9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – February 11th, 2023

Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 1

India’s population gap over China to widen further, shows data

Source– The post is based on the article “India’s population gap over China to widen further, shows data” published in the Business Standard on 11th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Population and associated issues

Relevance– Statistics and indicators related to population

News– India is expected to cross China and become the world’s most populous country in April this year.

What are population projections for India and China?

According to United Nations Population Division data, India will surpass China in 2023 by 3 million people and the gap will only widen with time.

The two countries have accounted for around 36% of the world’s population since the 1950s. In 2022, it was 35.6% and is estimated to be 35.5% in 2023. By 2100, India and China will account for 22.2% of the world’s population.

What does the statistics say about the demographic dividend in India?

According to an analysis by Pew Research Center, roughly one-in-five people globally who are under the age of 25 live in India.

Those below 25 years of age accounted for 57.13% share in India’s total population in 1950. By July 2023, it will be 42.7%.

The share of those in the age group of 25-64 will be 50.2% by July 2023. However, the share is projected to change by 2100. Share of those below 25 years of age will further decline to 23.9%. The share of those in the age group of 25-64 will rise to 46.3%.

What does the statistics say about fertility rate in India?

India’s total fertility rate (TFR) was 5.73 compared to a global rate of 4.86 in 1950.

In 2022, India’s rate was estimated to be 2.01 while the global rate is 2.31. China’s TFR declined from 5.81 in 1950 to 1.18 in 2022.

Data from the National Family Health Survey shows that the fertility rate in urban India has fallen from 2.06 in 2005-06 to 1.63 in 2019-21. The decline in rural India was from 2.98 to 2.14 in the same period.

What does the statistics say about migration in India?

In 2022, more than 487,000 people migrated from India. As per the UN projections, the country is likely to face net negative migration till 2100.

Pew Research Center highlights that India’s net migration has not always been negative. In 2016, India gained an estimated 68,000 people due to migration.

India also recorded increases in net migration on several occasions in the second half of the 20th century.

India’s urban centres are ailing due to lack of funds

Source– The post is based on the article “India’s urban centres are ailing due to lack of funds” published in The Indian Express on 11th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Urbanisation. GS2- Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels

Relevance– Urban financing

News– The health of municipal finances in India is in poor state. Revenue losses after GST implementation and the pandemic has further deteriorated it.

What is the scenario of urban financing in India?

As per the RBI, in FY21, at least 141 municipal corporations saw a sharp decline in revenue. Revenue shortfall greater than 25%.

There was a significant increase in expenditure of over 75%.

There was a decline in projected growth in property tax by approximately 11%, and municipal fees by 50%.

Raising municipal revenue is a challenge. Studies by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements have highlighted that urban local bodies’ own revenue was only 47% of their total revenue. Property tax accounts for approximately 29% of it.

Most ULBs were dependent on transfers from the Centre and state governments.

The urban financing challenge is huge. A World Bank estimate suggests that India will need to invest approximately $840 billion in urban infrastructure over the next 15 years.

What are the impacts of lack of urban financing?

This has led to cuts in essential services. Sewerage services have been affected by 55-71% in most cases.

Delayed salary and pension disbursements, and the decline in general upkeep of such cities are other fallouts.

What is the way forward for urban financing in India?

We need a multi-pronged strategy to bridge the gap.

Many urban local bodies and municipal corporations need a fiscal stimulus. Disbursal of external grants from the state and Centre is a concern.

In September 2020, the CAG’s performance audit highlighted a saving of over Rs 5,000 crore due to non-disbursal of grants in Karnataka. The urban local bodies in Karnataka had delayed disbursements.

This needs to change. States and the Centre must ensure that disbursements are made on time.

Additional funding needs to be explored. A revolving fund, which offers budgetary stabilisation measures can be considered. Along with it, the provision of an overdraft facility when revenues and fiscal transfers are delayed can be considered.

