation in cultural activities.

Offences and Penalties: The bill clearly defines the offences made against

transgender person and stipulates harsher punishment.

National Council for Transgender persons (NCT): The bill seeks to create NCT

whose composition will be widely representative. It will include ministers from various

ministries, representatives from state governments, National Human Right


Commission, NITI Ayoga and National commission for women. The Council will also

consist of five members from the transgender community and five experts from non-

governmental organisations. The Council will advise the central government on the

formulation and monitoring of policies, legislation and projects with respect to

transgender persons.

Comparison of Transgender Bill 2016 (TG Bill) with Draft Bill of 2015

It is being argued that the TG Bill 2016 is a watered down version of the draft bill of

2015.

No right to self-determination of identity: The current bill gives no right to self

determine one’s own identity as it has clearly defined who all will be transgender person. Hence, gone is the recognition that the transgender community in India is not

homogenous, and comprises a range of socio-cultural identities and lifestyles.

The Draft Bill of 2015 recognised that a person’s gender is assigned to them by others at birth, and that a transgender person’s intrinsic sense of self need not be based on this compulsory assigning. Thus it allowed every transgender person an

absolute right and control over their bodies, their selves.

No way to seek justice: Current bill fails to acknowledge that caste divisions within

the transgender community further victimises an already vulnerable set of people.

Also it fails to find specific ways for transgender persons to seek justice in the case

of discrimination, violence, abuse and a denial of rights.

There is an 'Offenses and Penalties' section, but that leaves one in doubt about what

exactly the course of action is. There is no mention of approaching competent

authorities (the Police, an Executive Magistrate, as outlined in earlier bill) or any

guidelines to the authorities on how to provide assistance to a transgender person

facing discrimination.

Family gets custody of a transgender person: It confers sweeping rights upon

‘family’ to retain custody of a transgender person. In many instances, it is the family that is the seat of violence, abuse and a denial of identity for a young transgender

person. There is no mention of adoptive families, families by choice as was the case

in earlier bill

Definition of discrimination: Current bill fails to provide a definition of

discrimination, although it prohibits discrimination. The former draft of the Bill did in

fact have such a definition. It understood discrimination as a distinction, exclusion or

restriction on the basis of gender identity, which had the purpose or effect of


impairing or nullifying the enjoyment of fundamental human rights and freedoms on

an equal basis with others, and also included denial of reasonable accommodation.

There are a number of other omissions – the provision of reservations for

transgender persons – which were promised by NALSA and appeared in the

former draft of the Bill, but have been included in current bill.

Conclusion

According to Census 2011, India has 6 lakh people belonging to the transgender

community. The bill is aimed to empower this community. However, the terms, phrasing

and wording of the bill are things to worry about, and may create an obstacle for

empowerment of transgender community.

2.7 Fresh Guidelines for Flexi-Fund for Centrally Sponsored Scheme

The government has issued fresh flexi-fund guidelines for the Centrally Sponsored

Schemes (CSS). New guidelines, based on the instructions issued by NITI Ayoga, will

give States more freedom in spending money under the CSS to meet local

developmental requirements pilot innovation to improve efficiency.

The Guidelines

Flexi-funds in each CSS have been increased from the current 10% to 25% for

States and 30% for Union Territories.

This means that States, if they so desire, can set aside 25% of any CSS as flexi-fund

to be spent on any sub-scheme or innovation or component that is in line with the

overall aim and objective of the approved Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

States can use the fund to satisfy local requirements in areas affected by internal

security disturbances or to undertake mitigation or restoration activities in case of

natural calamities.

State governments will have to constitute a state-level sanctioning committee (SLSC)

to avail of the flexi-fund facility. This facility is not for CSS which emanate from

legislation, like MNREGA.

Background:

Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) are special purpose grants (or loans)

extended by the Central Government to States to encourage and motivate State

governments to plan and implement programmes that help attain national goals

and objectives. CSS are extended by the Union Government to States under


Article 282 of the Constitution

Normally as per the constitutional dispensation, all activities in Government are

categorised as those falling in: Central List, State List and Concurrent List. While

there is no ambiguity with regard to the Central List, activities which fall under

the State and Concurrent List are often subject to over-lapping jurisdiction

between the Government of India and the State Governments. Health and

Education are two most important social sector programmes which figure in

these two lists. While the State Governments have the primary responsibility to

provide better quality of health and education to the people, it is the overall

responsibility of the Government of India to achieve certain monitorable national

goals in terms of health care and levels of education.

Thus, CSS ordinarily covers such subjects which are enumerated in

State/concurrent list and are crucial for realising national development

goals. CSS are different from Central Sector Schemes in the sense that Central

Sector Schemes are implemented by Centre directly while CSS are implemented

by states.

After the recommendation of B K Chaturvedi committee the number of Centrally

Sponsored Schemes was reduced to 66. Also, flexibility in implementation was

introduced. States got flexibility to use 10% of allocation.

After the recommendation of 14th Finance commission, the numbers of CSS

were further reduced.

Q) The Central Government frequently complains on the poor performance of the

State Governments in eradicating suffering of the vulnerable sections of the

society. Restructuring of centrally sponsored schemes across the sectors for

ameliorating the cause of vulnerable sections of population aims at providing

flexibility to the states in better implementation. Critically evaluate. (CSE 2013)

2.8 Schemes Need Prior Approval of Finance Ministry

The Context

The Finance Ministry has asked various ministries and departments to seek prior

approval from it before initiating any new scheme.


It has directed to all administrative ministries that for all new schemes a concept

paper should be prepared while seeking in-principle approval, holding stakeholder

consultations, conducting pilot studies etc.

Further, it suggested that schemes involving cost up to Rs 100, 100-500, 500-1000

and above 1000 Crore has to seek prior approval from Secretary of the

administrative department, Minister in the administrative department, the Finance

Minister, and the Cabinet, respectively.

Why Needed?

To rationalize the scheme- especially when central schemes have been brought

down to 300 and CSS to 30.

To enhance efficiency and improve economies of scale in the execution of

government programmes by avoiding multiple and redundant schemes.

To ensure efficient management of public expenditure at all times.

To improve execution- quality of scheme or project formulation is the key

bottleneck leading to poor execution.

To ensure Output-outcome framework for each schemes with Niti Aayog; every

scheme should have a sunset date and an outcome review

Conclusion

Such a robust system will ensure better, effective and objective evaluation of the

schemes. Continuation of schemes will dependent upon performance. This, in turn, will

bring improvement in the administrative machineries, project formulation and

implementation.

Further, in a run up to the abolition of Plan and non-Plan expenditure

differentiation from Budget 2017-18, it is imperative that a plan, non-plan neutral

appraisal and approval system is put into place.

GS3

In what ways Finance ministry as central approval system of schemes going to enhance

efficiency in the system. Discuss

2.9 NITI Ayoga’s Plan for 50 Medals in 2024 Olympics


After disappointing performance in 2016 Rio Olympics, NITI Ayoga has devised a short-

term and medium-to-long term action plan to help India achieve 50 medals in 2024

summer Olympics.

Short-term Plan (4-8 years)

It envisages targeting a group of priority sports, organising sportspersons into three

groups for each priority sport.

It seeks to harness the potential of regional and indigenous sports, selecting world-

class coaches as well as a grading system for coaches.

It will also focus on a strengthening and scaling up of existing Sports Authority Of

India (SAI) training centres, sports injury insurance scheme, facilitating creation of

sports academies for individual sports. Under it, a digital database for sports will

be created. Besides national sports code and sports Bill will be promoted.

Medium-to-long term Plan (8-15 years)

It will focus on identifying talent at a young age, a dedicated training programme for

coaches, having sports curriculum in schools.

It will encourage development of sports infrastructure through PPP or private mode

and developing a psychological and health support division.

It will stress on the consistent funding of contracts, promoting a culture of sports in

the country and hosting international events in priority sports.

After each Olympics, a fixed 4-year contract will be signed between SAI and Group A

sportspersons, keeping in mind their funding requirement for the next Olympics and

other international events in between.

Conclusion

Efforts need to be undertaken at each level, from family and communities to schools,

regional academies, states and national level. These efforts need to be aimed at

radically increasing the level of sporting activities, filling the gaps in the system and

monitoring for lags. In this context, there is an urgent need to revamp the sports

governance in India besides addressing the issues raised by NITI Ayoga.

2.10 National Party Status to Trinamool Congress

The Election Commission of India has granted national party status to All India

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Party.


Trinamool Congress has satisfied one of the conditions mentioned in the Election

Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 to be recognised as a national

party - having being recognised as a state party in at least four states- West Bengal,

Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.

Now, India has seven recognised national parties - Congress, BJP, BSP, CPI, CPI-

M, NCP and All India Trinamool Congress.

Recognition as a national or a state party ensures that the election symbol of that

party is not used by any other political entity in polls across India. Other registered

but unrecognised political parties have to choose from a pool of "free symbols"

announced by the commission from time to time.

Besides, these parties get land or buildings from the government to set up their party

offices. They can have up to 40 'star campaigners' during electioneering. Others can

have up to 20 'star campaigners'.

The poll panel had on August 22 amended a rule whereby it will now review the

national and state party status of political parties every 10 years instead of the

five.

A political party becomes eligible to be recognised as a national party:

if it has won 2 per cent of seats in Lok Sabha from at least three different states in

the latest general election; Or

In a Lok Sabha or Assembly election it has polled 6 per cent of the total valid votes

in at least four states, in addition to winning four Lok Sabha seats; Or

It has been recognised as a state party in at least four states.


3 ECONOMY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

3.1 Flexi Fare Method of Railway

Why In News

With an aim to boost its income, Railway has introduced flexi-fare method on its

premium trains namely Rajdhani, Shatabadi and Duronto. As a result, the

passengers will be paying different prices for the same seats and berths depending

upon when they book their tickets.

As per the new system, passengers will be shelling out between 10 and 50 % more

under the surge pricing system. While 10 % of the seats will be sold under the

normal fare, it will go on increasing by 10 % with every 10 % of berths sold with a

ceiling of 50 %.

Such surge pricing method is followed on the similar lines in taxi aggregator and

airlines. The pricing mechanism kicks in when demand outstrips supply. The taxi

company says that the increased fare acts as an incentive for taxi drivers to stay on

the roads and helps in balancing the demand with supply.

This is not an entirely new concept in Railways also. Such dynamic fares was

already implemented on Suvidha Trains, which helped it to fetch Rs 110 crore from

April to August 2016. Under flexi fares in Suvidha trains, fares increases by 20 %

after every 20 % seats are booked.

Why It Is Needed

Need to boost revenue from passenger segment- Only 25 % comes from this

segment whereas freight accounts for 65 %. Due to competition from road sector,

there is limitation to increase freight fares. Also freight business is already very

expensive in India as compared to other countries. Therefore, further increase in this

area is not feasible. Flexi fare model is expected to generate Rs 500 crore revenue.

Need to minimize the subsidy- Under the social obligations, for moving a passenger

one kilometer, Railways spends 73 paise and in return gets only 34 paise. Thus

the cost of service is almost double of what is being charged from the passengers.

This causes Railways loses around Rs. 33,000 crore on its passenger segment

every year. This benefit goes to all including those who are well off. So the current

move is in line with the philosophy of government to minimize the subsidy to well off.

What Are The Imapcts


The total number of passengers which travel per year on Indian Railways is around

840 crores. Out of this half of the passengers are sub-urban people which are only a

losing traffic. The non sub urban traffic is 380 crores. Out of this 230 crores are

exempted from flexi fares because they are ordinary second class. The upper class

is only 14 crores in total. So this concept is going to affect very few people at

present.

This system adopted by airlines as well takes care of yield management. It is

important to see what the occupancies are. As the occupancies shrink, fares go

up so that maximum yield per seat can be obtained on an average coach. This

method is quite successful in airlines. When trains are full all the time, there is no

question of yield management.

The trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi are mostly preferred by elite class. So, it will not

have a bearing on common man.

The Rajdhanis and the Shatabdis are premium trains, which are favoured by the

relatively better off. Those who plan their journeys later or in case of an

emergency will be at loss.

Conclusion

The initial response of the system is encouraging as around 50,000 tickets being

booked at higher fares in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains in the first 2 days.

Although the move may not significantly shore up the revenues, it will test the public

response to surge pricing that airlines already follow without any cap.

Railway is trying to address its financial deficiencies. To become a viable

organization it should also look at non-convention methods to earn revenues.

GS3

Do you think flexi fare model introduced by railway is a progressive step towards

improving its financial and operational performances. Give arguments in your

favour.

3.2 New Guidelines to Regulate Indian Direct Selling Industry

Why In News

The Direct Selling Guidelines 2016 framework has been released by the Food &

Consumer Affairs Minister and sent to the states and Union Territories for adoption.


Several scams have occurred in Indian direct selling industry in different parts of the

country.

Direct Selling And Their Benefits

Direct Selling means the marketing of consumer products/services directly to the

consumers generally in their homes or the homes of others, at their workplace and

other places away from permanent retail locations, usually through explanation or

demonstration of the products by a direct seller. The size of the sector is at present

8,000 crore and expected to reach 15,000 crore by 2019-20.

Benefits Of Direct Selling

Direct selling is a good way to own a business thus catering to gainful self

employment, women empowerment & point of purchase convenience to

consumers.

Direct selling offers flexible work schedules.

Direct selling is a good way to earn extra income.

Guidelines

The guidelines ban use of pyramid structure and money circulation scheme in any

direct selling company.

It clearly defines the pyramid structure/ponzy scheme.

Direct sellers cannot charge entry fee from agents or compel them to buy back

unsold shares.

A well defined remunerative system for agents has been laid down under guidelines.

Carrying of identity card has been made mandatory by sellers.

Sellers have been prohibited to visit customer’s place without prior appointment.

The firms need to constitute a grievance redressal committee to protect the interest

of consumers.

Prospective customers should be duly informed regarding the procedure for

cancellation of an order, refund of money and return of the product, etc.

A provision has been made under the guideline to appoint monitoring authority at the

central and state level.

Conclusion


Bringing it under regulatory framework will give better recognition to the sector and

hence will give much needed boost to it. This will help in increasing employment and

entrepreneurship opportunities in the sector. Not only it safeguards the interest but also

identifies and helps protect ethical direct selling companies. However, ensuring statutory

teeth to these guidelines is essential to bring more clarity for the sector.

GS3

Direct selling Industry has become a source of unethical practices of trading. Discuss

how far Direct Selling Guidelines 2016 framework will be able to curb such unethical

practices in the Industry.

3.3 Appointment of Part-time Chairman of UIDAI

The Context

Former IT Secretary J Satyanarayan Mishra has been appointed as part time

chairman of UIDAI. The part-time Chairman will have tenure of three years and will

hold power limited to provisions defined under the Aadhaar Act 2016.

It is to be noted that the UIDAI has generated 105.11 crore Aadhaar numbers as on

Sept’ 7 2016. It has already covered almost 98% of adult population and 82% of the total population.

About 50 lakh people are accessing their biometrics on daily basis for various

purposes.

Highlights Of Aadhaar Act 2016

Eligibility: Every resident, who has resided in India for 182 days in the year

preceding the date of application for enrolment for Aadhaar, shall be entitled to

obtain an Aadhaar number.

Information to be submitted: To obtain an Aadhaar number, an individual has to

submit his, (i) biometric (photograph, finger print, iris scan) and (ii) demographic

(name, date of birth, address) information.

Use of Aadhaar number: To verify the identity of a person receiving a subsidy or a

service, the government may require them to have an Aadhaar number. If a person

does not have an Aadhaar number, government will require them to apply for it, and

in the meanwhile, provide an alternative means of identification. Any public or

private entity can accept the Aadhaar number as a proof of identity of the Aadhaar


number holder, for any purpose. Aadhaar number cannot be a proof of citizenship or

domicile.

Functions and composition of authority: The key functions of the UID authority

include, (i) specifying demographic and biometric information to be collected during

enrolment, (ii) assigning Aadhaar numbers to individuals, (iii) authenticating Aadhaar

numbers, and (iv) specifying the usage of Aadhaar numbers for delivery of subsidies

and services. The UID authority will consist of a chairperson, two part-time members

and a chief executive officer. The chairperson and members are required to have

experience of at least ten years in matters such as technology, governance, etc.

Authentication: The UID authority will authenticate the Aadhar number of an

individual, if an entity makes such a request. A requesting entity (an agency or

person that wants to authenticate information of a person) has to obtain the consent

of an individual before collecting his information. The agency can use the disclosed

information only for purposes for which the individual has given consent. However, it

is not permitted to share an individual’s finger print, iris scan and other biological

attributes.

Protection of information: Biometric information such as an individual’s finger print,

iris scan and other biological attributes (specified by regulations) will be used only for

Aadhaar enrolment and authentication, and for no other purpose. Such information

will not be shared with anyone, nor will it be displayed publicly, except for purposes

specified by regulations.

Cases when information may be revealed: In two cases, information may be

revealed:

a) In the interest of national security, a Joint Secretary in the central government

may issue a direction for revealing, (i) Aadhaar number, (ii) biometric

information (iris scan, finger print and other biological attributes specified by

regulations), (iii) demographic information, and (iv) photograph. Such a

decision will be reviewed by an Oversight Committee (comprising Cabinet

Secretary, Secretaries of Legal Affairs and Electronics and Information

Technology) and will be valid for six months.

b) On the order of a court, (i) an individual’s Aadhaar number, (ii) photograph,

and (iii) demographic information, may be revealed.

Offences and penalties: A person may be punished with imprisonment upto three

years and minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh for unauthorised access to the centralized


data-base, including revealing any information stored in it. If a requesting entity and

an enrolling agency fail to comply with rules, they shall be punished with

imprisonment upto one year or a fine upto Rs 10,000 or Rs one lakh (in case of a

company), or with both.

Cognizance of offence: No court shall take cognizance of any offence except on a

complaint made by the UID authority or a person authorised by it.

Apprehensions On Aadhaar

1. Allowing private agencies to use Aadhaar contradicts statement of objects and

reasons of the Bill

The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill states that identification of targeted

beneficiaries for delivery of various government subsidies and services has become a

challenge for the government. At the time of the introduction of the Bill, the government

stated that “the Bill confines itself only to governmental expenditure.” However, the

Bill also allows private persons to use Aadhaar as a proof of identity for any purpose.

2. Issues with sharing information collected under Aadhaar

The provisions in the Bill with regard to protection of identity information and

authentication records may be affected by an ongoing writ petition in the Supreme Court.

The petition claims that Aadhaar may be in violation of right to privacy. A five-judge

Bench of the court is examining whether right to privacy is a fundamental right.

3. Disclosure of information to intelligence or law enforcement agencies

The provisions regulating disclosure of private information under the Bill differ from

guidelines specified under another law — the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. The Bill differs

from the guidelines for phone tapping in two ways.

First, the Bill permits sharing in the interest of ‘national security’ rather than for public emergency or public safety.

Second, the order can be issued by an officer of the rank of Joint Secretary,

instead of a Home Secretary.

4. UID authority’s exclusive power to make complaints

A provision says, “Courts cannot take cognizance of any offence punishable under the

Act, unless a complaint is made by the UID authority, or a person authorised by it.” This

may present a conflict of interest as under the Bill the UID authority is responsible for the


security and confidentiality of identity information and authentication records. There may

be situations in which members or employees of the UID authority are responsible for a

security breach.

