02 Nov 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. More ups than downs in India ties 2. Gilgit-Baltistan a part of India, says MEA C. GS 3 Related SECURITY 1. File FIRs for cybercrime, States told 2. Security forces unfurl tricolour in former Maoist heartland D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. The shifting trajectory of India’s foreign policy ECONOMY 1. A secure future for platform workers F. Prelims Facts 1. To every Englishman in India 2. Local visitors fill tourist space in Kaziranga 3. Three new Rafale jets to fly non-stop from France to India G. Tidbits 1. GST inflows cross ₹1 lakh cr. in October 2. Banks told to pay back interest on interest, says RBI 3. Hizbul chief killed in encounter in J&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. More ups than downs in India ties
Context:
India – U.S.A relations.
Trajectory of India- U.S.A relations under President Trump:
- With the victory of Mr. Trump in the U.S. presidential elections in 2016, officials in the Modi government were struck with apprehensions.
- Trump delivered a few blows to India’s expectations from the U.S., including:
- A decision on visa restrictions.
- A hard-hitting speech on India as the “tariff king”.
- Clubbing India and China both on trade and on receiving an unfair advantage on climate change, which was quoted as one of the reasons the U.S. was walking out of the Paris climate accord.
- The invitation to PM Modi to the White House in 2017 set into motion a more positive foreign policy framework for India.
- Major highlights were Mr. Trump’s South Asia policy, and the U.S.’s decision to revive the Quad and rename its Pacific Command as the ‘Indo-Pacific’ Command.
- In 2018, India saw an impressive list of strategic gains:
- The Strategic Trade Authorisation (STA)- 1 categorisation for India.
- The first 2+2 dialogue.
- The signing of the COMCASA in a shape acceptable to India.
- The approval by Congress for a general waiver provision in the CAATSA.
- A (temporary) waiver for India on Iran oil purchases and Chabahar.
U.S Policies with respect to China and Pakistan:
- Given the 2017 Doklam conflict with China and continuing cross-border attacks by groups from Pakistan, Mr. Trump’s policy towards both India’s two neighbours became the U.S.’s most important foreign policy shift.
- The U.S. suspended its military assistance payments, military sales and led the way on Pakistan’s grey-listing at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to designate more terrorists at the UN Security Council, including those that targeted India.
- The U.S. offered India moral and military support to counter Chinese aggression, led its own attack on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its 5G telecom push and vowed (not yet realised) a counter to China’s loans to countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Concerns:
- Regardless of the positives, several Trump decisions have come as a shock to India.
- The decision to forge talks with the Taliban, in concert with concessions to Pakistan in Afghanistan.
- Withdrawal of India’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) status for exporters.
Developments over the past one year:
- President Donald Trump has ended his first term in office with a big push for ties with India.
- The U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in India for talks just a week before the elections.
- Two rallies were held with the Indian Prime Minister in Houston and in Ahmedabad.
- Unlike many other countries, and leaders in the American opposition party, Mr. Trump has not raised objections to the decision on Article 370, the arrest of leaders and telecom ban in Kashmir, or on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
2. Gilgit-Baltistan a part of India, says MEA
Context:
Stating that it is intended to camouflage the illegal occupation of the region by Islamabad, India slammed Pakistan for its attempt to accord provincial status to the “so-called Gilgit-Baltistan”.
Background:
- In a ruling, the Pakistan Supreme Court allowed Islamabad to amend a 2018 administrative order to conduct general elections in the region.
- The Gilgit-Baltistan Order of 2018 provided for administrative changes, including authorising the Prime Minister of Pakistan to legislate on an array of subjects.
- Pakistan has announced holding elections for the legislative assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan.
This topic has been covered in the 5th May 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis.
Details:
- Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson made it clear that India firmly rejects the attempt by Pakistan to bring material changes to a part of Indian territory which is under Islamabad’s illegal and forcible occupation and asked Pakistan to immediately vacate such areas.
C. GS 3 Related
1. File FIRs for cybercrime, States told
Context:
The Union Home Ministry has written to all States to examine and register FIRs based on the complaints received on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
Issues:
- As per data available with the Ministry, only 2.5% of total complaints registered on the portal are converted into First Information Reports (FIRs).
