Brief of newspaper articles for the day bearing
relevance to Civil Services preparation
- GS PAPER 2
- To mollify China, India eases curbs on conference visas {Foreign Policy}
- India eyes uranium from Africa {Foreign Policy}
- India now a ‘major defence partner’ {Foreign Policy}
- Officials hope for a repeat of 2008 at NSG meeting {Foreign Policy}
- India, Seychelles working to ‘ensure security’ in Indian Ocean {Foreign Policy – Paper II}
- Consumer awareness vital to hold drug prices {Governance – Paper II}
- Never in Punjab{Polity – Paper II}
- Strategic shift {Foreign Policy – Paper II}
- Polls apart {Polity – Paper II}
- GS PAPER 3
- India becomes third largest oil consumer {Economy – Paper III}
- Centre to evolve norms to enhance product quality {Economy – Paper III}
GS PAPER 2
[1] To mollify China, India eases curbs on conference visas + Easing visa curbs may aid Chinese business links
Context
India has further liberalized visa regime for China by taking out the conference visas from the prior referral category.
What is conference visa and prior referral category?
- Conference visas are those visas which are issued to attend seminars, workshops or international conferences organized in India by a ministry or Department of the Government of India.
It is important to note here that workshops/conferences/ seminars by private companies/institutions do not come under the ambit of conference visas.
- Prior referral category means that the visa is issued by the Indian missions only after going through a detailed background check of the applicant. This is a time consuming process.
- Removal from PRC is only for conference visas and not for any other type of visas.
Why this move by India?
- This step by India especially at this particular time is seen as a move towards garnering Chinese support for India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).It must be noted here that China has been opposing India’s entry in NSG.
- NSG meeting is about to happen later this month and India does not want to take any chances with its membership bid.
[2] India eyes uranium from Africa
Context
India wants Africa to relax Pelindaba Treaty so that India can access Uranium from Africa for its nuclear power projects.
Analysis
India had already signed an MoU with Namibia aiming at the cooperation in the areas of peaceful use of nuclear energy in 2009. But since Namibia became a member of Pelibanda treaty, it did not ratify the agreement.President Pranab Mukherjee on his trip to Namibia will seek cooperation from Namibia to enter a treaty with India aiming at the supply of Uranium from Africa.
Conclusion
Namibia is the fourth largest producer of Uranium in the world and India needs Uranium for it nuclear power projects. This makes Namibia an important source of Uranium for India.
[3] India now a ‘major defence partner’
Issue
- India-US relations.
Key points
- US now considers India as its ‘major defence partner.’
- This classification will allow India to buy more advanced and sensitive technologies from the U.S.
- This move will be complemented by India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime, an exclusive club that restricts trade in sensitive defence technologies.
- US has also shown its support for India’s membership into Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
- According to a joint statement released by both the countries, India will receive licence-free access to a wide range of dual-use technologies.
- However, there was difference of opinion between the countries over the time-frame of ratification of Paris Treaty by India.
- US understands that India will ratify it by the end of this year.
- Whereas Indian diplomats have hinted that India has not given any deadline for the ratification. It has said, that it will ratify it ‘as soon as possible’.
[4] Officials hope for a repeat of 2008 at NSG meeting + Quest for another holy grail + India’s delayed arrival at the nuclear high table
Issue
- India seeking membership of Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG)
- For background and comprehensive coverage of NSG, refer to Editorial Today #44- Nuclear Suppliers Group.
The inception of NSG
- NSG was invented to prevent Indian advance towards possession of nuclear weapons after the technology demonstration test of 1974.
- If India is given the membership of NSG, then its whole objective and fundamentals will be diluted.
- As one should be a signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), before becoming a member of NSG.
Pessimism about the deal from some quarters
- India has failed to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and admission to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
- And, now the NSG quest also seems like that it will end up a failed endeavour.
- Indian diplomats and top level leadership are investing so much of their energy into it, but it will not bear fruits, as China is in no mood to relent.
