iaswinnishers.com...2020/12/01 · © Winnishers Educational Services Pvt Ltd A LETTER FROM MY HEART Dear IAS Aspirant Friends, It gives me immense pleasure to present to you the

CURRENT AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2019

ORGANIC AND ORGANISED

DECEMBER 2020

© Winnishers Educational Services Pvt Ltd

A LETTER FROM MY HEART

Dear IAS Aspirant Friends,

It gives me immense pleasure to present to you the 360º Current

Affairs Magazine for the month of December 2020. The dedicated

team that compiles and edits Current Affairs at IAS WINNISHERS

has made sincere efforts to provide to you the most relevant and

important news from the point of view of Interview, Mains and

especially the soon approaching Prelims.

Our mission is to facilitate the current affairs knowledge that is

ORGANIC and ORGANISED.

We fully empathize with your anxiety related to the exam. This

exam requires complete focus and dedication, and it becomes all

the more relevant in times like the one we are facing now. This

compilation gives you the right direction and aids you in your

preparation for the exam.

Wishing You Success

Vinay Kumar R

Founder & CEO, IAS WINNISHERS

© Winnishers Educational Services Pvt Ltd 1

Contents

1. POLITY & CONSTITUTION......................................................................................................................................... 5

1.1.EC READY TO ALLOW POSTAL BALLOTS FOR NRIs .................................................................................................... 5

1.2.J&K’S ROSHNI ACT .................................................................................................................................................. 7

1.3.ENSURE CCTVs IN EVERY POLICE STATION, SC TELLS STATES, UTs............................................................................ 8

1.4.CONTEMPT OF COURT ........................................................................................................................................... 9

1.5.NEED TO REVISIT SEVENTH SCHEDULE .................................................................................................................. 10

1.6.GUJJARS SEEK CENTRE’S INTERVENTION ON QUOTA ISSUE ................................................................................... 11

1.7.VOTER ID CARD .................................................................................................................................................... 12

1.8.SC NOTICE TO GOVT ON NEUTRAL DIVORCE, ALIMONY RULE................................................................................ 12

1.9.AMENDMENT TO KARNATAKA LAND REFORMS ACT ............................................................................................. 15

1.10.MERGER OF FOUR GOVERNMENT-RUN FILM AND MEDIA UNITS ........................................................................ 16

1.11.HARYANA APPROVES NEW EMPLOYMENT POLICY WITH AIM TO ATTRACT RS 1 LAKH CR INVESTMENT ............... 17

2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ................................................................................................................................. 18

2.1.INDIA SENDS MAXIMUM EDUCATED MIGRANTS TO RICH COUNTRIES : OECD ....................................................... 19

2.2.INDIA HAS HIGHEST BRIBERY RATE IN ASIA ........................................................................................................... 19

2.3.GLOBAL TERRORISM INDEX (GTI) 2020 ................................................................................................................. 20

2.4.THE STATE OF TAX JUSTICE 2020: TAX JUSTICE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 ............................................................. 22

2.5.GLOBAL WAGE REPORT 2020-21 .......................................................................................................................... 25

2.6.ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS DEFENCE MINISTERS’ MEETING .................................................... 27

2.7.17TH INTERNATIONAL INTER-MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION IN POPULATION AND

DEVELOPMENT .......................................................................................................................................................... 29

2.8.INDIA-UZBEKISTAN VIRTUAL SUMMIT .................................................................................................................. 30

2.9.ADB LAUNCHES ‘ASIA PACIFIC VACCINE ACCESS FACILITY’ FOR ITS DEVELOPING MEMBERS .................................. 32

2.10.INDIA PLEDGES USD 2 BILLION TO STRENGTHEN CARE FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS ......................... 34

2.11.HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2020 ............................................................................................................... 34

2.11.HUMAN FREEDOM INDEX 2020 .......................................................................................................................... 35

2.12.INDIA-BANGLADESH SUMMIT............................................................................................................................. 37

2.13.INDIA-VIETNAM VIRTUAL SUMMIT 2020 ............................................................................................................ 39

2.14.INDIA, ISRAEL SIGN MOU FOR COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE ...................................... 41

2.15.FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT TRENDS AND OUTLOOK IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC 2020/21 ................................ 42

2.16.JAPAN TO JOIN ‘FIVE EYES’ TO CHECK CHINA’S CLAMPDOWN ON UYGHURS ....................................................... 43

3. ECONOMY ............................................................................................................................................................. 45

AGRICULTURE ....................................................................................................................................................... 45

3.1.THE PERILS OF DEREGULATED IMPERFECT AGRIMARKETS..................................................................................... 45

3.2.MSP- FACTS VS FACTOIDS..................................................................................................................................... 48

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ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................ 49 3.3.JOBS, EXPORTS AND THE TRADE PACTS LINK ........................................................................................................ 49

3.4.BANKS RUN BY CORPORATES ............................................................................................................................... 51

3.5.WHAT IS INFLATION? WHAT IS THE RBI’S ROLE IN TACKLING IT? ........................................................................... 53

3.6.NEW DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION POLICY ................................................................................................................. 55

3.7.PLAN TO BREAK INTO TOP 50 NATIONS IN EASE OF DOING BUSINESS INDEX......................................................... 56

3.8.E-Sampada ........................................................................................................................................................... 57

FISCAL AND MONETARY POLICY ............................................................................................................................. 58

3.9.AKHILESH RANJAN TASK FORCE ............................................................................................................................ 58

3.10.RUPAY CARDS WITH OFFLINE TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................... 59

3.11.CURRENCY MANIPULATION ................................................................................................................................ 60

INFRASTRUCTURE .................................................................................................................................................. 62

3.12.SUBMARINE OPTICAL FIBRE CABLE CONNECTIVITY ............................................................................................. 62

3.13.VIABILITY GAP FUNDING SCHEME ....................................................................................................................... 63

4. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY .............................................................................................................................. 65

4.1.FEACAL COLIFORM LEVELS 660 TIMES DESIRABLE LIMIT IN YAMUNA .................................................................... 65

4.2.CENTER TO RESUME GOLD ORE EXTRACTION AT KGF ........................................................................................... 65

4.3.HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION INSIDE DIBRU SAIKOWA NATIONAL PARK ............................................................. 65

4.4.ONLY ORGANIC FARMING ALLOWED IN LAKSHADWEEP ....................................................................................... 66

4.5.CANNABIS REMOVED FROM MOST ‘DANGEROUS DRUG CATEGORY’ BY UN .......................................................... 66

4.6.DECLARATION OF EXOTIC SPECIES ........................................................................................................................ 67

4.7.INDIA SET TO EXCEED CLIMATE TARGETS: PM ...................................................................................................... 67

4.8.WORLD CO2 EMISSIONS DROP BY 7% IN THE PANDEMIC HIT 2020 ....................................................................... 68

4.9.CLIMATE GOALS ................................................................................................................................................... 68

4.10.HOW PUNJAB CAN ACHIEVE CROP DIVERSIFICATION .......................................................................................... 69

4.11.POPULATION DECLINE OF COMMON HIMALAYAN HERB ..................................................................................... 69

4.12.US FDA NOD FOR GENETICALLY MODIFIED PIGS ................................................................................................. 70

4.13.STATUS OF LEOPARD IN INDIA 2018 ................................................................................................................... 70

4.14.BIRD DIVERTERS AT GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD HABITAT ....................................................................................... 71

4.15.NEHRU ZOOLOGICAL PARK FIRST TO GET ISO CERTIFICATION ............................................................................. 71

4.16.NEW ADDITION TO RAMSAR LIST OF INDIA ......................................................................................................... 71

4.17.IFFO AMMONIA GAS LEAK .................................................................................................................................. 72

