14 Nov 2023 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related C. GS 3 Related ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY 1. Community Rights & Forest Conservation D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INDIAN POLITY 1. Enhancing representation, for a just electoral system INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Realism, not machismo, to counter terror F. Prelims Facts 1. Euclid Space Telescope 2. Retail & Headline Inflation G. Tidbits 1. Sea Guardian Naval Exercise 2. GeM Portal 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
Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. Community Rights & Forest Conservation
Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation and Environmental impact assessment.
Mains: Provisions and challenges associated with the Forest Conservation Amendment Act of 2023.
Context
The Forest Conservation Amendment Act of 2023 aims to address climate change and deforestation in India but raises concerns about indigenous rights, forest governance, and potential environmental implications.
Introduction
- The Forest Conservation Amendment Act of 2023 addresses climate change and deforestation issues but raises concerns about indigenous rights.
- The amendment excludes certain areas from forest law jurisdiction, allowing economic exploitation.
- Passed by Parliament, the law’s objectives and implications have sparked debates on industrial progress, tribal concerns, and environmental impacts.
Key Amendments and Focus Areas
- Jurisdiction Exclusion:
- Forest law applies exclusively to areas under the 1927 Forest Act and those designated after October 25, 1980.
- Not applicable to forests converted for non-forest use after December 12, 1996, and land within 100 km from the China-Pakistan border.
- Allows the central government to build linear projects in specified areas.
- Security Measures:
- Authorises the construction of security measures in areas up to 10 hectares for surveillance and infrastructure, applicable to vulnerable regions.
- Facilitates initiatives like eco-tourism and safari for economic gain.
- Economic Utilisation:
- Aims to improve livelihoods through initiatives in forest regions, drawing criticism from tribal communities and human rights activists.
Background and Need for Amendment
- Godavarman Thirumulpad Case (1996):
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- Interpreted forest land broadly, bringing private forests under the 1980 law.
- Aimed to restrict forest land use for non-forest purposes, including industrial conversion.
2. Industrial Progress vs. Conservation:
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- Opposition from private landowners and conservation organisations due to perceived industrial progress hindrance.
- Periodic concerns raised by indigenous communities and activists.
Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Recommendations
- The JPC, consisting of 31 members with limited opposition representation, submitted its report within three months.
- Critical comments from committee members and the public were largely disregarded, and the Bill passed in both houses without substantial debates.
- No collaborative discussions with southern States were held, leading to concerns about regional considerations.
Impact on Indigenous Communities
- Removal of the stipulation of ‘prior consent’ raises concerns, as the amendment removes the necessity for tribal grama sabha consent for alterations to forests.
- State governments may engage grama sabhas within the framework, but preconceived notions about their stance on development may hinder cooperation.
Compensatory Afforestation
- The new legislation streamlines compensatory afforestation, allowing private individuals and organisations to undertake afforestation or reforestation projects.
- Concerns arise about potential environmental implications, as the law does not specify tree types and allows discretion.
Forest Rights Act (FRA)
- The FRA, instrumental in empowering forest communities, faces reduced enthusiasm from central and state governments.
- Rather than amending the FRA, the government opts to limit potential Adivasi claims by reducing or diluting forest areas.
- Growing human-animal conflicts in Adivasi hamlets remain unaddressed.
Challenges and Criticisms
- Clashes with Forest Governance: Economic incentives for afforestation projects clash with the idea of forest governance.
- Federal Norms and Governance Practices: Afforestation incentives challenge federal norms and decentralised forest governance.
- Complexity in Defining Linear Projects: Defining strategic linear projects becomes complex and vague, lacking clarity.
- Neglect of Environmental Security: Internal environmental security, a significant concern, is overlooked compared to external security threats.
Nut Graf: The amendment, altering the scope of forest laws, introduces provisions for economic exploitation, triggering debates on indigenous rights, federal norms, and the clash between afforestation incentives and decentralised forest governance.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INDIAN POLITY
1. Enhancing representation, for a just electoral system
Syllabus: Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels and Challenges Therein.
