Monthly Current Affairs February 2020

Easy to PICK51 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” International Intellectual Property Index Syllabus subtopic: Important International Efforts made by India in IP sector Institutions, agencies and fora - their  Since the release of the 2016 National Structure, Mandate. IPR Policy, the government of India Prelims and Mains focus: about the index has made a focused effort to support and India’s score: its significance; need for investments in innovation and reforms in India’s IP regime creativity through increasingly robust IP protection and enforcement. News: The International IP Index was  Since 2016, India has improved the released by Global Innovation Policy speed of processing for patent and Center (GIPC) of the US Chambers of trademark applications, increased Commerce. awareness of IP rights among Indian innovators and creators, and facilitated India’s performance on the Index the registration and enforcement of  India has been ranked 40th out of 53 those rights. countries even as the country has  In 2019, the Delhi High Court used shown improvement in terms of scores dynamic injunctions to disable access when it comes to the protection of IP to copyright-infringing content and copyright issues. online, resulting in an increase in India's score on two of the  India was placed at 36th position copyright-related indicators. The among 50 countries in 2019. use of these injunctions places India alongside global leaders in copyright  India's score, however, increased from enforcement, including Singapore and 36.04 per cent (16.22 out of 45) in the UK. As a result, India scores 2019 to 38.46 per cent (19.23 out of ahead of 24 other economies in the 50) in 2020, a 2.42 per cent jump in an copyright indicators. absolute score. However, India's relative score increased by 6.71 per  The Delhi High Court also issued a cent. series of judgements that provide clarity on existing statutes related to  Two new Index economies (Greece trademark protection online, and the Dominican Republic) scored resulting in a score increase on one of ahead of India. The Philippines, and the trademark-related indicators. Ukraine leapfrogged India.  The courts issued two precedential What does the score signify? rulings that raised the bar for the damages awarded in IP- India's score on the International IP Index infringement cases and may provide a demonstrates the country's growing deterrent for future infringement. This investment in IP-driven innovation and resulted in an increase in score on creativity. The Index specifically one of the trademark-related highlights a number of reforms over the indicators. last year that strengthen India's overall IP ecosystem.  India also continues to score well in the Systemic Efficiency indicator,

Easy to PICK52 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” scoring ahead of 28 other economies in  The number one way the present these indicators. This is a result of a administration can demonstrate its concerted effort by the Indian commitment to the success of the Atal government to consult with Innovation Mission, Accelerating stakeholders during IP policy Growth for New India’s Innovations, formation and create greater Make in India, Digital India, and awareness about the importance of IP Startup India is to strengthen its IP protection. India also remains a leader framework in ways that promote the in the use of targeted incentives and legal and regulatory certainty IP assets for small and medium-sized necessary for greater R&D investment, enterprises (SMEs). high-value jobs, and greater innovative and creative outputs.  To continue this upward trajectory, much work remains to be done to  Strong IP standards can further solidify introduce transformative changes to India's position as the world’s India’s overall IP framework and fastest-growing economy, bolstering take serious steps to consistently its reputation as a destination for implement strong IP standards. doing business, foreign businesses’ ability to invest and make in India, Significance of the index thereby supporting the growth of Indian policymakers seem to recognize India’s own innovative and creative this Index as a valuable resource in their industries. efforts to strengthen the country’s promising innovation ecosystem and enhance its competitiveness in an increasingly knowledge-based global economy. Challenges ahead GIPC has identified several challenges for India. Prominent among them being: 1. patentability requirements, 2. patent enforcement, 3. compulsory licensing, 4. patent opposition, 5. regulatory data protection, 6. transparency in reporting seizures by customs, and 7. Singapore Treaty of Law of TMs and Patent Law Treaty. Need for reforms in India’s IP regime  No other economy stands to gain more from strong Indian IP than India itself. For example, no industry has been hurt more by copyright violations in India than the country’s own Bollywood industry, which loses almost USD3 billion to piracy each year.

Easy to PICK53 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Telecom Ombudsman Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies evidence(s) for non-redressal of and Interventions for Development in grievance at concerned service various sectors and Issues arising out of provider level. their Design and Implementation. About Telecom Regulatory Authority of Prelims and Mains focus: about the move India (TRAI) and its objective; about TRAI and its  TRAI is a statutory body set up by the mandate Government of India under section 3 News: The Department of of the Telecom Regulatory Authority Telecommunications (DoT) is planning of India Act, 1997. to set up the post of a Telecom Ombudsman to deal with consumer  It is the regulator of the complaints and grievances on poor telecommunications sector in India. quality telephony services.  It consists of a Chairperson and not Background more than two full-time members The concept of a telecom ombudsman was and not more than two part-time first floated by TRAI in late 2017, after members. which the Telecom Commission had cleared the proposal in 2018. However,  The TRAI Act was amended by an there have been no developments on that ordinance, effective from 24 January front after that, despite repeated reminders 2000, establishing a Telecom Disputes sent to the DoT from TRAI. Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the Objective of the move adjudicatory and disputes functions  The ombudsman will be the third from TRAI. level of authority which users can approach, if their complaints on poor quality service is not heard by the telecom services providers.  The first level is the complaint centre of the respective telcos, whereas the second level is the appellate authority, which decides on the users’ complaints within 39 days.  In case a grievance is not redressed even after exhausting the two tier procedure as prescribed by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the complainant may approach Public Grievance wing of Department of Telecommunications (DoT), along with all documentary

Easy to PICK54 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” India-Central Asia connectivity Syllabus subtopic: Bilateral, Regional and Iran, northern Europe or China. In Global Groupings and Agreements recent years, the government has been involving India and/or affecting India’s seeking to develop more direct routes from interests. Chabahar, a trilateral arrangement with Iran and Afghanistan, the Prelims and Mains focus: about the steps International North South Transport taken by the govt to improve connectivity Corridor (INSTC) and becoming a part with Central Asia; about Ashgabat the Ashgabat Agreement. However, the agreement; Chabahar port; INSTC rail-link between Chabahar and the crossover into Afghanistan is yet to be News: Apart from developing trade via the developed, which would be an important Chabahar port in Iran, India would like part of growing regular trade. At present, to explore setting up “air corridors” $1.5 billion of the $2 billion trade with between India and five Central Asian Central Asia is with Kazakhstan, and more nations (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, than $1 billion of that comes from crude Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) oil exports to India. What does it mean? Role of Chabahar port in providing The air corridors — similar to what India connectivity to Central Asia established in 2018 with Afghanistan — India, Iran and Afghanistan believe that would include regular cargo flights with Chabahar will become the fulcrum of special clearing and customs facilities to connectivity for Indian goods to reach expedite the movement of goods, Afghanistan and further north to Central especially fresh fruit and other agricultural Asian states, and for the landlocked produce, and were currently being Central Asia to find access to ocean discussed by the MEA. through this port. Budget 2020-21 has proposed Rs.100 crore investment to Reason for the move develop the Iranian port.  While flying time from Delhi for most About Ashgabat Agreement of the Central Asian destinations is two hours, it may take two months for  The Ashgabat agreement is a containers sent overland from India to reach these places. multimodal transport agreement  The lack of overland connectivity had between the governments of kept the total trade between India and Central Asia quite low at Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, approximately $2 billion per year. Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, India  Availability of air corridors can boost trade in perishable goods, and Oman for creating an agricultural and food products. international transport and transit Present Scenario At present, most of the trade between corridor facilitating transportation of Central Asia goes via Bandar Abbas in goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. The agreement came into force in April 2016. Ashgabat in Turkmenistan is the depository state for the agreement.  The agreement was originally signed by Iran, Oman, Qatar,

Easy to PICK55 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar April 25, 2011. Qatar subsequently Abbas, Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali, etc. withdrew from the agreement in 2013, the same year Kazakhstan applied for membership, which was eventually approved in 2015. Pakistan has also joined the Agreement from November 2016. India formally joined in February 2018.  The objective of this agreement is to enhance connectivity within Eurasian region and synchronize it with other transport corridors within that region including the International North– South Transport Corridor (INSTC). About INSTC  The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road route for moving freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.  The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road.  The objective of the corridor is to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai,

