CNA 20 July 2022:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related C. GS 3 Related SECURITY 1. The judgment on the Burkapal Maoist attack D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials POLITY 1. No inner-party democracy GOVERNANCE 1. A new legislation that mirrors the old F. Prelims Facts 1. National Emblem G. Tidbits 1. Over 1.6 lakh Indians gave up citizenship last year 2. Radicalisation among Indians is minuscule: MHA H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
C. GS 3 Related
1. The judgment on the Burkapal Maoist attack
Syllabus: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
Mains: Details about the judgement on the Burkapal Maoist attack, concerns associated with the arrests of tribals and the way forward.
Context
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh has discharged the case on 121 tribals, who were held in connection with the 2017 Burkapal Naxal attack.
Background
- In April 2017, a combined patrolling party which had 72 jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the district police were ambushed by a large group of Naxals while guarding a bridge construction in Burkapal.
- The Maoists fired and threw explosives at the jawans which led to the death of 25 security personnel.
- This was said to be the second deadliest Naxalite attack in terms of casualties.
- The following investigations led to the arrests of 121 tribals and villagers and the incident was linked with the banned CPI (Maoist) Party.
- CPI (Maoist) was formed in 2004, after a merger of the People’s War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI).
- It was alleged that these arrested individuals had planned the attack and had used sophisticated weaponry.
- These individuals had also allegedly indulged in dacoity.
Also read: Left-wing Extremism
Charges filed against the accused
- Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections:
- 120 (B) – criminal conspiracy
- 147 – rioting
- 148 – rioting, armed with deadly weapons
- 149 – unlawful assembly
- 302 – murder
- 307 – attempt to murder
- 396 – dacoity
- 397 – robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt
- Provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967
- Provisions of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA), 2005
- The provisions of the Arms Act, 1959, and Explosives Act, 1908
Concerns associated with the arrests of these individuals
- Experts pointed out that these tribals were made scapegoats as the Police did not conduct proper investigations and also the injured CRPF commandos were not made witnesses before the arrest.
- The fact that individuals were being charged under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) without or with very little evidence against them has also been criticised.
- Earlier, the tribals were denied bail by the NIA court and the Chhattisgarh High Court as it is very difficult to get bail once charged under UAPA.
- Further, they were arrested for five years and this prolonged imprisonment has severely impacted their lives and those who are dependent on them.
- It took four years for the prosecution to bring the case to trial.
- These tribal individuals were housed in the Jagdalpur Jail and it was very difficult for the family members and relatives to travel from their villages to Jagdalpur due to connectivity issues.
- During this phase, the NIA court was also decentralised and the proceedings were moved from Jagdalpur to Dantewada which made it even more difficult.
- Considering the backwardness of the area, accessing legal assistance was also a major challenge for these individuals due to a lack of awareness and required facilities.
Recent judgement
- The court held that the statements of the investigating officer were not supported by adequate proof and it was not proved that the weapons seized were used by the accused.
- Further, the court observed that a significant number of witnesses produced were neither aware of the incident nor identified the accused.
- As there was a lack of evidence and witness, the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond doubt.
Way forward to address the challenges of insurgency
- It is said that the most efficient way to counter Maoist insurgency or movement is by upholding the rule of law and gathering support from the vulnerable sections of the people who the insurgents claim to be fighting for.
- The insurgency movements will be subdued without public support.
- The state must undertake measures that address key challenges such as poverty, livelihoods crisis and economic inequality and also abstain from hurting the sentiments of tribals as Maoists often use tactics that invites state repression and this serves their objective of questioning the legitimacy of the Indian state.
Nut graf: It is crucial for the government and other law enforcement agencies to be vigilant in their actions against the Maoist movements and be cautious about suspecting the involvement of the tribals in such movements to retain the legitimacy among the tribals and curtail the popular support to such insurgencies.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Syllabus: Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.
Mains: Lack of inner party democracy in India – Factors responsible, concerns and recommendations
Context:
- Boris Johnson has been ousted as leader of the British Conservative Party by the party’s MPs. As a result, Boris Johnson had to resign as the Prime Minister. This development shows how much power ordinary MPs have over the Prime Minister in the U.K.
- In this context, the article analyses the system in India.
Comparison with the Indian system:
- Unlike their counterparts in the U.K., MPs in India have no autonomy to question and challenge their party leadership. In fact in India, party MPs’ ability to even diverge slightly from the official government line on routine policy matters is also almost non-existent.
