National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB)
National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB) NCRB was set-up in 1986 to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators based on the recommendations of the Tandon Committee to the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA’s Taskforce (1985). NCRB was entrusted with the responsibility for monitoring, coordinating and implementing the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) project in the year 2009. The project connects 15000+ police stations and 6000 higher offices of police in the country. NCRB launched the National Digital Police Portal. It allows search for a criminal/suspect on the CCTNS database apart from providing various services to citizens like filing of complaints online and seeking antecedent verification of tenants, domestic help, drivers etc. Why in News? After a delay of two years, The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has released its crime statistics for the year 2017. Objectives: NCRB has five major objectives and it also fulfils several other functions: Read Also Criminal Justice Reforms Functions: A Citizen Services Mobile App consisting of the 9 services was launched by the Bureau. Entrusted to maintain National Database of Sexual Offenders (NDSO) and share it with the States/UTs on a regular basis. Designated as the Central Nodal Agency to manage technical and operational functions of the ‘Online Cyber-Crime Reporting Portal’ through which any citizen can lodge a complaint or upload a video clip as evidence of crime related to child pornography, rape/gang rape. Compiles and publishes National Crime Statisticse. Crime in India, Accidental Deaths & Suicides and also Prison Statistics. Serve as a principal reference point to policymakers, police, criminologists, researchers and media, both in India and abroad. IT-based Public Services like Vahan Samanvay (online matching for Stolen/Recovered vehicles) and Talash (matching of missing persons and dead bodies) is maintained. Maintains Counterfeit Currency Information and Management System (FICN) and Integrated Monitoring on Terrorism (iMoT) applications. Assists various States in capacity building in the area of Information Technology, CCTNS, Finger Prints, Network security and Digital Forensics through its training centres. Very recently, the Government of India has asked the IT companies across the world to send proposals to NCRB (National Crime Record Bureau) to install the world’s largest facial recognition system. Key findings in a recently published Report of 2107: The new subheads reportedly include data on hate crimes besides those related to mob lynching, killings ordered by khap panchayaths, murders by influential people, besides “ anti-national elements”. Women safety: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal are deemed most unsafe for women. Riots cases: There were 58,880 incidents of rioting in 2017 of which the maximum incidents were reported from Bihar at 11,698, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 8,990. Of the total, communal and sectarian riots accounted for the largest. Among union territories, Delhi recorded the most murder cases in 2017 at 487 (40.4 % of the total crimes recorded in metropolitan cities). Fake news: NCRB for the first time collected data on the circulation of “false/fake news and rumours.” Maximum incidents were reported from Madhya Pradesh (138). The new category of offences committed by various categories of “Anti-National Elements” shows: Maximum offences were committed by Left Wing Extremist (LWE) operatives (652), followed by North-East insurgents (421) and Terrorists (Jihadi and other elements) (371). Most killings took place in Chhattisgarh. Drawbacks of the report: The NCRB data on crime hide significant variances in case registration of serious crimes such as rapes and violence against women across States, which make it difficult to draw state-wise comparisons. The use of census base year 2001 to calculate crime rates of states and 2011 for metropolitan cities makes the assessments unwieldy. Conclusion: Despite all these issues, the report offers a useful snapshot of crime in the country. Some crimes, murders, for example, do not suffer from registration issues as much. The 2017 report shows that the States in the North –East and the rest of the country with a significant tribal population (Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha) have relatively higher murder rates and this is a cause of worry. 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
Public Administration Daily Answer Writing Challenge Day 6
Public Administration Daily Answer Writing Challenge Day 6 Question 1 Public Administration consists of all those operations having for their purpose the fulfilment or enforcement of Public Policy. Question 2 The essence of delegation is to confer discretion upon others, to use their judgement in meeting specific problems within the framework of their duties. Check UPSC Prelims Mock Test 14 – GS Paper 1 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
Public Administration Daily Answer Writing Challenge Day 7