4.18.TIGER RADIO-COLLARED IN SUNDERBANS FOR ASSESSING TIGER-HUMAN INTERACTIONS .................................. 73

5. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................... 74

SPACE RELATED ..................................................................................................................................................... 74

5.1.CHINA SUCCESSFULLY LANDS SPACECRAFT ON MOON TO RETRIEVE LUNAR ROCKS .............................................. 74

5.2.CHINESE PROBE COMPLETES MOON SAMPLING ................................................................................................... 74

5.3.AUSTRALIAN TELESCOPE MAPS THREE MILLION GALAXIES IN JUST 300 HOURS ..................................................... 75

5.4.MASSIVE PUERTO RICO TELESCOPE COLLAPSES .................................................................................................... 76

5.5.CHINA TURNS ON ‘ARTIFICIAL SUN’ ...................................................................................................................... 76

5.6.JAPANESE SPACECRAFT APPROACHES EARTH TO DROP ASTEROID SAMPLES ......................................................... 77

5.7.BLUE ORIGIN COMPANY ....................................................................................................................................... 78

5.8.HOW DID A ROCKET BOOSTER FROM 1966 BECOME A NEAR-EARTH OBJECT? ...................................................... 78


5.9.ISRAEL UNVEILS NEW PLAN FOR MOON LANDING ................................................................................................ 79

5.10.CHINA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES TWO SATELLITES FOR GRAVITATIONAL WAVE DETECTION .............................. 80

5.11.THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL INTERPLANETARY MISSION ............................................................................................ 80

5.12.RUSSIA SUCCESSFULLY TEST LAUNCHES HEAVY LIFT SPACE ROCKET .................................................................... 81

5.13.CHINESE CAPSULE RETURNS TO EARTH CARRYING MOON ROCKS ....................................................................... 81

5.14.CONJUNCTION OF JUPITER AND SATURN............................................................................................................ 82

5.15.FIRST POTENTIAL RADIO SIGNAL FROM EXOPLANET DETECTED .......................................................................... 83

5.16.WHITE HOUSE PAVES WAY FOR NUKE REACTOR ON MOON ............................................................................... 83

OTHER NEWS ........................................................................................................................................................ 84

5.17.NEW DEVICE MEASURES RATE OF EVAPORATION IN MINUTES ........................................................................... 84

5.18.TTD-RUN HOSPITAL ROLLS OUT FIRST ‘BIONIC HAND’ ......................................................................................... 85

5.19.CHINA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES NEW EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE ............................................................ 85

5.20.GOOGLE’S INTERNET-PROVIDING BALLOONS TO BE STEERED BY AI..................................................................... 86

5.21.IIT-GUWAHATI DEVELOPS METHOD TO HARVEST WATER FROM AIR ................................................................... 87

5.22.CFTRI TO SEQUENCE SARS-CoV-2 GENOME......................................................................................................... 87

5.23.DRDO SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATES QUANTUM COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TWO LABS .............................. 88

5.24.NOKIA TO LEAD EU’S 6G PROJECT HEXA-X .......................................................................................................... 88

5.25.FIRST-EVER DIGITAL HEALTH PASSPORT FOR OVERSEAS TRAVELLERS .................................................................. 89

5.26.GOVERNMENT READIES 3D PRINTING POLICY FOR LOCAL FIRMS ........................................................................ 89

5.27.CHINA TO OPEN GIANT TELESCOPE TO INTERNATIONAL SCIENTISTS ................................................................... 90

5.28.PSLV-C50 CARRYING COMMUNICATION SATELLITE CMS-01 LIFTS OFF ................................................................ 91

5.29.OneWeB ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF 36 SATELLITES .............................................................................................. 92

5.30.CHINA'S NEW LONG MARCH 8 ROCKET MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT ......................................................................... 92

5.31.NANOMICELLES: USING NANOPARTICLES FOR CANCER TREATMENT................................................................... 93

5.32.PNEUMOSIL - INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUSLY CREATED VACCINE AGAINST PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE .................. 94

5.33.IISER SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY THE GENE THAT GREENS PLANTS............................................................................... 95

5.34.IIT-HYDERABAD SETS UP ‘TIHAN-IIT’ TESTBED FOR AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION SYSTEMS ................................. 95

6. SECURITY ............................................................................................................................................................... 97

6.1.INS HIMGIRI ......................................................................................................................................................... 97

6.2.S-400 (NATO NAME SA-21 GROWLER) .................................................................................................................. 97

6.3.MEDIUM RANGE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE (MRSAM) ........................................................................................... 98

6.4.MISSION SAGAR-III ............................................................................................................................................... 98

6.5.SAHAYAK-NG ....................................................................................................................................................... 98

7. SOCIAL ISSUES ....................................................................................................................................................... 99

7.1.CASTE-WISE SURVEY ............................................................................................................................................ 99

7.2.ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) ................................................................................................................... 100

7.3.GRIM LABOUR CONDITIONS IN PALM OIL FIELDS ................................................................................................ 101

7.4.THARU TRIBALS .................................................................................................................................................. 103

7.5.SHARE THE LOAD CAMPAIGN ............................................................................................................................. 104

7.6.HAVANA SYNDROME.......................................................................................................................................... 105

7.7.SMART ANGANWADIS ........................................................................................................................................ 105

7.8.PLASMODIUM OVALE ......................................................................................................................................... 107

7.9.INCREASING TREND IN VACCINATION ................................................................................................................. 108

7.10.NO COERCIVE FAMILY PLANNING ..................................................................................................................... 108

7.11.INDIA’S NURSING WORKFORCE ........................................................................................................................ 110


7.12.MALANKARA CHURCH ...................................................................................................................................... 111

7.13.DENOTIFIED NOMADIC TRIBES ......................................................................................................................... 112

7.14.ASSAM’S MADRASAS TO BECOME REGULAR SCHOOLS ..................................................................................... 113

7.15.VISION 2035 ..................................................................................................................................................... 114

7.16.EXPANSION OF IIT SYSTEM : ............................................................................................................................. 115

7.17.UN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX (HDI) : ........................................................................................................ 116

7.18.SHIGELLOSIS ..................................................................................................................................................... 117

7.19.“SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS-VISION 2030 — STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLAN FOR KARNATAKA” ....... 118

8. MISCELLANEOUS/FACTS ...................................................................................................................................... 120

8.1.HEIGHT OF MOUNT EVEREST .............................................................................................................................. 120

8.2.WORLD HERITAGE IRRIGATION STRUCTURE TAG ................................................................................................ 121

8.3.PARKASH PURAB OF GURU NANAK DEV JI .......................................................................................................... 122

8.4.GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE ..................................................................................................................................... 123

8.5.NAVY DAY .......................................................................................................................................................... 123

8.6.NEOM - THE CITY OF THE PRINCE ....................................................................................................................... 124

8.7.MAHAPARINIRVAN DIVAS .................................................................................................................................. 125

8.8.WORLD SOIL DAY ............................................................................................................................................... 125

8.9.HAMPI STONE CHARIOT NOW GETS PROTECTIVE RING ....................................................................................... 126

8.10.CLIMATE CHANGE PERFORMANCE INDEX ......................................................................................................... 127

8.11.ENTIRE LAKSHADWEEP GROUP OF ISLANDS BEING DECLARED AN ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL AREA ................... 128

8.12.BRAHMI INSCRIPTION OF ASHOKAN PERIOD FOUND NEAR MEDAK .................................................................. 128

8.13.KOILWAR BRIDGE /ABDUL BARI BRIDGE ........................................................................................................... 129

8.14.HUMAN RIGHTS DAY - 10 DECEMBER ............................................................................................................... 129

8.15.CHAG HANUKKAH SAMEACH ............................................................................................................................ 130

8.16.RAMANUJAN PRIZE 2020 .................................................................................................................................. 130