5. Discretionary powers of UIDAI

The Bill empowers the UID authority to specify demographic information that may

be collected. The only restriction imposed on the authority is that it shall not

record information pertaining to race, religion, caste, language, records of

entitlements, income or health of the individual. This power will allow the

authority to collect additional personal information, without prior approval from

Parliament.

The Bill specifies biometric information to include photograph, fingerprints, and

iris scans. Further it empowers the UID authority to specify other biological

information that may be collected. Therefore, the Bill does not prevent the UID

authority from requiring the collection of biometric information such as DNA.

The Bill does not specify the maximum duration for which authentication records

may be stored by the UID authority. Instead it allows the UID authority to specify

this through regulations. Maintaining authentication records over a long time

period may be misused for activities such as profiling an individual’s behaviour.

Conclusion

The Aadhaar card is a revolutionary instrument for better targeting of service delivery.

However, the proper execution of statute, not only in letter but spirit also, is critical to its

success. It is more so important to have a democratic deliberations on the

apprehensions raised on the provisions of the statute and take into account the

suggested changes, if any.

3.4 Excess Capacity Issue In Steel Industry

What Is The Issue

The G20 Trade Ministers had in July 2016 recognised excess capacity, especially in

steel, as a global issue that needs “collective responses”. This was further

recognized in the recent G-20 Leaders meeting in China.

As a result Countries across the world including US have imposed heavy duties on

cheap imports of steel from major producer countries.


India too have imposed anti-dumping duty, safeguard duty and Minimum Import

Price on steel imports from China, Japan and South Korea.

The problem is caused in international markets due to

o excess steel capacity amidst softening of prices in international market.

o providing subsidies and other types of support from government causing

market distortions.

Impacts

Due to lower prices it hurts the domestic firms; imported steel becomes cheaper than

domestically produced steel. For example in India, sales and profits of domestic steel

producers and their liquidity has been affected badly

This, in turn, has affected manufacturer’s capacity to repay loans and meet interest

payment deadlines, having a cascading effect on the number of non- performing

assets (NPAs) with the banks. Steel sector in India accounts for the highest number

of NPAs with the banks.

The stagnation in steel sector has also led to increasing unemployment. The

workers’ lay off in Germany and Mexico is an evidence of such incidents.

The Way Forward

Need to discourage subsidies and other support and encourage fair play in the

market.

Need to enhance communication and cooperation and take effective steps to

address challenges so as to enhance market function and encourage adjustment as

it was reaffirmed by G-20 leaders at China.

Need to have Global Forum to share information on global capacity developments as

well as on governmental policies and support measures as it was suggested in

OECD meeting.

GS3

Identify the reasons of excess capacity issue in steel industry. How does it affect the

importing country like India and US?


3.5 World Manufacturing Production Report

Manufacturing Scenario At World Level

According a latest world manufacturing report published by UNIDO, world

manufacturing output will be increased by only 2.8 % in 2016. Manufacturing

production is likely to rise by only 1.3 % in industrialised countries and by 4.7 % in

developing ones

Developing economies maintained higher growth in the production of textiles,

chemical products and fabricated metal products. Growth performance of

industrialized economies was higher in the pharmaceutical industry and in production

of motor vehicles.

Among Latin American economies, manufacturing output fell by 3.2 per cent in the

second quarter, amid a continuing production decline in the region. Manufacturing

output plunged by 6.7 per cent in Brazil, and by 4.2 per cent in Argentina.

In Europe, the uncertainty following the Brexit affected the growth rate performance

in manufacturing in the second quarter of 2016, and it went below 1 % for the first

time since 2013.

The report further noted that, based on estimates from the limited available,

manufacturing output rose by 2.5 per cent in Africa. South Africa, the continent’s largest manufacturer, significantly improved its growth performance to 3.3 per cent in

the second quarter. Higher growth rates of 8.3 per cent and 7.6 per cent were

achieved in Cameron and Senegal.

The growth performance remained much higher in Asian economies at 6.5 % in the

second quarter of 2016.

According to report, China, the world’s largest manufacturer, is likely to see further

decline in manufacturing output from 7.1 % in 2015 to 6.5 % in 2016.

Russia and the US recorded marginal rises of 1 % and 0.3 %, respectively.

The Report mentions that low growth will pose a challenge for the implementation of

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 9) on promoting inclusive and sustainable

industrialization and fostering innovation.

India and Manufacturing

It states “India’s manufacturing output, which achieved impressive growth rates in the last quarters, experienced a second slight decline in a row but the prospects for


India’s manufacturing are conclusive, since India is on the path to becoming a pivot for high-tech world manufacturing.”

According to the latest GDP data released in India, the manufacturing sector grew

9.1 % during April-June 2016, a slight decline from the 9.3 % clocked in January to

March.

3.6 Controversy Surrounding Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)

What Is The Issue

A number of countries, including the US, Canada, and the European Union (EU)

nations, have raised the issue of “international arbitration” against the Bilateral Investment Treaty draft approved by cabinet.

India’s BIT mandates foreign companies and related aggrieved parties to seek

international arbitration, only if they have exhausted all domestic dispute redressal

mechanisms or legal options.

However, partner countries are demanding an unconditional access to international

arbitration. While India recognizes local and foreign investors on an equal footing, all

countries are expecting for special treatment for their investors.

Regarding BIT

The Draft Model BIT, cleared by Union Cabinet in Dec’ 2015, is expected to replace

the existing Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements (BIPPAs)

that India has signed with 72 nations.

India has inked 83 Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT), including with several EU

member countries. The revised model BIT will be used for re-negotiation of existing

BITs and negotiation of future BITs and investment chapters in Comprehensive

Economic Cooperation Agreements/ Comprehensive Economic Partnership

Agreements/FTAs, including the one with EU and US.

BIT keeps taxation out of its ambit.

The model BIT maintains that India or any other country cannot nationalize or

expropriate any asset of a foreign company unless the law is followed, is for the

public purpose and fair compensation paid

The BIT states that dispute-resolution tribunals, including foreign tribunals, can

question ‘public purpose’ and re-examine a legal issue settled by Indian judicial

bodies.


3.7 Stressed Loans

The RBI has given permission to commercial Banks to sell their stressed loans to

other banks or to non-banking financial companies. Till now the banks were allowed

to sell their stressed loans to only Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs).

NPA alone doesn’t tell the whole story of bad asset quality of loans given by banks. Some of the loans are restructured by banks by giving a further opportunity to the

borrower if they default. This opportunity is in the form of an extended time period for

repayment and a reduced interest rate or such soft conditions. Hence a new

classification is made in the form of stressed assets that comprises restructured

loans and written off assets besides NPAs.

(Stressed assets = NPAs + Restructured loans + Written off assets)

This move is understood to increase competition and better price discovery of

stressed assets.

The banking regulator has advised banks to identify assets that could be sold, at

least annually, preferably at the start the year.

The apex Bank also directed that all doubtful assets above a threshold amount be

reviewed by the board periodically.

3.8 Micro Finance Sector

According to an estimate by ICRA, Microfinance sector in India will grow treble to

reach up to Rs 4.3 trillion over the next three years on account of expansion into

newer segments and enhanced average loan sizes

Indian microfinance institution (MFI) sector grew at 40 % in 2015-16 to Rs 1.4 trillion

(including the Bandhan Bank) as against a 38% growth in the previous fiscal, while

the average ticket sizes were Rs 20,000-25,000.

Facts About Microfinance

Microfinance refers to a movement that wants to provide low-income households a

wide range of financial services, including not just credit but also savings, insurance

and fund transfer.

Micro finance sector includes micro finance from SHGs, Microfinance institutions and

Banks.

The cap under microfinance loan is restricted to Rs 1 Lakh.


Such loan has been granted the status of priority sector lending by RBI.

Problems In This Sector

The key bottleneck is the shortage of strong institutions and managers. Interest rate

ceilings hurt poor people by preventing microfinance institutions from covering their

costs, which chokes off the supply of credit.

Asset quality

Limited coverage of SHG-bank linkage programme data

Issues related to multiple identity cards used by borrowers

Lack of interlinking of retail credit

Unsecured landing business

Political risks

Operational risks arising out of cash handling

What Needs To Be Done

Micro credit institutions should fund their loans through savings accounts that help

poor people manage their myriad risks.

Governments should provide an enabling legal and regulatory framework which

encourages the development of a range of institutions and allows MFI to operate as

recognized financial intermediaries. MFIs should be given freedom of setting interest

rates.

3.9 Buffer Stocks Limits Of Pulses Increased

In light of volatility in price of pulses over the last few months, government has

decided to raise buffer stock of pulses to 20 lakh tonnes from 8 lakh tones. Such

move is aimed at keeping the prices stable and encouraging farmers to grow pulses.

This will be done through domestic procurement and imports, each comprising 10

lakh tones.

Central agencies namely FCI, NAFED and SFAC have been designated to

undertake domestic procurement. In addition, state governments may also be

authorised, wherever possible, to undertake the procurement in a manner similar to

decentralised procurement of foodgrains.


The domestic procurement will be done at the prevailing market prices [if the

prevailing market prices are above Minimum Support Prices (MSP)], and at MSP, if

otherwise. Funds for this will be ensured through “Price Stabilization Fund” scheme of Department of Consumer Affairs.

The import will be done through government-to-government contract and/or spot

purchase from the global market through designated public sector enterprise of

Department of Commerce.

India’s pulses production fell to 16.47 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year (July-June)

from 17.15 million tonnes in the previous year due to drought, resulting in spike of

retail rates.

However, production is expected to rise to 20 million tonnes in 2016-17 as farmers

have grown pulses in larger area this year following good monsoon, high market

prices and sharp increase in the minimum support price (MSP).

3.10 e-Nivaran

Central Board of Direct Taxes has launched the ‘e-nivaran’ facility for online redressal of taxpayers’ grievances related to refunds, ITRs, TDS and PAN among others.

This is part of good governance initiative of the tax department aiming to reduce

instances of harassment of public regarding various tax issues.

It will be available on website of e-filling portal of I-T department. Once the complaint

is registered by the taxpayer by providing address, postal Pin code, mobile number

and email id, he/she will get a unique number (PIN) for further query or to track the

progress of complaint.

It will integrate all the online and physical grievances and keep track of it until it

reached its final conclusion.

In 20 Government departments, I-T Department is the one against whom maximum

grievances are registered on the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and

Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) - the central online public grievances resolution

portal.


3.11 NIIF to Manage $2-bn Green Energy Fund

National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) will manage a $2-billion fund for

renewable energy.

Corpus

o The NIIF would contribute $490 million.

o The Indian Renewable Energy Development Authority will add $110 million.

o $1 billion will be sourced from sovereign funds and through financing

instruments.

The renewable energy fund was envisaged during the climate change discussions in

Paris in 2015 and it was then decided that it would be managed by a global

investment manager.

The fund is both for old projects looking for re-finance and new projects.

Solar power projects and wind projects will largely be benefitted from this Fund.

For details on NIIF, refer Economy Section (7.6) in Part 1 (May 2016) of Current

Affairs magazine.

3.12 Andhra Becomes Second State To Achieve 100% Access To Electricity

Andhra Pradesh has become the 2nd State in the country after Gujarat to achieve

100 % electrification of households.

Access to electricity is a key socio-economic development indicator.

100 % electrification In India is still an elusive dream as about 35 % rural households

in States like UP, MP, Bihar, Assam and Odisha lacked access to power supply.

In Budget 2016-17, the government has announced to achieve 100% village

electrification by 1st May, 2018.


INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

4.1 World Land Bridge

World Land Bridge is the extension to the Eurasian Land Bridge, the mega-

connectivity initiative to revive the ancient Silk Road in all its dimensions, including its

lost cultural and civilizational attributes.

World Land Bridge will link North America with the New Silk Road. Siberia in Russia

can be connected with Alaska, if we build an undersea tunnel across the Bering

Strait. That would lay the foundation for a World Land Bridge.

The Eurasian Land Bridge sometimes called the New Silk Road is the rail

transport route for moving freight and passengers overland between Pacific seaports

in the Russian Far East and China and seaports in Europe. The route,

a transcontinental railroad and rail land bridge, currently comprises the Trans-

Siberian Railway, which runs through Russia and is sometimes called the Northern

East-West Corridor, and the New Eurasian Land Bridge or Second Eurasian

Continental Bridge, running through China and Kazakhstan.

Chinese President Xi Jingping visited Kazakhstan on September 7, 2013 and he first

announced the adoption of a policy he called the “New Silk Road Economic Belt” stretching

from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea.


4.2 Bratislava Declaration

Why In News

In the recent “European Union – 1” meeting at Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, the

discussions has been held regarding critical situation created after Britain’s exit from the EU.

The Bratislava Summit of 27 Member States has been devoted to diagnose together

the present state of the European Union and discuss their common future.

The Bratislava Objectives

Determined to make a success of the EU at 27.

As a matter of priority, there is a need to tackle many common challenges ahead of

EU such as perceived lack of control and fears related to migration, terrorism, and

economic and social insecurity.

Need to be clear about what the EU can do, and what is for the Member States to

do, to make sure we can deliver on our promises.

Migration And External Borders Objectives

Ensure full control of our external borders and get back to Schengen, and bring down

number of irregular migrants.

Broaden EU consensus on long term migration policy and apply the principles of

responsibility and solidarity.

Before the end of the year, full capacity for rapid reaction of the European Border

and Coast Guard has to be achieved.

Migration compacts for cooperation and dialogue with third countries, to lead to

reduced flows of illegal migration and increased return rates, has to be assessed by

the December European Council meet.

Internal And External Security Objectives

Support Member States in ensuring internal security and fighting terrorism.

Intensified cooperation and information-exchange among security services of the

Member States.

Adoption of the necessary measures to ensure that all persons, including nationals

from EU Member States, crossing the Union's external borders will be checked

against the relevant databases, that must be interconnected.


Start to set up a Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to allow for

advance checks and, if necessary, deny entry of visa-exempt travelers.

In a challenging geopolitical environment, strengthen EU cooperation on external

security and defence.

December European Council meet to decide on a concrete implementation plan on

security and defence and on how to make better use of the options in the Treaties,

especially as regards capabilities.

Start implementing the joint declaration with NATO immediately.

Economic & Social Development, And Youth Objectives

Create a promising economic future for all, safeguard our way of life and provide

better opportunities for youth Concrete measures.

European Council to address how to ensure a robust trade policy that reaps the

benefits of open markets while taking into account concerns of citizens.

In December - decisions will be taken on EU support for Member States in fighting

youth unemployment and on enhanced EU programmes dedicated to youth.

Way Ahead

Deliver on promises: strengthen the mechanism for reviewing the implementation of

decisions taken. Loyal co-operation and communication of Member States and

institutions is required.

Bratislava is the beginning of a process. The coming formal European Council

meetings will allow for concrete follow up on the themes mentioned here.

The March 2017 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties will bring

together Heads in Rome and will be used to round off the process launched in

Bratislava, and set out orientations for our common future together.

4.3 Chemical Weapons Used In Iraq

Why In News

According to several US officials, ISIS is suspected of using chemical weapons in the

recent attack in Qayyara air base in Iraq where US and Iraqi troops are operating.

ISIS is suspected of firing a shell with mustard agent that landed at the Qayyara air

base, the substance is now being sent to a lab for further examination.


Mustard gas or mustard agent is a poisonous gas that falls in the group of lethal

gases which led to the disablement or death, along with even more lethal chemical

agents such as chlorine gas and sarin.

Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

It is a multilateral treaty that bans chemical weapons and requires their

destruction within a specified period of time. The treaty is of unlimited duration

and is far more comprehensive than the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which outlaws

the use but not the possession of chemical weapons.

CWC negotiations started in 1980 in the UN Conference on Disarmament. The

convention was opened for signature on January 13, 1993, and entered into force

on April 29, 1997.

The CWC is open to all nations and currently has 192 states-parties. Israel has

signed but has yet to ratify the convention.

The CWC is implemented by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical

Weapons (OPCW), which is headquartered in the Hague. The OPCW receives

States-parties’ declarations detailing chemical weapons-related activities or

materials and relevant industrial activities. After receiving declarations, the OPCW

inspects and monitors states-parties’ facilities and activities that are relevant to the convention, to ensure compliance.

The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits:

o developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling, or retaining chemical

weapons.

o direct or indirect transfer of chemical weapons.

o chemical weapons use or military preparation for use.

o assisting, encouraging, or inducing other states to engage in CWC-

prohibited activity.

o the use of riot control agents “as a method of warfare.

Penalties for Noncompliance: If states-parties are found to have engaged in

prohibited actions that could result in “serious damage” to the convention, the

OPCW could recommend collective punitive measures to other states-parties. In

cases of “particular gravity,” the OPCW could bring the issue before the UN Security Council and General Assembly. States-parties must take measures to

address questions raised about their compliance with the CWC. If they do not, the

OPCW may, inter alia, restrict or suspend their CWC-related rights and privileges


(such as voting and trade rights).

4.4 Impediments To China’s Silk Road

Why In News

China has raised concerns about the growing tensions between India and Pakistan

amidst Uri attack & Baluchistan issue and has taken Kashmir Issue as an

impediment to its One Belt One Road Initiative (For Details on OBOR Initiative,

please refer section 2.8 in Part 4, i.e., August CA magazine) especially for the China

Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

During the April 2015 visit to Islamabad, President Xi Jinping oversaw the signing of

an agreement with Pakistan to invest $46 billion in infrastructure and energy projects,

the largest economic investment of China in any other country till date.

The CPEC, initially announced in May 2013, has been called a “flagship project” of One Belt One Road initiative.

Chinese experts characterize CPEC as an effort to increase Pakistan’s economic resilience and encourage stability, as well as a way to reduce China’s dependence on petroleum passing through the Malacca Straits from the Middle East to China.

But, there remain significant doubts about Pakistan’s capacity to handle investments

on the scale that China has proposed, along with concerns that Pakistan’s political

system could easily become overwhelmed.

However, there is a broadly held view that even if China only delivers on a small

portion of what it is proposing, the potential benefit to Pakistan could be great.


Baluchistan And CPEC

The CPEC announcement has already generated conflict, with the provinces of

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan claiming that the Punjab-dominated

government of PM Nawaz Sharif is attempting to prioritize routes through

Punjab.

Some international observers have argued that China underestimates the hurdles it

will face in Pakistan. Much of the infrastructure investment is slated to run through

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, two of Pakistan’s most insecure and

politically unstable provinces.

Baluchistan, where the Gwadar Port is located, poses particularly significant

challenges. The province has seen local opposition to Chinese investments from

separatist movements and popular resentment, including the targeting of Chinese

workers.

India has also raised Pakistan’s alleged human rights violations in the Province at

the international level — a policy shift that was underscored by New Delhi’s assertions on the Baloch issue at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

To address these concerns, Pakistan has announced it will deploy a 12,000-strong

security force specifically to protect Chinese workers.

Uighurs Unrest And CPEC

The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Uighur militant group identified as

being responsible for a series of attacks on Chinese territory, is also a cause of concern

for China’s CPEC project. China has also long worked with Pakistan to isolate Uighur

militant groups in the region and dissuade other extremist groups from providing them

support.

Conclusion

Chinese officials opined that if India and Pakistan can resolve the Kashmir problem,

CPEC would not be an obstacle among China, India and Pakistan. Though the CPEC is

a link between the land corridor of the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Route (MSR), its

emergence is more important to Pakistan than to China.


INDIA AND WORLD

5.1 India-Japan Relations

Why In News

Recently at India-ASEAN summit in Laos Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his

Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe discussed the strengthening and diversification of

bilateral relations.

