Monthly Current Affairs April 2020

Easy to PICK101 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Neighboring Rights Law – WIPO Part of: GS-II- International  Traditionally, related rights have been granted to three categories of organisation-IPR (PT-MAINS- beneficiaries: PERSONALITY TEST) o Performers (actors/musicians); o Producers of sound recordings (also The French competition regulator has asked Google to negotiate with referred to as phonograms); and publishers and news agencies the o Broadcasting organizations. remuneration due to them under the law relating to neighboring rights. Protection in India  The French regulator has announced  The Copyright Act, 1957 protects that Google must start paying media for sharing their content, as its original literary, dramatic, musical and practices had caused serious harm to the press sector. artistic works and cinematograph films  The order is an interim decision. Though the order is only for and sound recordings from the French press, it has global ramifications for Google and the press, unauthorized uses. Unlike the case as it can set a legal precedent and shape the discourse around the with patents, copyright protects the economics of news on the net.  The neighboring rights law that came expressions and not the ideas. There into force on 24th July, 2019 in France aims to set the conditions for a is no copyright in an idea. balanced negotiation between publishers, news agencies and digital o Copyright is a right given by the law to platforms, in order to redefine, in favour of press publishers and news creators of literary, dramatic, musical agencies, the sharing of the value between these actors. and artistic works and producers of cinematograph films and sound recordings. In fact, it is a bundle of rights including, inter alia, rights of reproduction, communication to the public, adaptation and translation of the work. o Copyright is an Intellectual Property Right (IPR).  Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds: inventions, Neighboring Rights literary and artistic works, and  According to the World Intellectual symbols, names and images used in Property Organization (WIPO), related rights, also referred to as commerce. neighboring rights, protect the legal interests of certain persons and legal  Other IPRs include entities that contribute to making works available to the public or that trademarks, geographical indications, produce subject matter which, while not qualifying as works under the industrial designs, patents, etc. copyright systems of all countries, contains sufficient creativity  Copyright as provided by the Indian or technical and organizational skill to justify recognition of a copyright-like Copyright Act is valid only within the property right. borders of the country. To secure protection to Indian works in foreign countries, India has become a member of the following international conventions on copyright and neighbouring (related) rights:

Easy to PICK102 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 o Berne Convention for the Protection of 1. By a teacher or pupil in the course Literary and Artistic works, 1886. of instruction 2. As part of question to be answered o Universal Copyright Convention in the course of the exam (Revised in 1971). 3. As part of the answer given in the course of exam o Convention for the Protection of The crux of the dispute was whether Producers of Phonograms against course packs fall within this exception. Unauthorised Duplication of their The petitioners tried to provide a narrow Phonograms, 1971. reading of the section, claiming that at best what the section allows for is the provision o Multilateral Convention for the of materials in the course of a lecture and Avoidance of Double Taxation of spatially restricted to a classroom. The Copyright Royalties, 1979. court, while rejecting this claim, argues that “instruction” cannot be narrowly o Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual understood. It held that “when an action if Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, onerously done is not an offence, it will 1995. not become an offence when owing to advancement in technology, doing thereof Earlier news: Copyright Case verdict is simplified”. Photocopiers have made In The Chancellor Masters and Scholars of the task simpler and faster, but if the act of the University of Oxford vs Rameshwari copying for a particular purpose is itself Photocopy Services case, the Delhi HC not illegal, and “the effect of the action is gave the verdict that photocopying the same, the difference in the mode of portions of academic publications to make action cannot make a difference so as to course packs for students does not amount make one an offence”. The court also to copyright infringement. Along with the questioned the unidimensional suggestion verdict in Novartis case, this marks an that the purpose of copyright is protection important point in the evolution of IPR of the property rights of owners. It is laws in the country. designed rather to stimulate activity and Copyright is a legal right created by the progress in the arts for the intellectual law of a country that grants the creator of enrichment of the public. Copyright is an original work exclusive rightsfor its use intended to increase and not to impede the and distribution. This is usually only for a harvest of knowledge. It is intended to limited time. The exclusive rights are not motivate the creative activity of authors absolute but limited by limitations and and inventors in order to benefit the public. exceptions to copyrightlaw, including fair use. A major limitation on copyright is that Impact of the judgement copyright protects only the original 1. The judgment has immense expression of ideas, and not the underlying consequences beyond India and is a bold ideas themselves. Copyright is a form of articulation of the principles of equitable IPR that is recognized under the 1995 access to knowledge — and one that TRIPS Agreement. deserves to be emulated globally. For a while now, the globalisation of copyright Judgement by Delhi HC: norms through international law (Berne The Delhi HC in its verdict mentioned that Convention, TRIPS Agreement) has been copyright is a statutory right and not a accompanied by the globalisation of natural right. Hence, any right that is copyright standards that have primarily granted to the owner is also limited by emerged from the global north. exceptions carved out by law. Section 52(1)(i) of Copyright Act of India provides that exception. It allows for reproduction of work in the following cases:

Easy to PICK103 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Aggressively pushed by the copyright institutions will drive reputed publishers lobby, such as Hollywood, the music out of the field of education. It is true that industry and the publishing cartels, academic publications, especially copyright law had effectively been international ones, are expensive, putting hijacked by narrow commercial interests them beyond the reach of many students. (albeit always speaking in the name of But the question is whether the balance authors and creators). Thus even when it between the competing interests has been came to discussing fair use and exceptions fully preserved in the law. If reputed and limitations, countries have found publishers feel that there is insufficient themselves constrained by judicial copyright protection and back out of precedents from the U.S. and elsewhere educational publishing in the country, it that have defined quantitative restrictions will be equally injurious to the public on photocopying. interest. 2. The Delhi High Court has held that the exception in the copyright law Conclusion: provided for the reproduction of In light of the argument given by the court copyrighted work in the course of with regard to access to education the instruction for the purpose of teaching with judgement is needed for a country like the conviction that it does prejudice the India where the demand for books is high legitimate interest of the authors. This is and university and public libraries are also in tune with the international short in supply, crowded and noisy. The obligation under TRIPS, which provides Indian Copyright law and the exception for reasonable exception by providing the provided under it (Section 52(1)(i) is fully flexibility for reproduction in certain cases. compliant with international obligations Access to education is an important under TRIPS and Berne Convention. consideration for a developing country like Many of the published works are India where libraries and universities have prohibitively expensive putting them to cope with the needs of thousands of beyond the reach of many students and the students simultaneously, and it would be onus falls on these publishers to come up naïve to expect every student to buy copies with innovative business models so that of every book. the cost impact on students can be reduced. 3. The judgment along with the In an era of rapidly evolving technology judgement in the case of generic medicine such as ebooks etc, coming up with cost (Novartis case) sets a precedent for effective solutions which can enhance the developing countries around the world to reach of knowledge is the need of the hour. follow. Sec 3(d) verdict has now been incorporated in the IPR laws of many “Unnayan: Mera Mobile, Mera developing countries such as South Africa Vidyalaya” and Phillipines. Recently, the Bihar Education Project 4. It is important to note that In Council (BEPC) has launched a mobile March 2013, over 300 academics — many application and plans to book a slot with of whose works were on reading lists in the All India Radio (AIR) for the audio Delhi University syllabi — wrote to the broadcast of study materials for publishers asking them to withdraw the government school students. case and expressed solidarity with the The mobile application named “Unnayan: students. Mera Mobile, Mera Vidyalaya” has been 5. The verdict may justly raise the launched for Class VI to XII of over concern whether conferring unrestricted 70,000 government-run schools.The app reprographic rights on academic has been jointly developed by the United

Easy to PICK104 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Key Points : the Bihar government and Eckovation, a social learning platform.In collaboration with UNICEF, class-wise and subject- wise study materials are being prepared which will be broadcast by AIR. The BEPC has also encouraged students for the use of online education portals like Diksha.On Diksha app NCERT books are available free of cost for Class 1 to XII and have also integrated audio- visual media along with digital textbooks. UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is a special program of the United Nations (UN) devoted to aiding national efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children.It was created in 1946 as the International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF) by the UN relief Rehabilitation Administration to help children affected by World War II. Objective: It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.It is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989. Nobel Prize: It was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965 for “promotion of brotherhood among the nations”. Headquarters: New York City.

Easy to PICK105 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Ebola Death in Democratic Republic of Congo Part of: GS-II- International Affairs- the second-deadliest outbreak of the Health (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY virus on record. TEST)  No clarity on contractions: It is not yet clear how the new cases emerged. According to the World Health Neither there was any contact with Organization (WHO), the Democratic other Ebola patients, nor the patient Republic of Congo recorded a was a survivor of the virus which could second Ebola death in days following have relapsed. more than seven weeks without a new  Flare-ups or one-off transmissions case. (sudden outburst) are common Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a deadly towards the end of Ebola outbreaks, disease with occasional outbreaks that and a new case does not necessarily occur primarily on the African continent. mean that the virus will spread out of EVD most commonly affects people and control again. nonhuman primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). It is caused by Ebola Virus Disease an infection with a group of viruses within  Ebola virus disease, formerly known the genus Ebolavirus:  Ebola virus (species Zaire ebolavirus) as Ebola haemorrhagic fever was  Sudan virus (species Sudan ebolavirus) first discovered in 1976 near the  Taï Forest virus (species Taï Forest Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since ebolavirus, formerly Côte d’Ivoire then, the virus has been infecting ebolavirus) people from time to time, leading to  Bundibugyo virus (species Bundibugyo outbreaks in several African countries. ebolavirus)  Transmission: Fruit bats of the  Reston virus (species Reston Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola ebolavirus) virus hosts.  Bombali virus (species Bombali o Animal to human ebolavirus) transmission: Ebola is introduced into Of these, only four (Ebola, Sudan, Taï the human population through close Forest, and Bundibugyo viruses) are contact with the blood, secretions, known to cause disease in people. Reston organs or other bodily fluids of virus is known to cause disease in infected animals such as fruit bats, nonhuman primates and pigs, but not in chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest people. It is unknown if Bombali virus, antelope or porcupines found ill or which was recently identified in bats, dead or in the rainforest. causes disease in either animals or people. o Human-to-human transmission: Ebola spreads via direct Imp Points contact (through broken skin or  The Ebola outbreak has killed more mucous membranes) with:  Blood or body fluids of a person who than 2,200 people since August 2018. is sick with or has died from Ebola. During this outbreak it killed about  Objects that have been contaminated two thirds of those it infected. with body fluids (like blood, feces,  The cases appear when vomit) from a person sick with Ebola the Democratic Republic of Congo had been due to mark an end to

Easy to PICK106 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 or the body of a person who died from access to the vaccine under the same conditions as for the general Ebola. population. o The public mistrust and militia attacks  Incubation Period: The incubation have prevented health workers from reaching some hard-hit areas for period, that is, the time interval from administering the vaccines. infection with the virus to onset of Key Points : symptoms, is from 2 to 21 days. o A person infected with Ebola cannot spread the disease until they develop symptoms.  Symptoms: Symptoms of Ebola can be sudden and include: o Fever o Fatigue o Muscle pain o Headache o Sore throat o Vomiting o Diarrhoea o Symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function o In some cases, both internal and external bleeding  Diagnosis: It can be difficult to clinically distinguish Ebola from other infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, and meningitis but confirmation that symptoms are caused by Ebola virus infection are made using the following diagnostic methods: o Antibody-capture Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). It also tests Acute Encephalitis Syndromeand Kyasanur Forest Disease. o Antigen-capture detection tests o Serum neutralization test o Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay o Electron microscopy o Virus isolation by cell culture.  Vaccines: An experimental Ebola vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV proved highly protective against EVD in a major trial in Guinea in 2015. o The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine is being used in the ongoing 2018-2019 Ebola outbreak in DRC. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should have

Easy to PICK107 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 SHGs Fight against Covid-19- SELF HELP GROUP Part of: GS-II- Governance- SHG (PT-  Wall paintings to spread key messages MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) about Covid prevention. Women members of around 63 lakh Self o Jharkhand SRML: Help Groups(SHGs) across the country  Initiated Didi helpline, which helps formed under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods migrant labourers by providing them Mission (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of verified information 24 hours. Rural Development are contributing in o Kerala SRML: every possible way to contain the spread  Dispelling the widespread fake news of Covid-19. causing panic through its WhatsApp  All State Rural Livelihoods Missions groups and propagating only the right information. (SRLMs) have been made aware of the various aspects of the disease including Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National the need to maintain personal hygiene, Rural Livelihoods Mission social distancing etc. through Audio  It was launched by the Ministry of Visual (AV) Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material Rural Development in 2011. and advisories.  It aims at creating efficient and  SRLMs are using all the information to ensure that the correct message is effective institutional platforms for communicated to the community by the rural poor enabling them to various means like telephone calls, increase household income through wall writings, pamphlets/fliers, social sustainable livelihood enhancements media, etc. and improved access to financial services. Important Interventions by SRLMs:  NRLM has set out with an agenda to (Important for examples in Sociology) cover 7 crore rural poor households, o Bihar SRLM (JEEViKA): across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5  Utilizing Mobile Vaani Platform to lakh Gram Panchayats and 6 lakh villages in the country through self- spread awareness among the managed SHGs and institutions and community through voice messages support them for livelihoods and answering queries on Covid-19. collectives in a period of 8-10 years.  Mobile Vaani (MV) is a mobile-based voice media platform for underserved  Salient Features: areas in India whereby users generate o It lays special emphasis on targeting content in their own local dialect through an Interactive Voice the poorest of the poor and the most Response System (IVRS). vulnerable communities (i.e. o Uttar Pradesh SRLM (Prerna): Antyodaya) and their financial  Use of rangolis and markings such as inclusion. lines and circles to re-emphasise the o Innovative projects under National need for 'social distancing'. Rural Economic Transformation Project(NRETP) to pilot alternate channels of financial inclusion, creating value chains around rural products, introduce innovative models

