9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – April 15th, 2023

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GS PAPER - 2

Economic distress in Sri Lanka: Life & Debt – India-France-Japan initiative crucial for Colombo

Source: The post is based on the article “Lanka: Life & Debt – India-France-Japan initiative crucial for Colombo” published in The Times of India on 15th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS – 2: India and its neighbourhood- relations.

Relevance: About economic distress in Sri Lanka.

News: Recently, Sri Lanka received a $2. 9 billion package from IMF. Following that, India, Japan and France have set up a common platform for talks among Sri Lanka’s creditors to work out ways to restructure the country’s external debt.

About the present state of economic distress in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s average inflation in 2023 is projected to be 28. 5% even as the economy is expected to shrink 3.1%. But, Sri Lanka’s current account deficit in 2023 is projected to be 1. 6% of GDP, a manageable level.

The greatest distress of the Sri Lankan economy at present is its aggregate external debt, which is 74% of its GDP. Sri Lanka is having arrears to almost all of its external creditors. The country has also obtained financing assurances from all major creditors.

Note: China is the major creditor of Sri Lanka. 

What led to the economic distress in Sri Lanka?

Read here: Causes Behind Sri Lanka crisis

What are the objectives of the economic restructuring package for Sri Lanka?

The key aim of Lanka’s economic restructuring package is to lower its annual debt service in foreign exchange from the current 9% of GDP to 4. 5% by 2027. This will require the country to lower its public debt from the current level of 122% of GDP.

Read more: In Sri Lankan crisis, a window of economic opportunity

 

The Misconception About Bail-Jail

Source: The post is based on the article “The Misconception About Bail-Jail” published in The Times of India on 15th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Governance – Criminal Justice System

Relevance: About Undertrials prisoners in India

News: The article explains the situation of undertrial prisoners in India.

What are the findings of the data on undertrial prisoners?

Click Here to Read

What are the reasons behind the large number of undertrial prisoners?

Click Here to Read

What steps were taken by the court regarding undertrial prisoners?

The court in Hussainara Khatoon vs Bihar, 1979 case interpreted Article 21 and held that speedy trial is the fundamental right of every citizen.

Following this judgment, court guidelines exist on release of different categories of undertrials: 1) Those under civil imprisonment, 2) Those in custody for over 15 days for offences with a maximum sentence less than 7 years, 3) Senior citizens in custody over 3 months for offences where the maximum sentence is less than 10 years, 4) Those in jail for over 6 months under IPC Sections 304 (culpable homicide) or 307 (attempt to murder). 5) Relatives in jail for over a year on offences under IPC Section 304B (dowry), 6) Release on personal bond with or without sureties or bail is appropriate under Section 436A CrPC, provided that the penalty is not the death penalty and detention has lasted for more than half the maximum term.

What are the concerns with these guidelines?

There are exceptions to it. For example, for point 4, Bail principles won’t apply to offences under NDPS, POCSO, PCA, PMLA, anti-terror laws and in CBI/ ED investigations.

Moreover, for point 5, there is always a risk in granting bail because investigation, evidence, witnesses can be tampered, or the accused may flee.

What has been the stand of SC regarding bail?

SC focuses on granting bail for most of the cases and it has granted bail to even those accused of murder in Asim Kumar Haranath Bhattacharya vs NIA (2021). However, the problem lies with the lower courts.

SC recently in Satender Kumar Antil vs CBI, 2022 observed that the criminal justice system may not necessarily punish a criminal swiftly, or at all but trial courts think denial of bail is punishment.

SC recently also stayed a high court order that directed a trial court judge to justify bail in a particular case. SC said such orders could undermine independence of district judiciary considering bail.

What can be the way ahead?

Since, HC is not subordinate to SC, SC has no power of its supervision. SC has only appellate powers.

Therefore, the issue of bail must be considered by HCs as a priority because a case takes years to be resolved which increases the number of undertrials and deprives them of their rights.

Mughals have not been erased from NCERT textbooks

Source– The post is based on the article “Mughals have not been erased from NCERT textbooks” published in The Indian Express on 15th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Issues related to development and management of education

Relevance: Curriculum and syllabus related issues

News- The recent controversy over the National Council of Educational Research and Training reducing the content on Mughal history in the school curriculum has sparked a heated debate in the country.

What are the justifications in support of the NCERT move?

