French Secularism
French Secularism Secularism is the principle of the separation of government institutions and persons mandated to represent the state from religious institutions and religious dignitaries. France has been one of the oldest democracies in the world with its approach towards citizen rights and governance. But there are some features that need revisiting in order to strengthen its core values, which it can learn from India. The French model of secularism separates the state from religion. The state does not support religious activities but also not interfere in private religious practices. Issues with French secularism: The drawbacks of this model can be seen as, such states focus on intra-religious domination by the strict separation of state from church to realise among other things individual freedoms, issues of inter-religious (and therefore minority rights) equality are often neglected. This model leaves no scope for the idea of state-supported religious reforms. The recent Hijab and Burkini ban in France has created anxiety among minorities. In France, religion is a private matter, not a matter of state policy or law. This model interprets freedom and equality in an individualistic manner. Liberty is the liberty of an individual. Equality is equality between individuals. There is little scope for community-based rights or minority rights. In early 20th-century France—a fairly homogeneous, Christian nation. The French model of secularism was a straightforward attempt to protect the government from the sway of the Catholic Church. Laïcité is also criticized for increasing police powers that could endanger respect for civil liberties. Laïcité is unintelligible and even shocking to religious minorities, who view it as an injunction to abandon their religion. Features that France can take as learnings from India: The Indian model of Secularism not only upholds individual religious rights but also community religious rights. The fundamental rights specially protect the rights of religious minorities (Articles 25-30). Linguistic and religious rights to minorities Shunning state religion Recognition of diversity Sarva Dharma Sambhava Positive secularism Way forward: France can still take steps to introduce new measures in its constitution to protect its secular characteristics. France can take a leaf from the Indian secularism model and recognise multiculturalism. French society to ensure value-education that makes the younger generation understand and appreciate not only its own religious traditions but also those of the other religions in the country. 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
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refers to seven security forces in India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Assam Rifles (AR) Border Security Force (BSF) Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) National Security Guard (NSG) Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Assam Rifles(AR): The Assam Rifles came into being in 1835, as a militia called the ‘Cachar Levy’, to primarily protect British Tea estates and their settlements against tribal raids. This Force significantly contributed in opening the region to administration and commerce and over time they came to be known as the “right arm of the civil and left arm of the military”. The Post-Independence role of the Assam Rifles continued to evolve ranging from conventional combat role during Sino-India War 1962, operating in foreign land as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka in 1987 (Op Pawan) to peacekeeping role in the North-Eastern areas of India. Border security force(BSF): The BSF, in its 54th years of existence, has emerged as an elite force of the country having excelled with distinction in the 1971 & Kargil war with Pakistan. BSF mission is “Any task, any time, anywhere”. The Officers and men have given blood and sweat to uphold its motto “Jeevan Paryant Kartavya”. BSF is “INDIA’S FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE”. BSF has been defending Sir Creek in the Arabian Sea and Sundarban delta in the Bay of Bengal with its state of art fleet of Water Crafts. BSF has an instrumental role in helping state administration in maintaining Law and Order and conduct of peaceful election.. Read Also Iron Dome aerial defence system Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): The CISF came into existence in 1969 with a modest beginning, having three battalions, to provide integrated security cover to the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) which, in those years, occupied the “commanding heights” of the economy. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):It has become a premier multi-skilled security agency of the country, mandated to provide security to major critical infrastructure installations of the country in diverse areas. CISF is currently providing security cover to nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, power plants, sensitive Government buildings and ever heritage monuments. Tthe CISF has provided Consultancy Services to more than 138 different organizations, including those in the private sector. After the Mumbai terrorist attack on November 2008, the mandate of the force has been broadened to provide direct security cover to private sector also. The CISF Act has been amended, heralding a new chapter in the glorious history of the Force. Among the important responsibilities recently entrusted to the CISF