UPSC 2017: Comprehensive News Analysis - October 09

A. GS1 Related

B. GS2 Related

Context:

• Appointment of National Human Rights Commission chiefs.

In news:

• The Home Ministry has moved the Cabinet to amend the recruitment process of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
• Key Changes:
• Retired Supreme Court judge could also be considered for the Chairperson’s position, currently reserved for former Chief Justices of the Supreme Court.
• Similarly an amendment for appointment of members is also being considered. The members could be picked from a pool of retired Chief Justices of High Courts. Currently, a serving or retired SC judge is considered.
• The State Human Rights Commissions are also expected to see a change in the appointment procedure. Retired High Court judges could also be considered for the post of State Human Rights Commission chairperson, which is currently held by retired Chief Justices of High Courts.
• Key Fact:
• The NHRC was constituted under the Protection of Human Rights Act in 1993. The Act was last amended in 2006.
• The Commission consists of a chairperson, one member who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court, one member who is or has been the Chief Justice of a High Court and two members to be appointed from among persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights.
• The chairperson and members are appointed by the President on recommendations from a six-member committee chaired by the Prime Minister.
• What next?
• Once the Cabinet approves them, an amendment to the Protection of Human Rights Act would have to be ratified by Parliament.

Context:

• Simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

In news:

• The Election Commission opinion:
• All political parties need to be brought on board before such an exercise is carried out.
• Simultaneous elections will give enough time for incumbent government to formulate policies and implement programmes continuously for a longer time without interruptions caused by imposition of model code of conduct.
• Conducting the polls together would be possible only when necessary changes in the Constitution and Representation of the People Act are carried out.
• Situation at present:
• Existing legal and constitutional provisions mandates that elections are to be held within six months ahead of the end of the term of a State Assembly or the Lok Sabha.
• Requirements to hold simultaneous polls:
• Requirement of 24 lakh each Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) Machines.
• Two sets of EVMs — one for Lok Sabha and another for the Assembly polls.
• The Niti Aayog’s “Three Year Action Agenda, 2017-18 to 2019-20” report:
• The Niti Aayog has also favoured conducting synchronised two-phase Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from 2024 in “national interest”.
• All elections in India should happen in a free, fair and synchronised manner to ensure minimum “campaign mode” disruption to governance.

Context:

• U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is expected to visit India “later in October”.

Key Points:

• Tillerson will become the fourth senior U.S. official to visit New Delhi after the Trump Administration took over.
• Tillerson is expected to travel to both India and Pakistan on the same visit, indicating a sharp shift from precedent.
• Previously: During the Bush and Obama administrations, U.S. officials had avoided clubbing visits to New Delhi and Islamabad because of India’s sensitivities over a “hyphenation” of the U.S.’s relations with India and Pakistan.

New Afghan policy:

• The U.S. Secretary of State’s visit to India is likely to highlight growing ties between New Delhi and Washington, and growing cooperation between them on Afghanistan.

Context:

• Obstacles in the trade pact between India and the EU.

Change in global dynamics:

• Brexit
• Elections in Germany and France
• Visible rifts between eastern and western countries on what constitute core EU values
• Election in the US and consequent retreat of the US from its leadership of the west

Key Points:

• The reference to India and EU as “world’s largest democracies”- Such a statement is generally made with reference to sovereign countries. Interestingly, EU per se is not a sovereign country but a group of sovereign countries. Such a mention is more notable this time in light of the U.S.’s uncertain position on the international stage and EU’s need for a stronger union post Brexit.
• The countries have reiterated their commitment for a “Rules based” and “Multipolar” world–
• Rules based world: This term assumes significance on the backdrop of the US going back on its promises on Paris climate agreement and the probability of the same on the Iran Nuclear deal
• Multipolar world: The reference to multipolarity is a recognition that there is more than just one chair at the top table, not just with the U.S.’s shifting position but also due to Russia and China’s ascent.
• The India-EU joint statement on terrorism this year called for “decisive and concerted actions” against Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim, Lashkar-e-Taiba and other purveyors of terror; this will further bolster India’s efforts to call out Pakistan on the issue of sponsoring terror.

Roadblocks in talks on BTIA:

• Recent summits have been conspicuous by the absence of talks on the BTIA (Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement). There is disagreement on whether the protection of foreign investments will be part of the BTIA or dealt with in a stand-alone treaty
• Indian demand for liberalising the access to natural persons- India wanting a greater ease of movement of temporary skilled workers to provide services in the EU and the EU wanting greater market access for its automobiles and its wines and spirits. Wanting an open market for automobiles and liquor but unduly restricting the movement of natural persons (with barriers in terms of salary thresholds, recognition of qualifications, visa fees, social security and so forth) seems to be a case of double standards.
• EU not granting “data secure” certification to India – a condition that facilitates the cross-border transfer of personal data. India does not have a stand-alone law on data privacy and this could be acting as a barrier too as EU is very seriously taking steps to secure digital data privacy of its citizens.

Way forward:

Convergence of values and interests:

• EU is India’s largest trade partner (over 100 billion Euros in bilateral trade of goods and services last year). EU, like India, is also wary of China’s political and economic dominance.
• Uncertainty over EU’s future in the next decade: With Brexit and other important developments, there is no clarity about what presence will EU have in the next decade. Hence, cementing trade ties with India will help strengthen EU’s economic future.
• “Data secure” certification: India needs to enact a strong Data Privacy Law which protects the digital data privacy of its citizens. This is necessary to protect the economic interests of the Indian IT industry.
• India is right to strike a hard bargain as far as the temporary movement of skilled workers is concerned. The EU and other developed countries have been historically reluctant about moving forward on this and the issue has become more challenging with the rise of populism and protectionism in Europe.

Category: HEALTH ISSUES

1. Health ministry approves new tuberculosis drug

Category: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOLOGY

1. 16 balsam species found in 5 years in Arunachal

2. Odisha hikes compensation for deaths caused by wild animals

Category: AGRICULTURE

1. From Plate to Plough: What Gujarat did yesterday

Question 1. Strait of Dover is often seen in news, where is it located?

Question 2. Which among the following country has signed but not ratified The 
World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control?

Question 3. The Rail Development Authority will be responsible for

Question 4. Consider the following statement with reference to Phytorid waste 
water treatment technology:

Question 5. Which of the following launched India Innovation Index?

GS Paper I

GS Paper II

Also, check previous Daily News Analysis