Court sets deadline for Lokpal panel

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context:

        ★ A bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi directed the Centre to provide the search committee the requisite infrastructure and manpower to enable it to complete its work.

         

More about the news:

       ★ The Supreme Court on Thursday fixed a February end deadline for the search committee on Lokpal to recommend the panel of names for appointment of the first anti-graft ombudsman of the country.

       ★ A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi directed the Centre to provide the search committee requisite infrastructure and manpower to enable it to complete its work.

         

Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013:        ★ The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 seeks to provide for the establishment of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for States to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for related matters.        ★ The act extends to whole of India, including Jammu & Kashmir and is applicable to "public servants" within and outside India.        ★ The act mandates for creation of Lokpal for Union and Lokayukta for states.   Structure: ★ The institution of Lokpal is a statutory body without any constitutional backing. ★ Lokpal is a multi member body, made up of one chairperson and maximum of 8 members. ★ The person who is to be appointed as the chairperson of the Lokpal should be either the former Chief Justice of India Or the former Judge of Supreme Court Or an eminent person with impeccable integrity and outstanding ability, having special knowledge and expertise of minimum 25 years in the matters relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance including insurance and banking, law and management. ★ Out of the maximum eight members, half will be judicial members. Minimum fifty per cent of the Members will be from SC / ST / OBC / Minorities and women.                     ☆ The judicial member of the Lokpal should be either a former Judge of the Supreme Court or a former Chief Justice of a High Court.                     ☆ The non-judicial member should be an eminent person with impeccable integrity and outstanding ability, having special knowledge and expertise of minimum 25 years in the matters relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance including insurance and banking, law and management. ★ The members are appointed by the president on the recommendation of a selection committee. ★ The selection committee is composed of the Prime Minister who is the Chairperson; Speaker of Lok Sabha ,Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha ,Chief Justice of India or a Judge nominated by him / her, and One eminent jurist.   Jurisdiction of Lokpal: ★ The jurisdiction of the Lokpal will include the Prime Minister except on allegations of corruption relating to international relations, security, the public order, atomic energy and space and unless a Full Bench of the Lokpal and at least two-thirds of members approve an inquiry. ★ The Lokpal will also have jurisdiction over Ministers and MPs but not in the matter of anything said in Parliament or a vote given there. ★ Lokpal’s jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants. ★ Group A, B, C or D officers defined as such under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 will be covered under the Lokpal but any corruption complaint against Group A and B officers, after inquiry, will come to the Lokpal.             ☆ However, in the case of Group C and D officers, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner will investigate and report to the Lokpal.   Powers of Lokpal:  ★ It has powers to superintendence over, and to give direction to CBI. ★  If it has referred a case to CBI, the investigating officer in such case cannot be transferred without approval of Lokpal. ★ Powers to authorize CBI for search and seizure operations connected to such case. ★ The Inquiry Wing of the Lokpal has been vested with the powers of a civil court. ★ Lokpal has powers of confiscation of assets, proceeds, receipts and benefits arisen or procured by means of corruption in special circumstances ★ Lokpal has the power to recommend transfer or suspension of public servant connected with allegation of corruption. ★ Lokpal has power to give directions to prevent destruction of records during preliminary inquiry.

                                                                                                                                    Source:- The Hindu

Before humans, 'humanoids' to do experiments in space

GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Awareness in the field of Space.

 

Context:

      ★ The ISRO has said that it will not be sending animals on test missions before the planned Gaganyaan Mission- human spaceflight programme.

         

More about the news:

      ★ ISRO will send a humanoid (robot resembling a human) for conducting experiments in space twice before actually sending humans under the Gaganyaan Mission in 2022

      ★ ISRO has been considering a wide range of experiments for the Gaganyaan mission, ranging from experimental medical devices and sensors to microbiology and waste disposal.

 

Gaganyaan Mission:

      ★ Gaganyaan is India’s first Human Space Flight Programme to be launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by 2022.

      ★ The programme will make India the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission. So far, only the USA, Russia and China have launched human spaceflight missions.

                                                                                                        Source:- TIMES OF INDIA

 

 

Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates UNNATI

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

 

Context:

        ★ Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space inaugurated the UNNATI- (Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly & Training) programme organized by ISRO in Bengaluru.

           

UNNATI:

        ★ UNNATI, a capacity building programme on Nanosatellite development, is an initiative by ISRO to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations conference on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space (UNISPACE-50).

        ★ The programme provides opportunities to the participating developing countries to strengthen in assembling, integrating and testing of Nanosatellite.

        ★ UNNATI programme is planned to be conducted for 3 years by U.R. Rao Satellite Centre of ISRO in 3 batches and will target to benefit officials of 45 countries.

 

Objective:

       ★ To offer a simplified and increased exposure to satellite fabrication technologies, as part of the UNISPACE initiative.

       ★ To provide theoretical course on satellite technology.

       ★ To provide intensive course on nano satellite realisation, covering mission aspects, design, fabrication, assembly, integration & testing.

       ★ To provide hands-on training to assemble, integrate and test a low cost, modular nano satellite.