Prelims: Representation in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Delimitation Commission, 84th amendment act, Census, 74th Amendment act
Mains: Electoral Reforms
Introduction
- India’s large population is represented by a limited number of elected officials at the national and state levels.
- This lack of proportional representation weakens democracy and governance.
Limited Representation in India’s Democracy
- An Indian MP represents about 2.5 million citizens on average, compared to 700,000 for a US Representative.
- In Pakistan and Bangladesh, the ratio is around 600,000 and 500,000 citizens per representative respectively.
- India has limited parliamentarians and assembly members for its large population ( 4,126 MLAs, 543 Lok Sabha MPs, and 245 Rajya Sabha MPs).
- India lacks adequate representation at national and state levels to address issues and be held responsible for citizen welfare.
Malapportionment in India’s System
- Rajya Sabha makes for an unequal federation i.e. seats in the upper house are also allocated on the basis of population compared to the US system where each State is given two senators in the U.S. Senate.
- In India’s diverse political system, this malapportionment can empower certain parties over others which could exacerbate political differences between southern/northeastern states and northern states.
Delimitation
- An independent Delimitation Commission has conducted delimitation 4 times before.
- Delimitation was frozen in 1976 during the Emergency until 2001.
- It was then frozen again until after the 2026 census by the 84th Amendment Act.
- With more seats, southern states may see a 6% rise but northern states could see a 63% increase.
- States with lower population growth due to effective implementation of family planning and population control measures could be punished.
Way Forward: Needed Electoral Reforms
- Implementing direct elections for Rajya Sabha members who must live in the state they represent to strengthen federalism and state representation.
- Proportional representation in Lok Sabha and state elections to improve representative democracy.
- Alternative voting systems like ranked choice (voters rank candidates and the weakest candidates are eliminated until one has a majority) or two-round system (if no one gets a majority in the first round, the top candidates from that round advance to the second round) to ensure legislators have majority voter support.
- Smaller states can be considered to improve governance and limit large state dominance. A new State Reorganization Commission can be considered to evaluate splitting larger states.
- Directly elect mayors with fixed terms for all census towns to improve local democracy and urban governance. Empower mayors to control key urban functions like planning and services as outlined in the 74th Amendment.
Minimizing Negative Effects of Delimitation
- Delimitation should restore proportional representation in Parliament.
- Significantly increase Parliament seats to avoid states losing seats.
- Should consider geography, economics, language, and fairness as criteria for seat allocation and not just population.
- Fiscal impact on future state transfers should be elaborated clearly.
Conclusion
- Overall, enhancing representation at national, state and local levels will strengthen Indian democracy and address concerns across the country.
Nut Graf: India’s democracy is weakened by a lack of proportional representation, with MPs representing too many citizens and the Rajya Sabha favouring larger states. Electoral reforms like proportional representation and direct elections for Rajya Sabha members would improve representation and strengthen federalism.
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Realism, not machismo, to counter terror
Syllabus: India and its Neighborhood- Relations
Prelims: Hamas, Gaza, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Balakot Strikes
Mains: India’s Counter Terrorism Strategy against Pakistan
Context
- The conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a debate on the appropriate counter-terror strategy for India.
- India has also experienced a similar trauma with the 2008 Mumbai attacks (known as 26/11).
- A New York Times columnist has praised India for showing “remarkable restraint” by not attacking Pakistan right after the Mumbai attacks.
Restraint after 26/11 Attacks:
- Terrorists want to provoke a response that highlights their cause.
- For example, Hamas launched attacks on Israel just as Saudi Arabia and Israel were starting to make progress towards peace. This peace process threatened to overshadow the Palestinian cause. So Hamas tried to disrupt it through violence.
- India wisely chose restraint after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
- A military response could have led to nuclear confrontation and shifted focus to the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir, rather than on terrorism.
- India condemned the attacks and was praised for being a “responsible nuclear power.”
- The attacks were seen as being as severe and shocking as the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
- Shortly after the attacks, U.S. President George W. Bush issued a strong statement supporting India.
- The landmark India-U.S. nuclear deal was operationalised immediately.
Economic Factors:
- The global financial crisis made war economically disastrous as investors dislike instability.