Easy to PICK56 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” India- Africa Defence Ministers conclave Syllabus subtopic: Bilateral, Regional and  It urged the international community to Global Groupings and Agreements envisage the adoption of involving India and/or affecting India’s Comprehensive Convention on interests. International Terrorism (CCIT) in the UNGA. Prelims and Mains focus: about the event and agreements signed; about CCIT  Maritime cooperation: Cooperation in securing sea lines of News: The first India- Africa Defence communication, preventing maritime Ministers conclave was recently held at the crimes, disaster, piracy, illegal, ongoing Defexpo in Lucknow (UP). unregulated and unreported fishing through sharing of information and About the event surveillance. The dialogue was attended by 12 Defence Ministers and 38 countries were About CCIT represented at the conclave.  The Comprehensive Convention on Cooperation agreements signed International Terrorism is a proposed India and several African countries treaty which intends to criminalize all pledged to deepen cooperation to combat forms of international terrorism and the growing threat of terrorism and deny terrorists, their financiers and preserve maritime security by sharing supporters access to funds, arms, and information, intelligence and surveillance. safe havens. Lucknow declaration adopted  It is a draft proposed by India in  It urged all countries to take resolute 1996 that is yet to be adopted by the UNGA. action in rooting out terrorism in all forms and manifestations, terrorist safe What does it propose? havens and infrastructure, disrupting  Universal definition of terrorism: no terrorist networks and eliminating financing channels and halting cross- good terrorist or bad terrorist. border movement of terrorists.  Ban on all groups regardless of country  It emphasised the need for stronger of operation, cut off access to funds international partnership in countering and safe havens. terrorism and violent extremism,  Prosecution of all groups including including through increased sharing of cross border groups. information and intelligence.  Amending domestic laws to make cross-border terror an extraditable  The Declaration also called for offence. strengthening the UN Counter-  It also addresses, among other things, Terrorism mechanisms and to ensure the issue of Pakistan’s alleged support strict compliance with the UN for cross-border terrorism in south Security Council sanctions regime on Asia. terrorism. Countries sceptical about it  US + allies: concerns over definition of terrorism, including acts by US

Easy to PICK57 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” soldiers in international interventions without UN mandate.  Latin American countries: concerns over international humanitarian laws being ignored.  There are also concerns that convention will be used to target Pakistan and restrict rights of self- determination groups in Palestine, Kashmir etc.

Easy to PICK58 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) Syllabus subtopic: Welfare Schemes for websites i.e. total no. of government Vulnerable Sections of the population by websites is not known. The Social the Centre and States and the Performance Justice and Empowerment Minister of these Schemes directed the MeitY to find out the total number of the Central and State Prelims and Mains focus: about the government websites. scheme and its objectives; performance of various departments under the scheme  Transportation: 1. Airports:While there had been News: Four years after the Accessible India Campaign was launched, officials progress on making airports said at a recent review meeting that the accessible, all aspects of air travel, number of buildings of the Central Public including aircraft and buses used to Works Department (CPWD) across the ferry passengers from terminals, country, and websites of the Ministry of needed to be compatible. All 35 Electronics and Information Technology international airports and 55 (MeitY) were not known. domestic airports under the Airports Authority of India had been made Figures across various departments accessible by providing ramps, and had  During the review by Social Justice accessible toilets and provision for audio and Braille commands in lifts. and Empowerment Minister on December 19, 2019, a Department of 2. Railways: 7,000 wheelchairs have Empowerment of PwD official said the been provided at major stations and 22 “total buildings either under stations had online booking of maintenance or owned by CPWD are wheelchair facility. not known”, minutes of the meeting recorded. All these buildings, along 3. Roads: The Ministry of Road with other projects being implemented Transport and Highways informed that by other Ministries, are supposed to only 3.6% of buses had been fully be made accessible by March 2020. accessible. There has been slow pace in making buses and bus terminals  Ministry of Housing and Urban accessible. Affairs (under which the CPWD operates): 787 out of 889 buildings About Accessible India Campaign had been made accessible so far, while It is the nationwide flagship campaign of approval for 13 buildings had been the Department of Empowerment of received from various Ministries and Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), work would be started. For remaining Ministry of Social Justice and 89 buildings, approval of respective Empowerment to make public offices, Ministries is still awaited. transport and websites accessible to persons with disabilities (PwD),  Government websites: the target is of making at least 50% of the sites  Aim: to make a barrier free and accessible. However, the quantum of conducive environment for

Easy to PICK59 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Divyangjans all over the country. It  Transport accessibility component of was launched by PM Modi on Accessible India Campaign aims to International Day of Persons with make all international airports fully Disabilities on 3rd December, 2015. accessible immediately and domestic airports by March 2018. Out of 32  The program comes with an index to international airports 25 have been measure the design of disabled- provided with accessibility features friendly buildings and human resource namely, ramps, accessible toilets, lifts policies. with braille symbols and auditory signals.  The initiative also in line with the Article 9 of the (UN Convention on  Accessibility of Information and the Rights of Persons with Communication System is another Disabilities) to which India is a crucial pillar of Accessible India signatory since 2007. Campaign. The target set under this vertical is to make at least 50% of  The scheme also comes under Central and State Government websites Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 accessible by March 2017. under section 44, 45, 46 for equal Opportunities and protection of rights which provides non-discrimination in Transport to Persons with Disabilities. The campaign has been divided into three verticals: 1. Built Environment 2. Transport 3. Information & Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem.  The Built Environment Accessibility component of Accessible India Campaign entails following targets: i. Completing accessibility audit of at least 25-50 most important government buildings in 50 cities and making them fully accessible by the end of this year ii. Making 50% of all the government buildings of NCT and all the State capitals fully accessible by December 2018 iii. Completing accessibility audit of 50% of government buildings and making them fully accessible in 10 most important cities/towns of States not covered in targets (i) and (ii) by December 2019.

Easy to PICK60 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Status report on victim compensation Syllabus subtopic: Welfare Schemes for 35,983. This means, only 0.2% of all Vulnerable Sections of the population by survivors of human trafficking the Centre and States and the Performance received the compensation of these Schemes announced by the government in the last eight years. Among the 82 Prelims and Mains focus: about the survivors who were awarded findings of the report; about NCRB compensation, only 77 received the relief amount. Context: The details of compensation awarded to survivors of trafficking have  State-wise details of the compensation been ascertained on the basis of RTI awarded to the survivors show that 47 applications filed by five lawyers across persons were awarded relief in Delhi, the country and the outcome of the followed by 17 in Jharkhand, eight in response compiled in the form of report Assam, three in West Bengal, two each titled “UNCOMPENSATE VICTIMS”, in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and which was released in Kolkata recently by Meghalaya. In Haryana, one survivor Sanjog, a technical resource of trafficking was awarded organisation that works to combat compensation between 2011 and 2019. trafficking and gender-based violence.  The Nirbhaya fund is being used in Background the Victim Compensation Scheme – a The Section 357-A of Code of Criminal national scheme to compensate Procedure (CrPC) has provisions to survivors of rape, acid burns and compensate victims who suffered trafficking among other forms of because of a crime. In 2012, following the violence — for the last few years. The national outrage over the Nirbhaya gang- amount of compensation to victims of rape and murder case, the government trafficking varies from State to State. announced Rs.1,000 crore fund to be In 2018, the Supreme Court directed used to combat sexual violence against NALSA (National Legal Services persons – children or adults. Authority) to frame a standardised victim compensation scheme. Findings of the report  Highlighting the poor status of  The study also reflects the number of trafficking survivors who applied for compensation awarded to survivors the victim compensation scheme to of human trafficking in the country, their respective legal services response obtained through RTI authority. While 107 individuals queries from 25 States and seven applied under the scheme, in 102 cases Union Territories reveal that between between 2011 and 2019, courts March 2011 and April 2019 only 82 directed the authorities to release such victims were awarded compensation. Twenty-eight persons compensation. applied for compensation in West Bengal, followed by 26 in Karnataka  However, between 2011 and 2018, the and Jharkhand. Fourteen persons in total number of cases of human Assam applied for compensation while trafficking recorded in the country, seven did the same in Delhi-NCR. according to NCRB reports, was

Easy to PICK61 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”  The study also suggests grave  In their study the researchers tracked inconsistencies on the part of legal the details of at least three case studies services authorities, which have where the trafficking survivors had provided the data. The data on Delhi received compensation. Survivors is discrepant, with more survivors were able to apply only when they receiving compensation than those were informed and a private lawyer awarded compensation. Manipur’s was involved in assisting them in 2019 victim compensation scheme filing application for victim does not even have an entry in the compensation. schedule corresponding to human trafficking.  From their rescue till rehabilitation, the survivors are in touch with multiple  The study also suggests that there agencies but none of them take any remains a lack of information steps to help them get compensation. provided to survivors on victim Researchers also pointed out that the compensation, lack of initiative on the “DLSA and SLSA’s response to the part of legal services authority, low claims has been slow, and they hold investment on part of legal aid that the survivors’ claims with suspicion – results in very few survivors having often putting the burden of proof on access to compensation. the survivors themselves”.

