08 Dec 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 08 Dec 2021:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Vaccine coverage of people with disabilities is low, figures show
2. ‘Judicial inaction favors those in power’
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Biden holds talks with Putin, warns against Ukraine invasion
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
POLITY AND CONSTITUTION
1. Mediation Bill: Not getting the Act together
INTERNAL SECURITY
1. A monumental mistake fomented by impunity
HEALTH
1. Health account numbers that require closer scrutiny
F. Prelims Facts
G. Tidbits
1. Silent Victims of Violence
2. China’s export growth slows, imports quicken on demand
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Topics: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential

Prelims: Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act

Mains: Challenges of Persons with Disabilities in Accessing Vaccines

Context: 

Very few people with disabilities have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Disability in India:

• Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016
  • The Act repeals the 1995 Act on Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights, and Full Participation).
  • It complies with India’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
  • The Act covers specified disabilities such as Blindness, Low-vision, Leprosy Cured persons, Hearing Impairment (deaf and hard of hearing), Locomotor Disability, Dwarfism, Sickle Cell Disease, Multiple Disabilities including deaf-blindness, Acid Attack victims, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
  • Read more on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in the linked article.
• Constitutional Provisions on Disability in India:
  • Fundamental Rights: Part-III of the Constitution provides for a set of six Fundamental Rights to all the citizens.
  • Article 41 of the Constitution of India declares that the State shall make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of disablement and in other cases of underserved want.
  • Article 46 lays down an obligation on the State to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. 

Challenges of Persons with Disabilities in Accessing Vaccines:

1. Lack of Access and Availability: There are issues with vaccination supply availability and uptake, prioritizing, and concentrated efforts for accessibility, inclusion, and outreach for individuals with disabilities.
2. Vaccine inequality: Vaccine inequity ignores a variety of social aspects as well as living situations, such as the need for in-person care or living in a communal environment.
3. Worse Consequences: Higher comorbidity rates have resulted in disproportionately worse consequences for persons with disabilities, such as physical, intellectual, and sensory impairments.
4. Lack of Systematic Data: There is a lack of systematic collection of disability-disaggregated data. As a result, disability campaigners and supporters have had minimal success in their appeals for disabled persons to be prioritized.
5. Structural Challenges: Registration for immunization is a major challenge for disadvantaged PwDs. They don’t all have cell phones or the capacity to travel to a registration centre.
6. Lack of Awareness: Furthermore, some families are hesitant to take handicapped people, particularly girls and women with impairments, to healthcare clinics for vaccinations.

Recommendations:

1. Differently-abled people should be vaccinated with special provisions and processes.
2. Civil society participation in the targeted immunization campaign.
3. Assuring that PwDs have access to immunisation centres.
4. Overcome vaccine hesitation among the community, it is more vital to raise public awareness and provide accurate information about immunisation.
5. Specialised health care service professionals are needed to treat mentally retarded people who are currently experiencing challenges with their treatment.
6. Linking vaccination with Government entitlement programmes, such as MGNREGS.
7. Making an available database of all individuals with disabilities with the local government.
8. All PwDs should be given an Antyodaya card and their rations and pensions should be released immediately.
9. Immediate livelihood assistance to PwD households to provide a dignified and hopeful existence.

Conclusion:

Persons with Disabilities are overlooked in all aspects of society, and vaccination is no exception. However, where the COVID-19 pandemic and natural calamities have shattered the economy’s backbone, their inclusion must be intentionally prioritized in order for them to live a life of dignity.

2. ‘Judicial inaction favors those in power’

Topics: Structure, Organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary.

Prelims: Judiciary’s Inaction, Militant Majoritarianism

Mains: Concerns Associated with Inaction of Judiciary.

Context:

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor recently criticized the Judiciary’s “inaction”. He also said the judiciary had failed to stem the tide of “militant majoritarianism”.

What does the Judiciary’s Inaction mean?

• In India, the problem of judicial activism has been confounded and exacerbated by the Executive’s and sometimes even the Legislature’s inactivity, leaving the people with little choice but to turn to the courts.
• There is nothing wrong with courts intervening to protect citizens from the Executive’s excesses or inactivity, or to enforce citizens’ rights.
• The line between judicial activism and excess is narrow. When judicial activism touches on policy areas that the Executive perceives to be solely its domain, a problem occurs.
• In many circumstances, rather than granting mandamus to the Executive, the Supreme Court and numerous high courts have taken on Executive tasks by establishing their own systems to regularly review cases.

Militant Majoritarianism

• India’s incapacity to respond to radical majoritarianism is becoming a catastrophe. There is no effective opposition in politics, and there is no effective opposition in society. 
• Academics and the media are frequently the focal points of such pushback in liberal democracies across the world.
• In India, whereas the media intellectual is admired but not taken seriously, academics have never had an impact.

