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Daily Briefing

- Daily Briefing: Govt withdraws broadcast Bill; understating the Hindenburg-Adani-Buch saga; Doctors’ protest in Kolkata; & more

Daily Briefing: Govt withdraws broadcast Bill; understating the Hindenburg-Adani-Buch saga; Doctors’ protest in Kolkata; & more

In today's edition: Govt withdraws broadcast Bill; Protests in Kolkata; Understanding the Hindenburg-Adani-Buch rigmarole

Written by Sonal Gupta , Aradhana Kalia

Updated: August 13, 2024 09:09 IST

Top news on August 13, 2024.

Good morning! Here are the top stories from today’s edition:

🚨Big Story

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is back to the drawing board with the law around broadcasting. Sources have told The Indian Express that the ministry has withdrawn the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, after it faced criticism for curbing freedom of speech and expression.

Puzzled stakeholders: The ministry has offered additional time till October 15 for stakeholders to comment on the draft Bill. However, it referred to an earlier draft Bill placed in public domain in November last year, instead of the 2024 draft (now withdrawn). The statement has confused stakeholders, especially those who were not part of the group with which the government shared the 2024 version of the draft Bill.

Concerns over the draft Bill: The ministry had proposed introducing onerous regulations on independent creators of news events on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and X. The reason? Well, it is understood that some of the big Indian creators of current affairs and news content on YouTube are on the government’s radar. The proposal raised questions over the government’s power to regulate freedom of speech.

⚡Only in Express

Curtains are down on the Paris Olympics. Have you ever wondered what it’s like being right in the middle of all the action? Well, Mihir Vasavda documents his days in Paris — of missed trains, witnessing love lost and found, and bracing for the oft-asked question: Will India win a gold?

The next Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028. LA faces a ‘Mission Impossible’ to outdo the Parisians, who showed the size of investment could be scaled down with a little imagination. (link awaited)

“We need to ask if state involvement in elite sports is the best way of using public money and who benefits from it.”

Sanjay Srivastava, in our Opinion section, writes of the role of the state in a nation that aspires for Olympic glory.

📰From the Front Page

What’s happening in Bangladesh? In urging safety and protection of Hindus and all other minorities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first message to Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of the interim government, had underlined Delhi’s expectation from the new players. Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-government, there have been reports of at least five deaths and 200 incidents of attacks on members of Hindu community. Stakeholders are set to meet Yunus today.

RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has become the epicentre of protests following the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor that occurred late Thursday night. The doctors’ protests have intensified following the decision to transfer the college principal to another institution. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vowed that if the police fail to resolve the case by Sunday, it will be handed over to the CBI.

👉Must Read

In the latest developments from the Hindenburg report saga, The Indian Express has learned that Mauritius-based IPE Plus Fund 1, which is central to the controversy involving SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch, had investments from Vinod Adani, the elder brother of industrialist Gautam Adani. Additionally, this fund was linked to two of the 13 overseas funds under investigation for opaque fund flows into Adani Group companies since 2016-17.

To make things clearer, here’s a detailed graphic showing the web of funds and investments:

From Vinod Adani to SEBI chief

In case you missed it, here’s a quick rundown of the Hindenburg-Adani-Buch saga: On Saturday, US-based Hindenburg Research alleged that SEBI Chairperson and her husband had stakes in offshore funds involved in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. The Buch couple has denied any involvement, SEBI is defending its chief, and the Opposition is calling for a JPC probe. Here’s everything you need to know about this financial saga.

📌And Finally…

Kerala has long been a vibrant blend of different cultures and traditions and among the many communities that have added to its rich cultural mosaic is the Jewish community. With the recent news of the death of the last woman from Kochi’s Paradesi Jewish community in Mattancherry at the age of 89, leaving only one surviving member, we take a moment to explore the history of the once-thriving Jewish communities in the state.

Delhi confidential: While the central government promptly addressed Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav’s complaint about the lack of a new expressway in Uttar Pradesh, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has now released a helpline number for “distressed” Bangladeshi Hindus seeking assistance from the organisation. Don’t miss our latest column for more details.

🎧 In today’s episode of 3 Things Podcast, we talk about the gruesome rape and murder case of a junior doctor at a state-run medical college in Kolkata. Further, we also cover the sanitation workers’ protest in Rajasthan and reflect on the death of India’s former Foreign Minister K. Natwar Singh.

Until next time,

Sonal Gupta and Aradhana Kalia

Business As Usual by Unny

Sonal Gupta

Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She runs The Indian Express's weekly climate newsletter, Icebreaker. Apart from this, her interests range from politics and world affairs to art and culture and AI. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the ‘best newsletter’ category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023.   ... Read More

Front Page

- Bangladesh unrest: Govt should have spoken out against quota, met protesters, says Hasina son

- Express in Dhaka: Reaching out to Bangla Hindus, Muhammad Yunus visits temple, underlines equal rights

- Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina seeks justice, calls for mourning on day father was killed

- Air hostess who took taxi bike molested by rider in Chanakyapuri

- Helping Wayanad: Girls broke their piggy bank, an elderly woman her surgery fund

- Assam CM gave it ‘flood jihad’ tag, N-E university gets national rank honour

- PM plot case: Bail rule, jail exception even in stringent law, says SC

- Delhi L-G rejects AAP choice, picks Gahlot to hoist Tricolour on I-Day

- Calcutta High Court orders CBI probe into doctor rape-murder case, expresses displeasure with investigation so far

- Fund Buch couple invested in part of structure under Sebi probe

- Facing criticism, Govt withdraws new draft of broadcast Bill

- Doctor’s rape-murder: Protests swell, Mamata Banerjee sets cops a deadline

- New Hindenburg report | As Opposition seeks JPC probe, BJP hits back: Fictitious report, bid to destabilise markets

- 5 dead, 200 incidents: Fear grips Hindus in Bangladesh, leaders meet Yunus today

- Two churches built on ‘encroached forest land’ razed in Mirzapur

- Rajkot fire chief caught ‘taking bribe’ weeks after assuming charge, arrested

- As Sebi chief Madhabi Buch digs heels in, key query: Did she disclose fund linked to Adani?

- Express in Dhaka: ‘Students brought her down because they felt stifled… but when Mujib’s statues were destroyed, we cried’

Bangladesh unrest: Govt should have spoken out against quota, met protesters, says Hasina son

Since the time she fled Bangladesh, Hasina has been in India. “She's waiting to see how the situation unfolds in Bangladesh,” said Joy, adding that “most likely”, she will be in India for the time being.

Written by Ritika Chopra

New Delhi | Updated: August 14, 2024 04:49 IST

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (Wikimedia Commons photo)

ADMITTING THAT mistakes were made in handling the student protests, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told The Indian Express in an interview that the government should have engaged with the protesters from the very beginning and spoken out against the quotas much earlier.

“I believe our government should have spoken out against the quotas and met with the protesters from the beginning instead of leaving it to the courts… Our government filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to reduce the quotas. I recommended we take a public stance, stating the court made a mistake and we don’t want the quotas. But our government chose not to, expecting the judicial system to handle it,” said Joy, who served as IT adviser to Hasina and now lives in the US.

However, even as he acknowledged the mistake in hindsight, Joy added that he believes a foreign intelligence agency was behind the violent turn the protests took. “I firmly believe that a foreign intelligence agency was involved, especially because many of the demonstrators, starting from July 15, were armed with firearms. Firearms are very difficult to obtain in Bangladesh due to our successful control of militancy over the last 15 years. The only organisation capable of smuggling firearms into the country and supplying them to demonstrators would be a foreign intelligence agency,” he said.

Describing the events of the 24 hours leading up to his mother’s departure from Bangladesh on August 5, Joy said that even a day before the situation spiraled out of control, neither he nor Hasina anticipated how rapidly it would deteriorate. “She had no intention of leaving the country. She was going to resign, submit a resignation to the President, and announce it in a public statement. I believe she was drafting the statement and preparing to record an interview. Everything was planned. In fact, she was about to start recording when the special security said, ‘Ma’am, there’s no time. We have to go now’,” he said in a video interview from Washington DC.

He said Hasina was adamant on not leaving, but he convinced her to do so. “The special security force took her to a safe location inside the military air base, they had a helicopter ready for her, but she did not wish to go… that’s when my aunt (Sheikh Rehana Siddiq) called me. I convinced my mother that no, for your safety you have to leave. If this mob finds you, catches up with you somewhere and there’s shooting, lots of people will die. Either you’ll get blamed or, if they catch you, they will kill you. So your best option is to leave the country. And I’m the one who convinced her to leave,” he said.

Since the time she fled Bangladesh, Hasina has been in India. “She’s waiting to see how the situation unfolds in Bangladesh,” said Joy, adding that “most likely”, she will be in India for the time being.

Asked if she had plans to go elsewhere, he said: “She had to leave by helicopter, so the only destination was India, but after that, you know, it’s thanks to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi’s government that they responded quickly… to save her life and move her to a very secure location, so she is safe. But other than that, you know, all those questions that have been asked about her applying for asylum in various countries. Those are all rumors. They’re completely untrue. She has not applied for asylum anywhere.”

Asked what his message to India would be, he said he would urge Delhi to take a leadership role and ensure the Constitution of Bangladesh is upheld. “…especially this being on India’s doorstep… I would hope India would ensure that elections are held within the constitutional timeframe of 90 days, that the mob rule is stopped and that the Awami League is allowed to campaign and reorganise. If that is ensured, I’m still confident that we will win the election… We still remain the most popular party,” he said.

Asked if he would be travelling to India to meet Hasina, he said he would like to, but wasn’t sure when he would be able to make the trip.

Click here to join The Indian Express on WhatsApp and get latest news and updates

Ritika Chopra

Ritika Chopra, an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience, serves as the Chief of the National Bureau (Govt) and National Education Editor at The Indian Express in New Delhi. In her current role, she oversees the newspaper's coverage of government policies and education. Ritika closely tracks the Union Government, focusing on the politically sensitive Election Commission of India and the Education Ministry, and has authored investigative stories that have prompted government responses. Ritika joined The Indian Express in 2015. Previously, she was part of the political bureau at The Economic Times, India’s largest financial daily. Her journalism career began in Kolkata, her birthplace, with the Hindustan Times in 2006 as an intern, before moving to Delhi in 2007. Since then, she has been reporting from the capital on politics, education, social sectors, and the Election Commission of India. ... Read More

Express in Dhaka: Reaching out to Bangla Hindus, Muhammad Yunus visits temple, underlines equal rights

According to minority organisations, there have been at least five deaths and 205 incidents of attacks on Hindus in over 50 districts since the fall of the Hasina government on August 5.

Written by Shubhajit Roy

Dhaka | Updated: August 14, 2024 05:08 IST

Muhammad Yunus at the Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka. (PTI)

WITH THE Hindu minority in Bangladesh facing attacks in the last week, after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and fled to India on August 5, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, who is heading the interim government, reached out on Tuesday with a visit to the Dhakeshwari Temple where he met community leaders and assured “justice” and “equal rights” for all.

“Rights are equal for everyone. We are all one people with one right. Do not make any distinctions among us. Please assist us. Exercise patience, and later judge — what we were able to do and not do. If we fail, then criticise us,” Yunus said, after meeting minority leaders. He said the administration would work towards a situation where Hindus and other minorities don’t have to fear for their safety.

According to minority organisations, there have been at least five deaths and 205 incidents of attacks on Hindus in over 50 districts since the fall of the Hasina government on August 5.

On August 8, as Yunus was sworn in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended his best wishes and urged him to ensure “the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities”. This direct reference to the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh underlined Delhi’s expectations from the new players in Dhaka.

“In our democratic aspirations, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists, but as human beings. Our rights should be ensured. The root of all problems lies in the decay of institutional arrangements. That is why such issues arise. Institutional arrangements need to be fixed,” Yunus said on Tuesday. “We have to establish human rights and freedom of speech. That is our prime goal,” he said.

Addressing the Hindu community, he said: “You just say you are human, you are citizens of Bangladesh, this is my constitutional right, and you have to ensure it. You just demand this, nothing else… I am here to say we are all equal, there is no scope to create any differences here.”

The interim government has set up a hotline for people to provide information about attacks on Hindu temples, churches, pagodas or any other religious institutions.

Hindu community leaders said Yunus assured that “justice will be given to all” and he will work towards a situation where Hindus and other minority communities don’t have to fear for their safety.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Basudeb Dhar, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and one of the top Hindu minority leaders, said Yunus conveyed that the administration would ensure justice for those from the community who faced attacks, and work towards creating an atmosphere where Hindu temples, businesses and houses don’t have to look for additional security.

Sitting at the Dhakeshwari Temple, one of the most revered temples in Bangladesh, Dhar said the attacks on Hindu establishments began on August 4 evening, and intensified the next day. He said the attacks were widespread, as over 50 of the total 64 districts of Bangladesh were affected.

“The number of 205 (incidents of attacks) is also expected to increase since more incidents are being reported…we are compiling the list,” Dhar said. In many places, local Muslim groups were taking the “initiative” to protect some temples, including the Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, he said. “These are positive developments and will help secure the peace,” Dhar said.

While Dhaka has witnessed some attacks, most have happened in villages and in the hinterland, especially in the border areas.

A key reason behind the attacks was the absence of the police over the last week — most have abandoned the police stations for fear of retribution by student protesters. The result: no police FIRs or complaints could be filed in many cases, and the community was left defenceless.

The reports of attacks have reinforced a sense of insecurity and foreboding among the Hindu community which, at about 8 per cent, is the largest minority population in the country of 170 million people. About 91.04% of Bangladeshis are Muslims, and the remaining 9 per cent comprises Hindus (7.95%), Buddhists (0.61%), Christians (0.30%) and others (0.12%), as per the 2022 Census.

There is also a political dimension to the issue. Speaking to The Indian Express, a Hindu minority leader said that many of the Hindu families were targeted for being politically affiliated with the Awami League; some were attacked because people were looking for an “opportunity” in the absence of law and order; and they looted and robbed households. There were some incidents that were traced back to old property disputes as well.

Community leaders said they are going to “observe” the situation over the next few weeks and months, since fear may lead people to migrate to India. “That is a real possibility in the future,” a Hindu leader said.

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Air hostess who took taxi bike molested by rider in Chanakyapuri

The incident took place around 11.45 pm on August 7. Around 11 pm, the woman booked a bike ride through inDrive to her home in Dwarka from Laxmi Nagar, where she had come to meet a friend, the police said.

Written by Arnabjit Sur

New Delhi | Updated: August 14, 2024 04:49 IST

The accused, identified as 35-year-old Jaiveer, was nabbed from Gurgaon within 12 hours of the incident. According to the police, he hailed from Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh and had been working with taxi bike service inDrive in Delhi for the past one year.

A 25-YEAR-OLD woman, who works as an air hostess, was allegedly molested by a rider of an app-based bike ride aggregator service in Chanakyapuri area of New Delhi last week, police said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as 35-year-old Jaiveer, was nabbed from Gurgaon within 12 hours of the incident. According to the police, he hailed from Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh and had been working with taxi bike service inDrive in Delhi for the past one year.

The incident took place around 11.45 pm on August 7. Around 11 pm, the woman booked a bike ride through inDrive to her home in Dwarka from Laxmi Nagar, where she had come to meet a friend, the police said.

“According to the woman, the bike rider reached her pickup spot within 15 minutes of booking the ride. When she reached the Simon Bolivar Marg near Buddha Jayanti Park around 11.45 pm, the bike rider tried to change the route even while looking at the map on his phone, which the woman protested against,” a police officer said. “Soon, it started raining heavily and the rider asked the woman to get down and take shelter with him under a tree.”

The woman alleged that since the area was secluded, Jaiveer tried to molest her and started pulling her towards him. “The ordeal went on for a few minutes after which the woman raised an alarm,” the officer said. “A man driving a Scorpio noticed her and pulled up near the spot. He began honking the car horn. Following this, the rider fled in his bike. He was arrested in Gurgaon within 12 hours.”

The car driver offered to help the woman and dropped her at a nearby Metro station at her request. The woman then went to her friend’s house in Vasant Kunj. After she narrated the incident, the friend’s mother called up the PCR.

DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla said a case has been lodged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 74 (assaulting or using criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 76 (assaulting or using criminal force to any woman or abetting such act with the intention of disrobing) at Chanakyapuri Police Station.

After receiving a police intimation, inDrive suspended the rider’s registration. It stated that it “maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any act and/or omission which is offensive and /or unlawful by any user and strongly condemns such behaviour”.

“At inDrive, our user safety and satisfaction, specifically women safety and experience, is always a top-most priority and we deeply regret and feel sorry for this incident experienced by our user,” a spokesperson said.

A spokesperson added that the app has a shield icon on the main screen for “quickly contacting support, calling the police or an ambulance”.

“In the app, everyone can save the phone number of a trusted person for quick contact in an emergency. Trusted numbers can be added at any time, even during the ride,” the spokesperson said.

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Helping Wayanad: Girls broke their piggy bank, an elderly woman her surgery fund

Among those who contributed to the CMDRF — Rs 110.55 crore, as of August 13 — are daily workers, students, widows and the elderly.

Written by Shaju Philip

Thiruvananthapuram | Updated: August 14, 2024 04:08 IST

Students from Manipur, who study in Kerala, hand over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh as Wayanad relief contribution

A 76-year-old decided her long-pending surgery could wait, a fish vendor gave up his day’s savings, two sisters agreed it was time to break their piggy bank — in the aftermath of the July 30 Wayanad landslide that tore through the hills of the north Kerala district, killing nearly 231 people and washing away homes and property, contributions such as these have been pouring in from across the state into the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMDRF). Nearly 130 landslide victims are still missing.

Among those who contributed to the CMDRF — Rs 110.55 crore, as of August 13 — are daily workers, students, widows and the elderly. Moved by the enormity of the tragedy and responding to the state government’s call seeking contributions for relief operations, they put their everyday lives and needs on hold and dipped into their meagre savings

At Chiyyaram in Thrissur, Class 7 student Sivanandana and her sister Shivanya, a Class 1 student, handed over to their parents the Rs 3,050 that they had collected over the past year. “They were mostly coins of Re 1, Rs 2 and 5 that I had given them. My elder daughter wanted to buy a new TV and the younger one a bicycle. They were moved by what they saw in Wayanad and Sivanandana said she wanted to contribute. Shivanya also agreed. Both of them agreed that the TV and cycle could be bought later,’’ says their father C S Saneesh, a goldsmith. The family lives in a 600-sq-foot house in the village.

Edathil Sreedharan, 64, a fish vendor at Panoor in Kannur, contributed his day’s collection of Rs 53,000 to the CMDRF. “I always watch TV news while eating… It’s a daily habit. But after watching news of the Wayanad tragedy, I just can’t eat anything… the food just won’t go down my throat. Giving up a day’s earnings is the least I can do. There are people who have lost everything in Wayanad,” he says.

Savithri L, 76, a native of Anad village in Thiruvananthapuram, donated Rs 25,000 — the money she had kept aside for a corrective surgery for her bow legs. “I had managed to save a little from my agriculture labour pension. I thought I would finally get the surgery done because the pain in my legs was getting unbearable. But when I saw photographs and videos from Wayanad, I thought their pain was much greater than mine. At least I get to eat three times a day. My surgery can wait,’’ she says.

The parents of Muhammad Fidel, a Class 2 student who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, made a difficult decision — they decided to hand over their son’s savings of Rs 16,000 from the piggy bank to the CMDRF. “We were hoping to buy a car that can accommodate his wheelchair. He agreed to part with his piggy bank, where he saved his monthly disability pension amount (Rs 1,600). The car will have to wait. It was his decision to help the people of Wayanad,” says his mother Thasni. Her husband Noufal Shah works in the Gulf.

At Chembilode panchayat in Kannur, the 22-member Haritha Karma Sena, a women’s self-help group that collects non-biodegradable waste from houses, contributed Rs 40,000 to the CM’s Fund. Most of these women come from families that are below the poverty line and sell waste for recycling.

Haritha Karma Sena co-ordinator D Jisha says, “We had set apart 10% of our income for emergency situations — the treatment of a Sena member or her family, etc. We decided that we would contribute that money to the people of Wayanad. They deserve it more than anyone else.”

The CM Relief Fund has in the past received similar contributions during disasters and emergency situations, including floods, from people across Kerala and expatriates from the state in the Gulf and elsewhere.

During the Kerala floods in 2018 and 2019, too, people from across the state and beyond had contributed in huge numbers. The CM Relief Fund had collected Rs 4,970 crore during the floods and Rs 1,129 crore during the pandemic.

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Assam CM gave it ‘flood jihad’ tag, N-E university gets national rank honour

On Tuesday afternoon, the university administration held a short celebration in its 5000-seat auditorium.

Written by Sukrita Baruah

Guwahati | Updated: August 14, 2024 05:09 IST

USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque addresses students and faculty on Tuesday

The mood at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya was upbeat Tuesday. A day earlier, the Ministry of Education had announced the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 and the institute had featured in the list of top 200 universities — the only private university from the Northeast to make it to the list. The same day, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had launched another tirade against the university after having accused it of “flood jihad” the previous week.

On Tuesday afternoon, the university administration held a short celebration in its 5000-seat auditorium. Addressing the students, faculty and members of the administration gathered there, Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque began by commenting on the timing of the good news: “Kabhi aankh jalne se, upar paani daalne se achha lagta hai, hai na? (Sometimes when your eyes burn, doesn’t it feel good when water is put on it?)”. This drew cheers and hoots from the students.

In the past week, Hoque has been at the receiving end of vitriol from the Assam Chief Minister, ranging from accusations that he was responsible for flash floods in Guwahati last week because of deforestation and hill-cutting for construction work on the campus – it is located on the outskirts of Guwahati but uphill in the descending hills of Meghalaya – and that he is waging “flood jihad”; to saying that the architecture of the university’s main gate, which has three domes atop, is a sign of “jihad”.

In fact, the auditorium in which Hoque was addressing his students had also been a target of attack. The large auditorium is a popular venue for major events and Sarma claimed that he is building a “bigger hall” in Guwahati so “nobody will have to go to USTM”. He had even called on students and staff from Assam to not work and study there.

Wearing his white cap and dressed in a white kurta-pyjama set, Hoque told his students and staff, “I am away from all politics. I am aware that I look like a religious man, but I am very much away from all religious activities. I only see the students’ faces… The students make this institution. I never thought that we would be facing such negativity at any point of our journey.”

Hoque, a Bengali Muslim from Assam’s Karimganj district, began his career by starting a computer training centre under the Manipal Group and went on to establish the Education Research and Development Foundation. Over the years, he gathered recognition for his work in the field of education. In 2022, he received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service by then Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik.

While the foundation runs a network of institutions across Assam and Meghalaya, the USTM is his crown jewel. It was established through a 2008 Act passed in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and became functional in 2011.

Its growth has been rapid and it secured an ‘A’ grade accreditation from the NAAC in 2021 in its first cycle of accreditation and it has been in the top 150-200 band of universities under the NIRF for the last three years.

Speaking to The Indian Express about Sarma’s offensive against him and the university, Hoque said, “Is there any other private university from the Northeast in the ranking? We are the only university. If we have disturbed education in any way, will we get a ranking? And ranking is not for any one thing. It includes all parameters. Quality education, in practice, outreach, collaboration, research. We have more than 150 patents. I love competition and sometimes I love jealousy also. But you must be constructive, na? This is our agenda and this is how we will be working… If you feel you have some personal competition with me, you are most welcome to compete. But don’t compete with an institution because it is a temple of knowledge. That must be protected by everyone.”

Asked if he is aware of why he has attracted Sarma’s ire, he said he is “totally ignorant about it.”

“We are a green campus. We have our drainage, we have a big water reservoir inside which we accumulate water. We are doing a lot of plantation, so we need water. If people are saying that this small campus is giving water for Guwahati’s artificial flood, it is their intelligence, it is their thoughts. But I cannot accept all these things… Being academicians engaged in our activities, we are not in a position to give replies and dragging on the issue. We are not interested in that. We are under the government of Meghalaya. If they are asking anything, if they want to visit, inspect, let them come. And if there is something wrong we have done, we will correct it,” he said.

After his statements, Sarma’s political opponents have pointed out that he himself has attended multiple events at the university and in 2021 had even inaugurated a new block there. Hoque pointed at this as an instance of what he said was the university’s non-partisan nature.

“We say that this is a people’s university. Everyone comes. If any place becomes aligned with a particular party, other political parties do not go there. But we as a university are away from religious activities, we are away from politics. That’s why people of all religions, all political parties have come here to organise their functions and attend various functions. Two Presidents of India have come here. All Governors and Chief Ministers of the Northeast have visited. More than 700 vice-chancellors have visited this institute ( the institute hosted a conference of vice-chancellors last year). And we have students from all the Northeastern states,” he said.

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PM plot case: Bail rule, jail exception even in stringent law, says SC

The bench of Justices A S Oka and Augustine George Masih said, “When a case is made out for a grant of bail, the Courts should not have any hesitation in granting bail. The allegations of the prosecution may be very serious.

Written by Ananthakrishnan G

New Delhi | Updated: August 14, 2024 04:08 IST

The bench said that the "Special Court and the High Court did not consider the material in the charge sheet objectively. Perhaps the focus was more on the activities of PFI, and therefore, the appellant’s case could not be properly appreciated”.

Granting bail to a man charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for renting out a portion of his house to alleged cadre of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) who were planning to carry out disturbances during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bihar in 2022, the Supreme Court Tuesday said the principle “bail is the rule and jail is an exception” will apply even to statutes with stringent bail conditions.

The bench of Justices A S Oka and Augustine George Masih said, “When a case is made out for a grant of bail, the Courts should not have any hesitation in granting bail. The allegations of the prosecution may be very serious. But, the duty of the Courts is to consider the case for grant of bail in accordance with the law. ‘Bail is the rule and jail is an exception’ is a settled law.  Even in a case like the present case, where there are stringent conditions for the grant of bail in the relevant statutes, the same rule holds good with only modification that the bail can be granted if the conditions in the statute are satisfied.”

“The rule also means that once a case is made out for the grant of bail, the Court cannot decline to grant bail. If the Courts start denying bail in deserving cases, it will be a violation of the rights guaranteed under Article 21 of our Constitution,” it said.

The bench said this while granting bail to accused Jalaluddin Khan, a retired police constable, who was arrested under UAPA for renting the first floor of the Ahmad Palace building in Patna’s Phulwari Sharif, which was in the name of his wife, to alleged PFI cadre.

Opposing his bail plea, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had said that Khan, listed as accused number 2, was seen on CCTV grabs removing certain items from the first floor on July 6 and 7, 2022, along with accused number 1, who had been an active member of banned Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). When police conducted a raid on July 11, 2022, following specific intelligence, those items were not found, indicating that Khan had tampered with the evidence.

Writing for the bench, Justice Oka said there is no mention in the charge sheet about the nature of the articles allegedly shifted by Khan from the first floor premises. The bench also agreed with his counsel that “if” he “intended to allow the conduct of the objectionable activities of PFI by giving first floor premises on rent, he would not have installed CCTV cameras”.

It also raised doubts on the statement of a protected witness and said “there is nothing in the charge sheet which shows that the appellant has taken part in or has committed unlawful activities as defined in the UAPA. There is no specific material to show that the appellant advocated, abetted, or incited commission of any unlawful activities. A terrorist act is defined in Section 15(1). Assuming that the co-accused were indulging in terrorist acts or were making any act preparatory to the commission of terrorist acts, there is absolutely no material on record to show that there was any conspiracy to commit any terrorist act to which the appellant was a party. There is no material produced on record to show that the appellant advocated, abetted, advised, or incited the commission of terrorist acts or any preparatory activity”.

Noting that it was Khan’s son who conducted the negotiations for giving the first floor on rent, it said “taking the charge sheet as correct, it is not possible to record a prima facie finding that the appellant knowingly facilitated the commission or preparation of terrorist acts by letting out the first floor premises. Again, there is no allegation in the charge sheet against the appellant that he organised any camps to impart training in terrorism”.

It said “there is not even an allegation in the charge sheet that the appellant was a member of any terrorist gang… The charge sheet does not mention the name of the terrorist organisation within the meaning of Section 2 (m) of which the appellant was a member”.

It said even “assuming that the appellant knew that co-accused Athar Parvez was associated with PFI, it is not listed as a terrorist organisation within the meaning of Section 2 (m) of UAPA. Moreover, the charge sheet does not contain any material to show any connection of the appellant with PFI before letting out first floor premises to accused no.1”.

“Therefore, on plain reading of the charge sheet, it is not possible to record a conclusion that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accusation against the appellant of commission of offences punishable under the UAPA is prima facie true,”,it said.

The bench said that the “Special Court and the High Court did not consider the material in the charge sheet objectively. Perhaps the focus was more on the activities of PFI, and therefore, the appellant’s case could not be properly appreciated”.

It also clarified that “the tentative findings recorded in this judgment are only for considering the prayer for bail. The reasons are confined to the case of the appellant. The same will have no bearing on the trial and cases of the co-accused”.

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Ananthakrishnan G

Ananthakrishnan G. is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express. He has been in the field for over 23 years, kicking off his journalism career as a freelancer in the late nineties with bylines in The Hindu. A graduate in law, he practised in the District judiciary in Kerala for about two years before switching to journalism. His first permanent assignment was with The Press Trust of India in Delhi where he was assigned to cover the lower courts and various commissions of inquiry. He reported from the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India during his first stint with The Indian Express in 2005-2006. Currently, in his second stint with The Indian Express, he reports from the Supreme Court and writes on topics related to law and the administration of justice. Legal reporting is his forte though he has extensive experience in political and community reporting too, having spent a decade as Kerala state correspondent, The Times of India and The Telegraph. He is a stickler for facts and has several impactful stories to his credit. ... Read More

Delhi L-G rejects AAP choice, picks Gahlot to hoist Tricolour on I-Day

The Delhi Chief Minister had earlier written to Saxena stating that Delhi Education Minister Atishi would unfurl the tricolour on Independence Day in his absence.

By: Express News Service

New Delhi | Updated: August 14, 2024 02:21 IST

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (left) and L-G V K Saxena. (Photo: X:@LtGovDelhi/ Express photo)

IN A fresh tussle with the AAP government, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday nominated Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot to hoist the national flag in the Capital on Independence Day, days after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Education Minister Atishi would take his place at the event.

Every year, the Delhi government’s General Administration Department (GAD) organises Independence Day celebrations at Chhatrasal Stadium, where the Delhi CM unfurls the national flag.

On August 6, Kejriwal, who is in jail after being arrested in the now-scrapped excise policy case, had written a letter to Saxena, saying that Atishi would unfurl the national flag in his place. While the Tihar Jail administration kept the letter on file and did not send it to the L-G, the AAP released a copy to the media.

Three days later, Saxena’s office wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on August 9, on the “current impasse created because of peculiar circumstances of non-availability” of the CM for the occasion.

In a note to Delhi Secretary (Home) on Tuesday, Principal Secretary to the L-G, Ashish Kundra, wrote that the MHA had authorised the L-G to nominate any minister from the Delhi Government for the purpose, and that he had nominated Gahlot.

“Lieutenant Governor is pleased to nominate Minister (Home), GNCTD, Kailash Gahlot to unfurl the National Flag at the state-level Independence Day celebrations at Chhatrasal Stadium. Necessary arrangements may be made accordingly,” Kundra wrote.

Explaining the reasoning, he wrote: “As per practice, Delhi Police is responsible for the ceremonial march-past parade after unfurling of the national flag. The minute to minute programme of the state-level function of Independence Day is finalised by the Delhi Police/ Home department… Honourable Lieutenant Governor has also noted that matters related to the police have been assigned to the Home department.”