are the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, VIP Security, Disaster Management and establishment of a Formed Police Unit (FPU) of the UN at Haiti. The Central Reserve Police Force came into existence as Crown Representative’s Police on 27th July 1939. It became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December 1949. The mission of the Central Reserve Police Force is to enable the government to maintain Rule of Law, Public Order and Internal Security effectively and efficiently, to Preserve National Integrity and Promote Social Harmony and Development by upholding the supremacy of the Constitution. Broad duties being performed by the CRPF are: Crowd control Riot control Counter Militancy / Insurgency operations. Dealing with Left Wing Extremism Overall coordination of large scale security arrangement especially with regard to elections in disturbed areas. Fighting enemy in the event of War. Participating in UN peacekeeping Mission as per Govt. policy. Rescue and Relief operations at the time of Natural Calamities and disasters Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) ITBPF was raised on 24 Oct,1962. Presently, ITBP is deployed on border guarding duties from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh covering 3488 km of Indo-China Border and manning Border Outposts on altitudes ranging from 9000’ to 18700’ in the Western, Middle and Eastern sectors of the Indo-China Border. ITBPF is a specialized mountain force and most of the officers and men are professionally trained mountaineers and skiers. Being the first responder for natural disaster, ITBPF has been carrying out numerous rescue and relief operations across the country. National Security Guard (NSG): The National Security Guard (NSG) is a counter terrorism unit. It was raised in 1984, following Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Indira Gandhi, “for combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances. NSG formally came into being in 1986 by an act of parliament. The basic philosophy of NSG is swift and speedy strike and immediate withdrawal from the theatre of action. National Security Guard has been given the specific role to handle all facets of terrorism in any part of the country as a Federal Contingency Force. It is a task-oriented Force and has two complementary elements in the form of the Special Action Group (SAG) comprising Army personnel and the Special Ranger Groups (SRG), comprising personnel drawn from the Central Armed Police Forces/State Police Forces. Read Also Rafale Aircraft Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): The Special Service Bureau (now Sashastra Seema Bal) was thus conceived in November 1962 and eventually created in March 1963 with the sole objective of achieving ‘Total security preparedness’ in the remote border areas for performing a ‘stay-behind’ role in the event of a war. SSB was started in North Assam, North Bengal, hill districts of Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand), Himachal Pradesh, part of Punjab and Ladakh area of J&K. Later, the jurisdiction of SSB was extended to Manipur, Tripura and Jammu (1965), Meghalaya (1975), Sikkim (1976), Rajasthan (1985), South Bengal, Nagaland and Mizoram (1989). Its area of coverage included 15 states. 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
Conservation of foreign exchange and prevention of smuggling activities act
An Act to provide for preventive detention in certain cases for the purposes of conservation and augmentation of foreign exchange and prevention of smuggling activities and for matters connected therewith. Whereas violating of foreign exchange regulations and smuggling activities are having an increasingly deleterious effect on the national economy and thereby a serious adverse effect on the security of the State. And whereas having regard to the persons by whom and the manner in which such activities or violations are organized and carried on, and having regard to the fact that in certain areas which are highly vulnerable to smuggling, smuggling activities of a considerable magnitude are clandestinely organized and carried on, it is necessary for the effective prevention of such activities and violations to provide for detention of persons concerned in any manner therewith. COFEPOSA is not a punitive Act. It does not empower authority to punish a person without trial. It provides preventive detention of person, before engaging in smuggling activities. A person can be detained under provisions of the Act, on the basis of suspicion that he will be engaged in smuggling activities but the detention must be followed both substantively and procedurally by detaining authorities. Reddish vs. Government of Andhra Pradesh (2012) 2 SCC 389 it was held that preventive detention is not to punish a person for something he has done but preventing him from doing it. Sadhu Roy vs. State of West Bengal 1975(1) SCC 660; it was held that discharge or acquittal by a Criminal Court is not necessarily a bar to preventive detention on the same facts for security purposes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7C3ThU5Z58&t=4s 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
Roshni Act