Easy to PICK62 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Kerala mulls Vigilance cell for Health Syllabus subtopic: Issues Relating to  It will also monitor health care Development and Management of Social advertising and flag false claims aired Sector/Services relating to Health, by health care companies to mass- Education, Human Resources. market pharmaceutical and Ayurveda Prelims and Mains focus: about the cell drugs without a doctor’s prescription and its objectives; concerns raised against the move as off-the-shelf cures for a wide range of ailments. News: The Kerala government is reportedly mulling over a proposal to set  The wing will also prosecute self- up a vigilance wing in the Health Department. styled healers who exploit their Objective of setting up the Vigilance cell influence on social media to fuel  Optimally, the vigilance wing will unhealthy scepticism about the detect private practice by medical education service doctors, crack down government’s vaccination on quackery and unearth ethically dubious financial relationships, if any, programmes. between State doctors and diagnostic clinics, pharmacies and health care Functioning firms in the private sector.  The proposed vigilance cell would be under the Home Department and headed by a police officer.  However, in all medico-legal issues, domain inputs will be sought from the medical community itself.

Easy to PICK63 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Concerns raised against the move  The proposal appears not to have gone down well with the medical community. Many have objected to the government singling out doctors for intrusive vigilance inspections.  Some felt the government has raked up the old proposal to arm-twist doctors against striking for wage revision.  Some felt that the timing of the move was suspicious as it comes at the fag end of the LDF’s term.

Easy to PICK64 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” J&K IT and Real Estate policy 2020 Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies  The policy document says J&K and Interventions for Development in contributes only 0.1% of the total various sectors and Issues arising out of cognisable crimes under the Indian their Design and Implementation. Penal Code. Prelims and Mains focus: about the key  Two IT parks with an area of five highlights of the policies mentioned; about J&K Reorganisation Act lakh square feet are being developed News: The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in Jammu and Srinagar which will government is highlighting good quality have “dedicated and uninterrupted air and low crime rate in the newly created Union Territory to attract investors. broad band connectivity and wi-fi access.” Background  Internet has been snapped in the Union  The policy says that “as a special Territory since August 5, 2019 when dispensation for IT units, the land the Home Minister moved two bills in the Rajya Sabha to revoke the allotment would be decided on top special status under Article 370. priority” and the government would  Following Supreme Court directions, encourage private sector 2G mobile connectivity was restored in J&K in January with access only to participants to become Internet 301 government-approved websites. service providers to enable high speed  Investment opportunities in 14 sectors in the Union Territory were unveiled at Internet connectivity in all panchayats an investor conference in the national capital in January. of J&K. Highlights of J&K Information J&K Real Estate Policy highlights Technology (IT) Policy 2020  The J&K administration is offering an  It states that a vast land bank owned incentive to IT companies to operate by the government would be in three-shifts and to facilitate disbursed to “private developers” women working during the night by provided transportation and security. through a transparent bidding  At least 15% of “plug and play” process. The Home Minister had told a premises in designated IT parks will be reserved for women entrepreneurs. delegation from J&K on September 3, 2019 that “only government land would be used to establish industries, hospitals and educational institutions” and “nobody's land would be taken away.”  The existing land acquisition laws would be amended to incorporate the landowners as stakeholders in the housing development. The authorities without going into the compulsory land acquisition will either partner with private players on equity basis or facilitate land assembly by acquisition or pooling through private players as

Easy to PICK65 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” done by other development authorities in other States.  The developers will have to reserve 20% dwelling units in group housing projects for economically weaker section and lower income groups.  The UT of J&K is offering 100% exemption on stamp duty, land use charge, permission, construction and processing fee for the housing for Economically Weaker Section and LIG groups.  The government will persuade the National Housing Bank, HUDCO, financial institutions, commercial banks and insurance sector to extend the network of operations in J&K to provide affordable housing credit to people.

Easy to PICK66 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” States not bound to give reservations in job, promotions Syllabus subtopic: Functions and Assistant Engineer (Civil) in PWD, Responsibilities of the Union and the Uttarakhand. States, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Devolution of What did the SC say? Powers and Finances up to Local Levels  Article 16 (4) and 16 (4-A) are in the and Challenges Therein. nature of enabling provisions, vesting Prelims and Mains focus: about the SC a discretion on the state government judgement on reservations in to consider providing reservation, if the promotions/judgements and related circumstances so warrant. constitutional provisions  It is a settled law that the state News: The Supreme Court has ruled that government cannot be directed to states are not bound to provide provide reservation for appointment in reservation in appointments and public posts. promotions and that there is no fundamental right to reservation in  Similarly, the state is not bound to promotions. make reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Constitutional provisions regarding matters of promotions. reservations/promotions in jobs  Article 16(4) empowers the state to  However, if they (state) wish to exercise their discretion and make such make any provision for the provision, the state has to collect reservation of appointments or posts quantifiable data showing inadequacy in favour of any backward class of of representation. citizens which, in the opinion of the state, is not adequately represented  If the decision of the state to provide in the services under the state. reservations in promotion is challenged, the state concerned shall  By way of the 77th Amendment Act, have to place before the court the a new clause (4A) was introduced to requisite quantifiable data and satisfy Article 16, empowering the state to the court that such reservations make provisions for reservation in became necessary on account of matters of promotion to SC/ST inadequacy of representation of employees if the state feels they are not Scheduled Castes and Scheduled adequately represented in services. The Tribes in a particular class or classes of Supreme Court had upheld the posts without affecting general amendment as constitutional. efficiency of administration. What was the case about?  The state can form its own opinion The Supreme Court was deciding a group on the basis of the material it has in of appeals pertaining to reservations to its possession already or it may gather SCs and STs in promotions in the posts of such material through a

Easy to PICK67 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Commission/Committee, person or authority. All that is required is that there must be some material on the basis of which the opinion is formed. The court should show due deference to the opinion of the state. Such opinion is not beyond judicial scrutiny.  On the requirement for data collection, the court said this is only to justify reservation to be made in the matter of appointment or promotion to public posts, according to Article 16 (4) and 16 (4-A) of the Constitution. As such, collection of data regarding the inadequate representation of members of the Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes is a prerequisite for providing reservations, and is not required when the state government decided not to provide reservations.

Easy to PICK68 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) Syllabus subtopic: Bilateral, Regional and four AMRAAM Control Sections and 134 Stinger FIM-92L missiles. Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s  Also included are 32 M4A1 rifles; interests. 40,320 M855 5.56mm cartridges; Fire Prelims and Mains focus: about the Distribution Centres (FDC); Handheld India-US weapon deal; about IADWS Remote Terminals; Electrical Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Sensor News: The U.S. Department of State has Systems; AMRAAM Non- approved the potential sale of a $1.867 billion Integrated Air Defence Weapon Developmental Item-Airborne System (IADWS) to India. Instrumentation Units (NDI-AIU); Multi-spectral Targeting System- Model A (MTS-A); Canister About the weapon system Launchers (CN); High Mobility  The Integrated Air Defence Weapon Launchers (HML); Dual Mount System, also known as the National Stinger (DMS) Air Defence Systems; Advanced Surface to Air Missile Vehicle Mounted Stinger Rapid System (NASAMS), provides Ranger Air Defence Systems, the integrated air missile defence and is statement said. currently deployed around Washington, DC.  Communications equipment, testing and training equipment and  The IADWS system includes radar, documentation and technical and launchers, targeting, and guidance logistics support are also part of the systems, advanced medium-range package. air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) and Stinger missiles, and related Significance equipment and support.  India intends to use these defense About the deal articles and services to modernize its  The potential sale, which is being armed forces, and to expand its existing air defense architecture to processed via the Foreign Military counter threats posed by air attack. Sales (FMS) route, is now before the U.S. Congress for consideration, with a  This will contribute to India's military 30-day window for Congress raise any objections to the sale. goal to update its capability while further enhancing greater interoperability between India, the US,  The Indian government had asked to and other allies. buy an IADWS comprised of five AN/MPQ-64Fl Sentinel radar systems; 118 AMRAAM AIM-120C-7/C-8 missiles; three AMRAAM Guidance Sections;