Responding to the development, AAP said it “welcomed the decision”. “This move honours the principle of democracy by choosing an elected representative over an appointed one, reinforcing the importance of the people’s mandate in our governance,” it said in a statement.

Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, however, said the “petty politics” was unfortunate. “It is very unfortunate that on such a sacred occasion, petty politics is being played… I keep reading in newspapers that when conman Sukesh (Chandrashekhar) writes a letter, Tihar officials submit it to the L-G, and the L-G takes action. But when the elected CM of Delhi writes a letter, the L-G stops Tihar officials from sending the letter to him,” he said.

On Monday, following a meeting with Kejriwal at Tihar Jail, GAD Minister Gopal Rai had issued directions to the department to begin preparations for Atishi to unfurl the flag. But Navin Kumar Chaudhary, Additional Chief Secretary, GAD, wrote back to Rai, stating that Kejriwal’s direction was “legally invalid and cannot be acted upon”, adding that such communication from Tihar Jail was not permissible and in contravention of the rules.

Meanwhile, citing prison rules, the Tihar Jail administration on Monday also warned Kejriwal that the privileges being extended to him would be curtailed if he undertook official communication, like his letter to the L-G, as it was “impermissible activity”.

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Calcutta High Court orders CBI probe into doctor rape-murder case, expresses displeasure with investigation so far

Kolkata doctor rape-murder: The Calcutta High Court asked the West Bengal Police to hand over the case diary and other related documents to the CBI by Wednesday morning.

Written by Atri Mitra , Ravik Bhattacharya

Kolkata | Updated: August 14, 2024 02:19 IST

Nagarik samaj rally from Shyambazar. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

Expressing displeasure over the handling of the case of the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at R G Kar Medical College and observing that “there appears to be no significant progress in the investigation”, the Calcutta High Court Tuesday transferred the probe from Kolkata Police to the CBI.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, said it would monitor the probe and the CBI would be required to submit a report to the court in three weeks.

The bench directed the Kolkata Police to hand over the case diary and other documents to the CBI by 10 am Wednesday.

Following the High Court order, sources in New Delhi said the CBI registered a fresh case after taking over the investigation and a team of forensic experts will leave Delhi to visit the spot to lift evidence. “Currently, we are assigning tasks to all the team members and will probe the case from all possible angles,” sources said.

Six pleas were filed in the High Court, including an appeal by family members of the victim whose body was found on August 9.

In transferring the case to the CBI, the bench said “it has become imperative and necessary for this Court to exercise its jurisdiction failing which the confidence in the public mind would be shattered”. This would also allay fears of petitioners regarding destruction of evidence.

The bench said there was no significant progress in the investigation even after five days of the incident.

“We are convinced to say so because even after a lapse of five days there appears to be no significant progress in the investigation, which ought to have happened by now and by further loss of time, we would be well-justified in accepting the plea raised by the writ petitioners, more particularly, the parents of the victim, that there is every possibility that the evidence will be destroyed and the witnesses will be influenced etc,” it stated.

Expressing displeasure over the manner in which the case was handled from the very beginning, the bench, in its order, stated: “One more aspect, which is also quite disturbing, is that a case of unnatural death has been registered with the Tala Police Station… It is submitted that under normal circumstances, a case of unnatural death is registered when there is no complaint. When the deceased victim was a doctor working in the hospital, it is rather surprising as to why the Principal/hospital did not lodge a formal complaint. This, in our view, was a serious lapse, giving room for suspicion.”

“The Principal of the institution, either by himself or by issuing appropriate directions, could have lodged a complaint with the police since the death occurred within the hospital premises. This, in our view, was a clear dereliction of duty on the part of the Principal and the officers under his command,” it stated.

It criticised the state government’s decision to transfer Sandip Ghosh, who resigned as principal of R G Kar Medical College, to a new post within hours – he was appointed principal of the National Medical College and Hospital. “It is not clear as to what was the tearing urgency,” it stated.

The bench gave Ghosh the option to submit a leave application by 3 pm Tuesday – he applied for 15-day leave.

“We have advised the learned advocate appearing for Professor Sandip Kumar Ghosh to direct his client to immediately proceed on leave, failing which the Court will be compelled to pass necessary orders. On oral instruction, the learned advocate submitted that his client will immediately proceed on leave. If such an application is submitted by Professor Sandip Kumar Ghosh, the same shall be accepted and he shall be granted extraordinary leave and not permitted to hold the post of Principal of the National Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta until further directions,” the order stated.

The bench appealed to protesting doctors to call off their agitation.

“We are truly appreciative of the feelings vented out by the doctors and the medical students and in particular, those at R G Kar Medical College & Hospital. However, we wish to observe that there is a pious obligation on the part of the doctors to treat their patients, more particularly the patients who come to the Government hospital, who are not from the affluent strata of society,” it said.

– With ENS from New Delhi

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Fund Buch couple invested in part of structure under Sebi probe

In February 2018, Madhabi Puri Buch instructed the fund manager to redeem their entire investment.

Written by Jay Mazoomdaar , Sandeep Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 08:26 IST

In March 2017, days before Madhabi Puri Buch became a SEBI member, Dhaval Buch became the sole person authorised to operate their fund account IPE Plus Fund 1. (File photo)

Mauritius-based IPE Plus Fund 1, which is at the centre of the controversy surrounding SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch, not only had investments by Vinod Adani, elder brother of industrialist Gautam Adani, but was also part of the investment structure used by two of the 13 overseas funds being probed by the market regulator for opaque fund flows into Adani Group companies since 2016-17.

Information from multiple sources, including corporate records accessed by The Indian Express, the consortium of Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and additional information made available by US-based Hindenburg Research, show that the investments by Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband in 2015, are clearly linked to the fund which had significant investments by Vinod Adani.

A scrutiny of the web of funds and investments also reveals that the parent fund (Global Opportunities Fund) of the sub-fund (Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund) where Buch invested, was administered by Trident Trust Company (Mauritius) — the declared beneficial owner of Emerging India Focus Fund and EM Resurgent Fund that were part of the 13 overseas entities under Sebi lens.

The period under investigation (at least since 2016-17) of the two funds in question — Emerging India Focus Fund and EM Resurgent Fund — overlaps with the period (2015-2018) of investment in IPE Plus Fund 1 by Buch and her husband. SEBI started the investigation in October 2020 when Buch was a Whole-Time Member.

From Vinod Adani to Sebi chief

In March 2017, days before Madhabi Puri Buch became a SEBI member, Dhaval Buch became the sole person authorised to operate their fund account IPE Plus Fund 1. In February 2018, Madhabi Puri Buch instructed the fund manager to redeem their entire investment.

With approximately $522.2 million in assets, Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund Limited (Bermuda) is a hedge fund operated by IIFL Capital Pte Ltd (360 One) which also manages IPE Plus Fund.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Madhabi Puri Buch said, “When, in 2018, Mr Ahuja, left his position as CIO of the fund, we redeemed the investment in that fund.” Ahuja was the CIO of IIFL and her husband Dhaval’s childhood friend. “All disclosures and recusals have been diligently followed, including disclosures of all securities held or subsequently transferred,” it said.

A statement by 360 One said that throughout the fund’s tenure, IPE-Plus Fund 1 made zero investments in any shares of the Adani Group either directly or indirectly through any fund.

Jay Mazoomdaar

Jay Mazoomdaar is an investigative reporter focused on offshore finance, equitable growth, natural resources management and biodiversity conservation. Over two decades, his work has been recognised by the International Press Institute, the Ramnath Goenka Foundation, the Commonwealth Press Union, the Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust, the Asian College of Journalism etc. Mazoomdaar’s major investigations include the extirpation of tigers in Sariska, global offshore probes such as Panama Papers, Robert Vadra’s land deals in Rajasthan, India’s dubious forest cover data, Vyapam deaths in Madhya Pradesh, mega projects flouting clearance conditions, Nitin Gadkari’s link to e-rickshaws, India shifting stand on ivory ban to fly in African cheetahs, the loss of indigenous cow breeds, the hydel rush in Arunachal Pradesh, land mafias inside Corbett, the JDY financial inclusion scheme, an iron ore heist in Odisha, highways expansion through the Kanha-Pench landscape etc. ... Read More

Facing criticism, Govt withdraws new draft of broadcast Bill

There was pushback from independent content creators publicly, and big tech companies privately, over fears of government overreach.

Written by Soumyarendra Barik

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:49 IST

I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is learnt to have withdrawn the new draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, which triggered a controversy and criticism over fears that the government was trying to exert greater control over online content. The draft Bill had raised several questions on the freedom of speech and expression, and the government’s powers to regulate it.

Last month, the ministry had shared the new draft Bill with a handful of stakeholders and invited their comments.

At least three sources, including a senior government official and two industry executives, confirmed to The Indian Express that the ministry has now asked the stakeholders to return the draft Bill. The stakeholders received a call from the ministry to return their copies of the draft Bill, said sources.

The ministry is expected to go back to the drawing board and work on a new proposal, said sources.

The ministry did not respond to requests for a comment on the issue. But, in a statement posted on X at night, the ministry referred to an earlier draft Bill placed in public domain in November last year, and said it “is holding a series of consultations with the stakeholders” and is offering them “further additional time” till October 15 to issue their comments. “A fresh draft will be published after detailed consultations,” it said.

The ministry’s statement, however, did not mention the new draft Bill which was shared with a few stakeholders last month, in a watermarked format to prevent any leak, and the fact that it has asked them to return these copies.

The statement has confused stakeholders, especially those who were not part of the group with which the government shared the 2024 version of the draft Bill. “Are we supposed to send our comments on the November 2023 version of the now withdrawn draft, because a copy was never formally shared with us,” said a person from the industry, requesting anonymity.

The Bill, which sought to replace the 1995 Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, deals with television broadcasting. In November last year, the ministry had invited comments on a draft Bill that consolidated the legal framework for the broadcasting sector and extended it to OTT content and digital news and current affairs as well.

However, the new draft Bill, shared privately with some stakeholders last month, significantly altered the focus of the 2023 draft Bill.

The new draft Bill came under intense criticism after it expanded its remit from OTT content and digital news to include social media accounts and online video creators, sought to define a “digital news broadcaster” in sweeping terms to include independent content creators, and proposed prior registration with the government.

There was pushback from independent content creators publicly, and big tech companies privately, over fears of government overreach.

The Indian Express has learnt that a major difference of opinion emerged within the bureaucracy of the ministry on whether the Bill should apply to non-news online content creators. As per the draft Bill, such creators would have fallen under the category of OTT broadcasters. This is one of the reasons why the government wants to rework the contours of the Bill, said sources.

The latest draft sought to define “digital news broadcasters” to include “publisher of news and current affairs content”, which means any person who broadcasts news and current affairs programmes through an online paper, news portal, website, social media intermediary, or other similar medium as part of a systematic business, professional or commercial activity but excluding replica e-papers.

This definition could include users on YouTube, Instagram, and even X, who generate advertising revenue through paid subscriptions or monetise their social media accounts through affiliate activities.

It allowed the government to specify a threshold for the number of subscribers or viewers for OTT broadcasters, who would then have to intimate it of their existence and operations and also adhere to a programme code and an advertisement code.

These online content creators would have to set up a content evaluation committee (CEC), and “strive to make” the committee diverse by including individuals with knowledge of different social groups, women, child welfare, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities. The names of people in their CEC would have to be shared with the government.

Creators would be allowed to only run programmes which are certified by the CEC. However, such certification would not be required for programmes that are already certified for public viewing in India by a statutory body, educational programmes, news and current affairs programmes, live events, animation for children, and other programmes that the government may designate.

The Bill also sought to validate the “Code of Ethics” prescribed under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which has been stayed by the Bombay High Court and the Madras High Court.

Earlier, a senior government official had said a key reason behind the significant expansion of scope in the current draft Bill, as compared to the version that was released for public consultation in November 2023, was the “role a number of independent content creators played in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls”.

Soumyarendra Barik

Soumyarendra Barik is Special Correspondent with The Indian Express and reports on the intersection of technology, policy and society. With over five years of newsroom experience, he has reported on issues of gig workers’ rights, privacy, India’s prevalent digital divide and a range of other policy interventions that impact big tech companies. He once also tailed a food delivery worker for over 12 hours to quantify the amount of money they make, and the pain they go through while doing so. In his free time, he likes to nerd about watches, Formula 1 and football. ... Read More

Doctor’s rape-murder: Protests swell, Mamata Banerjee sets cops a deadline

Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that if the state police are unable to solve the case by Sunday, it would be handed over to the CBI.

Written by Atri Mitra

Kolkata | Updated: August 13, 2024 07:29 IST

Protesters marched to R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Monday. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

Doctors’ protests over the rape and murder of a junior doctor at a state-run medical college in Kolkata intensified on Monday evening after the principal of the medical college, who had resigned earlier in the day, was immediately deputed to another institution in the city.

Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that if the state police are unable to solve the case by Sunday, it would be handed over to the CBI.

A 31-year-old junior doctor was found dead in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Friday, sending shockwaves through the state and prompting a protest by doctors at several hospitals. Police have arrested a civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, in connection with the case.

The Chief Minister on Monday met the family of the doctor and later told reporters: “We are trying our best to solve the case. I don’t know how this type of incident can happen at a hospital. Police are giving utmost importance to the investigation. If there are more accused, and all are not arrested by Sunday, we will hand over the case to the CBI – even though their success rate is low.”

On the same day, the principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, resigned from his post. “I am being defamed on social media. Some people are spreading false accusations against me. Students are being provoked to seek my removal. The deceased doctor was like my child, and I want the guilty to be punished. As a parent, I am resigning,” he said. He was then deputed as principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC).

Protesting doctors, whose demands included the resignation of the principal as well as other top officials of the medical college, were angered by the decision to depute him to another institution. They said they would not allow Ghosh to take charge as CNMC principal.

At around 6 pm Monday, thousands of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and others reached RG Kar Medical College, carrying placards demanding justice for the victim. Later, doctors and students from CNMC also held a rally to RG Kar demanding that Ghosh be removed from his new post at their college.

On Sunday night, protesting doctors from state-run medical colleges across West Bengal had announced they would suspend emergency services from Monday onwards. The Chief Minister said the police have been ordered to identify the culprits, “whoever they are”. “They will be tried in a fast-track court, and we will demand the death penalty for them. Police will be in constant touch with the family,” she said.

Banerjee also mentioned the action already taken by the government, which on Sunday removed hospital superintendent Sanjay Vashisth. Kolkata police has also removed the ACP-rank officer who was in charge of the area concerned.

During her meeting with the family, the CM was accompanied by Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.

After the meeting, Goyal said, “All those who were near the PO (place of occurrence of the crime) and have a connection or involvement are being summoned. We have already started a helpline number. Doctors can anonymously call to tell us if they suspect someone and why. They can come and talk to us physically too.”

He said police would stay in constant touch and share information regarding the progress of the investigation with the family. “We are certain that in the next four-five days, if there are more culprits, we will be able to arrest them. If even after that, the family is not satisfied (with the probe), then whatever Madam (Banerjee) has said will happen,” he said.

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New Hindenburg report | As Opposition seeks JPC probe, BJP hits back: Fictitious report, bid to destabilise markets

In its first official reaction to the Hindenburg allegations, the Union Ministry of Finance said it had nothing to add after the SEBI and Buch had issued their statements.

Written by Liz Mathew , Vikas Pathak

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 07:12 IST

The Opposition has been demanding for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Hindenburg report revelations. (File photos)

Countering allegations by US-based Hindenburg Research regarding SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and Adani Group, the BJP Monday rejected the Opposition’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe.

At a press conference held at the BJP headquarters, senior party leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed the Congress demand for a JPC probe, accusing the Opposition party of “seeking foreign help to discredit (and) destabilise our financial markets and to create chaos in the country… by spreading anarchy on a fictitious report”.

“Any Tom, Dick and Harry sitting in a foreign country will seek to destabilise India and they (the Congress) will say ‘JPC’. They will belittle India’s investors. They will belittle India’s stock market. That is their game. The JPC demand is a sham,” Prasad said.

In its first official reaction to the Hindenburg allegations, the Union Ministry of Finance said it had nothing to add after the SEBI and Buch had issued their statements. Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth told reporters: “The SEBI has given a statement. The concerned person has given a statement. I have nothing further to add.”

From Vinod Adani to Sebi chief

Seth, as the Department of Economic Affairs Secretary, is a part-time member on the SEBI board. When asked whether Buch would step aside, Seth reiterated, “Both of them, the concerned person as well as the regulator, have made their statements and there is nothing further to be added by the government.”

A detailed questionnaire sent by The Indian Express to Seth did not elicit a response.

Later in the evening, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju targeted the Opposition. He told reporters: “We must understand one thing. Today, all those against India inside and outside the country… There are several powers who are against India and work against India. They must be recognised. Those against India’s economic power are playing games to harm India. The country’s top opposition parties and some people in the Congress… want to destroy India.”

“They couldn’t unseat Modiji because the country is standing with him. People of India want to move ahead under Modiji’s leadership. The elections are done, and the government has been formed under the leadership of Modiji. They couldn’t win the elections, and to harm India, they are working with anti-India forces… They won’t succeed because the people have understood who are against the country.”

On the question of Buch personally, BJP leaders, however, did not disagree that she should step down in the wake of “such serious allegations”. At least three senior BJP leaders as well as two leaders among allies TDP and JD(U) that The Indian Express spoke with, said it would be better if Buch steps down immediately. However, one of them admitted that there was no signal from the BJP top leadership of her resignation being sought.

A BJP office-bearer indicated that this would remain the party’s stand. “Buch has to defend herself and the SEBI has to do the damage control. The BJP does not need to react to her alleged links with any business groups.”

Instead, the party will keep up its counter-attack, questioning “the intentions” of such allegations by “external forces” and the Congress role in it. An NDA leader said: “Ideally, the SEBI chief should step down. But what is most dangerous is how India’s image has taken a hit in terms of the credibility of its institutions.”

Prasad said at the press conference: “After being rebuffed by the people of India, the Congress party, its allies and the toolkit gang have conspired together to usher in economic anarchy and instability in India… The Hindenburg report is released on Saturday, there is uproar on Sunday, so the capital market is destabilised on Monday.”

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “pathological hatred for Prime Minister Narendra Modi” had caused the Congress “to develop hatred for India”, Prasad said, adding that global advocacy funder George Soros, “who regularly runs propaganda against India”, is the main investor in Hindenburg.

Prasad also said that the SEBI had sent a notice to the US-based Hindenburg as part of its probe into the firm’s allegations of stock market manipulation against the Adani Group and that, instead of replying, Hindenburg had chosen to target Buch.

Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said: “It is terribly disconcerting and irresponsible that Rahul Gandhi-led Opposition has been, as a pattern, constantly undermining important institutions, the judiciary first, then the Election Commission, the EVM and the democratic process, the RBI and so many others, including the SEBI. This could destabilise the perception of Indian and financial markets globally, especially at a time when India’s economy is growing fast. We will not permit them to do it.”

BJP’s alliance partner TDP also talked about the “perception” such allegations could create. TDP parliamentary party leader Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu told The Indian Express: “Since the first allegations came out (by Hindenburg), enough scrutiny has been done and all the facts are available… The Opposition keeps talking about creating jobs, but what kind of narrative are they creating even about the Budget, which intends to create jobs?”

Devarayalu said the Opposition’s claims that the Modi government would not last was part of the same “narrative”. “In the past, the Congress formed coalition governments. Why does it think that the BJP-led NDA would not be stable?”

On Saturday, Hindenburg Research alleged that Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds, which it claims were used to siphon off money by the Adani Group.

The SEBI came out in Buch’s defence Sunday, saying they had adequate internal mechanisms to address issues related to conflict of interest. “The Chairperson has also recused herself in matters involving potential conflicts of interest,” the regulator said.

The report by Hindenburg Research comes almost 18 months after the short-seller first kicked up a political storm, accusing the Adani Group of “brazen stock market manipulation” and “accounting fraud” in January 2023. The port-to-energy conglomerate had denied the allegations, and the Supreme Court had rejected the demand for a CBI or court-monitored probe.

A senior BJP leader said the fallout of the current “revelations” is less than what happened in January 2023. “It is less damaging to the credibility of the government,” he said.

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Liz Mathew

Have been in journalism covering national politics for 23 years. Have covered six consecutive Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls in almost all the states. Currently writes on ruling BJP. Always loves to understand what's cooking in the national politics (And ventures into the act only in kitchen at home).  ... Read More

Vikas Pathak

Vikas Pathak is deputy associate editor with The Indian Express and writes on national politics. He has over 17 years of experience, and has worked earlier with The Hindustan Times and The Hindu, among other publications. He has covered the national BJP, some key central ministries and Parliament for years, and has covered the 2009 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls and many state assembly polls. He has interviewed many Union ministers and Chief Ministers. Vikas has taught as a full-time faculty member at Asian College of Journalism, Chennai; Symbiosis International University, Pune; Jio Institute, Navi Mumbai; and as a guest professor at Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. Vikas has authored a book, Contesting Nationalisms: Hinduism, Secularism and Untouchability in Colonial Punjab (Primus, 2018), which has been widely reviewed by top academic journals and leading newspapers. He did his PhD, M Phil and MA from JNU, New Delhi, was Student of the Year (2005-06) at ACJ and gold medalist from University Rajasthan College in Jaipur in graduation. He has been invited to top academic institutions like JNU, St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and IIT Delhi as a guest speaker/panellist. ... Read More

5 dead, 200 incidents: Fear grips Hindus in Bangladesh, leaders meet Yunus today

About 91.04% of Bangladeshis are Muslims, and the remaining 9 percent has Hindus at (7.95%), Buddhists (0.61%) and Christians (0.30%) and others (0.12%) as per the 2022 census.

Written by Shubhajit Roy

Dhaka | Updated: August 13, 2024 22:30 IST

Graffiti by students on a Dhaka wall. It reads: ‘Dhormo jar jar, Bangladesh sobar (Bangladesh is for all faiths).’ (Express Photo byb Shubhajit Roy)

On August 5, Gopal Rajbongshi, who runs Manda Pharmacy in Dhaka, was at home when he saw visuals of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaving the country. He rounded up his staff at the store, told them to shut shop and head home.

By 4.30 pm, a group of people vandalised his pharmacy: they broke open the shutters, looted the medicines, the computer system, and cash of about Rs 27,000 (in local currency). “My shop had medicines and equipment worth about Rs 21.5 lakh, they took away everything,” he told The Indian Express.

He was terrified as he heard the mob was “looking for me,” since he also doubles up as the head of a local Durga temple committee. He fled his home, with his wife, 11-year-old son and a year-old daughter and has been in hiding for the last one week. “I have lost money, but I don’t want to lose my life and my family,” said Rajbongshi.

Rajbongshi is one of many from the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh, who have faced attacks in the last week since a beleaguered Hasina fled after more than 16 years of rule in the face of angry protesters marching towards her home.

Two organisations of minority communities reported Saturday that there had been at least 205 incidents of attacks on members of Hindu community in 52 districts since the fall of the Hasina government on August 5. They held protests over the weekend as well.

Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council and Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, the two groups representing the minority community, will meet head of the interim government chief advisor Muhammad Yunus Tuesday, community leaders told The Indian Express.

That meeting is keenly anticipated. On August 8, as Yunus was sworn in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended his best wishes to him urging him to ensure “the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities” who have come under attack.

This direct reference to the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh underlined Delhi’s expectations from the new players in Dhaka.

Basudeb Dhar, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, and one of the top Hindu minority leaders said: “There have been incidents of attacks on minorities after August 5, and we have got reports of five deaths so far. There is a sense of foreboding and uncertainty in the community, so we are meeting Prof Yunus tomorrow. The numbers of those being attacked have increased since we last got our reports of 205.”

Dr Neem Chandra Bhowmik, president of Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council said, “We have been getting reports of vandalism, intimidation and threats on telephone from 52 of the 64 districts; the number is dynamic, and even today, I got a call about an incident, we are constantly trying to verify them.”

Yet, both admit there has been “some improvement” over the last couple of days. Dhar said that in many places, local Muslim groups are taking the “initiative” of protecting some Hindu temples, including the Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka. “These are positive developments and will help secure the peace,” Dhar said.

While Dhaka has witnessed some attacks including Rajbongshi’s, most have happened in villages and in the hinterland, especially in the border areas. The major challenge, community leaders said, has been to verify these reports. One key reason is the absence of the police over the last week — most of them have abandoned the police stations for fear of retribution by the student protestors. Result: no police FIRs or complaints could be made in many cases, and the community was left defenceless in the absence of law-enforcement personnel.

Last week, English newspaper The Daily Star reported that Hindu houses and business establishments were attacked by mobs while their valuables were looted in at least 27 districts. Bengali daily Prothom Alo also reported that a former school teacher, a Hindu, had been killed and his wife and daughter were severely injured in an attack at their home in Bagerhat.

These reports have reinforced a sense of insecurity and foreboding among the Hindu community which, at about 8 per cent, is the largest minority population in the country of 170 million people.

About 91.04% of Bangladeshis are Muslims, and the remaining 9 percent has Hindus at (7.95%), Buddhists (0.61%) and Christians (0.30%) and others (0.12%) as per the 2022 census.

There is also a political dimension to the issue. Speaking to The Indian Express, a Hindu minority leader said that many of the Hindu families were targeted for being politically affiliated with the Awami League; some were attacked because people were looking for an “opportunity” in the absence of law and order; and they looted and robbed households. There were some incidents that were traced back to old property disputes as well.

“Since there were no policemen at the police stations, some of these miscreants got a free run. They took advantage and looted the people, especially vulnerable minorities,” said Kishore Kumar Roy, an advocate and a Hindu minority leader.

Mindful of this growing challenge and aware that any escalation will cast a shadow on the transition, Yunus has called for the protection of the minority community in the country. He has urged students to step up and ensure this. The Daily Star quoted him as saying, “You have been able to save the country. Can’t you save some families?

He called upon the students to protect all Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist families. You must say no one can harm them. They are my brothers. We fought together, and we will stay together.”

Last week, heads of European Union missions in Bangladesh had also expressed their “concerns” about reported incidents of attacks on the people and temples of minority communities in the country.

In a deeply divided country, there is no escaping the polarised atmosphere in the wake of Sheikh Hasina’s fall. There have been reports in a section of the local media and many social media posts downplaying the attacks on minorities, even calling some incidents “rumours.” Supporters of Awami League, however, alleged that the mainstream media in Bangladesh have not been showing the “extent of atrocities on minorities and their party leaders.”

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Two churches built on ‘encroached forest land’ razed in Mirzapur

Divisional Forest Officer of Mirzapur, Arvind Raj Mishra, said “all procedures” were followed before demolishing the two buildings.

Written by Manish Sahu

Lucknow | Updated: August 13, 2024 07:33 IST

Earlier, the police found that the churches were built nearly a decade ago on encroached forest land. A report was then sent to the forest department and district administration. (Representational image)

A JOINT team of the UP forest department, district administration and police personnel on Monday demolished two churches that had been built on “encroached land” within the reserved forest area of the Chunar Range, under the Mirzapur forest division in the district, officials said. Police said they found out about the structures during an investigation into complaints that people were being lured there for conversion to Christianity.

On Sunday, the teams reached the sites and demolished the two buildings, located in Jungle Mohal and Belkhara villages, which are approximately 25 km apart.

Divisional Forest Officer of Mirzapur, Arvind Raj Mishra, said “all procedures” were followed before demolishing the two buildings.

Earlier, the police found that the churches were built nearly a decade ago on encroached forest land. A report was then sent to the forest department and district administration. A forest department team also surveyed the two villages, the residents of which predominantly belong to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe communities.

Officials said the forest department issued notices, and as nobody was found present at the site, the notices were pasted on the walls of the two buildings. When no response was received within the stipulated time, a reminder was also pasted on the walls. Despite this, no reply was filed, leading to directives to vacate the land, the officials said.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Mirzapur, Rajesh Kumar Verma, said that after completing the formalities, the forest department issued a demolition order. He added that a team of policemen and administration officials also accompanied the forest department personnel to assist them and maintain law and order.

Earlier, three cases were filed in connection with the matter at the Ahraura police station under IPC Section 447 (criminal trespass) and several sections of the Indian Forest Act. The cases were registered against seven persons who are yet to be traced, said Station House Officer Brijesh Singh.

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Rajkot fire chief caught ‘taking bribe’ weeks after assuming charge, arrested

Anil Maru has become the second Rajkot fire officer to face Anti-Corruption Bureau action in around two months and fourth to face police action after the TRP Game Zone blaze, which claimed 27 lives on May 25.

Written by Gopal B Kateshiya , Brendan Dabhi

Rajkot | Updated: August 13, 2024 07:42 IST

ACB officers said they were conducting searches at places associated with Anil Maru.

Six weeks after Rajkot’s then chief fire officer Ilesh Kher was arrested for alleged negligence that led to the massive fire at TRP Game Zone, his successor Anil Maru was caught red-handed taking a Rs1.8-lakh bribe at the Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s (RMC) headquarters on Monday, Gujarat’s Anti-Corruption Bureau said.

Maru has thus become the second Rajkot fire officer to face ACB action in around two months and fourth to face police action after the TRP Game Zone blaze, which left 27 dead on May 25.

A team led by R N Virani, police inspector in charge of the ACB police station in Jamnagar, laid a trap in the RMC headquarters after a contractor alleged that Maru had demanded a Rs 5-lakh bribe for granting fire-safety clearance to a building. In his complaint to the ACB, the contractor stated that he had installed a fire-fighting system in a building and then approached the office of the chief fire officer seeking clearance.

“However, when the complainant went to the accused, the accused sought Rs 3-lakh illegal bribe from the complainant. The complainant paid Rs1.2 lakh at relevant time, while the accused demanded that the balance Rs 1.8 lakh be paid to him within five days. The complainant didn’t want to pay the bribe and had therefore approached Jamnagar ACB,” an official press release said.

“The accused was detained from the spot after he talked with respect to the Rs 1.8-lakh bribe, demanded and accepted it,” the ACB further said in the release.

ACB officers said they were conducting searches at places associated with Maru.

The action by the anti-graft watchdog against Maru comes less than two months after he assumed charge as Rajkot’s chief fire officer in-charge. He was appointed to the post on June 29 after Ilesh Kher was arrested by police on June 22.

Bhikha Theba, who was the then deputy chief fire officer, was arrested by the ACB on June 6 for allegedly acquiring disproportionate assets worth Rs 79.94 lakh between 2012 and 2024. Theba, who had served as chief fire officer in-charge before Kher was appointed in 2020, was also arrested in the TRP fire case on June 22. Both were eventually suspended.

With Maru’s arrest and imminent suspension from the service, Rajkot has now lost five top officers of the fire service to reasons that include removals, and resignations, in a matter of just three months.

This caused the loss of both the top ranking officers of the Rajkot Fire and Emergency Services, leaving only Station Officers (STOs) to run the entire department in one of the four major cities of Gujarat, and that too just a month after a major tragedy. Thus STO Amit Dave was made in-charge Deputy CFO.

However, on June 15, 2024 the RMC relieved Dave from the additional responsibility, giving the interim charge of Deputy CFO to another station officer, STO Hardik Gadhvi.

On June 28 upon a request from RMC, the Gujarat State Fire Prevention Service (GSFPS) sent Maru to take interim charge as CFO of Rajkot city.

However, Gadhvi did not assume charge but opted for voluntary retirement. It was then that Maru, who was the fire officer of Bhuj in Kutch district, was appointed in Rajkot. His appointment had come amid a crackdown by the RMC on buildings not compliant with fire safety norms. The civic body had sealed dozens of buildings in the aftermath of the TRP Game Zone fire.