Green bonds need to be promoted, along with a joint corpus fund, funded by the Centre and states.

Property taxes also need rationalisation. It can be improved by updating existing databases, reassessing properties using digital tools and imposing taxes on non-compliers and defaulters.

Concessions will need to be rationalised. State and local bodies should be incentivised to move away from fiscally ruinous measures.

Expenditure efficiency needs to be boosted by pushing for outsourcing of services and exploring PPP models, and participatory budgeting.

The Centre can expand incentives given to states under interest-free capex loans to cover aspects of urban development like framing building bylaws, pushing for public transport and pursuing mixed housing schemes.

Innovative financing mechanisms can be pursued. These include asset monetisation, financing from carbon credit generation.

Civic action will be required. There should be a push for user charges for public service delivery. For capital expenditure needs, levies like betterment fees, impact fees and tax increment financing should be explored.

GS PAPER - 2

Article 105 of Constitution: The limits to free speech in Parliament, and what Supreme Court has ruled

Source: The post is based on the article “Article 105 of Constitution: The limits to free speech in Parliament, and what Supreme Court has ruled” published in The Indian Express on 11^th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Indian Polity

Relevance: Parliamentary Privileges and associated concerns

News: Members of Parliament enjoy certain privileges and powers under Article 105. This article provides insights into those privileges and the limitations.

What is Article 105?

Under Article 105, Members of Parliament are exempted from any legal action for any statement made or act done in the course of their duties. For example, a defamation suit cannot be filed for a statement made in the House.

This immunity extends to certain non-members as well, such as the Attorney General for India or a Minister who may not be a member but speaks in the House.

If an MP exceeds its speech limit, then it is duty of the Speaker or the House to deal with it.

However, the article also has restrictions such as Article 121 prohibits any discussion in Parliament regarding the conduct of any Judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court in the discharge of his duties.

How did this idea of privilege originate?

The Government of India Act, 1935 first brought this provision to India with references to the powers and privileges enjoyed by the House of Commons in Britain.

However, unlike India where the Constitution is supreme, Britain follows Parliamentary supremacy.

What are the various judgments of court related to parliamentary privileges?

The SC in ‘Tej Kiran Jain v N Sanjiva Reddy’ (1970), ruled that the word “anything” in Article 105 has wide interpretations.

Further, the SC in the case of ‘P V Narasimha Rao vs. State’ (1998) ruled that the ordinary law would not apply to the acceptance of a bribe by an MP in case of parliamentary proceedings.

The court interpreted Article 105(2) and said that it protects MPs against proceedings in court related to anything said or a vote given in the Parliament.

The court further said that it will allow MPs to participate fearlessly in the Parliamentary debates and they need wider protection of immunity against all civil and criminal proceedings that bear a nexus to their speech or vote.

GS PAPER - 3

India’s law and order matrix needs a reboot

Source– The post is based on the article “India’s law and order matrix needs a reboot” published in The Hindu on 11th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Security

Relevance– Reform in police force

News– The annual All India Conference of Directors General/Inspectors General of Police which was held recently.

What are issues related to the conference of DGPs?

There is a proliferation of subjects up for discussion in recent conferences, and the presence of increasing numbers of delegates to cover the various subjects. It leaves little scope for any in-depth discussion.

Today’s security threats have an all-embracing character. There is a need for in-depth discussions on futuristic themes in policing, such as cyber-crime, the dark web, and unchecked social media.

These are in addition to subjects such as left-wing extremism, counter-terrorism, drug tracking and border issues.

Lack of adequate time to discuss these matters in detail undermine the quality of the debates and possible outcomes.

Hence, decision making in these circumstances needs fundamental changes. There is a need for more purposeful discussion at higher levels.

What are the issues faced by police forces in modern times?

Law and order management today has not been given sufficient attention. This subject

may appear redundant in a world dominated by technology.

It demands a combination of newer skills, in both technology and crowd management. These are not available among security agencies.