- Further, membership of the NSG will only mean greater pressure on us to sign the NPT and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and commit in advance to a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, which would impose restrictions on existing stockpiles of fissile material.
- According to this writer, India should concentrate on something constructive rather than having unrealistic expectations from the international community.
Optimism about the deal among some diplomats
- In 2008, Indian diplomats were sure that China was not in favour of NSG waiver but at the last moment, China changed its mind and sided with India.
- Based on this experience, it seems that though China has been vocal of its stand, but there are some who believe that it can repeat the 2008 episode, i.e changing its stand at the last moment.
Why India should get NSG membership?
- India has been a consistent supporter of non-proliferation regimes.
It has always vouched for non-discriminatory disarmament efforts and civil nuclear cooperation in the global sphere. - MTCR and NSG, along with the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement, aim to restrict the proliferation of items that could lead to the spread of, among others, weapons of mass destruction and chemical and biological weapons.
- India has taken a number of steps to align its export regulations with what these regimes specify.
- With no objections coming up against the text for membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), India is now set to become the 35th member of one of the four major export control regimes.
- India has also committed to adhering to future NSG guidelines despite not being a member.
Conclusion
- India is committed to nonproliferation of nuclear material and it has never compromised its nuclear know-how with any other country.
- It has always welcomed any foreign inspection of its defence facilities, and has separated civil facilities from defence facilities.It has a clean track record.
- It has voluntarily put moratorium on further nuclear testing and given assurances for harmonisation of its export regulations with the NSG guidelines.
- It has also announced its policy of “no-first-use” (NFU) of its nuclear weapons, it shows its commitment and responsibility towards global peace and security.
- Considering all these factors, the time has come that India should be given its due so that it can fulfill its energy needs.
[5] India, Seychelles working to ‘ensure security’ in Indian Ocean
Issue
- India-Seychelles relations.
Key points
- India helps Seychelles to patrol the Indian ocean.
- Seychelles economy is heavily dependent on tourism industry and substantial amount of Indian tourists visit this country every year,
- Recently, China has announced that it will build its first African naval base in Djibouti.
- In response to this, India has partnered with Seychelles to develop a naval base on the Assumption Island.
- Seychelles has cleared that it should not be called an Indian naval base, rather it is a Seychelles naval base built with support from India.
- The mutual interest of both the countries lies in ensuring safety and security in the Indian Ocean.
[6] Consumer awareness vital to hold drug prices
Issue:
- Consumers rights related to medicines.
Who plays important role with respect to this?
- Doctors who plays the most important link not for only making drugs affordable but also getting generic drugs.
- Health ministry requested central government hospitals to prescribe only generic drugs from now on.
- Health ministry hope that soon, people will start asking generic drugs from doctors.
Health ministry expanded India’s National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) from 74 to 799.
Objective:
- To make the drugs on the list as affordable as possible.
Why we desperately need this?
- In many countries government provide health care for all but in India such system does not exist. To compensate a little bit we need to have cap prices on medicine.
Why we need a cap?
- There is a perception that pharmaceutical companies operate on huge profit.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority
- NPPA is an organization of the Government of India which was established, inter alia, to fix/ revise the prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995.
- The organization is also entrusted with the task of recovering amounts overcharged by manufacturers for the controlled drugs from the consumers.
- It also monitors the prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels.
Why DPCO was put in place?
- It turn out to be necessary to put cap on drug pricing because companies started profiteering after Sino-Indian war.
- Policy revises after every 3 years till now it has been revised 5 times.
- After all this efforts government controls only 17 per cent of the pharmaceutical market.
Future ahead:
- There are many medicines that need to be controlled. The most expensive are cancer drugs which needs to be controlled on first place, as cancer patients are increasing day by day.
[7] Never in Punjab
- Article deals with recent controversy over the censorship row over movie Udta Punjab.
