The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council is an overarching body which assesses the status of specific S&T domains, comprehends challenges, formulates immediate, mid and long term interventions and presents a roadmap to the Prime Minister.
The Principal Scientific Adviser co-ordinates to facilitate and ensure implementation of major interventions by concerned Government Departments, Agencies and Ministries. Chairperson: Prof. K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
Members: • Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog & former Chairman, DRDO • Dr. A. S. Kiran Kumar, former Chairman, ISRO • Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru • Maj. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar, Dean, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune • Professor. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, Director, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata • Professor Manjul Bhargava, Professor, Princeton University, USA • Professor Subhash Kak, Professor, Oklahoma State University, USA • Shri Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Forge, Pune
Amongst the terms of reference of the Council are to formulate, converge, collaborate, coordinate and implement multi-stakeholder policy initiatives, mechanisms, reforms and programmes aimed at:
• Synergizing S&T covering fundamental to applied research in collaboration with multiple stake holders both in central and state governments • Enabling future preparedness in emerging domains of science and technology • Formulating and coordinating major inter-ministerial S&T missions • Providing an enabling ecosystem for technology led innovations and technoentrepreneurship
• Driving innovation and technology delivery towards solving socio-economic challenges for sustainable growth • Fostering effective public-private linkages for driving research and innovation
• Developing science, technology and innovation clusters with multiple stakeholders including academia, industry and government • Skilling in current and futuristic technologies.
The Committee on Estimates (Chair: Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi) submitted its report on the performance of the National Action Plan On Climate Change (NAPCC) on December 10, 2018. The NAPCC was launched in June 2008 to deal with issues related to climate change.
Regulation of NAPCC: The NAPCC comprises eight missions, including: (i) National Solar Mission, (ii) National Water Mission, and (iii) National Mission for a Green India. Each mission is anchored under a Ministry, which is responsible for its implementation, budgetary provisions, and its actionable priorities. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) is the coordinating Ministry of NAPCC. The broad policy initiatives of the Central Government are supplemented by actions at the level of state governments and Union Territories.
National Solar Mission: The Committee noted that the Mission is expected to generate 1,00,000 MW by 2021-22, at an expected cost of Rs 6,00,000 crore. It noted that the funding requirement for the targeted solar power generation will be met from budgetary support, internal, and international financing. However, it expressed concerns about the lack of funds in relation to the targets under the Mission. It noted that the government’s outlay for the 12th Plan period is Rs 13,690 crore, which is a fraction of the required investment. The Committee recommended that an analysis of financial support from each source be undertaken by the government and a revised mission document be brought out indicating the sources of financing.
National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency: The Committee noted that the Mission had under-utilised allocated funds. It noted that between 2010-11 and 2016-17, Rs 914 crore was the budgeted expenditure, which was revised to Rs 259 crore. Of this, only Rs 208 crore was spent. The Committee stated that one of the reasons for reduced allocation was delays in certain approvals. It recommended that the Ministry ensure that the funds are utilised for the schemes for which they have been allocated.
National Water Mission: The Committee noted that the major components of the Mission include development of a comprehensive water database and assessment of impact of climate change on water resources. It was informed of an exercise undertaken to map all the water bodies in India. In this connection, the Committee referred to studies indicating that water availability data is unreliable due to use of outdated collection techniques and methodologies. Siloed information collection and sharing, especially between States, adds to costs and inefficiencies. The Committee recommended reviewing the techniques and methodologies of data collection and preparing a comprehensive database of all water bodies.
National Mission on Sustainable Habitat: The Committee noted that the Mission aims at promoting sustainability of habitats though improvements in energy efficiency in buildings, urban planning, and improved management of solid and liquid waste. The objectives of the mission are being met through four schemes, including the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, and the Swachh Bharat Mission. By 2031, these schemes are expected to reduce Green House Gas emission to the tune of 270 million tonnes.
