{"id":83423,"date":"2021-02-17T21:00:56","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T15:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=83423"},"modified":"2021-02-18T11:34:18","modified_gmt":"2021-02-18T06:04:18","slug":"9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-february-17-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-february-17-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief \u2013 February 17, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Good evening dear reader<\/p>\n<p>Here is our 9pm current affairs brief for you today<\/p>\n<div class=\"content-box-blue\">\r\n<p><strong>About 9 PM Brief<\/strong>- With the <span style=\"color: #000000;\">9 PM Daily Current affairs for UPSC brief we intend<\/span> to simplify the newspaper reading experience. In 9PM briefs, we provide our reader with a summary of all the important articles and editorials from three important newspapers namely The Hindu, Indian Express, and Livemint. This will provide you with analysis, broad coverage, and factual information from a Mains examination point of view.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>About Factly<\/strong>- The Factly initiative covers all the daily news articles regarding Preliminary examination. This will be provided at the end of the 9 PM Brief.<\/p>\r\n<p>Dear Aspirants,<\/p>\r\n<p>We know for a fact that learning without evaluation is a wasted effort. Therefore, we request you to please go through both our initiatives i.e 9PM Briefs and Factly, then evaluate yourself through the 10PM Current Affairs Quiz.<\/p>\r\n<p>We plan to integrate all our free daily initiatives to comprehensively support your success journey.<br \/><strong>Happy Learning!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-brief\/\">Read Previous 9 PM Brief<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tid=\"messageBodyContent\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/daily-current-affairs-summaries\/\">Article wise list of 9 PM Brief<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>List of\u00a0 9 PM Current Affairs Articles<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#note1\">\u2018ICC ruling\u2019 over Palestinian Territories<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#note2\">Significance of Telehealth services like Remote SMAs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#note3\">The case of Four Capitals or the Supreme Court bench in South India<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Note4\">Need for a balanced approach on \u2018Bilateral Investment Treaty\u2019 for India<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Note5\">Issue of MSP Calculation and farmer&#8217;s demand<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Note6\">Evaluating India- China Disengagement agreement on Pongong Tso<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"note1\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/icc-ruling-over-palestinian-territories\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u2018ICC ruling\u2019 over Palestinian Territories<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/icc-ruling-israel-palestine-territories-explained-7190979\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Indian Express<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Syllabus: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GS 2<\/span><b> &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Synopsis:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The recent ICC (International Criminal Court) ruling allows it to prosecute war crimes in Palestinian Territories. The ruling has been welcomed by Palestine but criticized by the U.S. and Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Background:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Israel had been accused of committing atrocities in Palestinian Territories of West Bank and Gaza Strip since 1967.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Palestine joined the ICC in 2015 but remained silent towards the atrocities during the Trump administration. It was because it didn\u2019t want to end U.S. aid towards Palestinian Territories.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>It is notable that the US Congress was allowed to freeze US Aid in Palestinian territory if Palestine pursues its own legal matters.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The change of administration in the U.S. allowed it to be more focal in the ICC. The recent February 2021 ruling of ICC is a result of this changed stance.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>About the Ruling<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It allows the ICC to <\/span><b>investigate <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">persons committing <\/span><b>war crimes in the Palestinian Territories <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of West Bank and Gaza Strip.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>However, there is no possibility of immediate investigations, even on the cases already filed in front of ICC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 95.8333%; height: 221px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 237px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 237px;\"><b>International Criminal Court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is the only court in the world to try individuals for international crimes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is headquartered in Hague, Netherlands.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only that, but it is empowered to try crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A war crime is an act that constitutes a serious violation of the laws of war which includes intentionally killing civilians or prisoners, torturing, destroying civilian property among others.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b>Significance of Judgement:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will ensure<\/span><b> accountability and justice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> delivery in the region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will ensure that individuals and militant groups like Hamas are subjected to international law. Furthermore, it will impose <\/span><b>adequate criminal responsibility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0on them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>The response of various countries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Palestine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: It welcomed the judgement as a step towards correcting past injustices suffered by the country since the 1967 occupation of Israel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Israel<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: It criticised the judgement of being Anti-Semitic and accused the court of ignoring atrocities done by Iran and Syria in the region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>US:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It objected against the judgement and reminded that Israel was not a member of the ICC.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: It has refrained from commenting on the judgement based on its geopolitical interest as both Palestine and Israel share a good bond with it.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ICC has said that any future conduct would be based on a thorough examination of judgement based on principles of impartiality and objectivity.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"note2\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/significance-of-telehealth-services-like-remote-smas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Significance of Telehealth services like Remote SMAs<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=GN689L1ER.1&amp;imageview=0\">The Hindu<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Syllabus<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: GS 2 &#8211; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector\/Services relating to Health<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Synopsis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Normal health Services in India. The telehealth services like <b>Remote Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs)<\/b> should be used.