The leaders pledged to strengthen ties in the key areas of counter-terrorism, civil

nuclear cooperation, trade and investment

India-Japan Relations

Background

The friendship between India and Japan has a long history rooted in spiritual affinity

and strong cultural and civilizational ties.

Throughout the various phases of history since contacts between India and Japan

began some 1400 years ago, the two countries have never been adversaries.

The Japan-India Association was set up in 1903, and is today the oldest international

friendship body in Japan.

The modern nation States have carried on the positive legacy of the old association

which has been strengthened by shared values of belief in democracy, individual

freedom and the rule of law.

Political relations

In the first decade after diplomatic ties were established, several high level

exchanges took place, the momentum of bilateral ties, however, was not quite

sustained in the following decades.

The beginning of the 21st century witnessed a dramatic transformation in bilateral

ties. During Prime Minister Mori’s path-breaking visit to India in 2000, the Japan-

India Global Partnership in the 21st century was launched.

PM Shinzo Abe visited India for the 10th annual summit with PM Modi in Dec’ 2015.

Both agreed to expand bilateral cooperation to a wide range of areas including in the

fields of civil nuclear energy, high-speed rail (bullet train) network, defense

equipment & technology, taxation, science & technology, education, disaster relief

and people-to-people exchanges.


In a special gesture, India also announced “visa on arrival” scheme for all

Japanese travelers, including for business purposes, from March 1, 2016. (This has

since been implemented).

The two countries have several institutional dialogue mechanisms, which are held

regularly, at senior official and functional levels to exchange views on bilateral issues

as well as international cooperation. There is foreign office consultation at the level of

Foreign Secretary / Vice Foreign Minister as well as a 2+2 Dialogue at the level of

Foreign and Defense Secretaries.

Under the Parliamentary exchanges programme between India and Japan, the

Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian

Industry (CII), has been organizing the visit of Members of Parliament since 2004.

The India-Japan Forum of Parliamentarians (IJFP) was established by FICCI in

2005. Under this programme, two Parliamentary delegations have visited Japan so

far between 2005 and 2011.

Economic relations

In the economic sphere, the complementarities between the two countries are

particularly striking. (i) Japan’s ageing population (23% above 65 years) and India’s youthful dynamism (over 50% below 25 years); (ii) India’s rich natural and human resources and Japan’s advanced technology; (iii) India’s prowess in services and Japan’s excellence in manufacturing; and (iv) Japan’s surplus capital for investments and India’s large and growing markets and the middle class.

A test of the reliability of Japan as a friend was witnessed in 1991, when Japan was

among the few countries that bailed India out of the balance of payment crisis.

A transformational development in the economic history of India was Suzuki Motor

Corporation’s path breaking investment in India in the early 1980s that revolutionized the automobile sector, bringing in advanced technology and management ethics to

India.

The India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that

came into force in Aug’ 2011 is the most comprehensive of all such agreements concluded by India and covers not only trade in goods but also Services, Movement

of Natural Persons, Investments, Intellectual Property Rights, Custom Procedures

etc. The CEPA envisages abolition of tariffs over 94% of items traded between India

and Japan over a period of 10 years.


PM Modi visited Japan in Sept’ 2014 for the 9th Annual Summit Meeting with PM

Shinzo Abe. During the visit, the two sides upgraded the relationship to a ‘Special

Strategic and Global Partnership’ and also agreed to establish the ‘India-Japan

Investment Promotion Partnership’.

Development aid (Japanese ODA)

Japan has been extending bilateral loan and grant assistance to India since 1958,

and is the largest bilateral donor for India.

Japanese ODA (Official Development Assistance) supports India’s efforts for accelerated economic development particularly in priority areas like power,

transportation, environmental projects and projects related to basic human

needs.

The Ahmedabad-Mumbai High Speed Rail, the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor

(DFC), the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor with twelve new industrial townships, the

Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) are all mega projects on the anvil

which will transform India in the next decade. Delhi Metro Project has also been

realized with Japanese assistance.

Indian Diaspora in Japan

The arrival of Indians in Japan for business and commercial interests began in the

1870s at the two major open ports of Yokohama and Kobe. More Indians entered

Japan during World War I when Japanese products were sought to fill gaps in

demand that war-torn Europe could not meet.

The old Indian community in Japan focused on trading in textiles, commodities and

electronics. A newer segment of the community is engaged in gems and jewelry.

In recent years, there has been a change in the profile of the Indian community with

the arrival of a large number of professionals, including IT professionals and

engineers working for Indian and Japanese firms as well as professionals in

management, finance, education, and S&T research. The Nishikasai area in Tokyo is

emerging as a “mini-India”.

Make in India in Defence sector and Japan

India’s Act East policy and PM Modi’s Make in India drive coincide with the shifts in

the Japanese post-war security policy and the April 2014 easing of the self-imposed

arms export ban.


The Agreement concerning transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology

Cooperation signed during the latest visit of PM Shinzo Abe in Dec’ 2015 unveils a

new chapter in India-Japan defence cooperation by making available defence

equipment and technology needed to carry out joint research, development and/or

production projects.

India’s defence modernisation presents enormous opportunities for the Japanese

defence industry, which until recently concentrated exclusively on the domestic

market in order to demonstrate Japan’s commitment to peace.

India plans to obtain 12 US-2 aircraft for use in patrolling the Andaman and Nicobar

islands and conducting search and rescue operations in the Indian Ocean

Q. India and Japan bilateral ties have witnessed proximity and synergy like never

before in past few years. Attributing reasons for the same explain the

importance of Japan for India.

5.2 PM Modi’s Visit To Vietnam

The Context

Indian PM Narendra Modi visited Vietnam and laid significant

importance on strengthening links with Southeast Asian countries through his “Act East Policy.”

The visit will mark the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Vietnam in the last 15

years and will celebrate 25 years of bilateral diplomatic ties and 10 years of strategic

partnership between these two nations.

India-Vietnam partnership is of strategic importance in the Asia-Pacific century in

between the changing regional and global political relations.

Agenda and Outcome Of Meet

This trip is particularly critical as it comes in the wake of the final award by the

Permanent Court of Arbitration disqualifying China’s historic rights to the South China Sea and Beijing’s escalating militarization in this body of water, where Vietnam is also a major claimant.

India also, for its part, is seeing a deteriorating bilateral relationship with China over

an unsettled border, Beijing’s endorsement of Pakistan on issues relating to terrorism

and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), China’s move to block India’s bid to secure


membership in the NSG, China’s rising footprint in the Indian Ocean Region, and (most importantly) Beijing’s escalating military ties with the nations in South Asia.

So, the PM Modi's visit to Vietnam ahead of G20 summit was aimed at jointly piling

pressure on China and to raise their "bargaining chips" with the country.

Given the South China Sea issue, Beijing-Hanoi relations have not been smooth

over the past years. Negative emotions toward Beijing among the Vietnamese

people have also been rising. Vietnam decided to upgrade the strategic partnership

between both the countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership; earlier

Vietnam had comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia and China only.

To provide fillip in defense cooperation, PM announced $500 million line of credit

for Vietnam.

And 12 Agreements covering the sectors of defense, space, IT, health, and cyber

security were signed, as well as an MoU on cooperation between the Vietnamese

Academy of Social Science and Indian Council of World Affairs were signed.

India – Vietnam Relations

Background

India-Vietnam relations have been exceptionally friendly and cordial since their

foundations were laid by Prime Minister Nehru and President Ho Chi Minh more than

50 years ago.

The traditionally close and cordial relations have their historical roots in the common

struggle for liberation from foreign rule and the national struggle for independence.

In recent times, political contacts have strengthened as reflected in several high level

visits by leaders from both sides. Trade and economic linkages continue to grow.

India's thrust under the 'Look East' policy combined with Vietnam's growing

engagement within the region and with India has paid rich dividends.

Diplomatic Relations

Vietnam is an important regional partner in South East Asia. India and Vietnam closely

cooperate in various regional forums such as ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Mekong

Ganga Cooperation, Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) besides UN and WTO.

Economic Relations


With respect to trade and investment, Vietnam secured “Most Favored Nation” status from India way back in 1975 and India at present ranks among the top ten trading

partners of Vietnam.

With Vietnam’s membership in the ASEAN Economic Community and the country

being a signatory of various free trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific

Partnership, Vietnam has evolved to be an even more attractive investment

destination for Indian companies.

The Vietnam-India strategic partnership has greatly facilitated commercial ties

between the two countries. Bilateral trade has sharply increased from $500 million in

2008 to $7.8 billion in Aug’ 2016. Bilateral trade has seen continuous growth over the

past few years.

Vietnam continues to be an attractive investment destination for Indian companies.

Indian companies are investing in oil and gas exploration, mineral exploration and

processing, sugar manufacturing, agro-chemicals, IT, and agricultural processing.

Defence Cooperation

The Indian Armed Forces have been engaged in capacity building of the Vietnamese

Armed Forces particularly the Navy. The areas of focus have been training, repairs

and maintenance support, exchanges between think tanks, study tour and ship visits.

India and Vietnam would be co-chairing the Expert Working Group on Humanitarian

Mine Actions in the ADMM+ forum.

Four India Naval ships which included the indigenously built stealth frigate INS

SATPURA and fleet tanker INS SHAKTI with a complement of around 1200 officers

and sailors visited Da Nang from 6-10 June 2013.

International Issues Of Common Concern

South China Sea issue: Both India and Vietnam support freedom of navigation,

overflight and unimpeded commerce in the disputed South China sea region, based

on the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Mekong-Ganga Cooperation: India and Vietnam need to address issues like

infrastructure, facilitation of trade, expansion of the trilateral highway (currently

including only India, Myanmar, and Thailand), reduction of transaction costs,

interconnectivity of goods and labor markets, and improving funding. These steps,

among others, can increase the robust connectivity between the corridors.


Transnational Security Concern: There are a number of transnational security

concerns in today’s globalised world ranging from piracy and drug & human

trafficking to global warming and climate change. Such threats cannot be faced by

countries on their own. In this regard, a Joint Action Plan to tackle common threats

will go a long way in not only addressing the problems but finding out solutions to

eradicate these issues.

5.3 Egyptian President Visit To India

The Context

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi recently visited India and asked for joint

efforts to counter global challenges of extremism and terrorism through building a

robust defence and security cooperation between Egypt and India.

Earlier Egyptian president visited India to participate in the India-Africa Forum

Summit of October 2015 when the government had invited him for a bilateral visit.

The visits have been interpreted by experts as a sign of Egypt’s interest to re-invent

its friendly ties with India of the days of non-alignment and bonhomie between Prime

Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Agenda Of Visit

The talks covered a host of issues of mutual concern, topped by the Middle East

issue and anti-terror efforts.

President Sisi’s talks focus on promoting bilateral relations in the fields of economy, investment and development, increasing the volume of trade that reached $4 bn per

year in 2016, enhancing Indian companies partaking in Egypt’s national projects, and

discussing a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern.

MoU were also signed on cooperation in the field of maritime navigation.

Bilateral Relations

Historic Ties

India and Egypt, two of the world’s oldest civilizations, have enjoyed a history of

close contact from ancient times. Even prior to the Common Era, Ashoka’s edicts refer to his relations with Egypt under Ptolemy-II.

In modern times, Mahatma Gandhi and Saad Zaghloul shared common goals on the

independence of their countries, a relationship that was to blossom into an


exceptionally close friendship between Gamal Abdel Nasser and Jawaharlal Nehru,

leading to a Friendship Treaty between the two countries in 1955. The Non-Aligned

Movement was a natural concomitant of this relationship.

Political Relations

India and Egypt share close political understanding based on long history of contacts

and cooperation on bilateral, regional and global issues.

The popular protests against President Hosni Mubarak and his subsequent removal

from power in 2011 drove Egypt into deep political instability. Protesters demanded a

liberal and democratic political system by replacing the authoritarian rule

consolidated by the Mubarak regime.

Presidential elections held in 2012 saw the emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood

coming to power and Mohammed Morsi becoming the President of Egypt. Morsi’s rule was short-lived, but his visit to India reflected his desire to rebuild ties with India.

Throughout the political turmoil in Egypt, India has consistently expressed solidarity

with the people of Egypt appealing to the leadership to see the winds of change and

address the aspirations of the youth.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi continues to restore peace and order in his country, he has

shown substantial interest in reviving India-Egypt relationship. India has invited the

president for the Third India-Africa Forum Summit to be held in New Delhi in October

2016.

Cultural Relations

The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC) was set up in Cairo in 1992 to

promote cultural cooperation between the two countries, through the implementation

of the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP).

The ‘India by the Nile’ (IBN) annual cultural festival has emerged as the largest foreign festival in Egypt. Similar to IBN, a new festival “Egypt by the Ganga” will soon be started.

In its outreach activities, the Indian Cultural Centre also organizes India Day(s) in

Egyptian governorates and universities.

Yoga has gained popularity in Egypt with 14 schools in Cairo, besides centres in

other cities. The International Day of Yoga was celebrated with enthusiasm.

There is also a growing interest in traditional medicine.


Trade and Investments

Egypt has traditionally been one of India's most important trading partners in the

African continent. The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation

since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favoured Nation clause.

India is the sixth largest trading partner of Egypt – the third largest export destination

and tenth largest import source for Egypt. The last five years have witnessed a

remarkable development of trade and investment between Egypt and India, where

the trade volume increased to $3.3 bn in 2010/2011 and $4.76 bn in 2014/2015.

Indian companies are present in apparel, agriculture, chemicals, energy,

automobiles, retail and others. Indian companies also execute projects in railway

signalling, pollution control, water treatment, irrigation, anti-collision devices etc.

Indian Pharmaceutical major Hetero Drugs Ltd launched a JV in May 2015 to

produce a drug used in the treatment Hepatitis-C which was highly appreciated by

the Egyptian government.

Technical cooperation and assistance has been a major part of our bilateral

relationship. In 2014-15, 124 Egyptians were selected to undergo various training

programmes in India under ITEC and other programmes. In the field of scientific

cooperation, ICAR and the Agricultural Research Center of Egypt are working in the

field of agricultural research, and ‘Science & Technology’ cooperation is implemented through biennial Executive Programmes.

Suez Canal Upgrade

On the August 6, 2015, a project upgrading the existing Suez Canal by adding a

parallel waterway, which took a year to complete, was opened by the Egyptian

president.

Deepening of Suez Canal allows bigger tankers and container vessels to travel in

different directions simultaneously. It is planned to deepen the canal further. It is the

third time since its original build that the waterway has been widened to allow for

two-way parallel canal traffic.

The advantage of the Suez Canal is that ships save as much as 10 nautical days at

sea instead of sailing around Africa, and is today the fastest link between Asia and

Europe accounting for almost 7% of global seaborne trade.

For a country like India which does not have overland access to markets of Europe

and North Africa, the Suez Canal is its lifeline.


5.4 President Ghani’s Visit To India

Why In News

The President of Afghanistan Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has visited to India on 14 &

15 September 2016. During the visit, he held discussions with Prime Minister Shri

Narendra Modi to enhance defence cooperation.

Agenda and Outcome Of Visit

The visit took place in the backdrop of two back to back tours by PM Modi to

Kabul, the first in Dec’ 2015 to inaugurate the Parliament building, constructed

by India as a gift to Afghanistan, and again in June 2016 to inaugurate the

Afghanistan-India Friendship dam at Salma.

Ghani harboured a false illusion that Pakistan will help it to restore peace and

normalcy in Afghanistan. It did not take long for his hope — that Pakistan will be

able to deliver Taliban to the negotiating table to come to a modus vivendi to

ensure security and stability in the country — to be shattered. Also dashed to the

ground was his expectation that Pakistan will ensure that Taliban does not

launch attacks on Afghanistan.

Matters have come to such a pass that Ghani has been forced to severely

condemn and criticise Pakistan on several occasions for sheltering terrorist

groups like Taliban, Al Qaeda and the Haqqani network who carry out attacks

against Afghanistan, resulting in huge loss of life and destruction of economic

assets.

One of the critical issues discussed during the visit was the imperative need to

jointly and commonly confront the challenge of terrorism emanating from

Pakistan. One of the primary objectives of Ghani’s visit was to get more arms

from India, including small weapons, spares, more attack helicopters, transport

helicopters, tanks, artillery and ammunition to deal with the growing insurgency

and attacks by Taliban operating from Pakistani soil.

The Afghan president promised personal intervention to facilitate significant Indian

investment in Afghanistan, provided that Indian businesses consider moving in

with major investment plans. In a proactive step to facilitate Indian investment in

Afghanistan, Ghani has ordered the opening of a new consulate, either in Kolkata or

Hyderabad.


Also, appreciating India’s efforts to expand regional connectivity, Ghani invited India to join the PATTA (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan Trade and Transit Agreement),

an invitation currently under review. If agreement is reached, it would go a long way

to enabling Afghanistan to play its natural role as a land-bridge connecting South

and Central Asia.

Connectivity between India and Afghanistan was another issue that garnered

huge attention during the visit. The fact that Afghanistan is not able to trade

directly with India through the overland route via Pakistan has been a source of

considerable exasperation and pique to it. Pakistan permits Afghanistan’s products to travel by sea from Karachi and allows only fresh fruits through the

Wagah-Attari border to India. Even at the Wagah border, sack loads of fresh

fruits have to be off-loaded, carried manually across the border and reloaded

on different vehicles on the Indian side. This leads to unnecessary delays,

damage to the produce and high transportation costs.

President Ghani expressed deep gratitude for India’s assistance of more than US$ 2 billion, the highest by any of Afghanistan’s neighbours. India offered to extend an additional financial aid of USD 1 billion to further enhance and

upgrade Afghanistan’s capacity and skill levels.

India offered to supply world quality medicines at competitive rates and to

support Afghanistan to develop its solar energy potential.

Three Agreements were signed between the two governments viz Extradition

Treaty for repatriation of criminals and militants, on peaceful uses of outer

space, and on cooperation in civil and commercial matters. These will go a

long way in enhancing confidence and strengthening bilateral ties.

Bilateral Relations

Background

India and Afghanistan have a strong relationship based on historical and cultural

links. Since time immemorial, the peoples of Afghanistan and India have interacted

with each other through trade and commerce, peacefully coexisting on the basis of

their shared cultural values and commonalities. This history has become the

foundation of deep mutual trust.

It was ancient focal point of the Silk Road and migration. It is an important

geostrategic location, connecting East and West Asia or the Middle East.


As Afghanistan was undergoing three simultaneous political, security and economic

transitions in 2015, India had allayed its fears about its future by making a long-term

commitment to the security and development of Afghanistan.

Strategic Partnership Agreement

Indo-Afghan relations have been further strengthened by the Strategic Partnership

Agreement signed between the two countries in 2011.

The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the two sides, inter alia,

provides for assistance to help rebuild Afghanistan's infrastructure and institutions,

education and technical assistance to re-build indigenous Afghan capacity in

different areas, encouraging investment in Afghanistan's natural resources, providing

duty free access to the Indian market for Afghanistan's exports support for an

Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad-based and inclusive process of peace and

reconciliation, and advocating the need for a sustained and long-term commitment to

Afghanistan by the international community.

Economic And Commercial Relation

India fully recognizes the pre-eminence of Afghanistan as a junction of trade routes

between central, south and west Asia. Considering the immense possibilities of trade

between India and Afghanistan, the bilateral trade figure of US$ 683 million (US$

474 million exports and US$ 209 million imports by India) for the year 2013-14 is a

rather modest figure.

