CNA 23 Dec 2021:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. UNSC adopts resolution to ease Afghan assistance POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. ‘Changes to marriage age will contradict other laws’ C. GS 3 Related ECONOMY 1. The suspension of futures trading in agri products D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Troubled waters: On Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody 2. As a regional leader, not a victim of circumstance POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. Why the electoral reforms Bill is a problem? 2. Looking beyond the Forest Rights Act F. Prelims Facts 1. Indian Army inducts indigenously built AERVs G. Tidbits 1. House performed much below its potential, says Venkaiah 2. India adds 33 unicorns in one year, displaces U.K. H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. UNSC adopts resolution to ease Afghan assistance
Topic: Important International Institutions, agencies and fora – their Structure, Mandate.
Prelims: UNSC – powers and functions
Mains: Humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan
Context:
- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has passed a resolution permitting a carve-out in sanctions against the Taliban to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Background:
- The U.S. and other countries had frozen more than $10 billion and imposed several sanctions against the Taliban after it ousted the elected government in Afghanistan in August.
- Reports from international institutions like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had noted the sorry state of affairs of Afghanistan’s banking and financial system and an impending economic collapse. UNICEF had warned of disruptions in health and nutrition services in Afghanistan and a possible drought and food crisis in its report.
- The sanctions and freeze on Afghan assets were found to be impeding humanitarian work in the country.
Details:
- The carve-out covers urgently needed humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan. It would include activities related to shelter and settlement assistance, food security, education, livelihoods support, energy, water, sanitation, health, nutrition, and hygiene, among others.
Condition-based relief:
- The resolution mandates a review of the carve-out every six months. It also mandates a brief on the implementation of the carve-out every six months to the UNSC by an Emergency Relief Coordinator.
- It calls for the impartial distribution of the assistance especially to the most vulnerable, including women, children and minorities.
- It also seeks an assurance that the benefits of the assistance do not accrue to entities designated on the 1988 Sanctions List.
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. ‘Changes to marriage age will contradict other laws’
Topic: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Prelims: Legal age of competence as identified in different laws
Mains: Arguments for and against the proposal to raise the marriage age for girls from the current 18 to 21 years.
Context:
- The government’s proposal to raise the marriage age of girls from 18 to 21 by implementing an amendment to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
Concerns:
- The article expresses concerns over the proposal based on the following arguments.
- The amendments proposed contradicts laws where the legal age of competence is recognised as 18.
- 61st Constitution Amendment Act defines the voting age for elections to Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies as 18. Read more on the 61st Amendment in This Day in History dated Dec 20.
- As per the Majority Act, 1875 the age of majority is eighteen years and such a person is free to enter into a contract as per the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015 define a child as someone under the age of 18.
- Right to Education Act, 2009 defines a child as someone between the ages of six and 14.
- Child Labour Amendment act 2016 says a child is someone under the age of 14 and an adolescent is someone aged between 14 and 18.
- Some have pointed out that calling someone over the age of 18 a ‘child’, ready and fit to vote but not to marry, amounts to patronising and patriarchal attitude and hence goes against the constitutional morality.
- Also by making marriages under 21 years invalid, there is the threat of criminalising those who marry under this age and depriving them of protection under the law. Hence the move, as against enabling and empowering girls could in fact, deprive them of their rights.
- It overrides personal laws of Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Parsis, as well as the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Some have pointed out this goes against the Right to Freedom of Religion as envisaged under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.
- The amendments proposed contradicts laws where the legal age of competence is recognised as 18.
C. GS 3 Related
1. The suspension of futures trading in agri products
Topic: Marketing of Agricultural Produce and Issues
Prelims: Derivative contracts – meaning
Mains: Significance and concerns associated with the SEBI order to suspend trading in derivative contracts in select farm commodities
Context:
- The Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued directions to stock exchanges in the commodity derivatives segment for immediately suspending trading in derivative contracts in key farm commodities namely paddy (non-basmati), wheat, chana, mustard seeds and its derivatives, soya bean and its derivatives, crude palm oil & moong for a year.
Derivative contracts:
- Derivative contracts are contracts between two or more parties where the derivative value is based upon an underlying asset, in this case, agri commodities.
- Common derivatives include futures contracts, forwards, options, and swaps.
- Derivatives trading takes place when traders speculate on the future price of an asset through the buying or selling of derivative contracts as compared to buying the underlying asset outright. Prices for derivatives derive from price fluctuations in the underlying asset.
- These financial securities are commonly used to access certain markets and may be traded to hedge against risk. Derivatives can be also used to speculate on the directional movement of an underlying asset, or give leverage to holdings.
- Derivatives are usually leveraged instruments, which increase their potential risks and rewards.
- Derivatives can be traded on an exchange or over the counter (OTC). Commodity futures was initiated in India in 2003.
