COP26 Glasgow Summit: Global Climate Action

November 2021
COP26
Glasgow Summit
UPSC MONTHLY CURRENT AFFAIRS

Global Climate Action
Annual Status
National Court U.S.-India Trade Maritime Security of Education
of Appeal Policy Forum of India Report 2021
Strengthening
Reducing pendency in Significance Understanding COVID-19
economic aspect of the
the Supreme Court and challenges pandemic’s impact on
bilateral relation
school education
Outstanding performance by BYJU’S
students in IAS 2020
Congratulations to our toppers
02 Ranks in
Top 10 18 Ranks in
Top 50 36 Ranks in
Top 100
RANK 02 RANK 8 RANK 13 RANK 14

Jagrati Awasthi Kartik Jivani Gaurav Budania Karishma Nair
RANK 17 RANK 25 RANK 26 RANK 28 RANK 30

Sarthak Agarwal Vaibhav Rawat Pulkit Singh Divya Mishra Divyanshu
Choudhary
RANK 31 RANK 32 RANK 35 RANK 37 RANK 38

Megha Swaroop Rallapalli Jagat Sai Aparna Ramesh Narwade Vinayak Varuna Agarwal
RANK 41 RANK 42 RANK 46 RANK 50

Aswathy Jiji Pooja Gupta Jubin Mohapatra Abhishek Shukla
Incredible Results
CSE 2019
4 Ranks 13 Ranks 22 Ranks
in top 10 in top 50 in top 100
Rank 3 Rank 6 Rank 8 Rank 10

Pratibha Verma Vishakha Yadav Abhishek Saraf Sanjita Mohapatra
CSE 2018 CSE 2017

11 Ranks 28 Ranks 183 Ranks 5 Ranks 34 Ranks 236 Ranks
in top 50 in top 100 in the final list in top 50 in top 100 in the final list
Rank 11 Rank 16 Rank 21 Rank 3 Rank 6 Rank 8

Pujya Priyadarshni Dhodmise Trupti Ankush Rahul Jain Sachin Gupta Koya Sree Harsha Anubhav Singh

Anuraj Jain Mainak Ghosh Soumya Sharma Abhishek Surana
CSE 2016 CSE 2015

8 Ranks 18 Ranks 215 Ranks 5 Ranks 14 Ranks 162 Ranks
in top 50 in top 100 in the final list in top 50 in top 100 in the final list

Anmol Sher Singh Bedi Abhilash Mishra Tejaswi Rana Vipin Garg Khumanthem Diana Devi Chandra Mohan Garg

Prabhash Kumar Avdhesh Meena Pulkit Garg Anshul Agarwal
CSE 2014
6 Ranks 12 Ranks 83 Ranks
in top 50 in top 100 overall selections

Vandana Rao Suharsha Bhagat Ananya Das Anil Dhameliya Kushaal Yadav Vivekanand T.S
NOVEMBER - 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. POLITY 3. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
• Set up police complaints bodies: NHRC 01 • Pentagon rattled by China’s military push 23
• Reservation on quota 01 • Rezang la Memorial 23
• CBI, ED chiefs can now have five-year terms 01 • ASEM Summit 24
• A routine matter or a punishment post? 02 • It’s time to engage in ‘lawfare’ 24
• Govt. keeps no Net shutdown record 04 • Caught in the crossfire 25
• Why no special status to A.P., HC asks Centre 04 • NAM at 60 marks an age of Indian alignment 25
• The need for a proper Pre- Legislative • Reading the forecast from China’s sixth plenum 26
Consultation Policy 05 • Sri Lankan fishermen seek India’s action over
• National Court of Appeal 05 disputes 28
• Haryana law on local hiring causes concern 07 • Will Pak. law on KulbhushanJadhav help
India’s position? 28
2. ECONOMY • Keeping a close eye on China’s nuclear
• International Conference on Hydrogen Energy 09 capabilities 29
• RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme 09 • Coups upend West Asia’s nascent democracies 30
• Gilts for all 10 • A food crisis of the government’s own making 31
• All India Survey on Domestic Workers 10 • India, Bangladesh to deepen ties as partners,
• National Milk Day 11 says Goyal 31
• ‘India now ahead of China in financial • Reversing follies in a haunted battleground 32
inclusion metrics’ 11
• How has RBI tweaked Prompt Corrective 4. ART AND CULTURE
Action norms for banks? 11 • Best Tourism Village 35
• A tax burden that attacks the federal rights • Dharma Dhamma International Conference 35
of States 12 • International Tourism Mart 35
• PM to inaugurate Kashi Corridor Project 13 • KashiUtsav 36
• T.N. seeks time for farmers to insure samba, • Pungcholom 36
thaladi crop 13 • PM to lay foundation stone of dedicated
• The defeat of hubris, a confrontation on hold 13 walkways for ‘Palkhi’ 36
• Reforming the fertilizer sector 15 • UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) 37
• Over-valued unicorns in a distressed economy 16 • World Heritage sites in India 37
• Pointers that India is witnessing a K- shaped
recovery 17 5. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• Over 50% of Bihar population • Mentorship Programme for Young Innovators 39
multidimensionally poor: NITI 18 • Russia puts into orbit classified military satellite 39
• ‘Jaitapur would be the world’s most powerful • Starlink 39
nuclear plant’ 19 • SWADESH 40
• What will a legal guarantee of MSP involve? 19 • Swarnajayanti Fellowships Scheme 40
• U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum 20
For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

NOVEMBER - 2021
• Breaking down the hype around Metaverse 41 • Study Reveals Pollution in Water Bodies
• A launch window for India as a space start-up around Thermal Power Plant 60

hub 42 • COP26 Glasgow Summit of UNFCC 61
6. DEFENCE AND INTERNAL SECURITY 8. HEALTH ISSUES

• Colombo Security Conclave Focused Operation 44 • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 67
• Cyber Surakshit Bharat 44 • Global Innovation Summit of the
• Cyber Security Grand Challenge 44 Pharmaceutical Sector 67
• Ex SHAKTI – 2021 45 • Molnupiravir 67
• Exercise SITMEX 45 • MDRF opens centre to study monogenic
• INS Visakhapatnam 45 diabetes 68
• OP SANKALP 46 • Norovirus: Kerala asks people to be vigilant 68
• Prasthan Exercise 46 • More a private sector primer than
• ‘Shakti’- The Warfare Suite 46 health-care pathway 69
• The Sydney Dialogue 46 • ‘Paxlovid may be huge advancement
• A new jurisprudence for political prisoners 46 for all Coronaviruses’ 70
• Assam Rifles Commanding Officer, family, • Won’t add to vaccine hesitancy: SC 70
four jawans killed in Manipur ambush 48 • Omicron new variant of concern 71
• A lost cause 48 • Per capita out-of-pocket health
• 1,000 held in 20 countries in financial expenditure sees decline: report 71
crime crackdown 49 • National Family Health Survey 72
• How to win over Kashmiri youth 50
• Maritime Security of India 51 9. SOCIAL ISSUES
• Nutrition Smart Villages 75
7. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY • SafaiMitraSuraksha Challenge 75
• Air Pollution Control Tower (APCT) 54 • Mitigating hunger during a pandemic 75
• Coringa set for fishing cat collaring project 54 • Creating safe digital spaces 76
• E-Amrit Portal on Electric Vehicles at COP26 54 • SC gives 3 weeks to Govt. to frame
• Ganges River Dolphin 55 policy on community kitchens 77
• Global Climate Risk Index (GCRI) 55 • The path to righting historical wrongs 77
• Green Energy Collaboration 56 • Post NEP, Odisha all set to teach in tribal
• Kaiser-i-Hind is Arunachal’s State butterfly 56 languages 79
• LeadIT 57 • Error corrected 80
• River Cities Alliance 57 • A vital cog in Bongaigaon’s response to
• USA Becomes the 101st Member of the malnutrition 80
International Solar Alliance (ISA) 57
• Batting for an important yet misunderstood 10. EDUCATION
species 58 • Annual Status of Education Report 2021 82
• Char Dham project 59
• Finding a way out of India’s deepening water 11. DISASTER MANAGEMENT
stress 59 • World Congress on Disaster Management
(WCDM) 85
NOVEMBER - 2021
12. HISTORY • Kongthong 101
• Acharya Kripalani 86 • Namda Craft 102
• GhareBaire 86 • NITI – BMZ Dialogue 103
• Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas 86 • UNESCO-ABU Peace Media Awards 2021 103
• LachitDiwas 87 • Indore keeps cleanest city tag for fifth year 103
• Rani Kamalapati 88 • Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 104
• Rani Laxmibai 88 • A Rs.1 bounty on giant African snails 104
• Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum 88 • Bid to get heritage status for jackfruit tree 104
• SabzBurj restored to its Mughal-era glory 89
• Were there domestic horses in ancient India? 89 16. PRACTICE QUESTIONS 105

17. ANSWER KEYS 124
13. GOVERNANCE
• National Press Day 91 18. MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS 128
• The case of demonetisation in India 91
• Why is MHA tasked to monitor foreign funds for 19. INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 131
NGOs, asks SC 92
• Will MPLADS be changed for post-pandemic
needs? 92
• Pegasus inquiry must reverse the Chilling effect 93
• Sliding rank 95
• JPC retains exemption clause, adopts personal
data Bill 95

14. GEOGRAPHY
• ACROSS 97
• O – SMART Scheme 97
• Glacial Tectonic Interaction 97
• The Sun lights up aurorae in high-latitude
countries 98
• Was it really a black hole that the EHT imaged
in 2019? 99
15. MISCELLANEOUS
• Biotechnology Centre for Northeast Tribals
in Kimim, Arunachal Pradesh 100
• Clean Green Village Week 100
• ‘HarGharDastak’ Campaign 100
• National Ayurveda Day 2021 100
• National Sports Awards 2021 101
• Solar Iron Cart 101
• Food Corporation of India’s first state of
the art laboratory 101

BYJU’S IAS presents another comprehensive learning program for UPSC aspirants.
The BYJU’S Online Classroom for IAS provides you with the opportunity to attend the live classes
conducted by India’s best IAS faculty, from the control of your homes, assuring you uninterrupted
learning so that you can clear the IAS exam with ease. Check the program details below.
Here’s how you can get started:

Attend Live Classes by India’s Leading IAS Trainers
Choose a slot that works best for you
Morning Batch Evening Batch Weekend Batch
Monday to Friday Monday to Friday Saturday Sunday

06:00 AM to 09:00 AM 05:30 PM to 08:30 PM 02:00 PM to 08:00 PM 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM
Participate in the ‘Doubt Destroyer’ session
How will BYJU’S Online Classroom for IAS help you in your preparation?
Test Yourself: Evaluate your IAS Tab: Get a complimentary IAS

performance by attending weekly learning tab with pre-recorded video
MCQ-based and descriptive tests. lectures for revising important concepts
and topics.
Comprehensive Study Material: Study Current Affairs Webinars: Be a part

material provided is complete and of the two-hour live sessions every
includes well-known books like Indian Tuesday and Thursday for Current
Polity by M Laxmikanth, Ancient History Affairs analysis of major newspapers,
by R S Sharma, etc. magazines, and RSTV debates.
Exclusive access to BYJU’S IAS Student

Portal: This provides you with unlimited Mentor Support: You will be assigned a
access to Prelims and Mains based mentor who will guide you throughout
questions, Monthly Magazines covering your preparation process.
Current Affairs, ‘Issues In News’, and
recorded webinar sessions.
For more information about the program contact us at iaslive@byjus.com or

call us on +91 78293 88882.
Stay safe and Keep Learning!
Team BYJU’S
Learn From Home
YEAR LONG TIMETABLE
(Morning Batch)
Monday to Friday | 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Slots Batch 1 Batch 2 Batch 3 Batch 4 Batch 5 Batch 6
1st March to
Polity
5th April, 2021
6th April to
Economics Economics
10th May, 2021
11th May to
Geography Geography Geography
15 June, 2021
th
16th June to
Modern History Modern History Modern History Modern History
21st July, 2021
22nd July to International Relations
Polity Polity Polity Polity
25 August, 2021
th
+ World History
26th August to
Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Economics Economics Economics Economics
1 October, 2021
st
Ancient India + Ancient India + Ancient India +

4 October to
th
Medieval India + Medieval India + Medieval India +
Geography Geography Geography
8th November, 2021 Art & Culture + Post Art & Culture + Post Art & Culture + Post
Independent India Independent India Independent India
Environment & Environment & Environment & Environment &

9th November to
Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science & Modern History Modern History
14th December, 2021
Technology Technology Technology Technology
Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social
Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay +
15th December to
Disaster Management Disaster Management Disaster Management Disaster Management Disaster Management Polity
18th January, 2022
+ Compulsory + Compulsory + Compulsory + Compulsory + Compulsory
Language Paper Language Paper Language Paper Language Paper Language Paper
19th January to Internal Security + Internal Security + Internal Security + Internal Security + Internal Security + Internal Security +
22 February, 2022
nd
CSAT CSAT CSAT CSAT CSAT CSAT
23rd February to International Relations International Relations International Relations International Relations International Relations
30th March, 2022 + World History + World History + World History + World History + World History
Ancient India + Ancient India + Ancient India +
31 March to
st Medieval India + Art & Medieval India + Art & Medieval India + Art &
Focus Prelims
4th May, 2022 Culture + Post Culture + Post Culture + Post
Independent India Independent India Independent India
Environment & Environment &
5th May to
Focus Prelims Focus Prelims Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science &
8 June, 2022
th
Technology Technology
After Prelims 2022 Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance
Social Issues & Social

Justice + Essay +
After Prelims 2022 Disaster Management
+ Compulsory
Language Paper
Learn From Home
YEAR LONG TIMETABLE
(Evening Batch)
Monday to Friday | 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
1st March to
Geography
5th April, 2021
6th April to
Modern History Modern History
10th May, 2021
11th May to
Economics Economics Economics
15 June, 2021
th
16th June to
Polity Polity Polity Polity
21st July, 2021
22nd July to International Relations
Geography Geography Geography Geography
25 August, 2021
th
+ World History
Environment & Environment &
26th August to
Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science & Modern History Modern History Modern History Modern History
1 October, 2021
st
Technology Technology
4th October to
Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Economics Economics Economics
8 November, 2021
th
9th November to Internal Security + Internal Security + Internal Security + Internal Security +
Polity Polity
14th December, 2021 CSAT CSAT CSAT CSAT
Ancient India + Ancient India + Ancient India + Ancient India + Ancient India +
15 December to
th
Medieval India + Art & Medieval India + Art & Medieval India + Art & Medieval India + Art & Medieval India + Art &
Geography
18th January, 2022 Culture + Post Culture + Post Culture + Post Culture + Post Culture + Post
Independent India Independent India Independent India Independent India Independent India
Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social
Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay +
19th January to
Disaster Management Disaster Management Disaster Management Disaster Management Disaster Management Disaster Management
22nd February, 2022
+ Compulsory + Compulsory + Compulsory + Compulsory + Compulsory + Compulsory
Language Paper Language Paper Language Paper Language Paper Language Paper Language Paper
23rd February to International Relations International Relations International Relations International Relations International Relations
30th March, 2022 + World History + World History + World History + World History + World History
Environment & Environment & Environment & Environment &
31st March to
Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science &
4th May, 2022
Technology Technology Technology Technology
5th May to Internal Security + Internal Security +
Focus Prelims
8th June, 2022 CSAT CSAT
Ancient India +
Medieval India + Art &
After Prelims 2022 Focus Prelims Focus Prelims
Culture + Post
Independent India
After Prelims 2022 Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance

Learn From Home
YEAR LONG TIMETABLE
(Weekend Batch)
Saturday - 2:00 to 8:00 PM
Sunday - 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
March (06, 07, 13, 14,

20, 21, 27 & 28) + Economics
April (03 & 04)
April (10, 11, 17, 18, 24,
25) + May (01, 02, 08 Geography Geography
& 09)
May (15, 16, 22, 23,
29 & 30) + June (05, Polity Polity Polity
06, 12 & 13)
June (19, 20, 26 & 27)
+ July (03, 04, 10, 11, Modern History Modern History Modern History Modern History
17 & 18)
Ancient India +
July (24, 25 & 31) +
Medieval India + Art
August (01, 07, 08, 14, Economics Economics Economics Economics
& Culture + Post
15, 21 & 22)
Independent India
August (28 & 29) + International
International Relations
September (04, 05, Relations + World Geography Geography Geography Geography
+ World History
11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26) History
October (02, 03, 09, Environment & Environment & Environment &
10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science & Polity Polity Polity
& 31) Technology Technology Technology
Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social
November (06, 07, 13, Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay +
14, 20, 21, 27 & 28) + Disaster Management Disaster Management Disaster Management Disaster Management Modern History Modern History
December (04 & 05) + Compulsory + Compulsory + Compulsory + Compulsory
Language Paper Language Paper Language Paper Language Paper
December (11, 12, 18,
19, 25 & 26) + Internal Security + Internal Security + Internal Security + Internal Security + Internal Security +
Economics
January '22 (02, 08, CSAT CSAT CSAT CSAT CSAT
09 & 15)
January '22 (16, 22,
23, 29 & 30) +
Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance
February '22 (05, 06,
12, 13 & 19)
Ancient India + Ancient India + Ancient India + Ancient India + Ancient India +
February '22 (20, 26
Medieval India + Art & Medieval India + Art & Medieval India + Art & Medieval India + Art & Medieval India + Art &
& 27) + March '22 (05,
Culture + Post Culture + Post Culture + Post Culture + Post Culture + Post
06, 12, 13, 19, 20 & 26)
Independent India Independent India Independent India Independent India Independent India
March '22 (27) + April
International Relations International Relations International Relations International Relations
(02, 03, 09, 10, 16, 17,
+ World History + World History + World History + CSAT
23, 24 & 30)
May '22 (01, 07, 08, Environment & Environment & Environment &
14, 15, 21, 22, 28 & Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science & Ecology + Science &
29) + June '22 (04) Technology Technology Technology
Social Issues & Social Social Issues & Social
Justice + Essay + Justice + Essay +
After Prelims 2022 Disaster Management Disaster Management
+ Compulsory + Compulsory
Language Paper Language Paper
Internal Security +
After Prelims 2022
World History
Click Here Click Here
Click Here Click Here

NOVEMBER - 2021
1
POLITY
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial reservation of 10.5% of jobs in public services and
bodies seats in educational institutions for the Vanniyar
community as being unconstitutional.
1. Set up police complaints bodies: NHRC * The concerned state government law
»» Prelims: National Human Rights Commission had provided for an internal reservation
(NHRC) among the backward communities itself.
»» Mains: Police Reforms; Prakash Singh vs Union of It had divided the ‘Most Backward Classes/
India case Denotified Communities’ category into
three parts and 10.5% of the backward
Context: community seats were specified as exclusive
• Recommendations from the National Human to the Vanniyakula Kshatriya and its various
Rights Commission’s (NHRC) core advisory group sub-castes.
on the criminal justice system. Reasons for the court’s judgment:
Details: • The Bench ruled that the Act was unconstitutional
• National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) mainly on the ground that the Assembly had no
has asked the Union Home Ministry and the legislative competence to pass the law on the
State Governments to set up police complaints date of the enactment. The 102nd Amendment
authorities at the State/UT and district levels as to the Constitution was in force in February
per the judgment in the Prakash Singh vs Union 2021 according to which only the President was
of India, 2006 case. empowered to notify the backward classes list for
each State. This observation was upheld by the
* According to data provided by the Home Supreme Court in the Maratha reservation case.
Ministry to the LokSabha, only 16 States and
UTs had implemented police complaints • Also the bench held that the separate reservation
boards as per the Prakash Singh judgment. for one caste amounted to discrimination against
all the other castes in the same MBC category.
• The NHRC group has asked the MHA and the
Law Ministry to consider implementing the • The bench also noted that the State had
recommendations of the 113th report of the Law no quantifiable data to show the relative
Commission to add Section 114 B to the Indian backwardness of the Vanniyars as compared
Evidence Act. This would ensure that if a person to the other MBCs to justify the exclusive
sustains injuries in custody, it is presumed that treatment for the community. In the absence of
the injuries were inflicted by the police. This such quantifiable data the bench held that the
could act as a strong deterrence against police legislation seemed based solely on the ground
violence. of caste and hence goes against well grounded
principles set out for affirmative action in the
• The group also recommended making the legal Indian Constitution.
framework technology-friendly to speed up the
criminal justice system. • The judgment also notes that any law making
changes to the distribution of quotas under
• The group also recommended installing CCTV various categories would require an amendment
cameras with night vision and involving trained to the State’s 1994 Act protecting the overall
social workers and law students with police reservation level. As that Act contains quotas
stations as part of community policing. allotted to the SC, ST, BC and MBC/DNC categories,
any change would require an amendment to
that law, as well as the President’s assent. These
Indian Constitution - amendments, significant
steps have not been taken up while passing the
provisions and basic structure concerned state law.
2. Reservation on quota
»» Prelims: Article 14, 15 and 16 Statutory, regulatory and various quasi - judicial
»» Mains: Affirmative action; Determination of bodies
reservation quota 3. CBI, ED chiefs can now have five-year terms
Background: »» Prelims: Appointment procedure of CBI and ED
• The Madras High Court has declared the Tamil directors;
Nadu government law providing separate »» Mains: Central Vigilance Commission

NOVEMBER - 2021
2
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 promulgate Ordinances.

Context Structure, organization and functioning of the
• The Indian President has promulgated two Judiciary
ordinances that would allow the Union
Government to extend the tenures of the 4. A routine matter or a punishment post?
directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation »» Prelims: Appointment of High Court Judges and
(CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Transfer
Supreme Court Order: »» Mains: opaqueness in the functioning of the
• The one year extension provided by the central collegium
government to the current ED director was Context
challenged in the Supreme Court recently.
• The Supreme Court collegium’s recommendation
• The SC bench had asked the government to transfer the Chief Justice of the Madras
not to provide any more extension, while High Court, Sanjib Banerjee, to the Meghalaya
observing that any extension of tenure during High Court, as well as the senior-most judge
superannuation has to be for a short period and of the Allahabad High Court, MunishwarNath
held that such extensions could be given only in Bhandari, to the Madras High Court, has drawn
rare and exceptional circumstances to facilitate sharp criticism from various quarters of the legal
an ongoing g investigation. fraternity.
Details: Transfer of High court Judge
• The directors of the CBI and the ED currently have Article 222 of the Constitution provides for the
fixed two-year tenure. The newly promulgated transfer of a judge (including Chief Justice) from one
ordinances allows for the provision of three High Court to any other High Court.
annual extensions, thus it allows for extension of
tenure from the current two years to up to five • The President may, after consultation with the
years. Chief Justice of India, transfer a Judge from one
High Court to any other High Court.
• The ordinance amends the Delhi Special Police
Establishment Act, 1946 to change the tenure of Explaining why such a power would be
the post of CBI Director and amends the Central required, Dr. B R Ambedkar had in a speech
Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 to change the given in the Constituent Assembly said
tenure of the post of ED Director.
• “It might be necessary that one judge
* The Central Vigilance Commission may be transferred from one High Court
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 states to another in order to strengthen the
that the period for which the Director of High Court elsewhere by importing better
Enforcement holds the office, may in the talents which may not be locally available.
public interest and on the recommendation
• Secondly, it might be desirable to import
of the Committee which recommends
a new Chief Justice because it might be
names to the post be extended up to one
desirable to have a man unaffected by
year at a time. The ordinance mentions that
local politics or local jealousies”
the reasons for the extension need to be
recorded in writing. Locus Standi
* The ordinance also explicitly mentions that • K. Ashok Reddy vs Government of India
no such extension shall be possible after the (1994)
completion of a period of five years in total. • Only the transferred judge and no one else
Concerns expressed by opposition: is entitled to file a case challenging the
transfer and that even the aggrieved judge
• The opposition has criticized the government’s
concerned could question the transfer
move to take the ordinance route repeatedly.
order only on limited grounds such as the
This they claim makes the Parliament redundant
proposal not having emanated from the
and results in subverting democracy.
Chief Justice of India (CJI).
* Ordinances are laws that are promulgated
• There is nothing in Article 222 to require
by the President of India on the
the consent of a Judge/Chief Justice for his
recommendation of the Union Cabinet.
first or even a subsequent transfer.
They can only be issued when Parliament is
not in session.
* Article 123 of the Indian Constitution
provides for the power of the President to

NOVEMBER - 2021
3
shadow on the judge concerned as well as

the integrity of the Collegium’s decision.
* In that verdict, the apex court had also
said, the consent of the Chief Justice • In In the case of Justice Banerjee, since the
or a judge of the High Court was proposal came from the Supreme Court
not necessary either for transferring collegium, the Central government, which has to
them at the first instance or even advise the President of India, is entitled to ask for
subsequently. relevant material before tendering any advice.
Public Interest * If it is not satisfied, the Central government
can ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its
• Further, it was made clear that any transfer decision.
made on the recommendation of the CJI
was not punitive and such transfer was not * However in the present case it looked like
justiciable on any ground. both the Government and the Judiciary
had a common intention for the transfer
• Promotion of public interest by proper and few also speculate that there could
functioning of the High Courts and, for be an element of executive influence over
that reason, the transfer of any Judge/Chief decision-making
Justice from one High Court to another
must be the lodestar for the performance • Recently, the Union Law Minister,
of this duty enjoined on the Chief Justice KirenRijiju, said that the Chief Justice
of India, as the head of the Indian Judiciary of India (CJI) will “create a new dawn in
judiciary”.
What is the Supreme Court’s view on the issue? • The CJI in turn said that Mr.Rijiju was “the
only Law Minister or politician in recent
• 1. In Union of India vs. SankalchandHimatlalSheth times, who recognised our judicial hard
(1977) work and appreciated us”.
* a. The Supreme Court rejected the idea
that High Court judges can be transferred
only with their consent.
* b. It reasoned that the transfer of power • Normally when proposals to transfer are made,
can be exercised only in public interest. a judge in the Supreme Court who comes from
the State in which the transferee judge is holding
* c. The President is under an obligation to office is also consulted.
consult the Chief Justice of India
* With regard to Justice Banerjee’s transfer,
* d. The Chief Justice of India had the right there are four judges who are qualified to be
and duty to elicit and ascertain further facts called consultee judges.
from the judge concerned or others.
* Why was consultation in the case of Justice
• 2. In S.P. Gupta vs. President of India (1981) – Banerjee made only with the junior-most
‘Judges Transfer Case’ judge of the Supreme Court and not the
* a. The First Judges Case considered the senior judges?
validity of the transfer of two Chief Justices • The frequency with which judges are transferred,
as well as a circular from the Law Minister sometimes with only months remaining before
proposing that additional judges in all High their retirement, has been another ground on
Courts may be asked for their consent to be which transfers are questioned.
appointed as permanent judges in any other
High Court, and to name three preferences. Conclusion
* b. This position was overruled in the • Lack of transparency and the absence of formal
‘Second Judges Case’ (1993). The opinion criteria has put the credibility of transfers in
of the Chief Justice of India was to have Question. Therefore the Collegium System in the
primacy. Since then, appointments have Indian Judiciary should make its transfer policy
been made by the Collegium. public and resume the practice of giving reasons
for transfers as opacity in decision-making only
Issue Area gives rise to speculation.
• Justice Banerjee was managing a larger High
Court. His transfer to a northeastern State looks
like a punishment as the reasons for the transfer
of judges are withheld from public by the
collegium.
* Withholding of reasoning also, naturally,
gives rise to speculations and casts a

NOVEMBER - 2021
4
Structure, organization and functioning of the laid-down rules or the Supreme Court guidelines
on the issue.
Judiciary
• The report also points out the drawback of
5. Govt. keeps no Net shutdown record there being no coherent rules dictating internet
»» Mains: Impact of internet shutdowns shutdowns in India. Also, the grounds on which
internet shutdowns are generally imposed like
Context: “public safety” and “public emergencies” are not
• Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee clearly defined.
on Information and Technology on internet • The Parliamentary Standing Committee on
shutdowns in India. Information and Technology has called for
Background: a detailed study on the economic impact of
• There has been an increasing trend of frequent and prolonged Internet shutdowns.
administrations resorting to internet shutdowns Recommendations:
on the grounds of maintaining public safety • The importance of the Internet has only grown
or in a scenario of public emergency. Though over time. Hence there is the need to maintain
some situations warrant such an approach in the a delicate balance between the citizen’s right to
interest of safety and security, the frequent and access the Internet and the State’s duty to deal
prolonged internet shutdowns are a cause of with a public emergency.
concern.
• Internet shutdowns even if used should be based
* A study by the advocacy group Access Now on stated guidelines and should follow standard
reports that India topped the list of countries operating procedures. Such internet shutdowns
that resorted to government-imposed need to be reviewed from time to time and
Internet clampdown. the shutdown should be lifted as the situation
• A key concern is that the Net shutdowns improves.
have been reduced to a routine policing and
administrative tool whereas it should be used
only in exceptional and rare cases as stated by Government policies and interventions for
various rules and Supreme Court guidelines. development in various sectors and issues arising
out of their design and implementation
Concerns with frequent and prolonged internet
shutdowns: 6. Why no special status to A.P., HC asks Centre
• Frequent and prolonged internet shutdowns »» Prelims: Special category status criteria
amount to a violation of some human rights as
noted by the Supreme Court in the Anuradha »» Mains: objections in according the status to AP
Bhasin vs Union of India case of 2020. The Context:
Supreme Court declared that freedom of speech • Recently, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has
and expression and freedom to practice any ordered the Centre to explain why it has not
profession over the medium of the Internet granted Andhra Pradesh Special Category Status
enjoyed constitutional protection under Article (SCS).
19(1)(a) and Article 19(1)(g).
What is Special Category Status to states?
• The absence of Internet and regular telecom
services also has other adverse impacts. • A Special Category Status (SCS) is a categorization
provided by the Centre to states that confront
* Internet/telecom shutdown cost the telecom physical and socioeconomic obstacles such as
operators substantial revenue losses. Apart steep terrains, critical international boundaries,
from this, online trade, which is now heavily economic and infrastructure backwardness, and
dependent on Internet banking, also tends non-viable state finances.
to be adversely impacted.
• The Indian Constitution has no provision for
• Also with increasing trends of telemedicine and designating any state as a Special Category
e-education, internet shutdowns can impact Status (SCS) state.
critical social sectors as well.
Background
Major findings of the report:
• The concept of special category status was
• The report points out that there are no verifiable initially proposed in 1969, when the fifth Finance
and centralised records of Internet shutdowns Commission tried to grant preferential treatment
in the country maintained by either the Union to some impoverished states in the form of
Home Ministry or the Department of Telecom. government support and tax cuts.
• The report laments that the absence of such a • Initially, three states were accorded special status:
database makes it nearly impossible to review Assam, Nagaland, and Jammu and Kashmir.
whether the Internet shutdowns followed the

NOVEMBER - 2021
5
• From 1974-1979, five additional states were • The Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy was
added to the special category. Himachal Pradesh, adopted in 2014. It was formulated based on
Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Tripura are the broad recommendations of the National
among them. Commission to Review the Working of the
Constitution (2002).
• With the inclusion of Arunachal Pradesh and
Mizoram in 1990, the number of states expanded • The policy mandates a host of rules for the pre-
to ten. Uttarakhand was granted special category legislative process.
status in 2001. * Whenever the Government intends to make
Criteria for special category status: any new law (bills, rules, regulations, etc.), it
must place a draft version of the proposed
• Hilly and difficult terrain bill in the public domain for at least 30 days.
• Low population density or sizeable share of tribal * Along with the draft, a note explaining the
population law in simple language and justifying the
• Strategic location along borders with proposal, its financial implication, impact on
neighbouring countries the environment and fundamental rights, a
• Economic and infrastructural backwardness study on the social and financial costs of the
bill, etc. should also be provided.
• Non-viable nature of state finances
* The respective departments should upload
Benefits states confer with special category status: the summary of all the feedback that they
• The central government bears 90% of the state receive on the circulated draft.
spending on all centrally sponsored initiatives Significance:
and foreign help, while the remaining 10% is
handed to the state as a loan at 0% interest. • The Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy provides
a forum for citizens and relevant stakeholders to
• Preferential treatment when it comes to receiving interact with the policymakers.
central funds.
• Public consultations enhance transparency,
• Excise duty reduction to encourage industries to increase accountability and could result in the
the state. building of an informed Government where
• These states can take advantage of debt- citizens are treated as partners and not as
swapping and debt-relief programmes. subjects.
• If a special category state has unspent money at • Thus the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy
the end of a fiscal year, it does not lapse and is helps create an institutionalised space for public
carried forward to the next fiscal year. participation in lawmaking processes.
What does The 14th Finance Commission say about Concerns:
the Special Category status? • Despite explicit rules laid out under the Pre-
• The recommendations of the 14th Finance Legislative Consultation Policy, a large number
Commission were implemented following the of bills introduced in Parliament have been
dissolution of the Planning Commission and the presented without any prior consultation. Also, of
founding of NITI Aayog. the few bills that have been placed in the public
domain for comment, the majority of them did
• After its proposals were implemented in 2015, the not adhere to the 30-day deadline.
14th Finance Commission effectively removed
the idea of special category status. • The absence of a statutory or constitutional right
to pre-legislative consultation seems to be the
major reason behind the lax implementation of
Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, the policy.
functioning, conduct of business, powers &
privileges and issues arising out of these
Structure, organization and functioning of the
7. The need for a proper Pre- Legislative Judiciary
Consultation Policy
8. National Court of Appeal
»» Prelims: National Commission to Review the
»» Mains: Pendency of Cases; Judicial Reforms
Working of the Constitution recommendations
Context:
»» Mains: Importance of Pre-Legislative Consultation
Policy • Recently, the Chief Justice of India urged the
Government to seriously consider Attorney
Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy:
General’s suggestion to restructure the judiciary
to include four National Courts of Appeals.

NOVEMBER - 2021
6
* The National Court of Appeal (NCA) would • The installation of Appellate Courts would help
act as an intermediate forum between the ease the burden of the Supreme Court and thus
Supreme Court and the various High Courts help reduce pendency.
of India. • The setting up of appellate courts in different
»» They would absorb ordinary appeals parts of the country would make the higher
from the High Courts, not involving judiciary accessible to citizens from remote
constitutional questions of law, and locations as well. Hence it would help improve
decide them finally. access to justice.
• In this context, the article analyzes arguments * A vastly disproportionate percentage of
both in favour of and against the setting up of appeals to the Supreme Court come from
the National Courts of Appeals. Delhi and its neighbouring States indicating
Background: that the Supreme Court seems out of reach
for people from other areas.
Working of the Supreme Court:
• The intermediate courts of appeal with
• Broadly, the Constitution prescribes to the senior judges can ensure adequate time and
Supreme Court two types of jurisdiction: an consideration for each case.
original jurisdiction and an appellate jurisdiction.
India’s Supreme Court acts as a final court of • It would allow the Supreme Court to decide the
appeal. weighty issues under the Constitution and other
laws, with appropriate judge strength, and give
• Notably, judges of the Supreme Court are the judges the time and opportunity to do their
having to spend a lot of time on deciding on best in such cases.
the admissibility of fresh cases. Being tasked
with the filtering process is a waste of the time, • In 2020, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal
experience and wisdom of a Supreme Court recommended the establishment of a National
judge. This process also drastically reduces the Court of Appeal to adjudicate on appeals from
time available with these judges to take up the lower courts.
admitted cases. Owing to time and volume * Venugopal conceded that a Constitutional
constraints, the quality of judgments could suffer. amendment would be required to bring this
• There seems to be a relative paucity of into effect.
Constitution Benches to decide major questions * In the past, various Law Commissions as well
of law. Also cases of importance are being as specific SC benches have supported the
dealt with by just a couple of judges, for lack of setting up of a National Court of Appeal with
Constitution Benches. regional benches.
* Larger Benches bring more judicial thinking Arguments against:
to an issue, a balancing of different points of • The installation of an appellate court could be
view and greater authority to the ruling of impractical.
the court.
• Some experts point out that the installation of an
* Article 145(3) of the Constitution mandates appellate court would only add another layer of
a minimum of five judges for the purpose judiciary to the existing structure. Instead they
of deciding any case involving a substantial argue for strengthening of the existing lower
question of constitutional law. judiciary in terms of ensuring adequate human
• The immense workload on the Supreme resources and infrastructure.
Court could impede its mandate to function • In 2014, Attorney General MukulRohatgi rejected
not just as an appellate court tasked with the notion of a court of appeal.
checking if the lower court has erred but also
the unique mandate of the Supreme Court to * With more than two crore cases pending
focus on examining questions of law of general in the lower courts, he emphasized the
public importance and settling questions of problem is at the level of the lower courts
constitutional significance. and not the SC.
Arguments in favour: * He also argued that setting up a court of
appeal would only add to "lawyers' pockets."
• The NCA, which would be headquartered in New
Delhi, and which would have different regional Examples
benches, would relieve the Supreme Court of • 2014, Ireland established a new Court of Appeal
the weight of hearing regular civil and criminal (CoA) following a referendum held in 2013.
appeals. The appellate body would be able to
reduce the number of appeals the Supreme * Its main function was to hear appeals – both
Court deals with. Civil and Criminal – from the High Court

NOVEMBER - 2021
7
and the Circuit Court. The CoA would hear * Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution enables
the vast majority of appeals which were an Indian citizen to practise any profession,
formerly heard by the Supreme Court. or to carry on any occupation, trade or
• In South Africa, the Supreme Court of Appeals business.
(SCA) succeeded the Appellate Division (AD) in * Article 16(2) of the Constitution states that
1996; the SCA is second only to the Constitutional no citizen shall, on grounds only of religion,
Court. race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth,
• In England and Wales, the Court of Appeals is the residence or any of them, be ineligible for,
highest court below the Supreme Court of the or discriminated against in respect of, any
United Kingdom. employment or office under the State.
Conclusion Reduced talent pool:
• The SC and central government must view • Haryana currently does not have enough captive
the current state of the judiciary as a crisis of supply of skilled labour and the proposed law
enormous proportions and take the much- by disallowing the influx of talent from other
needed step of establishing a National Court of parts of the country will lead to a depleted pool
Appeal with regional benches. of skilled labour in technology sectors such as IT
and IT-enabled services (ITeS).
• As far as regular matters are concerned, the
SC should step in only when a case involves a Lead to ‘unease’ of doing business:
substantial question of law or violates citizens' • The new law adversely impacts the freedom
fundamental rights. Doing so will be the true of the companies to take business decisions.
essence of its 'supreme' role as the upholder of Curbs of any kind ultimately affect business
the Constitution of India. freedom and could impact its productivity and
competitiveness and its ability to flourish.
Government policies and interventions for * The industry needs the most efficient
development in various sectors and issues arising workforce to stay competitive in a globalised
out of their design and implementation world.
• Also, provisions like the need to take permission
9. Haryana law on local hiring causes concern
from notified authorities to employ outsiders
»» Prelims: Article 16 of Constitution beyond a certain threshold might lead to the
»» Mains: The insider versus outsider debate inspector raj like regime.
Context: • This could disincentivize new investments in the
state.
• The Haryana Government’s law to reserve 75%
jobs for locals has been notified recently. Shifting of investment:
Provisions of the law: • This could trigger an exodus of large domestic
and multinational investors across sectors such
• The law requires firms with 10 or more employees as auto and information technology that rely
to reserve 75% of all jobs offering a salary of less on highly skilled manpower, from hubs such as
than ₹30,000 a month for eligible candidates of Gurugram.
State domicile.
* Notably in recent times, large firms,
• The law applies to private companies, societies, particularly in e-commerce, IT &ITeS and
trusts, and partnership firms, among others, new manufacturing sectors, had chosen
located in the state. Gurugram as a hub for their businesses.
• There would be a penalty for non-compliance. • The shifting of companies to other states will
• An exemption can be claimed by employers adversely impact not only the state’s revenue
when enough local candidates are not available sources (through corporate tax) but also the
with the desired skills, qualifications, and employment opportunities available to the
proficiency. However, an officer of the rank of workforce. This does not augur well for economic
deputy commissioner or higher will evaluate recovery in the post-pandemic phase.
such a claim. Impact on unity of the nation:
Concerns: • The clamour for preserving economic activity for
Against constitutional provisions: ‘sons of the soil’ has become a recurrent theme in
many Indian states.
• Haryana’s law goes against the provisions of the
Indian Constitution, especially Article 19(1)(g) * Andhra Pradesh had passed a similar law
and Article 16(2). in 2019, and the Madhya Pradesh CM has
promised to reserve 70% private sector jobs

NOVEMBER - 2021
8
for the locals. • Instead of compelling firms to hire locals, the

• Rising unemployment could spur more States to State can consider giving a 25% subsidy to firms
follow suit. Such a trend threatens to unleash a as an incentive for hiring locals.
sort of ‘work visa’ regime for Indians within the • The government can come up with certain
country. incentives for companies that are investing
• Such laws also damage crucial workplace money in training the local youths. Such
diversity. incentives could be in the form of capital for
better skill development, lower electricity
• Such laws rupture the social fabric given their charges, better infrastructure facilities, etc.
push for insularity.
• Even if the state decides to go ahead with the
Recommendations: local reservation provision, the government
• Giving reservations in jobs is only a temporary should consider lowering the salary ceiling to Rs.
solution, the need of the hour is to focus on 15,000 a month on a ‘cost to company’ basis and
better job creation and skill development. The raise it in tandem with efforts to improve skill sets
state governments should focus on ensuring in the State.
adequate investments in education, health and • Also, the reservation, if implemented should
skill development. begin from 20%-25% to allow for sufficient time
for the creation of a talent pool within the state
as technical and specialised skill sets will take
time to inculcate among the State’s youth.

NOVEMBER - 2021
9
ECONOMY
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, • At present, there are separate Ombudsmen
Railways etc. for, the integrated ombudsman scheme
amalgamates it.
1. International Conference on Hydrogen Energy * banking ombudsman scheme of 2006,
»» Mains: Significance of hydrogen as a fuel of the * ombudsman scheme for NBFCs of 2018 and
future
* Ombudsman scheme of digital transactions
Context: of 2019.
• The 1st International Conference on Hydrogen • The unified ombudsman scheme will provide
Energy - Policies, Infrastructure Development redress of customer complaints involving
and Challenges was organized by Central Board deficiency in services rendered by RBI regulated
of Irrigation and Power (CBIP) with the support entities viz. banks, NBFCs and pre-paid
of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy , Central instrument players if the grievance is not resolved
Electricity Authority and NTPC to the satisfaction of the customers or not replied
Details within a period of 30 days.
• The conference was organized with the aim • The integrated scheme makes it a “One Nation
to bring all the key stakeholders on the same One Ombudsman’ approach and jurisdiction
platform to discuss all facets of Hydrogen Energy neutral.
in India. How to file a complaint against any RBI regulated
• The objective was to frame a proper policy entity under the new scheme?
for the promotion of hydrogen energy and • Customer can file their complaints/grievance
infrastructure development on the complaint management system -https://
Importance of Hydrogen cms.rbi.org.in.
• Hydrogen is found mainly in water and Organic • Customers will be able to file complaints, submit
compounds. documents, track status, and give feedback
• Hydrogen can be produced via water electrolysis, through a single email address.
splitting water molecules (H2O) into hydrogen • Additionally, a call centre with a toll-free number
(H2) and oxygen (O2) with the use of power. – 14448 can be used to file a complaint and is
• If produced from renewable sources, hydrogen being operationalised in Hindi, English and eight
can be renewable and completely CO2, free. regional languages.
• Like electricity, hydrogen can be channeled • RBI says the scope to cover other Indian
anywhere it is needed. languages will be done in due course.
• Unlike electricity, hydrogen is suitable for long- Significance

term energy storage. • According to RBI, it will no longer be necessary for
• Renewable hydrogen is a determining factor in the complainant to identify under which scheme
fighting climate change he/she file complaint with the ombudsman.
* The scheme includes a wider definition
of deficiency of services which ensures
Indian Economy and issues relating to growth and complaints will not go unaddressed or
development - Financial Sector rejected simply on account of “not covered
under the grounds listed in the scheme”.
2. RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme
• Additionally, in semi-urban and rural India where
»» Mains: Initiatives in the financial sector lack of network connectivity too poses a challenge
• The Banking Ombudsman Scheme (BOS) was in the form of rejected payments, a grievance
first introduced in 2006 redressal mechanism will promote customer
confidence in the country’s digital infrastructure,
* The BOS was introduced under Section 35 A especially among the marginalised and the rural
of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 by RBI populace.
* The Banking Ombudsman is a senior official • The existing ombudsman schemes are being
appointed by RBI to redress customer integrated into a single scheme which will offer
complaints against deficiency in certain the benefit of a single platform to customers for
banking services covered under the grounds getting speedy resolution of their grievances
of complaint specified under Clause 8 of the
Banking Ombudsman Scheme 2006

NOVEMBER - 2021
10
Indian Economy and issues relating to growth and Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it
development - Financial sector 4. All India Survey on Domestic Workers
3. Gilts for all »» Mains: Issues faced by domestic workers
»» Prelims: Retail direct scheme Context:
»» Mains: Measures to mainstream participation of • Union Minister flags off the first-ever All India
retail investors Survey on Domestic Workers.
Context: Background:
• Retail Direct Scheme for investors in government • Domestic workers (DWs) constitute a significant
securities portion of total employment in the informal
Retail Direct Scheme sector.
• Small investors can now purchase and sell • But there is a lack of adequate data on their
government securities (G-Secs) or bonds through conditions of work and other details.
the Retail Direct Scheme. • Hence, the survey is being conducted to fill this
• The securities can be purchased directly rather information gap.
than through a middleman such as a mutual • This is expected to help in data-driven policy and
fund. last-mile delivery of services.
• Investors who want to register a Retail Direct Gilt Details of the survey:
account with the RBI directly can do so using
an internet portal created specifically for the • The survey is being conducted by the Labour
programme. Bureau, Chandigarh.
• Net banking or the UPI platform can be used • The All India Survey on Domestic Workers (DWs)
to make payments. The securities would be is aimed to estimate the number and proportion
auctioned in the “non-competitive” portion of of domestic workers at National and State levels,
primary auctions of Government Securities and percentage distribution of domestic workers
Treasury Bills by retail participants. with respect to Live-in/Live-out, formal/Informal
Employment, Migrant/Non-Migrant, their wages
• The government’s ability to tap individual and other socio-economic characteristics.
investors may also free up space for corporations
to suck up capital from institutional investors. • Objectives of the survey:
Aims and Objectives: * Estimate the number/proportion of DWs at

National and State levels.
• To help broaden the investor base and provide
retail investors with enhanced access to the * Household Estimates of Live-in/Live-out
government securities market — both primary DWs.
and secondary. * Average number of DWs engaged by
• To place India among a select few countries different types of households.
which have similar facilities. • The survey will collect information such as
• To facilitate smooth completion of the household characteristics, demographic
Government borrowing programme in 2021-22. characteristics, information on DWs like age of
entry, social group, migrant status, education,
Concerns of Retail Direct Scheme work details like duration of work, remuneration,
• As the borrower, the government provides a distance travelled, etc.
sovereign guarantee for the money, ensuring • It will also collect information on employers such
that there is no chance of default. as preferences of DW regarding gender, marital
• In addition, depending on current interest status, etc.
rate patterns, government securities may offer • An estimated 1.5 lakh households will be covered
superior interest rates than bank fixed deposits. under the survey encompassing 742 districts in
• The RBI underlined that the adjudication all states/UTs.
of outstanding complaints, appeals, and
enforcement of the awards passed “will continue
to be regulated by the terms of the various
Ombudsman Schemes” despite the repeal of the
three previous schemes.