- Hence in India, the Prime Minister or party leadership exercises almost absolute authority over the party MPs.
Factors contributing to such a scenario:
Anti-defection law:
- Party MPs diverging from the party view are under the constant threat of being disqualified under the anti-defection law. Hence, they are almost incapable of challenging or even questioning party leadership.
Process of choosing candidates for an election:
- As against the system in the U.K. where MPs do not owe their nomination to the party leader, but are selected by the local constituency party, in India, it is generally the party leadership that decides candidates, with only an informal consultation with the local party. Hence this provides an avenue for the party leadership to exercise control over its nominees.
Concerns:
Lack of inner-party democracy:
- Given that the elected MPs have to toe the party leadership line on all issues, the party leadership exercises absolute control over the elected representatives. This leads to a lack of inner-party democracy.
Undermining of representative democracy in India:
- The representative democracy system in India envisions a system wherein the people’s voice is heard through their representatives. Rendering the MPs powerless against the party leadership or the Prime Minister would undermine this vision.
Recommendations:
- There is the need to consider empowering the elected representatives vis-à-vis the Party leadership and the Prime Minister, to ensure their accountability.
- In this direction, the U.K. model wherein MPs can express no confidence in their leadership without the fear of being disqualified under the anti-defection law needs to be considered. This will empower the MPs to question the leadership and ensure their accountability.
- Also, in the long run, control over candidates must shift from central party leaders to local party members. Suitable changes should be brought out in this direction. Such an arrangement would go a long way towards empowering the MPs.
Nut Graf:
The anti-defection law and the process of selection of candidates as nominees for election by the party leadership have resulted in a scenario wherein the party leadership exercises absolute control over the elected representatives. This has resulted in a lack of inner-party democracy and undermining of the representative democracy that India aspires to be.
1. A new legislation that mirrors the old
Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Mains: Concerns with the new drugs, medical devices and cosmetics bill
Context:
- The Union Health Ministry has published a new draft Bill to replace the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Concerns:
Outdated regulatory system:
- As against the more effective system of regulation centred around the compliance of manufacturing units with good manufacturing practices (GMPs) being practised in most countries, India is still to make GMPs the centrepiece of its regulatory strategy.
- A drug manufactured in compliance with GMPs is subject to so many checks internally that it is unlikely that it would fail quality tests. Hence the regulatory system based on compliance with GMPs is more effective.
- In India, there appear to be no such GMP compliance inspections carried out on manufacturing units. Also in Indian law, there are no criminal penalties for pharmaceutical companies failing to comply with GMPs. This is a major loophole in mainstreaming GMP compliance in the Indian pharmaceutical sector.
- The new bill does nothing to change the existing regulatory system in India.
Multiple regulatory agencies:
- India has 37 agencies for enforcing drug regulation in India, one in each State and Union Territory along with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
- State drug controllers license drug manufacturing and conduct enforcement actions such as sampling, testing and prosecution for substandard drugs. The CDSCO regulates imports and decides whether new drugs have adequate clinical evidence before they can be sold.
- The existence of such multiple agencies has resulted in uneven enforcement of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act across India. The lax regulation in states such as Himachal Pradesh, which account for a bulk of pharmaceutical manufacturing on account of a tax holiday remains a concern since India is a single market for drugs.
- The new bill does nothing to tackle the above issue.
Democratic deficit in regulation:
- The current regulation regime delegates an incredible amount of power to unelected bureaucrats and technocrats. This raises concerns about a democratic deficit in regulation. Also, the lack of transparency in regulation undermines bureaucratic accountability.
- The new law is silent on this critical issue of transparency.
Recommendations:
- The New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill is antiquated and needs to be revised. In this direction, the article makes the following recommendations.
Streamline regulatory structure:
- There is a need to have a unified regulatory structure in India for the sector.
- The Mashelkar Committee in 2003 had recommended centralising drug licensing with the central regulator.
Increased transparency:
- There should be proactive disclosure of all crucial information related to regulation.
- In the approval of new drugs, all data including clinical trial data should be disclosed. Test reports of drugs should be accessible to every citizen. Inspection reports for GMP compliance should also be accessible to the general public.
- Such transparency will not only help ensure accountability but will also build public confidence in the regulator.
