CNA 28 October 2022:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. What is Turkey’s latest ‘disinformation’ law? C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials GOVERNANCE 1. The dismal case of slashing schemes and cutting funds F. Prelims Facts 1. C-295 aircraft G. Tidbits 1. Coinage with images of gods and goddesses dates back to Kushans 2. States should have a uniform policy on law and order: Shah 3. Psychological test of death row convicts is essential, says SC H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
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B. GS 2 Related
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. What is Turkey’s latest ‘disinformation’ law?
Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries
Mains: Critical evaluation of Turkey’s disinformation law
Context: Turkey’s parliament recently enacted the controversial “disinformation law”.
Turkey’s disinformation law
- The new law has provisions to grant a jail term of up to three years against social media users and journalists for spreading “disinformation”.
- Overall the new law contains over 40 articles and would bring changes to around 23 different existing laws.
- Article 29 of the law has been the most controversial article among all the articles.
- Article 29 of the law mandates up to three years of imprisonment for disseminating information that is “contrary to the truth” related to the country’s domestic and international security, public order and health, which allegedly creates “public worry, fear and panic.”
- In order to implement this new law, social media platforms can be sought to transfer user data to the courts of the country.
Concerns about the law
- The Venice Commission, which is the advisory body to the Council of Europe on constitutional matters, has raised concerns about the unclear interpretation of a few important terms like disinformation.
- The Commission has also raised concerns about the assertion of what amounts to the disturbance of “public peace”.
- Also, concerns have been flagged against the law for entrusting the prosecutors with the responsibility of determining the interpretation of the terms.
- Critics opine that Turkey, being a heavily polarised country and the courts having passed judgements against journalists and other social activists in the past, does not provide confidence for them to accept the new legislation.
- Critics also argue that with the new set of legislation, content that challenges the government narratives and highlights the truth can be qualified as “disinformation”.
Concerns of journalists
- The new legislation would recognise news websites as part of mainstream media and hence they will now be required to comply with the same regulations as those for newspapers.
- Regulations can mandate that news websites take down reports when flagged by a regulatory authority and post a refutation on the same hyperlink.
- According to experts and critics, Turkey already has an unimpressive record with respect to press freedom as it is ranked 149 out of 180 in the Press Freedom Index (2022).
- Further, according to reports of the Journalists’ Union of Turkey, over 270 journalists had been put on trial in 2021 while 57 others had been physically assaulted and over 54 news websites and 1,355 articles were blocked.
Government’s stand
- The Turkish government has argued that the new legislation is important to combat instances of sharing illegal content under false names, slandering by anonymous accounts and defaming individuals of differing political thought, religion or ethnicity via social media and the internet.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held that the need for such legislation had become imminent due to the increasing “digital fascism” and the circulation of false news which are evolving as national and global security threats.
Nut graf: The government of Turkey has adopted a “disinformation law” that aims to curb the spread of disinformation online or via social media. However, the new legislation has attracted severe criticism from the opposition and journalists and has been regarded as a “censorship law” for the lack of clarity and increased powers being accorded to the government.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
1. The dismal case of slashing schemes and cutting funds
Syllabus: Government Policies & Interventions for Development
Mains: Rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes
Context: The Union government has discontinued, subsumed, revamped or rationalised over 50% of existing central government-sponsored schemes over the past three years.
Introduction:
- The Union Budget 2022-2023 previously declared a major revamping/‘rationalisation’ of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS). Since the last three years, the number of such schemes has been reduced by half.
- Centrally Sponsored Schemes are a critical component of public policy leveraged by the Union government to ensure a minimum welfare standard for all citizens.
- CSSs are totally funded by the central government but implemented by states. In the Budget 2022-2023, the government allocated Rs 4,42,781.19 crore for such schemes.
- According to the Budget document, 130 CSSs spanning all ministries have been “rationalised/revamped” into 65 schemes.
Impact across various ministries:
- The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development which had 19 CSSs is left with only three:
- Mission Shakti – This replaced 14 schemes which included the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme.
- Mission Vatsalya
- Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0
Image Source: Accountability India
- Under the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, 12 CSSs have been revamped into two schemes; three have been shut down.
- The two new schemes are: Infrastructure Development Fund and Development Programmes (Animal Husbandry).
- Under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, there are now three out of 20 (Krishonnati Yojana, Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Cooperatives and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana).
- Similarly, Budget 2022-2023 shows that the National Project on Organic Farming has been “moved to Establishment Expenditure”.
Reasons behind rationalisation:
- Various Finance Commissions including the 15th Commission recommended the rationalisation of CSS schemes.
- The rationalisation of the CSSs would ensure the optimum utilisation of resources with better outcomes through area-specific interventions.
- This would also ensure a wider reach of the benefits to the target groups.
- The rationalisation of CSSs can result in greater autonomy and fiscal space available to states.
