- Front Page / NATIONAL (The Hindu)
- International (The Hindu)
- Editorial Opinion (The Hindu)
- Economy (The Hindu)
- Indian Express
- Live Mint
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Front Page / NATIONAL
[1]. Blacklisting policy for tainted defence deals approved
Context
The government approved the long- pending policy for blacklisting firms involved in corruption in arms purchases. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) also accorded approval to begin the procurement process for fighter jets, tanks and attack helicopters cumulatively worth over Rs. 82,000 crores, all produced domestically.
Review
The DAC headed by Defence Minister also reviewed all capital acquisition proposals of the armed forces currently under way.
Banning to be last resort
The government has stated that instead of blanket blacklisting of firms involved in corrupt practices, heavy fines could be imposed and banning would be the last resort.
- In several instances in the past, banning of firms had adversely affected defence preparedness as major military platforms were grounded due to lack of spares and support
Nod for procurement
The DAC accorded approval for issuing Acceptance of Necessities (AON) for the purchase of 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas worth about Rs. 50,025 crore and 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) worth Rs. 2,911 crore, both manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- AON: An AON is the first step in the long process of acquisition under the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)
- The government has also re-designated the two projects under the recently created Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category under the DPP
LCH
The LCH is a 5.8 tonne multirole attack chopper indigenously developed and manufactured by HAL. Of the 15 Limited Series Production helicopters, 10 are for the IAF and five for the Army.
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
As per Ministry of Defence (MoD),
- The Government has set up a Defence Acquisition Council headed by the Defence Ministerfor decision making in regard to the totality of the new planning process which inter-alia involves according ‘in principle’ approval of Capital Acquisitions in the long term perspective plan and for each Capital Acquisition programme.
The decision taken by the Defence Acquisition Council are to be implemented by the following three Boards:-
- Defence Procurement Board headed by the Defence Secretary;
- Defence Production Board headed by the Secretary (Defence Production);
- Defence Research & Development Board headed by the Secretary (Defence Research & Development).
[2]. Tobacco farmers up in arms as COP7 meet kicks off
Context
Tobacco farmers from various States staged a protest at a World Health Organisation global conference venue in Greater Noida.
What were they protesting against?
They were opposing the ‘undemocratic way’ of framing anti-tobacco policies.India is hosting the Seventh Session of the Conference of Parties (COP7) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
Agenda of the COP7
The conference is being attended by countries that are signatories to the FCTC, NGOs and anti-tobacco activists who will deliberate on tobacco control policies and regulations that countries should adopt.
Hidden agenda
As per the Federation of All-India Farmer Associations (FAIFA),
- Destruction of local markets: Global organisations, under the garb of development and welfare, are silently working towards destroying local markets and livelihoods in developing economies, which is against their own guiding principles
- Affecting the livelihoods: Decisions on tobacco control in WHO FCTC meetings would affect the livelihood of millions of tobacco farmers and farm laborers involved in tobacco cultivation
What is WHO FCTC?
The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control(WHO FCTC) is a treaty adopted by the 56th World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003.
- It became the first World Health Organization treaty adopted under article 19 of the WHO constitution
- The treaty came into force on 27 February 2005
- The WHO FCTC was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic and is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health. The Convention represents a milestone for the promotion of public health and provides new legal dimensions for international health cooperation
[3]. EPCA says govt lax in executing pollution control norms
Context
Over a year after the Supreme Court ordered the Centre and the governments of the NCR States to take stringent measures to curb air pollution, the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has found the implementation of the directives to be lax.
SC issues directions: Find the relevant article here
Backdrop
This comes at a time when Delhi is facing the worst smog episode in almost two decades, with consistently hazardous pollution levels being recorded for a week.
