Front Page / NATIONAL [The Hindu]
[1].Multi-phase polls are here to stay
[2].Ancient copper coins found in central Kashmir
[3].Committee ticks off(To make someone angry or annoyed)govt. on Defence Allocations
Editorial/OPINION [The Hindu]
[1]. Stability in the time of change
[2]. The right to fish
Economy [The Hindu]
[1].India sees options in U.S. energy policy
[2]. Centre issues draft rules on e-wallet payments
Indian Express
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Live Mint
[1]. The degradation of Indian universities through politics
Front Page / NATIONAL
[1].Multi-phase polls are here to stay
Context
Elections have become heavily dependent on Central forces
What Has Happened?
Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) has said that long-drawn-out, multiple-phase elections are here to stay because of the use of Central police forces for the conduct of free and fair polls
Why Central Forces?
- Voters, political parties etc. have their own reservations/anxieties about the State police
- The Commission has also come to depend on the Central police forces over the years
- There have been examples in the past that voters too feel that to truly ensure an unafraid exercise of franchise, Central Forces are required.
[2].Ancient copper coins found in central Kashmir
Context
Over 800 coins dating back to 11th, 12th Century discovered in Budgam district
What Has Happened?
The Jammu and Kashmir State Archaeology Department has discovered over 800 coins dating back to the 11th, 12th Century in Budgam district
Rare Numismatic (relating to or consisting of coins or medals)discovery
- One of the largest recoveries from the district
- Recovered the copper coins from a plateau ( rich in archaeological nature) in Nonar village in Khan Sahab
- The coins were exposed during a trial excavation
- As per a preliminary report: The coins date back to the 11th and 12th Century when the Yassakara and Lohora dynasties ruled over Kashmir
What Now?
- The coins are now being given chemical treatment at the Shri Pratap Singh Museum in LalMandi, Srinagar.
- Then they will be identified and deciphered.
[3].Committee ticks off(To make someone angry or annoyed)govt. on Defence Allocations
Context
Article deals with the Parliamentary standing Committee (PSC) Report on Defence
What Has Happened?
PSC in its report observed that funds earmarked (designate (funds or resources) for a particular purpose)insufficient on several grounds
Observations
For Navy:
- Allocation: Rs. 18,000 Crore
- Liabilities: Rs. 22,000 Crore
- Impact: Allocation would not be sufficient to pay for the contractual obligations
For Army:
- Allocation: Rs. 25,254 Crore
- Liabilities: Rs. 23,000 Crore
- Impact: Negatively affect the procurement of the latest state-of-the-art equipment for the Army personnel
For Air Force:
- Allocation for new schemes: Rs. 4000 Crore
- Impact: This would “hamper the modernisation drive” of the force as expenses related to the procurement of aircraft and related equipment are high cost in nature
Not quite “Make in India”
- Total Budget Spent in 2016-17 on modernization by the Air Force = 22,222,34 Crore
- Expenditure involving Indian Vendors = 268.10 Crore (about1%)
- Observation: There is a visible gap between the policy and intent of the government as far as the Make in India campaign is concerned
Editorial/OPINION
[1]. Stability in the time of change
Context
As the liberal order yields to an age of uncertainty, a new initiative is needed if the nuclear taboo has to hold
Liberal rule based international order
Here author has referred to the system that came into being after the world war 2 and which has been shaped by the West. The creation of world bodies like UN, IMF and World Bank have all been led by the US and European countries
Liberal or not?
Readers are encouraged to form their own opinion regarding this one. Here are few observations,
- Although many countries are signatories of the above mentioned world organizations but still they have not embraced them whole heartedly because these organizations have many times implicitly tried to coerce developing countries to toe the line. Case in point is the issue of agricultural subsidies wherein India and other developing countries are being forced to eliminate food subsidies
- West has always interfered with the affairs of the West Asian countries for its own strategic interest, leaving these countries in tatters when it sees fit. Case in point is Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria & Libya. Due to meddling by the West, radical institutions like ISIS have risen and continue to spread globally, threatening peace and order
- Lies of the West liberalism have been exposed via the refugee crisis wherein many European countries have blatantly refused to entertain refugee seekers
Hence,
Author contends that the liberal international order was not ‘global’ and consequently, ‘liberal and rule-based’ only in a small part of the world, the West.
Why the demise of the order?
Rise of the anti-globalization and anti-immigration sentiment due to the isolation of the average American worker from the fruits of globalizing forces
What do we need?
