Relevance of RTI, based on the recent judgment of SC
Relevance of RTI, based on the recent judgment of SC Recent News Supreme Court has upheld the 2010 Delhi High Court Verdict and ruled that the office of Chief Justice of India is a public authority under the right to information Act. The five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India highlighted the importance of transparency in the judiciary and said right to privacy and confidentiality is an important aspect. Apex court also held that judicial independence has to be kept in mind while dealing with transparency. RTI Act 2005 Under the RTI Act, 2005, every public authority has to provide information to persons requesting for the information under the Act. Public Authority includes the body constituted by or under the Constitution. Information includes any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, etc. Significance Correspondence between the government and the judiciary on important issues such as the appointment of judges by the collegium, or, say, between political authority and a judge with respect to a certain case may now find its way into the public domain. The SC ruling paves the way for political parties to be brought under the RTI Act. Since registered political parties have affirmed their allegiance to the Constitution, Article 19 1 (a) of the Constitution, which upholds the right to information, must apply to them. The apex court will now have the moral heft to extend the RTI to political parties, whose finances are a subject of considerable mystery. Section 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act: The Delhi High Court has observed that information on the expenditure of government money in an official capacity cannot be regarded as personal information. This is well defined under Section 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act, which says: “there shall be no obligation to give any citizen information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information.” There is much that the public can legitimately ask of the workings of the judiciary, such as verdicts delayed after the arguments have been heard. The belief that disclosure of information on the functioning of the judiciary will undermine its independence lacks basis. Justice is fundamentally based on the equality of all citizens before the law, and that includes lawmakers and its guardians. Justice is based on the rule of reason over fear and mystery. A judiciary that has little to conceal will be confident about interpreting the law without fear or favour. I can’t be used as a tool of surveillance: There is certain information which is inherently private and presumptively protected under the privacy right. This inherently private information includes age gender sex, sexual preferences etc. Referring to the RTI provisions, they also deal with exemptions and information that cannot be given to applicants, but the public interest should always “outweigh” personal interests if the person concerned is holding or about to hold a public office. Dealing with “judicial independence”, the National Judicial Accountability Commission Act was struck down for protecting the judiciary against interference from the executive, but this did not mean that judiciary is free from “public scrutiny”. This is not independence from accountability. Read Also Anti Defection Law in India Independence of judiciary means it has to be independent of the executive and not independent from the common public. People are entitled to know as to what public authorities are doing. Judiciary should be independent from the executive, not common public: Separating the issue of accountability from independence, “Independence of the judiciary means it has to be independent from the executive and not independent from common public. People are entitled to know as to what public authorities are doing.” In this light, CJI demanded that the discussions the collegium should be made public and the information could either be shared under the RTI Act or on a case-to-case basis. The Judiciary needs to be protected from attempts to breach its independence. Such interference requires calibration of an appropriate amount of transparency in consonance with judicial independence. Fear of negative publicity preventing people from becoming judges: During the hearing in the case in the Supreme Court, the constitution bench observed that due to fear of negative publicity many were now opting out of the race to become judges. It had observed that the professional and family life of people could also be impacted by such publicity. Therefore, CJI had orally observed on the last day of hearing that, “Nobody wants a system of opaqueness, but in the name of transparency we cannot destroy the institution of judiciary.” Both rights to information and privacy were constitutional rights and not absolute. Principle of proportionality is to be applied and the information disclosed should be proportional to the public interest at stake. Conclusion Striking a balance between Right to Information and Right to Privacy is essential. Both the rights were not in conflict with each other but were two faces of the same coin. The Supreme Court said that confidentiality and right to privacy have to be maintained and added that RTI can’t be used for as a tool of surveillance. It also said only names of judges recommended by the collegium can be disclosed, not the reasons. Failure to bring about accountability reforms would erode trust in the courts’ impartiality, harming core judicial functions. Transparency and the right to information are crucially linked to the rule of law itself. Read Also Justice Verma Committee (JVC) recommendation Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
India’s Foreign Policy, Notes by UPSC Topper
India’s Foreign Policy and Associated Factors Para Diplomacy Para Diplomacy refers to international relations conducted by subnational or regional governments with a view to promoting their own interest. The increasing role of states in India’s foreign relation entails both roadblocks and opportunities for India as a nation. Relevance Trade Ties: States and cities of India being producers and consumers of various goods and services are central to developing trade based ties. Tripura’s setting up of border Haats and Punjab’s push for an additional route to the Wagah indicate the willingness of states along these lines Spice trade of Kerala with Srilanka, South-East Asia and Europe Border States: The sharing of trans-boundary resources and collective security need the participation of the state government before concluding an agreement. Thus, the state governments play a vital role in ensuring or disturbing good relations between India and her neighbours The disruptive role of West Bengal in Teesta river water sharing agreement Ethnic Ties: India’s rich ethnic diversity enables it to build a cultural bond with foreign nations. The visit by the Canadian Prime Minister to Harminder Sahib and discussions with the Punjab government are all illustrative of the increasing role of states in fostering culture. The role of the Tamil Nadu government in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict between Tamil and Sinhalese State Diaspora: Significant number of state populations migrate to preferred nations. They serve as a pressure group and also as a bonding factor in India’s relationship. They bring remittances to the country enabling growth and prosperity Kerala’s large emigrant population to Middle East Investment: Several states in an era of competitive federalism is