NOVEMBER - 2021
11
Indian Agricultural Sector registered impressive improvements over the

last five years.
5. National Milk Day
• India’s performance in some of these metrics
»» Prelims: White revolution has been better compared with emerging
Context: economy peers and even some of the advanced
economies, as per the report.
• An eventful celebration of National Milk Day
was organised by the Department of Animal • Notably, almost two-thirds of the newly opened
Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India in no-frills bank accounts are operational in rural
association with the National Dairy Development and semi-urban areas.
Board and other institutions created by Dr. • Highlighting the social significance of financial
Varghese Kurian. inclusion, the report notes that States with
Background of National Milk Day: higher financial inclusion/more bank accounts
have also seen a perceptible decline in crime
• To pay tribute to Dr. Varghese Kurian on his
along with a meaningful drop in consumption of
birth anniversary, every year the 26th day of
alcohol and tobaccos.
November is celebrated as National Milk Day.
This year marks the centenary year of the birth of Additional information:
the Milk Man of India, Dr. Kurian. • The Cash to GDP in % terms stands at 14.3%
• Dr. Kurian is regarded as the Father of the White as of March 2021. This is higher than the pre-
Revolution in India. demonetisation phase where it stood at 11.9% in
March 2016.
• He is known for his indomitable contributions
as a social entrepreneur who pioneered * O
ne of the stated objectives for
revolutionary changes in the field of agriculture demonetisation was the push for digital
and the dairy industry. payments in order to reduce the currency to
GDP ratio.
• Operation Flood, under the vision of Dr. Kurian,
was the biggest dairy development program • India’s cash to GDP ratio is very high vis-a-vis
in the world that resulted in enhanced milk other nations. This is an indicator of the Indian
production in India. It opened broader avenues economy’s high dependence on cash.
for dairy farming and generated employment
for poor farmers. Therefore, it brought an
achievement that was not merely by mass Indian Economy and issues relating to growth and
production but production by masses. development - Financial sector
• He laid the foundation of 30 institutions run by 7. How has RBI tweaked Prompt Corrective Action
farmers and workers and played a pivotal role in
norms for banks?
the success of Amul Brand. It was the relentless
effort of Dr. Kurian because of which India »» Prelims: Prompt Corrective action framework
became the largest producer of milk in 1998 »» Mains: Initiatives taken to address the NPA issue
leaving behind the US. in Indian banks and their effectiveness
Context:
Indian Economy and issues relating to growth and • The Reserve Bank of India recently issued a
development - Financial sector notification revising norms for commercial banks
to be placed under the Prompt Corrective Action
6. ‘India now ahead of China in financial inclusion (PCA) framework.
metrics’
* The new framework takes effect from
»» Mains: Significance of financial inclusion; January 1, 2022.
measures being taken to promote financial
inclusion in India Prompt Corrective Action:
Context: • The PCA framework was first notified in 2002.

Several banks have been placed under the
• State Bank of India (SBI) research report on framework since then.
financial inclusion metrics in India.
• The objective of the framework is to enable
Details: supervisory intervention at appropriate time
• Major financial inclusion metrics like number and require the supervised entity to initiate
of bank branches, number of banking outlets and implement remedial measures in a timely
in villages/Banking Correspondents, no. of manner so as to restore its financial health.
operating bank accounts, number of persons • The PCA framework is envisaged as also a tool to
with deposit accounts at banks, mobile and ensure effective market discipline.
Internet banking (digital) transactions have

NOVEMBER - 2021
12
• Banks would be evaluated on the basis of capital, additional cess on petrol and diesel, respectively,
asset quality, profitability and leverage. till the beginning of November.
• The PCA framework has different risk thresholds • They highlight that in some cases, they are
with increasing restrictions on banks if they are manifold higher than the basic taxes which is a
unable to arrest their financial deterioration. misuse of the provisions of the Constitution.
RBI can impose curbs on dividend distribution/
remittance of profits, branch expansion and on • Since these additional charges are not part of the
capital expenditure. divisible pool, it undermines the fiscal federalism
as enumerated in the Constitution and the
• In 2021, UCO Bank, IDBI Bank and Indian Overseas autonomy of the states.
Bank exited the framework on improved
performance. Only Central Bank of India remains • Article 271 which was supposed to be used as a
under the PCA framework now. saving clause is being misused by the Centre.
Details: Revenue Data
• The new revision removes return on assets as an • According to the data released by Petroleum
indicator to qualify for PCA. Hence Capital, Asset Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), the Centre has
Quality and Leverage will be the key areas for collected around ₹3.72 lakh crore in 2020-21 as
monitoring in the revised framework. Indicators revenue from petroleum products. Of this, only
to be tracked for Capital, Asset Quality and around ₹18,000 crores are collected as Basic
Leverage would be CRAR/ Common Equity Tier I Excise Duty. Around ₹2.3 lakh crore is collected
Ratio, Net NPA Ratio and Tier I Leverage Ratio as cess and the rest ₹1.2 lakh crore is collected as
special additional excise duty.
• The new version excludes Small Finance Banks
and Payment Banks in addition to the Regional * The divisible pool of 41% as decided by the
Rural Banks from the purview of the PCA Finance Commission applies only to the
framework. ₹18,000 crores.
• The PCA Framework would apply to all banks • Even after the implementation of GST, States
operating in India including foreign banks had retained the right to decide on the taxes on
operating through branches or subsidiaries petroleum products and alcohol. With the usage
based on breach of risk thresholds of identified of these additional taxes, the Centre has been
indicators. unilaterally taking away the tax revenues which
should be shared with the states.
• As per the new framework, the exit of bank from
the PCA would be based on four continuous * The need to alleviate the stress caused by the
quarterly results of the Audited Annual Financial pandemic has increased the financial burden
Statement apart from Supervisory Comfort of on the States. States need assistance to offer
RBI, including an assessment on sustainability of financial and social security to people.
profitability of the bank. Relevance of RNR
• A key aspect of GST implementation was that
Indian Economy and issues relating to growth and it would be a Revenue-Neutral Rate (RNR) to
ensure that the State’s revenues would not be
development diminished.
8. A tax burden that attacks the federal rights of • Pre-GST, the average tax on goods was 16%.
States It is 11.3% at present. States are criticising that
most essential items are more expensive than
»» Prelims: Cess and Surcharge- differences
the pre-GST price and that the reforms have not
• The Government reduced excise duty on petrol benefited the consumers.
and diesel on the eve of Deepavali. This reduction
• States would have received at least ₹3-lakh crore
for petrol was ₹5 and duty on diesel came down
additionally if the pre-GST rates were maintained.
by ₹10.
A detailed study must be conducted on why the
* Constitution permits the use of Cess and States are losing their revenue streams.
Surcharge to meet an extraordinary situation.
• States are also apprehensive about the National
* The surcharge is an additional charge or tax Monetisation Pipeline and other neoliberal
over and above the existing tax while the policies due to the mistrust which is increasing.
cess is a form of tax levied by the government
Entities that Gain
on tax with a specific purpose.
• The initiatives to aid the recovery process post
Concerns
COVID such as the reductions in corporate tax
• Some states have been critical of the Centre’s have increased the revenue shortages for the
usage of these provisions. For example, the
Centre has been levying around ₹31 and ₹33 as

NOVEMBER - 2021
13
Centre and hence the States. The Centre, in turn, and rest houses that spanned the length of the
has been compensating for this by charging nation.
additional taxes on petrol and diesel. • In the capital of her kingdom, Maheshwar, the
Conclusion: queen also built a textile industry.
• The Centre should communicate and alleviate
the concerns of the states to ensure that the Indian Agricultural Sector
principles of fiscal federalism are respected and
taxes are decided democratically for States or the 10. T.N. seeks time for farmers to insure samba,
Country to thrive. thaladi crop
»» Prelims: Samba or thaladi paddy
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Context:
Railways etc.
• The Tamil Nadu government has asked the
9. PM to inaugurate Kashi Corridor Project Union government to extend the deadline for
paying premiums for samba or thaladi paddy
»» Prelims: Ahilyabai Holkar; Kashi Vishwanath crop insurance.
Corridor Project
Details:
Context:
Samba
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate
the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project. • Samba rice is a kind of rice that is cultivated in
Tamil Nadu, India, and Sri Lanka.
Details:
• It features a short ovular grain compared to
• The Kashi Corridor project is significant for Uttar basmati rice’s large grain.
Pradesh’s cultural politics.
• Samba rice has a peculiar flavour that might be
• The project incorporates the idea of Ahalya Bai characterised as more “starchy” or “corny.”
Holkar, the Holkar queen of Indore, who built a
sequence of temples that lead up to the Ganga • The mallas of India harvest all of the Samba rice
ghat. grain locally.
• Kashi Corridor Project comprises the following • The most costly sub-variety, Seeraga Samba, has
components: the tiniest grain.
* A 320-meter-long and 20-meter-wide paved Thaladi
pathway that connects the temple to the • The sowing season for Thaladi runs from October
ghats. through November.
* A museum, a library, a pilgrim facilitation • The crop lasts between 115 and 120 days.
centre, and a salvation home.
• Varieties with a medium and long duration are
Ahilya bai Holkar seeded.
• At the early age of eight, Ahilyabai got married to • Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur,
Khanderao Holkar in 1733. Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, and Karur are the
• In the battle of Kumbher in 1754, her husband districts where cultivation takes place.
was killed, leaving her a widow at the age of 29.
• After that, for the sake of the administration of
Indian Agricultural Sector
the kingdom and the lives of her people, she
resolved to take matters into her own hands. 11. The defeat of hubris, a confrontation on hold
• In 1767, she assumed the crown and became the »» Mains: Repeal of farm laws; Concerns associated
ruler of Indore. the farm laws
• In the 18th century, Ahilyabai Holkar supported Context:
industrialization while spreading the concept of
dharma. • Repeal of the three farm laws by the Union
government.
Development Work by Ahilyabai Holkar
Laws to be repealed
• Ahilyabai is known for constructing multiple
forts and roads in the Malwa area, as well as • The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce
supporting festivals and donating to various (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, which is
Hindu temples. aimed at allowing trade in agricultural produce
outside the existing APMC (Agricultural Produce
• Her benevolence was reflected in the Market Committee) mandis;
construction of temples, ghats, wells, tanks,

NOVEMBER - 2021
14
• The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection)

Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services
Act, 2020, which seeks to provide a framework
for contract farming; * All three farm laws can be repealed
• The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, through a single legislation.
2020, which is aimed at removing commodities * Usually, Bills titled Repealing and
such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion Amendment are introduced for this
and potato from the list of essential commodities. purpose.
Repealing a law
• It is one of the ways to nullify a law. What was the status of the three laws until the repeal?
• A law is repealed when the Parliament believes • The Supreme Court stayed the implementation
the law is not a necessity. of the three laws on January 12 2021.
• Legislations can also come with a “sunset” clause. Issues with farm laws
* A sunset clause or provision is a measure • It was a long-held constitutional consensus
within a law, regulation or statute that in India that agricultural marketing was the
provides that the law shall cease to have legislative arena of State governments.
effect after a specific date, unless the law
is extended by legislative action. This way, * The consensus was broken, when the Union
unwanted laws will not accumulate. government took upon itself the task of
legislating on agricultural marketing and
»» For example, the anti-terror legislation passed the farm laws.
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities
(Prevention) Act 1987, commonly known »» Federal principles were violated as the
as TADA, had a sunset clause, and was Union government invoked Entry 33
allowed to lapse in 1995. of the Concurrent List to intervene into
matters in Entry 14, Entry 26 and Entry 27
* For laws that do not have a sunset clause, of the State List.
Parliament has to pass another legislation to
repeal the law. »» The farm laws even interfered with Entry
28 of the State List, which was not subject
Process to repeal a law to Entry 33 of the Concurrent List.
Constitutional Provision »» Thus, to begin with, the farm laws were
reasonably and justifiably argued to be
245. Extent of laws made by Parliament and by unconstitutional.
the Legislatures of States.
* The grievance redress mechanisms for
• Parliament may make laws for the whole contract farming also came up for criticism.
or any part of the territory of India, and the
Legislature of a State may make laws for »» It replaced the jurisdiction of civil courts
the whole or any part of the State. with a bureaucratic procedure under
the authority of the Sub-Divisional
• It is from this article Parliament draws the Magistrate, a government employee,
power to repeal a law. which had raised fears among the
A law can be repealed either in its entirety, farmers that it may benefit corporate
in part, or even just to the extent that it is in sponsors more than the contracting
contravention of other laws. farmers.
Either by use of an ordinance, or through * The farm laws also looked like they
legislation encouraged the participation of larger
• In case an ordinance is used, it would corporate players in agricultural markets
need to be replaced by a law passed rather than farmer-friendly organisations,
by Parliament. If the ordinance lapses such as cooperatives or Farmer Producer
because it is not approved by Parliament, Companies (FPC).
the repealed law can be revived. »» Especially in the case of the amendment
• The government can also bring legislation of the Essential Commodities Act, there
to repeal the farm laws. It will have to be was reasonable suspicion that a handful
passed by both Houses of Parliament, and of corporate players were to substantially
receive the President’s assent before it benefit from investments in logistics,
comes into effect.

NOVEMBER - 2021
15
storage and warehousing. What is a Fertiliser Subsidy?

* The laws were introduced to reform the • Farmers purchase fertilisers at MRPs (Maximum
agricultural sector in accordance with the Retail Prices) that are lower than their regular
principles of a market economy. supply-and-demand market rates or the cost of
production/importation.
»» It could have reshaped the country’s
food procurement and distribution • Non-urea fertiliser MRPs are deregulated or set
mechanisms. However, the farmers felt it by the firms.
would benefit big companies at the cost • The Centre, on the other hand, pays a fixed per-
of farmers and customers. tonne subsidy to guarantee that these nutrients
»» Farmers feared that the existing APMC are priced at “reasonable levels.”
mandis, where they sell their produce, Background:
mostly wheat and paddy, would be
shut down once private players started • Since 1991, when economic reforms began
trading in agri-produce outside the in India, several attempts have been made to
mandi premises, and that once the reform the fertilizer sector to keep a check on the
APMC mandi system became redundant, rising fertilizer subsidy bill.
procurement based on minimum • The Government of India established the “Central
support prices (MSP) too would come to Fertilizer Pool” in 1944 to ensure equitable
an end. distribution of all fertilizers at fair prices all over
* The fears were further aggravated by the the country.
manner in which these laws were brought • For 2021-22, the Union Budget has estimated
about, through ordinances, and passed in fertilizer subsidy to reach a much higher level due
Parliament without much deliberations, to the recent upsurge in the prices of energy, the
or consultations with the States and the international prices of urea and other fertilizers,
stakeholders. and India’s dependence on imports.
Unanswered questions Government Measures:
• One, mandi taxes were used to invest in rural • 1. Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS): The government
infrastructure in States such as Punjab. If mandis introduced the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) in
are weakened, what would substitute for such 2010. It aims to address the growing imbalance
investments? in fertilizer use in many States, which is skewed
• Two, even if private markets emerged, how towards urea (N). The Centre announces
would they address the structural problem of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for P&K
poor farm-gate aggregation of the produce of (Phosphatic&Potassic) fertilisers every year.
small and marginal farmers? • 2. Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) Subsidy:
Way forward Recently, the government had increased
subsidies by 140% on DAP because of the surge
• Consultative decision making would always be in global prices.
more sustainable and easier to enforce.
• 3. Urea Subsidy: In the case of urea, the
• Further moves on agriculture sector reforms government has fixed the maximum retail prices
must also draw lessons from the making of laws, (MRP) of urea. The difference between the MRP
and now the repeal, of the three farm laws. and the cost of production is reimbursed to
• Therefore in the future, the government should manufacturers in the form of a subsidy.
rebuild trust among the stakeholders to plant Challenges in Fertilizer Subsidy:
the seeds of reforms.
• Policy Change: Farmers tended to move towards
balanced use, but policy and price changes
Issues Related to Direct and Indirect Farm Subsidies reversed the favourable trend a couple of times
in the last three decades.
12. Reforming the fertilizer sector
• Improper Use: The almost freezing of the MRP
»» Prelims: Government initiatives in the fertilizer of urea in different time periods and its rising
sector sale led to an increase in an indiscriminate and
»» Mains: Concerns associated with fertilizer subsidy imbalanced use of fertilizers.
in India; Recommendations • Environment Impact: Concerned with the adverse
Context: environmental impact of certain chemical
fertilizers, some sections of society suggest the
• This article discusses multiple goals of fertilizer use of organic fertilizers and biofertilizers instead.
policy and four key areas India needs to work on.

NOVEMBER - 2021
16
• Inter-State Disparities: There are also implications Indian Economy and issues relating to growth and
of inter-State disparities in fertilizer subsidy due development
to high variations in subsidy content, which is
highly biased towards urea and thus nitrogen. 13. Over-valued unicorns in a distressed economy
As a result, the magnitude of fertilizer subsidy »» Prelims: Unicorns; IPO types
among the major States ranges in the ratio of 8:1.
»» Mains: Rapid growth of unicorns in India;
• International Prices: The international Concerns over the failure of unicorns
prices of fertilizers are volatile and almost
directly proportional to energy prices. These Context:
extraordinary price rises are on account of a • This article talks about the recent failure of the
sharp upsurge in international energy prices and biggest-ever Initial Public Offering (IPO) and the
supply constraints in major producing countries status of unicorns in India.
due to robust domestic demand, production
cuts and export restrictions. What is an Initial Public Offering (IPO)?
• Fiscal Concerns: In order to minimise the impact • Primary and Secondary Market:
of the rise in prices on farmers, the bulk of * The “Primary Market” and the “Secondary
the price rise is absorbed by the government Market” are represented by the capital
through enhanced fertilizer subsidy. This is likely market.
to create serious fiscal challenges.
* New issuers (primary market) and stock
The way forward (secondary market) are two interrelated
In order to address the multiple goals of fertilizer and inseparable components of the capital
policy, we need to simultaneously work on four key market.
policy areas. • Initial Public Offering (IPO):
• Self-Reliance: We need to be self-reliant and not * An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is the process
depend on the import of fertilizers. In this way, through which a private company becomes
we can escape the vagaries of high volatility in public by selling its stock to the general
international prices. public.
• Expanding Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) * It might be a startup or an existing business
Programme: The present system of keeping the that decides to go public by listing on a
price of urea fixed and absorbing all the price stock exchange.
increases in subsidy needs to be replaced by
the distribution of price change. We need to * A corporation that sells its stock to the public
extend the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) model is not obligated to reimburse the funds
to urea and allow for price rationalisation of urea invested by the public.
compared to non-nitrogenous fertilizers and Unicorns in India
prices of crops.
• What is a Unicorn?
• Alternative sources of nutrition: There is a strong
desire to shift towards the use of non-chemical * Any privately owned firm with a market
fertilizers as well as a demand for bringing capitalization of more than $1 billion is
parity in prices and subsidies given to chemical referred to as a unicorn.
fertilizers with organic and biofertilizers. This * It denotes new entities dedicated to offering
also provides the scope to use a large biomass creative solutions and new business models,
of crop that goes waste and enhance the value among other things.
of livestock by-products. We need to scale up
and improve innovations to develop alternative * According to RBI reports, India is currently
fertilizers. third on the global list of nations with the
most unicorns, after only the United States
• Improving fertilizer efficiency: India should and China.
pay attention to improving fertilizer efficiency
through need-based use rather than scattering • Origin:
fertilizer in the field. * In his 1997 book ‘The Innovator’s Dilemma’,
Conclusion: Clayton M. Christensen popularised the
concept of disruptive innovations, and the
• Fertilizer Subsidy changes will go a long way ‘unicorn’ has since become a buzzword for
in enhancing the productivity of agriculture, describing start-ups.
mitigating climate change, providing an
alternative to chemical fertilizers and balancing * The concept was that small businesses with
the fiscal impact of fertilizer subsidy on the Union little resources might disrupt technology by
Budgets in the years to come. establishing a completely new way of doing
things.

NOVEMBER - 2021
17
• Characteristics of Unicorn: • Consumption of Services: It appears that

corporations and valuation experts overestimate
* In the venture capital sector, a unicorn is a the Indian economy’s potential to consume
startup with a valuation of $1 billion or more. services by assuming exponential demand
* Only a privately owned startup has the growth over longer time periods.
potential to become a unicorn.
Case Study: Paytm IPO
* Unicorns are known for their disruptive
innovation, high technology, new ideas, and • Recently, the largest-ever initial public offering
customer focus. (IPO) in India collapsed on the stock exchange,
with shares trading for less than 27% of the
Reasons behind the rapid growth of unicorns in India IPO price. In his own estimate of the company,
• Fintech leads: Digital payment has recently valuation specialist Aswath Damodaran termed
grown in vast popularity. The fintech industry, it “India’s leading cash burning machine.”
which has contributed the most to the unicorn Conclusion:
list, reflects this increase in digital payment.
• We are witnessing the emergence of new
• Investors’ push for Get Big Fast (GBF) strategy: unicorns every month, which is the result of
With startups, several investors and venture exaggerated valuations in order to tap more
capital companies have embraced the GBF investors and burn more capital. These values are
(Get Big Fast) strategy. Under this approach, completely based on future earnings, with no
businesses strive to develop quickly by raising gains to display in the short term.
significant amounts of money and lowering
prices in order to outperform their competitors
in the market. Indian Economy and issues relating to growth and
• Company buyouts: Many startups become development
unicorns as a result of buyouts from major public 14. Pointers that India is witnessing a K- shaped
corporations who prefer to focus on acquisitions
recovery
to grow their business rather than investing in
internal growth. »» Prelims: K and V shaped economic recovery
• No plans for IPO: Funding rounds are a common »» Mains: Concerns associated with K shaped
way for startups to raise financing and increase economic recovery; Measures to be taken to
their total valuation. IPOs also include the danger counter the concerns
of a company’s value being devalued if the public Context
market believes it is worth less than it is.
• An assessment of the type of economic recovery
• Easy access to technology: With easy access to after the ravages of the pandemic.
tech-savvy customers, companies can grow their
businesses beyond their wildest dreams. As a V-Shaped Recovery: Characteristics
result, technological advancements might be • It is a type of economic recession and recovery
seen as another driving element behind the rise that resembles a “V” shape. It depicts the shape of
of unicorns in India. a chart of economic measures when examining
Concerns with Failures of Unicorns: recessions and recoveries.
• Edtech Companies: The novel coronavirus • This type of recovery involves a sharp rise back
pandemic has turned out to be a boon in to an earlier peak after a sharp decline in these
disguise for EdTech companies, since it is this metrics. A V-shaped recovery is the quickest and
external environment that is propelling the one of the most ideal.
sector forward by four to five years. Due to the • In this type of recovery, the economy falls
abundance of liquidity, EdTech companies with quickly but also recovers quickly—it doesn’t
reasonable business ideas are highly priced. remain stagnant for very long. For example, the
• Technology firms: Technology companies try recoveries that followed the recessions of 1920-
to persuade clients who have lived in a certain 21 and 1953 in the U.S.
way to modify their behaviour. Consumers will The V-Shaped vs K-shaped debate:
begin to use such services only once this path of • There has been great discussions and
behavioural transformation has begun. speculations about the economic recovery for
• Behavioural changes: Inducing such changes quite a while, ever since the pandemic.
is costly for new businesses since they must • However, experts are divided on the type where
incentivize clients. Firms spend a lot of money for some it is more K-shaped than V-shaped, with
to offer huge discounts to clients in the hopes various groups and industries recovering much
that people would become so used to these quicker than others.
platforms that they will continue to use them
even if the prices are raised.

NOVEMBER - 2021
18
• It is also corroborated by the fact that the Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it
pandemic distinctly affected different sectors.
15. Over 50% of Bihar population multidimensionally
Impacts of Regressive Taxation: poor: NITI
• The decision to lower the corporate tax rate to »» Prelims: Multi Dimensional Poverty Index-
provide for an ecosystem for economic growth Parameters
has resulted in recovery in some sectors.
Context
• The high excise duties and tax rates on fuels and
consumer items has led to inflation and created • Over 50% of Bihar’s population is classified
more problems for the lower and middle class. as multidimensionally poor, according to
the government think tank NITI Aayog’s
• The combined effects of these policies indicate Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
that a K-shaped recovery could be visible, if at all.
Details:
Job loss and MGNREGA:
National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
• The pandemic resulted in huge unemployment Report on Bihar:
in the informal economy and led to further
destitution in the country. • In Bihar, 50% of the population was classified as
“multidimensionally poor.”
• The 34% cut in the allocation for MGNREGA in
the Union Budget in 2021 has aggravated the • Among all the States and Union Territories, Bihar
situation. has the highest percentage of people living in
poverty.
• The delay in payments reduces the chances of
timely purchase of essentials adding salt to the • Bihar has the highest poverty rate at 51.91
wounds. percent, followed by Jharkhand (42.16 percent),
Uttar Pradesh (37.79 percent), Madhya Pradesh
Government stimulus and economic growth: (36.65 percent), and Meghalaya (32.67 percent).
• There is a direct relationship between Other States
government stimulus and economic growth
and the money multiplier effect shows this • Kerala has the lowest rate of poverty (0.71
phenomenon. percent), followed by Puducherry (1.72 percent),
Lakshadweep (1.82 percent), Goa (3.76 percent),
• Providing disposable income to those who have and Sikkim (3.82 percent ).
more tendency to spend than save will lead to
growth in the economy. • Tamil Nadu (4.89 percent), Andaman & Nicobar
Islands (4.30 percent), Delhi (4.79 percent),
• The Government needs to increase progressive Punjab (5.59 percent), Himachal Pradesh (7.62
taxes and reduce regressive taxes to ease the percent), and Mizoram (9.8%) are among the
financial pressure on lower-income households. states and union territories where fewer than
Way forward: 10% of the population is impoverished.
• We can observe how the financial situation got Additional Information
worsened due to the rising prices of essential National Multidimensional Poverty Index
goods affecting the lives of the majority of the
population. • A national Multidimensional Poverty Index is a
poverty metric that is adapted to each country’s
• Therefore, the right economic policies coupled specific circumstances.
with social security measures will lead to such a
recovery which will not benefit only a fraction of • NitiAayog, an Indian think tank, produces the
the society but the masses and make these V vs National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
K-shaped recovery debates insignificant. • The Oxford Poverty and Human Development
Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) created
rigorous methods for it.
What is multidimensional poverty?
• Multidimensional poverty refers to the multiple
deprivations that poor people face on a daily
basis, such as poor health, a lack of education,
insufficient living standards, disempowerment,
low employment quality, the fear of violence,
and living in ecologically hazardous places, to
name a few.

NOVEMBER - 2021
19
• In order to formulate policies aiming at • Boost to Diverse Sectors: France encourages

alleviating poverty and hardship in a nation, a contributions to ongoing transformation in the
multidimensional measure of poverty might areas of environmental transition, manufacturing
include a variety of indicators that represent the facility modernization, and technical innovation.
complexity of this phenomenon. Renewable energy, agro-business, and healthcare
are additional areas of focus for France.
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Agriculture Related Developments
Railways etc. 17. What will a legal guarantee of MSP involve?
16. ‘Jaitapur would be the world’s most powerful »» Prelims: MSP system in India
nuclear plant’ »» Mains: Arguments for and against legal
»» Prelims: Nuclear power plants in India guarantee for MSP
»» Mains: Significance of Nuclear power in India; Context:
Challenges/concerns • After the repeal of three farm laws, farmers are
Context: seeking a legal guarantee of Minimum Support
Price (MSP).
• The French company EDF and Nuclear Power
Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) are working Minimum Support Price (MSP):
together to take the Jaitapur project off the What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)?
ground.
• MSP stands for Minimum Support Price, which is
Background: the price that the government sets for agricultural
• EDF, a French corporation, recently submitted a products that it buys directly from farmers.
binding offer for the Jaitapur project to NPCIL. • In the case of agricultural products, the MSP
• This initiative is an important aspect of India’s rate serves as a guarantee to the farmer of a
and France’s strategic cooperation. minimum profit for the crop in the event that the
open market price is lower than the cost spent.
Significance of the Project for India:
How many crops does the minimum support price
• The Jaitapur project would be the most powerful
cover?
nuclear power plant in the world.
• Every year, the Central Government establishes
• Six cutting-edge European Pressurised Water
a minimum support price (MSP) for 23 crops
(EPR) Reactors with a total installed capacity of
using a formula based on one-and-a-half time’s
9.6 GWe will generate low-carbon electricity.
production costs.
• Electricity would be provided to seven crore
• Factors that are considered before
households.
recommending MSP are :
• Thousands of local employment would be
* Cost of production,
created, directly benefiting Maharashtra.
* Overall demand-supply situations,
• This project will represent India and France’s
strong relationship and commitment to a low- * Domestic and international prices,
carbon future. * Inter-crop price parity,
Advantages of French Investment in India: * Terms of trade between agriculture and
• In line with Government Initiatives: The funds will non-agriculture sector.
be used to support the Make in India and Skill Critical Analysis of the Legal Backing of MSP:
India programmes. Through the Government
of India’s Smart Cities programme, the French Arguments in Favour of the Legal Backing of MSP:
Development Agency (FDA) is also working to • MSP’s legal status will ensure that all farmers are
promote clean transportation in India. protected against price rise.
• Boost to Industrial Sector: India and France hope • It will ensure that farmers’ food is purchased at
to urge India’s industrial sector to participate the declared MSP, either directly or through
actively in the project for the industrial private players.
advantage. In this spirit, France is implementing
a plan based on extensive research to find Indian • MSP will be required to cover all crops and all
firms that may be chosen as suppliers. producers in order to guarantee the Right to MSP.
• Contribution in Electric Vehicles: The French

companies present in the Indian market are
important in terms of production of electrical
batteries.

NOVEMBER - 2021
20
Arguments Against the Legal Backing of MSP: International Trade and Commerce
• “Economic theory as well as experience implies 18. U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum
that the price level that is not supported by
demand and supply cannot be sustained by »» Prelims: Totalization agreement, GSP system
legal methods,” writes NITI Aayog’s agricultural »» Mains: Potential of economic relation between
economist Ramesh Chand in a policy study. India and the U.S.; Challenges and significance
• If MSP becomes a legal right, procurement will of the Trade Policy Forum in addressing the
skyrocket in terms of volume. challenges
• It may result in the formation of a vast black Context:
market in which small dealers buy grains from • The U.S. Trade Representative held bilateral
farmers in unofficial ways. meetings with Commerce and Industry Minister
• Legalizing MSP will have an influence on the and relaunched the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum
country’s macroeconomic prospects by raising (TPF).
the chance of an unexpected surge in inflation. * The Trade Policy Forum was convened after
• MSP is classified as a bad subsidy by the WTO a gap of four years.
since it has an impact on the market. India’s Trade Policy Forum
subsidising programmes will spark outrage
among developed countries. • In 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush and Indian
Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh created a
• The Centre indicates that states are allowed to program called the Trade Policy Forum.
guarantee MSP rates if they desire, but it also
provides two instances of policies that have • It is run by a representative from each nation.
failed. • The goal of the program is to increase bilateral
* One example is the sugar industry, where trade which is a two-way trade deal and the flow
private mills failed to make full payments to of investments.
farmers, resulting in thousands of crores in Objectives
unpaid dues that had been accumulating
• Facilitating trade and investment flows between
for years.
the United States and India;
* Another example is a 2018 Maharashtra
• Developing and implementing trade policies
legislation modification that penalizes
through transparent procedures that comply
traders who buy crops below MSP with
with international obligations
severe fines and prison sentences.
• Fostering an environment conducive to
Conclusion:
technological collaboration and innovation; and
• The MSP framework has never helped the
• Promoting inclusive economic growth and job
majority of Indian farmers.
creation in the United States and India.
• According to the Shanta Kumar Committee
Background:
study from 2015, just 6% of Indian farmers are
successful in selling their products at MSP. Vicious cycle of bilateral economic ties:
• MSP for all crops — Kharif and Rabi — has • There have been many setbacks in the economic
decreased on average over the previous decade, relationship between the two countries.
according to MSP statistics. * The U.S.’s move to raise import tariffs and the
• Farmers want the government to ensure an MSP withdrawal of benefits to Indian exporters
when working with private actors since they under the U.S.’s Generalized System of
have been suffering for decades owing to a lack Preferences (GSP) triggered retaliatory trade
of MSP rules. measures from India.
* Some prominent American businesses
(Harley-Davidson and Ford) have left India.

NOVEMBER - 2021
21
* India and the U.S. are pursuing cases at WTO Multilateral engagement:
against each other’s trade policies. • India and the U.S. would involve in collaboration
* Both countries have blamed each other over and constructive engagement in multilateral
issues of restricted market access, trade and trade bodies, like the WTO and the G20 for
non-trade barriers, high tariffs on imports, achieving a shared vision of a transparent, rules-
Intellectual Property rights infringement, based global trading system among market
etc. economies and democracies.
• Despite many efforts towards a free-trade * India’s proposal on IPR waivers for the
agreement, the two sides have failed to even COVID-19 vaccine and medicines will be
reach a mini-trade deal. discussed in the upcoming WTO ministerial.
Details: • The Forum also decided to find mutually
agreeable solutions to outstanding WTO
Working groups: disputes between the two countries.
• The India-US Trade Policy Forum has five focus GSP issue:
groups – agriculture, investment, innovation and
creativity (intellectual property rights), services, • Indian has sought restoration of the GSP
and tariff and non-tariff barriers. (Generalized System of Preferences) benefits
to which the U.S. has promised suitable
* The two sides have decided to activate consideration.
working groups of the Trade Policy Forum
(TPF) Significance of TPF framework:
• These working groups will meet frequently • Reviving the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum is a
and address issues of mutual concern like chance to break the vicious cycle in economic
outstanding market access issues in a mutually ties between India and the U.S.
beneficial manner. • The TPF approach of targeting easily achievable
* India is seeking U.S. market access for its targets first and setting time limits will help
mangoes, grapes, and pomegranates, streamline the process of negotiations between
pomegranate arils, water buffalo meat the two sides.
and wild-caught shrimp, while the U.S. is • The TPF will act as a starting point for the United
seeking similar access in the Indian market States and India to integrate their economies
to cherries, pork/pork products, dried grains across sectors to harness the untapped
and alfalfa hay for animal feed. potential of the bilateral relationship. Given
• They will also work towards targeted tariff the complementarities of the two economies,
reductions. a robust trade relationship between the two
countries will help them reap rich economic
• The TPF working groups would work towards dividends.
developing plans of action for making
substantive progress by March 2022. • Apart from the obvious bilateral benefits, an
enhanced trade relationship between the two
Totalization agreement: countries will help rebuild critical supply chains in
• The Forum acknowledged the importance of a post-pandemic world. The integration in areas
urgently negotiating a Social Security Totalization such as health, medical devices and pharma is an
Agreement and would be pursuing efforts for effort in this direction.
reaching such an agreement.
• The absence of such an agreement particularly
affects Indian IT workers in the U.S., who
lose billions of dollars in U.S. social security
contributions that they cannot repatriate back to
India.
• The agreement would allow workers from both
countries to move their retirement savings
between the two countries.

NOVEMBER - 2021
22
Way forward:
• Toensure a robust and sustainable trade
partnership, the trade policy forum should
thus resolve the pending issues in an amicable
manner.

NOVEMBER - 2021
23
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Effect of policies and politics of developed and Miscellaneous
developing countries on India’s interests
2. Rezang la Memorial
1. Pentagon rattled by China’s military push
»» Prelims: Rezang la
»» Mains: China’s growing military capabilities-
Context:
Concerns, implications for India and necessary
strategy to counter the threat • Commemorating the unfettered bravery of the
soldiers in the battle of Rezang La, the Defence
Context:
Minister dedicated the memorial to the nation.
• U.S. defence establishment has expressed
• This memorial is situated at the Chushul border
concerns over China’s growing military
in Ladakh.
capabilities.
Turning the pages of history:
Details:
• November 18 marks the 59th anniversary of the
• Chinese military capabilities are expanding
Battle of Rezang La in which troops from the 13
rapidly not only in traditional domains of land,
Kumaon Regiment defeated several waves of the
sea and air but also in the new domains of space
Chinese Army at a height of over 16,000 feet.
and cyberspace.
• Rezang Lais a mountain pass on the Line of
• China has also been expanding its nuclear
Actual Control. The battle took its advent at the
arsenal.
strategic village of Chushul and SpanggurLake.
• It has made rapid advances in missile
• The 13th battalion of the KUMAON regiment
technologies. There is available evidence of China
was responsible for the defence of Chushul. The
increasing its fleet of land-based intercontinental
first onslaught by the Chinese failed and this
ballistic missiles, or ICBMs.
was followed by a more intense second attack to
• China recently tested a hypersonic weapon occupy Rezang la.
capable of partially orbiting Earth before re-
• The Indian platoons fought with all weapons
entering the atmosphere and gliding on a
they possessed. The Kumaonis were geared up
manoeuvrable path to its target. This weapon
and with enchanted spirit headed towards a
system would be capable of evading the most
hand to hand fight.
advanced missile defence systems including that
of the U.S. • 109 soldiers died with the weapons intact in their
hands and remained frozen. This exemplifies the
Concerns for the U.S.:
indomitable patriotism of our gallant soldiers
• China’s growing military capability could end towards the motherland. Even though dead their
American predominance not only in the Asia- patriotic souls resurrected to protect the borders
Pacific but also lead to a potential shift in the from the divine kingdom. This memorial will
global balance of power that has favoured the stand as an embodiment of the gallantry of the
U.S. for decades. Kumaonis that we all must cherish.
• Growing Chinese military prowess could push
realignment in the region more favourable to
China and complicate U.S. alliances in Asia.
Reactions from the U.S.:
• Given the rapid gains being made by China, the
U.S. administration is attempting to reorient all
aspects of U.S. foreign and defence policy. The
Biden administration is expected to review the
nuclear weapons policy, global troop basing and
overall defence strategy.
• There have been calls by Pentagon officials and
defence hawks for rebuilding the U.S. nuclear
arsenal.

NOVEMBER - 2021
24
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and Context:

agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s • International law encompasses a wide range
Interests of security challenges from terrorism to marine
security.
3. ASEM Summit
• The UN Charter recognises the maintenance of
»» Prelims: ASEM- Members and mandate “international peace and security” as a primary
Context: goal of the organisation in Article 1(1).
• The Vice President of India addressed the plenary Instances where India has ably used international
session of the ASEM Summit and emphasized law for its national security objectives:
the importance of reforming the UNSC and • The Kulbhushan Jadhav case when it dragged
other International Organizations restoring Pakistan to the International Court of Justice.
multilateralism.
• In developing international law to counter
About the ASEM Summit: terrorism.
• The ASEM summit is an Asian-European political India’s failure to fully appreciate the usage of
dialogue that aims to increase the level of international law
cooperation between the partners.
• India did not use its right to self-defense in
• It was established in the year 1996 in Bangkok, response to the Pulwama attack. Instead, India
Thailand having 15 member states of the EU and used a contentious policy known as “non-military
European Commission and 7 member states of pre-emptive action.”
the ASEAN along with China, Japan and South
Korea. • After the Pulwama attack, instead of suspending
the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) obligation
• It is a biennial event with its firm objective of towards Pakistan along security lines, India used
enhancing the collaboration between Europe Section 8A(1) of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, to
and Asia in the areas of economics, politics, increase customs duties on all Pakistani products
finance, education and culture. to 200%.
• The 13th ASEM dialogue involved 21 countries * Under international law contained in the
from Asia and the ASEAN secretariat along with General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade,
the EU and its 27 member states and Norway, countries can deviate from their MFN
Switzerland and the UK. It was an overall obligations on grounds of national security.
grouping of 51 member countries.
• India claims it is not a signatory to the Refugee
• India joined the ASEM group in 2006 and hosted Convention and hence wants to expel the
the 11th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Rohingya refugees. In international refugee law,
2013 at Delhi. Since then India has been actively one of the exceptions to the non-refoulement
involved in raising concerns in the multilateral principle is national security.
platform and also provided proper solutions.
* Non-refoulement is a principle of
• The theme for the year 2021 is “Strengthening international law that forbids a government
multilateralism for shared growth” and was from returning refugees to countries where
hosted by Cambodia as the current chair of the they face a clear threat of persecution
group. because of their race, religion, nationality,
Priority areas discussed in the Summit: political beliefs, or other factors.
• The agenda for 2021 will focus on strengthening * If India wants to expel the Rohingyas, it
multilateralism should build a case along similar lines,
demonstrating how they pose a national
• Improving post-pandemic socio-economic security risk.
conditions
• India has seldom utilised international law to
• Developing the resolution process of regional exert pressure on the Taliban rule in order to
and global issues that are of common interest advance India’s interests.
* For example, India may have argued
Important International Institutions, agencies and that SAARC could temporarily suspend
fora - their Structure, Mandate Afghanistan’s membership based on its
implicit powers under international law.
4. It’s time to engage in ‘lawfare’
»» Prelims: ICJ; Non-refoulement and measures to
be adopted by India
»» Mains: International law and its applications

NOVEMBER - 2021
25
Reasons for international law remaining at the Concerns of Fishermen

margins of foreign policymaking in India: • Fishermen often get caught in the fluctuating
• Absence of International Lawyers: There is fate of the bilateral relations between the two
marginal involvement of international lawyers in countries, which is currently at a low.
foreign policymaking. • It is a tragedy that ordinary people could end
• Lack of Expertise: Apart from the External Affairs up in a foreign prison while trying to earn their
Ministry, there are several other Ministries like livelihood.
Commerce and Finance that also deal with • Even fishermen venturing near the India-Sri
different facets of international law. They have Lanka maritime border often fall victim though
negligible expertise in international law. both countries maintain cordial bilateral ties.
• Systemic neglect of the study of international law: • Pakistan has aggressively sponsored violence
Institutions created to undertake cutting-edge in India, and terrorists trained by its agencies
research in this discipline have institutionalised sailed in a hijacked Indian fishing boat in 2008 to
mediocrity and university centres mandated Mumbai.
to develop the stream suffer from uninspiring
leadership and systemic apathy. • Many Indian villages along the borders with
Myanmar and Bangladesh are also theatres of
• Domain Experts failed to popularise International conflict, as communities often find it difficult to
Law: Many of the outstanding international reconcile with international borders that divide
law scholars that India has produced prefer to their traditional spheres of economic and social
converse with domain experts only. Thus, they activities.
have failed in popularising international law
among the larger public. Conclusion
Conclusion: • This is a humanitarian issue, and India and
Pakistan must work together to resolve it.
• If India aspires to become a global power, it must
employ ‘lawfare,’ or the utilization of the law as a • Furthermore, both countries must avoid
national security weapon. escalating tensions as a result of the recent
occurrence.
• India should spend heavily on international
law capacity building in order to mainstream
international law in foreign policymaking. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and
agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s
India and its Neighborhood - Relations Interests
5. Caught in the crossfire 6. NAM at 60 marks an age of Indian alignment

»» Prelims: Sir Creek »» Prelims: Non Aligned Movement
»» Mains: Issues between India and Pakistan »» Mains: Achievements and failures of NAM
Context: Context:
• An Indian fisherman was killed in firing by the • 60th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) off (NAM) and Nehru’s contributions to the field of
the Gujarat coast. foreign affairs.
Background Background
• According to the National Fish workers Forum, • The Congress of Vienna (1814–1815) was
there are 558 Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails, an international diplomatic conference to
and 74 from Pakistan in Indian prisons. reconstruct the European political order after the
downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon I.
• Consular access to those in prison is difficult.
* It recognized the concept of not aligning a
• In 2007, both countries formed a joint judicial country’s policy with others.
committee comprising eight retired judges to
facilitate the exchange of civilian prisoners. • In 1946, when Nehru formed the national
government, he stated, “we propose… to keep
• The mechanism has been defunct since 2013, away from the power politics of groups aligned
and attempts to revive it in 2018 did not bear against one another… it is for One World that
fruit. free India will work.”
• There are frequent conflicts over fishing rights • The Cold War which was all about power
along the International Maritime Boundary Line rivalries, military alliance, balance of power and
between India-Pakistan. ideological conflict was opposed by Nehru.