8.17.QUTUB MINAR ................................................................................................................................................. 131

8.18.VIJAY DIWAS .................................................................................................................................................... 133

8.19.CII-GREEN POWER AWARD ............................................................................................................................... 134

8.20.TRIPURASUNDARI TEMPLE ............................................................................................................................... 135

8.21.THE INDIA INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL (IISF)-2020 ................................................................................ 135

8.22.LEGION OF MERIT ............................................................................................................................................ 135

8.23.VISHWA - BHARATI UNIVERSITY ........................................................................................................................ 136

8.24.GOOD GOVERNANCE DAY ................................................................................................................................ 136

8.25.DIGIBOXX INDIAN CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE LAUNCHED BY NITI AAYOG .......................................................... 137


1. POLITY & CONSTITUTION

1.1.EC READY TO ALLOW POSTAL BALLOTS FOR NRIs

Relevance: GS 2 - Salient features of Representative of people’s act

Why in news? The Commission told the Law Ministry that it is “technically and administratively ready” to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) to NRI voters for elections next year in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Over a year after the Bill that proposed to extend proxy voting to overseas Indians lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha, the Election Commission (EC)

has now approached the government to permit Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to cast their votes through postal ballots.

Currently, voters residing abroad can only cast their votes in their respective constituencies. This regulation is seen as restrictive as only a few thousand Indians living overseas have registered as voters, the maximum being from Kerala.

According to rough estimates, there are about 1 crore Indians settled abroad, of whom about 60 lakh could be of eligible voting age. They could hold considerable sway in election results, especially in states such as Punjab, Gujarat and Kerala, where a number of expats hail from.

Under ETPBS, which is currently only available to service voters, the postal ballot is dispatched electronically and returned via ordinary mail. To extend this facility to overseas voters, the government only needs to amend the Conduct of Election Rules 1961. It doesn’t require Parliament’s nod.

Procedure for ETPBS:

• According to the Commission’s proposal received by the Law Ministry, any NRI interested in voting through the postal ballot in an election will have to inform the Returning Officer (RO) at least five days after the notification of the election. On receiving such information, the RO will dispatch the ballot paper electronically.

• The NRI voters will mark their preference on the ballot printouts and send it back along with a declaration attested by an officer appointed by the diplomatic or consular representative of India in the country where the NRI is resident

• It’s not clear, at this moment, if the voter will return the ballot paper herself through ordinary post or drop it off at the Indian Embassy, which may then segregate the envelopes constituency-wise and send them to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state concerned for onward transmission to the RO.

Background:

• It was in 2014 that the EC took up the proposal to permit NRI voters to cast their votes, after it received several requests, including one from Rajya Sabha MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal and the Ministry of Overseas Affairs.

• During its consultations with political parties and the Ministry of External Affairs

(MEA) on postal ballot voting for NRIs, the latter has expressed strong reservations over attesting the declaration that voters will have to send along with their marked ballot papers.


• In 2015, after consultations, the EC wrote to the government proposing proxy

voting (the voter appoints a proxy to vote on her behalf) and postal ballots for Indians residing abroad.

• In 2018, the government tried to grant proxy voting rights to overseas electors through an amendment to the Representation of the People Act 1951

• The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha and was awaiting Rajya Sabha’s approval when it lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha.

• In its letter , the EC pushed only for postal voting rights for NRIs, not proxy voting. Challenge:

• The MEA had said that “diplomatic missions do not have the logistical wherewithal to handle attestation for a large number of overseas electors” and that they would have to seek the permission of the host country for organising such activity, which may be difficult in non-democratic countries.

• Among political parties, only the Nationalist Congress Party has expressed complete support to the EC for postal voting for NRIs. According to the Bahujan Samaj Party, Bhartiya Janata Party and Communist Party of India, postal ballots were not a viable option due to time constraint. The Congress party was not in favour of sending the postal ballot paper electronically.

About proxy voting: What is proxy voting?

• Voting in an Indian election can be done in three ways – in person, by post or through a proxy.

• Under proxy voting, a registered elector can delegate his/her voting power to a representative.

• This was introduced in 2003 for Lok Sabha and Assemblies elections, but on a limited scale

• Only a “classified service voter” is allowed to nominate a proxy to cast vote on his/her behalf.

• The definition includes members of the armed forces, BSF, CRPF, CISF, General Engineering Reserve Force and Border Road Organisation.

• A classified service voter can also vote by postal ballot. What is postal voting or ballots?

• It is also called Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot Papers (ETPB) and under this ballot papers are distributed electronically to electors and are then returned to the election officers via post.

Who can avail this facility?

• Members of the armed forces like the Army, Navy and Air Force, members of the armed police force of a state (serving outside the state), government employees posted outside India and their spouses are entitled to vote only by post.

• While prisoners are not allowed to vote, people under preventive detention can cast their votes through postal ballots.

• Special voters such as the President of India, Vice President, Governors, Union

Cabinet ministers, Speaker of the House and government officers on poll duty have the option to vote by post.


• Recently, a new category of ‘absentee voters’ was introduced in which they can

also opt for postal voting. These voters are employed in essential services and unable to cast their vote due to their service conditions. Currently, officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Northern Railway (Passenger and Freight) Services and media persons are notified as absentee voters.

1.2.J&K’S ROSHNI ACT

Relevance: GS 2 - Parliament and state legislature structure organisation and

functions

Why in news? Right-wing groups in Jammu have described the scheme as being aimed at changing the demography of Jammu region, while mainstream political parties have accused the government of being selective against Muslims.

Jammu & Kashmir administration has recently released a series of lists of alleged beneficiaries of the Roshni Act of 2001, now scrapped, which gave ownership rights to the unauthorised occupants of state land against payment of a premium. Political leaders and bureaucrats have been among those named. The transfers are being probed by the CBI. Of the Roshni Act of 2001, now scrapped, which gave ownership rights to the unauthorised occupants of state land against payment of a premium. Political leaders and bureaucrats have been among those named. The transfers are being probed by the CBI.

Why in news now? Following a recent order by the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, the administration has annulled the Act (it was earlier repealed prospectively) and decided to retrieve land transferred under the Roshni scheme. What was the Roshni Act? Formally the Jammu and Kashmir State Land (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act, 2001, it was passed by the then National Conference government led by Farooq Abdullah to give ownership to people in possession of state land, with a cut-off of 1990, and against a payment as determined by the government. Since the aim was to generate resources for hydroelectric power projects, it was called Roshni (Light) Act

J&K Roshni Act: Why has it been controversial?

In its 2014 report, the CAG termed the scheme a Rs-25,000-crore scam. It flagged irregularities and said arbitrary reduction of prices by a standing committee was done to benefit politicians and influential people.

Shortly after the government had approved the Act, the then State Vigilance Organisation filed an FIR against some people who didn’t satisfy the criteria but managed to vest ownership of land under the scheme.

A prominent case came to be known as the Gulmarg land scam, in which several top bureaucrats are accused of illegally transferring land of the Gulmarg Development Authority to private parties.


One of the main accused in this case, IAS officer Baseer Ahmad Khan, was

appointed Adviser to the Lt Governor of J&K in March this year. No action was taken against top bureaucrats in similar cases in Jammu region. A petition was also filed in the High Court to check violations of the Act based on the 17 FIRs.

What did the court say?

In October this year, the High Court declared the Roshni Act “illegal, unconstitutional and unsustainable” and held allotments under the Act as void ab initio.

It ordered a CBI probe into transfer of ownership, sought action against bureaucrats involved, and asked the government to make public the names of prominent people allotted land.