Ensure people’s participation:
- The regulatory system should ensure opportunities for people’s participation in decision-making. Apart from ensuring access to information for people, there is also a need to create legal pathways, to enable citizens to participate in the regulatory process. This could take the form of organizing public hearings or allowing for citizen petitions.
Nut Graf:
Though the new Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill is welcome in its attempt to replace the obsolete pre-independence legislation, the provisions of the new law are unsatisfactory given that they seem to be only a replication of the old law with no major changes regarding drug regulation.
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: GS-2, Polity; Constitution of India – historical underpinnings and features
Prelims: Facts about National Emblem and Sarnath Lion Capital
Context
The Prime Minister unveiled the national emblem atop the new Parliament House being constructed as part of the Central Vista Project.
Indian National Emblem
- The Indian National Emblem is represented by four Asiatic lions with three lions being visible to the naked eye and the fourth one always hidden from the general view.
- The Emblem has been taken from the Sarnath Lion Capital of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka.
- The Lion Capital of Ashoka became the national emblem of India officially on January 26, 1950.
- The Emblem showcases the power, courage and confidence of the free nation.
- The Emblem depicts a two-dimensional sculpture with the words “Satyameva Jayate” (truth alone triumphs) written in Devanagari script which is borrowed from the Mundaka Upanishad.
- The Lion capital was mounted on a base of a frieze of smaller sculptures, which also includes a horse, a lion, a bull and an elephant moving in a clockwise direction which are separated by a wheel, representing the Dharmachakra of Buddhism.
- Each wheel consists of 24 spokes and was later adopted as part of the national flag.
- Five students of renowned artist Nandalal Bose created this emblem.
Know more about – The Indian National Emblem
Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka
- The structure was seven feet tall and was made of polished sandstone.
- It was constructed in 250 BC to commemorate the first sermon of Gautama Buddha, where he is said to have shared the “Four Noble Truths of life”.
- It represents courage, power and pride.
- The four animals are said to be guardians of the four directions.
- The abacus was mounted on an inverted lotus which is a symbol of Buddhism.
- Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang has left a detailed account of Asoka’s lion pillar in his writings.
Know more about the Lion Capital of Ashoka in the linked article.
G. Tidbits
1. Over 1.6 lakh Indians gave up citizenship last year
- The Ministry of Home Affairs said that about 1.6 lakh Indians renounced their citizenship in 2021 which is the highest in the past five years.
- India does not permit dual citizenship and individuals must renounce their Indian citizenship to acquire citizenship from another country.
- Over 78,000 Indians have acquired U.S. citizenship, the highest among all other countries followed by Australia (23,533), Canada (21,597), the U.K. (14,637), Italy (5,986), Netherlands (2187), New Zealand (2643), Singapore (2516), China (362), Pakistan (41) and Nepal (10).
Read more about – Citizenship in India
2. Radicalisation among Indians is minuscule: MHA
- The Ministry of Home Affairs said that global terrorist groups and foreign agencies have been trying to radicalise people, but the inclination towards radical ideologies is very minute as compared with the population of the country.
- The government has undertaken various measures to stop the inclination to radical ideologies such as the promotion of composite culture and coexistence among various communities and constitutional safeguards for minorities. This includes:
- Efforts to ensure universal coverage of various welfare schemes without discrimination.
- Institutional efforts to ensure fair representation of minorities and other less-represented communities in all spheres of life.
- Setting up of an exclusive Ministry of Minority Affairs, for the overall policy, coordination, evaluation and review of development programmes for minority communities.
- Further, a Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation Division has been set up under the ministry to help and coordinate with various security enforcement agencies.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements with regards to Indian citizenship: (Level – Easy)
- When a person relinquishes his citizenship, every minor child of that person also loses Indian citizenship. However, when such a child attains the age of 18, he may resume Indian citizenship.
- The Government of India may terminate the citizenship of an Indian citizen if within 5 years of registration or naturalisation, a citizen has been sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment in any country.
- Any citizen of India of full age and capacity can make a declaration renouncing Indian citizenship but such a declaration may not be accepted during wars.
Choose the correct code:
- 1 & 2 only
- 2 & 3 only
- 1 & 3 only
- All of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, When a person ceases to be a citizen of India, every minor child of his also ceases to be a citizen of India.