- Prime Minister Modi, in 2015, constituted a sub-group of chief ministers on the rationalisation of CSS.
- A reshaping of CSSs into 28 umbrella schemes was carried out by them — with six ‘Core of the Core’, 20 ‘Core’ and two ‘Optional’ schemes. This was done in order to enhance the impact of the CSSs, maintain their budget allocation, and grant states flexibility on scheme implementation.
Challenges to existing schemes:
- For schemes that exist, there are challenges such as funding cuts, disbursement and utilisation of funds.
- As of June 2022, ₹1.2 lakh crore of funds meant for central government-sponsored schemes are with banks which earn interest income for the Centre.
- The Nirbhaya fund with its focus on funding projects to improve the public safety of women in public spaces and encourage their participation in economic and social activities is an interesting case; ₹1,000 crore was allocated to the fund annually (2013-16) and remained largely unspent.
- The allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) went down by approximately 25% in the FY22-23 Budget with the allocated budget at ₹73,000 crore when compared to the FY21-22 revised estimates of ₹98,000 crore.
- Even for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), who are the first responders, there have been delays in salaries for up to six months.
- Funding for wildlife habitat development under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has declined: from ₹165 crore ( FY18-19), to ₹124.5 crore (FY19-20), to ₹87.6 crore (FY20-21).
- Allocations for Project Tiger have been slashed — ₹323 crore ( FY18-19) to ₹194.5 crore ( FY20-21).
- Fertiliser subsidies have been in decline over the last few years.
- Actual government spending on fertilisers in FY20-21 was ₹1,27,921 crore.
- In the FY22-23 Budget, the allocation was ₹1,05,222 crore.
- Allocation for NPK fertilisers (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) was 35% lower than the revised estimates in FY21-22.
Issues with budget cuts and underutilisation of funds:
- A variety of women-focused development schemes across States are being turned down due to underutilisation of funds despite significant risks faced by women in public spaces.
- The Economic Survey 2022-23 has highlighted that demand for MGNREGA was higher than pre-pandemic levels as rural distress continues. Anecdotal cases show that actual funding disbursal for MGNREGA has often been delayed, leading to a decline in confidence in the scheme.
- Reduction in subsidies, when fertiliser prices have risen sharply after the Ukraine war, has led to fertiliser shortages and farmer anguish.
- Funding for the environment ministry needs to be improved to meet several obligations under climate change goals.
Way Forward:
- State governments should have the flexibility to ensure that the schemes benefit the targeted groups since they implement the schemes.
- There should be proper debates and dialogues with relevant stakeholders on the restructuring of the CSS which will entail constitutional amendment in the Seventh Schedule.
- Blockages in budgetary processes in the schemes, such as delays in the flow of funds, and in releasing sanction orders for spending shall be addressed.
- Decision-making in the States shall be decentralised to overcome inefficient delegation of financial powers to the district/sub-district level authorities.
- We need to build capacity for an efficient civil service to meet today’s challenges, i.e., providing a corruption-free welfare system, running a modern economy and providing better public goods.
Nut Graf: Pruning the CSSs has been a Union government focus area in recent years. Fewer government schemes will provide much-needed flexibility to state governments in financing. Rather than reducing the funding to existing schemes, the government should focus towards better public service delivery.
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: GS-3; Security; Security challenges and their management
Prelims: About C-295MW Aircraft
Context: The Prime Minister would be laying the foundation for a manufacturing facility for C-295 aircraft at Vadodara (Gujarat) by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. in partnership with Airbus.
Background
- The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed a ₹22,000-crore deal with Airbus for the procurement of 56 C-295 MW Aircraft.
- It was a one-of-a-kind agreement wherein a military aircraft would be manufactured in India under technology transfer by the private sector.
- Of the 56 C-295 MW aircraft to be procured by India, it is said that about 40 will be built at the new facility in Vadodara.
C-295MW Aircraft
- The C-295MW is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity which can be used for tactical transport of about 71 passengers or 50 paratroopers, and for logistic operations to locations that are not accessible by heavier aircraft.
- The aircraft is a new-generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segments.
- The C-295 aircraft can operate from short or unprepared airstrips and has Short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities.
- The C-295 aircraft has conducted multi-role operations worldwide under all weather conditions which includes day and night combat missions and in all extreme weather conditions such as desert and maritime environments.
- The C-295 Aircraft would be replacing the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) ageing fleet of Avro aircraft that were procured in the 1960s and the IAF will become the 35th C295 operator worldwide.
G. Tidbits
1. Coinage with images of gods and goddesses dates back to Kushans
- India has a long tradition of coinage with images of gods and goddesses.
- The Kushans, who hailed from the Central Asian region and ruled till the 3rd century A.D. were known for their gold coins and were the first to use the image of Goddess Lakshmi on their coins, along with Ardochsho, the Iranic Goddess of wealth.