The Committee observed that the emphasis of the Mission is limited to urban habitats only and does not take into account the requirements of the rural habitats. It recommended that the Mission introduce a comprehensive and integrated plan encompassing the needs of both rural as well as urban habitats.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: The Committee noted that although the Mission focuses on different aspects of agriculture, it does not include income security of farmers. It observed that the crop insurance scheme and the MSP scheme implemented by the government have not made farming remunerative. It recommended that the government consider these elements for the Mission and apprise the Committee of steps taken in this regard.
The Insolvency Law Committee (Chair: Mr. Injeti Srinivas) submitted it second report to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on October 16, 2018 recommending amendments in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 with respect to cross-border insolvency. The Code provides a time-bound 180-day process to resolve insolvency of companies and in The Committee proposed a draft ‘Part Z’ in the Code, based on an analysis of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, 1997. The Model Law provides a legal framework that states may adopt in their domestic legislation to deal with cross-border insolvency issues. Key recommendations of the Committee include:
Applicability: The Committee recommended that at present, draft Part Z should be extended to corporate debtors only. Duplicity of regimes: The Committee noted that currently the Companies Act, 2013 contains provisions to deal with insolvency of foreign companies. It observed that once Part Z is enacted, it will result in a dual regime to handle insolvency of foreign companies. It recommended that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs undertake a study of such provisions in the 2013 Act to assess whether to retain them. Reciprocity: The Committee recommended that the Model Law may be adopted initially on a reciprocity basis. This may be diluted subsequently upon re-examination. Reciprocity indicates that a domestic court will recognise and enforce a foreign court’s judgment only if the foreign country has adopted similar legislation to the domestic country.
Access to Foreign Representatives: The Model Law allows foreign insolvency professionals and foreign creditors access to domestic courts to seek remedies directly. Direct access with regards to foreign creditors is envisaged under the Code even presently. With respect to access by foreign insolvency professionals to Indian courts, the Committee recommended that the Central Government be empowered to devise a mechanism that is practicable in the current Indian legal framework.
Centre of Main Interests (COMI): The Model Law allows recognition of foreign proceedings and provides relief based on this recognition. Relief may be provided if the foreign proceeding is a main proceeding or non-main proceeding. If the domestic courts determine that the debtor has its COMI in a foreign country, such foreign proceedings will be recognised as the main proceedings. This recognition will result in certain automatic relief, such as allowing foreign representatives greater powers in handling the debtor’s estate.
For non-main proceedings, such relief is at the discretion of the domestic court. The Committee recommended that a list of indicative factors comprising COMI may be inserted through rule-making powers. Such factors may include location of the debtor’s books and records, and location of financing.
Cooperation: The Model Law lays down the basic framework for cooperation between domestic and foreign courts, and domestic and foreign insolvency professionals. Given that the infrastructure of adjudicating authorities under the Code is still evolving, the cooperation between Adjudicating Authorities and foreign courts is proposed to be subject to guidelines to be notified by the Central Government.
Concurrent Proceedings: The Model Law provides a framework for commencement of domestic insolvency proceedings, when a foreign insolvency proceeding has already commenced or vice versa. It also provides for coordination of two or more concurrent insolvency proceedings in different countries by encouraging cooperation between courts. The Committee recommended adopting provisions in relation to these in draft Part Z.
Public policy considerations: Part Z provides that the Adjudicating Authority may refuse to take action under the Code if it is contrary to public policy. The Committee recommended that in proceedings where the Authority is of the opinion that a violation of public policy may be involved, a notice must be issued to the central government. If the Authority does not issue notice, the central government may be empowered to apply to it directly.
The Standing Committee on Finance (Chair: M. Veerappa Moily) submitted its report on the Banking Sector in India – Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward on August 31, 2018. Credit and deposit growth in banks have recently been slow. High volumes of non-performing assets (NPAs) in banks have eroded their capital base, and restricted their ability to lend. Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
NPAs of public sector banks: The Committee noted that the problem of high loan write-offs and NPAs, combined with low asset growth, is more severe for public sector banks (PSBs) than private banks. However, it stated that once most of the larger NPAs get resolved as per the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code or other mechanisms, the situation will become better for PSBs. In this regard, the Committee observed that the present crisis is transient and should not warrant privatisation of public sector banks.