competing for foreign investments that can serve as the bedrock for better inter-country relations Gujarat’s liberalisation of laws and the launch of GIFT City for foreign investment Telangana’s holding of the Global Entrepreneurship summit with the U.S as partner Climate Change: In light of increased green house gas emissions, it is pertinent that a bottom up approach that converges with the Paris INDC targets is adopted. In this light engagement of states with global subnational governments is most relevant Under 2 coalition of subnational governments to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2050 has Telangana and Chhattisgarh as its members Enhanced Good will: Several state government initiatives in India have garnered the appreciation of the international community. This has increased India’s soft power as a promoter of good will and prosperity Kanyashree Prakalpa received UN acclaim Municipal Diplomacy: The cities that produce the highest share of India’s GDP holds the key to attracting foreign investment, producing and consuming for trade. Cities around the world can share knowledge to tackle common problems of pollution, transportation, waste management, housing and water crisis. Eg: Sister cities of Bangalore and Beijing State Diaspora: Significant number of state populations migrate to preferred nations. They serve as a pressure group and also as a bonding factor in India’s relationship. They bring remittances to the country enabling growth and prosperity Kerala’s large emigrant population to Middle East Investment: Several states in an era of competitive federalism is competing for foreign investments that can serve as the bedrock for better inter-country relations Gujarat’s liberalisation of laws and the launch of GIFT City for foreign investment Telangana’s holding of the Global Entrepreneurship summit with the U.S as partner Climate Change: In light of increased green house gas emissions, it is pertinent that a bottom up approach that converges with the Paris INDC targets is adopted. In this light engagement of states with global subnational governments is most relevant Under 2 coalition of subnational governments to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2050 has Telangana and Chhattisgarh as its members Enhanced Good will: Several state government initiatives in India have garnered the appreciation of the international community. This has increased India’s soft power as a promoter of good will and prosperity Kanyashree Prakalpa received UN acclaim Municipal Diplomacy: The cities that produce the highest share of India’s GDP holds the key to attracting foreign investment, producing and consuming for trade. Cities around the world can share knowledge to tackle common problems of pollution, transportation, waste management, housing and water crisis. Eg: Sister cities of Bangalore and Beijing Read Full GS Notes Conclusion While New Delhi needs to adopt a firm stand on matters of core national interest, it also needs to give state governments greater freedom to establish cross border cultural and economic linkages conducive for the nation. Such a balanced policy fosters marriage between cooperative federalism and collaborative sub-regional cooperation. Key Words Panchasheel 1.Idealistic Phase Template for Peaceful Relations: Gujaral Doctrine Non-Alignment Strategic Autonomy South-South Cooperation Read Also World Trade Organization Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. Join Now
World Trade Organization & United Nations Security Council, notes by UPSC Topper Ravisankar sarma
World Trade Organization Trade Protection Measures under WTO WTO allows member countries to adopt certain measures to protect their domestic industries from the influx of cheap imports. The Anti-dumping duty, as well as the Countervailing duty, are both instruments used by member countries to safeguard their domestic industry from the competition with low-cost imports. Anti-Dumping Duty When a country exports goods at low prices compared to its own domestic market and sometimes even lower than production cost with the intention to harm domestic producers of the importing country, the importing country can impose an anti-dumping duty to counteract the influence of low priced imports. Hence they help in levelling the playing field and ensure equal competition between domestic and imported products Countervailing Duty A countervailing duty is also imposed on low-cost imports but here the subsidies provided by the exporting countries (tax or credit) are the enablers for selling the products at low cost in the importing country. Countervailing duties negate the advantage of subsidies for exporters and level the playing field between domestic producers and exporters. Dispute Settlement Process Member nations of the WTO when they are unable to bilaterally resolve disputes regarding matters of trade, they seek the help of WTO to act as an intermediary to help resolve or settle the dispute. The disputes may be regarding environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety (Sanitary and Psyto-Sanitary Measures), Tax Evasion, Money Laundering, renewable energy subsidies etc. WTO has its own dispute settlement institution which is called the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). The DSB comprises of all members of the WTO and is a political body found by Dispute settlement understanding- a set of rules that govern this process. DSB has provided a platform for developing and LDCs to take developed countries to court and thus has been seen as a great leveller considering its independent and autonomous functioning solely based on the framework of rules. Procedure of Resolution Initially, the country whose measure was being challenged could walk away without accepting the results of the resolution, this right of the losing party was eliminated in the Uruguay round of negotiations. Post the Uruguay round, DSB can establish panels, adopt reports of panels and reports of the Appellate Body unless there is a consensus against it which must be unanimous from all members. Important Legislations, notes by UPSC Topper Ravisankar Sarma GS-2 Strategy By Upsc Topper Ravisankar Sarma Appellate Body AB is a body comprising of 7 individuals that function out of Geneva. It hears appeals from reports issued by panels established by the DSB. AB is vested with the power to uphold, modify or reverse the legal findings and conclusions of a panel. Its reports are binding on all parties to the dispute, that is no party can walk away from it. AB should ideally rule upon an appeal by 60 days which is extendable to 90 days. However, delays in resolving disputes often lead to countries being forced to look for solutions outside the WTO. The poorer countries are most affected in such a scenario eventually deterring many countries from bringing their disputes to WTO. The US has so far refrained to participate in the appointment of judges to the AB which substantially weakens the DSM. Any weakening of the DSB is detrimental to developing countries as judicial measures outside WTO would be mostly in advantage to developed countries. Shifting Paradigm of World Trade Once the US and the UK were the key players in the global trade dynamic. With new incumbent administration in both countries adopting protectionist measures, the paradigm of world trade may be shifting to developing countries of East – Russia, China and India. The weakening of EU and the withdrawal of the US from WTO proceedings is indicative of such a shift. International Economic Institutions TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT Came into reckoning during Bali 2013 Ministerial Conference Developed countries agreed to allow developing countries to continue with unlimited amber box subsidies till 2017 when a permanent solution is reached Developing countries in return had to sign trade facilitation agreement In Feb 2017, WTO member countries including India ratified the agreement at WTO Features TFA targets smoothening of trade with increased transparency, efficiency and predictability at ports, faster clearance procedures and improved appeal rights for traders are to be addressed by countries Helps in lowering trade costs of member countries as well as reducing the time taken for exports and imports Concurrent with India’s own policy initiatives of introducing Single Window Clearances and improving Customs clearances in ports INDIA’S CONCERNS AT WTO Trade Facilitation in Services: Similar to TFA in goods movement, India seeks to bring about an exhaustive framework that deals with the movement of people or services across borders. India is keen to reach a common consensus due to its overwhelming capability in the service sector as compared to the goods exchange Agricultural Subsidies: Under the Doha Development Round, developing countries were allowed to provide amber box subsidies only till 2017 in the 2013 Bali Summit in an agreement called the ‘Peace Clause’ between developed and developing countries. The peace clause protects countries from using publicly procured food stock for food security purposes beyond stipulated limit of 10% from WTO disputes for an indefinite period. However, a permanent solution was not reached till 2017 and India hence advocates a permanent solution to the issue of amber box subsidy provision of developing countries and withdrawal of export subsidies from developed countries (prescribed by Nairobi Summit by 2018 for developed countries and by 2023 for developing countries) Fisheries Subsidies: Domestic subsidies provided to local fisherman folk have faced opposition from WTO members voicing concerns of discriminatory market access to domestic and foreign fishery products. India aims to protect its domestic fisheries industry particularly the small scale and local industries to facilitate coastal community development. Friends of E-Commerce for Development: At the Buenos Aires Summit, a new binding agreement on e-Commerce which proposes for ICT, logistics and payment solutions
Role of Pressure Groups Notes by UPSC Topper Ravisankar Sarma
Role of Pressure Groups What is Pressure Groups? A pressure group refers to a group of people that come together to influence and change government policies in a manner that is concurrent and suitable to their interest. They hold no aspirations for gaining political power and hence does not directly take part in elections. Positive Role of Pressure Groups in Democracy Check on Government Actions: Pressure groups shores up the accountability of the government and serve as a vital check on government actions and inaction. It helps in cultivating a responsive and pro-active government. Eg: MKSS – RTI Citizen Participation: Pressure groups provide a platform for citizens with common aspirations and opinions to engage with the state. Hence they enhance political consciousness of average citizens transforming the country into a participative democracy rather than merely an elective democracy. A bridge between Government and Public: Pressure groups of different sections in society help articulate their aspirations and interests to the government which allows the government to take better governance, legislative and administrative decisions. Eg: Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan – Criminalization of Triple Talaq bill They raise awareness among the general public regarding government policies and schemes, their utility, benefits and coverage. Eg: Shuddhi(NGO)’s support and assistance in implementation Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Negative Role of Pressure Groups Promotion of Sectional interest: The influence exerted by pressure groups is reflective of sectional interest rather than in consonance with the larger public interest. Eg: SNDP is an organization that works for the betterment of the Ezhava community in Kerala alone Divisive tendencies: Pressure groups promote interests of multiple sections which may be conflicting in nature. This has a tendency to lead to polarisation which affects the unity of our country Read Also Mukurthi National Park Eg: Ghar wapsi movement of Vishwa Hindu Parishad to facilitate re-conversion of non-hindus to hindus has soured relations between Hindu and Muslim communities Anti-Development: Pressure groups may exert unwanted and ill-conceived pressure to scuttle developmental projects of government. They may mobilize public opposition to achieve the same. Eg: Recent protest in Kudankulam nuclear power plant Asymmetrical Benefit: Greater possession of economic and political resources with small number of pressure groups help them to corner benefits accorded by government policies and decisions. Eg: Large scale businesses and entrepreneurs are likely to benefit better from the newly implemented goods and services tax system as compared to MSMEs. The greater influence of pressure groups such as FICCI and CII may have played a part in the same. Formal Pressure Groups These are pressure groups formally organized and registered bodies having their constitution, finances etc. The government are aware of their presence and consider the opinions articulated by them before framing legislations, policies and schemes of which they are potential stakeholders. Eg: FICCI, CII, IMA Informal Pressure Groups These are groups that are formed on the basis of a commonality of identities, they are informally organized and are not registered with the government. These pressure groups are largely based on religion, caste, ethnicity and language etc. Eg: Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan – Pressure group that works for equality for Muslim women in India How do pressure groups participate in the Indian political process? Do you agree with the view that informal pressure groups have emerged as more powerful than formal pressure groups in recent years? How Pressure groups influence public policy? Electioneering: Placing in public officer persons who favour their interests better Lobbying: Persuading public officers to adopt and enforce policies of their interest Propagandizing: Mobilizing public support for their cause by making appropriate use of media or other political methods of marches, strikes, protests Role of NGOs Citizen Participation: NGOs provide a platform for ordinary citizens to be effective participants in a democratic society by raising a collective voice. Hence civil society organisations are vital to India being not merely an elective democracy but a participative one, where voters are able to engage and question its representatives. Check mechanism: Keeps a check on the government’s activities and ensures it remains accountable, answerable, responsive and pro-active. Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sankethan’s pressure on government to bring about RTI act Socio-Economic Emancipation: Assists the state in implementation of its welfare schemes and projects in various fields including poverty, hunger, environment, women empowerment etc. Mid-day meal scheme: ‘Akshayapatra’ NGO assisting in the implementation Need for State Regulation of NGOs Inappropriate usage of funds: Donations appropriated have not been put to judicious and productive usage. Large proportion of funds have been diverted for institutional and salary needs whereas actual contribution to socio-economic emancipation has been below par NGOs asked to file income tax returns without overdue to regulate spending. They cannot spend more than 50% on administration Channel for Money laundering: NGOs have been used as a garb to launder money for terrorist, extremist and religious conversion activities. Foreign Contribution Regulation Act imposed legal restrictions on foreign donations to NGOs. Many terrorist and extremist agencies have been using such money channels for money laundering for anti-national activities NGOs need to submit an annual report on financial contributions and donors Anti-Developmental Activities: NGOs have also been found to mobilise public opposition and hatred towards government development projects without genuine reasons that have caused substantial economic losses to the country. Kudankulam Nuclear power project faced huge protests that received financial support from U.S based NGOs Formal associations Political Party A political party refers to a group of people who come together driven by a common political ideology with an objective of attaining political power. They aspire to directly take part in elections and gain control of administration and governance in the country. Role of Political Parties Political Consciousness: Political parties provide an avenue for citizen to be recruited into political activities and provide political orientation to them Mobilize the electorate: At the time of elections, parties activate, promote and propagate their ideology of governance and administration among the electorate Interest Articulation: Political parties may be built on the very foundation of representing interest of certain sections of society which they campaign for and initiate a healthy debate in the public domain. Bahujan Samajwadi party founded mainly to represent the interest of Dalit
India and different international Blocs
India and different international Blocs INDIA-ASEAN India recently celebrated 25 years of partnership with ASEAN and has elevated its relationship to strategic level in the past 5 years. India’s relationship with ASEAN is pivotal to the success of the Act East Policy which seeks multi-dimensional cooperation with ASEAN countries. The India-ASEAN partnership is based on the pillar of 3Cs- Connectivity, Commerce and Culture. Why ASEAN for INDIA? Economic Cooperation: The service market of south-east Asian tiger economies and the trade in goods and services have been a characteristic feature of India’s Look East policy and aims to be strengthened through the Act East Maritime Security: India and ASEAN desire to share cooperation to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific conducive to economic engagements and secure from traditional and non-traditional threats. China’s extra-regional presence in the Indian ocean and the South China sea claim heighten the importance of maritime security Cultural Cooperation: India and ASEAN have rich cultural links that are leveraged for intra-regional tourism and to enhance people to people connectivity. Development of North-East: ASEAN remains a pivotal player in ensuring connectivity and development of north-eastern states. As the act east policy iterates, India looks east through north-east Why India or ASEAN? Maritime Security Balancing China: ASEAN countries are heavily dependent on China in defence and infrastructural development. China’s peaceful rise and cheque book diplomacy have invoked a desire among ASEAN to seek a better balance of power in South Asia through increased strategic cooperation with India The market for their goods: ASEAN benefits heavily from economic cooperation with India and has seen its trade surplus soar over the years. Cheap Labour: India also provides cheap labour to South East Asia particularly in the skilled IT sector and service sector. Economic Cooperation: The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) agreement has 4 basic pillars of engagement: competitive economic regions, equitable economic development, a single market and production base and integration with global economy The RCEP agreement seeks to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers between India and ASEAN nations with greater impetus to provide free trade between nations. The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services has the potential to enhance trade in services an area of key concern for India with its large quantum of skilled employees in the service sector. Global Production Networks (GPN) aims to promote parts or component industries of India and ASEAN countries. This would help bridge technology requirements in electrical machinery, vehicles and professional and scientific equipment. Connectivity Projects Kaladan Multimodal Project: India-Myanmar connectivity project to enhance the connectivity of North-East regions through Myanmar. India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Defence Cooperation Maritime Security: As per the Delhi Declaration, India and ASEAN countries has enhanced maritime cooperation and security in the Indo-Pacific to guard against traditional and non-traditional threats. All nations committed to freedom of navigation particularly in the context of extra-regional presence of China in the Indo-Pacific Counter-Terrorism: The Delhi declaration between India and ASEAN states focuses on combating terrorism, disrupting terror networks, tracking cross border movement of terrorists and monitoring recruitment of terrorists through the internet Cultural Cooperation Buddhism: India’s rich Buddhist heritage is shared by the South-East Asian nations that has a large Buddhist population. The common cultural linkages can be leveraged to promote tourism and people-to-people exchange between countries. Conclusion India has always looked East to see the nurturing sunrise and the light of opportunities. The peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific is hence indispensable to India’s future. RCEP A mega free trade agreement between ASEAN countries and 6 regional countries including India, China, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand to liberalize investment, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and remove service trade restrictions. Such a move is seen to induce positive competition among manufacturers and service providers with the consumer ultimately benefiting with a wider range of choices at affordable prices. Concerns regarding RCEP High Trade Deficit: A free trade agreement (FTA) would force India to reduce import tariffs thus bourgeoning its trade deficit with South-East Asian nations and particularly with China given the presence of cheap Chinese goods in Indian market Competition from Domestic Industries: The RCEP would provide South East Asian nations and China with a concessional tariff rate market that might cause tough competition for India’s domestic industries in pharma, medical, textile and dairy sectors even in public procurement E-commerce Issues: Asymmetrically disadvantageous to India as most data servers are located outside India who are able to process the information and acquire data intelligence that becomes a valuable economic resource. IP Laws: Japan and South Korea are pushing for TRIPS plus which are stricter terms for IP as compared to current TRIPS regime followed by India in accordance with WTO. A stricter IP regime in the RCEP would be disadvantageous to India’s generic medicine industry. Service Trade: India aspires to liberalize service market of RCEP bloc to leverage its