23rd December 2020 Currents Affairs AnalysisBy IASToppers' Editorial Team | 2020-12-23 17:00:00
Polity & Governance
Lok Adalat creates history by settling 2.61 lakh cases in Karnataka
The High Court of Karnataka and the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA) have createdhistory in settlement of cases, with a record 2,61,882 cases being settled in a single day at the mega LokAdalat held, recently.
The term ‘Lok Adalat’ means ‘People’s Court’ and is based on Gandhian principles of the Directive Principles of State Policies.It is one of the components of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system and deliversinformal, cheap and expeditious justice to the common people.The first Lok Adalat camp was organized in Gujarat in 1982 as a voluntary and conciliatoryagency without any statutory backing for its decisions.It was given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.Jurisdiction of Lok Adalat:
Matters such as matrimonial/family disputes, criminal (compoundable offences) cases, landacquisition cases, labor disputes, workmen’s compensation cases, bank recovery cases,etc. are being taken up in Lok Adalats.The offences which are non-compoundable under any law fall outside the purview of theLok Adalat.
Powers of Lok Adalat:The Lok Adalat shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Codeof Civil Procedure (1908).An award of a Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be a decree of a Civil Court or an order ofany other court.Every award made by a Lok Adalat shall be final and binding on all the parties to thedispute. No appeal shall lie to any court against the award of the Lok Adalat.
There is no court fee payable when a matter is filed in a Lok Adalat.If a matter pending in the court of law is referred to the Lok Adalat and is settledsubsequently, the court fee originally paid in the court on the complain/petition is alsorefunded back to the concerned party.
At the State Authority level:Headed by a sitting or retired judge of the High Court
At the High Court level:Headed by a sitting or retired judge of the High Court
At the District level:Headed by a sitting or retired Judicial Officer
At the Taluk level:Headed by a sitting or retired Judicial Officer
[Ref: The Hindu]
Stronger safeguards needed for whistleblowers: experts
As per experts, India needs to strengthen safeguards for corporate whistleblowers and extend therequirement of a vigil mechanism to large private companies.
Concerns with whistleblowers act:
Companies Act only require listed companies, companies that accept public deposits andcompanies that have loans from banks or public financial institutions of over Rs 50 crore to havea vigil mechanism to address whistleblower complaints.Absence of specific guidelines on functioning of vigil mechanism ensures that whistleblowercomplaints are not addressed in a timely manner.Many companies have retaliated by filing civil suits against employees raising whistleblowercomplaints.
It provides a mechanism to investigate alleged corruption and misuse of power by publicservants and also protect anyone who exposes alleged wrongdoing in government bodies,projects and offices.The Act seeks to protect whistle blowers, i.e. persons making a public interest disclosure relatedto an act of corruption, misuse of power, or criminal offense by a public servant.
Such a disclosure can be done by any public servant or person working in NGO to thecentral or the state vigilance commission.
Every complaint has to include the identity of the complainant.The Vigilance Commission shall not disclose the identity of the complainant except to the headof the department if he deems it necessary. The Act penalizes any person who has disclosed the identity of the complainant.The Act prescribes penalties for knowingly making false complaints.
Prohibited disclosures:
Security of IndiaForeign relationsPublic order and moralityContempt of court, defamation, incitement to an offenceCabinet proceedings
Way forward:
Large private sector companies, including subsidiaries of large multi-national corporations,should also be required to have vigil mechanism.Law should provide for a permanent internal committee and specify directions on the functioningof the committee.Provisions should be there for direct access to the chairperson of the audit committee inappropriate or exceptional cases.Deterrence against frivolous complaints is needed.
[Ref: Indian Express]
Pathalgadi movement
The government in Jharkhand had decided to drop “all cases” related to the Pathalgadi movement of2017-2018.
Pathalgadi is a tribal custom of erecting stone plaques on the tomb of tribal people in Jharkhand.It consists of 32 tribal communities.It is done in honor of their ancestors, to announce important decisions to mark the boundary oftheir villages.With the force of Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) thepractice of erecting stone plaques in villages with provisions of the Act inscribed on it started.This was done to empower people belonging to the 5th Schedule area on their legal andconstitutional safeguards.