Mughal history is just one glorious 200-year part of just one period of Indian history.

Apart from that, there are 2,000 years remaining. Other great medieval powers like the Marathas and Southern dynasties continue to be underrepresented.

The NCERT removed overlapping material from grades 6 to 12 to reduce the burden on students.

It revolves around the significant policies that redefined the landscape and mindset of the people. Akbar’s policies feature in this theme in the rationalized syllabus as well.

Mughals have been overrepresented in our history books and were an obvious area for right-sizing.

What is the way forward?

In the age of Wikipedia, we need to expose our children to the broad themes and grand sweep of history and create an understanding of their origins. Children should be equipped with the tools and curiosity to read and research further as they grow.

History teaching should be more engaging and informative. It should do justice to the breadth and depth of our heritage.

A reminder about unfettered constitutional posts

Source– The post is based on the article “A reminder about unfettered constitutional posts” published in “The Hindu” on 15th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Appointment to various Constitutional Posts

Relevance– Independence of institutions

News– Two recent comments of the Supreme Court of India are important. In a hearing of the ‘Sena versus Sena’ case, the Court expressed its “serious concern” over the active role being played by Governors in State politics.

The Court divested the executive of its sole discretion in appointing the CEC and ECs by forming a committee to suggest suitable names to man these constitutional posts.

Why is there a need for independent institutions?

A democracy requires a system of checks and balances. It is necessary to prevent the arbitrary use of power by the elected government of the day.

India’s democracy provides for various constitutional authorities such as the Public Service Commission, the CAG, the ECI, the Finance Commission, and the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes.

The Constituent Assembly of India had recognized the need for such independent institutions to regulate sectors of national importance without any executive interference.

It is necessary that such constitutional bodies are provided with complete independence to enable them to function without fear or favor and in the larger interests of the nation.

What are the provisions in the constitution that provide for the appointment of persons heading the independent institutions?

The Constitution uses simple words such as ‘shall be appointed by the President’ in the appointment of the Prime Minister (Article 75), the Attorney­ General for India (Article 76), the Chairman and other members of the Finance Commission (Article280), the Chairman and other members of the Public Service Commission (Article 316).

However, the words ‘shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal’ are used while authorizing the President for appointment of the judges of Supreme Court and the High Court, the CAG and for appointment of the Governor

Similar words have been used in Articles 338, 338A and 338B authorizing the President for appointing Chairman and members of the National Commissions for SCs, STs and

BCs. However, as per the original Article, ‘there shall be a Special Officer for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to be appointed by the President.

How do constituent assembly debates show that it assigns a special status to CAG, Governor and judges of higher courts in appointment related matters?

In the draft Constitution, the article for appointment of the CAG (Article 124) had provided that ‘There shall be an Auditor General who shall be appointed by the President.

An amendment proposed in the Constituent Assembly To this Article for inserting the words ‘by warrant under his hand and seal.

The Constituent Assembly discussed that the Auditor ­General should be always independent of either the legislature or the executive. He is the watchdog of our finances.

The same amendment for the Article related to appointment of Governor in Article 131 of the draft Constitution was moved.

The Constituent Assembly discussed that the President should be free from the influence of the Legislature.

Both amendments were passed.

What is the way forward for appointment of persons heading the independent institutions?

The Constitution affixes the phrase “by warrant under his hand and seal” only for appointment to positions like Judges, the CAG and the Governors. It assigns a special status to distinguish them from other constitutional positions.

Constitutional authorities such as the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court and the CAG of India is to be kept free from political or executive pressure.

Appointments of judges and the ECs have been made free from the influence of the executive. But there is a need to set up a well­ defined criteria and procedures for the appointment of the CAG of India.

The process of selecting a person to be appointed as the CAG of India should begin by appointing a committee consisting of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India, and the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee to shortlist names for appointment of CAG of India.

A panel of three names should be forwarded to the President for him to make the final selection as in Article 148 of the Constitution of India.

Changes to the NCERT syllabus and associated issues – Explained, pointwise

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Introduction

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has made 1,334 changes in 182 books to its syllabus for various classes, including the removal of certain texts related to the Mughal era, the Delhi Sultanate, and the role of Hindu extremist organizations in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

While the NCERT has cited rationalization and reduction of content load as the reasons for the changes, they have faced criticism for being politically motivated and revisionist. These changes have raised concerns about the implications for India’s education system and its impact on the country’s collective memory and national identity.  