1.3.ENSURE CCTVs IN EVERY POLICE STATION, SC TELLS STATES, UTs

Relevance: GS 2 - Judiciary and it’s functions

Why in news ? The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked States and Union Territories (UT) to “ensure that CCTV cameras are installed in each and every Police Station functioning” in their respective limits and to store the recording for a minimum of one year. A bench of Justices R F Nariman, K M Joseph and Aniruddha Bose in its judgement also asked the Centre “to install CCTV cameras and recording equipment in the offices of” the CBI, NIA, ED, NCB, DRI, SFIO and “any other agency which carries out interrogations and has the power of arrest”. Background :

The Supreme Court had in the D K Basu vs State of West Bengal case in 2015 directed that CCTVs be installed in all police stations and prisons to check human rights abuses.

However, when it sought a status report from states and UTs in the present

matter, 14 states and two UTs responded.

The “majority” of them lacked details on installation and working of CCTV cameras in police stresponde.

Where all Cameras to be installed ? It is imperative to ensure that CCTV cameras are installed at all entry and exit points; main gate of the police station; all lock-ups; all corridors; lobby/the reception area; all verandas/outhouses, Inspector’s room; Sub-Inspector’s room; areas outside the lock-up room; station hall; in front of the police station compound, outside (not inside) washrooms/toilets; Duty Officer’s room; back part of the police station etc. ”CCTV cameras must then be installed with such recording systems so that the data that is stored thereon shall be preserved for a period of 18 months,” the court said, and added that if the equipment available in the market does not have such capacity, governments

should go for the one “which allows storage for the maximum period possible, and, in any case, not below 1 year”.


1.4.CONTEMPT OF COURT

Relevance: GS 2 - Judiciary and its functions

Why in news?

Attorney General K K Venugopal gave his consent for the initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for his tweets following the Supreme Court’s decision to grant interim bail to television anchor Arnab Goswami. What is contempt of court? According to the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, contempt of court can either be civil contempt or criminal contempt.

Civil contempt means wilful disobedience of any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court, or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court.

Criminal contempt, on the other hand, is attracted by the publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which:

(i) Scandalises or tends to scandalise, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court; or

(ii) Prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or

(iii) Interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other manner.

In 2006, the government brought in an amendment, which now provides “truth” as defence provided it is bona fide and in public interest.

Why does the Attorney General have to grant consent?

The objective behind requiring the consent of the Attorney General before taking

cognizance of a complaint is to save the time of the court. Judicial time is squandered if frivolous petitions are made and the court is the first forum for bringing them in. The AG’s consent is meant to be a safeguard against frivolous petitions, as it is deemed that the AG, as an officer of the court, will independently ascertain whether the complaint is indeed valid

The procedure in cases of criminal contempt of court, which means the publication of material that scandalises or lowers the dignity of the court or prejudices or interferes with the proceedings of the court, the consent of the Attorney General is required under the law.

Is the AG’s consent mandatory for all contempt of court cases?

The AG’s consent is mandatory when a private citizen wants to initiate a case of contempt of court against a person. Before such a plea can be filed, the Attorney

General must sign off on the complaint, determining if it requires the attention of the court at all.


However, when the court itself initiates a contempt of court case, as it did in the

case of Prashant Bhushan recently, the AG’s consent is not required. This is because the court is exercising its inherent powers under the Constitution to punish for contempt and such Constitutional powers cannot be restricted because the AG declined to grant consent.

What happens if the AG denies consent?

If the AG denies consent, the matter all but ends. In August, AG Venugopal had refused to grant consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against actor Swara Bhasker for allegedly making derogatory comments against the Supreme Court. Last week, he turned down a request to initiate contempt proceedings against author Shefali Vaidya as the tweets were made over a year ago. The law has a limitation period of one year for bringing in action against an individual.

The complainant can, however, separately bring the issue to the notice of the

court and urge the court to take suo motu (on its own motion) cognizance. If the court does take suo motu cognizance, as it did in the case of Prashant Bhushan, the consent of the senior-most law officer is not required.

Article 129 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court the power to initiate contempt cases on its own, independent of the motion brought before it by the AG or with the consent of the AG.

“The Supreme Court shall be a court of record and shall have all the powers of such a court including the power to punish for contempt of itself,” Article 129 states.

What happens after the AG has granted consent?

Once the consent of the Attorney General is given in writing, a notice under The Contempt of Courts Act is served personally on the person against whom the proceedings are sought to be initiated by the court. If the court decides not to serve the notice personally, the law requires the court to record the reasons for it.

Once the notice is served, the alleged contemnor may file an affidavit in support of his defence, explaining the nature and circumstances of her remarks. The case is required under the Act to be heard by a Bench of at least two judges. The court then takes into account any evidence available to check the affidavit, and pass appropriate orders.

1.5.NEED TO REVISIT SEVENTH SCHEDULE

Relevance: Government policies and intervention in various sectors and issues arising from their implementation

Why in news? The 15th Finance Commission chairman NK Singh called for a revisiting of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution that divides the legislative powers between the Centre and states, in an apparent disapproval of a perceived tendency of the Centre to expand the Concurrent List, at the cost of states’ exclusive, legitimate powers.

Some of therecommendation :


The division of functions enshrined under Seventh Schedule of Constitution got

increasingly eroded over a period of time, beginning with the constitution of the Planning Commission in 1951 and later, the shifting of the subjects like forest and education from the state to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution, he noted.

Some examples in today’s context are the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act of 2005 and the National Food Security Act 2013. Thus, we need to revisit the VII Schedule of the Constitution in a more fundamental way, Singh said, at a Ficci forum. He also stressed the need for rationalisation of the centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) with greater flexibility to each state.

The commission on Centre-State Relations, headed by Justice M M Punchhi, in 2010 recommended that the Union should only transfer those subjects into the Concurrent List, which are central to achieving demonstrable national

interest.Singh, who recently submitted the commission’s report to the President of India for the award period FY22-FY26, also pitched for continuity on aligning the fiscal consolidation road map of the Centre and the states and said a fiscal deficit range rather than a single point as target, might be in order.

The Niti Aayog has emerged as a credible think-tank and their work in the sphere of Centre-state relations needs to be recognised. However, the states are keen to have a different kind of a policy-based consultative forum. This is an area which deserves serious consideration of policy makers.

A differentiated debt path of states which recognises the present constraints and issues of legacy debt must be handled with sagacity and sensitivity.

The Centre recently allowed additional borrowing space of 2% of GDP for states this year (over and above 3% mandated under FRBM) based on reforms in four areas — universalisation of one nation-one ration card, ease of doing business, power distribution and urban local body revenues.

On CSS, he saidthe government needs to constitute an empowered group of domain experts to submit to the finance minister and Prime Minister on modalities of further and deeper rationalisation of these schemes.

The Centrally sponsored schemes should be flexible enough to allow states to adapt and innovate. We also need a far more credible policy for rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Central outlays than have been possible so far.

He also said the symmetry in the working of the GST Council and the Finance Commission deserves serious considerations. The Finance commissions recommend distribution of revenues between Union and the states and thereafter, among the states further to the third tier.

1.6.GUJJARS SEEK CENTRE’S INTERVENTION ON QUOTA ISSUE

Relevance - GS 2 - Functions and responsibilities of Union and State legislature

Why in news?

Gujjars in Rajasthan, demanding reservation in jobs and education, have sought the Centre’s intervention for Ninth Schedule protection to a 2019 State law which accords Most Backward Class (MBC) category for the community. The quota agitation has


generated considerable political heat and disrupted public life several times in the State

since 2007. Demands :

The Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti has demanded that a special session of the Parliament be convened for inclusion of the State Act in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, on the lines of the protection given to a reservation law of Tamil Nadu, and a constitutional amendment be brought to enhance the 50% ceiling on reservation.

The State Assembly had passed the Rajasthan Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under the State) Amendment Act, 2019, on February 13 last year, creating the MBC category. The four other nomadic communities given the quota benefit along with the Gujjars were Banjara, Gadia-Lohar, Raika and Gadariya.