What is Pathalgadi movement?
According to Chotanagpur Land Tenancy Act, 1908 and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act,1949, a tribal can buy or sell their land only to another tribal.Through passing an ordinance amending Land Acquisition Act (Jharkhand Amendment) in2017 and awaited Governor’s approval.However, the bill never got the go ahead as tribals started erecting stones in their villages withPESA provisions highlighting their rights which came to be known as Pathalgadi movement.
Adivasis are the original inhabitants and owners of India
Self-rule: The government should enter their area with Gram Sabha permission only.They quoted Article 19 (5) of the Indian Constitution, outsiders are not allowed to liveand work in adivasi villages without permission.
They did not believe in Voter-ID cards or Aadhar cards, saying that it is for ‘common people’,and they did not follow it since they “khas admi”.They did not believe in constitution and also they rejected government services.
Powers to safeguard and protect the interest of tribal population:
Governor of a state have the special powers to safeguard and protect the interests of the tribalpopulation which includes:
Examining the laws enacted by the parliament or legislature and restrain or allow itkeeping the interests of the tribals in tune with customary law, social and religious practicesamong others.
Important judgements and provisions:
Samatha Judgment:It seeks to preserve the tribal autonomy, their culture and economic empowerment, toensure social, economic and political justice, and preservation of peace and goodgovernance.
Rami Reddy vs. Andhra Pradesh 1988:Special legislations cannot be held to be unconstitutional on the ground of violation ofother fundamental rights, such as Article 14 and 19(1)(g) and others.
Provisions that reiterate supremacy:Traditional Gram Sabha and traditional Adivasi governance systemsRights of Adivasis over landThe restricted rights of non-adivasis and outsiders in the scheduled areas to settle downand work
Issues:
The governor never exercised its power to implement 5th schedule provisions and PESA inletter and spirit. There is less clarity on the role of Gram Sabhas in case of:
Minor mineralOwnership of minor forest producePower to manage the Agri-produce market
The tribal population in the decision-making apparatus remains very low.
What was the JMM-led government’s promise on Pathalgadi?
Withdrawal of ‘all cases’ related to the Pathalgadi movement was the first cabinet decision ofthe government in Jharkhand.
Around 21.5 lakh people, or 29% of the state’s population had been screened, out of which 688people showed presumptive signs of leprosy.
The Case of Himachal Pradesh:
The ‘Him Suraksha Abhiyan’ was launched in November 2020 to screen the populationfor COVID-19, tuberculosis and leprosy.
Himachal attained the Leprosy Elimination status in 2002, and since then, the prevalence ratehas been less than one in 10,000.There are currently around 80-82 patients with leprosy in Himachal, mostly adults.
Half of these patients were diagnosed in 2020, and the rest have been under treatment.
Leprosy:
Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease.It is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a rod-shaped bacillus thatis an obligate intracellular (only grows inside of certain human and animal cells) bacterium.
The infection is spread from person to person by nasal secretions or droplets.It is rarely transmitted from chimpanzees, mangabey monkeys, and nine-banded armadillos tohumans.
Effects:
It is known to occur at all ages ranging from early infancy to very old age and is curable.It develops slowly (from six months to 40 years) and results in skin lesions and deformities.It most often affects the cooler places on the body (for example, eyes, nose, earlobes, hands, feet, and testicles).It is similar to tuberculosis, because it produces inflammatory nodules (granulomas) in the skin and nerves over time.
Timely diagnosis and treatment of cases before nerve damage is the most effective way ofpreventing disability due to leprosy.Based on the number of skin lesions and other symptoms, leprosy is classified as paucibacillary and multibacillary (more severe). The disease is cured by multi-drug therapy, which consists of a three-drug regimen and isprovided to patients in blister packs.
Leprosy in India:
India eliminated leprosy in 2005. As per WHO, elimination mean incidence rate of less thanone case per 10,000 populations.In 2017, India had set a target of elimination of leprosy by 2018. However, leprosy still remainsa challenge in a country that launched the National Leprosy Eradication Programme.Around two lakh new cases were reported globally in 2019, of which 1.14 lakh were reported from India.