Easy to PICK108 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 in livelihoods promotion and access to finance and scale-up initiatives on digital finance and livelihood interventions. o DAY-NRLM provides for mutually beneficial working relationships and formal platforms for consultations between Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs). o NRLM has also developed an activity map to facilitate convergence in different areas of interventions where NRLM institutions and PRIs could work together which has been disseminated to all SRLMs. Key Points :

Easy to PICK109 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Lockdown 2.0 COVID-19 and New guidelines Part of: GS-II- Governance (PT-  The States will decide the additional MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) public activities to be allowed from April 20. Context: Wearing face covers and masks is now  They will have to be based on strict compulsory in public places and compliance with the existing workplaces, spitting in public is a guidelines on lockdown measures. punishable offence and selling liquor, gutka and tobacco is strictly  The relaxations will be implemented at prohibited. the discretion of the State and district All industries operating in rural areas and authorities in areas that have not been the government’s flagship rural jobs identified as infection hotspots or scheme will also be allowed to reopen containment zones. Certain additional from April 20 if they follow social activities are being allowed “to distancing normsand other safeguards mitigate hardship to the public”, says against the COVID-19 infection. the order. These are some of the directives in a fresh order issued by the Ministry of Home  The standard operating procedure Affairs (MHA) to manage the pandemic. (SOP) for factories and office The lockdown is scheduled to end on establishments from April 20 onwards May 3. says medical insurance is mandatory for workers. Imp Points  People violating quarantine will be Workplace curbs 1. Workplaces should have a gap of one punished under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, which prescribes hour between shifts, and lunch breaks six months imprisonment, if should be staggered to ensure social convicted. distancing.  In the case of containment zones or 2. All organisations should sanitise hotspots, there will be a strict workplaces between shifts. perimeter control. The State 3. Frequent cleaning of common surfaces governments may impose stricter and handwashing is mandatory. measures as per requirement in local 4. Thermal screening of all those entering areas. and leaving the work premises is  Apart from rural industries, the mandatory and a list of COVID-19 guidelines permit the construction of dedicated hospitals in the vicinity roads, irrigation projects, buildings and should be available at the workplace, industrial projects in rural areas. states the SOP.  Construction of renewable energy 5. Work units should encourage the use projects will be allowed. of staircases, stagger work hours to  In urban areas, only in situ ensure social distancing and ban the construction projects will be allowed if entry of non-essential visitors, it says. workers are available on site.  Brick kilns in rural areas can resume Transport and others work. 1. Travel by air, rail, metro, public buses, taxis, cab aggregators will remain suspended. 2. Cinema halls, malls will remain shut. All social /religious gathering are

Easy to PICK110 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 prohibited till May 3 and all industrial distress, has plunged to about 2% of the and commercial units, unless usual so far in April. exempted, will remain shut. The new guidelines say that priority 3. The revised guidelines permit small should be given to irrigation and water service providers, such as electricians, conservation works. Other Central and plumbers, IT repair, motor mechanics State water schemes can also be and carpenters, to operate. This move implemented using MGNREGA workers. is recommended by the Commerce and Industries Ministry. Transport of goods has been a major 4. Supply chain of essential goods, hurdle over the last two weeks with the grocery stores, vegetable, fruit carts initial guidelines allowing transport of and e-commerce companies will be essential goods only. The new guidelines allowed to operate without time make it clear that all goods traffic will be restrictions. allowed to ply, with two drivers and one 5. In addition to pharmaceuticals and helper allowed a truck. Empty trucks will other essential sectors such as be allowed to ply after the delivery of agriculture, mining and fertilizers, goods or to pick up goods. Truck repair which are already exempted from the shops and dhabas on highways will be lockdown, several new industries will allowed to function. E-commerce and be permitted to function from April 20. courier services can also be restarted. Industry Health and governance All health services, including the 1. IT and IT enabled services will be manufacture of ambulances and operation of utilities providing telecommunication allowed to operate at 50% strength, and Internet services, will be allowed. There will also be a phased return to office while IT hardware manufacturing has of the government's own workforce, with the new guidelines calling for 100% been added to the list of exemptions. attendance from officers above the Deputy Secretary level, with junior staff 2. E-commerce companies, oil and gas attendance of 33%. Certain departments such as defence, police and health will exploration and refineries, food work without any restrictions. Sectors that have been allowed to function processing in rural areas and jute under the new guidelines must first put arrangements in place to follow the SOP industries will be allowed to restart before reopening. Executive magistrates in each district will be designated as ‘Incident work, following a stringent operating Commanders’ to monitor compliance and to issue passes for enabling essential procedure designed to deter the spread movements allowed under the revised guidelines. of infection. While the State governments are not permitted to dilute the restrictions further, 3. Manufacturing and other industrial they are free to impose stricter measures as needed, say the guidelines. activities in Special Economic Zones, First set of guidelines Export Oriented Units and other industrial estates and townships can also reopen, so long as arrangements are made for workers to stay within the premises or in adjacent buildings. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which provides 100 days of minimum wage work to rural households, is also being allowed, so long as social distancing and the use of face masks are strictly enforced. Work provided under the scheme, which is crucial to contain rural

Easy to PICK111 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 The Centre issued the first set of such respect of essential goods like foodstuff, guidelines on March 24 under the medicines and medical equipment. Disaster Management Act, 2005, invoked In another letter to the States, Gov for the first time in the country, to emphasised that the guidelines would be streamline the management of the withdrawn immediately if any of the pandemic empowering the district lockdown measures were violated, risking magistrates to take decisions. the spread of COVID-19, and asserted that Earlier, the MHA had allowed restrictions would not be diluted under any manufacture/production, transport and circumstances. other related supply-chain activities in

Easy to PICK112 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Poverty and Socio Economic Caste Census – SECC Part of: GS-II- Governance and poverty 2. Households with no adult male aged (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) 15-59. Socio Economic Caste census (SECC): 3. Female headed households An Expert Group under the Chairmanship 4. Households with differently abled of former Finance Secretary Sumit Bose was constituted to study the objective members criteria for allocation of resources to States 5. Households with no able bodied and identification and prioritization of beneficiaries under various programme members using Socio-Economic and Caste Census 6. SC/ST households with no literate (SECC) data. The committee has recently submitted its report to the ministry of rural members above the age of 25years development (MoRD) and has 7. Landless households deriving major recommended the use of SECC data for all government schemes instead of the below income from manual labour. poverty line (BPL) data. Findings of SECC: What is SECC?  A total of 24.39 Crore households are  The SECC was commissioned by the surveyed. previous government in 2011 to canvas  91 Crore are rural households. every household ( urban and rural) in  About 30% of the rural households are the country to ascertain their socio- economic status so as to allow both landless and derive major part of their central and state governments define income from casual, manual labour. poverty and to take steps to eliminate  Among the land holdings,40% is not various types of deprivations faced by irrigated. Just 4% own any sort of the Indians. mechanized agricultural equipment and  SECC was a mega project conducted just 10% own irrigational equipment. jointly by three ministries vice MoRD,  Only 4.6% of the rural households pay ministry of housing, urban income tax. development & poverty alleviation and  Nearly 75% of households earn less ministry of home affairs. than Rs 5000 per month.  This was the first time since 1931 to  Less than 5% of SC/ST households ask every person their caste name to earn more than Rs 10000 per month. allow the government to re-evaluate  Only 5% of rural households depend which caste groups are well off and on government jobs, 3.57% on private which caste groups are worst off and to sector jobs. better target the welfare schemes.  As per the SECC data 36% of rural India is illiterate. 7 Criterias used in SECC:  52% rural households have no literate 1. Households with only one room , with adult above 25 years.  Of the 64% literate rural Indians, only no solid walls and roof 1/5th have completed their primary education.  Only 5.4% have completed high school and a mere 3.4% have graduated from college.

Easy to PICK113 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  A little more than 48% of the rural poverty eradication but also eradication population is female and only 12.8% of of various deprivations. the rural households are headed by  The gender-related issues of poverty is women. Lakshadweep has the highest taken into consideration in the SECC percentage of women-headed which was missing in the BPL method. households with nearly 40% of the houses headed by women. Drawbacks of SECC  Even though SECC was conducted in  This was the first census which released the data on trans-genders. both urban and rural areas, the Trans-genders comprise only 0.1% of government has released only SECC India’s rural population. data of rural India.  SECC collates data regarding the caste Importance of SECC: of the people. This caste related Presently poverty in India is determined information faces the danger of being using the BPL method which is based on misused by political parties for their the income required to purchase food items ulterior motives. (determined using calorie norms) and non-  SECC data must be regularly updated food items ( clothing, education etc). in order to remove beneficiaries who  SECC is more targeted and precise have overcome their deprivations. This will put a huge burden on the part of than the BPL method. While the BPL the government. method identifies the number of poor people, SECC identifies who actually All about Poverty, Poverty line, BPL and are poor. This will help in improving APL (Important for PT-cum-Mains) the efficiency of the government In India, Planning Commission estimates schemes and programmes, leads to the number and proportion of people living better identification and targeting of below the poverty line at national and beneficiaries and avoid duplication and State levels, separately for rural and urban fraud. areas. It makes poverty estimates based on  BPL method uses income as the sole a large sample survey of household criteria to define poverty but income consumption expenditure carried out by alone can miss a lot. Poverty is the National Sample Survey Organization multidimensional and SECC takes this (NSSO) after an interval of approximately aspect into account while determining five years. poverty. A multidimensional approach The Commission has been estimating the is very necessary for the success of poverty line and poverty ratio since 1997 poverty alleviation programmes. on the basis of the methodology spelt out  For example, an area in which most in the report of the Expert Group on people are deprived of education is 'Estimation of Number and Proportion of going to require a different poverty Poor' (popularly known as Lakdawala reduction strategy when compared to Committee Report). an area where most people are deprived of housing facilities. Definition:  The deprivations faced by poor in Poverty is a social as well as a various fields such as education, multidimensional phenomenon. According health, sanitation etc are not accounted to the World Bank, “poverty is pronounced in BPL method but are accounted in deprivation in wellbeing.” Amartya Sen in SECC. So SECC will help in not only his capability approach perhaps gave the broadest meaning to well-being.

Easy to PICK114 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 According to him well-being comes from a based on the recommendations of various capability to function in society. Poverty committees, arises when people lack key capabilities due to inadequate income or education, or 1. Alagh committee poor health, or insecurity, or low self-  Dr.Y.K. Alagh committee was set up confidence, or a sense of powerlessness, or the absence of rights such as freedom of in 1979 to determine a formula to speech. measure poverty in India  This committee recommended the “ Multidimensional Poverty Index: minimum calorie intake” formula to The Human Development Report (2010) define the poverty line. As per this pioneered the Multidimensional Poverty formula people who consumed less Index (MPI) which is grounded in the than 2400 kilocalories per day in rural capability approach and an innovative areas and 2100 kilocalories per day in effort to complement the income based the urban area were considered poor. poverty indices. It includes an array of Thus, the calorie intake became the dimensions from participatory exercises basis for poverty line in India. among poor communities and an emerging  However, this methodology was international consensus. The MPI shows criticized by many as it takes in to the share of population that is account only consumption levels to multidimensionally poor adjusted by the measure poverty and leaves out other intensity of deprivation in terms of living deprivations faced by people such as standards, health and education. deprivations in education, health etc. Some Estimates: 2. Suresh Tendulkar committee 1. Global Estimates: Based on new In order to develop a better methodology internationally comparable data, World of poverty estimation, an expert panel was Bank has found that “poverty levels across constituted by the Planning commission in the globe have declined, with 1.4 billion 2005. This committee was headed by prof. people (one in four) in the developing Suresh Tendulkar. The committee world living below US$1.25 a day in 2005, submitted its report in 2009 and down from 1.9 billion (one in two) in recommended moving away from calorie 1981. In other words, global poverty rates intake method. fell from 52% in 1981 to 26% in 2005.”  The committee recommended adopting 2. Estimates for India: World Bank estimates for India also indicate a ” M.R.P based consumption continuing decline in poverty. The revised expenditure “ methodology to estimates suggest that the percentage of determine the poverty line. people living below $1.25 a day in 2005  The consumption expenditure method (which based on India’s PPP rate) included both expenditures incurred on decreased from 60% in 1981 to 42% in calorie intake as well as on other 2005. Even at a dollar a day poverty essentials like clothing, footwear, declined from 42% to 24% over the same education, medical expenses etc.(both period. food and non-food).  As per the recommendations of the Poverty estimation methodologies in Tendulkar committee, the poverty line India: was based on” monthly per- capita The BPL methodology used to estimate consumption expenditure” (MPCE). poverty has been developed over the years And the MPCE was fixed at Rs 673 per person per month for rural areas