India has undertaken a series of measures to achieve the full potential of trade

development between the two countries. A Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)

was signed with Afghanistan in March 2003, under which India allowed substantial

duty concessions [ranging from 50% to 100%] to 38 dry fruit products. In November

2011, India removed basic customs duties for all Afghan products [except alcohol

and tobacco products], giving those duty free access to the Indian market.

With the operation of Chabahar port in Iran, Afghan exports would receive a major

boost, as a new transit route would be available for the country to trade with India

and the rest of the world.

A Public-Private consortium of Indian iron ore mining and steel companies

(AFISCO), led by Steel Authority of India, secured a tender for the Hajigak iron ore

reserves, with plans to construct a 1.2 MTPA steel plant, including a 90 MW

capacity power plant.

Cultural Relation


Since 2001, more than 10,000 Afghan students have studied in India on ICCR

scholarships, with some 7,000 returning home armed with an education and

technical skills, which they are using to drive Afghanistan’s stabilization and development.

Meanwhile, many mid-career officers in the Afghan government have benefited from

the technical capacity building programs of ITEC and the Indian Council of

Agricultural Research, while some 8,000 Afghan students are pursuing self-financed

degrees in different fields across India.

Moreover, in an effort to further solidify ties between Afghans and Indians, the

Afghan Embassy in Delhi has initiated the creation of sister-city relations between

major Indian cities and states and their Afghan counterparts. To date, the embassy

has proposed the creation of relations between Delhi and Kabul, Mumbai and

Kandahar, Ajmer Sharif (Rajasthan) and Herat, Hyderabad and Jalalabad,

Ahmadabad (Gujrat) and Asadabad (Kunar), as well as the State of Assam and the

Province of Helmand.

As soon as these proposals are procedurally processed by both sides, the major

cities of Afghanistan and India will be connected through tourism, student and faculty

exchange programs, as well as private sector investment, which the embassy has

been promoting through its vigorous economic and cultural diplomacy outreach

throughout India.

Developmental Projects in Afghanistan

India has played a significant role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of

Afghanistan. India's extensive developmental assistance programme, which now

stands at around US 2 billion, is a strong signal of its abiding commitment to peace,

stability and prosperity in Afghanistan during this critical period of security and

governance transition.

India’s well-targeted aid programs include infrastructure development, institutional

capacity building, small development projects, as well as food security assistance in

the form of ongoing deliveries of wheat to Afghanistan.

The Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam, was revently

inaugurated. It is built on Hari River in Chishti Sharif District of Herat Province

neighbouring Iran and is earth and rock fill dam. It is a multipurpose project built to

generate 42 MW of power, irrigate 75000 hectares of land, water supply and other

benefits to the people of Afghanistan.


Other major Indian projects in Afghanistan include new Afghan Parliament building,

Doshi & Charikar substations, Restoration of Stor Palace.

India has also committed to contribute substantially in improving transportation

system in Kabul and has decided to donate 1000 buses to Afghanistan.

A significant addition to India's development portfolio in Afghanistan is the Small

Development Projects (SDP) scheme, in the fields of agriculture, rural

development, education, health, vocational training, etc. Government of India also

grants ICCR scholarships to 1000 Afghans every year to pursue under graduate

courses in various Indian universities in major cities across India.

Security Concerns For India

Afghanistan has been passing though turmoil and chaos and this is affecting India.

Terrorism has become a very complex issue.

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 but Taliban leaders escaped into Pakistani

tribal areas in the FATA and NWFP along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The

Swat valley is now under the control of Taliban and in all likelihood this area will be

entirely lost from Pakistan.

As far as Pashtuns are concerned, the Durand Line is non-existent since the

Pashtuns are settled on both sides of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The presence of ISIS has direct security implications on India.

Being a part of Golden crescent (The Golden Crescent is a mountainous area of

Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan where opium has been grown for hundreds of years)

,Drug trafficking is a major issue in Afghanistan and has severe implication on India.

Drugs are generating the income that is fuelling terrorism. Afghanistan needs an

alternative source of income.

Drug trafficking in Afghanistan is bothering India due to its trade in India also.

Various states of India like Punjab have been affected by drugs addiction mostly in

young generation.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Relationship And Its Implication For Regional Politics

Afghanistan’s peaceful future depends to a great extent on an auspicious regional environment, with Pakistan at its core. Conversely, an unstable Afghanistan

threatens Pakistan, complicating the latter’s ability to refurbish its weak state and economy and suppress dangerous internal militancy.


But in the absence of dramatically improved relations with India, Pakistan is likely to

prefer an unstable Afghanistan to a strong Afghanistan closely aligned with India.

Pakistan thus retains an interest in not liquidating its long-term relationship with the

Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, a policy that exacerbates Afghan

instability.

Although the outreach to Pakistan by Afghan president Ashraf Ghani has warmed

relations between the two countries, Pakistan’s geostrategic outlook and the limitations of its selective counterterrorism policies have not resolutely changed.

Pakistan’s policies toward both militant groups and Afghanistan are determined as much by incompetence, inertia, and a lack of capacity as by calibrated duplicitous

manipulation.

Crucially, Pakistan’s willingness to accommodate Afghanistan-oriented militant

groups is motivated by a fear of provoking militants to incite violence in Punjab and

threaten the core of the Pakistani State instead of focusing externally. This

paralyzing fear persists despite Pakistan’s desire to defeat the Tehrik-i-Taliban

Pakistan.

China’s increasing activity in Afghanistan might eventually motivate Beijing to put pressure on Pakistan in a way that it has previously been unwilling to do. Pakistan

may thus face more united international pressure regarding its policies in

Afghanistan and accommodation of militants than ever before.

Nonetheless, an expectation of radical change in Pakistan’s strategic outlook and behavior toward militant groups will likely produce disappointment—in Afghanistan,

India, and the United States. Yet all three countries would be wise not to sacrifice

whatever limited collaboration with Pakistan is at times possible for the still-elusive

hope of cajoling Pakistan into a full-scale and lasting counterterrorism partnership.

Heart of Asia conference

The Heart of Asia conference is a part of Istanbul Process. Istanbul Process

presents a new vision of cooperation and confidence building for the Asian

region with Afghanistan at its centre.

The Istanbul Process was established on 2 November 2011 to provide a platform

to discuss regional issues, particularly showing respect for each others’ sovereignty and territorial integrity, encouraging security, political and economic

cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbours.


The first HoA ministerial conference was held on 2 November 2011 in Istanbul,

Turkey. The fifth HoA ministerial conference was held on 9 December 2015 in

Islamabad, Pakistan.

The 14 participating countries in HoA process are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan,

China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia,

Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and UAE.

5.5 PM Prachanda Visit’s To India

Why In News

Nepal’s newly elected Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ visited India in his first abroad bilateral visit .

After months of stalemate over the new constitution charter, earlier Prime Minister

K.P. Oli stepped down and then Nepal get a new Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal

Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

Agenda and Outcome Of The Meet

Given the history of the India-Nepal relationship, it is unlikely that any deal between

Nepal's agitating forces will be resolved without Indian blessings (explicit or

otherwise). For Nepal, the continuance of the constitutional crisis is a major

stumbling block to peace and development and resolution of this crisis is necessary

for the implementation of the Constitution which sees Nepal as a federal democratic

republic.

Nepal's ethnic Madhesi groups in the southern plains, bordering India, launched a

general strike late 2015 in protest at the country's new constitution. The Madhesi

groups were demanding better representation in the new constitution. The people of

Terai region share close cultural and family ties with people across the border in

India. India has always believed that only an inclusive Constitution with the widest

possible consensus by taking on board all stakeholders would result in durable

peace and stability in Nepal, and thus has urged the Government of Nepal to resolve

all issues through a credible political dialogue.

In this backdrop, the significance of Prachanda's first foreign visit should be

examined to check whether both nations can steer the relationship into a positive

framework to ensure that the interests and concerns of both nations can be

addressed equitably.


The visit was more focused on creating an environment of trust with a good intention

and effectively implementing the projects for Nepal's benefits at the earliest as

agreed earlier rather than raising many issues. They agreed to set up a mechanism

to oversee the progress of projects on a regular basis and take necessary steps to

expedite their implementation.

The two Prime Ministers directed the officials to closely monitor progress of the

ongoing projects under bilateral economic and development cooperation, address

any bottlenecks, and to complete them expeditiously in a time bound manner.

They had also discussed the issues of bilateral importance including the framework

of SAARC and BIMSTEC in their meeting.

Acknowledging the role of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) in the

post-reconstruction works, Indian PM Modi shared that his government would be

willing to share its experience and human resources to Nepal. In addition, the Indian

government said that it would provide Rs 100,000 to 50,000 earthquake-hit

households.

The duo also discussed the importance of open border in the Nepal-India trade and

economic relations.

Expressing satisfaction on the use of existing Lines of Credit, the two PMs also

welcomed new establishment of additional LoC. Both countries signed a Line of

Credit for 750 million USD which would cover a lot of development projects in Nepal.

Indian PM also expressed the willingness of additional allocation for infrastructures of

roadways along with the integrated check posts (ICPs).

Other issues like irrigation, inundation, flood etc would be discussed in the next

meeting of the Joint Committee on Water Resources at the Secretary level.

For the development of tourism and health care sector, they also signed MoUs on

cooperation in Traditional Medicine and on Tourism Cooperation, including

development of Buddhist and Hindu pilgrim circuits.

India-Nepal relations

Historical ties

India and Nepal share a unique relationship of friendship and cooperation as close

neighbours, characterized by open borders and deep-rooted people-to-people

contacts of kinship and culture. There has been a long tradition of free movement of

people across the borders.


Signed in 1950 the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship forms the bedrock of

the special relations that exist between India and Nepal. Under the provisions of this

Treaty, the Nepalese citizens have enjoyed unparalleled advantages in India,

availing facilities and opportunities at par with Indian citizens. Nearly 6 million Nepali

citizens live and work in India.

Developmental Cooperation

Government of India provides substantial financial and technical development

assistance to Nepal, under which various projects have been implemented in the

areas of infrastructure, health, water resources, education and rural & community

development.

In recent years, India has been assisting Nepal in development of border

infrastructure through upgradation of roads in the Terai areas; development of cross-

border rail links at Jogbani–Biratnagar, Jaynagar-Bardibas, Nepalgunj Road-

Nepalgunj, Nautanwa-Bhairhawa, and New Jalpaigudi-Kakarbhitta; and

establishment of Integrated Check Posts at Raxaul-Birgunj, Sunauli-Bhairhawa,

Jogbani-Biratnagar, and Nepalgunj Road-Nepalgunj.

Large projects such as Pancheshwar hydro power project, construction of a National

Police Academy at Panauti, Nepal Bharat Maitri Pashupati Dharmashala at Tilganga,

a Polytechnic College at Hetauda, and the National Trauma Centre at Kathmandu

are at various stages of implementation.

Government of India’s Small Development Projects (SDPs) programme in Nepal extends assistance for the implementation of projects costing less than NRs 5 crore

in critical sectors such as health, education & community infrastructure development.

Major Drawback Of India Policy Towards Nepal And Way forward

Earlier political establishments in Nepal had often raised concerns about India’s intervention in Nepal’s domestic politics. The recent difference has occurred on the

question of constitution and democratic representation of politics (Madhesi’s issue).

A peaceful and stable Nepal has a bearing on India as well because of the long and

open border shared between India and Nepal. So there are no questions over the

intentions of India but its actions are sometime perceived to its “Big Brother

attitude” and hence felt as dominating and interfering.

Another issue is on the question of Chinese ingression into Nepal politics. India

and China both are vying for influence in Nepal.


o India is likely to offer better access to its ports to Nepal, on the other side

China had gained a foothold by rapidly building roads and railway links (Tibet

to Nepal rail link).

o China completed laying an optical fiber to Kathmandu, creating a direct link to

Hong Kong Data Centre which is one of the two biggest global data centres in

Asia.

o China also just inaugurated the first transport service to Nepal, a rail-bus, 10-

day journey from Lanzhou to Kathmandu. And a joint Nepal-China researcher

team has begun hydrocarbon (petroleum and natural gas) exploration in

Nepal.

At the time of blockade, Nepal has improved its relation with China, the only other

country besides India with which Nepal shares a border. There is a feeling in

Kathmandu that if Nepal does not diversify its trade away from India—with which it

now does 70 % of its business—it could again be made a victim of India’s high-

handedness in the future. This explains Nepal’s tilting toward China to balance

India’s influence.

But both India and Nepal should strive for balanced foreign relations with neighbours.

India should realize that one day or the other Nepal will establish relationship with

China. So, India should shed its apprehensions about Nepal moving into the grip of

China and act diplomatically in dealing with the issue.

Question

Indo-Nepal bonhomie has suffered cracks and jolts in the recent past. Suggesting

innovative diplomatic and policy measures, explain the ways to reinvigorate Indo-Nepal

relations.

5.6 Vice President Hamid Ansari Visit To Nigeria

Agenda Of The Visit

Recently the Vice President of India Mr. Hamid Ansari has visited Nigeria and held

talks with Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari to move both counties economies

forward.

The vice president’s visit (to Nigeria) intends to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, expand and diversify bilateral economic


engagement and explore new avenues of partnerships on a wide range of issues of

shared common interest.

The discussed issues include India's ever expanding energy requirements,

engineering products, IT sector, pharmaceuticals, health sector.

One MoUs on Standards and four letters of intent on health, customs, transfer of

prisoners, and renewable energies were signed.

Bilateral Relations

Background

Relations between Nigeria and India have traditionally been warm and friendly,

without any contentious issues. India established a diplomatic mission in Nigeria in

1958, even before Nigeria became independent in 1960.

Commonalities of our colonial past, a large multi-ethnic, multi-religious and

developing societies with a large percentage of youth have brought the two countries

even closer. We both share common perspectives on international political, social

and development issues as manifested in various meetings at the United Nations,

World Trade Ogranisation, etc.

India and Nigeria relations have traditionally been and friendly and the bilateral

partnership was elevated to strategic partnership in 2007.

Economic Relations

India is Nigeria’s largest global trading partner and Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa with the bilateral trade amounting to US $ 12.6 billion in 2015-16.

Nigeria is highly important for our energy security. India is the largest buyer of crude

oil from Nigeria (8 - 12% of our crude oil requirements are met through imports from

Nigeria). In recent times, India has become the largest importer of Nigerian crude oil.

Indian companies have large presence in Nigeria and Nigeria hosts the largest

Indian community in the West Africa. Indian owned companies employ largest

number of employees in Nigeria after the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Defence partnership

Defence cooperation between India and Nigeria is symbolized by institutions such as the

Nigerian Defence Academy at Kaduna; the Naval College at Port Harcourt and other elite military training establishments in Nigeria and many illustrious Nigerian officers

have been the flag bearers of our bilateral cooperation.


Indian Diaspora

The people-to-people ties between Nigeria and India are vibrant and growing. The

main reasons for visiting India are medical treatment and business. Number of

Nigerian students going to Indian tertiary institutions is also on rise. Many Indian

football clubs have Nigerian professional players. Indian films are popular in Kano,

Kaduna and other Northern States and local channels regularly telecast Indian films.

There is a CBSE affiliated Indian Language School in Lagos with 2,500 students. It

also has two temples in Lagos and a number of cultural and ethnic associations,

most prominent of which is Indian Cultural Association.

5.7 India – France Rafale Deal

Why In News

India and France had finally agreed upon the terms and conditions for the purchase

of 36 Rafale multi-role fighter jets by the former from the latter. Dassault, the French

aviation company that manufactures the Rafale, had won the tender in January 2012

but had been locked in negotiations with the Indian government over the technical

details ever since.

The deal was signed between Union Defence Minister and his French counterpart in

New Delhi on 23 Sept’ 2016. This is the first fighter aircraft deal signed by India with

other country since the purchase of Sukhoi aircrafts from Russia in the late 1990’s.

Although the deal was originally envisaged to be for 126 aircraft with an option of 74

more, the final agreement has settled around 36 jets. Projected to cost $12 billion in

2012, that figure has also come down to $7.88 billion.

The defence deal includes the aircraft in fly-away condition, simulators, weapons,

spares, maintenance, and Performance Based Logistics support for five years.

These aircrafts is capable of carrying out all combat missions such as interception,

air defence, in-depth strikes, ground support, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and

nuclear deterrence.

They will come with various India- specific modifications including Israeli helmet

mounted displays, low band jammers, radar warning receivers, infra-red search and

tracking, 10 hour flight data recording, towed decoy systems among others.


The weapons package of deal includes Meteor radar guided Beyond Visual Range

(BVR) missile which is considered the best in the class with range of over 150 kms. It

also includes Scalp long range air to ground missiles. Meteor missile has a superior

BVR than any of its competitor in the South Asia region.

Integration of the Brahmos-NG, a smaller version of the Brahmos supersonic missile,

will make the Rafale a lethal platform by land or sea.

Bilateral Relations

Background

Relations between India and France have traditionally been close and friendly. With

the establishment of Strategic Partnership in 1998, there has been a significant

progress in all areas of bilateral cooperation through regular high-level exchanges at

the Head of State levels and growing cooperation and exchanges including in

strategic areas such as defence, counter-terrorism, nuclear energy and space.

France has consistently supported India’s increasing role in international fora, including India’s permanent membership of the UNSC.

France was the first country with which India entered into an agreement on civil

nuclear cooperation following the waiver given by the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group, enabling India to resume full civil nuclear cooperation with the international

community.

There is also a growing and wide-ranging cooperation in other areas such as trade

and investment, culture, science & technology and education.

France will be helping India turn Chandigarh, Nagpur and Puducherry into “smart cities”.

Trade and Investments

Indo-French bilateral trade has been growing though it has still not reached the € 12 billion target set by both the Governments during the visit of the French President to

India in January 2008. Bilateral trade between the two countries has been

languishing at $8 billion.

France is the 9th largest foreign investor in India with the investment which

represents 2% of total FDI equity inflows into India during the period April 2000 to

June 2012.

Space Cooperation


Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and its French counterpart Centre

National de Etudes Spatiales (CNES) have a rich history of cooperation and

collaboration spanning about four decades.

Arianespace based at France has been the major provider of launch services to

Indian Geo-Stationary satellites. Subsequent to the launch of APPLE satellite on a

co-operative mode, 14 Geo-Stationary satellites of India have been launched by

Ariane on a commercial basis.

ISRO and CNES (French National Space Agency) have an umbrella agreement,

operating successfully since 1993, under which joint missions like:

Megha-Tropiques and SARAL have been taken up.

A Statement of Intent for Long-Term Co-operation in Space between ISRO

and CNES was signed in 2013.

Under a commercial Launch Service Agreement between Antrix Corporation

Limited (ANTRIX), the commercial arm of ISRO and ASTRIUM SAS, France,

an advanced Remote Sensing satellite - SPOT -6 built by ASTRIUM SAS

was successfully launched on-board ISRO's PSLV – C21 in 2012.

Defence

Under Project 75 (Submarine Scorpene project) India will purchase 6 next generation

diesel submarines with Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP) technology for the

Indian Navy by 2022 and the French company DCNS provides design and technology to

public sector Mazagon Docks to make six Scorpene submarines.

5.8 Oman's Sohar Port

Sohar port of Oman provides a key gateway to the Gulf and central Asia.

It is a deep-sea port and free zone situated midway between Dubai and Muscat and

lies at the centre of the global trade routes between Europe and Asia.

