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Front Page / NATIONAL
[1]. No decision yet on GST rates as States oppose cess
The Hindu
Context
The GST Council’s third round of deliberations ended without a decision on the rates structure after most States objected to a proposal to levy an additional cess on demerit goods
Proposal that triggered objections
The proposal from the Centre that triggered objections was for the imposition of a cess over and above the Goods and Services Tax on ultra-luxury and demerit goods such as big cars, aerated beverages and tobacco products.
What are demerit goods?
A demerit good is defined as a good which can have negative impact on the consumer – but these damaging effects may be unknown or ignored by the consumer. Demerit goods also usually have negative externalities – where consumption causes a harmful effect to a third party.
Examples: Alcohol, cigarettes and drugs etc
[2]. Smarter railway stations
Context
More than 500 railway stations in the country will ‘smarten up’ with better passenger amenities, easy access and integrated public transport hubs.
Memorandum of Understanding
A MoU has been signed between Railways and Ministry of Urban Development promising ambitious redevelopment of railway stations and surrounding areas under the Smart City plan. To begin with 100 railway stations and an adjoining area of 300-800 acres would be redeveloped in the Smart Cities and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Cities plans.
Financing
Countries like Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, the U.K. and Belgium have shown interest in the redevelopment of railway stations. A meeting of domestic and overseas bankers will be organised to discuss the financing of these redevelopment projects.
Editorial/OPINION
[1]. The bonding in Benaulim
Context
While India needs selective alignment to replace non-alignment, it cannot allow deft balancing to lapse into sequential agreement.
Author states that this years’ BIRCS summit was significant for the following reasons,
- A wider rift: The previous summit at Ufa in Russia caused an India-Pakistan distraction as it was held back-to-back with the summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which incidentally both South Asian neighbours joined as members. The short-lived thaw between them also commenced at Ufa. The Goa summit was held at a time when the divide between them was wider than ever since 2001.
- A loose wall: it was the 15th anniversary of the creation of the original BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining later), inspired by banker Jim O’Neill’s envisioning four dominant emerging economies of the 21st century as drivers of growth. Two of them, India and China, continue to deliver on that promise,
- Divergent interests:Third, the growing strategic convergence between Russia and China and perceptible drawing closer of India and the U.S. raises the issue whether a grouping can flourish if strategic perceptions between the more powerful members are dissonant. The China-Pakistan full spectrum alliance also is an inhibiting factor for India, a clear example of which is Chinese protection to Pakistani terrorist leaders by putting on hold their listing by the UN Security Council.
BRICS and BIMSTEC
Idea to invite BIMSTEC countries on the sidelines of BRICS summit was a clever way to disassociate from Pakistan, which would have had to be invited if SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) was the logical regional grouping to be at the summit.
- The intent, as stated in the Goa Declaration, is to “explore trade and commercial ties” between BRICS and BIMSTEC.
Nepal
While in Nepal India has so far been able to balance Chinese economic ingress, in Myanmar China dominates with big-ticket infrastructure projects involving energy and import of Myanmar’s commodities such as wood, semi-precious ores, etc.
Bhutan
Bhutan so far has allowed Indian primacy in trade and economic relations.In fact, the hydroelectric projects in Bhutan are an example of bilateral cooperation that benefits both countries.
Bangladesh
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Goa for BRICS summit after a visit there. A proposal for a corridor linking Bangladesh and China via India and Myanmar (BCIM) has been on the table for a while. It could become an outgrowth of China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative. India has, however, been sceptical of its benefits, seeing it as possible encirclement by China since the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to India’s west would link Gwadar with Xinjiang.
Bangladesh & Russia
Bangladesh has also been wooed by Russia earlier with a loan offer of $11.4 billion to set up two nuclear power plants
In the above paragraphs author has tried to bring forth the divergence of interests that BRICS nations have. So, he asks that how in such a scenario will they be able to contribute positively to the grouping?
INTERNATIONAL
[1]. India, Myanmar to ‘stay connected’
India has extended support to Myanmar for a “better connected” future while welcoming State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi
Both countries agreed to cooperate in security and strategic issues and signed three agreements.
- MoU for designing an academic and professional building programme forinsurance industry of Myanmar
- MoU on Cooperation in the field of Power Sector. Under it India has offered to enhance power supply from Moreh in Manipur to Tamu in Myanmar
- MoU on Banking Supervision. It was signed between Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Central Bank of Myanmar
Myanmar & Terrorism
Mynamar’s western province Rakhine has been facing unrest since October 9 2016, when a major terror strike killed several security personnel. Subsequently a major military campaign has begun to deal with the militants.
[2]. India, China conduct first military exercise in J&K
Context
India and China for the first time conducted military exercises in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in Eastern Ladakh
Backdrop
The exercise comes in the backdrop of stalemate over India’s multilateral disagreements with China over blacklisting of terrorists at the United Nations and membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
2nd exercise
This is the second joint tactical exercise under the “China-India Cooperation 2016” and was held in the Chushul area, where the two countries fought a brief but intense war in 1962.