Easy to PICK115 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 and Rs 860 per person per month for 1. Uniform Recall Period: On the basis of NSS 61st Round (July urban areas. 2004 to June 2005) consumer expenditure data, the poverty ratio is estimated at 28.3  The committee recommended updating per cent in rural areas, 25.7 per cent in urban areas, and 27.5 per cent for the the MPCE levels every year after country as a whole in 2004-05 using uniform recall period (URP). In URP, taking inflation in to account. consumer expenditure data for all the items are collected for a 30-day recall period.  The Tendulkar committee’s 2. Mixed Recall Period: recommendations led to huge uproar Whereas based on mixed recall period (MRP) for the same period, the poverty all over the country. It was accused of ratios are 21.8 per cent in rural areas, 21.7 per cent in urban areas, and 21.8 per cent setting the MPCE very low to for the country as a whole. In MRP, consumer expenditure data for five non- artificially push down the poverty food items, namely clothing, footwear, durable goods, education, and institutional levels. medical expenses, are collected for a 365- day recall period and the consumption data 3. N. C. Saxena committee for the remaining items are collected for a 30-day recall period.  The rural development ministry in Poverty Line: 2008 appointed a committee headed by The poverty line in India is income based. The poverty line was originally fixed in N.C.Saxena to revise the parameters to terms of income/food requirements in 1978. It was stipulated that the calorie calculate the poverty figures in the standard for a typical individual in rural areas were 2400 calorie and was 2100 rural areas. calorie in urban areas. Then the cost of the grains (about 650  The committee came out with new gms) that fulfill this normative standard criteria of” automatic inclusion and was calculated. This cost was the poverty automatic exclusion” in poverty line. In 1978, it was Rs. 61.80 per person per month for rural areas and Rs. 71.30 for estimation. urban areas. Since then the Planning Commission calculates the poverty line  According to this criteria, some every year adjusting for inflation. The poverty line in monetary terms (i.e. disadvantaged families should be Rs. Per capital per month) during 2005-06 has been estimated at Rs. 368 in rural area considered poor automatically and and Rs. 560 in urban area as compared to Rs. 328 in rural area and Rs. 454 in urban some families enjoying certain benefits area in 2000-01. The state specific poverty lines have also been estimated by the should be excluded from the poverty planning commission for the year 2004-05 estimation. 4. . Rangarajan committee  The government appointed this committee in 2012 to revise the methodology of poverty estimation after the Tendulkar committee fiasco.  The committee submitted its report in 2014 and fixed the MPCE for a person at Rs 972 for rural areas and Rs 1407 for urban areas.  The committee preferred to use monthly per-capita expenditure of household of five rather than MPCE of an individual. This came out to be Rs 4860 per household in rural areas and Rs 7035 per household in urban areas. Methods in India to calculate poverty: In India there are two methods of estimation namely Uniform Recall Period (URP) and Mixed Recall Period (MRP).

Easy to PICK116 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 in monetary terms (Rs. Per capital per month) Methodology for estimating BPL: The methodology of estimating poverty and the identification of BPL households have been a matter of debate. Two committees under the chairmanship of Prof. Suresh D. Tendulkar and Dr. N.C. Saxena have submitted their reports on methodology for estimation of poverty and methodology for conducting BPL census in rural areas, respectively. Further, an Expert Group under the chairmanship of Prof. S.R. Hasim has been set up to recommend methodology for identification of BPL families in urban areas. Key Points :

Easy to PICK117 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme Part of: GS-II- Governance (PT-  All loans raised by the Government by MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) issue of Public notifications, treasury It was announced in December 1993 under bills (internal debt) and from foreign the control of the Ministry of Rural governments and international Development. Later, in October 1994, it institutions (external debt). was transferred to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.  All government expenditures are incurred from this fund and no amount Objectives: can be withdrawn from the Fund without authorization from the  To enable MPs to recommend works Parliament. of developmental nature with emphasis  Each state can have its own Consolidated Fund of the state with on the creation of durable community similar provisions. assets based on the locally felt needs to  The Comptroller and Auditor General of India audits the fund and reports to be taken up in their Constituencies. the relevant legislatures on the management.  Lok Sabha Members can recommend Contingency Fund works within their constituencies and  It was constituted under the Article 267 elected Members of Rajya Sabha can (1) of the Indian Constitution.  Its corpus is Rs.500 crores. recommend works within the State  It is used for meeting unforeseen they are elected from. expenditure.  Each state can have its own  Nominated Members of both the Rajya Contingency Fund of the state with Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend similar provisions. works anywhere in the country. Public Account  It was constituted under Article 266  To create durable assets of national (2) of the Indian Constitution. priorities viz. drinking water, primary  The transactions under this account education, public health, sanitation and relate to debt other than those included in the Consolidated Fund of India. roads, etc.  The receipts under Public Account do not constitute normal receipts of  It is a Central Sector Scheme. Government hence Parliamentary authorization for payments is not The annual MPLADS required.  Every state can have their own similar fund entitlement per MP constituency accounts. is Rs.5 crore. PT PICKUPS Government Accounts Consolidated Fund It was constituted under Article 266 (1) of the Constitution of India. It is made up of:  All revenues received by the Government by way of taxes (Income Tax, Central Excise, Customs and other receipts) and all non-tax revenues.

Easy to PICK118 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 India unravels monetary policy measures-G-20 virtual meeting Part of: GS-II- International safeguard people’s jobs and incomes, organisation –G20 (PT-MAINS- restore confidence, preserve financial PERSONALITY TEST) stability, revive growth and recover India stressed the role of Finance Ministers strongly. This plan also provides for and Central Bank Governors of G20 helping countries needing assistance, countries in safeguarding the lives and coordinating in public health and financial livelihood of people while maintaining measures and minimising disruption to macroeconomic stability in a sustainable global supply chain. manner in the backdrop of Covid-19 pandemic. The G20 is committed to do whatever it In her intervention at the virtual session of takes to overcome the pandemic, along the Second G20 Finance Ministers and with the World Health Organization Central Bank Governors meeting, Finance (WHO), International Monetary Fund Minister shared the measures taken by (IMF), World Bank Group (WBG), Government of India to provide the United Nations (UN), and other vulnerable sections with swift, timely and international organizations, working targeted assistance. within their existing mandates. We are In a couple of weeks, India has disbursed determined to spare no effort, both financial assistance amounting to 3.9 individually and collectively, to: billion dollars to more than 320 million ▪ Protect lives. people so far. ▪ Safeguard people’s jobs and incomes. The disbursal is being done with a special ▪ Restore confidence, preserve financial focus on direct benefit transfer through stability, revive growth and recover digital technology so that the exposure of stronger. beneficiaries to public places is minimised. ▪ Minimize disruptions to trade and global The monetary policy measures undertaken supply chains. by Government of India, Reserve Bank of ▪ Provide help to all countries in need of India and other regulators have helped de- assistance. freeze the market and catalyse credit ▪ Coordinate on public health and financial flows. These measures include liquidity measures. support of 50 billion dollars, regulatory and supervisory measures for credit India PM view: easing, relief on debt servicing through PM thanked the King of Saudi Arabia for moratoriums on instalments of term- convening this extraordinary session of loans, eased working capital financing G20. In his remarks, PM noted the and deferred interest payments on such alarming social and economic cost of the financing. pandemic,He added that 90% of the COVID-19 cases and 88% of deaths G-20 action plan to compact Covid 19 were in G20 countries even as they The new G20 Plan to combat Covid19 will share 80% of world GDP and 60% of guide individual and collective actions of world population. He called on the G20 the G20 members in responding to the to come out with a concrete action plan to pandemic in short and medium term. The fight the global pandemic. Action Plan aims to protect lives, PM underscored the need to put human

Easy to PICK119 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 beings at the centre of our vision of global was a ministerial-level forum which emerged after G7 invited both developed prosperity and cooperation, freely and and developing economies. The finance ministers and central bank governors openly share the benefits of medical began meeting in 1999. Amid 2008 Financial Crisis the world research and development, develop saw the need for a new consensus-building at the highest political level. It was decided adaptive, responsive and humane health that the G20 leaders would begin meeting once annually. care systems, promote new crisis management protocols and procedures for an interconnected global village, strengthen and reform intergovernmental organisations like WHO and work together to reduce economic hardships resulting from COVID-19 particularly for the Members economically weak. The members of the G20 are Argentina, PM called on the Leaders to help usher in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, a new globalization, for the collective France, Germany, India, Indonesia, well-being of humankind and have Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, multilateral fora focus on promoting the Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, shared interests of humanity. Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. PT-PICKUPS One nation holds the Chair every G20 meeting held in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). year, known as 'G20  It was presided by Saudi Arabia. Presidency'. Argentina chaired the G20 Saudi Arabia is the first Arab nation to hold the G20 presidency. summit of 2018 and Japan for 2019.  The 2020 G20 Presidency will focus discussions, forums, working groups V-Shaped Recovery and Ministerial Meetings under the theme of “Realizing  A V-shaped recovery is characterized Opportunities of the 21st Century for All”. by a sharp economic decline followed About The G20is an informal group of 19 by a quick and sustained recovery. countries and the European Union, with representatives of the International  The recession of 1953 is an example of Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The G20 membership comprises a mix of a V-shaped recovery. the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds  A V-shaped recovery is different from of the world’s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global an L-shaped recovery, in which the investment and over 75% of global trade. Headquarter: The G20 operates as a economy stays in a slump for a forum and not as an prolonged period of time. organisation. Therefore, it does not have any permanent secretariat or management Key Points : and administrative structure. Origin 1997-1999 Asian Financial Crisis: This

Easy to PICK120 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 UNORGANISED SECTOR - Unorganised Worker Social Security Act,2007 Part of: GS-II- Labour reforms (PT- The State Government may formulate and MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The Ministry of Labour, Government of notify, from time to time, suitable welfare India, has categorised the unorganised labour force under four groups depending schemes for unorganised workers, on occupation, nature of employment, specially distressed categories and service including schemes relating to provident categories. They are: fund; employment injury benefit; housing; educational schemes for children; skill upgradation of workers; funeral assistance; and old age homes. Under Terms of Occupation: National Social Security Board: Small and marginal farmers, landless  The Central Government shall, by agricultural labourers, share croppers, fishermen, those engaged in animal notification, constitute a National husbandry, beedi rolling, labelling and Board to be known as the National packing, building and construction Social Security Board to exercise the workers, leather workers, weavers, powers conferred on, and to perform artisans, salt workers, workers in brick the functions assigned to, it under this kilns and stone quarries, workers in saw Act. The Union Minister for Labour mills, oil mills, etc. come under this and Employment is the Chairperson. category.  The Chairperson and other members of the Board shall be from amongst Under Terms of Nature of Employment: persons of eminence in the fields of Attached agricultural labourers, bonded labour welfare, management, finance, labourers, migrant workers, contract and law and administration. casual labourers come under this category.  The term of the National Board shall Under Terms of Specially Distressed be three years. Category: Functions of National Board: Toddy tappers, scavengers, carriers of The National Board shall perform the head loads, drivers of animal driven following functions, namely:— vehicles, loaders and unloaders come (a) recommend to the Central Government under this category. suitable schemes for different sections of Under Terms of Service Category: unorganised workers; Midwives, domestic workers, fishermen (b) advise the Central Government on such and women, barbers, vegetable and fruit matters arising out of the administration of vendors, newspaper vendors, etc., belong this Act as may be referred to it; to this category. (c) monitor such social welfare schemes for unorganised workers as are Unorganised Worker Social Security administered by the Central Government; Act,2007: (d) review the progress of registration and An Act to provide for the social security issue of identity cards to the unorganised and welfare of unorganised workers. It workers; extends to the whole of India. (e) review the record keeping functions performed at the State level;

Easy to PICK121 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 (f) review the expenditure from the funds (b) a self-declaration by him or her under various schemes; and confirming that he or she is an unorganised (g) undertake such other functions as are worker. assigned to it by the Central Government (2) Every eligible unorganised worker from time to time. shall make an application in the prescribed State level: form to the District Administration for Even State Social Security Boards will be registration. formed at the State level headed by the (3) Every unorganised worker shall be State Ministry of Labour. registered and issued an identity card by District level: the District Administration which shall The record keeping functions for the be a smart card carrying a unique purpose of this Act shall be performed by identification number and shall be the District Administration: portable. Provided that the State Government may (4) If a scheme requires a registered direct that the record keeping function unorganised worker to make a shall be performed by— contribution, he or she shall be eligible for (a) theDistrict Panchayat in rural areas; social security benefits under the scheme and only upon payment of such contribution. (b) theUrban Local Bodies in urban areas. (5) Where a scheme requires the Central or State Government to make a contribution, Workers facilitation centres: the Central or State Government, as the The State Government may set up such case may be, shall make the contribution Workers' facilitation centres as may be regularly in terms of the scheme. considered necessary from time to time to perform the following functions, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana namely:— Yojana: (a) disseminate information on available Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana social security schemes for the (PMMVY) is a Maternity Benefit unorganised workers; Programme that is implemented in all the (b) facilitate the filling, processing and districts of the country in accordance with forwarding of application forms for the provision of the National Food registration of unorganised workers; Security Act, 2013. (c) assist unorganised worker to obtain Objectives: registration from the District Providing partial compensation for the Administration; wage loss in terms of cash incentive s so (d) facilitate the enrollment of the that the woman can take adequate res t registered unorganised workers in social before and after delivery of the first living security schemes. child. The cash incentive provided would lead to Eligibility for registration and social improved health seeking behaviour security benefits. amongst the Pregnant Women and (1) Every unorganised worker shall be Lactating Mothers (PW& LM). eligible for registration subject to the Target beneficiaries: fulfilment of the following conditions, 1.All Pregnant Women and Lactating namely:— Mothers, excluding PW&LM who are in (a) he or she shall have completed 14 years regular employment with the Central of age; and Government or the State Governments or PSUs or those who are in receipt of similar