As India is jointly developing Chhabar port in Iran, Oman is looking to develop Sohar

port as a logistic hub. For this, it has invited India to invest in the port. In the

meanwhile, Indian organizations like Jindal Group and L&T have already a presence

in Sohar Port.

With good political relations between Iran and Oman, India is trying to establish a link

between Chabahar port of Iran and an another port Dugm in Oman to boost

connectivity in the region.


SUMMITS AND ORGANISATION

6.1 28th and 29th ASEAN Summit, Laos

Highlights Of The Summit

The Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in

Vientiane, Lao PDR on 6-8 September for ASEAN Summit. This is the first ASEAN

Summit following the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community on 31

December 2015.

The theme of the summit was “Turning Vision into Reality for a Dynamic ASEAN Community”.

At these summits, the Leaders reviewed the progress of implementation of the

ASEAN Community Blueprints 2025 in their initial year. The ASEAN Community is

the realization of the ASEAN Leaders’ vision for the regional grouping to build and achieve community status by 2025. Following the Community’s formal establishment, the stakeholders will now expect to see concrete and meaningful

results from the region’s community building agenda.

The other highlights in this Summit were the launch of “Visit ASEAN@50” campaign logo – an initiative of the tourism sector, the Master Plan for ASEAN Connectivity

(MPAC) 2025 as well as the Third Work Plan of the Initiative for ASEAN

Integration (IAI Work Plan III). The MPAC 2025 and IAI Work Plan III are part of the

ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together to support the implementation of the three

Community Blueprints.

The ASEAN Leaders also issued the “ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN, One

Response: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in the Region and Outside

the Region.” This declaration emphasises ASEAN’s commitment to respond to disasters as a collective outfit.

An ASEAN Economic Community Symposium 2016 was also be held as part of

the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2016, with the theme of “Global Megatrends.”

ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Education for Out-of-school Children

and Youth (OOSCY) was also signed.

The leaders vowed to end AIDS epidemic by 2030, and for that ASEAN Declaration

of Commitment on HIV and AIDS was signed.


About ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8

August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN

Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding fathers of ASEAN, namely

Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.

Members (10) : Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand,

Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam

Aims And Purposes

1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the

region through joint endeavors in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to

strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast

Asian Nations;

2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the

rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the

principles of the United Nations Charter;

3. To promote Southeast Asian studies; and To maintain close and beneficial

cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims

and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among

themselves.

Fundamental Principles

In their relations with one another, the ASEAN Member States have adopted the

following fundamental principles, as contained in the Treaty of Amity and

Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976:

1. Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and

national identity of all nations;

2. The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference,

subversion or coercion;

3. Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;

4. Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;

5. Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and


6. Effective cooperation among themselves.

14th India-ASEAN Summit And India-ASEAN Relations

On his visit to ASEAN Summit, the Prime Minister Modi also attended the 14th

ASEAN-India Summit at Vientiane, capital city of Laos from 7 September 2016 to 8

September 2016.

At the 14th ASEAN-India Summit, Prime Minister and ASEAN Leaders reviewed

ASEAN-India cooperation and discuss its future direction under each of the three

pillars of politico-security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation.

2017 will mark 25 years of India's dialogue partnership with ASEAN, to celebrate

which a number of commemorative activities were also announced by Prime

Minister.

India’s focus on a strengthened and multi-faceted relationship with ASEAN is an

outcome of the significant changes in the world’s political and economic scenario since the early 1990s and India’s own march towards economic liberalization.

Strategic Partnership

ASEAN is a strategic partner of India since 2012. In 2012, ASEAN and India

commemorated 20 years of dialogue partnership and 10 years of Summit level

partnership with ASEAN. The Leaders also adopted the 'ASEAN-India Vision

Statement', which charts the future of ASEAN-India cooperation. During the Summit,

the heads of the Government recommended establishment of ASEAN-India Centre

(AIC) to undertake policy research, advocacy and networking activities with

organizations and think-tanks in India and ASEAN, with the aim to promote the

ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership.

India and ASEAN have 30 dialogue mechanisms which meet regularly, including a

Summit and 7 Ministerial meetings in Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Tourism,

Agriculture, Environment, Renewable Energy and Telecommunications.

India has an annual Track 1.5 event Delhi Dialogue, for discussing politico-security

and economic issues between ASEAN and India. Since 2009, India has had its eight

editions.

Trade and Investment

India-ASEAN trade and investment relations have been growing steadily, with

ASEAN being India's fourth largest trading partner. Investment flows are also

substantial both ways.


India’s search for economic space resulted in the ‘Look East Policy’. The Look East Policy has today matured into a dynamic and action oriented ‘Act East Policy.

ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC) was set up in March 2003 in Kuala Lumpur

as a forum to bring key private sector players from India and the ASEAN countries

on a single platform for business.

Trade between India and ASEAN stood at US$ 65.04 billion in 2015-16 and

comprises 10.12% of India’s total trade with the world. The ASEAN-India economic

integration process has got a fillip with the creation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade

Area in July 2015, following the entry into force of the ASEAN-India Trade in

Services and Investment Agreements.

Conclusion of a balanced Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

Agreement wills further boost our trade and investment ties with the region.

Security Cooperation

The main forum for ASEAN security dialogue is the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

India has been attending annual meetings of this forum since 1996 and has actively

participated in its various activities.

The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) is the highest defence consultative

and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN.

The ADMM+ brings together Defence Ministers from the 10 ASEAN nations plus

Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the

United States.

Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) is an avenue for track 1.5 diplomacy

focusing on cross cutting maritime issues of common concern. India participated in

the 4th EAMF.

Connectivity

ASEAN-India connectivity is a matter of strategic priority for India as also the ASEAN

countries. In 2013, India became the third dialogue partner of ASEAN to initiate an

ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee-India Meeting.

While India has made considerable progress in implementing the India-Myanmar-

Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Project, issues related

to increasing the maritime and air connectivity between ASEAN and India and

transforming the corridors of connectivity into economic corridors are under

discussion.


ASEAN-India Projects

India has been cooperating with ASEAN by way of implementation of various

projects in various fields.

Space Project envisaged establishment of a Tracking, Data Reception/Data

Processing Station in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and upgradation of Telemetry

Tracking and Command Station in Biak, Indonesia.

India has been supporting ASEAN under the Initiatives for ASEAN Integration,

which includes projects on Training of English Language for Law Enforcement

Officers and Training of professionals dealing with capital markets by National

Institute of Securities Management, Mumbai.

To boost People-to-people Interaction with ASEAN, India has been organising

various programme including Training Programme for ASEAN diplomats, Exchange

of Parliamentarians, Participation of ASEAN students in the National Children’s Science Congress, ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks.

In the field of agriculture, India and ASEAN have projects such as Exchange of

Farmers, ASEAN-India Fellowships for Higher Agricultural Education in India and

ASEAN, Exchange of Agriculture Scientists, Empowerment of ASEAN-Indian

Women through Cooperatives etc.

In the S&T field, there are projects such as ASEAN-India Collaborative Project on

S&T for Combating Malaria, ASEAN-India Programme on Quality Systems in

Manufacturing, ASEAN-India Collaborative R&D Project on Mariculture, Bio-mining

and Bioremediation Technologies etc.

Q. “SAARC is becoming a deadwood, India should look for greener pastures in

ASEAN”. Do you agree with the statement? Support your answer with sound reasoning and explanation citing example.

6.2 11th East Asia Summit


11th East Asia Summit was held at Vientiane, capital city of Laos, on 7-8 Sept’ 2016.


At the 11th East Asia Summit, leaders discussed matters of regional and

international interest and concerns including maritime security, terrorism, non—proliferation, and irregular migration.

The countries reaffirmed their support for the ASEAN Community building process

and reiterated the importance of ASEAN’s central role in the East Asia Summit and the evolving rules-based regional architecture, through ASEAN-led processes.

They also reaffirmed that the East Asia Summit would continue to be an open,

inclusive, transparent, and outward-looking forum that will strengthen global norms

and universally recognized principles with ASEAN as the driving force, and working

in partnership with other participants of the East Asia Summit.

The Summit emphasized the importance of the rule of law in international relations.

About East Asia Summit

Established in 2005, East Asia Summit is a unique Leaders-led forum of 18 countries

of the Asia-Pacific region, formed to deliberate upon the objectives of regional peace,

security and prosperity.

EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the centrality of

ASEAN.

The membership of EAS consists of ten ASEAN Member States plus Australia,

China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the

USA.

There are six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS.

These are – Environment and Energy, Education, Finance, Global Health Issues and

Pandemic Diseases, Natural Disaster Management, and ASEAN Connectivity. India

endorses regional collaboration in all six priority areas.

India And EAS

India has been a part of this process since its inception in 2005 in Kuala Lumpur and

the fact that Indian Prime Ministers have participated in all the Summits, stands

testimony to the importance India attaches to this process.

The relevance of East Asia Summit has been aptly summarised by our Prime

Minister, who in his speech at the 9th EAS, held in Myanmar in November 2014,

stated that "no other forum brings together such a large collective weight of global

population, youth, economy and military strength. Nor is any other forum is so critical

for peace, stability and prosperity in Asia-Pacific and the world. Over the last eight


Summits, we have made progress in a number of areas. We worked on important

issues. We have begun to establish a culture and habit of dialogue and cooperation.”

"There's one country in our neighbourhood whose competitive advantage rests solely

in producing and exporting terrorism," said PM Modi in his address at the 11th East

Asia Summit, without naming Pakistan.

6.3 G-20 Summit

Why In News

Eleventh Meeting of group of 20 nation i.e. G-20 was held on 4–5 Sept’ 2016 in the

city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province of China.

The theme of 2016 G20 Summit: “Towards an Innovative, Invigorated,

Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy” is designed in light of the

development needs of all countries amid the current economic situation to promote

stable growth in short term by addressing the symptom and to drive growth in the

long term through tackling the root cause.

Key Priority Areas Of Summit

China has proposed four key priorities in the summit, which are:

1. To break a new path for growth, the focus is to advance reform and innovation

and to create and seize new opportunities to enhance the potential for medium-

to-long term growth in the world economy.

2. To improve global economic and financial governance is about increasing

the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries, and

making the world economy more risk-resilient.

3. To promote international trade and investment is aimed at fostering an open

world economy and reinvigorate global growth.

4. To improve inclusive and interconnected growth calls for implementation of

the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and will strengthen the

momentum of world economic growth.

Key Highlights

G-20 leaders have pledged to continue to work for a globally fair and modern

international tax system, foster growth and refrain from competitive devaluation of

currencies.


They will continue the work on addressing cross-border financial flows derived from

illicit activities, including deliberate trade mis-invoicing, which hampers the

mobilisation of domestic resources for development.

They vowed to go ahead on the ongoing co-operation on Base Erosion and Profit

Shifting (BEPS), exchange of tax information, tax capacity-building of developing

countries and tax policies to promote growth and tax certainty.

They also vowed to use all policy tools to achieve the goal of strong, sustainable,

balanced and inclusive growth.

They agreed at the summit that refugees are a global issue and the burden must be

shared. They called for strengthening humanitarian assistance for refugees.

About G-20

G20 is a forum of the Heads of Governments of the 19 major economies and the EU

for global cooperation on international economic and financial issues.

The forum has come into existence with the first summit of the Leaders of G20 held

in Washington D.C. in November 2008 in the wake of global financial crisis.

Subsequently, the forum met biannually in 2009 and 2010 and annually since 2011.

There are broadly two channels through which discussions are held and

recommendations are arrived at:

(i) The Finance Channel : The finance Channel comprises of the Finance Ministers and

Central Bank Governors and their Deputies.

(ii) Sherpa’s Channel: In the Sherpas channel, every member country of G20 has

nominated a Sherpa to lead the Development agenda discussions. The Sherpas

have been tasked by their Leaders to negotiate the Summits documents on their

behalf. Thus, Leaders’ Declarations are finalised by Sherpas.

G-20 India

As G20 emerged as the premier international forum of economic cooperation,

support structure in the Government of India has also been strengthened with the

establishment of a separate secretariat to provide secretarial and technical support

on all G20 matters.

The G20 India Secretariat is established in the Multilateral Relations Division of the

Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance to coordinate work on all the

G20 related matters in the Government of India.


G20 India Secretariat also receives inputs from external expertise on various issues

through Advisory Groups of eminent scholars and also through DEA Research

Programme on the G20 Issues currently undertaken with the National Institute of

Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP).

6.4 17th NAM Summit


The 17th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Venezuela closed on Sept 18,

with NAM adopting the "Declaration of Margarita Island" which will guide the

development of the movement for the next three years.

Vice President Mr. Hamid Ansari visited Venezuela to attend 17th NAM Summit. This

is the first NAM summit that will not be attended by an Indian PM, except for 1979

when caretaker PM Charan Singh skipped the summit in Havana.

The key issues discussed in the summit were terrorism, UN reform, the situation in

West Asia, threats to peace and security along with UN peacekeeping operations,

climate change, sustainable development, economic governance, south-south

cooperation, refugees and migrants, and nuclear disarmament.

In her inaugural speech, Venezuelan foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez said,

“Emancipation, anti-imperialism and peace are the flags that define the XVII NAM

Summit 2016.”

With the slogan "United on the Path for Peace,” the summit has ratified the defense

on the right of the people to fight for peace and sovereignty.

Among the first heads of state to speak during the summit, were the presidents of

Ecuador, Bolivia and Cuba, who defended the sovereignty of Venezuela during the

current economic crisis, reiterated their support for Palestine in the face of attacks

from Israel, and denounced the fact that the U.S. continues its economic blockade

against Cuba.

Cuban President Raul Castro demanded the end of the blockade in his speech, and

for the U.S. to return the territory it occupies at Guantanamo Bay.

At the summit, Singapore had insisted on adding contents which endorsed

Philippines' South China Sea arbitration case and attempted to strengthen the

contents on the South China Sea in the document. Singapore did not succeed due to

unequivocal opposition from many countries.


About NAM

Background

The creation and strengthening of the socialist block after the defeat of fascism in

World War II, the collapse of colonial empires, the emergence of a bipolar world and

the formation of two military blocks (NATO and the Warsaw Pact) brought about a

new international context that led to the necessity of multilateral coordination fora

between the countries of the South.

In this context, the underdeveloped countries, most of them in Asia and Africa, felt

the need to join efforts for the common defense of their interests, the strengthening

of their independence and sovereignty and the cultural and economic revival or

salvation of their peoples, and also to express a strong commitment with peace by

declaring themselves as "non-aligned" from either of the two nascent military blocks.

The Bandung Asian-African Conference is the most immediate antecedent to the

creation of the NAM. This Conference was held in Bandung in 1955 with the aim of

identifying and assessing world issues and pursuing out joint policies in international

relations.

The principles that would govern relations among large and small nations, known as

the "Ten Principles of Bandung", were proclaimed at that Conference. Such

principles were adopted later as the main goals and objectives of the policy of non-

alignment.

Six years after Bandung, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries was founded on a

wider geographical basis at the First Summit Conference of Belgrade, which was

held on September 1-6, 1961.

India is one of the founding members of the Non Aligned Movement and India hosted

the 7th NAM Summit in 1983 in New Delhi. The last NAM Summit was hosted by Iran

in 2012.

The membership of NAM today comprises 53 countries from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26

from Latin America and the Caribbean and 2 from Europe (Belarus, Azerbaijan).

There are 17 countries and 10 international organizations that are Observers at

NAM.

Objectives

To promote and reinforce multilateralism and, in this regard, strengthen the central

role that the United Nations must play. To condemn all manifestations of


unilateralism and attempts to exercise hegemonic domination in international

relations.

To defend international peace and security and settle all international disputes by

peaceful means in accordance with the principles and the purposes of the UN

Charter and International Law.

To continue pursuing universal and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament, as

well as a general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international

control.

To promote peaceful coexistence between nations, regardless of their political,

social or economic systems.

To serve as a forum of political coordination of the developing countries to

promote and defend their common interests in the system of international relations.

To encourage relations of friendship and cooperation between all nations based

on the principles of International Law, particularly those enshrined in the Charter of

the United Nations.

To promote concrete initiatives of South-South cooperation and strengthen the role

of NAM in coordination with G 77 and in the re-launching of North-South

cooperation, thus ensuring the fulfillment of the right to development of the people

of NAM countries through the enhancement of international solidarity.

To promote and encourage sustainable development through international

cooperation.

Relevance Of NAM In Post Cold War Era

Since the end of Cold war, NAM is trying to find a role for itself. Earlier it was fighting

against colonialism, racism, apartheid, developed countries and their imperialism on

developing countries. After the end of the Cold war the focus of the movement was

changed. It focused on economic cooperation so that the economic conditions of

the citizens of the developing countries could improve.

The G 77 which takes up the cause of the developing countries in international fora

on economic and development issues was complementary to NAM, hence raises the

question of relevance of NAM in contemporary situations.

Many of the countries that were at the forefront of the movement in its early days

soon drifted into one or the other camps, or disintegrated into separate entities as in


the case of Yugoslavia. To that extent, the concept of non-alignment is is questioned

today.

Also with the rise of other small groupings like BRICS, IBSA etc the relevance of a

big set up like NAM is questioned.

However, it provides a useful forum for the developing countries to meet, discuss

and evolve common positions on some of the problems faced by them, as also in

dealing with situations emerging from actions initiated by the developed countries

through a consensus of their own.

Significance of NAM for India

The NAM that evolved under the shadow of the Cold War has continued relevance in

the context of the prevailing global geo-strategic environment for India.

It continues to have significance in providing a forum for a group that represents

nations whose voice needs to be heard in the evolving global scenario.

Support of UN-NAM total strength compromises of 118 developing countries and

most of them being member of UN general assembly. It represents 2/3 members of

general assembly, hence NAM members act as important supporters of India’s permanent membership in UN.

NAM is emerging as majority day by day, each year its strength increases which act

as a force and gives a strong platform to its members to put their point on

international issues. For example-NAM recently challenged the United Nation

Secretary Ban-ki-Moon’s decision to appoint a panel on Human rights violation issue in Srilanka.


7. DEFENCE AND SECURITY

7.1 Chinese Transgression In Indian Borders

Why In News

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has raised concerns over Chinese

army’s transgression in the border of Arunachal Pradesh.

First incident was reported from the Kibithu area in remote Anjaw district and

another at Thangsa in Tawang district.

India China Border Issue

The origins of the Himalayan border dispute stem from a combination of difficult

terrain, nascent survey technology, the absence of a functioning Tibetan state and

due to British Imperial map-making methodology.

In 1914, at the Anglo-Tibetan Simla Conference, the British colonial authorities drew

the McMahon Line (named after the chief negotiator Sir Henry McMahon), which

established the boundary between British India and Tibet.

Although Chinese representatives were present at Simla, they refused to sign or

recognize the accords ‘on the basis that Tibet was under Chinese jurisdiction and therefore Tibet did not have the power to conclude treaties.


After independence in 1947, India made the McMahon Line its official border with

Tibet. However, following the 1950 Chinese invasion of Tibet, India and China came

to share a border that had never been ‘delimited by treaty, let alone between the post-colonial regimes of the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China’.

Consequently, China viewed the McMahon Line as an illegal, colonial and customary

borderline, while India considered the Line to be its international boundary.

Following a brief period of détente (the easing of hostility or strained relations,

especially between countries) after India’s independence, the relationship between India and China soured in the early 1950s under the respective leaderships of Prime

Minister Nehru and Chairman Mao.