Reasons for SEBI’s orders:
- Given the role of speculators in increasing the price of agri commodities, the move is primarily aimed at controlling the rising prices of essential agri commodities which are fuelling inflation.
- As per the recent monetary policy statement, CPI inflation in October stood at 4.5%. The persistence of high core inflation (i.e., CPI inflation excluding food and fuel) since June 2020 has been an area of policy concern. RBI has projected CPI inflation at 5.3% for FY22.
- Since hedging has been made difficult, the move will lead to the release of blocked local produce supplies into the market which should cool the prices.
- The measure aimed to curb inflation is a much-needed move to support growth as the Indian economy recovers from the COVID-19 impact.
- In derivative trading, the ultimate objective is to profit. Thus derivative trading is viewed as a deterrent to bring in price discipline in the market and hence the necessity of the SEBI order.
Concerns:
- The move will make it difficult for edible oil importers and traders to transact business since they use Indian exchanges to hedge their risk. This will reduce the import of such commodities in the short term.
- India is the biggest importer of vegetable oil to fill more than 70% of its needs.
- The move will make unavailable risk management tools such as hedging across its food supply chain. This could spur inventory cuts and also scale back forward purchases. This may delay long-term purchases and sales, and even limit imports. This some experts have pointed out could threaten the food supply chain and fuel further volatility in the prices.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Troubled waters: On Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody
Topic: India and its neighbours.
Mains: India – Sri Lanka relations
Context: Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu are often arrested by Sri Lanka for fishing in its territorial waters. Sri Lankan authorities have seized more than 75 fishing boats already. Also, there have been cases of death like in January 2021, four fishermen from Ramanathapuram lost their lives in collision with Sri Lankan Naval craft.
Issues
- It is a livelihood issue for fishermen on both sides.
- Also, there is an environmental concern as Tamil Nadu fishermen use bottom trawlers.
- Moreover, frequent loss of lives has made it a humanitarian issue.
- Even many rounds of discussions involving both countries have not made tangible improvement in the situation.
- The fishing issue has been an ever-present sore in India – Sri Lanka relations.
Solution
- Need for improvement in the form of an Indian government scheme for replacing bottom trawlers with deep-sea fishing boats equipped with long lines and gill nets. The scheme has not taken off due to the limited planned unit cost and fishermen’s share accounting for 30% of this cost which they are unable to afford.
- Government should push for the adoption of sea cage farming and sea/ocean ranching by Indian fishermen as there is limited marine wealth on the Indian side of Palk Bay.
What are bottom Trawlers?
Bottom trawling is a fishing method that is indiscriminate in what it catches as it involves dragging a large fishing net with a wide mouth and enclosed end along the ocean floor. It harms the marine ecosystem and is banned in many countries including Sri Lanka.
2. As a regional leader, not a victim of circumstance
Topic: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests
Mains: India and its Neighborhood – Relations.
Recent changes in the Indian Ocean region:
In the past few years, the Indian Ocean region has been influenced by two trends – prudence in power projection by the USA in the region and China’s increasing assertiveness leading to territorial tensions. These trends have been exemplified by the American pull-out from Afghanistan and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indian response
There is a view that India has not been able to respond well to the changing dynamics in the region.
On Afghanistan
- India had not been able to predict U.S withdrawal especially after it signed the Doha Agreement of February 2020. India has not been able to affect outcomes in Afghanistan to its advantage either.
- Moreover, India has cancelled all visas to Afghans granted before August this year, thus, abandoning its friends and minorities (other than Sikh or Hindu).
- India is also trying to establish furtive links with the Taliban. Such stand shows that India is toeing the line of “western powers” and is not holding out for a better future for Afghanistan with a strong Indian presence.
On China
- China has been amassing its military along the Line of Actual Control for months now while the Indian government has been reluctant in admitting it. The Chinese actions could be because of the following reasons.
- to limit India’s efforts at building border infrastructure, bridges, and roads right up to the LAC;
- to limit any possible threat to Xinjiang and Tibet;
- to limit India’s ability to threaten China’s key Belt and Road project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and
- to blunt any plans as outlined by the Home Minister in 2019 to reclaim Aksai Chin and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) militarily by India.
- India’s attempts to get China to the negotiating table have met with little success.
Suggestions for India
- India should adhere to the democratic principles of the Indian Republic’s founders as a pluralistic, representative, inclusive power that respects the rights of each citizen, the media, and civil society as these are admired by its neighbours.
- India should not falter on its commitment to smaller neighbours like Bangladesh, Maldives.
- India should take utmost care in nurturing and strengthening its ties with these small but crucial nations in the Indian Ocean region.
- India should take measures to counter the growing Chinese influence in the region by adopting the principles of the Gujral doctrine vis-a-vis its smaller neighbours.