As per its report EPCA has said that,
- There was a “need for short-term emergency action and strict enforcement” of the Apex Court’s directions
- In many cases, actions are lax and do not recognise the urgency of toxic air pollution, particularly in winter months. Example: the Supreme Court had on October 9, 2015 ordered Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan to divert commercial vehicles that were just passing through Delhi but were not destined for the Capital. Reality: As per the EPCA report, Haryana diverted about six lakh vehicles between January 21 and April 25 by setting up 13 check-posts. Uttar Pradesh managed to divert only 3,278 vehicles till April 11. Both these States “must increase enforcement
- Environment Compensation Charge (ECC): The Supreme Court had also ordered the Delhi government to levy an environment compensation charge (ECC) on commercial vehicles entering the city in order to discourage them from just passing through.
Usage of ECC:While the ECC is being collected, the government is yet to use the entire fund. Delhi Transport Department had only come up with plans to use less than 30 per cent of the fund.
INTERNATIONAL
[1]. No change in stand on India’s NSG bid, says China
Context
Ahead of this week’s Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meet in Vienna, China stuck to its guns on Monday, saying there was “no change” in its stand on India’s membership bid which, would be considered only after rules for the entry of non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty countries are finalized by the elite group.
Backdrop
India is engaged with China to reorient its current stance of opposing India’s entry to NSG. At various levels, both political and diplomatic, this issue has been taken up but there seems to be no headway as of now in this regard.
NSG meet
There is going to be an NSG plenary meet in Vienna from Nov 11 till Nov 13th where 48 members of NSG shall meet & could discuss the two-stage process to admit new members who have not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty
Result of second round of talks
After the second round of talks with India on its entry into the NSG, China said that it would first seek a solution to admit all countries who have not signed the NPT and then discuss India’s application
It should be noted that both India and Pakistan, which have applied for NSG membership, have not signed the NPT.
Editorial/OPINION
[1]. Solutions after the smog
Context
Article talks about remedial steps to mitigate the crippling pollution levels in Delhi.
A two pronged approach
- Crop waste: Make policy changes to help farmers stop burning crop waste
- Urbanisation: Tackle problems created by urbanisation
Why there is persistent smog in Delhi?
Due to the temperature inversion effect which doesn’t let the smog cloud to disperse.
What is temperature inversion?
- Temperature inversion, is a reversal of the normal behavior of temperature in the troposphere, in which a layer of cool air at the surface is overlain by a layer of warmer air.
- Under normal conditions, temperature usually decreases with height
CROP WASTE
Putting crop waste to commercial use rather than burning them
Why do farmers burn the straw?
In the northwestern States, farmers resort to burning straw to prepare for a wheat crop weeks after harvesting rice.
- Guidance report: The Indian Agricultural Research Institute published a guidance report 2012 on ways to use the residue, with an emphasis on converting paddy straw into livestock feed, compost, raw material for power generation, biofuel production and as substrate for mushroom farming
- State support is vital for straw to be used as fodder, and farmers should be assisted with supplemental stocks of urea and molasses, green fodder and legume waste
URBANISATION
The air quality in Delhi and other northern cities is under severe stress also owing to factors linked to urbanisation.
- Problem: Smoke-generating brick kilns around the national capital. Solution: Such kilns need to becleaned up through a state-guided modernization programme, since they become active during the period when the weather is unhelpful.
- Problem: Poorly maintained roads & negligence by civic authorities Solution: Paving all roads well to curb dust, and display of zero tolerance to civic agencies leaving exposed mud after executing projects.
- Problem: Burning of waste and other materials by the poor who do not have access to cleaner forms of heating in the winter months Solution: They can be provided with means of protecting themselves from the harsh winter cold by the government like warm clothes
- Problem: Pollution by the transport sector Solution: Delhi’s bus fleet should be augmented, preferably doubled, with modern high-capacity zero emission electric vehicles of the kind being introduced in Europe.
- Higher parking fees for private vehicles can pay for this
- Opening of transport data so that smartphone apps can be built that give users real time service information
[2]. It’s not about just national security
Context
In this article, the author who is a lawyer, has tried to bring about the arbitrary nature of the Indian broadcast laws.
Author, in the first few paragraphs, has stated that the controversy surrounding 1-day ban on NDTV has elicited a debate which is necessary for a healthy functioning democracy. A democracy based on intense scrutiny of governmental action, concern about the infringement of liberties like freedom of speech and freedom of press & an equal concern for national security is indeed what the fathers of our constitution would have envisioned.