demographic dividend. However, several of the countries including Australia have put restrictions on the immigration and temporary movement of service personnel into their country Obstacles to Trade and Investment between India and ASEAN Poor Physical Connectivity: Maritime and air routes to South East Asian nations are not robust enough to accommodate an increased flow goods or commodities from India to South East Asia Lack of Competitiveness: The complex tax structure, poor technology and production methods have held back Indian manufactured goods from gaining access to South-East Asian nation markets Differential Environment in South-East Asia: Multiple countries are at differing levels of socio-economic development which necessitates SMEs adopt a country-specific supply chain strategy Lack of Research and Development: Low R&D means low innovation or diversified products while it also affects profitability and efficiency in production. This reduces market for Indian goods in ASEAN Chinese Presence: China has outsourced a large quantum of its production to CLVT countries which has dented the prospects of Indian exporters Political Issues like the South China Sea between ASEAN nations that hurt free navigation prospects [the_ad id=”7162″] Way Forward ‘Make in India’: SMEs need to be incentivized to produce more within India. The tax structure and compliance shall be eased to enhance their competitiveness in the global arena FDI relaxation: Foreign direct investment can enable technology upgradation to enhance efficiency in the production of SMEs enabling increased profitability The recent relaxation in the SRBT sector is an opportunity for the same Improving Connectivity: India can focus on existing road and
Rare earth elements and its Importance
Rare earth elements and its Importance Why in News? The US Army plans to fund the construction of a Rare Earths elements processing facility to secure the domestic supply of minerals that are used to make military weapons and electronics. “Rare earth” are a group of 17 chemically similar elements crucial to the manufacture of many hi-tech products. Despite their name, most are abundant in nature but are hazardous to extract. Most “rare earth” elements have used in several different fields, as well as those listed below. Neodymium: This is used to make powerful magnets used in loudspeakers and computer hard drives to enable them to be smaller and more efficient. Magnets containing neodymium are also used in green technologies such as the manufacture of wind turbines and hybrid cars. Lanthanum: This element is used in camera and telescope lenses. Compounds containing lanthanum are used extensively in carbon lighting applications, such as studio lighting and cinema projection. Cerium: Used in catalytic converters in cars, enabling them to run at high temperatures and playing a crucial role in the chemical reactions in the converter. Lanthanum and cerium are also used in the process of refining crude oil. Yttrium is used in the process of generating colour displays on devices such as television screens Praseodymium: Used to create strong metals for use in aircraft engines. Praseodymium is also a component of a special sort of glass, used to make visors to protect welders and glassmakers. Gadolinium: Used in X-ray and MRI scanning systems, and also in television screens. Research is also being done into its possible use in developing more efficient refrigeration systems. Yttrium, terbium, and europium: Important in making televisions and computer screens and other devices that have visual displays as they are used in making materials that give off different colours. Europium is also used in making control rods in nuclear reactors. Global Production of Rare Earths Global Production of Rare Earths Significant amounts of rare earth elements is produced in only a few countries. China is the dominant producer of Rare earth elements and is believed to be responsible for over 97% of the world mine production on a rare earth oxide equivalent basis. Other countries with notable production in 2009 were: India, Brazil, Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia. Minor production may have occurred in Indonesia, Commonwealth of Independent States, Nigeria, North Korea and Vietnam. Read Also Urban Naxalism However, because of their geochemical properties, rare earth elements are typically dispersed and not often found concentrated in economically exploitable ore deposits. RARE EARTH MINERALS IN INDIA Despite having reasonably large resources in the country, historically India does not have a place in the global rare earth industry ecosystem. As of 2017, China has 36.6% of world resources, followed by Vietnam which has 18.3% of resources while India holds about 6% of the world’s rare earth reserves. India, however, produces less than 2% of the total Rare Earth (RE) Oxide produced globally. This disparity highlights an underutilization of resources and at the same time, merely selling the oxides might not be the best strategy across all the rare earth elements. In India, certain REs are present in much larger quantities than others. These are Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium, Samarium, Gadolinium, Yttrium and Dysprosium. Over the years India’s efforts have grown noticeably from being engaged in purely mining efforts to set up facilities that can separate high purity rare earth elements. These changes span decades from the 1950s to 2012. The setting up of separation plants PRYNCE and HERO by Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL) allowed the separation of almost all rare earth elements, however, not all of these elements were commercialized. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
India & Major Powers of the World GS 2 IR Notes by Ravisankar Sarma
India Major Powers India – U.S Introduction Through the years past independence, India-US relationship has transcended from one of estranged democracies to engaged democracies. The multi-dimensional and strategic nature of the cooperation in today’s geo-polity now faces problems of protectionism and strategic autonomy that need careful observation. Defence Relationship Procurement of Globemaster and Guardian Unmanned Ariel System Strategic Trade Authorization (STA-1): S has granted India STA-1 status that provides license-free exports, re-exports, transfers under the regime. Industrial Security Annex: As part of the 2+2 dialogue, there has been progress towards an ISA that can increase defence collaboration and cooperation Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI): Through the DTTI, the countries have moved closer to defence co-production and co-development and pursue defence innovation Economic Relationship India-U.S. Trade Policy Forum to achieve convergence on economic issues (refer below) Strategic Engagements 2+2 The South China Sea and Maritime Security: QUAD and MALABAR Counter-Terrorism: S supported the listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and both governments have committed to sharing information on suspected terrorists and to implement the UNSC Resolution 2396 on returning foreign terrorist fighters Indo-US Nuclear Deal for the peaceful harnessing of nuclear energy in the current climate of energy insecurity and sustainability issues LEMOA COMCASA Present Issues Economic Issue H1B Visa Protectionism in trade and services: The U.S government ended the Generalised System of Preferences that enabled increased access of India’s exports to U.S marketà increased trade deficit India’s place in US Trade Body’s Special 301 Report Divergence of