Roshni Act The Jammu and Kashmir government declared all land transfers that took place under the Jammu and Kashmir State Land (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act, 2001, also known as the Roshni Act. Initially, 1990 was set as the cutoff for encroachment on state land. It was later revised to 2004 and then subsequently to 2007. The government’s target was to earn Rs25000 crore by transferring 20 lakh kanals of state land to existing occupants against payment at market rates Later amendment was made which gave ownership rights of agricultural land to farmers occupying it for free, charging them only Rs100 per kanal as documentation fee. Issues and allegations: Investigations into the land transfers subsequently found that land in Gulmarg had been given over to ineligible beneficiaries. However several government officials illegally possessed and vested ownership of state land to occupants who did not satisfy criteria under the Roshni Act. A report by the CAG estimated that against the targeted Rs 25,000 crore, only Rs 76 crore had been realized from the transfer of encroached land between 2007 and 2013, thus defeating the purpose of the legislation. The report blamed irregularities including an arbitrary reduction in prices fixed by a standing committee and said this was done to benefit politicians and affluent people. In November 2018, the High Court restrained all beneficiaries of the Roshni scheme from selling or carrying out any other transaction in respect of the land transferred to them. Read Socio Economic And Caste Census Conclusion: The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been plagued by war, separatism, and terrorist incidents for a long time, so good governance must be extended to Jammu and Kashmir, thereby reducing the trust deficit between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India, to increase the people-to-people contact. The SAC has ordered cancellation of all pending applications seeking vesting of ownership rights of state lands to their occupants. 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
Pfizer vaccine
The US and Europe are in line to get the first doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine after a partnership between Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE delivered dazzling preliminary results in a large patient trial. Regulators on both sides of the Atlantic ocean are working to speed a review of the shot’s safety and effectiveness after the data showed it prevented more than 90% of infections BNT162b1 or BNT162b2 — have gone into human trials so far. Both are in Phase 1/2 human trials in the United States and Germany. BNT162b2 was associated with less systemic reactogenicity, particularly in older adults. This effectively means that BNT162b2 generates an even lower adverse reaction among the vulnerable population, making it the safer candidate of the two. The researchers announced that after an extensive review of preclinical and clinical data and in consultation with the US FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, they have chosen to advance their BNT162b2 vaccine candidate into the Phase 2/3 study, where 30,000 participants will be taking part. Read Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG) 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
Impact of climate change on cryosphere
Impact of climate change on cryosphere The cryosphere is a large and important component of our earth, which has a profound impact and in turn is hugely impacted by climate and climate change. The cryosphere comprises of the Earth’s ice – notably the Arctic, the Antarctic, and the world’s glaciers. Arctic sea ice began to decline around 1900, with a more accelerated ice loss since the 1950s. Since 1979, satellite records have confirmed an overall decline in summer sea ice coverage of around 13% per decade. Although fears that Arctic sea ice would reach a ‘tipping point’ and rapidly disappear currently seem to be unfounded, the mainstream view of scientists is that we will see ice-free summers in the Arctic Ocean within the next few decades. Process and Climate Change Cryosphere process and climate change: Objectives: To study the fundamental processes involved in the biogeochemical cycling (measurements of processes and factors influencing the same) within the snow packs as well as during the subsequent transformation to firn and ice in the polar and other region and elsewhere. To study the biotic components in the cryosphere responsible for meditating the exchange processes. To study the glaciological processes, accumulation patterns and snow layering characteristics for understanding the fundamental processes influencing the temporal records of ice. To reconstruct the environment variables like temperature, precipitation, aerosols, and sea ice conditions during the past 200-2000 years with annual to sub-annual resolution to better understand the recent climate change in polar/tropical region and their global teleconnections. To decipher the role of various internal and external forcing mechanisms on polar and global climate on a decadal centennial and millennial time scales. Effects of Cryosphere on global climate: Water cycling Carbon trapping agents Maintaining global temperatures IPCC’s Report The IPCC prepares comprehensive Assessment Reports about the state of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for reducing the rate at which climate change is taking place. However, IPCC does not conduct its own research. Global Warming of 1.5° C: A special report, which was commissioned to specifically explore the scientific feasibility of the 1.5°C goal set in the Paris Agreement, on global warming. The Assessment Report released by IPCC in 2014 was the 5th in a series of such reports. 