NOVEMBER - 2021
26
NAM thus became a cost-effective means of • Phase 2

promoting India’s diplomatic presence and the * In 1964 Jawaharlal Nehru died and his
best means of securing economic assistance daughter Indira Gandhi took office as prime
from abroad. minister.
NAM * Indira Gandhi leaned towards the Soviet
• Non-alignment was about retaining the Union as a key international partner and in
independence of judgment and freedom of doing so distanced herself even further from
political action. the USA.
Achievements of NAM • Phase III: After the Cold War
• The Geneva Conference of 1954 was an * The end of the Cold War and the collapse of
international meeting in Geneva, Switzerland the Soviet Union changed the environment
involving multiple countries to negotiate on of India’s foreign policy drastically.
Korean War and the First Indochina War. * On a global scale, India moved closer to
* India played a significant role at the Washington’s side.
conference. Currently, India is inclined to greater alignment with
• India was against colonialism and racism, NAM the United States whether under the nebulous rubric
further helped many African states to achieve of the Indo-Pacific or otherwise.
independence after 1960. Conclusion
• During the 1970s and 1980s, the Movement Every international organisation has a shelf life,
of Non-Aligned Countries played a key role in though many survive for years in semi-neglect.
the struggle for the establishment of a new
international economic order that allowed all • The League of Nations was given the coup de
the peoples of the world to make use of their grâce after seven years of inactivity.
wealth and natural resources and provided • The Commonwealth will last only as long as the
a wide platform for a fundamental change British find it useful.
in international economic relations and the
economic emancipation of the countries of the • Looks like Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa
South. (BRICS) has no future given the state of India-
China relations.
• It advanced the process of democratization of
international relations. • The South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) has faded into oblivion.
NAM’s failures
The call for the dissolution of the Non-Aligned
• One of the principles of NAM was to respect Movement gained currency with the end of the Cold
sovereign domestic jurisdiction. War. However, in order to continue and be effective,
* This had created many alignments among the organization should be reshaped and reformed
the countries, lack of uniform structure, to address global challenges.
leading to ignoring some of the human
rights violations committed by member
countries. Effect of policies and politics of developed and
developing countries on India’s interests/ diaspora
• NAM could not stop the arms race and bring an
end to Nuclear Proliferation. 7. Reading the forecast from China’s sixth plenum
• It could not prevent regional confrontations. »» Mains: New domestic developments in China
and the corresponding implications for India;
• Other failures were lack of collective action Strategy for India to counter it
and collective self-reliance, and the non-
establishment of an equitable international Context:
economic or information order. • The Sixth Plenary Session or Plenum of the 19th
Phases of NAM Central Committee of the Chinese Communist
Party (CCP).
• Phase 1
What is a plenum?
* The first phase of Indian foreign policy lasted
from independence in 1947 to the end of • A plenum is a meeting attended by all full and
the Second Indo-Pakistani (Kashmir) War in alternate members of the Communist Party’s
1965. Central •
* India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru • Those attending hold the country’s most
was the key political figure of this period. important offices and include members of the
party leadership, ministers, regional party chiefs,

NOVEMBER - 2021
27
senior generals and the executives of state- • With a historical resolution under his belt,
owned conglomerates. Xi would be emboldened to execute more
economic reforms.
Why are the plenums important?
Time for the West to ponder
• The plenums are a key venue for the party to
display unity among the party leadership and • Having been crowned as the unchallenged
indicate the direction of key policies. leader, with no term limits, the leadership could
provoke erratic behaviour.
• The meeting serves as a precursor for the
introduction of important laws, regulations and * This is likely to occur if there are domestic
economic plans, and discussions that continue issues arising in China because of an
beyond the plenum will almost certainly lead to economic downturn after almost three
the introduction of new policies. decades of continuous growth.
Examples: * The unprovoked incidents of aggression
that took place in Ladakh, may not be the
• At the conclave in 1978 overseen by Deng right example but they can be a reminder of
Xiaoping, China’s economic reforms were what can happen.
initiated.
• Over centralisation of power can, no doubt,
• At a plenum in 2013, China unwrapped its boldest result in new fragilities, but the current policy
set of economic and social reforms, relaxing its followed by the West of ‘strategic confrontation
one-child policy and further freeing up markets. and economic decoupling’ may not yield the
• At the plenum in 2018, the party approved a plan kind of results they seek.
to remove presidential term limits which meant • The CPC further has wider support from the
Xi could stay in office until he dies. people in China than most governments headed
Historic Resolution by dictators who have seized power through
various means, and also possibly more than
It is a document that aims to consolidate the party’s
many ruling parties in quite a few democracies.
achievements and provides an ideological roadmap
for its continued rule. It is only the third such • The reasons for the trust in the party is historical
resolution to be issued in the party’s 100-year history. reasons of humiliation at the hands of the west
prior to independence and ideological promise
• First by Mao Zedong in 1945 (Resolution of
of ‘Common Prosperity’
Certain Questions in the History of our Party).
* The west, therefore, should avoid heavy
• Second by Deng Xiaoping in 1981 (Resolution
criticism and its approach has to be nuanced
of Certain Questions in the History of our Party
if not there is a possibility where the Chinese
since the Founding of the People’s Republic of
people are likely to be reminded of their
China).
humiliation in the past and this would
• Third by Xi titled ‘Resolution of the CCP Central only bolster grass-roots support for the
Committee on the Major Achievements and Communist Party leadership.
Historical Experience of the Party’s Century of
• Information collected from various studies also
Struggle’.
points out that a lack of liberalised policies has
Why does it matter? not undermined faith in the Beijing government
Interpreting the contents of the ‘historical resolution’, among ordinary Chinese citizens.
the elevation of Xi Jinping and bringing him on par * This is something that the rest of the world
with Mao Zedong, and ahead of Deng Xiaoping, needs to ponder over.
as the leader of China, to rule for life has huge
* Consequently, the West may be making a
ramifications.
grave mistake in believing that a mere lack
• Xi Jinping’s ‘Thought on Socialism with Chinese of political freedoms — as understood in
Characteristics for a New Era’ now appears to rank democracies — automatically translates
alongside Mao Zedong Thought, and eclipses into opposition to the leadership.
‘Deng Xiaoping Theory’.
Strategy for India
* He is on a mission to redistribute the nation’s
• As America seeks to counter a rising China,
wealth to build a fairer Marxist society.
America is drawing India closer, the question
* The “common prosperity” campaign wiped India should answer is
about $1 trillion off the value of Chinese
* whether it has to hold to its present position
stocks globally in July 2021, and impacted
to defend against Chinese aggression with
the business of everyone from delivery
the help of the USA or
drivers and after-school teachers to tech
giants and celebrities, with major fallout for * take an independent stand against China’s
global investors. misadventure

NOVEMBER - 2021
28
• Many countries from Asia have an option of * Such comments signal that China will
leaning towards India or China. respond robustly to any western moves seen
as strengthening Taiwanese independence,
• With the exception of Pakistan and Cambodia for example through direct arms sales to
(which are near-client states of China), other Taipei.
countries may not have any specific liking towards
China but are compelled by circumstances to However, the summit meeting yielded no major
lean more towards China than India. breakthroughs.
Conclusion Concerns
• Therefore, India should take a hard look as to • Over the last two decades, summits between
whether it should devise a different strategy to both countries resulted in the issuance of joint
subserve India’s best interests. statements. The virtual meeting had no such
statement release.
• Nor did the meeting end with any agreement
Effect of policies and politics of developed and to have groups of officials from both sides hold
developing countries on India’s interests/ diaspora further talks on strategic nuclear issues and
8. SriAgreeing
Lankan fishermen seek India’s action over
to disagree conflicts in cyberspace.
disputes • Instead, countries issued their own statements,
which looked like catalogues of mutual grievances
»» Mains: Major irritants in the relationship between
that offered little room for compromise.
China and the U.S.; Implications for India
Conclusion
Context:
• Both sides will have to be even-handed in
• The virtual meeting between President Biden
managing their conflicts on trade and regional
and China’s leader, Xi Jinping.
tensions or else risk these issues spilling over
Issues into the global arena and disrupting the fragile
• At the top of the policy agenda that is causing ongoing recovery in economic growth and
bilateral friction is trade. public health.
* The US-China trade war, which began in
2018 under former US President Donald India and its Neighborhood - Relations
Trump, has resulted in both nations paying
higher taxes to bring in goods from the 9. Will Pak. law on KulbhushanJadhav help India’s
opposing country. position?
* Escalating import tariffs have caused »» Prelims: Vienna Convention; International Court
supply chain disruptions that are affecting of Justice
businesses and individuals worldwide. »» Mains: India- Pakistan relationship- Irritants
* At the summit, economic issues took a back Context:
seat to geopolitics.
• Pakistan’s Parliament passed the International
• The USA raised concerns about human rights Court of Justice (Review and Reconsideration) Bill,
abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. 2021, granting the right of appeal to Kulbhushan
* China accused the US of meddling in its Jadhav.
domestic affairs. Background:
• The US had problems with China’s “unfair trade • The International Court of Justice (Review and
and economic policies” harming American Reconsideration) Bill, 2021, granted the right
workers and the need to protect American of appeal to Kulbhushan Jadhav, former Indian
workers and industries. Navy officer on death row on espionage and
• China responded by saying that the US has to other charges.
stop “abusing the concept of national security to • India expressed misgivings about the law,
oppress Chinese companies”. saying it still does not fulfil the terms laid down
On Taiwan by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which
• China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province to be included the provision that India be allowed
reunified with the mainland one day. consular access to Jadhav.
• The US recognises and has formal ties with China. Kulbhushan Jadhav Case
But it has also pledged to help Taiwan defend • When was he Arrested?
itself in the event of an attack. * KulbhushanJadhav was arrested in 2016
• The Chinese side indicated that the USA is and charged with espionage and sabotage
playing with fire. against Pakistan’s security installations.

NOVEMBER - 2021
29
* The case received attention as it came soon Context:

after the 2016 Pathankot terror strike that
India blamed on Pakistan-based terrorists. • China Military Power Report (CMPR) recently
released by the Pentagon.
• India’s arguments at the ICJ
Details:
* In 2017 Jadhav was sentenced to death by a
military court in Pakistan for alleged acts of • The Pentagon report notes with concern the
sabotage. India moved the ICJ and pointed increasing military capabilities of the People’s
out that Pakistan had failed to provide Republic of China (PRC).
consular access to Jadhav. • The report highlights in particular a
* India had argued at the ICJ in 2017 that transformation in both the quantity and the
Jadhav had been denied his rights under quality of China’s nuclear arsenal. The report
the Vienna Convention and Pakistan had notes fundamental changes in the quantitative
“failed to inform” New Delhi about his arrest. strength and atomic yield of nuclear arsenal,
enhanced delivery capabilities (missile) and
* The law passed by Pakistan’s parliament nuclear posture of China.
is being presented as proof of Islamabad
complying with the ICJ ruling. Rising number of nuclear war heads:
• What did the ICJ rule? • China’s nuclear arsenal is set to increase. As per
the report, by 2027, China could have around 700
* In its observations of 2017, the ICJ asked nuclear weapons consisting of varying yields.
Pakistan to take “all measures at its disposal”
to ensure that Jadhav is not executed Tactical low yield nuclear weapons:
pending its final decision. • China seems to be prioritizing low-yield nuclear
* It observed that Pakistan had violated weapons. Low-yield weapons are weapons
Article 36 of the Vienna Convention by not meant for battlefield use during conventional
allowing India consular access to Jadhav military operations and against conventional
and by denying his right to a proper legal targets such as concentrations of armoured,
representation artillery and infantry forces. The increasing
preference of low yield nuclear weapons seems
Arguments Against the Recent Law to be indicative of China’s use of nuclear weapons
• The law will end up as mere paperwork if Pakistan for tactical rather than strategic purposes. This
fails to provide verifiable legal access to Jadhav. gives rise to speculation that China plans to use
India has already expressed its misgivings. its nuclear weapons not just for deterrence but
intends to use them in the battlefield if necessary.
• The law is a repeat of the International Court of
Justice (Review and Reconsideration) Ordinance, Increasing delivery capabilities:
2020, that Delhi had rejected as inadequate • China has been notably developing long range
• India said the ordinance did not “create nuclear weapon delivery capable missiles like
the machinery of an effective review and the Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile Dong-
reconsideration” as mandated by the ICJ. Feng-26 (DF-26) ballistic missile and the JL-2
Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs)
Conclusion with a range of 7,200 kilometres.
• Pakistan predicted that India would return to the • Such long range capacity missiles would allow
ICJ to bring a contempt notice against Pakistan, China to strike any target across continental Asia.
and that this law would pre-empt such a move.
• Notably, China has even deployed these missile
• Pakistan is expected to claim that it has not only systems in key areas.
complied with the ICJ’s decision, but has also
made it law. Concerns over the nuclear posture:
• The bill is also an attempt to resolve a domestic • China has adopted a Launch on Warning (LoW)
political spat in Pakistan. nuclear posture.
* Launch on warning (LOW) or fire on warning
is a strategy of nuclear weapon retaliation.
Effect of policies and politics of developed and This military strategy allows high-level
developing countries on India’s interests/ diaspora commanders to launch a retaliatory nuclear-
10. Keeping a close eye on China’s nuclear weapons strike against an opponent as
soon as satellites and other warning sensors
capabilities detect an incoming enemy missile.
»» Prelims: Low yield nuclear weapons; No First Use • This marks a higher alert posture. The Launch on
»» Mains: China’s increasing military capabilities vis- warning nuclear posture not only risks reducing
à-vis nuclear weapons; Security implications for the threshold for nuclear use in the form of
India

NOVEMBER - 2021
30
pre-emption but it could also sow the seeds of Arab Spring Uprisings
miscalculation and unintended nuclear use.
• Arab Spring Uprisings and coup in Tunisia
Security implications for India:
* The public rejection of the political and
• China’s nuclear competition with the United economic situation that has prevailed across
States will have a cascading effect for the Indo- the Arab world, from Morocco to Yemen, is
Pacific region and also India which happens to known as the ‘Arab Spring.’
share an increasingly frosty relationship with
China amid the border tensions along the LAC. * Tunisia’s revolution began in 2010 and
ended in 2014, when the country adopted a
• The increasing size of Chinese nuclear weapons democratic constitution.
and the development of potent missile
defences like the HQ-19 interceptors, specifically * Recently, the country’s President conducted
designed and developed to execute mid-course a “constitutional coup” by suspending the
interception of medium-range ballistic missiles, country’s Constitution and democratic
threatens the survivability of the Indian nuclear institutions.
arsenal in case of a nuclear war between India * Tunisia’s political system has swung from
and China. crisis to crisis in recent years, owing to
• China’s adoption of a Launch on Warning (LoW) the country’s dire economic situation
nuclear posture reduces the decision time for and mishandling of the new coronavirus
any Indian retaliatory nuclear strike in the heat outbreak.
of a war or crisis and places pressure on India • Significance of Arab Spring Uprisings
to pursue its own LoW instead of the present
* M
illions of people in neighbouring Arab
No First Use (NFU) policy. Also the adoption of a
nations were inspired by the Arab Spring
reversible No First Use (NFU) policy by China risks
uprisings.
degrading an Indian retaliatory strike if China
chooses to resort to First Use (FU) of nuclear * As a result, the demonstrations quickly
weapons. China with its large and tactical low extended to neighbouring Gulf nations
yield nuclear weapon systems could decapitate such as Algeria, Libya, Jordan, Egypt, Syria,
India’s nuclear forces. Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, and others.
• China has been slowly but surely developing * In an often autocratic Arab world, this has
SSBNs/nuclear-powered ballistic-missile given the region a new shape: a surge of
submarines and increasingly deploying them rallies for democratic reforms.
in the Indian Ocean region. These SSBNs are * Changesinpolicytowardtheneighbourhood
capable of carrying nuclear warheads and this and outside are also possible as a result of
could leave India exposed to a Chinese atomic the regime shift.
pincer from the maritime domain in addition to
the continental domain. * The demonstrations sparked a wave of
uprisings across the Arab world, with people
Recommendations: protesting dictatorship, corruption, and
• Given the rising threat posed by Chinese nuclear poverty.
weapons, Indian will have to re-evaluate the * Many long-standing autocrats were
quantitative nuclear balance and India’s nuclear deposed as a result of the Arab Spring.
posture vis-à-vis China. However, the movement’s legacy appears
to have been mixed during the last 10 years.
Effect of policies and politics of developed and Arab Spring and India
developing countries on India’s interests/ diaspora • Implications for India
11. Coups upend West Asia’s nascent democracies * India and the West Asian area have long
»» Mains: Implications of Arab spring for India; had historical and cultural ties. West Asia, in
Way forward for India to deal with the new particular, is a crucial area for India.
developments in West Asia * For ages, there have been people-to-people
Context: relations between India and West Asia.
• As recent developments in Tunisia and Sudan * In light of India’s expanding global stature,
again entrench autocracy, there are fears that the the majority of nations in the area urge
beacon of reform could be extinguished across it to take a more aggressive role. India’s
the region. significant interests in the area would oblige
it to take the initiative rather than sit on the
sidelines.

NOVEMBER - 2021
31
* India will need to devise a well-considered • Scientific evidence-based consensus for a

plan for the area. reduced yield in the case of organic agriculture,
Way Forward for India: to the tune of almost 35%, is alarming given the
condition of food security.
Self-inflicted damage:
• While the push towards the organic culture is the
need of the hour, the cost-benefit analysis should
be done based on the scientific assessment of
socio-economic impacts.
• The mid-season implementation of this policy,
no plan for substitutes, even the incapacity to
correctly assess the reduction in crop yield shows
the unthoughtful and hasty decision being
imposed on the poor farmers.
• There are high chances that an already debt-
ridden nation will further deteriorate its
conditions if it goes for 100% organic agriculture,
which is unviable and unsustainable if we can say
so.
Looming food crisis:
• The pandemic has affected the purchasing
power of poor farmers and consumers alike.
• Shortage of food items and the rising cost of
agriculture inputs will create a crisis even bigger
than COVID itself.
Way forward:
• A balance needs to be achieved between our
aim of ecological sustainability and the right to
food. Therefore, any decision of this magnitude
needs to be well-calibrated before a top-down
approach is applied.
India and its Neighborhood - Relations

13. India, Bangladesh to deepen ties as partners,
Miscellaneous
says Goyal
12. A food crisis of the government’s own making »» Prelims: Comprehensive Economic Partnership
»» Mains: Organic agriculture- viability and other Agreement (CEPA)
challenges »» Mains: India - Bangladesh economic ties-
Context: Potential, significance and recommendations to
• Sri Lanka’s ban on imports of chemical fertilizers. deepen this relationship
Organic Agriculture: Viable vs Sustainable Context:
• In the first half of 2021, the island nation of Sri • Indian Commerce and Industry Minister’s speech
Lanka banned the import of chemical fertilizers at the Bangladesh International Investment
to give a spurt to organic agriculture in the summit.
nation. India-Bangladesh economic ties:
• There is no doubt that organic farming and Present status:
products are beneficial for the environment and • Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in
human beings alike. South Asia with a volume of over $10 billion
• The concern regardings its viability for the mass and India is the second biggest trade partner of
production of food grains is a big question for Bangladesh.
the economies around the world. • Bilateral trade and economic engagement
between India and Bangladesh has grown
steadily over the last decade. Cooperation in the

NOVEMBER - 2021
32
power sector has become one of the hallmarks of Effect of policies and politics of developed and
India- Bangladesh relations. developing countries on India’s interests
Measures being taken to further deepen economic 14. Reversing follies in a haunted battleground
engagement:
»» Mains: Institutionalised Neutrality; Taliban in
• Meetings of various institutional mechanisms are Kabul and its Geopolitical implications for India
being conducted regularly to promote bilateral
trade and economic engagement. Context
* Secretary level meetings of Commerce and • The article explains the idea of Institutionalised
shipping ministries. Neutrality in the context of Afghanistan and its
geopolitical significance.
* In order to promote cooperation on bilateral
trade, an India-Bangladesh CEO’s Forum Background:
was launched in 2020 to provide policy • ‘Amir’ Abdur Rahman Khan warned his country
level inputs in various areas of trade and against Tsarist incursions in the 1880s.
investment and also to facilitate exchanges
among the business communities of both • As per the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907,
the countries. The India-Bangladesh CEO the two imperial powers pledged not to make
Forum will meet soon for the first time. This any changes to Afghanistan’s political status.
is expected to promote mutual investments. • ‘Afghanistan is of little or no strategic relevance
* Meeting of the India-Bangladesh Textile to the United States,’ determined the Joint Chiefs
Industry Forum was held in 2020 to enhance of Staff in Washington in 1953.
linkages and collaboration in the textile • ‘Instead of asking for weaponry, Afghanistan
sector. should settle the Pashtunistan problem with
• The two countries are working towards Pakistan,’ Secretary of State J.F. Dulles urged a
a Comprehensive Economic Partnership high-ranking Afghan diplomat in 1954.
Agreement (CEPA). • ‘Show me a way out of Afghanistan,’ Soviet
• On the infrastructure front, the connectivity President Leonid Brezhnev asked Prime Minister
between the two neighbours has been Indira Gandhi in 1982; her response was simple:
strengthened over time via roadways, railways, ‘The way out is the same as the way in.’
waterways and airways. The land customs • The Treaty of Rawalpindi, signed in August 1919,
stations (LCS) have been upgraded to integrated recognised Afghanistan as a fully autonomous
check posts (ICP). state, and the Amir agreed to recognise the
• Indian companies have a notable presence Durand Line and renounce the British payment.
in Bangladesh. Currently around 350 Indian Significant Aspects of Afghanistan’s Geopolitics:
companies are registered in Bangladesh. India is • New Geopolitical Realities and China as the New
also developing two Indian economic zones at Player in the Great Game
Mirsarai and Mongla in Bangladesh.
* New geopolitical realities are altering global
Recommendations: politics, with China becoming more assertive
• Focus on areas of technology, connectivity, and influential in South Asia, Southeast Asia,
entrepreneurship, health and tourism would and Africa.
help further strengthen bilateral economic ties * It is posing a challenge to the unilateral world
between the two countries. that the US has ruled since the conclusion of
* Improving physical connectivity through rail, the Cold War for more than two decades.
road infrastructure would be an imperative * Similarly, the United States is attempting to
for expanding and realising the potential for regain its worldwide hegemony.
bilateral trade and investments.
• New Strategy, New Alignment of the Regional
• Enhanced co-operation and collaboration Players
between the two countries and treating each
other as partners rather than competitors will * Afghanistan has long been vulnerable to
only help the two countries complement each undesired foreign influences, particularly
other’s capabilities and capacities. from opportunistic neighbours.
Conclusion: * Each of them maintains connections to
client networks capable of fragmenting and
• A robust economic relationship between the incapacitating an emerging Afghanistan.
two nations would not only reap rich economic
dividends for the two nations but it would also * Each nation has its own set of interests and
bring in an era of economic prosperity in South plans for gaining maximum strength in
Asia. the area, and each country is critical to the
conclusion of the Afghan situation.

NOVEMBER - 2021
33
• China’s Policy Contrasts the US Policy in Institutionalised Neutrality in Afghanistan:

Afghanistan
• Audrey K. Cronin, an American scholar, studied
* Apart from major collaboration in other recent cases of ‘Neutralization as a Sustainable
areas like climate change, it looks doubtful Approach’ in 2016 and concluded that, in the
that they would conduct a war to offset case of Afghanistan, such an approach could be
each other’s impact due to their economic negotiated by the US, China, Iran, Russia, Saudi
interdependence. Arabia, the Central Asian republics, and the North
* However, there’s a chance they’ll engage Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
in strategic manoeuvring, with the US • A proposal for ‘Neutralization’ as a concept and
attempting to restrict Chinese influence in an attainable objective must be considered both
the area and the Chinese attempting to limit in terms of philosophy and practicality.
US control in Afghanistan.
• The notion of externally guaranteed
• India is the Answer to China, not Pakistan institutionalised neutrality was floated, but the
* India, like the United States, has a lot invested Mujahideen were not enthusiastic.
in the area and would be uncomfortable • It was viewed as a potential solution for reducing
with the political solution that China offers or eliminating conflict between competing
Pakistan. countries, as well as preventing Afghanistan from
* In an ideal world, India would like the becoming a geopolitical hub for contending
Chinese to solve the Afghan crisis without powers and a source of extremism and terrorism.
the help of Pakistan, which has already been • In the near future, and given domestic
exposed for its ties to rebel organisations cohesiveness, it does not appear that the Taliban
operating in the region. leadership will break from it for ideological or
• Geographic Strategic Points: Wakhan corridor, practical reasons.
Durand Line Essential ingredients of such Neutralisation would
* The Wakhan corridor, which runs through be:
China’s Pamir Mountains, is the clearest • A formal Afghan declaration in constitutional
indication of the two countries’ desire to terms;
avoid an armed clash.
• A legally binding declaration by each and every
* China’s border might play an important role immediate and proximate neighbour;
as an energy corridor in the future.
• A United Nations Security Council declaration
* On the Durand Line, a creative approach calling on the P5 and interested powers to refrain
with some type of formal but soft boundary from any form of power politics in Afghanistan;
that accommodates the area’s history,
• A United Nations General Assembly resolution
topography, and population appears to be
recognising Afghanistan as a neutral state.
the best option.
Indian Perspective on Institutionalised Neutrality:
Idea of Institutionalised Neutrality:
• India believes that its diplomatic mission in
What does Institutionalised Neutrality mean?
Afghanistan, as well as its economic support and
• The principle of institutional neutrality requires public health assistance, should remain.
schools to refrain from taking a political or
• It was also determined that it “should make
ideological stance, allowing for a nonpartisan
contact with leaders of all organisations and
pursuit of the facts wherever they may lead.
maintain relationships with them so that India
• It is intended to create an environment in which can deal with whoever comes to power in the
no one feels compelled to conform to their own future.”
political convictions.
• Afghans must state explicitly that they would
maintain absolute neutrality in their dealings
with other countries, and foreign powers must
commit to respecting Afghanistan’s neutrality.

NOVEMBER - 2021
34
Conclusion:
• With Afghanistan’s dire need for accommodation
with external powers, aid providers, and
economic assistance, the situation is ripe for
political adjustment of basic perceptions.
Institutionalised Neutrality allows friendly
countries to provide assistance without being
constrained by competition and power politics.

NOVEMBER - 2021
35
ART AND
ART CULTURE
AND CULTURE
Art and Culture - Handicrafts of India 6th Dharma-Dhamma Conference

1. Best Tourism Village • The 6th Dharma-Dhamma Conference was
organised at Nalanda University in Bihar.
»» Prelims: Pochampally Ikat sarees
• Aim: – To bring together religious, political
»» Mains: Using art and culture as a tool for and thought leaders from Dharma-Dhamma
promoting rural tourism in India- Significance traditions to ponder over building a philosophical
and challenges framework for the emerging new world order.
Context: • Theme of the 6th Dharma-Dhamma Conference:
• Pochampally village, often known as the Silk city – “Dharma-Dhamma Traditions in building the
of India, in Telangana has been selected as one Post-Covid World Order”.
of the best tourism villages by United Nations Significance of the Dhamma-Dhamma Traditions
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
• For a peaceful existence, the Vice President
What is the Best Tourism Village Initiative? emphasised the need of adhering to the Dharma-
• This initiative of UNWTO awards the villages that Dhamma traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism.
are exemplary in showcasing the good practices • The universal ideals of peaceful coexistence,
in line with specified evaluation areas. collaboration, mutual care and sharing,
• This aims to assist the villages to increase their nonviolence, friendliness, compassion, peace,
tourism potential through training and creation truth, honesty, selflessness, and sacrifice
of opportunities to promote their indigenous have all been emphasised in dharmic ethical
products. exhortations.
About: • The Dharma-Dhamma traditions can play an
important role in moulding both individual
• Pochampally is famous for its unique weaving
lifestyles as well as politics and government.
styles and patterns and emphasizes the vision of
the Prime Minister’s ‘vocal for local’ campaign
• PochampallyIkat is a unique style saree that Art and Culture - Governmental initiatives
received Geographical Indication status in 2004.
3. International Tourism Mart
• Ikat is a Malaysian, Indonesian word which means
“Tie and Die” and which involves patterns formed »» Mains: Economic potential of the North eastern
states- Tourism sector and its significance
by yarn and woven into fabric.
Context:
• The International Tourism Mart is an annual
Art and Culture - Important terminologies related to
event organized by the Ministry of Tourism. The
Buddhism 9th edition of the event was held recently.
2. Dharma Dhamma International Conference Important Highlights:
»» Prelims: Dharma-Dhamma Tradition of Buddhism • This will make the tourism potential of the region
Context: prominent and bring into the spotlight domestic
tourism.
• The Vice President inaugurated the 6th Dharma
Dhamma International Conference on Dharma • For the first time, the International Tourism Mart
Dhamma Traditions. was hosted by Nagaland.
About Dharma-Dhamma Conference • This event occurs in the NorthEast region on

a rotation basis. Earlier this event was held at
• Dharma – Dhamma Conference is an endeavour Guwahati, Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), Shillong,
by India Foundation to revive the concept of Gangtok, Agartala and Imphal.
dharma-dhamma traditions.
• A delegation of students from various parts of the
• The conference aims to make these traditions country will be engaged in a study tour under Ek
relevant in solving problems and developing Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
policies for the state in the twenty-first century.
Objectives of the Event:
• In September 2012, the India Foundation’s Centre
for Study of Religion and Society (CSRS) hosted • To discuss the way forward for tourism in the
the First International Conference on Dharma- region
Dhamma in Bhopal.

NOVEMBER - 2021
36
• To enhance cultural ties with the Northeast Context:

region and improve connectivity • Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi will lay the
• Promote the natural beauty of the region foundation stone of Palkhi Marg to facilitate the
through tourism movement of devotees to Pandharpur.
Details:
Art and Culture - Festivals • Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation
for the four-laning of five parts of the Shri
4. KashiUtsav SantDnyaneshawarMaharajPalkhi Marg (NH-
»» Prelims: Important personalities associated with 965) from Dive Ghat to Mohol.
Kashi city and their contributions • This also comprises the laning of three sections
Context: of the Shri SantTukaramMaharajPalkhi Marg (NH-
965G) from Patas to Tondale – Bondale.
• The ‘KashiUtsav’ is celebrated to cherish the rich
cultural heritage of Kashi and the centuries-old • There will be four laned sections with dedicated
illustrious personalities like GoswamiTulsidas, walkways for two major ‘Palkhi Marg’’
SantKabir, SantRaidas, MunshiPrem Chand and SantDnyaneshwar
many more. • SantDnyaneshwar was a Marathi saint, poet,
About the Festival: philosopher, and yogi of the NathVaishnavaschool
• This is a remarkable initiative by the Ministry of who lived in the 13th century.
Culture to enliven the folk music, Vedas, science, • Dnyaneshwar’s thoughts are based on the non-
knowledge and literature associated with Kashi. dualistic Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
• Kashike Hastakshar, ‘Kabir, Raidaski Baniaur Writings of SantDnyaneshwar
Nirgun Khushi’ and ‘Kavitaaur Kahani – Kashiki • Dnyaneshwari is a commentary on the
Zubani’ are the central themes of the celebration. Bhagavad Gita that served as the core
• Besides, there will be plays on personalities of Maharashtra’s Bhakti philosophy.
like Rani LaxmiBai, a book exhibition and the SantDnyaneshwar wrote Dnyaneshwari on the
involvement of 150 artists participating in orders of his Guru Shri Nivruttinath.
the event reflecting the literary and cultural • He also wrote “Amritanubhava” (immortal
enrichment of Kashi. experience), based on Upanishad philosophy,
and “Haripath,” a hymn praising Hari (Vishnu).
Art and Culture - Dance Forms Teachings of SantDnyaneshwar
• SantDnyaneshwar emphasised teachings such
5. Pungcholom
as discovering spirituality within one’s soul.
»» Prelims: Pungcholom dance form
• He prevented his followers from depending
• It is a dance form from Manipur on texts and preached the belief in a single,
• It is derived from martial arts and also the formless God.
traditional MaibiJagoi dance. • He was adamantly opposed to caste
• PungCholom is performed in Manipur during boundaries and felt that the only road to God
weddings, temple functions and even funerals. was via Bhakti.
SantTukaram
Art and Culture - Important personalities related with • SantTukaram is a 17th-century poet-saint who
the Bhakthi movement was a contemporary of ShivajiMaharaj, Eknath
and Ramdas.
6. PM to lay foundation stone of dedicated walkways for
• His poetry was dedicated to Vithoba or Vitthala,
‘Palkhi’ an incarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu God.
»» Prelims: Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram • He is well-known in Marathi for his Abangas
»» Mains: Role of Bhakthi movement in the history (dohas). Abangas are a rich tradition of devotional
of India- Its contributions and significance poetry.
• SantTukaran emphasised community-based
worship via spiritual melodies known as Kirtans.

NOVEMBER - 2021
37
• They were also crucial for laying the groundwork Art and Culture - World Heritage sites in India
for Parmaratha. He promoted the virtues of piety,
forgiveness, and inner tranquilly. 8. World Heritage sites in India
»» Prelims: World Heritage sites in India
Art and Culture - Conservation of art forms • World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO
for having cultural, historical, scientific or other
7. UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) forms of significance.
»» Prelims: UNESCO creative cities network- Cities in • Of the over 1,150 such sites globally (as of July
India 2021), India has 40 of them, the second-most in
the continent and sixth overall. This includes 32
»» Mains: Using creativity as a strategic factor for
cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed heritage site.
sustainable urban development
• The walled city of Ahmedabad has the distinction
Context:
of being the first city in India to be accorded the
• Srinagar joins UNESCO Creative Cities Network status of a UNESCO world heritage site.
(UCCN).
* The city was founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah
Details: in the 15th century, on the eastern bank
• Srinagar has joined UNESCO’s network of creative of the Sabarmati River. It presents a rich
cities and has been designated as a creative city architectural heritage from the sultanate
of craft and folk arts. period, notably the Bhadra citadel, the walls
and gates of the Fort city and numerous
• Along with Srinagar, 49 cities have newly joined mosques and tombs as well as important
the Creative Cities Network in recognition of their Hindu and Jain temples of later periods. The
commitment to placing culture and creativity at urban fabric is made up of densely-packed
the heart of their development and to sharing traditional houses (pols) in gated traditional
knowledge and good practices. streets (puras) with characteristic features
• Other Indian cities that are in the network are: such as bird feeders, public wells and
religious institutions.
* Chennai and Varanasi – UNESCO cities of
music • Of the 40 inscribed sites located in India,
Khangchendzonga National Park is the only
* Jaipur – UNESCO city of crafts and folk arts ‘Mixed World Heritage Site’ in India having
* Mumbai – UNESCO city of film fulfilled the nomination criteria under both
* Hyderabad – UNESCO city of gastronomy natural and cultural heritage.
• Currently, UCCN has 295 cities in 90 countries. * Located at the heart of the Himalayan range
in northern India (State of Sikkim), the
• By joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Khangchendzonga National Park includes
(UCCN), cities commit to sharing their best a unique diversity of plains, valleys, lakes,
practices and developing partnerships involving glaciers and spectacular snow-capped
the public and private sectors as well as civil mountains covered with ancient forests,
society in order to strengthen the creation, including the world’s third highest peak,
production, distribution and dissemination of Mount Khangchendzonga.
cultural activities, goods and services.
• They also pledge to develop hubs of creativity
and innovation and broaden opportunities for
creators and professionals in the cultural sector.
• The UCCN was created in 2004 to promote
cooperation with and among cities that have
identified creativity as a strategic factor for
sustainable urban development.

NOVEMBER - 2021
38
• As far as antiquity is concerned, the rock shelters

of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh are the oldest
inscribed site and are said to be 30,000 years old.
* The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are in the
foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains on the
southern edge of the central Indian plateau.

NOVEMBER - 2021
39
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Governmental initiatives • The Soyuz rocket carried what is believed to be a

Tundra satellite, part of Russia’s missile warning
1. Mentorship Programme for Young Innovators system named Kupol or dome.
»» Mains: Governmental initiatives to promote * Kupol is designed to detect launches of
young innovators- Significance and challenges ballistic missiles and track them to their
Context: landing site.
• Union Minister launched India’s first-ever * The system has been designed as a
Mentorship Programme for Young Innovators replacement for the current system of early
called the DBT-Star College Mentorship warning satellites called Oko.
Programme.
About the DBT-Star College Mentorship Programme: Science and Technology- Developments and their
• The programme is basically meant to help in Applications and Effects in Everyday Life
networking, hand-holding and outreach.
3. Starlink
• The plan envisages organizing workshops,
meetings per month; handhold at colleges »» Prelims: Starlink
particularly in the rural areas or lesser endowed »» Mains: Potential and significance of the starlink
areas and conducting outreach activities with satellite internet constellation
government schools.
Starlink:
• The Star Status Colleges will help in incorporating
the vision of the Department of Biotechnology • Starlink is a satellite internet constellation
(DBT) towards strengthening UG Science operated by SpaceX.
Courses throughout the country by mentoring * It aims to provide internet services to
newer colleges through hand-holding and peer customers on Earth by creating a network of
learning and bringing them under the aegis of thousands of satellites known in the space
the Star College Scheme. industry as a constellation.
About the Star College Scheme: • The constellation consists of mass-produced
• The Star College Scheme was initiated by DBT small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), which
in 2008 to support colleges and universities communicates with designated ground
offering undergraduate education to improve transceivers.
science teaching across the country. Why is it necessary to launch satellites in order to
• This Scheme was launched for improving provide Internet services?
critical thinking and encouraging ‘hands on’ • This is mainly to ensure that reliable and
experimental science at the undergraduate level uninterrupted Internet services — now part of
in basic science subjects. humanity’s basic infrastructure and an important
• It also aimed at encouraging more students to means of delivering a wide variety of public
pursue higher education in science. services to the world’s peoples — are universally
available in every part of the globe.
• Through this scheme, the Department identifies
colleges with potential for excellence and • Currently, about 4 billion people, more than half
provides support for developing infrastructure the world’s population, do not have access to
for academics and laboratory activities. reliable Internet networks.
• A total of 278 undergraduate colleges across * And that is because the traditional ways to
India are currently being supported under the deliver the Internet — fibre-optic cables
DBT Star College Scheme. or wireless networks — cannot take it
everywhere on Earth.
* In many remote areas, or places with difficult
Awareness in the field of Space terrain, it is not feasible or viable to set up
cables or mobile towers.
2. Russia puts into orbit classified military satellite
• Signals from satellites in space can overcome this
»» Prelims: Kupol system; Tundra satellite
obstacle easily.
• Russia has successfully placed into orbit a military
satellite believed to be part of its early warning
anti-missile system.

NOVEMBER - 2021
40
So how will placing satellites in lower orbits help? • DBT-NBRC has been successful in the
• One big advantage of beaming signals from development of research tools through
geostationary orbit is that the satellite can cover SWADESH.
a very large part of the Earth. Important Tools of SWADESH
• Signals from one satellite can cover roughly a • GAURI system – uses an adaptive pattern of
third of the planet — and three to four satellites recognition and learning schemes for better
would be enough to cover the entire Earth. Also, diagnosis and consists of MRI modalities and
because they appear to be stationary, it is easier neuropsychological batteries.
to link to them.
• NINS-STAT – An automated highly advanced
Concerns statistical test selection which can be useful for
• Increased space debris clinical research.
• Increased risk of collisions • KALPANA – It is an integrative package for
visualization and quantitative analysis of data.
• Concern of astronomers that these constellations
of space Internet satellites will make it difficult to • PRATEEK – Allows multimodal neuroimaging
observe other space objects, and to detect their data analysis.
signals. • Stimulus Timing Integrated Module – It is a
Context: multipurpose design system for MRI related
purposes, mapping brain activity and clinical
• NGO Telecom Watchdog has written to the evaluation of brain disorders.
Department of Telecom (DoT) seeking a criminal
case be filed against Starlink, for allegedly • BHARAT – It is a big data analytical model for early
charging people in India for satellite Internet diagnostic biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease.
services without having a licence for the same. About DBT:
• The Department of Biotechnology operates
Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; under the Ministry of Science and Technology
Indigenization of Technology and Developing New that aims to promote and improve the research
and development in the field of biotechnology
Technology that has its wide application in agriculture,
4. SWADESH healthcare, animal sciences, environment and
industry
»» Prelims: SWADESH
About NBRC:
Context:
• The National Brain Research Centre is the only
• SWADESH is the world’s first multimodal brain institution in the country that is dedicated to
imaging data and analytics developed by DBT – neuroscience research.
National Brain Research Centre.
• The institution includes scientists and students
• It was inaugurated as a unique brain initiative from diverse disciplines like biology, computer
that emphasized neuroimaging, neurochemical science, mathematics, engineering working
and neuropsychological data and analytics that together to establish a clear understanding of
are made accessible to the researchers to treat the brain.
brain disorders.
Important Facts:
• This has been designed for the Indian population Governmental initiatives
and to provide them with big data architecture 5. Swarnajayanti Fellowships Scheme
for various diseases under one platform.
»» Mains: Governmental initiatives to promote
• SWADESH is facilitated by JAVA based programs Research and Development activities-
and Python. Java is the most commonly used Significance and challenges
programming language that is used in big data
and android development and it is also used Context:
in mobile computing, desktop computing and • 17 scientists from across India were awarded
gaming. Swarnajayanti Fellowships.
• It has a powerful storage system that offers
quality control, data analysis reports and data
backups.
• It has data on healthy old people, healthy young
people and patients with neurodegenerative
disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, Mild Cognitive
Impairment and Parkinson’s disease.

NOVEMBER - 2021
41
About the Swarnajayanti Fellowship Scheme: What is Metaverse?
• It is a research fellowship in India awarded annually • The term “Metaverse” refers to a collection of
by the Department of Science and Technology interconnected 3D virtual worlds enabled by
(GOI) for notable and outstanding research advances in technology such as Augmented
by young scientists, applied or fundamental, Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial
in biology, chemistry, environmental science, Intelligence (AI), and blockchains.
engineering, mathematics, medicine and • The metaverse would be a fully open and
physics. inclusive arena for self-expression, exploration,
• It was instituted in 1997. and empowerment.
• The selected scientists are provided special • Metaverse is claimed to be the post-Internet
assistance and support to enable them to pursue world, a decentralised, live, and continuous
basic research in frontier areas of science and computing platform.
technology. Origin of the idea:
• The award consists of a Fellowship of Rs 25000/- • The term “metaverse” originally appeared in
per month in addition to the salary drawn from Neal Stephenson’s futuristic science fiction novel
the parent institute for a period of 5 years. Snow Crash, published in 1992.
• The fellows’ projects may also be funded by the • The metaverse has also been explored in works
Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB). such as Ernest Cline’s 2011 novel Ready Player
• The duration of the fellowship will not exceed One, which was adapted into a film in 2018.
five years. How does the Metaverse Space work?
About Science and Engineering Research Board • Cloud computing, big data, advanced Artificial
(SERB): Intelligence systems, AR/VR, blockchains, NFTs,
• It is a statutory body and is established through and other technologies will be combined in the
an Act of Parliament: SERB Act 2008, Government metaverse.
of India. • A hypothetical metaverse runs on Web 3.0
• The Organisation aims to uplift science and which uses technologies such as blockchains
engineering in India, in a manner that it can and tokens to create a decentralised Internet for
contribute majorly in the economic growth of online interaction and online payments.
the country. • As a result, several organisations advocate for an
• It is the premier research funding agency in India. “Open Metaverse.”
• Its functions include: • Metaverse aspires to take human interaction to
the next level of commodification, where every
* Investigating and identifying the major single activity is logged and monitored for profit,
areas of development and research and structured to maximise data gathering.
* Maintaining a disciplinary link between What is the Potential of Metaverse Space?
academic institutions, research labs,
and industries promoting Science and • Interoperability: Metaverse promises the
Technology capacity to smoothly move data between virtual
worlds, allowing for a wide range of social and
* Monitoring the development and economic possibilities.
implementation of various research projects
• Creator economy: With the power of Non-
Fungible Tokens (NFTs), the Metaverse will bring
Science and Technology - Developments and their the Creator Economy to life.
Applications and Effects in Everyday Life • Social Security: Metaverses have great potential
to revolutionise fields such as education and
6. Breaking down the hype around Metaverse
healthcare which in turn ensure social security.
»» Prelims: Metaverse
• Virtual Economies: Customization of metaverse
»» Mains: Potential applications and challenges platforms may potentially grow into a virtual
associated with Metaverse economy. Cryptocurrency is another facet of the
Context: virtual realm that has come to fruition.
• Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently • The VR taste to Tasks: Immersive social virtual
made an announcement that he’s changing his shopping experiences, concerts, games, and
company’s name to Meta Platforms Inc. virtual classrooms all have the potential to
advance significantly with the development of
Metaverse space.

NOVEMBER - 2021
42
What are the challenges associated with the Awareness in the field of Space
Metaverse?
7. A launch window for India as a space start-up
• Monopoly Concerns: Competitors are likely to
pop up with their own versions of the technology, hub
leading to a number of ‘Closed’ metaverses. »» Prelims: IN-SPACe (Indian National Space
The monopolies in a revolutionary concept as Promotion and Authorisation Centre)
the metaverse space is a cause for concern for »» Mains: Private players in the space sector:
competition law regulators. Significance and challenges
• Artificial Scarcity: In the virtual world scarcity is Context:
actually designed. The most common criticism
of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) is that they are an • This article discusses the entry of private players
attempt to create value and scarcity where there in the space field to take the next leap for
should not be any. It will open a new avenue for mankind and democratise space usage to build
capitalist expansion. commercial value.
• Mental Health Issues: Metaverse platforms will Significance of Private Players in Space:
be the next way to flaunt your glittering social • Mature space agencies, such as the United
media accounts. It will mask who the person States' National Aeronautics and Space
really is behind-the-scenes. As a result, narcissism, Administration (NASA), China's China National
mental health concerns, and insecurities will Space Administration (CNSA), and Russia's
continue to thrive. Roscosmos (Roscosmos State Corporation for
• Privacy and Security Concerns: The rampant Space Activities), seek assistance from private
health and biometric data collection will lead to players such as Boeing, SpaceX, and Blue
significant data breaches and theft. Origin for complex operations that go beyond
manufacturing support, such as sending crew
• Increased Cost: Metaverse technologies and supplies to the International Space Station.
require tremendous processing power and,
consequently, would lead to a great cost in terms • With innovation and innovative technology,
of the environment. these businesses have revolutionised the space
sector by lowering prices and turnaround time.
• Increased Threats of Cyber Crimes: The metaverse
platform’s advanced virtual reality and huge data Challenges of Private Players in Space Field:
collection will pave the way for increased cyber- • Brain Drain: Significant aspect to throw light on
attacks. In these new virtual worlds, cybercrime is the extensive brain drain in India, which has
might take on new shapes. increased by 85% since 2005.
• Threats from Facebook: The role of Facebook in • Loopholes in Policies: Brain drain might be
pushing violent and offensive content in order to connected to policy bottlenecks that make
increase user interaction is widely known. If left it difficult for private space companies and
unchecked, something similar may happen in entrepreneurs to acquire investors, making it
immersive virtual environments on a far bigger almost impossible to operate in India.
scale.
• Lack of Private Participation: The absence of a
• Challenges to Democracy: As the number of framework to give openness and clarity in rules
blockchain-based Decentralized Autonomous is one of the reasons for the lack of independent
Organizations (DAOs) grows, virtual worlds may private participation in space.
one day become viable alternatives to nation-
states. Metaverses will raise difficult concerns of • Issues with Liabilities and Space Insurance:
jurisdiction and governance. Another critical feature of space law is insurance
and indemnity clarity, namely who or which
Way Forward organisation assumes obligation in the event of
• When it comes to the metaverse, regulators a mistake.
need to step in right from the start and work on * There is a cap on responsibility and the
regulatory laws. financial damages that must be paid in
• There is a need to follow a precautionary rather some Western nations with a developed
than a permissive approach. commercial space sector.
* Under Australian space legislation, space
operators are required to carry insurance for
up to AUD$100 million.