Interests at WTO: India’s Trade Policy: S has questioned India’s export incentives via the MEIS and Export promotion capital schemes at the WTO. India’s resistance to dairy and pork products from U.S and price reduction on medical devices are other points of divergence E-Commerce Trade War: The rise in tariffs on goods and services across both sides threaten the sustenance of free and fair global trade. This can dampen economic engagements and threaten India’s convergence to advanced economy Defence India’s purchase of Russian S-400 Triumf Air defence missile systems Strategic US-Iran-India India-Russia-China-US 2+2 Dialogue The 2 by 2 dialogue involves a platform for discussion between defence and foreign ministers of the 2 nations on security, defence, commercial and investment matters. Benefits of the 2 + 2 dialogue Security and Defence: 2+2 dialogue underlines Indo-US cooperation in realms of maritime security, army exercise and a free and open Indo-Pacific Commerce and Investment: The 2+2 dialogue can be seen as a platform where issues of trade and tariffs between India and U.S can be resolved to enlarge market access, drive job creation and economic development Strategic Cooperation: The 2+2 dialogue can be seen as culmination in the elevation of India and U.S from estranged partners to allied strategic major powers. U.S has similar dialogues with its critical allies Australia, Philippines and Japan while India has the same with Japan COMCASA Agreement COMCASA is Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement between India and U.S targeted to ensure interoperability of Indo-U.S. military equipment and ensure the security of C4ISR (command, control, computer, communication, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) operations to prevent it from leaking to foreign hands Significance of COMCASA Technology Transfer: COMCASA can help transfer avionics, encrypted communication and electronic systems to India that can help India achieve advanced and sensitive technology Multinational Operations: COMCASA can strengthen multinational operations in disaster relief and rescue with coordinated communication sourced from greater interoperability in matters of communication and equipment Information Exchange: COMCASA enables secure encrypted information exchange by enabling release of classified military information away from prying eyes of other countries. This can enable India to access big data base of American Intelligence Concerns Loss of Strategic Autonomy: COMCASA can help use gain further inroads into Indian warships and aircraft after LEMOA using American C4ISR systems Balancing Russia would become an even more difficult task with further alliance to U.S Asymmetrical Nature of agreement favours U.S more India’s tactical and operational security may be compromised as well as its security of data given the access of U.S systems to it Conclusion India needs to engage cautiously with U.S to maintain its strategic autonomy and resolve issues of trade to achieve convergence with advanced economies. It needs to cooperate where it can and resist where it must India-Russia Introduction: Russia has remained India’s all weather friend right from India’s tryst with destiny. India’s shifting from non-alignment to multi-alignment evidenced by its defence diversification and increased engagements to U.S has strained the cordial friendship shared by New Delhi and Moscow. Economic Relationship Connectivity Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor Connect Russia with South Asia, North-East Asia and the Pacific region Logistics Savings: Reduce time taken to transfer cargo from 40 days to 24 days through Europe Aims to leverage resource-rich far east Russian regions which has high investment potential Diversify India’s maritime trade route with South Asian and South-East Asian nations Cooperation in Nuclear Energy Field India and Russia signed the “Strategic Vision for Strengthening Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy” to collaboratively provide Russian designed Indian sourced nuclear power reactors in third world countries India is currently contemplating joining a trilateral cooperation with Bangladesh and Russia with regard to the Rooppur Nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. India currently uses Russian made nuclear reactors to produce atomic energy in Kudankulam and Russia has been actively providing technological and expertise assistance to India Conclusion In a rapidly changing geo-polity India-Russia relations are pivotal to India’s security in South Asia particularly given China’s peaceful rise and the growing nexus between these nations. New Delhi needs to engage constructively and multi-dimensionally with Russia using platforms of SCO and BRICS at its disposal to generate consensus. India-Japan Defence Cooperation India and Japan have decided to diversify and deepen their defence cooperation with cooperation in areas of anti-submarine warfare, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and technological cooperation Strategic Cooperation Asia-Africa Growth Corridor Respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty (Panchasheel Template) Aims to boost institutional and digital connectivity and enhance economic relations between regions with renewed focus on infrastructure development and cooperation Focus on skill development and establishment of people to people contact between Africa, South Asia, East and South East Asia and Oceania India can leverage its soft power, historical and political relations with Africa while Japan can contribute technologically and financially to supplement growth in the African region Win-win diplomacy for India, Japan and African nations Counter initiative to China’s BRI: The AAGC is India’s alternative to China’s cheque book neo imperialist policy in
Governance for UPSC, GS 2 Notes By UPSC Topper Ravisankar Sarma
Governance for UPSC, GS 2 Notes By UPSC Topper Ravisankar Sarma Governance Focus Areas Role of Civil Services in Democracy Reforms in Civil Services Local Self-Governing Institutions Citizens Charter Right to Information Anti-Corruption bodies – CVC, Lokpal, CBI Minimum Government Maximum Governance E-Governance Digital India 2nd ARC Report Corporate Governance Service Delivery Mechanisms Aadhar and Service Delivery Why Aadhar? Transparency: Aadhar facilitates increased transparency where authentication is performed through digital identity. It limits human interventions and thus reduces avenues for corruption seamlessly integrating beneficiaries to entitlements Plugging Leakage of Subsidies: Aadhaar helps plug the enormous leakage of subsidies through corruption and ghost beneficiaries thus saving the government valuable money that helps in the rationalization of expenditure Social Welfare: Aadhaar can enable linkage with Bank accounts and mobile under JAM yojana where the physical presence of the beneficiary itself is not necessary thus increasing conveyance while facilitating transparency at the same time Eg: MGNREGA wages are directly transferred to accounts of employees Tax Evasion: Linking Aadhaar with PAN card can help the state to widen its tax base and mitigate tax evasion by increased monitoring with the help of Aadhaar database Security: Aadhar as a unique digital identity with biometric data and linkage with PAN can help in tackling issues of money laundering, tax evasion, finding missing persons and improved forensic study using biometrics Why not Aadhar? Exclusion Errors: Making Aadhaar mandatory may keep deserving beneficiaries outside thus depriving them of very basic needs