Mr. Singh pointed out that the State government had written several times to the Centre with the recommendation that its legislation be included in the Ninth Schedule to protect its from being challenged in the courts. “The Union government and the Parliament have not taken cognisance of the State Act despite several sessions having been convened since February 2019,” he said.

Why the demands are not fulfilled?

The State government has tried thrice in the past to give 5% reservation to Gujjars as a ‘Special Backward class’, but the legislation was struck down every time by the Rajasthan High Court, which ruled that the quota had not only exceeded the 50% limit, but was also not supported by the quantifiable data.

1.7.VOTER ID CARD

Relevance: GS 2 - Functions of constitutional bodies

Why in news?

The Election Commission (EC) is toying with the idea of providing voters with election photo identity card in a digital format for easy accessibility, a senior official said.

Digital can be on a mobile, website, through e-mail… the idea is to provide faster delivery and easy accessibility. The physical card takes time to print and time to reach the voter.

The Aadhaar card, Permanent Account Number (PAN) card and driving licence are available in digital mode.

In digital mode, the picture of the voter will also be clearer, making the identification easier.

1.8.SC NOTICE TO GOVT ON NEUTRAL DIVORCE, ALIMONY RULE

Relevance: GS 2 - Judiciary and its functions


Why in news ?

The Supreme Court issued notice on petitions seeking direction to the Centre to implement gender- and religion- neutral grounds in matters of awarding maintenance and alimony, and uniform grounds for divorce for all citizens, even as it wondered whether the court can enter into the field of personal laws. The CJI asked senior advocates Pinki Anand and Meenakshi Arora, who appeared for the petitioner, whether they were seeking abolition of personal laws. “No,” Anand responded. The CJI said that did not seem to be the case and observed, “You are asking us to encroach upon personal laws and remove the distinction that they create.” Anand referred to previous instances such as the Shayara Bano case, in which the court ruled against the practice of instant triple talaq, to contend that courts had struck down provisions in personal laws found to be unconstitutional. She added that in the Sarla Mudgal case, the court had underscored the need for a Common Civil Code.

“Did we say in Shayara Bano (case) that the grounds of divorce be same,” the CJI asked, and added that in the instant triple talaq case, Parliament had also passed a legislation. Anand pointed out that the court had previously intervened even in matters where no prior law was made, and should do the same in the present matter as well. Shah Bano case (1985)

A 73-year-old woman called Shah Bano was divorced by her husband using triple talaq (saying “I divorce thee” three times) and was denied maintenance. She approached the courts and the District Court and the High Court ruled in her favour. This led to her husband appealing to the Supreme Court saying that he had fulfilled all his obligations under Islamic law.

The Supreme Court ruled in her favour in 1985 under the “maintenance of wives, children and parents” provision (Section 125) of the All India Criminal Code, which applied to all citizens irrespective of religion. Further, It recommended that a uniform civil code be set up.

Under Muslim personal law, maintenance was to be paid only till the period of iddat. (three lunar months-roughly 90 days ).

Section 125 of CrPC (criminal procedure code) that applied to all citizens, provided

for maintenance of the wife.

The Supreme Court in Shayara Bano case (2017) had declared the practise of Triple Talaq (talaq-e-bidat) as unconstitutional.

Impact – After this historic decision, nationwide discussions, meetings and agitations were held. The then government under pressure passed The Muslim Women’s (Right to protection on divorce ) Act (MWA) in 1986, which made Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure

About Sarla Mudgal Case

Sarla Mudgal v. Union Of India is a Supreme Court of India case.

Its judgement in 1995 laid down the principles against the practice of solemnizing second marriage by conversion to Islam, with first marriage not being dissolved.

The verdict discusses issue of bigamy, the conflict between the personal laws

existing on matters of marriage and invokes article 44 of Indian Constitution.

It is considered a landmark decision that highlighted the need for a uniform civil code.


The Sarla Mudgal judgment has issued no directions for the implementations of

Uniform Civil Code, though Justice Kuldeep Singh has requested the government to look at the Article 44 of the Constitution.

About Uniform Civil Code

Uniform Civil Code resonates with one country one rule, to be applied to all religious communities. The term, ‘Uniform Civil Code’ is explicitly mentioned in Part 4, Article 44 of the Indian Constitution. Article 44 says, “The State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.”

A Uniform Civil Code means that all sections of the society irrespective of their religion shall be treated equally according to a national civil code, which shall be applicable to all uniformly.

They cover areas like- Marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and

succession of the property. It is based on the premise that there is no connection between religion and law in modern civilization.

What is Article 44?

Article 44 corresponds with Directive Principles of State Policy stating that State shall endeavour to provide for its citizens a uniform civil code (UCC) throughout the territory of India.

Historical perspective Pre-Independence (colonial era)

The Lex Loci Report of October 1840- It stressed the importance and necessity of uniformity in the codification of Indian law, relating to crimes, evidence and contract. But, it also recommended that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims should be kept outside such codification.

Post-Colonial era (1947-1985)

During the drafting of the constitution, prominent leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr B.R Ambedkar pushed for a uniform civil code. However, they included the UCC in the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP, Article 44) mainly due to opposition from religious fundamentalists and a lack of awareness among the masses during the time.

Some of the reforms of this period were

The Hindu code bill

Succession Act-The Hindu Succession Act, 1956

The Hindu Marriage Act

Minority and Guardianship Act

Adoptions and Maintenance Act.

Special Marriage Act Challenges of Uniform Civil Code:

Freedom of religion gets into conflict with the right to equality.Article 25 lays down an individual’s fundamental right to religion.

Article 26(b) upholds the right of each religious denomination or any section thereof to “manage its own affairs in matters of religion”Article 29 defines the right


to conserve distinctive culture.These rights gets into conflict with the equality

before law enshrined under article 14 and 15.

In 2018, a report by the Law Commission of India stated that the Uniform Civil Code is “neither necessary nor desirable at this stage” in the country. The Commission said secularism cannot contradict the plurality prevalent in the country.

In the name of uniformity, the minorities fears that the culture of the majority is being imposed over them.Given vast cultural diversity in India, bringing uniformity among all such people will be a huge challenge.

Patriarchal mindset of Indian society poses a big challenge in implementation of UCC.

Merits of Uniform Civil Code

A unified code is imperative, both for the protection of the vulnerable sections in

Indian society(women and religious minorities) and for the promotion of national unity and solidarity.

There exists so many personal laws like Hindu code bill, Shariat law, etc.

Presence of so many laws creates confusion, complexity and inconsistencies in the adjudication of personal matters, at times leading to delayed justice or no justice. UCC will eliminate this overlapping of laws.

UCC will de-link law from religion which is a very desirable objective to achieve in a secular and socialist pattern of society

The rights of women are usually limited under the patriarchal discourse through religious laws. UCC will liberate women from patriarchal domination and provide them with right to equality and liberty.

1.9.AMENDMENT TO KARNATAKA LAND REFORMS ACT

Relevance: GS 2 - Union and State legislature structure organisation and

functions

Why in news? The opposition Congress has called amendments to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act 1961 — which were passed in the state legislature last week by the BJP government with the support of the opposition Janata Dal (Secular) — a “death warrant” for farmers. The amendments allow non-agriculturists to buy agricultural land in the state. Successive governments have in recent years gradually diluted land ownership norms under the Land Reforms Act to facilitate industrial growth and agricultural land ownership by non-farmers. What are the latest amendments?

• The Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2020 has repealed three key sections of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act of 1961 which imposed certain restrictions on ownership of farmland.

• The amendments have done away with Section 79A of the Act that allowed only those earning less than Rs 25 lakh per annum to buy agricultural land, and


Section 79B that said only people earning a living through agriculture could buy

agricultural land. The amendment has also removed Section 79C of the Act, which allowed revenue departments to investigate alleged violations of Sections 79A and 79B during land purchases.