- Udta Punjab is an upcoming movie based on the issue of high level of drug abuse among youths of Punjab
- Editor believes that it has possible relation with the upcoming legislative elections in Punjab
- There have been allegations over the ruling party Shiromani Akali dal of their unwillingness or lack of enthusiasm in the fight against drug trafficking in the state.
- It is not a unique case as there have been similar situations in the past where movie release has gone into whirlwind due to political overtone
- GD Khosla committee of 1969 has suggested the inclusion of independent member in the censor board whereas Shyam Benegal Committee in 2015 suggested to limit the role of CBFC only to certify a film and categorising the movie as per suitability according to the audience.
[8] Strategic shift
- Reinvigorated zeal to bring closeness with USA has put forward many opportunities in front of both nations, which were untapped for long time.
- Recently India agreed to Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, in April, which will allow US troops to use Indian military bases, in exchange, US will share licence-free access to strategic technologies on terms similar to those of its closest allies
- Further, due to US’s approval Italy also dropped its objection to India’s membership of MTCR
- Again, the nuclear deal signed in 2005 will also see progress, with Westinghouse beginning preliminary work on a six reactor deal.
- Apart from all this, the main reason for increasing India’s closeness with USA is seen as a repercussion to the Chinese support to Pakistan both economically and in defense sector
- In future, India might have to flex its muscle.
[9] Polls apart
Context
- Some political parties are advocating for making Lok Sabha and State Assembly polls coterminous.
Response from the Election Commission of India (EC)
- When asked for opinion, it listed some of the challenges that might come up, if both General and State elections are held together.
- A substantial increase in the infrastructure will be required, in terms of logistics, machinery,etc.
- It would be difficult to build a political consensus for a common schedule.
- However, EC has submitted that if such financial and logistics challenges are adressed, then it can hold the Parliament and Assembly election simultaneously.
What was the original plan and how did it went through a change?
- The first General and Assembly elections were held together.
- But with passage of time, the cycle diverged soon due to the federal character of the nation.
Why the idea of coterminous polls should be dropped?
- It would be better if Assembly elections are held separately, as it would give the people an opportunity to judge the work of the government and elections can be fought on local or regional issues.
- But, if both the elections are held together, then regional issues might be sidelined and there are chances that we would see more coalition government in the states because of fractured verdict.
GS PAPER 3
[1] India becomes third largest oil consumer
News:
- India become the world’s third-largest oil consumer, according to BP Statistical Review of World Energy. Per day India consume 4.1 million barrels.
- U.S. top the list with (19.39 million bpd) and China at the second position (11.96 million bpd).
- Before India Japan was at the 3rd position now it slipped to the fourth. spot.
Global demand for primary energy grew only 1 per cent in 2015, which is slower than the 10-year average.
Why global demand for oil slipped?
- Feeble global economy.
- Lower Chinese energy consumption as the country is shifting from an industrial to a service-driven economy.
Oil the world’s leading fuel, with 32.9 per cent of consumption. Second largest is coal with market share of 29.2 per cent. Whereas Natural gas’ market share is at 23.8 per cent.
[2] Centre to evolve norms to enhance product quality
News:
- Commerce Ministry will bring five-year ‘National Standards Strategy Paper’.
Objective:
- To remove substandard products from the domestic market
- To boost India’s exports of high quality goods.
- To ensure that Indian manufacturer moves towards mandatory standards that are matched with international standards.
Standards conclave
- The standards conclave is being held on June 23 and 24 in the context when internationally the tariffs are going down and there is an urgent need to create strong standards regulatory framework which would help domestic industry in increasing the exports by measuring up to standards and conformity assessment procedures which are vital links in the global trade both in quantitative terms and also getting higher value of exports.
- Good standards will definitely fulfil ‘zero defect, zero effect (meaning, environment-friendly)’ and ‘Make In India’ campaigns.
- Also prevent domestic market with unsafe/substandard imports.
- Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are promoting high standards for global trade. Standards for domestic market and export market should be equal. And should create an ecosystem of conformity.
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