- Since its launch last year, the portal has received over 2 lakh complaints, but FIRs have been registered only in 5,000 cases.
- According to data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the number of registered cybercrimes increased by 63.5% in the year 2019 compared with the previous year’s.
Details:
- The portal was launched on August 30, 2019, to help people report all kinds of cybercrimes on a centralised platform.
- Through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, the Ministry aims to raise a group of cybercrime volunteers to flag unlawful content on the Internet.
- The unlawful content is categorised as content against the sovereignty and integrity of India, against defence of India, against the security of the state, against friendly relations with foreign states, content aimed at disturbing public order, disturbing communal harmony and child sex abuse material.
- The portal has started a helpline only for victims of financial cyber fraud in Delhi.
- Upon receiving the complaint, the designated police officer after verifying the matter will report to the bank and financial intermediary or payment wallet for blocking the money involved in the cyberfraud.
Read more about National Cybercrime Reporting Portal covered in 10th January 2020 PIB Summary and Analysis.
2. Security forces unfurl tricolour in former Maoist heartland
Context:
The BSF and the Odisha police personnel unfurled the tricolour in front of the CPI (Maoist)’s “Martyr Pillar” at Gurasethu in Malkangiri district, Odisha.
Details:
- Gurasethu in Swabhiman Anchal along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border was once known to be the heartland of the CPI (Maoist).
- Swabhiman Anchal, an erstwhile cut-off area, has been the bastion of the CPI(Maoist).
- This area remained cut off from Malkangiri till the Gurupriya river bridge was constructed in 2018.
- The ultras used to conduct training and other activities without fear, as the place was not easily accessible.
- Security forces had to trek to reach the place.
- According to the experts, security forces had managed to reclaim the area from the CPI (Maoist).
- The Border Security Force and the Odisha police have set up a Company Operating Base (COB) at Gurasethu.
- With the setting up of the COB, it is expected that the people of the area will feel more secure.
Also read: Left-wing extremism
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. The shifting trajectory of India’s foreign policy
Context:
- The article analyzes the challenges that India could face from its perceived alignment with the U.S.’s security architecture.
Background:
- In the Third India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue that took place in Delhi recently, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for Geo-Spatial Cooperation was signed. With this signing India is now a signatory to all U.S.-related foundational military agreements.
- Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for Geo-Spatial Cooperation would entitle India to receive highly classified U.S. defence and sensitive geo-spatial intelligence information.
- With increasing bilateral cooperation, including defence partnership reaching new heights, there has been a growing perception of India’s increasing alignment with the U.S.
For more information on this topic, refer to:
CNA dated Oct 30, 2020: India – US defence partnership is deepening
- The U.S. has been vocal about the importance of India in the regional and global affairs and has shown keen interest in collaborating with India. During the recent visit, the U.S. Defence Secretary, Mark Esper, stated that India would be the most consequential partner for the US in the Indo-Pacific in the current century. India too, given the state of the regional geopolitical condition, has been shedding its reluctance of collaborating with the U.S.
Concerns:
- The author M.K. Narayanan, a former National Security Adviser argues that India’s closer alignment with the U.S. would lead to some concerns for India.
Compromising India’s independence in military matters:
- Despite the present administration’s argument of there being enough India-specific safeguards built into the four foundational military agreements, these foundational agreements effectively tie India to the wider U.S. strategic architecture in the region.
- The author argues that with the signing of these agreements, India’s claims of maintaining strategic autonomy will increasingly sound hollow.
- Previous governments had resisted attempts to get India to sign these agreements on the ground that it would compromise India’s security and independence in military matters.
Necessitates two-way information exchange:
- The latest BECA would no doubt provide India with access to highly classified information but it would also require India to share some sensitive information.
Against non-alignment policy of India:
- With the closer alignment with the U.S. and its Indo-Pacific policy, India is being viewed as being part of the wider anti-China ‘coalition of the willing’.
- This goes against India’s previous policy of neutrality, and of maintaining its equidistance from power blocs.
Impact on India-China ties:
- Too close an identification with the U.S. may have a negative impact on its relations with the Chinese.
- Given the U.S.’s intentions to contain and check Chinese ambitions, India’s willingness to sign foundational military agreements with the U.S. would only exacerbate already deteriorating China-India relations.