What rationale has the state government cited?

• Revenue Minister R Ashok, who piloted the Bill, said during discussions that the sections proposed to be repealed from the Act were only facilitating corruption in the offices of land registrars and tahsildars, rather than benefiting farmers who wanted to sell their land. He said over 13,814 cases of violation of Sections 79 A and B were pending without any action being taken. “The sections of the law are losing their relevance in the present situation and a report was given to carry out changes in urban areas during the tenure of the Congress itself,” he said

• Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has said irrigated agricultural land, and land

owned by SC/ST communities, will remain protected as farmland despite the amendments. Only 2% of the agricultural land in the state has been used for industrial purposes, he has said.

What is the Congress’s objection?

• Opposition has said the amendment will result in the loss of agricultural land that could have been cultivated to meet food requirements.It has been alleged that the amendment is intended to benefit the real estate mafia in Bengaluru.

• The retrospective nature of the Bill shows the government is hand in glove with corporate bodies and housing societies,.

Under what circumstances has the move been taken?

• There has been growing pressure from industry to amend land ownership laws to bring them in line with those in the neighbouring states in order to facilitate growth away from the stagnant agriculture sector. Yediyurappa had promised such changes during his visit to the World Economic Forum at Davos early this year as an incentive to attract investors.

1.10.MERGER OF FOUR GOVERNMENT-RUN FILM AND MEDIA UNITS

Relevance: GS 2 - Government policies and intervention in various sectors and

issues arising from their implementation

Why in news?

The Cabinet approved the merger of four government-run film and media units — the Films Division, the Directorate of Film Festivals, the National Film Archives of India and the autonomous body Children’s Film Society, with the National Film Development Corporation. Why merger?

Explaining the decision, a statement from the Ministry said that the merger of

Film Media Units under one corporation will lead to convergence of activities and resources and better coordination, thereby ensuring synergy and efficiency in


achieving the mandate of each media unit. “This will lead to reduction in

duplication of activities and direct savings to the exchequer,” it added.

The Films Division, which was established in 1948 and is the oldest of the four units, was created primarily to produce documentaries and news magazines as publicity for government programmes and to keep a cinematic record of Indian history.

The National Film Archives of India was established in 1964 with the primary objective of acquiring and preserving Indian cinematic heritage. The Directorate of Film Festivals was set up in 1973 to promote Indian films and cultural exchange.

The merger also brings into the fold an autonomous organisation, the Children’s Film Society, which was founded in 1955 with the specific objective of providing children and young people value-based entertainment through the medium of films.

1.11.HARYANA APPROVES NEW EMPLOYMENT POLICY WITH AIM TO ATTRACT RS 1 LAKH CR INVESTMENT

Relevance: GS 2 - Union and State legislature structure organisation and

functions

With an aim to attract investment over Rs 1 lakh crore and generate 5 lakh jobs, the Haryana Cabinet Wednesday approved the Haryana Enterprises and Employment Policy, 2020. What the policy focus upon?

The policy will focus on building a resilient economy on the back of robust industrial growth.

The policy envisages leveraging opportunities arising out of changes in global economic order and align industrial growth in the state with national initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission.

The policy takes cognizance of emerging trends in supply chain, electric mobility, agri-tech, green manufacturing and climate change and healthcare and pharma

and other new avenues for growth

To ensure timely delivery of services to the investors, 41 new services will be included in the Haryana Right to Services Act, 2014. The Single Window System will be further strengthened with the integration of additional 36 new services.

This policy places a special emphasis on development of the MSME sector and their business growth. It envisages bringing up a paradigm shift from being a regulator to a facilitator of MSMEs..

The policy offers an array of attractive fiscal incentives to MSME, large, mega and ultra-mega enterprises, exporting units, thrust sector enterprises, essential sector enterprises, import substitution enterprises and identified service enterprises including but not limited to investment subsidy in lieu of Net SGST, interest subsidy, stamp duty refund, electricity duty refund, employment subsidy and

technology acquisition support, among others.

To further promote the national movement of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, concession on land price may also be provided to eligible enterprises supporting import


substitution. In support of micro enterprises for generating employment

opportunities for youth at their doorstep in rural areas, the Haryana Gramin Udyogik Vikas Yojna will be introduced under this policy.

The policy also offers enhanced incentives to women and SC-led micro enterprises and start-ups to promote inclusive economic development in the state

The policy will consider auto, auto components and light engineering, agro-based, food processing and allied industry, textiles and apparels, electronic system design and manufacturing (esgm), defence and aerospace manufacturing, pharmaceutical and medical devices, chemical and petrochemicals and large scale energy and date storage as thrust sectors with increase in emphasis and assistance.

2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS


2.1.INDIA SENDS MAXIMUM EDUCATED MIGRANTS TO RICH COUNTRIES : OECD

Relevance: GS 2 - Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate

Why in News? According to the data released by OECD “Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development” in the Most Common birth countries of Highly Educated Migrants residing in OECD Nations, India came at the top with around 3.2 Million Highly Educated Migrants living in the OECD Nations as of 2015-16 data. The Data reveals that around 120 Million Migrant People live in the OECD Member Countries. Highlights:

For India, the share of individuals in Migrants who have High Education Status is 65% i.e high education means having received vocational or academic training.

China with 2.25 Million (48.6 % Highly Educated Migrants) came next to India in the list followed by Philippines – 1.89 Million Migrants (shared of Highly Educated Migrants 53.3 %).

Out of 120 Million Migrants living in OECD member countries 30-35% of the migrants are highly educated.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) stated that Most of the High Skilled Migrants belonged to the fields of health care, nurses.

India slips to second position, if educated, semi-educated or uneducated among

the migrants are taken into account.

2.2.INDIA HAS HIGHEST BRIBERY RATE IN ASIA

Relevance: GS 2 - Important International institutions, agencies and for a, their

structure, mandate Why in News?

According to the 10th edition of the report titled “Global Corruption Barometer (GCB)-Asia 2020” by corruption watchdog Transparency International, India has the highest bribery rate of 39% in Asia and the highest rate of people (46%) who use personal connections to access public services.

Nearly 50% people who paid bribes were asked to while 32% of those who used personal connections said they would not receive the service otherwise.


This report is based upon the fieldwork conducted in 17 countries covering

nearly 20,000 citizens in June-September 2020 seeking their perception of and experiences with corruption in the past twelve months.

It covered 6 key public services viz: police, courts, public hospitals, procurement of identity documents and utilities.

Highlights from Report with regards to India:

In bribery rate India is followed by Cambodia (3%), Indonesia (30%) while the Maldives and Japan have the lowest overall bribery rate (2%), followed by South Korea (10%) and Nepal (12%).

47% percent people surveyed in India, believe that corruption has increased over the past 12 months while 63% believe that the government is doing a good job is tackling corruption.

63% citizens in India think that if they report corruption, they will suffer

retaliation.

89% think government corruption is a big problem, 18% offered bribes in exchange for votes and 11% experienced sextortion or know someone who has.

In several countries including India, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, sexual extortion rates are also high and more must be done to prevent sextortion and address specific gendered forms of corruption.

Sextortion is extorting money or sexual favours from someone by threatening to reveal evidence of their sexual activity

Global Scenario:

Nearly one in five people (19%) or 836 million people paid bribe while accessing public services in the preceding year.

Nearly 38% of people surveyed think corruption increased in their country in the previous twelve months, while another 28% think it stayed the same.

More than one in five people (22%) who accessed public services used their personal connections to receive the assistance they needed.