Credible multilateral institutions
[2]. The right to fish
Context
Sri Lanka’s fishermen want to assert their right over their own territorial waters, hindered by Indian trawlers
Consolidated reports by Sri Lankan Navy
Author states that at the beginning of each month a consolidated report is sent to Indian officials by the Sri Lankan Navy. This report contains information on the Indian fishing craft in Sri Lankan waters
Indian trawlers in Sri Lankan waters
In February, the Sri Lankans noticed approximately 835 fishing trawlers/dhows they said were engaged in bottom trawling/poaching.
- They were sighted in 29 locations well within Sri Lankan territorial waters, closer to the shores of Mullaitivu, Point Pedro, Talaimannar, Vetthlaikeni, Kakerathivu as well as the Delft Islands
- On February 19, 2011, for instance, they detected 700
Sri Lankan Navy’s course of action
They arrest the fishermen and seize the boats
Economy
[1].India sees options in U.S. energy policy
Context
India sees an opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation with America in oil, gas and coal sectors in the coming years
Backdrop
Petroleum Minister meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary
What Has Happened?
President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers have set in motion a series of measures that will deregulate American oil, gas and coal sectors
Rationale
By deregulating oil and gas, and rolling back incentives available to non–conventional energy industry, the Trump administration is hoping to create a boom in the U.S. oil and gas market
Obama vs Trump
- The Obama administration’s focus was on pushing renewable energy cooperation with India, but Trump administration’s focus is different
- The Trump administration’s focus is on making American oil and gas sector competitive in the world market and it does not want environmental concerns holding back the sector
Prospective Areas of Co-operation in Energy Sector
Co-operation between India and Us could be in the areas of
- Clean coal technology
- Conversion of coal to synthetic gas
- Building smart grids and reduction in transmission losses
[2]. Centre issues draft rules on e-wallet payments
Context
In pursuit of its agenda of a less cash economy, government has issued a set of draft rules
What Has Happened?
The Centre has issued draft rules to ensure integrity, security and confidentiality of electronic payments made through prepaid payment instruments (PPIs), popularly called e-wallets
Who is an e-PPI issuer?
The Information Technology (Security of Prepaid Instruments) Rules, 2017, define an e-PPI issuer as a “person operating a payment system issuing prepaid payment instruments to individuals/organizations” under the aegis of Reserve Bank of India
Rules
The draft rules, on which the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has sought public comments,
- Mandatory to develop an Information security policy: It would be mandatory for e-PPI (electronic pre-payment instrument) issuers to develop an information security policy that ensures that the systems operated by them are secure
- Mandatory publishing of privacy policy: The rules make it compulsory for e-PPIs to publish on their websites and mobile applications both their ‘privacy policy’ and terms for use of their payment systems
- The draft also details the requirements of a privacy policy
- Risk assessment: The rules mandate that e-PPIs should carry out risk assessment to spot security risks and also ensure adequate due diligence is done before issuing PPIs
Indian Express
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Live Mint
[1]. The degradation of Indian universities through politics
Context
Political intrusion in universities gathered momentum in the past 25 years, and has now reached a stage that could be the edge of the precipice for public universities.
Issue: Political interference in universities
Intimidation
Author begins his article stating the Ramjas college incident. Citing the intimidating and violent form in which dissent has been stifled in our colleges, author states that universities & colleges should not be allowed to become places of intolerance
Why academic freedom is primary?
Academic freedom is primary because universities are places for raising doubts and asking questions about everything. Exploring ideas, debating issues and thinking independently are essential in the quest for excellence. It would enable universities to be the conscience-keepers of economy, polity and society.
But governments provide resources to universities?
Yes they do but that provision doesn’t endow them with the power to exercise control over them
- The resources are public money for public universities, which are accountable to students and society through institutional mechanisms that exist or can be created
Way forward
If universities want their freedom then they would have to take it. How?
By displaying solidarity, leadership, faculty and students can regain the freedom which forms the very core of a these academic institutions
Structures of governance
The best model would be
- A board of governors, to which governments could nominate at the most one-third the total number
- The other members, two-thirds or more, should be independent, of whom one-half should be distinguished academics while one-half should be drawn from industry, civil society or professions
- Term: Members of the board should have a term of six years, with one-third retiring every two years
- The chairman should be an eminent academic with administrative experience
- The VC, to be appointed by the board with a six-year tenure, would be an ex-officio member
- Except for nominees of governments, the board should decide on replacements for its retiring members
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