- As India gravitates towards the U.S. sphere of influence, the trust between the two Asian powerhouses would only decrease.
- Though China-India relations have never been easy, India has always pursued a policy which put a premium on avoidance of conflicts with China. Even after Doklam in 2017, India preferred talks through the Wuhan and Mamallapuram summits, to maintain better relations.
Impact on India’s influence in the region:
- Several of India’s neighbours (Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh), normally perceived to be within India’s sphere of influence, currently seem to be out of step with India’s approach on many issues.
- There seems to be a growing Chinese influence in these countries. India’s approach to counter China by allowing for U.S.’s entry into the region would only cede more space for the U.S. in the region at the cost of its own influence in the region. Both China and the U.S., seem to be making inroads and enlarging their influence here.
- The Maldives has chosen to enter into a military pact with the U.S. to counter Chinese expansionism in the Indian Ocean region.
- India needs to devote greater attention to try and restore India-Iran ties which have frayed in recent years due to the U.S.’s sanctions.
India’s membership of SCO:
- Reconciling India’s closeness with the U.S., with its full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which has China and Russia as its main protagonists — and was conceived as an anti-NATO entity — will test India’s diplomatic skills.
- India’s membership of SCO does offer the potential for increasing its influence in the Central Asian region and also offers a platform to engage with two powerful nations of the Asian continent- Russia and China.
Affects India’s standing in NAM:
- India currently has a detached outlook towards the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and has increasingly distanced itself from the African and Latin American group in terms of policy prescriptions.
- India’s new alliance patterns could only further aggravate this trend and this could only degrade India’s standing in the NAM.
India’s relationship with Russia:
- The seemingly increasing India’s alignment with the U.S. would have a negative effect on the India-Russia ties, which has been a major feature of India’s foreign policy for more than half a century.
- Almost certainly in the circumstances, India can hardly hope to count on Russia as a strategic ally particularly at a time, when Russia-China relations have vastly expanded and a strategic congruence exists between the two countries.
- India would lose its unique character of having a working relationship with the major powers of the world if India-Russia relations were to deteriorate at such a critical phase of global geopolitics.
Projection as opportunistic behaviour:
- The argument that India’s new foreign policy based on deeper collaboration with the U.S. is essentially a pragmatic one, in keeping with the current state of global disorder would only project India as an opportunistic nation for its ideologically agnostic attitude and behaviour.
Conclusion:
- India should balance the ideals of strategic autonomy and non-alignment policy with its immediate and long term national interests.
- India should also pay attention to offset its loss of influence and momentum in its immediate neighbourhood (in South Asia), and in its extended neighbourhood (in West Asia).
For related information, refer to:
1. A secure future for platform workers
Context:
- The Code on Social Security Bill, 2020.
Background:
- The Code on Social Security Bill, 2020, replaces nine laws related to social security. These include the Employees’ Provident Fund Act, 1952, the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, and the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008.
- Social security refers to protection measures provided to workers to ensure healthcare and income security in case of certain contingencies such as old age, maternity, or accidents.
Significance:
Defines platform work:
- The Code on Social Security Bill for the first time in Indian law, attempted to define ‘platform work’ outside of the traditional employment category.
- As per this bill, “Platform work means a work arrangement outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship in which organisations or individuals use an online platform to access other organisations or individuals to solve specific problems or to provide specific services or any such other activities which may be notified by the Central Government, in exchange for payment.”
- This marks a significant move to recognise platform work.
Social security to platform workers:
- One of the major proposals of the Social Security Code Bill is to bring the platform workers under the ambit of social security schemes, including life and disability insurance, health and maternity benefits, provident fund and skill up-gradation.
Concerns:
No differentiation between platform work and unorganized work:
- The Code has drawn criticism from platform workers’ associations for failing to delineate platform work from gig work and unorganised work. Only such a categorical clarification could help ensure that social security measures are provided to workers without compromising the flexibility and a sense of ownership character associated with platform work.
No fixed accountability:
- The Code states the provision of basic welfare measures as a joint responsibility of the Central government, platform aggregators, and workers without delineating the exact responsibility of each stakeholder.