Vote-buying was the highest in Thailand and the Philippines where 28% were offered a bribe in return for a vote, followed by Indonesia at 26%, India came fourth in the line with a rate of 18%

The results show that the highest sextortion rate is in Indonesia, where 18% of people experience sextortion or know someone who has, followed by Sri Lanka and Thailand, with sextortion rates of 17% and 15% respectively. India’s rate was 11%.

2.3.GLOBAL TERRORISM INDEX (GTI) 2020

Relevance: GS 2 - Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their

structure, mandate

Why in News? According to the 8th Edition of ‘Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2020: Measuring the Impact

of Terrorism’ released by Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), India with a score of 7.353 is the 8th Most Affected Country in the World due to Terrorism in


2019.Afghanistan (9.592), Iraq (8.682) & Nigeria (8.314) are top 3 countries which are

the most affected by Terrorism.

Afghanistan (9.592), Iraq (8.682) & Nigeria (8.314) are top 3 countries which are the most affected by Terrorism.

Qatar (0.014) took the 133rd Rank followed by Uzbekistan (0.010) in the 134th Rank and around 29 Countries (score of 0.000) took the 135th Rank which means they are Least Affected Countries or Face No Impact due to Terrorism.

GTI is a complete analysis of impact of terrorism for 163 countries covering 99.7% of the World’s Population.

Highlights:

Deaths due to Terrorism have fallen for the 5th Consecutive year in 2019 (13, 286 deaths). Russia, Eurasia, South America & South Asia recorded a fall of atleast 20 % in deaths due to terrorism.

Burkina Faso recorded the largest increase in terrorism in 2019 the deaths

increased by 593, it was followed by Sri Lanka where the terrorism deaths increased to 266 in 2019 from 1 in 2018.

Global Economic impact of Terrorism in 2019 amounted to USD 26.4 Billion, Afghanistan recorded highest economic impact on Economy due to Terrorism (16.7% of GDP).

South Asia (5.829), North America (4.216) & Middle East (3.95) were the most affected regions due to Terrorism.


Highlights of India in the report:

India recorded 277 Deaths, 439 Injuries & 558 Incidents due to Terrorism in 2019.

According to report, Maoists, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were responsible for over Two Thirds & half of the total attacks in India in 2019.

Jammu and Kashmir was the most affected Region due to terrorism, it reported 165 attacks and 103 deaths. The Three most active groups

in Kashmir were Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen & Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)

Chhattisgarh was the second most affected Region in India with 85 attacks and 53 deaths all from Maoist Extremists.

India recorded Lowest Number of deaths due to terrorism among the Top 10 countries affected by Terrorism. It also has the lowest lethality rate of attacks (0.5 deaths per attack).

Pulwama Terror Attack: The Suicide Attack carried on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Lethpora, Pulwama by HeM was listed in the report among the 20 Most Fatal Terrorist Attacks in 2019.

Other Important Nation's Rankings: United States of America – 29, France – 38, China – 53, Pakistan – 7, Sri Lanka – 20,

Nepal – 27, Bhutan – 135, Bangladesh – 33.

2.4.THE STATE OF TAX JUSTICE 2020: TAX JUSTICE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Relevance: GS 2 - Important International institutions, agencies and for a, their

structure, mandate Why in news? The Tax Justice Network (TJN) has released the first-of-its-kind report titled “The State of Tax Justice 2020- Tax Justice in the time of COVID-19” in accordance to which the international corporate tax abuse and private tax evasion is incurring a global loss of over $427 billion in tax each year. In this scenario, India’s annual tax loss aggregates to $10.3 billion i.e. $10,319,683,940 (equivalent to INR 70,000 crore), of which, a major

part is corporate tax evasion nearly $10.11 billion and $202.15 million is offshore private tax evasion.


This report revealed how much tax each country in the world loses to international

corporate tax abuse and private tax evasion.

Out of the total global tax loss of $427 billion, $245 billion (or 57.4%) is directly due to the corporate tax abuse by multinational corporations (MNCs) by shifting $1.38 trillion worth of profit into tax havens and $182 billion (or 42.6%) owing to private tax evasion i.e. wealthy individuals hiding undeclared assets and incomes offshore.

A tax haven is a country or place with very low effective rates of taxation for foreign investors.

Basis of Analysis:

The findings of the report are based upon the data that was self-reported by MNCs to tax authorities under the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project led by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Other partners of this report are France-based Public Services International (PSI) and the Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ).

Following table shows the top 5 Biggest Tax Losers and Biggest contributors to other countries tax losses:

Biggest Tax Losers:

1 United States (US) 2 United Kingdom (UK) 3 Germany 4 France 5 Brazil

Biggest contributors to Other Countries Tax Losses:

1 Cayman Islands (a British territory) 2 United Kingdom (UK) 3 The Netherlands 4 Luxembourg 5 United States (US)

G20 (Group of Twenty) member countries are collectively responsible for 26.7% of global tax losses, costing countries over $114 billion in lost tax every year. The G20 countries themselves also lose over $290 billion each year.

The Asian region lost over $73.3 billion or $73,372,803,475. Its biggest loser is China followed by India and Japan. Indian situation:

The report projected India’s Gross Domestic Project (GDP) at $2.51 trillion (based on the average of the past ten years), based on this India’s tax loss is placed at 0.41% of its GDP.

India’s most vulnerable channel for annual tax loss is taxes lost to other countries

i.e. outward foreign direct investments (OFDI) with a 66% vulnerability score. The trading partners of India which contribute most to this factor are Mauritius (23.6%), Singapore (17.2%), and the Netherlands (11.2%).


Amid COVID-19, OFDI from India dropped in the first four months (April-July

2020) to $5.7 billion, in comparison to $11.13 billion in the same period of 2019.

India’s estimated tax revenue losses due to offshore financial wealth of $202.2 million. Its offshore wealth is 0.4% of GDP.

Global Situation:

The global tax loss is equivalent to 34 million nurses’ yearly salaries lost every year, or one nurse’s yearly salary every second.

Higher income countries are responsible for 98% of global tax losses borne by countries which aggregate to over $ 419 billion each year.

Lower income countries are responsible for just 2% of the global losses, which results in annual tax loss of over $8 billion.

Private tax evaders are responsible for shifting their financial assets of $10 trillion offshore.

OECD countries are also responsible for over 59% of the $182 billion the world loses to private offshore tax evasion annually.

Solutions Suggested by TJN:

It suggested that governments should introduce an excess profit tax on MNCs such as global digital companies, who are making excess profits during the pandemic. These profits should be identified at the global level and not at the national level.

It also proposed to introduce wealth tax with punitive rates for undisclosed offshore assets.

Formulation of the United Nations (UN) tax convention to set multilateral standards for corporate taxation and to ensure tax co-operation between governments.

Background: Tax Justice Network: The Tax Justice Network (or TJN), is an independent international network, launched in 2003, focused on research, analysis and advocacy in the area of international tax and financial regulation, including the role of tax havens. TJN maps, analyses and explains

the impacts of tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax competition; and supports the engagement of citizens, civil society organisations and policymakers with the aim of a more just tax system. The main purpose is:

To eliminate cross-border tax evasion and limit tax avoidance, so large corporations and wealthy individuals pay tax in line with their ability to do so.

To increase citizens’ influence in the democratic control of taxation, and restrict the power of capital to dictate tax policy solely in its own interest

To restore similar tax treatment of different forms of income, and reverse the shifting of the tax burden onto ordinary citizens

To remove the tax and secrecy incentives that encourage the outward flow of investment capital from countries most in need of economic development

To promote the role of tax and related legislation in supporting inclusive economic development, the relief of poverty, engaged citizens and more equal societies


The Financial Secrecy Index is a biennial publication of the TJN which was started

in 2009 and was last released in January 2018. It covers 112 global jurisdictions and produces a “Secrecy Indicator” score for each on based on 20 qualitative criteria. Releases are widely covered in the media.