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Background<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The March 2020 lockdown reassigned healthcare professionals towards COVID-19 specific duties.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This deviated the focus from other healthcare domains in India and across the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>How Covid-19 disrupted normal Health care services<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per a survey of WHO,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essential services like immunization and childcare got disrupted in the majority of the 105 countries surveyed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around 45% of low-income countries witnessed a disruption in 75% of services. While this figure for high-income countries was only 4%.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Impacts on India<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fear of transmission and lockdown resulted in the fall of diagnostic services. In tuberculosis detection cases 50% fall was reported from April-December 2020. Whereas, in antenatal care visits \u00a056% decline was observed during the first half of 2020.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The inequalities got widened when people in rural and remote areas were not able to travel to cities for getting specialized care. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the use of technology helped to mitigate the impact.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Virtual Consultation India\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>E-Sanjeevani platform of the Indian Government <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">provides virtual consultations to patients. It includes patient-to-provider and provider-to-provider consultation. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A hub and spoke model<\/strong> used for this platform. It connected smartphone-equipped rural wellness centers to specialist doctors located in cities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Private players and non-governmental organizations also used the technology for reaching out to patients.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, given the scale of India\u2019s population which is devoid of healthcare, a switch towards remote shared medical appointments is needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>About Remote Shared Medical Appointments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Remote Shared Medical Appointments<\/b>\u00a0virtualizes the process of in-person shared medical appointments (SMAs). It is an effective practice in the US for more than 2 decades.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, It involves the <\/span><b>virtual interaction of a doctor <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with <\/span><b>multiple patients<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> having similar issues.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Advantages:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patients get more time with doctors.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This process develops a sense of bonding among patients.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This process provides better productivity as patients learn from each other&#8217;s questions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Utility for India<\/b>:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SMAs have been very effective in the case of diabetes. It is notable that India is home to the largest number of diabetes patients.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aravind hospital in Puducherry has<\/span><b> shown the potential of SMAs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to combat glaucoma, a disease that causes gradual blindness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offering this facility through the E-Sanjeevani platform can help the country <\/span><b>meet the healthcare gap in rural India.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SMAs will encourage people interaction and attract supplementary providers like physiotherapists and optometrists.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>current COVID-19 vaccine drive<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will also be strengthened as providers can offer sessions to burst the myths related to vaccine efficacy.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>Way Forward<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The switch to a new technique of healthcare delivery will require adequate training and mentoring of both providers and patients.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Collaboration with training platforms like ECHO<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is desired to encourage the adoption of virtual SMAs. It trains primary healthcare providers in multiple states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is blessed to have<\/span><b> very low data rates<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where 1.5 GB data\/day is easily affordable for many Indians. This automatically gives the country a significant edge towards augmenting telehealthcare.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, the strengthening of digital health services will also be in line with <\/span><b>WHO\u2019s Global strategy <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on Digital health. It would help in realizing the dream of \u2018<\/span><b>Health for All\u201d.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"note3\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/four-capitals-or-the-supreme-court-bench-in-south-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The case of Four Capitals or the Supreme Court bench in South India<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=G1G89L1H1.1&amp;imageview=0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">click here<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Syllabus: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GS-2<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Synopsis: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposal of four capitals may not be feasible in India. However, a Supreme Court Bench in south India can be created.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Introduction\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Bengal\u2019s CM Mamata Banerjee suggested that there should be four capitals of India.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She is of the opinion that Parliament sessions should be held in each of the four capitals in rotation. However, the proposal is not feasible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Why is the plan not feasible?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each one of the Four Capitals will require parliament buildings, accommodation for all the MPs, and adjunct staff. Moreover, there will be other cost involved with it:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>First,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if constructed, these <\/span><b>residential accommodations would be vacant for a year or 2<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. There would be an <\/span><b>added cost of traveling for all the MPs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and their staff.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Second, it will overburden the state police.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> All the MPs and their vacant accommodations will require security round the clock.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Third,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> depending on the risk factor<\/span><b>, enhanced security<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will have to be necessarily provided to a fair number of MPs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Fourth,<\/b> <b>the cost to the government exchequer <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to have capitals in three other States will be huge.