What are the recent changes in the NCERT syllabus?  

Some of the key changes are:  

Class 12 History: Chapters related to the Mughal Empire have been removed from the textbook ‘Themes of Indian History-Part II.’  

Class 12 Civics: Chapters like ‘American Hegemony in World Politics’ and ‘The Cold War Era’ have been removed from the Civics textbook.  

Class 12 Indian Politics after Independence: Two chapters, ‘Rise of Popular Movements’ and ‘Era of One Party Dominance,’ have been removed.  

Class 10 Democratic Politics-2: Chapters such as ‘Democracy and Diversity,’ ‘Popular Struggles and Movements,’ and ‘Challenges of Democracy’ have been dropped.  

Class 11 Themes in World History: Chapters like ‘Central Islamic Lands,’ ‘Clash of Cultures,’ and ‘Industrial Revolution’ have been removed.  

Other changes are Content on the government’s ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) following Gandhi’s assassination. References to Nathuram Godse’s background and his connection to extremist Hindu newspapers.  

About the previous changes in the NCERT Syllabus

30% of the NCERT syllabus was removed as part of the syllabus rationalisation in 2022. The process resulted in the removal of sections from the curriculum, including lessons on Gujarat riots, Mughal courts, the Emergency, the Cold War, and the Naxalite movement, among others.  

It is worth mentioning that not just revamping the textbooks, the NCERT has also revised the National Curriculum Framework after 14 years on the lines of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The previous four occasions when the NCF was revised were in 1975, 1988, 2000 and 2005.  

These changes have been made in line with the updated syllabus and are being implemented in schools following the NCERT syllabus from the 2023-2024 academic session.  

What is the rationale behind the changes in the NCERT syllabus?

The rationale behind the changes in the NCERT syllabus can be seen from multiple perspectives:  

The previous syllabus is not aligned with new educational policies: It is essential to revise and align the current NCERT syllabus with the new education policy to ensure that it meets the updated objectives, priorities, and guidelines.  

Outdated content: Some parts of the syllabus may contain outdated or irrelevant information, which may not be applicable or useful for students in the contemporary context. For example, issues like Swachh Bharat, Digital India, GST, ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, demonetisation etc are missing in the current syllabus. 

Bias and controversy: The NCERT syllabus has faced criticism for potential biases and controversies in its content. This could include the portrayal of historical events, political issues, or cultural aspects that may be seen as promoting a particular viewpoint or ideology.

For example, the book on Politics in Independent India has chapters on ‘the era of one-party dominance’. Under this section, the nature of the dominance of the Congress, Socialist, Communist Party, Communist Party of India, Bharatiya Jana Sangh etc, were being taught to the students.  

Lack of inclusivity: The syllabus may not adequately represent the diverse cultural, linguistic, and social backgrounds of India, which can lead to a lack of understanding and appreciation of the country’s rich heritage and diversity. For example, more space was given to Mughal Empire. 

Heavy workload to students: The NCERT syllabus is often criticized for being too vast and demanding, leading to a high workload for students, which can have negative impacts on their mental and physical well-being.  

Addressing feedback from educators and stakeholders: Changes may be made based on feedback from teachers, students, and other stakeholders to ensure that the curriculum remains effective and engaging.  

What are the advantages of the new changes in the NCERT syllabus?

Advantages of Changes in NCERT Syllabus:  

Inclusion of Modern Schemes and Programs: The changes in the NCERT syllabus have included references to modern schemes and programs introduced by the Indian government, such as Digital India, Make in India, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. This helps students to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and be more informed citizens.  

Increased Emphasis on Ancient Indian Knowledge: The revised syllabus places greater emphasis on ancient Indian knowledge and practices, such as yoga, Ayurveda, and Vedic mathematics. This helps students to appreciate their cultural heritage and understand the value of traditional practices.  

Focus on Nationalist Figures: The changes have given greater recognition to nationalist figures who played an important role in India’s struggle for independence but were overlooked in the past. For example, the new textbooks include more information about freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar, Subhash Chandra Bose, and Sardar Patel.  

Reduced Content Load: The rationalisation of the syllabus has resulted in a reduction of 30% of the content load, which means that students have to study fewer topics in each subject. This helps to reduce the burden on students and enables them to focus more on understanding the concepts in depth.  