- The Kushans also depicted Oesho (Shiva), Miro (moon god) and Buddha in their coinage.
- The Vijayanagara kings also had coinage with Hindu idols.
- Harihara-II (1377-1404) had inducted coins that depicted Brahma-Saraswati, Vishnu-Lakshmi and Shiva-Parvati.
- Also, Muhammad Ghori had stamped the figure of Goddess Lakshmi on his gold coins after defeating Prithviraj Chauhan in the battle of Terrain in 1192 AD.
Read more about – Coinage of India
2. States should have a uniform policy on law and order: Shah
- The Union Home Minister urged that States must have a uniform law and order policy as certain crimes such as cross-border terrorism and cybercrimes have transcended regional and international boundaries.
- The Home Minister also called for the centralisation of data on terror and other crimes and said that each State would have a National Investigation Agency (NIA) office by 2024 as the agency had been accorded extra-territorial jurisdiction and additional powers to confiscate property in terror-related cases in order to tackle terror activities.
- The Home Minister also urged the States to use the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) which brings datasets of 11 agencies on a common platform.
- He also highlighted the importance of the border and coastal States to make more concerted efforts with the Central agencies and security forces to ensure border and coastal security and that the government was working on the principle of “one data, one entry”.
3. Psychological test of death row convicts is essential, says SC
- A Supreme Court Bench led by the Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit in a significant order has clarified that the psychological test of condemned prisoners (death row prisoners) by expert doctors and access to them by mitigating investigators are important before the hearing begins on their appeals against the death penalty.
- The SC Bench said that these tests would provide key assistance for the courts to have an independent and holistic picture of the physical and mental condition and background of the convicts whose life hangs in the balance.
- Further, the court held that mitigation experts must be given access to the prisoners to find out any circumstances which can help the court while it hears the appeal as overlooking key details would lead to irreparable consequences in death penalty cases.
Know more about – Capital Punishment or the death penalty in India
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Arrange the following mountains/hills from west to east: (Level – Difficult)
- Cantabrian Mountains
- Auvergne Mountains
- Matterhorn Hills
- Tatra Mountains
Options:
- 1-2-3-4
- 2-4-1-3
- 4-1-3-2
- 4-2-1-3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
Q2. With respect to Syed Ibrahim Khan, which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level – Medium)
- He was a 16th-century Sufi poet born either in Amroha or Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh.
- He became a follower of Lord Krishna and spent his life in Vrindavan.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, Syed Ibrahim Khan was a 16th-century Sufi poet born either in Amroha or Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh.
- Statement 2 is correct, He became a devotee of the Hindu God Krishna and spent his life in Vrindavan.
Q3. Which of the following are U.S.-origin defence equipment? (Level – Difficult)
- HAWK interceptor missiles
- Javelin anti-tank missile system
- MIM-104 Patriot
- SAMP/T
- Stinger missile system
Options:
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 1, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
- 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- The HAWK interceptor missile is an American-made medium-range surface-to-air missile.
- FGM-148 Javelin, or Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System-Medium is an American-made portable anti-tank missile system
- MIM-104 Patriot is an American long-range, all-altitude, all-weather air defence system to counter tactical ballistic missiles.
- SAMP/T is an air defense missile system jointly developed by France and Italy.
- Stinger missile system is an American man-portable air-defense system that operates as an infrared homing surface-to-air missile.
Q4. Naqoura recently seen in news is a city in which country? (Level – Medium)
- Ukraine
- Lebanon
- Iran
- Azerbaijan
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Naqoura is a town in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border.
Q5. Consider the following pairs: (Level – Difficult)
Wildlife Sanctuaries State/UT
- Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary Delhi
- Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary Assam
- Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary Madhya Pradesh
- Govind Wildlife Sanctuary Uttarakhand
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
- Only one pair
- Only two pairs
- Only three pairs
- All four pairs
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Pair 1 is correct, Asola-Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the Southern Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli hill range on the Delhi-Haryana border.
- Pair 2 is correct, Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Kokrajhar district and adjacent areas of the Dhubri district of Assam.
- Pair 3 is correct, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is situated in the Mandsaur and Nimach districts of Madhya Pradesh.
- Pair 4 is correct, Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
Q6. Consider the following: (Level – Easy) PYQ (2022)
- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
- Missile Technology Control Regime
- Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
India is a member of which of the above?
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- India is a founding member and the second-largest shareholder of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
- India officially joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) as a full member in 2016.
- In June 2017, India became a full-fledged member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- “Turkey’s disinformation law has created a dangerous precedence for free speech and dissent in the world”. Elucidate. (250 Words; 15 marks) (GS-2; International Relations)
- “A Uniform Law and Order system is the need of the hour with reference to terrorism”. Critically Analyze. (150 words; 10 marks) (GS-3; Security)
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CNA 28 October 2022:- Download PDF Here
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