[Ref: The India Express]
Economy
World Bank Signs $500 Million Project to Develop Green Highways in India
The Government of India and the World Bank signed a $500 million project to build safe and greennational highway corridors in the states of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
A green highway is a roadway constructed that integrates transportation functionality and ecological sustainability.An environmental approach is used throughout the planning, design, and the construction.The Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping launched the Green Highways(Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy in 2015.
Objective: To promote greening of Highway corridors with participation of the community,farmers, private sector, NGOs, and government institutions.1% of the total project cost of all highways projects is kept aside for the highway plantationand its maintenance.
Green National Highways Corridor Project:
It was launched by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in collaboration with InternationalBank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).Under the project, stretches of several national highways across Andhra Pradesh, HimachalPradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh will be strengthened.Objective: To construct 783 km of highways in various geographies by integrating safe and greentechnology designs such as local and marginal materials, industrial byproducts, and otherbioengineering solutions.
Significance of the Project:
Reduce GHG emissions in the construction and maintenance of highways.Strengthen and widen existing structures; construct new pavements, drainage facilities andbypasses; improve junctions; and introduce road safety features. Support analytics to map the freight volume and movement pattern on the National Highwaynetwork, identify constraints, and provide innovative logistics solutions.
Support the ministry with analysis of gender-related issues in the transport sector along with helpin creating jobs for women by training women-led micro enterprises to implement greentechnologies in the highway corridors.
World Bank:
The World Bank is an international financial institution established in 1944 by the Bretton WoodsAgreement. Objective:
To provide loans and grants to the governments of low and middle income countries for thepurpose of pursuing capital projects.The World Bank's most recently stated goal is the Reduction of Poverty.
It is a component of the World Bank Group.The World Bank Group is an extended family of five international organizations:
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)International Development Association (IDA)International Finance Corporation (IFC)Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
The World Bank is a collective name given to the following two institutions:International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)International Development Association (IDA)
Members: IBRD has 189 member countries.IDA has 173 member countries.India is a member of both the institutions.Only members of IBRD are allowed to join other institutions within the Bank.
Voting share:The U.S. has the highest voting share (15.85%).India’s voting share at the WB is 2.91%.
Reports published by the World Bank:Global Economic Prospects ReportWorld Development ReportEase of Doing Business Report
[Ref: PIB]
Centre to set up Development Finance Entity
Development Finance Institution (DFI) will be set up to mobilise the ?111 lakh crore required for fundingof the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).
About 7,000 projects have been identified under the NIP during 2020-25.
It is a financial institution that provides risk capital for economic development projects on non-commercial basis.They are often established and owned by governments or charitable institutions to providefunds for projects that are having long gestation period and are of utmost importance from socioeconomic development point of view.They don’t accept deposits from the people.Funds are raised by borrowing from governments or by selling bonds.They provide technical assistance.
Development banks include:
Community development banks Focus on serving the people who have been unbanked or underbanked.
International financial institutionsConducting development-oriented finance on a bilateral or multilateral basis.
National development banks Government-owned financial institution that provides financing for economic development.
Multilateral development bank Set up by a group of countries and often operate under international laws.
Industrial Finance Corporation (IFCI) – 1st DFI in India. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) was established in January 1982 and is the apex institution in thearea of foreign trade investment.National Bank for Agriculture and Rural development (NABARD) was established in July1982. It was established on the recommendation of the Shivraman Committee.
[Ref: The Hindu]
Canada’s Bank invest $107 million in NIIF’s master fund
Canada’s PSP, USA’s DFC, Axis Bank have invested $107 million in NIIF’s master fund.
The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) announced investments such as the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) of Canada, US federalgovernment’s International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Indian lender AxisBank. The NIIF announced that it is now targeting to raise $ 2.1 billion for a private equity fund.