NOVEMBER - 2021
43
• As a part of the system: Many private businesses • However, in order to sustain the development
are already active in equipment and frame engine, investors must see the industry as the
fabrication, using either outsourced specs or next “new-age” boom, and ISRO must transition
leased licences. from a supporter to a facilitator.
* NASA and the CNSA allocate a portion of • To guarantee that the sky is not the limit, investor
their annual budgets to private players for trust must be boosted, and unambiguous rules
this reason. must be set.
* Until 2018, SpaceX was a member of 30 Way Forward
NASA missions, receiving approximately • Ensuring investor confidence needs to be
$12 billion in contracts. pumped up and for the same, clear laws need to
India and the Space Race: be defined.
A. India as a Very Marginal Player • Breaking activities down into multiple sections,
• The space economy is a $440 billion worldwide each to address specific parts of the value chain
industry, with India accounting for less than 2% and in accordance with the Outer Space Treaty.
of the total. • Dividing activities further into upstream and
* This is despite the fact that India is a downstream space blocks.
prominent space-faring country with • Providing a solid foundation to products/services
end-to-end capability for manufacturing developed by the non-governmental and private
satellites, developing enhanced launch sectors within the value chain.
vehicles, and deploying interplanetary • Creating value, Indian space private companies
missions need to generate their intellectual property for
• The space race has significant consequences for an independent product or service.
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Additional Information
India's space sector and is a viable endeavour for
global investors. Space race
B. Indian Space Agencies: • The space race was a series of technological
• According to a report, the Indian government experiments between the United
established a new organisation called as IN- States and the Soviet Union in order to
SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and demonstrate dominance in spaceflight.
Authorisation Centre). • The Soviet Union launched Sputnik in
* It is a "single window nodal agency" set up 1957, kicking off the epic space race of the
to promote the commercialization of Indian twentieth century.
space operations. • It turned out to be a metaphor for the
• The agency supports the entry of Non- whole Cold War between the capitalist US
Government Private Entities (NGPEs) in the and the socialist Soviet Union.
Indian space industry as a complement to the • It sprang from the Cold War of the mid-
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). twentieth century, a severe worldwide
* The agency will also promote the quick battle that pitted the ideas of capitalism
onboarding of private sector companies and communism against one another.
by encouraging policies in a conducive
regulatory environment and generating
synergies through previously existing
essential infrastructure.
C. Indian Potential in the Space Sector:
• India is presently on the verge of developing a
space ecosystem, and with ISRO as the leading
agency, India may now flourish as a global space
start-up powerhouse.
• The sector is in its infancy, and the opportunities
to establish a viable company strategy are
endless.
• Already, over 350 start-ups, like AgniKul Cosmos,
Skyroot Technologies, Dhruva Space, and Pixxel,
have laid the groundwork for home-grown
technologies with a viable economic unit.

NOVEMBER - 2021
44
DEFENCE AND INTERNAL SECURITY
International Co-operation in Defence and Internal • Under this initiative, experts of the IT industry
Security and MeitY collaborate with organisations like
CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced
1. Colombo Security Conclave Focused Operation Computing), CERT-In (Indian Computer
»» Prelims: Colombo Security Conclave Emergency Response Team), NIC (National
Informatics Centre) and STQC (Standardisation
»» Mains: Partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region Testing and Quality Certification) as knowledge
aimed at maritime security partners in the training program.
Context: Significance:
• Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) Focused • In a world with advancing technology, the
Operation was conducted between the lead emerging issue of cyber security is a major
Maritime Security Agencies of India, Maldives concern and initiatives like Cyber Surakshit
and Sri Lanka. Bharat play an exemplary role in promoting
Details: awareness on cyber security. In a country like
India, awareness is an essential tool to resolve
‘Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) Focused many challenges.
Operation’
• This initiative offers guidelines and policies
• Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) Focused related to cyber security along with best practices
Operation’ is a trilateral maritime drill conducted to learn from successes and failures.
by the coast guards of India, Sri Lanka and the
Maldives. • A massive impetus is provided to the vision of
‘Digital India’ that establishes an empowered and
• It aims to bolster security in the Indian Ocean. equipped ecosystem ensuring cyber security.
• It exemplifies a trilateral commitment to
promoting peace and security in the region.
Basics of Cyber Security
Aims and Objectives:
• To secure part of the Indian Ocean Region for safe 3. Cyber Security Grand Challenge
commercial shipping and international trade. »» Mains: Significance of cyber security in an
• To conduct legitimate maritime activities. increasingly digitalizing world
• To build understanding and interoperability Context:
between the lead maritime security agencies. • The cyber security grand challenge was
• To facilitate the institution of measures to prevent launched for the first time by the joint efforts of
and suppress transnational crimes in the region. the Ministry of Electronics and IT and the Data
Security Council of India.
• To enhance the operational synergy by exchange
of information and conduct of coordinated Objective:
operations to handle maritime incidents/ • The grand challenge was organised to promote
accidents. innovation and entrepreneurship in the country
with enormous emphasis on cyber security. This
would also ensure better collaboration between
Challenges to Internal Security through government, industry and start-ups.
Communication Networks, Role of Media and Social
Networking Sites in Internal Security Challenges About the Challenge:
• This initiative provides an opportunity for the
2. Cyber Surakshit Bharat start-ups to innovate in the crucial theme of
»» Prelims: CERT-In cyber security and yield solutions to be adopted
»» Mains: Cyber security concerns and initiatives and incentivized.
taken in this direction • The challenge focused on expanding India’s
• This initiative was launched by the Ministry of cyber security capacity.
Electronics and Information Technology in 2018 • Such innovative steps would help to prevent the
to tackle the progressive spread of cyber attacks emerging threats to cyber security.
in the country. • Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)of every product
• This initiative is the first public-private partnership was offered as a part of the challenge which is a
of its kind. unique feature.

NOVEMBER - 2021
45
• The opening of the challenge covered six Military Exercises

problem statements and was conducted in three
5. Exercise SITMEX
stages namely, Idea, Minimum Viable Product
and Final Stage. »» Prelims: Exercise SITMEX
• The panel of jurists consisted of individuals from Context:
Government, Academia and Industry. • Indian Navy participates in India, Singapore and
• The winners were awarded a trophy and cash Thailand Trilateral Maritime Exercise ‘SITMEX’.
prize worth rupees one crore and rupees 60 lakhs Details:
and 40 lakhs were given to the first and second
runners-up respectively. • This is the third edition of Ex SITMEX.
Therefore, this grand challenge was an encouraging • It is being held in the Andaman Sea.
step towards India’s vision to become the thought • FromtheIndianNavy,INSKarmuk,anindigenously
and market leaders in the realm of cyber security built Missile Corvette is participating.
transforming the digital economy into a trillion-
dollar one. • It is being hosted by Royal Thai Navy (RTN).
• SITMEX is being conducted annually since 2019
with an aim to enhance mutual inter-operability
Military Exercises and imbibing best practices between the Indian
Navy (IN), Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and
4. Ex SHAKTI – 2021
RTN.
»» Prelims: Ex Shakti; Other bilateral exercises with
• The maiden edition of SITMEX was hosted by
France
India off Port Blair in 2019.
Context:
• The 6th edition of the biennial Indo-France
military exercise was carried out under the title Defence Equipment
Ex-SHAKTI. 6. INS Visakhapatnam
About the Exercise: »» Prelims: Project 15B
• The exercise was preceded by joint military • INS Visakhapatnam is one of the four stealth
training, execution of combat power in a counter- guided-missile destroyer ships under Project
insurgency environment. 15B.
• The Indian army was represented by the Gorkha * The Project 15B class of guided missile
rifles. destroyers being built by Mazagon Dock
• This gave an opportunity to both contingents to Limited (MDL) for the Indian Navy.
get trained in a counter-terrorism environment. * Project 15B comprises four ships —
• It was conducted in two phases that consisted Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and
of combat conditioning and tactical training of Porbandar.
counter-terrorism operations. Significant Features
• Besides, there were cultural and sports activities • State-of-the-art weapons
that enhanced the friendship between the
military personnel of India and France. • Sensors such as surface-to-surface missile and
surface-to-air missiles.
Aim of the Exercise:
• Modern surveillance radar
• Both the militaries had a clear objective of
ensuring a terrorism free world. • Anti-submarine warfare capabilities
• To promote military diplomacy between the • Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopters.
participating countries. • Nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare
• To strengthen their defence cooperation, France capabilities
has emerged as one among India’s top strategic
partners.
The three biennial exercises of India and France:
• Exercise Garuda – India-France Air forces
• Exercise Varuna – India-France Naval forces
• Exercise Shakti – India-France Military forces

NOVEMBER - 2021
46
Military Exercises About Shakti EW:

7. OP SANKALP • This will offer an electronic layer of defence
against the radars and anti-ship missiles to
»» Prelims: Operation SANKALP
enable a better survival chance in maritime wars.
Context:
• This is a new generation of electronic warfare
• Operation SANKALP is a mission-based (EW).
deployment of INS Trikand in the strategic
• The warfare suite will be integrated with Electronic
locations of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of
Support Measures (ESM) and Electronic Counter
Oman. This is an effort by the Indian Navy to
Measures (ECM) against missile attacks.
deploy a frontline ship in the region for the
maintenance of safety, security in the regional * ESM finds the accurate position and
maritime sphere facilitating trade in that region. direction of radars through its built-in radar
fingerprinting and data recording replay
About INS Trikand:
feature helping in post-mission analysis.
• It is the latest model of guided missile stealth
• The first Shakti system has been installed on-
frigate and a part of the western fleet that
board INS Visakhapatnam with an indigenous
operates under Western Naval Command,
aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. Twelve other Shakti
Mumbai.
systems will be produced by BEL.
• It is a talwar class frigate
• This will enhance the Indian Navy’s electronic
intelligence potential.
Military Exercises
8. Prasthan Exercise Miscellaneous
»» Prelims: Prasthan Exercise 10. The Sydney Dialogue
Context: »» Prelims: Sydney dialogue
• The Western Naval Command conducted an • It is an annual summit of cyber and critical
offshore naval exercise which is codenamed technologies to discuss the fallout of the digital
Prasthan in the Offshore Development Area domain on the law and order situation in the
(ODA) of Mumbai. world.
About the Exercise: • The Sydney Dialogue is an initiative of the
• This exercise is conducted every six months Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
in order to bring together all the maritime Context:
stakeholders aiming at offshore security. Indian
Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, ONGC, the Port • Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the
Trust, Marine police and Department of state keynote address at The Sydney Dialogue
Fisheries participated in the exercise.
• Refinement of SOP and response actions in the Miscellaneous
ODA contingencies are major areas of focus.
• Terrorist intrusion, bomb explosion, firing, oil 11. A new jurisprudence for political prisoners
spill, casualty evacuation are the contingencies »» Prelims: UAPA act- Provisions
that were exercised.
»» Mains: Concerns over the misuse of the UAPA act
• This paints a realistic scenario in front of the
stakeholders to increase responsiveness in the Context:
region with a joint effort. • Students from Kerala who were charged under
provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act (UAPA) for alleged Maoist links have been
Defence Equipment granted bail by the Supreme Court by setting
aside the objections of the National Investigation
9. ‘Shakti’- The Warfare Suite Agency.
»» Prelims: Shakti- Electronic warfare suite Background
Context: • The case involved students from Kerala, who
• The Prime Minister handed over the advanced were pursuing Journalism and Law respectively.
electronic warfare suite Shakti which is • The police had allegedly seized objectionable
developed by DRDO to the Chief of Naval Staff. printed and written materials from them which
The Defence Electronics Research Laboratory of include violent exhortations for civil war, in tune
DRDO in Hyderabad has developed the warfare with Maoist ideology.
suite.

NOVEMBER - 2021
47
• The police registered the case and later the * As opposed to the general criminal law,
investigation was handed over to the National under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Investigation Agency (NIA). Act (UAPA), grant of bail is the exception.
The provisions of the UAPA were invoked. * If the prosecution either through the case
Provisions of the UAPA diary or through the chargesheet is able to
show ‘reasonable grounds’ for believing that
Section 13 the accusation is prima facie true, then the
• It deals with participating in or inciting unlawful accused “shall not be released on bail”.
activities. • Thus, the Act prompts the Court to consider the
• It is the provision about punishment for unlawful version of the prosecution alone while deciding
activities. the question of bail.
Section 38 Concerns
• Offence relating to membership of a terrorist • Unlike the Criminal Procedure Code, the UAPA, by
organisation. virtue of the proviso to Section 43D(2), permits
keeping a person in prison for up to 180 days,
* A person, who associates himself, or without even filing a charge sheet.
professes to be associated, with a terrorist
organisation with intention to further its • Thus, broad offences included under the UAPA
activities, commits an offence relating to and difficult bail conditions mean individuals can
membership of a terrorist organisation. be detained indefinitely even without conviction
of the accused.
Section 39
Presumption of guilt
• It deals with “offence relating to support given to
a terrorist organisation.” National Investigation Agency (NIA) vs Zahoor
Ahmad Shah Watali
Arguments in favour of the Accused
• In Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, the Court said that
• Both the accused were students and there were by virtue of Section 43D(5) of UAPA, the burden
no allegations of any overt act of violence. is on the accused to show that the prosecution
• At a formative young age, the accused might case is not prima facie true.
have been fascinated by what is propagated by • Many intellectuals including Sudha Bharadwaj
CPI (Maoist). and Siddique Kappan were denied bail based on
• There was no prima facie material to show an a narrow interpretation of the bail provision as
intention on the part of the accused to further done in Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali.
the activities of the terrorist organisation. Thwaha Faisal v Union of India
SC Observation • The Court, in Thwaha Faisal, refused to construct
• Mere association with a terrorist organisation Section 43D(5) in a narrow and restrictive sense.
is not sufficient to attract Section 38 and mere • It has to some extent, liberalised an otherwise
support given to a terrorist organisation is not illiberal bail clause.
sufficient to attract Section 39 of UAPA.
Union of India vs K.A. Najeeb (2021)
• The association and the support have to be with
the intention of furthering the activities of a • For granting bail in Thwaha Faisal the SC relied on
terrorist organisation. a decision in Union of India vs K.A. Najeeb (2021).
* Such intention, according to the court, can • In K.A. Najeeb, the larger Bench said that even
be inferred from the overt acts or acts of the stringent provisions under Section 43D(5)
active participation of the accused in the do not curtail the power of the constitutional
activities of a terrorist organisation. court to grant bail on the ground of violation of
fundamental rights.
• Mere possession of documents or books by the
accused at a formative young age, or even their Challenges in the interpretation of laws
fascination for an ideology, does not ipso facto • The text of the UAPA limits judicial discretion and
or ipso jure make out an offence, the Court ruled. adjudication. This is more evident in the context
Section 43D(5) of the UAPA of bail.
• It says that for many of the offences under the Act, • As part of interpretation, the court usually has
bail should not be granted, if “on perusal of the two approaches:
case diary or the report (of the investigation)… * Literal Interpretation
there are reasonable grounds for believing that
the accusation … is prima facie true”. »» To read and apply the provision literally
and mechanically which has the effect

NOVEMBER - 2021
48
of curtailing the individual freedom as into the Union of India. This led to the beginning
intended by the makers of the law. of the insurgency in Manipur.
* In contrast to this approach, there could be a • Later, various more insurgent organisations arose
constitutional reading of the statute, which to demand independence of Manipur.
perceives the issues from a human rights • The Meiteis were further radicalised by the
angle and tries to mitigate the rigour of the creation of the People’s Liberation Army.
vicious content of the law.
• After separating from the UNLF in 1969, N
• The former approach is reflected in Zahoor Bisheshwar founded the People’s Liberation
Ahmad Shah Watali and the latter in Thwaha Army.
Faisal.
• The goal was freeing the northeastern area via
Significance a meticulously organised revolutionary revolt.
• In this case, the Court has asserted the primacy of This was used as a basis for ‘liberating’ the rest of
judicial process over the text of the enactment, India.”
by way of an interpretative exercise. • Bisheswar claimed to have built his organisation
• The Court has acted in its introspective on Marxism-Leninism and Mao’s ideas, as well as
jurisdiction and deconstructed the provisions of appealing to the Naga and Mizo groups to join
the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) the PLA.
with a great sense of legal realism. • The Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the PLA’s
Way forward political branch, was founded in 1979.
• The judgment should be invoked to release
other political prisoners in the country who have Security Challenges - Left Wing Extremism
been denied bail either due to the harshness of
the law or due to the follies in understanding the 13. A lost cause
law or both.
»» Mains: Left wing extremism- challenges and
Conclusion measures being taken
• Thwaha Faisal vs Union of India thus paves the Context:
way for a formidable judicial authority against
• 26 Maoists were killed in a fierce encounter with
blatant misuse of the draconian law.
security forces in a dense forest in Gadchiroli
district, Maharashtra
Role of External State and Non-state Actors in Gadchiroli
creating challenges to Internal Security
12. Assam Rifles Commanding Officer, family, four
jawans killed in Manipur ambush
»» Prelims: Assam Rifles and other Central Armed
Police Forces
»» Mains: Insurgency issue in Manipur
Context:
• Four jawans and Assam Rifles Commanding
Officer(CO) were attacked by militants in Manipur.
Background:
• The officer’s convoy was attacked with
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by militants.
• The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the
Manipur Naga People’s Front(MNPF) jointly
claimed responsibility for the ambush.
• The PLA and MNPF’s targeted killing of a
CO marked a major escalation in insurgent
operations in Manipur.
Insurgency in Manipur
• The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) was
formed in the 1960s owing to resentment among
a portion of Meitei society over Manipur’s merger

NOVEMBER - 2021
49
• The following are the four most prevalent
• Gadchiroli has dense forests, rivers and sparse components of these attacks:
population, and has long been a difficult terrain * Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
for security personnel to control and operate smokescreens: Coordinated denial of service
• It is difficult to operate in this region due attacks on financial institutions are common,
to Gadchiroli’s location at the trijunction of and they often appear to be aimed solely to
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Telanagana. The impair the usage of online banking assets.
Maoists would be able to shift bases easily. * Transactional based network penetration:
* With the coordination among state forces When the financial institution’s systems are
not always at optimal levels, Gadchiroli breached to begin or facilitate transactions
offers both a corridor for passage, as well as from within the financial institution, one of
a mostly safe holding area for Maoists. the developing cyber enabled fraud assaults
happens.
• It is among Maharashtra’s poorest and the
Maoists have sought to expand their presence * Data theft based network penetration:
extending from neighbouring Chhattisgarh. Hackers continue to try to hack into
processor and other financial institution
Concerns systems in order to obtain client data such
• Despite suffering significant losses to its as account numbers, card numbers, and
leadership either in military operations or due to other personal identifiers.
physical infirmities and a shrinking of the areas of * Conventional remote banking fraud: The
influence, the Maoists have refused to withdraw latest wave of cyberattacks is notable
from their pursuit of armed struggle. for combining any or all of the above-
Conclusion mentioned attacks with traditional internet,
mobile, phone payment, and card attacks.
• The success of development programs must
continue, people attracted towards Maoism Global Efforts to Prevent Cyber-enabled financial
should be weaned away and Maharashtra must crime:
not rest on its success in militarily diminishing A. ‘HAECHI-II’: –
the Maoist threat in Gadchiroli.
• The operation codenamed ‘HAECHI-II’ was
conducted by INTERPOL saw police arrest more
than 1,000 individuals underlining the global
Money - Laundering and its prevention
threat of cyber-enabled financial crime.
14. 1,000 held in 20 countries in financial crime • Specialised police units from 20 countries,
crackdown including Hong Kong and Macau, took part in
»» Mains: Cyber-enabled financial crime: Threat and the exercise to target specific types of online
global efforts to counter the threat fraud, such as “romance” scams.
Context: • It is the second such operation in a three-year

project launched to tackle cyber-enabled
• Interpol has coordinated an operation with financial crime.
enforcement agencies in more than 20 countries
highlighting the global threat of cyber-enabled B.
Anti-Money Laundering Rapid Response
financial crime. Protocol (ARRP)
Details: • The Anti-Money Laundering Rapid Response

Protocol (ARRP) has been vital to effectively
What is Cyber-enabled financial crime? intercepting illegal payments in various HAECHI-
• Ransomware, sextortion scams, identity theft, II situations.
money laundering, and other financial crimes are • The findings revealed that the increase in crimes
examples of cyber-enabled financial crime. caused by the COVID-19 epidemic had not
• It’s not about draining bank accounts or bitcoin subsided.
wallets; it’s about stealing IP. C. Purple Notices from Interpol
Threats from cyber-enabled financial crime: • Based on the findings during the operation, the
• Social engineering (e.g. phishing email) might be Interpol published multiple Purple Notices —
used to launch a cyber-enabled financial assault police alerts that seek or provide information
from the outside. on modus operandi, objects, devices and
concealment methods used by criminals.
• Insider threats – criminally motivated workers
attempting to obtain access to cash – are also a
concern.

NOVEMBER - 2021
50
• The notices are shared with the member • Due to threats from terrorist leaders in the 1990s,
countries to enable exchange of information on many Kashmiri families transferred one of their
emerging criminal methods and establish links sons to Pakistan to be trained and subsequently
between cases. deployed in Kashmir.
• Governor’s rule remained in place in J & K for
Security Challenges and their Management in a long period, effectively suppressing the
Border Areas - Linkages of Organized Crime with democratic process.
Terrorism • Home grown militancy first emerged in Kashmir
during protests over state elections in 2008, and
15. How to win over Kashmiri youth then again when the Indian Army killed three
»» Mains: Radicalization- Concerns and measures infiltrators in 2010.
being taken to counter this threat • The Hurriyat Conference of All Parties called for
Context: violent protests, which led to rioting, the burning
of government cars, and “stone-pelting events.”
• Recently, there was a suggestion that de-
radicalisation camps should be organised for the • With the emergence of home grown militancy,
youth in Jammu and Kashmir. the situation on the ground deteriorated.
What is Radicalisation? Critical Evaluation of De-radicalisation camps
• Radicalisation is the process through which an A. What is De radicalisation?
individual or a group adopts progressively radical • Deradicalization is a term used to describe the
political, social, or religious ideas, particularly process of persuading someone with strong
when it comes to support for or use of violence. political, social, or religious beliefs to take more
• Ideologies, religious views, political convictions, moderate perspectives on topics.
and biases towards certain groups of people can • Even in the last five years, “deradicalization”
all be motivating factors. initiatives, which are aimed at gently moving
• People can be radicalised in a variety of methods people and groups away from violent extremism,
and over a variety of time periods, ranging from have expanded in popularity and reach.
a few days or hours to several years. • Deradicalization is the process of separating
• The Judge Webster Commission 2009 had a person from their extremist beliefs, whether
observed: ‘Radicalism is not a crime. Without voluntarily or involuntarily.
exhortation to violence, radicalization alone may B. Significance of De-radicalisation Camps
not be a threat.’
• Deradicalisation camps are distinct from past
History of Radicalisation in Kashmir approaches to rehabilitation in that they also
• General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s focus on persons who have not yet committed
dictator-President, started the practise of utilising a terrorist act.
religious overtones in statecraft. • Deradicalisation camps employ modern
• He emphasised the importance of religion in approaches such as technology and internet
government policy, which led to radicalization of communication, which have been effectively co-
Pakistani youth. opted by terror groups.
• Later, as part of low-intensity war activities, this • It requires examining if the process can be
spilled over into Kashmir. reversed and how government-led measures
can assist in ensuring that committed terrorists
• Insurgents who wanted J&K to secede from India do not engage in criminal activities after freed
began using violent measures to achieve their from jail.
goal in 1989.
• Focusing on rehabilitation makes sense in light
• As a result, effective counter-insurgency of the fact that dedicated ideologues may never
operations were launched. abandon their views, but they may modify their
• To combat militancy, the Public Safety Act of conduct.
1978 and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act C. Challenges associated with Deradicalization
of 1958 were utilised. Camps
• In Pakistan, hundreds of tanzeems (fighting • No standard definition: The terms “terrorism,”
organisations) were formed to fight in “violent extremism,” “radicalisation” and
Afghanistan. Some of these were later sent to “deradicalisation” are still loosely defined; there is
Jammu and Kashmir. no universal agreement.
• In the pretext Kashmiri liberation, Pakistani • Twin Challenges: There were now twin challenges
operatives went about recruiting young people for the Army, the Central Armed Police Forces
to train in Pakistan. and the J&K Police.

NOVEMBER - 2021
51
* The first were the terrorists for whom the both the accomplishments and pitfalls of the
rules of engagement were different deradicalisation programme.
* The second were the Kashmiri youth who Solutions to De-radicalisation
formed the bulk of the protestors — Indians • To combat the ‘hate’ ideology, it is necessary
for whom all the rules and laws applicable to to move away from a State-mandated
any Indian citizen apply. counselling programme and toward a multi-
• Human Rights Issues: When stone-pelting agency-designed educational programme with
incidents took a serious and alarming turn, armed community and religious backing.
personnel responded with pellet guns and other • Elected community officials and faith-based
means of riot control. Injuries, especially eye organisations can both play key roles.
injuries, were a serious fallout of this response
which was criticised for Human rights violation. • ‘Counter-narratives’ and avoiding internet
radicalization are important aspects which can
• Problems of Kashmiri Youths: identify and assist susceptible people.
* Kashmiri children in schools and colleges • Individuals at risk should be identified, the
outside the State are often mistreated when nature of the risk assessed, suitable assistance
any misadventure takes place in J&K. The plans developed, and channel support extended
incidents of violence against minorities, in or terminated by local government entities.
north India have only worsened problems
with Kashmiri youths. • As a ‘channel police practitioner,’ the police
function has been limited to coordinating.
* The Kashmiri youth feel that they face
hostility from the Indian state because of • Human rights organisations can work to look
their identity and so the status quo cannot after infringes on freedom of expression and
be effective. privacy, particularly in schools.
D. De-radicalisation Efforts: • Before increasing counter-terrorist capabilities,
policymakers must address “unaddressed
socio-economic and political reasons” that
are accountable for the increase of violence,
according to a Brookings research on violent
extremism released in 2019.
Conclusion:
• Deradicalization camps provide a number of
challenges for India as it considers what ideas and
experiences to adopt for its own programmes.
• When Kashmiri youngsters study in other parts
of India, the state must ensure their safety.
• It is critical that Kashmiri youngsters feel at ease
wherever they are. This necessitates a genuine
professional approach, a gentle touch, and long-
term commitment.
• Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-speech
moon’s in Addis Ababa in 2016, provided a final
solution to this question, stating that “good
governance can prevent terrorism.”That is exactly
what our government should do.
Role of External State and Non-state Actors in

E. Global Experience:
creating challenges to Internal Security
• UK: By revising the Counter Terrorism and
Security Act (CTSA) in 2009, UK Prime Minister 16. Maritime Security of India
Gordon Brown transformed the country’s »» Mains: Maritime security of India- Challenges;
counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST) into Initiatives being taken by India to strengthen its
a multi-agency approach, making it more maritime domain security
transparent and democratic.
Context:
• Sri-Lanka: Sri Lanka’s rehabilitation programme
to combat violent insurgency, which was • The article examines some major aspects of
started by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil maritime security for India as discussed by the
Eelam (LTTE), provides valuable insight into Indian Navy chief on the sidelines of the Goa
Maritime Conclave.

NOVEMBER - 2021
52
Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) Narco terrorism:

• The GMC is the Indian Navy's outreach initiative • Available intelligence indicates that there is a
providing a multinational platform to harness the flow of drugs from the Makran coast, down to
collective wisdom of practitioners of maritime the East coast of Africa, from where it moves to
security and the academia towards garnering the island nations, which are tourism-dependent
outcome oriented maritime thought. economies, and then to Sri Lanka and India and
• Aim of the conclave also across the world.
* With the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) • Thus sea bound drug trafficking is a security
becoming the focus of the 21st century threat to India more so in the aftermath of the
strategic landscape, the GMC aims to recent developments in Afghanistan.
bring together the regional stakeholders • There seems to be a close nexus between drug
and deliberate on the collaborative trafficking and arms smuggling via sea routes in
implementation strategies in dealing with the Indian Ocean.
contemporary maritime security challenges Efforts of India in the maritime domain:
• The theme for 2021 is “Maritime security and Naval exercises:
emerging non-traditional threats: a case for
proactive role for IOR Navies”. • India has been conducting regular naval exercises
with both regional nations and also countries like
* It has seen participation from the Navy the U.S., France, etc.
chiefs and heads of maritime agencies
of Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, • The Malabar exercise including India, the U.S.,
Madagascar, Malaysia, the Maldives, Japan and Australia has continuously increased
Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, in scope and complexity. Such exercises by
Sri Lanka and Thailand. ensuring interoperability will allow the nations to
coordinate operations seamlessly in case of any
Major Challenges: contingency or challenge.
Increasing Chinese presence in IOR: Goa Maritime Conclave:
• From a security perspective, since independence, • Goa Maritime Conclave brings together
India has not faced any significant maritime a small group of navies in the immediate
threat. Much of the Indian maritime security neighbourhood, considers common challenges
focus was in terms of the relatively minor naval and helps formulate tangible solutions to key
threat from Pakistan and non-traditional threats issues. The GMC has grown as a platform.
including piracy and terrorism. While these
concerns remain, they have been overtaken by Colombo Security Conclave:
worries about China as an emerging IOR power, • In order to tackle the threat of sea-bound drug
with a growing footprint in the region. trafficking, India is part of initiatives such as the
• China has been expanding its naval assets Colombo Security Conclave, which involves
at a very fast pace. Apart from the increased focused operations with countries that are
forays into the IOR (Indian Ocean Region), the affected by drug trafficking.
Chinese Navy also has a base in Djibouti. This is Logistics agreements:
complemented by China’s growing maritime ties
with countries in the IOR and increasing naval • India has signed logistics support agreements
presence in the region. with several countries, including the U.S.,
Australia and Japan.
• China’s growing Indian Ocean presence seems to
be contesting India’s strategic role in the IOR. It * Military logistics agreements are merely
also poses security threats for Indian assets in the administrative arrangements between
region. strategic partners that would facilitate
replenishment of fuel, rations, and spare
• Also in a related development, China has recently parts, as well as berthing and maintenance
exported warships to Pakistan which are to be for each other’s warships, military aircraft,
deployed in the Indian Ocean. This is an indication and troops during port visits and joint
of the increasingly close military cooperation exercises, on a reciprocal basis.
between Pakistan and China, which analysts see
as aimed at bolstering Pakistani capabilities in an • The Navy stands to benefit from these agreements
effort to balance India in the region. as they will help acquire much-needed reach and
sustenance for the Indian navy.
• The Indian Navy has been closely monitoring
the Chinese Navy and its maritime assets Mission Based Deployments (MBD):
deployed in the IOR. In addition, the Indian Navy • India started Mission Based Deployments for the
is also prioritising modernisation and revising navy in 2017.
operational philosophy to counter the Chinese
challenge.

NOVEMBER - 2021
53
* The Mission Based Deployments concept

involves deploying mission-ready ships and
aircraft at major and sensitive locations like
critical sea lanes of communications and
choke points to protect India’s maritime
interests.
• The MBD concept ensures Indian ships are on
regular deployment in key areas in the IOR. This
helps the Indian Navy increase their familiarity
with the area of operation, helps assure friendly
nations by being available for response in any
situation and also helps the Indian Navy establish
its credibility as a net security provider in the IOR.
Other efforts:
• India has been collaborating and cooperating
with other nations in the IOR in the domain
of information-sharing, hydrographic
cooperation, maritime law enforcement,
training, opportunities in disaster response, crisis
management, etc.

NOVEMBER - 2021
54
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAND
ANDECOLOGY
ECOLOGY
Initiatives in news Context:
1. Air Pollution Control Tower (APCT) • Conservation biologists of the Wildlife Institute
»» Prelims: BHEL of India (WII), Dehradun, will begin collaring 10
fishing cats (Prionailurusviverrinus) in the Coringa
»» Mains: Measures to mitigate the impact of air Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) in Andhra Pradesh for a
pollution better understanding of the species.
Context: Fishing cats:
• • The State of the Art prototype Air • The fishing cat (Prionailurusviverrinus) is a
Pollution Control Tower, developed in-house by medium-sized wild cat. It is predominantly
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been nocturnal.
inaugurated.
• The fishing cat hunts in water. It has specialized
features like partially webbed feet and water-
resistant fur that helps it to thrive in wetlands.
• Since 2016, the fishing cat is listed as Vulnerable
on the IUCN Red List. In India, the fishing cat is
included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972 and thereby protected
from hunting.
• The fishing cat is the state animal of West Bengal.
Threats
• The fishing cat is threatened by the destruction of
wetlands, which are increasingly being polluted
and converted for agricultural use and human
settlements.
• The conversion of mangrove forests to
commercial aquaculture ponds is a major threat.
• Another threat to the fishing cat is the depletion
Image Source: ToI of its main prey – fish due to unsustainable
Importance: fishing practices and over-exploitation of local
fish stocks.
• The APCT will assist in tackling urban pollution,
especially in the National Capital Region as it is Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:
an area of concern that imposes adverse effects • Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is an estuary situated
on health. near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. It constitutes a
• Much emphasis has been placed on eliminating large stretch of mangrove forests in India.
the pollutants at the source. * The sanctuary is a part of the Godavari
• There is a possibility of expanding the APCT estuary.
project and setting up a grid of such pollution • The sanctuary is yet to be declared as a Ramsar
control towers. site despite facing various threats to its ecology.
About BHEL:
• BHEL is India's largest engineering and
manufacturing enterprise in the energy and Initiatives in News
infrastructure sectors 3. E-Amrit Portal on Electric Vehicles at COP26
• It is under the ownership of Ministry of Heavy »» Prelims: E-Amrit portal
Industries and Public Enterprises
Context:
• The Government of India launched the E-Amrit
Species in news - Fauna web portal on electric vehicles at the COP26
Summit in Glasgow.
2. Coringa set for fishing cat collaring project
»» Prelims: Fishing cat; Coringa wildlife sanctuary

NOVEMBER - 2021
55
Facts about the Portal: Context:

• The E-Amrit portal acts as the one-stop • The Jal Shakti Ministry has released a guide for
destination for providing all information about the safe rescue and release of stranded Ganges
electric vehicles and the myths surrounding them river dolphins.
including their adoption, purchase, investment
opportunities, policies and subsidies.
• The portal has been developed by NITI Aayog Important Indices
in association with the UK government to boost 5. Global Climate Risk Index (GCRI)
the UK-India Roadmap 2030. In the upcoming
days, more features will be added to this portal »» Prelims: Global climate risk index
to make it interactive. • It is an index published annually by GermanWatch,
• Objectives: a non-profit organisation.
* The important purpose of the E-Amrit portal • The Index analyses to what extent countries have
is to increase awareness about electrical been affected by the impacts of weather-related
vehicles and encourage people to switch to loss events (storms, floods, heatwaves, etc.).
such vehicles. Issue Area
* To ensure the decarbonisation of transport The 2021 version ranked 180 countries based on the
with the introduction of electric mobility impact of extreme weather events and associated
that would assist in reducing the carbon socio-economic data from 2000-2019. There are deep
footprint. fault lines in the methodology and interpretation of
• As India also celebrates Transport Day at COP26, the country rankings.
initiatives like the launch of the E-Amrit portal 1. First, the GCRI ranks countries based on four key
will play a pivotal role in increasing the pace of indicators:
zero emission vehicle transition and also address
• Number of deaths;
the challenges.
• Number of deaths per 1,00,000 inhabitants;
• Sum of losses in Purchasing Power Parity (in U.S.
Species in News - Fauna dollars); and
4. Ganges River Dolphin • Losses per unit of the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP). Of these indicators, two are absolute while
»» Prelims: Ganges river dolphin- habitat range
the other two are relative.
• The Ganges river dolphin is the national aquatic
Concern
animal of India.
• The GCRI report does not provide a rationale for
• The global population of the species is
the selection of these macro indicators.
estimated at 4,000. It is mostly found in the
Indian subcontinent throughout the Ganges- 2. Second, the index suffers from exclusion errors
Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu and selection bias.
river systems of Nepal, India and Bangladesh. • Composite indicators are better constructed
• The species Platanistagangeticagangetica using micro indicators instead of macro
is considered an indicator species of aquatic indicators, which measure loss because isolating
systems. the effect of the loss of elements on GDP is
fraught with errors.
• It is listed as ‘endangered’ under the IUCN Red
List, Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) • Instead, a number of key micro indicators such
Act (1972), Appendix I of the Convention on as the total number of people injured, loss of
International Trade in Endangered Species of livestock, loss of public and private infrastructure,
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). crop loss and others are better candidates for
assessing the composite loss resulting from
Threats to Gangetic Dolphin:
climate change events.
• Water Development Projects
3. Third, the index provides us with information
• Toxicity of rivers on weather-related events like storms, floods,
• Killing of them for their oil, by the local inhabitants temperature extremes and mass movements.
around the river • However, it omits geological incidents like
• Accidental killings when the Gangetic Dolphins earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or tsunamis,
are trapped in fishermen gear which may be potentially triggered by
climate change and can have economic and
humanitarian impacts.

NOVEMBER - 2021
56
4. Fourth, the ranking under the GCRI is done based Important Highlights of Discussion:
on data collected by Munich Re’sNatCatService,
• It was rightly pointed out that the Newton
which is not authenticated at the ground level.
– Bhabha MoU, which was signed between
National Disaster Management Information System India and UK, took scientific cooperation to
(NDMIS) the next level and opened up avenues for
• It is a comprehensive online application, being research in energy security, food and agriculture,
developed to capture disaster damages and water, health, climate change. The present
the losses effectively and also for monitoring of collaboration acts as a further boost to these
funds disbursal under State Disaster Response areas of cooperation.
Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response • India’s agenda to join the G20 troika in 2021 was
Fund (NDRF) to States for relief activities in case highlighted and India assured to work towards
of disasters. the development of science-based solutions
• The online System will track the impacts of to counter the multiple challenges faced by
hazards for the entire country up to the district humanity.
level. • India is assured to establish a One Health
Significance approach and put forth a Global Equitability for
Health Infrastructure Development to counter
• It thus captures damages and losses caused by pandemic-like situations.
disasters and monitors the targets of the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Why is Green Energy Collaboration Needed?
• The NDMIS captures details on parameters • The rising threats of climate change have sent
like death, injury, affected population by an alarming message to the world and it is the
categories as well as economic losses in social time wherein the countries must collaborate to
and infrastructure sectors due to weather and achieve a low carbon future that is sustainable.
geological events on a daily basis. The data • Green energy is a form of a sustainable source of
captured by the NDMIS includes all major renewable energy that employs natural resources
climatic events. like sun, wind and water. However, all the sources
Way forward used in the renewable energy industry are not
green.
• Deploying effective approaches and standards
to cultivate collaboration among climate risk • Green energy refers to those sources which do
information users and providers along with the not result in pollution. Examples – Wind power,
execution of effective action plans, will allow Hydropower, Solar power and Geothermal
India to meet the targets envisaged in the Sendai energy.
Framework. • India had expressed its firm determination in
promoting the usage of clean energy in the
recently concluded COP26 summit at Glasgow.
Initiatives in news • In this regard, the India-UK partnership for
6. Green Energy Collaboration green energy will be a welcoming step towards
research and development along with the holistic
»» Mains: Green energy collaboration in exchange of technology at the international
International relations- Potential, significance level.
and challenges
Context:
• India and UK engaged in a scientific discussion Species in News - Fauna
of green energy collaboration involving the 7. Kaiser-i-Hind is Arunachal’s State butterfly
Ministers of Science and Technology from both
countries. »» Prelims: Kaiser-i-hind
Objectives of the Collaboration: Kaiser-i-Hind:
• To increase cooperation between India and the • Kaiser-i-Hind (Teinopalpusimperialis) is found
UK in the areas of clean and green energies in six States along the eastern Himalayas at
elevations from 6,000-10,000 feet in well-
• Promote the use of advanced batteries wooded terrain.
• Use of carbon capture method to reduce air • The butterfly is also present in neighbouring
pollution and infusing better technology in this countries of Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos,
area Vietnam and southern China.
• Production of hydrogen-related fuels • The Kaiser-i-Hind is protected under Schedule II
• Encourage the affordability of biomaterials, of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
improvement of livestock research • Its IUCN status is Near Threatened

NOVEMBER - 2021
57
Context: Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Aurangabad, Chennai,

Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad, Pune, Udaipur,
• Arunachal Pradesh has approved the Kaiser-
Vijayawada.
i-Hind (Teinopalpusimperialis) as the State
butterfly. Significance:
• The river alliance will be an embodiment of the
people’s movement, ensuring the engagement
Initiatives in news
of the people with the natural resources and
8. LeadIT promoting the sense to conserve the resources.
»» Prelims: LeadIT • The key intention of the alliance is to improve the
rivers and map them with urban planning and
Context: developmental programmes.
• In order to give effect to the goals of the Paris • This offers a platform where the cities can learn
Agreement, the government has come up with from each other’s successes and failures with the
several measures with the objective of reducing assistance of municipal administrators.
carbon content released by the industries as they
contribute to 30% of the total CO2 emissions. • The alliance can significantly contribute towards
minimizing the water footprint, preventing
• This subject was discussed in the LeadIT pollutants’ entry into the water bodies and
(Leadership Group for Industry Transition) capitalizing on architectural heritage.
Summit 2021 which was presided over by India
and Sweden. The hybrid summit took place on • Under this initiative, national policies with river-
the sidelines of COP 26 at Glasgow. related directives can be adopted and facilitate
a proper Urban River Management Plan. This will
About LeadIT: empower the governance of river cities and help
• LeadIT is a voluntary initiative to create a low in attracting external economic investment.
carbon transition especially in the industries like
Iron & Steel, Aluminium, Cement and Concrete,
petrochemicals, fertilizers, bricks, heavy duty Initiatives in news
transport, along with the engagement of private
sectors. 10. USA Becomes the 101st Member of the
• The global aim of reaching a low carbon industry International Solar Alliance (ISA)
transition faces the following challenges with »» Prelims: ISA- membership and objectives
respect to: Context:
* Technology development and transfer • The US Special Presidential Envoy, in the
* Proper funding at scale and speed COP26 Summit, made a landmark declaration
* Capacity constraints confirming the membership of the USA to the
International Solar Alliance. USA’s membership
* Policy to enable such transition will be a boost to the entire cause of ISA.
* Lowering the process-related emissions The Importance of USA’s Membership in the ISA:
• India expressed its welcoming gesture to this
move and looks up to this membership as a
Initiatives in news
mode to strengthen the ISA by stimulating the
9. River Cities Alliance future action plans assuring the provision of
clean energy to the world.
»» Prelims: River Cities alliance
• The US official informed the parties present at
Context: the COP26 that it has worked out the details
• The symbolic partnership between the Ministry of ISA and would like to contribute to the
of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Housing and deployment of solar energy that would benefit
Urban Affairs led to the launch of the River Cities the developing countries.
Alliance. • Experts believe that this landmark membership
• This is the world’s first alliance that offers attention of the USA in the ISA takes the significance of
to the themes of networking, capacity building economic and energy potentials of solar power
and technical support for the sustainable to the next level.
management of urban rivers.
Participants:
• The alliance has been signed by 30 members
across the country including the cities like
Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar,