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister proposed to shift the State capital to Tiruchirappalli in central Tamil Nadu in the 1980s. It was shelved due to the huge burden it would impose on the State exchequer.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>The case for SC bench in Southern state<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bar Councils of the five southern States called for a Supreme Court bench in south India in 2021. This demand needs consideration. <\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>First,<\/strong> there is a long-distance between the southern states and Delhi. <\/span><b>Many people cannot afford to travel<\/b> all the way to New Delhi to engage lawyers and plead their cases.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Second,<\/strong> the excessive fee of the Supreme Court lawyers in New Delhi is another constraint.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Third,<\/strong> Attorney General K.K. Venugopal suggested that four benches of the Court of Appeal with 15 judges each should be created across the country. It will <b>reduce the burden of the Supreme Court. <\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Fourth, moreover, Judges would be able to go through each case thoroughly. Thus, it will ensure<\/b> the delivery of a well-thought-out verdict. However, implementing this would require an amendment to the Constitution.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>The way forward\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This arrangement will allow the Supreme Court to deal with constitutional issues. With cases rising in various courts, a practical solution needs to be worked out. Easy accessibility to justice for every citizen is a right that cannot be countered.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"Note4\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/bilateral-investment-treaty-for-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Need for a balanced approach on \u2018Bilateral Investment Treaty\u2019 for India<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Source:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=G5389H2A6.1&amp;imageview=0\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Hindu<\/span><\/b><\/a><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Syllabus:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">GS 2<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0&#8211; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India\u2019s interests<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Synopsis<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">: Sri<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0L<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">anka\u2019s revoke<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0the<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0East Container Terminal (ECT) agreement<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">without any valid reason<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">However,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Indian investors can\u2019t oppose this decision under International Law<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, due to India\u2019s withdrawal from Bilateral Investment treaties (BIT)<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">This calls for adopting a balanced approach towards\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">BIT<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">s<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Background:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">An agreement to jointly develop ECT at Colombo port was signed between Sri<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0L<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">anka, Japan and India in 2019.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">In February 2021, the Sri<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0L<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">anka government pulled out from the agreement. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">This hampered the interest of Indian investors as they can\u2019t approach international tribunal for protecting their interest under India-Sri<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0L<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">anka BIT.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Read more<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/sri-lanka-writes-off-strategic-colombo-port-deal-with-india-japan\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Sri Lanka Writes Off Strategic Colombo Port Deal With India &amp; Japan|ForumIAS Blog<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Investment Treaty<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">It governs the treatment of foreign investment between two countries on the basis of International Law.\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Investment Treaty<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">was signed in 1997.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">It has a provision of\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0allows\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">individual\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">foreign investors to sue host states in international tribunals if treaty obligations are violated.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">It calls for giving\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET)<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0to foreign investments in the host state under\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Article 3(2<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">A core component of\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">FET is the <\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">protection<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0of legitimate expectations<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0of investors<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">In International Thunderbird Gaming Corporation v Mexico Case<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, the concept of legitimate expectations got clarified.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">It is a situation in which the act of the host state creates a reasonable expectation in the mind of the investor to act in line with such expectation.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Failure to fulfil such expectations would cause damage to investors.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ndia- Sri Lanka BIT<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0also has a\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">survival clause<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0under Article 15(2)<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0protects investors interest for 1<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">5 years i<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">f\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">the treaty\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">is\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">unilaterally\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">withdrawn by either\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">party<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">India withdrew from the treaty in 2017<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> due to a high number of ISDS cases filed against it. But survival clause\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">assure<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">s<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0protection to Indian\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">and Sri Lanka\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">investors till 2032<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Why can\u2019t Indian investors sue the Sri Lankan Government <\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">for\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">revoking<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a02019 agreement<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Although the act of Sri<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Lanka to withdraw from 2019 agreement is a clear breach of the principle of legitimate expectation<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. B<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ut the<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0Indian<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0investors can\u2019t app<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">eal for protection.