Sweeping censorship powers
The fault lies with India’s broadcast laws, which allow the government sweeping powers of censorship with negligible associated costs
Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995
- Section 5 of this Act prohibits any cable TV transmission that is not “in conformity with the prescribed programme code”.The Programme Code contains a host of vague, manipulable, and entirely subjective terms. Example: Programmes may not “offend against good taste or decency”, or present “half-truths”, or “criticise” any individual, or reflect a “snobbish attitude in the portrayal of certain ethnic, linguistic and regional groups”. Such vague language not only permits but positively invites censorship and abuse of power
- Section 19 of the Act authorises the government to prohibit cable operators from transmitting programmes or channels that are not in conformity with the Programme Code. No judicial oversight: The Act effectively vests the power of banning television with the government, without any judicial oversight. Once the prohibitory order has been passed, the burden is then on the TV channel or cable operator to approach the courts and attempt to have it invalidated.
Cost of censorship, hence, has been shifted entirely upon the speaker, (here NDTV) to get the ban overturned
Cost of censorship problems in other laws
Author points out that similar conditions wrt cost & burden of censorship exist in,
- The Code of Criminal Procedure which allows the state to ban books in a similar manner
- The Cinematograph Act which contains an even more stringent regulatory regime for films
Remedial action
As per author, following actions can remediate the abovementioned problems,
- In normal situations: The Cable Television Act (and similar laws in other domains) should require that if the government wishes to ban something, it must first convince an independent court, in adversarial proceedings, that its request is justified. Court should grant its request only if it is convinced that a ban is both necessary and proportionate in the circumstances
- In Emergency situations: There might be some emergency situation which needs to be addressed immediately and time is not there to move the court. In such cases, government must nonetheless be called upon to justify itself in court afterwards, and compensate speakers if it is found that it acted wrongly
Conclusion
The author concludes beautifully by stating that national security should be a prime concern of all the citizens but care should also be taken that there exist no such laws which arm the state with censorial powers, thus converting democracy into a tyranny
[3]. Linking food and nutrition security
Context
A revamped PDS in several States and a record foodgrain output expected this year make an urgent case for a full rollout of the National Food Security Act
Backdrop
National Food Security Act was rolled out in 2013 with a target of getting it implemented in whole of India by July 2016
The Act, if fully implemented, is likely to benefit 720 million people through the availability of 5 kg per capita per month of subsidised foodgrains (rice, wheat and coarse cereals) at a much lower rate than that in the open market thereby ensuring food security and enhanced nutritional status.
Implementation status of NFSA
Actual implementation date: The Act was to be fully implemented across India by July 2016
Present situation: As of now, only five States have fully executed NFSA as per the provisions of the Central Act and the progress in other States has been slow.
- The front runners are Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The Act has been partially implemented in Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.
- Preliminary surveys undertaken in some of these States have revealed positive outcomes in terms of administrative reforms, significant increase in the number of households having ration cards, and improvement in the distribution and consumption of food through fair price shops
Food Security vs Nutrition security
The author states that nutrition security is a much larger concept encompassing a biological approach, that is, adequate and safe intake of protein, energy, vitamin and minerals along with proper health and social environment.
- Less researched: The nutritional aspect of the quantity of grain to be distributed to each person under the Public Distribution System (PDS) is somewhat less researched.
- Factors that may hinder nutritional security wrt NFSA: Poor quality of food lacking essential micronutrients and no diet diversity, and unhygienic conditions of storage are some of the factors that may hinder nutritional security aspect of NFSA
Positive provisions of NFSA
There are many promising features under the Act, such as
- Free daily meals for children and maternity benefits, including cash for pregnant women, which can combat rampant undernutrition (calorie deficiency) and malnutrition (protein deficiency) across the country.
- These steps can complement the existing nutritional programmes such as mid-day meals and Integrated Child Development Services
THE ODISHA STUDY
The author presents us with the results from a study in rural Odisha on the contribution of PDS towards households’ intake of foodgrains and the quantum of calorie and protein levels.