NOVEMBER - 2021
58
Species in news-Fauna which destroys the homes of bats as they live in
natural caves.
11. Batting for an important yet misunderstood
species • This imbalance caused by humans leads the
bats to change their homes and it makes them
»» Prelims: Bats- Ecological significance stressed. Thus, the risk of spillover of viruses
Context: increases.
• The article discusses the role of bats in the • Scientists have concluded that this ecological
ecosystem imbalance has made bats move closer to human
habitats and transmit the viruses they carry
Bats and the ecosystem: along with them.
• Bats are winged mammals Human-bat interface:
* There are about 128 species of bats in India • Many indigenous groups of people are
and 1200 across the world. dependent on nature and animals and they try
• Humans and bats have existed together beyond to maintain the balance without any harm to
the reach of memory and they play a critical role both humans and animals. They understand
in the ecosystem that is as follows: the importance of giving space to all animals
including bats.
* They destroy insects in farms, fields, forests,
grasslands, and around our homes including • One example of this is the bat harvest festival
agricultural pests and disease-causing of the Bomrr clan in Nagaland. They celebrate a
mosquitoes by eating them up. festival in which they smoke a cave in which the
bats live and when the bats start exiting, they
* Some bats also pollinate flowers, sip nectars,
kill them for consumption purposes. During this
and spread the seeds of many important
process, bats bite or scratch them but this does
trees including a wide variety of guava,
not lead to the outbreak of any harmful disease
banana, mango, and other fruits, etc.
due to viruses.
* Excrements of bats known as guano are
• The National Centre for Biological Sciences
widely used as fertilizers for agricultural
(NCBS-TIFR) and the Centre of Department of
crops as they are rich in phosphorous and
Atomic Energy (DAE) are conducting research on
nitrogen.
how the Bomrr clan are immune to such viruses.
Role of bats in the spread of disease:
• They are also studying the microbial diversity
• The scientific study has shown that the SARS- of bats and serology to identify which part of
CoV2 virus that cause Covid-19 emerged in bats diversity is potentially pathogenic.
and there is a sense of fear that bats can carry
• They have come to a finding that there is a
more diseases that can be transmitted.
genetic prevalence of bacteria and viruses in bats
• Bats have a unique characteristic of being a and they have also found that humans and bats
natural reservoir for many pathogenic viruses have a common antibody response to certain
such as Hendra, Nipah, Marburg, Ebola, and the viruses that is an indication of spillover.
coronaviruses that cause severe acute respiratory
• The NCBS is also trying to collect a series of
syndrome.
genomes of bat viruses so that they can be
• Flying long-distance can result in the damage prepared for any possible outbreak in the future.
of cell contents and to avoid such damage bats
• India is very rich in cultural and biological
have developed an immune system that protects
diversity and the local practices can provide us
them from harmful viruses. Despite being the
with a guide on how to minimize the risks of
reservoirs of the viruses, bats never fall sick.
infectious viruses from bats in the future.
• This immune system also enables them to live
• India is the best place to conduct such researches
longer and age slower. They are the longest-lived
and studies.
mammals for their body size.
Precautions to be taken:
Ecological imbalance:
• Minimize direct contact with bats.
• Because of Covid-19, we have come across the
fact that bats can transmit viruses to humans. • Avoid eating or handling bats.
But this transmission of viruses from the natural • Avoid eating fallen fruits and vegetables that
hosts (bats) to the novel hosts (humans) is a might be contaminated with bat fluids or guano.
rare event and can only take place by increased
contact between bats and humans. • In the long-term, we can avoid practices that
bring us closer to bats and stress them out to
• Over the period of time, humans have cut the shed the viruses.
forests for agriculture and development use.
They have also sped up the mining process

NOVEMBER - 2021
59
Way Forward: • The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had filed an

• India is a place where most of the people appeal, requesting “a double-lane road with a
are dependent on the services provided by carriageway width of 7m to “meet the needs of
ecosystems such as clean water, clean air, the Army,” citing the MoRTH Affidavit.
pollination, etc. What are the Concerns Associated with The Char
• Over the period of time, there has been an Dham Road Project?
ecological disturbance and that be balanced • Rampant Development: In its enthusiasm for
by a combination of habitat restoration and co- an infrastructure project, the administration has
existence with wildlife including bats. ignored the facts revealed by countless terrible
• An integrated approach such as ‘One health’ in incidents in Uttarakhand’s hills over decades.
which the health of humans can be linked to the Due to rapid growth and its tangled link with
environment and animals can result in positive climate change, massive landslides and floods
outcomes. have occurred throughout the Himalayan range.
• We require a global commitment to protect • Geographic Concerns: Several natural disasters

natural habitats and biodiversity. have struck Uttarakhand in the recent two
decades. Uttarakhand’s valleys are tiny and close-
Conclusion: ended, with steep 60-70 degree slopes. Over
• A world with few bats will result in greater loss 200 people were killed this year by floods in the
of agricultural crops by pests and will also suffer Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga, and Alaknanda rivers.
from many diseases caused by mosquitoes, etc. Several landslides have occurred in the region
Hence, finding a balance is the need of the future. during the monsoons as a result of the enormous
hill-cutting for the Char Dham road project.
• Failure of Mitigation Measures: Many people
Environmental pollution and degradation believe that landslides are a natural result of road
12. Char Dham project building and that they can be avoided. In court,
similar arguments were raised concerning this
»» Mains: Balancing developmental needs and project as well. The rains in 2021, demonstrated
ecological integrity that the mitigation efforts are no match for
Context: nature’s fury. In these vulnerable mountains,
prevention and limitation of activities appear to
• The Char Dham road project has been criticised be the only viable means of mitigation.
for going against all environmental safeguards.
• Geology of Himalaya: The double-lane paved
Char Dham Road Project: shoulder roads are far too broad, putting the
• The Char Dham road project is a massive slopes at risk. Human engineering cannot
undertaking that will expand over 900 kilometres overcome the Himalayan landscape’s high
of mountain roadways. slopes and severe gradients. Any modification
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways brought about by humans will have an influence
will oversee the project (MoRTH). on stream runoff, erosion, and depositional
processes.
• It attempts to link the four important shrines of
Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath • Against Environmental Safeguards: In its existing
in all weathers. configuration, the Char Dham project violates all
environmental regulations. Given the steepness
What is the Significance of the Project? of the slopes, seismic activity, and erosivity of
• The project will expand pilgrimage tourism enhanced monsoonal precipitation, it will greatly
from the Indian plains and give attendant local accelerate mass wasting processes and erosion
economic gains. rates.
• The government argues that it is essential to Conclusion
back up troop and arms movement towards the • The only way to commute by road in the hills
India-China border. is to have a disaster-resistant, safe, and reliable
What is the case against the Project? infrastructure. We need to keep the extent of
human-caused disruptions as small as feasible.
• An NGO contested the road-expansion proposal For future generations, the Himalayas must be
in 2018 because of its possible impact on conserved as a wildlife reserve.
the Himalayan ecosystem. To investigate the
concerns, the Supreme Court formed a High-
Powered Committee (HPC). Environmental Degradation
• The Court ruled in 2020 that the carriageway 13. Finding a way out of India’s deepening water
width of the roadways should not exceed 5.5
metres. stress
»» Prelims: Jal jeevan mission

NOVEMBER - 2021
60
Context: lakes and wetlands. The lack of space for water to
percolate underground has prevented rainwater
• In view of the ongoing scarcity of water resources from recharging the aquifers.
and an ever ¬increasing demand for water, the
need is for a locus-specific response, that can • Loss of green cover: In Mumbai, in 2019, 2141
galvanise and integrate the ongoing work of trees were felled at the Aarey colony, amid
different Ministries and Departments through massive protests, to make space for a shed for the
new configurations. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited.
Background: • Lack of sustainable urban planning.
• In 2019, the Ministries of Water Resources, River Need for synergy
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and • Ministries & other institutions must reconfigure
the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation synergy among them: The Ministry of Water
were merged, which led to the formation of the Resources should bring synergy in its relationship
Ministry of Jal Shakti. with other Ministries and Departments – like Local
Understanding water stress: Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment.
• In the rural areas, 80%-90% of the drinking water • Effective land zoning regulations: With enhanced
and 75% of the water used for agriculture is integration and coordination through effective
drawn from groundwater sources. land and water zoning regulations that protect
urban water bodies, groundwater sources,
• In urban areas, 50%-60% of the water supply wetlands and green cover.
is drawn from groundwater sources, whereas
the remaining is sourced from surface water • Measures need to be taken to manage and
resources such as rivers, often located afar, in replenish groundwater, especially through
addition to lakes, tanks and reservoirs. participatory groundwater management
approaches with its combination of water
• According to the composite water management budgeting, aquifer recharging and community
index released by the NITI Aayog in 2019, 21 involvement.
major cities (including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai,
Hyderabad) were on the brink of exhausting • Importance also needs to be given to surface
groundwater resources, affecting about 100 water conservation, which is in a critical and
million people. dying state due to encroachment, pollution,
over-abstraction and barrier in water flow by
• The study also points out that by 2030, the dams.
demand for water is projected to be double the
available supply. Conclusion:
• The article also discusses the problem in Punjab • In 2019, the Ministry of Jal Shakti had announced
– The draft report of the Central Ground Water an ambitious plan to provide water connections
Board concluded that Punjab would be reduced to every household in India by 2024.
to a desert in 25 years if the extraction of its • Along with this aim, the need of the hour is to
groundwater resources continues unabated. protect and conserve water resources on the one
82% of Punjab’s land area has seen a huge hand and minimise and enhance the efficiency
decline in groundwater levels, wherein 109 out of water usage on the other.
of 138 administrative blocks have been placed in
the ‘over exploited’ category.
• Groundwater extraction which was at 35% in Environmental Pollution and Degradation
the 1960s and 1970s, rose to 70% post the Green
Revolution — a period that saw governments 14. Study Reveals Pollution in Water Bodies around
subsidising power for irrigation. Thermal Power Plant
• Cultivation of water-intensive crops such as »» Prelims: Pollution by thermal power plants
paddy has further aggravated water depletion, Context:
even turning water saline.
• Recently, a new study titled “Polluted Power:
• In 2019, in Chennai, life came to a standstill and How Koradi and Khaperkheda Thermal Power
parts of the city went without piped water for Stations Are Impacting the Environment” has
months. been released.
Factors responsible for water stress: Details:
• Lack of rainfall: For example in Chennai in 2019, • The study discovered severe and widespread
rainfall was 50% less than normal. contamination in the areas surrounding the
• Encroachment: The cities like Chennai and Maharashtra State Power Generation Company
Mumbai have been built by incrementally Koradi and Khaparkheda thermal power facilities.
encroaching on floodplains and paving over

NOVEMBER - 2021
61
• The research discovered harmful elements such pledges made by countries for 2030 and what
as mercury, arsenic, aluminium, and lithium in is needed to keep the rise in global temperature
surface and groundwater, as well as extensive to 1.5 degrees C or even 2 degrees C. This could
pollution of air, water, and soil owing to fly ash. lead to a rise in temperature by 2.7 degrees C by
the end of the century. There is an increasingly
How are Thermal Power Plants Polluting the Water
narrowing window for the world to taper down
Bodies?
emissions before the temperature rises beyond
• Thermal pollution is one of the most serious 2 degrees C.
problems in the local environment.
Renewed efforts for global climate action:
• When the water in a power plant becomes
• In this regard, major preparatory conferences
unusable, it is frequently dumped into a nearby
and bilateral meetings had been held ahead of
canal.
the COP26 to persuade countries to raise their
• Because this effluent is often hotter than the emission reduction commitments from the
surrounding natural water, it can raise the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
temperature of the water, which can have a under the Paris Agreement. There had been a
harmful influence on the local ecology. growing call for net zero emissions by 2050.
• Furthermore, this effluent frequently contains Pre-summit goals set for the COP26:
dissolved metals and metalloids, which might
• The COP26 had set itself four goals even before
disrupt the surrounding ecosystem’s equilibrium.
the start of the climate summit.
* To achieve global net-zero by the middle
Environmental Pollution and Degradation of the century and keep 1.5 degrees within
reach.
15. COP26 Glasgow Summit of UNFCC
* To adapt to protect communities as well as
»» Prelims: Static facts about IPCC and Assessment natural habitats from the impact of climate
Report; Global Methane Pledge; Infrastructure change.
for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative
* Mobilisation of finances for the stated goals.
»» Mains: Climate deal struck in Glasgow; Mitigating
the Impact of Climate Change * To work together so that the rules could be
listed out in detail and help in the fulfilment
Context: of the Paris Agreement.
• The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Major initiatives announced at the Glasgow summit:
Parties (COP26) held in Glasgow.
Ending deforestation:
Background:
• In the COP26 climate summit's first major deal,
Climate change and its implications: leaders at the COP26 global climate conference
• The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the have pledged to stop deforestation by 2030 to
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change help slow climate change.
released in August 2021 had sounded an alert for * According to the Global Forest Watch, in
the nations of the world over global temperature 2020 the world lost 2,58,000 sq. km of forests.
rise and associated risks.
* Felling trees contributes to climate change
• The report notes how human influence has because it depletes forests that absorb vast
warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land which amounts of the warming gas CO2.
is in turn leading to widespread and rapid
changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere • This agreement expands a commitment by
and biosphere. This is contributing to increasing 40 countries as part of the 2014 New York
intensity and frequency of extreme climate Declaration of Forests.
events like droughts, extreme rainfall, rising sea * The New York Declaration on Forests is a
levels and heat waves. voluntary and non-legally binding political
Insufficient climate action: declaration adopted in 2014.The Declaration
pledges to halve the rate of deforestation
• Despite the signs of impending planetary by 2020, to end it by 2030, and to restore
emergency, most nations of the world have hundreds of millions of acres of degraded
not shown signs of seriousness with respect to land.
climate action.
• Over 100 national leaders have pledged to halt
• Global GHG emissions have continued unabated. and reverse deforestation and land degradation
The climate action envisaged seems inadequate by the end of the decade. Brazil - where stretches
to arrest the rising global temperatures. The of the Amazon rainforest have been cut down -
12th Emissions Gap Report released by the was also among the signatories.
UN Environment Programme notes huge gap
between the updated emissions reduction

NOVEMBER - 2021
62
• The pledge includes almost £14bn ($19.2bn) of Infrastructure for Resilient Island States:
public and private funds to invest in protecting • India has launched the Infrastructure for Resilient
and restoring forests. Some of the funding will Island States (IRIS) initiative for developing the
go to developing countries to restore damaged infrastructure of small island nations.
land, tackle wildfires and support indigenous
communities. * IRIS initiative becomes critical given that
these small island nations remain the most
* Under the agreement, 12 countries pledged vulnerable countries facing the biggest
to provide $12 billion of public funding threat from climate change. They face an
between 2021 and 2025 for developing existential threat due to climate change.
countries to restore degraded land and
tackle wildfires. • The IRIS is a part of the Coalition for Disaster
Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) initiative.
• Governments of 28 countries also committed
to remove deforestation from the global trade * The Coalition for Disaster Resilient
of food including animal husbandry and other Infrastructure (CDRI) is a multi-stakeholder
agricultural products such as palm oil, soya global partnership of national governments,
and cocoa. These industries drive forest loss by UN agencies and programmes, multilateral
cutting down trees to make space for animals to development banks and financing
graze or crops to grow. mechanisms, the private sector, and
knowledge institutions, launched at the
• More than 30 of the world's biggest financial UN Climate Action Summit of 2019. It
companies have also promised to end investment aims to promote the resilience of new and
in activities linked to deforestation. existing infrastructure systems to climate
• Though the environmental experts have and disaster risks in support of sustainable
welcomed the move, they have also warned on development.
how a previous deal in 2014 had failed to slow • The new initiative is the result of cooperation
deforestation at all. between India, the U.K. and Australia and
Reducing methane emissions: included the participation of leaders of small
island nations such as Fiji, Jamaica and Mauritius.
• While the main focus of efforts to curb global
warming has been on carbon dioxide, experts • The initiative would involve setting up norms
point out that cutting methane emissions could and standards for resilient infrastructure in small
be one of the most effective interventions to island states and coastal areas. IRIS would focus
reduce near-term global warming. Although on building capacity, having pilot projects in
there's more CO2 in the atmosphere and it sticks small island developing states. Promotion of
around for longer, individual methane molecules quality infrastructure in Small Island States will
have a more powerful warming effect on the benefit both lives and livelihoods in such states.
atmosphere than single CO2 molecules given its • India’s space agency ISRO will build a special data
higher Global warming potential (GWP). window for the small island nations to provide
* The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of a them timely information about cyclones, coral-
greenhouse gas is its ability to trap extra reef monitoring, coast-line monitoring through
heat in the atmosphere over time relative to satellite.
carbon dioxide (CO2). • The initiative will make it easy for SIDS to mobilise
* Methane is one of the most potent technology, finance and necessary information
greenhouse gases and responsible for a third faster and more effectively.
of current warming from human activities. One Sun, One World, One Grid:
Some of the major sources of methane
emissions include animal husbandry, landfill • The new Global Green Grids Initiative One Sun
waste and in oil and gas production. One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG) has been
announced at the ongoing COP26.
• The US and the EU have announced a global
partnership to cut emissions of the greenhouse * The new Global Green Grids Initiative One
gas methane by 2030. The Global Methane Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG) is
Pledge aims to slash methane emissions by 30% an evolution of International Solar Alliance's
by 2030 compared with 2020 levels. OSOWOG multilateral drive to foster
interconnected solar energy infrastructure
• Nearly 90 countries have pledged support to at a global scale.
this U.S. and EU-led effort. The Global Methane
Pledge, first announced in September, now • This initiative aims to tap solar energy and have
covers emissions from two-thirds of the global it travel seamlessly across borders. The initiative
economy. While Brazil, one of the five biggest will work towards accelerating the making of
emitters of methane, has signed up, three other large solar power stations and wind farms in the
large emitter nations — China, Russia and India best locations, linked together by continental-
— have not signed up. scale grids crossing national borders.

NOVEMBER - 2021
63
* The sun offers a huge source of energy for • According to the World Bank data, in 2018, India
mankind. All the energy humanity uses in had per capita emissions of 1.8 tonnes. This is
a year is equal to the energy that reaches projected to expand to 2.4 tonnes in 2030 as per
the earth from the sun in a single hour. the Paris Agreement obligations of India.
Given that the sun never sets and that half • In terms of sectoral GHG emissions, data from
the planet is always receiving sunlight, 2016 shows that electricity and heat account for
there is the potential to harness solar the highest share of GHG emissions, followed by
energy continuously across the globe and agriculture, manufacturing and construction,
trade this energy across borders to ensure transport sector, industry and land use change
adequate energy supply to meet the needs and forestry.
of everyone on earth.
Future outlook:
• Over 80 countries have endorsed the One Sun
Declaration. • With India’s GDP per capita projected to rise,
a rise in carbon emissions in the short term,
• This initiative will bring together an international primarily from energy is expected given that the
coalition of national governments, financial Indian economy relies heavily on coal and other
organizations, and power system operators. fossil fuel use.
• Realizing One Sun One World One Grid • The larger share of services in Indian GDP augurs
through interconnected green grids can be well for India’s low carbon development path.
transformational, enabling all the nations of the
world to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement • Though the population growth is slowing,
to prevent dangerous climate change, to the absolute increase in population and rising
accelerate the clean energy transition, and to consumption behaviour will result in pressure on
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. carbon emissions in the coming years.
These efforts can stimulate green investments
India’s climate performance:
and create millions of good jobs. By sharing the
sun’s energy, the nations can help build a more • India had pledged to cut the emissions
peaceful and prosperous world. intensity of its growth by 33-35% of
GDP from 2005 levels by 2030. India has
India’s new climate action goals:
declared that it has so far achieved 24%
• India will achieve net zero emissions latest by reduction on this metric.
2070. This is notable given that so far India was
• India has also announced that it would
the only major emitter that had not committed
scale-up its renewable power target to 450
to a timeline to achieve net zero carbon dioxide
GW by the end of 2030, in addition to the
emissions and has also argued against the
target of 40% of energy capacity based
concept of net zero carbon targets.
on renewable energy sources as pledged
• Renewable energy would be tapped in a big under the Paris climate agreement.
way in India. By 2030, India will ensure 50% of its
• India is also expanding forest cover to
energy will be sourced from renewable sources.
create a 2.5 to 3 billion tonne carbon sink.
India plans to generate 500 GW of renewable
energy by 2030. This marks a 50 GW increase • India has recently unveiled a national
from its current target of 450 GW. hydrogen policy to produce hydrogen
through green methods, aiming for its
• India also committed to reduce its carbon
deployment in industrial sectors as well as
emissions until 2030 by a billion tonnes. By
transport, and also for export. This would
2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity of its
help India decarbonize its energy sector.
economy to less than 45 per cent. India is largely
on track to meet, and even exceed, its Paris
Agreement targets: reduce emissions' intensity
of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 33 to 35
percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Challenges for India with respect to the new target:
Stiff targets:
India’s GHG emission:
• Some environmental experts have expressed
Current status: doubts over India’s stiff climate action targets.
• India is the third-largest emitter of GHGs * Achieving net zero by 2070 would require
in the world. India accounts for about 7% India to peak emissions by 2040, following
of today’s global emissions. However, India which emissions will have to start to reduce.
has extremely low per-capita emissions Available studies suggest that for a 2070
that are far below the global average. net zero year and peaking year of 2040,
India would have to reduce the emissions
intensity (emissions per unit GDP) by 85%.
This appears a stiff target as notably, India

NOVEMBER - 2021
64
has so far only been able to reduce its * Carbon budgets represent the quantum of
emission intensity by 24% from the 2005 CO2 the atmosphere can hold for a given
levels. global temperature, best assessed through
cumulative emissions and not annual flows.
* To enable such a steep reduction, the share
of non-hydro renewable energy has to Overlooking the need for immediate action:
increase to 65% from the current 11% and • The net zero 2050 target is too distant a goal and
the share of electric cars in passenger sales this might divert attention away from the urgent
has to go from current 0.1% to 75% by 2040 2030 target that COP26 should focus on.
while the share of fossil energy in primary
energy has to decrease from 73% to 40%. Contradictory to the CBDR principle:
These appear too steep a target given India’s • The net zero target also seems to be
financial and technical resources at present. contradictory to the foundational principle of the
Implications for India’s developmental process: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), which is common but differentiated
• A study by the think tank Council for Energy responsibilities (CBDR). Instead of a common
Environment and Water said that for India to goal, the article argues for a differentiated target
achieve the net zero target even by 2070, usage year. Developed countries should reach net zero
of coal, especially for power generation, will need earlier while the developing countries should
to peak by 2040 and drop by 99% between 2040 get more time. The article calls on the developed
and 2060. countries to take up more responsibility for
• This could hurt India’s developmental aspirations. climate action given their legacy emissions. The
developing countries should also do what they
Finance shortage: can, with technological and financial assistance
• The decarbonization of the Indian economy from the developed countries
and adoption of renewable energy sources will Way forward for India:
require huge upfront capital investment. India
currently lacks this level of capital and hence will Take up leadership role:
be reliant on external funding as well. • Given the global repercussions of climate change,
• The failure of the developed countries to arrange India should participate in global efforts to draw
for a $100 billion climate fund annually from up technological, socio-economic, and financial
2020 onwards has not materialsed as yet. policies and requirements to demonstrate a
commitment to the 1.5° C goal.
Lacunae in the global climate action efforts:
• It should take up the lead in ensuring the voice of
Insufficient climate action: the developing and under developed countries
• The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) had are heard in the climate change negotiations.
emphasised that to keep temperature rise within Make the set targets conditional:
1.5°C, global emissions should be reduced by
45% from 2010 levels by 2030, on the way to net • Some experts have pointed out that while it had
zero 2050. become increasingly difficult for India to dodge
the calls to announce a net zero date, India,
• However many high-emitter countries are short however, should have said that it will reach net
of the emissions reductions required by 2030 to zero by 2070, only if other developed countries
restrict global temperature rise to well below 2°C themselves commit to reaching net zero before
or even the goal of 1.5°C above pre-industrial 2050 and also offer financial and technological
levels. help to developing nations like itself. It should
• Global emissions in 2030 are expected to be have taken up conditional targets.
16.3% above the 2010 level, as against the call * India should also argue for adequate
for 2030 emissions to be 45% less from 2010 adaptation measures to complement the
levels for the 1.5°C goal. Thus there is a need for mitigation efforts at the COP26.
a significant increase in the level of ambition of
NDCs till 2030. * India, in enlightened self-interest, must stake
its claim to a fair share of the global carbon
• The updated NDCs submitted by the parties budget and it should call for restriction of
too would not be sufficient to meet the IPCC the future cumulative emissions by the big
recommendations. While several large emitters emitters, to their fair share of the global
like the U.K., European Union, China and the carbon budget. India should call for the
U.S. have raised their emission targets, this is developed countries to compensate for the
still grossly insufficient to meet the temperature legacy emissions.
goals. At the current rate of emissions even with
the updated NDCs, much of the carbon budget
would be used up fast.

NOVEMBER - 2021
65
Adopt green growth pathways: * India’s urban solid waste management will need
• Given the global repercussions of emissions to modernise to curb methane emissions from
for all climate vulnerable nations including unscientific landfills. Also, the adoption of electric
itself, the Indian government should not limit vehicles and renewed cities promoting walking
itself to a minimalist approach. India should and cycling will help limit GHG emissions from
seek green growth pathways. Notably, India cities.
stands to gain from such an energy transition * Arresting deforestation and the regeneration
given the economic growth prospects and the of forests can help prevent the release of stored
sustainability of such green growth pathways. carbon in the environment, such as trees and soil.
* The green growth pathway could involve Additionally, afforestation drives can help absorb
widespread adoption of renewable energy carbon from the atmosphere.
while also averting long-term lock-in Recommendations for global climate action efforts:
effects of fossil fuel dependence in energy • The world must focus sharply on reducing
generation, buildings, mobility and so emissions till 2030, rather than on net zero
on. India should formulate a clear plan 2050. As a short term goal, there is the need for
for a multi-sectoral energy transition. The ambitious and verifiable 2030 targets. The world
indirect carbon tax in the form of levies community should focus on reducing global
on automotive fuels should be used for emissions by 45% compared to 2010 levels by
renewable energy adoption and push for 2030 and then seek to achieve global net zero by
affordable electric mobility. This will help 2050.
ease the financial challenges in the adoption
of green growth pathways. • The developed countries in the world should take
the lead in the climate action effort Multilateral
Structured approach towards net zero: organizations like the G20 in particular should
Net zero can be achieved only through a structured take the lead in this respect. The developed
programme that relies on sharp emissions reduction, countries should support the developing
wide support for clean energy innovation and nations through finance and technology transfer
adoption of green technologies. to make this transition.
• Some of the major interventions that can help * The developed world must urgently meet
India move towards a net zero target include the its commitment of at least $100 billion
following: in annual climate finance for developing
* India needs to create a legal mandate for climate countries.
impact assessment of all activities. Low carbon * Donors and multilateral development banks
and green technologies must be adopted to need to allocate at least half their climate
reduce the environmental impact of manmade finance towards adaptation and resilience.
activities. Public and multilateral development banks
* Highly energy-efficient goods that last longer must significantly increase their climate
should be legally mandated by appropriate portfolios and intensify their efforts to help
legislations. Also, the consumers should be given countries transition to net zero, resilient
a legal right to repair goods they buy. This will economies.
help reduce the demand for goods. • The overall focus should be on decarbonisation
* The creation of dedicated green funds of economies with emphasis on replacing
and channelling of adequate finances and the carbon intensive energy resources with
investments through them into environmentally renewable energy sources. This will require
sustainable projects, processes, sectors would be the shifting of subsidies from fossil fuels to
inevitable. renewable energy investment. There is the
need to place a price on carbon in the form
* The governments must support and incentivize of imposition of pollution taxes. However this
the private sector for green innovation and transition keeping in line with the principle of
adoption of the green economy. common but differentiated responsibilities can
* Enhanced renewable energy adoption should allow for different timeframes for the developed
be a top priority with equal emphasis on both and developing countries of the world.
centralized and decentralized power production. • As part of the adaptation measures, the nations
* The mainstreaming of green hydrogen provides should focus towards resilient infrastructures
an excellent alternative to decarbonize the critical and jobs.
power, industry and transport sectors. • There is the need for broad-based efforts towards
climate action. Everyone including the private
sector, general population have a role to play in
this regard.

NOVEMBER - 2021
66
* Businesses need to reduce their climate

impact, and fully and credibly align
their operations and financial flows to
a net zero future. The investors should
ensure responsible and environmentally
sustainable investments.
* Individuals in every society need to make
better, more responsible choices in what
they eat, how they travel, and what they buy.

NOVEMBER - 2021
67
HEALTH ISSUES
Diseases in news Initiatives / Programmes / schemes

1. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 2. Global Innovation Summit of the Pharmaceutical
»» Prelims: Autism- Causes and manifestations Sector
Context: »» Mains: Developing India as a hub for the
Pharmaceutical sector- Potential; Significance
• Indian researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru and challenges
Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, an
autonomous institute under DST, GOI have Context:
found a better solution to treat Autism Spectrum • The Prime Minister of India inaugurated the
Disorder by using a compound called “6BIO”. Global Innovation Summit of the Pharmaceutical
About the Disorder: Sector and invited the global partners to pour in
their ideas, innovate in India under the ambit of
• Autism Spectrum Disorder arises from Make in India and Make for the World.
impairment in brain development and it is
accompanied by a series of symptoms and About the Summit:
severity. • The pandemic has enhanced the prominence of
• This disorder impacts the behavioural patterns of the pharmaceutical sector of India that gathered
the individuals, thus disturbing the potential to global attention and trust and thereby made
communicate and socialise. India the pharmacy of the world.
• It includes conditions such as autism, Asperger’s • India’s pharmaceutical potential was not only
syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and witnessed in its production capacity at the
pervasive developmental disorders. toughest hours but also in its humanitarian
outreach in sharing vaccines.
• This is resulting in the rise of severe burden in the
society as there is an unavailability of treatment • Over 150 countries benefited from the life-saving
and potent drugs for Autism Spectrum disorder. medicines and medical equipment exported
The existing treatments increase the adverse from India in the early phase of the pandemic.
effects like epileptic seizures, sleep issues without 65 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were
addressing the root cause of the disorder. exported to 100 countries.
Significance of the Research: • This summit paved the way in creating an
ecosystem of innovation in the field of drug
• The researchers employ the usage of a compound discovery and medical devices, thus bringing
called 6BIO that enables the restoration of together all the global partners for empowered
neuronal functions to treat ASD/Intellectual healthcare assuring wellness for all.
Disability. This offers a better therapeutic value.
• The research showed that the 6BIO compound
helps in the improvement of learning, memory, Diseases / medicines in news
sociability and reduces epileptic seizures.
3. Molnupiravir
• Restoration of neural functions by the compound
(6BIO), in the middle stage of brain development »» Prelims: Molnupiravir; error catastrophe; Pro-
(between 7-11 years) has been observed in the drug
study. Context:
• Therefore, this research provides a better • Molnupiravir tablet has been approved by the
understanding and a proper line of treatment United Kingdom for use as an antiviral medicine
with enormous compassion to improving the against COVID-19.
lives of autistic children, and children with other
disabilities who face social challenges. This study Molnupiravir:
reveals the growing importance of rare disorders • Molnupiravir is the first antiviral medicine that
and their treatment. can be taken as a pill rather than being injected
or administered intravenously for the treatment
of the COVID-19 disease.
• Molnupiravir was originally developed to treat
influenza and works by inhibiting the replication
of certain RNA viruses.

NOVEMBER - 2021
68
• Molnupiravir is a nucleoside analogue, which Diseases in news

means it mimics some of the building blocks
of RNA. It exerts its antiviral action through 5. Norovirus: Kerala asks people to be vigilant
introduction of copying errors during viral RNA »» Prelims: Norovirus
replication.
Context:
* Molnupiravir gets incorporated into the
• Norovirus cases were confirmed in the Wayanad
growing RNA strands. Such RNA strands
district of Kerala.
become faulty blueprints for the next
round of viral genomes and when enough What is Norovirus?
mutations occur, the viral population • It causes gastrointestinal illness, including
collapses. Thus the drug prevents the SARS- inflammation of the lining of the stomach and
CoV-2 virus RNA replication process through intestines, severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
“error catastrophe”.
• Norovirus does not significantly affect healthy
• Molnupiravir is a pro-drug, which means that people but it can be serious in young children,
it needs to undergo processing in the body to the elderly and people with comorbidities.
become active.
Spread
• Some experts have raised safety concerns over
the compound’s mutagenic potential in human • Norovirus is easily transmitted through close
cells — the possibility that it could incorporate contact with people who have been infected, or
itself into human DNA. by touching contaminated surfaces.
• It can also be spread by eating food that has
been prepared or handled by someone with the
Diseases in News stomach bug.
4. MDRF opens centre to study monogenic diabetes • The virus is spread through the excrement of an
»» Prelims: Monogenic diabetes; Sanger Sequencing infected person.
Context: What are the symptoms of norovirus?
• A Centre for Monogenic Diabetes has been • Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, a
established by the Madras Diabetes Research high temperature, headache and body aches are
Foundation (MDRF). some of the common symptoms of norovirus.
Details • Experts say acute vomiting and diarrhoea can
lead to dehydration and further complications.
• Monogenic diabetes is a kind of diabetes caused
by a single gene mutation. What are the guidelines to prevent norovirus?
• Monogenic diabetes comes in a variety of types. • The Kerala health ministry's guidelines say those
infected with norovirus should rest at home,
• Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) drink Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) and
and neonatal diabetes are the two most frequent boiled water.
types.
• People should wash their hands thoroughly with
Maturity Onset diabetes of the young (MODY) soap and water before eating and after using the
• MODY affects children and adolescents. It also toilet.
affects the diabetes history of three or more • The guidelines said that drinking water sources,
generations. wells and storage tanks must be chlorinated with
• MODY is divided into various kinds, several of bleaching powder. People must use chlorinated
which may be managed with tablets. water for domestic use and drink only boiled
water
• Insulin injections can be stopped in these
instances, and the pills frequently function better • Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly
than insulin. washed before eating. According to the
guidelines, sea fish and shellfish such as crab and
Sanger Sequencing mussels must only be eaten after they are well
• Sanger sequencing will be used for diagnostics cooked.
of Monogenic Diabetes. • It added that stale and exposed foods must be
• Sanger sequencing is a ‘first generation’ DNA avoided.
sequencing technique that is widely used in
clinical genomics.
• It enables clinicians to decipher the human DNA
code and determine how certain sequence
differences affect the likelihood of diseases like
monogenic diabetes.

NOVEMBER - 2021
69
Government Initiatives / Programmes / schemes * The modified product should have lower
waiting periods.
6. More a private sector primer than health-care
pathway * The model should expand government-
subsidized health insurance through the
»» Prelims: Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan PMJAY scheme to a wider set of beneficiaries.
ArogyaYojana (AB-PMJAY)
A combination of the three models, phased in at
»» Mains: Analysis of the functioning of the scheme; different times, can ensure coverage for the missing
Lacunae/concerns and recommendations to middle population.
improve it.
• In the short term, the focus should be on
Context: expanding private voluntary insurance through
• NITI Aayog had recently released a report titled commercial insurers.
‘Health Insurance for India’s Missing Middle’. • In the medium-term, once the supply-side
• The report brings out the gaps in health insurance and utilization of PMJAY and Employees’ State
coverage across the Indian population and offers Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is strengthened,
solutions to address the situation. their infrastructure can be leveraged to allow
voluntary contributions to a PMJAY plus product,
Missing middle or to ESIC’s existing medical benefits.
• According to the report, the missing middle • In the long-term, once the low-cost voluntary
predominantly constitutes the self-employed contributory health insurance market is
(agriculture and non-agriculture) informal sector developed, the expansion of PMJAY to the
in rural areas, and a broad array of occupations uncovered poorer segments of the missing
– informal, semi-formal, and formal – in urban middle should be considered.
areas.
Issue Area
• The ‘missing middle’ are the people sandwiched
between the poor and the affluent. • The report fails to meet the expectations of a
credible pathway to UHC for India.
A look at numbers
Concerns
• The report pointed out that Ayushman Bharat –
Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB-PMJAY) • Government subsidies, if any at all, will be reserved
launched in 2018, and state government for the very poor within the ‘missing middle’
extension schemes, provide comprehensive and only at a later stage of the development of
hospitalisation cover to the bottom 50 per cent voluntary contributory insurance.
of the population – around 70 crore individuals. • UHC cannot be achieved by relying
• Around 20 per cent of the population – 25 predominantly on private sources of financing
crore individuals – are covered through social health care.
health insurance, and private voluntary health • Evidence also shows that in countries such as
insurance. India, with a large informal sector, contributory
• The remaining 30 per cent of the population is health insurance is not the best way forward and
devoid of health insurance. can be beset with complications.
Recommendation by NitiAayog * Evenifthereareexampleswherecontributory
social health insurance has been successful
The report has recommended three models for there are significant contributions made by
increasing the health insurance coverage in the the Govt, with participation from the NGOs
country. and some important guarantees for health.
• The first model focuses on increasing consumer • The free-of-cost government health insurance
awareness of health insurance. for the poor has little penetration in the country
• The second model is about “developing a despite being implemented for nearly two
modified, standardized health insurance decades.
product” like ‘ArogyaSanjeevani’, a standardised * Therefore in all likelihood, the contributory
health insurance product launched by the private health insurance with modestly
Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of lower premiums, for a target group may not
India (IRDAI) in 2020. be successful.
• The third model is a “slightly modified version” of Way forward
the standardisedAarogyaSanjeevani insurance
product. • To achieve UHC we need a strong and
overarching role for the Government in health
care, particularly in developing countries.

NOVEMBER - 2021
70
• We can also take inspiration from the Switzerland What is Vaccine Hesitancy?
Model. • Vaccine hesitation is defined by the World Health
* Despite relying predominantly on private Organization (WHO) as “a delay in accepting
insurers and a competitive model of or refusing immunisation notwithstanding the
insurance, certain important checks and availability of vaccination services.”
balances exist: • Aspects of vaccination hesitancy:
»» benefits are etched in legislation; * Despite the availability of vaccination
»» basic insurance is mandatory and not- services, there is a delay in accepting, or
for-profit; refusing immunizations.
»» Cream-skimming and risk- * Is complicated and context-dependent,
discrimination are prohibited. shifting according to time, place, and
vaccination.
Diseases / medicines in News * Complacency, convenience, and confidence

are all elements that impact this.
7. ‘Paxlovid may be huge advancement for all Vaccine Hesitancy Challenge For India
Coronaviruses’
• Vaccine hesitancy has hampered a number
»» Prelims: Anti-viral drug paxlovid of government programmes, including polio
Context: eradication, even before the Covid epidemic.
• Pfizer announced encouraging results of an • For a number of causes, including a lack of health
interim analysis of the antiviral drug paxlovid. knowledge, it has been more frequent in rural
regions.
What is Paxlovid?
• In India, misdirected scepticism and false
• Paxlovid is an antiviral medication that is taken information regarding vaccinations pose a
orally and inhibits the capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to significant threat to the pandemic’s abolition and
proliferate in the body. achievement of herd immunity.
• Ritonavir is believed to enable Paxlovid to • Due to a lack of information, a bigger share of the
stay in the human body for longer periods of populace remains concerned about them.
time, allowing the medicine to retain larger
concentrations to aid in the fight against the • High vaccine hesitancy is fueled by a lack of trust
virus. in the safety and efficacy of newly developed
vaccines, fear of side effects, rumours about
• The medicine is predicted to lessen the infertility and death after receiving the vaccine,
requirement for hospitalisation in COVID-19 as well as the inconvenience of registration/
patients. booking slots, low-risk perception from Covid-19,
• Paxlovid is being developed to treat non- and the absence of incentives for rural and urban
hospitalized, symptomatic people with COVID-19 poor, among other factors.
who are at high risk of developing severe disease Solutions to Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy in India:
that might lead to hospitalisation or death.
• Need for Targeted Strategy: A targeted strategy
• These drugs will especially matter for those focused on the needs and concerns of people,
people in whom groups, and communities will be necessary to
* (i) an immune response to infection or overcome Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy.
vaccination is not mounted because of • Providing incentives and timely information:
immunocompromise and
* Local influencers, religious leaders,
* (ii) for infection in the unvaccinated or traditional healers, local NGOs, local
breakthrough infection in the vaccinated. physicians, panchayat heads, and others
may play a role in increasing vaccination
adoption.
Terminologies in News
* Vaccination sites might be set up in locations
8. Won’t add to vaccine hesitancy: SC that people trust, such as temples and
mosques, Election Commission offices, and
»» Mains: Vaccine Hesitancy- Challenges and
so on.
counter strategies
• Raising Awareness through campaigns: There
Context:
should be public campaigns like “I am pleased
• The Supreme Court made it clear that it will to be vaccinated” which can raise awareness and
not do anything to bring on COVID-19 vaccine generate momentum for vaccines in low-uptake
hesitancy. areas.

NOVEMBER - 2021
71
• Increasing Vaccination through Nationalism: Concerns:

Indelible ink, which is commonly used in
• Given the fact that many of the mutations have
elections, can be put to the fingertips of those
been noticed in the receptor-binding domain of
who have been vaccinated. A programme like
the spike protein, there are concerns that these
this may instil a sense of nationalism and inspire
mutations may cause increased transmission as
participation.
well as lead to vaccine escape and breakthrough
• Compensating for Vaccination: infections in already vaccinated individuals.
* Small incentives (1 kg rice and pulses, 1 litre • From a diagnostic point of view, some of the
cooking oil, etc.) can be given to compensate mutations in the spike protein cause primers
people for the time and money they spend used in some of the RT-PCR kits to not function as
getting the vaccine. expected. This leads To Spike Gene Target Failure
* Given that a large portion of the rural (SGTF) which would make it difficult to diagnose
population works as daily wagers and is COVID-19.
concerned about missing a day’s pay as Way forward:
a result of vaccination, employees may
• Enhanced surveillance and genome sequencing
be paid a one-day MGNREGA payment in
of the variant should be undertaken to detect
exchange for getting the injection.
and track the prevalence of the Omicron variant.
• Behavioural Change: The behaviour innovations
• Rapid sharing of genome sequences of the
such as announcing prize money (lucky draw)
virus and the epidemiological data linked with
among those vaccinated in selected low-uptake
it should be made publicly available to help in
centres can help to increase vaccination rates
developing a better understanding of the variant.
• Existing public health and social measures need
Terminologies in News to be strengthened to control and prevent
transmission. Vaccination coverage has to be
9. Omicron new variant of concern enhanced to slow down the emergence of any
»» Prelims: Omicron; Mutations in micro-organisms; future variants.
spike gene target failure
»» Mains: Concerns associated with the new variant; Issues Relating to Health
Strategy to counter the threat posed by it.
Context: 10. Per capita out-of-pocket health expenditure sees
decline: report
• Omicron, a new coronavirus variant, was recently
recognised as a “variant of concern” by the World »» Mains: Concerns associated with high levels of
Health Organization (WHO). Out-of-pocket expenditure; Need for increasing
government expenditure in the health sector
What is Omicron?
Context:
• The number of new cases in South Africa has
increased fourfold, corresponding with the • Fifth edition of the National Health Accounts
introduction of the B.1.1.529 variant. (NHA) estimates for India for 2017-18 has been
released by Health Secretary.
• The B.1.1.529 variant discovered in South Africa
has been categorised as a SARS-CoV-2 “variant * The NHA report is produced by National
of concern” by the World Health Organization Health Systems Resource Centre.
(WHO). Details:
• The Omicron variant has a large number of Reduced Out-of-pocket expenditure:
mutations compared to other prevalent variants
circulating across the world. This includes 32 • Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) as a share
mutations in the spike protein. of total health expenditure and the per capita
OOPE has come down.
What is Variant of Concern (VOC)?
* As a share of total health expenditure, the
• There is evidence of increased transmissibility, OOPE has come down to 48.8% in 2017-18
more severe sickness, and a considerable from 64.2% in 2013-14.
reduction in neutralisation by antibodies
developed from previous infection or • The decrease in OOPE can be attributed to the
immunisation for this variety. increase in utilisation and reduction in cost of
services in Government health facilities and
• Besides that, it might be the result of decreased also the increase in social security expenditure
treatment or vaccination efficiency, or diagnostic on health in the form of health insurance
detection failures. programmeand medical reimbursements made
to Government employees.

NOVEMBER - 2021
72
Increased government expenditure on health: • A TFR of about 2.1 children per woman is called
• The report notes an increase in the share of Replacement-Level Fertility.
Government health expenditure in the total * The replacement-level fertility is the fertility
GDP of the country. It has increased from 1.15% rate that keeps a population stable over
in 2013-14 to 1.35% in 2017-18. This has helped time by balancing births with deaths. If
increase the per capita Government health replacement level fertility is sustained over a
expenditure as well. sufficiently long period, each generation will
• Additionally, the share of Government Health exactly replace itself.
Expenditure in total health expenditure has also * The replacement-level fertility rate is
increased over time. From being 28.6% in 2013- considered essential to keep population
14, it has now increased to 40.8% in 2017-18. growth in check, and has been linked to
better education of women, less unmet
need for family planning and reduced child
Issues relating to development and management of mortality.
Social Sector/Services relating to Health
• This also marks a significant success for India’s
11. National Family Health Survey family-planning programme based on non-
coercive measures of population control like the
»» Prelims: Data on NFHS-5 adoption of modern contraceptive methods.
»» Mains: Anaemia; Measures taken by Government; • Despite the decreasing TFR, India is still poised to
Health sector reforms be the most populous country in the world, with
Context: the current projection by the United Nations
• Results of the National Family Health Survey population division forecasting that India’s
(NFHS)-5 were made public. population will peak at 1.6 billion to 1.8 billion
from 2040 to 2050.
National Family Health Survey
* The Union government’s report projects
• The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a India overtaking China as the world’s most
large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a populous country around 2031.
representative sample of households throughout
India. Compared to the decadal Census, the Institutional deliveries:
NFHS surveys are smaller in terms of surveyed • The NFHS-5 notes an increase in the proportion
households. of institutional births – increased from 78.9% in
• The survey provides state and national NFHS-4 to the current level of 88.6%.
information for India on fertility, infant and • This development augurs well for efforts to
child mortality, the practice of family planning, decrease the maternal mortality rate.
maternal and child health, reproductive health, • The proportion of children (12-23 months) who
nutrition, anaemia, utilization and quality of were fully vaccinated and children under six
health and family planning services. months who were exclusively breastfed also
• NFHS has had two specific goals: a) to provide showed a sharp improvement.
essential data on health and family welfare Concerns
needed by the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare and other agencies for policy and Limited improvements in child nutrition:
programme purposes, and b) to provide • Despite some degree of improvement in
information on important emerging health and childhood nutrition parameters, the gains are
family welfare issues. limited as compared to National Family Health
Improvements: Survey (NFHS) 4.
Decreasing fertility rate: • Stunting and wasting in children have only
dropped by a maximum of three percentage
• As per the latest National Family Health Survey, points, as compared to NFHS 4.
India’s total fertility rate has slipped below the
replacement level for the first time.
* As per the NFHS 5, India has hit a Total Fertility
Rate (TFR) of 2.0. This marks a decrease from
the 2.2 TFR in the NFHS-4.
* The urban TFR is 1.6 and rural 2.1.