On signing the‘1954 India-China Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between Tibet

Region of China and India, Nehru and his associates ‘thought that the boundary was no longer an issue and that the Chinese accepted the historical status quo’; effectively, Nehru imagined a ‘trade-off between Tibet and the border’.

However, from a Chinese perspective, there was no trade-off, real or imagined, and

the Chinese position has steadfastly remained that India’s recognition of China’s sovereignty over Tibet, and China’s acceptance of the former colonial McMahon Line, were not connected issues.

Armed conflict erupted between the two nations in 1962. During the month-long war,

Chinese forces advanced deep into Indian territory in Ladakh and Arunachal

Pradesh, before withdrawing back to their previous positions along the so-called Line

of Actual Control.

The 1962 war left India with a deep sense of embarrassing defeat and continues to

act as a traumatic moment for India.

Today, China maintains that the McMahon Line effectively sees India occupying

some 90,000 square kilometres of its territory in the Indian state of Arunachal

Pradesh. India, on the other hand, claims that China is ‘occupying 38,000 square kilometres of land in Aksai Chin in the North Eastern corner of Jammu and Kashmir’ and a further ‘5180 square kilometres of land in Kashmir ceded to it by Pakistan in

1963’.

In essence, Britain’s colonial legacy ‘sowed the seeds of discord’ in the Sino-Indian

relationship. And, despite over 30 years of regular dialogues, Sino-Indian border

issues remain complicated and difficult.


China is quite sensitive to the ‘Tibet Issue'. With the Dalai Lama and over 100,000

followers living in India, New Delhi needs constantly to renew its commitment on

curbing Tibetan separatist actions on its soil so as to mitigate suspicion that it might

intend to play the Tibet Card.

China also needs to understand that India does not want an autonomous Tibet.

Accepting Tibet as part of China is convenient for India or else an independent

‘Greater Tibet' brings to dispute the status of Sikkim, which has in the past, for

centuries, been a vassal-state of Tibet.

Soda Plain / Aksai Chin

Aksai Chin is a disputed region located in the northwestern region of the Tibetan

Plateau just below the western Kunlun Mountains. It is administered by China,

however, claimed by India as a part of its state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Aksai Chin is one of the two main border disputes between China and India, the

other being the dispute over Arunachal Pradesh, which is administered by India

and claimed by China as South Tibet.

The line that separates Indian-administered areas of Kashmir from the Aksai

Chin is known as the Line of Actual Control. Aksai Chin is a vast high-altitude

desert of salt that reaches heights up to 5,000 metres. Geographically part of the

Tibetan Plateau, Aksai Chin is referred to as the Soda Plain.

7.2 Scorpene Data Leak Issue

Why In News

Recently newspaper ‘The Australian’ reported the data leak about submarine

Scorpene and posted information consisting of the technical manual related to the

Scorpene’s underwater warfare sub-system and the operating instruction manual

related to the Combat Management System (CMS) .

The leaked report consists of 22,400 pages of the data on the combat and stealth

capabilities of the Scorpene submarine.

Six Scorpene submarines are being built at the India owned Mazagaon Dock Limited

with the collaboration of DCNS of France under Project 75 India.

About Scorpene Submarine


It is associated with Scorpene diesel-electric submarines and Exocet missiles

(French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface

vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft).

This submarine will join India's 13 diesel-electric submarines out of which only half of

them are available at any given time for operations.

The 66-metre submarine can dive up to a depth of 300 metres to elude enemy

detection.

The first submarine will be named INS Kalvari, while the second will be christened as

INS Khanderi.

Significance Of The Project For India

The navy is betting on the Scorpene project to sharpen its underwater attack

capabilities.

India operates 13 ageing conventional submarines and an Akula-II nuclear-powered

attack boat leased from Russia.

The Indian fleet consists of Russian Kilo-class and German HDW class 209

submarines. Limited serviceability is also an issue - not all these boats are battle

ready at any given point of time.

India’s sub-sea warfare capability pales in front of China’s. The Communist neighbour operates 53 diesel-electric attack submarines, five nuclear attack

submarines and four nuclear ballistic missile submarines.

Reasons For India Should Be Concerned About The Data Leak

The contents of the report will undermine India’s maritime security. The six Scorpenes — one which began sea trials in May 2016 and the five others still under

construction — were supposed to provide a cutting-edge to India’s ageing submarine fleet.

The information on the submarines’ navigation and sonar systems as well as its

acoustic profile, tell an enemy how both to avoid being found by and how to find a

Scorpene. And, in submarine warfare, the endgame begins with detection.

It will put a question on the country’s Indian Ocean strategy. Chinese submarine activity in the Indian Ocean has increased dramatically in the past few years. The

Scorpene was supposed to be the Indian counter for the next two decades. This will

now be in question. India may be required to retrofit more advanced sonar and


navigation in the present hulls — adding to an already expensive $3.5 billion

purchase.

The Scorpene incident should be just another reminder of India’s need to re-look at

its own cyber security and defence production norms.

Drawback in India’s Maritime Security Strategy

India continues to import much of its military needs — including combat rifles and

specialised clothing. The multiplicity of players this introduces means the likelihood

of leaks and hacks increases hence enhances India’s vulnerability in national security.

Despite the claims of the defence ministry and other government agencies, India

remains a laggard in terms of securing its more sensitive systems. Cyber security

remains a policy domain fragmented among over a dozen agencies.

It is an open secret that foreign intelligence agencies and defence firms are reluctant

to share sensitive technology with India because they believe the computer systems

of its State-owned defence companies are wholly compromised by the Chinese. It is

not as if India does not have world-class cyber security capabilities — but these lie in

its private companies and largely ignored by New Delhi.

7.3 Uri Attack And The Follow Up Surgical Strike

Why In News

Four fidayeen terrorists of Jaish- e-Mohammed has attacked on army camp near line

of control in Uri area of Baramulla district of Srinagar.

Seventeen soldiers were killed and 23 more were injured in a militant attack and in

the counter action, four terrorists were killed by Indian army and several combing

operations has been done.

This is the second attack on military establishment after the Pathankot air base

attack this year. The needle of suspicion points to militant outfits from across the

border after the four suicide bombers were killed during the counter attack by the

Indian forces.

In response, Indian armed force carried out surgical strikes on terrorists camps in

Pakistan’s occupied Kashmir. The operation was planned in retaliation of the 18 September attack on the army base in Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir.


A surgical strike is a military attack which results in, or is claimed to have resulted

in only damage to the intended legitimate military target, and no or minimal collateral

damage to surrounding structures, vehicles, buildings, or the general public

infrastructure and utilities.

However, Pakistan denied that a cross-border strike had taken place, saying that

Indian troops had fired small arms across the Line of Control in which two soldiers

had been killed and nine injured.

The Issues Raised By The Attack (Drawbacks in Indian Security Strategy)

The perpetrators had very detailed information about the layout of the camp itself.

Perhaps, they had information about change of guard i.e. the fact that two units were

handing over and these groups of soldiers were the most vulnerable and therefore,

they used innovative tactics of setting the tents on fire later on using their ordinance

to kill them. This evidenced the chances of local collusion and showcased lacunas

in security strategy of Indian army.

There is an element of vulnerability when turnover takes place not only on the

base but also at the pickets because the soldiers deployed are new to the place for a

couple of days. The soldiers are housed in tents because there are a larger number

of people in the barracks than normal which should not be done.

Local intelligence agencies of the Indian side had provided some kind of indication

that there were 4-6 people in the region and were planning such kind of attack but

there was a lapse from the Indian side. The intelligence asymmetry and lack of

coordination worked in favour of the terrorists.

There have been shortcomings on the military leadership because somewhere

these repeated incidents of assaults are not being taken seriously. Pathankot

incident has shown that a military target is good for a terrorist attack as it

delegitimizes the army in front of its own people and enhances the profile of the

terrorists as they take up on the might of a country and succeed in it.

There are shortcomings on the political front because the rhetoric that has come

after each attack of taking strict action, using harsh words etc. proves our

unpreparedness in the efforts of handling such attacks when such attacks actually

happen time and again.

India still does not have a comprehensive national policy to deal with domestic

militancy and cross border terrorism.


The Pakistan Factor

The evidences gathered from the site regarding four terrorist who attacked army

camp suggested the role of Pakistan in the attack.

The Pakistani military may have a possible major role in this action because the

details of battalions are maintained by them as well and the attack at this crucial time

cannot be done without military inputs.

This attack is traditional to India-Pakistan tensions. The Pakistani intentions are to

bring India over to the negotiating table on Kashmir issue through talks.

Indian Prime Minister at every international forum has mentioned terrorism and his

concerns over it. In his 15th August speech of this year, he referred to Baluchistan

and PoK.

Though Pakistan has rejected its role in this attack and has criticized India for

blaming Pakistan even prior of conducting a proper investigation.

What Steps Should India Take

There is a urgent need of robust well documented national security doctrine and

sophisticated political response about which no political discussion has been

taken.

The policy makers have to formulate a well-defined security strategy to defeat

Pakistan’s proxy war strategy. India’s response ought to be at both strategic and

operational levels. The strategic dimensions have to be driven through politico-

diplomatic means, complemented by Comprehensive National Power, including both

hard and soft power to bring requisite pressure to bear on Islamabad to mend its

ways.

There is a need for coordination between various internal security agencies and the

armed forces to ensure seamless synergy. The roles of the two sets of forces need

to be clearly defined.

Right now military option is complicated to adopt because, there is a risk of triggering

off a bigger conflict which might eventually end in a nuclear war. Military action taken

on the Line of Control might not put enough pressure on Pakistanis. India has to

keep pressurizing Pakistan by making references in terms of Balochistan, Gilgit and

PoK, give moral and political support to leaders there and take this issue to

international forums as well. For an aggressive diplomacy, India first needs to


counter the two linchpins i.e. US and China of the Pakistani support system. Both of

them are equally difficult to tackle.

As far as isolating Pakistan is concerned, it is little difficult because there are many

other interests which come into play. What goes here in India’s favour is the fact that

US, UK, France in recent months have suffered acts of terror with direct links to

Pakistan. Indian government is preparing to take on Pakistan diplomatically at the

international level and expose it for supporting terrorism. Financial sanctions can be

imposed as a first step if India can convince these countries in UN or other

international forums such as G-20, SAARC etc.

7.4 Army Design Bureau

The Indian Army has set up Army Design Bureau to reduce its import dependence

and to promote indigenous procurement.

The Design Bureau has been established as a part of governments ‘Make in India ’ programme and will integrate all stakeholders (government, industries, acad) to

enhance indigenization.

ADB will provide a better understanding of the Army’s requirements to the academia, research organisations and the industry for developing high tech defence products.

It will be the interface of the Indian Army for a single point contact for all stakeholders

which would help R&D fraternity in developing indigenous solutions.

It will help the Indian Army to be constantly involved at every stage from

conceptualisation to design to development trails and production to sustenance for

its modernisation needs.

ADB comes in the wake of rapid changes in technology and consequent changes in

war fighting techniques.

7.5 INS TRIKAND

Ins Trikand has been deployed on a goodwill visit to East Africa and Southern Indian

Ocean. The ship was at Antsiranana from 31 Aug’ to 03 Sep’ 2016 to further bilateral

ties with Madagascar.

The commissioning of INS Trikand in 2013 marks the culmination of a three ship

contract for “Follow On Talwar Class” ships built in Russia, and is therefore a

milestone in the Indo-Russian military-technological cooperation.


The other ships of the class viz, INS Teg and INS Tarkash were commissioned in

2015 and are now undertaking operations as part of the Western Fleet.

INS Trikand carries a state-of-the-art combat suite which includes the supersonic

BRAHMOS missile system, advanced Surface to Air missiles Shtil, upgraded A190

medium range gun, Electro-optical 30 mm Close-in Weapon System, Anti-Submarine

weapons such as torpedoes and rockets and an advanced Electronic Warfare

system.

The weapons and sensors are integrated through a Combat Management System

‘Trebovanie-M’, which enables the ship to simultaneously neutralise multiple surface, sub-surface and air threats.

The ship also incorporates innovative features to reduce radar, magnetic and

acoustic signatures, which have earned this class of ships the sobriquet of ‘Stealth’ frigates.

The ship is powered by four gas turbines and is capable of speeds in excess of 30

knots. The ship can carry an integrated Kamov 31 helicopter which is best suited for

airborne early warning roles.


8. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

8.1 Zika Spread In Singapore

Why In News

In just one week, Zika cases in Singapore have gone from zero to 242 which has

raised concerns about a potential rapid surge in cases across Asia.

According to recent study roughly 2.6 billion people could be at risk of zika.

It is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, which is

also the carrier of dengue and chikungunya viruses.

Zika has mild effects for most people but doctors believe infection during pregnancy

can result in babies with small heads, which is known as microcephaly, and other

serious developmental disorders.

Why This Spread In Singapore

Singapore is known to suffer widely from dengue virus and Zika is very closely

related to dengue. It has all the genetic traits that would allow it to spread where

dengue thrives -- the virus can infect and spread through the same Aedes aegypti

mosquitoes that spread dengue virus.

In Singapore, many people live in densely packed apartment blocks so it's easy for

high numbers of people to get infected even if there are only a few mosquitoes flying

around

How To Control The Spread

One size fits to all won’t work. It requires different measures in different countries.

To prevent Zika from becoming entrenched in local population of an area, all

confirmed cases must be admitted to a public hospital until they recover and test

negative for the virus. This will prevent further spread.

Pre-emptive approach could be undertaken by regular inspections at residential

and commercial premises to remove the breeding habitats of vectors and prevent the

transmission of diseases.

Community-level implementation of small interventions to prevent water

accumulation in coolers, manhole lids, tyres and water tanks along with general

cleanliness particularly in the urban areas are required.


The virus doesn't cause symptoms in most people and only mild symptoms, usually,

in those who do get sick, so people can be asked to voluntarily give blood or urine

samples to see if they've been infected.

In Miami's Wynwood neighbourhood, both aerial spraying for adults and use of

larvicides to kill baby mosquitoes worked well in helping control an outbreak of Zika.

This strategy can also be employed elsewhere.

8.2 Dengue Menace

Dengue is being reported in explosive proportions globally in recent decades, bringing

with it a substantial socioeconomic impact on individuals and society. Mortality from it

still prevails in developing countries, forming a formidable threat to public health.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical viral disease spread by several species

of mosquito of the Aedes type, principally A. aegypti. In a small proportion of cases, the

disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting

in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue

shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.

Case of India

India has reported an annual average of 20,474 dengue cases (2006-12).

It surged to 40,571 with 137 deaths in 2014. In 2015, there were 100,000 cases and

220 deaths.

Urban hubs like the national capital New Delhi, and State capitals like Kolkata and

Bengaluru are struggling to fight the endemic form of dengue.

India is bearing an estimated total annual economic cost of $1.11 billion due to

dengue, which includes direct medical costs of $548 million.


How To Minimise The Impact

Vector control takes centre stage to prevent spread of Dengue. It is observed that

dengue mosquitoes are found inside homes; hence impregnating indoor curtains with

insecticides such as Pyrethroid has proved efficacious




Use mosquito repellents. Almond oil with few drops of neem oil can be effective.


Beside this robust and accurate surveillance, modelling studies, heat maps of global

data and release of sterile mosquitoes can be seriously taken into consideration.

8.3 Chikungunya Spread

About Chikungunya

It is a fever caused by a Arbovirus that is transmitted between people by two types

of mosquitos: Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. They mainly bite during the day.

Arboviruses were originally present only in the forest areas infecting primarily

monkey species. Humans were just incidental hosts. But now due to the impact of

industrialisation and loss of forest cover, these viruses have made humans as their

permanent hosts.

The virus cannot spread from one human to another but can spread only by

mosquitoes which get infected while biting an infected individual, thereafter

transmitting the virus by biting an uninfected individual.

Female mosquitoes need proteins from mammalian blood for their eggs to develop,

which is why they bite humans and due to this they spread to humans as certain

viruses like the dengue and chikungunya viruses collectively called arboviruses

(ARthropodBOrne viruses) make use of this requirement of the mosquitoes to ensure

their own survival.

Like childhood’s chicken pox, it happens only once in lifetime.

Challenges Of Chikungunya Control

At present there are no virus-specific detection methods and doctors have to

resort to employing antibody-specific testing which delays diagnosis by a great


extent. This is a primary concern with respect to chikungunya treatment and its

effective diagnosis.

A lack of sensitive virus-specific diagnostic tools, an absence of drugs/vaccine, poor

vector control measures and public awareness contribute tremendously in escalating

the problem in effectively managing chikungunya.

How To Manage This Crisis Of Chikungunya

Only effective method to control this hugely debilitating infection is intense vector

control and public health awareness programmes





Beside this robust and accurate surveillance, modelling studies, heat maps of global

data and release of sterile mosquitoes can be seriously taken into consideration

8.4 Sri Lanka Has Been Declared Malaria Free

After certifying that the life-threatening disease had been completely eliminated in

the island, WHO declared Sri Lanka Malaria-free.

Apart from Sri Lanka, only the Maldives and Singapore have been declared free of

the disease in the region (Asia).

It is a mosquito-borne infectious disease affecting humans and other animals caused

by parasitic protozoans (a group of single-celled microorganisms) belonging to

the Plasmodium type. The disease is most commonly transmitted by an infected

female Anopheles mosquito.

Malaria Worldwide

According to 2015 data of WHO, there were 214 million new cases of malaria and

438,000 deaths from the illness worldwide.

The African region accounted for most, or 88%, of new cases followed by the

Southeast Asia at 10%, and the eastern Mediterranean at 2%.

In Southeast Asia as many as 1.3 billion people are estimated to be at risk from the

disease.


Indian Scenario

Although the number of cases of malaria have come down from 2 million to

approximately 1,12,000 between 2000 and 2015, it continues to affect a large

section of population.

According to a WHO report, 80 % of malaria cases in India are reported in north and

north east India where only 20 % of the country's total population lives.

287 deaths were reported due to malaria in India in 2015 alone.

Lessons From Srilanka: Grassroots surveillance and early detection of the disease is

key to defeating the parasite.

Bicyclic Azetidine Series

It is newly discovered novel compound that shows great promise in the battle

against malaria.

It was found to cure the disease with just a single, low-dose treatment, provide

prophylaxis and prevent disease transmission both in the lab and in animals.

The compound was able to achieve extraordinary results in mice as it targets the

parasite’s protein translation machinery (phenylalanine tRNAsynthetase), which is

the very core of the parasite’s housekeeping function of synthesising about 5,000 proteins

Q. Why there is severe outbreak of Malaria in tropical countries? Does carrier of this

disease is linked any how to zika? What strategies would you suggest to effectively

fight against these type of diseases?

8.5 Dark Matter

Most of the mass of the universe is made up of material called dark matter which

scientists cannot directly observe but can only be detected from its gravitational effects.

It does not absorb, reflect or emit light, making it extremely hard to spot.

Nature Of Dark Matter

Dark matter is called dark because it is invisible.

It accounts for almost a quarter of the universe; without which galaxies would fall

apart.


Dark matter is five times more abundant than regular matter- Stuff that makes star,

galaxies, planets, rocks.

Dark matter particles can pass through regular matter almost completely undetected

since they do not interact electrostatically.

Experiments To Trace Dark Matter

Most dark matter experiments are searching for a type of particles called WIMPs, or

weakly interacting massive particles.

“Weakly interacting” means that WIMPs barely ever “talk” to regular matter. They don’t often bump into other matter and also don’t emit light—properties that could

explain why researchers haven’t been able to detect them yet.