Updated Content: The revised syllabus includes updated content to reflect the latest developments in various fields, such as science, technology, and social issues. This helps students to keep pace with the rapidly changing world and be better prepared for the future.  

What are the challenges associated with the changes in the NCERT syllabus?

Implementation challenges: The sudden removal of certain topics and the addition of new ones may pose challenges in terms of implementing the new syllabus effectively. For example, teachers may require additional training to teach new topics, and schools may need to invest in new resources such as updated textbooks and teaching aids.  

Controversial changes: The removal of certain topics, such as the Mughal era and Gandhi’s assassination, has been controversial and has raised concerns about the government’s motives. Some argue that these changes are politically motivated, while others believe that they are an attempt to rewrite history to fit a specific agenda.  

Impact on student learning: There is a risk that some of the changes made to the NCERT syllabus may negatively impact student learning. For example, the removal of certain historical events or figures may lead to an incomplete or biased understanding of the subject matter.  

Resistance to change: There may be resistance to the changes made to the NCERT syllabus from various stakeholders, including teachers, students, and parents. Some may argue that the changes are unnecessary or that they undermine the credibility of the education system.  

Unequal access to resources: The changes made to the NCERT syllabus may require schools to invest in new resources, such as textbooks and teaching aids, which may not be affordable for all schools. This could result in unequal access to resources and opportunities for students, depending on their socioeconomic background.  

Impact on standardized tests: The changes to the syllabus could have an impact on standardized tests and college admissions, as these exams often test knowledge based on the old syllabus.  

Read here: NCERT textbook revision 

What should be done?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to address the challenges associated with changes in the NCERT syllabus. However, here are some suggestions that could help:  

Engage in constructive dialogue: It is important to have a constructive dialogue between all stakeholders, including educators, students, parents, and policymakers. This can help to address the concerns and ensure that the changes made in the syllabus are in line with the needs of the students and society as a whole.  

Conduct thorough research and analysis: Before making any changes to the syllabus, it is important to conduct thorough research and analysis to ensure that the changes are evidence-based and have a sound pedagogical rationale.  

Ensure diversity and inclusivity: The syllabus should be designed to promote diversity and inclusivity, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and varied experiences of Indian society.  

Provide adequate training to teachers: Teachers should be provided with adequate training and professional development opportunities to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively teach the revised syllabus.  

Monitor the implementation and impact of the changes: Regular monitoring and evaluation of the implementation and impact of the changes in the syllabus can help to identify any issues and address them in a timely manner.  

Overall, any changes made to the NCERT syllabus should be done with the best interest of the students and society in mind, keeping in mind the principles of diversity, inclusivity, and quality education for all.  

Sources:  Indian Express (Article 1 and Article 2), Times of India, DNA India, Business Standard 

Syllabus: GS 2: Social Issues – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

GS PAPER - 3

No Trial Is Error – Allow prosecution of soldiers accused of killing innocents

Source: The post is based on the article “No Trial Is Error – Allow prosecution of soldiers accused of killing innocents” published in The Times of India on 15th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS – 3: Security challenges and their management in border areas.

Relevance: About prosecution of soldiers.

News: In 2021, a commando unit opened fire and killed six coal miners in a counter-insurgency operation in Oting, Nagaland. Recently, the defence ministry has refused sanction for the prosecution of 30 army commandos allegedly responsible for the Oting massacre. The issue highlighted as the misuse of provisions of AFSPA which give sweeping powers to security personnel.

Why prosecution of soldiers is essential?

Security forces are forced to operate in difficult, often hostile, terrain. But that shouldn’t translate into impunity when grave errors are made.

-Non-prosecution of soldiers will create a sense of injustice which might provide a fillip to the insurgency in the North East.

-Normalisation in the Northeast is directly linked to removal of AFSPA. From April 1, AFSPA is restricted to eight districts of Assam while it has been removed from 19 and 18 police station areas respectively in Manipur and Nagaland. In this situation, by ensuring fair trail and prosecution in the Oting case will increase government’s trust.

Must read: Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) – Explained, pointwise

What should be done?

Justice has to be provided, especially in the areas where the AFSPA continues to operate.

IT rules are a step towards denying misinformation space on the internet

Source: The post is based on the following articles

“The ‘fact check’ is that Indians will have little choice” published in The Hindu on 15th April 2023.