like food grains. The state must avoid such instances like the one in Jharkhand where certain PDS beneficiaries died of starvation once they were denied food grains due to want of Aadhar. Important Legislations Notes by UPSC Topper Ravisankar Sarma Face ID has been introduced by UIDAI in a bid to avoid authentication errors and financial exclusion among people who have poor biometrics. This can be pertinent particularly among agricultural manual labourers and farmers whose biometrics are distorted due to intensive work. Violation of Right to Privacy: The Aadhar data that is available for companies on request raises privacy concerns of citizens. The lack of protection accorded to citizens Aadhar data that contains sensitive biological information due to lack of privacy laws may compromise the citizens fundamental right to privacy as identified by the Supreme Court in the Puttuswamy vs Union of India case under Article 21 Recently, the UIDAI launched Virtual ID which subverts the need of beneficiary to share Aadhar number thus providing the cardholder with an extra layer of security through a pseudo-aadhaar number. Security of Data: The UIDAI has overlapping powers regarding the maintenance, reporting and recovery in event of the data breach. There are hence concerns over accountability to ensuring the safety of sensitive biological information Danger of Surveillance State: Widening the purview of Aadhaar to bank accounts and sim cards raises the possibility of a surveillance state where citizens behavioural patterns are monitored by the state. This deprives the citizen of his fundamental right to a privacy-compromising dignified life. Supreme Court Judgement on Aadhar The SC upheld the constitutional validity of AADHAR pointing out that it is critical to ensuring basic services and amenities through the public governance system. As an ID system, AADHAR was effective in streamlining public resources and benefits eliminating errors of inclusion and exclusion. Points of the Verdict Constitutionally Valid: The Majority verdict identified Aadhar as a tool of good governance that was a reasonable restriction on the right of privacy. Permitted under Aadhar: Linking of PAN Filing of IT returns Access to government welfare programs and subsidies Struck down by Court Section 57: The AADHAR Act which provided that private companies shall demand AADHAR as an ID for services of telecom, education, mobile wallet and banking services is to be struck down as there was no rationale to this Education: CBSE, UGC, NET cannot demand AADHAR as ID for exam verification purposes Right to Information Act A movement led by Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangethan, an NGO in Rajasthan pressurised the government to amend the Official Secrets Act and bring the Freedom of Information Act. However, the wide scope for the exclusion of information and the lack of strong penalty led to a civil agitation that forced the government to adopt a rights-based approach. Right to information act was hence adopted granting citizens the right to know in matters of governance. The RTI is identified as a fundamental right under Article 19 (1)(A) of the constitution. Obligatory Provisions of the Act Maintenance of Records: Public authority should maintain all records duly indexed and categorized. This would enable easy access to sought records. Suo-Motto Disclosures: Public authority should adopt the principle of maximum suo-motto and pro-active disclosures. This would enhance transparency and reduce need for citizens to move via RTI request route Publication: Of directory of its offices and employees, particulars of its functioning Institutional Mechanism: All public authority must appoint Public Information Officers (PIOs) and Assistant PIOs who remain nodal points for a request of information and grievance redressal in case of exclusion of information. PIOs hence act as intermediaries between citizens and public authority with regard to information access. Time-bound Mechanism: PIOs transfer application to appropriate public authority within 5 days who are liable to respond within 30 days. PIOs decision can be challenged at first appellate authority while its own decision can be questioned before the State Information Commission. Information pertaining to life and liberty of individual shall be provided within 48 hours. Enroll today with the best civils service academy in Trivandrum and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
India and its Neighbours GS 2 Mains Notes by UPSC Topper Ravisankar Sarma
India-Myanmar Need for a Refugee Policy Introduction India is not a signatory to the UN Convention on Refugees and thus it has not adopted an asylum policy for those seeking refuge. The recent inflow of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar has triggered the debate for the need of a concrete refugee policy given the tempestuous neighbourhood of India. Why we need a Refugee Policy? The clarity in Asylum Provision: A clearly laid down policy offers greater clarity to those seeking refuge and makes India’s stand clear on the question of asylum. It limits the discretion of the government and thwarts arbitrary disapproval on the basis of ethnic, linguistic or regional identities. Currently, there exists a vacuum of legislation to deal with refugees. The Foreigners Act, 1946 is ill-equipped in this regard Upholding Civil Rights: As the largest democracy in the world, India has a duty to protect all individuals fleeing their home from persecution, natural disaster and violence Increased Goodwill: The drafting of a refugee policy concurrent to UN standards would considerably enhance India’s image in the geopolitical arena Stable Neighbourhood: India’s rejection of refugees may further intensify violence surrounding it in neighbouring nations. The current climate of political instability in several countries including Afghanistan, Myanmar and Pakistan evokes the need for a concrete refugee policy Prevent Alienation of States: The adoption of a favourable refugee policy would reduce the big brother attitude of India with regard to its relations with neighbours. Eg: Bangladesh had to bear the burden of Rohingya Refugees Challenges in adopting a Refugee Policy Pressure on Resources: India herself is strained by the lack of resources for its growing population. In such a situation, providing those inward with natural resources and social infrastructure can be a tough task Security Concerns: The influx of refugees raises concerns for India’s security due to the concern of infiltration of terrorists as well as the ethnic conflicts. Such conflicts have a higher likelihood of occurrence in North-East states which shares borders with many nations. Demographic Change: Refugees can substantially alter the demography of a region. This can upset the balance of the economy given the demand-supply disruptions in production and labour markets Loss of Strategic Autonomy: Drafting a clear cut policy would entail the parting of India’s strategic autonomy of making situation-based decisions on refugees. India would be forced to concur with the made policy even if national interests are perverse. Conclusion India needs to extend a healing touch and helping hand to those fleeing their homes with the quantum of resources at its disposal. It would redeem the glowing ideal of Vasudeiva Kudumbakam that shaped this nation. Issues of Refugees in India Refoulement: The UN Convention on Refugees illustrate the principle of non-refoulement that is no contracting state shall expel a refugee to frontiers where her life or freedom is threatened on