NOVEMBER - 2021
73
Increasing anaemia incidence: Other important observations:

• The proportion of anaemic children (6-59 • Overweight (higher Body Mass Index than
months) has increased. Also, anaemia incidence ideal) women and men (15-49) increased by
in women and men has also increased as around 4 percentage points. Abnormal BMIs are
compared to the previous survey. linked to an increase in obesity and other non-
communicable diseases.
Governmental initiatives:
Anaemia:
• The reduction of anaemia is one of the important
• Anaemia is a condition in which the number objectives of the POSHAN Abhiyaan. Complying
of red blood cells or the haemoglobin with the targets of POSHAN Abhiyaan and
concentration within them is lower than National Nutrition Strategy set by NITI Aayog,
normal. Anaemia leads to reduced oxygen the Anaemia Mukt Bharat strategy has been
flow to the body’s organs. designed to reduce the prevalence of anaemia
• Anaemia is commonly characterised by by 3 percentage points per year among children,
low levels of iron in the body. adolescents and women in the reproductive age
group (15–49 years), between the year 2018 and
• Anaemia can also be due to a lack of 2022.
adequate and quality nutrition and
inadequate intake of fresh fruits and • Anaemia Mukt Bharat (Anaemia-free India) aims
vegetables as well as a deficiency of to reduce the proportion of anaemia among
vitamin B-12. children to 40%, pregnant women to 32% and
lactating women to 40% by 2022.

NOVEMBER - 2021
74
Conclusion:
• The evidence is overwhelming that health should
be a priority for all political parties and all levels
of government, national and state. The survey
reveals significant disparities in health outcomes.
• An action plan to enhance India’s health must be
comprehensive, resolute in its commitment, and
well-funded.

NOVEMBER - 2021
75
SOCIAL ISSUES
Governmental initiatives septic tanks. The Ministry of Housing and Urban

Development will flag off the field assessment of
1. Nutrition Smart Villages the SafaiMitraSuraksha challenge.
»» Mains: Measures taken to improve the nutritional • There will be a range of awards and incentives
status in India across the country for the top performing states/
Context: UTs.
• The programme on ‘Nutrition Smart Village’ • The Ministry also designed standard uniforms
has been initiated to strengthen India’s fight for different categories of sanitation workers
against malnutrition. This will also take the in association with the National Institutes of
‘PoshanAbhiyan’flagship scheme towards further Fashion Technology.
progress. It aims to improve the nutritional status • Skill Development Trainings of SafaiMitras have
of 75 villages across the country. been conducted which include theoretical and
Objectives: practical sessions by trainers of the Sector skills
Council for Green Jobs.
• The major purpose of this programme is to make
the villages malnutrition free. Concepts such as
Nutri-village/Nutri-food/ Nutri-Thali/Nutri-diet
are important areas of focus. Governmental initiatives
• To create awareness about nutrition and 3. Mitigating hunger during a pandemic
behavioural change by educating farm women »» Prelims: Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna
and school children in rural areas. Yojana
• The programme offers a platform for the »» Mains: Right to food; Protecting the right of all
exchange of traditional methods to fight human beings to live in dignity
malnutrition.
Context:
• To implement nutrition-sensitive agriculture by
promoting homestead agriculture and nutri- • The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
garden and making use of technology. (PMGKAY) comes to an end in November 2021.
This initiative will lead to the betterment of the • Food Secretary has stated that there were no
overall nutritional profile of women and children in plans to extend the scheme beyond November,
the rural areas who are vulnerable to the implications as the government feels that the economy is
of malnutrition. reviving and there is no further need for the
support scheme.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana:
Governmental initiatives • The Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Anna Yojana
2. SafaiMitraSuraksha Challenge was started as part of the Centre’s initial COVID-19
relief package announced at the onset of the first
»» Prelims: About Safai Mitra Suraksha Challenge; wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Context: • The scheme provides 5 kg of rice or wheat every
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development month to be distributed free of cost to each of
launched a week-long awareness campaign on the 80-crore beneficiaries of the National Food
the SafaiMitraSuraksha Challenge as a part of Security Act (NFSA). This is over and above the
‘World Toilet Day’ celebrations. 5 kg already provided to ration card holders at a
subsidised rate.
About the Campaign
• The scheme only provided grains for those
• This campaign will witness the participation of
families who held ration cards.
246 cities across the country to encourage them
to build proper cleaning mechanisms for sewage • Initially, one kg of pulses was also provided under
treatment plants. This will ensure the safety of the scheme, which was later discontinued.
manual scavengers and prevent deaths. • The scheme was initially meant to run from April
• An awareness will be created to eliminate the to June 2020, but has since been extended.
practice of hazardous cleaning of sewers and

NOVEMBER - 2021
76
• Recognizing the difficulty being faced by migrant • It can take place on social media, messaging
workers and people without ration cards, in platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones.
May and June 2020, the Centre allocated 8 lakh
• It is repeated behaviour, aimed at scaring,
tonnes of foodgrains to be distributed by the
angering or shaming those who are targeted
States under the AtmaNirbhar Bharat scheme
for stranded migrants and others without ration Examples include:
cards. • spreading lies about or posting embarrassing
Arguments for extension of PMGKAY: photos of someone on social media
• The Right to Food Campaign points out the • sending hurtful messages or threats via
record levels of unemployment and widespread messaging platforms
hunger among vulnerable communities and • Impersonating someone and sending mean
their dire need for support from the state. messages to others on their behalf.
• They also point out that the Union Government A look at numbers
has sufficient grain stocks to extend the scheme.
India
* In the last few years, foodgrains have
been produced at record levels and the • In India, an estimated 71 million children aged
government procurement from farmers at 5-11 years access the Internet on the devices of
minimum support prices has also been on their family members, constituting about 14%
the rise implying sufficient food stocks with of the country’s active Internet user base of over
the Food Corporation of India (FCI). 500 million.
• They also point out to the SC judgment in the • It should also be noted that two-thirds of Internet
suomoto case on the plight of migrant workers, users in India are in the age group of 12-29 years.
where the SC had directed the Centre and the Worldwide
States to provide foodgrains to mitigate the
impact of the pandemic. • A 2020 study by Plan International, involving
14,000 women aged 15-25 from across 22
Demand by the food rights activists: countries, revealed that 58% of girls in the Asia-
• The Right to Food Campaign has called on the Pacific region reported online harassment.
government to extend PMGKAY for another • Globally, of the girls who were harassed, 14%
six months and also universalise the Public who self-identified as having a disability and
Distribution System (PDS) itself. 37% who identified themselves as from an ethnic
• They have also suggested that pulses and cooking minority said they get harassed because of it.
oils be added to the monthly entitlements. Issue Area
• Covid-19 had resulted in closure of Schools and
Social issues - Related to Women offline classes, leading to students attending
classes on the online mode. This meant
4. Creating safe digital spaces unprecedented rise in unsupervised screen time
»» Mains: Cyberbullying; eliminating online violence for children and young people
International Day against Violence and Bullying at • Reports have now indicated that children were
School exposed to online violence, cyberbullying and
instances of child sexual exploitation
• School violence and bullying including
cyberbullying is widespread and affects a Negative impact
significant number of children and adolescents. Online violence including cyber bullying has a
* It is infringement of children’s right to negative effect on academic achievement, mental
education and to health and well-being health, and quality of life of students.
• To raise awareness among students, parents, • Children who are frequently bullied are nearly
members of the school community, education three times as likely to feel left out at school as
authorities and others about the problem of those who are not.
online violence and cyberbullying, UNESCO • They are also twice as likely to miss out on school
Member States declared the first Thursday of and have a higher tendency to leave formal
November as the International Day against education after finishing secondary school.
Violence and Bullying at School
Therefore, cyberbullying prevention interventions
What is cyberbullying? should aim at tackling all types of bullying and
• Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital victimisation experiences at the same time, as
technologies. opposed to each in silo.

NOVEMBER - 2021
77
Tackling the menace The report also notes that the prevalence of
• Efforts must be made to explain children about undernourishment in India is 14.8% which is
cyberbullying by giving them examples in a higher than both the global and Asian average.
way they understand so that they can protect • Undernourishment is a major cause of stunting
themselves from its different forms, whether and wasting in children and anaemia in women.
perpetrated by peers or adults. This acts as a major impediment to the child’s
• Schools should establish a school safety growth and development and the right of the
committee that will control and discuss the child to self-realization and fulfilment.
problems of online bullying. • Malnutrition adversely impacts the health of the
• Teachers should teach students how to use person and is found to cause malnutrition deaths
digital media in respectful and safe ways. in children and adults in the country.
• Information booklet brought out by UNESCO in Starvation deaths:
partnership with NCERT on Safe Online Learning • There are no official numbers available on
in Times of COVID-19 can be a useful reference the number of starvation deaths in India. But
for schools to start with. starvation deaths continue to be reported.
* It supports the creation of safe digital spaces • The COVID-19 pandemic with its adverse
and addresses the nuances of security. economic and social impacts has only worsened
• Similarly, to prevent the adverse effect of online the situation in terms of starvation and associated
gaming and the psycho-emotional stress that deaths.
children could be undergoing, the Department • Starvation deaths go against the right to life and
of School Education and Literacy has circulated dignity of individuals.
exhaustive guidelines to raise children and Details:
parental awareness.
• The Supreme Court has asked the Union
Conclusion government to come up with a comprehensive
• Cyber bullying may take place in a virtual policy framework for the establishment of
world but has real impact on children’s health. community kitchens. It said that such a new
Therefore to ensure access to safe, inclusive and approach could help fight the issue of hunger in
health-promoting learning environments for all India.
children we must redouble our efforts to tackle • The Supreme Court pointed out that one
this menace of the main jobs of a welfare state was to
ensure adequate food to people to avoid
Poverty and Developmental issues undernourishment and starvation deaths.
5. SC gives 3 weeks to Govt. to frame policy on Conclusion

community kitchens • Various states have undertaken community
kitchen initiatives to tackle the hunger
»» Mains: Role of community kitchens in combating
and starvation issue. Some of them are as
hunger
follows:
Context:
* Tamil Nadu: AmmaUnavagam
• While hearing a petition on the issue of hunger
* Rajasthan: Annapurna Rasoi
and starvation deaths in India, the Supreme
Court has asked the Union government to come * Karnataka: Indira Canteen
up with a comprehensive policy framework for * Delhi: AamAadmi Canteen
the establishment of community kitchens.
* Andhra Pradesh: Anna Canteen
* The petition urges the government to set up
community kitchens across the country to * Jharkhand: Mukhyamantri Dal Bhat
feed the poor and the hungry. * Odisha: Ahaar Centre
* The petition also urges for the creation of a
national food grid by the Government.
Background:
Social issues - Related to Tribals
Undernourishment:
• Food and Agriculture Report of 2018 states that 6. The path to righting historical wrongs
India houses 195.9 million of the 821 million »» Prelims: About Irula Tribe; Mungekar Committee;
undernourished people in the world, accounting Dhebar Commission
for approximately 24% of the world’s hungry.
»» Mains: Police Excess; suffering of Adivasi
communities

NOVEMBER - 2021
78
Irula tribe
Habitual Offenders Act and rehabilitate the de-
• They are a Dravidian ethnic group that live along notified and nomadic tribes.
the borders of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Since this law is a “crude colonial construct”, it
• They are specialists in traditional herbal medicine should be repealed at the earliest
and healing practices.
Other issues faced by the tribes
• They are known for capturing snakes, especially
venomous ones. • The members of such tribes become easy
replacements for criminals whom the police fail
• Today they primarily migrate to different places to apprehend.
to work in brick kilns, rice mills, etc.
• Many people remain outside the reach of
• They speak Irula, a language that belongs to the affirmative action of the State as they constantly
Dravidian family that is closely related to Tamil. travel and do not possess any residential proof.
Issue Area • Resource-rich tribal areas are encroached upon,
• Like many Adivasi groups in India, the Irulas also the tribes are displaced and the promise of
continue to suffer the stigma of criminality due to rehabilitation has also failed.
the Habitual Offenders Act, 1952, which replaced • The “development-induced displacement”
the colonial Criminal Tribes Act, 1871. trajectory adopted by the country has often been
at the expense of the Scheduled Tribes (STs),
Criminal Tribes Act either by way of exclusion or forced “inclusion”
• It was passed by the Governor-General of in a “mainstream” that is completely alien to their
India under British rule in 1871. “world view” through what the Xaxa Committee
in 2014 had called the “ashramisation” of the
• Under this law members of nomadic
tribal.
communities were automatically classified
as having a criminal occupation by virtue Constitutional Safeguards for Scheduled Tribes
of their very existence. The makers of the Constitution wanted to prevent
• This Statute set a precedent that any local discrimination against people belonging to
government could classify any tribe as Scheduled Tribes, protect their rights and provide a
‘criminal’ if it felt “the tribe, gang or class certain degree of autonomy to them to have a say in
of persons is addicted to the systematic their development pursuit.
commission of non-bailable offences.” • Accordingly, the Fifth and Sixth Schedules, which
are governed by Articles 244 (1) and (2) of the
Constitution, provides certain rights to tribes in
the northeast and across India.
• After independence, the Indian government
Fifth Schedule
replaced this Act with the Habitual Offenders
Act, 1952. • The Fifth Schedule had been also termed
by the Mungekar Committee in 2009 for
Habitual Offenders Act tribal development as a “Constitution within
• Instead of improving the lives of tribes, the Constitution”. It allows for the creation of
new Act re-stigmatised the marginalised Scheduled Areas by the President of India.
tribes. • There are no fixed criteria for the creation of
Recommendation Scheduled Areas. However, factors considered
by the Dhebar Commission (1960-61) has been
• The National Human Rights Commission followed. This includes:
has recommended the repeal of the
Habitual Offenders Act, 1952. * preponderance of the tribes in the
population;
• In 2007, the UN’s Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination said: * compact and reasonable size;
“The so-called de-notified and nomadic * underdeveloped nature of the area; and
people which are listed for their alleged
* Marked disparity in the economic standards
‘criminal tendencies’ under the former
of the people.
Criminal Tribes Act (1871), continue
to be stigmatised under the Habitual Way forward
Offenders…,” and asked India to repeal the • Compact tribal areas of reasonable size,
constituting villages with no less than 50% tribal
population, can be identified in Community
Development (CD) blocks with a significant tribal
population to demarcate new administrative
areas, which can then be brought under the

NOVEMBER - 2021
79
purview of the Fifth Schedule by declaring them • Only through education, they will be able to
Scheduled Areas. break free from centuries of tyranny and enjoy
the benefits of socio-economic prosperity.
* This would be only fulfilling a commitment
made in 1976 by the Government of India Constitutional Safeguards:
and reiterated by the Mungekar Committee. • Article 29(1): This provides all citizen groups that
• Apart from the Scheduled Areas, villages, where reside in India having a distinct culture, language,
STs are in minority but still in sizeable numbers, and script, the right to conserve their culture and
should be brought under already existing language.
Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) • Article 46 of the Indian Constitution lays down
areas, which are being governed in Tamil Nadu that the state is responsible for promoting the
with the advice of the Tribes Advisory Council educational and economic interests of the
(TAC). poorer parts of the population, particularly the
• The TAC is an advisory body and thee-fourth of scheduled castes and tribes.
its members must be from ST communities. Government Measures for Tribal Education:-
Conclusion • Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Ministry of Tribal
• The Government should show the political will Affairs was established in order to guarantee
and set aside its electoral interest to create a self- a coordinated and planned approach to the
governed path for tribal development. development of scheduled tribes.
* It should be complemented with clear • Ashram Schools: Tribal children’s educational
policies and a plan for tribal development requirements are mostly met by ashram
reflected in the yearly Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP). schools, which are residential institutions.
These institutions provide boarding and
* The formulation of such a plan must
accommodation for students from native
be drafted by taking the viewpoints of
communities.
representatives of different tribes.
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools: 197 Eklavya
Model Residential Schools, modelled after
Social issues - Related to Tribals Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) and
Navodaya Vidyalayas, have also been established
7. Post NEP, Odisha all set to teach in tribal by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
languages Different Aspects of Tribal Education
»» Prelims: Samhati Project; • Teacher-Student Relationship: One of the most
»» Mains: Importance of teaching students in important variables in promoting meaningful
indigenous languages; educational needs of learning in classrooms is a positive relationship
tribal children between indigenous students and their
instructors.
Context:
• Potential ofYouth: In tribal societies, development
• Odisha government has decided to teach in
should be centred on educational programmes
indigenous languages in schools on the basis of
that encourage tribal youngsters to remain
the New Education Policy.
immersed in their own culture.
Details:
• Tribal Leadership: Working with tribal leaders is
• Odisha’s ten-year experience in multilingual essential for ensuring their active involvement
education may be useful in meeting the and cooperation in educational awareness
challenge posed by the new National Education campaigns.
Policy to affect education in the tribal language.
• The role of the United Nations: United Nations
• The ‘Samhati’ project aims to alleviate the Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been promoting
linguistic barriers that tribal pupils confront in quality education and employability amongst
early grades or elementary school. marginalised children.
Tribal Education in India What are the challenges to Tribal Education?
Background • The majority of ashram schools do not meet
• Tribal education in India focuses on empowering minimum requirements.
and creating confidence and bravery in tribal • There is little consistency in ashram school
students to tackle the obstacles in their daily lives management, primary school coverage, or
with the aid of education. infrastructure quality between states.
• In India, tribal people are marginalised, poor, and • Inadequate infrastructure resulted in shortages,
deprived in some way. They are yet to enjoy the neglect, and, in some cases, abuse by school
benefits of modernisation and technological employees.
advancement.

NOVEMBER - 2021
80
• Children, particularly females, are in danger due Poverty and developmental issues
to a lack of electricity and/or lighting, as well as
the distance between usable restrooms and 9. A vital cog in Bongaigaon’s response to
residential areas. malnutrition
• Years of geographical isolation and cultural »» Mains: Nutrition Challenges in India; Project
variations have resulted in substantial disparities Sampoorna
in communication, learning, and interaction Context:
styles, as well as gaps in contextual information.
• Project Sampoorna was successfully
implemented in the Bongaigaon district of
Social issues - Related to Children Assam.
What is Project Sampoorna?
8. Error corrected
• Project Sampoorna was developed by the
»» Prelims: Important provisions of POCSO act Bongaigaon District Administration to combat
»» Mains: Judicial ruling to Protect minors from malnutrition with the goal of empowering
sexual offences mothers and raising healthy children.
Background • Under the initiative, 2 numbers of 200 ml milk
• A Single Judge of the Bombay High Court’s packets and 3 eggs were provided weekly to the
Nagpur Bench created an uproar by acquitting a district’s total of 2500 malnourished children.
man under the POCSO Act and holding that an • In addition, 140 mothers of malnourished
act against a minor would amount to groping children were given two large and four little
or sexual assault only if there was “skin-to-skin” chicks to help them maintain their families.
contact. This was gradually passed on to the remaining
• The High Court had concluded that mere mothers.
touching or pressing of a clothed body of a child Significance of Project Sampoorna:
did not amount to sexual assault. • The Sampoorna project has resulted in a
Context reduction in child malnutrition with an almost
• The Supreme Court has quashed a Bombay minimal financial commitment.
High Court decision to acquit a man charged • Sampoorna is in line with the United Nations’
with assault under the Protection of Children Sustainable Development Goals, as well as
from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) solely on those laid out by UN Secretary General António
the grounds that he groped the child over her Guterres at the Food Systems Summit.
clothes without ‘skin-to-skin’ contact. • It focuses on the need for resilient food systems
Section 7 of POCSO and social protection.
Sexual assault. Other Measures taken by Bongaigaon District to
• “Whoever with sexual intent touches the vagina, Reduce Malnutrition:
penis, anus or breast of the child or makes the • POSHAN Abhiyaan: Poshan Abhiyaan, also
child touch the vagina, penis, anus or breast known as the National Nutrition Mission (NNM),
of such person or any other person, or does was launched in 2018 with the aim of tackling
any other act with sexual intent which involves the malnutrition problem prevalent in India.
physical contact without penetration is said to • Project Saubhagya: It was designed to reduce
commit sexual assault”. the maternal mortality rate and infant mortality
SC observation rate of the district.
• The most important ingredient in Section 7 was Challenges in addressing Child Nutrition:
the sexual intent of the offender and not skin-to- 1. Health Concerns: The highest risk factor for a
skin contact. high-risk pregnancy is anaemia which is usually
• The court, while setting aside the High Court nutritional.
decision, confirmed the guilt of the offender in 2. Vicious Cycle of Malnutrition: A malnourished
the case and sentenced him to three years of child grows into an unhealthy adolescent, and then
rigorous imprisonment subject to the period he an anaemic pregnant young woman gives birth to an
has already undergone. asphyxiated low birth weight baby. This becomes a
Conclusion vicious cycle.
• Therefore, the act of touching the sexual part 3. Social Evils: The child struggles further for
of the body or any other act involving physical nutrition. The major hindrance to the project was
contact, if done with “sexual intent” would patriarchy which affects the mother’s decision making
amount to “Sexual assault” within the meaning powers indirectly affecting the child’s nutrition levels
of Section 7 of the POCSO Act. also.

NOVEMBER - 2021
81
4. Structural Challenges: District Nutritional
Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) typically contain up
to 20 beds, and taking in 200 children with severe
acute malnutrition on a monthly basis is not feasible.
After being discharged and if not properly managed,
the treated youngster may revert to a Severe Acute
Malnutrition (SAM) condition.

NOVEMBER - 2021
82
EDUCATION
Issues relating to development and management of * The incidence of private schooling in India
Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, had been rising over time. From 2006 to 2014
Human Resources there was a steady increase. After plateauing
around 30% for a few years, there has been
1. Annual Status of Education Report 2021 a significant decline in the pandemic years.
»» Prelims: Annual Status of Education Report • The shift to government school enrolment
»» Mains: COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on school could be a result of financial distress and lower-
education income levels during the pandemic, the closure
of affordable private schools and the movement
Context:
of migrants to rural areas.
• Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2021
Increase in the proportion of children taking paid
was released by Pratham, the educational NGO.
tuition classes:
* This is an annual survey that aims to provide
• There has been a big increase in the proportion
reliable annual estimates of children’s
of children taking tuition in the pandemic period
schooling status and basic learning levels in
across grades and types of school. By 2021, close
India at the elementary level.
to 40% of children attend tuition classes.
Details:
• This is indicative of the disruption caused to
• Due to the pandemic, ASER’s 16th annual classroom teaching or the inability to adapt to
report was based on a phone survey assessing online education.
enrolment in schools and tuition classes, and
• Students, especially those from poor families, are
access to devices and learning resources, rather
dependent more than ever on private tuition,
than the organisation’s usual face-to-face survey
the survey found. This development adds to the
which assesses learning outcomes and children’s
cost of education of children which could put an
competencies in reading and arithmetic skills.
extra burden on poor families.
• Some of the important observations made in the
Access to learning material:
report are as follows:
• Although the access to relevant learning material
Non-enrolled children:
like textbooks has increased compared to the
• The percentage of rural children who were not 2020 only a third of those surveyed had access to
enrolled in school doubled during the pandemic. any other learning resources or support.
The proportion of children currently not enrolled
Access to online education:
in school is higher in 2020 and 2021 as compared
to 2018. Between 2020 and 2021 the numbers • The pandemic induced lockdowns pushed
are relatively unchanged. schools to online education mode. However,
smartphone access has been a challenge in the
* In 2018, only 2.5% of children were not
delivery of online education.
enrolled in school. However, in 2021 it is at
4.6%. • Although the availability of smartphones in
households has almost doubled since 2018,
• This might be indicative of higher school dropouts
having a smartphone at home however does not
or even a lower number of new enrolments.
automatically translate to children having access
Increase in proportion of children enrolled in to the device.
government schools:
* All India 67.6% of children have a smartphone
• Overall, there is an increase in the proportion at home. But even in such households, 1% of
of children enrolled in government schools children still have no access to smartphones.
between 2018 and 2021.
• There is a marked difference among the different
* Government school enrolment spiked states with respect to access to online education.
significantly from 64.3% in 2018 to 70.3% 91% of students from Kerala and almost 80%
in 2021, while private school enrolment from Himachal Pradesh had online education,
dropped from 32.5% to 24.4% over the but only 10% from Bihar and 13% from West
same period. Bengal had.

NOVEMBER - 2021
83
• This stark digital divide carries the risk of severely Impact on educational outcomes:
affecting the learning abilities of primary grade
• Notably, enrolment in schools does not
students.
necessarily mean that learning took place.
Severe disruption at the entry level:
• 4 per cent of teachers have flagged the problem
• Over a third of children enrolled in Classes 1 and of children being “unable to catch up” as one
2 have never attended school in person. of their biggest challenges — which is also a
• These students who are entering the school warning that their learning outcomes are set to
system after the pandemic will require time to be affected.
settle down, get ready for the formal education • While the ASER survey does not shed light on
system. This is essential as these students do not learning outcomes, a sample assessment done
even have the experience of pre-primary schools, by it has found steep drops in foundational skills,
or anganwadis. especially in lower primary grades.
• From having no experience of pre-primary • Even the recent National Achievement Survey
class to the lack of access to digital devices, the (NAS) of the central government has noted a
pandemic has left the youngest entrants in India’s drop in the learning outcomes of students.
formal education system particularly vulnerable,
and not addressing their specific needs can have
grave consequences on the educational process
of these children.

NOVEMBER - 2021
84
Recommendations:
• The report’s findings confirm the COVID-19
pandemic’s impact on school education.
• The habit of going to school, sitting in a classroom,
and teaching in a classroom has been disrupted
significantly. Such disruption cannot be repaired
simply by reopening schools. A “business as
usual” approach cannot be sufficient. There need
to be some focused actions to address this severe
disruption.
• Some of the major interventions needed are as
follows:
* Given the indicators of the adverse impact
on the learning outcome of students
especially in lower primary grades, there
needs to be special attention to children of
primary classes as they return to, or enter
schools for the first time. Specific attention
is needed to help make up learning losses,
especially in the lowest classes.
* Given the increased enrolment in
government schools, it is important to ensure
that government schools and teachers are
equipped and given the necessary resources
for this surge in enrolment.
* Given the stark differences in access to
digital device based online education, these
factors have to be taken into account as
future plans are made for remote learning
or the use of digital content and devices.
Also to address the issue of access to digital
devices, there is a need for digital device
libraries, so all children can have access to
them.

NOVEMBER - 2021
85
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Disaster Management
1. World Congress on Disaster Management
(WCDM)
»» Mains: Disaster management- Risk management
strategy, building resilience.
• It is a unique initiative of Disaster Management
Initiatives and Convergence Society (DMICS)
to bring researchers, policy makers and
practitioners from around the world in the same
platform to discuss various challenging issues of
disaster risk management.
• The mission of WCDM is to promote interaction
of science, policy and practices to enhance
understanding of risks and advance actions for
reducing risks and building resilience to disasters.
• WCDM has emerged as the largest global
conference on disaster management outside the
UN system.
Context:
• The 5th World Congress on Disaster Management
was organised by DMICS with a central theme of
Technology, Finance and Capacity for Building
Resilience to Disasters in the contexts of
COVID-19.
Background:
• The first World Congress on Disaster Management
was organised in the year 2008 in Hyderabad
with an intention to build a strong network of
tackling the disasters with the involvement of
its various stakeholders across the scientific
community and government.

NOVEMBER - 2021
86
HISTORY
Modern Indian History - Important Personalities • His wife, SuchetaKripalani was also a politician
although she remained loyal to the INC and even
1. Acharya Kripalani became the first woman chief minister of a state
»» Prelims: Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani- pre and when she was elected the CM of Uttar Pradesh.
post independence contributions • Kripalani was an astute parliamentarian and
• Kripalani was born in Hyderabad in the Sindh even became the first person to introduce a no-
region of present-day Pakistan on 11 November confidence motion on the floor of the House.
1888 in an upper-middle-class family. He was This was in 1963 immediately after the Sino-
educated at Pune’s Fergusson College. Indian War.
• He worked as a teacher for a while but later quit • During the Indira Gandhi years, he agitated
that job to join the freedom movement of the against her autocratic methods and was also
country. He was greatly inspired by the principles arrested during the Emergency.
of Mahatma Gandhi. • Acharya Kripalani passed away on 19 March 1982
• He took part in the non-cooperation movement in an Ahmedabad hospital.
of the 1920s. He also joined Gandhi’s ashrams in
Maharashtra and Gujarat to work in the fields of
education and social reform. Miscellaneous
• He actively took part in various movements like 2. GhareBaire
the civil disobedience movement, Quit India »» Prelims: Ghare Baire
Movement and so on. He was also imprisoned
many times. Context:
• From 1920 to 1927, he worked as the principal • An announcement was made to shut down
of Gujarat Vidyapeeth which was an educational the popular museum-exhibition GhareBaire in
institution set up by Gandhi. There, he earned Kolkata.
the epithet ‘Acharya’. Details:
• He was elected the General Secretary of the • GhareBaire is a notable Kolkata museum
Indian National Congress (INC) in 1934 and exhibition that presents two centuries of Bengali
continued to serve in that post for a long time till art.
1945.
• The museum-exhibition opened on January
• In November 1946, he was elected the President 11, 2020, on BBD Bagh, popularly known as
of the Congress Party and steered the party in Dalhousie Square, in the refurbished Currency
that position during the crucial partition period Building, which was established in 1833 and
and the transfer of power. nearly demolished in 1996.
• He was involved in a number of committees in • The name GhareBaire comes from the title of
the Constituent Assembly of India. Rabindranath Tagore’s famous work, which
• As a congressman, he was an outspoken leader prompted Satyajit Ray to produce a film with the
and not a meek follower of Gandhi despite being same name.
a Gandhian himself. He was a true democrat in • The art museum GhareBaire focuses on Bengali
that respect and held the view that this should art from the 18th to the 20th century.
be the basis of the political party.
• After 1947, differences cropped up between
Kripalani and Nehru and other leaders. He The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and
resigned from the party in 1950 and formed his important contributors/contributions from different
own party, the KisanMazdoorPraja Party. Later, parts of the country
this party joined forces with the Socialist Party of
India to form the Praja Socialist Party. 3. Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas
• He was elected as an MP to the LokSabha in »» Prelims: Tribal freedom fighters from India; Birsa
1952, 1957, 1963 and 1967. Despite being an Munda; Ulgulan; Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act,
independent MP, he was given front benches in 1908.
the House.

NOVEMBER - 2021
87
»» Mains: Participation of the tribal community in • He was arrested in March 1900 in Jamkopai forest,
the freedom struggle- Reasons and its impacts Chakradharpur. He died in prison on 9 June 1900.
Context: The British said he died of cholera. It is suspected
that he was poisoned. He was only 25 years old at
• The government has decided to celebrate the the time of his death.
birth anniversary of freedom fighter BirsaMunda
as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’. • His rebellion forced the government to enact
the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908. This law
Details: put restrictions on tribal land being passed on to
• The Prime Minister inaugurated the non-tribals.
BhagwanBirsaMunda Memorial Udyan cum • BirsaMunda’s birth anniversary is celebrated
Freedom Fighter Museum at Ranchi, Jharkhand. officially at his Samadhi at Kokar Ranchi,
• The government also instituted the ‘Janjatiya Jharkhand.
Gaurav Diwas’ to commemorate the • He is revered as a great freedom fighter by
achievements and contributions of the various tribals and non-tribals alike. He is also a figure of
tribal freedom fighters from India. empowerment for the tribal community in India.
* This day will be observed on November 15, • Many folk songs have been created to
the birth anniversary of BirsaMunda. commemorate his life and bravery. India Post
BirsaMunda Biography released a stamp in his honour in 1988.
• BirsaMunda’s parents were SuganaMunda,
an agricultural labourer and KarmiHatu. He Medieval Indian History - Important personalities
belonged to the Munda tribe.
• During the 1890s he started creating awareness 4. LachitDiwas
among his people about the British exploitative »» Prelims: Lachit Borphukanon; Ahom Kingdom
policies and practices.
Context:
• He took on the twin problems of agrarian crisis
• The Prime Minister paid tribute to the bravery of
and cultural belittlement by the British.
Lachit Borphukanon the occasion of LachitDiwas
• The Mundas traditionally had a system known which is celebrated in several parts of the country
as Khunkhatti which was a system of joint land- on November 24.
holding. The coming of the British replaced this
Who was LachitBorphukan?
system with an exploitative system involving
Zamindars and other farmers and middlemen. • LachitBorphukan was a military commander
This made the peasants suffer in poverty in the Ahom kingdom and he is known for his
and indebtedness. They became forced farm immense contribution in leading the Battle of
labourers. Saraighat in 1671 defeating the Mughals.
• BirsaMunda proclaimed his rebellion in 1894 • He was given the title Borphukan which means
which was directed against the British and the one of the five councillors in the Ahom kingdom
dikus (outsiders). This is called the MundaUlgulan. having both executive and judicial powers.
• He asked people to stop paying rent and taxes. • He is regarded as the protector of Assamese
culture and tradition for his remarkable
• He also became a religious leader of his people.
contributions towards preserving the unique
He exhorted the tribal people to return to their
culture.
roots and shun Christianity. He asked people to
renounce alcohol. People started referring to • Lachit conducted training sessions on guerrilla
him as ‘Dharti Abba’. He was also believed to be tactics to empower his troops and prevented the
a prophet. His new religion was called Birsait. expansion of the Mughal Empire in Assam.
Many Mundas and Oraons became Birsaits. LachitDiwas:
• He was arrested by the government and • Every year the birth anniversary of
imprisoned for 2 years before being released in LachitBorphukan is celebrated as LachitDiwas
1897. to pay homage to his heroic leadership and
• Munda launched his armed struggle in 1899. compassion for the downtrodden sections of
Under his leadership, the people burned police society.
stations, houses of the landlords, churches and
British property.
• His slogan was ‘Abua raj seterjana, maharani
raj tundujana’. This meant ‘Let the kingdom
of the queen be ended and our kingdom be
established.’

NOVEMBER - 2021
88
Medieval Indian History - Important personalities • British forces under the command of Sir Hugh
Rose arrived at Jhansi fort with the intention of
5. Rani Kamalapati capturing it in 1858. He demanded that the city
»» Prelims: Queen Kamalapati of the Gond kingdom surrender to him or else it would be destroyed.
Context: • Rani Laxmibai refused and proclaimed, “We fight
for independence. In the words of Lord Krishna,
• PM announced the inauguration of the we will if we are victorious, enjoy the fruits of
redeveloped Rani Kamalapati Railway Station at victory, if defeated and killed on the field of battle,
Madhya Pradesh. we shall surely earn eternal glory and salvation.”
Details: • For two weeks the battle went on where the
• The redeveloped Rani Kamalapati Railway Rani led her army of men and women valiantly
station was named after brave and fearless against the British. Despite courageous fighting,
Queen Kamalapati of the Gond kingdom. Jhansi lost the battle.
• It is redeveloped in Public Private Partnership • The Rani, tying her infant son on her back,
(PPP) mode.The station is also developed as a escaped to Kalpi on horseback.
hub for integrated multi-modal transport. • Along with Tatya Tope and other rebel soldiers,
Rani Kamalapati the Rani captured the fort of Gwalior.
• Rani Kamlapati was the widow of Nizam Shah • Afterwards, she proceeded to Morar, Gwalior to
who belonged to the Gond dynasty. fight the British.
• Nizam Shah built the famous seven-storeyed • Rani Laxmibai died while fighting in Gwalior on
Kamlapati Palace in her name in Bhopal. 18th June 1858, aged 29. She was dressed as a
• Kampalati is known to have shown great bravery soldier when she died.
in facing aggressors during her reign after her Context:
husband was killed. • In order to pay homage to the gallantry of Rani
Renaming of the Railway Station: LaxmiBai on her birth anniversary, a three-day-
• Indian Railways can change the name of its long celebration has been organised wherein
stations on the discretion of the state government the Ministry of Defence will announce important
concerned. initiatives.
• Change of station names is entirely a state Key Highlights:
subject even though Railways belong to the • The progress of the national security
Union government. apparatus has been provided with special
• The state governments send the request to the attention as an essential objective of the
Ministry of Home Affairs, the nodal ministry for RashtraRakshaSamarpanParv.
these matters, which then accords its approval, • The government is geared up to develop a
keeping the Ministry of Railways in the loop. modern and well-equipped military and a self-
• Once the name change is notified by the state reliant defence industry that heads towards
government following all due process, Indian AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
Railways steps in to do the necessary work. • A major focus has been applied to promote
‘Make in India, Make for the World’.
Modern Indian History - Important personalities

The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and
6. Rani Laxmibai important contributors/contributions from different
»» Prelims: Rani Laxmibai; Doctrine of lapse parts of the country
»» Mains: Important women personalities in India’s 7. Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum
freedom struggle
»» Prelims: Rani Gaidinliu; Heraka movement
• Lord Dalhousie sought to annex Jhansi when the
Maharaja died applying the Doctrine of Lapse »» Mains: Important women personalities in India’s
since the king did not have any natural heir. freedom struggle
• As per this, the Rani was granted an annual Context:
pension and asked to leave the fort of Jhansi. • The Union Minister will lay the Foundation Stone
• The Revolt of 1857 had broken out in Meerut and of the Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters
the Rani was ruling over Jhansi as regent for her Museum at Manipur.
minor son.

NOVEMBER - 2021
89
Rani Gaidinliu • She was compelled to go underground in 1960
due to opposition from other Naga leaders to her
Background:
demand.
• Rani Gaidinliu was born on January 26, 1915 in
• She subsequently made an agreement with
Luangkao Village now in Manipur.
the Indian government and disbanded the
• She met Jadonang at the age of 13 and became movement.
his lieutenant in his social, religious, and political
• Rani Gaidinliu died on February 17, 1993, at the
movement.
age of 79.
• Following Jadonang’s death, Gaidinliu assumed
leadership of the movement.
• After the martyrdom of Jadonang, Gaidinliu Medieval Indian History - Important Monuments
launched a strong insurrection against the 8. SabzBurj restored to its Mughal-era glory
British, for which she was imprisoned by the
British for 14 years until being freed in 1947. »» Prelims: Sabz Burj; Floral motifs of the mughal era
• Recognizing her role in the fight against the »» Mains: Characteristic features of Mughal
British, she was referred to as “Rani “. architecture
Heraka movement SabzBurj:
• Heraka was a socio-religious movement that • SabzBurj is one of Delhi’s earliest Mughal-era
originated in the Zeliangrong area in the 1920s. monuments. The monument stands at the
entrance to Humayun’s Tomb.
• Heraka, which means “pure,” is a monotheistic
religion whose adherents worshipped • It is basically a tomb. The tomb is believed to
TingkaoRagwang. be built in 1530. Notably, it does not have any
markings pointing to the identity of those buried
• It was founded by Jadonang to oppose the under it.
entrance of Christian missionaries as well as the
British government’s reforms. • The architecture holds immense significance
due to the ceiling on its double dome structure
• He observed the persecution by British officials, painted in pure gold and lapis. It is thought to
who forced tribals to work in difficult conditions be the earliest surviving painted ceiling for any
and levied a large monthly revenue levy on every monument in India.
home.
• Conservationists believe that the painting on
• Gaidinliu was a pioneer in the Heraka the ceiling that has floral motifs predates similar
movement, which was founded by her cousin work that was seen in miniature paintings and
HaipouJadonang. textiles from the Mughal era.
Indian Freedom Movement Context:
• Gaidinliu launched her own Non-cooperation • SabzBurj has been conserved and restored over
Movement among Naga tribes. the last four years using traditional materials and
• She made it impossible for the British building-craft techniques.
government to operate in the region by ordering
that all families refrain from paying taxes.
• She linked her spiritual position as a leader of Ancient Indian History - Indus Valley Civilization
the socio-religious movement to her role as a 9. Were there domestic horses in ancient India?
nationalist.
»» Prelims: Animals found in Indus valley civilization
• She regularly invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s
national efforts to inspire her people to oppose Context:
the British. • A recent report in Nature has been able to collect
• “Loss of religion is loss of culture, and loss of bones and teeth samples from regions from
culture equals loss of identity,” Gaidinliu argues. where domestic horses could have originated.
Post independence and death Background:
• Gaidinliu was opposed to the Naga National • The horses with the modern domestic DNA
Council’s (NNC) desire for sovereignty and profile lived in the Western Eurasian Steppes,
independence of Naga territories from India in particularly the Volga-Don River region.
independent India. • These horses spread out to Bohemia (the Czech
• In reality, she advocated for a distinct Zeliangrong Republic of today and Ukraine), and Central Asia
region inside the Union of India. and Mongolia.

NOVEMBER - 2021
90
Indian story
Which Animals are Native to India?
• The Report by “World Atlas” says that the only
animals native to India are the Asian elephant,
snow leopard, rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, Sloth
bear, Himalayan wolf, Gaur bison, red panda,
crocodile, and the birds peacock and flamingo.
• The website ThoughtCo lists the antelope,
Nilgiritahr, elephant, langur, Macaque monkey,
rhinoceros, dolphin, Gharial crocodile, leopard,
bear, tiger, bustard (heaviest flying bird), squirrel,
cobra, and peacock.
• Thus, it seems clear from these sources that
horses are not native to India.
How did horses come to India?
• Horses must have come into India through inter-
regional trading between countries. Indians
might have traded their elephants, tigers,
monkeys, birds to their neighbours and imported
horses for our use.
When did India get its horses?
• Evidence during Harappan Age: It points out that
horse-related remains and artefacts have been
found in Late Harappan sites (1900-1300 BCE),
and that horses did not seem to have played an
essential role in the Harappan civilisation.
• Evidence during Vedic Period: This is in contrast
to the Vedic Period, which is a little later (1500-
500 BCE). The Sanskrit word for horse is Ashwa,
which is mentioned in the Vedas and Hindu
Scriptures. These are roughly towards the end of
the late Bronze Age.
• Debate in literature: ‘Early Indians: The Story of
our Ancestors and Where We Came From’ by Tony
Joseph and the other by Yashaswini Chandra,
titled, ‘The Tale of the Horse’.
* Dr. Joseph’s article examines the evidence to
the ‘Aryan’ migrations to India. It suggested
that the horses found in India came from the
‘Stans’ mentioned above.
* And Dr. Yashaswini Chandra suggests that
Indian native horses disappeared by 8000
BCE.
Conclusion
• Given this background, it will be interesting to
check whether in the Harappan sites, there are
any remnant bones, teeth or skulls of horses, and
perform DNA sequencing on them.

NOVEMBER - 2021
91
GOVERNANCE
It was experimented earlier on two previous

Miscellaneous occasions, in 1946 and 1978, with dismal results.
The stated objectives
1. National Press Day
1. Eliminating black money and corruption;
»» Mains: Media as fourth pillar of democracy; Issues
such as fake news and yellow journalism 2. Moving towards “less cash and more digital
economy”;
Context:
3. Increased tax compliance;
• Every 16th day of November is commemorated
as the National Press Day in order to honour the 4. A windfall gain of ₹2 trillion – ₹3 trillion.
historic establishment of the Press Council of Results and the impacts
India. The central theme for the year 2021 was
‘Who is not afraid of the Media?’ • Unlike the limited impact of similar events in
1946 and 1978, the latest demonetisation in
History: 2016 resulted in widespread disruption in the
• To regulate the Indian press, the Press Council economy, whose aftershocks are still being felt
was first established on the 4th of July, 1966 with by society.
Justice J R Mudholkar as the first chairperson. • The majority of observers have opined that
This body became functional on 16th November this policy was a failure as only a fraction of its
1966 after which this day is celebrated as National declared objectives could be achieved.
Press Day every year.
• Interestingly, more than 99.3% of cash returned
Significance: to the system, pointing towards money
• This day reminds our conscience about the laundering routes.
importance of the fourth pillar of democracy and • Rubbing more salt to the wound, data shows
its role in igniting the spirit of nationalism across that the cash in circulation now exceeds even the
the country during British rule. pre-demonetisation levels.
• The event focuses on the key objectives of The euphoria surrounding the crackdown on “Black
establishing an accurate, authentic and unbiased Money”
distribution of information in the present day of
fake news and yellow journalism. • The deeply satisfying idea of striking a powerful
blow through dramatic action against black
money has always been in the psyche of
Government Policies and Interventions and Issues the public. More often than not, it has been
arising out of their Design and Implementation influenced by the stuff of epics, cinematic
experiences and moral terms.
2. The case of demonetisation in India
• Contrary to the popular belief, the lion’s share of
»» Mains: Intended objectives and actual impact of black money is earned through perfectly legal
demonetization; activities rather than income from corruption or
Context: criminal activities.
• An assessment of popular narratives vs economic • Moreover, black money is not mostly kept, in
facts on the fifth anniversary of Demonetisation stacks of currency notes and gold, hoarded in
in India. safes, boxes, or secret cupboards, except in small
quantities, but is mostly accumulated through
A popular narrative – What does it mean? real estate and other assets.
• Narratives are the description of events, processes • We observed seemingly the narrative getting
or stories often intertwined in the cultural belief changed and focus from black money and fake
systems of the society. These may be grounded currency to digital/cashless payments being
more in myth than reality and thereby policy elevated and taking the centre stage.
decisions based on these have devastating
impacts at times on society. Capitalising on the moral economy of the poor
Demonetisation – The story so far • The ideals of collective sacrifice, nationalism
and patriotism have always been at the deeply
• The November 8, 2016 decision to demonetise entrenched soft corners among the masses and
large denomination currency to flush out invoking high moral values is a low hanging fruit
undeclared hoards of cash was nothing new. for policymakers.