2.5.GLOBAL WAGE REPORT 2020-21

Relevance: GS 2 - Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their

structure, mandate

Why in news? According to “Global Wage Report 2020-21: Wages and minimum wages in the time of COVID-19” released by International Labour Organization (ILO), Women and Lower-paid workers were impacted the most due to decrease in wages because of reduced working hours during the COVID-19 crisis. The report is the 7th in the series of 2020’s ILO Global Wage Report, it provides evidence of the effects of the crisis on wages in different countries due to Pandemic. Highlights:

The report stated that the Global Wage Growth changed between 1.6% and 2.2% during the four years (2016-19) before the pandemic.

The report stated that the impact of the crisis was different for women and men, Women workers in few European countries faced 8.1% reduction in wages compared to 5.4% for men.

Individuals in lower-skilled occupations have lost more working hours than individuals working in higher-paying managerial and professional jobs.

Globally, around 266 Million People (15% of all wage earners) were earning less than hourly minimum wage even before the pandemic.

Hard hit Sectors:

The sectors which

were hit hardly due to the pandemic are – Wholesale and retail trade, accommodation and food services.

According to the report, these are sectors in which women tend to be over-represented.

Regarding India:

The report stated that the wages of Formal Workers have been cut by 3.6% in

India, while wages of informal workers experienced a fall in wages of around 22.6%.


It also highlighted the Code on Wages Bill passed by India in August, 2019 to

extend minimum wage coverage through a national universal minimum wage (wage floor).

Citing the Economic Survey 2019-20 it stated that each state in India uses different minimum wage rates for employees in each occupation and in organized employment. It has given rise to over 1, 915 occupation minimum wage rates across states and 48 minimum wages in the Central sphere.

Minimum Wage in India:

As per the Code on Wages Bill, 2019, the Minimum wages for an Individual in India is INR 178 per day, which is an increase by INR 2 rupees compared to the previous Minimum Wage.

In India, the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 is an Act of Parliament which sets minimum wages that must be paid to skilled and unskilled labourers.

Wages & Inequality:

In the first half of 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, a downward pressure on the level or growth rate of average wages was observed in two thirds of the countries for which recent data are available, in other countries average wages increased, largely artificially as a reflection of the substantial job losses among lower-paid workers.

In times of crisis, average wages can be significantly skewed by sharp changes in the composition of employment. The impacts of the crisis on total wages have fallen differently on men and women, the latter being disproportionately affected.

Women and lower-paid workers have disproportionately borne the brunt of the decrease in wages due to the COVID-19 crisis as their working hours were reduced, according to the Report 2020-2021.

The global wage growth fluctuated between 1.6% and 2.2% in the four years preceding the pandemic, that is 2016 to 2019.

The report stated that globally, 266 million people (15 per cent of all wage earners) were earning less than the hourly minimum wage even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was partly because many countries excluded agricultural and domestic

workers from their coverage and partly because of the large numbers working informally where the rules are not enforced.

Way forward:

Adequate and balanced wage policies through strong and inclusive social dialogue, are needed to mitigate the impact of the crisis and support economic recovery.

In the near future, the economic and employment consequences of the COVID-19 crisis are likely to exert massive downward pressure on workers’ wages. Hence, adequately balanced wage adjustments, taking into account relevant social and economic factors, will be required to safeguard jobs and ensure the sustainability of enterprises.

While at the same time protecting the incomes of workers and their families, sustaining demand and avoiding deflationary situations.

Adjustments to the rates to compensate for price inflation are essential for ensuring that low-paid workers and their families are able to maintain their living standards.


2.6.ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS DEFENCE MINISTERS’

MEETING

Relevance: Bilateral, Regional and Global groupings and agreements involving

India and/or affecting its interests

Why in News? Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh attended the 14th ADMM-Plus Meeting (ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Defence Ministers’ Meeting) held virtually at Hanoi, Vietnam. The meeting was held on the 10th Anniversary of ADMM-Plus. The meeting was hosted by Vietnam.

ADDM Plus is an annual meeting of Defence Ministers of 10 ASEAN Countries and its 8 partner countries.

Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh was granted the privilege of addressing the session as a special gesture towards India’s contribution towards the forum.

Rajnath Singh welcomed Brunei Darussalam as the new Chair of ASEAN in 2021. Highlights:

Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh called on the members of the organisation to jointly address the threats of bioterrorism, transnational trafficking and pandemic diseases.

All the participants agreed to cooperate in 5 areas of practical cooperation to undertake under the new mechanism – maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping operations.

Rajnath Singh emphasized field training, and table-top exercises to increase understanding between each other and to maintain peace in the region.

He also stated that Cyber Security and Military Medicine will be the topmost challenges in the modern world.

He welcomed the adoption of a concept paper on expanding ASEAN Direct Communication Infrastructure to Plus Countries.

He affirmed India’s support towards freedom of navigation and Free passage of Aircrafts in International waters according to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Participants: Defence Ministers of ASEAN member countries & USA, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand were present during the meeting. Achievements of 7 Expert Working Groups:

Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh lauded


the efforts of 7 Expert Working Groups towards the sharing of best practice in the

domains of Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Counter-Terrorism and Peace Keeping Operations. Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative (IPOI): Rajnath Singh highlighted the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the East Asia Summit in 2019.

IPOI – a global open initiative for executing meaningful efforts towards a safe and secure maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific region.

Challenges to be addressed by Forum:

Rajnath Singh stated that Fundamentals of freedom, inclusivity and openness will shape the future of the region.

He stated that the forum must address some major challenges which are – threat

to rules based order, maritime security, cyber related crimes and terrorism. ADMM-Plus: The ADMM Plus is a platform for the members of ASEAN and its 8 Dialogue Partners – Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Russian Federation and the United States.

The Inaugural meeting of the ADMM-Plus was convened in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2010.

The platform was initiated to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the South Asian region.

Since 2017, the ADMM-Plus meets annually, to allow enhanced dialogue and cooperation among ASEAN and the Plus Countries in the midst of an increasingly challenging regional security environment.

Objectives: The objectives of the ADMM-Plus, are:

To benefit ASEAN Member States in building capacity to address shared security challenges, while cognisant of the differing capacities of various ASEAN Member States;

To promote mutual trust and confidence between defence establishments through greater dialogue and transparency;

To enhance regional peace and stability through cooperation in defence and security, in view of the transnational security challenges the region faces;

To contribute to the realisation of an ASEAN Security Community which, as stipulated in the Bali Concord II, embodies ASEAN’s aspiration to achieve peace, stability, democracy and prosperity in the region where ASEAN Member States live at peace with one another and with the world at large;

To facilitate the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme, which calls for ASEAN to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous ASEAN, and to adopt greater outward-looking external relation strategies with our friends and Dialogue Partners.


2.7.17TH INTERNATIONAL INTER-MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON SOUTH-SOUTH

COOPERATION IN POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Relevance: GS 2 - Bilateral, Regional and Global groupings and agreements

involving India and/or affecting its interests

Why in News?

The 17th International Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South Cooperation in Population and Development titled “Nairobi Commitments and the 2030 Agenda: Taking stock and looking ahead to post COVID-19 Crisis” was held virtually. The ministerial session for the same was held on “Promoting South-South Cooperation for Attaining Nairobi Commitments and the Agenda 2030” which was chaired by Dr. Faisal Sultan, The Federal Minister of the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination of the Government of Pakistan.

• The conference was co-sponsored by Partners in Population and Development (PPD), the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), and National Health Commission of China (as Chair of PPD).

• The sponsors organized three sessions for this conference. The Technical Session 1 was held on November 19, 2020, the

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iaswinnishers.com...2020/12/01 · © Winnishers Educational Services Pvt Ltd A LETTER FROM MY HEART Dear IAS Aspirant Friends, It gives me immense pleasure to present to you the