Current affairs 24th -29th June 2019

24th June, 2019

TOPIC- Inclusive growth and issues arising of it

1. It is both good economics and good public policy to correctly measure women’s contribution to the economy. Discuss.

Ans:

Introduction

Most women in India are involved not in paid employment but in unpaid work in their homes or communities. Such work is socially necessary but unsung and unrewarded — everything from cooking and cleaning to looking after the young, the old and the sick, to collecting fuel wood and water for households, to tending gardens and livestock, and so on.

Need to quantify value of women’s unpaid work

It is both good economics and good public policy to correctly measure women’s contribution to the economy.

• In a still heavily patriarchal society, publicly acknowledging through official statistics women’s vital economic importance can play a role in empowering women and increasing their sense of self worth, particularly among under privileged and poor communities, in which the vast bulk of household work is performed by women.

• As a matter of public policy, schemes targeted at poor households can and should be fine tuned by recording the value of women’s work.

• Finally, as a matter of macroeconomics, capturing women’s unpaid labour would give a truer picture of GDP and, therefore, a more realistic assessment of the size of the economy and of economic growth.

Conclusion

We need to remember that empowerment cannot be found by simply rejecting the unpaid domestic work women have been shouldering for decades in favour of working outside the homes.

Reference: Hindustan Times

DTE

TOPIC- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

2. “There is no need for a policy to address the issues that afflict school education. Most of the actions relating to education lie in the states.” Comment.

Ans:

Introduction

There is no doubt that the school education system is beset with huge problems. The learning outcomes have actually come down during the past decade despite enormous amount of investments. In this context, some experts have pointed out that the dismal performance of school education is not account of a policy gap. Rather, they argue that most of the actions relating to education lie in the states.

Is there a need for a national policy on education?

• There is no need for a policy to address the issues that afflict school education. Most of the actions relating to education lie in the states.

• In any case, the country is too diverse to consider a single mandate by way of policy for the entire country. If a teacher does not go to a school in Kerala, he could well be lynched but in some of the states of north India, they consider it their right to not go to the school.

• There are instances of these regular teachers employing a substitute to represent them and even teach on their behalf.

What can be done?

• Instead of a policy, an action plan for each state is required.

• This action plan needs to focus on the teacher who plays a pivotal role in imparting education.

• The entire value chain needs to be looked at, understood and interventions clearly outlined.

• Beginning with pre-service training, to selection process, to in-service training, to transfer and posting, to engagement of teachers in non-educational activities, to their promotional avenues and morale will need to be examined.

• Roles of the Central government and the respective state government will need to be clearly outlined. Interventions will vary from state to state.

• The whole approach has to be outcome-based rather than input-based as has been the case so far.

Conclusion

We need to learn from states like Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra, which have turned it around through some remarkable state-level interventions, both administrative and financial.

Reference: Hindustan Times

25th June, 2019

TOPIC- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

1. Any war-like situation involving Iran is bound to hurt India. Discuss.

Ans:

Introduction

The tensions between Iran and the United States are escalating by the day. Experts monitoring the situation have said a potential US-Iran conflict would be catastrophic for the whole world including India.

How US-Iran war could hurt India?

• For India, any war-like situation involving Iran would have wide-ranging ramifications, both economic, and in terms of the more than 8 million expatriates who live and work in West Asia.

• The bulk of traffic from the Strait of Hormuz heads for Asia, including India. What is worrisome is the fact that more than 50 per cent of India’s imported oil passes through the strait. If the strait is chocked and trade is stopped, tankers carrying oil to India might be forced to navigate via the longer and dangerous Gulf of Aden route, raising the cost of imports considerably.

• Apart from the oil prices, another major concern is the Indian investment into the region. India has developed Iran’s Chabahar port as a transit hub for Afghanistan and for its strategic proximity to China’s Gwadar Port, investing more than USD $500 million in the port. It also has plans to develop it further as part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). India further has plans to acquire two gas fields in Iran, Farzad-B gas field located in Tehran and the South Pars field located between Iran and Qatar. The future of these investments will be in jeopardy if the US-Iran war breaks out.

• More significantly, India may be forced to choose sides in a potential conflict when it really shouldn’t have to.

Conclusion

The best course for India would be to back a process that leads to a negotiated settlement of the Iran issue.

