10 May 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

B. GS 2 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Category: INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Salvaging the idea and reality of Manipur

Syllabus: GS-3, Challenges to internal security.

Mains: Riots in Manipur.

Context: Communal riots in Manipur.

Details:

• The communal riots erupted between the Meiteis and Kuki-Hmar-Zomi communities in Manipur on 3rd May 2023.
• It has caused unprecedented human displacement and loss of lives and property.
• It is suggested that the riots and trails of destruction both in the urban areas and the state’s periphery have impacted the ideational and geopolitical foundations of Manipur.
• It is argued that delays in imposing orders allowed the ragtag mobs to carry out the erasure of lives, property, and land records (patta).
  • By the time orders were implemented, a large amount of damage in the form of ethnic cleansing of tribals Kuki-Zomi-Hmar and the erasure of land titles were already done.
• Despite swift action in the Churchandpur district, the authorities could not stall the riots and sanitisation of disparate Meitei settlements.
• Similar counter-ethnic-cleansing drives occur in different parts of the states.

Also read: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis. May 9th, 2023

Consequences:

• It should be noted that tribals and Meities who are being evacuated for safety from Imphal, Lamka, and other towns to different regions in Manipur and metro cities will become ‘refugees’ for a long time.
• The ragtag mob succeeded in its attempt to dissolve tribal land rights in the valley areas which has been a major concern for Meities against the tribals in hill areas.
• It will make the task of post-conflict development and societal transformation extremely challenging.

Way Ahead:

• It is important to confess and confront the truth about riots and their cause. The government should proactively take responsibility.
• A judicial commission under the supervision of the Supreme Court should urgently fix accountability.
• It should be remembered that instead of federalism, a lack of democracy and improper functioning of federal institutions caused disorder and disintegration in Eastern Europe in the 1990s.
• It is suggested that there should be more genuine accommodation of tribal rights and identities under the Sixth Schedule.
• Moreover, Article 371C where ‘scheduled matters’ on the hill areas are made inviolable by the legislative majority should be made more robust.
• The existence of multiple tribal communities in Imphal and its valley implies that the state’s integrationist and majoritarian projects should contend with the asymmetrical regime of land rights, where tribals can also own land in both hills and valleys.
• It is advised that the State should withdraw all its notifications on reserved forests, protected forests, and wildlife sanctuaries. It should also stop targeting communities as ‘foreigners’, ‘encroachers’, and ‘illegal immigrants’.
• The communities of the region should be engaged in reasoned dialogues as equals.
• Inter-community reconciliation efforts should be initiated. Leaders of communities, the State, and other stakeholders should acknowledge the fact that accommodating distinctive rights is extremely challenging for inclusive Manipur.

Also read: Shoot-at-Sight Orders

Nut Graf: The riots in Manipur highlight that the existence of diverse communities in Manipur is extremely challenging for accommodating distinctive community rights and building an inclusive state. It is suggested that government needs to modify its stance and all the stakeholders should come together to resolve the internal differences.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. The ‘right to health’ goal and a role for Taiwan

Syllabus: GS-2, Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries.

Mains: Taiwan’s Health Policy.

Details:

• Almost three years after the COVID-19 pandemic, border restrictions are lifted and global health governance is emphasizing a post-pandemic recovery.
• Taiwan favours health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and World Health Organization’s ‘Triple Billion targets’.
• It is committed to providing a robust health infrastructure with an equitable and inclusive health service supply chain, universal health coverage, and a network of primary healthcare systems.
• It supports and shares experiences in creating a cross-sectoral, innovative, and people-centred health approach for the international community.

Taiwan’s response to COVID-19:

• Notably, Taiwan ranks sixth-lowest in COVID-19 mortality and case-fatality rates among 38 OECD member countries and Singapore.
• Moreover, it ranks fourth-highest for coverage rates of at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and third-highest in the administration of vaccine boosters.
• It effectively mitigated the spread of COVID-19 through its comprehensive public healthcare system, well-trained personnel, and efficient surveillance, investigation, and analysis systems.
• The citizens also played an important role by following government guidelines, adopting appropriate behaviour, and getting vaccinated.
• Taiwan issued 13 export licences for its herbal formula NRICM101 (Taiwan Chingguan Yihau) to assist neighbouring countries in combatting COVID-19.