NOVEMBER - 2021
92
• For the poor, any endeavour towards penalising element of national security and integrity of the
the rich is far more attractive than achieving nation involved in the inflow of foreign funds
social justice and equity. necessitates the involvement of the Ministry of
Home Affairs in the regulation of foreign funding
Conclusion
to NGOs.
• Falling prey to the popular narratives has shown
• The provision to make Aadhaar mandatory for
to influence a much bigger role in economic
the registration of NGOs will make it easy to
policymaking historically than economists
identify the recipients of foreign funds.
acknowledge. The case of demonetisation
adds to the long list of such decisions which • The amendments will bring in much-needed
demonstrates that popular narratives can trump transparency and accountability in the
economic facts. An auto-immune shock for the functioning of NGOs by letting the government
otherwise steady and growing economy, leading monitor the flow of foreign funds to NGOs.
to a plethora of hardships being faced to date, • The law mandating the NGOs to use foreign
presents a case of pondering upon and learning funds they receive for the registered purposes or
a lesson for the future. activities — social, educational, religious, cultural
and economic — avoids possible misutilization
of the funds. The amendment also helps prevent
Development Processes and the Development Industry
NGOs from acting as “middlemen” between
— the Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
foreign contributors and local, unregistered
associations, donors, charities, institutional and other
NGOs.
stakeholders
• The provision to decrease administrative
3. Why is MHA tasked to monitor foreign funds for expenses by an organisation to 20% from 50%
NGOs, asks SC earlier also helps ensure that a greater part of the
»» Prelims: FCRA provisions foreign funds is actually used by NGOs for their
registered objectives.
»» Mains: New amendments- concerns and the
need for strict regulation of the flow of foreign
funds to NGOs in India Government schemes
Context
4. Will MPLADS be changed for post-pandemic
• A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court needs?
is currently hearing petitions challenging the
amendments to the Foreign Contributions »» Prelims: MPLADS- provisions and workings
Regulations law in 2020. »» Mains: Concerns associated with
• The bench has questioned the government as to the implementation of the scheme;
why the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and not recommendations to improve it
the Finance Ministry has been tasked to monitor Context
the inflow and subsequent outflow of foreign
funds to NGOs under the concerned law. • The Union government announced the
restoration of the Member of Parliament Local
Background: Area Development Scheme (MPLADS Scheme).
• The government had moved certain Member of Parliament Local Area Development
amendments to the Foreign Contribution Scheme (MPLADS Scheme)
Regulation Act (FCRA) in 2020.
Background:
• Several NGOs have argued that the amendment
severely restricted the use of foreign funds by • It was established in 1993 by the Narasimha Rao
them for their activities and also restricts their government, with each MP receiving a yearly
ability to transfer funds to other philanthropic payment of Rs. 50 lakh.
organisations within the country. * This core sector project was established
Government’s argument: to enable parliamentarians to push for
development projects in their constituencies
The government represented by the Solicitor General based on locally identified needs.
defended the FCRA and its provisions based on the
following arguments. * The majority of these development
initiatives concentrated on national issues
• There have been Intelligence Bureau (IB) inputs including drinking water, education, public
showing the utilization of incoming foreign funds health, sanitation, and roads, among others.
for funding activities that destabilise national
peace and security. The inputs even indicated • In 2011-12, the UPA government increased the
that the money was used to train naxals. The yearly entitlement to 5 crore rupees.

NOVEMBER - 2021
93
• This initiative, which was previously administered the state governments were already cash-
by the Ministry of Rural Development, is now strapped and in desperate need of the
overseen by the Ministry of Statistics and money provided under the plan.
Implementation. Improvements Suggested in MPLADS Scheme Post-
Fund Allocation and Utilisation: Pandemic
• Every MP is entitled to 5 crore each year under the • The MPLADS Scheme should be modified
Member of Parliament Local Area Development by the government to fit the post-pandemic
Scheme, totaling 3,950 crore for the 790 MPs. environment and policy decisions.
• The money will be used to “create long-term • At the moment, the money may only be used
community assets and provide basic services, for “durable assets.” There is a requirement for
such as community infrastructure, based on expansion to other assets.
locally perceived needs.” • There should be a constitution of a monitoring
• This money does not go straight to the MPs’ committee comprising MPs to oversee the
accounts. They are only able to suggest works. scheme at the district level, apart from the issue
Following that, the district authorities are of pending installments.
responsible for sanctioning, and completing the
works within the specified time frame.
Important Judicial observations
• More money is issued only when the completion
certificate is received. 5. Pegasus inquiry must reverse the Chilling effect
Working of the MPLADS Scheme: »» Prelims: Pegasus spyware
• The District Magistrate is in charge of managing »» Mains: Concerns over infringement of Right
the funding and overseeing the projects that to Privacy; Balancing the right to privacy and
have been approved under the plan. security of the state
• A LokSabha member can only approve projects Context:
in his or her own area, but a RajyaSabha member
• The article discusses the Pegasus controversy, the
can utilise the funds for projects throughout the
silence of the government, and various aspects
state.
of the issue.
• In the event of a natural disaster, MPs from non-
Background:
affected districts in both Houses of Parliament
can suggest works in disaster-affected areas for • The purchase of a very expensive Israeli software
up to Rs. 25 lakh each year. named Pegasus by the Government of India and
its misuse has shaken the whole world.
Controversies over MPLADS Scheme:
• The government refused to answer any query on
• Misuse of Funds: The scheme was first challenged
this issue
in 1999 by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers
Party chief Bhim Singh and an NGO, Common • The Pegasus Scandal has a similarity with the
Cause. They alleged that in the absence of any Watergate scandal of the USA in which US
guidelines, the funds were misused by MPs. President Richard Nixon was brought down in
the 1970s.
• Challenge to Constitutional Validity: From 1999
until 2005, the constitutional validity of MPLADS • The Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London made
was contested in India’s Supreme Court. In 2010, a judgment in the case in which a Princess has
the Supreme Court issued a combined ruling claimed that the Pegasus spyware has been
on all of these cases, upholding the scheme’s installed in her phone as well in the phones of her
constitutional validity. The Supreme Court said in personal assistant, solicitors, etc. by her husband
its judgment that mere allegations that the funds for the sake of the welfare of their children. This
were prone to misuse could not be the ground shows that royal phones can also be hacked by
for scrapping the scheme. It did, however, advise the Pegasus.
certain changes to the system. • The United States blacklisted the NSO group by
• Suspension during COVID-19: The plan was putting it on an ‘entity list’ because they found
halted for two years on April 6, 2020, with the that Pegasus was not complying with the foreign
justification that money is required to combat policy and national security interests of the US.
the COVID-19 Pandemic. • But, in India, no action has been taken against
* The scheme’s budget of Rs 7,900 crore was hackers.
to be absorbed into the Consolidated Fund
of India over a two-year period. Opposition
MPs slammed the action, claiming that

NOVEMBER - 2021
94
The Supreme Court: Freedom of Speech:
• Denial of right to information, no response to • It is observed by the bench led by the Chief
the Public Interest Litigation (PIL), unanswered Justice of India that surveillance hurts the
questions in the Parliament, and no action from freedom of speech.
the government have compelled the Supreme • In the context of the press, it undermines the
Court of India to intervene. ability of the press to provide accurate and reliable
• A three-member committee was appointed information which is needed for people to know
by the Supreme Court to look into allegations about the acts of their elected government.
of unauthorized surveillance using Pegasus, • The ignorance of the government about the
spyware developed by Israeli firm NSO Group. dangers or difficulties created by Pegasus is
• This is the first-ever inquiry called by the Chief worse than its alleged involvement that needs to
Justice of India. be probed.
A worrying silence: Inquiry by the bench:
• The silence of the Union government on invading • The bench of Chief Justice of India N V Ramana,
the privacy of Indian citizens and the use of Justices Surya Kant, and HimaKohli said “the
collected intelligence is extremely worrisome. Petitioners have placed on record certain
• The government of India requested the Supreme material that prima facie merits consideration by
Court to set up an inquiry committee but the this Court”.
Supreme Court has denied it because it will • There has been no specific denial of any of the
violate the judicial principle against bias which facts averred by the Petitioners by the Respondent
says that ‘justice must not only be done but also (Union of India). There has only been an omnibus
be seen to be done’. and vague denial in the ‘limited affidavit’ filed by
Right to privacy: the Respondent (Union of India), which cannot
be sufficient.
• In 2017, the Supreme Court declared privacy
as an integral component of Part III of the • In such circumstances, the bench has no option
Constitution of India, and protecting this privacy but to accept the prima facie case made out by
is the responsibility of the court. the Petitioners to examine the allegations made.
* Part III of the Constitution lays down our • The Supreme Court made it clear that the State
fundamental rights, ranging from rights cannot get “a free pass every time the spectre
relating to equality, freedom of speech of national security is raised”. The reasons that
and expression, freedom of movement, compelled the Court to act are as follows:
protection of life and personal liberty, and * Right to privacy and freedom of speech are
others. alleged to be impacted, which needs to be
• Snooping can be justified only on three counts: examined.
* the restriction must be by law; * The entire citizenry is affected by such

allegations due to the potential chilling
* it must be necessary and only if other means effect.
are not available, and proportionate (only as
much as needed); and * No clear stand was taken by the Respondent-
¬Union of India regarding actions taken by
* it must promote a legitimate state interest it.
(e.g., national security), according to
paragraph 325 of the nine-judge Bench * Seriousness accorded to the allegations
judgment on privacy). by foreign countries and involvement of
foreign parties.
• If the government wants to use the above-
mentioned cases as an excuse for the use of * The possibility that some foreign authority,
Pegasus then it must have to establish the agency, or private entity is involved in
justification because the surveillance directly placing citizens of this country under
violates the right to privacy. surveillance.
• If the Government wants to justify the surveillance * Allegations that the Union or State
as authorized then it has to answer the question Governments are parties to the rights.
of whether anybody has been prosecuted for Way Forward:
terrorism with evidence procured by snooping. • The use of criminal spyware not only violates the
• Without providing accurate information, the fundamental rights of the citizens but also injures
government cannot rely on the excuse of freedom of the press, expression of dissent by
‘national security’ because the victims can raise the Opposition, and fearlessness of lawyers to
the issue of misuse of surveillance power. challenge in courts the unconstitutional actions
of the state.

NOVEMBER - 2021
95
• It weakens democracy and also converts elected Context:

officials into absolute dictators.
• The report on the Personal Data Protection
• The burden of protecting the constitutional (PDP) Bill, 2019 was adopted recently at the Joint
laws is on the shoulders of the Supreme Court Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting.
Committee and the bench.
Background:
Conclusion:
• The draft Bill on personal data protection was
• The Pegasus controversy has shaken the prepared by the Justice Srikrishna Committee
confidence of the citizens in the government and submitted to the Ministry of Electronics and
and it is expected that the bench by the Chief Information Technology in 2018.
Justice of India will come up with a fair judgment.
• A Joint Parliamentary Committee was set up to
scrutinize another version — the Personal Data
Important Aspects of Governance Protection Bill (PDPB), 2019 proposed by the
government.
6. Sliding rank
Key recommendations:
»» Prelims: Global bribery risk rankings
Exemption for the government agencies:
Context:
• The committee has retained clause 35 of the PDP
• India has been ranked 82nd out of 194 countries bill.
in the global bribery risk rankings in 2021.
* Clause 35 of the PDP bill allows for an
Details exemption for any agency under the Union
• The list has been prepared by TRACE, an anti- Government from all or any provisions
bribery standard setting organisation. of the law in the name of “public order”,
“sovereignty”, “friendly relations with foreign
* It measures business bribery risk in 194 states” and “security of the state”.
countries, territories, and autonomous and
semi-autonomous regions. • The report while acknowledging the need
to balance between the concerns regarding
• This score is based on four factors — business national security, liberty and privacy of an
interactions with the government, anti-bribery individual, notes that only a secure nation can
deterrence and enforcement, government and provide an atmosphere that ensures personal
civil service transparency, and capacity for civil liberty and privacy of an individual and hence
society oversight which includes the role of the places security and public order as a higher
media. priority.
• It was originally published in 2014 to meet • The report argues that the clause 35 is for certain
a need in the business community for more legitimate purposes and it is justifiable given the
reliable and nuanced information about the risks provision for reasonable restrictions imposed
of commercial bribery worldwide. upon the liberty of an individual, as guaranteed
India under Article 19 of the Constitution and the
Puttaswamy judgment.
• In 2020, India ranked 77 with a score of 45. In
2021 the country stood at 82nd position with a • However acknowledging the potential for
score of 44 misuse, the committee, emphasizes that this
power must be used only under exceptional
• India fared better than its neighbours – Pakistan, circumstances and subject to conditions as laid
China, Nepal and Bangladesh out in the Act.
Global Ranking Social media platforms:
• The three most high bribery risk countries are • The committee calls for stricter regulations for
North Korea, Turkmenistan and Venezuela while social media platforms.
the three most low-risk nations are Finland,
Sweden and New Zealand. * It recommended that all social media
platforms, which did not act as intermediaries,
should be treated as publishers and be
Important Judicial observations held accountable for the content they host
meaning they should be held responsible
7. JPC retains exemption clause, adopts personal for the content from unverified accounts on
data Bill their platforms.
»» Prelims: Justice Srikrishna Committee; Ripple and * It recommends a statutory media regulatory
INSTEX authority, on the lines of the Press Council of
»» Mains: Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill, 2019- India for the regulation of the contents on
provisions, concerns and recommendations to the social media platforms.
improve it

NOVEMBER - 2021
96
* It also recommended that no social media Additional Information- Joint Parliamentary

platform should be allowed to operate Committee (JPC)
unless the parent company sets up an office
in India. • There are two kinds of committees
that Parliament may set up: standing
Other recommendations: committees and ad-hoc committees.
• It recommends the setting up of a dedicated JPCs belong to the category of ad-hoc
lab for certification of all digital devices in the committees.
country. • A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)
• The committee suggests that in case of cross is set up to examine a particular bill
border transfer of data, a mirror copy of presented before the Parliament, or for the
sensitive and critical personal data needs to be purpose of investigating cases of financial
mandatorily maintained in India. irregularities in any government activity.
• The committee recommends the development * They are called ‘joint’ committees
of an alternative indigenous financial system because members of both the Houses
for cross-border payments on the lines of Ripple of Parliament can be nominated or
(U.S.) and INSTEX (European Union). elected to them
Concerns: * The committee’s members are
decided by Parliament.
• Some members of the committee have expressed
concerns over clause 35 of the bill. * There are twice as many Lok Sabha
members as the Rajya Sabha.
* This they argue could be ultra vires of the
Fundamental Right to privacy as laid down • A JPC is authorised to collect evidence in
in the Puttaswamy (2017) judgment as the oral or written form or demand documents
bill did not provide adequate safeguards in connection with the matter.
to protect the right to privacy and gave * T he committee gets disbanded
unqualified powers to the Government following the submission of its report
which could be misused. to Parliament.
• The PDP bill also considerably diverges from the
Justice Srikrishna Committee’s draft Bill.
* The selection of the chairperson and
members of the Data Protection Authority
(DPA) will be made by members of the
executive.
• Suggestions by some members of the
committee to remove “public order” as a
ground for exemption, suggestions for “judicial
or parliamentary oversight” for granting of
exemptions and the mandatory written orders
for granting exemptions have been overlooked.
Way forward:
• The recommendations made during the Global
Privacy Assembly could be an ideal way forward
on this issue.
* There should be clearly laid principles based
on a legal basis for government access to
personal data.
* There should also be clear and precise
rules, proportionality and transparency,
data subject rights, independent oversight,
and effective remedies and redress to the
individuals affected.

NOVEMBER - 2021
97
GEOGRAPHY
Geography - Climatology
• Ocean Observation Network
1. ACROSS • Ocean Non-living Resources
»» Prelims: ACROSS scheme • Marine living resources and ecology
»» Mains: Significance of weather forecasting • Coastal research
Context • Operation and Maintenance of Research Vessels
• The Atmosphere and Climate Research Modelling Objectives:
Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS)
scheme has been extended by the cabinet • To improve oceanographic research and
forecasting services
Important Facts:
• Exploratory surveys for sustainable use of ocean
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences took an integrated resources
approach to control extreme weather events
and brought programs like India Meteorological • To develop technologies to tap the marine bio
Department (IMD), INCOIS, IITM under the resources,
umbrella scheme “ACROSS”. • To develop technologies generating freshwater
• There are eight sub-schemes under “ACROSS” and energy from ocean,
scheme and they are implemented through the • To develop underwater vehicles and technologies
operating units: IMD, IITM (Institute of Tropical
Important Achievements under the scheme
Meteorology), NCMRWF (National Centre for
Medium Range Weather Forecasting), INCOIS • India has been considered as the pioneer for
(Indian National Centre for Ocean Information investing in the International Seabed Authority
Services). to carry out research in deep sea mining
of polymetallic nodules and hydrothermal
Significance:
sulphides in the Indian Ocean Region.
• This scheme offers highly advanced Monitoring,
• A low-temperature thermal desalination facility
Detection and Early Warning of calamities like
has been installed in the Lakshadweep islands.
tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, dust storms,
heavy rain, snow fall, cold and heat waves. • The O-SMART scheme has enabled the expansion
of ocean activities of India from the Arctic to the
• The climate services provided by the umbrella
Antarctic region accompanied by satellite based
scheme benefit agriculture, aviation, tourism
monitoring systems and observations.
industries. Besides public weather services,
environmental services, hydro meteorological • An early warning system to detect oceanic
services are also provided under the scheme. disasters like tsunami, storm surges has been
established at INCOIS, Hyderabad that extends
• The whole process from forecast to delivery
services to the countries of the Indian Ocean
requires huge labour thereby resulting in
region. This was recognised by UNESCO.
employment generation.
Geography - Geomorphology
Geography - Oceanography
3. Glacial Tectonic Interaction
2. O – SMART Scheme
»» Prelims: Glacitectonics
»» Prelims: O-SMART Scheme
»» Mains: Vulnerability of the Himalayan region to
»» Mains: Blue economy- Significance, potential geophysical phenomenon and concerns
and challenges
Context
Context
• A change in the course of the Himalayan glacier
• The continuation of the Ocean Services, has been observed by a group of scientists from
Modelling, Applications, Resources and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun
Technology (O-SMART) has been approved by which is an autonomous institute under the
the cabinet. This scheme operates under the Department of Science and Technology,
Ministry of Earth Sciences. Government of India.
Schemes under O-SMART
• Ocean Technology, Ocean Modelling and
Advisory Services (OMAS)

NOVEMBER - 2021
98
Important Observations:
This is for the first time that an abrupt change has
occurred in the Himalayan glacier and the scientists
believe that this is a consequence of climate and
tectonics. The observation was made in the upper
Kali Ganga valley in the Pithoragarh district of
Uttarakhand.
• The change in the course of the glacier is
associated with the disaster that took place in
Rishiganga.
• The rock mass on which the glacier was
placed became fragile because of weathering,
percolation of meltwater in joints and cracks,
freezing, thawing, snowfall, overloading. All these
contribute to the mechanical disintegration of
the glacier from the source rock.
• Therefore the scientists found that the northeast
moving glacier abruptly changed the direction
towards the southeast due to climatic factors
and tectonics.
• The active fault on the glacier was confirmed by
remote sensing and an old survey map.
Significance:
• This study helps in understanding the factors
that result in disastrous events in the Himalayan (a) Depicts past scenario and (b) depicts the present
region.
• It is inferred that not only the climatic factors but
(a) Depicts past scenario and (b) depicts the present
the glacial-tectonic interactions play a significant
scenario
role in the evolution of new landforms.
• A clear idea about the unique behaviour of
glaciers has been offered by the study which can Geography - Important Phenomena
be essential in future studies related to glacial
events and Himalayan disasters. 4. The Sun lights up aurorae in high-latitude
What is Glacitectonics? countries
• The deformation involving folding and thrusting »» Prelims: Aurora, sunspots and solar flares
caused by a glacier or ice-sheet that forces into »» Mains: Solar phenomenon and its impact on
the existing sedimentary bedrock is known as earth
Glacitectonics.
Context:
• This phenomenon results in the dynamic
• The Indian scientists had predicted a magnetic
nature of glaciers and ice sheets leading to their
storm
advancement, retreat, folding and faulting.
Details:
• A solar flare on the Sun generated a magnetic
storm of enough amplitude to cause stunning
aurora displays in high-latitude and polar
locations.
• This prediction was based on models developed
by them as well as data from NASA’s observatories.
• Aurora: – Aurora are the coloured bands of light
seen in the North and South poles.
• Sunspots: – The solar magnetic cycle that works
in the deep interior of the Sun creates regions
that rise to the surface and appear like dark spots.
These are the sunspots.

NOVEMBER - 2021
99
Solar flares • A black hole has two parts:
• Solar flares are very energetic events that occur * Singularity: At its core is a singularity which is
within sunspots. a point that is infinitely dense. The remnant
• The energy contained in the Sun’s magnetic mass of the star is compressed into this
structures is turned into light and heat energy point.
during a solar flare. * Event Horizon: The event horizon is
• Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) occurs when solar an imaginary surface surrounding the
flares force heated plasma to be expelled from singularity, and the gravity of the object is
the Sun, resulting in a solar storm. such that once anything enters this surface,
it is trapped forever. Not even light can
Impact of the Solar Flares escape the pull of the singularity once it
• Sharp increase in transverse magnetic fields, crosses the event horizon.
density, and plasma wind velocity. That is why, we cannot see the singularity at the heart
• The flares can have an impact on Earth-bound of a black hole but only see points outside the event
items and life. horizon.
• Coronal mass ejections can disrupt electrical
systems as well as oil pipelines and deep-sea
cables.
• They may also produce beautiful auroras in high-
latitude and Polar Regions.
Geography - Celestial Bodies

5. Was it really a black hole that the EHT imaged in
2019?
»» Prelims: Event horizon; Singularity
Context:
• A recently published paper provides an
alternative explanation of the image of the
Black hole (M87*) taken by the Event Horizon
Telescope.
Background
• In 2019, researchers using the Event Horizon
Telescope acquired the first photograph of a
supermassive black hole (M87*) at the galaxy’s
centre, Messier 87. (M87).
• Now, an article published in The European
Physical Journal C proposes a new theory for the
compact object observed by the Event Horizon
Telescope.
• It (M87*) might be a “bare singularity with a
gravitomagnetic monopole,” according to the
scientists, rather than a black hole.
Additional Information Black Hole singularity
Black Hole: • A gravitational singularity is a one-dimensional
point in the core of a black hole that holds a
• A black hole is a region of space in which gravity massive mass in an endlessly tiny space.
is so strong that even light cannot escape.
Because matter has been crammed into such a • Here the rules of physics as we know them cease
small space, gravity is extremely powerful. to apply.
• When stars reach the end of their lives, they • The presence of a singularity is frequently viewed
collapse under their own gravity, and the product as proof that general relativity theory has failed.
of this collapse, most astronomers believe, is a • It is probably unsurprising given that it happens
black hole. in situations when quantum effects should
become significant.

NOVEMBER - 2021
100
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Biotechnology Centre for Northeast Tribals in • The activity included various meetings,
workshops and onsite demos at the gram
Kimim, Arunachal Pradesh
panchayats.
Context:
• The Ministry of Rural Development has shown
• The Union Minister of State for Science and active participation in spreading awareness
Technology has inaugurated a new Biotech about cleanliness that can improve the livelihood
centre for Northeast tribals in the remote area of of the villagers.
Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Ministry has also worked towards building
Details proper drainage channels, recharge pits,
• The Centre will result in the betterment of the bettering the Anganwadi toilets and stabilization
socio-economic conditions of the tribal people ponds.
of Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, this village week initiative would take India
• A focus to promote research in the field of closer to the recognition of the ethos that ‘India lives
biotechnology has been ensured. in its villages’ that exemplifies the Gandhian ideology.
• This would help in the generation of employment
opportunities in the region. 3. ‘HarGharDastak’ Campaign
• The centre would look forward to conducting Context:
various training programmes such as Students
Training, Technician Training, Faculty Training • A national webinar was organised by the Union
and Entrepreneurship Development. This will Health Ministry to propagate awareness about
further the progress of Vigyan initiatives of health especially about vaccination in the
the Government of India and benefit the local wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ministry
communities. employs media as a vital tool for spreading such
awareness.
Key areas and programs for the benefit of the region:
About the ‘HarGharDastak’ Campaign:
• Establishment of Orchidarium to conserve and
multiply certain orchid species with the help of • The campaign aims at ensuring that the entire
satellite units. adult population has completed the first dose
of the COVID-19 vaccine and must complete the
• Banana fibre extraction. second dose.
• Aroma units for the cultivation of aromatic crops. • As a part of the awareness campaign, the
Significance: healthcare workers will provide a door to door
vaccination facility for eligible people.
• This will act as a boost for the life science
graduates and encourage entrepreneurship. • This determines the current vaccine delivery
capacity of India which is a commendable
• It is seen as a welcome step towards the
achievement.
development of the Northeast Region.
• There will be multimedia information, education
and communication to prevent rumours that
2. Clean Green Village Week promote vaccine hesitancy among the citizens.
Context:
• The Clean Green village Week is an activity under 4. National Ayurveda Day 2021
Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and also a part of Azadi Context:
ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• National Ayurveda Day is observed on the
About: occasion of Dhanteras in India.
• This activity led to the identification and About National Ayurveda Day 2021:
construction of soak pits and other waste to
wealth initiatives like vermicomposting, recycling • As the festival of Dhanteras (Dhanwantri Jayanti)
of non-biodegradable waste involving villagers falls on Nov 2 in 2021, the National Ayurveda Day
across the country. 2021 is observed on this date.
• This day has been marked from 2016 to spread
awareness on the importance of Ayurveda in our
daily lives.

NOVEMBER - 2021
101
* It is observed to focus on the strengths move towards clean energy which is presently
of Ayurveda and its unique treatment the central theme of every discussion.
principles.
Benefits of Solar Iron Cart:
• Theme of National Ayurveda Day 2021: ‘Ayurveda
• Eliminates the use of coal for steam iron boxes
for Poshan’
and uses solar energy.
• The end users can move door to door and
5. National Sports Awards 2021 increase their daily earning.
Context: • This cart can be fitted with USB charging points,

pre-charged batteries, electricity and benefit the
• National Sports Awards 2021 announced. workers.
Details: Therefore, the solar carts can be replicated and scaled
• The National Sports Awards are given every year up as a welcoming move towards clean energy.
to recognize and reward excellence in sports.
• ‘Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award’ is given 7. Food Corporation of India’s first state of the art
for the spectacular and most outstanding
performance in the field of sports by a laboratory
sportsperson over a period of the previous four Context:
years.
• The first state of the art laboratory of Food
* 12 people have been declared winners of Corporation of India was launched in Gurugram.
this award including Tokyo Olympics Gold FCI operates under the department of Food and
medallist Neeraj Chopra. Public Distribution.
• ‘Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in • The Quality Control laboratory for the in house
Sports and Games’ is given for good performance testing of food grains was inaugurated at the
over a period of previous four years and showing Institute of Food Security, FCI, Gurugram.
qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a
About the Event:
sense of discipline.
• The quality control laboratory offers a well
* 35 people have been selected for the award.
equipped facility to assure food safety attending
• ‘Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches to the health requirements of consumers.
in Sports and Games’ is given to coaches for
• There was a short film on ‘Fortification of Rice’
doing outstanding and meritorious work on a
to spread awareness about fortified rice and
consistent basis and enabling sportspersons to
dispelling all myths about the same.
excel in international events.
• Rice fortification involves the addition of
• ‘Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime achievement
micronutrients to regular rice enhancing the
in Sports and Games’ is given to honour
nutritive quality of food.
sportspersons who have contributed to sports by
their performance and continue to contribute to • The government paid considerable attention to
promotion of sports event after their retirement. malnutrition, anaemia in children and women
and stepped ahead to expand the ambit of the
• ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar’ is given to
Public Distribution System and Mid Day Meal
corporate entities (both in private and public
with a special aim to promote fortified rice.
sector), sports control boards, NGOs including
sports bodies at the State and National levels • It was pointed out that the food grains to be
who have played a visible role in the area of issued from FCI depots for various government
sports promotion and development. schemes will be checked in house to determine
the pesticides level, mycotoxin(Fungal toxins),
• Overall top performing university in inter-
Uric acid and fortification levels of vitamins.
university tournaments is given the Maulana
Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.
8. Kongthong
6. Solar Iron Cart • Kongthong village is located in the East Khasi
Context: Hills district, which is 60 km from Meghalaya’s
capital city Shillong.
• A teenage girl was recognised for her innovative
idea of the Solar Iron Cart at the Earth Day • The ‘Whistling Village,’ as Kongthong is known, is
Network Rising Star 2021 organised by the global a famous tourist destination.
NGO Earth Day Network that works towards • Women in the village have a very unique tradition
environmental issues. This idea is an exemplary of calling their children by a melody rather than
a name.

NOVEMBER - 2021
102
• The villagers here have two names: one is a • Local culture must be prioritised since it has
conventional name, and the other is a song the potential to contribute significantly to the
name, such as Eeooow or Ooeeo. This unique success of rural tourism development. Local
tradition is called ‘Jingrwai Iawbei’. culture may also be employed as a major tourist
• Jingrwai iawbei is a tune (jingrwai) sung in attraction.
honour of the clan’s first mother or root ancestress • The success of rural tourism depends heavily
(iawbei). on the basic education of the inhabitants. If the
Context: people are ignorant, there will be a significant skill
gap, which will undoubtedly jeopardise the rural
• Recently, the PM expressed gratitude to the tourist development approach. The locals should
people of Kongthong for promoting the village be provided required language education and
as a prime tourism destination. also be imparted with requisite skill sets.
Village Tourism
• Village tourism is becoming more popular as
9. Namda Craft
a more environmentally friendly option, since
it stresses the active participation of the local Context:
population as a driver for tourism growth. • The Ministry of Skill Development and
• It is relevant to the new tourist development Entrepreneurship launched two pilot projects in
model, which emphasises social, ecological, and Jammu and Kashmir.
community-based tourism. Pilot Projects that were launched:
• With the growing popularity of village tourism, • Revive the traditional Namda craft under Pradhan
numerous villages in India that were formerly Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana ( PMKVY).
completely unknown to the nation and the
rest of the world have risen to prominence and • Upskilling the artisans and weavers of Kashmir
are now visited by visitors every year. This has under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) which
resulted in the village communities’ economic is a component of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal
progress. Vikas Yojana.
• The following are the main benefits of village Aim of the projects:
tourism: • To strengthen the local weavers and artisans of
* Learning something different from kashmir with enhanced productivity through
urbanization. learning, assessments and certifications.
* Getting an opportunity to visit farmlands. • To preserve the traditional crafts of the region.
The Namda project aims to benefit many
* Getting introduced to artisans and craftsmen across 30 clusters in Kashmir.
even purchasing locally manufactured
handicrafts. • Therefore the major aim is to establish a linkage
between industry and market that will empower
* Socio-economic development of the village. micro-entrepreneurship in Kashmir.
Challenges to Village Tourism About Namda Craft:
• The locals are generally not fluent in the language • Namda craft involves a rug made of sheep wool
of the clients they will be serving, which can through felting technique instead of normal
cause a significant loss for the tourist business. weaving techniques.
• Lack of government support, trained manpower, • Felting is a process of converting a protein fiber
physical communications are major impediments derived from animals like sheep, alpaca, and yak
hindering the success of the rural tourism model into a fabric by interconnecting the individual
in India. fibers. These felts can be shaped, cut and sewn.
Way Forward: • They have high resistance towards water
• Because the majority of international tourists are absorption with high durability.
interested in cultural and health tourism, tour • The Namda craft traces its origin from the 11th
operators must highlight them as their top items century Mughal reign of Akbar when a man
while offering village tourism products to them. named Nubi for the first time created a felted
• High focus must be given to making the best cloth from sheep wool. Since then this craft has
use of local resources and circumstances. been practiced by Pinjara, Mansuri communities
Sustainability is seen as a noble goal, and as such, and Sama muslims of Kachchh. Over a period of
it must be considered while establishing and time it spread across Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh
constructing any strategy with respect to rural and Rajasthan.
tourism.

NOVEMBER - 2021
103
• The Namda craft includes a detailed procedure Important Launch:
that involves steps such as carding, creating
borders, creating layers, sprinkling soap solution, • The SDG Urban Index & Dashboard (2021-22) was
rolling the Namda (fibre to fibre fusion) and launched by the Government of India and BMZ
Drying. to establish a robust SDG monitoring in the cities
by improving the ULB- level data monitoring and
• After drying the Namda is beautified with aari reporting systems.
work which is a type of embroidery.
• The Index and Dashboard will ensure the
• Due to the unavailability of raw materials, implementation of data-driven decision making.
human resources, marketing support and
design upgradation the Namda craft declined
completely.
11. UNESCO-ABU Peace Media Awards 2021
• This present initiative of the Ministry of Skill
Context:
Development and Entrepreneurship will
encourage the craftsmen to refurbish this • Doordarshan and All India Radio win awards at
beautiful traditional craft. the UNESCO-ABU Peace Media Awards 2021.
About the awards:
10. NITI – BMZ Dialogue • The awards were given by UNESCO in
collaboration with Asia Pacific Broadcasting
Context: Union (ABU) under ‘Together for Peace’ (T4P)
• In order to expand the areas of developmental initiative.
cooperation between India and Germany, the • The ABU-UNESCO T4P Media Awards highlight
NITI Aayog and the Federal Ministry for Economic and promote the crucial role of independent,
Cooperation and Development (BMZ) signed a ethical journalism and citizens’ media literacy for
Statement of Intent (SoI). This will be a bi-annual building positive peace in human minds.
dialogue.
• The Awards honour innovative and creative
Statement of Intent: content, which informs and educates audiences
• A statement that highlights the important on best practices of building positive peace
areas of a research project and also mentions that have increasing urgency in achieving the
the purpose of the project offering a better Sustainable Development Goals and building
understanding of the project undertaken is back better from the COVID-19 pandemic.
referred to as a Statement of Intent.
Major Objectives:
12. Indore keeps cleanest city tag for fifth year
• The NITI – BMZ dialogue aims at creating a
Context:
common platform for bilateral discussions.
• Recently, the Swachh Survekshan Awards, 2021
• Exchanging the experiences of the
was handed out by the President of India.
developmental policies.
Details:
• To establish means to overview bilateral
programmes. Swachh Survekshan Awards, 2021
• Carry out joint research for the progress of • For the sixth year in a row, Indore was declared
government policies and to tackle the multi- the cleanest city.
sectoral challenges. • Chhattisgarh has been named the cleanest state
• Involvement of think tanks, Government, in the category of states having more than 100
Industry and Academia to analyse policy issues. urban local bodies for the third time.
Areas of collaboration: • Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh were placed
second and third, respectively, among states
• This dialogue intends to increase the India –
having more than 100 urban local bodies (ULBs).
Germany bilateral cooperation in the areas of
Climate, SDGs, energy, emerging technologies • Varanasi was named the cleanest “Ganga city.”
and agroecology. • Surat and Vijayawada were in second and third
* There is a possibility that NITI Aayog will place, respectively, among cities.
associate with its German stakeholders to • With less than 100 ULBs, Jharkhand was deemed
resolve the issue of climate change using the cleanest state, followed by Haryana and Goa.
Artificial Intelligence and to regulate issues
of transparency, accountability, privacy
related to artificial intelligence.

NOVEMBER - 2021
104
Additional Information: 15. Bid to get heritage status for jackfruit tree
Swachh Survekshan Report Context:
• The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs • A jackfruit tree, aged around 250 years, in
(MoHUA) released the Swachh Survekshan Urban Karnataka is striving to get “heritage tree” status.
report, while the Jal Shakti Ministry published • Additional Information
the Grameen (Rural) report.
Jackfruit:
• It is one of the world’s largest sanitation surveys.
• Scientific Name: Artocarpusheterophyllus.
• The survey helps to broaden the scope of the
ranking process while also motivating cities and • Jackfruit is a multi-flowered fruit with fleshy
communities to actively pursue mission projects petals made up of hundreds to thousands of
in a timely and innovative manner. individual blooms.
• India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Nepal are the
world’s top producers of Jackfruit.
13. Indira Gandhi Peace Prize
• Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar
• The civil society organisation, Pratham has been Pradesh, Odisha, and Assam are India’s major
selected for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Jackfruit production states.
Disarmament and Development for 2021.
• Kerala is the world’s largest jackfruit producer.
* The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
Disarmament and Development, is accorded • Kerala and Tamil Nadu have it as their state fruit.
annually by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
• Pratham has been dedicated to improving the
quality of education among underprivileged
children in India and across the world.
* It has been involved in the innovative use
of digital technology to deliver education
thus enabling children to learn during the
COVID-19 related school closures.
* Its Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)
involves regular evaluation of the quality of
education. The ASER model has been used
to assess education outcomes and learning
deficiencies in 14 countries over three
continents.
14. A Rs.1 bounty on giant African snails

African Giant Snails:
• African Giant snail species have been a significant
cause of pest issues around the world.
• It feeds voraciously and is a vector for plant
pathogens, causing severe damage to
agricultural crops and native plants.
• It competes with native snail taxa and spreads
human disease.
Context:
• A novel initiative to eliminate the threat posed
by the highly invasive African giant snails is
being undertaken in Kerala under which a group
of volunteers purchase the African giant snails
at nominal rates from people and eliminate en
masseusing a saline lotion.

NOVEMBER - 2021
105
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Consider the following statements with regards C. Bangladesh
to Ganges River Dolphins and choose the correct
D. India
ones:
1. They are listed as ‘endangered’ on the IUCN red
list. 5. Who among of the following Mughal Emperors
2. It is the national aquatic animal of India. shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to
album and individual portrait?
3. It features in Schedule II of the Wildlife
Protection Act, 1972. A. Humayun
Which of these statements are correct? B. Akbar
A. 1 & 2 only C. Jahangir
B. 2 & 3 only D. Shah Jahan
C. 1 & 3 only
D. All of the above 6. Consider the following statements with regards
to the Defense Acquisition Council and choose
the correct ones:
2. “Hindus and Muslims are the two eyes of the
beautiful bride that is Hindustan. Weakness 1. It is the highest decision-making body in the
of any one of them will spoil the beauty of the Defense Ministry for deciding on new policies and
bride.” This statement is associated with whom capital acquisitions for the three services (Army,
amongst the following? Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard.
A. Aurobindo Ghosh 2. The Chief of Defense Staff is the Chairman of

the Council.
B. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
3. It was formed after the Group of Ministers’
C. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan recommendations on ‘Reforming the National
D. Mahatma Gandhi Security System’, in 2001, post the Kargil War (1999).
Which of these statements are correct?
3. Consider the following statements with regards A. 1 & 2 only
to Dengue: B. 2 & 3 only
1. The same mosquito species is responsible for C. 1 & 3 only
causing dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and
zika infection. D. All of the above
2. Diagnosis of dengue infection is done with a

blood test. 7. Countering America’s Adversaries Through
3. National Vector-Borne Disease Control Sanctions Act (CAATSA), a United States federal
Programme, under the Ministry of Urban law, does not impose sanctions on which of the
Development, is the central nodal agency for the following nations?
prevention and control of Dengue in India. A. Afghanistan
Which of these statements are correct? B. Iran
A. 1 & 2 only C. North Korea
B. 2 & 3 only D. Russia
C. 1 & 3 only
D. All of the above 8. Consider the following statements with regards
to Ayushman CAPF scheme:
4. Which of these nations is not a part of the BASIC 1. It will provide healthcare services to the serving
group of nations? and retired CAPF personnel from all seven forces,
A. South Africa viz. Assam Rifles, BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, NSG and
SSB, and their dependents through the Ayushman
B. China Bharat PM-JAY IT platform.

NOVEMBER - 2021
106
2. A dedicated call centre for support and Which of the statements given above is/are
grievance redressal for CAPF personnel has also correct?
been set up. A. 1 and 2
3. Under this scheme, any medical expense done B. 3 only
by the CAPF personnel will be reimbursed up to
C. 3 and 4 only
the limit of Rs. 5 lakh per family.
D. 1, 3 and 4
Which of these statements are incorrect?
A. 1 & 2 only
11. Consider the following statements with regards
B. 2 & 3 only to the tea garden community of Assam:
C. 1 & 3 only 1. They are found mainly in those districts of
D. All of the above Upper Assam and Northern Brahmaputra belt
where there is high concentration of tea gardens.
2. The Government of Assam has a full-fledged
9. Consider the following statements with regards “Tea-tribes welfare department” for looking after
to the recently released guidelines on NPAs by the socio-economic welfare of the community.
the Union Finance Ministry:
3. Tribals among the community have been
1. Staff accountability need not be examined in fighting for decades to receive Scheduled Tribe
the case of NPA accounts with outstanding of up (ST) status, which is being denied to them in Assam
to Rs. 20 lakh. although in other states of India their counterparts
fully enjoy that status.
2. The accountability exercise, whenever needed,
must be completed within 3 months from the date Choose the correct ones from the given codes:
that the account is declared as NPA. A. 1 & 2 only
3. If NPA is caused by external factors such B. 2 & 3 only
as changes in government policies or natural C. 1 & 3 only
calamities, it should not attract a staff accountability
D. All of the above
examination.
Which of these statements are incorrect?
12. As per the 2015 JCPOA deal between Iran and
A. 1 & 2 only P5+1 nations, Iran was not meant to enrich
B. 2 & 3 only Uranium above ______, while enriched Uranium
C. 1 & 3 only above _____ can be used for nuclear weapons.
A. 5.83%, 90%
D. All of the above
B. 3.67%, 80%
C. 3.67%, 90%
10. Consider the following statements:
D. 5.83%, 80%
1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme
Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker
of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 13. Consider the following statements with regards
1968.
to the Air Quality Index:
2. The Constitution of India defines and gives
1. It measures a total of 10 major air pollutants.
details of what constitutes ‘incapacity and proved
misbehaviour’ of the Judges of the Supreme Court 2. AQI reading from 401-500 is considered as
of India. ‘severe’.
3. The details of the process of impeachment of 3. PM 2.5 refers to the concentration of
the Judges of the Supreme Court of India are given microscopic particles less than 2.5 microns in
in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. radius.
4. If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge Which of these statements are incorrect?
is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion A. 1 & 2 only
to be backed by each House of the Parliament and
supported by a majority of total membership of B. 2 & 3 only
that House and by not less than two-thirds of total C. 1 & 3 only
members of that House present and voting.
D. All of the above

NOVEMBER - 2021
107
14. Which of the following is the theme for Goa C. Both

Maritime Conclave 2021? D. None
A. Maritime Security and Emerging non-
traditional threats: A case for proactive role for IOR
Navies 18. With respect to the SOHO satellite, which of the
following statements is/are correct?
B. Common Maritime Priorities in IOR and need
for Regional Maritime Strategy 1. It is a joint mission of the European Space
Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration
C. Addressing Regional Maritime Challenges Agency (JAXA).
D. None of the above 2. It is a mission to explore the planet Mercury.
Options:
15. Consider the following statements with regards A. 1 only
to the practice of Stubble Burning:
B. 2 only
1. It is notified as an offence under the Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. C. Both
2. In Punjab and Haryana, farmers burn the D. None
stubble (rice chaff ) left after the rice harvest so that
the field may be readied for the next Kharif (winter)
crop like wheat. 19. Consider the following statements:
3. Madhya Pradesh government has set up an 1. Tigray Region the Northernmost regional state
innovative experiment, called gauthans, to solve in Ethiopia is bordered by Eritrea to the north and
this problem. Djibouti to the East.
Choose the correct code: 2. Ethiopia is the largest landlocked country in
the world.
A. 1 only
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
B. 1 & 3 only
A. 1 only
C. 2 only
B. 2 only
D. All of the above
C. Both
D. None
1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only.
20. With reference to the Advocate General of the
2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in State, which of the following statements is/are
India only. correct?
3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in 1. The Advocate General is appointed by the
India only. President.
Which of the statements given above is/are 2. Article 165 has provided for the office of
correct? Advocate general for the States.
A. 1 only Options:
B. 2 only A. 1 only
C. 1 and 3 only B. 2 only
D. 1, 2 and 3 C. Both
D. None
17. Consider the following statements with respect
to Vamsadhara River:
21. Under the Airports Economic Regulatory
1. Mahendratanaya River is a major tributary of Authority of India Act, the Centre can designate
Vamsadhara. an airport as a ‘Major Airport’ if it has an annual
2. Vamsadhara River Water Dispute is between passenger traffic of at least
Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. A. 20 Lakhs
Which of the above statements is/are correct? B. 25 lakhs
A. 1 only C. 30 lakhs
B. 2 only D. 35 lakhs

NOVEMBER - 2021
108
22. ‘Doctors without Borders (Medecins Sans 26. Consider the following statements with regards
Frontieres)’, often in the news, is to the Indian Government’s plan to list India’s
A. A division of World Health Organization G-secs in the international bond indices:
B. A non-governmental international 1. The RBI had earlier notified a fully accessible
organization route for investment by non-residents for
C. An inter-governmental agency sponsored by investment in government securities without any
European Union ceiling.
D. A specialized agency of the United Nations 2. The move is expected to increase foreign
inflow into India’s debt market.
3. It will help the government in managing its
23. Consider the following statements with regards
market borrowing programme.
to the UAPA law:
Choose the correct code from the following:
1. The law was originally enacted in 1967.
A. 1 & 2 only
2. As per the Act, an investigating officer is
required to obtain the prior approval of the B. 2 & 3 only
Director-General of Police to seize properties that C. 1 & 3 only
may be connected with terrorism.
D. All of the above
3. UAPA has life imprisonment as the highest
punishment.
27. In which of the following relief sculpture
Choose the correct ones from the given codes:
inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King Ashoka)
A. 1 & 2 only mentioned along with the stone portrait of
B. 2 & 3 only Ashoka? (UPSC-2019)
C. 1 & 3 only A. Kanaganahalli
D. All of the above B. Sanchi

C. Shahbazgarhi
24. Consider the following statements with regards D. Sohgaura
to Molnupiravir:
1. It is the world’s first antiviral medicine which 28. Consider the following statements with regards
can be taken as a pill for the treatment of Covid-19. to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network:
2. It was originally developed to treat influenza. 1. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
3. The drug has been codenamed ‘EIDD-2081’. was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with
and among cities that have identified creativity as a
Which of these statements is/are incorrect? strategic factor for sustainable urban development.
A. 1 & 2 only 2. The network covers six creative fields: crafts
B. 2 & 3 only and folk arts, media arts, film, design, gastronomy
and music.
C. 1 & 3 only
3. Chennai recently became the sixth Indian city
D. None of these
to be made a part of this network.
Choose the correct ones from the given codes:
25. Which of the following was not amongst the
climate change targets announced by India at A. 1 only
the recently held climate conference at Glasgow? B. 2 & 3 only
A. India will achieve net-zero target by 2070 C. 1 & 3 only
B. India will ensure 50% of its energy will be
D. All of the above
sourced from renewable energy sources latest by
2040
C. India will also reduce its emissions intensity
per unit of GDP by less than 45% latest by 2030
D. India would also install 500 Gigawatt of
renewable energy by 2030

NOVEMBER - 2021
109
29. Consider the following statements with 33. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
regards to the Padma awards conferred by the 1. LeadIT (Leadership Group for Industry
Government of India: transition) is an initiative to achieve the adoption
1. Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award of the best cyber security standards in the IT
of the Government of India. industry.
2. These awards were instituted in 1950 when 2. It was launched by India and Sweden along
the Constitution came into force. with the World Economic Forum in 2019.
3. The Government of India decides the winners Options:
of these awards with the common citizens having A. 1 only
no role to play in the process.
B. 2 only
Which of these statements is/are incorrect?
C. Both 1 and 2
A. 1 & 2 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2
B. 2 & 3 only
C. 1 & 3 only
34. India organised the ‘Ganga Connect’ exhibition
D. None of these in which city?
A. New Delhi
30. Sportsperson Emma Raducanu became famous B. Varanasi
throughout the world for which of the following
achievements? C. Glasgow
A. She became the youngest tennis player to get D. Osaka
to the world number 1 rank
B. She became the first female tennis player to 35. National Legal Services Authority of India
win both singles and doubles titles at Wimbledon (NALSA) was established to fulfil which provision
C. She became the first singles qualifier to win a of the Indian Constitution?
Grand Slam title A. Article 20
D. She became the first female tennis player to B. Article 39A
win all the four grand slams in one single year
C. Article 123
D. Article 224
31. As per NASA’s definition, a meteor storm must
have at least
36. India and Israel have recently entered into a
A. 100 meteors per hour
Bilateral Innovation Agreement (BIA) to promote
B. 1,000 meteors per hour
A. Development of dual use technologies
C. 10,000 meteors per hour
B. Development of next-generation COVID-19
D. 1,00,000 meteors per hour vaccines
C. Innovation in agriculture and irrigation
32. The Ninth Schedule was introduced in the D. Deployment of cyber defence tools
Constitution of India during the prime
ministership of (UPSC- 2019)
37. With reference to the British colonial rule in India,
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
consider the following statements: (UPSC-2019)
B. Lal Bahadur Shastri
1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the
C. Indira Gandhi abolition of the system of ‘indentured labour’.
D. Morarji Desai 2. In Lord Chelmsford’s ‘War Conference’,
Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution
on recruiting Indians for World War.
3. Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by
Indian people, the Indian National Congress was
declared illegal by the colonial rulers.