Reference: Hindustan Times

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/choking-the-strait-here-s-how-the-us-iran-war-can-affect-india/440911

TOPIC- Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these

2. How far do you agree with the idea of holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies?

Ans:

Introduction

The idea of holding elections simultaneously to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies is recently in the news after it got a push from the Prime Minister. Simultaneous elections were held in India since 1951; then repeated in 1957, 1962 and 1967 but it was disturbed due to pre-mature dissolutions of Lok Sabha in 1970’s. The idea of holding simultaneous elections has various implications and various feasibility issues stand in the way.

Merits of this move

• Minimizing the tenure of electoral process: this can pave the way for legislators to focus on governance rather than elections.

• The propagandizing and clashes met during the time of elections can be minimized.

• Also, the disruptions of the democratic process caused by the Model Code of Conduct can reduce.

• Uniformity in the Governance process: allows efficiency in the administration and consistency in the economic and social policies

Demerits of the move

• Blow to the local politics: as the local issues will be subsumed under the national issues. Also voting patterns can be biased in favour of a particular party. This will lead to dominance of larger political parties

• Public bargaining would be minimized as they will have chances to elect the government only once in 5 years

• This move is against the spirit of federalism

Feasibility issues and underlying constraints

• Legal: need for a constitutional amendment act needed for curtailment of state assemblies

• Infrastructural: massive increase in the EVM’s and VVPAT would be needed. Also availability of VVPAT everywhere would pose a logistical challenge

Conclusion

The idea of simultaneous elections needs much more debate before becoming a reality. Given its challenges, it would be prudent to focus on pending basic electoral reforms for the time being.

Reference: Hindustan Times

26th June, 2019

TOPIC- Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections

1. In light of the spate of lynchings in news in several parts of the country, critically examine the need of an anti lynching law?

Ans:

Introduction

There has been a recent rise in the number of the mass lynchings in the country. In this context, there has been a demand for an anti-lynching law.

Reasons for an increase in such instances

• Communalism, religiosity, intolerance, hatred are leading to lynchingsbased on religion and culture. eg :- Jharkhand incident

• Fake news, false propaganda, unfiltered ubiquitous presence of social networking sites, whatsapp etc are misguiding people to take up violence.

• Inefficient and slow justice system is driving people to take up laws in their hand.

• Low capacity, overburdened policing system and other law and order upholding agencies failure to tackle such incidents with firmness.

• Lack of legislative provisions dealing with lynching in stringent and time-bound manner.

Need of an anti-lynching law

• To uphold rule of the law and faster, responsive, investigation and stringent punishments to the culprits.

• Impose repression on illegal activities like propagation of false propaganda, fake news, hatred and disharmony in the society through brainwashing people for lynchings.

• To set up autonomous, statutory bodies to deal with such nefarious activities firmly.

• Bringing a layer of accountability to the local administration in case of such incidents.

Conclusion

An anti lynching law alone cannot solve this issue unless mindset of people change, communalist ideology is eradicated, love and peace is spread, judiciary is made efficient and policing is made advance to tackle unrestricted unfiltered false news, propaganda on internet and communication devices.

Reference: The Hindu

TOPIC- Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions

2. How far do you agree with the view that the century old system of prisons in India needs repair?

Ans:

Introduction

Recently, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released its report Prison Statistics 2016 which highlights the plight of prisons in India. The report raises a number of red flags signalling the rot in India’s prison system.

Issues facing the Indian prisons

• Indian prisons face three long-standing structural constraints:

• Overcrowding

• Understaffing and underfunding

• Violent clashes

• Unhygienic condition–In Rajasthan, it has been noticed that prisoners contracting skin diseases after they have entered the prison. In some cases, the prisoners have contracted deadly diseases like HIV and TB.

• The number of open jails is few and far between. Only 70 out of over 1400 prisons are open prisons. For women inmates, it is almost negligible.

• In comparison to men, the disposal of cases pertaining to women and children is very low. Hence, a rising number of women and children undertrials populating prisons.

Need for reforms

• Prison reform is necessary to ensure that human rights of prisoners are protected and their prospects for social reintegration are increased.

• Prisons are not isolated from the society and prison health is public health. It is important to provide adequate health facilities.

• For protecting the rights of inmates with mental health-care needs.