- Subsequently, India grew its economy to $3 trillion while Pakistan’s declined.
- Restraint prevented war from derailing this.
Geopolitical Shifts:
- India allied with the U.S. “war on terror.” Pakistan’s fortunes declined as it was seen as duplicitous on terrorism.
- Pakistan’s economy crashed after 2008. Foreign investment dried up.
- The UN designated Lashkar-e-Tayyiba a terrorist group in 2010, increasing focus on Pakistan.
- The revised Kerry-Lugar Bill tripled aid to Pakistan but with offensive clauses.
- It stated that Pakistan must demonstrate that it is stopping its support for terrorist groups and that it must prevent organizations like Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) from conducting attacks on “neighbouring countries.”
- Scholars like Stephen Cohen called Pakistan “America’s most dangerous ally.”
- India grew closer to the U.S. while being delinked from Pakistan and its terrorism.
Balakot Strikes Significance:
- India’s defense and economy were stronger compared to 2008 and it had good relations with the U.S.
- The strikes sent a signal to Pakistan that its terrorism has consequences, without full-scale war. This shifted India’s mindset from defensive to assertive.
Conclusion:
- Strong leadership matters, but strength should also come from well-planned deliberate moves.
- A ground invasion of Pakistan would be as difficult now as it was in 2008 since Pakistan has nuclear weapons. Pakistan can be punished without being invaded.
- The goal should be to outmanoeuvre a rival while maintaining a credible threat of force.
Nut Graf: India’s restraint after the 2008 Mumbai attacks shows that an immediate military response is not always the best way to counter terrorism. A more nuanced approach that takes into account the economic, geopolitical, and military factors involved might lead to long-term strategic gains.
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: GS 3- Science and Technology
Prelims: About Euclid Space Telescope
Introduction
- European astronomers have revealed the initial images captured by the newly launched Euclid space telescope, a collaborative effort led by the European Space Agency (ESA) with NASA as a partner.
- The Euclid telescope is specifically designed to explore the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, believed to constitute 95% of the universe.
Key Observations
- The released images are described as the sharpest of their kind, demonstrating the telescope’s capability to observe billions of galaxies situated up to 10 billion light years away.
- The images cover four regions of the nearby universe, including the Perseus cluster with approximately 1,000 galaxies located 240 million light-years away and over 100,000 galaxies in the background.
Significance of Observations
- Scientists infer that large, structured formations like the Perseus cluster could have developed only if dark matter was present.
- Dark matter’s influence is evident in phenomena such as galaxies rotating at higher speeds than expected based on visible matter, and in the gravitational cohesion of massive structures like galaxy clusters.
- Dark energy, a concept introduced in the 1990s, is characterised by the accelerated expansion of the universe, discovered through observations of supernovas.
Mission Objectives and Challenges
- Euclid, a six-year mission, aims to construct a 3D map covering about one-third of the sky, detecting subtle variations associated with the dark universe.
- The telescope faced initial technical challenges, including stray light and guidance issues, which have been addressed.
Future Prospects
- Beyond the initial six-year mission, the European Space Agency hopes Euclid can extend its operations for an additional six months, relying on its remaining propellant.
- The Euclid telescope is positioned at Lagrange point 2 (L2), offering gravitational stability and sharing this location with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
2. Retail & Headline Inflation
Syllabus: GS 3- Economics
Prelims: About Retail & Headline Inflation
Introduction
- India’s retail inflation rate saw a decline to a four-month low of 4.87% in October from slightly over 5% in September, driven by factors such as a decrease in vegetable prices.
Key Highlights
- Vegetable Prices Easing:
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- The rise in vegetable prices eased to 2.7% from 3.4%, contributing to the overall reduction in retail inflation.
- Consumer food price inflation remained nearly unchanged at 6.6%.
2. Base Effects and Deceleration in Non-Food Items
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- Base effects from October last year, when retail prices surged 6.8%, played a role in cooling the headline inflation rate.
- Prices of non-food items such as services, clothing, footwear, and fuel and light also saw some deceleration.
3. Fuel and Light
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- Aided by LPG cylinder price cuts, fuel and light costs dropped by 0.4% compared to October last year.