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Survival<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0clause\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">gave protection to investments made before\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">India\u2019s withdrawal from the treaty in<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a02017<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and not to investments<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0after that<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. It is due to this\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">cut-off date t<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat investors of 2019 ECT agreement can&#8217;t do much regarding Sri\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">L<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">anka\u2019s withdrawal from the agreement.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Way Forward<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">India must\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">understand the reciprocal nature\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">of BITs. The withdrawal will save it from ISDS claims but would also hamper the interest of Indian investors abroad.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Decisions of withdrawal need to be taken with greater caution in a post-Covid world where the probability of taking arbitrary actions by foreign governments is quite high.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">The need is to adopt a\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">balanced approach towards BITs\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">that doesn\u2019t subject India to multiple ISDS claims nor harm the interests of Indian investors in foreign countries.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"Note5\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/issue-of-msp-calculation-and-farmers-demand\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Issue of MSP Calculation and farmer&#8217;s demand<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/minimum-support-price-for-farmers-narendra-modi-experts-7191885\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Indian Express<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Syllabus: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GS 3 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Synopsis:\u00a0 As per the government, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">M S Swaminathan report\u2019s recommendations on MSP are already implemented. However, protesting farmers and farm experts contest the claim.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Introduction\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protesting farmers and farm experts have contested the government&#8217;s claim. They say that the government is going by its own formula and farmers&#8217; income have not been improved yet.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The farmers are claiming so because the actual amount depends on the method used to calculate the cost of production. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What are the various formulas used to calculate the cost of production in agriculture?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are at least six formulas to make that calculation which include A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 392px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 56px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 47.6667%; height: 56px;\"><strong>Formulas used to determine the cost of production<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 52.3333%; height: 56px;\"><strong>Criteria included<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 168px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 47.6667%; height: 168px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A1 method <\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 52.3333%; height: 168px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>all actual expenses in cash. <\/strong>Included the value of hiring human resource, the value of owned machine labour, hired machinery charges, the value of seeds both farm produced and purchased, the value of pesticides etc.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 56px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 47.6667%; height: 56px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A2 method <\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 52.3333%; height: 56px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A1 plus rent paid for leased-in-land<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 47.6667%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B1 method <\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 52.3333%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A1 and interest on the value of an owned capital asset<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 47.6667%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B2 method <\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 52.3333%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>B1 plus the rental value<\/strong> of owned land and<strong> rent paid for leased<\/strong>-in-land.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 47.6667%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">C1 method <\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 52.3333%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <strong>B1 <\/strong>and the credited value of family labour<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 47.6667%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">C2 method <\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 52.3333%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>B2 <\/strong>and the credited with the value of Family Labour<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>M S Swaminathan report<\/strong> had <strong>recommended<\/strong> that the MSP should be calculated by including all actual farm costs as <strong>C2 along with an additional 50% margin<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>What formula does the government use, to calculate MSP?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Different formulas were recommended by different committees<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> formed for calculating MSP. For example, Dr M S Swaminathan Committee recommended C2+50%, Ramesh Chand Committee (RCC) recommended MSP on C2+10% formula.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>First, the government used <\/b>its own formula<b> A2+ Family Labour<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a cost of production. The government then pay farmers 1.5 times the amount of A2+FL. But, the increase in the revenue of farmers did not make any difference in reality.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Second, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a comparison with the government method and Swaminathan report shows that there is a <strong>huge<\/strong> <\/span><b>difference between A2+FL<\/b> (Government)<b> and C2 <\/b>(Swaminathan committee) <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for the main crops. The value of A2+FL is much lower than the C2.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if the costs suggested by RCC are taken into consideration,it can also <\/span><b>improve the welfare of farmers.\u00a0<\/b>But the government is calculating MSP based on their own formula.