What was done?
A primary survey of 385 households was carried out during 2014-15 in three extremely poor districts viz. Koraput and Bolangir in the so-called KBK (most backward) region and Nayagarh in the non-KBK region. While KBK districts follow a universal PDS, non-KBK districts have a targeted one.
Results from the study
Undernutrition & malnutrition
- There is a high prevalence of undernutrition and malnutrition in the selected districts. Undernourished population was found to be 50 per cent and the malnourished to be 43 per cent on an average for all the districts together
- Deficiency among poorest of the poor: Calorie and protein deficiency is relatively higher, nearly 68 per cent of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, known to be the poorest of poor. It is much higher in Koraput district at 72 per cent, way above the State average of 60 per cent.
Staple Food
- Rice is the key staple food in the surveyed areas and acts as a major source of energy intake. Consumption: The monthly per capita consumption of rice is estimated to be 11.6 kg, of which 33.7 per cent is sourced from the PDS by all beneficiaries. Since AAY households have higher quota and accessibility under the PDS, the contribution is much more at 73.9 per cent
- Cereals:Cereals (wheat and rice) make up 70 per cent of the calorie intake and 66 per cent of the protein intake, though the magnitude varies across districts.
PDS: A major source of energy for AAY households
The contribution of PDS to energy intake among AAY households is double (60 per cent) that of other beneficiaries. Better accessibility to food and hence energy intake of poor people, especially those under AAY, has been made possible due to concerted efforts initiated by the government.
What steps did Odisha government take to make PDS a major success for AAY households?
Major reforms initiated from 2004-05 that are worth mentioning,
- Abolition of private procurement and storage system
- A greater role for public agencies in controlling diversion of foodgrain from the godown to the millers
- Proper recording of procurement, storage and distribution of grains across the departments
- Distribution of food through self-help groups and gram panchayats and its regular monitoring at the block and ward levels
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
The Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme, launched in 2000, is aimed at providing food-based assistance to destitute households.
- Identification of beneficiaries: Under the scheme, 1 crore of the poorest among the BPL families covered under the targeted public distribution system is identified
- Distribution: Twenty-five kilograms (kg) of food grains were made available to each eligible family at a highly subsidised rate of Rs. 2 per kg for wheat and Rs.3 per kg for rice. This quantity has been enhanced from 25 to 35 kgs with effect from April 2002
- Expansion of scheme: The scheme has been further expanded in June 2003 by adding another 50 lakh BPL families. Under the scheme, during 2002-03, against an allocation of 41.27 lakh tonnes of foodgrain, 35.39 lakh tonnes have been lifted by State Governments, and during 2003-04, 38.24 lakh tonnes of food-grain have been lifted against an allocation of 45.56 lakh tonnes
Replicating Odisha elsewhere
Author suggests that the efforts of the State government in ensuring food security should be replicated in States that are yet to fully implement the Act
Dietary diversification: Author states that many studies have pointed out at dietary diversification for ensuring an appropriate nutritional intake for large segments of the poor population. In states where a revamped PDS is taking ground like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bihar, dietary diversification as mentioned before needs to be integrated into it
Dietary diversification through NFSA: Provision has been made under the NFSA to provide one additional coarse cereal viz. millet along with wheat and rice, which can further enhance the nutritional security of the poor households.
Way ahead
Protein intake: Though wheat and rice contribute significantly to energy intake, the time has come to increase our focus on coarse cereals and pulses to improvise adequate intake of protein
A prerequisite
The author says that before going any further, NFSA needs to be implemented in mission mode as the availability of foodgrains may not be a problem this year.
Record Production: The Ministry of Agriculture has projected a record production of 270 million tonnes owing to good monsoon and an increase in acreage of foodgrains from 101 million hectares to 105 million hectares
Ensuring transparency
To bring in greater transparency in the system, states need to do the following,
- Work on adequate logistics for digitisation of ration cards
- Computerisation of offtake and delivery of foodgrains
- Effective monitoring of fair price shops, possibly through involvement of communities or other feasible ways
Conclusion
The author concludes by stating that if all of the above steps are indeed taken by the government, it would go a long way towards raising the nutritional status of Indians.