Concerns with Judiciary’s Inaction:

• Inaction on the part of the Judiciary nearly always benefits those in power. 
• The Supreme Court’s continuous passivity has not only allowed the government’s violations against people to go unpunished, but it has also caused some opponents to question if the court can be deemed an accomplice to the violation of constitutional rights.
• However, many of these issues are the result of inadequate governance.
• The independence of the Supreme Court (SC) has been questioned in recent years, with the primary issue being the government’s significant influence on judicial appointments and transfers.

Conclusion:

The Indian judiciary has been characterized as an overly ambitious organization that really seeks to address people’s issues. The courts will have to make a calculated retreat as the government improves. It’s past time for judges to accept that there isn’t a legal remedy to every issue. But before complaining about judicial overreach, the Executive must first offer excellent governance.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Biden holds talks with Putin, warns against Ukraine invasion

Topics: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Prelims: Geographical Location of Ukraine; Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Mains: Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Global Concerns 

Context:

The US President warned of painful sanctions and increased military support for Eastern Europe if Russia invades Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict:

• Ukraine and Russia have shared cultural, linguistic, and family ties for hundreds of years. 
• Ukraine was the Soviet Union’s second-most powerful republic after Russia, and it played a critical geopolitical, economic, and cultural role.
• Ukraine has borders with both the EU and Russia, but being a former Soviet republic, it has strong social and cultural links with Russia, with Russian being widely spoken.
• Russia has long opposed Ukraine’s progress toward European institutions, and one of its main demands is that it never joins NATO or has NATO facilities on its territory.
• Russia, according to Ukraine, has dispatched tanks, artillery, and snipers to the front lines in rebel-held territory. 
• The alleged 90,000-plus Russian military within striking distance of the Ukrainian border is causing the most alarm.
• Russia, according to Western intelligence services and Ukraine, might represent a serious danger in early 2022.

Important Stakeholders:

US and EU

• The US remains committed to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty being restored. 
• It rejects Russia’s claims to Crimea and urges Russia and Ukraine to use the Minsk accords to address the Donbas conflict.
• In the event of military action on the Ukraine border, US and EU officials have suggested they may slap tough penalties on Russia if diplomatic attempts to avert the invasion fail.
• Any military action by the United States or the European Union against Russia would spark a global catastrophe.

NATO

• NATO countries conduct cooperative military exercises with Ukraine on a yearly basis, such as Sea Breeze and Rapid Trident. 
• Ukraine’s ambition is to join NATO as a full member in the future, despite the fact that it is now a non-member. 
• Ukraine was one of just six enhanced opportunity partners, a unique designation reserved for NATO’s closest allies, such as Australia, in 2020.
• Russia is seeking assurances from the US that Ukraine would not be admitted to NATO as it puts a big number of troops closer to the border.
• The US, on the other hand, has made it clear that it is not willing to provide such assurances.

Image source: BBC

Conclusion:

Many see the situation in Ukraine as part of a resurgent geopolitical competition between the West and Russia. In order to obtain sanctions relief and other concessions from the West, Russia is keeping tensions near the Ukraine border high. To prevent military action, frantic diplomatic efforts involving US, European, Ukrainian, and Russian officials are underway.

Category: INTERNAL SECURITY

1. A monumental mistake fomented by impunity

Topic: Challenges to internal security, Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security, 

Prelims: States under AFSPA, Act.

Mains:  AFSPA and controversies surrounding it

Context: The death of 13 civilians by Armed Forces in Nagaland has brought back the debate on AFSPA and controversies surrounding it.

Issue: 

• 14 civilians in Mon district of Nagaland, home of the Konyak Nagas, have lost their lives in firing by para commandos of the Indian Army based in Jorhat.
• In the wake of public outrage against the killings, the Nagaland govt has urged the Centre to repeal AFSPA from Nagaland.

What is AFSPA (Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA))?

• It gives powers to the army, state and central police forces to shoot to kill, search houses and destroy any property that is “likely” to be used by insurgents in areas declared as “disturbed” by the home ministry.
• AFSPA is invoked when a case of militancy or insurgency takes place and the territorial integrity of India is at risk.
• Security forces can “arrest a person without a warrant”, who has committed or is even “about to commit a cognizable offence” even based on “reasonable suspicion”.
• It also provides security forces with legal immunity for their actions in disturbed areas.

Where is AFSPA in effect now?

• Currently, AFSPA is in effect in Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven assembly constituencies of Imphal) and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has recently declared the entire Nagaland as a “disturbed area” for six more months till December 31 this year, under the AFSPA.