Incidentally, Rohit Vigora, officer in charge of the Kalavad Road fire station in the city, was arrested by police for his alleged inaction against TRP Game Zone, which had been functioning without fire clearance.

With Maru’s arrest both the top posts of the Rajkot Fire Service are vacant once again.

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As Sebi chief Madhabi Buch digs heels in, key query: Did she disclose fund linked to Adani?

Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar said, “The SEBI is an independent market regulatory body and the CVC has a limited role in its supervision, if at all. There is certainly no superintendence of the CVC over the SEBI, say, as it has over the CBI and the ED.”

Written by Sandeep Singh , Ritu Sarin

+1 More

- P Vaidyanathan Iyer

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:55 IST

Gautam Adani and Sebi chief Madhabi Buch (Express File Photo)

As Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch digs her heels in with solid backing by the market regulator, former chairpersons and board members of SEBI The Indian Express spoke with said two specific aspects merit attention in this case: i) did she make complete disclosures to the government and ii) did she recuse herself while investigating a regulated entity where she or her husband had a direct or indirect interest.

The finance ministry, according to sources in the government, may be willing to give concessions to her since she is not from civil services background and well within her rights as a private sector person to invest in global funds. Former regulators are, however, of the view that were she and her husband to be investors in Adani-related global entities, it was incumbent upon her to be granular in her disclosures. “What is important to know is her conduct as a whole time member or the chairperson of SEBI when Adani-related complaints or investigations came to her desk. Did she recuse herself,” said a former head of the market regulator.

While SEBI, in its statement, said the Chairperson made relevant disclosures required in terms of holdings of securities and their transfers from time to time and also recused herself in matters involving potential conflicts of interest, Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch said, “SEBI has strong institutional mechanisms of disclosure and recusal norms as per the code of conduct applicable to its officers. Accordingly, all disclosures and recusals have been diligently followed, including disclosures of all securities held or subsequently transferred.”

Another former SEBI chief said though he did not have full knowledge about her investments and her disclosures to the SEBI board, available information in public domain suggested her time in SEBI since 2017 overlaps with the market regulator’s probe into 13 offshore entities which held stake in Adani Group companies. “It is not clear from the statement by Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch and that of SEBI if she recused herself from the Adani Group investigations,” he said.

A former bureaucrat who was a government nominee on the board of SEBI said there has been an instance in the past when the chairperson recused himself over what could be construed as conflict of interest. “C B Bhave recused himself when the issue of NSDL’s (of which he was the Managing Director) lack of oversight over a depository participant was being discussed by the SEBI board. In fact, there was a government order to that effect — his recusal from the decision-making process in the case,” he said.

Another bureaucrat, who was also on the board of SEBI in the past said, there was a former chief of SEBI who opened a demat account years after his term ended in the regulatory body. “He did not own shares of any company,” the bureaucrat said.

In her statement, Madhabi Puri Buch said upon her husband’s appointment as Senior Advisor to Blackstone Group, the company was immediately added to her recusal list maintained with SEBI. The statement does not clearly say that with respect to the global fund in which she made an investment in 2015, two years ahead of her appointment as SEBI’s a whole time member. The investment was redeemed in 2018, she said.

Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar said, “The SEBI is an independent market regulatory body and the CVC has a limited role in its supervision, if at all. There is certainly no superintendence of the CVC over the SEBI, say, as it has over the CBI and the ED.”

But a former official said the existence of a Board with members from the Ministry of Finance and the RBI itself was an inbuilt oversight mechanism for the SEBI. Added to this was the fact that its judicial orders were scrutinized by benches of the Securities Appellate Tribunal.

Another former top SEBI official recalled how, several years ago, as the Investigating Officer of a major stock exchange scam, he was instructed by the Board to not route the inquiry files through the Chairman since some allegations had also been made against him. “In the present case too with allegations of a conflict of interest being thrown around, the Chairperson could and maybe should have recused herself from the Adani investigation,” he said

Express in Dhaka: ‘Students brought her down because they felt stifled… but when Mujib’s statues were destroyed, we cried’

On the streets of Dhaka as regime changes: Protesters manage traffic, anti-Hasina writing on the wall

Written by Shubhajit Roy

Dhaka | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:00 IST

Student volunteers manage the traffic at the Shahbag junction in Dhaka on Sunday. (Express Photo by Shubhajit Roy)

Until exactly a week ago, Obhik, 19, was among the students who hit the streets in protest against the then Sheikh Hasina government. Today, he is back on the road — this time as a student volunteer, supervising the traffic in the busy Shahbag area, next to the Dhaka University campus.

If a week is a long time in politics, the last seven days in Dhaka mark a veritable change of era.

Stunning speed has marked the regime change: from Sheikh Hasina leaving the country to an interim government being put in place under Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus — to a new Chief Justice being sworn in Sunday.

“We got rid of the government, now we will have to take up the responsibilities. My feet hurt but it is our responsibility to serve the people,” says the second-year student of architecture, who suffered a fracture in his right arm facing lathicharge and teargas when he was on the other side of the picket lines.

It is the first day of the working week and roads are busy. Obhik says he’s been on traffic duty since 11 am, and was at his post till evening despite a drizzle.

Facing the wrath of the people for siding with the government and shooting at protesters, the police are not turning up for work.

Last Sunday, more than 100 people had died, mostly student protesters. A week later, Dhaka bears signs of the chaos of the last weekend and the Monday that followed, when Hasina resigned and fled to India after ruling Bangladesh for more than 16 years.

After the interim government, was sworn in, the writing on the Dhaka wall has changed.

Pictures of vandalised statues of 1971 Indian Memorial Complex inn Bangladesh.( @X/Shashitharoor)

The Metro pillars have been spray-painted with graffiti like “Khooni Hasina” (murderer Hasina), “we won, oi Hasina koi geli” (Hasina, where have you vanished).

Her father and founder of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, hasn’t been spared either. Right outside Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, his mural lies shattered in pieces. Hasina’s supporters say statues across the country have been destroyed, including some in the heart of the capital.

“She would invoke his name at every juncture, to justify her actions. So, there was pent-up anger against her that made the mob do such things,” says an official who works at the airport.

A professor at Dhaka University says the students’ agitation was used by some fundamentalist forces to carry out such acts.

“We also respect Bongobondhu, but Sheikh Hasina’s actions made people angry. And this was a spontaneous reaction as a release of that anger,” says student Arsuda, who is also manning the traffic near the airport.

Hasina, who brought some political stability and economic growth in Bangladesh, is hated on the streets today for the authoritarian turn she took, which saw her going after the Opposition, civil society and the media in the last decade of her government.

On Sunday, one of the Opposition leaders, BNP’s Salahuddin Ahmed, returned to Bangladesh after nine years of living overseas.

“After crushing dissent for so many years, people thought that she was invincible. But the students brought her down as they felt stifled. The youth wing of the Awami League was unleashed on the student protesters, including girl students who were manhandled,” says Tasnim Siddiqui, a professor of political science at Dhaka University.

The assault of the young women students was the “inflection point”, she says, as it provoked the student protesters, bringing them on a collision path with the police and pro-Awami League students’ wing. “But when (Mujib’s) statues were destroyed, we cried… the actions were in nobody’s control,” Siddiqui says.

Mesbah Kamal, a professor who taught history at Dhaka University and is now Vice-Chancellor of a private university, draws parallels with the student protests in 1969 that led to the downfall of Pakistan’s military dictator General Ayub Khan.

“Ayub Khan had carried out a lot of development work in east Pakistan, but people wanted their right to speak and (protection of their) human rights. Hasina, too, had carried out several development works but she turned very harsh on the students. This kind of violence against students had not happened even during Ayub Khan’s time,” says Kamal.

Outside the university campus, at the Shahbag junction, volunteers distribute packets of snacks — a slice of cake, a packet of biscuits and a bottle of water – to the students manning the traffic.

As the skies turn dark, they ask the women volunteers to go home. “It’s too risky for girls to be out after dark, so we are asking them to go home. They too have been up on their feet and managing the traffic since morning,” says a volunteer.

There are rows of flower shops nearby, and the evening breeze fills the place with their fragrance. A young couple takes a selfie — with the flowers — before heading home.

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India

- J&K contempt case: IAS officer gives written apology to judge

- India confident of working with whoever will be next US President: Jaishankar

- MP HC says automatic bail cancellation against natural justice, fundamental rights

- Bangladesh border situation: Govt panel, BGB held 83 meets in 3 days

- Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: OPD services remain affected as doctors’ strike enters Day 2

- Rainfall that caused Wayanad landslides influenced by climate change, shows study

- File affidavit on action against Assam top forest officer, NGT tells Centre

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- Confident we’ll be able to work with whoever is US President: Jaishankar

- Tripura Panchayat polls: Sweeping win for BJP even as ally TIPRA Motha opens account; Oppn blames violence for their loss

- Five-member expert team begins inspection of landslides-hit areas in Wayanad

- Union cabinet approves road connecting proposed Vadhvan Port to NH48, says JNPA

- Kerala landslides: search operations, rehabilitation activities continue side-by-side

- Doctors, medical students stage protest in Tripura against Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder

- On Patriot’s Day, Manipur CM Biren Singh says state was moving towards development at a faster pace before widespread violence

- EC to meet Home Secretary to review Jammu and Kashmir security situation

- Adivasi-Dalit groups call hartal in Kerala on Aug 21 over SC reservation verdict

- After Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder, NMC asks medical colleges to ensure safe workplace, send report within 48 hrs of each incident

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- Bihar stampede: Police arrest flower vendor

- BJP’s ally Devanathan Yadav arrested by TN Economic Offences wing police

J&K contempt case: IAS officer gives written apology to judge

Deputy Commissioner Singh “appeared” before the court of CJM Ganderbal Fayaz Ahmad Qureshi and tendered a “sincere apology”, an order by the CJM's court said.

Written by Bashaarat Masood

Srinagar | Updated: August 14, 2024 05:09 IST

In his contempt reference, CJM Qureshi accused DC Singh of not only failing to comply with one of his previous orders but of also personally attacking him “by manipulation and fabrication”. (File Photo)

A day after he sought time from the J&K and Ladakh High Court to “think over” it, IAS officer and Ganderbal Deputy Commissioner Shyambir Singh appeared before the Chief Judicial Magistrate who had called for contempt proceedings against him and filed a written apology.

Deputy Commissioner Singh “appeared” before the court of CJM Ganderbal Fayaz Ahmad Qureshi and tendered a “sincere apology”, an order by the CJM’s court said. “A written apology in the form of affidavit has been filed stating therein that there has never been any deliberate or wilful attempt to interfere with the administration of justice and that in view of the contempt proceedings drawn by the Hon’ble Court of Learned Sub-Judge/Chief Judicial Magistrate Ganderbal… the deponent therein tenders his sincere apology in the instant matter,” the order read.

“The respondent verbally reaffirmed that he is tendering the apology sincerely and he undertakes that he will not cause any interference in the judicial functions and will always respect the courts of law,” the order said, adding, “The apology has been placed on file and a copy of the same is submitted to Hon’ble High Court of J&K and Ladakh for further kind orders…”

On Monday, Singh, a 2018-batch IAS officer, had appeared in the HC — which initiated the contempt proceedings against Singh on the back of a contempt reference sent by CJM Qureshi — and apologised, saying he had no intention of “undermining the dignity of the learned court”.

Division Bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Sanjeev Kumar, however, told Singh that if he was sincere in his apology he should go back to the CJM court and apologise there. The HC listed the case for August 14. Singh then asked the HC for time to think over whether he would file a written apology to the CJM and “personally appear” in his court.

In his contempt reference, CJM Qureshi accused DC Singh of not only failing to comply with one of his previous orders but of also personally attacking him “by manipulation and fabrication”. He had also alleged that the DC had launched an inquiry into some land he owned as an act of “revenge” for passing an adverse order and withholding his salary in a land acquisition case, where some petitioners had approached the CJM saying they had not been compensated by the government for land acquired from them.

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MP HC says automatic bail cancellation against natural justice, fundamental rights

The court was dealing with the 2022 high court order to the police to arrest an accused in connection with a cheating case

By: Express News Service

Bhopal | Updated: August 14, 2024 04:49 IST

In November 2021, while granting him bail, the high court had directed the accused to deposit Rs 10 lakh before the trial court and mark his presence before the police on the 15th of every month. (File Photo)

If there is an “automatic cancellation” of bail, it affects the fundamental right of a person and denies the valuable right to natural justice, observed Madhya Pradesh high court in a recent judgment and said that “such a condition could not be made part of the bail order”.

“Cancelling bail order directly affects the freedom of a person which affects his fundamental rights. Any order which is passed affecting the freedom of a person must be passed after giving a reasonable opportunity of hearing. Reasonable opportunity of hearing is a fundamental right under the Constitution,” observed Justice Vishal Dhagat and recalled a March 2022 order of the high court.

The court was dealing with the 2022 high court order to the police to arrest an accused in connection with a cheating case after holding that his bail “automatically stood cancelled” for failing to appear before the police, a bail condition set by the high court.

In November 2021, while granting him bail, the high court had directed the accused to deposit Rs 10 lakh before the trial court and mark his presence before the police on the 15th of every month.

The order also stated that if he failed to mark even a single appearance, his “bail would stand automatically cancelled.”

The accused, who failed to appear before the police on two occasions in January and February 2022, applied for a modification of the bail conditions in the 2021 order.

Dismissing the modification plea in March 2022, the court ordered the police to arrest the accused.

He filed another plea to recall the dismissal order.

The accused submitted before the court that being a resident of Banaras, it takes him four days to travel and mark his presence before the police.

Opposing his application, the state argued that the high court has powers to impose conditions while granting bail.

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Bangladesh border situation: Govt panel, BGB held 83 meets in 3 days

The BSF spokesperson said that BGB also taking steps for the safety of people from minority communities in Bangladesh

By: Express News Service

New Delhi | Updated: August 14, 2024 05:16 IST

The BSF spokesperson said that BGB has not only been cooperating with BSF on the International border on operations matters, but also taking steps for the safety of Indians (pti Photo)

A committee formed by the Centre to monitor the current situation along the border with Bangladesh has held 83 flag meetings with the Border Guards Bangladesh over the last three days and around 241 Simultaneous Coordinating Patrolling in the vulnerable border area of Eastern Command, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The committee was formed on June 9. “A meeting of members to monitor the situation on the Indo-Bangladesh border was held on August 10. On the directions of the DG BSF, members of the panel communicated with their counterpart. They have had around 83 flag meetings at various levels over the last three days,” a BSF spokesperson said.

“While appreciating the BGB role in preventing Bangladeshis coming to the border, BSF authorities impressed upon them to protect the safety of Indian citizens and people belonging to minority communities in Bangladesh,” the spokesperson added.

“In all bilateral field meetings, matters related to border security and other mutual interests have also been discussed. Also, commanders devised channels for effective coordinated mechanisms to share real time information on various operational matters with BGB. Besides, 232 meetings have also been conducted with the Indian villagers residing along the International border of Eastern Command to make them aware about the prevalent situation in Bangladesh and seek their cooperation in border management,” the spokesperson said.

The BSF spokesperson said that BGB has not only been cooperating with BSF on the International border on operations matters, but also taking steps for the safety of Indians and people from minority communities in Bangladesh in collaboration with their civil authorities.

“On August 9, when 1,500 Bangladeshis had assembled near zero line on Coochbehar-Lalmonirhat District border

inside Bangladesh, the BGB made efforts in collaboration with civil authorities of Lalmonirhat District, Bangladesh to persuade them to return,” the spokesperson said.

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Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: OPD services remain affected as doctors’ strike enters Day 2

The state RDA’s president Dr Hardeep Jogi said the association has written to the Union Health Minister, urging for safety and security measures at hospitals.

By: Express News Service

Kolkata | Updated: August 14, 2024 05:27 IST

Junior doctors protest in Karnataka’s Hubballi on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

Medical students and residents doctors at key government health facilities across the country continued protests for the second day on Tuesday, seeking justice and speedy trial in the recent rape-murder of a doctor in Kolkata four days ago.

Resident doctors in Maharashtra started an indefinite strike Tuesday morning in support of the nationwide protests by their colleagues against the Kolkata incident. All elective services in hospitals across the state have been halted, but emergency services will continue uninterrupted, Maharashtra State Association of Residential Doctors (Central-MARD) president Dr Pratik Debaje told PTI.

“From 9 am, we have stopped work at all OPDs (out-patient departments) and elective services have been stopped. Now, only emergency services are operational across the state,” Dr Debaje said.

Doctors remained at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

Medical services at PGIMER, Chandigarh, remained partially shut on Tuesday as resident doctors continued their strike for the second day against the Kolkata rape-murder. The emergency services at the hospital, however, were on. “Our protest continues today,” said Dr Perugu Praneeth Reddy, joint secretary of the Association of Resident Doctors, PGIMER.

The doctors are demanding their safety be ensured at hospitals. Doctors at Patna Medical College and Hospital, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital and Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital stayed away from OPD services.

(Left) The operations at AIIMS OPD were hit; (Right) doctors protest at RML, on Tuesday. (Express Photo)

Emergency services, however, remained operational. A doctors’ association in Uttar Pradesh has written to Union Health Minister J P Nadda, pressing for improved security measures at medical institutions, even as doctors continued protests against the Kolkata rape-murder case.

The state RDA’s president Dr Hardeep Jogi said the association has written to the Union Health Minister, urging for safety and security measures at hospitals.

He said the protest has been joined by Centre-run medical colleges such as Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, and several hospitals run by the state in Meerut, Jhansi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Agra, and relatively newer ones in Greater Noida, Saharanpur and Orai.

Junior doctors at state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi started ‘pen-down’ agitation by boycotting OPD services and elective surgeries in protest. However, they continued to attend emergency services at the premier hospital.

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Rainfall that caused Wayanad landslides influenced by climate change, shows study

The study by World Weather Attribution (WWA), an international group of researchers, found that the excessive rainfall in the early hours of July 30 that triggered the landslides was “once in a 50-year event”.

By: Express News Service

New Delhi | Updated: August 14, 2024 05:15 IST

Wayanad received 140 mm rainfall in a day on July 30, which the study said was the third heaviest single-day rainfall event on record for the district. (File Photo)

The rainfall that triggered the recent landslides in Wayanad, killing more than 200 people, were made 10 per cent heavier by human-induced climate change, a new study has found.

The study by World Weather Attribution (WWA), an international group of researchers, found that the excessive rainfall in the early hours of July 30 that triggered the landslides was “once in a 50-year event”.

Wayanad received 140 mm rainfall in a day on July 30, which the study said was the third heaviest single-day rainfall event on record for the district.

“Overall, the available climate models indicate a 10 per cent increase in intensity. Under a future warming scenario where the global temperature is two degree Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels, climate models predict even heavier 1-day rainfall events, with a further expected increase of about 4 per cent in rainfall intensity,” the study said.

It said this would further increase the risk of landslides in the region. “The increase in climate change-driven rainfall found in this study is likely to increase the potential number of landslides that could be triggered in the future, raising the need for adaptation actions that may include the reinforcement of susceptible slopes, landslide early warning systems, and construction of retaining structures to protect vulnerable localities,” it said.

WWA researchers specialise in assessing the influence of climate change on extreme weather events worldwide. Their earlier studies had concluded that the heatwave in India in April last year, and again in June this year, had also been influenced by climate change.

“One-day spells of rainfall are increasing in Kerala… Before climate change, similar downpours in Kerala were incredibly rare. However, in today’s climate with 1.3°C of global warming, they are more likely, expected to occur on average about once every 50 years,” it said.

The study also found that factors such as quarrying for building materials, and a 62 per cent reduction in forest cover in Wayanad between 1950 and 2018, may have contributed to increased susceptibility of the slopes to landslides during heavy rainfall.

“More stringent assessments of landslides, restricting construction in hillside areas and minimising deforestation and quarrying are needed to avoid similar disasters in the future,” it said.

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File affidavit on action against Assam top forest officer, NGT tells Centre

In an order passed Friday, the eastern bench said it was not for the top forest officer to decide whether the commando camp would impact forest conservation or not since that decision has to be taken by the Centre under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

Written by Nikhil Ghanekar

New Delhi | Updated: August 14, 2024 05:29 IST

In May this year, the eastern bench had ordered a committee of senior Environment Ministry officials to probe into allegations of forest law violations (File Photo)

The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) eastern bench directed the Centre to file an affidavit indicating action taken against Assam’s senior forest officer MK Yadava who “permitted diversion of forest land for making a commando battalion camp on 28 hectares of forest in Geleky, Sibasagar district.”

In an order passed Friday, the eastern bench said it was not for the top forest officer to decide whether the commando camp would impact forest conservation or not since that decision has to be taken by the Centre under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

Hearing the ongoing plea alleging violation of Forest Conservation Act, 1980, the NGT bench said, “There is nothing on record to show there is any permission or sanction granted by the Central Government for diversion of forest land in question for the constructions referred to in the affidavit of the PCCF, Assam.”

“The affidavit of MoEF&CC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) shall also indicate what action has been taken against the then PCCF (Principal Chief Conservator of Forest) Shri MK Yadava who permitted diversion of Forest land in violation of Section 2 of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for making solid constructions to house 800 personnel with arms, ammunitions and sophisticated weapons with parade area, exercise areas, shooting area, adequate housing etc,” the NGT order said.

This is the second such case involving forest officer Yadava, who is currently Special Chief Secretary (Forests). In the other case, the regional office of the Environment Ministry had served a show cause notice to Yadava after it found violation of forest laws in the construction of a commando battalion camp in Hailakandi district.

In May this year, the eastern bench had ordered a committee of senior Environment Ministry officials to probe into allegations of forest law violations. However, a report is yet to be filed.

In an affidavit filed before the NGT, the Assam forest department had argued that the construction for the battalion “is an activity for forest conservation and forest management and while undertaking the activity, no tree felling has been resorted to.”

The Tribunal said in its order, “…we are of the view that it is not for the PCCF Assam to take a decision… since the decision in such a case has to be taken by the Central Government…”

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Nikhil Ghanekar

An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More

Hindenburg: Fresh plea in SC seeks compliance with probe order against Adani

Advocate Vishal Tiwari said the SC had in its order “clearly fixed the timeline of three months for the completion of investigations by Sebi”.

By: Express News Service

New Delhi | Updated: August 14, 2024 06:05 IST

Imaage used for representation purpose

A lawyer has approached the SC with a fresh application seeking compliance with the top court’s January 3, 2024 order wherein it had asked SEBI to complete — “preferably within three months” — the pending investigations into some of the allegations raised by Hindenburg Research against Adani Group.

Advocate Vishal Tiwari said the SC had in its order “clearly fixed the timeline of three months for the completion of investigations by Sebi”.

“By using the word ‘preferably’ it cannot be understood that no timeline was fixed. While three months have been specifically mentioned in the order, it is sufficient to be understood as prudent that a fixed time period is laid down for… completion of pending investigations,” he said.

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Confident we’ll be able to work with whoever is US President: Jaishankar

In the elections to be held in November, Republican candidate Donald Trump is pitted against Democratic presidential nominee and current Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Written by Divya A

New Delhi | Updated: August 14, 2024 04:54 IST

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at an event in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said India will be able to work with the President of the United States, “whoever he or she will be”.

At the launch of Indiaspora’s Impact report, a diaspora event also attended by US Ambassador Eric Garcetti, when asked about the coming US presidential elections, Jaishankar said: “Generally, we don’t comment on other people’s elections because we also hope others don’t comment on us.”

He said: “The American system will throw up its verdict… we have every confidence that we will be able to work with the president of the United States, whoever he or she will be.”

In the elections to be held in November, Republican candidate Donald Trump is pitted against Democratic presidential nominee and current Vice-President Kamala Harris.

His comments came as the White House lauded US-India ties, saying President Joe Biden views the ties as one of the most consequential in the world.

In a press briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre said that the US works with India on key priorities, including the Quad. “The president views our relationship with India as one of the most consequential in the world. And so we work closely with India on our most vital priorities, including through the Quad and the US-India initiative on this critical and emerging technology,” Pierre said.

At the event, when asked about the issue of dual citizenship – a long-standing demand among the Indian-American community – Jaishankar said, “If I can find ways in which diaspora can work, travel and operate more easily, it will be much more important.. when you get dual citizenship, it raises a fundamental issue; we would have concerns about what our citizens may be doing in the service of another country.”

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Divya A

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More

Tripura Panchayat polls: Sweeping win for BJP even as ally TIPRA Motha opens account; Oppn blames violence for their loss

Congratulating the BJP on its victory in the Panchayat polls, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said the results reflected people's faith in the party and on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Written by Debraj Deb

Agartala | August 13, 2024 23:15 IST

Congress and the Left parties earlier moved the High Court with the plea of extending deadline for accepting nomination papers citing alleged pre-poll violence. The opposition political parties also sought the High Court to direct the State Election Commission to accept online nomination papers.

The ruling BJP on Tuesday emerged victorious in 5,883 seats, ensuring a clean sweep for the party in the Tripura panchayat polls. As many as 6,370 gram panchayats had gone to polls.

The party also won 404 panchayat samiti seats and 113 zilla parishad seats.

An official of the State Election Commission said that as per data available till now, Opposition CPI(M) and Congress parties won 138 gram panchayat seats each, BJP’s ruling alliance partner TIPRA Motha, which contested separately this year, opened its account in local bodies outside the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and won in 102 seats while Independent candidates emerged victorious in 20 seats.

In the panchayat samitis, Congress won in eight seats, CPI(M) bagged six seats while a single Independent candidate emerged victorious.

In the Zilla Parishad bodies of Tripura, Congress has won in two seats and CPI(M) emerged victorious in one seat.

It is worth mentioning that the BJP had won 71 per cent of the total gram panchayat seats uncontested prior to the polling day. The saffron party has also bagged 68 per cent of the seats in the panchayat samitis and 17 per cent seats of the zilla parishad bodies uncontested.

Out of the 1,819 gram panchayat seats that had finally gone to polls, BJP won in 1,474 of them — a whopping 81 per cent. The CPI(M) won in 149, Congress won in 150, TIPRA Motha won in 24 seats and 20 Independent candidates emerged victorious too.

In panchayat samitis, BJP won 173 out of the 188 seats that went to polls. The CPI(M) won in 6 seats, Congress won eight seats and one Independent candidate emerged victorious.

BJP swept the zilla parishad elections by winning 93 out of 96 seats that went to polls while the CPI(M) and Congress parties won one and two seats, respectively.

CM Manik Saha congratulates party

Congratulating the BJP on its victory, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said the results reflected people’s faith in the party and on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“This result means we can see people’s faith in the PM. We won 97 per cent seats. We should not feel self satisfied. We need to do many things. If we think that people are not seeing us, it would be grossly wrong. People see everything. In future, we should work in the direction to ensure 100 percent results,” Saha said.

Citing PM Modi’s slogan ‘One Nation, One Election’, the Chief Minister said, “If it happens, it will be helpful for us. They (elections) create problems in work. The PM does what he says. We are hopeful (of one country one election).”

Saha also alleged that opposition political parties have become detached from the people in Tripura and couldn’t field candidates in many seats but tried to grab media attention by citing fake cases of violence.

“These cases of violence didn’t happen in reality. They tried to create a scene and confuse people,” the CM said.

Congress cries foul

On the other hand, CPI(M) state secretary and Assembly opposition leader Jitendra Chaudhary accused the BJP of perpetrating large scale violence to win the elections uncontested in over 70 per cent of the rural body. He, however, said the opposition parties emerged victorious in a few places where the electors fought off purported violence and showed up to cast their mandate.

“This shows that the people are not aligned with their politics of violence and political bankruptcy that left wounds on the overall social life of Tripura in the last six years. Chandipur, Jubarajnagar, Kalacherra, Ambassa, Kadamtala and various other areas, where our counting agents were not allowed to enter counting halls yesterday (Monday); there the counting trends were in favour of us in the first round despite gross irregularities in the counting process. People have given their message of defiance against corruption and political violence,” Chaudhury said.

In 2019, the BJP had won over 95 per cent of the rural local body seats, including 86 per cent of gram panchayat seats, without a contest.

Meanwhile, the counting of votes in two seats is yet to conclude.

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Five-member expert team begins inspection of landslides-hit areas in Wayanad

The team was led by senior scientist John Matthai of the National Center for Geosciences, which has been tasked by the State Disaster Management Authority to inspect the landslide-hit areas in Wayanad's Meppadi panchayat.

By: PTI

Wayanad | Updated: August 13, 2024 22:52 IST

A five-member expert team on Tuesday began inspecting the landslides-hit areas of Wayanad district including the epicentre of the disaster and collected rock and soil samples for testing.

The team was led by senior scientist John Matthai of the National Center for Geosciences, which has been tasked by the State Disaster Management Authority to inspect the landslide-hit areas in Wayanad’s Meppadi panchayat.

It halted its inspection by noon today due to adverse weather conditions in the disaster area, the district administration said in a statement. The inspections will continue till August 15, it added.

“The team carried out a detailed inspection of the epicentre of the landslide — Punchirimattom — and the adjoining areas, and collected soil and rock samples from there,” it said.

The team will assess the possible dangers in different parts of the disaster-stricken area and nearby sites. It will also assess how the disaster happened and what phenomena occurred in the landslides, the statement added.

After the inspection, the expert team will submit its report to the government and also recommend suitable land use for the area. The team will function under the Disaster Management Authority Act of 2005.

Principal Scientist and Head of the Centre of Excellence in Water Related Disaster Management Dr TK Drishya, Surathkal NIT Associate Professor Dr Srivalsa Kolathayar, District Soil Conservation Officer Tara Manoharan and Kerala Disaster Management Authority Hazard and Risk Analyst P Pradeep are the other members of the expert team.

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Union cabinet approves road connecting proposed Vadhvan Port to NH48, says JNPA

Construction of the port is expected to commence after the next monsoon, once the road connectivity is established.

By: PTI

Palghar | August 13, 2024 22:43 IST

The JNPA is developing the Vadhvan Port. (File Photo)

A 32-km long road connecting the proposed Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra’s Palghar district to the national highway 48 has been approved by the Union cabinet, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) said on Tuesday.

The JNPA is developing the Vadhvan Port.

The National Highways Authority of India’s Land Acquisition Committee (NHAI-LAC) has approved road connectivity for Vadhvan Port from NH-48 of about 32 km and authorised the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to make relevant decisions, the JNPA said in a statement.

Notification for land acquisition will commence after the ministry declares the road as national highway. The gazette notification of the government has issued a declaration of national highway from NH-48 (Tawa Junction) to Vadhvan Port on August 12.

JNPA chairman Unmesh Sharad Wagh, said, “The construction of the road is a critical activity necessary to initiate the work at Vadhvan Port. It is essential for transporting quarry material from the sites to the port, as local roads are too narrow for such heavy transportation. The declaration by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to designate this road as a National Highway will expedite the process significantly.” Once the notification is issued by the NHAI, land acquisition will commence immediately.

The NHAI will also invite tenders for the construction of an initial two-lane road, approximately 20 KM long, to facilitate material transport. This road will be part of the dedicated connectivity to Vadhvan, with plans to extend it as required for full road connectivity to the port.”

The Union cabinet approved the Vadhvan Port project in June this year and the JNPA later invited Expression of Interest (EoI) for the development and maintenance of land to be created in offshore of Vadhvan coast by dredging, reclamation and construction of an offshore protection bund, which received interest from several leading organisations.

Construction of the port is expected to commence after the next monsoon, once the road connectivity is established.