4. Rural and Urban Inflation
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- Inflation in rural areas eased to 5.1% from 5.33% in September.
- Urban households experienced a marginal increase in inflation, reaching 4.65%.
5. Month-on-Month Basis
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- On a month-on-month basis, consumer prices increased by 0.65%.
- Food prices rose by 1.06%, with urban food prices seeing a 1.14% increase.
RBI’s Stance and Future Outlook
- RBI is unlikely to lower interest rates soon, especially with sticky food prices.
- The RBI has committed to focusing on price stability around its 4% target rather than being satisfied with inflation prints within the 4%-6% range.
Specific Food Price Movements
- Some relief was observed in inflation rates for cereals, meat, fish, and milk (6.44% decrease), and a drop in spices (remaining elevated at 22.8%).
- However, the acceleration in the prices of key protein sources like pulses and eggs, along with an increase in fruit and sugar prices, offset these gains.
G. Tidbits
1. Sea Guardian Naval Exercise
- China and Pakistan conducted the Sea Guardian-3 naval exercise in the northern Arabian Sea.
- The exercise includes their maiden joint maritime patrol, scheduled from November 11 to 17.
- It comes after the India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial dialogue with a focus on Indo-Pacific maritime security.
- India announces full membership in Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), where Pakistan is already a member.
- Comes after Russia and Myanmar’s first naval exercise in the Andaman Sea.
2. GeM Portal
- GeM portal, launched on August 9, 2016, facilitates online purchases for central government ministries and departments.
- Government e-Marketplace (GeM) procurement exceeds ₹2 lakh crore in the current fiscal.
- Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced the achievement in just eight months of 2023-24.
- Procurement value in 2021-22 was ₹1.06 lakh crore, and it surpassed ₹2 lakh crore last year.
- With the current trend, the procurement may exceed ₹3 lakh crore this year.
- GeM boasts over 63,000 government buyer organisations and over 62 lakh sellers and service providers.
Read more on government e-marketplace in the link.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements, with reference to headline inflation:
- Headline inflation includes a change in the value of all goods in the basket.
- It excludes volatile items like food and energy.
- Headline inflation is more relevant for developing economies than for developed economies.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: Headline inflation considers all items in the CPI basket, offering a broad overview of price movements, and does not exclude volatile items like food and energy.
Q2. Which two countries are conducting the naval exercise 'Sea Guardian-3' in the Northern Arabian Sea?
- India and Oman
- China and Pakistan
- Russia and Iran
- Japan and Philippines
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: The naval exercise ‘Sea Guardian-3’ is being conducted in the Northern Arabian Sea by China and Pakistan. This is the 3rd edition of the bilateral naval drill between the two countries.
Q3. Consider the following statements, with reference to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA):
- It has a provision for a maximum period of judicial custody of up to 180 days.
- Under UAPA, only Indian nationals can be charged.
- The highest punishments under UAPA include the death penalty and life imprisonment.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect. Under UAPA, both Indian and foreign nationals can be charged. The offenders will be charged in the same manner whether the act is performed in a foreign land, outside India.
Q4. Consider the following statements, with reference to the Euclid telescope:
- Euclid was developed by NASA.
- Euclid’s primary goal is to study the properties of dark matter and dark energy.
- It will observe galaxies up to a distance of 10 billion light-years.
How many of the statements given above are incorrect?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation: Euclid was developed by the European Space Agency, not NASA. Its primary goal is to investigate dark matter and dark energy, observing galaxies up to 10 billion light-years away.
Q5. With reference to the Government e-Market (GeM) portal, which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
- It was launched on August 9, 2016, for online purchases by all the central government ministries and departments.
- GeM facilitates users with tools like e-bidding, reverse e-auction, and demand aggregation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation: Both statements are correct.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Critically evaluate the Forest Conservation Amendment Act of 2023. (250 words, 15 marks) (General Studies – III, Environment & Ecology)
- Illustrate India’s policy of strategic restraint and calculated use of force in countering terrorism. (250 words, 15 marks) (General Studies – III, Internal Security)
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