[4]. For a breath of fresh air
Context
Author delineates medium to long-term measures to counter pollution levels in Delhi
1. Matching the NAAQ standards
Minor reductions in pollution do not reduce health risks significantly. The Global Burden of Disease finds that health impacts of pollution are non-linear. This means that significant declines in adverse health outcomes for Delhi and other polluted Indian cities will only be realised when pollution levels reach National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This requires sophisticated tools for air quality modelling and economic analyses.
No analysis: Yet, few reports from the Central or State Pollution Control Boards (CPCB, SPCBs) have attempted this kind of analysis. Most studies stop at a source-apportionment analysis meaning they only define & study about the source of the pollution.
Without this perspective, we would be tempted to go with populist (often unscientific) solutions to control pollution. Simply vacuuming roads and sprinkling water will not cut it.
2.Enhance the capacity of the CPCB and the SPCBs
Pollution monitoring, regulation and control are complex, technical issues and require trained manpower. CPCBs and SPCBs are required to provide scientific inputs needed to drive pollution control policies.
Lack of expertise: Four institutions — CEEW, Public Health Foundation of India, Ricardo Energy and Environment, and the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation — recently undertook a review of the processes of setting emissions standards. The study finds that the CPCB and SPCBs often lack resources, technical expertise and manpower. A lack of technical capacity precludes SPCBs from setting more stringent emissions standards, and manpower shortages prevent enforcing existing standards
Vacancies: An independent evaluation of the CPCB in 2010 found that it would need to fill 308 posts immediately to meet its targets. This has implications for controlling pollution from industrial clusters in and around Delhi, such as Faridabad and Ghaziabad.
Upskilling of existing staff knowledge and coordination between the CPCB and SPCBs are essential, without which they will remain toothless watchdogs. This perspective has received less attention in the discourse on pollution control.
3. Power of technology
Third, leverage technology for innovative solutions. It is well understood that trans-boundary sources contribute 20-30 per cent to Delhi’s pollution. Whereas seasonal crop burning in Punjab and Haryana makes headlines, little is made of pollution from industrial clusters in Faridabad and Ghaziabad.
Business models for waste-to-Energy projects: Author states that we should consider developing the business models by which farmers can secure revenue from waste-to-energy projects or providing pollution control technologies to industrial clusters of small and medium enterprises.
Financial assistance: If the respective SPCBs are lacking in resources, some financial assistance could be provided from the
Air Ambience Fund. The Fund had Rs.385 crore until March 2015 and a lot more would be needed. But it could be a start to use public funds to reduce the cost of debt financing (borrowing money and not giving up ownership. It often comes with strict conditions or covenants in addition to having to pay interest and principal on specified dates)
Industries cannot completely escape any capital investment in pollution control technologies. But they can certainly be helped through cheaper finance.
Air Ambience Fund
Set up by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) in February 2008, the Air Ambience Fund is collected through the Department of Trade and Taxes.
- For every litre of diesel sold in Delhi, the Fund receives 25p
- The fund is administered by the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Forest, and Chairman of the DPCC and all accounts are maintained as per the procedures of the Delhi Government
Purpose: Fund is to be used for the development and use of clean air technologies, waste management and other related activities that promote environmentally-conscious policies so as to reduce air pollution, especially vehicular pollution in the city.
- This includes incentives for converting old and not-so-clean fuel-based vehicles into green fuels like CNG.
ECONOMY
[1]. Britain raises tax issues, India social security taxation
Context
The article talks about various issues that are being discussed during the ongoing visit of British PM to India.
The U.K. sought an early resolution of the Indian Government’s disputes with Cairn and Vodafone on retrospective taxation and raised concerns over “tax uncertainties” in India while New Delhi took up Britain’s “curbs” on visas for work and studies.