- The first exercise was held on the Chinese side in February in the area of Border Personnel Meeting Hut at Chushul Garrison of Eastern Ladakh, along with Chinese troops of Moldo Garrison. This exercise is a part of the ongoing initiative to enhance interaction and cooperation between India and China, under the provisions of Border Defence Cooperation Agreement 2013
ECONOMY
[1]. India, Algeria mull fertilizer JV
Context
Vice President’s 3 day visit to Algeria came to an end on 19th October 2016. Article throws light upon India’s interests in Algeria &
Phosphate block
India, which has up to 96 per cent phosphate dependency, with the volumes running to some six million tonnes a year, is seeking a 49 per cent share in an Algerian block that has a capacity of six billion tonnes with 26 per cent to 50 per cent phosphate content
- India has ongoing arrangements and cooperative ventures in this field with neighbouring Morocco but on a much smaller scale than what is in prospect in Algeria
Why India is interested in the Phosphate block?
- Ease of fertilizer subsidy burden: For India, a stake in the phosphate block will have major favourable food security implications and could ease the fertilizer subsidy burden as well. India currently imports raw phosphate resources from a number of African countries including Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt and Syria, as also from Russia, Canada and Israel among others.
No specific agreements were signed at the end of Vice-President Hamid Ansari’s three-day visit to Algeria
Technology, Pharma & Space sectors
India’s aspirations in Algeria also span the information technology, pharma and space sectors. India believes there are good prospects for diversified expansion across sectors.
Current Bilateral trade situation
India’s bilateral trade with Algeria currently stands at $1.5 billion a year with the trade balance in Algeria’s favour given India’s import of oil and gas.
- The major item of exports from India has been automobiles, although qualitative restrictions have now kicked in. Algeria instead seeks assembly on its shores.
- Saris constitute another interesting item of Indian export to Algeria. They are today an essential part of the trousseau for a typical Algerian bride.
[2]. India offers solar plant in Trincomalee
Context
A month after Sri Lanka decided to scrap a coal power project involving the NTPC, in Trincomalee, India has offered to build a solar power plant in the port town.
In September, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Power and Energy told the country’s Supreme Court that it had decided to drop the plan to build a coal power plant in Sampur, Trincomalee, due to “serious environmental concerns”.
Soorya Bala Sangramaya
In September 2016, Sri Lankan President unveiled SooryaBalaSangramaya (Battle for Solar Energy), an initiative aimed at adding 220 MW of solar power to the island’s energy grid by 2020.
Offer from India
Following Sri Lanka’s shift towards renewable sources, India has offered to build a solar power plant in Trincomalee.
Counter-balancing China
Chinese have built a 900MW power plant in Norocholai, 140 km north of Colombo. India wants to maintain its presence in Sri Lanka through mutual co-operation as China tries to encircle it through inititives like CPEC, BCIM etc
[3]. Policing Rumour
Context
Article stresses on the misuse of hate speech laws focusing on Section 505 of Indian Penal Code by state agencies
Author begins the article by citing police arrests in Tamilnadu over social media posts for spreading rumors over CM’s health. Persons have been charged under Section 505 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Article 19
Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech etc
1).All citizens shall have the right
- to freedom of speech and expression;
- to assemble peaceably and without arms;
- to form associations or unions;
- to move freely throughout the territory of India;
- to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and
- to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business
2).Nothing in sub clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence
Observation
Author admits that Fundamental right of speech under Article 19(1) is not absolute and is restricted but only through reasonable restrictions by clause 2 thereby making the actions of the state to restrict fundamental rights can be examined by the courts to assess if they are reasonable or not.
SC judgments
In S. Rangarajan vs P Jagajivan, the Supreme Court interpreted how freedom of expression must be treated when it conflicts with social interests.
- They advocated the “spark in a powder keg” test, which simply means that freedom of expression can only be suppressed if situations created by allowing such freedom are pressing. The court said that “the anticipated danger should not be remote, conjectural or far-fetched” and it “should have proximate and direct nexus” with that expression
In Bilal Ahmed Kaloo vs Andhra Pradesh, the apex court has said mechanically convicting a citizen for offences of such serious nature like sedition and promoting enmity and hatred “does harm to the cause”. In this regard, the courts have, time and again, recommended the Brandenburg test which says that there must be an imminent danger to society to justify curtailment of free speech.
Mindless application of sedition (Section 124A) & hate-speech laws
- In 2005, actor turned politician Khushboo faced a series of cases under Section 505 IPC for speaking out on premarital sex. In all, 22 cases were filed against her by people who claimed her interview had denigrated Tamil culture. All cases were quashed by the apex court.
- In the last five years, 214 defamation cases have been filed by the Tamil Nadu government against political opposition and the media. Those protesting against nuclear power and the government’s policies on alcohol have been subjected to sedition charges.
Brandenburg Test
It refers to the standard established in Brandenburg v. Ohio case in USA(1969), to determine when inflammatory speech intending to advocate illegal action can be restricted. The standard developed determined that speech advocating the use of force or crime could only be proscribed where two conditions were satisfied: (1) the advocacy is “directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action,” and (2) the advocacy is also “likely to incite or produce such action.”
Conclusion
Recent incidents of police arrest only show the unaccountability & impunity with which our police system works. It is left to courts now to see to the fact that such archaic laws are struck down and cases of its misuse are quashed.
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