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Kerala landslides: search operations, rehabilitation activities continue side-by-side

A total of 401 samples of bodies and body parts underwent DNA testing and of them 349 were found to be of 248 persons -- 121 males and 127 females -- the district administration said in a statement.

By: PTI

Wayanad | August 13, 2024 22:42 IST

An 18-member team has completed survey activities in the relief camps to find out the interests, preferences and needs of the people, it added. (File Photo)(

Search operations and rehabilitation activities are going on side-by-side in the landslide-hit areas of Wayanad district, with three more body parts recovered from near Nilambur in Malappuram district, while the state government began preparations for the temporary resettlement of survivors.

The Wayanad district administration said that body parts recovered are not confirmed to be human and will be sent for forensic examination.

It said that so far 231 dead bodies and 206 body parts have been found, following the massive landslides that hit parts of Wayanad on July 30.

A total of 401 samples of bodies and body parts underwent DNA testing and of them 349 were found to be of 248 persons — 121 males and 127 females — the district administration said in a statement.

For rehabilitation of the survivors, a five-member committee of representatives of the panchayat, revenue department and social workers will identify and report on houses available for rent within the jurisdiction of the local bodies, according to the statement.

As part of the temporary resettlement, which is the first phase of the rehabilitation of the disaster survivors, the victims will also be provided household goods in their new accommodations, the statement said.

Residential quarters belonging to the Public Works Department, local bodies and other government departments as well as houses belonging to private individuals available on rent have been identified for rehabilitation, it said.

“About 100 government-owned buildings have been made available so far. So far, 253 buildings owned by private individuals within the limits of local bodies have been identified for use on rent. Apart from this, around 100 house owners have expressed willingness to rent out their houses,” it said.

The allotment of government quarters and rented houses will be done by the committee formed to coordinate the temporary rehabilitation activities, by considering the number of family members, their needs and preferences, the statement said.

An 18-member team has completed survey activities in the relief camps to find out the interests, preferences and needs of the people, it added.

It also said that there are currently 1,811 people living in 15 relief camps in the district.

Of these, 11 camps house survivors of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala disaster areas, it added.

Major landslides hit the Mundakkai and Chooralamala regions of Wayanad on July 30 almost decimating both the areas.

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Doctors, medical students stage protest in Tripura against Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder

The agitators, who gathered at the Agartala Government Medical College and Gobind Ballabh Pant hospital, demanded proper investigation of the case and safety and security of the doctors.

Written by Debraj Deb

Agartala | August 13, 2024 21:10 IST

Junior doctors protest against the sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata, at Agartala Medical College. (PTI Photo)

Doctors and medical students of the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Gobind Ballabh Pant (GBP) hospital on Tuesday staged a protest at the respective college premises against the rape and murder of a postgraduate medical student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

The agitators demanded proper investigation of the case and safety and security of the doctors.

“We demand protection of doctors through the Central Protection Act (CPA), a transparent probe into the rape and murder of the medical student by involving the CBI and the resignation of the official who was involved in the case,” said a first-year postgraduate medical student during the protest.

Speaking to the media, a senior doctor said, “We feel a free and fair atmosphere is required for doctors, or else, no skilled work is possible. We also demand installation of CCTV cameras in the hospitals.”

A 31-year-old junior doctor was found dead in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. Police have arrested an accused in the case while the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered a CBI probe into the rape and murder.

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On Patriot’s Day, Manipur CM Biren Singh says state was moving towards development at a faster pace before widespread violence

On August 13, 1891, the prince of the erstwhile Kingdom of Manipur, Bir Tikendrajit, and General Thangal were hanged publicly for waging war against the British Empire, while others were sent to exile at Kalapani. The day is observed as “Patriots’ Day” in Manipur annually.

By: Express News Service

Imphal | Updated: August 13, 2024 21:10 IST

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. (File Photo)

Manipur observed the Patriots’ Day on Tuesday in honour of the heroes of the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891, with Manipur Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister N. Biren Singh leading other dignitaries, including Ministers, MLAs, and high-ranking officials, in paying floral tribute to the heroes.

On August 13, 1891, the prince of the erstwhile Kingdom of Manipur, Bir Tikendrajit, and General Thangal were hanged publicly for waging war against the British Empire, while others were sent to exile at Kalapani. The day is observed as “Patriots’ Day” in Manipur annually. While the day is declared a state holiday, this year, educational institutions organized patriotic song and poetry competitions.

Tuesday’s observance started with floral tributes at Hicham Yaicham Pat, Moirangkhom, and Thangal Temple, Palace Compound in the morning. Later in the afternoon, the Governor and the Chief Minister, along with other dignitaries, attended the wreath-laying ceremony at Kangla Uttra, Imphal.

The programme continued with floral tributes at Shaheed Minar, where the Governor and Chief Minister, accompanied by Ministers, MLAs, and senior government officials, honored the brave souls who laid down their lives in defense of the state’s sovereignty. A Guard of Honor was presented by contingents of Manipur Rifles. A floral tribute was also offered at the Memorial Stone of the exiled martyrs of the 1891 war.

Addressing the gathering, Manipur Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya underscored the importance of Patriots’ Day as a catalyst for unity and pride among the people of Manipur. He stressed the importance of education and awareness in upholding the values of patriotism and resilience passed down by the forefathers.

He said the day reminds us of the heroic acts of the people of Manipur on various battlefronts of the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, which showed the world that the people of Manipur had the indomitable courage to challenge the mighty British Empire for the freedom of their motherland.

“As we honour these heroes today, we must also pledge to cultivate a generation that cherishes peace, integrity, and progress,” he said, adding that he called upon everyone to join the State in paying tribute to the courageous sons of the soil who made the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their lives for their motherland.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that there is nothing more important than our motherland, while appealing to the people of the state to unite to bring peace and development to the State, setting aside all their differences.

He noted that Manipur, when it was a peaceful state, was moving towards the path of development at a faster pace. However, after the unprecedented conflict, many people have been facing hardship, forcing many to stay in relief camps, and many people have lost their lives, he said.

N. Biren recalled that Manipur, which was an independent kingdom, came under British rule on 27th April 1891, after the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. He continued that the British accused Maharaja Kulachandra, Yubaraj Tikendrajit, and others of waging war against Queen Victoria, and on the 13th of August 1891, Yubaraj Tikendrajit and General Thangal were hanged to death.

Niranjan Subedar, Kajao, and Chirai Naga were hanged to death inside the then Manipur Jail located in Kangla on different dates. Maharaja Kulachandra and twenty-one others were deported to Kalapani. In 2021, Manipur unveiled a monolith in dedication to the twenty persons who were deported to Kalapani along with Maharaja Kulachandra.

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EC to meet Home Secretary to review Jammu and Kashmir security situation

The Commission, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, had visited the Union Territory last week to review poll preparations.

By: Express News Service

New Delhi | August 13, 2024 19:15 IST

The Commission, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, had visited the Union Territory last week to review poll preparations. (Express Archives)

The Election Commission will meet Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Wednesday to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where Assembly elections are expected soon, according to EC sources.

The Commission, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, had visited the Union Territory last week to review poll preparations. Addressing a press conference in Jammu on August 9, the CEC had said the EC was committed to holding Assembly elections at the earliest.

He said that the poll panel would assess the security situation and availability of forces upon their return to Delhi. “No internal or external power can derail the election process,” the CEC said.

The Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to end on August 19 and the publication of the electoral roll is scheduled for August 20. As per the Supreme Court’s order last year, the EC has to complete the Assembly election process by September 30.

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Adivasi-Dalit groups call hartal in Kerala on Aug 21 over SC reservation verdict

In a joint statement signed by leaders of various Adivasi-Dalit organisations, it was alleged that the verdict aimed to divide the SC/ST list on a caste basis and introduce a 'creamy layer' within SC/ST categories.

By: PTI

Kottayam (kerala) | August 13, 2024 18:56 IST

Various Adivasi-Dalit organisations on Tuesday called for a state-wide hartal in Kerala on August 21, to protest the recent Supreme Court verdict on the sub-categorisation of reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as granted under the Constitution.

In a joint statement signed by leaders of various Adivasi-Dalit organisations, it was alleged that the verdict aimed to divide the SC/ST list on a caste basis and introduce a ‘creamy layer’ within SC/ST categories.

They said the hartal will exempt Wayanad district due to the recent natural disasters.

The outfits announced that the state-wide hartal is part of the Bharat Bandh called by Bhim Army and various Dalit-Bahujan movements.

The primary demand is for Parliament to pass legislation overturning the Supreme Court verdict, according to the statement.

Despite the BJP government’s assurance that it will not implement the creamy layer, the central government has yet to acknowledge that the creamy layer division is the basis for categorising the list, they alleged.

Earlier this month, a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud ruled in a 6:1 majority judgment that state governments were permitted to sub-classify communities within the SC list based on empirical data.

Supreme Court judge Justice B R Gavai had said that States must evolve a policy for identifying the creamy layer even among the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Schedule Tribes (ST) and deny them the benefit of reservation.

Justice Gavai penned a separate but concurring judgment in which the top court by a majority verdict said the states are empowered to make sub-classifications of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for granting quotas within the reserved category to uplift those who belong to the more underprivileged castes.

The Union Cabinet has asserted that there was no provision for a creamy layer in the reservation for SCs and STs in the Constitution given by B R Ambedkar.

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After Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder, NMC asks medical colleges to ensure safe workplace, send report within 48 hrs of each incident

The NMC notice goes on to say that all corridors and campus be well lit in the evening for staff to walk safely from one place to the other, other than installing CCTV cameras and adequate security.

Written by Anonna Dutt

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 19:45 IST

Doctors remained on strike for the second day today at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospita. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

The country’s apex medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission (NMC), has issued a notice to all medical colleges and institutions to ensure a safe working environment. Measures such as installing CCTV cameras in sensitive areas and availability of adequate security staff have been suggested.

This comes after nationwide protest of doctors following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College.

The NMC notice states: “All medical colleges are requested to develop a policy for a safe work environment within the college and hospital campus for all the staff members including faculty, medical students, and resident doctors. The policy should ensure adequate safety measures at OPD, wards, casualty, hostels and other open areas in the campus and residential quarters.”

The notice goes on to say that all corridors and campus be well lit in the evening for staff to walk safely from one place to the other, other than installing CCTV cameras and adequate security.

The notice states that any instance of violence against medical students should be promptly investigated by college management and FIRs should be lodged with the police.

Most importantly, it has demanded that an action taken report be sent to the regulator within 48 hours of the incident.

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Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

Bihar constable, her husband and children found dead at police lines residence; cops suspect murder-suicide

The husband, Pankaj, was unemployed, officials said.

Written by Santosh Singh

Patna | Updated: August 13, 2024 22:58 IST

Neetu Kumari, who had been appointed as constable with Bihar Police in 2015, had married Pankaj Kumar soon after. (Representative/ Express file photo)

A police constable and her husband, as well as their two children and the husband’s mother, were found dead at the constable’s residence in Bihar’s Bhagalpur on Tuesday morning.

While the husband was found hanging, the others were found with their throats slit. Police said a “suicide note” had been found from the husband’s pocket.

The constable was identified as 32-year-old Neetu Kumari and her husband was Pankaj Kumar, 34. Police said Pankaj suspected his wife of being in an illicit relationship with someone.

Officers suggested that police suspected Pankaj of having killed the four others after drugging them, and then dying by suicide.

According to police, they learnt about the deaths at around 9.30 am Tuesday.

Neetu Kumari, who had been appointed as constable with Bihar Police in 2015, had married Pankaj Kumar soon after. They had met when they both worked at a mall between 2014 and 2015, according to officials.

Neetu was transferred to Bhagalpur Range a year ago and worked at Naugachhia near Bhagalpur town. After her posting at Bhagalpur district police, she started living with her husband, children and husband’s mother at Bhagalpur police lines.

The husband, Pankaj, was unemployed, officials said.

According to a press statement issued by the office of Bhagalpur’s Senior Superintendent of Police, a special investigation team had been set up to investigate the matter thoroughly.

The police suspected Pankaj’s involvement in mirder of four others. “It looks Pankaj drugged food of four and slit their throats after they fell unconscious. Later, he also died by suicide.

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Bihar stampede: Police arrest flower vendor

The arrest was made after analysing CCTV footage and recording the statement of those present there at the time of the incident, District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey said.

By: PTI

Jehanabad | August 13, 2024 17:20 IST

Visuals from the site of the stampede in Bihar's Jehanabad (PTI)

The police on Tuesday arrested a flower vendor in connection with a stampede that left seven people dead and 16 others injured at Baba Siddheshwar Nath Temple in Bihar’s Jehanabad district, an officer said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the stampede happened following a clash between flower vendors and a few Kanwarias near the temple on Baravar hills in Makhdumpur block, District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey said.

This is the first arrest in connection with the incident and the police are searching for two or three other flower vendors who are absconding, she said.

“The entire area of the temple premises has now been made a vendor-free zone,” the DM said.

The arrest was made after analysing CCTV footage and recording the statement of those present there at the time of the incident, Pandey said.

Seven people, including six women, were killed and 16 others injured in a stampede at the temple in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

A large number of devotees had assembled at the temple to offer water to the deity on Monday in Shravan, a holy month for Hindus.

The police also decided to deploy 100 more security personnel along the route the Kanwarias take and near the temple premises.

“Besides, a temporary medical facility is also being opened near Makhdumpur in case of any untoward incident. It will start functioning from today,” said the DM.

Meanwhile, a video clip of the incident surfaced on social media on Tuesday showing how the stampede took place.

It is seen in the video clip that devotees were struggling to come out of a narrow lane packed with devotees.

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BJP’s ally Devanathan Yadav arrested by TN Economic Offences wing police

Devanathan Yadav, who runs a political outfit Indhiya Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam, allied with the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll and was fielded from Sivaganga constituency.

By: PTI

Chennai | Updated: August 13, 2024 17:29 IST

T Devanathan Yadav. (Photo Credit: X/DevanathayadavT)

T Devanathan Yadav, who unsuccessfully contested on a BJP ticket from Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency, was arrested on a charge of cheating depositors of a non-banking financial institution here, police said on Tuesday.

He was arrested by a team of officials from the Economic Offences wing in Tiruchirappalli and later brought to Chennai for questioning.

The arrest followed protests and also complaints from several aggrieved investors who claimed that a financial institution that Yadav headed — Mylapore Hindu Saswat Nidhi Limited — cheated them with the promise of an attractive higher rate of interest on their deposits.

Devanathan Yadav, who runs a political outfit Indhiya Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam, allied with the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll and was fielded from Sivaganga constituency.

Reacting to the arrest, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai said his party was committed to ensuring justice for the investors of the Mylapore Hindu Saswat Nidhi Limited.

“The Tamil Nadu government should conduct a thorough investigation and confirm this to all investors,” he said in a post on social media platform X.

“At the same time, if this is one of the attempts to threaten the NDA parties for pointing out the law and order and administrative failure of the DMK government, then I strongly condemn it,” Annamalai added.

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Delhi Confidential

- Delhi Confidential: Akhilesh Yadav’s complaint promptly addressed by the Centre; VHP releases helpline no. for Bangladeshi Hindus

Delhi Confidential: Akhilesh Yadav’s complaint promptly addressed by the Centre; VHP releases helpline no. for Bangladeshi Hindus

The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Monday released a helpline number — 9111-26103495 — for “distressed” Bangladeshi Hindus to approach the organisation.

By: Express News Service

New Delhi | August 13, 2024 08:35 IST

Kannauj MP and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. (File Photo)

On The Fast Track

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav’s complaint against the Central government seems to have been promptly addressed by the ministry concerned. Days after the Kannauj MP said in Parliament that the government has not developed any new expressway project in Uttar Pradesh, SP’s Dhaurahra MP Anand Bhadauria met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and handed over a letter, requesting for construction of an expressway from Lucknow-Agra to Haridwar via his constituency. Later, Bhadauria expressed “happiness” over Gadkari’s in-principle approval for the project. He said if the expressway construction starts, it will be like a “dream come true” for him.

Minority Concern

The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Monday released a helpline number — 9111-26103495 — for “distressed” Bangladeshi Hindus to approach the organisation. “We in coordination with the Central government shall try to help them out in every possible way,” the VHP said. The organisation also sought action from the interim government in Bangladesh against those attacking Hindus there. “We are surprised to see the grotesque silence of so-called human right bodies and persons who have not spoken a word for the suffering minorities in Bangladesh,” said VHP president Alok Kumar.

Opinion

- C Raja Mohan writes: Bangladesh and the ‘foreign hand’ bogey

- UPSC aspirants don’t need coaching classes to succeed. Here’s my story

- In his centenary year, making sense of Guru Dutt in the classroom

- To understand what’s going on in Bangladesh, look at its past, army and society

- August 13, 1984, Forty Years Ago: Tamil Extremists Held

- The songs of Haniya: A confident music

- Centre’s waiver for clinical trials: For the patient’s sake

- A Bangladesh without Sheikh Hasina, a reset for Delhi

- In Manish Sisodia case, Supreme Court shows the way

- Express View: Monsoon and the good news for inflation

- Hindenburg revelations raise questions — Sebi and its chief Madhabi Puri Buch must answer

- Tariq Mansoor writes: Why fears around Waqf Amendment Bill are exaggerated

- Mani Shankar Aiyar writes: Natwar Singh, friend, patron and man of many parts

- Sanjay Srivastava writes: For a nation that aspires to Olympic glory, what is the role of the state?

C Raja Mohan writes: Bangladesh and the ‘foreign hand’ bogey

Conspiracy theories blaming the CIA for Sheikh Hasina's ouster overestimate its capacity, avoid bigger questions. What is needed is for Delhi to look ahead, deepen ties with the new regime in Bangladesh

Written by C. Raja Mohan

Updated: August 13, 2024 22:57 IST

The student movement against quotas provided the final trigger for the political blowout. (Reuters photo)

One of the more fascinating theories in the Indian media on the fall of Sheikh Hasina suggests that Muhammad Yunus, an 84-year old economist branded as a “CIA agent”, has led the overthrow of the mighty Awami League in Dhaka and outwitted its biggest external supporter and the regional power, India.

Seriously?

Conspiracy theories have long enjoyed great currency in the Subcontinent. They don’t need proof and can’t be disproved. Rulers in South Asia have resorted to the “foreign hand” theory whenever they faced trouble at home.

Conspiracy theories were the staple of Indian politics in the second half of the 20th century. When she faced resistance against her authoritarianism, Indira Gandhi reflexively blamed the foreign hand, mostly the CIA. As she imposed Emergency in 1975, Indira Gandhi and her left supporters blamed the “fascists” at home and the “imperialists” abroad for trying to overthrow her “progressive” government.

One had thought that a “rising India” is now self-confident and secure in its own skin; and that it had overcome the impulse to blame the “foreign hand” for any unwelcome or unanticipated development. But the shock of “losing an ally” in Dhaka seems to have triggered a Delhi derangement.

Conspiracy theories pander to political prejudices and discourage common sense. They avoid reckoning with the causes of a political catastrophe staring in your face. You don’t have to be a geopolitical genius to recognise that Sheikh Hasina was increasingly unpopular. She emaciated her party and turned it into a personal fief. Repeatedly rigged elections, a hardening monopoly over power, a shrinking bubble around the great leader, and growing authoritarianism combined with post-Covid economic challenges were building up anti-regime steam in Bangladesh for a while. The student movement against quotas provided the final trigger for the political blowout.

We can certainly empathise with Sheikh Hasina for clinging to the conspiracy theory. For she might be in the very early stages of grief — denial — at the loss of power. It will be a while before she comes to terms with the sources of the tragic end to her extraordinary political career that has truly transformed Bangladesh. Hasina appears convinced that the US overthrew her because she refused to give America a military base. She is not the only South Asian leader who is blaming the US for losing power. Pakistan’s former prime minister, Imran Khan, has been at it since he was defenestrated in a successful no-confidence vote in the National Assembly in April 2022. Like Hasina, Imran Khan also thinks his refusal to give a base (“absolutely not” were his famous words) was what turned America against him.

To be sure, the US military is looking for bases and facilities as it responds to the Chinese military challenge in Asia. But to suggest that the US so desperately needs bases in Bangladesh and Pakistan that it is organising coups would be outlandish. But then paranoia does not need evidence to thrive. The coup theory also gives too much credit to the CIA. The South Asian lore about the CIA’s prowess outpaces the agency’s capacity. Consider the following: The CIA could not organise the ouster of much-reviled President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela in the recent elections. The US failed to oust the communist regime in Cuba, in power for more than 60 years. Both are in America’s backyard.

The CIA is not the only one that inspires the feverish imagination of South Asian conspiracy theorists. Our own external intelligence agency, R&AW, is blamed these days for any regime change in the neighbourhood.

Whether they realise it or not, in blaming the “foreign hand”, the conspiracy theorists are indicting the Indian establishment for a major failure. If you say the CIA conducted a coup next door, right under India’s nose, which has a huge footprint in Bangladesh, you are accusing Delhi of missing the big moment in Bangladesh. A serious Indian post-mortem on the origins and evolution of the Bangladesh crisis and Delhi’s management would indeed produce valuable long-term lessons for India’s regional policy. However, it is important to remember that no power, global or regional, can control politics in areas of strategic interest. And no government, however resourceful, is immune to utterly misreading the ground situation in other countries.

Instead of taking comfort in conspiracy theories, the Indian strategic community must reflect on Hasina’s tragedy. As Shakespeare urged us in Richard the Second, “For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground/ And tell sad stories” of the fall of kings and queens.

Hasina’s story is about both triumph and tragedy. She survived against great odds, and saved the legacy of the nation’s liberation from Pakistan. Over the last 15 years, Hasina turned Bangladesh into a fast-growing economy and a “model” for other developing countries, including Pakistan to follow. She has also helped India and Bangladesh transcend some of the bitter legacies of Partition, settled the boundary dispute, ended cross-border terrorism, enhanced regional connectivity and boosted bilateral and regional trade. Like all tragic heroes, she had fatal flaws — the relentless determination to concentrate power in her hands and an inability to heal the deep political divisions in the country over its identity and history. Notwithstanding her tragic end, Hasina will go down as a truly historic figure in the evolution of the modern Subcontinent.

India has every reason to regret Hasina’s fall from power, but Delhi can’t be detained by what happened in the last few days. It must look ahead and cooperate with the new rulers in Dhaka to build on the solid foundation she constructed for the bilateral strategic partnership. Delhi must also signal empathy for the student movement that is seeking political liberalisation and wider economic opportunities. As it contributes to the immediate stabilisation of Bangladesh and its long-term rise, the US will remain an important partner for India.

Over the last few years, Delhi and Washington have moved closer to each other on South Asian issues. In the last few months, there has been an important effort to reduce bilateral differences on Bangladesh. Recall that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had introduced Hasina to President Joe Biden at the G20 summit in Delhi and encouraged Washington to reduce the political pressure on Dhaka. Despite the many questions about the January elections in Bangladesh, the Biden Administration offered to cooperate with the new government led by Hasina. The problem in the end was not between Delhi and Washington. It was about Hasina rapidly losing touch with her people. Even a massive collaboration between the RAW and the CIA could not have stopped the political clock that was ticking for Hasina’s unpopular rule.

Finally, the conspiracy theories in play today are unlikely to undermine the deep structural convergence between Indian and US interests in the Subcontinent and its waters. The current crisis in Bangladesh and the gathering storm in Burma demand more intensive India-US consultation and cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and its littoral.

The writer is visiting professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore and contributing editor on international affairs for The Indian Express.

UPSC aspirants don’t need coaching classes to succeed. Here’s my story

Aspirants would do better to directly engage with the civil services examination by placing complete trust in the UPSC guidelines, syllabus, and previous yearsʼ question papers

Updated: August 13, 2024 17:52 IST

A candle-light march in solidarity of the UPSC aspirants who drowned in the basement of Rau's Study Circle in Old Rajendra Nagar. (Express photo by Abhinav Saha)

Written by Sanketh Kumar Ajmera

Last month, the death of four civil services aspirants’ in the basement of a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar (ORN) took me back to when I decided to take the Civil Services Examination (CSE). A friend who had recently joined the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) took me on a tour of ORN in New Delhi. Our exploration of the thoroughfare connecting the Vajiram and Ravi Institute to the famed Agarwal Sweets unveiled a bustling landscape, lined with coaching institutes, bookstores, and hole-in-the-wall eateries. My friend emphasised that every CSE aspirant traverses this path at least once, whether to buy essential books like M Laxmikanthʼs Indian Polity, write CSE mains practise tests or attend mock interviews. Having just transitioned from the tranquillity of academia, I found the experience overwhelming. Nevertheless, I promptly secured rented accommodation — relocating to ORN appeared to be crucial to achieving success in the CSE.

Just as it did for me, the allure of the civil services, with their esteemed reputation and job security, draws many young graduates to the CSE. But it is the coaching institutes that draw them to Delhi and, inevitably, to ORN and the surrounding areas. Shortly after moving there, I found myself in a two-and-a-half-hour queue among hundreds of hopefuls, vying to obtain a “ticket” to enrol in one of the highly-publicised foundation courses — reminiscent of securing a Tatkal train ticket before the advent of online booking systems. Amidst intense commotion and drama, I was among the “selected few” who received a ticket containing a unique token number. Feeling fortunate, I promptly paid Rs 1,60,000 lakh to secure my seat in their year-long foundation programme. Despite having not yet commenced my preparation, I felt like I had travelled some distance in my competitive journey ahead already, only to withdraw from the course within a few months.

It is no surprise that the coaching institutes of ORN exploit the Indian education system’s traditional emphasis on offline learning. They offer year-long, classroom-based foundation programmes that cost nearly Rs 2 lakh. To justify these extravagant fees, the institutes devise various creative programmes from time to time, some as outlandish as handwriting improvement sessions — implying that extra marks are awarded for good handwriting. Despite the high financial costs, moving to ORN and joining a coaching institute seems like a rational decision for the average aspirant. During my preparation between 2021 and 2023, I spent Rs 1,60,000 lakh for General Studies coaching and Rs 70,000 for my Optional subject, only to withdraw within months after realising that these institutes provided no better value than resources available in the market for a fraction of the cost. I moved out of ORN around the same time, as living there did not offer any leverage either. Nevertheless, had I not moved to ORN and enrolled in one of the prominent coaching institutes, I would have been haunted by the fear of missing out on essential guidance. This fear of being left out brings thousands of aspirants to ORN each year, regardless of the cost.

Every square inch of the area is filled with coaching institutes run by self-proclaimed “civil services experts”. These influencer-style experts, who insist on being addressed with titles like “sir” or “madam”, prescribe everything from the best pen for writing answers to offering guaranteed selection upon subscription to their programmes. This environment often attracts and exploits innocent aspirants, particularly those from rural backgrounds and low-tier colleges, who become willing to spend large sums for seemingly expert guidance. Given the limited number of seats each year, only a few succeed, while many remain determined to try again. This demand fuels a thriving market for coaching institutes and accommodation in ORN.

To make matters worse, the rise of social media has further exacerbated the demand for coaching centres in ORN. The mock interviews, often staged in studio-like settings, are uploaded to YouTube. This has led many, including parents, to mistakenly believe that they accurately reflect the CSE interview process. In reality, the CSE interviews are conducted behind closed doors and are shrouded in complete secrecy. Moreover, there is a vast difference between the personality test administered by the UPSC and the mock interviews. The latter comprise entertaining questions under the guise of intellectual discussion and serve as valuable marketing tools for the coaching centres. After conducting a mere 30-minute interview, these institutes often leverage information asymmetry to inflate their importance to young, unsuspecting aspirants.

After spending only a few weeks in ORN, it quickly became evident that the experience presented significant survival challenges. Soaring rents, poor sanitation, unhygienic eateries, and competition for basic amenities are among the daily hardships an aspirant must endure. All of this stems from our subscription to the beautifully wrapped dreams that these institutes sell. Meanwhile, the coaching centres and supporting businesses exploit this demand by increasing fees, relocating libraries to less accessible areas, raising book prices, and introducing new products that promise top ranks at a defensible premium.

It is antithetical to the democratic ethos of the CSE to claim that success is guaranteed by enrolling in a specific coaching institute, residing in a popular locality, and studying religiously from prescribed books for as many hours as possible. It is often argued that aspirants migrate to ORN in search of like-minded peers who can boost their preparation efforts. However, fixating on a single location creates a tragedy-of-commons situation, resulting in numerous practical challenges. The dire conditions experienced by thousands stem from unrealistic expectations set by opportunistic profit maximisers who perpetuate these beliefs. The recent tragic deaths of four UPSC aspirants is a wake-up call in this regard.

Strengthening regulations in the coaching sector, for infrastructure and standard practices, can mitigate some of the damage; however, the problem of exaggerated narratives regarding the significance of popular coaching centres and areas like ORN will persist until the demand for them is curtailed. The entire aspirant community has demonstrated remarkable courage in supporting their peers in the wake of the recent tragedy. Therefore, I earnestly request all aspirants to directly engage with the CSE by placing complete trust in the UPSC CSE guidelines, syllabus, and previous yearsʼ question papers. It is crucial to approach every piece of feedback with discernment. By doing so, aspirants need not rely on self-promoted intermediaries, and the demand for overhyped products will diminish. Ultimately, it is through dedication, originality, and oneʼs inherent qualities that a candidate can successfully clear the CSE and emerge as a committed civil servant.

The writer is an IAS officer. Views are personal

In his centenary year, making sense of Guru Dutt in the classroom

In films such as ‘Pyaasa’, the actor-director challenges our habit of thought while showing us how commerce dominates and displaces both art and the artist

Written by Sumana Roy

Updated: August 13, 2024 21:02 IST

Guru Dutt in Pyaasa. (Express archive)

Every semester, Guru Dutt visits my classroom. He comes in unexpectedly, like he does in the film Pyaasa (1957). My students haven’t heard of him. If he’d been alive, he’d have been 99, older than their grandparents. I had to turn to him for help with explaining Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”, a text that is not commonly read in a Creative Writing classroom, but I had my reasons — I wanted them to understand the dialogic form through two very old texts, The Republic and the Bhagavad Gita.

Like Socrates said to Glaucon, I ask my students to let the classroom become a cave for a few minutes. “Imagine that the cavern has a mouth that opens to the light above, and a passage exists all the way down to the people. They have lived here from infancy, with their legs and necks bound in chains. They cannot move. All they can do is stare directly forward. Imagine that far above and behind them blazes a great fire.” What these “captives” in the cave see is nothing except shadows, which they take to be the only possible truth.

We continue reading Shawn Eyer’s translation in which Socrates says, “Imagine one of them is set free from his shackles… What do you think his reaction would be if someone informed him that everything he had formerly known was illusion and delusion, but that now he was a few steps closer to reality, oriented now towards things that were more authentic, and able to see more truly?… Would he, rather, believe that the shadows he formerly knew were more real than the objects now being shown to him?”

I play the song “Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye toh kya hai”, as if to illustrate Plato’s allegory. Guru Dutt’s name in the film is Vijay, meaning “victory”, used with characteristic melancholic irony, for he is a poet whose poems are ignored, and whose imagined death brings more commerce than his life. In the song, he stands with his arms outstretched, a silhouette that Dutt would repeat in “Jaane woh kaise log the jinke pyar ko pyar mila” in the same film, almost as if he were ploughing the light. The publisher, Ghosh, wealthy, powerful, controller of careers and destinies, is on the dais in the auditorium. Such is the architecture of conditioning that, like the people in Plato’s cave, the audience’s back is towards the poet and the source of light.