Public Administration Daily Answer Writing Challenge For UPSC 2022 Day 7 Question 1 A Public Corporation is a combination of Public ownership, public acountability and business managements for public ends. Question 2 Compare the relative merits of Maslows Theory of Human Needs and Hertzbergs conception of Motivation and Hygiene Theory. Comment Your Answers Below Prelimsure 2020 – Prelims Test Series Join Now 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
Air pollution in India
Air pollution in India According to WHO, India’s air pollution, ranked among the worst in the world is adversely impacting the lifespan of is citizen, reducing most Indian lives by over 3 years. Over half of India’s population-660 million people- live in areas where fine particulate matter pollution is above India’s standard for what is considered safe. Environmental Performance Index, 2014, states that India is placed as the “bottom performer” on several indicators such as environmental health impact, air quality, water and sanitation and India’s environment health severely lacks behind the BRICS nations. The Ganga and Yamuna are ranked among the world’s 10 most populated rivers. The environmental crisis in India is many-sided and multifaceted which has to be addressed on different fronts and by a variety of different factors. We need to harness scientific and social scientific expertise to develop and promote eco-friendly technologies in construction, energy, water management, industrial production and transportation. Why in news? Very recently, the air quality of the capital turned poor as the wind direction changed to northwesterly triggering a steep increase in pollution levels. Westerly and northwesterly winds bring dust from western regions as well as smoke due to burning of crop residue in neighbouring states such as Punjab and Haryana, to Delhi and the NCR. Reasons for air pollution in India: High dependence on coal for power: share of coal in power generation in India continue to be around 80%. Power plants with poor technology and efficiency continue to be the major source of pollutants like CO and oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. High levels of poverty: Dependence on fuelwood and kerosene for the purpose of lighting and cooking leads to a high level of pollutants being released in the rural and urban periphery. Overexploitation of commons like forests, grazing lands and mindless deforestation reduces the natural capacity to absorb pollutants. Poor governance: the issue of environment and pollution is still to get the policy priority it deserves. While agencies liked CPCB and SPCBs continue to be under-resourced and under-staffed, the multiplicity of the state authorities at the ground level leads to poor coordination, lax enforcement of rules and lack of accountability as seen in Delhi. Absence of environmental governance continues to be a major challenge. Access to technology: India’s industrial landscape continues to be dominated by MSMEs which lack access to cleaner technologies. Agricultural waste burning is also the result of poor access to farm technologies. Unplanned urbanization: haphazard growth of urban areas has led to the proliferation of slums and poor public transport has increased the burden of personal vehicles on the road. Landfills used for waste management also release pollutants in the air. The rapid urbanization of the recent years if left unmanaged will further exacerbate the problem. Continentality: the problem of pollution in the landlocked northern states gets exacerbated due to unfavourable winds and the phenomenon of temperature inversion during winters. Read Also National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) Impacts of air pollution: Health: the increased burden of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiac diseases, COPD etc. is the direct consequence of the rise in air pollution. It reduces the overall productivity of the nation and increases the healthcare burden especially on the poor. Environment: pollution affects not only the health of humans but of the environment too. Birds and plants are affected by air pollution and phenomenon like urban heat island resulting from it. Economy: increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity, diversion of resources towards responding to air pollution are some of the economic costs. Politics: air pollution has caused major political conflict in the last few years, most prominent of which is the recurring conflict among Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. Solution for the ongoing issue Green cover: increasing green cover, especially in the urban areas, must be an indispensable part of urban planning. Other initiatives such as afforestation, the greening of highways etc. must also pick up Push to renewables: addressing the problem of intermittence by adopting smart grid technology, incentives for decentralised power production via biogas, rooftop solar and push to EVs. The market for agricultural waste: the problem of crop burning can be resolved only through financial and technological support and incentives for farmers. Access to technologies like super seeder machines and the development of the market for crop stubble will push farmers to a cleaner method of waste disposal. Measures to control air pollution: Reduce traffic and vehicles. Cut dieselization. Scale-up integrated public