           

U. R. Rao Satellite Centre: U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru is the lead centre of ISRO for design, development and integration of satellites for communication, remote sensing, navigation and scientific studies.   UNOOSA:        ★ UNOOSA (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs) works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful uses and exploration of space.        ★ It also promotes the utilisation of space science and technology for sustainable      economic and social development.        ★ The Office assists any United Nations Member State to establish legal and regulatory frameworks to govern space activities.

                                                                                                                                                      Source:- PIB

Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana Achieves one crore Milestone

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

 

Context:

        ★ Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY), the flagship scheme of the Central Government for employment generation has crossed the milestone of one crore beneficiaries as on January 14, 2019.

         

Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY):

        ★ PMRPY was announced on August 07, 2016 and is being implemented by Ministry of Labour and Employment through the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).

        ★ The PMRPY Scheme aims to incentivise employers for employment generation by the Government paying the employers' EPS contribution of 8.33%, for the new employees, for the first three years of their employment and is proposed to be made applicable for unemployed persons that are semi-skilled and unskilled.

         

Objective:

         ★ The Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY) is a scheme to incentivise employers registered with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for job creation by the Government paying the 8.33% contribution of employers to the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) in respect of new employees having a new Universal Account Number (UAN). For the textile (apparel) sector, the Government will also be paying the 3.67% Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution of the eligible employer for these new employees.

         

Benefits:

        ★ The employer is incentivised for increasing the employment base of workers in the establishment

        ★ A large number of workers will find jobs in such establishments. A direct benefit is that these workers will have access to social security benefits of the organized sector.

                                                                                                                                                    Source:- PIB

Why isolation of indigenous groups is crucial today  [Editorial / Opinion]

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes

 

Context:

       ★ The Sentinelese people are probably the most isolated of the world’s remaining remote tribes, and they are keen to stay that way.

       ★ They shoot arrows to warn off anyone who approaches their island, and attack those, like Chau, who ignore their warnings.

 

Indigenous Community:

        ★ Indigenous communities’ combined share of the world population is now at just 4.5%

        ★ Indigenous tribes show aggression to outsiders mainly because they associate outsiders with violence and infectious diseases like small pox leading to their depopulation during colonization time

        ★ Colonial excesses had reduced aboriginal population in Andaman islands from more than 25 tribes to just four tribes

        ★ After decolonization period, many independent countries made “no contact policy” for indigenous tribes respecting their right to their ancestral land and maintaining seclusion

        ★ But encroachment continues for forest lands and produces for nations economic growth

        ★ In Brazil, three-quarters of the indigenous societies that opened up to the outside world have become extinct, with the rest suffering catastrophic population declines.

        ★ Indigenous tribes are facing steep decline in population mainly on account of inbreeding phenomena but outside contact would make it much worse

        ★ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous people

         

Importance of safeguarding Indigenous People:

        ★ Indigenous tribes have good understanding of and show reverence for nature

        ★ Indigenous people are an essential element of cultural diversity and ecological harmony

        ★ As the world’s environmental sentinels, safeguarding 80% of global diversity and playing a critical role in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

        ★ When the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struck, more than a quarter-million people died across 14 countries, but the two isolated Andaman tribes, which rely on traditional warning systems, suffered no known casualties.

        ★ Acts as hub of biological treasure for scientists seeking to reconstruct evolutionary and migration histories

 

Way forward:

        ★ Indigenous tribal people are essential element in cultural diversity and ecological harmony and they should be allowed to live peacefully on their ancestral land that they preserved and honored for centuries.

                                                                                                                                            Source:- Livemint

The view from the outside: on India human rights record [ Editorial / Opinion]

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Important aspects of governance.

 

Context:

       ★ India, world’s largest democracy, is embarking on an increasingly significant role in the world supported by its economic and military power.

       ★ In India, there is a blind spot in relation to rights and the intersection with foreign relations and policy discussions, and ignoring  its human rights record.

         

Track record on Human Rights:

        ★ concerns raised by activists, academics and human rights organisations about deteriorating climate in relation to human rights.

        ★ In January 2019, four UN Special Rapporteurs mandated to report on summary executions, torture, freedom of religion, and the situation of human rights defenders issued a statement drawing attention to “extrajudicial” killings in Uttar Pradesh.

        ★ UN experts highlighted the “patterns of events”, including arrest, detention and torture prior to encounter of 59 individuals since March 2017.

        ★ A total of 26 critical statements have been issued by the UN since 2010 and 9 were issued in 2018, highest number of negative statements on India in the period.

​The issues raised by UN includes:

                   ☆ Assam National Register of Citizens process,

                   ☆ online hate speech,

                   ☆ the killing of Gauri Lankesh,

                   ☆ jailing of human rights activists,

                   ☆ deportation of Rohingya refugees, and

                   ☆ excessive police response to protests.

         

The above said statements indicate a few things.

         ★ First, there has been enhanced scrutiny by international experts of the deteriorating human rights environment in India, particularly in 2018.

         ★ Second, the magnification of domestic rights violations in the international sphere is inevitable.