Easy to PICK69 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Draft National Policy on Rare Diseases, 2020 Syllabus subtopic: Issues Relating to India will construe the three Development and Management of Social categories as identified in the policy. Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Criticism of the policy Public health groups have criticised the Prelims and Mains focus: about the draft policy on following grounds: policy and its features; its criticisms 1. It appears the entire policy is drafted to News: After being directed by the Madras justify that government cannot provide High Court, on January 6, to consider the treatment due to high cost as it is issue of providing medical care to those resource constrained. suffering from the rare Lysosomal 2. The policy has adopted a very narrow Storage Disorders (LSD) as a “national scope limited to only 3 categories, emergency”, the Centre informed the while ignoring those where treatment court of having notified a draft national is yet to be developed and R&D is policy on rare diseases. required. About the draft policy Rare diseases  It proposes to set up a registry under  According to the government, so far the Indian Council of Medical only about 450 diseases have been research (ICMR) to create a recorded in India from tertiary care database. hospitals that are globally considered as rare diseases.  To provide financial assistance of up to Rs 15 lakh to Ayushman Bharat  The most commonly reported beneficiaries for rare diseases that diseases include Haemophilia, require a one-time treatment in Thalassemia, Sickle-cell Anaemia and tertiary hospitals only. Primary Immuno Deficiency in children, auto-immune diseases,  It also suggests voluntary Lysosomal storage disorders such as crowdfunding as an alternate means Pompe disease, Hirschsprung disease, of financial support and notifying Gaucher’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis, government hospitals to facilitate Hemangiomas and certain forms of treatment. muscular dystrophies.  Alternatively, the draft proposes to set  There are 7,000 - 8,000 rare diseases, up a digital platform for voluntary but less than 5% have therapies crowdfunding. available. About 95% rare diseases have no approved treatment and less  The draft policy also categorises rare than 1 in 10 patients receive disease diseases under three categories based specific treatment. Where drugs are on clinical experiences and treatment available, they are expensive. availability. The policy also states that in the absence of data to clearly define rare diseases, such diseases in

Easy to PICK70 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Salwa Judum Syllabus subtopic: Maoist ideology in some states in rural  Issues Relating to Development and India that is designated by India as a terrorist organisation on account of Management of Social Sector/Services their violent activities. The movement relating to Health, Education, Human later received bi-partisan support from Resources. both the ruling and opposition parties.  Linkages between Development and Spread of Extremism.  In 2008, Chhattisgarh along with neighbouring Jharkhand accounted for Prelims and Mains focus: about the case; over 65% of the total Naxal violence in salwa judum; about NHRC: composition the country. Chhattisgarh state had and powers trained a number of 'Special Police Officers' or SPOs (also commonly News: The National Human Rights referred to as Koya commandos), Commission (NHDC) has accused state from amongst the tribals who were part officials of the Chhattisgarh government of Salwa Judum of ‘abetting’ the crimes allegedly committed by Special Police Officers as  The militia, consisting of local tribal part of Salwa Judum’s anti-Maoist youth, received support and training activities in the state. from the Chhattisgarh state government. It has been outlawed Background and banned by a Supreme Court According to the complaint, filed by human rights organisation People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), seven people were killed and 95 houses were torched by SPOs in the three villages, leading to other villagers abandoning their homes and fleeing. When they returned in 2013, the villagers filed a complaint with the Sukma collector in July 2013. The NHRC requested them to provide information. What is Salwa Judum?  Salwa Judum (meaning \"Peace March\" or \"Purification Hunt\" in Gondi language) was a militia that was mobilised and deployed as part of anti-insurgency operations in Chhattisgarh, India, aimed at countering Naxalite violence in the region.  It started in 2005 as a state sponsored vigilante movement against the Naxalites, a far-left movement with

Easy to PICK71 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” court order, but continues to exist in the form of Armed Auxiliary Forces, District Reserve Group and other vigilante groups.  On 5 July 2011, the Supreme Court of India declared the militia to be illegal and unconstitutional, and ordered its disbanding. The Court directed the Chhattisgarh government to recover all the firearms, ammunition and accessories. The use of Salwa Judum by the government for anti- Naxal operations was criticised for its violations of human rights and poorly trained youth for counter- insurgency roles. It also ordered the government to investigate all instances of alleged criminal activities of Salwa Judum.  On 25 May 2013, its founder Mahendra Karma, who had become a senior Congress party leader was killed in a Naxalite attack along with other party members in Darbha Valley of Chhattisgarh, 400 km south of Raipur and 50 km from Jagdalpur.

Easy to PICK72 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Supreme Court upholds validity of amendments in SC/ST Act Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe and Interventions for Development in (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 various sectors and Issues arising out of  The SC/ST Act was enacted to their Design and Implementation. prevent atrocities against scheduled Prelims and Mains focus: about the castes and scheduled tribes. court’s ruling; about SC/ST act and amendments to it; arguements against the  It was enacted when the provisions of amendments the existing laws (such as the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 News: The Supreme Court upheld the and Indian Penal Code) were found to constitutional validity of amendments be inadequate to check these crimes made in 2018 to the Scheduled Castes (defined as 'atrocities' in the Act). and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Recognising the continuing gross Atrocities) Act, 1989. indignities and offences against Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the Background Parliament passed the Act. The amendments were brought to nullify the effect of the top court’s March 20, Objectives of the Act 2018 judgment in the Subhash 1. to deliver justice to these communities Kashinath Mahajan vs State of Maharashtra & Another case. In it, the through proactive efforts to enable SC took serious note of “instances of them to live in society with dignity and abuse” of the 1986 law by “vested self-esteem and without fear or interests” for political or personal violence or suppression from the reasons, and laid down stringent dominant castes. safeguards, including provision for 2. The practice of untouchability, in its anticipatory bail and a “preliminary overt and covert form was made a inquiry” before registering a case under the cognizable and non compoundable SC/ST Act. offence, and strict punishment is provided for any such offence. What were those amendments?  It said that a police officer  Section 23(1) of the Act authorises the Central Government to frame rules for investigating a case under the law carrying out the purpose of the Act. will not require prior sanction for Drawing power from this section, the arresting an accused. Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules  It also said the provision of of 1995 were framed. The rules for the anticipatory bail will not apply to Act were notified on 31 March 1995. cases under the Act.  The purpose of the Act was to help the social inclusion of Dalits into Indian society, but the Act has failed to live up to its expectations admitted

Easy to PICK73 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” by the Union Minister for Home to the abuse of law as we are living in a Affairs in parliament on 30 August civilised society and there were many 2010. growing instances of misuse of this act.  A number of cases of misuse of this  The new law could be used to harass Act has been reported from different citizens by arresting them on the parts of the country as mentioned in basis of mere allegations. the Supreme Court verdict of 20 March 2018. In this verdict, the  The amendment excludes Section 438 Supreme Court of India banned of CrPC, violates constitutional immediate arrest of a person mandate under Articles 14 and 21. accused of insulting or injuring a Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe  The amendments rule out any member to protect innocents from provision for anticipatory bail for a arbitrary arrest. person accused of atrocities against SC/STs, notwithstanding any court SC/ST amendment Act, 2018 order.  In August, 2018, the parliament of India passed the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018, to bypass the ruling of the Supreme Court of India laying down procedures for arrests under the Act.  The bill inserts section 18A (1) (a) in the 1989 Act, that says a “preliminary enquiry shall not be required for registration of an FIR against any person.”  The Bill also inserts Section 18A (1) (b), which says “the investigating officer shall not require approval for the arrest, if necessary, of any person against whom an accusation of having committed an offence under this Act has been made and no procedure, other than that provided under this Act or the Code, shall apply.” Arguements against the 2018 amendments to the Act  The act violates “basic principles of liberty and accountability” after the amendments. According to a plea filed in the Supreme Court, “the Supreme Court cannot remain a mute spectator

Easy to PICK74 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Indigenous Muslims of Assam Syllabus subtopic: Issues Relating to  While the Deshis are 13th century Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, converts from indigenous Education, Human Resources. communities such as Koch Rajbongshi Prelims and Mains focus: about the move and its significance; arguements for and and Mech, the Goriyas and Moriyas against the move; about indigenous Assamese muslims and their concerns trace their lineage to converts as well News: Assam is planning to implement a as soldiers, karigars etc who came to census to identify Assam’s ‘khilonjiya’, or indigenous Muslim population in the region during the Ahom rule. 2020. Smaller groups such as Julha Muslims Background  The Assam Budget 2019-2020 also fall under this category. (announced in February 2019) listed  These groups consider themselves the creation of a ‘Development distinct from the Bengali-speaking Corporation for Indigenous Muslims who migrated from East Muslims’ aimed at the ‘holistic Bengal or Bangladesh. development’ of the community as well as a “socio-economic census” to Arguements in favour of conducting a help assess their “socio-economic census condition”.  Many indigenous Muslims have been  On February 6, 2020, a memo was wrongfully tagged D-voter or issued by the Welfare of Minorities Doubtful-voter in Assam. They face a and Development Department calling major identity crisis since they are for a meeting regarding a socio- confused with Bangladeshis. economic census of indigenous Muslims of Assam — Goria, Moria,  According to Census 2011, Muslims Ujani, Deshi, Jola, Mainal, Syed etc. constitute 34.22 per cent of the 3.12 crore population of Assam. Around  However, the state govt. said the 12 per cent of that is indigenous planned census is not a socio-economic Muslim. Because of migration from one but simply to count the population Bangladesh, this group has lost its of the indigenous Muslims of Assam. identity and are lagging behind in terms of social and political About the Assamese Muslim community development.  Under the umbrella of the indigenous  There are government schemes for Assamese Muslim community fall indigenous communities in Assam three main groups: the Goriyas, the like the Bodos, Koch Rajbongshis, Moriyas (from Upper Assam) and the Sooteas, Ahoms. Just like those are Deshis (from Lower Assam). indigenous groups, so are Goriyas and Moriyas. Since Muslims world over have similar-sounding names, it is important to identify indigenous Assamese Muslims through a census, so that they can benefit from the