Easy to PICK122 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 benefits under any law for the time being pregnancy at the Anganwadi Centre in force. (AWC) / approved Health facility as 2.All eligible Pregnant Women and may be identified by the respective Lactating Mothers who have their administering State / UT, second pregnancy on or after 01.01.2017 for first instalment of Rs 2000/ - after six child in family. months of pregnancy on receiving at 3.The date and stage of pregnancy for a least one ante-natal check-up (ANC) beneficiary would be counted with respect and third instalment of Rs 2000/ - after to her LMP date as mentioned in the MCP child birth is registered and the child card. has received the first cycle of BCG, 4. Case of Miscarriage/Still Birth : OPV, DPT and Hepatitis - B, or its  A beneficiary is eligible to receive equivalent/ substitute.  The eligible beneficiaries would benefits under the scheme only once. receive the incentive given under the  In case of miscarriage/still birth, the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for Institutional delivery and the incentive beneficiary would be eligible to claim received under JSY would be the remaining instalment(s) in event of accounted towards maternity benefits any future pregnancy. so that on an average a woman gets Rs  Thus, after receiving the 1st 6000 / - instalment, if the beneficiary has a miscarriage, she would only be eligible Draft Policy on Domestic Workers: for receiving 2nd and 3rd instalment in Features event of future pregnancy subject to  Inclusion of domestic workers in the fulfilment of eligibility criterion and conditionalities of the scheme. existing legislations Similarly, if the beneficiary has a  Domestic workers will have the right miscarriage or still birth after receiving 1 st and 2nd instalments, she would to register as workers with the State only be eligible for receiving 3rd Labour Department. Such registration instalment in event of future pregnancy will facilitate their access to rights & subject to fulfilment of eligibility benefits accruing to them as workers. criterion and conditionalities of the  Right to form their own associations, scheme. trade unions 5. Case of Infant Mortality: A beneficiary  Right to have minimum wages, access is eligible to receive benefits under the to social security, protection from scheme only once. That is, in case of infant abuse, harassment, violence mortality, she will not be eligible for  Right to enhance their professional claiming benefits under the scheme, if she skills has already received all the instalments of  Protection of domestic workers from the maternity benefit under PMMVY abuse and exploitation who are earlier. recruited to work abroad 6. Pregnant and Lactating AWWs/ AWHs/  Domestic Workers to have access to ASHA may also avail the benefits under courts, tribunals, etc. the PMMVY subject to fulfilment of  Establishment of a mechanism for scheme conditionalities. regulation of placement agencies. Benefits under PMMVY:  Cash incentive of Rs 5000 in three instalments i.e. first instalment of Rs 1000/ - on early registration of

Easy to PICK123 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Analysis of Depreciating Rupee Part of: GS-II- Labour reforms (PT-  Shift in the global capital: After the MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) massive decrease announced in The value of the Indian rupee against dollar has significantly declined to the corporate tax rates and the rising level of Rs 76 further impacted by COVID-19. Fall in the rupee has become a interest rates, U.S. economy has matter of concern as it can slow down the economic growth, corporate earnings, and become a more attractive option for the can lead to market volatility. Currency depreciation for any developing economy investors of the global capital. could be a major stumbling block in its growth. It calls for measures to encourage Investors attracted by higher yields in exports and strengthen the manufacturing sector to reduce import overdependence. the United States have been pulling Government has announced several steps including steps to curb the import of non- their capital out of India at an essential goods and encourage the export of domestic goods, which will help in increasing pace over the last few addressing the country’s burgeoning current account deficit. Other steps such as months. removing restrictions on foreign portfolio investments and encouraging Indian  Trade war: The trade war between the borrowers to issue rupee-denominated ‘masala bonds’ have also been announced US and China and the spat between to facilitate the inflow of dollars and to de- risk the economy from fluctuations in the Turkey and America is another cause exchange rate. of concern. It has weighed on not just Devaluation of currencies around the world: the dollar has appreciated sharply the rupee, but most emerging market against most of the other currencies in the world. For instance, it has moved up economy (EME) currencies. Any against both the euro and the pound. Developing countries have suffered the adverse economic/geopolitical loss of portfolio investment because of their relatively unstable political and development, in Iran or Turkey, economic conditions. Historically, devaluation was used as a tool to curb the triggers capital outflows from EMEs balance of payments deficit. The currency and investors seeking refuge in “safe was devalued to decrease the price of haven” currencies such as the dollar exports by making them more competitive. Also, the imports in the country became and the Swiss franc. more expensive and its volume got reduced in the economy.  The rise in international crude oil Causes for the Decline prices is one of the reasons behind the rupee’s decline as importers have had to shell out more dollars to fund their purchases. India imports about 80% of its petroleum needs. The country has been unsuccessful in finding sustainable domestic sources of energy to address the over-reliance on oil imports. This has meant that the rise in the price of oil has traditionally exerted tremendous stress on the current account deficit and the currency, as is happening now. Valuation of Rupee Any currency, say the rupee, can be overvalued or undervalued. Overvaluation of the currency means that its price in terms of foreign currencies is too high, compared to what it would be with a more appropriate exchange rate. This makes the exports expensive in foreign markets and

Easy to PICK124 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 the imports cheap in the home market. percentage of the price paid by the Undervaluation of the currency means the opposite. Its price in terms of foreign dealer. currencies is too low so that it discriminates against imports and  Boosting exports: The government in favour of exports. needs to think of a long-term plan to How does the depreciating rupee impact the economy? boost exports, preferably through steps  A depreciating rupee could put that remove policy barriers that are inflationary pressure on the domestic economy. The rising landed cost price impeding the growth of export-oriented of crude oil has resulted in the rise in prices of petroleum and diesel which in sectors, in order to find a sustainable turn has increased the cost of transportation of goods that also solution to the problem of the include many food items.  The devaluation will also increase the weakening rupee. Deep structural prices of imported inputs, particularly those for which there are no alternative changes from infrastructure to trade domestic sources of supply. These import dependent sectors can face a policy are needed to boost export rise in the cost of production which can affect output expansion. Many competitiveness while addressing domestic companies that have taken dollar loans will also face significantly problems related to the goods and higher servicing costs. services tax particularly faced by the NOTE (PT SHOT): Landed cost is the total cost of a exporters. commodity or a product when it lands at the ports of the country importing the  Encouraging FPI: Portfolio commodity/product from another country. It includes the manufacturing cost of the investment flows have a significant product, all transportation costs, customs, duties, taxes, currency conversion, crating, impact on the exchange rate. These handling charges and payments etc. capital inflows drive prices up in stock Corrective Actions  Lowering the duties: Both the Central markets and add to foreign exchange and State governments earn huge reserves. Large inflows lead to an revenues from excise duties and value- added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel. appreciation of the rupee and large Now that the rupee cost of crude has increased, the Centre should lower outflows lead to a depreciation of the duties. Rates of VAT should also be lowered by State governments. A small rupee. The appreciating overvalued reduction in VAT may even be revenue neutral since VAT is levied as a rupee erodes the price competitiveness of exports and enhances the price competitiveness of imports, which hurts the profitability of domestic firms and is bound to enlarge the trade deficit. At a macro level, this also leads to a contraction in aggregate domestic demand so that economic growth is slower than it would have been in the absence of an appreciating rupee. Conclusion  The government can borrow from non- resident Indians (NRIs) by floating special NRI bonds that have to be purchased with foreign exchange, and with maturity periods of at least three years.  Interest rates should be kept attractive, and investors must be protected from exchange rate fluctuations. Since this has been tried before (in 2013), it offers more certainty to the steps that can work.

Easy to PICK125 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  In the near future, the rupee is unlikely World War II, India had accumulated a to return to anything below 70 to the sizeable sterling balance of £1,300 dollar. This should not be cause for million — India’s earnings in foreign much concern because the economy currency on its exports for the war, will adjust to the lower value of the deposited in the Bank of England in rupee. Much will depend on whether the form of sterling to the credit of the the economy can continue to grow at a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) account. reasonably high rate, for this will The balance had grown with import steady the nerves of portfolio investors controls limiting forex outflows. The and prevent them from pulling out of corresponding increase in rupee the Indian stock market. circulation stoked war inflation in India. A Brief History of Rupee  After the war ended, the transfer of the  The word ‘rupee’ has been derived sterling balances was negotiated between India and Britain. from the Sanskrit word rupyakam,  The sterling was floated against the meaning a silver coin. It owes its major international currencies in the origin to rupiya, issued by Sher Shah early 1970s, the rupee as late as 1993- Suri in 1540-45. Today, the Reserve 1994. The two currencies were Bank of India issues currency under delinked in 1975. the RBI Act 1934.  The Paper Currency Bill was enacted India to supply hydroxychloroquine to in 1861 which gave the British 55 countries government the sole right to issue India has decided to supply anti-malarial notes. drug hydroxychloroquine to 55 countries.  Britain (and France) declared war on Government sources said, out of these, 21 Germany in 1939. In preparation, countries will get the drug on a India’s economy was geared up by the commercial basis and other countries will colonial government towards the war receive it on a grant in very small effort through the imposition of quantities. controls. The first was the exchange control. Completely convertible into India will soon get COVID19 testing kits any currency until then, the rupee was from South Korea. Indian missions have made inconvertible. Transferring also taken quotations for testing kits from money outside the sterling area vendors in the UK, Malaysia, France, required permission under rules that Germany, Japan and the US. They are were laid down in London. coordinating with major agencies for PPE  Dollars for the war were also raised by kits and country will soon get a huge selling silver bullion from India’s consignment of PPE kits. reserves to governments outside the sterling area. About Hydroxychloroquine  Dollars could be spent on imports of  Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), sold essential consumables, not capital goods. What was essential was defined under the brand name Plaquenil among by the war requirements until 1946, others, is a medication used to prevent when civilian requirements were and treat malaria in areas where included. The restrictions on capital malaria remains sensitive to goods imports continued because the chloroquine. Other uses include BoE had blocked what was called treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, India’s sterling balances. By the end of lupus, and porphyria cutanea tarda

Easy to PICK126 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  Hydroxychloroquine was approved for  However, the government has stressed medical use in the United States in that the drug can only be used in 1955. It is on the World Health COVID-19 treatment on prescription, Organization's List of Essential and that it should not instill a sense of Medicines, the safest and most “false security”. effective medicines needed in a health system.  The US has been looking to procure the drug for emergency use. On March  Common side effects include vomiting, 21, Ipca told stock exchanges here that headache, changes in vision, and the US Food and Drug Administration muscle weakness. Severe side effects had “made exception” to its import may include allergic reactions. alert against the company so that it could get stocks. Hydroxychloroquine Issue  In a study last month in the  India decided to ban exports of the drug on April 4. On Tuesday, the International Journal of Antimicrobial government decided to ease the ban. Agents (IJAA), French scientists reported: “Twenty cases were  On April 7, US President Donald treated… and showed a significant Trump tweeted about “retaliation” if reduction of the viral carriage India did not heed his request for the compared to controls, and much lower drug. average carrying duration than reported of untreated patients in the literature.  Later, India said it would supply to Azithromycin (an antibiotic) added to countries that needed it the most, and hydroxychloroquine was significantly to neighbours who were “dependent on more efficient for virus elimination.” India’s capabilities”.  The study was flagged as being too small to draw a definitive conclusion. MHA CAUTION AGAINST THE USE On April 3, the International Society of OF ZOOM MEETING PLATFORMS Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, which Home Ministry has directed that Zoom owns the IJAA, said the study did “not meeting platform should not be used by meet the society’s expected standard, government officials and offices for any especially relating to the lack of better purpose. In an advisory Ministry of Home explanations of the inclusion criteria Affairs has cautioned against the use of and the triage of patients to ensure this platform. It further stated that even patient safety”. private users should ensure that Cert-in  However, by March 21, Trump had advisory regarding the use of this platform begun to call the drug a “game should be followed. The Cert-inadvisory changer”, and has since been pushing is mainly focused towards prevention of it. unauthorised entry in the conferences and  At the end of last month, the Indian it also prevents participants to carry out Council of Medical Research (ICMR) any malicious activity on the terminal of issued an advisory recommending the other participants. Private users have been use of hydroxychloroquine in advised to refer to the Cert-in advisory on asymptomatic healthcare workers its website to restrict users through access treating COVID-19 patients, and also passwords. Zoom platform has been used allowed doctors to prescribe it for for holding video conferences in light of household contacts of confirmed the lockdown imposed in many countries. COVID-19 patients. Many leading private companies have already restricted usage of this platform amid growing concerns over its security.