The Committee expressed concern about limited improvements in the short-term earnings of PSBs as a result of NPAs. To help in pre-empting frauds by structured sharing of credit information and follow-up action among banks, it recommended the formulation of a law to set up a Public Credit Registry.
Lowering of Capital to Risk-weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) requirement: The Committee noted that RBI’s requirement of a minimum CRAR of 9%, to prevent banks from becoming highly leveraged, is 1% higher than the Basel III norms for internationally active banks. This is applicable to all PSBs, even though nine of them do not operate internationally. The Committee observed that such a high CRAR requirement is impractical for these banks, and a relaxation would (i) release capital of approximately Rs 5.34 lakh crore, (ii) grow loans and generate an additional Rs 50,000 crore of income annually, and (iii) avoid the need for capital infusion in these banks.
Banks under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA): The Committee observed that 11 PSBs have been placed under the PCA framework by the RBI based on factors such as capital inadequacy and high NPAs. These banks have restricted lending and deposit-taking capabilities as a result. Despite the imposition of PCA, recoveries in these banks have either been stagnant, or grown marginally. The Committee recommended that the RBI should provide a roadmap to these banks to enable them to come out of PCA and resume normal operations.
Further, it observed that bringing more banks under PCA would affect both the banking sector and the economy at large, by aggravating the problem of credit availability. It recommended that banks under PCA be closely monitored, and restrictions be relaxed and reviewed, especially for banks where even retail banking is prohibited. It also recommended that RBI’s knee-jerk reactions to fraud, like discontinuing Letters of Undertaking that provide cheap credit, should be avoided, as they hinder credit growth.
Performance of the National Company Law Tribunals (NCLT): The Committee noted that resolution of larger NPAs under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) have been taking much longer than the stipulated time period of 270 days. It recommended that NCLTs’ resources be increased to enable them to dispose of such cases swiftly.
Further, the Committee observed that several lenders have had to take unduly large ‘haircuts’ (difference between loan amount and the value of the collateral) for some of their loans. It recommended that a reasonable base price should be fixed for bidding so that large ‘haircuts’ can be avoided by creditors in the course of the IBC process in NCLT.
Powers of the RBI in case of PSBs: The Committee noted that the RBI had stated that some powers available to the RBI under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 are not available in the case of PSBs. These include: (i) removing and appointing Chairman and Managing Directors of banks, (ii) superseding the Board of Directors, and (iii) granting licences. The Committee also noted that the RBI can, however, (i) inspect the bank, (ii) consult with the government on appointing senior bank officials, and (iii) have a nominee on a PSB’s management committee. In this regard, the Committee recommended that the government should constitute a high powered committee to evaluate the powers of the RBI with respect to PSBs as provided under various statutes.
Incentives for PSB employees: The Committee recommended that higher remuneration be given to senior management of PSBs, as there exists a wide gap with their private sector counterparts. Further, an overlap should be provided between tenures of successive CEOs to facilitate smoother transition. The retirement age of CEOs of PSBs should be increased to 70 years (similar to private banks) to utilise the expertise of senior bankers. Further, criminality of bankers should not be presumed for decisions taken in the normal course of business, and bankers should be afforded a chance of explaining their decision before any actions are taken.
The Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment (Chair: Mr. Ramesh Bais) submitted its report on ‘Implementation of Scheme of Multi-Sectoral Development Programme/ Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram’ on August 9, 2018. The Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) (restructured and renamed as Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2008-09. It seeks to improve the development of minority concentration areas through creation of socio-economic infrastructure, provision of basic amenities, and other measures. Minority Concentration Areas are identified areas with at least 25% minority population, i.e. Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians.