- New Delhi should overcome all attempts to cast it as a “middle power” that needs the support of other powers to decide its course rather than emerge as a maker of its own destiny. India should start taking independent foreign policy stands based on its own self-interests.
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Why the electoral reforms Bill is a problem?
Topic: Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Prelim: Representation of People’s Act.
Mains: The challenges of electoral scheme vis a vis Aadhaar linkages in India.
Context:
Recently, the Union Government passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Parliament, thereby amending the Representation of the People Act, 1950 by facilitating the linking of a person’s Aadhaar number with electoral roll data.
Provisions:
Linking of Aadhaar and electoral ID:
Read more on this in CNA dated Dec 21, 2021.
Challenges:
- Usage of vague terminology: The Registration Officer may “require” an individual to furnish their Aadhaar number in order to establish their identity. Despite the assurance that the absence of the Aadhaar shall not lead to deletion, the usage of the word ‘require’ is not defined in the amendment bill.
- Shifting the Burden of Proof: Instead of ensuring house-to-house verification and voter drives, the Government has shifted the burden upon the citizens to ensure that their identity is verified before the elections.
- Absence of Procedural Mechanism: In case of deletion of the name of any individual on failure to provide for the Aadhaar number as per the Rules prescribed by the Central Government, the Amendment Act is completely silent and does not provide for any mechanism.
- Chances of Political Profiling: By linking electoral IDs with Aadhaar numbers, it is much easier for the Government to track which voter has accessed welfare subsidies and benefits using their Aadhaar.
- Privacy Concerns: There have been credible reports in the media about the lack of suitable security mechanisms to protect the data of the Aadhaar Card by UIDAI. Under that threat, the data of voters from the largest democracy in the world may further lead to many privacy concerns. This has also been the experience considering the 2015 issue in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh when election IDs were linked with Aadhaar numbers.
- Lack of Any Compelling Need: The stated objective of the amendment bill is unfulfilled since there has been no issuance of data on the problem of bogus voters which needs to be resolved using Aadhaar registrations.
- Failure of Democratic Process: The dilution of the legislative processes has been observed when an important issue such as voter registration was passed through a voice vote without much debate or discussion.
- Judicial Concern: Both the Calcutta High Court and the Allahabad High Court have refused to rely on the authenticity of Aadhaar data.
2. Looking beyond the Forest Rights Act
Topic: Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes; Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections.
Prelims: Forest Rights Act, 2006
Mains: Various challenges have marred the scope of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in empowering the forest dwellers.
Context:
The Forest Rights Act completed 15 years. This has been marred by myriad implementational issues between the Forest Department and various Tribal Rights Groups.
Background:
Forest Rights Act, 2006:
- In the colonial era, the British diverted the abundant forest wealth of the nation to meet their economic needs. While the procedure for settlement of rights was provided under statutes such as the Indian Forest Act, 1927, these were hardly followed.
- As a result, tribal and forest-dwelling communities, who had been living within the forests in harmony with the environment and the ecosystem, continued to live inside the forests in tenurial insecurity, a situation which continued even after independence as they were marginalised.
- The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, also known as the Forest Rights Act was enacted to protect the marginalised socio-economic class of citizens and balance the right to the environment with their right to life and livelihood.
Read more on the Forest Rights Act in the linked article.
Challenges Observed:
- Absence of Procedural Safeguards: Despite the confirmation of forming a Forest Rights Committee from the grassroots level, there has not been any such activity in many places, it was observed.
- Lack of Verifiable Data: The studies conducted in Chhattisgarh revealed that during various instances, the plots claimed and the awards given do not match.
- Information Asymmetry: The Tribals majorly received lesser rights than claimed due to the fact that they believed if they claimed their right, they may lose the smaller claim as well. This information asymmetry had led to the further alienation of the tribal persons from the mainstream.
- Failure of Last Mile Connectivity of Schemes: Various developmental schemes for rural development such as Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, etc. have not been able to empower the vulnerable sections and failed to allow for the assertion of political space.
- Lack of Quality Land: The land allotted to the Tribal persons is mostly small, of poor quality and not very fertile. The lack of irrigation facilities and labour-wage economy further destroy their productivity and profitability. The declining industry of local cigars in Chhattisgarh is a prime example of the same.
Chances Available:
- Innovative Techniques: The techniques of horticulture must be provided to the tribals so that they may increase their productivity and afford a better quality of life.
- Involvement of Civil Society: Various organizations such as in Dang, Gujarat allowed for the hand-holding of the beneficiaries at every step.
- Kerala Model: The promotion of eco-tourism and medico-tourism to safeguard the interests of the tribals is another positive step. Also providing skill-based education with assured jobs on a large scale in proportion to the demand would do wonders in these areas.