Easy to PICK127 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 CERT-In IMF proposes to deploy 1 Trillion US dollar lending capacity to battle corona CERT-In (the Indian Computer pandemic International Monetary Fund Emergency Response Team) is a (IMF) has proposed to deploy its full 1 trillion US Dollar lending capacity to government-mandated information support countries battling COVID-19 outbreak. Describing the COVID-19 technology (IT) security organization. The pandemic as a crisis like no other, International Monetary Fund head purpose of CERT-In is to respond to Kristalina Georgieva, world is now in the worst recession since the Great computer security incidents, report on Depression. Asia expected to witness zero percent vulnerabilities and promote effective IT growth in 2020 - IMF Asia is expected to witness zero percent security practices throughout the country. growth in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, its worst growth performance in CERT-In was created by the Indian almost 60 years, the International Monetary Fund IMF) has said. Department of Information Technology in The IMF in a blog titled 'COVID-19 Pandemic and the Asia-Pacific Region: 2004 and operates under the auspices of Lowest Growth Since the 1960s' further said the impact of the coronavirus on the that department. According to the region will be \"severe and unprecedented\". The blog said, \"This is the worst growth provisions of the Information Technology performance in almost 60 years, including during the Global Financial Crisis, when Amendment Act 2008, CERT-In is the growth stood at 4.7 percent; and the Asian Financial Crisis when it stood at 1.3 responsible for overseeing administration percent.\" It further noted that \"Asia still looks to fare of the Act. In the recent Information better than other regions in terms of activity\". Technology Amendment Act 2008, CERT- Key Points : In has been designated to serve as the national agency to perform the following functions in the area of cyber security: • Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents. • Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents • Emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents • Coordination of cyber incident response activities. • Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information security practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents. • Such other functions relating to cyber security as may be prescribed. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has signed cooperation pacts with its counterparts in Malaysia, Singapore and Japan for cyber security. The Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will promote closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of security- related incidents between India and the three countries. COVID-19 and IMF

Easy to PICK128 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Recent judgement and Forest Rights Act, 2006 Part of: GS-II- Forest Right Act – Tribal Forest Rights Act. A Bench of Justices Arun Rights (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY Mishra, Navin Sinha and Indira Banerjee TEST) ordered the Chief Secretaries of many of Recently Supreme Court asked states to free these States to evict those whose claims tracts of forest land in possession of people were finally rejected. The court directed that whose claims have been rejected under the the eviction be carried out by July 24, 2019. Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.The The Bench, in a 19-page order, cautioned judgement has triggered protests from forest the States that if the evictions were not rights groups, who contended that wildlife carried out within the stipulated time, “the conservation cannot overcome natural matter would be viewed seriously.” The justice goals. Chief Secretaries of the States were asked to Preface: In the colonial era, the British file affidavits by July 12, explaining why diverted abundant forest wealth of the the rejected claimants had not been evicted. nation to meet their economic needs. While It ordered the Forest Survey of India (FSI) procedure for settlement of rights was to make a satellite survey and place on provided under statutes such as the Indian record the “encroachment positions.” Forest Act, 1927, these were hardly What is the problem? followed. As a result, tribal and forest- The February 13 order is based on affidavits dwelling communities, who had been living filed by the States. The affidavits, however, within the forests in harmony with the do not make clear whether the due process environment and the ecosystem, continued of law was observed before the claims were to live inside the forests in tenurial rejected. The Centre argues that the insecurity, a situation which continued even rejection of claims is particularly high in the after independence as they were States hit by Left-Wing Extremism, where marginalised. The symbiotic relationship tribal population is high. The forest land between forests and forest-dwelling claims of these tribes and forest-dwellers are communities found recognition in the mostly rejected by the States. Being poor National Forest Policy, 1988. The policy and illiterate, living in remote areas, they do called for the need to associate tribal people not know the appropriate procedure for in the protection, regeneration and filing claims. The gram sabhas, which development of forests. The Scheduled initiate the verification of their claims, are Tribes and Other Traditional Forest low on awareness of how to deal with them. Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) The rejection orders are not even Act, 2006, was enacted to protect the communicated to these communities. marginalised socio-economic class of Background citizens and balance the right to environment with their right to life and  A large number of people especially livelihood. the scheduled tribes have lived in and What did the order say? around forests for a long period in On February 13, the Supreme Court ordered symbiotic relationship. the eviction of lakhs belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other  This relationship has led to formalized Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs) or informal customary rules of use and categories across 16 States, whose claim as extraction, often governed by ethical forest-dwellers has been rejected under the beliefs and practices that have ensured that forests are not too degraded.

Easy to PICK129 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  During the colonial time the focus o PESA empowers Gram shifted from the forests being used as a resource base for sustenance of local Sabha/Panchayat at appropriate level communities to a State resource for commercial interests and development with right to mandatory consultation in of land for agriculture. land acquisition, resettlement and  Several Acts and policies such as the 3 Indian Forest Acts of 1865, 1894 and rehabilitation of displaced persons. 1927 of Central Govt and some state forest Acts curtailed centuries‐old, o PESA seeks to reduce alienation in customary‐use rights of local communities. tribal areas as they will have better  This continued even after control over the utilisation of public independence till much later until enactment of The Scheduled Tribes resources. and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, o It will help minimise exploitation of 2006. tribal population as they will be able to Related Acts and Provisions  Wildlife protection Act 1972 control and manage money lending, o This act prohibits the capturing, killing, poisoning or trapping of wild consumption and sale of liquor and animals. o It extends to the whole of India except also village markets. the State of Jammu and Kashmir o It also regulates and controls trade in o PESA looks to promote cultural parts and products derived from wildlife. heritage through preservation of  1988 National Forest Policy o The policy aims at maintaining of traditions, customs and cultural environmental stability. o It looks at conserving the natural identity of tribal population. heritage of the country by preserving the remaining natural forests. Features of the Act o Increasing forest/tree cover in the country through massive afforestation  The act recognize and vest the forest and social forestry programmes. o Creating a massive people’s movement rights and occupation in Forest land in for achieving these objectives and to minimise pressure on existing forests. forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes  The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Schedule Areas) (FDST) and Other Traditional Forest Act 1996 (PESA) o It safeguards and preserves the Dwellers (OTFD)who have been traditions and customs of the people, and their cultural identity, community residing in such forests for generations. resources, customary mode of dispute resolution.  The act also establishes the responsibilities and authority for sustainable use, conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecological balance of FDST and OTFD.  It strengthens the conservation regime of the forests while ensuring livelihood and food security of the FDST and OTFD.  It seeks to rectify colonial injustice to the FDST and OTFD who are integral to the very survival and sustainability of the forest ecosystem.  The act identify four types of rights: o Title rights  It gives FDST and OTFD the right to ownership to land farmed by tribals or forest dwellers subject to a maximum of 4 hectares.  Ownership is only for land that is actually being cultivated by the concerned family and no new lands will be granted.

Easy to PICK130 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 o Use rights Committees have six members – three  The rights of the dwellers extend to government officers and three elected persons. extracting Minor Forest Produce, o At both the taluka and the district grazing areas, to pastoralist routes, etc. levels, any person who believes a o Relief and development rights claim is false can appeal to the  To rehabilitation in case of illegal Committees, and if they prove their eviction or forced displacement and to case the right is denied (sections 6(2) basic amenities, subject to restrictions and 6(4)). for forest protection o Finally, land recognised under this Act o Forest management rights cannot be sold or transferred.  It includes the right to protect, Importance regenerate or conserve or manage any  The acts looks to right the wrongs of community forest resource which they government policies in both colonial have been traditionally protecting and and independent India toward forest- conserving for sustainable use. dwelling communities, whose claims Who can claim these Rights? PT SHOT over their resources were taken away  Members or community of the during 1850s. Scheduled Tribes who primarily reside  The act also has potential of in and who depend on the forests or sustainably protecting forest through forest lands for bona fide livelihood traditional ways along with providing needs. tribes means of livelihood.  It can also be claimed by any member  It expands the mandate of the Fifth or community who has for at least and the Sixth Schedules of the three generations (75 years) prior to Constitution that protect the claims of the 13th day of December, indigenous communities over tracts of 2005 primarily resided in forests land land or forests they inhabit. for bona fide livelihood needs.  The alienation of tribes was one of the  The Gram Sabha is the authority to factors behind the Naxal movement, initiate the process for determining the which affects states like Chhattisgarh, nature and extent of Individual Forest Odisha and Jharkhand. The act through Rights (IFR) or Community Forest identifying IFR and CFR tries to Rights (CFR) or both that may be provide inclusion to tribes. given to FDST and OTFD.  It has the potential to democratise  Procedure forest governance by recognising o First, the gram sabha (full village community forest resource rights over assembly, NOT the gram panchayat) an estimated 85.6 million acres, makes a recommendation – i.e who has thereby empowering over 200 million been cultivating land for how long, forest dwellers in over 1,70,000 which minor forest produce is villages. collected, etc. The gram sabha plays  The act will ensure that people get to this role because it is a public body manage their forest on their own which where all people participate, and hence will regulate exploitation of forest is fully democratic and transparent. resources by officials, forest o The gram sabha’s recommendation governance and management as well as goes through two stages of screening tribal rights etc. committees at the taluka and district Challenges levels.  Administrative Apathy o The district level committee makes the final decision (see section 6(6)). The

Easy to PICK131 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 o Implementation of the act remains the o Rough maps of community and biggest challenge as acts related to the individual claims are prepared by environment are not entirely compliant Gram Sabha which at times often lack with the law, illegal encroachments technical knowhow and suffers from have happened as much as that claims educational incapacity. have been unfairly rejected. o Intensive process of documenting o As tribals are not a big vote bank in communities’ claims under the FRA most states, governments find it makes the process both cumbersome convenient to subvert FRA or not and harrowing for illiterate tribals. bother about it at all in favour of monetary gains. Conclusion  The government of India views MFP  Lack of Awareness rights as a means to curb Naxalism o Unawareness at the Lower level of since the states most affected by Naxalism are also home to the forest officials who are supposed to maximum number of people dependent help process forest rights claims is on forest produce. high and majority of the aggrieved  The recognition of CFR rights would population too remains in the dark shift forest governance in India regarding their rights. towards a community conservation o The forest bureaucracy has regime that is more food security and misinterpreted the FRA as an livelihood oriented. instrument to regularise encroachment  Large-scale awareness and information instead of a welfare measure for dissemination campaigns are required tribals. at local level informing both tribal and  Dilution of Act lower level officials. o Certain sections of environmentalist  It is important to develop a detailed raise the concern that FRA bend more strategy of training and capacity in the favour of individual rights, building of people responsible for giving lesser scope for community implementing the FRA, such as rights. Panchayats, Gram Sabha, village level o Community Rights effectively gives Forest Rights committee etc. the local people the control over forest  The relevant maps and documents resources which remains a significant should be made available to the Forest portion of forest revenue making states rights committee and claimants to wary of vesting forest rights to Gram simplify the task of the Gram Sabha in Sabha. identifying and filing claims for  Reluctance of the forest bureaucracy individual and community rights. to give up control  Providing clarity on the time limit for o There has been deliberate sabotage by settling claims the act does not specify the forest bureaucracy, both at the any time limit for resolving claims. In Centre and the states, and to some most of the areas, both the officials and extent by big corporates. beneficiaries are unaware of this fact. o The forest bureaucracy fears that it will  Centre should take more proactive role lose the enormous power over land and in pushing states to honour a law that people that it currently enjoys, while could change the lives of millions. the corporates fear they may lose the cheap access to valuable natural resources.  Institutional Roadblock

Easy to PICK132 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 USA-WHO-COVID-19 Part of: GS-II- IO (PT-MAINS- respect it has definitely failed to live PERSONALITY TEST) up to its responsibilities. The U.S. halting its funding of the WHO.  The WHO took time till the middle of The U.S. President has criticized World January, 2020 to suggest human-to- Health Organization (WHO) for its human transmission of the virus, handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic and toeing the China line for the first few has alleged that the organisation was “very weeks. China centric”.  Despite various reports from other countries on the high human to human The WHO has been accused of transmission of the COVID-19, mismanaging the COVID-19 crisis and the WHO delayed declaring it as a failing to vet information and share it in a Public Health Emergency of timely and transparent manner.The U.S. International Concern which could president has halted funding to the WHO have helped the countries prepare for a pending a review. possible large scale spread of the disease. Details:  The WHO failed to be proactive and The World Health Organization: had repeatedly claimed that the  WHO is a United Nations agency situation seemed to be in control.  Only after global spread and things created in 1948 to coordinate and went out of control did the WHO direct the UN’s global health efforts. declare COVID-19 as a pandemic.  It is headquartered in Geneva. It failed to alert the global  The WHO plays a crucial role in the community. domain of public health.  Given the many public health efforts Sided with Chinese: going around the world, it helps co-  The initial reports about COVID-19 ordinate such efforts.  It collects data, reports, evidences, were suppressed by China. The best practices and shares the same Whistle blower doctor was arrested on among the global community thus charges on spreading rumours. China helping enhance the effectiveness of failed to inform the other countries of such efforts. It processes available the seriousness of the epidemic. medical information and compiles and  WHO ignored important reports on the provides resource to everyone. transmission of the disease and  It also provides important even condemned efforts from other guidelines regarding travel restrictions countries to ban air travel from and patient care, which serves as an China. important source for medical  It is in this respect that the WHO has professionals. been blamed for siding with China. Criticism of WHO’s handling of the Counter arguments: Pandemic:  Several public health academics have Failed to live up to its expectations:  The main role of the WHO is to argued that the U.S. president’s criticism of the organisation is monitor world health situation and misplaced. prevent health outbreaks. In this