Easy to PICK75 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” various developmental schemes in Assam.  This includes Clause 6 of the Assam Accord which grants “constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards” to the “Assamese people”. The report on its implementation is set to be submitted by the Centre- appointed high-powered committee soon. The census will help the indigenous Assamese Muslims benefit not just from Clause 6 but other schemes too.  The census will “most probably” be carried out by the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development, and will cover the entire state. The community has no benefits, no MLAs, no political representation. The rationale behind this is to help in the development of their identity, their culture, their literature. Arguements against conducting a census  Some fear such a census will “further marginalise” the descendants of Bengali-speaking migrants in Assam. The survey identifies one section of Muslims so that they can get certain benefits but ignores another section completely. The polarisation and divisions will automatically increase as a result of this.  Also, how does one define an indigenous Assamese Muslim? Certain East Bengali-origin migrants have been living in Assam since the 1800s. Are they any less indigenous Assamese than other groups? If the government wants to really improve conditions of Muslims, why not do a survey/census of all economically deprived Muslims?

Easy to PICK76 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Sudan to handover Omar al-Bashir to ICC Syllabus subtopic: Important International genocide in Darfur. Thus, the ousted Institutions, agencies and fora - their president denied the charges and Structure, Mandate. accused the ICC of being politicized. Prelims and Mains focus: about ICC: powers and how it is different from ICJ What now? News: Sudan has agreed to hand over  Authorities said the former president, ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir and others to the International Criminal and others charged by the ICC, should Court (ICC). appear at The Hague to face a tribunal. Background  The commitment came at peace talks  Bashir is accused of serious crimes in between Sudan's government and rebel groups from the Darfur region. a conflict that broke out in Darfur in 2003 and led to the deaths of 300,000  If al-Bashir is handed over, it would be people and the displacement of some only the second time a country has 2.5 million others, according to the surrendered a foreign leader to the United Nations. ICC. Ivory Coast transferred former President Laurent Gbagbo in 2011 to  The International Criminal Court The Hague, where he was acquitted (ICC) issued two arrest warrants last year of crimes against humanity against Al-Bashir, in 2009 and 2010, charges linked to alleged involvement on charges of committing war in post-election violence. crimes, crimes against humanity and

Easy to PICK77 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Privilege Motion Syllabus subtopic: Parliament and State Parliament, individually and collectively, Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, so that they can “effectively discharge Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges their functions”. When any of these rights and Issues Arising out of these. and immunities are disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and Prelims and Mains focus: about the is punishable under law of Parliament. privilege motion: procedure and role of speaker/chairperson; about SC judgement Procedure on reservations in job, promotions A notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member of either House against News: Lok Sabha Speaker informed the those being held guilty of breach of House that he had received the notice of privilege. Each House also claims the right privilege motion moved by the Congress to punish as contempt actions which, while against Social Justice Minister for his not breach of any specific privilege, are statement on the Supreme Court order offences against its authority and dignity. on the issue of reservation in promotion for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Rules governing the privilege motion Tribes (STs) and Other Backward  Rule No 222 in Chapter 20 of the Classes (OBC). Lok Sabha Rule Book and Why? correspondingly Rule 187 in Chapter  The Congress accused the minister of 16 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook governs privilege. ‘misleading’ the House by stating that the case pertained to a decision of the  It says that a member may, with the Uttarakhand government in 2012 when consent of the Speaker or the the Congress was in power. Chairperson, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either  The Minister had also informed that of a member or of the House or of a the Centre was not a party to the case committee thereof. and assured that ‘appropriate steps’ would be taken.  The rules however mandate that any notice should be relating to an  Stating that it was a misleading incident of recent occurrence and argument, Congress MPs not only should need the intervention of the moved a privilege motion but also read House. Notices have to be given out the names of advocates who before 10 am to the Speaker or the represented the BJP government Chairperson. Uttarakhand in the Supreme Court. However, the Speaker cut him by short Role of the Speaker/Chairman stating that the motion is under his  The Speaker/RS chairperson is the consideration. first level of scrutiny of a privilege About Privilege Motion motion. Parliamentary privileges are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by members of  The Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself

Easy to PICK78 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament.  If the Speaker/Chair gives consent under Rule 222, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement. Privileges committees in the Parliament  In the Lok Sabha, the Speaker nominates a committee of privileges consisting of 15 members as per respective party strengths. A report is then presented to the House for its consideration. The Speaker may permit a half-hour debate while considering the report. The Speaker may then pass final orders or direct that the report be tabled before the House.  A resolution may then be moved relating to the breach of privilege that has to be unanimously passed.  In the Rajya Sabha, the deputy chairperson heads the committee of privileges, that consists of 10 members.

Easy to PICK79 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies  The Bill removes reference to six and Interventions for Development in tribes. These are: (i) Abor, (ii) various sectors and Issues arising out of Galong, (iii) Khampti, (iv) Mishmi their Design and Implementation. (Idu, Taroon), (v) any Naga tribes, and and (vi) Momba. Prelims and Mains focus: about the key features of the bill and its significance  The Bill seeks to include the Parivara and the Talawara News: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed communities in the ST category The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) to ensure they get reservation and Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice other benefits provided by the vote. government. Background  The Siddi tribes of Belagavi and The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order Dharwad (Karnataka) would also (Third Amendment) Bill, 2019 was be included in the category apart introduced in Rajya Sabha on February from those living in the Uttar 11, 2019 by the Minister of Tribal Affairs. Kannada districts. The amendments It was passed by Rajya Sabha on had been made in the list of the February 13, 2019. STs in Karnataka. Key highlights of the Bill Demands raised by other parties  The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes)  The Nationalist Congress Party demanded that the Dhangar Order, 1950 specifies the tribal community from Maharashtra be communities which are deemed to be included in the ST. Scheduled Tribes. The Bill amends Part 18 of the Order which specifies  The Congress (INC) said a the Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal comprehensive bill is required. Pradesh.  All India Trinamool Congress  The Bill inserts 5 entries for granting (AITC) said the government should Scheduled Tribe status to these take steps to make the process of communities. These are: inclusion easier. 1. Galo 2. Mishmi-Kaman (Miju Mishmi), Idu (Mishmi), Taraon (Digaru, Mishmi) 3. Monpa, Memba, Sartang, Sajolang (Miji) 4. Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa, Wancho, and 5. Tai Khamti.

Easy to PICK80 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Manual scavenging related deaths in India Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies  Apart from that, a national survey was and Interventions for Development in conducted in 194 districts in 18 various sectors and Issues arising out of States where 48,345 manual their Design and Implementation. scavengers were identified till January 31, taking the total to 62,904. Prelims and Mains focus: about the features of manual scavenging act; about The National Commission for Safai NCSK; data related to manual scavengers; Karamcharis (NCSK) had received efforts made by the govt to curb it reports about the death of people cleaning sewers and septic tanks. These cases were News: The number of people who died reported from 18 States and Union while cleaning sewers and septic tanks Territories, while 13 States and UTs in the country increased by almost 62% submitted “nil reports”. from 68 in 2018 to 110 in 2019, according to a reply given by the Social Justice and Empowerment (SJE) Ministry to the Lok Sabha. Background Manual scavenging is banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Data on number of manual scavengers across the country  A total of 14,559 manual scavengers had been identified by Municipalities and Gram Panchayats in 13 States from 2013-2014 till January 31, 2020.