Created in the early universe, they would be heavy (“massive”) and slow-moving

enough to gravitationally clump together and form structures observed in today’s universe.

Scientists predict that dark matter is made of particles. But that assumption is based

on what they know about the nature of regular matter, which makes up only about 4

% of the universe.

WIMPs advanced in popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s when scientists

realized that particles that naturally pop out in models of Supersymmetry could

potentially explain the seemingly unrelated cosmic mystery of dark matter.

8.6 Stratellite Communication

Stratellite are high altitude airships which hover in the stratosphere, nearly 20 km above

the surface of the earth. Communication through these offers several advantages:

a) Fixed location: In this type of communication location of receiving antennas can be

fixed and would not have to be changed from time to time.

b) Minimum interference between signals: It will have minimal interference, unlike in

satellite communication which complicates the process of transmission.

c) Minimal distance at which the Stratellite is placed from the earth’s surface

guarantees clearer transmission and faster reception due to significantly less

interference.

d) Due to greater area coverage and better transmission it could replace the exceeding

number of satellites.


e) Cost of manufacturing is low and could be launched multiple times.

Difficulties Faced

Many models have been sent but all have failed. This is due to complex nature of

environment through which they have to enter i.e Jet stream where climate is

extremely violent.

Other problem is sustenance of helium inside it which must be expended to 10 times

what it is at ground level requiring extremely complex system to make it possible.

8.7 GSLV-F05 Rocket Put INSAT-3DR In The Orbit

INSAT-3DR is an advanced weather satellite.

Satellite has been transferred into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

GSLV-F05 has indigenously developed cryogenic upper stage as its fourth stage.

The INSAT-3DR carries a multi-spectral Imager, one of the four payloads. It will

generate images of the Earth from a geostationary altitude of 36,000 km every 26

minutes and provide information on parameters such as sea surface temperature,

snow cover, cloud motion winds, among others.

The major users of the service will be the Indian Coast Guards, Airports Authority of

India (AAI), Directorate General of Shipping, Defence Services and fishermen.

The Indian service region will cover a large part of the Indian Ocean and will also

include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania

for providing distress alert services.

8.8 Magnetar 1E 1613 :

NASA’s Swift telescope has found a magnetar called 1E, located about 9,000 light

years from Earth.

This star possesses the most powerful magnetic fields in the universe — trillions of

times that observed on the Sun — and can erupt with enormous amounts of energy.

Magnetars are an extremely dense type of neutron star that can produce magnetic

fields trillions of times stronger than our sun’s. Neutron stars are formed when stars

more massive than our sun explode as supernovae.


8.9 Sarathi

Indigenously designed and built, it is Indian Coast Guard Ship- third ship in the series

of six Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) commissioned recently.

The ship is designed to carry one twin engine Light Helicopter and five high speed

boats including two Quick Reaction Inflatable Boats for swift boarding operations,

search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol.

The ship is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment to contain oil spill

at sea.

8.10 TIHAYU

It is Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC).

It is built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata

It is fitted with three water jet propulsion systems powered by marine diesel engines

generating 2720 KW of power.

8.11 Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

It is a public-private coalition, headquartered at the Norwegian Institute of Public

Health in Oslo, that aims to derail epidemics by speeding development of vaccines.

India is a key member of it.

It grew out of the widespread conviction that vaccines languishing in R&D could have

prevented the recent Ebola epidemic

The coalition will not focus on diseases that already have sufficient attention, but will

be guided by WHO’s R&D blueprint (2016), which lists eleven illnesses to focus on, including Chikungunya, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Crimean-Congo

Haemorrhagic fever etc.

8.12 Biodegradable Energy Harvester - From Raw Fish Scales

Fish scales, a by-product that is usually thrown away, contain collagen fibres that

possess a piezoelectric property, which means that an electric charge is generated

in them in response to mechanical stress.


Researchers, at Jadavpur University, have synthesised flexible bio-piezoelectric

nanogenerator (BPNG) from this bio-waste.

This could be used in transparent electronics, biocompatible and biodegradable

electronics, edible electronics.

This could act as a sustainable green energy source for next generation self-

powered implantable medical devices.

Apart from above in self-powered implantable medical devices, surgeries, e-

healthcare monitoring, as well as in vitro and in vivo diagnostics, apart from its

myriad uses for portable electronics.

8.13 Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award

Dinesh’s research disproved a long-held assumption that it is not possible for a radio

to receive and transmit on the same frequency band because of the interference that

results.

His work culminated in making full-duplex radios a reality through the development

of effective self-interference cancellation technology. A full duplex radio is a radio

that can simultaneously transmit and receive on the same channel.

Prospect Area Of Applications

Building novel wireless imaging that can enable driverless cars move in severe

weather conditions and help blind people to navigate indoors.

Build relays which can listen to signals from a cellular tower, transmit them instantly

and extend the range across the country.

8.14 India Declares itself Free from Avian Influenza (H5N1)

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in the Ministry of

Agriculture and Farmers welfare has declared India free from Avian Influenza (H5N1)

from 5th September, 2016

What is H5N1

Commonly called bird flu, it is an infectious viral disease of birds.

The A (H5N1) virus subtype, a highly pathogenic Avian Influenza virus, first infected

humans in 1997 during a poultry outbreak in Hong Kong SAR, China.


The majority of human cases of A(H5N1) infection have been associated with direct

or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry.

Concern: H5N1 infection can cause severe disease and has a high mortality rate in

humans. If the H5N1 virus were to change and become easily transmissible from

person to person while retaining its capacity to cause severe disease, the

consequences for public health could be very serious.

8.15 Tiangong-2

It is a space lab of china which

was launched recently.

It is part of an ambitious plan,

stretched along several phases, to

establish a manned space

station around 2022.

Uses: It will be used for "testing

systems and processes for mid-

term space stays and refuelling,"

and will house experiments in

medicine and various space-

related technologies.

8.16 Synchronising Computers to Indian Standard Time

National Physical Laboratory(NPL), the organisation that defines the Indian Standard

Time (IST), has formally proposed to the Central government that all Indian

computers be “legally required” to synchronise their clocks to the IST.

Need of this synchronisation: Currently time displayed on laptops or smartphones

are derived from multiple American servers. Due to this it would be a few seconds off

from the actual Indian time. The frequent mismatches in the time stamps make it

harder for Indian cyber security experts to investigate Internet-perpetrated frauds.

8.17 Hydrogen-bonded Organic Frameworks (HOFs)

Researchers from Pune’s Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) and National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) have synthesised two novel porous

and crystalline hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) that could potentially

Other facts:

China’s first space station Tiangong 1

was launched in 2011 and went out of

service earlier this year.

Tainzhou-1: It is china’s first cargo ship

which will be docked with Tianwgong-2, in

order to provide it with fuel and other

supplies. Tainzhou-1 will lift-off in April

2017


be used as a proton exchange membrane in fuel cells which could make fuel cells

that are cheaper and more efficient.

They are hydrogen bonded complex compound which have the advantages of

solution process ability and characterization and easy purification.

Currently Nafion is used which has major drawbacks in terms of applicability at a

high temperature range or low humidity, high production costs and gas leakage

issues.

Other application of HoF:

The HOFs are promising materials for gas separation and storage applications.

These compound have the potential to remove greenhouse gases such as

carbon dioxide.

8.18 Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio

It is newly introduced new star

rating methodology for AC by

Bureau of energy efficiency (BEE)

which takes into account different

climatic zones in India.

It measures energy efficiency of

air-conditioners based on a

weighted average of performance at outside temperatures between 24 and 43C

based on Indian weather data.

It will help usher in higher energy efficiency of appliances and reduce energy

consumption under different Indian climatic conditions.

8.19 Avoiding Excessive Use Of Pesticides

Current spraying of pesticides has a retention problem. While only 2 % sticks to

plants, significant portion of pesticides bounces off the plants into agricultural lands,

and the runoff eventually pollutes our water sources.

What’s new Technique: Researchers from MIT as found a way which could allow

farmers to get the same effects by using just 1/10th of the pesticide.

How it works: A combination of two inexpensive additives is used in spray—each

prepared with a different polymer substance. One gives the solution a negative

electric charge; the other results in a positive charge. When two of the oppositely-

ISEER is the ratio of the total annual amount

of heat that the equipment can remove from

the indoor air when operated for cooling in

active mode to the total annual amount of

energy consumed by the equipment during

the same period.


charged droplets meet on a leaf surface, they form a hydrophilic (water attracting)

“defect” that sticks to the surface and increases the retention.

8.20 Development Of Cheap Solution By IIT Madras To Make Brackish Water

Potable

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) has developed a technology that can

make it possible to convert brackish water into drinking water at about 12 paisa per

litre and that too at much ease at home.

The researchers used a stack of tissue paper and carbonised it at high temperature

to make graphene. Graphite electrodes were then coated with the graphene

produced in the lab. When a small potential is applied to the electrodes, the brackish

water gets deionised to become potable water.

To render the graphene porous, silica precursors were added to the graphene and

removed subsequently. The removal of silica makes the graphene porous while

retaining its structural integrity.

When the electrodes are dipped into brackish water and 1.8-volt potential is applied

to the electrodes, the sodium and chloride ions move towards respective electrodes

and get adsorbed. In about five minutes, the brackish water turns into potable water

with less than 500 parts per million (ppm) of sodium chloride, which is less than the

permissible limit for drinking water.

8.21 Aperture Spherical Telescope

It is a largest single dish radio telescope in

the world developed by China.

It is 500-meters in diameter and located in

southern Guizhou Province.

It will search for gravitational waves, detect

radio emissions from stars and galaxies and

listen for signs of intelligent extra-terrestrial life

8.22 PSLV Puts 8 Satellite Into Orbit

ISRO’s PSLV C-35 rocket has launched a total of eight satellites into two different

orbits. This launch is "the first mission of PSLV in which it had launched its payloads

into two different orbit.

Graphene:

It is an allotrope of carbon, in

which Carbons are bonded

together in a hexagonal

honeycomb lattice.

It is about 100 times stronger

than the strongest steel.

It conducts heat and electricity

efficiently and is nearly

transparent.


Satellites that were placed into orbit:

o SCATSAT-1: A satellite for weather-related studies.

o PISAT and PRATHAM: Satellites from two educational institutions.

o ALSAT-1B, 2B and 1N: These three commercial payloads are from Algeria.

o Other Satellite each for Canada (NLS-19) and the United States (Pathfinder-1).

8.23 Rosetta Mission

Rosetta is set to complete its mission in a controlled descent to the comet

67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko‘s surface.

The Mission was launched in 2004 and arrived at Comet 67P/Churyumov-

Gerasimenko on August 6, 2014, after a 10-year journey through the Solar System.

Objective of Rosetta is to help understand the origin and evolution of the Solar

System.

Why comet was chosen for probe: Comet’s composition reflects the composition

of the pre-solar nebula out of which the Sun and the planets of the Solar System

formed, more than 4.6 billion years ago. Therefore, an in-depth analysis of comet

67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by Rosetta and its lander will provide essential

information to understand how the Solar System formed.

It is the first mission to orbit and land on a comet. That makes Rosetta one of the

most complex and ambitious missions ever undertaken.

It will be the first spacecraft to witness, at close proximity, how a comet changes as it

approaches the increasing intensity of the Sun’s radiation.

8.24 Europa

It is one of more than 50 moons circling the Jupiter.

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has found evidence of possible water plumes.

It is considered by NASA as a “top candidate” for life elsewhere in the solar system because it is believed to possess a massive, salty, subsurface ocean that is twice the

size of Earth’s.

8.25 Mars Orbiter Mission/ Chandrayaan


On 24 Sept’ 2016, MOM completed its second birthday.

Originally designed to last just six months on its on-board fuel, the orbiter continues

to scan the red planet elliptically from a distance of around 400 km x 70,000 km.

India became the only nation to date to put a spacecraft around the planet in its very

first attempt.

India is fourth country after Russia, the U.S. and Europe to launch mission on red

planet i.e Mars.

This orbiter still sends interesting photos and information to Indian data keepers

across millions of kilometres.

8.26 A New Handheld Device To Detect Melamine In Milk

Through a handheld melamine detector developed by researchers at the Indian Institute

of Science (IISc), the presence of melamine in milk can be detected at room temperature

within a few seconds through a change in colour.

How Technology Works

Prior to melamine detection, the milk is processed to remove fat and proteins as they

tend to interfere with detection.

Silver nitrate and the leaf extract added in a particular ratio and at a particular pH is

used to detect the presence of melamine

If melamine is present, then it interferes with the synthesis and there is abrupt

formation of nanoparticles leading to colour change

The change in colour depends on the amount of melamine present and, therefore,

the extent of its interference with the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The colour

change can be directly observed by the naked eye and also recorded by spectral

change.

The silver nanoparticles are reddish yellow in the absence of melamine, while it

becomes nearly colourless when melamine is present.

Melamine Concern

Due to the presence of nitrogen, the addition of melamine to milk makes it look

protein-rich.


But, melamine content of more than 1 ppm in infant formula and more than 2.5 ppm

in other foods should be viewed with suspicion of adulteration.

In 2008, at least four babies in China died and around 100,000 became sick after

consuming powdered milk baby food laced with melamine.

8.27 Scrub Typhus

There has been rising number of cases and deaths due to Scrub Typhus in Himachal

Pradesh.

Scrub Typhus is an acute illness caused by a bacterium OrintiaTsutsugamushi,

which is transmitted by the bite of an infected mite larva present in the soil having

scrub vegetation.

Himachal is an endemic region as it has a large scrub vegetation.


9. ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

9.1 U.S. And China Ratified Paris Climate Agreement

Why In News

As a major step towards the enactment of the Paris Climate agreement, the two biggest

emitters of green house gases ‘U.S. & China’ ratified the agreement of global

greenhouse gas emission.

About Paris Climate Agreement

At COP 21 in Paris, Parties to the UNFCCC reached a landmark agreement to

combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments

needed for a sustainable low carbon future.

The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention and – for the first time – brings all

nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate

change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries

to do so.

The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to put forward their best efforts through

“nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the years ahead. This includes requirements that all Parties report regularly on their

emissions and on their implementation efforts.

To keep global temperatures "well below" 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times

and endeavor to limit them even more, to 1.5C.

To limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity to the same

levels that trees, soil and oceans can absorb naturally, beginning at some point

between 2050 and 2100.

To review each country's contribution to cutting emissions every five years so they

scale up to the challenge.

For rich countries to help poorer nations by providing "climate finance" to adapt to

climate change and switch to renewable energy. The teraget is $100bn a year in

climate finance for developing countries by 2020, with a commitment to further

finance in the future.

The Paris Agreement shall enter into force on the 30th day after the date on which at

least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55%

of the total global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of


ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Depositary. The first of these

thresholds was achieved on 22 September 2016.

Once the deal comes into force, countries that have ratified it have to wait for a

minimum of three years before they exit.

9.2 Majuli: World’s Largest River Island

Why In News

Majuli Island, located amidst the river Brahmaputra in Assam, has recently been

declared the largest river island in the world. It toppled Marajo Island in Brazil,

according to Guinness World Records.

The river island covers an area of around 880 sq km.

Formation

The island is formed by the Brahmaputra in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an

anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by the Subansiri River in the north.

The island was formed due to course changes by the river Brahmaputra and its

tributaries, mainly the Lohit.

Cultural Attributes

Home to an estimated 160,000 people of different ethnic groups, the island is an

assembly constituency reserved for scheduled tribes.

The island is inhabited by Mising, Deori and Sonowal Kachri tribes speaking Mising,

Assamese and Deori language.

Majuli is the nerve centre of neo-Vaishnavite.

It has been included in the tentative list of World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Ecological Importance

Majuli is the largest fresh Water mid-river deltaic island in the world. The island is a

bio-diversity hotspot and has rich ecology with rare breeds of flora and fauna.

Possess tremendous potential for Eco tourism.

The riverine topography especially the chars (strips of sand and silt deposition) add

to its magnificence.


Threats Faced By The Island

The island lost around one-third of its area in the last 30-40 years due to frequent

flooding of the river leading to erosion of its shoreline.

Not only the Brahmaputra, but also seismic activities have affected the geological,

ecological, and biological coordinates of Majuli.

Apart from its shrinking base and area many of its biological species are either

shifting or dying due to ongoing ecological changes.

Measures

Majuli Island Protection and Development Council, a non-government organization

promoted by the people of Majuli, to promote the conservation and development of

the Island.

The organization is to building up mass awareness about the perilous future of this

unique Island and its shrinking shoreline due to rapid erosion

9.3 IUCN and 25th World Conservation Congress

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is conducting its 25th

World Conservation Congress in Hawaii. The last Congress was held in Jeju, South

Korea in 2012.

US is hosting the event for the first time.

Theme: The theme for this year’s IUCN Congress is ‘Planet at the crossroads’.

Objectives and Agenda

The Congress aims to improve management of natural environment for human,

social and economic development.

The IUCN Congress also focuses on creating good environmental governance,

engaging all parts of society to share both the responsibilities and the benefits of

conservation.

The main issues to be discussed at the Congress are wildlife trafficking, ocean

conservation, nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation,

and private investment in conservation.


The IUCN Congress is expected to set the course for using nature based solutions to

help move millions out of poverty, creating a more sustainable economy and

restoring a healthier relationship with our planet.

IUCN congresses have produced several key international environmental

agreements including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention

on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the World Heritage

Convention, and the Ramsar Convention on wetlands.

About IUCN

IUCN was founded in October 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of

Nature (or IUPN) following an international conference in Fontainebleau, France.

In 1956 it was renamed as International Union for Conservation of Nature and

Natural Resources with the acronym IUCN.

IUCN is the world’s first global environmental organization. Today it is the largest

professional global conservation network, headquartered at Geneva.

IUCN provides governments and institutions at all levels with the impetus to achieve

universal goals, including on biodiversity, climate change and sustainable

development.

The IUCN Red List is set upon precise criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of

thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and

all regions of the world.

The aim is to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and

policymakers, as well as help the international community to try to reduce species

extinction.

Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups, set through criteria

such as rate of decline, population size, area of geographic distribution, and degree

of population and distribution fragmentation.


9.4 Environmental Governance At Odds With The Good Governance

What Is The Issue

There is a concern from some quarters that Environmental Ministry is paying a lip

service to the forest conservation while rules to meet the demands of development in

process compromising India’s ecological security. Since 2011, it has consistently

ignored the Supreme Court’s direction on the appointment of a national regulator for enforcing environmental conditions and to impose penalties.

It is being alleged that the MoEF has turned into a virtual project-clearing house. In

March 2015 it operationalised the online single-window clearance system with rarely

any project getting rejected.

NBWL Loses Its Ground

The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a crucial statutory committee consisting of

47 members chaired by the Prime Minister. Its mandate is to promote conservation

of wildlife and Protected Areas (PAs).

As per The Wildlife (Protection) Act the NBWL (not the government) has to constitute

a 10-member standing committee chaired by the Environment Minister.

The standing committee has assumed all powers of the NBWL and is operating

independently. This has serious consequences for wildlife. Committee is clearing

projects seeking entry into Protected Areas which are important to buffer impacts

and ensure landscape connectivity.

The Wildlife (Protection) Act unambiguously mandates that there shall be no

destruction or diversion of habitat unless it is for the improvement and better

management of wildlife. However the cleared projects run contrary to these

objectives.