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>The way forward<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swaminathan report\u2019s MSP formula, C2 plus 50% is better for providing farmers with a higher value for their produce.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, the government should fix MSP by calculating C2, along with an addition of 50% margin. The MSP for wheat would be Rs 2,787 and paddy Rs 3,116 per quintal.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the RCC formula (C2 +10%) is adopted, then the MSP should be fixed at Rs 2,044 (wheat) and Rs 2,285 (paddy), respectively.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"Note6\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/evaluating-india-china-disengagement-agreement-on-pongong-tso\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Evaluating India- China Disengagement agreement on Pongong Tso<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=GN689L1EN.1&amp;imageview=0\">The Hindu<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS 2: India and its Neighborhood- Relations.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis: <\/strong>India-China disengagement process on the border is ongoing<strong>. <\/strong>There is a need for the cost-benefit analysis of this disengagement process.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Recently, both India and China have announced the start of <strong>disengagement<\/strong> between the two armies in Ladakh.<\/li>\n<li>The current disengagement is limited to two places on the <strong>Line of Actual Control<\/strong> (LAC) in Ladakh:\n<ul>\n<li>One, the north bank of Pangong lake<\/li>\n<li>Two, Kailash range to the south of Pangong.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>However, the disengagement in other regions is yet to take place. The other three sites of contention on the Ladakh border are <strong>Depsang, Gogra-Hot Springs, and Demchok.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why the disengagement from the north bank of Pangong lake got prioritized?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>First,<\/strong> nearly a quarter of all the Chinese transgressions on the LAC between 2014 and 2019 have taken place on the north bank of Pangong lake.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Second,<\/strong> the north bank of Pan gong lake is a famous tourist spot. For example, the Hindi film 3 idiots was shot here.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Third,<\/strong> the decision seems to be a political priority. There are habitations close to the north bank and any Chinese ingression can be easily sighted from here. Any report of Chinese encroachment will bring embarrassment to the center.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Is the disengagement from the Kailash range a good move?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Kailash range was the only place where the Indian military had leverage against the Chinese army. The Chinese army was insisting on disengagement from this area first.<\/li>\n<li>Initially, India was pushing for a simultaneous resolution of all the flashpoints on the Ladakh border. However, it did not happen.<\/li>\n<li>Disengagement seems to be the right step. However, giving away the only leverage (Kailash range) that India had, along the LAC,<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>needs to be debated<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>What is the significance of Depsang plains?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Depsang plains<\/strong> are situated in the <strong>Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector. It<\/strong> is a strategically important place for India because of the following reasons;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>One,<\/strong> its proximity to the <strong>Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road<\/strong>, the <strong>DBO airstrip,<\/strong> and the <strong>Karakoram Pass<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Two,<\/strong> it poses threats to Indian control over the <strong>Siachen glacier.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Three,<\/strong> it is the only area on the Indian landmass where China and Pakistan can plan a collusive military attack on India.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fourth,<\/strong> also, a former northern army commander identified this area as tough to defend in case of a Chinese military attack.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Thus, Depsang plains are strategically significant. India needs to find a holistic solution to <strong>Depsang issue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How effective is the solution of creating a buffer zone?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The creation of Buffer zones has been effective to date in controlling the India-Chinese clashes around the LAC. But there are some issues,<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>First,<\/strong> it denies India, access to the areas up to PP14, which it patrolled earlier.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Second,<\/strong> there are worries that such buffer zones would lie majorly on the Indian side of the LAC. Thus converting Indian-controlled territory into a neutral zone is required.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Third,<\/strong> &#8216;no petrol zones&#8217; has not been announced publicly yet, in all the contentious border areas along LAC. For example, Kailash range. Any violation may result in a Galwan like clash.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Thus, buffer zones can only provide a temporary solution. They are no alternatives to the <strong>mutual delineation<\/strong> and a final settlement of the Sino-Indian boundary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Suggestions for India<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The \u00a0<strong>Centre for Policy Research produced a\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Non-alignment 2.0<\/strong> strategy\u00a0in 2012. It advocates for taking a prompt <strong>quid pro quo<\/strong> military operation in Chinese territory in case of escalation.<\/li>\n<li>However, this strategy may result in a military confrontation. Considering India\u2019s economic crisis, India won\u2019t pursue a quid pro quo strategy.<\/li>\n<li>Rather, India should enhance the deployment of troops along the LAC. It will prevent PLA ingression from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The government has made a choice to seek restoration of peace and tranquillity on the LAC instead of a reversion to the status quo as of April 2020. Any strategic consequences of that choice should be managed by the government in the future.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"nmI82so7Nc\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/factly-news-articles-for-upsc-prelims-feb-17-2021\/\">Factly :-News Articles For UPSC Prelims | Feb 17, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Factly :-News Articles For UPSC Prelims | Feb 17, 2021&#8221; &#8212; Free UPSC IAS Preparation For Aspirants\" src=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/factly-news-articles-for-upsc-prelims-feb-17-2021\/embed\/#?secret=77SldjuL8F#?secret=nmI82so7Nc\" data-secret=\"nmI82so7Nc\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Good evening dear reader Here is our 9pm current affairs brief for you today Read Previous 9 PM Brief Article wise list of 9 PM Brief List of\u00a0 9 PM Current Affairs Articles \u2018ICC ruling\u2019 over Palestinian Territories Significance of Telehealth services like Remote SMAs The case of Four Capitals or the Supreme Court bench&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-february-17-2021\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief \u2013 February 17, 2021<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":80068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-9-pm-brief","category-public","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/9-PM-Brief-1-e1615452440806.png?fit=600%2C335&ssl=1","views":{"total":0,"cached_at":"","cached_date":1704941707},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83423"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83423\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}