About National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF):
NIIF is a professional fund manager, anchored by the Government of India along withparticipation from institutional investors such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) andleading Indian private financial institutions.NIIF was set up as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) in December 2016.The Indian government has 49% stake in NIIF.It intends to be a key channel of investment into Indian infrastructure with a focus on transportation (roads, ports and airports), energy, urban planning and other infrastructureand allied segments.Its portfolio includes investments in ports and logistics, real estate and renewables.
Objective of NIIF:
To maximize economic impact mainly through infrastructure development in commercially viableprojects, both greenfield and brownfield and stalled projects.The fund aims to attract investment from both domestic and international sources.
NIIF manages three funds with distinctive investment mandates.These funds are registered as Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with the Securities andExchange Board of India (SEBI).The three types of funds are master funds, funds of funds and strategic funds.
Master fund:
It is an infrastructure fund primarily investing in operating assets in core infrastructure sectorssuch as roads, ports, airports, power etc.It invests in mature businesses with long-term track record, often operating in regulatedenvironments or under concession or long-term agreements.
Funds of Funds:
It seeks to invest with experienced fund managers who have a strong track record and havedemonstrated their ability to execute their investment strategy successfully.It invests across infrastructure services and allied sectors (traditional infrastructure, greenenergy, social infrastructure, manufacturing, and services), product strategies (equity,mezzanine, debt) and investment styles (early stage, growth, control).
Strategic Funds:
It is aimed at growth and development stage investments in projects/companies in a broadrange of sectors that are of economic and commercial importance and are likely to benefitfrom India’s growth trajectory over the medium to long-term.
[Ref: The Indian Express]
Environment, Ecology & Disaster management
Biodiversity Management Committees
Recently, National Green Tribunal (NGT) extended the time for constitution of BiodiversityManagement Committees (BMCs) and preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).
BMCs will be constituted at the local level in every state under the Biological Biodiversity Act2002.They are created for the purpose of promoting conservation, sustainable use anddocumentation of biological diversity.It prepares and maintain Peoples Biodiversity Register (PBR).
Peoples Biodiversity Register (PBR)
Peoples Biodiversity Register (PBR) is a document which records diversity of flora and fauna.Benefits of PBR:
Increased awareness about local biodiversity and bio-resources.Sustainable use of bio-resources and protection of threatened species and ecosystems.Effective planning and management of our landscapes, geo-scapes and bio-scapes.Increased sensitisation through education, research and nature affectionateness.Demonstration of country’s rich natural capital on the international forum.
Biological Biodiversity Act, 2002
Objective:To conserve the Biological Diversity.Sustainable use of the components of biodiversity.Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of the Biodiversity.
A National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has been established by the Biodiversity Act, 2002 to regulate act implementing rules, 2004.
Pokhran’s ‘firefly bird diverters’ shine to save the Great Indian Bustard
The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) along with the WildlifeConservation Society (WCS) India has come up with a unique initiative called a “firefly bird diverter”.
It is for the overhead power lines in areas where Great Indian Bustard (GIB) populations arefound in the wild.The high-voltage transmission lines with multiple overhead wires are the most important currentthreat for GIBs in the Thar region.
It causes unsustainably high mortality in about 15% of their population.
Firefly bird diverters are flaps installed on power lines. The diverters are called fireflies because they look like fireflies from a distance, shining onpower lines in the night. They work as reflectors for bird species like the GIB. Birds can spot them from a distance of about 50 meters and change their path of flight toavoid collision with power lines.
Smaller birds can change their direction [swiftly] but for larger bird species, it is difficultbecause their body weight and other factors to swift nearby power lines.
They are installed along two stretches of approximately 6.5 km, selected between Chacha toDholiya villages in the Pokhran tehsil. The selected stretch is opposite the Pokhran Field Firing Range.
It is a safe habitat to a breeding population of GIBs outside the Desert National Park Sanctuaryin Jaisalmer.
This model was suggested by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) SpeciesSurvival Commission’s (SSC) Bustard Specialist Group.