6th Assessment Report of IPCC is expected to be released in 2022. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the international body for assessing the science related to climate change. It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. IPCC assessments provide a scientific basis for governments at all levels to develop climate-related policies, and they underlie negotiations at the UN Climate Conference – the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Key findings: The Melting of Glaciers: The melting glaciers are the dominant source of sea-level rise, exceeding the effect of thermal expansion of ocean water (due to rising temperatures). Global Mean Sea-Level: It has increased by 16 cm between 1902 and 2015, and that the rate of increase had doubled of late. Ocean Warming: Global ocean has warmed unabated since 1970 and has taken up more than 90% of the excess heat in the climate system. Albedo of snow/ice sheet is high Cryosphere has direct and indirect bearing on the global climate. Therefore, if we want to protect the biosphere then we must protect the Cryosphere. 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
mRNA Vaccine
mRNA Vaccine In collaboration with HDT Biotech Corporation, Seattle, USA, Gennova has developed an mRNA vaccine candidate (HGCO19), with demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, neutralization antibody activity in the rodent and non-human primate models. The company is working aggressively to ensure first human injection by the end of the year, subject to Indian regulatory approvals. mRNA-1273 is the working name of Moderna’s vaccine, which is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials under the aegis of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The mRNA means messenger RNA, which carries the genetic formula for the coding of a specific protein. The vaccine, when injected into a person for coding the spike protein, then even without the introduction of an attenuated (recognisable but not harmful) virus into the body, the body learns what the virus looks like and arms itself with the antibodies that are required to act against it. The mRNA while entering the body has managed to show an immune response in the first eight patients. The results showed that even lower doses brought an immune response to the magnitude caused by natural infection. These data indicate that mRNA-1273 has the potential to prevent Covid-19 disease. 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
Startups in India
Startups in India Startup India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, intended to build a strong eco-system for nurturing innovation and Startups in the country that will drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities. The Government through this initiative aims to empower Startups to grow through innovation and design. The action plan comprises of 19 action items spanning across areas such as “Simplification and handholding”, “Funding support and incentives” and “Industry-academia partnership and incubation”. Since its inception, 28,979, Startups across the country have been recognised by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Salient features of Startup India Action Plan Compliance Regime based on Self-Certification Startup India Hub Rolling-out of Mobile App and Portal Legal Support and Fast-tracking Patent Examination at Lower Costs Relaxed Norms of Public Procurement for Startups Faster Exit for Startups According to data available with the SIDBI, the Startup India fund has allocated Rs 2,265 crore to Venture Capital (VC) funds at the end of March 2019, falling short of its capital allocation target by around Rs 1,000-1,200 crore. It was launched in the year 2016 with the corpus of Rs.10,000 crore, to be built over 14th and 15th Finance Commission cycles. SIDBI manages the fund. A venture capital (VC) fund is a sum of money that investors commit for investment in early-stage companies. Government Innitiatives: Setting up of 7 New Research Parks Modeled on the Research Park Setup at IIT Madras Promoting Startups in the Biotechnology Sector NIDHI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations) Uchhattar Avishkar Yojana Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centres (IEDCs) Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) with Self-Employment and Talent Utilization (SETU) Program. Way Forward: Annual Incubator Grand Challenge Promoting Startups in the Biotechnology Sector Harnessing Private Sector Expertise for Incubator Setup Organizing Startup Fests for Showcasing Innovation and Providing a Collaboration Platform 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
Biodiversity governance