transport. Facilitate walking and cycling. Put controls on other pollution sources. Government initiatives: National Air Quality Monitoring Programme: In India, the Central Pollution Control Board has been executing a nationwide program of ambient air quality monitoring known as National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). It is undertaken in India To determine the status and trends of ambient air quality. To ascertain the compliance of NAAQS. To identify non-attainment cities. To understand the natural process of cleaning in the atmosphere. To undertake preventive and corrective measures. The annual average concentration of Sox levels is within the prescribed NAAQS. This reduction from earlier levels is due o various measures taken, including use of CNG in public transport in Delhi, reduction of sulfur in diesel and use of LPG instead of coal as a domestic fuel. A mixed trend is observed in NO2 levels due to various measures taken for vehicular pollution control, such as stricter vehicular emission norms being partially offset by increased NOx levels due to use of CNG in urban transport. Way forward: Air pollution needs to be brought under control with urgent and effective action. Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of deaths globally and in the region, and air pollution contributes significantly to NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and lung cancer. Cleaning up the air we breathe will help prevent NCDs, particularly among women and vulnerable groups such as children, those already ill and the elderly. We need a proactive policy spanning multiple years, and we need to act fast, local and through multiple agencies across multiple political parties to take the long view on air pollution. The pragmatic approach should be taken to reduce pollution levels. Government has been working
Junk foods and the guidelines of FSSAI
FSSAI The FSSAI is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It was established under the Foods Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It is responsible to protect and promote public health through regulation and supervision of food safety. The headquarters of FSSAI is located in Delhi and the regional offices are located in Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin and Chennai. Why in news? FSSAI has notified a draft regulation aimed at changing dietary habits. It aims at prohibiting the sale and advertisement of food rich in fat, salt and sugar to schoolchildren inside the school premises and within 50 metres around it. Regulations Ban on advertising and sales – It prohibits the sale and advertisement of food rich in fat, sugar, and salt to schoolchildren inside the school premises and within 50 m around it. Promote a balanced diet – It requires schools to simultaneously encourage and promote a safe and balanced diet. Ban on unhealthy foods – To shield the children from consuming unhealthy food items and snacks, FSSAI prohibits food companies that manufacture such items from advertising or offering such foods in school premises and within 50 m of the campus. No branding – Food companies are prohibited from using their logos, brand names and product names on books and other educational materials, as well as on school property such as buildings, buses, and athletic fields. Health recommendations – The agency recommends the use of a combination of whole grains, milk, eggs, and millets. Food products – It also listed a set of general guidelines for the selection of food products that can be offered in schools. Prelimsure 2022 Prelims Test Series Join Now Why such regulations? Court order – The 2015 order from the Delhi High Court directed the central agency to frame norms to promote healthy diets in schools. Malnutrition – malnutrition accounted for over seven lakh (68%) deaths in children under the age of five years in 2017 in India. Obesity – There is rising obesity in schoolchildren in many States. According to a July 2017 study, India had the second most number of obese children among 195 countries. More overweight children – A recent study found 23 States to have child overweight prevalence more than the national average. 6 States have a prevalence of over 20%. Impact of western diets – Several studies have shown how a western diet affects the composition and diversity of gut bacteria and sets the stage for many metabolic diseases. Challenges Enforcement – The challenge will be in enforcement, in preventing the sale and promotion of unhealthy food near schools. Despite the sale and advertisement of tobacco products within 100 yards of a school being prohibited, the violation is more the norm than the exception. Shops that sell tobacco products very often also sell many of the packaged unhealthy foods. Inculcating habits – inculcating healthy eating habits starts at home. Conclusion: Schools and parents should ensure children get adequate physical activity. A combination of healthy food and regular physical activity will go a long way in bringing up healthy children. Read Also Shanta Kumar Committee Recommendations Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards yours Civils out journey. Feel free to reach to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. JOIN NOW