Way Forward:
The intent of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 was to spread empowerment of forest dwellers, and the same can be achieved with multi-level coordination among the tribal communities, civil society and the local administration. The support from Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 should be mobilized to provide further support to the tribal communities in-situ.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Indian Army inducts indigenously built AERVs
- Next-generation Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicles (AERV) were formally inducted into the Indian Army recently.
- The AERVs are indigenously designed and developed by DRDO, and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited,
- It is fitted with instruments for water reconnaissance, land reconnaissance and navigation. AERVs navigate terrain using Military Grid Coordinate System.
G. Tidbits
1. House performed much below its potential, says Venkaiah
- As Parliament adjourned sine die, the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha expressed concern over the continuous disruption and the below potential performance of the legislative houses.
- Rajya Sabha utilised only 47.9% of its allotted time.
- The Lok Sabha Speaker called for disagreements on issues to be reflected in debates and not through disruption.
2. India adds 33 unicorns in one year, displaces U.K.
- India has added 33 ‘unicorns’ in a single year as per the Hurun Report.
- Unicorns are enterprises valued at more than $1 billion.
- This has helped India displace the United Kingdom (U.K.) to be third in the list of countries hosting unicorn companies.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements with regards to the CRPF:
- Originally constituted as the Crown Representative Police in 1939, it is one of the oldest central paramilitary forces.
- After Independence, the force was renamed as Central Reserve Police Force by an Act of Parliament on December 28, 1949.
- The force played a significant role during the amalgamation of the Princely States into the Indian Union since it helped the Union Government in disciplining the rebellious princely states of Junagarh and the small principality of Kathiawar in Gujarat.
Choose the correct statements:
- 1 & 2 only
- 2 & 3 only
- 1 & 3 only
- All of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is India’s largest Central Armed Police Force.
- The CRPF’s primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter-insurgency.
- It came into existence as the Crown Representative’s Police in 1939. After Indian Independence, it became the Central Reserve Police Force on the enactment of the CRPF Act in 1949.
- The force played a significant role during the amalgamation of the princely states into the Indian Union since it helped the Union Government in disciplining the rebellious princely States of Junagarh and the small principality of Kathiawar in Gujarat.
- Currently, besides law and order and counter-insurgency duties, the CRPF has played an increasingly large role in India’s general elections.
Q2. Consider the following statements with regards to the qualifying age for different purposes in India:
- The 61st Constitution Amendment Act of 1988 defines the voting age for elections to Parliament and Legislative Assemblies as 18.
- The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, which prohibits the engagement of children in all occupations and bans adolescents in hazardous occupations defines a child as “a person who has not completed his 16th year of age”.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 recognises a child as someone under the age of 18 years and thereby implies that the age of consent for sex is also 18 years.
Choose the correct statements:
- 1 & 2 only
- 2 & 3 only
- 1 & 3 only
- All of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- 61st Constitution Amendment Act defines the voting age for elections to Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies as 18.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015 define a child as someone under the age of 18.
- Right to Education Act, 2009 defines a child as someone between the ages of six and 14
- Child Labour Amendment act 2016 says a child is someone under the age of 14 and an adolescent is someone aged between 14 and 18.
Q3. Which of these is/are not correctly matched?
International border – Guarded by
- India – Pakistan – BSF
- India – China – Sashastra Seema Bal
- India – Myanmar – BSF
- India – Nepal – Indo-Tibetan Border Police
Choose the correct code:
- 1 & 2 only
- 2 & 3 only
- 2, 3 & 4 only
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- India – China border: Indo-Tibetan Border Police
- India – Myanmar border: Assam Rifles
- India – Nepal border: Sashastra Seema Bal
Q4. Which of these given statements with regards to parliamentary proceedings is not correct?
- The President of India can prorogue the session of the Parliament
- The declaration of ‘adjournment sine die’ can be made by the President of India
- The presiding officer of the house can adjourn the proceedings of the house
- The Parliament is summoned for the session by the President
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- The presiding officer (Speaker or Chairman) declares the House adjourned sine die when the business of the session is completed.
Q5. Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years? [UPSC 2019]
- China
- India
- Myanmar
- Vietnam
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- India became the largest rice exporter in 2015 and maintained the position since then in the specific years of 2016-17 and 2017-18. Hence considering average, India is the largest exporter of rice in the last 5 years.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- List out the significant provisions of the Forest Rights Act. Assess the success of the act in improving the lives of forest dwellers in India. (250 words; 15 marks)(GS Paper 2/Polity)
- What are the main challenges India is facing in its neighbourhood? Is it time for India to go back to the ideals of ‘Gujral doctrine’ to win over the trust of its neighbours? (250 words; 15 marks)(GS Paper 2/International Relations)
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 23 Dec 2021:- Download PDF Here
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