         ★ Third, the metric of human rights and compliance with international law cannot be dismissed.

         

Way forward:

          ★ India’s record of upholding human rights is abysmal; it must do better. The primary consideration should be the welfare and rights of individuals within the purview of the state.

          ★ The secondary consideration should be perception and the place that India wants for itself in terms of stature and prestige. 

          ★ From both perspectives, the respect of the rights of individuals must be non-negotiable.

                                                                                                                                          Source:- The Hindu

Balancing act in Afghanistan [ Editorial / Opinion]

GS PAPER - 02 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - India and its neighbourhood Relation.

 

Context:

        ★ United States is likely to withdraw troops from Afghanistan after pulling troops from Syria.  Such probable future step demands reform in India’s Afghanistan Policy

         

U.S. Afghan policy:

        ★ Currently US spends $45billion/year on Afghan security and economic development

        ★ In last 18 years, US lost 2400 troops and paid cost of $800bn on US forces and $105bn on Afghanistan rebuilding efforts with no effective output

        ★ US Afghanistan 2017 policy mandated 5000 US troops, boosting afghan forces capabilities and holding Pakistan accountable for US aid

        ★ After a year, state of affairs have not changed as Taliban holds ground strongly in Afghanistan

        ★ US has lost its goodwill among Afghan people and stationing troops looks liability for US

         

Status of Afghan Security Force:

       ★ Afghan security forces are suffering unacceptable attrition.

       ★ Since 2015, when the Afghan security forces took charge of combat operations, they have suffered around 30,000 casualties.

       ★ Civilian casualties are over 3,000 a year.

       ★ With recruitment drying up and desertions on the rise, the Afghan security forces are down by more than 10% from their sanctioned strength.

       ★ The strength of the Afghan security forces was hurriedly doubled to enable them to take combat lead -but lack of training and equipment.

       ★ The Special Forces (Ktah Khas) raised, But their numbers are limited and they are dependent on U.S. airlift and intelligence imagery.

         

Status of Afghan Governance System:

       ★ In 2004 Afghan government adopted U.S.-style presidential system but lacking the institutions of legislature, judiciary and civil society, checks and balance were missing.

       ★ Parliamentary election result held in October 2018 has still not been announced on reason of election rigging and Presidential election has been postponed to July 2019

         

Status of Taliban:

       ★ Taliban has been growing strong

       ★ Poppy production increased four times since 2002 financing Taliban insurgency operations

 

Effects of U.S. Policy:

       ★ The cumulative effect is that the U.S. has lost goodwill and its troop presence is a liability. It is hardly surprising that the U.S. is now seeking an exit.

       ★ It is important to note that managing the optics of withdrawal is critical and that is what Zalmay Khalilzad, as the Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, is tasked to ensure.

       ★ The Afghan presidential election has been pushed by three months to July 20, 2019 but it is unlikely that the election machinery can be reformed and the promised biometric ID system put in place.

       ★ Since the security situation does not permit new elections, the U.S. is likely to push for a new version of the 2001 Bonn Conference to set up an interim government that can plan a Loya Jirga and an election in a year or two. The process would provide the window for a U.S. exit.

         

Balancing Act in Afghanistan:

        ★ The U.S. government appears to be acknowledging that Pakistan, given its influence over the Taliban, is an important and potentially helpful player in the peace process in Afghanistan.

        ★ However, it has also signalled its desire for India, its growing defence partner, to be more involved in reconciliation efforts and in Afghanistan more broadly.

        ★ The recent visit to India of Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, highlights the importance that Washington accords to India in Afghanistan.

        ★ the U.S. cannot have it both ways. If Pakistan is enlisted in reconciliation efforts, India won’t be keen to get involved. But if India does take on a larger role, then Pakistan may well step back.

        ★ To be sure, India and Pakistan have proved to be willing and able to partner regionally. They may struggle to coexist in SAARC, but they do cooperate on the TAPI pipeline, and they’re both members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, an arrangement mostly of Central Asian states, and China and Russia.

        ★ It is obvious that partnering in Afghanistan is much more delicate and challenging. Fortunately for the U.S., this policy dilemma may work itself out on its own.

 

India’s Afghanistan Policy:

        ★ India advocate any peace negotiation should be afghan-led, afghan-owned and afghan-controlled

        ★ Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s desire for a more robust regional foreign policy, India appears content to keep a low profile in Afghanistan, outside of its continued development and economic assistance projects.

        ★ Government of India has distanced itself from the Indian Army Chief’s remark supporting talks with the Taliban with no preconditions.

        ★ Additionally, India will not volunteer to play a role in reconciliation efforts unless formally invited by Kabul.

        ★ Afghan officials, grudgingly cognisant of Pakistan’s significant role, are unlikely to do so unless current efforts to kick-start talks do not bear fruit, or Pakistan is no longer seen as helpful.

         

Way forward:

         ★ India need strong and active diplomacy engagement with Afghanistan both officially and non- officially and should be strong partner in any peace negotiations and in developmental process.

                                                                                                                                      Source:- The Hindu

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