Rajya Sabha TV Discussions: Science Monitor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCv-obttO2o&t=2s Rajya Sabha TV Discussion for UPSC Civil Service Exam Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards yours Civils out journey. Feel free to reach to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. JOIN NOW
Livestock Industry in India
Livestock Industry in India Why in News? 20th Livestock census has been released recently. What is Livestock Census? The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying attributes critical importance to livestock and to the collection and availability of up-to-date and accurate data related to livestock, as they are the vital component of the rural economy. The Livestock Census is the main source of such data in the country. It is conducted across the country periodically since 1919. The census usually covers all domesticated animals and headcounts of these animals are taken. The 20th Livestock Census was launched during the month of October 2018. The enumeration was done in both rural and urban areas. Various species of animals (cattle, buffalo, yak, sheep, goat, pig, horse, pony, mule, donkey, camel, dog, rabbit and elephant)/poultry birds (fowl, duck and other poultry birds) possessed by the households, household enterprises/non-household enterprises were counted at that site. 20th Livestock Census has been designed to capture Breed-wise number of animals and poultry birds. For the first time, livestock data were collected online in 20th Livestock Census Role of Livestock Industry in India Livestock industry plays an important role in the Indian economy. About 2.5-3 crore people depend on it for food. It Provides employment. Distribution of livestock is more equitable than that of land. The livestock sector contributes to low income, small farm, households etc. More than three-fourths of the labour demand in livestock production is met by women. The share of women employment in the livestock sector is around 90% in Punjab and Haryana where dairying is a prominent activity and animals are stall-fed. India is- World’s highest livestock owner at about 535.78 million. First in the total buffalo population in the world – 109.85 million buffaloes. Second in the population of goats – 148.88 million goats Second largest poultry market in the world. The second-largest producer of fish and also the second-largest aquaculture nation in the world. Third in the population of sheep (74.26 million). Fifth in the population of ducks and chicken (851.81 million). Tenth in camel population in the world – 2.5 lakhs. Contribution of livestock to people Food: The livestock provides food items such as Milk, Meat and Eggs for human consumption. India is the number one milk producer in the world. Fibre and skins: The livestock also contributes to the production of wool, hair, hides, and pelts. Leather is the most important product which has very high export potential. Draft: Bullocks are the backbone of Indian agriculture. Despite lot of advancements in the use of mechanical power in Indian agricultural operations, the Indian farmer, especially in rural areas, still depends upon bullocks for various agricultural operations. Dung and other animal waste materials: Dung and other animal wastes serve as very good farmyard manure and the value of it is worth several crores of rupees Storage: Livestock is considered as ‘moving banks’ because of their potentiality to dispose off during emergencies. Weed control: Livestock is also used as Biological control of brush, plants and weeds. Read Also India – Nepal Relations Role of livestock in Farmers’ economy Income: Livestock is a source of subsidiary income for many families in India especially the resource-poor who maintain few heads of animals. Employment: A large number of people in India being less literate and unskilled depend upon agriculture for their livelihoods. Social security: The animals offer social security to the owners in terms of their status in society. Food: The livestock products such as milk, meat and eggs are an important source of animal protein to the members of the livestock owners. Challenges to the livestock industry in India The land is only common resource acting as the platform for the development of human and animals. Ever-increasing competition between human and animal for food is a critical challenge in animal rearing. The improper and unscientific management of resource like water in animal husbandry makes the increased usage of virtual water in the export market. The percolation of extension services regarding animal husbandry is less and negligent The low production potential of the indigenous verities of animals is also an added issue. Devastating pastures, increased climatic changes, decrease in monsoon rains also makes the animal husbandry vulnerable Improper awareness about the vaccination and lack of research in the diseases occurring to animals is also another factor. Lack of infrastructure facilities in rural areas like veterinary clinics, breeding centres. The absence of credit facilities and insurance coverage schemes makes the farmers show less interest in animal rearing. The proper quality checking and standardization of animal products is absent. Way forward Culling of burdening animals. Licensing for animal