Easy to PICK81 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies on an average eat away around 20-25% and Interventions for Development in of the total food produced. various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation. What is the bill aimed at?  The new draft bill is aimed at Prelims and Mains focus: about the key features of the bill; pesticide production in protecting the interest of the India and the need for monitoring it farmers, so that they get safe and effective pesticides. News: The Union cabinet has approved the Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 which  Farmers would be empowered to get will be introduced in the budget session of all information regarding the Parliament. available pesticides, their strength, weaknesses, and risks from the dealers Background they choose to purchase the pesticide The move comes against the backdrop of from. rising concern over the need to protect farmers from spurious and sub- Key features of the bill standard pesticides, along with the need 1. The bill seeks to replace the existing to assess their potential effects on the health of people and that of the Insecticide Act, 1968, which the environment. government said is “age-old and needs Pesticide production in India immediate re-writing\".  India is among the leading producers 2. Any person who wants to import, of pesticides in Asia. In the domestic manufacture, or export pesticides market, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, would have to register under the new Punjab, and Haryana are among the bill and provide all details regarding states with the highest recorded any claims, expected performance, consumption. efficacy, safety, usage instructions, and infrastructure available to stock that  The Indian pesticides market was pesticide. The information will also worth INR 197 Billion in 2018. The include details on the pesticide’s market is further projected to reach a potential effects on the environment. value of INR 316 Billion by 2024. 3. The bill also has a provision to  The significance of pesticides has been rising over the last few decades provide compensation if there is any catalyzed by the requirement to enhance the overall agricultural farm loss because of low quality or production and the need to safeguard adequate food availability for the spurious pesticides. The penalty continuously growing population in the country. In India, pests and diseases, collected from the manufactures/dealers and funds put in by the government would be used to form a central fund. 4. All the information regarding the available pesticides would be available in the public domain, in all

Easy to PICK82 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” languages in digital format, so that farmers can make the right decision on their use, the minister said. 5. The bill also plans to regulate pesticides-related advertisements to check misleading claims by industries and manufacturers. The bill also seeks to promote organic pesticides. Way forward  The draft bill has the opportunity to clean up the food and farming system of India, but needs to make the registration process more stringent for manufacturers. A complete overhaul of the registration process for pesticides is required, so that new registrations happen only when there is need and no safer alternatives exist.  The setting up of a compensation fund offers hope for farmers affected by poisoning, but they should not be compelled to take recourse to the Consumer Protection Act to claim compensation.

Easy to PICK83 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Scope of Direct Tax Bill enlarged Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies Benefits and Interventions for Development in  As per the Bill, the biggest advantage various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation. of the scheme is that the taxpayer would be required to pay only the Prelims and Mains focus: about the new amount of the disputed taxes. The amendments made; about Direct Tax Bill taxpayer will get complete waiver of and its significance interest in case he pays the due amount by March 31, 2020. News: The Union Cabinet approved widening of the scope of the ''Direct Tax  For disputed penalty, interest and fee Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020''. not connected with the disputed tax, the taxpayer would be required to pay Background only 25 per cent for settling the dispute.  The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget session,  The amount to be paid would be sought to substantially reduce the higher, in case the taxpayer opts for the huge tax arrears which are locked in scheme late and pays after March 31, litigation between the taxpayers and 2020. This provision is aimed at the revenue at the level of encouraging the taxpayers to settle Commissioner (Appeals), Income Tax the dispute within the current Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), High financial year itself which ends on Courts and the Supreme Court. March 31, 2020.  The amount of disputed direct tax arrears totalled Rs 9.32 lakh crore till November 2019. What change has been made in the bill?  The bill will now also cover cases pending in debt recovery tribunals (DRTs).  As per the proposed amendments, now income tax disputes in arbitration, various tribunals, courts and DRT cases can be settled.  Even the search and seizure cases where the recovery is below Rs 5 crore too could be redressed under the scheme.

Easy to PICK84 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” India-Sri Lanka DTAA amended Syllabus subtopic: India and its  Therefore, amendment of the India-Sri Neighborhood- Relations. Lanka DTAA bilaterally is required to update the preamble and also to insert Prelims and Mains focus: about the move Principal Purpose Test (PPT) and its significance; about DTAA; BEPS; provisions to meet the minimum OECD standards on treaty abuse under Action 6 of G-20 OECD BEPS News: The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM project. Modi approved signing and ratification of the protocol amending the agreement Benefits of the move between India and Sri Lanka for the The amendment of the preamble text and avoidance of double taxation and the inclusion of Principal Purpose Test (PPT), prevention of fiscal evasion with respect a general anti-abuse provision in the to taxes on income. Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) will result in curbing tax Background planning strategies which exploit gaps The existing DTAA between India and Sri and mismatches in tax rules. Lanka was signed on January 22, 2013 and came into force on October 22, 2013. Why was the amendment required?  India and Sri Lanka are members of the inclusive framework and are required to implement the minimum standards under G-20 OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) action reports in respect of their DTAAs with inclusive framework countries.  Minimum standards under BEPS Action 6 can be met through the multilateral convention to implement tax treaty-related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting Multilateral Instrument (MLI) or through bilateral agreement.  India is a signatory to the MLI. However, Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the MLI as of now.

Easy to PICK85 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Major Ports Authority Bill, 2020 Syllabus subtopic: law would also help in improving  Government Policies and Interventions infrastructure.  It will provide more operational for Development in various sectors and autonomy to ports and fast decisions Issues arising out of their Design and will be possible at port level only. Implementation.  Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads,  This will empower the major ports to Airports, Railways etc. perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision Prelims and Mains focus: about the key making and by modernising the features of the bill; major ports of India institutional framework of major ports. News: The Union Cabinet chaired by the  This will not only boost India’s EXIM Prime Minister has given its approval to trade but generate employment. the Major Ports Authority bill, 2020 which will be introduced in the ongoing budget Major Ports of India session of the Parliament. India has 12 major ports -- Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Background Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Earlier, the Bill was introduced in the Lok Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V O Sabha in 2016 and thereafter referred to Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip the Parliamentary Standing Committee but and Kolkata (including Haldia). got lapsed after the dissolution of previous Lok Sabha. Why was it required?  There had been many changes in the manner ports were operated since the 1960, including private players and public private partnership (PPP) model being used.  The disputes with private companies and PPP operators had been cropping up, but the existing law had no provisions to deal with them Key features/benefits of the Bill  It will replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 which governs India’s 12 major ports.  The proposed law is aimed at enhancing the overall efficiencies of the ports.  The 12 major ports in India would get a boost through the new law. The new

Easy to PICK86 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” WHO to score countries affected by COVID-19 Syllabus subtopic: reservoir and transmission, natural  Issues Relating to Development and history, efficacy of public health interventions, development of new Management of Social Sector/Services vaccines and therapeutics (mostly relating to Health, Education, Human repurposed drugs at this time). Resources.  Important International Institutions,  The WHO has activated its R&D agencies and fora - their Structure, Blueprint — a global strategy and Mandate. preparedness plan during epidemics. Prelims and Mains focus: about the move Efforts made by India through setting and its significance; efforts made by India up laboratories in this regard; about coronavirus outbreak  India has set up 106 Virus Research and its impact; about WHO and Diagnostic Laboratories News: The World Health Organisation (VRDLs) towards lab support. From (WHO) said that the countries affected by just two nodal laboratories at the helm the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will of affairs for diagnostics during the be scored on the level of clinical severity. H1N1 influenza virus (swine flu) outbreak in 2009-10, the Indian About the move Council of Medical Research has now  India is also among the 24 affected established 106 VRDLs, of which 14 are strategically located near countries which will be part of the international airports and have been global COVID-19 data platform, equipped to provide lab support and which will collect clinical data from prevent the spread of COVID-19. all affected countries and is now working on a score for each in terms of  VRDLs at government medical clinical severity. colleges at Ahmedabad and Guwahati were also identified within the network  Scoring means from asymptomatic to start testing samples for COVID-19. to severe illness and death. The score card is yet to be finalised.  The ICMR-National Institute of Virology is the apex laboratory in Pune Cases of coronavirus for reconfirmation of any positive According to WHO, there were 42,708 samples and quality assurance for confirmed cases reported in China and testing of samples. 1,017 people have lost their lives to this virus. Of these, there are 393 cases in 24  The National Centre for Disease countries and one death outside China. Control in New Delhi is also engaged in performing tests for novel Discussions held by WHO coronavirus (nCoV) infections.  Around 350 scientists were brought  To ensure there is readiness across together in Geneva from February 11 the country to test a large number of to 12 to discuss the knowledge gaps samples in the event of any kind of and key research priorities in various areas such as epidemiology, animal

Easy to PICK87 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” outbreak, the Department of Health Research had launched a phase-wise expansion of the laboratory network. The estimated cost in 2013 was Rs 550 crore for a five-year phase-wise expansion programme which now has got extended. While the renewal of the programme is in process, the project cost has gone upto to Rs 700 crore.  The sole criteria for setting up the VRDL was that it should be established at a government medical college. The site visits were conducted to ensure adequate space. Ninety-seven per cent of the laboratory network is across government medical colleges and barely 3 per cent with ICMR institutions.  The VRDL is functional even at remote locations such as the Late Sri Baliram Kashyap Memorial Government Medical College in Maoist-affected Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.