• Most recent statistics reveal that over 67 percent of the prisoners are under-trials and may continue to be held in overcrowded prisons for years. This makes them one of the weakest sections of society.

Conclusion

Prisons should have reformative approach rather than retributive one. Basic human rights of the prisoner should be protected and be given another chance to live a meaningful life. Financial assistance to NGOs working for the rehabilitation of prisoners and community-based alternatives to imprisonment for offenders convicted for relatively minor offences should be considered.

Reference: The Hindu

27th June, 2019

TOPIC- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

1. In the light of falling earning outcomes in the public education system in India, it is tempting to apportion the blame on the teachers. In this context, highlight the problems faced by teachers in the public education system in India.

Ans:

Introduction

Teachers are the very linchpins of an education system. They are the primary channels through which learning is imparted to students in addition to shaping their outlook and behaviour. Given the enormous responsibility that they are entrusted with, it is tempting to apportion blame on them when learning outcomes do not match up to our expectations. However, teachers can excel only when provided with a strong support system.

Problems faced by teachers in the public education system in India

• Over the past few decades, school teachers have been burdened with an array of administrative responsibilities. For instance, they are expected to respond to frequent data requests from state officials at short notices, undertake time consuming distribution of various State benefits and materials and deal with cumbersome procedures for personnel related issues like leaves and transfers. These non-teaching activities consume a large part of their time, leaving less time for core academic work.

• Of the time spent in teaching, teachers find a huge variance in student learning levels thanks to a decade of no-detention policy. A mixed class where children of different competencies are made to sit together would leave even the most skilled teacher befuddled, as she would not know the level at which the content needs to be pitched.

• Despite all these challenges and teaching being a fixed tenure job with limited opportunities for promotions, many conscientious teachers ungrudgingly put in tremendous efforts in fulfilling the multifarious tasks assigned to them. However, there has rarely been any systematic effort to appreciate their work and performance.

Way forward

• To improve core academics, Haryana has developed a framework Saksham Taalika, aimed at mapping specific competencies to the syllabus and instituted frequent statewide assessments of students based on these competencies.

• Similarly, Himachal Pradesh has instituted the Samprapti Soochi, which is a chart that displays desired learning outcomes on classroom walls.

• Andhra Pradesh has also put in place a dashboard linked with each student’s report card, which allows teachers to better monitor students. The dashboard has almost 90,000 users, indicating widespread acceptance.

• In addition to empowerment through data, states have invested heavily in mentoring and training of teachers.

• Further to save teachers’ time in administrative processes, states like Rajasthan have launched the Shaala Darpan dashboard which houses all data pertaining to schools, teachers, students and resources in one place. The introduction of these dashboards has allowed for high quality data to be collected within weeks, compared to the 10 to 13 months taken previously.

• To complement these efforts, states are also undertaking reforms to automate transfers through an online system to fasten the process and bring in more transparency.

Conclusion

The results so far from these initiatives have been more than encouraging and one hopes that based on these experiences, more states will critically examine ways in which they can support their teachers. Teachers are the front line workers of our education system. It is our responsibility to empower and enable them to attain the best possible learning outcomes in their classrooms.

Reference: Hindustan Times

TOPIC- Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate

2. What is United Nations Security Council (UNSC)? How are the non-permanent members elected to it?

Ans:

Introduction

India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the Security Council has been endorsed unanimously by the Asia Pacific group, which comprises 55 countries, including Pakistan.

The endorsement means that India has a “clean slate” candidature – that is there is no other contestant from the group – for the elections that will be held for five non-permanent members next year, for the 2021-22 term.

What is UNSC?

• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security.

• Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions; it is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.

• Members: The Security Council consists of fifteen members. Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and the United States—serve as the body’s five permanent members. These permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.

• The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms. The body’s presidency rotates monthly among its members.

How are non-permanent members elected?

• Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members out of a total of 10, for a two-year term.

• Distribution of seats: These 10 seats are distributed among the regions thus: five for African and Asian countries; one for Eastern European countries; two for Latin American and Caribbean countries; two for Western European and other countries.

• Of the five seats for Africa and Asia, three are for Africa and two for Asia; there is an informal understanding between the two groups to reserve one for an Arab country. The Africa and Asia Pacific group takes turns every two years to put up an Arab candidate.