Minority families living below poverty line: The Committee noted that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for the welfare of minority communities. However, it does not have details of the total number of families living below the poverty line. The Ministry had informed the Committee that the matter has been taken up with NITI Aayog, as the matter of socio-religious census is pending with them. The Committee recommended the Ministry pursue the matter with NITI Aayog to obtain these numbers. This will ensure that the creation of assets for health, education, and skill development is tailored according to their needs.
Implementation of Scheme: Overall implementation: The Committee noted that although the Ministry has revised the scheme, the socio-economic conditions of the minorities remain unchanged. There were significant trends of missing basic amenities/ infrastructure in minority areas. The Committee recommend that the Ministry should co-ordinate with the concerned states/ union territories and other line Ministries to complete these incomplete projects in a timely manner and make efforts for better implementation of the scheme.
Data on beneficiaries: The Committee noted that there is no community-wise data regarding the number of families benefited by the projects under the scheme. In the absence of such data, the Ministry cannot analyse the impact of the scheme on minorities. The Committee requested for updated data starting from 2008-09.
Housing: The Committee observed that provision of pucca housing in rural areas under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) was one of the priority sectors of the MsDP during the 11th and 12th Five Year Plan. However, no units were sanctioned under IAY in several states during the Plan periods (including Kerala, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands). The Committee also observed that projects relating to drinking water supply and pucca housing have not been included in the restructured MsDP, despite housing being a basic infrastructure for the people living in minority areas. It recommended that projects under IAY and drinking water supply be included in the list of priority sectors of MsDP.
Educational projects: The Committee noted that several education-related projects were sanctioned during the 11th and 12th Plan, but have not been completed. The Committee stated that the Ministry should make efforts to complete these pending projects without further delay. It also asked for community-wise details of beneficiaries of the education projects to be provided to the Committee.
Health-related projects: With regard to health projects, the Ministry undertakes construction of Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Health Sub-Centres, and labour rooms in PHCs. Out of a total of 4,393 units/projects sanctioned in 11th and 12th Plan Period, only 2,432 projects/units were completed. The Committee emphasised that health of the people is one of the basic indicators of development of an area, and recommended that the Ministry should take steps with the Health Ministry and state governments, to ensure completion of the projects.
Low utilisation of funds: The Committee noted that state-wise utilisation of funds under the scheme was low due to various reasons, including: (i) long gestation period of some projects, (ii) non-availability of land, (iii) cost escalation, and (iv) delay in transfer of funds by the states to the implementing agencies. It recommended that the Ministry should tackle these issues at the various levels with the state governments and other Ministries to ensure full utilisation of funds.
Monitoring of scheme: The Committee noted that despite having several monitoring mechanisms, the impact of MsDP is hardly visible in the minority areas. It stated that the monitoring of projects under the scheme should be done by independent monitors once a year, and across states. Further, their reports should be uploaded on the scheme website.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has granted provisional recognition to Kudo International Federation India(KIFI) as National Sport Federation with immediate effect. The grant of recognition is subject to compliance of the provisions of National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 as modified from time to time, by the federation including displaying information on their website as per the instructions issued by the Ministry. The recognition means granting a major role to KIFI Association for promotion and Development of Kudo sport in India. The Kudo sport is placed in the ‘Others’ category.
About PMBJP: ‘Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana’ is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. Of India, to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses through special kendra’s known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra (PMBJK) have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs. Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementing agency of PMBJP. BPPI (Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs.
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE SCHEME: Ensure access to quality medicines. Extend coverage of quality generic medicines so as to reduce the out of pocket expenditure on medicines and thereby redefine the unit cost of treatment per person.
Create awareness about generic medicines through education and publicity so that quality is not synonymous with only high price. A public programme involving Government, PSUs, Private Sector, NGO, Societies, Co-operative Bodies and other Institutions. Create demand for generic medicines by improving access to better healthcare through low treatment cost and easy availability wherever needed in all therapeutic categories.