rearing. Rejuvenation of Natural Pastures and Grasslands. Ensure proper credit facilities. The ceiling of Crops breeding. Ensure rigorous veterinary extension services. Promote Research in organic livestock Farming. Special economic zone for the animal husbandry with common facilities must be created for greater export potential. Conclusion Indian livestock industry makes up for a significant amount of the world’s livestock resources. Both the national economy as well as the socio-economic growth of the country is backed by the livestock sector. Besides, offering great potential and outstanding contribution to the agricultural sector over the past years. The livestock sector is performing well in the manner of production, value addition and export of dairy, fishery, wool, poultry and other products. Apart from its performance, there are some threats also exist we need to re-correct it and take the global market opportunities. Read Also Non-governmental organization Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards yours Civils out journey. Feel free to reach to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. JOIN NOW
Electoral reforms in India
Electoral reforms in India Electoral reforms refer to the development and benign change in election processes in India in order to facilitate better democracy, clean politics, ideal members of legislative houses, equality of representation and so on. Articles 324-329 deal with elections and electoral reforms. The process of electoral reforms focuses mainly on broadening the core meaning of democracy, making it more citizen-friendly, implementation of adult suffrage in a letter as well as spirit. Aspects of Electoral Reforms Transparency about the background of the candidates Freeing the election processes from muscle and money power Prohibit the criminalisation of politics ( 43% newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs have a criminal record: ADR ) Stop the misuse of the government machinery Prohibiting the nexus between business and politics Check the influence of caste and religious groups in an election Availing all the citizens, eligible to vote a comfortable, friendly and assured facilitation of vote casting Upholding the secrecy of voters Enhance the trust in the eyes of citizens towards electoral processes. Fair registration and recognition of the political parties. Applying the model code of conduct efficiently Rationalising electoral processes Non-partisan role of media Which is the Best Test Series for UPSC ? Check Now Electoral Reforms in india – Pre-2000 Lowering of Voting Age: The 61st Amendment Act to the Constitution reduced the minimum age for voting from 21 to 18 years. Deputation to Election Commission: All personnel working in preparing, revising and correcting the electoral rolls for elections shall be considered to be on deputation to the EC for the period of such employment, and they shall be superintended by the EC. Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs): First introduced in 1998 during the state elections of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, EVMs are used widely now as they are fool-proof, efficient and a better option in terms of the environment. Disqualification on conviction for violating the National Honours Act, 1971: This shall lead to disqualification of the person for 6 years from contesting to the Parliament and the state legislatures. Restriction on contesting from more than 2 constituencies: A candidate cannot contest from more than 2 constituencies. On poll days, employees of organisations get a paid holiday and violation of this is punishable by a fine. Prohibition on sale of liquor: No liquor or other intoxicants shall be sold or given or distributed at any shop, eating place, or any other place, whether private or public, within a polling area during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of poll. The time limit for bye-elections: Bye-elections to any House of Parliament or a State Legislature will now be held within six months of the occurrence of the vacancy in that House. Electoral Reforms – Post 2000 The ceiling on election expenditure: the Commission has put a cap on individual candidates’ spending. For the Lok Sabha elections, it is Rs. 50 – 70 lakh (depending on the state they are contesting the Lok Sabha seat from), and Rs. 20 – 28 lakh for an assembly election. Restriction on exit polls: The EC issued a statement before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections saying that exit poll results could be broadcast only after the final phase of the elections were over. This was done to avoid prospective voters from being misguided or prejudiced in any manner. Voting through postal ballot: In 2013, the EC decided to expand the ambit of postal ballot voting in the country. Previously, only Indian staff in missions abroad and defence personnel in a limited way, could vote via postal ballots. Now, there are 6 categories of voters who can use the postal ballot: service voters; special voters; wives of service voters and special voters; voters subjected to preventive detention; voters on election duty and Notified voters. Awareness Creation: The government decided to observe January 25th as ‘National Voters Day’ to mark the EC’s founding day. Political