Easy to PICK133 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Previous role: increased globalization has led to the  The WHO has done commendably unprecedented spread of the disease. well previously. Its handling of Concerns about the halting of funding SARS, ebola, polio etc is an example. by U.S.: Low budget:  The U.S. is the WHO’s largest  The WHO budget is low. This makes contributor. For the 2018 and 2019 it ill-equipped to effectively fulfill its wide mandate and responsibilities. biennium, the U.S. contributed about 20% of WHO’s budget. The funding Concerns in WHO functioning:  The context in which WHO functions freeze is highly likely to limits its effectiveness. negatively impact WHO’s  WHO has no authority over its 194- functioning for a short while at least, member countries and, as is typical for UN agencies, depends on member given the significant contribution the contributions to carry out its work.  As is often the case with UN agencies, U.S. makes. WHO is not immune to political motivations and an inertia that often  The major share of the U.S. comes with large bureaucracies. programmatic funding went towards Limitations of a multilateral body:  WHO is a multilateral body charged polio eradication ($158 million), with global health. It is only as good increasing access to essential health as its member nations.  Some countries are stepping back from and human services ($100 million) and responsibility under the WHO framework. vaccine-preventable disease ($44  A few governments have also reduced their budgetary support to the WHO, million). The fund freeze which has forced the WHO to mobilize private contributions to support its can undermine previous progress in activities. This is not a good development for a multilateral public health. organization mandated to play a crucial role. Conclusion:  WHO is dependent on countries for  WHO would have to work with its giving information. It is possible that China could have given wrong partners to fill any financial gaps that information to WHO. arise to ensure that its work continues uninterrupted. Pandemic unprecedented:  The present COVID-19 Pandemic is Key Points : unprecedented when compared to previous pandemics like the Spanish flu. The increased movement and interactions among human beings with

Easy to PICK134 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Essential Commodities Act Part of: GS-II- Governance and recent price is spiking, it can notify stock- holding limits on it for a specified act (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY period. 2. The States act on this notification to TEST) specify limits and take steps to ensure that these are adhered to. In news recently: Government 3. Anybody trading or dealing in a commodity , be it wholesalers, retailers puts masks and hand or even importers are prevented from stockpiling it beyond a certain sanitisers under Essential Commodities quantity. 4. A State can, however, choose not to Act. impose any restrictions. But once it does, traders have to immediately sell ECA enacted by Parliament in 1955 into the market any stocks held beyond the mandated quantity. provides for the regulation and control of But, why the recent Economic Survey production, distribution and pricing of said that this act is outdated and must go? commodities which are declared as 1. In September 2019, the Centre invoked essential. the ECA Act’s provisions to impose stock limits on onions after heavy rains Aim: Maintaining/increasing wiped out a quarter of the kharif crop and led to a sustained spike in prices. supplies/securing equitable distribution 2. Although the restrictions on both retail and wholesale traders were meant to and availability of these commodities at prevent hoarding and enhance supply in the market, the Survey showed that fair prices.The Centre can include new there was actually an increase in price volatility and a widening wedge commodities as and when the need arises, between wholesale and retail prices. 3. This is due to the fact that ECA act and can take them off the list once the fails to differentiate between hoarding and Storage. situation improves (in view of public 4. Thus in the long term, the Act disincentivises development of storage interest). infrastructure, thereby leading to increased volatility in prices following States are the implementing agencies to production/ consumption shocks — the opposite of what it is intended for. EC Act, 1955 5. The report finds that the ECA has been enacted in the year 1955, when the What is Essential Commodities Act? economy was ravaged by famine and The ECA was enacted way back in 1955. food shortages. The government It has since been used by the Government to regulate the production, supply and distribution of a whole host of commodities it declares ‘essential’ in order to make them available to consumers at fair prices. The list of items under the Act include drugs, fertilisers, pulses and edible oils, and petroleum and petroleum products. The Centre can include new commodities as and when the need arises, and take them off the list once the situation improves. Under the Act, the government can also fix the maximum retail price (MRP) of any packaged product that it declares an “essential commodity”. How it works? 1. If the Centre finds that a certain commodity is in short supply and its

Easy to PICK135 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 should note that today’s scenario is important to give them the economic much more different. independence they deserve. Why is it important? Without the ECA the common man would The ECA gives consumers protection be at the mercy of opportunistic traders against irrational spikes in prices of and shopkeepers. It empowers the essential commodities. government to control prices directly too. The Government has invoked the Act umpteen times to ensure adequate supplies. Key Points : It cracks down on hoarders and black- marketeers of such commodities. State agencies conduct raids to get everyone to toe the line and the errant are punished. Way Forward  Farmers should be given ample rights to sell any quantity of their produce to anybody, both domestic and international and at any time.  The Essential Commodities Act, which has proven a disincentive to large investment in agricultural technology and infrastructure, should be replaced with a modern statute that balances the interests of farmers and consumers.  A law should be formulated that restricts the powers of the Department Of Consumer Affairs or Director- General of Foreign Trade to impose curbs on any agricultural commodity at the slightest instance of price rise.  Only the Parliament should have the right to impose curbs on agricultural commodities that too under exceptional circumstances of war or nationwide calamity as opposed to executive orders issued in \"public interest\".  It is important to understand that the gains to individual producers who sell in tonnes/quintals far outweigh any losses to consumers buying in kilos and therefore there is a need to create balance between consumers and farmers.  Therefore, if the nation wants to uplift farmer’s condition, it is

Easy to PICK136 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 'SWAYAM' and eLearning – Digital learning Part of: GS-II- Education (PT-MAINS- content received, before getting it PERSONALITY TEST) uploaded on SWAYAM Prabha. Human Resource Development held a detailed review of the National online About Vidya Daan education platform SWAYAM and the CBSE is leveraging DIKSHA to launch 32 DTH Television Education Channels ‘Vidya Daan’- A program to enable SWAYAM PRABHA. During the contributions to improve teaching & meeting, a brief presentation of the learning. Vidya Daan is an effort to progress of these schemes was made. In encourage the sharing of high quality, the lockdown condition there has been a curated, relevant & curriculum linked tremendous increase in demand and the digital content. Teaching and Learning usage of SWAYAM Courses and content in Vidya Daan have been SWAYAM PRABHA videos.The Ministry contributed by teachers and schools across in a statement said that 1902 courses are India. available currently in SWAYAM, which This program attempts to synergize have been offered to 1.56crore students countrywide developments in the field of since launch. education by providing schools all over It was decided that all the 1900 India, from the Metro cities to the smallest SWAYAM Courses and 60 thousand villages with good quality e-content that SWAYAM PRABHA videos would be can be used by them anytime, anywhere at translated into ten regional languages no cost. The aim of this program is to and made available to the students so empower each school, teacher, and student that more benefit can be derived from the and improve learning. same. The more popular content, and for Several schools in India have participated engineering courses taught in first year in the program to contribute curriculum shall, however, be prioritized for linked digital content for multiple translation. The whole project will be resources required by the teacher. started immediately and completed in a time bound manner. It said, UGC has DIGITAL EDUCATION been asked to prepare guidelines Digital education making way into regarding online and Distance learning education sysytem guidelines to increase Gross Enrolment Gone are the days when classroom training Ratio. was restricted to textbook learning, On SWAYAM PRABHA, the Ministry teachers using the blackboard to students said that is a group of 32 DTH channels writing notes in copies. Its more chalk and devoted to telecasting of high-quality talk in most schools. Digital education is educational programmes on 24X7 basis making its way into the education system using the GSAT-15 satellite. It said that of India and is taking the place of the possibility of redistribution of channels to traditional classroom training. match available content, and viewership Distance education beyond boundaries will be explored.It was also decided to Technology has made it possible for enrich the content in SWAYAM PRABHA students who fall off the traditional path to by collecting content from who so ever jump back on and finish what they spent willing to contribute the same under Vidya most of their childhood working towards. Daan Programme. Subject expert This may be in the form of taking remote committees shall be formed to approve the classes from home, remedial classes in on-

Easy to PICK137 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 campus computer labs or even by enrolling study material. This keeps their in full-time online schools, public or engagement levels high and motivates private. them. Flexible learning environment Globalized learning, maximized A student who needs extra help on a exposure particular topic need not hold up the entire With the internet, it has become possible class, or feel embarrassed asking for that for students to communicate with students help, when there are computer modules from other parts of the world. This makes and tablet apps available for individual it really easy to learn foreign languages learning experiences. and expand the exposure of young minds. Teachers who spot a trouble area with a Video conferencing is a boon to students particular student can gear that teen who want to communicate or meet with towards more exercises to master the topic. their global counterparts. Of course, technology is not the magic Today, India is one of the world's top wand to fix all problems, but it does allow destinations for education. Where the for more flexibility of the learning process. pedagogy is all about the smartboards Many schools now come with a TV or a where teachers can drag and drop shapes, projector attached to their whiteboard bring in online calculators on the board, where it is easy to shift from a normal measure with AR tools and voice out the classroom session to an interactive digital text they want to see on the board.It is time session. This can make students pay more to collaborate teaching methodology with attention as we are now in the digital era technology and make education and where Google is our go-to place. classroom sessions livelier and more Field trips turned to Online Webinars interesting! If a school does not have the resources to send students on field trips, they can opt The key e-Learning Projects being run for web seminars related to their course by the Ministry of Human Resource work. Conducting online seminars and Development (MHRD) are as follows: webinars, enabling all students to engage  ICT in Education Curricula for in commenting and participating in questionnaires can help them stay alert. It School system: is very vital that students engage in ICT in Education Curricula for students, seminars and the lectures involve two-way teachers and teacher educators has been communication. developed at the national level and being NASA is known to offer a program for implemented across the country. 805 students wherein they can talk to MRPs/ KRPs of thirty six States/UTs were astronauts in space using such web oriented on ICT curriculum for students seminars. This hybrid, collaborative online and teachers and their roll out in respective learning experience is broadly changing states. Guidelines for teacher, student and the aspects of education in India. schools on cyber safety and security have Usage of VR and AR for learning been published. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are  e-pathshala: already buzzwords in the technology e-pathshala has been developed by space. Their advent in e-learning has NCERT (National Council for Educational massively impacted the efficiency with Research and Training) for showcasing which it is offered to students and the way and disseminating all educational e- it assesses their performance.VR allows resources including textbooks, audio, students using e-learning platforms on video, periodicals and a variety of other mobile devices to directly interact with print and non-print materials. So far, 3444 audios and videos, 698 e-books (e-pubs)

Easy to PICK138 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 and 504 flip books have been made promoting education through e-learning available on the portal and mobile app. methods by providing courses on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on the  Shagun portal: portal. There are 44 courses of NIOS A web portal called ShaGun (from the offered on SWAYAM platform – 14 at words Shaala and Gunvatta) which has two secondary level, 16 at senior secondary parts, one of which is a Repository of good level, 4 vocational courses and 10 courses practices, photographs, videos, studies, of Diploma in Elementary Education newspaper articles etc on school education, (D.El.Ed.). State /UT wise has been developed which is in public domain. Its purpose is to  SWAYAM PRABHA:- showcase success stories and also to A programme for utilization of satellite provide a platform for all stakeholders to communication technologies for learn from each other. This also instills a transmission of educational e-contents positive competitive spirit among all the through 32 National Channels i.e. States and UTs. SWAYAM PRABHA DTH-TV has been launched. CIET-NCERT is the national  National Repository of Open coordinator for one DTH TV channel i.e., Educational Resources (NROER) Kishore Manch (#31) and has started – feeding a 24×7 educational TV channel w.e.f. 09.07.2018. The National Repository of Open Everyday four hour fresh slot is telecast Educational Resources (NROER) is an and repeated 5 more times in 24 hours to initiative to bring together all digital and provide learning opportunities for the stake digitisable resources across all stages of holders, as per their convenience. Besides, school education and teacher education. So NIOS is running 5 channels for teachers, far, 13635 files including 401 collections, for secondary and senior secondary levels 2722 documents, 565 interactive, 1664 and for sign language. audios, 2581 images and 6105 videos have been made available over the portal. State/  National Digital Library (NDL):- UTs are motivated to contribute resources The National Digital Library of India on NROER and create OERs for their own (NDL) is a project to develop a framework State/ UT. of virtual repository of learning resources with a single-window search facility.  SWAYAM: The ‘Study Webs of Active Learning for MoRTH launches dashboard on its Young Aspiring Minds’ (SWAYAM) an website to provide 'dhabas and repair integrated platform for online courses, shops' details using Information and Communication Road Transport and Highways Ministry Technology (ICT) and covering school has launched a dashboard on its website to (9th to 12th) to Post Graduate Level. provide details of Dhabas and Truck. The SWAYAM provides one integrated list can be accessed at www.morth.nic.in. platform and portal for online courses, The Ministry said,this is intended to using information and communication facilitate travel of truck and cargo drivers technology (ICT) and covering all higher and cleaners. A regular contact is being education subjects and skill sector courses maintained with various stake holders to ensure that the every student in the providing information.National Highway country has access to the best quality Authority of India’s centralized call higher education at affordable cost. It also number 1033 has also been activated to offers online courses for students, teachers answer calls and provide information and teacher educators. It may be accessed about the dhabaas and repair shops along on swayam.gov.in. Besides, National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is