- However, such a child may within one year after attaining 18 years become an Indian citizen by making a declaration of his intention to resume Indian citizenship.
- Statement 2 is correct, According to the Citizenship Act, 1955, the Central Government may, by order, deprive any such citizen of Indian citizenship, if that citizen has, within five years after registration or naturalisation, been sentenced in any country to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years.
- Statement 3 is correct, Any citizen of India of full age and capacity can make a declaration renouncing Indian citizenship but such a declaration may not be accepted during the war.
Q2. Consider the following statements with regards to the Indian Labour force: (Level – Difficult)
- More females work part-time than males across all age groups in both rural and urban areas.
- The employment rate of females at an all-India level for the age group 25-49 years living in a household with at least one child under 3 years of age is less than their employment rate in a household with no children under 3 years during 2017-18 to 2019-20.
Choose the correct code:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 & 2
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, According to the latest labour indicators released by National Statistical Office, more females work part-time than males across all age groups in both rural and urban areas.
- Statement 2 is correct, The employment rate of females at an all-India level for age groups 25-49 years living in a household with at least one child under 3 years of age is less than their employment rate in a household with no child under 3 years of age during 2017-18-2019-20.
- However, for males, the presence of a child under the age of 3 years in the households does not seem to make any difference to their employment rate.
Q3. Consider the following statements with regards to India’s National Emblem: (Level – Difficult)
- Four Asiatic lions are part of the national emblem with three lions being visible to the naked eye and the fourth one always hidden from general view.
- Chinese traveller Fa-Hien has left a detailed account of Asoka’s lion pillar in his writings.
- Five students of renowned artist Nandalal Bose created the emblem. Among them were Jagdish Mittal, Kripal Singh Shekhawat, Gauri Bhanja and Dinanath Bhargava.
Choose the correct code:
- 1 & 2 only
- 2 & 3 only
- 1 & 3 only
- All of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, The Indian National Emblem is represented by four Asiatic lions with three lions being visible to the naked eye and the fourth one always hidden from the general view.
- Statement 2 is not correct, Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang has left a detailed account of Asoka’s lion pillar in his writings.
- Statement 3 is correct, Five students of renowned artist Nandalal Bose created the emblem. Among them were Jagdish Mittal, Kripal Singh Shekhawat, Gauri Bhanja and Dinanath Bhargava.
Q4. Consider the following statements with regards to ancient Indian texts: (Level – Difficult)
- The yajana rituals involved the construction of altars (vedi) and fireplaces (agni) in a variety of shapes such as isosceles triangles, symmetric trapezia, and rectangles.
- The sulbasutras describe steps towards the construction of these figures with prescribed sizes.
- Sulbasutras (the oldest around 800 BC) have statements of Pythagoras’s theorem, examples of Pythagorean triples, and their use in construction.
Choose the correct code:
- 1 & 2 only
- 2 & 3 only
- 1 & 3 only
- All of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, The yajna rituals involved the construction of altars (vedi) and fireplaces (agni) in a variety of shapes such as isosceles triangles, symmetric trapezia, and rectangles.
- Statement 2 is correct, The sulbasutras describe steps towards the construction of these figures with prescribed sizes.
- Statement 3 is correct, Baudhayana Sulbasutra which is said to be from around 800 BCE, contains a statement of what is called the Pythagoras theorem.
Q5. 'Rapid Financing Instrument' and 'Rapid Credit Facility' are related to the provisions of lending by which one of the following? (Level – Easy) PYQ (2022)
- Asian Development Bank
- International Monetary Fund
- United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative
- World Bank
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- The Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI): It is a lending facility of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which provides rapid financial assistance. It is available to all member countries facing an urgent balance of payments need.
- The RFI was created as part of a broader reform to make the IMF’s financial support more flexible to address the diverse needs of member countries.
- IMF’s Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) provides rapid concessional financial assistance to low-income countries facing an urgent balance of payments (BoP) need with no ex-post conditionality where a full-fledged economic program is neither necessary nor feasible.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Wrongful Incarceration of tribals in the fight against Maoists is a self-defeating ploy. Examine. (10 Marks, 150 Words) (GS-3; Security)
- Lack of transparency and accountability in the inner functioning of the political parties in India have serious consequences for the steady functioning of parliamentary democracy. Discuss. (15 Marks, 250 Words) (GS-2; Polity)
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 20 July 2022:- Download PDF Here
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