Dilution of Laws

Ministry is also diluting regulations through a slew of circulars/guidelines. In the last

two years the guidelines on diversion of forest land for all linear projects such as new

roads, widening of highways, railway lines, etc. were simplified with an amendment

that Stage I clearance will also be a deemed working permission for commencement

of work and felling of trees.

These dilutions vary from sectors ranging from mining to power. Extension of Mining

Leases from 30 years to 50 years based upon the Mines and Minerals (Development

& Regulation) Amendment Ordinance, 2015.


These dilutions have greatly contributed to fast-track clearances of nearly 50,000

hectares of forest land between June 2014 and April 2016 which has affected the

tenets of environmental governance.

What Is The Challenge

The most crucial governance challenge for the Ministry is how to balance development

imperatives without compromising on ecological security. However, ensuring ease of

doing business appears to have become its main business, which is tantamount to

abdication of its constitutional and legal duty.

What Should Be Done

The Ministry needs to abandon outdated ideas like Compensatory Afforestation

which doesn’t actually compensate the diversion of more natural forests. More reliable approach would be knowledge-driven plans to resolve competing

demands.

The need of the hour is to consider the conservation as a means to achieve

development, rather than considering it to be anti-growth. Credible action in the

clearance process will not only result in good governance but also lead to

conservation of forests and wildlife.

9.5 G20 Countries Score Poorly In Climate Goals Report

What Is The News

Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of G20 countries are rising consistently,

according to the report of Climate Transparency, an open global consortium,

brought ahead of the 2016 G20 Hangzhou summit to be held in China in September.

Climate Transparency was co-founded under the leadership of Peter Eigen, Founder

of Transparency International and Alvaro Umaña, former Minister of Environment

and Energy, Costa Rica in 2014.

What The Report Says

Between 1990 and 2013, the absolute carbon dioxide emissions of G20 countries,

which account for three-fourths of global CO2 emissions, went up by 56 per cent, the

report highlights.

Report analysed key indicators, including carbon intensity and share of coal in

total electricity produced, to assess the performance of these countries.


It found that half of G20 countries have taken inadequate measures to curb climate

change. This is despite energy intensity and the carbon intensity of the G20

economies decreasing as overall economic activity increased.

India received a ‘medium’ rating with good scores for emissions, share of

renewables in total primary energy supply (TPES) and climate policy, but ‘poor’ scores in carbon intensity, share of coal in TPES and electricity emissions.

The worst overall performers were Australia, Argentina, Japan, Russia, Saudi

Arabia and South Africa.

The carbon intensity of the energy sector was found increasing, due to the strong

and continuing role that coal plays.

Most of the G20 countries rely heavily on coal in their primary energy supply due to

a large number of new coal-fired power plants(both operational and planned) which if

realised, would almost double coal capacity but would fail to keep the temperature

increase to below 2°C, let alone 1.5˚C as mandated by the 2015 Paris climate

agreement.

Of all the G20 member-states, Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United

States stand out with by far the highest per capita energy-related CO2 emissions.

China’s per capita emissions were found to be above the G20 average: at 38%, with

China having the highest economic growth rate between 2008 and 2013.

The coal share of China, India, South Africa and Turkey will remain clearly above the

maximum 2˚C benchmark until 2030, the report notes.

Challenge Of Investment Gap

To keep temperatures below 2°C rise by 2035, G20 countries face challenge of

raising the investment of almost $ 340 billion/year in the power sector.

G20 governments provided, on average, almost $ 70 billion in subsidies for fossil fuel

production between 2013 and 2014, thus shrinking the scope of green investments.

This was despite G20 leaders pledging to phase out ‘inefficient’ fossil fuel subsidies in 2009. The report also points out that reducing fossil fuel subsidies could

theoretically create fiscal space for more international climate finance.


9.6 Himachal Pradesh Pulls Petition Blocking Tribal Challenge To Power Project

Himachal Pradesh has withdrawn a court petition challenging the right of indigenous

people to oppose a power plant on forest land. Earlier, Himachal had taken the stand

that indigenous people were unskilled and incapable of taking informed decisions on

technical matters.

What Is The Background

Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation, a state enterprise, had appealed in SC

against an order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directing it to seek consent

from four village councils for the hydroelectric project, in accordance with the Forest

Rights Act.

India's Forest Rights Act of 2006 gives indigenous people and forest dwellers the

right to manage and govern their traditional forests and resources. Any infrastructure

or development project that requires forest land to be cleared needs the consent of

the gram sabha, or village council.

What Was The Threat Posed By The Project

The village councils in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh had raised the concerns

about the environmental damage from the power project. The area, known for

growing apples, is fragile and eco sensitive. The plant could ruin livelihoods by

destroying the apple orchids.

Long term threat lies in diversion of natural flows of Himalayan rivers, submersion of

large tracts of land thus destroying both ecology and wildlife.

Project would also lead to landslides and avalanches triggering potential

earthquakes thus increasing the risk of disasters in this geologically unstable region.

Why Such Conflicts Are Increasing

Conflicts over land in India have increased as one of the world's fastest growing

major economies expands, and land is sought for industrial use and development

projects.

While several laws have been introduced in the past decade to protect the rights of

farmers and indigenous people, some laws have been diluted in their implementation

and not always helped the vulnerable.


Way forward

Need for wider public consultations and involvement of all stakeholders in participative

approach along with proper implementation of laws made for the protection of different

vulnerable sections along with focus on developmental imperatives.

9.7 Anthropocene: Human Induced But Possibly Destructive Epoch

What Is The Context Of The Issue

In a recent meeting of geoscientists at Cape Town, South Africa, mankind’s profound impact on Mother Earth in recent years was deliberated.

According to them it is time to describe a new geological epoch in the history of

earth, calling it Anthropocene possibly starting in 1950 with the end of Holocene an

earlier epoch when the last Ice Age occurred.

At that time, most of the Ice Age animals - the woolly mammoths, sabre-toothed

tigers and giant bears - had died out, and by 11,000 years ago, humans had

occupied a significant part of the earth as hunter gatherers as well as settled

communities, inventing farming and agriculture.

Need Of Redefining The Epoch From A Natural One Into A Man-Induced One

Back 11,000 years ago, the carbon dioxide (or CO2) level in the atmosphere

surrounding the globe was about 220 parts per million (ppm); even 8,000 years ago,

it was about 260 ppm. But, when the industrial revolution started extensive use of

coal as the fuel for transport and industry along with carbon rich oil (petroleum) and

natural gas led to liberation of CO2.

Non-stop burning of fossil fuels for industry, transport and other uses over these

years has accumulated a large amount of CO2, which does not escape the earth

(thanks to the gravitational pull of the earth; lighter gases such as hydrogen or

helium gases escape, which is why they are not earthbound).

Thus, over time, the level of CO2 in the atmosphere has shot up from 280 ppm at the

start of the Industrial Revolution to 413 ppm today.

What Is The Impact

CO2 being a Greenhouse gas lets sunlight in, but traps the heat radiation that the

earth and its oceans emit in return. (The same effect is utilised in greenhouses,


where plants and vegetables are grown in cold climate; hence the name greenhouse

effect).

Due to increase in level of CO2, the average surface temperature over these two

centuries has gone up by 1.5 degrees. This has also started melting glaciers and

raised the sea level by 3.2 mm every year.

Maldives, the island nation, is worried that some of its islands may be submerged in

the near future, and had actually asked Australia whether they could buy land and

move there.

Added to the warming of the oceans and landmass caused by the Greenhouse

gases (CO2, NO, Ozone, methane…), are the plastics and their debris, dumped

across the world and its oceans. Plastic pollution is more recent phenomenon but

even dangerous.

In addition, increase in human population from 1.2 billion in 1850 to the current 7

billion, has led to massive destruction of forests and animals.

Green House Gas Catastrophe

These events are similar to “Oxygen Catastrophe” or the Great Oxygenation Event) which occurred about 2.4 billion years ago when microbes called cyan bacteria,

during the process of photosynthesis, emitted oxygen gas (O2) as the waste material

on large scale.

Some of this was ‘fixed’ by iron and organic matter of earth, but the rest soon led the ‘poisonous’ gas, oxygen, attain levels of about 20 per cent in the air. This burnt off many living forms and it took a long time before oxygen- using life forms (aerobics)

started flourishing about 500 million years later.

What Should We Do

We have to drastically cut down the use of fossil fuels, plastics and all other material that

have led to climate change. Development of renewable energy and sustainable

development is the only way for us ahead.

9.8 Sugarcane Waste Yields Carbon For Use In Batteries

Why In News

Researchers from Pune’s National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) have been successful in converting the


sugarcane bagasse into anode-grade porous, conducting, activated carbon material for

use in Li-ion batteries.

Key Features of The Process

The quality of carbon used for electrodes depends on the choice of precursors and

the process used for converting the precursors into carbon.

Anode-grade carbon is generally produced through decomposition at nearly 1000

degree Celsius.

The electrical energy input is reduced substantially. The initial carbonisation is

carried out by mixing bagasse with concentrated sulphuric acid.

Acid treatment helps to remove the inorganic impurities present in bagasse get. This

helps in graphitisation and formation of pores thus optimising conductivity.

Porosity is important as lithium ions come through liquid electrolyte and must reach

different parts of the carbon anode. Optimum porosity is needed for accessibility of

lithium ions.

What Are The Benefits

Currently making anode-grade carbon is very expensive and time-consuming, while

the new high-quality carbon was produced within minutes by using a low power

microwave system.

Superior quality of carbon is produced compared to the carbon made through other

complicated schemes and processes.

Enhances the battery performance and life.

Increased value of energy density and power density using the carbon anode

compared to the traditional carbon.

Higher performance in terms of stability for a large number of charging and

discharging cycles.

More environment friendly due to reduced emissions.


9.9 Wildlife Panel Clears First Phase Of Ken-Betwa Project

Why In News

India’s first interstate river interlinking project has been cleared by the National Board for

Wildlife (NBWL).This would be the first time that a river project will be located within a

tiger reserve.

Key Feature

230-km long canal and a series of barrages and dams connecting the Ken and

Betwa rivers that will irrigate 3.5 lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 14,000

hectares of Uttar Pradesh, in Bundelkhand. The key projects are the Makodia and

Dhaudhan dams.

Ken-Betwa project will irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region, both in Uttar

Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Both sates will be benefited from assured irrigation

supply, domestic and industrial water supply and power.

Concerns Associated

A key point of contention is whether the height of the Dhaudhan dam could be

reduced to limit the water overflow and contain its subsequent impact. Dhaudhan

dam will submerge about 10 per cent of the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya

Pradesh, feted as a model tiger-conservation reserve.

The Water Ministry had opposed as it would compromise the economic viability of

the project.

There were also concerns that vulture and gharial habitat in the region would be

affected.

Measures Suggested To Minimise The Impact Of Project

Government will be buying private land (agricultural) in lieu of the forest land

destroyed. This is to ensure that the tiger habitat doesn’t get fragmented due to the project.

No new mining leases would be allowed in the delineated tiger dispersal routes.

Existing mining leases to be extended only in case of concrete justification.

Proposed hydro-power project would be located outside the reserve.


9.10 BRICS To Set Up Joint Working Group For Environment Issues

What Is The Context

BRICS nations have recently announced setting up of a joint working group,

institutionalising their mutual cooperation on green issues. Memorandum of

understanding (MoU) was signed in this regard.

Where Lays The Scope Of Cooperation

BRICS has a major role to play in the global arena, particularly in areas like air

quality, water management, waste management.

Technology transfer is the key area because technological innovation and

breakthrough in climate mitigation and renewable energy will play a critical role in

mitigation of adverse impact of climate change.

Along with technology finance is the other major area where pooling of resources

through innovative measures like environmental cess and carbon tax will ensure the

sustainable funding on a wider scale.

What Is The Outcome

The BRICS countries have decided to set up a platform for innovations, knowledge

sharing and capacity building including a common website, network of technical

institutions and undertake joint projects in areas of mutual interest.

It was decided to share the advances in specific technologies by transferring that

technology to other nations.

BRICS countries reaffirmed their commitment to the Principles of Rio Declaration on

Environment and Development, 1992, including equality and common but

differentiated responsibilities.

9.11 Government Declares BS-VI Rollout From 2020

Why In News

The Union transport ministry has decided to notify the introduction of BS-VI emission

norms for all vehicles from April 2020, overriding a demand from auto manufacturers

to push its rollout by five years.

Bharat VI is the sixth stage or level of emissions control standards an Indian

equivalent of Euro VI standards.


Introduced in 2000, the Bharat norms are emission control standards put in place by

the government to keep a check on air pollution. Based on the European regulations

(Euro norms), these standards prescribe specifications/limits for the release of air

pollutants from equipment using internal combustion engines, including vehicles.

Why Urgency To Introduce Them?

Implementation of the BS V standard was originally scheduled for 2019. This has

now been skipped. BS VI, originally proposed to come in by 2024, has now been

advanced to 2020 instead.

The urgency to maintain the deadline for the introduction of BS-VI, which is the

strictest yet limit on emissions in India, has been prompted by the rising concerns

over air pollution, particularly in large cities such as Delhi and Mumbai.

Emissions from vehicles account for at least 14% of the air pollution in cities. Courts

have imposed stringent restrictions on the sale of diesel vehicles in an effort to curb

pollution, while there have been calls for using cleaner fuels.

What Changes Bharat VI Norms Will Bring In Indian Vehicles?

Vehicles must be fitted with DPF (diesel particulate filter) for Particulate Matter (PM)

reduction.

Vehicles will also have to be equipped with an SCR (selective catalytic reduction)

module to reduce oxides of nitrogen.

To attain the specified super low emissions, all reactions have to be precise, and

controlled by microprocessors.

Manufacturers will also need to make petrol engines more fuel-efficient as CO

emission levels will also need to be controlled. This may lead to a shift

towards gasoline direct injection engines.

Hybrids will get more and more popular as they help to cut down on emissions,

maintain performance levels and boost fuel economy.

Cars will get more expensive as emission cutting equipment on cars is pricey. This

is particularly true in case of diesels, which need much more effort to stay clean.

Alternate fuels like electric cars, CNG, ethanol blends, LPG and petrol-electric and

diesel-electric hybrids will be in much more demand.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/air-pollution


Why Indian Automobile Industry Is Opposing It?

Moving to Bharat VI will need a 1.5 lakh Crores worth upgrade in oil refining

infrastructure.

The biggest impediment to Bharat VI norms will be the availability of Bharat VI

compliant fuel, both petrol and diesel.

In India, where small cars are preferred, fitting DPF in the limited bonnet space

would involve major design and re-engineering work.

9.12 Environment Ministry To Allow Hydropower Projects In Bhagirathi ESZ

What is The Context

The environment ministry has decided to permit 10 hydroelectric power projects

(HEPs) of a total capacity of 82.3 MW in the area notified as the Bhagirathi eco-

sensitive zone (ESZ) in Uttarkashi region of Utterakhand.

According to norms, a 100 kilometre stretch of the river Bhagirathi from Gomukh to

Uttarkashi was declared as an eco-sensitive. The notification mentions that HEPs of

only upto 2 MW can be built in the notified area.

But, the State government has urged the Environment Ministry to increase the

amendments in the limit to include the HEPs of upto 25 MW capacity.

The ministry has asked the Uttarakhand government to conduct a Carrying

Capacity Study of a Bhagirathi River Basin to assess the feasibility of the projects. It

also called for Cumulative Impact Assessment Study for establishment of HEPs in

the Bhagirathi River Basin.

Eco Sensitive Zones And The Restrictions

ESZs are the restricted areas as per Environmental Protection Act in which any

industries, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes is

prohibited by the centre. If permitted, it has to be carried out with certain safeguards.

The prohibitions or restrictions are on the basis of considerations like the biological

diversity of an area, maximum allowable limits of concentration of pollutants for an

area, environmentally compatible land use, and proximity to protected areas.

These also include Species Based (Endemism, Rarity etc), Ecosystem Based

(sacred groves, frontier forests etc) and Geomorphologic feature based (uninhabited

islands, origins of rivers etc).


9.13 Quarrying Destroys Laggar Falcon Habitat In Madurai

Why In News

Only two Laggar Falcons survive on the rock cliffs of Arittapatti near Melur in the

Madurai district. They are probably the only birds spotted in the entire south Indian

region in the last two years. There is no record of spotting Laggar Falcons on eBird,

a US-based web page for birders.

The Laggar falcon global population was estimated at 15,000 to 30,000 individual

birds. Madurai was once a paradise for 17 species of raptors, which could feed on

the then plentifully available reptiles.

The spread of agriculture and use of pesticides, trapping and capture for falconry

and habitat destruction are the main threats to the survival of these species of birds.

Reasons specific to Madurai Falcon

Due to sand quarrying, Madurai lost its Vaigai-based biodiversity, including hundreds

of Brahminy Kites, Black Kites and native fishes.

Stone especially granite quarrying destroyed the habitat and nesting spots of raptors

and other birds, including eagles, falcons and owls.

Cutting of palm trees, which is a nesting spot of many raptor species, is also one of

the reasons for the disappearance of the birds.

Who Are They

Laggar Falcons are an indigenous raptor species, which can hunt and fly at speeds

of up to 180 kmph. Apart from the Laggar Falcons, a few Peregrine Falcons who are

among the fastest flying falcons, also reside in this area.

These falcon species are distributed in India, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal,

Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and

listed these falcon species as "Near Threatened".

Birds are the greatest indicators of climate change, and of loss of habitat and

biodiversity. The species nest only on rock cliffs unreachable to humans.


9.14 In Rwanda, India To Seek Just Deal On Phasing Out Of HFCs

What Is The News

Nearly 200 countries are gearing up to meet in Kigali, Rwanda next month to discuss

amendment to 1987 Montreal Protocol.

The countries are expected to set a 'freezing year' to phase down the production and

consumption of the HFC which has huge global warming potential. The 'freezing

year' is the year when use of HFCs will peak before being rapidly scaled down and

finally phased out altogether.

There are indications that the countries may finally agree for 2025 or 2026 as

'freezing year', provided the developing countries including India are promised

adequate funding from multilateral fund.

Alternatively, the countries will agree for different 'freezing years' for developed and

developing countries, taking in view their consumption patterns of the climate-

damaging refrigerants.

What Is India’s Stand

India wants funding for research and development of low global warming potential

(GWP) alternatives and capacity building so that the technological transition can

be achieved.

Rich nations led by the US want an early 'freezing year' (2021), while India has been

insisting to use HFCs till 2031 before phasing them out.

India has proposed that in order to phase out the HFCs, the developed countries

must take the lead and begin the process immediately and then developing countries

could join the process when the former have already reduced the HFCs by 80 per

cent.

India would seek an equitable agreement that is in the best interests of the nation, its

people as well as the larger global community. The country would take any decision

that will protect the interests of its domestic industries and consumers.

What Are HFCs

HFCs (Hydro Fluro Carbons) are used as coolants in air-conditioners and refrigerators.

The chemicals were introduced to replace the ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons and

hydrochlorocarbons on a large scale. While HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer, most

of them are potent greenhouse gases.


What Is Montreal Protocol

The Montreal Protocol, on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to

the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an

international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production

of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. It was agreed on

in 1987, and entered into force in 1989.

The treaty is structured around several groups of halogenated hydrocarbons that

deplete stratospheric ozone. All of the ozone depleting substances controlled by the

Montreal Protocol contain either chlorine or bromine (substances containing

only fluorine do not harm the ozone layer).

Some ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) are not yet controlled by the Montreal

Protocol, including nitrous oxide (NOx).

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