Biodiversity governance Globally, the diversity of life on earth is declining due to human activities despite increasing efforts to address it. Global biodiversity loss has severe impacts on human well-being. There is an urgent need to transform the Convention on Biological Diversity, the principal global governance framework on this issue, to better respond to this challenge. National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) need to be significantly strengthened as concrete mechanisms for the implementation of biodiversity commitments at the national level. Biodiversity Governance in India: India is one among the 17 mega-diverse countries of the world. But many plants and animals are facing the threat of extinction. To protect the critically endangered and other threatened animal and plant species, the Government of India has adopted many steps, laws, and policy initiatives. India’s Biological Diversity Act 2002 (BD Act), is in close synergy with the Nagoya Protocol. The BD Act was hailed as an important step towards preserving India’s vast biodiversity, as it recognized the sovereign right of countries over its natural resources. The act also strengthens the country’s stand with respect to anyone claiming an intellectual property right over biodiversity-related knowledge. The CBD was designed around three objectives: “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources”. Challenges: Access to crop genetic resources is not covered under the purview of the Nagoya Protocol, it is protected under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. No Recognition of Traditional Knowledge Erosion Traditional Breeding Systems The Nagoya Protocol noted that each party shall consider the importance of genetic resources for food and agriculture and their special role for food security. Thus, traditional agriculture and conventional practices are exempted from the purview of benefit-sharing. Government Initiatives: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been empowered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders. The State Governments have been requested to strengthen the field formations and intensify patrolling in and around the Protected Areas. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-System also provides assistance to the States for the management of wetlands including Ramsar sites in the country. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been established for the control of illegal trade in wildlife, including endangered species. Way forward Integration of International Treaties Financial and technical assistance is extended to the State Governments under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, viz, ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’, ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘Project Elephant’ for providing better protection and conservation to wildlife. Promoting Agricultural Societies 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
Urban Employment Crisis
Urban Employment Crisis Urban unemployment crept up to 9.83% in August as against 9.15% in July, according to monthly unemployment data released by CMIE. The overall national unemployment rate was at 8.35% in August as against 7.43% . India was gradually getting gripped in the pandemic, but is far higher in the pre-covid months like February, January and December when the national joblessness rate was hovering between 7.22% and 7.76%. Urban Unemployment: Urban Unemployment is mainly of three types: Industrial Unemployment: If a person has to remain unemployed for a given period due to the changes in industrial sector, such a condition is called industrial unemployment. For example, the people who migrate from rural area, in search of employment, are semi-literate and have no special training and skill. 2. Educated Unemployment: When a person is educated and is not able o find a suitable and efficient job for himself. This also occurs when there is a large number of graduates or postgraduates, but limited job opportunities and limited companies. 3. Technological Unemployment: Technological unemployment occurs when developments in technology and working practices cause some workers to lose their jobs. Technological unemployment is considered to be part of a wider concept known as structural unemployment. UPSC Prelims Mock Test Challenges to Employment: Vulnerable employment: According to the International Labour Organization, of the 535 million labour force in India in 2019, some 398.6 million have poor quality jobs. Further, the lockdown exposed the state of vulnerable employment in urban low-end informal jobs. Reverse Migration Working poors are increasing in India. Slowdown in Major Employment Generating Sector. Government Initiatives: Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan’ launched in June: It (aimed to provide livelihood opportunities in rural India) could be an immediate relief, the ₹50,000-crore employment scheme cannot be a substitute for decent urban jobs. Given the structure of the economy and demographic profile, it is important to focus on reducing the vulnerabilities of urban informal jobs in the long run. Self Employment Programme of urban poor Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act Way Forward: To implement employment-intensive investment policies. Prioritising Urban Infrastructure Focusing on rural development to increase employment opportunities in rural areas and to enhance the provision of services like education, health, electricity and water and sanitation services are effective means to control rural to urban migration. The focus on urban employment generation programmes. Private investments need to be facilitated by conducive contractual relations between labour and capital. Enterprise formation needs to be an integral part of the strategy, with converging interests for workers and entrepreneurs on issues related to technology and productivity enhancement. Small and micro-enterprises, the fulcrum of industrialisation, need extra support to balance the interests between labour and capital as neither have collective bargaining powers. Prioritise urban infrastructure as it accounts for a large share of total investments in the local economy. 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