A still from Pyaasa (1957), starring Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman. (Express archive)

By interchanging the location of the two — of the poet behind the audience and the publisher on stage — Dutt challenges our habit of thought while showing us how commerce dominates and displaces both art and the artist. Vijay’s Urdu poems are rejected by publishers and his family; his girlfriend leaves him to marry Ghosh. Goaded by the prostitute who loves Vijay and his writing, Ghosh publishes Vijay’s poems, hoping that news of the poet’s death might push up sales. This is the duniya — on the dais — that Vijay wants to burn. What is being rejected? Mehlon, takhton, taajon, samaj, daulat — riches, fame and success. How does it matter if this world is won — yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye toh kya hai? Dutt subverts this in every way he can — notice how the “spotlight” is on the publisher, while the poet sings, standing in the darkness of the auditorium.

Whose history is this, and whose conditioning? It is as much the struggling poet Vijay’s history as it is the Indian nation’s, then only 10 years old, confused between materialism and the spiritual life necessary for art and calm. The nation and its new culture are unable to give him a home, a stage, where the moneyed publisher stands. Dutt’s is also an allegory of the cave — it is a rejection of an idea of poetry, of the stage. The poet has come in like the audience, a “common man”. He stuns them, his song anaesthetises them — not like Shakespeare’s Titania, but into contemplation, into reflection, into thought — as every poem must.

At such a moment, as Plato and Dutt corroborate each other, the Creative Writing classroom is liberated of the worship of “craft” and is able to move beyond the chatter of reviews, agents and publishers to the philosophical: How will a poet who says “Mere samne se hatao yeh duniya” write about the world, this duniya?

Roy, a poet and writer, is associate professor of creative writing, Ashoka University. Views are personal

To understand what’s going on in Bangladesh, look at its past, army and society

The country's historical fault lines provide context to the recent turbulence leading to attacks on minorities, refusal of the army to quell the protests, especially in the initial stages and allowing the situation to become uncontrollable

Written by S K Saini

August 13, 2024 12:03 IST

There is an ongoing conflict between Bengali culture and Islamic resurgence in the country. (AP Photo)

While various reasons can be attributed to the events in Bangladesh over the last few days, the autocratic governance style of the deposed Prime Minister is now being advanced as central to this narrative. However, viewing the present unstable situation through the narrow prism of recent events will blur the fault lines and contradictions that have existed in the country’s society and polity since its creation.

There is an ongoing conflict between Bengali culture and Islamic resurgence in the country. Like India, there are overlapping identities, including religious ones, in Bangladesh. Three main identities are vying with each other for pre-eminence. The first is based on a secularist-nationalist discourse, the second is the Islamic identity and the third is popular Bengali culture, which is more accommodating and syncretic. However, in the issues related to national and Muslim identities, some conflicting and mutually exclusive elements are at play. In erstwhile East Bengal, the creed of Islam was imbibed by the people, but not the culture — Sufism easily blended with elements of Hinduism. Bengali popular culture is the safeguard against any kind of extremism, including Islamic hardliners. This should be the dominant identity of Bangladesh, even in opposition to the secular ideology, which per se is an isolated minority.

Approximately 90 per cent of Bangladesh’s population practices Islam. The amended constitution has also restored the article providing for freedom of religion and secularism. I had the opportunity to interact with senior defence and civil services officers while attending the National Defence Course in Dhaka. Surprisingly, even some of the army officers were vocal about the need for the paramount importance of Islam in the functioning of the state and questioned the restoration of the word “secularism” in the constitution through the 15th amendment.

Second, a major fault line is rooted in the country’s history. Bangladesh has hard divisions between various groups, which go back to who took part in the War of Liberation or stayed out of it, according to their political values, beliefs and ideologies. Since India played a major part in the creation of Bangladesh, its role is central to the narratives of these groups. The nationalists felt that India’s role was limited to bringing Bangladesh under its sphere of influence to further its economic interests and gain better access to North-Eastern India. The pro-Chinese Left believed that India’s intention was to make Bangladesh a colony for importing raw materials to cater to the jute industry in West Bengal. The radical Left perceived India as an expansionist power and believed that Bangladesh’s liberation was an unfinished revolution. The Islamists propagated that India’s real motive was to break up Pakistan, the Muslim homeland, as Hindus had never reconciled to the idea of an independent Islamic state.

Not well known in India, the Mukti Bahini, consisted of diverse ideological entities, some of which also resented India’s role. It had reluctantly fought under India’s overall command of India and could not reconcile to its predominant role. The surrender ceremony was perceived more as an Indian show than a Bangladeshi one despite the fact that Group Captain A K Khondker, who later became Air Chief, was present. In fact, in Bangladesh, it is politically incorrect to mention the 1971 conflict as the India-Pak war. Further, in the national museum at Dhaka, very few displayed items reflect India’s role in its Liberation War. Even the iconic photograph of the surrender ceremony does not find a place.

All these perceptions gave rise to propaganda that India’s help in the liberation struggle had come with a price. It then became politically expedient to blame India for all the problems Bangladesh has been facing ever since. The narrative of India being hegemonic propels the dominant discourse on its neighbour in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s perceptions of India are also shaped by the fractured nature of its polity and society.

There is indeed a wide divergence between government-to-government interaction and public perception in Bangladesh. Minor irritants like delays in getting visas for travel to India and border incidents are perceived by the population as unconstructive policies of the Indian government, overshadowing the co-operational benefits. Misperceptions are also in abundance like India is carrying out a cultural invasion by beaming its TV channels to Bangladesh while blocking Bangladeshi channels in India, especially in West Bengal. Despite periodic explanations by our High Commission that it is merely due to commercial reasons wherein Bangladeshi broadcasters are not ready to pay any “carry fee” to Indian cable TV service providers, the issue is flogged periodically.

Bangladesh has also been unable to institutionalise stable civil-military relations, despite many years of democracy. The country continues to still live under the shadow of the military. The principal reason for this is in the nature of its politics, which is characterised by deadly confrontations, revenge, and struggles for power by the two major political parties, giving rise to a dysfunctional democratic order with a questionable record of institution-building. Due to mutual antagonism, successive regimes have wanted to keep the military on their respective sides. There is also the widely accepted perception that to win the elections, they need the tacit support of the army. The holding of the defence minister’s portfolio by the prime minister since 1975, bifurcation of the defence ministry and placement of the armed forces division under the PM, have blocked the traditional command channel through the defence ministry under which the chiefs of the three services function in other democracies. These developments, as well as their attempts to win over the military, have accelerated the politicisation of the institution.

The Bangladesh army in particular and the defence forces in general, like Pakistan, are deeply involved in controlling commercial activities. Evidence of the army’s wealth and influence is not hard to find. The five-star Dhaka Radisson Hotel — which offers guests use of the nearby deluxe army golf course — is owned by the Bangladesh Sena Kalyan Sangstha and is established on military land.

The army is often called out to perform frivolous tasks for the civil administration such as control of traffic in the national capital, election security duties and distribution of water during the lean season. The army is also routinely employed in high-profile national projects such as the preparation of national ID cards and voter lists. In 2007, the military-backed caretaker government granted the army exclusive rights to receive fees for passports. The reasons for this unusual practice can be attributed both to the over-exuberance of the army and the government playing safe by avoiding the risk of social unrest. This enhances the army-public interface, leading to detrimental effects on the functioning of the army.

These systemic incongruities make Bangladesh more divisive and vulnerable than any external factors at play in the current turmoil. They also provide context to the recent turbulence leading to attacks on minorities, the wrecking of the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka, the ransacking of business establishments, the destruction of the Bangabandhu museum, refusal of the army to quell the protests, especially in initial stages and allowing the situation to become uncontrollable.

The writer is a former Vice Chief and Southern Army Commander of the Indian Army

August 13, 1984, Forty Years Ago: Tamil Extremists Held

August 13, 1984, Forty Years Ago: At least 19 suspected Tamil extremists were killed when a massive explosion brought down the one-storeyed Chunnakam police station building, near Sri Lanka’s Jaffna town.

By: Editorial

Updated: August 13, 2024 09:47 IST

This is the front page of The Indian Express published on August 13, 1984, Forty Years Ago.

At least 19 suspected Tamil extremists were killed when a massive explosion brought down the one-storeyed Chunnakam police station building, near Sri Lanka’s Jaffna town. The explosion occurred when a group of militants went to the police station to rescue some of the Tamil youths arrested during security operations. The sources said a booby trap triggered the explosion when rescuers attempted to break into the police station.

PM Commends Pak

Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi, has congratulated the Pakistani President Zia-ul Haq on Pakistan’s winning the Olympic gold medal for hockey. In a message Mrs Gandhi said: “Your hockey team played well”. ‘’People of India join me in congratulating Pakistan on its winning the Olympic gold medal.”

UK-India Ties

The British Government has decided not to take any action against Jagjit Singh Chauhan, self-styled leader of so-called Khalistan, for his inflammatory statements against the Indian leader which evoked strong protests in India. A statement by Chauhan on BBC Radio was considered by the Indian Government to be an incitement to violence against PM Indira Gandhi and her family. It was condemned in Indian Parliament where a demand for breaking off diplomatic ties with Britain was made a few days ago.

No ‘War’ On States

The Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, said that all recommendations of the Eighth Finance Commission had been accepted, but by not implementing them this year the centre was not “pocketing” any money due to the states. Explaining the non-implementation, he said it was too late and would involve many financial adjustments.

The songs of Haniya: A confident music

Remembering one half of a singing duo that smashed barriers in Pakistan, travelled far.

By: Editorial

August 13, 2024 07:43 IST

The duo disbanded in 2013, and Haniya moved to Canada to study audio engineering and music production.

Over a decade ago, Haniya Aslam and Zebunissa Bangash, cousins from Kohat in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North West Frontier Province), presented ‘Paimana bitte’ and ‘Bibi sanam janam’ — modernised versions of folk songs in Dari, the dominant language in Afghanistan besides Pashto. As the two performed, it was easy to spot the soul of the tunes — the traditional cross-border links between the peoples of two countries. Sung alongside a rabab, the national instrument of Afghanistan, that merged with Haniya’s acoustic guitar chords, the songs on Coke Studio Pakistan felt like a reminder that songs could reach places, undeterred by borders, and differences. These women were not coy — as Haniya played the guitar, Zeb sang of desire. Theirs was a confident music, and wonderful. On Sunday, Haniya, one half of the duo that smashed barriers by becoming the first all-woman music group from Pakistan, and who is remembered for the duo’s album Chup (2007), died of a sudden cardiac arrest.

Not many knew then that the idea for the album came in an abandoned room in a basement during a winter break in Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts where Zeb was studying. Haniya was downtown in Smith and homesickness brought the two together. Aslam pulled out her guitar, which she’d learned to play online, and began strumming an old tune which the two had heard their grandparents and parents sing. And just like that, ‘Paimana bitte’ came about. Before their songs became popular through Coke Studio Pakistan, they were on the radio, and on YouTube. The songs drew the attention of producer Mekaal Hasan who then produced Chup, which reached across the border riding the internet.

The duo disbanded in 2013, and Haniya moved to Canada to study audio engineering and music production. She returned over five years ago and created a song titled ‘Main irada’ — inspired by Maya Angelou’s ‘Phenomenal woman’. It was an anthem for women, which came with the words “Jurrat hoon, mein aurat hoon… (I am daring, I am woman…)”.

Centre’s waiver for clinical trials: For the patient’s sake

Removing clinical trial requirements for cutting-edge therapies could be a first step towards increasing accessibility for those who need it most.

By: Editorial

August 13, 2024 07:42 IST

India has traditionally relied on its generic industry and price-controlling mechanisms to increase the accessibility of drugs.

Last week, the Centre waived the requirement of clinical trials for five categories of drugs if they have been approved by regulators in the US, UK, Australia, Japan, Canada and the EU. The regulatory relaxation covers drugs that provide “significant therapeutic advances over the current standard care, gene and cellular therapy products, medicines used to treat rare diseases, therapies that become necessary during a pandemic, and drugs used for special defence purposes”. Currently, a drug launched in developed economies takes between three to 15 years before becoming available in the Indian market. The waiver could be the first step in enabling doctors in the country to deploy novel therapies for Alzheimer’s, advanced stages of cancer and autoimmune disorders. The global pharma majors will save on the costs of conducting local trials and incentivise them in passing on some of the benefits to Indian patients. However, more needs to be done to ensure that cutting-edge therapies become available in the country’s pharmacies without imposing a high financial burden on the seriously ill.

India has traditionally relied on its generic industry and price-controlling mechanisms to increase the accessibility of drugs. These measures have worked to an extent. However, restrictions on market mechanisms remain the major reason for state-of-the-art medical research — in gene therapy, for instance — remaining inaccessible to large sections of patients in the country. After relaxing the clinical trial requirement, the government should initiate conversations on how best to enhance ease of business and innovation — the goal should be to ensure availability without hurting patient interest. This could mean more creativity in framing healthcare safety nets — making Ayushman Bharat more expansive, for instance — or even state procurement of novel drugs for a fixed period.

The government believes that the latest regulatory relaxation will promote indigenous research by providing early access to patient data. The country’s growing burden of communicable diseases requires synergies between laboratories in the country and outside its shores. But here, too, the government will need to handhold industry. Drug discovery is a long-term commitment that involves high costs. A leader in developing out-of-patent drugs, the country has been lagging in developing new medicine molecules. Low investor interest in biotech seems to have made the ecosystem challenging for start-ups. Given the premium it attaches to healthcare and R&D, the government should find ways to make the domestic pharma industry competitive.

A Bangladesh without Sheikh Hasina, a reset for Delhi

Fall of Awami League regime calls for a measured and pragmatic response from India, keeping in mind regional stability and mutual interest.

Written by Ramanathan Kumar

Updated: August 13, 2024 17:39 IST

Smoke rising from Ganabhaban, the PM’s residence, which was stormed by public shortly after Hasina’s resignation. (Reuters)

The ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a mass upsurge of “people’s power”, and the assumption of power in Dhaka by an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is, doubtless, a watershed moment in Bangladesh’s tumultuous history. As many have pointed out, it is a moment that holds both peril and promise, calling for a measured and sagacious response from all those who have a stake in regional stability.

For close to 15 years, in stark contrast to the preceding years, the use of Bangladeshi territory was effectively denied to all manner of terrorist and insurgent organisations and their backers who were eager to do India harm. This decisive transformation would not have been possible but for the concerted efforts of the government that was in power in Bangladesh during this period and the mutually beneficial cooperation between the concerned institutions of both countries. These are incontrovertible realities that no government in New Delhi can be oblivious or indifferent to.

In accordance with the well-established principle of non-interference, it has been India’s long-standing policy to refrain from passing judgement on what are essentially internal political matters of other countries. Bangladesh has been no exception in this regard. Those who espouse the view that, given India’s perceived proximity to — and influence over — key decision makers in Dhaka, we could somehow have influenced the course of Bangladesh’s internal politics during the years that Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League were in power would do well to keep this fundamental limitation in mind.

For the last decade and a half, Bangladesh and India have, by and large, lived peacefully as neighbours, unburdened by the rancour and recrimination that was a defining characteristic of their relationship for much of the past. The outcome has been the healthy blossoming of ties in a multitude of areas, ranging from security to multi-modal connectivity to trade and commerce to infrastructure development and people-to-people contact. More than 15 lakh Bangladeshi nationals travel annually to India for a host of purposes ranging from tourism to business and medical treatment. Bilateral trade rose to $18 billion in 2021-22. Cooperation in the power and energy sector, once unthinkable, has become an important pillar of the bilateral relationship, with Bangladesh currently importing as much as 1,160 MW of power from India. The potential for further progress in all these areas — and more — is nothing less than immense.

The remarkable progress made by Bangladesh in many indices of socio-economic development, such as literacy, infant mortality, women’s empowerment and financial inclusion is acknowledged and respected by many in India. The success achieved by Bangladesh’s garment industry has been lauded and sought to be replicated by business enterprises in India. The concept of microfinance, pioneered by Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank, has been embraced by several Indian institutions.

This is not to romanticise the recent past or to assert that everything has been perfect between India and Bangladesh. India has made every effort to reciprocate Bangladesh’s contribution towards alleviating its security concerns, but dismay persists among sections of Bangladeshi civil society over the issue of the killing of Bangladeshi nationals at the borders by Indian security forces, despite India’s effort to bring down the number of such casualties. The matter of equitable sharing of river waters, which assumes overarching priority for Bangladesh, defies easy resolution, not least on account of India’s burgeoning needs. Finding lasting solutions to these complex problems remains a work in progress, but given political will and perseverance, they can and will be resolved to the satisfaction of both sides. Mutual recrimination and whipping up negative sentiment over contentious issues cannot be the answer.

The anarchy unleashed by the fall of the previous regime has, understandably, brought to the fore concerns about the prospects of Bangladesh being engulfed by the winner-takes-all brand of politics that it has experienced in the past; by religious fanaticism and by the cross-currents of untrammelled geopolitical rivalry among major powers. These are concerns that cannot be taken lightly by the decision makers, opinion shapers and people of Bangladesh or by those of other countries in the neighbourhood and beyond.

At a time when new social and political forces are rapidly emerging in Bangladesh, the young student leaders who spearheaded the movement for political change and their supporters should bear in mind that millions of ordinary Indians share the developmental aspirations of their counterparts in Bangladesh and wish them well in their endeavours. Endemic poverty, mass unemployment among youth, runaway inflation, climate change, environmental degradation and the spread of infectious diseases are some of the all-pervasive enemies that respect no borders and stalk the people of both countries. It goes without saying that these common challenges can only be addressed in a spirit of mutual cooperation rather than one of hostility and mistrust.

India and Bangladesh must face the future with renewed hope and confidence, eschewing the perils and embracing the promise of the fundamental reset that has taken place in Bangladesh. A reversion to the nay-saying and finger-pointing of yesteryears is not an option.

The writer, a former special secretary in the Research & Analysis Wing, served in Bangladesh. Views are personal

In Manish Sisodia case, Supreme Court shows the way

It is high time that the trial and high courts recognise their legal and constitutional duty to act in appropriate cases, and not add to the burden of the apex court

Written by Rekha Sharma

August 13, 2024 07:18 IST

AAP leader Manish Sisodia hugs his wife Seema after his release from jail, Friday; (below) celebrations outside his home. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

On August 9, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment in Manish Sisodia’s case holding that a speedy trial is a fundamental right within the broad scope of Article 21 of the Constitution, which includes the right to live with dignity.

The judgment not only sets Manish Sisodia free but also holds hope for lakhs of prisoners who are languishing in jail without trial or on account of the slow pace of trials. Although the SC has said nothing new, this verdict goes beyond salutary words. It has acted on its stated position. More importantly, it has held that the right to speedy trial should be read in Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which says that no person shall be released on bail unless the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence, and that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail. In other words, the PMLA puts the burden of proving innocence on the accused — a departure from normal criminal jurisprudence where the burden of proving guilt lies on the prosecution. Notwithstanding this draconian provision that virtually makes it impossible for an accused to obtain bail, the Court has held that Section 45 of the PMLA will not come in the way of granting bail to an accused if he is suffering long incarceration without trial or due to a slow trial.

As of now, Sisodia is a free man, thanks to the SC. But this freedom has come to him at a heavy price. Seventeen months in jail, when jail and not bail is the rule. Who is to be blamed? The state or the courts? The SC has chided both in its order.

Sisodia first approached the SC in October 2023 after his bail application was rejected both by the trial and High Court. The SC too rejected his bail application on the basis of representations made to it by the prosecution that the trial would be concluded in 6-8 months. With the greatest of respect to the SC, it was as clear that given the complexity of the case, and the fact that even the chargesheet had not been filed, there was no way that the trial would be concluded within that time.

During the hearing, the then bench of the Supreme Court had reportedly observed that except for the statement of a businessman-turned-approver, there was no evidence against the accused. But when it came to the crunch, Sisodia’s bail was rejected. What happened to the words of the Supreme Court “that in the matter of personal liberty every day counts”? They were as true in October 2023 and as on August 9, 2024.

The falsity of the prosecution’s assurance is evident from the fact that it proposes to examine 493 witnesses, and besides that, the case involves thousands of pages of documents, and over a lakh pages of digitised documents.

The SC is also critical of the trial court and High Court. It observed both should have considered the long period of incarceration without trial. It further observed that the high courts and trial courts play safe and fail to recognise that “bail is the rule and jail an exception”. The SC added that it is high time these courts recognise this rule. The SC’s observations could not be more true. In some cases, courts even go into overdrive to support the prosecution’s case. If any proof is needed, one has to go back a little when an Honourable Judge of the High Court stayed the order releasing Arvind Kejriwal even before the impugned order of the trial court was uploaded.

We all know that law has to be obeyed and respected, but what happens when state-controlled agencies, meant to protect the citizen, are seen to be acting as a tool to prosecute and deprive her of the constitutional right to live with dignity? In such circumstances, courts are supposed to act as a shield against the tyranny of the state. Therefore, in the words of the SC, it is high time that the trial and high courts recognise their legal and constitutional duty to act in appropriate cases, and not add to the burden of the apex court. The petitioner before the SC was not an ordinary citizen nor devoid of means to engage high profile lawyers to represent him, and yet suffered long months of deprivation of liberty.

The plight of common citizens would be much worse.

The writer is a former judge of the Delhi High Court

Express View: Monsoon and the good news for inflation

Bumper kharif harvest and benign global prices with no fresh supply shocks could ease food inflationary pressures

By: Editorial

Updated: August 13, 2024 07:18 IST

The well-distributed rains, both spatially and temporally, have led to increased area sown under all big-ticket kharif crops — paddy, pulses, maize and oilseeds.

The southwest monsoon season had a poor start, with all-India rainfall in June 10.9 per cent below the long period average (“normal”) for the month. The rains were subpar everywhere, save the South, Maharashtra, west Madhya Pradesh and east Rajasthan. But as El Niño ebbed and transitioned into a “neutral” phase, July recorded 9 per cent above-normal rains, with all regions, barring the North and East, receiving robust precipitation. The current month has been even better — 26 per cent above normal rainfall, taking the cumulative surplus for the season (June-September) to 6.3 per cent till August 12. The deficiency is now largely in Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of Northwest India where farmers have access to irrigation. In short, the monsoon has been good so far, while also helping recharge groundwater tables and fill up the country’s major reservoir dams to 64.7 per cent of full storage capacity — more than 60.8 per cent last year and the 53.7 per cent 10-year-average for this time.

The well-distributed rains, both spatially and temporally, have led to increased area sown under all big-ticket kharif crops — paddy, pulses, maize and oilseeds. There are exceptions like cotton, whose acreage has fallen more due to farmers switching to groundnut, maize or paddy: Pink bollworm insect attacks, and no significant yield-protecting technologies after Bt cotton, have made them hesitant in growing the fibre crop. With global weather agencies predicting a La Niña — El Niño’s “cool cousin” generally known to boost rainfall activity in India — to develop by September and persist through winter and spring, the prospects appear encouraging for the upcoming rabi cropping season as well. The last El Niño from April 2023 to almost May this year not only suppressed the monsoon and post-monsoon rains, but also probably contributed to the winter’s late arrival and higher-than-normal temperatures, especially in Central and South Peninsular India. A La Niña, hopefully, will deliver the opposite.

A munificent monsoon and no heat waves will provide welcome relief on food inflation. The latter ruled above 8 per cent year on year for eight straight months from November 2023, falling to 5.4 per cent in July only thanks to a high base inflation of 11.5 per cent last year for the same month. The Reserve Bank of India has refrained from cutting its interest rates — rightly so, knowing how food prices matter in influencing inflation expectations among Indian households and firms. A bumper kharif harvest and benign global prices with no fresh supply shocks could ease food inflationary pressures going forward. That should provide room for the government to lift export and stocking limit curbs on cereals, sugar and pulses, even while keeping the zero/low duty import window open on all major food commodities.

Hindenburg revelations raise questions — Sebi and its chief Madhabi Puri Buch must answer

The confidence of common investors in the securities market rests squarely on Sebi’s professional competence and institutional credibility as much as it does on the integrity of the person helming the regulatory body

Written by P Vaidyanathan Iyer

Updated: August 13, 2024 22:29 IST

Did Buch disclose her investment in the sub-fund of the foreign portfolio investor, to which a company set up by Vinod Adani also subscribed? (Express file photo by Pradip Das)

After M Damodaran took charge of the Unit Trust of India in 2001 following the historic US-64 fiasco in December 2000 (when sale and redemption of India’s first mutual fund Unit Scheme 64 launched by UTI in 1964 was suspended), he took a conscious call to sell the only equity holding he had — 50 shares of State Bank of India that he was allotted during its initial public offer in 1993. Back then, he didn’t have the heart to say no to a request by the manager of the local SBI branch where he held a savings bank account. There was nothing that UTI, the country’s first mutual fund set up by state-owned institutions, could conceivably have done that could be construed as a conflict of interest later on given Damodaran’s holding of a meagre 50 SBI shares. But he held himself to exacting standards of governance. The IAS officer of 1971 batch, Tripura cadre, went on to become the chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in February 2005.

The point of this anecdote, recalled by another former regulator, is that it is individuals who make institutions when they lead; and it is also true that, at times, the institution shapes the character of the person occupying its highest seat. The latest revelations by US-headquartered Hindenburg Research on the investments by Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch in a certain global offshore fund linked to the Adani Group puts to test the balance between institutional autonomy and accountability that such positions demand. The market regulator’s advice that “investors should remain calm and exercise due diligence before acting on such reports” sounds more like a Sebi order dictated by the Sebi chief. It could have been more convincing if it had addressed the many questions that the Hindenburg revelations have raised.

These questions are: Did Buch disclose her investment in the sub-fund of the foreign portfolio investor, to which a company set up by Vinod Adani also subscribed? What did she do when the Adani Group investigation first came to her table, when she was a whole-time director and later as chairperson? Did she offer to recuse herself when there were allegations relating to other investors in this sub-account? Did she tell the board or the court that the ambit of the probe that Sebi had been asked to conduct covered the period when she and her husband were involved in an investment transaction that had a dotted line link to Vinod Adani?

The confidence of common investors in the securities market rests squarely on Sebi’s professional competence and institutional credibility as much as it does on the integrity of the person helming the regulatory body. And the regulator must not only be of impeccable integrity but also be seen to be above board.

Hindenburg, which claims to specialise in forensic financial research, says on its site that it looks for “man-made disasters floating around in the market”. Of course, it doesn’t say that in these disasters, it smells profit-making opportunities by selling short. In short selling, a trader, who believes stock prices will fall, makes money by selling shares at higher prices, and then buying them back at lower prices. Eighteen months back, in January 2023, Hindenburg had kicked up a political storm by accusing the Adani Group of brazen stock market manipulation and accounting fraud. In this, it admitted it had short positions on Adani. Its August 10 report seems like a Part 2.

Interestingly, the company chose its name after a disaster in 1937 when a huge German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg, was destroyed by fire. The disaster was in the making since the makers had decided to use a lighter but highly flammable gas hydrogen, instead of helium, to lift the airship. But the image of it bursting into flames, and killing almost a hundred, shattered the world’s confidence in airships. Borrowing from this literature, a particular price movement pattern of stocks called the “Hindenburg omen” presages a market crash, and hence presents an opportunity for short selling — what Hindenburg did in January 2023.

Now, the revelations have put the onus on the market regulator to clear the haze around allegations of market manipulation by the Adani Group, which the latter has consistently maintained are baseless. Buch, who had joined Sebi as a whole-time director in 2017 and was appointed its chairperson in March 2022, had at least two clear opportunities to make disclosures about her and her husband’s investments in the Adani-related offshore fund. The need to make this disclosure is seen to be critical by many in the regulatory circles because this is unlike a Systematic Investment Plan in a mutual fund which a common person puts her money in. Investments in offshore funds by high net worth individuals (HNIs) are managed by portfolio managers. In a normal mutual fund, an investor has zero say in how her money is invested by the fund manager. In most Portfolio Management Schemes, the HNI has greater interaction with the portfolio fund manager and more knowledge about the investment. This then begs a question: Did she and her husband have “constructive knowledge” about the deployment of funds?

To whom could she have disclosed this? First, to the Supreme Court. Would the Court have dismissed a plea to set up a court-monitored team to probe the allegations against the Adani Group, if it had knowledge about the Sebi chief’s conflict of interest? Would it not have asked Sebi or the government to recuse her from the investigation to ascertain the real economic ownership of 13 overseas entities — which the regulator has been struggling to find out since October 2020?

Second, to the six-member expert committee set up by the SC in March 2023. This committee with members, including KV Kamath, Nandan Nilekani and OP Bhatt, was set up to examine if there was regulatory failure in dealing with the alleged contravention of laws pertaining to the securities market in relation with the Adani Group or other companies. If she did make this disclosure to the committee, it was incumbent upon it to inform the Supreme Court.

A voluntary disclosure about investments to the Sebi board alone may not suffice when it comes to the head of a market regulator. Yes, telling the board, in one way, means keeping the government informed, since at least two Government of India secretaries and an RBI nominee sit on the board of the regulator. The government, for all practical purposes, would be seen as having all information. Before looking for a foreign hand and a conspiracy to undermine Indian institutions, maybe these three should also look within.

Tariq Mansoor writes: Why fears around Waqf Amendment Bill are exaggerated

Proposals which further social justice and gender equity by including broad-based representation of women, Muslim sub-groups and non-Muslims in waqf governance should not cause consternation in the Muslim community

Written by Tariq Mansoor

Updated: August 13, 2024 05:12 IST

It is necessary to underline that the demand for reforms of the waqfs has also been voiced within the Muslim community. (Representative/ Express file photo by Praveen Khanna)

There appears to be considerable anxiety within a section of the Muslim clergy and community on the proposal to amend the law on waqfs — a preeminent institution of Muslims in which property is dedicated in perpetuity for a religious or charitable purpose. What has been rather surprising is that much of the anxiety appeared to rest on speculation, as the contents of the amendment were actually unknown till the tabling of the amendment in Parliament. Now that the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, has been introduced, it is important that the proposal is analysed objectively and dispassionately. On its part, the government and Parliament should proceed in a manner that allays the fears of a section of the community rather than feeds it.

To begin with, this is not the first time that the waqf law will be undergoing changes. Amendments were carried out in 1913 and 1930 while more comprehensive changes were introduced through the Waqf Act, 1995 and the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2013. Moreover, several of the changes contemplated under the present Bill were also recommended by the Sachar Committee Report in 2006 and the Joint Parliamentary Committee Report on Waqf presented to the Rajya Sabha in March 2008. These changes included, inter alia, various measures to improve the management of waqf such as the functioning of Mutawallis (managers), digitisation of records, revamping of the composition of Waqf Boards to include other social groups, technical expertise, financial audit, etc. Therefore, the proposals to reform waqf administration have been in the works for decades. It is not a novel idea of the present Bill.

It is necessary to underline that the demand for reforms of the waqfs has also been voiced within the Muslim community. The Ministry of Minority Affairs received several grievances from Muslims on issues like encroachment and mismanagement of waqf properties. The analysis of the grievances received by the Ministry from April 2023 found that 148 complaints pertained mostly to encroachments, illegal sales of waqf land, delays in surveys and registration and complaints against waqf boards and Mutawallis. Analysis of data from the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) from April 2022 to March 2023 reveals that out of 566 complaints received, 194 related to encroachment and transfer of waqf land illegally and 93 complaints were against the officials of waqf boards/Mutawallis. A glance at the functioning of tribunals reveals that 40,951 cases are pending out of which 9,942 cases are filed by Muslims against the institutions managing waqf. Moreover, there is an inordinate delay in the disposal of cases and no provision for judicial oversight provided on tribunal decisions. Over the years, parliamentarians across party lines raised issues of delay in registration of waqf properties, fetching less rent than the market value by the waqf board, rampant encroachment on waqf land, inheritance rights of widows, non-completion of surveys by survey commissioners, slow progress of digitisation of waqf property records, etc.