Easy to PICK139 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 National Highways. The Ministry said, bridge has a double rail line on the lower people have to follow all necessary precautions and healthcare protocols of deck and a 3 lane road on the upper deck. social distancing at these spots and use masks. It was inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modion 25th BRO constructs bridge in record time December 2018 on the occasion of Good on a key road connecting strategic areas Governance Day. in AP Border Roads Organisation (BRO) The Dhola–Sadiya Bridge, also referred constructed bridge over Subansiri river in Arunachal Pradesh in a record span of to as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu, is just 27 days. Amidst the nationwide lockdown, BRO undertook the a beam bridge in India, connecting the developmental work for construction of the Daporijo bridgemaintaining utmost northeast states of Assam and Arunachal precautions against COVID-19. The bridge is of utmost importance in strategic Pradesh. The bridge spans the Lohit connectivity as it links roads leading upto the LAC between India and China. River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River, from the village of Dhola (Tinsukia District) in the south to Sadiya to the north. The bridge is the first permanent road connection between the northern Assamand eastern Arunachal Pradesh. At 9.15 kilometres (5.69 mi) in length, it is the longest bridge in India over Other projects: Bogibeel bridge is a water.However, the 9.76 kilometres combined road and rail bridge over (6.06 mi) Kacchi Dargah–Bidupur the Brahmaputra river in the north eastern Bridge under construction in the Indian Indianstate of Assam between Dhemaji state of Bihar, is expected to become the districtand Dibrugarh district,which was longest bridge in India upon its estimated started in the year 2002 and took a total completion in November 2021. of 200 months to complete, Bogibeel Key Points : river bridge is the longest rail-cum-road bridge in India measuring 4.94 kilometres over the Brahmaputra river.As it is situated in an earthquake-prone area it is India's first bridge to have fully welded steel- concrete support beams that can withstand earthquakes of magnitudes up to 7 on the Richter Scale.It is Asia’s 2nd longest rail- cum-road bridge and has a serviceable period of around 120 years.It is the 5th longest bridge in India after Bhupen Hazarika Setu, Dibang River Bridge, Mahatma Gandhi Setu and Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The bridge was constructed by a consortium of construction companies headed by Hindustan Construction Company. The

Easy to PICK140 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Interstate Migrant Workmen Act 1979 Part of: GS-II- Labour Act (PT- recommended the enactment of a separate MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) central legislation to regulate the The Inter-State Migrant Workmen employment of interstate migrant workers. (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 is Provisions an Act of the Parliament of India enacted Rights of interstate workers to regulate the condition of service of In addition to the general labour laws inter-state labourers in Indian labour law. applicable to all workers, the interstate The Act's purpose is to protect workers workers are entitled with whose services are requisitioned outside  equal or better wages for the similar their native states in India. Whenever an employer faces shortage of skills among nature & duration of work applicable the locally available workers, the act for the local workmen or stipulated creates provision to employ better skilled minimum wages under the Minimum workers available outside the state. Wages Act, 1948whichever is more,  displacement allowance (Section 14), Background  home journey allowance (Section 15) The employment system of interstate including payment of wages during the migrant labour was an exploitative system period of journey, prevalent more or less in all over India. It  suitable residential accommodation was rampantly institutionalized in Orissa and medical facilities free of charge on and in some other states. In Orissa the mandatory basis. migrant labour (called dadan labour  Termination of employment after the locally) through contractors or agents contract period without any liability. (called Sardars / Khatedars) are sent for  Right to lodge compliant with the work outside the state in large construction authorities within three months of any projects. This system lends itself to various incident, accident, etc. abuses. Sardar promising at the time of recruitment that wages would be Role of contractors calculated on piece rate basis would not be Registration of all contractors who settled every month as promised. Once the employs or employed five or more worker came under clutches of the Interstate Migrant Workmen on any day of contractor he took him to a far off place on the preceding 12 months. payment of railways fare only. No working  Furnish the details of workmen hours were fixed for interstate migrant workers and they had to work on all the periodically in such forms as days in a week under extremely bad prescribed by state government. working conditions.  Maintain the registers indicating the Twenty eighth State Labour Ministers details of interstate workers and make conference held on 21-10-1976 available for scrutiny by the statutory recommended for setting up of a small authorities. compact committee to examine all issues  Issue of passbook affixed with a and suggest measures for eliminating the passport-sized photograph of the abuses prevalent in the interstate workers workman indicating the name and the deployment. The compact committee place of the establishment where the which was constituted in February 1977, worker is employed, the period of employment, rates of wages, etc. to every inter-state migrant workman.

Easy to PICK141 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  Reporting by the contractor the  Making rules for carrying out the incidence of fatal accident or serious purposes of this Act subject to the injury of such workman to the condition of previous publication specified authorities of both the States and also the next of kin of the  Entertaining appeals from the workman. aggrieved parties and disposal of the same as per this Act  Liable for the prescribed punishments for violations committed under this Proposed amendment Act. The Interstate Migrant Workers (Regulation of Employment and Role of principal employers Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill,  Registration of all principal employers 2011 is proposed to make this Act gender neutral by amending its title and replacing who employs or employed directly or the word ‘workman and workmen’ by the indirectly five or more Interstate words ‘worker and workers’ Migrant Workmen on any day of the respectively.[6] However, the lawmakers preceding 12 months. have not thought of bringing additional  Maintain the registers indicating the provisions to implement this Act strictly details of interstate workers and make with more accountability and punishments available for scrutiny by the statutory for violations. authorities.  Every principal employer shall Possible improvements nominate a representative duly  All interstate workers should be authorized by him to be present at the time of disbursement of wages by the registered in gram panchayat or contractor and it shall be the duty of municipality or corporation such representative to certify the compulsory. amounts paid as wages in such manner  All interstate workers shall be provided and may be prescribed. with the benefits of Public Distribution  Principal employer shall be liable to System (PDS) Cards to avoid buying bear the wages and other benefits to food grains and kerosene at higher interstate workers in case of failure by prices. Adhar identity cardshall be the contractor to effect the same. made compulsory for the interstate  Liable for the prescribed punishments workers. for violations committed under this  The remuneration to interstate workers Act. shall be deposited in their bank accounts and not by cash by the Role of state governments contractors  Appointment of inspectors to oversee  Every state government shall mandatorily operate an internet implementation of this act. portal indicating the registered  Appointment of registration officers to principal employers, contractors, establishments and interstate workmen grant and revoke registration of details including Adhar card data for contractors / principal employers / general public information and establishments. verification. The details of interstate  Appointment of licensing officers to workmen shall be uploaded by the grant, suspend and revoke licenses to principal employers and contractors contractors / principal employers / promptly. Non compliance by the establishments principal employers or contractors is

Easy to PICK142 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 treated as violation of the Act and Key Points : liable for punishment.  No contractor shall deploy the workers outside the state without getting registered in that state. All the details of the interstate workers deployment outside the state shall be made available to the state authorities promptly.  The state government authorities shall conduct mandatory yearly audit of all employers / contractors in a state regarding deployment of interstate workers and submit yearly compliance status or implementation report to the state assembly for their scrutiny.  The ongoing finance commission shall give weight age in devolution of central government funds to the states which are giving more employment to interstate workers as they are ahead in demographic transition. Demographic transition of a state is a real index & status of all round human and economical development.

Easy to PICK143 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Consumer Protection act Part of: GS-II- Rights/Consumer rights Salient Features of the Bill (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) 1. Central Consumer Protection The Lok Sabha passed the Consumer Authority (CCPA): Executive Agency to Protection Bill 2019 after due provide relief to a class of consumers. The consideration and discussion.The Union CCPA will be empowered to- Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and a. Conduct investigations into violations Public Distribution said that the bill aims at protecting the interests of consumers of consumer rights and institute by establishing authorities for timely Complaints /Prosecution and effective administration and b. Order recall of unsafe goods and settlement of consumers’ dispute, to services simplify a number of rules, quick redressal c. Order discontinuance of Unfair Trade of their complaints and consumers will be Practices and Misleading able to get speedy justice. He said the Advertisements government aims to simplify the entire d. Impose penalties on Manufactures process of redressal of consumer /Endorsers /Publishers of Misleading grievances. Advertisements Under the Bill, there is provision for 2. Simplified Dispute Resolution central government to set up a Central process Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) i) Pecuniary Jurisdiction enhanced to- to promote, protect and enforce the  District Commission –Up to Rs1 rights of consumers and will be empowered to investigate, recall, refund crore and impose penalties. It will regulate  State Commission- Between Rs1 matters related to violation of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and crore and Rs 10 crore misleading advertisements. There is also a  National Commission –Above provision for class action law suit for ensuring that rights of consumers are not Rs.10 crore infringed upon. The authority will have ii) Deemed admissibility after 21days of power to impose a penalty on a filing manufacturer or an endorser of up to 10 iii) Empowerment of Consumer lakh rupees and imprisonment for up to Commission to enforce their orders two years for a false or misleading iv) Appeals only on question of law after advertisement. second stage Several countries like Canada, Estonia v) Ease of approaching consumer have devised advertisement regulations commission for unhealthy foods targeted at children. Countries such as the UK, Ireland and  Filing from place of residence Belgium have specifically banned  E-filing celebrity endorsement of unhealthy  Videoconferencing for hearing foods. The impact of such restrictions has 3. Mediation been reported to be significant.  An Alternate Dispute Resolution The present passed Bill seeks to replace the three-decade-old Consumer Protection (ADR) mechanism Act, 1986.  Reference to Mediation by Consumer Forum wherever scope for early settlement exists and parties agree for it.  Mediation cells to be attached to Consumer Forum

Easy to PICK144 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  No appeal against settlement 2. be informed of the quality, through mediation quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services; 4. Product Liability 3. be assured of access to a variety of A manufacturer or product service goods or services at competitive prices; provider or product seller to be responsible and to compensate for injury or damage caused 4. seek redressal against unfair or by defective product or deficiency in restrictive trade practices. services The bill proposes strict action against the The Basis for product liability action will advertiser in case of misleading be: advertisements but not against the media through which the advertisement is being  Manufacturing defect publicised.  Design defect Celebrities can be fined up to ₹10 lakh.  Deviation from manufacturing For repeat offences, this may rise to ₹50 lakh, with a jail term of up to five years. specifications  Not conforming to express Concerns The principle of separation of powers: warranty  Failing to contain adequate  The Bill does not specify that the Commissions will comprise a instruction for correct use judicial member. If the  Services provided arefaulty, Commissions were to have members only from the executive, imperfect or deficient then the principle of separation of New Bill- Benefit to Consumers powers may be violated. This is in Presently Consumer only have a single contrast with the existing point of access to justice, which is time Consumer Protection Act, 1986, consuming. Additional swift executive which states that the Commissions remedies are proposed in the bill at various levels will be headed by through Central Consumer Protection a person qualified to be a judge. Authority (CCPA) Deterrent punishment to check misleading Independence of these quasi-judicial advertisements and adulteration of bodies: products Product liability provision to deter  The Bill empowers the central manufacturers and service providers from government to appoint, remove and delivering defective products or deficient prescribe conditions of service for services members of the District, State, and Ease of approaching Consumer National Consumer Disputes Commission and Simplification of Redressal Commissions. The Bill Adjudication process leaves the composition of the Scope for early disposal of cases Commissions to the central through mediation government. This could affect the Provision for rules for new age consumer independence of these quasi- issues: e-commerce & direct selling judicial bodies. Rights of consumers: Six consumer Qualification: rights have been defined in the Bill,  The Bill delegates the power of including the right to: deciding the qualifications of the 1. be protected against marketing of Commission’s President and goods and services which are hazardous to members to the central life and property;