Continued reliance on platform companies:
- While platform work promises workers flexibility and ownership over the delivery of work, they are still largely dictated by mechanisms of control wired by the platform algorithms. This affects pricing per unit of work, allocation of work, and work hours.
- The entry into on-demand platform work like ride-sharing and food delivery is dependent on existing access to vehicular assets. Given that the average Indian worker on a ride-sharing platform has limited access to such capital, platform workers rely on intensive loan schemes, often facilitated by platform aggregator companies. This results in dependence on platform companies, driven by financial obligations, thus rendering flexibility and ownership ineffective in the short- to middle-term.
Benefits of platform work:
For the platform workers:
- The flexibility available in platform work is a significant attraction. The platform work offers a low barrier to entry and flexibility of work timings depending on the workers’ time availability and intent.
For the society and economy:
- The platform workers played a critical role during the pandemic. Platform workers were responsible for the delivery of essential services during the pandemic at great personal risk to themselves.
- They have also been responsible for helping the demand-driven platform companies remain afloat despite the pandemic-induced financial crisis. This also helped small businesses remain afloat during the lockdowns, hence playing a critical role economically.
Way forward:
Employment status to platform workers:
- The global conversation on platform workers’ rights has been around the misclassification of platform workers as ‘independent contractors’ as against the granting of employee status to platform workers.
- The emerging amendments to labour laws in Canada and the U.S. have shown that a move towards granting employee status to platform workers would help guarantee minimum wage and welfare benefits to such workers.
- India too should work towards granting employment status to platform workers.
Legal framework for platform workers:
- There should be an effort to acknowledge the heterogeneity of work in the gig economy through an appropriate socio-legal framework and have supportive policies for such jobs.
Ensuring social security:
- To mitigate any operational breakdowns in providing welfare services, a tripartite effort by the State, companies, and workers is required with a more robust responsibility to platform aggregator companies and the State.
For related information, refer to:
CNA dated Oct 8, 2020: Gig work and its skewed terms
F. Prelims Facts
1. To every Englishman in India
Publications associated with Mahatma Gandhi:
- Young India was a weekly paper in English published by Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi used Young India to spread his ideology and thoughts.
- Other publications associated with Gandhi include the ‘Indian Opinion’ and ‘Harijan’.
Mahatma Gandhi’s cooperation with the British:
Natal Indian Ambulance Corps:
- The Natal Indian Ambulance Corps was created by Mahatma Gandhi for use by the British as stretcher bearers during the Second Boer War. Gandhi was bestowed with the ‘Kaiser-i-Hind’ and other medals by the British for his work in the Boer war.
- ‘Kaiser-i-Hind’ was given up by Gandhi after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919.
World War I:
- During World War I, the Viceroy of India Lord Chelmsford invited various Indian leaders to attend a War Conference. Gandhi was also invited. He accepted the invitation and attended. Mahatma Gandhi is believed to have played an active recruiting campaign of Indians for the British war efforts.
2. Local visitors fill tourist space in Kaziranga
What’s in News?
The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has reopened after seven months following the lockdown owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR):
- Kaziranga National Park located in Golaghat and Nagaon, in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam in northeast India is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- As the name suggests, it is a national park as well as a tiger reserve.
- It is most famous for the one-horned rhinoceros.
Read more about KNPTR.
3. Three new Rafale jets to fly non-stop from France to India
What’s in News?
Three Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force are scheduled to arrive in India, flying non-stop from France. With this, the IAF will have eight of the 36 Rafale jets in service.
- India has contracted 36 Rafale multi-role fighter jets from France in fly-away condition with 13 India Specific Enhancements (ISE) under a €7.87 billion Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) signed in September 2016.
- As per the IGA, deliveries begin 36 months from the signing of the contract and would be completed in 67 months.
For more on “Rafale”, read 15th October 2019 Comprehensive News Analysis.
G. Tidbits
1. GST inflows cross ₹1 lakh cr. in October
What’s in News?
Revenues from the Goods and Services Tax surpassed ₹1.05 lakh crore in October 2020.
- This signals a 10% increase from a year ago and the highest recorded since February 2020.
- While economists and businesses are cautious about the sustainability of this trend, the government cited this as a clear sign of a recovery in the economy after its 23.9% contraction in the first quarter of 2020-21.