parties need to report any contribution in excess of Rs 20000 to the EC for claiming income tax benefit. Declaring of criminal antecedents, assets, etc. by the candidates is required and declaring false information in the affidavit is now an electoral offence punishable with imprisonment up to 6 months or fine or both. Introduction of NOTA Introduction of VVPAT ( Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail ) Transparency in election funding: Electoral bonds Electoral bonds Electoral bonds will allow donors to pay political parties using banks as an intermediary. Although called a bond, the banking instrument resembling promissory notes will not carry any interest. The electoral bond, which will be a bearer instrument, will not carry the name of the payee and can be bought for any value, in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh or Rs 1 crore. As per provisions of the Scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by a citizen of India, or entities incorporated or established in India. A person being an individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. Only the registered Political Parties which have secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last Lok Sabha elections or the State Legislative Assembly are eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds. Read Also Imperial Cholas Dinesh Goswami Committee on electoral reforms The time limit for bye-elections. Increase in deposits from independents. A check on advertisements in newspapers and strengthening of the election commission. Partial state funding of election A series of legislative measures should be set up to eradicate booth-capturing rigging and intimidating The committee also called for an amendment of the anti-defection law to restrict disqualification. There should be a complete ban on donations by companies. Suggests that state assistance be in-kind only and be extended by prescribed quantity of fuel to vehicles supply of additional copies of electoral rolls payment of hire charges for a prescribed number of microphones distribution of voters’ identity slips should be undertaken exclusively by electoral machinery Suggestions Independent Secretariat for the Election Commission Ban on exit polls and opinion polls Ban on Government Sponsored Advertisement before elections Paid news
Export Subsidies In India And WTO Guideline
Export Subsidies In India And WTO Guideline WTO The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. The WTO has many roles: it operates a global system of trade rules, it acts as a forum for negotiating trade agreements, it settles trade disputes between its members and it supports the needs of developing countries. All major decisions are made by the WTO’s member governments: either by ministers (who usually meet at least every two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly in Geneva). The primary purpose of the WTO is to open trade for the benefit of all. India is one among the founding member of WTO which came into existence on January 1,1995 replacing GATT(General agreement on tariffs and Trade). It was created with six major objectives: Setting and enforcing rules for international trade Serving as a forum for negotiating trade liberalization Resolving trade disputes Increasing transparency of the decision-making process in international trade Engaging with other international economic institutions for facilitating economic management Facilitating the developing countries to gain the full benefit of the global trading system. India has a commitment towards fulfilling these objectives by implementing any norm or recommendation developed by WTO and any unwillingness has to be conveyed to the organization or proper reservations have to be made in this regard. Export subsidies The cores of the reform programme on export subsidies are the commitments to reduce subsidized export quantities, and the amount of money spent subsidizing exports. The Agriculture Agreement also looks at anti-circumvention questions. The right to use export subsidies is now limited to four situations: Export subsidies subject to product-specific reduction commitments within the limits specified in the schedule of the WTO Member concerned Any excess of budgetary outlays for export subsidies or subsidized export volume over the limits specified in the schedule which is covered by the “downstream flexibility” provision of Article 9.2(b) of the Agreement on Agriculture Export subsidies consistent with the special and differential treatment provision for developing country Members (Article 9.4 of the Agreement) Export subsidies other than those subject to reduction commitments provided that they are in conformity with the anti-circumvention disciplines of Article 10 of the Agreement on Agriculture. In all other cases, the use of export subsidies for agricultural products is prohibited (Articles 3.3, 8 and 10 of the Agreement). Read Also National Nutrition Mission India’s Disputes At WTO The WTO’s dispute settlement panel ruled that India’s export subsidy schemes, including the provision for special economic zones, violated core provisions of global trade norms. The US in March 2018 challenged export subsidies provided by India under five sets of schemes: Export-Oriented Units, Electronics Hardware Technology Park and Bio-Technology Park (EOU/EHTP/BTP) Schemes Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme iii. Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Scheme Duty-Free Imports for Exporters Scheme (DFIS) Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) The export subsidies under most of the challenged schemes, except for MEIS, consist of exemptions and deductions from customs duties and other taxes. The US argued these subsidies were a detriment to American workers and manufacturers. When consultations with India did not work out, the US in May 2018 requested that a dispute settlement panel be set up. India was among the 20 developing countries included in Annex VII of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement). This allowed it to use export subsidies as long as per capita Gross National Product (GNP) had not crossed $1,000, at constant 1990 dollars, for 3 consecutive years. This was provided to the developing countries for phasing out export subsidies. It is an exception under the “special and differential treatment”. India thus had the flexibility to use export subsidies until 2015. The US had earlier accused India of giving prohibited subsidies to Indian steel producers, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, information technology, textiles and apparel. While the panel ruled in favour of the US and urged India to withdraw the subsidies without delay. While the panel upheld most of the claims made by the US, it rejected some points pertaining to a subset of exemptions from customs duties and an exemption from excise duties. Under the various schemes, domestic companies are currently receiving billions in subsidies on an annual basis. Withdrawing the subsidies may have a significant effect on the performance of such companies. Conclusion The WTO dispute settlement panel has asked India to withdraw the concerned export subsidy schemes within a time period of 90 days from the adoption of the report. It also asked India to withdraw prohibited subsidies under the EOU/EHTP/BTP schemes, EPCG and MEIS, within a period of 120 days and SEZ scheme within 180 days. India has a month to appeal against the WTO’s order. However, India has the right to challenge the ruling before the appellate body of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism with regards to export subsidy schemes. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards yours Civils out journey. Feel free to reach to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. JOIN NOW
RTI Act and the Judiciary
RTI Act and the Judiciary Why in news? Recently, the Supreme Court of India held that the office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is a public authority and falls within the ambit of the Right to Information Act. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi gave the ruling. Background: Previously, the Delhi High Court judgment which ruled that office of the Chief Justice comes under the purview of RTI. A plea was filed by Supreme Court Secretary-General challenging Delhi High Court’s order. The concept of judicial independence is not a judge’s personal privilege but responsibility cast on the person, the HC had said in its ruling. 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. Article 124 of the Constitution deals with the establishment of the Supreme Court of India. Information includes any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, etc. Highlights The Supreme Court is a “public authority” and the office of the CJI is part and parcel of the institution. Hence, if the Supreme Court is a public authority, so is the office of the CJI. The Judiciary cannot function in total insulation as judges enjoy a constitutional post and discharge public duty. However, Right to Privacy is an important aspect and has to be balanced with transparency while deciding to give out information from the office of the Chief Justice of India. RTI cannot be used as a tool of surveillance and that judicial independence has to be kept in mind while dealing with transparency. On the issue related to the appointment of judges, the Supreme Court held that only the names of the judges recommended by the Collegium for appointment can be disclosed, not the reasons. Read Also Gig Economy. Checks and Balances System Outcomes The office of the CJI will now entertain RTI applications. The Ruling is an example for other bodies such as political parties, a number of schools, trusts and public-private partnerships who resist categorisation as public authorities under the Act. However, it has been seen that Officessuch as those of the Prime Minister and the President which are public authorities under the RTI Act has often denied information quoting separate observations by the Supreme Court. Officials need to furnish only such information which already exists and is held by the public authority and not collate or create information, that is The nation does not want a scenario where 75% of the staff of public authorities spends 75% of their time in collecting and furnishing information to applicants instead of discharging their regular duties. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards yours Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. JOIN NOW