Easy to PICK88 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” US-Taliban Peace deal Syllabus subtopic: Effect of Policies and What if the deal gets implemented? Politics of Developed and Developing  If the agreement goes ahead, it would Countries on India’s interests potentially bring an end to Prelims and Mains focus: about the peace America’s longest war by launching deal and its significance; about Us direct peace talks between the invasion of Afghanistan Taliban and the Afghan government for the first time. News: More than 18 years after the US  A deal would give President Donald invaded Afghanistan, President Donald Trump a talking point in his bid for Trump has conditionally approved a re-election, allowing him to argue he peace deal with the Taliban, potentially fulfilled a campaign promise to beginning the end of America’s longest extricate America from \"endless\" war. wars abroad. What is the deal about? About the US-Taliban peace talks The deal would see the withdrawal of  Since the U.S. and Taliban renewed U.S. troops and the start of peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan discussions in the Qatari capital government. Doha at the end of 2019, the talks have focused on a U.S. demand for the What is the condition on the deal? Taliban to scale back its attacks The agreement will go ahead only if the across the country as a test of its Taliban abide by a pledge to reduce commitment to ending the conflict. In violence over a seven-day period. an earlier round of negotiations, the Taliban rejected the idea of a full- Has there been any peace agreement in blown cease-fire, and as a result U.S. the past? special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has  The two sides have revived the same pursued a deal to \"reduce\" violence, though U.S. officials have yet to draft agreement that came close to explain exactly what that would entail. being signed in September 2019,  In the recent talks in Doha, Khalilzad which calls for a timeline for a U.S. — a veteran diplomat who once served troop pullout in exchange for the as ambassador to Kabul — first Taliban agreeing to cut ties with proposed a wider reduction of violence terrorist groups and entering into deal that the Taliban rejected. The peace talks with their foes in the insurgents then came back with a more Afghan government. limited proposal, which the Americans viewed as inadequate but worth  But the attempt fell apart at the last negotiating further. In recent weeks, moment and it remained unclear if the two sides have found common the Taliban was ready to negotiate a ground around a compromise deal to genuine peace settlement with a reduce violence. government in Kabul that it has long rejected as a \"puppet\" of the United War in Afghanistan (2001–present) States.  The War in Afghanistan code named Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–14) and Operation Freedom's

Easy to PICK89 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Sentinel (2015–present) following the Afghan government troops battling United States invasion of Afghanistan of 7 October 2001, when Taliban insurgents. the United States of America and its allies successfully drove the Taliban  The war in Afghanistan is the longest from power in order to deny al- Qaeda a safe base of operations in war in US history, having raged for 18 Afghanistan who were the main suspects of the September 11 (9/11) years and claimed the lives of around attacks.  Since the initial objectives were 2,300 troops. completed, a coalition of over 40 countries (including all NATO  From January 2009, when the United members) formed a security mission in the country. The war has since Nations began systematic mostly involved US and allied documentation of civilian casualties, to September, some 34,000 civilians have been killed as a result of the armed conflict.  The U.S. has 12,000 to 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, but in December the Trump administration was poised to withdraw approximately 4,000 of them.

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Easy to PICK91 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Publish details of tainted candidates: SC to parties Syllabus subtopic: Salient Features of the  In 2004, 24% of members of Representation of People’s Act. Parliament (MPs) had criminal cases Prelims and Mains focus: about the SC pending against them. In 2009, that directions and its significance; about went up to 30%, in 2014 to 34%, and criminalization of politics in 2019 as many as 43% of MPs had Context: Supreme Court in its judgement criminal cases pending against them. handed down a series of directions aimed at checking the criminalization of What was the case about? politics. The court was passing orders on a contempt petition that raised the issue of Why? criminalization of politics claiming that  The apex court noted that there has directions given by the court in a 2018 order on disclosure of criminal been an alarming increase in the antecedents by candidates are not being number of candidates with criminal followed. records entering politics.

Easy to PICK92 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Details of the SC judgement and politically crucial states, Bihar and  The court ruled that it shall be Uttar Pradesh, go to polls over the next two years. mandatory for political parties during central and state elections to Conclusion put out detailed information about  The order is a wake-up call for candidates with criminal cases pending against them, including the political parties as these decisions nature of the offences. should have been taken by the parties on their own without waiting for the  Parties must also list the reasons for apex court to spell out the steps that selecting such candidates and state political parties should be taking. why others without criminal antecedents were not selected.  It strengthens the electoral democratic process by enabling voters to make a  The reasons as to selection shall be choice keeping all factors in mind. with reference to the qualifications, achievements, and merit of the  Political parties have welcomed the candidate concerned, and not mere step, but question if the Supreme Court ‘winnability’ at the polls. order infringes on the powers of the elected representatives.  The information should be published in one local vernacular newspaper, a  The real problem is that Supreme national newspaper, and on the Court has only ordered political official social media platforms of the parties to give information on their political party, including Facebook website, but does not say that the and Twitter. direction is binding. Political parties can still choose to nominate people  These details are to be published with criminal cases against them. within 48 hours of the selection of the candidate.  The political party concerned shall then submit a report of compliance with these directions with the Election Commission within 72 hours of the selection of the said candidate. If a political party fails to submit such compliance report with the Election Commission, the Election Commission shall bring such non- compliance by the political party concerned to the notice of the Supreme Court as being in contempt of this SC’s orders. Likely implications of these directions The directions are likely to have a key political fallout given that the two biggest

Easy to PICK93 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” USTR takes India off developing country list Syllabus subtopic: Effect of Policies and potentially subject to U.S. Politics of Developed and Developing countervailing duties (CVD). The Countries on India’s interests, Indian 1998 rule is now “obsolete” as per the Diaspora. USTR notice. Prelims and Mains focus: about the  U.S. President Donald Trump has USTR move: criteria and its implications; repeatedly complained about the about CVD and de minimis standard WTO’s classification of developing countries. On July 26, 2019, he had News: The U.S. government has changed issued a memorandum to the USTR an administrative rule making it easier for titled, ‘Reforming Developing- it to impose countervailing duties Country Status in the World Trade (CVDs) on goods from India and certain Organization’. In it, Mr. Trump had other countries. asked the USTR to, among other things, “no longer treat as a developing Background country for the purposes of the WTO  To harmonise U.S. law with the World any WTO Member that in the USTR’s judgment is improperly declaring itself Trade Organization’s (WTO) a developing country,” if the WTO had Subsidies and Countervailing not changed its approach to flexibilities Measures (SCM) Agreement, the associated with developing country USTR had, in 1998, come up with lists status within ninety days of the of countries classified as per their memorandum being issued. level of development. These lists were used to determine whether they were

Easy to PICK94 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” What are countervailing duties (CVD)? is usually a subsidy of 1% or less ad 1. Duties that are imposed in order to valorem and 2 percent for special cases. The de minimis thresholds and counter the negative impact of import volume allowance are more import subsidies to protect domestic relaxed for developing and least- producers are called countervailing developed countries.(Ad valorem tax duties. means levying of tax or customs duties proportionate to the estimated value of 2. Description: In cases foreign the goods or transaction concerned.) producers attempt to subsidize the goods being exported by them so that  If a country’s goods constitute less it causes domestic production to suffer than 3% of all imports of that good because of a shift in domestic into the U.S., it meets the ‘negligible demand towards cheaper imported import volumes’ standard. For goods, the government makes special cases it is 4%. Imports do not mandatory the payment of a meet the standard, if, individual countervailing duty on the import of volumes are less than 3% (special such goods to the domestic economy. cases: 4%) but the aggregate volume of imports into the U.S. is 7% of all such 3. This raises the price of these goods goods. leading to domestic goods again being equally competitive and  India was, until February 10, on the attractive. Thus, domestic businesses developing country list and therefore are cushioned. These duties can be eligible for these more relaxed imposed under the specifications standards. It has now been taken off given by the WTO (World Trade of that list. Organization) after the investigation finds that exporters are engaged in  The new lists consist of 36 developing dumping. These are also known as countries and 44 least developed anti-dumping duties. countries. About the USTR move Eligibility Criteria for the de minimis The Office of the United States Trade standard Representative (USTR) has published a The USTR used the following criteria to notice, amending lists of developing and determine whether a country was eligible least-developed countries that are eligible for the 2% de minimis standard: for preferential treatment with respect (1) Per capita Gross National Income or to CVD investigations. GNI What does that mean? (2) share of world trade  Countries not given special (3) other factors such as Organisation for consideration have lower levels of Economic Co-operation and protection against a CVD Development (OECD) membership investigation. or application for membership, EU membership, and Group of Twenty  A CVD investigation must be (G20) membership. terminated if the offending subsidy is de minimis (too small to warrant Why was India taken off the list? concern) or if import volumes are  India, along with Brazil, Indonesia, negligible. The de minimis standard Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam were

Easy to PICK95 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” taken off the list since they each have at least a 0.5% share of the global trade, despite having less than $12,375 GNI (the World Bank threshold separating high income countries from others).  India was taken off the list also because — like Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa — it is part of the G20. “Given the global economic significance of the G20, and the collective economic weight of its membership (which accounts for large shares of global economic output and trade), G20 membership indicates that a country is developed,” the USTR notice said. Implications The move has cast a shadow on India being able to restore preferential benefits under the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) as part of its trade talks with the US, as only developing countries are eligible for it. Way forward Mr. Trump is due to visit India on February 24 and 25 and the U.S. and India are trying to finalise a trade package before the U.S. President’s arrival. According to American officials, the timing of the USTR announcement is not linked to the visit, that is, the timing is mostly coincidental and mostly related to dynamics at the WTO on developing country treatment.