What is a Generic Medicine? Generic medicines are unbranded medicines which are equally safe and having the same efficacy as that of branded medicines in terms of their therapeutic value. The prices of generic medicines are much cheaper than their branded equivalent.
Outreach of generic medicines: With developments like more and more doctors prescribing generic medicines and opening of over 5050 Janaushadhi stores across 652 districts, awareness and availability of high quality affordable generic medicines has increased in the country. About 10-15 lakh people benefit from Janaushadhi medicines per day and the market share of generic medicines has grown over three fold from 2% to 7%in last 3 years.
The Janaushadhi medicines have played a big role in bringing down the out of pocket expenditure of patients suffering from life threatening diseases in India. The PMBJP scheme has led to total savings of approximately Rs.1000 crores for common citizens, as these medicines are cheaper by 50% to 90% of average market price. The PMBJP is also providing a good source of self-employment with self-sustainable and regular earnings.
Conclusion: No poor person should die due to non-availability of good quality affordable medicines in the country. Therefore, making quality healthcare affordable for all should be the ultimate objective of the government.
Key features of the scheme: It is a voluntary scheme. The laboratories performing only basic routine tests like blood glucose, blood counts, rapid tests for common infections, liver & kidney function tests and routine tests of urine will be eligible to apply under this scheme.
The scheme requires minimal documentation and a nominal fee has been prescribed for availing the scheme. Components of competence assessment have been added for assuring quality and validity of test results.
Successful laboratories will be issued a certificate of compliance to QAS BC scheme by NABL and they will be allowed to use a distinct symbol on the test reports as a mark of endorsement to the basic standard for a defined time frame before which they will have to transition to full accreditation as per ISO 15189.
Through this scheme, patients availing services of small labs in primary health centers, community health centers, doctor’s clinic, standalone small labs, labs in small nursing homes will also have access to quality lab results.
Significance of the scheme: The scheme will help to bring quality at the grass root level of India’s health system where laboratories follow the imperatives of quality in all their processes. This will inculcate the habit of quality and facilitate the laboratories to achieve benchmark accreditation of ISO 15189 over a period of time.
About National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL): NABL is a constituent board of Quality Council of India (QCI) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. NABL is Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) signatory to International bodies like International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC) and Asia Pacific Accreditation Co-operation (APAC) for accreditation of Testing including Medical and Calibration laboratories.
NABL is also having APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for Proficiency Testing Provider (PTP) & Reference Materials Producers (RMP). MRA are based on evaluation by peer Accreditation Bodies and facilitates acceptance of test/ calibration results between countries which MRA partners represent.
The amendment has been done keeping into consideration the “Ease of Doing Business” and boosting “Make in India” initiative by simplifying the procedures under the Rules, while at the same time upholding the principles of sustainable development and ensuring minimal impact on the environment.
Some of the salient features of the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management& Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2019 are as follows: Solid plastic waste has been prohibited from import into the country including in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and by Export Oriented Units (EOU). Exporters of silk waste have now been given exemption from requiring permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Electrical and electronic assemblies and components manufactured in and exported from India, if found defective can now be imported back into the country, within a year of export, without obtaining permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Industries which do not require consent under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, are now exempted from requiring authorization also under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, provided that hazardous and other wastes generated by such industries are handed over to the authorized actual users, waste collectors or disposal facilities.
What necessitated this? In spite of having a significant plastic pollution load of its own, and a ban on plastic waste imports, imported PET bottles from abroad for processing SEZ. The influx of PET bottles was quadrupled from 2017 to 2018. Indian firms are importing plastic scrap from China, Italy, Japan and Malawi for recycling. India consumes about 13 million tonnes of plastic and recycles only about 4 million tonnes.
What is hazardous waste and what are the concerns associated with it? Hazardous waste is the waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment.