Easy to PICK145 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 government. It is in contrast to the delay in disposal of cases to the deployment of advocates. 1986 Act which specifies the  The Standing Committee noted that Consumer Commissions do not admit minimum qualification of the complaints in relation to services to which a special law applies. It members. recommended that a provision may be inserted to clarify that the proposed Advisory function: Bill will apply to any matter covered under a special law unless the special  Consumer Protection Councils will be law excludes the application of the proposed Bill. set up at the district, state, and national  The advertising code presently being followed by the Advertising Standards level, as advisory bodies. The State and Council of India (ASCI) should be given legal backing. National Councils are headed by Suggestion for Improvement  Countries within the European Union Ministers in-charge of Consumer provide consumers with a “distance contract,” wherein parties that conduct Affairs. The Bill does not specify business (ONLINE, E-commerce) without being in each other’s presence whom the Councils will advise. If the can cancel the contract (sale) within 15 days from the date of purchase. Such a Councils advise the government, it is clause, that provides a “cooling off period” post-purchase, within which unclear in what capacity such advice time a consumer can return an item and ask for a refund, will not only protect will be given. the consumer but also improve the quality of services offered. Within the Consumers Protection Act, Way Forward: there is a need for expansion of Misleading ads, tele-marketing, multi-level marketing, direct selling and e-commerce persons allowed to petition consumer pose new challenges to consumer protection and will require appropriate courts. Due to the rigidity of the act, and swift executive intervention to only a “consumer”—that is, someone prevent consumer detriment. However, certain issues such as who purchases goods and services, the appointment of mediators to settle disputes are contentious as this would lead could approach the court to complain to arm-twisting of the weaker parties and may encourage corruption. about harmful practices. The Bill does not address the fundamental problem of protracted Unfair trade by rivals and and complicated litigation, the bane of consumer forums constituted under the penalizing misleading celebrity Consumer Protection Act of 1986. Instead, endorsement:  It does not include unfair trade practices by rival companies, which may negatively affect the sale of products.  The Act also hints at imposing penalties upon any celebrities who endorse misleading products and the extent of liability of advertisers or endorsers and celebrity rights and protection. The Act falls short on the extent of liability on stakeholders in such cases. Standing Committee recommendations not addressed:  The right to terminate a contract on the grounds of quality of goods or services received.  In order to facilitate early disposal of cases, the involvement of advocates in complaints involving compensation value of up to Rs 20 lakh should be prohibited. It attributed the inordinate

Easy to PICK146 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 it provides an alternative to the consumer and will be put to use in a short time, forums, in the form of mediation. considering its urgent requirement. TDB is The setting up of a Consumer a statutory body under the Department of Authority and absence of provisions to Science and Technology. streamline the conducting of cases in courts may only lead to greater regulations TIFAC plans to come up with white and complexities. paper on strategising revival of Indian Addressing these issues is necessary to economy after COVID -19 ensure that the new amendments bring The Technology Information, Forecasting about definitive improvements in the CPA. and Assessment Council (TIFAC), an autonomous technology think tank under Conclusion: the Department of Science & Technology India is likely to cross China’s population (DST), has planned to come up with a white paper on strategising revival of by 2024 and consumerism is growing fast. Indian economy after COVID-19. The key focus is reported to be on With the passage of the Consumer strengthening Make in India initiatives, commercialization of Indigenous Protection Bill in Parliament, consumer technology, developing a technology- driven transparent Public Distribution rights are set to receive a massive boost. System (PDS) among others. ,Navigating the way ahead with the COVID-19 virus The new regulations put more required well thought out actions which could minimize adverse impact on human responsibility on companies for health and maximise economic well being. TIFAC’s team of scientists from a range of misleading advertising and faulty products. disciplines are exploring the best methods to revive the Indian economy and reduce In a global first, it also lays out penalties the impact on it post COVD-19. for celebrities endorsing or promoting New Development Bank financial assistance OF 5 billion dollars to BRICS false advertising and adulterated goods. countries INDIA appreciated efforts of New The emergence of global supply chain, rise Development Bank on fast tracking of financial assistance of about five billion in global trade and rapid development of e- dollars to BRICS countries including Emergency Assistance of one billion dollar commerce have led to a new delivery to India to combat COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing the 5th Annual Meeting of system for goods and services and also Board of Governors through video conference yesterday, Ms. Sitharaman also provided new options and opportunities for suggested that, assistance under this facility to be enhanced to 10 billion consumers. dollars. She also mentioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative of TDB approves financial support to creating a COVID-19 Emergency Fund MyLab Discovery Solutions for ramping and India’s efforts in supplying critical up production of COVID-19 diagnostic medicine to the needy countries to tackle kits The Technology Development Board (TDB) has approved financial support to MyLab Discovery Solutions, Pune, for ramping up production of COVID-19 diagnostic kits. Mylab Discovery Solutions is the first indigenous company to develop real-time PCR based molecular diagnostic kit which screens and detects COVID 19 from samples.The support from TDB will ensure ramp up in the production of the kits through automation of the facility. This aid is supposed to increase the capacity to one lakh tests per day from the current numbers of thirty thousand. The kit has been approved by ICMR and CDSCO

Easy to PICK147 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 the COVID-19. The Finance Minister of genome isolated from clinical samples. Brazil thanked India for the timely help it So far, 9000 samples have been sequenced received from India in the form of critical internationally as per Global Initiative on drugs. Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) - a The NDB was established by the BRICS public platform started by the WHO in countries -Brazil, Russia, India, China and 2008 for countries to share genome South Africa in 2014. NDB has so far sequences. approved 14 Indian projects for an amount of 4,183 million dollar. The purpose of the SAGAR programme- Indian Ocean Bank is to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development Part of: GS-II- SAGAR Doctorine and projects in BRICS and other emerging market economies and developing Indian Ocean (PT-MAINS- countries to complement the existing efforts of multilateral and regional PERSONALITY TEST) financial institutions for global growth and India has for a long time had a “continental development. outlook,” with insufficient attention paid to maritime aspects of security. But this has begun to change over the last two decades, a reflection of India’s growing economy and the resultant need for secure One more institute of CSIR started trade routes and the growing security whole-genome sequencing of competition in the maritime space as a consequence of China’s naval expansion. coronavirus One aspect of this shift has been India’s One more institute of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) efforts to build security partnerships in the has started whole-genome sequencing of Indian Ocean region. On this score, the record of India’s strategic shift is at best novel coronavirus. Chandigarh-based Institute of Microbial Technology mixed. Indeed, while there are often headlines about India’s successes, with an (IMTech) has taken up the task of large- example being India’s outreach to scale genome sequencing of the virus. Earlier, the Centre for Cellular and Indonesia with India gaining access to a Molecular Biology and the Institute of strategically vital Sabang port earlier this month, in fact, India’s efforts to partner Genomic and Integrated Biology had started working on it. with other states have actually been less The complete genome sequence than successful, be it an agreement with information will enable researchers to gain Seychelles or the Maldives. insights about the origins of the virus, the Significance of Indian Ocean different types of strains circulating in The geo-political significance of the Indian India and how it has spread across the Ocean stems from the fact that it is a length and breadth of the country. He said, centre piece in the wider Indian Ocean the genomic resource obtained from this Region (IOR). The combination of sequencing will also allow identification of economic growth and slowdown, military new targets for diagnosis and drugs for expansion, increasing demand for natural COVID-19. resources, demographics combined with The whole-genome sequencing is a the geo-political situation, increased method used to determine the complete presence of nuclear capable actors and DNA sequence of a specific organism’s variances in regional structures of genome. As the Institute is known for its governance, highlights the geo-political specialization in microbial and genomic significance of this area. research, CSIR-IMTech will perform Major points that merit attention are: - sequencing of the SARS-Cov-2 RNA

Easy to PICK148 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  The Indian Ocean is third largest SAGAR Doctrine was unveiled by India in water body of the world that has 2016 underlining the growing salience of vital sea lanes of communication the Indian Ocean and global maritime crisscrossing it and which feeds commons in India’s strategic calculus.It Asia’s largest economies. Around calls for intensifying cooperation among 80 per cent of the world’s seaborne navies and maritime agencies of the world oil trade passes through the choke to engineer virtuous cycles of points of this ocean and therefore it cooperation.It is a maritime initiative literally connects the east to the which gives priority to Indian Ocean west. region for ensuring peace, stability and prosperity of India in Indian Ocean region.  The varying system of governance in the area determines the outline Importance: of the regional security  SAGAR Doctrine approaches architecture. The relations between nations both intra and extra significant importance while India regional shapes the complex matrix playing the role of a security provider that define the overall architecture. for the entire Indian Region. Changes in political thought  It calls for intensifying cooperation processes and any alteration in among navies and maritime agencies relations could alter the security of the world to engineer virtuous scenario of the region. cycles of cooperation.  The goal of it is to seek a climate of  There has been a gradual to an trust and transparency; respect for accelerated expansion of maritime international maritime rules and norms forces and their capabilities in the by all countries; sensitivity to each region. The growing presence of other`s interests; peaceful resolution of extra regional powers and nuclear maritime issues; and increase in capable nations has further altered maritime cooperation. the existing security framework. This is affecting the existing Key Points military balance and the impending 1. SAGAR is a term coined by PM Modi imbalance could create a new architecture that could affect the in 2015 during his Mauritius visit with prevailing security scenario. a focus on blue economy. 2. It is a maritime initiative which gives  The economic upsurge of some priority to Indian Ocean region for nations and stagnation/slowdown ensuring peace, stability and prosperity of others is throwing up challenges of India in Indian Ocean region. that could affect the regional and 3. The goal is to seek a climate of trust international markets. The lack of and transparency; respect for intra-regional trade as compared to international maritime rules and norms the extra-regional trade has limited by all countries; sensitivity to each the relations between nations in the other`s interests; peaceful resolution of region. Added to it is the growing maritime issues; and increase in competition and race for exploiting maritime cooperation. available natural resources, which 4. It is in line with the principles of could bring in new challenges to Indian Ocean Rim Association. the region in times to come. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)? SAGAR Programme (Security and Growth for All in the Region)

Easy to PICK149 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  The Indian Ocean Rim Association  The organisation is founded upon the (IORA) was previously named the values of open regionalism for Indian Ocean Rim Initiative. boosting economic cooperation especially on the realms of trade  It was also called the Indian Ocean facilitation, investment, the region’s Rim Association for Regional social development and promotion. Cooperation or the IOR-ARC for short.  Currently, it has 21 member states.  It is a regional tripartite forum that  The IORA was formed in March gathers government representatives, academia and business leaders for 1997. encouraging cooperation and greater  The idea for the IORA was formed by interaction between them. India and South Africa. Member Countries of the Indian Ocean Rim Association Australia Madagascar Seychelles Singapore Bangladesh Malaysia South Africa Sri Lanka Comoros Maldives Tanzania Thailand India Mauritius Yemen Indonesia Somalia United States Turkey Iran Mozambique South Korea Kenya Oman United Arab Emirates Dialogue Partners of the Indian Ocean Rim Association China Germany Egypt Japan France United Kingdom Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) development through economic Objectives cooperation.  Promoting balanced development and  Other objectives to help member countries achieve an enhanced flow of sustainable growth in the regions of the goods, services, investment, and Member States. technology include:  Considering areas that provide  Promoting liberalisation maximum opportunities for  Removing impediments

Easy to PICK150 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  Lowering barriers the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) Infrastructure that was launched in The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) is a the United Nations in 2019. flagship initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim  The Indian navy launched Association (IORA), with its origins in the the Information Fusion Centre in 13th Council of Ministers meeting, held in Gurugram to assist member countries November 2013 in Perth, Australia. of the Indian Ocean Region with real- The IORA Sustainable Development time crisis information. With this, Program (ISDP) India is aiming at becoming a net The ISDP is a project-based program provider of information. Countries that intended to meet the needs of the Member are part of this information support States of the IORA. Project proposals are structure of India are: formulated by the Member countries in  Maldives collaboration with IORA Secretariat. As an  Mauritius instrument of sustainable development, the  Seychelles ISDP Program is expected to strengthen  Sri Lanka regional cooperation and forge new  Bangladesh partnerships within the IORA Member States and with Dialogue Partners. Key Points  It is the only ministerial-level ISDP Objectives:  Encouraging lesser developed member organization that focuses purely on the Indian Ocean region, bound countries to participate in IORA. together by growing economic and  Encouraging capacity building, peer- trade linkages and a shared interest in promoting prosperity, peace and to-peer learning and sharing of stability. information to IORA member  In 2014, India hosted the first Indian countries. Ocean Dialogue in Kochi,  Enhancing and strengthening bonds Kerala bringing together officials, amongst member countries. academics and other strategic thinkers  Extending opportunities to lesser to discuss six broad themes – the geo- developed member countries to share political contour of the Indian Ocean their experience and expertise in Region, maritime security challenges, specific areas that would benefit their strengthening regional institutions, economies. information sharing, cooperation in  Encouraging less developed member disaster relief and management, and countries to host various IORA events. economic cooperation. The Kochi Consensus was adopted as its outcome IORA Council of Members Meeting document. 2019 o The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) is  Held in Abu Dhabi under the a flagship initiative of IORA, with its origins in the 13th Council of theme ‘Promoting a Shared Destiny Ministers meeting, held in November and Path to Prosperity in the Indian 2013 in Perth, Australia. Ocean’. o The sixth edition of IOD will be held  The UAE was declared Chair on 13 December 2019 in New Delhi, and Bangladesh was declared Vice- India. Chair for the period 2019-2021.  India published guidelines for Disaster SAGAR MAITRI Risk Management. India also encouraged partners to join