“IT rules are a step towards denying misinformation space on the internet” published in the Indian Express on 15th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS – 3: role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges.

Relevance: About amendments to IT Rules.

News: The government recently notified amendments to Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules.

About the amendments to IT Rules

Read here: IT Ministry notifies body to flag ‘fake’ content about govt

What is the rationale behind the recent amendment to IT Rules?

Regulating misinformation: Misinformation operations for cyberwarfare by state and non-state actors have utilised social media platforms to create civic unrest and for radicalisation and terror recruitment.

In recent times, Covid misinformation, fake cures, financial market misinformation and AI deep fakes have caused and will cause tremendous social and economic harm.

Regulate the state and non-state actor activities: Attacks from state and non-state actor activities against India have become more sophisticated. For example, a) recently, The Washington Post exposed Khalistani elements using bots to conduct misinformation operations against the Indian government, b) In 2019, a network of accounts and pages managed by Pakistan’s ISPR were engaged in malicious, coordinated activity against India on social media platforms.

The scale and diversity of India’s Internet users: India’s internet users vary from children to the elderly. So, proper regulation of information going on the platform is essential.

Note: Rule 3(1)(n) explicitly provides that the fundamental rights of Indian citizens cannot be violated by any platform.

Lax in the enforcement of older IT rules by intermediaries: Under Rule (3) of previous IT Rules, there were nine no-go areas for content on social media, if the platforms were to continue to operate with legal immunity under Section 79. These included child sexual abuse material, religious incitement and misinformation.

But, due to new challenges like AI/deep fakes and the proliferation of anonymous users, bots and fake accounts, the social media intermediaries’ were sloppy in the implementation of the rule (3). This is creating a situation where no one could be held accountable for the content that was false or illegal.

Need a fact-checking government body: This is because a) The government was a target of most misinformation operations, b) Only the government has access to government data, c) any non-governmental entity might not effectively check all the data which is related to government.

International commitment: The G20 Leaders Bali Declaration of 2022 highlighted the need to counter disinformation campaigns as an essential requirement to prevent online threats and promote cyber security.

Must read: Amendment to IT Rules and regulating fake news – Explained, pointwise

What are the concerns associated with amendments to IT Rules?

No safeguards: Natural justice requires a transparent process, where a person is provided a fair chance of a hearing and given a legal order. No such safeguard exists in the IT Rules, which could result in a black box of government censorship.

Prevent readers from developing a critical understanding: With the new powers, the government can take down posts swiftly. Thus making the posts inaccessible not only on social media but also on the website of the news portal. Hence, it will prevent readers from developing a critical understanding through a contestation of facts.

Against judicial observations:

-In the State Of U.P. vs Raj Narain (1975) case, the court observed that “the claim of the executive to have exclusive and conclusive power to determine what is in public interest is a claim based on the assumption that the executive alone knows what is best for the citizen”.

-In the R. Rajagopal vs State Of T.N. (1994) case, the SC observed said that “Our system of Government demands… constant vigilance over exercise of governmental power by the press and the media among others. It is essential for a good Government.”

Creates mistrust with government: The design of “fact checking body” which is not insulated, or formed with financial and functional autonomy makes them subservient to government and even political interests.

Read more: Express View on IT Rules amendments: Government sets itself up as judge, jury and executioner  

India is at the bullseye of climate change’s heat impacting workers — this has economic effects

Source: The post is based on the article “India is at the bullseye of climate change’s heat impacting workers — this has economic effects” published in The Times of India on 15th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Climate Change

Relevance: Impact of rising heat

News: The article discusses various impacts of rising heat on labour productivity and on economy.

What are the impacts of the heat?

Heat, humidity and outdoor air pollution may have a health impact on workers working outside. This can have economic impacts on a nation.

Which areas are more affected by the rising heat?

Most areas in the tropics or within about 30 degrees of the equator are getting hotter and more humid on average. Even, mornings and night are getting warmer too. This can have a series of cascading health impacts.

How is India impacted by rising heat?

One of the most intense locations on Earth which is mostly hot and humid is the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

India also has a high number of people working outdoors, doing manual labour in agriculture, construction, etc. which involves working out in the sun, lifting loads and lacking heat protection.