Rapidly growing industries in the country have contributed in the production of large part of hazardous waste material. The sources of hazardous waste are basically agricultural and agro industries, medical facilities, commercial centres, household and the informal sectors.
Therefore, to reduce environmental hazardous proper attention is required during disposal of such waste, because it cannot be disposed of by common means like other by products of our daily lives.
About the Campaign: The Campaign has been launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India in association with the NGO Breakthrough and Twitter India.
Through the campaign, the Ministry aims to recognize the fortitude of Indian women stalwarts from across the globe who have used the power of social media to run positive & niche campaigns to steer a change in society. The Campaign is aimed at encouraging, recognizing and acknowledging the efforts of these meritorious Women.
National Sports Federation Context: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has granted provisional recognition to Kudo International Federation India(KIFI) as National Sport Federation with immediate effect. The recognition means granting a major role to KIFI Association for promotion and Development of Kudo sport in India.
About NSFs: National Sports Federations (NSFs) are autonomous bodies registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860. The Government does not interfere in their day to day affairs.
However, Government has issued guidelines imposing age and tenure limits in respect of office bearers of NSFs, including those of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). These have further been reiterated in the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, which has been made effective from 31.1.2011. As per the guidelines, the Government has, inter-alia, provided the following age and tenure limits in respect of office bearers of the NSFs:
The President of any recognized National Sports Federation, including the IOA can hold office for a maximum period of twelve years with or without break. The Secretary (or by whatever other designation such as Secretary General or General Secretary by which he is referred to) and the Treasurer of any recognized National Sports Federation, including the IOA, may serve a maximum of two successive terms of four years each after which a minimum cooling off period of four years is required to seek fresh election to either post.
The President, the Secretary and the Treasurer of any recognized NSF, including the IOA, shall cease to hold that post on attaining the age of 70 years.
Swachh Survekshan 2019 covered all urban local bodies in the country, making it the largest such cleanliness survey in the world.
Performance of various countries: Indore was adjudged India’s cleanest city for the third straight year. The second and third positions in the category were grabbed by Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh and Mysuru in Karnataka. Bhopal is country’s Swachh capital.
New Delhi Municipal Council area was given the ‘Cleanest Small City’ award. Uttarakhand’s Gauchar was adjudged the ‘Best Ganga Town’. The ‘Cleanest Big City’ award has been bagged by Ahmedabad, while Raipur is the ‘Fastest Moving Big City’. Ujjain has been the adjudged the ‘Cleanest Medium City’ and Mathura-Vrindavan bagged the tag of the ‘Fastest Moving Medium Cities’.
Conclusion: Cleanliness should be integral to the behaviour of every citizen to make it effective and sustainable. Many people pay attention to personal hygiene but remain apathetic to public and community cleanliness. Change in this mentality is important for achieving the goals of Swachh Bharat.
Why there is need for regulation? With over 460 million internet users, India is the second-largest online market, ranked only behind China. By 2021, there will be 635.8 million internet users in India. The widespread use of social networking in the country has been on a rise, especially among the new generation.
We cannot ignore the fact that politics and media share a complex synergistic relationship; media, politics and elections are knotted together and social media platforms have become the essential ground for discussion on political narratives.
Politics is a favourite topic of discussion among the young and old. The hashtags are famous on Twitter and Twitter users get pulled into it. These platforms may be misused by hatemongers or fake news peddlers. There can also be foreign interference in our election using social medias. Then, there is the issue of cloned and fake accounts.
Globally, some election experts have raised alarm against the recent elections in some countries where social media campaigns influenced election proceedings to such an extent that the democratic process came under threat. There is an alarming worry that outside interests can work to undermine the democratic process in a subtle and sneaky way. In April 2017, Facebook admitted that its platform had been exploited by governments seeking to manipulate public opinion in other countries during the presidential elections in the US and France. Facebook pledged to clamp down on such operations.