account of race, religion, nationality or political affiliation. The Indian state has violated the convention on occasion where it has pushed back Rohingya and other refugees Limited Access to Services: The unclear legal status of refugees has raised concerns of their access to services- education, healthcare and social services Limited Livelihood Avenues: Many of the incoming refugees find it hard to earn a living due to changes in demography and social stigma associated with them. Xenophobia: The growing intolerance towards refugees compounded by polarised mobilizations have caused social tensions. This manifests in the worst form in discrimination for access to services, resources, employment and violence Victimization: Refugees have been targeted by anti-social elements for exploitation, oppression and trafficking activities. Limited Political Participation: Due to their smaller number, refugees do not possess any political mileage to channelize the government to act for them. This reduces their bargaining power on the state to provide them with rights on par with citizens. Loss of Culture: Refugees may end up assimilating the culture of the country in which they end up wither voluntarily or by compulsion or imposition. This cultural homogenization entails the loss of values of the unique culture of refugees. Way Forward Skill Development: In order to adapt to the demand-supply needs of the labour market, the refugees need to be skilled in compliance with industry demands. This can enable them to better their incomes and improve their standard of living Awareness Campaigns: Programs which bring together refugees and normal citizens can endeavour to break the ice of Xenophobia towards them. This can kindle the spirit of humanism and compassion inherent in all human beings Security Measures: Considering the vulnerability of refugees, the law and order machinery needs to take extra care in ensuring they are not trafficked or are not victims of violence Pressure Groups: Formal associations of refugees and civil society organizations can push the cause of refugees. They can make the state stand up and take notice of the deficiencies that plague the refugees Conclusion India’s commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees in the New York Declaration for Refugees underlines its commitment to socio-economic empowerment of refugees. India’s continued commitment for welfare of the world continues to increase. India Myanmar Introduction India and Myanmar’s long history of relationship has elevated with the instilling of a civilian government in Myanmar. China’s peaceful rise in South Asia and India’s aspirations to look east through north east entail Myanmar as key partner in shaping India’s Act East and ASEAN relations. Conclusion India must strive to change its outlook of viewing Myanmar through the prism of the Act East Policy and instead must look towards it as a partner in the SAARC neighbourhood ensuring peace and development in the South Asian Region. INDIA – AFGHANISTAN The recent U.S South Asia Policy puts India into the limelight of the Afghan Peace Process. As a tempestuous neighbour and the gateway to Central and West Asia, Afghanistan resembles the Heart of Asia for India that bleeds but provides an artery of trade to the Centre and West. Connectivity AIR Corridor It is a part of India’s Look West policy as well as the ‘Connect Central Asia’ policy which seeks to reduce connectivity barriers to Afghan and other central Asian countries which have been a major roadblock in having fruitful economic and foreign relations with the Central Asia countries Helps India to circumvent Pakistan and establish a trade route with Central Asia Trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan to ensure multimodal
India and Indian Ocean Region Notes by UPSC Topper Ravisankar Sarma
Indian Ocean Region Introduction India’s position of South Asian Centrality in the Indian Ocean Region enables it to be the leader in realising its agenda of SAGAR drawing on cooperation between all Indian Ocean states. SAGAR Programme (Security and Growth for All in the Region): It is a maritime initiative which gives priority to the Indian Ocean region for ensuring peace, stability and prosperity of India in the Indian Ocean region. The goal is to seek A climate of trust and transparency Respect for international maritime rules and norms by all countries Sensitivity to each other`s interests Peaceful resolution of maritime issues Increase in maritime cooperation Indian Ocean Rim Association- Delhi Declaration Renewable Energy Development: Build a common agenda for renewable energy development and regional capacity building through the length and breadth of Indian ocean ensuring techno development and techno transfer International Collaboration: For renewable energy development, enable IRENA and ISA as fulcrum organization for capacity building, research and human resource convergence Global Renewable Energy Atlas: Create a comprehensive map and database of renewable energy resources throughout the Indian Ocean that can be used to tap the energy potential of the region Maiden Maritim Exercise of IONS Bangladesh has announced a first International Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) which would witness the participation of member nations and observers of IONS including India and China IMMSAREX can be a buffer to the increasing competition between navies in the Indian ocean region – China and Japan(Observers) and India, France, Iran and U.K (members) About IONS IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of littoral states of the Indian ocean by providing an open and inclusive platform for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues IONS consists of 35 member countries grouped into West Asia, East Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia + Australia Objectives of IONS IONS is engaged in enhancing regional maritime security by adopting a common strategy and capacity building to resist challenges to maritime security It seeks to provide for Humanitarian and Disaster Relief, information security and interoperability measures in the IOR Conclusion India must utilize the various formal and informal multilateral platforms at its disposal to move towards a free and Open Indo Pacific guarded by multilateral security Architecture. The peaceful Indian Ocean can give a fillip to India’s blue economy and a gateway for trade-led growth. Assumption Island Scenario Location: Assumption Island is located in the Seychelles group of islands in western Indian ocean region proximate to East Africa and islands of Madagascar and west of Maldives. Current Scenario: Seychelles has cancelled an agreement with India for the development of Assumption Island Importance of Assumption Island and Impact of Cancellation Indian Ocean Surveillance: In addition to India’s presence at proximate islands of Madives and Madagascar, Assumption Island is a critical cog in complete surveillance of western and central Indian ocean. Loss of it would affect India’s SAGAR doctrine that aims to ensure freedom of navigation for all Strategic Choke Point: Assumption’s strategic location would have helped India wrest control of a strategic chokepoint similar to its control of the Malacca through A&N islands and deals with Vietnam and Singapore Piracy Issues: The eastward shifting of piracy line poses non-traditional threats to free navigation. Assumption Island’s loss is a blow to Indian efforts countering such threats. Read All Notes by Ravisankar Sarma Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. Join Now