We should also not lose sight of the fact that the waqfs, although Muslim institutions created for charitable and pious purposes, are public institutions with enormous potential to foster socio-economic development. Hence, improvements in their administration are in national interest. India has the largest waqf holding in the world. Nationally, they are the largest landholders after Railways and Defence with approximately 8 lakh acres of land with an estimated value of about Rs 1.2 lakh crore. If put up to transparent and efficient use, these properties can generate enormous benefits for all communities.

The argument for their “public” nature finds resonance in some of the best international practices in nations such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Bangladesh and Turkey where the waqf properties are generally regulated by the laws and institutions set up by the government. In these countries, the waqf endowments are mostly public organisations engaged in charitable and pious purposes.

In light of these facts, the debate on waqf reforms should be driven by reason, objectivity and experience. Proposals which further social justice and gender equity by including broad-based representation of women, Muslim sub-groups and non-Muslims who bring technical expertise to their governance should not cause consternation to the Muslim community. Similarly, proposals for leveraging technology to usher in scientific and efficient processes to manage waqf properties will lead to improved administration. As this historical opportunity beckons, the Muslim community should not fall victim to dangerous and misinformed claims that reforms will lead to alienation and dispossession.

The writer is a nominated member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council and former Vice-Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University

Mani Shankar Aiyar writes: Natwar Singh, friend, patron and man of many parts

He was a diplomat who smoothly transitioned to politics and cultivated warm relations with leading literary and artistic figures. His dizzying rise and closeness to the Nehru-Gandhi family led to much idle gossip and jealousy

Written by Mani Shankar Aiyar

Updated: August 13, 2024 10:55 IST

In this Nov. 26, 2012 file photo, former external affairs minister Natwar Singh at Parliament House during the winter session, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

In the passing away of K Natwar Singh, the Indian Foreign Service has lost one of its most exceptional members. Exceptional because Natwar was never a run-of-the-mill officer, but someone quasi-political who smoothly made the transition from the IFS to frontline politics and rose to be external affairs minister until he was struck down suddenly at the height of his professional achievement. The reasons remain obscure despite his telling his side of the story in his autobiography, One Life is Not Enough.

His school days gave no hint of the role he was due to play. He spent most of his time running away from Scindia School, Gwalior. It was at St Stephen’s that he really came into his own, becoming a college legend even before he graduated. It was there that he struck up a strong friendship with Harsha Hutheesingh, son of Jawaharlal Nehru’s youngest sister, Krishna. This gave him an entrée to Panditji’s breakfast table presided over by Indira Gandhi. It was the beginning of an almost lifelong relationship with the Nehru-Gandhis.

He combined his political interests with literary flair. At Cambridge, where he was sent for a year as a probationer in the Foreign Service, he sought out E M Forster, author of the renowned novel, A Passage to India. It was a friendship that, like many Natwar cultivated, lasted forever. He picked Chinese as his compulsory foreign language and was in Beijing when Hindi-Cheeni bhai-bhai was at its peak, leading to another lifelong friendship with the Chinese writer, Han Suyin, who had written the best-seller, A Many-Splendoured Thingabout her love for an Indian journalist killed in the Korean war. This penchant for friendships with literary and artistic figures eventually drew into his net Mulk Raj Anand and M F Husain, among a galaxy of others.

As India’s representative on the Decolonisation Committee at the UN, his personality and India’s standing among the emerging nations opened the gates to warm connections with a series of African freedom fighters who were struggling to free their countries. They eventually became presidents of their countries at independence and never forgot the young Indian diplomat who had stood by them in their moments of challenge.

When Indira Gandhi became PM in 1966, she immediately flew him out of New York to join her PMO. I was then a very raw new entrant into the IFS and heard a lot of idle gossip as to whether he was really a talented civil servant or a courtier who had made his dizzy way upwards by flattery. Of course, people were jealous of his obvious closeness to the highest in the land and took him down behind his back, especially when he secured an out-of-turn posting as Ambassador to Warsaw and later Deputy High Commissioner in London with the personal rank of Ambassador.

While he was in London, the Emergency was proclaimed. As a diplomat, he was, of course, obliged to defend the negative reporting in the UK press, but he went about his duties with such zeal that he was targeted by Morarji Desai when the Emergency ended. He was sent on a “punishment posting” to Zambia. What Desai had not perhaps briefed himself on was that Kenneth Kaunda was an old friend from Natwar’s New York days. Natwar made the most of his punishment posting and earned a bonus when he introduced the godman, Chandraswami, to Kaunda.

Meanwhile, the Morarji government fell, and Natwar was back in favour. Indira Gandhi sent him to man our embassy in Islamabad. I was posted as Consul-General in Karachi and had had a remarkable run for two years with little interference from the ambassador in faraway Islamabad. Apprehensive that things would change with this high-profile new boss, I rang a close friend and colleague who had served with Natwar in London. He said I could continue being in the Karachi papers daily provided I ensured that Natwar alone would figure in Indian coverage. Armed with this advice, I flew with considerable concern to Islamabad to make Natwar’s acquaintance.

Natwar was friendliness, warmth and courtesy personified. He knew my affection for the people of Pakistan did not quite tally with his own perceptions and policy instructions, but he let me know that I was to continue doing my work as I thought fit while he got on with dealing with Ziaul Haq.

My admiration for him grew when he publicly announced that the 1980 Moradabad Eidgah police firing and the riots all over UP and Delhi that followed had “humiliated him as an Indian and diminished him as a human being”. He came to Karachi and, without standing on protocol, received in my office a delegation of incensed protesters, and listened patiently to their grievances.

He entered politics even as I entered Rajiv Gandhi’s PMO. Our friendship grew and survived differences when he became a founding member of the Tiwari Congress. He was most responsible for urging me to set my sights on a cabinet post when we won in 2004 and instrumental in backing me as minister of petroleum when I ran afoul of his senior bureaucrats.

I never quite understood what the Paul Volcker Committee report was all about. But he felt so badly let down that he walked out of the Congress and cut all his links to the Gandhi family. He urged me to do the same. I resisted.

I have lost a friend and a patron. It is heartbreaking that he did not live to see his centenary, as he confidently expected. May he find in the afterlife the peace that eluded him in his last two decades.

The writer is a former Union minister

Sanjay Srivastava writes: For a nation that aspires to Olympic glory, what is the role of the state?

There is a difference between promoting physical activity among the general population and sponsoring elite sporting activity.

Written by Sanjay Srivastava

Updated: August 13, 2024 22:27 IST

Paris: Bronze medalist India's Aman Sehrawat poses for photos at the podium during the victory ceremony for the men's 57kg free-style wrestling event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (Illustration by Abhishek Mitra)

Apart from the unfortunate news surrounding Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from her wrestling event at the Olympics, there has been another news item that did the rounds in several international newspapers. This concerned the Ambani family and their “quest” to improve India’s standing in elite sporting events such as the Olympics. Leaving aside the expected hype about the role of private wealth in securing sporting “glory”, it is worth considering the case for its involvement in elite sport. This, actually, goes to the heart of ideas of public welfare and the role of the state and its responsibility towards the most marginalised.

There is a difference between promoting physical activity among the general population and sponsoring elite sporting activity. The former improves public health, while the latter is mainly concerned with adding to private profits and feelings of (frequently middle-class) nationalism. How should we define the role of the state: Should its limited resources be devoted to increasing public welfare or enhancing private profit and the ephemeral buzz of nationalist feeling?

There does not appear to be any evidence that the state’s involvement in sponsoring Olympic participation has had any public welfare effects. First, it does not translate into any concrete benefits in terms of improved health because audiences for global sporting events are inspired to adopt better lifestyle activities. In a poor country, where livelihoods are precarious, this is a much more complicated affair and there can, in fact, be little connection between elite sport and the welfare of the majority of the population. Second, even if we were to grant that nationalism-fuelled exultation over medals adds to some form of emotional well-being, the fact that over the years, India has won under 45 medals altogether makes a weak case for publicly funding what is clearly very poor returns on investment.

There is, on the other hand, a clear relationship between national wealth and medals acquisition. At just over 3,000 medals, the US has the largest number, followed, as expected, by countries such as Germany and the UK. Long-distance runners from Africa fuel our views about the indomitability of the human spirit under adverse circumstances and sport as an equaliser between the well-off and the deprived. However, individual effort and personal willpower can never be a way of understanding how one builds systems that lead to better outcomes. And, to come to grips with this, we need to understand the nature of the state in our part of the world and why it should not fund preparations for participation in elite sports.

Historically, there has been a close relationship between parties in power and their patronage activities. There are at least two reasons for this: Patronage binds the party and its supporters and provides a source of support for the party. Unfortunately, the sporting arena in India has been a prime source of political patronage and since the key functionaries in sporting bodies tend to be political appointees, both their incompetence as well as deliberate misdeeds go unpunished. This directly relates to their nature as political appointees: Their primary significance and role is to further the aims of party politics rather than nurture sporting talent. Sport is politics and since the politics of sport reflects the nature of the state, sporting success cannot be an outcome of state sponsorship.

On the other hand, those who genuinely believe in both greater sporting success as well as improved public welfare might consider that greater private involvement might bring about both. First, private investment is subject to the most significant rule of business: Profits. These, in terms of investment in sport, will be the expectations of more medals which, in turn, enhance the company’s public image and better branding of its products. The state’s involvement, on the other hand, does not entail any “shareholder” scrutiny of this kind. Party politics and state functioning have different dynamics and, at least, in the Indian context, voters don’t necessarily punish parties on the basis of misuse of public funds. The appeal of religious, caste and ethnic loyalties has produced a particular kind of electoral democracy.

A genuine concern with public welfare requires a re-think regarding the nature of the state and the kinds of activities it should fund. Should the state fund activities that provide almost no public benefit, bolster party-political machinations and are the sources of occasional shouts of joy in the TV rooms of the relatively well-off? Or, should it focus attention on those parts of society that market forces will not consider profitable enough to invest in: Good quality education, health facilities and housing for the most deprived?

There is a romanticism to the manner in which we view the state as both an organ that must undertake all forms of public activity as well as that which, by definition, delivers public good. The former has usually meant an over-stretching of its capacities so that there is little it does well and the latter has never really been true. State forms are historical developments and the Indian one has its own peculiarity. Given this, we need to ask if state involvement in elite sports is the best way of using public money and who benefits from it. If elite sport is primarily about selling goods and commodities (no necessary evil in itself) and bolstering middle-class nationalism, should public funds be deployed for it? Can the private sector do it better – perhaps even create systems that are currently lacking – and should we aim at a society where public funds are expended in increasing the welfare of the majority?

The writer is British Academy Global Professor, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, SOAS University of London

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Independence Day: The lead-up to India’s independence and partition

In 1946, the British government sent the Cabinet Mission to India to negotiate the terms of Independence. But how did the Mission’s failure to reconcile the contradictory demands of the Congress and the Muslim League make the partition inevitable?

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 18:46 IST

On September 2 in 1946, the interim government of India led by Jawaharlal Nehru was formed. (Source: File)

— Rahul Ranjan

(The Indian Express has launched a new series of articles for UPSC aspirants written by seasoned writers and erudite scholars on issues and concepts spanning History, Polity, International Relations, Art, Culture and Heritage, Environment, Geography, Science and Technology, and so on. Read and reflect with subject experts and boost your chance of cracking the much-coveted UPSC CSE. In the following article, Rahul Ranjan revisits India’s independence and partition.)

During World War II, India was pivotal to British defence strategies in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The British government sought to harness India’s resources for the war effort while maintaining tight control over Indian affairs. Winston Churchill, who became the Prime Minister of Britain in 1940, was a staunch imperialist, reluctant to grant any real concessions to Indian demands for self-governance. However, within his War Cabinet, there was a division, with Sir Stafford Cripps representing the Labour Party’s more progressive stance, which favoured India’s independence.

In 1942, the Cripps Mission was sent to India, offering post-war self-determination (dominion status), but with conditions that included the possibility of provinces seceding from a future Indian union — implicitly recognising the Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan. Congress rejected the offer, leading to a total breakdown in relations between the British and Indian leaders. As the war progressed, British prestige was further undermined by Japan’s advances in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, international pressure, particularly from the United States, pushed Britain towards decolonisation. By the end of the war, Britain was economically weakened and faced mounting political pressure, leading to a shift in its policies. The Labour government, which came to power in 1945, was more inclined towards Indian independence, although still cautious about relinquishing full control.

This period marked the beginning of Britain’s retreat from India, culminating in the 1947 partition plan, which divided India into two independent nations—India and Pakistan. The partition was a direct consequence of the complex interplay between wartime exigencies, international pressure, and growing Indian demands for self-rule.

The Hindu-Muslim divide and the demand for Pakistan

The process of partition in India was fundamentally driven by the deepening Hindu-Muslim divide, which became apparent during various negotiations leading up to the transfer of power. The Lahore Resolution, adopted by the All-India Muslim League in March 1940, marked a significant turning point, seeking to elevate the status of the Indian Muslims from a minority group to a separate nation. It positioned Muhammad Ali Jinnah as the “Sole Spokesman” for Muslims, and the Muslim League’s demands became non-negotiable.

Jinnah’s rejection of the Cripps proposal exemplified his insistence on Muslim self-determination and equality with Hindus, rather than mere provincial autonomy.

As the Congress launched the Quit India Movement, the British found allies in Jinnah and the Muslim League.

Winston Churchill used the Hindu-Muslim tensions as a pretext to maintain British rule in India. During this period, the British actively supported Muslim League ministries in various provinces, further deepening the divide. Despite these developments, the demand for Pakistan remained ambiguous, focusing more on autonomy within a federal structure rather than outright separation.

Political negotiations and failures

Throughout the 1940s, Congress made several attempts to address Muslim demands through high-level negotiations. One notable attempt was the Rajaji Formula proposed by C. Rajagopalachari in 1944. The formula suggested a post-war commission to demarcate Muslim-majority districts, where a plebiscite based on adult suffrage for everyone, including non-Muslims, would decide whether they would prefer to join Pakistan.

However, Jinnah rejected this proposal, leading to the failure of the Gandhi-Jinnah talks in September 1944. The fundamental disagreement between Gandhi’s vision of a united India with some level of partnership and Jinnah’s demand for complete sovereignty led to a stalemate.

The issue resurfaced in 1945 when then Viceroy of India, Lord Archibald Wavell, attempted to form a coalition government involving both Congress and the Muslim League. The Simla Conference of 1945, convened to discuss the formation of an entirely Indian executive council, collapsed due to Jinnah’s demand for Muslim League’s exclusive claim to nominate Muslim members. Congress’s refusal to accept this demand, which would have confined it to representing only caste Hindus, further exacerbated tensions.

The Muslim League’s rise and mass mobilisation

During the 1940s, the Muslim League rallied widespread support among Muslims. This period saw the League’s transition from representing the landed aristocracy to gaining support from professionals, business groups, and religious leaders. The League’s campaign for Pakistan was not just political but also imbued with religious legitimacy, thanks to the support of leading ulama, pirs, and maulavis.

Photograph that documents the Partition. (Courtesy: the Partition Museum, Amritsar)

Jinnah’s leadership became increasingly authoritative, consolidating his control over the League’s provincial branches. This centralisation of power led to the marginalisation of regional leaders like A.K. Fazlul Huq in Bengal and Sir Sikander Hyat Khan in Punjab, who resisted Jinnah’s dominance. The League’s successful mass mobilisation campaigns in provinces like Bengal and Punjab were crucial in establishing Pakistan as an ideological symbol of Muslim solidarity, transcending class and regional divisions.

The electoral victory and the mandate for partition

The Muslim League’s mass mobilisation efforts culminated in the 1946 elections, which were portrayed as a plebiscite for Pakistan. The Muslim League’s sweeping victories in Muslim-majority provinces, particularly in Bengal and Punjab, solidified its position as the sole representative of Indian Muslims. In Bengal, the Muslim League won 93 per cent of Muslim votes (as mentioned in the book From Plassey To Partition And After by Sekhar Bandyopadhyaya), while in Punjab, it gained significant ground despite the opposition from the Unionist Party.

The Congress also secured a popular mandate, winning majorities in most provinces except Bengal, Sind, and Punjab. The 1946 elections marginalised other political parties, including the Communist Party, Hindu Mahasabha, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s All India Scheduled Castes Federation. The election results were interpreted as a popular endorsement of the Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan, and set the stage for the eventual partition.

In late 1946, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee recognised the untenable nature of continuing British rule in India through coercion. He cited several factors: the lack of sufficient administrative machinery, military commitments elsewhere, opposition within the Labour Party, questionable loyalty among Indian troops, and the reluctance of British forces to serve in India.

Global opinion and concerns within the United Nations further complicated the situation. Attlee’s government understood that the colonial rule could not be sustained, leading to a policy shift towards a graceful withdrawal. This was reflected in the actions of early 1946, including the announcement of the Cabinet Mission to India, which was intended to set up the constitutional framework for transferring power. While a phased withdrawal plan and a time limit on British rule were proposed, these were not fully accepted. Attlee’s approach underscored the inevitability of British departure, marking a significant shift in imperial policy towards India.

The Cabinet Mission

In 1946, the British government sent the Cabinet Mission to India to negotiate the terms of Independence. The proposal of the Mission under Pethick-Lawrence, Strafford Cripps, and AV Alexander, alongside then Viceroy Wavell rejected the idea of a sovereign Pakistan, but offered a compromise in the form of a loose federal structure with groupings of provinces. This structure would allow provinces to opt out of groups after 10 years but not from the Union.

The Mission’s goal was to grant independence, either within or outside the British Commonwealth, based on the Indian people’s choice. However, the Cabinet Mission’s plan failed to reconcile the contradictory demands of the Congress and the Muslim League. While the Muslim League insisted on the formation of Pakistan, Congress demanded complete independence for a united India.

The Mission’s rejection of a sovereign Pakistan led to further polarisation, with both parties becoming increasingly intolerant of each other’s agendas. The Mission’s failure to secure a consensus further hastened the inevitability of partition, as the political situation in India became increasingly volatile.

By the time Louis Mountbatten arrived in India, the idea of granting freedom with partition had already gained substantial acceptance. An innovative suggestion by V.P. Menon proposed the immediate transfer of power based on dominion status, which included the right to secede. This approach negated the need for a prolonged wait for consensus in the Constituent Assembly on a new political structure.

The Mountbatten plan and the partition of India

The Mountbatten Plan, announced on June 3, 1947, outlined several key points. The legislative assemblies of Punjab and Bengal were to meet in separate groups of Hindus and Muslims to vote on partition. If a simple majority in either group voted in favour of partition, the respective provinces would be divided. In the event of partition, two dominions and two constituent assemblies would be established. Sindh was allowed to make its own decision, and referendums were to be held in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Sylhet district of Bengal to determine their fate.

The Mountbatten Plan essentially conceded the Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan while attempting to retain as much unity as possible. On July 5, 1947, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act, based on the Mountbatten Plan, and it received royal assent on July 18, 1947. The Act was implemented on August 15, 1947.

The Indian Independence Act 1947

The Indian Independence Act provided for the creation of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, effective from August 15, 1947. Each dominion was to have a Governor-General responsible for the effective operation of the Act. The Constituent Assembly of each dominion was to exercise legislative powers, and the existing Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of States were to be automatically dissolved. Until a new constitution was adopted by each dominion, the governments were to function according to the Government of India Act, 1935.

As per the Indian Independence Act, 1947, Pakistan became independent on August 14, 1947, while India gained its freedom on August 15, 1947. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was appointed the first Governor-General of Pakistan. In contrast, India requested Lord Mountbatten to continue as its Governor-General, reflecting a symbolic continuation of British oversight during the transitional period.

The partition led to massive population exchanges, communal violence, and a humanitarian crisis, as millions of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs found themselves on the wrong side of the newly drawn borders. The division of assets, including the military, civil services, and infrastructure, further complicated the process.

Post Read Question

Discuss the causes, consequences, and aftermath of the partition.

How did the partition of India affect society and politics of India?

The speedy events under Mountbatten fail to arrange the details of partition and prevent the partition massacre. Comment.

Discuss the circumstances that forced Congress to accept the partition of India.

(Rahul Ranjan is pursuing his PhD in history from MSBU.)

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UPSC Key | Tungabhadra dam, Western Ghats, UNESCO Kalinga Prize and more

Exclusive for Subscribers Daily: How are the Western Ghats and UNESCO Kalinga Prize relevant to the UPSC Exam? What significance do topics like the Tungabhadra dam and SEBI have for the preliminary and main exams? You can learn more by reading the Indian Express UPSC Key for August 13, 2024.

Written by Roshni Yadav , Khushboo Kumari

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 22:58 IST

The 33-gate dam on the Tungabhadra in Karnataka was completed in 1953. Know more in our UPSC Key. (PTI Photo)

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Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 13, 2024. If you missed the August 12th, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.

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Explained

How Tungabhadra dam gate was swept away, why farmers are fearful

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-I, III: Geography, Disaster Management

What’s the ongoing story- A flood alert has been sounded downstream of the Tungabhadra dam in Karnataka’s Koppal district after one of the 33 crest gates of the massive stone masonry dam across the Tungabhadra river was washed away late on Saturday evening (August 10).

Prerequisites:

— Location of Tungabhadra dam

— What are the purpose of Dams?

Key takeaways:

— The Tungabhadra, which is formed at the confluence near Shimoga of two streams, Tunga and Bhadra, that rise in the Western Ghats, flows into the Krishna at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh. The river, which forms part of the boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, has a total catchment area of almost 70,000 sq km.

— The Tungabhadra reservoir sprawls over an area of 378 sq km primarily in Karnataka’s Vijayanagar district. It is one of the major reservoirs in South India that supplies water for irrigation and industrial use, as well as drinking water to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

— The dam was first conceived of in 1860 to mitigate the impact of recurrent famine in Rayalaseema. Construction was begun by the erstwhile governments of Hyderabad and Madras in 1945, and the project was completed in 1953.

— The Tungabhadra Board was established by a presidential order in 1953. The Board currently has a chairman appointed by the Union government, and four members, representing the Union government and the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the challenges associated with Dams in India?

— What is the dam Safety Act?

— What are the key Dams in India?

Post Read Question:

(1) Match the following:

Dams

Rivers

1. Tehri Dam

Bhagirathi

2. Indira Sagar Dam

Krishna

3. Nagajuna Sagar Dam

Narmada

4. Hirakud Dam

Mahanadi

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Flood threat in Karnataka as Tungabhadra dam’s crest gate washed away

Hindenburg-Adani-Buch saga

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-III: Economy

What’s the ongoing story- A year and a half after its January 2023 report on the Adani Group, US-based short seller Hindenburg Research has levelled allegations against the chairperson of India’s capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). Hindenburg alleged on Saturday that Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval Buch, had stakes in offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal.

Prerequisites:

— What is the role of SEBI?

— What is the siphoning of funds?

— What is the conflict of interests?

— What is short selling?

Key takeaways:

— The Buchs have denied the allegation and Sebi has said that it has adequate internal mechanisms for addressing issues relating to conflict of interest, including a disclosure framework and provisions for recusal.

— In a 106-page report released on January 25, 2023, Hindenburg accused Gautam Adani’s Adani Group of “brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades”.

— On March 2, 2023, the Supreme Court set up a six-member expert committee to investigate whether there was regulatory failure in dealing with the alleged contravention of laws by the Adani Group or other companies.

— In November 2023, the court said it had no reason to discredit Sebi, and that it did not have to treat the contents of the Hindenburg report as the “true state of affairs”.

— Hindenburg has now alleged that “it suspects Sebi’s unwillingness to take meaningful action against suspect offshore shareholders in the Adani Group may stem from Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch’s complicity in using the exact same funds used by Vinod Adani, brother of Gautam Adani”.

For Your Information:

From the Editorial- Institution and Individual

— P Vaidyanathan Iyer writes: The latest revelations by US-headquartered Hindenburg Research on the investments by Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch in a certain global offshore fund linked to the Adani Group puts to test the balance between institutional autonomy and accountability that such positions demand.

— The confidence of common investors in the securities market rests squarely on Sebi’s professional competence and institutional credibility as much as it does on the integrity of the person helming the regulatory body. And the regulator must not only be of impeccable integrity but also be seen to be above board.

— This then begs a question: Did she and her husband have “constructive knowledge” about the deployment of funds?

— To whom could she have disclosed this? First, to the Supreme Court. Would the Court have dismissed a plea to set up a court-monitored team to probe the allegations against the Adani Group, if it had knowledge about the Sebi chief’s conflict of interest? Would it not have asked Sebi or the government to recuse her from the investigation to ascertain the real economic ownership of 13 overseas entities — which the regulator has been struggling to find out since October 2020?

— Second, to the six-member expert committee set up by the SC in March 2023. This committee was set up to examine if there was regulatory failure in dealing with the alleged contravention of laws pertaining to the securities market in relation with the Adani Group or other companies. If she did make this disclosure to the committee, it was incumbent upon it to inform the Supreme Court.

— A voluntary disclosure about investments to the Sebi board alone may not suffice when it comes to the head of a market regulator.

Points to Ponder:

— How does SEBI control the securities market?

— What are the concerns related to SEBI?

— What is the role of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC)?

Post Read Question:

(2) Consider the following statements:

1. SEBI is a non-constitutional body which was established in 1995.

2. Madhabi Puri Buch became the first women Chairperson of SEBI.

3. The main purpose of SEBI is to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote and regulate the securities market.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Hindenburg’s new allegations: How SEBI board is supposed to address conflicts of interest

As Sebi chief Madhabi Buch digs heels in, key query: Did she disclose fund linked to Adani?

Express Network

Naveen urges Centre to continue support to UNESCO Kalinga Prize

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-I, GS-II: Indian Heritage and Culture, Important International Institutions.

What’s the ongoing story- The Science and Technology Ministry has withdrawn its contribution to the prestigious UNESCO Kalinga Prize for Popularisation of Science, UNESCO’s oldest award, instituted through a donation by Odisha’s former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik way back in 1951.

Prerequisites:

— Know in details about the UNESCO Kalinga Prize.

— Organisation to look for: UNESCO

Key takeaways:

— Official sources said the decision to withdraw the Department of Science and Technology’s annual contribution to the award was part of the recent decision to ‘rationalise’ all science awards. The government has, last year, instituted a new set of science awards, called Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, to replace all the earlier awards, including the coveted Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards. The inaugural set of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskars were announced last week.

— Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, however, has protested the government’s decision and written to Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh to ensure that the support is restored.

— The Science Ministry has been supporting this award since 2001. The award carries a cash prize of US$ 40,000. The winner also receives a Kalinga Chair established by the DST which also carries a cash component of US$ 5,000. Besides, the winner is invited to travel to India for two to four weeks and interact with scientists and science communicators. The expenses of this are also borne out by the DST. Besides DST, the Kalinga Foundation and the state government of Odisha also contribute to the main award money.

— The winner of this award is selected by the Director-General of UNESCO upon the recommendation of a jury of five members. It is the Science Analysis and Policies Division of the UNESCO which administers this award. The award ceremony is scheduled during the celebration of the World Science Day in Budapest as the guest of UNESCO and India in the alternate years.

For Your Information:

— Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar awardees: The RVP comprises four awards — Vigyan Ratna for lifetime achievement, Vigyan Shri for scientists of all ages, Vigyan Yuva for scientists under 45 years, and Vigyan Team for collaborative research work.

— The award ceremony will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on August 23, the first National Space Day.

— These new awards were instituted last year after disbanding all existing science awards, including the coveted Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize. Vigyan Yuva is a replacement for the Bhatnagar Prize, which too used to be given to outstanding scientists below 45 years old.

Points to Ponder:

— What is Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar?

— What are the UNESCO World Heritage sites in India?

— What initiatives have been taken by the government with regard to the science, technology, and innovation ecosystem?

Post Read Question:

(3) Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO? (UPSC 2024)

(a) Chhau dance

(b) Durga puja

(c) Garba dance

(d) Kumbh mela

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar awardees

Western Ghats: States’ submission on ESAs to Centre’s committee based on old surveys

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-III: Environment

What’s the ongoing story- The Centre’s expert panel — tasked with finalising the extent of eco-sensitive areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats — has received submissions broadly based on old ground truthing surveys carried out by states governments, The Indian Express has learnt.

Prerequisites:

— What are eco-sensitive areas (ESAs)?

— What is the Kasturirangan Committee Report?

— What is the purpose of demarcating the ESAs?

Key takeaways:

— New mining projects, thermal power plants, sand mining, quarrying, township constructions are banned in villages proposed as ESAs.

— Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu carried out the surveys between 2013 and 2018 to physically verify the extent of villages declared as ESA by Centre in a draft notification based on the K Kasturirangan panel’s report.

— It is learnt that the expert panel is being assisted by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun to verify the green cover and extent of villages marked as ESA and weed out survey errors.

— It is learnt that most states, except Gujarat — where the spread of ESA proposed (449 sq km) is the smallest — have sought reductions in the area under ESA. There has been negligible headway made with Karnataka as they have rejected implementation of the Kasturirangan panel’s recommendations.

For Your Information:

— A landslide in Karnataka’s Wayanad district that has claimed more than 300 lives has brought back into focus the 2011 Dr. Madhav Gadgil report and the K. Kasturirangan report on the conservation of the Western Ghats.

— In 2010, then Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh appointed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), to be chaired by ecologist Dr Madhav Gadgil. The commission submitted its 552-page report to the Centre in August 2011.

— The report recommended classifying 64 percent of the Western Ghats, spread over six states, into Ecologically Sensitive Zones called ESZ 1, ESZ 2 and ESZ 3. It also recommended designating the entire region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).

— A major recommendation was a ban on growing single commercial crops like tea, coffee, cardamom, rubber, banana and pineapple, which have led to “fragmentation of forest, soil erosion, degradation of river ecosystems and toxic contamination of the environment”.

— The Western Ghats are a 1,600-km-long mountain chain running the western coast of the country covering six states — Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. It has been accorded the World Heritage status by UNESCO.

— In August 2012, then Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan constituted a High-Level Working Group on Western Ghats under former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief Dr K Kasturirangan.

— While the Gadgil panel recommended 64 percent area in the Western Ghats, a report by a panel led by Dr K Kasturirangan notified only 37 percent of the area as ecologically sensitive.

Points to Ponder:

— Why western ghats are vulnerable to landslides?

— How far anthropogenic activities are responsible for disasters?

— What are landslides-prone areas in India?

Post Read Question:

(4) ‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to (UPSC CSE 2016)

(a) constitutional reforms

(b) Ganga Action Plan

(c) linking of rivers

(d) protection of Western Ghats

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

UPSC Issue at a Glance | Landslides : 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains

The Editorial Page

The Court is a shield

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance- Constitution, Rights Issues

Mains Examination: GS-II: Indian polity

What’s the ongoing story- Rekha Sharma writes—“On August 9, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment in Manish Sisodia’s case holding that a speedy trial is a fundamental right within the broad scope of Article 21 of the Constitution, which includes the right to live with dignity.”

Prerequisites:

— What are the fundamental rights provided in the Constitution of India?

— What is bail and its types.

— Know about the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

— What are the bail provisions under PMLA?

Key takeaways:

— “The judgment not only sets Manish Sisodia free but also holds hope for lakhs of prisoners who are languishing in jail without trial or on account of the slow pace of trials. Although the SC has said nothing new, this verdict goes beyond salutary words. It has acted on its stated position.”

— “More importantly, it has held that the right to speedy trial should be read in Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which says that no person shall be released on bail unless the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence, and that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail.”