Recent developments at global level: Courtiers such as Singapore and the Philippines are actively proposing legislation on fake news, while Germany introduced a new law that compels social media networks to remove hate speech. Indonesia has launched a new cybersecurity agency as part of its efforts to deal with online religious fanaticism, online hate speech, nip terrorist groups and fake news on social media.
Key findings: While the global trend of purchasing drugs over the internet, particularly on darknet trading platforms using cryptocurrencies has already spread across South Asia, it is particularly rampant in India.
India is also a transit country for illicitly produced opiates, in particular heroin. The route used by traffickers to smuggle opiates through South Asia is an alternative part of the so-called “southern route”, which runs through Pakistan or the Islamic Republic of Iran, via the Gulf countries, continues to East Africa and on to destination countries.
Also, India, Australia, France and Turkey accounted for 83% of global production of morphine-rich opiate raw materials in 2017. The stocks were considered sufficient to cover 19 months of expected global demand by manufacturers at the 2018 level of demand.
About UNODC: Established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention, UNODC is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. UNODC relies on voluntary contributions, mainly from Governments, for 90% of its budget.
UNODC is mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism.
The three pillars of the UNODC work programme are: Field-based technical cooperation projects to enhance the capacity of Member States to counteract illicit drugs, crime and terrorism. Research and analytical work to increase knowledge and understanding of drugs and crime issues and expand the evidence base for policy and operational decisions.
Normative work to assist States in the ratification and implementation of the relevant international treaties, the development of domestic legislation on drugs, crime and terrorism, and the provision of secretariat and substantive services to the treaty-based and governing bodies.
About ICC: The International Criminal Court (ICC), located in The Hague, is the court of last resort for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
It is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. Its founding treaty, the Rome Statute, entered into force on July 1, 2002. Funding: Although the Court’s expenses are funded primarily by States Parties, it also receives voluntary contributions from governments, international organisations, individuals, corporations and other entities.
Composition and voting power: The Court’s management oversight and legislative body, the Assembly of States Parties, consists of one representative from each state party. Each state party has one vote and “every effort” has to be made to reach decisions by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, decisions are made by vote. The Assembly is presided over by a president and two vice-presidents, who are elected by the members to three-year terms.
Jurisdiction: The ICC has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The ICC is intended to complement existing national judicial systems and it may therefore only exercise its jurisdiction when certain conditions are met, such as when national courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute criminals or when the United Nations Security Councilor individual states refer situations to the Court.
Criticism: It does not have the capacity to arrest suspects and depends on member states for their cooperation. Critics of the Court argue that there are insufficient checks and balances on the authority of the ICC prosecutor and judges and insufficient protection against politicized prosecutions or other abuses. The ICC has been accused of bias and as being a tool of Western imperialism, only punishing leaders from small, weak states while ignoring crimes committed by richer and more powerful states.
ICC cannot mount successful cases without state cooperation is problematic for several reasons. It means that the ICC acts inconsistently in its selection of cases, is prevented from taking on hard cases and loses legitimacy. It also gives the ICC less deterrent value, as potential perpetrators of war crimes know that they can avoid ICC judgment by taking over government and refusing to cooperate.
National Rural Economic Transformation project: The National Rural Economic Transformation project is additional financing to the $500 million National Rural Livelihoods Project (NRLP) approved by the World Bank in July 2011.
The project will support enterprise development programs for rural poor women and youth by creating a platform to access finance including start-up financing options to build their individual or collectively owned and managed enterprises.
The project will involve developing financial products using digital financial services to help small producer collectives scale-up and engage with the market.
It will also support youth skills development, in coordination with the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana.
Highlights of the Frontiers Report 2019: Pollution caused by the reactive forms of nitrogen is now being recognised as a grave environmental concern on a global level.
It highlights that growing demand on the livestock, agriculture, transport, industry and energy sector has led to a sharp growth of the levels of reactive nitrogen — ammonia, nitrate, nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O) — in our ecosystems.