JETCO
The India-U.K. Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) discussed these tax and visa-related issues. JETCO is the premier bilateral forum for government-level talks to identify challenges and opportunities in trade and investment issues, as well as find a solution to disputes
Visa curbs
India’s stance: it seems that the U.K. is mainly interested in greater market access for its goods in India and in getting investments from India, but not in attracting talented Indian services professionals and students
- The UK should not mix up the issue of immigration with that of foreign skilled workers moving overseas for short duration
Social security
India raised the issue of the lack of a bilateral totalization (or social security) agreement with the U.K. to do away with dual social security taxation.
- As there is no India-U.K. totalization agreement, Indian companies, including from the IT sector, have to shell out huge amounts to the U.K. Government towards social security, with no benefit (as the Indian employees do not stay on in the U.K.) or prospects of refund
What is a bilateral totalization agreement?
Totalization agreements are international social security agreements that eliminate dual social security taxation, both in the home country and the country where an employee works. Once it is signed it would benefit workers of both the countries
Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)
U.K. extended support to India’s proposal for a ‘Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) for Services’ at the World Trade Organisation (WTO)-level
Aims: Its aims include,
- Streamlining procedures for global services trade, besides ensuring recognition at the WTO-level for services as a tradable item by establishing a framework — for clarity on definitions and for settlement of disputes
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
India and the U.K. also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) each on sharing of best practices on ‘ease of doing business’ and on Intellectual Property Rights.
- U.K. had assured to provide technological assistance at the state-level in India for better implementation of the Centre’s ease of doing business initiatives
Other issues raised by India
- India also raised the issue of the difficulties faced by Indian students who apply to British educational institutions due to the complex processes and visa restrictions, adding that due to these problems in the U.K., other countries like the U.S. and Australia are fast becoming the preferred option for Indian students
- On the UK’s recent changes in visa policy towards curbing immigration, India took up its concerns on the higher minimum salary threshold for intra-company transfers
- India raised the challenges faced by Indian companies and professionals who are required to share the financing of the U.K.’s skill development programmes, which is akin to a non-tariff barrier that affects the competitiveness of the Indian services sector
Indian Express
1]. India and US, polls apart
Context
India’s election system is marked by its simplicity, and a fully empowered but fiercely independent Election Commission.
Author has delineated how the US conducts its elections and the marked complexity of its entire election system vis-à-vis simplicity of Indian electoral process.
The article is not important according to the UPSC per se but it offers an interesting insight into the fact that how India is far ahead in some aspects of democracy from the USA especially with regards to a seamless transition of power and the conduct of elections.
Read it for a fresh perspective & know-howe know how about how things go around in the USA
Live Mint
[1]. Internet governance
Context
The article is about how India can pursueInternet governance both domestically and globally after US ceded control of ICANN recently.
Backdrop
On Saturday, 5 November, India hosted the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) 57 meeting in Hyderabad
- From its inception in 1998 until 1st October 2016, it was based in and controlled by the US
ICANN’s history
- Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA): When the internet was limited to only a handful of websites, American computer scientist Jon Postel administered the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
- IANA’s function:This is the body responsible for delegating and managing domain names and Internet protocol addresses globally—what makes it possible for someone to go to the correct website when they type, say, com
- IANA to ICANN: In 1998, management of IANA was taken over by ICANN, a private sector, the non-profit body created for this purpose. But crucially, ICANN answered to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the US Department of Commerce. In essence, the US government controlled vital Internet infrastructure
The control of US over vital internet infrastructure is what has been the debated globally over many years.
Succession to US control
The primary point of concern is as to whether a multilateral governance approach—one in which national governments would be the primary stakeholders and agents—or a multi-stakeholder approach that would incorporate a variety of voices from civil society, the private sector and academia, is best suited to succeed the US
Author favours the multi-stakeholder approach
Reason: The decentralised and open nature of the internet has resulted in its innovation and economic & developmental benefits. Limiting it within the bureaucratic control, which is inevitable in any multilateral body would be counterproductive
Indian government’s stand
As per statement given in 2015 by the IT minister of India he talked about an “Indian vision” for the Internet—one that sees multi-stakeholderism as the only way forward
Author, however, says that converting its support for a multi-stakeholder model into an actionable approach is going to take some effort on the part of India
Way ahead
The author states that the first step to redressing the current state of affairs is looking at the domestic policymaking process in Internet-related issues.