NOVEMBER - 2021
110
Which of the statements given above are correct? 41. Which is the best description of Janjatiya Gaurav
Divas?
A. 1 and 2 only
A. It is the day to remember the contributions of
B. 1 and 3 only
tribal freedom fighters
C. 2 and 3 only
B. It is observed every year to convey the
D. 1, 2 and 3 importance of Nurses in the healthcare system
C. It is a day to acknowledge the contributions of
38. Consider the following statements with respect women who have fought against trafficking
to MPLADS funds: D. It is celebrated every year to honour animal
1. Funds released to district authorities under welfare and animal rights activists
MPLADS are not lapsable.
2. The MPLADS is a Central Sector Scheme fully
42. With reference to the cultural history of India,
funded by the Government of India.
the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories
3. The Ministry of Rural Development is the and Epic tales was the profession of who of the
administrative ministry for the scheme at the following?
Centre.
A. Shramana
A. 1 only B. Parivraaj
B. 1 and 2 only C. Agrahaarika

C. 2 and 3 only D. Maagadha
D. 1, 2 and 3
43. Consider the following statements about the
Governor of a state:
39. Consider the following Pairs:
1. The office of Governor of a State is an
Martial Arts State employment under the Government of India
1. Kalaripayattu Kerala 2. He is given immunity from any criminal
2. Mardani Khel Rajasthan proceedings, even in respect of his personal acts
during his term as the Governor.
3. Pari-Khanda Uttar Pradesh
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
4. Thoda Madhya Pradesh
A. 1 only
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
B. 2 only
A. 1 only
C. Both
B. 2 and 3 only
D. None
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
44. With respect to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna
Award, which of the following statements is/are
40. With respect to Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, which correct?
of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is the highest sporting honour of India.
1. It is the second-largest stretch of mangrove 2. The Khel Ratna award was instituted in 1991-
forests in India. 1992
2. The Sanctuary is declared as a Ramsar site. 3. The first recipient was Chess legend
Options: Viswanathan Anand.
A. 1 only Options:
B. 2 only A. 1 and 2 only
C. Both B. 2 and 3 only
D. None C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

NOVEMBER - 2021
111
45. Arrange the following in a chronological order as 48. With respect to Norovirus, which of the following
per their annexation by the Doctrine of Lapse? statements is/are correct?
1. Satara 1. It is a form of a virus that causes encephalitis.
2. Sambalpur 2. Wild animals typically thought to be carriers
3. Udaipur include raccoons, bats and foxes.
4. Jhansi Options:
5. Jaitpur A. 1 only
6. Nagpur B. 2 only
7. Baghat C. Both
Options:
D. None
A. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
B. 1, 5, 2, 7, 3, 4, 6
C. 2, 7, 6, 4, 1, 5, 3
1. The council of ministers shall be collectively
D. 7, 6, 5, 1, 2, 4, 3 responsible to the Governor.
2. The salaries and allowances of the ministers
46. Which of the following statements about Onake shall be determined by a committee appointed
Obavva is/are correct? by the Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition and a
cabinet minister selected by the Chief Minister.
1. She led an armed rebellion against the British
East India Company in defiance of the doctrine of Which of the above statements is/are correct?
lapse A. 1 only
2. She belonged to the Chowta dynasty who B. 2 only
ruled over parts of coastal Karnataka
C. Both
Options:
D. None
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
50. Which amongst the following statements is the
C. Both
best description of Tallinn Manual?
D. None
A. It is a report which gives insights about climate
change, its causes, potential impacts and response
47. Which of the following are envisaged by the options
Right against Exploitation in the Constitution of B. It provides guidelines regarding the use of
India? (UPSC-2017) drugs to treat COVID-19
1. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and C. It is an academic, non-binding study on how
forced labour international law applies to cyber conflicts and
2. Abolition of untouchability cyber-warfare
3. Protection of the interests of minorities D. None of the above
4. Prohibition of employment of children in
factories and mines 51. Which of the following Rivers are west flowing?
Select the correct answer using the code given 1. Narmada
below:
2. Mahi
A. 1, 2 and 4 only
3. Sabarmati
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
4. Luni
C. 1 and 4 only
5. Tapi
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
6. Tawa
7. Sharavati
Options:

NOVEMBER - 2021
112
A. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 only 55. Which of the following are Mosquito-borne

diseases?
B. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 only
1. Chikungunya
C. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 only
2. Cholera
D. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
3. Dengue Fever
4. Yellow Fever
52. Out of the following statements, choose the
one that brings out the principle underlying the 5. Zika
Cabinet form of Government: [UPSC 2017] Options:
A. An arrangement for minimizing the criticism A. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
against the Government whose responsibilities are
complex and hard to carry out to the satisfaction B. 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
of all. C. 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
B. A mechanism for speeding up the activities D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
of the Government whose responsibilities are
increasing day by day.
C. A mechanism of parliamentary democracy
for ensuring collective responsibility of the 1. It is a semi-xerophyte crop, grown in tropical &
Government to the people. subtropical conditions
D. A device for strengthening the hands of the 2. It requires uniformly high temperatures
head of the Government whose hold over the varying between 21°C and 30°C.
people is in a state of decline. 3. It is a plant that needs a long frost-free period,
a lot of heat and plenty of sunshine
53. Consider the following Pairs: 4. It is semi-tolerant to salinity and sensitive to
water logging and thus prefers well drained soils.
Tribe State
The above statements describes about:
1. Chenchus Telangana
A. Sugarcane
2. Kattupaniya Tamil Nadu
B. Coffee
3. Sherdukpen Himachal Pradesh
C. Tobacco
D. Cotton
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
57. Consider the following statements in respect
C. 3 only
of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in
D. None Commerce (TRAFFIC):
1. TRAFFIC is a bureau under the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
54. With reference to TESS, which of the following
statements is/are correct? 2. The mission of TRAFFIC is to ensure that trade
in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the
1. It is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission conservation of nature.
2. It is designed to search for exoplanets using Which of the above statements is/are correct?
the transit method
A. 1 only
Options:
B. 2 only
A. 1 only
C. Both 1 and 2
B. 2 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2
C. Both
D. None
58. Consider the following statements with respect
to Earthquakes:
1. The magnitude of earthquakes is measured on
the Mercalli Scale.
2. The magnitude is expressed in absolute
numbers, 0-10.

NOVEMBER - 2021
113
Which of the above statements is/are correct? Select the correct answer using the code given
below:
A. 1 only
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. Both
C. 3 only
D. None
D. 1, 2 and 3
59. With respect to Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana

(Gramin), which of the following statements is/ 63. ‘SITMEX’, recently seen in the news, refers to -
are correct? A. Anti-satellite weapon tested by Russia
1. The cost of houses would be shared between B. Maritime exercise between India, Singapore
Centre and States. and Thailand
2. Selection of beneficiaries is only based C. New inflation index developed by the RBI
on housing deprivation parameters of Socio-
Economic and Caste Census (SECC), 2011 D. A report on hunger brought out by the UN
Options:
64. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
A. 1 only
1. Birsa Munda is a 16th-century tribal freedom
B. 2 only
fighter.
C. Both
2. During British rule, he spearheaded an Indian
D. None tribal religious movement across the tribal belt of
modern-day Bihar and Jharkhand.
60. Consider the following statements: 3. His birth anniversary is marked as Janjatiya
Gaurav Divas, to remember the contribution of
1. Kaiser-i-Hind was recently declared as State
tribal freedom fighters.
butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh.
Options:
2. Its IUCN status is Near Threatened
A. 1 only
3. Kaiser-i-Hind is protected under Schedule II of
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 B. 1 and 3 only
Which of the above statements is/are correct? C. 2 and 3 only
A. 1 and 2 only D. 1, 2 and 3
B. 2 only
C. 3 only 65. Rani Kamlapati belonged to which tribal
community?
D. 1, 2 and 3
A. Santhal
B. Gond
61. Kamo'oalewa recently seen in news is
C. Muria
A. A new variant of coronavirus found in samples
taken from the Xinjiang region of China D. Baiga
B. A fossil of a new megaraptor in Patagonia
C. A Near-Earth asteroid which could be a 66. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
fragment of our moon 1. Forex reserves are maintained by the RBI.
D. A Most Advanced Humanoid Robot 2. RBI often intervenes in the forex market and
buys up US dollars to prevent the rupee from
losing its export competitiveness.
62. In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the
following to report on cyber security incidents? 3. This has led the US Treasury Department to
1. Service providers put India on its ‘currency manipulator’ watch list.
2. Data centres Options:
3. Body corporate

NOVEMBER - 2021
114
A. 1 only 70. What led to the latest crisis at Belarus-Poland
B. 1 and 2 only border?
C. 3 only A. Dispute over trade negotiations between EU
and Belarus.
D. 1, 2 and 3
B. Territorial conflict between Poland and Belarus.
C. Belarus enabling migrants from the Middle
67. The economic cost of food grains to the Food
East and Africa to enter the European Union
Corporation of India is Minimum Support Price
through Poland.
and bonus (if any) paid to the farmers plus
D. Dispute over water sharing of a trans-boundary
A. Transportation cost only
river.
B. Interest cost only
C. Procurement incidentals and distribution cost 71. If your fundamental rights have been violated,
D. Procurement incidentals and charges for god how can you seek remedy from the courts?
owns A. By filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the
nearest court
68. Which of the following statements is/are correct B. By filing a police complaint and then
about the Kartarpur Corridor? approaching the District Court with a contempt
1. The Kartarpur Corridor is a visa-free border petition
crossing and corridor between India and Pakistan. C. By filing a writ petition directly at the High
2. It enables both border trade and pilgrimage. Court or Supreme Court
3. It is built across the Chenab river. D. By filing a curative petition at the Supreme
Court
Options:-
A. 1 only
72. It is possible to produce algae based biofuels, but
B. 1 and 2 only what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing
C. 3 only countries in promoting this industry? (UPSC-
2017)
D. 1, 2 and 3
1. Production of algae based biofuels is possible
in seas only and not on continents.
69. Which of the following statements is/are correct 2. Setting up and engineering the algae based
about the UNWTO? biofuel production requires high level of expertise/
1. The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is technology until the construction is completed.
a specialized agency of the United Nations. 3. Economically viable production necessitates
the setting up of large scale facilities which may
2. It promotes tourism as a driver of economic
raise ecological and social concerns.
growth and is committed to promoting tourism
as an instrument in achieving the United Nations Select the correct answer using the code given
Sustainable Development Goals. below:
3. It runs a global initiative known as ‘The Tourism A. 1 and 2 only

Villages’ to highlight villages where tourism B. 2 and 3 only
preserves cultures and traditions, celebrates C. 3 only
diversity, provides opportunities and safeguards
D. 1, 2 and 3
biodiversity.
Options:-
73. The Election Commission of India performs
A. 1 and 2only which of the following functions?
B. 1 and 3 only 1. Determining the territorial areas of electoral
C. 3 only constituencies.
D. 1, 2 and 3 2. Advise President/Governor in the matter of
post-election disqualification.

NOVEMBER - 2021
115
3. Acting as a court to settle disputes concerning 78. Which of the following statements is/are correct
the granting of recognition to political parties and about Rani Lakshmibai?
allocating election symbols to the parties. 1. Rani Lakshmibai was one of the leading figures
4. Play a leading role in promoting participatory in the Quit India Movement.
democracy and election administration worldwide. 2. During her period, Jhansi was a Maratha
princely state.
Options:
3. The British policy of ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ led her
A. 1, 2 and 3 only to revolt against the colonial empire.
B. 1, 2 and 4 only Options:
C. 2, 3 and 4 only A. 1 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 B. 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
74. The Sydney Dialogue is focussed on - D. 1, 2 and 3
A. Nuclear disarmament
B. Emerging, critical and cyber technologies 79. Which of the following statements is/are
incorrect?
C. Clean and renewable energy
1. India has become the third-largest domestic
D. Demilitarisation of outer space
aviation market in the world and handles the
largest domestic air traffic after USA and China.
75. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 2. The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched
1. The Cyber Security Grand Challenge was the UDAN scheme in 2016 to improve India’s
launched in 2020 to promote innovation and international air connectivity with a focus on US
provide impetus to the growth of Indian cyber and European markets.
security products. Options:
2. It was launched by the Data Security Council A. 1 only
of India (DSCI) and the Ministry of Electronics & IT
(MeitY). B. 2 only
Options: C. Both 1 and 2
A. 1 only D. Neither 1 nor 2
B. 2 only
80. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
C. Both 1 and 2
1. India’s MSME sector plays a very significant role
D. Neither 1 nor 2
in terms of job creation, expanding manufacturing
base and boosting Indian exports.
76. Which committee referred to the 5th Schedule as 2. The sector contributes over 11 crore jobs with
“Constitution within Constitution”? over 30% contribution to the GDP and over 49% to
A. Mungekar Committee overall exports from India.
B. Dhebar Commission Options:
C. Tendulkar Committee A. 1 only
D. C. Rangarajan Committee B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
77. In 1920, which of the following changed its name D. Neither 1 nor 2
to “Swarajya Sabha”? (UPSC 2018)
A. All India Home Rule League 81. The term ‘Zircon’, recently seen in the news, refers
B. Hindu Mahasabha to -
C. South Indian Liberal Federation A. DRDO’s robotic bomb disposal prototype
D. The Servants of Indian Society B. Russian hypersonic cruise missile

NOVEMBER - 2021
116
C. Israel’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine 85. Hamas is an extremist group operating in -

D. Google’s satellite-based internet project A. Syria
B. Yemen
82. Which of the following best describes/ C. Gaza Strip
describe the aim of ‘Green India Mission’ of the
Government of India? (UPSC-2016) D. Iraq
1. Incorporating environmental benefits and
costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby 86. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
implementing the ‘green accounting’.
1. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development)
2. Launching the second green revolution to Act, 2016 is an act of the Parliament which seeks
enhance agricultural output so as to ensure food to protect home-buyers as well as help boost
security to one and all in the future. investments in the real estate industry.
3. Restoring and enhancing forest cover and 2. It establishes a Real Estate Regulatory Authority
responding to climate change by a combination of (RERA) in each state for regulation of the real estate
adaptation and mitigation measures. sector and also acts as an adjudicating body for
Select the correct answer using the code given speedy dispute resolution.
below. 3. It was introduced because the Consumer
A. 1 only Protection Act, 1986 was inadequate to address
the needs of home-buyers.
B. 2 and 3 only
Options:
C. 3 only
A. 1 and 2 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
83. A law enacted by the Parliament can be repealed
in which of the following ways? D. 1, 2 and 3
1. By passing an ordinance
2. By enacting another legislation to repeal the 87. Consider the following pairs:
law Famous place River
3. Through a resolution adopted by the Lok 1. Pandharpur Chandrabhaga
Sabha
2. Tiruchirappalli Cauvery
Options:
3. Hampi Malaprabha
A. 1 only
Which of the pairs given above are correctly
B. 2 only matched?
C. 1 and 2 only A. 1 and 2 only
D. 1, 2 and 3 B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
84. India has funded which of the following projects D. 1, 2 and 3
in Sri Lanka?
1. Northern housing project 88. Which of the following are the four holy places
2. Jaffna cultural centre related to the life of Lord Buddha?
3. Kankesanthurai port revival 1. Vaishali
4. Mattala airport 2. Lumbini
5. Palaly civilian airport 3. Bodh Gaya
Options: 4. Sarnath
A. 1 and 4 only 5. Kushinagar
B. 2, 3 and 4 only 6. Shravasti
C. 1, 3 and 5 only Options:
D. 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

NOVEMBER - 2021
117
A. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only 92. With reference to river Teesta, consider the
following statements:
B. 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of
C. 3, 4, 5 and 6 only Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim.
D. 1, 3, 5 and 6 only 2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a
tributary of river Teesta.
89. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the
1. Compulsory licensing is when a government border of India and Bangladesh.
allows someone else to produce patented product Which of the statements given above is/are
or process without the consent of the patent owner correct?
or plans to use the patent-protected invention
A. 1 and 3 only
itself.
B. 2 only
2. Countries can only make use of compulsory
licenses for the domestic market, not for export. C. 2 and 3 only
Options: D. 1, 2 and 3
A. 1 only
B. 2 only 93. With respect to Indira Gandhi Peace Prize, which
of the following statements is/are correct?
C. Both
1. It is a prestigious award given by the Indira
D. None Gandhi Memorial Trust.
2. It is awarded to individuals or organizations
90. With respect to the Sickle Cell Disease, which of to honour their efforts in promoting international
the following statements is/are incorrect? peace, development and a new international
1. It is a genetic disease, i.e., it is inherited from economic order.
parents.
3. The recipients can be national and international
2. It affects haemoglobin, the molecule in white nominees.
blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout
the body. Options:
Options: A. 1 and 2 only
A. 1 only B. 2 and 3 only
B. 2 only C. 1 and 3 only
C. Both D. 1, 2 and 3
D. None
94. Which of the following are the surface-to-surface
91. Consider the following Pairs: missiles?
Tribal Freedom fighters Region 1. Prahaar
1. Komaram Bheem Telangana 2. Prithvi
2. Poto Ho Jharkhand 3. Shaurya
3. Thalakkal Chanthu Kerala 4. Spyder
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched? 5. Trishul
A. 1 only
Options:
B. 1 and 2 only
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
C. 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

NOVEMBER - 2021
118
95. Which of the following exercises is/are correctly 98. Consider the following statements:
matched? 1. Minimum support price (MSP) is the price that
1. Shakti: India- France government agencies pay whenever they procure
the particular crop.
2. Dharma Guardian: India- Indonesia
2. The Centre currently fixes MSPs for 23 farm
3. Surya Kiran: India- Nepal commodities.
4. Sampriti: India –Bangladesh 3. The Govt. is legally bound to pay MSP when
Options: the open market price of the crop falls below the
announced price.
A. 1 and 3 only
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
B. 2 and 4 only A. 1 & 2
C. 1, 3 and 4 only B. 1 & 3
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 C. Only 3
D. None of the Above
96. With reference to the use of nano-technology in
health sector, which of the following statements 99. Consider the following statements:
is/are correct?
1. Article 22 of the Constitution deals with
1. Nanoparticles can be used for drug delivery to protection against arrest and detention in certain
the brain for therapeutic treatment of neurological cases.
disorders
2. All laws in India assume an accused to be
2. NanoFlares can used for detection of cancer innocent until proven otherwise.
cells in the bloodstream
3. Nanochips can be used to check plaque in
arteries A. Only 1
Options: B. Only 2
A. 1 only C. Both
B. 1 and 2 only D. None
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3 100. Committee of Experts under the
Chairmanship of Justice B.N. Srikrishna deals
with:
97. Due to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the A. Agricultural reforms and the MSP
population of species of butterflies, what could B. Privatization of Public Sector Banks
be its likely consequence/consequences?
C. Adoption of a Uniform Civil Code
1. Pollination of some plants could be adversely
affected. D. Personal data protection
2. There could be a drastic increase in the fungal
infections of some cultivated plants. 101. Which of the following statements is/are
3. It could lead to a fall in the population of some correct?
species of wasps, spiders and birds. 1. Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir
Select the correct answer using the code given Chakra were instituted by the Government of India
below: on 26th January, 1950.
A. 1 only 2. These gallantry awards are announced twice in
a year – first on the occasion of the Republic Day
B. 2 and 3 only and then on the occasion of the Independence
C. 1 and 3 only Day.
D. 1, 2 and 3 3. The recommendation for gallantry awards is
invited by the Ministry of Defence twice in a year
from the Armed Forces and Union Ministry of
Home Affairs.
Select the correct option from below:
A. 1 & 2
B. 2 & 3
NOVEMBER - 2021
119
C. 1 & 3 3. Under the scheme, MUDRA has created three

products – ‘Shishu’, ‘Kishore’ and ‘Tarun’ to signify
D. All of the Above
the stage of growth and funding needs of the
beneficiary.
102. Under the Indian Constitution, Options:
concentration of wealth violates
A. 3 only
A. The Right to Equality
B. 2 and 3 only
B. The Directive Principles of State Policy
C. 2 only
C. The Right to Freedom
D. 1 and 3 only
D. The Concept of Welfare
106. He started a movement called ‘Ulgulan’, or

103. Consider the following statements: ‘The Great Tumult’. Popularly known as Dharti
1. India has set a target of 20 per cent ethanol Abba, he also started a new faith. His birth
blending in petrol by 2030. anniversary is recognised as Janjatiya Gaurav
Diwas.
2. Ethanol is high in oxygen content and ensures
more complete combustion when blended with Who is the Tribal Leader being talked about?
petrol or diesel. A. Bhagwan Birsa Munda
3. India does not allow the production of ethanol B. Tirut Singh
from food grains as it affects food security in the
C. Kanhu Murmu
country.
D. Sidhu Murmu
Which of the given statements is/are INCORRECT?
A. 1 only
107. With reference to an initiative called ‘The
B. 1 and 3 only
Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
C. 3 only (TEEB)’, which of the following statements is/
D. None of the above are correct? (2016)
1. It is an initiative hosted by UNEP, IMF and World
Economic Forum.
104. Which of the given statements is/are
INCORRECT with respect to Udham Singh? 2. It is a global initiative that focuses on drawing
attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity.
1. He assassinated the India office bureaucrat
Curzon-Wyllie in 1909. 3. It presents an approach that can help decision-
makers recognize, demonstrate and capture the
2. He assassinated Reginald Dyer, the Lieutenant- value of ecosystems and biodiversity.
Governor who presided over the British suppression
of the 1919 protests in Punjab. Select the correct answer using the code given
below.
3. He was associated with the Ghadar party while
in the U.S. A. 1 and 2 only
Options: B. 3 only
A. 1 and 2 only C. 2 and 3 only
B. 2 only D. 1, 2 and 3
C. 3 only
D. None of the above 108. Consider the following pairs:
Editor/Founder Paper/Journal
105. Which of the given statements is/are correct 1. Sasipada Banerji Deenbandhu
with respect to the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA 2. Narayan Meghaji Lokhande Bharat Sramajivi
Yojana?
3. Bal Gangadhar Tilak Mahratta
1. The scheme allows the borrowers to avail
of collateral-free business loans at low rates of
interest. A. 1 and 2 only
2. Under the scheme, eligible borrowers can B. 2 only
directly borrow up to ₹10 lakh from the Micro Units C. 3 only
Development & Refinance Agency Ltd (MUDRA).
D. 1, 2 and 3

NOVEMBER - 2021
120
109. With reference to Lithium, which of the A. 1 only

following statements is/are correct?
B. 2 only
1. It is considered to be the lightest or the least
C. Both 1 and 2
dense metal on earth.
D. Neither 1 nor 2
2. It is one of the rare metals.
3. It is highly reactive and flammable, and must
be stored in mineral oil. 113. Which of the given statements is/are
INCORRECT with respect to the ASEM Process?
Options:
1. ASEM is a platform for the countries in Asia and
A. 1 and 2 only
Europe to exchange views on regional and global
B. 2 and 3 only issues and strengthen cooperation.
C. 1 and 3 only 2. The grouping comprises members of the
D. 1, 2 and 3 European Union and ASEAN only.
3. The latest summit marked the 25th anniversary
of the ASEM process and was chaired by India.
Options:
1. It is the smallest of the shallow seas covering
the continental shelf of Europe. A. 1 only
2. It is the busiest shipping lane in the world. B. 1 and 3 only
The above statements best describe: C. 2 and 3 only
A. English Channel D. None of the above
B. Gulf of Lion
C. Strait of Otranto 114. Consider the following statements with
respect to INS Vela:
D. St George’s Channel
1. It is the first of the Indian Navy’s six submarines
under Project 75.
111. India’s Strategic crude oil storages are 2. It is a Stealth Scorpene-Class Submarine.
located in which of the following places?
3. It is a diesel-electric attack submarine of
1. Mumbai Kalvari-class.
2. Mangalore Which of the given statements is/are INCORRECT?
3. Chennai A. 2 and 3 only
4. Visakhapatnam B. 1 only
5. Padur C. 3 only
Options: D. None of the above
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 2, 4 and 5 only 115. The herb “Withania somnifera” is often seen
C. 1, 3, 4 and 5 only in News as:
D. 2, 3, 4 and 5 only A. It is a widely used herb in traditional Indian
Medicine.
B. It is an invasive species present in the Kole
112. With reference to the Parliament of India, Wetlands in Kerala.
consider the following statements: (UPSC
-2017) C. Its extract is widely used in making pesticides.
1. A private member’s bill is a bill presented by a D. It is a herb that contains a dangerous amount
Member of Parliament who is not elected but only of Iodine which can cause goitre, high thyroid-
nominated by the President of India. stimulating hormone levels, and hypothyroidism.
2. Recently, a private member’s bill has been
passed in the Parliament of India for the first time 116. Which of the given statements with repsect
in its history. to Rashtriya Gokul Mission is/are correct?
Which of the statements given above is/are 1. It is a component of the National Programme
correct? for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development.

NOVEMBER - 2021
121
2. It was initiated in 2018 with a focus on the 120. With reference to the appellate jurisdiction
conservation and development of indigenous of the Supreme Court to grant Special Leave,
breeds and improve their genetic makeup. which of the following statements is/are
3. Its components include the establishment of incorrect?
integrated indigenous cattle centres (Gokul Gram) 1. It can be granted against any court or tribunal
and breeder’s societies (Gopalan Sangh). in the country.
Options: 2. It is a discretionary power of the Supreme
A. 2 only Court and cannot be claimed as a matter of right.
B. 2 and 3 only 3. It is applicable to constitutional, civil and
criminal matters.
C. 1 and 3 only
Options:
D. 1, 2 and 3
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
117. In the Constitution of India, promotion of
international peace and security is included in C. 3 only
the: (UPSC-2014) D. 2 and 3 only
A. Preamble to the Constitution
B. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) 121. Consider the following pairs:
C. Fundamental Duties Islands Dispute
D. Ninth Schedule 1. Kuril Japan- Russia
2. Senkaku China- Japan
118. Which of the following are the works of 3. Dokdo Japan- South Korea
Rabindranath Tagore?
1. Satya Ke Prayog
A. 1 and 2 only
2. Gitanjali
B. 2 and 3 only
3. Ghare Baire
C. 1 and 3 only
4. Sonar Tori
D. 1, 2 and 3
Options:
A. 1 and 4 only
122. Who among the following is associated with
B. 2, 3 and 4 only ‘Songs from Prison’, a translation of ancient
C. 1, 2 and 3 only Indian religious lyrics in English?
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 A. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
119. Consider the following statements: C. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
1. Constitution Day is celebrated in our country D. Sarojini Naidu
on 26th January every year to commemorate the
enactment of the Constitution of India.
123. Which nuclear power plant in India is being
2. The Ministry of Social Justice and built in partnership with France?
Empowerment in 2015 notified the decision of
Government of India to celebrate the Constitution A. Kaiga
Day every year to promote Constitution values B. Kudankulam
among citizens. C. Kalpakkam
Which of the above statements is/are correct? D. Jaitapur
A. 1 only
B. 2 only 124. ‘Operation HAECHI-
II’, recently seen in
C. Both news, refers to -
D. None A. A global anti-drug operation launched by
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
B. EU mission to rescue migrants stranded in the
Mediterranean Sea

NOVEMBER - 2021
122
C. Deployment of UN Peacekeeping Forces in 128. Consider the following statements with

Afghanistan regards to the Minimum Support Price:
D. Interpol’s global operation to crackdown on 1. It was first introduced in 1965 to encourage
cyber-enabled financial crime. farmers to grow foodgrains.
2. At present, it covers 23 crops.
125. Which of the following statements are 3. No MSP is offered for pulses in India.
incorrect?
Choose the correct statements:
1. The Communist Party of India (Maoist) is a
A. 1 & 2 only
violent, extremist organization.
B. 2 & 3 only
2. It was formed in 1967, following the armed-
Maoist uprising at Naxalbari. C. 1 & 3 only
3. It has been designated as a terrorist organisation D. All of the above
under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Options:- 129. Consider the following statements with
A. 1 only regards to Norovirus:
B. 1 and 2 only 1. It is a group of viruses that leads to
gastrointestinal illness.
C. 2 only
2. Norovirus is resistant to many disinfectants
D. 1 and 3 only
and can heat up to 60°C.
3. The virus can also survive many common hand
126. Which of the following are seen as features sanitisers.
of the Indian Judiciary?
1. Independent from the executive and
A. 1 & 2 only
legislature
B. 2 & 3 only
2. President appoints judges to the higher
judiciary C. 1 & 3 only
3. Transparent and accountable appointment D. All of the above
process
Options:- 130. The famous Yelagiri Hills lie in which of the
A. 1 only following states?
B. 1 and 2 only A. Tamil Nadu
C. 2 and 3 only B. Kerala
D. 1, 2 and 3 C. Karnataka
D. Telangana
1. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into 131. Consider the following statements with
the environment. regards to Drugs Controller General of India:
2. Cattle release ammonia into the environment. 1. The DCGI establishes standards for the
manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of
3. Poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen
drugs in India.
compounds into the environment.
2. The DCGI also regulates medical and
Which of the statements given above is/are
pharmaceutical devices.
correct?
3. DCGI is also responsible for the training of
A. 1 and 3 only
Drug Analysts deputed by State Drug Control
B. 2 and 3 only Laboratories and other Institutions.
C. 2 only Choose the correct statements:
D. 1, 2 and 3 A. 1 & 2 only
B. 2 & 3 only
C. 1 & 3 only
D. All of the above

NOVEMBER - 2021
123
132. Which one of the following National Parks 136. Which of the following is correct with
lies completely in the temperate alpine zone? regards to the Central Bank Digital Currency
A. Manas National Park (CBDC), as per the RBI:
B. Namdapha National Park A. CBDC is the legal tender issued by a global

authority in a digital form
C. Neora Valley National Park
B. CBDC is the legal tender issued by a central
D. Valley of Flowers National Park bank in a digital form
C. CBDC is RBI’s attempt to launch its own
133. Consider the following statements with cryptocurrency to rival the existing ones
regards to suspension of the Members of D. None of the above
Parliament:
1. The MPs can be suspended by the President on
the recommendation of the presiding officer of the 137. In the context of which one of the following
house. are the terms 'pyrolysis and plasma gasification'
mentioned:
2. The MPs can only be suspended for their
conduct in the ongoing session of the Parliament. A. Extraction of rare earth elements
Choose the correct statements: B. Natural gas extraction technologies
A. 1 only C. Hydrogen fuel-based automobiles
B. 2 only D. Waste-to-energy technologies
C. Both 1 & 2
D. None of the above
134. Consider the following statements with

regards to ‘Office of Profit’ in India:
1. There is a clear statement in the Indian
Constitution under Articles 102(1)(a) and 191(1)(a),
that an MP or MLA is not allowed to hold any office
of profit as this would fetch them financial gains
and benefits.
2. It doesn’t apply when an individual holds two
executive positions simultaneously.
3. The office of profit concept has been adopted
from the British Parliamentary model.
A. 1 & 2 only
B. 2 & 3 only
C. 1 & 3 only
D. All of the above
135. The drainage path of Krishna River doesn’t

include which of the following states:
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Maharashtra
C. Karnataka
D. Telangana

NOVEMBER - 2021
124
ANSWER KEYS
1 A 21 D
2 C 22 B
3 A 23 A
4 C 24 D
5 C 25 B
6 C 26 D
7 A 27 A
8 C 28 A
9 A 29 B
10 C 30 C
11 D 31 B
12 C 32 A
13 C 33 B
14 A 34 C
15 A 35 B
16 A 36 A
17 A 37 B
18 D 38 B
19 D 39 A
20 B 40 A
CLICK HERE TO READ EXPLANATION

NOVEMBER - 2021
125
41 A 61 C
42 D 62 D
43 A 63 B
44 D 64 C
45 B 65 B
46 D 66 D
47 C 67 C
48 D 68 A
49 D 69 D
50 C 70 C
51 D 71 C
52 C 72 B
53 A 73 D
54 C 74 B
55 B 75 C
56 D 76 A
57 B 77 A
58 B 78 C
59 A 79 B
60 D 80 C

NOVEMBER - 2021
126
81 B 101 D
82 C 102 B
83 C 103 B
84 D 104 A
85 C 105 D
86 D 106 A
87 A 107 C
88 B 108 C
89 A 109 D
90 B 110 A
91 D 111 B
92 B 112 D
93 D 113 C
94 A 114 B
95 C 115 A
96 D 116 C
97 C 117 B
98 C 118 B
99 A 119 B
100 D 120 A

NOVEMBER - 2021
127
121 D
122 C
123 D
124 D
125 C
126 B
127 D
128 A
129 D
130 A
131 D
132 D
133 D
134 D
135 A
136 B
137 D

NOVEMBER - 2021
128
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS
GS Paper 1
Social Issues
1. Explain with relevant examples the technological solutions to eradicate manual scavenging. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
2. Multiple provisions in the Indian Constitution and several laws prohibiting the practice of manual scavenging haven’t been
able to eliminate this practice in the country. Examine the causes and suggest ways to overcome this problem. (250 words; 15
marks)
3. Throw light on the biggest roadblocks in the delivery of nutrition interventions to pregnant women in India. Suggest ways to
tackle this problem. (250 words; 15 marks)
4. Enlist the various initiatives taken by the government to bring India’s tribal population into the mainstream and evaluate the
success of such initiatives. (250 words; 15 marks)
5. Project Sampoorna’s success in reducing child malnutrition is a model that can be easily implemented anywhere. Discuss. (10
Marks, 150 Words)
GS Paper 2
Polity and Governance
1. States should base reservation policies on data, not political expediency. Comment. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
2. The government needs to strike a balance between the welfare functions of NGOs and their ability to hinder the nation’s
progress. Do you agree? Elucidate with examples. (15 marks, 250 words)
3. Discuss the concerns associated with the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and suggest
corrective measures for its better implementation. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
4. Will the idea of designating three capitals for the State promote ‘distributed development’? Critically examine. (15 Marks, 250
Words)
5. The rising tide of criminalization in Indian politics threatens the survival of true democracy. Discuss. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
6. What do you understand by Uniform Civil Code? Examine its relevance for India and the roadblocks in its implementation.
(250 words; 15 marks)
7. Despite suggestions from various commissions, the Supreme Court hasn’t allowed any reforms in the collegium system. In
this context, enlist the merits and demerits of the existing collegium system. (250 words; 15 marks)
8. There is an urgent need to strike a balance between the right to privacy and national security. Do you agree with this
statement? Suggest appropriate methods to achieve the same. (250 words; 15 marks)
9. We can’t afford any more delays in introducing reforms in our parliamentary system. Do you agree? Give suggestions
regarding such reforms. (250 words; 15 marks)
10. In light of the recent clashes between the Centre and the State governments, suggest ways to invigorate Centre-State
relations in the country. (250 words; 15 marks)
11. An important parliamentary reform, often overlooked, is empowering the parliamentary committees, enabling them to keep
a check on executives’ powers. Suggest measures to revive the fortunes of these committees. (250 words; 15 marks)
12. The transfer of High court judges by the collegium is riddled by controversies. In the light of the statement, discuss the
solutions to improve and streamline the judicial appointments procedure in India. (15 Marks, 250 Words)

NOVEMBER - 2021
129
13. Do you agree with the government’s argument that gender equality shouldn’t apply to permanent commissions for women
in the army? Give arguments to support your answer. (250 words; 15 marks)
14. Eradicating the problem of cyberbullying requires concrete measures from the policymakers in India. Suggest such measures
keeping in mind the present scenario. (250 words; 15 marks)
15. ‘The real answer to India’s defense problems lies in indigenous manufacturing.’ Do you agree? Suggest ways to expedite the
development of India’s defense manufacturing sector. (250 words; 15 marks)
16. To revive the fortunes of India’s telecom sector, there needs to be a similar regulatory policy for telcos and internet companies.
Do you agree? Give reasons to justify your stand. (250 words; 15 marks)
Health
1. Throw light on the roadblocks in India’s journey towards achieving universal health coverage. Also suggest possible ways to
get rid of these roadblocks. (250 words; 15 marks)
2. Identify the various bottlenecks in India’s health delivery mechanism. Also suggest appropriate solutions to the problem.
3. In the Indian context, bring out the correlation between health and poverty with suitable arguments. (250 words; 15 marks)
International Relations
1. The recent G20 meeting came at a critical moment for the global political economy. Examine its key outcomes. (250 words;
15 marks)
2. Examine the plight of Indian migrant workers in West Asia with special emphasis on the challenges faced by women workers.
3. AUKUS could rock China’s boat in the Indo-Pacific. Examine. (15 marks, 250 words)
4. India has failed to fully appreciate the usage of international law as a means to advance its national security interests. Do you
agree? Justify. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
5. Is it time for India to leave its sideline position and actively participate in resolving the issues in Afghanistan? Substantiate
your answer. (250 words; 15 marks)
6. In order to have a meaningful dialogue, India must be an active player in the Afghanistan reconciliation process. Throw light
on the evolving paradigm of India’s foreign policy with respect to Afghanistan. (250 words; 15 marks)
7. India has lost a big opportunity to take the centre stage in world affairs by not utilizing the NAM platform that it built. Suggest
measures to change this. (250 words; 15 marks)
GS Paper 3
Economy
1. Scarcity alone is not sufficient to facilitate the adoption of cryptocurrencies as money. Analyse. (250 words; 15 marks)
2. Examine the opportunities available at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) for charting the future course of global
trade. (250 words; 15 marks)
3. Discuss the various issues facing the fertilizer sector in India and suggest remedies to resolve these issues. (250 words; 15
marks)
4. India currently stands on the cusp of building a space ecosystem and with ISRO being the guiding body, India can now
evolve as a space startup hub for the world. Evaluate. (250 words; 15 marks)
5. Do you agree with the perception that WTO has failed to live up to its expectations and must re-invent itself to fulfil its
mandate? Elaborate on the reasons behind your argument. (250 words; 15 marks)

NOVEMBER - 2021
130
Environment and Ecology
1. Illustrate the key initiatives announced by India during COP26 summit at Glasgow. (250 words; 15 marks)
2. India’s existing laws are inadequate in dealing with climate change. Critically evaluate. (250 words; 15 marks)
3. Explain why India has stayed away from committing to both the methane pledge and the forest conservation declaration
adopted at the 26th UNFCCC COP at Glasgow? (15 Marks, 250 Words)
4. Do you support the Indian government’s argument of ‘Common but differentiated responsibility’ when it comes to mitigating
the effects of climate change? Support your answer with appropriate examples. (250 words; 15 marks)
5. There is still a gulf between India’s climate change commitments and their realization. Suggest measures to fill in this gap.
6. The problem of pollution in India won’t be solved till we consider it as a ‘seasonal problem’. In the light of this statement,
suggest measures to curb the pollution problem in India. (250 words; 15 marks)
7. In the context of climate action, developing economies such as India are burdened with several challenges and require the
help of the developed North. Hence, it is argued that to fulfill COP26 pledges, the world needs a new climate of cooperation.
Discuss. (250 words; 15 marks)
8. Hydrogen is the most promising solution to decarbonise sectors like cement, steel, and refineries. The National Hydrogen
Mission and the green hydrogen sector will give India a quantum jump in meeting our climate targets. Examine. (250 words; 15
marks)
Internal Security
1. Urgent Police reforms will go a long way in solving the lacunae of the Indian judicial system as well. Discuss. (15 marks, 250
words)
2. Conflicts in Northeast India have not only focused on the Indian state, but also manifest intergroup and intragroup
dimensions. Explain the statement with the help of relevant examples. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
3. Experts have argued that there is a high sense of alienation amongst Kashmiri youth, owing to the nature of security response
of the Indian state against cross-border terrorism. In the light of this, suggest a softer approach that could be adopted to win the
hearts and minds of young Kashmiris at the grassroots. (250 words; 15 marks)
4. The judgment of the Supreme Court of India in the Thwaha Faisal vs Union of India case has immense potential to reclaim the
idea of personal liberty and human dignity. The Court has acted in its introspective jurisdiction and deconstructed the provisions
of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) with a great sense of legal realism. This paves the way for a formidable judicial
authority against blatant misuse of this law. Critically evaluate. (15 marks, 250 words)

NOVEMBER - 2021
131
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
Candidate Details:
• Name: Saumya Sharma
• Rank: 9 (CSE 2017)
• Hometown: Delhi
• Education: Graduated in B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), from National Law University, Delhi in June 2017.
• Work Experience: No previous experience as a permanent employee. Cleared the exam in the first attempt.
• Hobbies: Travelling, Reading, Photography, Map reading.
• Optional subject: Law
Interview Questions:
• Interview duration: 35 minutes
• Questions were mainly asked from the Detailed Application Form (DAF) and Current Affairs.
Graduation and optional based questions:

• Questions based on the Criminal Law of India.
• Have the Environmental laws of India been effective in ensuring environmental conservation?
• Can you elaborate on the Constitutional and legislative framework regarding water in India?
Current affairs based questions:

• How will India-U.S. relations be affected by the election of Mr. Donald Trump as the U.S. President?
• Has Demonetization served its intended purpose?
• What do you mean by Net neutrality? Why is it important?
• What do you mean by Equalization levy? Why is it necessary?
• What do you mean by wilful defaulters and how should the state deal with them?
Hobby based question:

NOVEMBER - 2021
132
• The question was based on the hobby of map reading as mentioned in the DAF.
• If one travels from Delhi to Sudan via road, what all countries will one cross?

COP26 Glasgow Summit: Global Climate Action

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

COP26 Glasgow Summit: Global Climate Action

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

COP26 Glasgow Summit: Global Climate Action

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

November 2021

UPSC MONTHLY CURRENT AFFAIRS

RANK 02 RANK 8 RANK 13 RANK 14

RANK 17 RANK 25 RANK 26 RANK 28 RANK 30

RANK 31 RANK 32 RANK 35 RANK 37 RANK 38

RANK 41 RANK 42 RANK 46 RANK 50

Rank 3 Rank 6 Rank 8 Rank 10

CSE 2018 CSE 2017

Rank 11 Rank 16 Rank 21 Rank 3 Rank 6 Rank 8

Rank 24 Rank 31 Rank 9 Rank 10

CSE 2016 CSE 2015

Rank 2 Rank 5 Rank 12 Rank 20 Rank 24 Rank 25

Rank 30 Rank 32 Rank 27 Rank 47

Rank 4 Rank 5 Rank 16 Rank 23 Rank 28 Rank 39

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

6. DEFENCE AND INTERNAL SECURITY 8. HEALTH ISSUES

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

Here’s how you can get started:

Monday to Friday Monday to Friday Saturday Sunday

 Participate in the ‘Doubt Destroyer’ session

Test Yourself: Evaluate your IAS Tab: Get a complimentary IAS

Comprehensive Study Material: Study Current Affairs Webinars: Be a part

Exclusive access to BYJU’S IAS Student

For more information about the program contact us at iaslive@byjus.com or

Slots Batch 1 Batch 2 Batch 3 Batch 4 Batch 5 Batch 6

Ancient India + Ancient India + Ancient India +

Environment & Environment & Environment & Environment &

Social Issues & Social

Slots Batch 1 Batch 2 Batch 3 Batch 4 Batch 5 Batch 6

After Prelims 2022 Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance Ethics + Governance

Slots Batch 1 Batch 2 Batch 3 Batch 4 Batch 5 Batch 6

March (06, 07, 13, 14,

Click Here Click Here

(Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 promulgate Ordinances.

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

shadow on the judge concerned as well as

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

for the locals. • Instead of compelling firms to hire locals, the

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

• Unlike electricity, hydrogen is suitable for long- Significance

Aims and Objectives: * Estimate the number/proportion of DWs at

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

Indian Agricultural Sector registered impressive improvements over the

Context: • The PCA framework was first notified in 2002.

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

• The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection)

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

storage and warehousing. What is a Fertiliser Subsidy?

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

• Characteristics of Unicorn: • Consumption of Services: It appears that

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

• In order to formulate policies aiming at • Boost to Diverse Sectors: France encourages

• Contribution in Electric Vehicles: The French

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

Bilateral, regional and global groupings and Context:

For guidance contact us on +91 9243500460

Reasons for international law remaining at the Concerns of Fishermen

Participate in the ‘Doubt Destroyer’ session