The attention of most security forces in the country has essentially been devoted to ongoing threats such as terrorism.

A heavy-handed approach to deal with crowds creates more problems. This only leads to division between law enforcement agencies and the public.

Police forces have not spent enough attention to selection of personnel to security agencies. ‘Open-Source intelligence’ is often neglected by security agencies. The proper utilisation of it can become the critical factor in managing many law and order situations today.

There is a presence of multiple security agencies, including intelligence and investigative agencies. They seldom act with a common purpose.

Their techniques and methodologies tend to be different. It leads to contradictions in approach. They often hinder proper analysis and investigation.

What is the way forward for reform in the police force?

There is a need to bring about changes in intelligence techniques, investigative methodologies, and improving the ground situation.

Decision making in changed circumstances of the 21st century needs to undergo fundamental changes. There is a need for more purposeful discussion at higher levels.

Annual conferences of DGPs/IGPs can be split into two separate conferences. A higher-level conference of DGPs/IGPs should discuss policy related issues. A separate conference should be held of intelligence and security specialists to discuss the methodology, techniques and acquisition of new skills for current and future problems.

In the 21st century, security problems will grow at an exponential rate. The emerging challenges would require greater innovativeness and agility.

A new set of cognitive skills will be needed to meet the challenges posed by swift technological change and the rise of data war.

Managing today’s angry, and unruly mobs requires a fresh set of skills and inherent abilities, apart from technology.

Police and security agencies must be provided with the right attributes. They need to be adequately trained. This needs a top-down approach due to considerable competition of resources within the agencies for other items such weaponry and technology.

The selection of personnel to security agencies, especially the police will require a total makeover.

The police forces must be capable of dealing with modern criminals. They often employ a variety of tactics and skills. Police and security forces must develop a different mind-set. Force cannot be the answer to every situation.

Girl in Gurgaon: Cases of abuse of domestic workers raise questions about informal employment sector

Source: The post is based on the article “Girl in Gurgaon: Cases of abuse of domestic workers raise questions about informal employment sector” published in the Live Mint on 10th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Employment.

Relevance: Concerns associated with domestic work.

News: Recently, a Gurgaon-based couple was booked for allegedly assaulting and torturing a minor girl who worked for them as a domestic help. An FIR has been registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

About Domestic work in India

Domestic work in India serves as a major and growing employment avenue, especially for uneducated and unskilled workers from rural areas as well as the urban poor.

According to the government’s e-Shram portal, a national database of unorganised workers, almost 10% of the workers registered are engaged as domestic and household workers.

Over the years, there has been a growth in the number of private agencies that act as a conduit between the demand and supply ends of the market. Employment in this category tends to be dominated by women, with most of them being migrants.

As urbanisation increases, the nuclearisation of families rises, and the pressures on families of old-age care increase the demand for domestic care work is only likely to escalate.

What is the bigger concern associated with domestic work?

The recent issue highlights a) the nature and form of informal employment relationships in India and b) the unequal power equations between the employers and employees that underlie them.

The other challenges faced by domestic workers include a) the work often involves long hours, b) the wages in these occupations in urban areas, especially in the major metropolitan centres, may be higher than in rural areas, c) the implementation of minimum wage rules remains an unaddressed issue across the country, d) these workers have little bargaining power, e) they have little access to social protection and are at times subject to harassment and abuse and f) low state capacity led to implementation issues on the ground.

Though the involvement of private agencies indicates some sort of push towards the formalisation of domestic workers. Their functioning remains mostly informal in nature. Most of them fail to provide any form of support, financial or otherwise, to these girls and women.

What should be done to address the concerns associated with domestic work?

There is a need to address the power imbalance and provide greater protection for domestic workers. The government should also retain a degree of flexibility in work structures.

The government should also ensure detailed documentation and greater transparency in work contracts, along with stricter enforcement of rGirl in Gurgaon: Cases of abuse of domestic workers raise questions about informal employment sector and regulations.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

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