- According to experts, the slight upward trend in October’s GST inflows could be attributed to the festive demand and input tax credits as well as other reconciliations that were due for businesses in September 2020.
- The Consortium of Indian Associations, an umbrella body of MSMEs, stressed that these revenues normally relate to sales that occurred when a majority of the economy, including public transport, were unlocked and hence must not be considered a return to normalcy for businesses.
2. Banks told to pay back interest on interest, says RBI
What’s in News?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) informed the Supreme Court that it had advised banks and financial companies to fully comply with a government scheme to pay back borrowers compound interest, or interest on interest, charged on their loans during the six-month moratorium.
- The RBI said that its circular was issued after the Finance Ministry approved the scheme for ex-gratia payment of the difference in the compound interest and simple interest charged between March 1 and August 31, 2020 for eight categories of loans worth up to ₹2 crore by November 5, 2020.
- The RBI has advised commercial banks, cooperative banks, financial institutions and non-banking financial companies to comply with the government’s payback scheme and take necessary actions within the stipulated timeline.
Significance:
- The Union Cabinet had approved the scheme in October 2020.
- The government scheme is meant to bring additional relief to borrowers affected by the pandemic-induced financial distress.
- The scheme will cover MSME, education, housing, consumer durables, credit card, auto, personal and consumption loans.
- The Central Government has directed that all lending institutions shall give effect to the scheme and credit the amount calculated as per the scheme into the accounts of the borrowers by November 5, 2020.
3. Hizbul chief killed in encounter in J&K
What’s in News?
Saif-ul-Islam Mir, the operation chief of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed in an encounter in Srinagar.
- Mir was Hizbul Mujahideen’s chief operational commander and had been active since 2014.
- He was nominated after the killing of Riyaz Naikoo.
- He was involved in many terror crimes, besides being instrumental in recruiting innocent youth into the terror fold.
- The Hizb outfit is now leaderless.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Arrange the following from West to East:
- Dibru Saikhowa National Park
- Manas National Park
- Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park
- Kaziranga National Park
Choose the correct option:
- 2, 4, 3, 1
- 2, 3, 4, 1
- 1, 4, 3, 2
- 1, 2, 4, 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
National Parks in Assam West to East: Manas National Park, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Dibru Saikhowa National Park.
Q2. Consider the following statements:
- Natal Indian Ambulance Corps was created by Mahatma Gandhi for use by the British during the Second World War.
- Mahatma Gandhi was bestowed with the ‘Kaiser-i-Hind’ by the British for his work in Boer war.
Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Natal Indian Ambulance Corps was created by Mahatma Gandhi for use by the British as stretcher-bearers during the Second Boer War.
- Gandhi was bestowed with the ‘Kaiser-i-Hind’ and other medals by the British for his work in Boer war.
Q3. Consider the following statements:
- Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) was signed in the third India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
- BECA would entitle India to receive highly classified U.S. defence and sensitive geo-spatial intelligence information.
- India is a signatory to all U.S.-related foundational military agreements.
Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- In the Third India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue that took place in Delhi (2020), the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for Geo-Spatial Cooperation was signed.
- With this signing India is now a signatory to all U.S.-related foundational military agreements.
- Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for Geo-Spatial Cooperation would entitle India to receive highly classified U.S. defence and sensitive geo-spatial intelligence information.
Q4. Which of these states share their Formation Day?
- Andhra Pradesh
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Punjab
- Tamil Nadu
Choose the correct option:
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2, and 5 only
- 1, 4 and 5 only
- 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- The states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Kerala celebrate their formation day on November 1.
- UTs Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh and Puducherry were also formed on November 1.
- Delhi was also formed on this date.
Read more on this topic covered in 1st November 2020 PIB Summary and Analysis.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Analyze the challenges/concerns that India could face from its perceived closer alignment with the U.S. (15 marks, 250 words)(GS Paper 2/International Relations)
- Discuss the salient provisions with respect to platform workers in the Code on Social Security Bill, 2020. Discuss the significance of these provisions and also the lacunae in the code. Suggest appropriate measures to truly empower the platform workers. (15 marks, 250 words)(GS Paper 3/Economy)
Read the previous CNA here.
02 Nov 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here
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