The report claims that the total annual cost of nitrogen pollution to eco system and healthcare services in the world is around $340 billion. The report also warns that the scale of the problem remains largely unknown and unacknowledged outside scientific circles.
Nitrogen as an essential nutrient: Nitrogen, which is a vital macronutrient for most plants, is the most abundant element in the atmosphere. A little over 78% of dry air on Earth is nitrogen. But atmospheric nitrogen, or dinitrogen, is unreactive and cannot be utilised by plants directly.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, farmers depended on a natural process called nitrogen fixation for the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into reactive nitrogen in the soil: nitrogen-fixing bacteria like rhizobia live symbiotically with leguminous plants, providing nitrogen to the plant and soil in the form of reactive compounds like ammonia and nitrate.
But the natural nitrogen cycle was inadequate to feed the growing population. Scientists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch solved this problem by producing ammonia by combining atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen gas at high temperature and pressure—known as the Haber-Bosch process. The Green Revolution, which was instrumental in establishing food security in the developing countries in the 1960s, was driven by artificial nitrogen-fixation. Today, about half of the world’s population depends on this process for its nutrition.
How Nitrogen turned into pollutant from nutrient how it is affecting health and environment? Nitrogen is an inert gas that’s necessary for life. But we’re changing it into forms that are harmful, overloading the environment with it, and throwing the natural nitrogen cycle out of whack.
Nitrogen compounds running off farmland have led to water pollution problems around the world, while nitrogen emissions from industry, agriculture and vehicles make a big contribution to air pollution.
Over 80% of the nitrogen in soil is not utilised by humans. While over four-fifths of the nitrogen is used to feed livestock, only about six per cent reaches humans in case of non-vegetarian diet, as compared to the 20% that reaches the plate of a vegetarian.
Nitrogen becomes a pollutant when it escapes into the environment and reacts with other organic compounds. It is either released into the atmosphere, gets dissolved in water sources such as rivers, lakes or groundwater, or remains in the soil. While it might lead to favourable growth of species that can utilise this nutrient, nitrogen as a pollutant is often detrimental to the environment and health.
Effects on health: According to the World Health Organization, nitrate-contaminated drinking water can cause reduced blood function, cancer and endemic goiters. Surplus inputs of nitrogen compounds have been found to cause soil acidification. The lowering pH, as a result of the acidification, can lead to nutrient disorders and increased toxicity in plants. It may also affect natural soil decomposition.
Nitrogen pollution has a significant impact on the environment: It creates of harmful algal blooms and dead zones in our waterways and oceans; the algae produce toxins which are harmful to human and aquatic organisms (and indirectly affects fisheries and biodiversity in coastal areas).
Contamination of drinking water. 10 million people in Europe are potentially exposed to drinking water with nitrate concentrations above recommended levels. This can have an adverse effect on human health.
Food Security: Excessive nitrogen fertiliser application contributes to soil nutrient depletion. As the world needs to feed an ever growing population loss of arable land is major global problem.
The release of Nitrous Oxide is essentially a greenhouse gas which is harmful to the environment.
Context: National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) and Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) sign an MoU.
National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG): It has been set up by the Government of India (GoI) under the aegis of Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. It aims to promote good governance through Capacity Building on Public Policy and Governance both at National and International Level and carrying out studies/ action research on issues relating to governance.
CERT-In (the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team): Context: Indian cyber security agencies are tracking a massive leak of data from at least 16 online platforms — websites as well as apps — several of which are widely used by Indians. The National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT), in collaboration with global cyber intelligence agencies, are currently trying to gauge the extent of the damage.
About CERT-In: What is it? CERT-In (the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) is a government-mandated information technology (IT) security organization. CERT-In was created by the Indian Department of Information Technology in 2004 and operates under the auspices of that department.
It’s purpose: The purpose of CERT-In is to respond to computer security incidents, report on vulnerabilities and promote effective IT security practices throughout the country. According to the provisions of the Information Technology Amendment Act 2008, CERT-In is responsible for overseeing administration of the Act.