— “In other words, the PMLA puts the burden of proving innocence on the accused — a departure from normal criminal jurisprudence where the burden of proving guilt lies on the prosecution. Notwithstanding this draconian provision that virtually makes it impossible for an accused to obtain bail, the Court has held that Section 45 of the PMLA will not come in the way of granting bail to an accused if he is suffering long incarceration without trial or due to a slow trial.”

For Your Information:

— Bail is not the rule but the exception under PMLA and both trial and constitutional courts are required to apply a ‘triple test’ to grant bail.

— These three conditions are: (i) that there are “reasonable grounds for believing that (the accused) is not guilty of such offence”; (ii) that “he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail”; and (iii) that the accused is not a flight risk.

Points to Ponder:

— How is anticipatory bail different from regular bail or interim bail?

— How can Speedy Trial become an effective tool to address overcrowding in jails?

— What are the issues and challenges faced by the judiciary in India?

— What are the criticisms of the PMLA?

Post Read Question:

(5) ‘Right to Privacy’ is protected under which Article of the Constitution of India?

(a) Article 15

(b) Article 19

(c) Article 21

(d) Article 29

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

How anti-money laundering law came to have a vast scope, granting police powers to ED

Speedy trial can become effective tool to address overcrowding in jails, says SC panel on prison reforms

The Ideas Page

Relook at Dhaka

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations.

What’s the ongoing story- Ramanathan Kumar writes— “The ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a mass upsurge of “people’s power”, and the assumption of power in Dhaka by an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is, doubtless, a watershed moment in Bangladesh’s tumultuous history.”

Prerequisites:

— What is the ongoing conflict in Bangladesh?

— What is the history of India-Bangladesh bilateral relations?

— Read about India’s Neighbourhood First policy.

— Map work: Location of Bangladesh and Indian states sharing boundaries with Bangladesh.

Key takeaways:

— “For the last decade and a half, Bangladesh and India have, by and large, lived peacefully as neighbours, unburdened by the rancour and recrimination that was a defining characteristic of their relationship for much of the past. The outcome has been the healthy blossoming of ties in a multitude of areas, ranging from security to multi-modal connectivity to trade and commerce to infrastructure development and people-to-people contact.”

— “Cooperation in the power and energy sector, once unthinkable, has become an important pillar of the bilateral relationship, with Bangladesh currently importing as much as 1,160 MW of power from India. The potential for further progress in all these areas — and more — is nothing less than immense.”

— “India has made every effort to reciprocate Bangladesh’s contribution towards alleviating its security concerns, but dismay persists among sections of Bangladeshi civil society over the issue of the killing of Bangladeshi nationals at the borders by Indian security forces, despite India’s effort to bring down the number of such casualties.”

— “The matter of equitable sharing of river waters, which assumes overarching priority for Bangladesh, defies easy resolution, not least on account of India’s burgeoning needs. Finding lasting solutions to these complex problems remains a work in progress, but given political will and perseverance, they can and will be resolved to the satisfaction of both sides. Mutual recrimination and whipping up negative sentiment over contentious issues cannot be the answer.”

— “Endemic poverty, mass unemployment among youth, runaway inflation, climate change, environmental degradation and the spread of infectious diseases are some of the all-pervasive enemies that respect no borders and stalk the people of both countries. It goes without saying that these common challenges can only be addressed in a spirit of mutual cooperation rather than one of hostility and mistrust.”

— “India and Bangladesh must face the future with renewed hope and confidence, eschewing the perils and embracing the promise of the fundamental reset that has taken place in Bangladesh. A reversion to the nay-saying and finger-pointing of yesteryears is not an option.”

Points to Ponder:

— What is the significance of Bangladesh for India?

— What are the areas of cooperation and conflict between India and Bangladesh?

Post Read Question:

Analyze internal security threats and transborder crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard. (UPSC CSE 2018)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Why Sheikh Hasina had to flee Bangladesh — and the lesson from her ouster

After Olympics, a question

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Government policies and interventions

What’s the ongoing story- Sanjay Srivastava writes: Apart from the unfortunate news surrounding Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from her wrestling event at the Olympics, there has been another news item that did the rounds in several international newspapers. This concerned the Ambani family and their “quest” to improve India’s standing in elite sporting events such as the Olympics.

Prerequisites:

— How does the government allocate the budget to athletes?

Key takeaways:

— “There is a difference between promoting physical activity among the general population and sponsoring elite sporting activity. The former improves public health, while the latter is mainly concerned with adding to private profits and feelings of (frequently middle-class) nationalism.”

— “How should we define the role of the state: Should its limited resources be devoted to increasing public welfare or enhancing private profit and the ephemeral buzz of nationalist feeling?”

— “There does not appear to be any evidence that the state’s involvement in sponsoring Olympic participation has had any public welfare effects. First, it does not translate into any concrete benefits in terms of improved health because audiences for global sporting events are inspired to adopt better lifestyle activities.”

— “Second, even if we were to grant that nationalism-fuelled exultation over medals adds to some form of emotional well-being, the fact that over the years, India has won under 45 medals altogether makes a weak case for publicly funding what is clearly very poor returns on investment.”

— “There is, on the other hand, a clear relationship between national wealth and medals acquisition. At just over 3,000 medals, the US has the largest number, followed, as expected, by countries such as Germany and the UK.”

— “Historically, there has been a close relationship between parties in power and their patronage activities…  Their primary significance and role is to further the aims of party politics rather than nurture sporting talent. Sport is politics and since the politics of sport reflects the nature of the state, sporting success cannot be an outcome of state sponsorship.”

— “On the other hand, those who genuinely believe in both greater sporting success as well as improved public welfare might consider that greater private involvement might bring about both. First, private investment is subject to the most significant rule of business: Profits… The state’s involvement, on the other hand, does not entail any “shareholder” scrutiny of this kind.”

— “We need to ask if state involvement in elite sports is the best way of using public money and who benefits from it. If elite sport is primarily about selling goods and commodities (no necessary evil in itself) and bolstering middle-class nationalism, should public funds be deployed for it? Can the private sector do it better – perhaps even create systems that are currently lacking – and should we aim at a society where public funds are expended in increasing the welfare of the majority?”

Points to Ponder:

— Do you think private investment in sports would be beneficial for a nation like India?

— What are the challenges faced by Indian athletes?

— How is the government promoting sports among youth?

Post Read Question:

(6) What is the rank of India in the Paris Olympics 2024?

(a) 56

(b) 59

(c) 67

(d) 71

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

From Neeraj Chopra to Vinesh Phogat: How much money has Sports Ministry spent on India’s Paris Olympic-bound athletes

The City Page

Even a woman can be booked as a perpetrator of child sexual abuse: HC in POCSO case ruling

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination:  Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: GS-II: Constitution and Polity

What’s the ongoing story- Holding that the law cannot be given a “restrictive meaning,” the Delhi High Court in a significant ruling held that even a woman can be booked as the perpetrator of child sexual abuse.

Prerequisites:

— What is the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act?

— Who is regarded as a child as per the provisions of the POCSO Act, 2012?

— What are the provisions concerning the rights of children in the Constitution of India?

Key takeaways:

— Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhan, in an August 9 judgment on a revision plea filed by a woman accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, held that the accused must face trial under the Act.

— “The word “he” appearing in Section 3 of the POCSO Act cannot be given a restrictive meaning, to say that it refers only to a “male”; but must be given its intended meaning, namely that it includes within its ambit any offender irrespective of their gender,” the ruling stated.

— The accused had argued that the offence of aggravated penetrative sexual assault under the POCSO Act “can never be made out against a woman” since the Act repeatedly uses the pronoun ‘he’. The lawyers of the accused argued that the interpretation of Indian Penal Code provisions on rape, which only criminalises actions of a man, is similar to the definition of penetrative sexual assault in Section 3 of the POCSO Act.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the challenges associated with child sexual abuse?

— What are the Initiatives, legislations and laws taken by the Government of India in this direction?

— What the 22nd Law Commission of India said on POCSO?

Post Read Question:

Examine the main provisions of the National Child Policy and throw light on the status of its implementation. (UPSC CSE 2016)

ALSO IN NEWS

Facing criticism, Govt withdraws new draft of broadcast Bill

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is learnt to have withdrawn the new draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024. Read more in UPSC Key | Waqf Bill, Food inflation, Appropriation and Finance Bills and more

China trials cargo drones, air taxis as low-altitude economy gains speed

Engineers sent China’s biggest-yet cargo drone on a test run over the weekend while a helicopter taxi took to the skies on a soon-to-open 100-km (62-mile) route to Shanghai, laying new milestones for the country’s expanding low-altitude economy.

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (b)   2. (b)   3. (c)   4. (d)   5. (c)   6. (d)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

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UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : History, Culture and Social Issues MCQs on AIML, Prarthana Samaj, Gender Gap Index Report 2024 (Week 71)

Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims 2025? Check your progress and revise your topics through this quiz on History and Culture.

Written by Nitendra Pal Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 16:17 IST

India has closed only 64.1 percent of its gender gap in 2024; check where it stands in the WEF's Global Gender Gap Report 2024. Find a question on the global gender gap report 2024 in today’s quiz. (Source: Shutterstock)

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus.  Attempt today’s subject quiz on History, Culture and Social Issues to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the Environment, Geography, Science and Technology MCQs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

QUESTION 1

With reference to the All India Muslim League (AIML), consider the following statements:

1. The All-India Muslim League was formed at the Dacca in 1906.

2. The league was not in support of the partition of Bengal.

3. It demanded separate electorates for the Muslims.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— In 1906, a group of Muslim landlords and nawabs met in Dacca to organise the All-India Muslim League. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The League was in favour of partitioning Bengal. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— It demanded separate electorates for Muslims, which the government agreed to in 1909. Some council seats were allocated for Muslims, who would be elected by Muslim voters. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ncert.nic.in)

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Prarthana Samaj, consider the following statements:

1. It sought to remove caste restrictions and abolish child marriage.

2. The Prarthana Samaj was established in 1837 in Bengal.

3. Its religious meetings drew upon Hindu, Buddhist and Christian texts.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

— The Prarthana Samaj was founded in 1867 in Bombay. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Prarthana Samaj wanted to reduce caste barriers, prohibit child marriage, promote women’s education, and lift the ban on widow remarriage. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Its religious sessions drew on Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian texts. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ncert.nic.in)

QUESTION 3

The partition of Bengal enraged people throughout India. Along with the Swadeshi Movement, the Vandemataram Movement was active in the following regions:

(a) Bombay

(b) Coastal Andhra

(c) Delhi and Punjab

(d) North-west frontier

Explanation

— The partition of Bengal enraged people throughout India. All sections of Congress, known as the Moderates and Radicals, opposed it.

— The struggle that emerged became known as the Swadeshi movement, which was strongest in Bengal but had echoes elsewhere, like the Vandemataram Movement in deltaic Andhra.

— The Vande Mataram movement sought to empower Indians to manage their own countries without relying on British aid. Bipin Chandra Pal’s visit to Andhra State in 1907 was instrumental in revitalising and strengthening this movement. Lal, Bal, and Pal were regarded as a trinity on this occasion. Mattnuri Krishna Rao, the editor of Krishna Patrika, arranged a visit and tour for Bipin Chandra Pal.

— The Swadeshi movement aimed to challenge British rule while promoting self-help, Swadeshi enterprise, national education, and the usage of Indian languages.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: ncert.nic.in)

QUESTION 4

Consider the following statements:

1. In addition to being a novelist, jurist, social reformer, and academic from India, he was also one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress.

2. He supported widow remarriage and women’s education while opposing child marriage and the caste system.

3. He was the editor of the Induprakash, a daily Anglo-Marathi newspaper.

4. His views strengthened the movement for women’s emancipation, and later these women played a significant role in the Indian Freedom Struggle.

The above mentioned statements refer to:

(a) Surendranath Banerjee

(b) Ram Mohun Roy

(c) M.G. Ranade

(d) Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar

Explanation

— In addition to being a novelist, jurist, social reformer, and academic from India, he was also one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress.

— He was a social reformer and thinker, who supported widow remarriage and women’s education while opposing child marriage and the caste system.

— M.G. Ranade along with Varman Abaji Modak and Dr. R.G. Bhandarkar established the Maharashtra Girls Education Society and the oldest Girls High School at Huzurpaga in Pune.

— He was the editor of the Induprakash, a daily Anglo-Marathi newspaper.

— He is considered as a stalwart of the Indian Social Reform Movement, his views strengthened the movement for women’s emancipation, and later these women played a significant role in the Indian Freedom Struggle.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: indianculture.gov.in)

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Gender Gap Index Report 2024, consider the following statements:

1. In India, economic participation and opportunity for women have seen a slight improvement.

2. The report is released by the World Economic Forum.

3. The ranking of India has topped among the Asian countries.

4. The report does not have parameters based on the political empowerment gap.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

— The gender gap closed at 68.5 per cent in 2024, a slight 0.1 percentage point improvement from the previous year. The global health and survival gender gap has closed by 96 per cent. The educational attainment gap has closed by 94.9 per cent, the economic participation gap has closed by 60.5 per cent, and the political empowerment gap has closed by 22.5 per cent. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— The gender gap report is published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— In India, women’s economic engagement and opportunity have improved little, with them ranking quite high in the political empowerment metric (65th) when compared to other indicators. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— However, India’s overall performance in Southern Asia is particularly alarming, as it has closed only 64.1% of its gender gap in 2024, resulting in an overall position of 129th, slightly lower than in 2023 (127), ahead of only the Maldives and Pakistan. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Notably, Iceland remains at the top of the worldwide rankings, with 93.5% of the gender gap closed, having been the best-performing economy in the index for more than a decade and a half.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 71)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 70)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.

UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 : Questions on Geomagnetic storms and objectives and benefits of the Clean Plant Programme (Week 64)

Are you preparing for UPSC CSE 2024 or CSE 2025? Here are questions from GS paper 3 for this week with essential points as the fodder for your answers. Do not miss points to ponder and answer in the comment box below. Try them out.

Written by Nitendra Pal Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 13:03 IST

The moon makes it way towards the horizon to set amongst red and green aurora. Attempt a question on geomagnetic storms in today’s answer writing practice. (Image credit: Matthew Dominick/X)

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-3 to check your progress.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

QUESTION 1

What are geomagnetic storms? Discuss the impacts of geomagnetic storms on the infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface.

QUESTION 2

Examine the objectives and implementation strategies of the Centre’s Clean Plant Programme. Discuss the potential benefits associated with this initiative.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: What are geomagnetic storms? Discuss the impacts of geomagnetic storms on the infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— A geomagnetic storm is a severe disturbance of the Earth’s magnetosphere caused by a very efficient flow of energy from the solar wind into the space environment around the Earth. These storms are caused by variations in the solar wind, which cause significant changes in the currents, plasmas, and fields in Earth’s magnetosphere.

— Solar wind conditions that are useful for causing geomagnetic storms include persistent (for several to several hours) periods of high-speed solar wind, as well as a southern directed solar wind magnetic field (opposite to the direction of Earth’s field) near the dayside of the magnetosphere. This situation is effective in transferring energy from the solar wind to the Earth’s magnetosphere.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

What causes solar flares and auroras?

— Solar flares, also known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), are produced when solar activity on the Sun’s surface peaks. These are caused by an unstable magnetic field at the surface.

— CMEs are graded according to their severity, with G1 being the mildest and G5 being the most severe.

— When charged particles (CMEs) collide with Earth’s atmosphere, they interact with gas, causing the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, to light up the sky.

Impact of geomagnetic storms

— During storms, the ionosphere gets heated and distorted, which can make long-range radio communication that depends on sub-ionospheric reflection difficult or impossible. It can also cause degradation in global positioning system (GPS) communications.

— Satellites can struggle to control their orbits due to ionospheric expansion.

— Additionally, magnetic storms can damage satellite electronics by accumulating and discharging static-electric charges. Astronauts and high-altitude pilots may also experience increased radiation levels.

— Although space currents produce rapid shifts in magnetic fields, very real consequences can still occur on Earth’s surface. This includes blackout-causing voltage surges in power systems.

Conclusion:

— Storms also cause powerful currents in the magnetosphere, changes in the radiation belts, and ionosphere alterations, which include heating of the ionosphere and upper atmosphere region known as the thermosphere.

— During storms, ionosphere currents and energetic particles that precipitate into the ionosphere add energy in the form of heat, increasing the density and distribution of density in the upper atmosphere and exerting additional drag on low-earth orbiting satellites. Local heating causes significant horizontal fluctuations in ionospheric density, which can alter the route of radio signals and cause mistakes in GPS locating information.

(Source: ‘We’re in the middle of an intense geomagnetic storm’: What NASA has to say about solar eruptions triggering colourful auroras, http://www.swpc.noaa.gov, http://www.usgs.gov)

Points to Ponder

What is the difference between aurora borealis and australis?

Different layers of the Atmosphere

Related Previous Year Question

With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy? (2018)

QUESTION 2: Examine the objectives and implementation strategies of the Centre’s Clean Plant Programme. Discuss the potential benefits associated with this initiative.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— The Union Cabinet approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), aimed at increasing the yield and productivity of horticulture crops in India.

— The programme was first announced during the interim budget in 2023. The CPP is also targeted at enhancing the quality of fruit crops across the nation.

— The CPP will have three components — Clean Plant Centres (CPCs), certification and legal framework, and enhanced Infrastructure. “The programme will be implemented by the National Horticulture Board in association with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.”

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

Objectives

— To enhance yield of horticulture crops by providing disease free planting material.

— To protect the ecosystem through proactive virus and disease control measures by establishing Clean Plant Centres (CPCs).

— To enhance stakeholder capacities for the adoption and operation of clean plant production, maintenance, and distribution.

— To improve the knowledge network among research institutes, universities, knowledge centres, national and state agencies for sustainable operation of clean plant centres and nursery certification programs.

How will the CPP work?

— The initiative has three major components aimed at assisting farmers in obtaining virus-free, high-quality planting material (plants used for vegetative propagation) in order to maximise agricultural yields and income prospects. They are:

(i) Development of nine Clean Plant Centers (CPCs)

(ii) Enhancement of infrastructure, including the development of large-scale nurseries to facilitate the efficient multiplication of clean planting material

(iii) Creation of regulatory and certification process to ensure thorough accountability and traceability in the production and sale of planting material.

Benefits of the Clean Plant Programme (CPP)

— It will make high-quality, virus-free planting material accessible, resulting in higher crop yields and better financial prospects.

— The efficient propagation of clean planting material by nurseries will be made possible by streamlined certification procedures and infrastructure assistance, which will promote the nurseries’ growth and sustainability.

— Through the project, consumers will receive superior produce that is virus-free, improving the fruit’s flavour, appearance, and nutritional content.

— India will be able to increase its market share and solidify its position as a top supplier of fruits worldwide by growing its fruit supply and producing fruits free of disease.

— All farmers should have affordable access to clean plant material, irrespective of the size of their landholding or socioeconomic standing.

— Involve female farmers in its conception and execution.

— Develop clean plant types and technologies that are particular to each region of India in order to address the different agro-climatic conditions found there.

Conclusion:

— After China, India is the world’s second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables. The area planted to horticultural crops expanded from 24 million hectares to 28.63 million hectares between 2013–14 and 2023–24, while the amount produced increased from 277.4 million metric tonnes (mt) to 352 million mt.

— The Clean Plant Programme is expected to complement Mission LiFE and One Health while substantially growing India’s horticultural industry. It will lessen reliance on imported planting supplies and encourage environmentally friendly and sustainable agriculture methods. This initiative would be essential to making India a prominent fruit exporter worldwide and bringing about revolutionary transformation in the industry.

(Source: How Centre’s Clean Plant Programme plans to boost India’s production of fruits by Harikishan Sharma, pib.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

Horticulture production in India

India’s export and import of horticulture

Any government initiative other than CPP

Related Previous Year Questions

Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers? (2018)

Examine the role of supermarkets in supply chain management of fruits, vegetables, and food items. How do they eliminate the number of intermediaries? (2018)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 63)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 62)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 62)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 63)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 63)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 62)

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UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance MCQs on Anti defection law, Article 239AA and more (Week 71)

Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims 2025? Check your progress and revise your topics through this quiz on Polity and Governance.

Written by Nitendra Pal Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 15:29 IST

Brush up your knowledge of Polity and Governance by solving the MCQs. Find a question on the Council of Ministers in today’s quiz. (File Photo)

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Polity and Governance to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the History, Culture, and Social Issues MCQs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Appropriation Bills, consider the following statements:

1. The Appropriation Bills are introduced to meet the grants so made by the House of the People.

2. The Rajya Sabha can return the bill for reconsideration.

3. Amendments can be proposed to any such Bill in either House of Parliament.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Rajya Sabha returned the appropriation and finance Bills for 2024-2025 after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to the Opposition’s attack that the Budget was anti-middle class, saying the government had reduced the burden on the middle class. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Upper House returned the Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2024, the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2024 and the Finance (No. 2) Bill, 2024, which were passed by the Lok Sabha.

— As soon as the grants under article 113 have been approved by the House of the People, there shall be tabled a Bill to provide for the appropriation from the Consolidated Fund of India of all funds required to meet—

(a) the grants so made by the House of the People; and Hence, statement 1 is correct.

(b) the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India but not exceeding in any case the amount shown in the statement previously laid before Parliament.

(2) No amendment to any such Bill shall be proposed in either House of Parliament that will have the effect of varying the amount or changing the destination of any grant so made, or varying the amount of any expenditure charged to the Consolidated Fund of India, and the decision of the person presiding as to whether an amendment is inadmissible under this clause is final. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

(3) Subject to the provisions of articles 115 and 116, no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India except under appropriation made by law passed in accordance with the provisions of this article.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Anti defection law, consider the following statements:

1. It was introduced by the 53rd Constitutional Amendment Act.

2. The decisions of the Speaker or Chairman regarding disqualification are subject to judicial review.

3. The law specifies a strict timeline for the decision.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The 52nd Constitutional Amendment introduced the anti-defection law through the Tenth Schedule in 1985. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— According to this Schedule, a member of the State Legislature or the House of Parliament who voluntarily resigns from his/her political party or abstains from voting in the House contrary to the instruction issued by his/her party may be removed from the House.

— As per the anti-defection law, the nominated members in Rajya Sabha can join a political party within six months of their nomination. But if they join a party after the first six months, they may face disqualification from Parliament.

— The Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha or the State Legislative Assembly decides disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law.

— The law does not specify a strict timeline for the decision, which has led to criticism due to potential delays. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The Court also ruled that the decisions of the Speaker or Chairman regarding disqualification are subject to judicial review. However, judicial intervention is limited to cases involving malafide intention, perversity, or violation of natural justice. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Article 239AA, consider the following statements:

1. It conferred special status on Delhi following the recommendations of the S Balakrishnan Committee.

2. It was inserted into the Constitution by the 69th Amendment Act, 1991.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Article 239AA of the Constitution was inserted into the Constitution by the 69th Amendment Act, 1991. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Article 239AA conferred special status on Delhi following the recommendations of the S Balakrishnan Committee that was set up in 1987 to look into Delhi’s demands for statehood. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— According to this provision, the NCT of Delhi will have an administrator and a Legislative Assembly. Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the Legislative Assembly, “shall have the power to make laws for the whole or any part of the NCT with respect to any of the matters in the State List or Concurrent List in so far as any such matter is applicable to Union territories,” except on the subjects of police, public order, and land.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Consider the following statements:

1. Starred questions are answered through written replies which are placed on the table of the House.

2. Unstarred questions are answered orally on the floor of the House.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Questions are of three kinds, viz., starred, unstarred and short notice questions.

Starred Questions

— These are answered orally on the floor of the House and with reference to the reply given; members are entitled to ask supplementary questions. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Unstarred Questions

— These call for written replies which are placed on the Table of the House and no supplementary are asked in respect of such replies. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Short Notice Questions

— These may be put only in regard to matters of the public importance of an urgent character at shorter notice than provided for in the Rules of the two Houses and are answered orally as starred questions.

— The Rajya Sabha/Lok Sabha Secretariat gives at least five days’ notice to the Minister concerned to answer a question.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: mpa.gov.in)

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Council of Ministers, consider the following statements:

1. The advice tendered by Ministers to the President can be inquired into in any court.

2. The total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 10 per cent.

3. The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Article 74 of the Constitution of India states that “There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice.”

— The President may require the Council of Ministers to reconsider such advice, either generally or otherwise, and the President shall act in accordance with the advice tendered after such reconsideration.

— The question of whether any and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the President shall not be inquired into in any court. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

— The total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the total number of members of the House of the People. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President.

— The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 70)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 70)

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UPSC Key | Megaquake, Clean Plant Programme, SEBI and more

Exclusive for Subscribers Daily: How are the Megaquake and Clean Plant Programme relevant to the UPSC Exam? What significance do topics like the India-Maldives relations and SEBI have for the preliminary and main exams? You can learn more by reading the Indian Express UPSC Key for August 12, 2024.

Written by Roshni Yadav

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 10:12 IST

A collapsed house is seen following an earthquake in Osaki town, Kagoshima prefecture, southwestern Japan, August 8, 2024, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Know more in our UPSC Key. (Reuters)

🚨 Attention: UPSC Key is now all 7 Days a Week!🚨

Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 12, 2024. If you missed the August 11th, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

Explained

First-ever ‘megaquake advisory’ issued by Japan: What this means

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance, World Geography

Mains Examination: GS-I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones.

What’s the ongoing story- After a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook southern Japan on Thursday (August 8), the country’s meteorological agency issued its first-ever “megaquake advisory”.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the earthquakes.

— What is a megaquake?

— What is the Nankai Trough?

— How are earthquakes measured?

Key takeaways:

— The warning said the likelihood of strong shaking and large tsunamis is higher than normal on the Nankai Trough, a subduction zone (a region where tectonic plates collide with each other, and the heavier one slides under another) along Japan’s southwest Pacific coast.

— The Nankai Trough is an underwater subduction zone (nearly 900 km long) where the Eurasian Plate collides with the Philippine Sea Plate, pushing the latter under the former and into the Earth’s mantle. This accumulates tectonic stress which can cause a megaquake — an earthquake with a magnitude larger than 8.

— The trough has produced large earthquakes roughly every 100 to 150 years, according to the 2023 study, ‘High probability of successive occurrence of Nankai megathrust earthquakes’, published in the journal Nature. These tremors usually come in pairs, with the second often rupturing in the subsequent two years — the most recent “twin” earthquakes took place in 1944 and 1946.

— An accurate prediction of an earthquake needs a precursory signal from within the earth, indicating a big quake is on the way. The signal must also occur only before large earthquakes so that it does not indicate every small movement within the earth’s surface. Currently, there is no equipment to find such precursors.

For Your Information:

— The surface of the Earth is divided into 7 major plates and several minor ones. They move a few centimetres a year, riding on semi-molten layers of rock underneath the crust. As the plates move, they pull apart or collide, unleashing the powerful movements known as earthquakes.

Points to Ponder:

— How movements of sections of the Earth’s crust release the energy that we experience as earthquakes?

— What are the most earthquake-prone zones of the world?

(Thought process: Read about the circum-Pacific seismic belt, Alpide earthquake belt (mid Continental belt), and submerged mid-Atlantic Ridge.)

— What are the effects of earthquakes?

— What are the earthquake zones in India, and what measures have been taken by the government concerning the natural disaster?

Post Read Question:

(1) Consider the following: (UPSC CSE 2013)

1. Electromagnetic radiation

2. Geothermal energy

3. Gravitational force

4. Plate movements

5. Rotation of the earth

6. Revolution of the earth

Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth?

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

(b) 1, 3, 5 and 6 only

(c) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Explained: Understanding the earthquake

How Centre’s Clean Plant Programme plans to boost production of fruits

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national importance and economic development

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions, Economic development

What’s the ongoing story- The Union Cabinet on Friday approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), aimed at increasing the yield and productivity of horticulture crops in India.

Prerequisites:

— What is the Clean Plant Programme (CPP)?

— Read about the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

— Organisation to look for: Asian Development Bank

Key takeaways:

— First announced in Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s interim Budget speech in February 2023, the CPP is also targeted at enhancing the quality of fruit crops across the nation.

— The Ministry of Agriculture has sought an allocation of Rs 1,765 crore for the programme. One half of this will be sourced from the budget of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), while the other half will be in the form of a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

— The programme has three main components geared towards helping farmers obtain virus-free, high-quality planting material (plants used for vegetative propagation) in order to increase crop yields and improve income opportunities. These are:

1. Development of nine Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) which will provide disease diagnostics and therapeutics, create mother plants to be sent to nurseries.

2. Enhancement of infrastructure, including the development of large-scale nurseries to facilitate the efficient multiplication of clean planting material.

3. Creation of regulatory and certification process to ensure thorough accountability and traceability in the production and sale of planting material.

— At present, the process of importing plants is very cumbersome, with imported plants having to be kept in quarantine for two years. The CPCs will cut this period down to six months, and thus make it easier for farmers to access disease free and genuine planting material for horticultural crops in India.

For Your Information:

— India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world after China. From 2013-14 to 2023-24, the area under horticulture crops has risen from 24 million hectares to 28.63 million hectares, and production has increased from 277.4 million metric tonnes (mt) to 352 million mt. India is also a major importer and exporter of fresh fruits.

Points to Ponder:

— What is the status of horticulture farming in India?

— What are the challenges faced by the horticulture sector?

— What are the government initiatives to improve horticulture?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(2) With reference to the Clean Plant Programme, consider the following statements:

1. The programme has been launched under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

2. The initiative will ensure superior produce with enhanced taste, appearance and nutritional value.

3. It will provide access to virus-free and high-quality planting materials.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Mains

Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers? (UPSC CSE 2018)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Govt approves Rs 1,766-crore ‘Clean Plant Programme’ to boost horticulture sector

Provision to skip local trials for certain drugs: regulator’s rationale

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions and Health

What’s the ongoing story- The Drug Controller General of India on August 7 formalised the pathway by which certain categories of new drugs can get marketing and manufacturing approval in the country without conducting local clinical trials.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules (2019).

— Know about the Drug Controller General of India and other major bodies regulating drugs and pharmaceuticals in India.

Key takeaways:

— Medicines for rare diseases, new cellular or gene therapies, drugs needed in a pandemic, and medicines specifically needed by the armed forces will be exempt from local trials if they have been approved by the US, the UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, or the European Union regulators. Drugs that have a therapeutic edge over existing treatments for a condition can also apply for this waiver.

— Waiving local clinical trials reduces huge cost burdens on companies. This is because trials are expensive- exactly how expensive depends on the kind of side effects that a medicine may cause, the number of sites and trial participants needed, and the duration of the trial, including patient follow-up.

— Waiving local trials will also help Indian pharma companies that have secured manufacturing licenses from international corporations. At present, even after obtaining manufacturing licenses, local clinical trials are a must for a product to enter the Indian market.

— The step will likely hasten entry of drugs for the treatment of rare diseases afflicting very few people, where trials take longer to recruit participants. Similarly, the availability of new cancer therapies, whose clinical trials require long follow-ups, may also be expedited.

— The exemption was included in the 2019 New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules but had not been utilised until now because the drug regulator had not specified which countries’ approvals could be used to waive local trials. Wednesday’s notification clears the way for that.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the issues and challenges associated with the drug regulation in India?

— What measures have been taken by the government for efficient drug regulation?

— What are the challenges faced by the pharmaceutical sector in India?