Controversies surrounding  AFSPA

• AFSPA has often been criticised as a “draconian Act” for the unbridled power it gives to the armed forces and the impunity that security personnel enjoy for their actions taken under the law.
• Under AFSPA, the “armed forces” may shoot to kill or destroy a building on mere suspicion. While the armed forces and the government justify its need in order to combat militancy and insurgency, critics have pointed out cases of possible human rights violations linked to the act.
• Once AFSPA is implemented, “no prosecution shall be instituted except with the previous sanction of the central government, in respect of anything done or purported to be done” under this Act.
• The Jeevan Reddy Committee formed in 2004 had recommended a complete repeal of the law. 

How has AFSPA been received by the people?

• In Manipur, AFSPA had been withdrawn from the Imphal Municipal area after public agitation and civil society campaigns following the atrocious rapes and fake encounter killings.

Conclusion:

• The tragic development may have a lasting impact on the ongoing Naga peace process that is now presumed to be in its final stage. It also has the ability to rekindle the narrative of India versus the Naga people. Insurgent organisations might utilise the tragedy to recruit and even enhance their positions.
• Therefore, peace in the region now depends greatly on the Indian state’s ability to say sorry from the heart and not just bargain for just another quid pro quo truce in the present tragedy. The saying sorry could also be accompanied by a gesture such as declaring AFSPA, which has come to be seen as a symbol of oppression across the region, abrogated.

Read more on this issue in CNA dated Dec 7, 2021.
Category: HEALTH

1. Health account numbers that require closer scrutiny

Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Prelims: National Health Accounts (NHA) report for 2017-18

Mains: Highlights and issues of National Health Accounts (NHA) report for 2017-18

Context:  National Health Accounts (NHA) report for 2017-18 released shows an increase in public spending on health and a decline in out-of-pocket expenditure.

Highlights of the report:

• NHA report for 2017-18 clearly shows an increase in the share of government health expenditure in the total GDP of the country. It has increased from 1.15% in 2013-14 to 1.35% in 2017-18.
• Government Health Expenditure as a percentage of overall health expenditure has also increased over time. In 2017-18, the share of government expenditure was 40.8%, which is much higher than 28.6% in 2013-14.
• Between 2013-14 to 2017-18, in per capita terms, the government health expenditure has increased from Rs 1042 to Rs 1753.
• Out-of-pocket expenditure as a percentage of total health expenditure has come down to 48.8% in 2017-18 from 64.2% in 2013-14 due to the rise in Government Health Expenditure. 

Issues with National Health Accounts (NHA) report for 2017-18

Increased public spending on health care may not benefit the general population:

• Much of this increase has actually happened on account of a tripling of expenditure of the Defence Medical Services (DMS). Though the increased spending for the health of defence personnel is a good thing, such spending does not benefit the general population.

The problem in accounting capital expenditure:

• Counting the capital expenditure by NHA for a specific year leads to severe overcounting as the capital expenditure incurred is used for the lifetime of the capital created and the use does not get limited to that particular year in which expenditure is incurred. If we take out the capital expenditure, current health expenditure comes down to only 0.97% of GDP. This is only a marginal increase.

The decline in out-of-pocket expenditure could be due to a decline in utilisation of care:

• NSSO 2017-18 data suggest that utilisation of hospitalisation care has declined compared to 2014 NSSO estimates for almost all States and for various sections of society. The decline in out-of-pocket expenditure is essentially due to a decline in utilisation of care rather than greater financial protection or increased public spending.
• NSSO survey happened just after six months of demonetisation and almost at the same time when the Goods and Services Tax was introduced. As purchasing power declined, after demonetisation, healthcare would have become more unaffordable, forcing people to forgo care.

Conclusion

• It can be argued that much of the increased public spending is not going to benefit the common people as it is mostly a one-time investment for defence personnel. 
• The reduction of out-of-pocket expenditure could be a sign of distress and a result of methodological limitations, rather than a sign of increased financial protection.
• Nevertheless, the NHA report for 2017-18, will help us prepare for health-system enhancement in the post-Covid years.

2. China’s export growth slows, imports quicken on demand

• As an indication of greater domestic demand, China’s exports increased while imports also surged.
• Foreign demand has increased China’s exports at a time when other worldwide rivals are being restricted by anti-coronavirus measures.
• Stronger imports indicate that consumer and other demand is recovering following a downturn caused by the government’s drive on real estate debt. 

Q.1 Which of the following statements is/are correct?

Q.2 Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

Q.3 What are the key objectives of the new restructured scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj 
Abhiyan (RGSA)?

Q.4 What is the significance of NASA’s LCRD mission?

Q.5 Consider the following:

CNA 08 Dec 2021:- Download PDF Here