Taiwan’s Health Strategy:

• A universal healthcare insurance system was established in Taiwan in 1995. It covered health care services like prenatal checkups, gestational diabetes screening, anaemia testing, etc.
• It also provides subsidized infertility treatment programmes to assist infertile couples.
• It intends to create a breastfeeding-friendly environment and facilitates preventive paediatric health care and health education.
• It also carries out various prevention and management programmes for non-communicable diseases.
• Taiwan supports WHO’s goal of reducing cancer mortality by 25% by 2025. For instance, it has administered HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines with a coverage rate of 92.1% by December 2022.
• It also promotes digital health and innovation. It accommodates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

Future Course of Action:

• Despite its achievements in the health sector, Taiwan has not been invited to the World Health Assembly since 2017. 
• The relevant stakeholders should support Taiwan and WHO should also include it as an observer in World Health Assembly.
• Moreover, it should be given the opportunity of full participation in WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities.

Also read: India-Taiwan Relations

Nut Graf: Taiwan has made significant contributions to the public health domain, both nationally and globally. Thus it should not be left out, especially at this moment when countries across the world are engaging in dialogues on strengthening health systems.

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Securing the migrant vote

Syllabus: GS-2, Elections and Voting Rights.

Mains: Migrant Voting.

Prelims: Remote Voting Machines.

Context: Elections in Karnataka and Migrant Voters.

Introduction:

• Approximately 42.12% of the population of Greater Bengaluru is from different districts or states.

Remote Voting Machines:

• In order to extend voting facilities to domestic migrants, the Election Commission of India proposed to introduce Remote Voting Machines (RVMs).
• Various political parties objected to RVMs citing the pending complaints about the trustworthiness of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
• Concerns are also raised about the lack of dialogue on the procedure and viability of RVMs.
  • There needs to be more discussion and transparency for RVMs to materialize.

For details on RVM, read here: Sansad TV Perspective: Remote Voting – for Domestic Migrants

Analysis of Migrant Voters in Bengaluru:

• Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies carried out a study among migrant voters of Bengaluru.
• In regions of migrant workers from north and northeast India, about 99% are not registered as voters.
• They are registered as voters in their home constituencies. However, they are not able to vote in every election due to geographical constraints and difficulty in travelling back home during elections.
• There are apprehensions among migrants to register as voters in other states due to:
  • Fear of losing property in their home State.
  • Inability to bring their families with them.
• Though the majority of migrant workers were unaware of the ECI’s proposal to introduce RVMs, 80% of them supported it.
  • However, some raised concerns about the mode of voting and its accuracy.
• The respondents of the survey greatly valued voting rights and supported RVMs.

Also read: Challenges of Migration

Nut Graf: The Election Commission of India’s proposal to introduce Remote Voting Machines (RVMs) provides a ray of hope for millions of migrant voters. However, two main prerequisites are spreading awareness and ensuring transparency of the procedure. This would further strengthen democracy.
Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Green crosshairs

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment Conservation.

Mains: European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Prelims: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Context: EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Details:

• The European Union (EU) plans to introduce a carbon tax on imports of products that depend on non-green or sub-optimally sustainable processes or where carbon emissions are not adequately priced. 

For detailed information, read here: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

EU’s Stand:

• The CBAM will ensure that climate objectives are not overlooked by carbon-intensive imports.
• It will spur cleaner production in other exporting countries.

Impact on India:

• It will pose a significant threat to India’s biggest exports like iron ore and steel.
• The engineering sector would also be affected. Engineering products became the largest export growth driver in the last few years.

Associated Concerns and India’s Stand:

• It should be noted that CBAM will have worse impacts on poor countries that heavily rely on mineral resources.
• Transition to greener technologies even for smaller businesses will take time.
• India might challenge the EU’s carbon tax at the World Trade Organization. 
• It will also raise concerns about the incompatibility with the UN’s climate change framework which favours common but differentiated responsibilities for developed and developing countries.
• There is also a threat of retaliatory tariffs on EU imports.

Way Ahead:

• India should use the opportunity of G20’s presidency to galvanize other nations on the EU’s tax framework and become the voice for the global south.

Also read: Carbon Tax – Meaning and an Overview

Nut Graf: The European Union’s stand to impose a carbon tax on imports can have serious repercussions for developing and least-developed countries. It will also bypass the concept of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’. India should raise concerns at international organizations and become the voice of the global south.

Q1. Identify the correct statements: (Level – Moderate)

Q2. How many of the following statements is/are true regarding the cyclones in India? 
(Level – Moderate)

Q3. Which of these statements are true? (Level – Difficult)

Q4. The Enforcement Directorate is a nodal agency for which of these following Acts of 
Parliament? (Level – Difficult)

Q5. Consider the following statements: (Level – Easy) [PYQ 2016]

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Europe’s idea of fighting climate change through the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is discriminatory against developing nations. Do you agree? Elaborate. (250 words; 15 marks) (GS-3; Environment)
2. More than the NRIs, it is the domestic migrant labourers that deserve the right to remote voting. In this context, discuss the initiatives taken by the Election Commission of India in this regard. (250 words; 15 marks) (GS-2; Polity)

Read the previous CNA here.