• Elections for terms beginning in even-numbered years select two African members, and one each within Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Terms beginning in odd-numbered years consist of two Western European and Other members, and one each from Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Votes: Irrespective of whether a country is a “clean slate” candidate and has been endorsed by its group, it needs to secure the votes of two-thirds of the members present and voting at the General Assembly session (a minimum of 129 votes if all 193 member states participate). When contested, the elections for non-permanent seats can be fraught and can go on for several rounds, In 1975, there was a contest between India and Pakistan, which went to eight rounds. Pakistan won the seat that year. In 1996, India lost a contest to Japan.

Reference: Indian Express

28th June, 2019

TOPIC- Important International institutions, agencies and fora– their structure, mandate

1. Write a short note on Financial Action Task Force.

Ans:

Context

There has been much talk in recent days of Pakistan facing the possibility of being downgraded from the “grey list” to the “black list” of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

What is FATF?

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 on the initiative of the G7. It is a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in various areas. The FATF Secretariat is housed at the OECD headquarters in Paris.

Objectives

The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

Functions

The FATF monitors the progress of its members in implementing necessary measures, reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures and promotes the adoption and implementation of appropriate measures globally. In collaboration with other international stakeholders, the FATF works to identify national-level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting the international financial system from misuse.

Reference: Hindustan Times

TOPIC- Challenges to internal security through social networking sites

2. Discuss the threats posed by social media platforms in the present world. Why is it difficult to deal with the same? Suggest suitable measures.

Ans:

Introduction

The importance of social media is well known to all of us. It has proved helpful in many ways. However we cannot ignore the negative aspects of social media in our society. The threats posed by social media are turning out to be so serious and we need to think of ways to deal with it.

Threats posed by social media platforms

• The circulation of fake news is one big threat that the social media is coming up with these days. This has led to mob lynching at several places.

• Online snooping and misuse of data available online is another major threat.

• Cases of online harassment and trolling have also increased over the years.

• New forms of crimes like online child grooming, revenge porn etc have come up.

• Hacking and online fraud are yet another serious issues.

• Spread of terrorism, regionalism and communalism.

• Using social media can make a person more vulnerable to predators and cyber bullying.

• The privacy of individuals is often threatened.

• Incidents involving the security failure of a third-party contractor, fraud by employees, cyber espionage, and network intrusion appear to be the most damaging for large enterprises and is a serious threat to the economy.

• Hate spreading is another major issue.

Why is it difficult to deal with them?

• The amount of data and traffic are so huge that it becomes difficult to regulate the social media platforms.

• There is a dearth of digital literacy among the masses.

• There is difficulty in prosecution and tracking of crime due to jurisdiction problems and anonymity offered by the internet

• The regulation of social media would impose restrictions on business and various government schemes which make use of social media platforms would also be affected.

• The number of internet users is very large and it keeps on increasing.

• There is also difficulty of jurisdiction (data is shared across borders).

How to deal with it?

• Expansion of digital literacy is one of the most effective ways to deal with it.

• The government and social media platforms should work in close collaboration to deal with the issue.

• Rules of data protection and privacy should be made strict.

• Cyber security cell and IT organizations must be strengthened.

• Government must make full use of Artificial Intelligence in dealing with the problem.

• People should be made aware of things like fake news and hate messages.

• Punishment and penalty for violators and those involved in spreading fake news and hate messages.

• There should be international consensus with respect to easier Extradition and prosecution of Cyber criminals.

Conclusion

Internet and social media have helped us in many ways and they will continue to do so provided we use these social media platforms in a more responsible manner. Technological advancements are meant to take the society forward and we should never use these in such a way that we are pulled back.

29th June, 2019

TOPIC- Conservation

1. Discuss the causes that have led to acute water crisis in India. Also suggest what needs to be done to address the situation on ground.

Ans:

Introduction

Groundwater is a critical resource whose sound management is absolutely necessary. Various reports have pointed out the alarming drop in groundwater levels across the country. The issue compels us to examine the root cause behind this shortage and suggest steps to deal with the issue.

Causes of water crisis

The water scarcity is mostly man made due to excess population growth and mismanagement of water resources. Some of the major reasons for water scarcity are:

• Inefficient use of water for agriculture. Traditional techniques of irrigation cause maximum water loss due to evaporation, drainage, percolation, water conveyance, and excess use of groundwater. As more areas come under traditional irrigation techniques, the stress for water available for other purposes will continue.