Therefore, In India, there are a lot of people which generates internal body heat and this becomes worse by high heat and humidity. This ultimately leads to various health impacts.

Moreover, half of the labour lost to human heat exposure around the world is in India. 

China is also impacted given that its large populations live in eastern China which is low-lying and near the coast where it is hotter and more humid seasonally.

However, from various observations, India seems the most impacted in terms of lost labour productivity. This can have economic impact on India.

How is heat and deforestation linked?

The emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is causing global warming and the temperature is expected to increase more in the future.

In such a situation, deforestation raises temperatures locally because trees conduct photosynthesis and evapotranspiration which cools the surrounding environment. 

Therefore, across tropical rainforest regions, there is a strong association between deforestation and temperatures increasing from half a degree to several degrees Celsius locally.

What are some important mitigation measures that can be adopted?

Some of the measures than can be adopted are – a) work hours might be shifted from the hottest hours to cooler periods, b) local regulation should be brought up to prevent workers from working during the hottest hours and c) workers should be allowed to rest in those periods and their resting place should be in the shade, with cool, clean drinking water available to tackle dehydration.

Trade data points to slowing global and domestic demand

Source- The post is based on the article “Express View: Trade data points to slowing global and domestic demand” published in “The Indian Express” on 15th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indian economy

Relevance– Issues related to trade

News– Trade data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday provides an indication of the headwinds to growth.

What are important takeaways from recently released data?

India’s merchandise exports and imports have now declined in three of the last four months. Tight financial conditions across the world have slowed down global and domestic demand.

As per the latest data, merchandise exports contracted by almost 14% in March and imports fell by around 8%.

How was the performance of the export and import sector in fiscal year 2022-23?

Merchandise exports were $447 billion in 2022-23. It is 6% up from $422 billion in 2022-23.

If we exclude non-oil exports, exports in the full year were actually lower than the year before. Electronic goods have registered a significant expansion. Rice exports, gems and jewelry, cotton, man-made yarn, textiles as well as engineering goods, have shown poor performance.

If oil and gems and jewelry are excluded, imports in March were lower than in the same period the year before.

The latest data also shows that the merchandise trade deficit widened to $267 billion in 2022-23, from $191 billion in 2021-22.

What is the future scenario of trade in India?

The International Monetary Fund has pegged global growth at 2.8% in 2023, down from 3.4% in 2022. So, exports are likely to come under further pressure in the months ahead.

A deep contraction in merchandise exports will slow down the manufacturing sector in India. It will have an impact on overall domestic economic activity.

Both exports and imports are likely to remain weak this year. The extent of domestic demand as compared to external demand will determine the country’s overall current account deficit.

Tiger numbers can never tell the whole story

Source– The post is based on the article “Tiger numbers can never tell the whole story” published in live mint on 15th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Environment – Biodiversity Conservation

Relevance: Wildlife Conservation

News – On 9 April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the latest tiger numbers. We have about 3,167 tigers in India. The last estimation in 2018 counted 2,967 tigers.

What are the genetic variations in Tigers?

Except for the Western Ghats, these populations are quite small, and this is a matter of concern.

The tigers in Satkosia have gone extinct.

According to the 2018 census, Valmiki has about 30 tigers.

The Simlipal tigers are famed for their broad black stripes, rather than the traditional orange-yellow and black.

The 2022 report also points out that the North-East hill tiger population could be the result of gene flow from the South-East Asian tigers of Myanmar.

What are the two main management challenges?

One is the question of repopulating reserves that don’t have tigers. In areas like Satkosia, tigers can be brought in, but they have to be from a related genetic cluster.

The second is the issue of connecting tiger habitats so tigers can disperse naturally and create viable populations.

What are the recent amendments to the 1980 Forest (Conservation) Act in this regard?

The proposed clause suggests that forests around highways, public roads, railways, or public amenities of a certain size should not be considered forests. It opens forest areas to non-forest users.

It proposes that the construction of linear projects within 100 km of the international border and concerning “strategic” or “national importance”, should be exempt from the Act.

What is the way forward?

There is a need to make tigers a cross-cutting concern with all departments and to bypass forests that have tigers.

The less effective option is to make roads underground or overhead, a form of “green infrastructure”.

Tiger numbers can only go up if the animal is allowed to walk and then secure its own land. Further, tigers have genetic clusters within India and there is a need to bolster numbers within these distinct populations.

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