Easy to PICK96 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Finance Commission to set up a new panel Syllabus subtopic: Appointment to mechanism for funding of defence various Constitutional Posts, Powers, and internal security ought to be set Functions and Responsibilities of various up, and if so, how such a mechanism Constitutional Bodies. could be operationalised.’ Prelims and Mains focus: about the new  This group will be chaired by FFC panel to be set up and their mandate; about Chairman with A.N. Jha, Member, FFC; CAG; FRBM act Fifteenth Finance Commission as well as Secretary, Ministry of Home News: The Fifteenth Finance Affairs, Secretary, Ministry of Defence Commission (FFC) will soon set up a and Secretary (Expenditure), Ministry panel to address issues related to fiscal of Finance as members. policy for both the Centre and the States, and present a road map for the Does India require a new legal same. framework for fiscal consolidation? According to the FFC, there wasn’t a need About the new fiscal panel/committee for a new legal framework as the FRBM  It will be a broad-based panel which already gives a robust legal framework, except for the fact the States need to align will address some of the issues on their own FRBM with the new FRBM fiscal policy, particularly in relation to enacted by the Union Government with the debt and the deficit of the States the amendments to the earlier one in 2018. as well as the Central government. Also, there is a need to ensure there is strict compliance on the issues of off-  The panel will be headed by FFC Budget borrowing, contingent liabilities, Chairman and have representation etc. from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the Reserve Bank of India, the Ministry of Finance, the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) panel and some of the States.  The principal terms of reference (ToR) of the fiscal commitee will enhance the ability of the Finance Commission to address its ToR relating to giving a consolidated fiscal debt road map for the general government. Panel on Defence & Internal security  The Commission had also constituted a group on defence and internal security, whose mandate will be ‘to examine whether a separate

Easy to PICK97 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Central Administrative Tribunal Syllabus subtopic: Appointment to  In pursuance of Article 323 A, the various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Parliament has passed the Functions and Responsibilities of various Administrative Tribunals Act in Constitutional Bodies. 1985. The act authorises the Central government to establish one Central Prelims and Mains focus: about administrative tribunal and the state Administrative tribunal: CAT and SATs; administrative tribunals. This act composition and mandate opened a new chapter in the sphere of providing speedy and inexpensive News: A senior IPS officer of Andhra justice to the aggrieved public servants. Pradesh cadre moved the Central Administrative Tribunal in Hyderabad Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) challenging the suspension order issued by -- For Union services including All India AP government. Services The CAT exercises jurisdiction over all Administrative Tribunals in India service matters concerning the following:  The original Constitution did not 1. a member of any All-India Service 2. a person appointed to any civil service contain provisions with respect to tribunals. The 42nd Amendment Act of the Union or any civil post under the of 1976 added a new Part XIV-A to union the Constitution. This part is entitled as 3. a civilian appointed to any defence ‘Tribunals’ and consists of only two services or a post connected with Articles: defence 1. Article 323 A dealing with However, the members of the defence administrative tribunals, and forces, officers, staff of the Supreme Court 2. Article 323 B dealing with tribunals and the secretarial staff of the Parliament for other matters. are not covered under the jurisdiction of CAT.  Article 323 A empowers the Parliament to provide for the Benches: There are 17 Benches and 21 establishment of administrative Circuit Benches in the Central tribunals for the adjudication of Administrative Tribunal all over India. In disputes relating to recruitment and addition, the Central Administrative conditions of service of persons Tribunal, Principal Bench is dealing with appointed to public services of the the matters of Govt. of National Capital Centre, the states, local bodies, public Territory of Delhi. corporations and other public authorities. State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) -- For states services including state PSC  In other words, Article 323 A enables the Parliament to take out the Following categories of employees are adjudication of disputes relating to exempted from purview of service matters from the civil courts Administrative tribunal: and the high courts and place it before 1. Employees of SC & HC the administrative tribunals. 2. Armed force professionals 3. Rajya Sabha & Lok Sabha members

Easy to PICK98 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Important points  SC may grant a writ of certiorari if a tribunal’s decision infringes an FR  Chairman & members of CAT & SAT are appointed by President after consultation with CJ  Chairman & Vice Chairman retire at the age of 65 and other members retire at the age of 62  Chairman must be a HC judge (Serving/Retired) or VC of tribunal for atleast 2 years  Members of administrative tribunals can be Judges of HC & or from civil services Tribunal for other Services (323B) For jurisdiction of disputes relating to following matters 1. Taxation 2. Foreign exchange (export & import) 3. Land reforms 4. Industrial & labour disputes 5. Ceiling on urban property 6. Election to parliament or state legislature 7. Rent & Tenancy Issues 8. Production, procurement & distribution of food stuff

Easy to PICK99 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” New Textiles Policy 2020 Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies announced in the Budget, soon. The and Interventions for Development in govt. will spend Rs.1,000 crore in various sectors and Issues arising out of developing raw materials for technical their Design and Implementation. textiles; research associations will be asked to produce applications for these. Prelims and Mains focus: about the new textile policy: key focus areas and Challenges ahead challenges ahead  need for cost effectiveness is a major News: The Central Government is challenge. expected to roll out a Textile Policy by the middle of 2020.  One factor affecting cost effectiveness is lack of scale. New industries should Background look at scale. The Textiles Ministry The existing National Textile Policy 2000 plans to develop 10 mega textile was framed about 13 years ago. Since parks. Each one will be an then, the industry has undergone various integrated park. It is hoped to bring changes on the domestic and international some economies of scale with this. front. The domestic textile industry has Any State which has minimum 1,000 seen large-scale modernisation and acres ready for the park will be technological up-gradation in the last supported to develop it. decade and faces new challenges.  Indian exporters are largely cotton About the new policy based. Therefore we should move to  It is aimed at developing in the country MMF (manmade fibre). If Indian exports in MMF grow to the level of a competitive textile sector which is cotton (i.e., the share of Indian cotton modern, sustainable and inclusive. product exports in global trade) the overall exports will increase by $20-25  This new policy will have a special billion. focus on manufacturing of apparel and garment, technical textiles, man- made fibre products and exports.  It will envisage positioning India as a fully integrated, globally-competitive manufacturing and exporting hub.  It will entail the strategy and action plan for the country's textile and apparel segments, while maintaining pre-eminent position in handicraft and handloom sectors.  Technical textiles: The Cabinet is expected to approve the National Technical Textiles Mission,

Easy to PICK100 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Military Balance Report, 2020 Syllabus subtopic: Important International percent, but this only brought the Institutions, agencies and fora - their continent's defence spending back to Structure, Mandate. 2008 levels, before the global financial crisis saw budgets slashed. Prelims and Mains focus: about the key findings of report and challenges ahead  The collapse last year of the Cold News: The 2020 edition of the Military War-era Intermediate-Range Balance Report was released by the International Institute for Strategic Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty and the Studies (IISS). doubts surrounding the renewal of the Key findings of the report  Global spending on defence rose by New START arms reduction treaty, four percent in 2019, the largest which expires in 2021, have growth in 10 years, led by big increases in the US and China. contributed to the mood of instability.  The rise was fuelled by growing  Russia, pursuing its own rivalries between big powers, new modernisation project, has already military technologies and rumbling announced the entry into service of its conflicts from Ukraine to Libya. own hypersonic missile system. Dubbed Avangard, the system has  Beijing's military modernisation been tested at speeds of Mach 27, or programme -- which includes roughly 33,000 kilometres (20,500 developing new hard-to-detect miles) per hour. hypersonic missiles -- is alarming Washington and helping drive US  Elsewhere, spending in Asia is defence spending. booming -- growing more than 50 percent in a decade, rising from $275  The increase alone in US spending billion in 2010 to $423bn in 2019 in from 2018 to 2019 -- $53.4 billion -- real terms as the continent's economic was almost as big as Britain's entire success has allowed countries to invest defence budget. more in their militaries.  Spending rose as economies recovered Today’s challenges from the effects of the financial crisis,  In this environment of continuous, but increases have also been driven by sharpening threat perceptions. evolving and even accelerating competition, the response options for  Both the US and China increased Western states might include spending by 6.6 percent, to $684.6 integrating increasingly novel billion and $181.1 billion respectively. technologies or spending more to stay ahead. Alternatively, they could accept  Europe -- driven by ongoing concerns a levelling playing field as a new norm about Russia -- stepped up by 4.2 and adapt their strategies instead. This relates not just to conventional military power but also to cyber capability and the consistently contested information environment.