A ‘Centre for Communication Governance’ report, Analysing Indian Engagement at Global Internet Governance Institutions 2011-2015 notes that the small number of civil society, academic and government representatives who have participated in global governance forums so far have shared concerns regarding accountability, legitimacy, diversity and capacity.
Participation from civil society and tech experts: When it comes to freedom of expression, website blocking, policy issues such as the encryption bill and the geospatial bill, and a multitude of other such issues, successive governments have been unconcerned with the need to engage civil society and technical experts adequately.
Conclusion
Author concludes by saying that the capabilities and willingness to participate in global governance at the international level must first be cultivated at the domestic level.
[2]. Is India ready for universal basic income?
Context
Article discusses about the idea of a universal basic income (UBI)
What is Universal Basic Income (UBI)?
Every citizen in the country would be entitled to a fixed amount of money distributed by the government regardless of their level of income or job status. This fixed amount would have to be sufficient for subsistence.
- In some ways, UBI is similar to a negative tax or subsidy
Failure of targeted service delivery
The opposite of UBI is targeted service delivery which as per majority of policymakers &economists has not only failed to deliver the intended benefits but has also led to an increase in corruption and leakage.
Global scenario wrt UBI
A proposal for UBI in Switzerland was defeated in a referendum, but this has not deterred other countries. The Netherlands and Finland are set to start a pilot project from 2017. Finland, has initiated a two-year trial period where each individual will get $600 a month as basic income.
Difference in approach
The basic approach behind UBI is different in the context of developed countries and developing countries such as India.
Developed countries: The basic difference lies in the fact that for most European countries, the idea of UBI is complementary to the existing architecture of public service delivery and social safety nets.
- In most of these countries, particularly the Nordic nations, the idea of a welfare state is well established with universal public access to basic services such as nutrition, education and health.
- These countries also have social safety nets for workers, including minimum wage regulations and unemployment benefits, and UBI is another step towards strengthening them.
- In most of these countries, the arguments in favour of UBI have been driven by the rising unemployment and widening inequality of incomes
Developing countries: However, in developing countries, UBI has been justified to a large extent because of the perceived failure of the delivery mechanism. UBI is seen as a substitute for the provision of existing public service delivery.
- Extension of DBT: For many, UBI is just an extended version of the direct benefit transfer (DBT)
Indian case
In India, as per author, the argument for a universal basic income is essentially a move towards cash transfers in place of in-kind transfers.
Real problem: Author points out that the real problem with existing in-kind transfers is not the form of transfers but the targeting, which leads to leakages and corruption. States that have expanded coverage to universal and quasi-universal were successful in eliminating corruption and leakages to a large extent. It was this evidence which convinced Parliament to adopt a quasi-universal approach (where only those households that meet specific “exclusion criteria” are not covered) to the NFSA instead of the targeted approach earlier.
- Clearly, the issue is not just cash versus in-kind and universal versus targeted, but the approach to public service delivery in a welfare state
Access to Basic services: lack of infrastructure
Author states that already there are a number of cash transfers, including scholarships and social pensions that are currently being given by central and state governments.
- The reason these have not led to commensurate improvements in educational, health and nutritional outcomes has been the lack of basic infrastructure
Increased demand for access
With UBI, the demand for basic services will go up without a commensurate increase in access to the services
Explanation: Let us consider education. With UBI, a person who was otherwise not able to send his children to school on account of his poverty would now be able to do so and like him there would be other people too but to meet this increased demand for a service government would simultaneously need to increase the speed of improving the basic infrastructure (school in this case)
Conclusion
Clearly, the idea of UBI, however appealing, can only contribute to better social and human development outcomes if there is adequate provision of basic social services unlike European and Latin countries where these services are already in place
Interesting piece: Please read this article
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