• Reduction in traditional water recharging areas. Rapid construction is ignoring traditional water bodies that have also acted as ground water recharging mechanism.

• Sewage and wastewater drainage into traditional water bodies. Government intervention at the source is urgently required if this problem is to be tackled.

• Release of chemicals and effluents into rivers, streams and ponds. Strict monitoring and implementation of laws by the government, NGOs and social activists is required.

• Lack of on-time de-silting operations in large water bodies that can enhance water storage capacity during monsoon.

• Lack of efficient water management and distribution of water between urban consumers, the agriculture sector and industry.

Way forward

India’s priority must be:

a) To make our irrigation and water systems amenable to modern concepts.

b) To complete irrigation and water sector reforms.

c) To implement improved water management, governance and regulation practices.

d) Pricing system for water: For making people use water efficiently

• Bigger program on water efficiency as energy efficiency – Setting standards for water management.

• Ensuring minimal pollution in both urban areas and industry.

• Fixing India’s water crisis will need well balanced policies, meticulous strategy and a massive amount of public participation.

• Sugarcane consumes a disproportionate amount of water and water-stressed regions must make an effort to move away from the crop.Comprehensive restructuring of India’s Central Ground Water Board and the Central Water

• Commission in order to create a new 21st Century management authority.

• Right to water should mean a high priority to drinking water.

• India has so far seen the water sector in terms of irrigation projects or water schemes. We need to balance between our water-needs and that of the river itself.

Reference: The Hindu

TOPIC- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

2. China and the rest of the region need to look beyond rivalry and defensiveness to explore the possibilities of economic integration as the West, so dominant for the last two hundred years, marginalises and isolates itself. Discuss.

Ans:

Introduction

Stalemate at the WTO negotiations, rising protectionism, regionalism and explorations for bilateral avenues indicate a crumpling global economic order. It is surprising that the initiative comes from those countries who were once the flag bearers of Washington Consensus.

In these circumstances it is pertinent that India along with other likeminded and similarly placed economies come out strongly in the support of multilateralism so as to avoid collapse of WTO and also hasten towards building an economically self sustained Asia.

Rising Protectionism in the West

• The system of rules and regulations that has governed world trade for decades is under threat. In both the US and Europe it is facing serious opposition.

• Since 2008, according to the WTO, G20 economies have introduced 1,583 new trade restricting measures and removed just 387.

• Continuous attempt at placing restrictions on H1B visa indicates the attitude of USA’s establishment that in future Indian IT professionals are likely to lose their jobs in USA. Demand for similar barrier to entry in Europe is gaining momentum.

• USA’s policy of “Buy American and Hire American” has cut short the demand of IT outsourcing business from USA to Indian IT Companies such as Infosys, Wipro etc. In recent years all IT firms in India has witnessed lowest rate of recruitment. In addition many have reported to lose their jobs.

• US’ trade war with China and deteriorating trade relations with India.

What to be done by India and China

• Reorient their economic growth strategy so as to have greater integration of the region with that of other part of the world which benefits all and effectively redistributes the economic risks across the world.

• A greater internal integration shall be attempted in the Asian region and various instruments such as BIMSTEC, BBIN etc shall be utilised to the fullest. Also, the deadlocks in RCEP shall be removed as soon as possible.

• India needs to embrace an export-oriented development strategy acknowledging the importance of global market for merchandise trade which is many times larger than its internal consumption market. It is particularly important as the wages in China are rising and it is reorienting its economic strategy from primarily an export-led growth to a more consumption-driven economy.

• Special efforts needed to attract more and more FDI and traditionally defensive posture on trade in particular shall be given up.

Way forward

India and China hold the key to the emerging global political economy. Joining the U.S. and other advanced economies in closing up will only lead to slower growth. The challenge for India and China, as the two fastest growing major economies, is to engage with each other and with other willing partner nations, particularly in the East Asia and the Pacific region (including advanced economies like Japan and Australia), to maintain openness and embrace globalisation. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is one forum where this engagement can happen. India can engage on free trade and free investment in other groups like the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal) and BIMSTEC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Bhutan) and via these groups with the entire ASEAN region.

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Current affairs 24th -29th June 2019

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