It is a large bird of the bustard family (Otididae).It is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. The great Indian bustard inhabits dry grasslands and scrublands on the Indian subcontinent.Only two districts in Rajasthan (Jaisalmer and Barmer) have a breeding GIB population in thewild.It is a state bird of Rajasthan, locally called as Godawan.The bird can also be found in small numbers in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka,Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
Conservation status:
International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) status: Critically EndangeredListed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.Listed in the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)Listed in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)
[Ref: The Hindu]
World to breach 1.5°C threshold by 2027-2042: Study
A study carried out by researchers from Canada, suggest that the threshold temperature of 1.5°C fordangerous global warming will likely be crossed between 2027 and 2042.
The new study uses a new Scaling Climate Response Function (SCRF) model to project the Earth's temperature to 2100.
Currently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) uses the GeneralCirculation Models (GCM) to express wide ranges in overall temperature projections.
About Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body forassessing the science related to climate change.It was created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UnitedNations Environment Programme (UNEP).Objective:
To provide governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use todevelop climate policies.
IPCC reports are also a key input into international climate change negotiations though it does not conduct its own research.Members: Only members of UN or WMO are eligible. (Currently, 195).
[Ref- Down to Earth]
Geophysical Phenomenon
Intense winter begins in Jammu & Kashmir with sub-zero temperatures
Winter has started on a harsh note with record minus 6.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, the lowesttemperature of the season.
The most severe part of the winter in Kashmir consists of three months. It is divided into three parts called the Chilas: The Chillai Kalan, the Chillai Khurd, and the Challai Bache.
About Chillai Kalan:
Chillai Kalan is the local name given to intense cold waves in Kashmir and Ladakh region.It is the coldest part of winter and lasts for 40 days.It begins from December 21 and ends on January 31 next year.
Features:
During Chillai-Kalan, the weather in Kashmir valley continues to remain dry and cold with minimum temperatures hovering below the freezing point.Chillai Kalan affects the daily life of Kashmiris. Warm woollen clothes are worn and use of a traditional firing pot called Kanger increases. The region receives heavy snow which attracts skiers from every part of the world and the DalLake also freezes. The snow adds to the glaciers of the Valley and replenishes the perennial reservoirs that feed
the rivers, streams and lakes in Kashmir during the months of summer. Any snowfall after the Chillai Kalan does not last long.
[Ref: Hindustan Times]
Persons in News
National Farmer Day or Kisan Diwas
Recently, India observed Kisan Diwas or National Farmer’s Day on December 23.
The day honors the contributions of Chaudhary Charan Singh.
Having influenced by Gandhi, Chaudhary Charan Singh brought many farmer-friendly policies andworked towards the welfare of the farmers while serving as a 5th Prime Minister of India during 1979-1980 to make rural people self-reliant.
Chaudhary Charan Singh was the first Kisan Prime minister of India.He worked on bringing small and marginal farmer issues to the forefront.He introduced the Debt Redemption Bill,1939 in order to give farmers relief from themoneylenders.He played a pivotal role in re-organizing the political economy of agriculture in Uttar Pradesh.In 1952, he abolished the zamindari system, while serving as the Agriculture minister.He founded the Kisan Trust in 1978 to spread awareness about farmer’s issues.He wrote several books on farmers and their problems to introduced solutions to most of theproblems.His memorial in New Delhi is named Kisan Ghat.
[Ref- The Hindu]
Science & Technology
Antibodies found against Novel Coronavirus in a Llama
Researchers have isolated nanobodies, NIH-CoVnb-112, from a llama to prevent infection of novelcoronavirus disease.
How? The spike protein in novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 binds to a human protein called ACE2receptor to infect it.
A team of U.S. scientists have developed a method that would isolate nanobodies thatblock infections by covering part of the spike protein that binds to the ACE2 receptor.
A single-domain antibody is known as a nanobody.Like a whole antibody, it is able to bind selectively to a specific antigen.The first single-domain antibodies were engineered from heavy-chain antibodies found in camelids.
Camelids animal family includes Llamas, Camels, Alpacas, Guanacos.They are called nanobodies because they are tiny, about a tenth the weight of most humanantibodies.
About Llama:
The Llama is a native to Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.It is a domesticated camelid. It is widely used as a meat and pack animal.It is a very social animal and lives with others as a herd.Llamas have been known to protect herds of sheep and other smaller domesticated animals frompredators.
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