Post Read Question:

(3) With reference to the India’s pharmaceutical exports, consider the following statements:

1. The pharmaceutical exports from India have decreased in 2023-24 as compared to 2022-23.

2. South Africa is the leading market for pharmaceutical exports from India.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Government waives clinical trial requirement for several drugs approved in select countries

The Editorial Page

Sebi and Cloud

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance and economic development

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Indian economy, Statutory Bodies.

What’s the ongoing story- Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval Buch, on Sunday said that their investment in the offshore funds, mentioned by Hindenburg Research in its latest allegations, were made in 2015 when they both were ‘private citizens’ living in Singapore.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the SEBI.

— What is the role of SEBI in regulating stock exchanges in India?

— What do you understand by the term “Conflict of interest”?

Key takeaways:

—  A series of revelations, based on whistleblower papers, made by the US-based firm raise questions for SEBI, and turn the spotlight, specifically, on the regulator’s disclosure norms. The outright denial by all parties is hardly an answer.

— Hindenburg has alleged that Buch and her husband “had hidden stakes in the exact same obscure offshore Bermuda and Mauritius funds, found in the same complex nested structure, used by Vinod Adani”. During her tenure as a whole-time member of SEBI, it says, Buch was in communication with the managers of the offshore fund, and wrote to India Infoline to redeem the units in the fund.

— In her defence, Buch has said that “all disclosures as required have already been furnished to SEBI”. The SEBI code for board members asks that they disclose their interests which may conflict with their duties, along with transactions of family members.

— In light of the latest controversy, it must be asked that any connection between the regulator and the regulated must be publicly disclosed.

— When the market regulator is under a cloud, all stakeholders, from SEBI to the government, need to act urgently to clear it, fully protecting its institutional autonomy. A short-seller may play fast and loose — the Indian market, the world’s fourth largest by market cap, needs to ring-fence its regulator with a stronger firewall — and a higher bar.

For Your Information:

From Economy Page “All disclosures and recusals have been diligently followed: Madhabi, husband”

— On Saturday, US-based Hindenburg Research, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) alleged that Madhabi and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the Adani money siphoning scandal. The short-seller alleged that the couple invested in Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund (GDOF), in which Vinod Adani, brother of Gautam Adani, had invested.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the powers and functions of SEBI?

— What are the issues and challenges associated with the SEBI?

— What measures should be taken to ensure transparency and efficiency in the functioning of the SEBI?

Post Read Question:

(4) Consider the following statements with regard to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

1. It was established as a statutory body in 1992.

2. The basic functions of the SEBI are to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of and regulate the securities market.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

As Sebi chief Madhabi Buch digs heels in, key query: Did she disclose fund linked to Adani?

Three Neighbourhood Questions

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations.

What’s the ongoing story- Vivek Katju writes– “In less than three years, Indian foreign and security interests have suffered severe setbacks in three countries in India’s immediate neighbourhood.”

Prerequisites:

— What is the India’s Neighbourhood First policy?

— Read about the India’s Sagar vision?

— Map work: Neighbouring countries of India and bordering states

Key takeaways:

— “On August 5, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the mainstay of India’s Bangladesh policy, had to resign at short notice amidst widespread and violent protests and flee to this country.”

— “On November 17, 2023, Mohamed Muizzu was sworn in as President of Maldives…He is committed to diminishing India’s role in the island country while enhancing China’s presence…And, on August 15, 2021, Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani, in whom India had invested so much diplomatic capital, had to fly out of the country even as the Taliban took over.”

— “Were these grave reverses the consequence of misjudgements of those in charge of the country’s foreign and security policies or do the reasons lie in the structures of policy making in these critical areas.”

— “It is essential that the political and security classes introspect on these issues, avoiding political point scoring. The nation is facing such significant security challenges that it cannot afford the luxury of politics as usual on these matters.”

— “The government, apart from the judgement and instincts of its top leadership, has to rely on the professional advice given by the various ministries, organisations and agencies which handle India’s external interests. It has to be ensured that they work harmoniously. A brief consideration if this is so would not be out of place in view of the adverse impact to India’s interests in the cited cases of regime change.”

— “In 1968, India created its external intelligence service with the mandate to ensure that it develops the skills to explore and bring forth the subterranean which impacts India’s interests. It has a special role to play in the neighbourhood. Diplomats and officers of the external intelligence, MEA, other concerned ministries and the external intelligence agency have different but complementary roles and methods to safeguard and promote national interest. They have to avoid the temptation to tread into the others’ mandate.”

Points to Ponder:

— What is the history of India-Bangladesh relations?

— What are the areas of cooperation and conflict between India and Bangladesh?

— How have India-Afghanistan relations evolved over the years?

— What is the status of India-Maldives bilateral relations?

Post Read Question:

What is meant by Gujral doctrine? Does it have any relevance today? Discuss. (UPSC CSE 2013)

Govt & Politics

Maldives a key partner in maintaining stability in region, says Jaishankar

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations, bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story- The Maldives is a key partner for India in the Indian Ocean region and the two nations aspire to turn their cooperation into a modern partnership, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday.

Prerequisites:

— How have India and Maldives bilateral relations evolved over time?

— What is EXIM bank?

— Map work: Location of Maldives, Atolls in news in Maldives, Lakshadweep’s Minicoy Island,  Indian Ocean region.

Key takeaways:

— Jaishankar’s remarks came as he along with his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer attended the handing over ceremony of Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection Project and inauguration of the 4-lane Detour Link road project facilitated by the Government of India under the Line of Credit of EXIM Bank.

— “The Maldives for us is a key partner in the Indian Ocean region. It is very much at the heart of our Neighbourhood First policy. And it is therefore very natural that the cooperation between our two countries has moved beyond the traditional role. And today really aspires to be a modern partnership,” Jaishankar said.

— India has partnered with the government of Maldives on the Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection project to find a sustainable way to develop it as a regional hub, he said.

For Your Information:

— The Maldives is an essential ally for India, helping to protect its maritime borders and monitor the wider Indian Ocean region, where China is waging war. The archipelago is located about 300 nautical miles (560 km) off the west coast of India and about 70 nautical miles (130 km) from Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep.

From the World Page: “Maldives Opp welcomes India policy recalibration”

— The Maldivian Democratic Party has welcomed President Mohamed Muizzu-led government’s “sudden recalibration” of its India policy and said Male has always been confident that India will always be the first responder any time the Maldives “dials an international 911”.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the areas of cooperation between India and the Maldives?

(Thought Process: Mention the essentials that India supplies to the Maldives, India’s support in the Maldives’ education system, the economic dependence of the Maldives on India—tourism—and India’s significant role during disasters.)

— What are the emerging challenges to India-Maldives relations?

— What steps can be taken by the government of India to strengthen bilateral relations with the Maldives?

— What is the significance of the Maldives for India?

Post Read Question:

Discuss the political developments in Maldives in the last two years. Should they be of any cause of concern to India? (UPSC CSE 2013)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Jaishankar meets Muizzu, says New Delhi attaches top priority to ties with Maldives

Modi releases 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient crop varieties

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Environment and General Science

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions, Environment, Agriculture, Economic Development

What’s the ongoing story- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient and biofortified varieties of crops at an event at the India Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi.

Prerequisites:

— What is biofortification?

— Read about the climate-smart agriculture?

— What are climatically-vulnerable regions?

Key takeaways:

— “The 109 varieties of 61 crops released by the Prime Minister included 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops. Among the field crops, seeds of various cereals including millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, fibre and other potential crops were released. Among the horticultural crops, different varieties of fruits, vegetable crops, plantation crops, tuber crops, spices, flowers and medicinal crops were released,” The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

— The PM also discussed the importance of millets, and about the benefits of “natural farming and the increasing faith of common people towards organic farming”.

For Your Information:

— Scientists at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have been developing biofortified crops in India with a view to eradicating malnutrition amongst the poor sections of the society.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the benefits of climate-resilient and biofortified varieties of crops?

— How extreme weather events triggered by global warming are affecting agricultural production?

— Are biofortified crops developed through genetic modification (GM)?

— What are the issues and challenges associated with the biofortified crops?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(5) Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created? (UPSC CSE 2012)

1. To enable them to withstand drought

2. To increase the nutritive value of the produce

3. To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in spaceships and space stations

4. To increase their shelf life

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Mains

Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How have these revolutions helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India? (2017)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

For ‘climate smart’ agriculture

The World Page

In a first, Ukraine acknowledges military incursion into Russian soil

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination:  GS-II:  Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine had launched an incursion into Russian territory to “restore justice” and pressure Moscow’s forces, in his first acknowledgement of Kyiv’s surprise offensive into the western Kursk region.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and the Bucha massacre.

— History of India-Russia bilateral relations.

— Map work: Places in news related to Ukraine and Russia.

Key takeaways:

— Moscow’s forces on Sunday were in their sixth day of intense battle against Kyiv’s largest incursion into Russian territory since the start of the war, which left southwestern parts of Russia vulnerable before reinforcement started arriving.

— Russian authorities rushed to evacuate residents and imposed a sweeping security regime in three border regions on Saturday, after the attack which military analysts say caught the Kremlin off-guard. Belarus, a staunch ally of Moscow, also sent more troops to its border with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of violating its air space.

For Your Information:

— More than 76,000 people have been evacuated from areas bordering Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region, the local emergency ministry was quoted by the Tass news agency as saying on Saturday, following Ukraine’s incursion into the region this week.

Points to Ponder:

— What is India’s stand on the Ukraine-Russia war?

— What are the areas of cooperation between India and Russia?

— What is the strategic significance of Russia for India?

— What has India gained or lost as a consequence of the ongoing Ukraine- Russia war, in terms of the impact on its economy, and its global diplomatic standing?

Post Read Question:

(6) Consider the following pairs:

(Place in news)         (Location)

1. Lima                          Bolivia

2. Sumy                        Ukraine

3. Chebaa                     Syria

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

An Expert Explains: Russia-Ukraine war, two years on

ALSO IN NEWS

Will maintain smooth India, China ties, says Bangladesh interim government

Bangladesh’s newly-installed interim government  on Sunday said it would maintain a “balanced” foreign policy, asserting that Dhaka intends to maintain “smooth and positive” ties with all, induding India and China.

Revalidate all decisions by contractual staff: DPIIT directs patent office

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has asked the patent office to terminate its Memorandum Of Understanding with Quality Council of India (QCI) and form a committee consisting of 5 to 10 officials from Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and TradeMarks (CGPDTM) to re-validate all decisions taken by contractual staff, a government official told The Indian Express on Sunday. To know more read: Lakhs of patent orders by ‘outsourced’ staff null and void, says Law Ministry

ANSWER KEY

1. (d)   2. (c)  3. (d)  4. (c)  5. (c)  6. (a)

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Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik | How did invasions change Indian culture?

The Indian subcontinent was subject to various foreign invasions. How did that affect Indian culture? What is the difference between invasion and migration?

Written by Devdutt Pattanaik

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 12:04 IST

Death of the slave king, Qutubuddin Aibak of Delhi, A.D. 1210 (Wikimedia Commons)

(The Indian Express has launched a new series of articles for UPSC aspirants written by seasoned writers and erudite scholars on issues and concepts spanning History, Polity, International Relations, Art, Culture and Heritage, Environment, Geography, Science and Technology, and so on. Read and reflect with subject experts and boost your chance of cracking the much-coveted UPSC CSE. In the following article, Devdutt Pattanaik, a renowned writer who specialises in mythology and culture, delves into how invasions influenced Indian culture.)

Let us first distinguish between migration and invasion. The invader generally takes wealth away from a place. He also takes people as slaves. An invasion can take over the economic and political systems, changing the culture of the land over time.

A migration, on the other hand, is a slow collaboration with the new place. In the case of migration, there is no immediate impact, but tensions appear slowly as the cultures of the immigrants and natives clash. The upheavals in many European countries, including the ongoing violence in the UK, reportedly caused by the immigrants from Muslim countries are cases in point.

Kinds of invasion

Invasions can be of many kinds: raid, colonialism, and imperialism. Raiders do not want to take over the political and economic systems. They touch and go. This is what happened when Mahmud of Ghazni came to India for its wealth a thousand years ago.

Colonisers take over the political and economic systems and also get settled in the land. It was similar to what happened when the Delhi Sultanate was established by a mamluk, Qutubuddin Aibek, after the death of invader Muizzad-Din Muhammad Ghori.

The circumstances changed in the case of the Mughals because of their marital ties with Rajputs. Due to such marital ties, the Mughals saw themselves as locals and not as foreigners although not many natives accepted them as locals.

Then there are imperialists, who draw wealth from a distant colony to the motherland. Italy and Britain are examples of it.

Migrations and invasions in history

All humans originated in Africa. The First Indians were part of the Out of Africa migration that took place 60,000 years ago. The next major migration happened 10,000 years ago when the ancestors of the Iranian farmers came to India. They introduced barley and wheat farming.

From Southeast Asia, the Austro-Asiatic ‘Munda’ people migrated over 4,000 years ago. They introduced wet-rice farming. Then came the Aryans from Eurasia via Central Asia nearly 3,500 years ago. They introduced the horse. We know of these migrations from genetic and linguistic studies.

The Persian empire regularly invaded North-Western India between the 6th-4th century BCE under Cyrus the Great and later Darius I.

They introduced the Aramaic script, which later evolved into Kharosthi script and was used for writing Prakrit and Sanskrit languages in the North-West.

Besides, the Persian administrative practices of dividing territories into satrapies (provinces) and centralised bureaucracy were taken up by the Mauryas and the Guptas. In Mauryan times, Indians finally were inspired to invent the Brahmi script – a unique script that spread from India to Southeast Asia. Pillars were erected by kings to indicate power just like Persian Emperors.

Foreign tribes

Later, between 300 BCE-300 CE, many foreign tribes came to India. They primarily sought to control trade routes that stretched from the Ganga river basin through the Hindu Kush mountains to Persia. These were the Greeks (Yavanas), Scythians (Sakas), Parthians (Pahlavas) and Yueh-chi (Kushans).

Many of them patronised Buddhism and Jainism, popularised the use of coins as a trading currency, and use of stone images that became popular in Gandhara and Mathura.

During the rule of the Guptas, the Hunas (Huns) came from Central Asia in the 5th century CE. Huns were responsible for the destruction of Buddhist monasteries and the disintegration of the Gupta empire. This was also concurrent with the fall of the Roman Empire, an important trading partner for India.

Later on, merchants became less important and agriculture rose to fill the gap. We see a gradual shift from Buddhist-mercantile culture to Brahmin-agricultural-temple culture. Sanskrit became the language of the court and spread from Afghanistan to Vietnam.

Arrival of Islam

Islam rose in 7th century Arabia and reached coastal India via sailors. We find early mosques on the western coasts in Gujarat, Konkan and Kerala. By the 12th century, Central Asian warlords, newly converted to Islam, established themselves in the city of Delhi and took over the economic system — tolls, taxes, rent. They decided on the legal system as well. This was an invasion. A new way of thinking.

Sanskrit was replaced by Persian as the language of the court. Brahmins were sidelined in favour of Turks, Persians and Afghans. Temples lost favour. Mosques and royal tombs were built instead. Sufi saints rather than Brahmins obtained land grants.

The old Raj-mandala system which was relatively more decentralised was replaced by a new tributary-based centralised Persian model – the Iqta which became the Mansab system by the time of the Mughals. The Turks brought the kagaz (paper) and kalam (pen), which started being increasingly used instead of stone, copper, birch bark and palm leaves.

From Portuguese to British colonialism

Portuguese colonialism began with the conquest of Goa by the Bijapur Sultanate in 1510. Soon western coast and western seas were controlled by Portuguese ships. They turned the sea into territory and charged taxes that had never been done before. They also introduced Christian missions and the printing press and began translating local languages.

Portuguese were followed by other European powers – Dutch, French, and English. They were driven by a new way of thinking – science, that challenged traditional ways of thinking and relied on mathematics, logic and evidence. They marked the arrival of the Industrial Revolution. The old agricultural and feudal ways would change forever around the world.

This was especially accelerated by the 18th century when Delhi was sacked by Nadir Shah of Iran. Then came Ahmad Shah Abdali. These events made the British East India Company aware of the extreme weakness of the Mughal Empire and led to the rise of British colonialism.

Thus we see how invasions have changed Indian culture.

Post Read Question

How did foreign invasions affect Indian culture?

The Kharosthi script was derived from the Aramaic script and was used to write several ancient languages such as Sanskrit and Prakrit. Comment.

What was the revenue administration of the Delhi Sultanate?

Discuss the major factors that paved the way for the rise of British colonialism in India.

(Devdutt Pattanaik is a renowned mythologist who writes on art, culture and heritage.)

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UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | August 5 to August 11, 2024

World Lion Day, Imazethapyr, Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, India at the Paris Olympics and more — Here are some must read current affairs tidbits for your prelims and mains preparation that you shouldn't miss for UPSC, state PSCs, and other competitive examinations. You can also test your knowledge by solving the MCQs.

Written by Khushboo Kumari

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 10:19 IST

Men's javelin silver medalist, Neeraj Chopra, of India, stands on the podium at the 2024 Summer Paris Olympics. (AP | PTI)

UPSC Current Affairs Pointers is an initiative of UPSC Essentials to consolidate your prelims exam prep. Every Monday, take a quick look at last week’s current affairs tidbits curated specially for those preparing for UPSC, State PSC, and various other competitive examinations.

If you missed the UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | July 29 to August 4, 2024 from the Indian Express, read it here.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

Polity

It further read that the CPP will have three components — Clean Plant Centres (CPCs), certification and legal framework, and enhanced Infrastructure. “The programme will be implemented by the National Horticulture Board in association with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.” (Representational)

- Clean Plant Programme

— The Cabinet has approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), with an outlay of Rs 1,765.67 crore, under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

— Nine world-class state-of-the-art  Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) will be established across India.

— These include Grapes (NRC, Pune), Temperate Fruits – Apple, Almond, Walnuts etc. (CITH, Srinagar &Mukteshwar), Citrus Fruits (CCRI, Nagpur & CIAH, Bikaner), Mango/Guava/Avacado (IIHR, Bangaluru), Mango/Guava/Litchi (CISH, Lucknow),  Pomegranate (NRC, Sholapur) and Tropical/Sub-Tropical Fruits in Eastern India.

(Source: PIB)

Environment

Chhattisgarh’s tiger population fell from 46 in 2014 to 17 in 2022, according to a National Tiger Conservation Authority report released in July 2023. (File)

- Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve

— The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, which integrates an existing national park with a wildlife sanctuary, is Chhattisgarh’s fourth reserve for the big cats.

— It spans 2,829 square kilometres across districts Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Koriya, Surajpur and Balrampur of the state.

— Andhra Pradesh’s Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the country’s largest tiger reserve, covering 3,296.31 sq km. Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam is the second largest with an area of 2,837.1 sq km. Both have 58 tigers.

- Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

— Nearly two years after a tusker was found dead, a range officer and 2 forest guards have been suspended for allegedly burning its carcass in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.

— It is set in the middle of the Kaimur hill ranges of Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh.

— Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve lies between two other major protected Areas of Madhya Pradesh: Kanha Tiger Reserve on the southern side and Sanjay National Park on the northeastern side.

— Major species include Tiger, Leopard, Dhole (Indian Wild Dog), Bengal or Indian Fox, Sloth Bear, Smooth-coated Otter, Indian Rock Pyhton, and Rusty Spotted Cat.

- Pyrocumulonimbus clouds

— The wildfires in the United States and Canada have become so intense that they are creating rare pyrocumulonimbus clouds. These clouds, capable of generating thunderstorms and sparking new fires, have become increasingly common.

— Pyrocumulonimbus clouds form from extreme heat in wildfires or volcanic eruptions, causing hot air, smoke, and ash to rise and cool, leading to cloud formation. These clouds can produce lightning and strong winds, spreading fires further. The rise in their occurrence may be linked to climate change, as more frequent and intense wildfires become the norm globally.

- Imazethapyr

— It is a class of herbicides that control weeds and grasses that affect the growth of crop plants by competing with them for nutrients, water, and sunlight.

— The current kharif season has seen the commercial planting of two basmati varieties and two non-basmati rice hybrids. These contain a mutated acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene that enables farmers to spray Imazethapyr for controlling weeds in rice, such as Echinochloa colona (commonly called jangli chawal), Cyperus rotundus (motha) and Trianthema portulacastrum (patthar-chatta).

Important Days

Asiatic Lion

- World Lion Day

— World Lion Day is celebrated on August 10 to bring people together from across the globe to pay tribute to the mighty lion.

— It was initiated by Big Cat Rescue, the world’s largest accredited sanctuary dedicated to big cats.

—  India is home to the Asiatic lion, found only in the Gir Forest.

(Source: PIB)

- World Biofuel Day

— August 10 is annually celebrated as the World Biofuel Day to highlight the significance of biofuel.

— The day also commemorates the successful operation of an engine on peanut oil by German engineer Sir Rudolf Diesel on August 9, 1893.

International

President of Fiji Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere (right) confers the Companion of the Order of Fiji upon President Droupadi Murmu (left), in Suva, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (PTI Photo)

- First leg of President  Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Fiji, New Zealand, and Timor-Leste

— The President arrived in Suva, Fiji on August 6, 2024. This marked the first-ever visit of an Indian Head of State to Fiji. She was honoured with Fiji’s highest civilian award, the ‘Companion of the Order of Fiji,’ by President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere. She praised the determination and resilience of the ‘Girmitiya’ indentured laborers who arrived in Fiji 145 years ago.

— The President landed in Wellington, New Zealand on August 8, 2024.  She was received by Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro with a traditional ‘Maori Powhiri’ ceremony and accorded Royal Guard of Honour.

— The President reached Dili, Timor-Leste on August 10, 2024 on the final leg of her state visit. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Head of State to this country. She was conferred the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the country’s highest civilian award.

- Exercise Udara Shakti 2024

— It is a joint air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) which was conducted from 5 to 9 August 2024 at Kuantan, Malaysia.

— The IAF participated with Su-30MKI fighter jets.

Diseases

- Silicosis

— Researchers in the UK have recommended that new limits to a person’s daily exposure to silica dust in the construction, mining, dentistry and other industries could save about 13,000 lives worldwide.

— Silicosis is a respiratory disease which causes a hardening of the lungs. It is caused by silica dust or silica crystals, which are found in soil, sand, concrete, mortar, granite and artificial stone.

— It can take a long time for silicosis to develop — typically 10 to 20 years of occupational exposure to silica dust.

(Just FYI: UPSC has consistently included questions on health and diseases in its examinations over the years. For instance, in 2014, a question about the Ebola virus appeared in the Prelims, and in 2017, a question about the Zika virus was featured. Therefore, it is crucial to stay updated on diseases that are currently in the news.)

Persons in News

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was recommended by Bangladeshi student leaders as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, smiles as he arrives at the Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 8, 2024. (REUTERS Photo)

- Muhammad Yunus

— Muhammad Yunus, the winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, has become the chief adviser to the interim government in Bangladesh.

— He was the Founder of Grameen Bank which was established in 1983  to grant poor people small loans on easy terms – so-called micro-credit.

- Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee

— Former chief minister of West Bengal and veteran CPIM leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away on August, 8 at the age of 80.

— In 2022, he was conferred with Padma Bhushan, but he refused to accept it.

- Yamini Krishnamurthy

— Bharatanatyam veteran Yamini Krishnamurthy died on 3rd August 2024 at the age of 84.

— Ms. Krishnamurthy was awarded the Padma Shri at just 28 in 1968, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2001, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. She also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977.

- Challa Sreenivasulu Setty

— The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the new Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender.

— He will take over from the current Chairman, Dinesh Kumar Khara, who is set to retire on August 28.

Places in News

Locations of the newly named underwater structures in the South Indian Ocean. (Photo: NCPOR)

- Geographical structure in the Indian Ocean

— Three underwater geographical structures located in the Indian Ocean have been awarded names proposed by India. These are the Ashoka seamount, the Chandragupta ridge, and the Kalpataru ridge.

— All the three recently named structures were discovered by oceanographers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.

— These are located along the Southwest Indian Ridge area of the Indian Ocean and were discovered during an international survey exploration programme.

— In all, there are now seven structures in the Indian Ocean named mainly after Indian scientists or bear names proposed by India in this region of the Indian Ocean.

- Mullaperiyar dam

— Mullaperiyar dam, an age-old issue, was raised in the Parliament during the Monsoon session. Kerala maintains that the 130-year-old dam is unsafe but Tamil Nadu opposes its demand to build a new one.

— The Mullaperiyar Dam is situated on the Periyar River in Kerala but its ownership and operation rights belong to Tamil Nadu.

— The dam, constructed in 1895 during British rule, was designed to divert water from the west-flowing Periyar to the arid regions of Tamil Nadu for irrigation.

Mullaperiyar dam

(Just FYI: The location of the place is important, considering that UPSC has asked several questions about places that were in the news, such as Aleppo and Kirkuk, in the 2018 UPSC Prelims. The best way to remember them is to plot them on a world map.)

Sports

The Indian hockey team, led by 28-year-old captain Harmanpreet Singh, secured a 2-1 victory over Spain to win the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. (AP/PTI)

- India at the Paris Olympics

— Neeraj Chopra won the Silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 with a remarkable javelin throw of 89.45 m. This made him the first Indian to win Gold and Silver medals at the Olympics. Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan won the gold medal with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 m. He won Pakistan’s first medal at the Olympics – of any colour, in any sport – since 1992.

— The Indian Hockey team won the Bronze medal at the Paris Olympics defeating Spain with 2-1. The victory marks India’s 13th Olympic medal in hockey, their fourth bronze and a second consecutive bronze after winning one at Tokyo 2020. It is also the first time since 1972 that the nation has won back-to-back medals in hockey.

— Aman Sehrawat won the bronze in the men’s freestyle 57kg event at the Paris 2024 Olympics wrestling tournament. He became India’s youngest medal winner at the Summer Games. This was India’s first medal in wrestling at Paris 2024. In wrestling, this was India’s eighth medal at the Olympics.

(Just FYI: With the unpredictability of the UPSC examinations and questions like the ICC World Test Championship question 2021, you can’t be sure of anything. It is wise to know what it is and not go into too much detail.)

Awards

(From left to right) Rohit Srivastava, Purabi Saikia, Bappi Paul and Vivek Polshettiwar are Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar awardees. (Express Photo)

- Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar awardees

— The RVP comprises four awards — Vigyan Ratna for lifetime achievement, Vigyan Shri for scientists of all ages, Vigyan Yuva for scientists under 45 years, and Vigyan Team for collaborative research work.

— The award ceremony will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on August 23, the first National Space Day.

— These new awards were instituted last year after disbanding all existing science awards, including the coveted Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize. Vigyan Yuva is a replacement for the Bhatnagar Prize, which too used to be given to outstanding scientists below 45 years old.

Category

Winners

Vigyan Ratna

Govindraj Padmanabhan(86), a celebrated biochemist known for his work on the malaria parasite

Vigyan Shri

Annapurni Subramaniam, Jayant Bhalchandra Udgaonkar, Naba Kumar Mondal, and more

Vigyan Yuva

Vivek Polshettiwar of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, a chemist who works on carbon capture technologies; Urbasi Sinha of Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru, a leading expert in quantum research; and Roxy Mathew Koll of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, a climate scientist.

Vigyan Team

The Chandrayaan-3 team

Terms making buzz

— Project PARI (Public Art of India): It is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Culture to celebrate and enhance the public art scene in India. This project is executed by the Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi from July 21-31, 2024. PARI aims to stimulate dialogue and reflection through public art that blends India’s rich cultural heritage with contemporary themes.

— Bailey bridge: A Bailey bridge is a type of modular bridge whose parts are pre-built, so they can be put together quickly as needed. An English civil engineer named Donald Coleman Bailey is credited with inventing it during World War II. The Indian Army has assembled a Bailey bridge at Chooralmala to reach Mundakkai village, one of the sites worst hit by the landslides in Wayanad.

— Yen carry trade: The yen carry trade involves borrowing in Japan, where interest rates are extremely low, and investing in countries with higher interest rates. Investors profit from the difference, but unwinding this trade can impact global markets.

Test Your Knowledge

(Note: The best way to remember facts for UPSC and other competitive exams is to recall them through MCQs. Try to solve the following questions on your own.)

A. Consider the following statements:

1. Silicosis is a heart disease that causes the blockage of arteries.

2. It is caused due to exposure to silica dust or silica crystals.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

B. Who became the first recipient of the Vigyan Ratna Award?

(a) G. Padmanabhan

(b) Vivek Polshettiwar

(c) Annapurni Subramaniam

(d) Roxy Mathew Koll

C. Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve is located in which of the following states?

(a) Madhya Pradesh

(b) Chhattisgarh

(c) Karnataka

(d) Gujarat

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

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For your answers, queries and suggestions write at khushboo.kumari@indianexpress.com

UPSC Key | Rohingya, Kakori Train Action, Patent and more

Exclusive for Subscribers Daily: How are the Kakori Train Action and Rohingya relevant to the UPSC Exam? What significance do topics like patents and artificial intelligence have for the preliminary and main exams? You can learn more by reading the Indian Express UPSC Key for August 11, 2024.

Written by Roshni Yadav

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 10:16 IST

At least 150 civilians from Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority may have been killed this week in an artillery and drone attack in the western state of Rakhine that is being blamed on the Arakan Army, a major force in the resistance to military rule. Know more in our UPSC Key. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

🚨 Attention: UPSC Key is now all 7 Days a Week!🚨

Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 11, 2024. If you missed the August 10th, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

Front Page

Lakhs of patent orders by ‘outsourced’ staff null and void, says Law Ministry

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic Development

Mains Examination:  GS-II, GS-III: Government Policies and Interventions; Issues relating to intellectual property rights.

What’s the ongoing story- In what puts a question mark on the legality of lakhs of patent and trademark orders passed in the last two years by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), the Union Law Ministry and an Additional Solicitor General (ASG) of India have opined that these orders are “legally unenforceable” as they were “made by outsourced employees” in violation of the Trade Marks Act, 1999.

Prerequisites:

— What are Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)?

— What is the difference between “Trademark”, “Copyright” and “Patent”?

— Read about the office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Key takeaways:

— What has led to a chaos in the grant of intellectual property rights is the patent body’s decision to hire hundreds of employees “outsourced” through a single source, the Quality Council of India, an autonomous body, and not belonging to the Government of India. In the last one year itself, these employees granted patents and trademarks to companies in quasi judicial orders.

— The decisions by “outsourced employees appointed through any agency (and not by the Central Government) in any statutory proceeding can very well be challenged as null and void as these orders are passed by legally incompetent persons”, the Department of Legal Affairs said in a legal opinion April 25, 2024, sought by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) earlier that month. In her opinion on June 17, 2024, ASG Aishwarya Bhati suggested “annulment of decisions” made by the “unauthorised outsourced employees”.

— A week ago, the Calcutta High Court had also ruled that hiring contractual employees for “quasi-judicial functions” in the patents and trademark office was not legal.

— What’s the way out: Terming all patent orders illegal will mean reversing decisions taken over the last two years that have already impacted hundreds of businesses. The way out, as suggested by the ASG, could be an expert committee going over the merits of each order passed, and giving a stamp of approval.

For Your Information:

— Intellectual property right (IPR) is the right given to persons over the creations of their minds: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names and images used in commerce. They usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time.

— A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, and under Patents Act 1970, a “patent is granted for any invention”. A patentee under the Act is defined as the person whose name is entered on the register of patents as the “grantee or proprietor of the patent”.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the different types of Intellectual Property Rights?

— What are the patent criteria in India?

— What are the issues related to Intellectual Property Rights in India?

— What are the initiatives taken by the government to provide a strong IPR regime in India?

(Thought Process: Read about the National IPR policy and other initiatives of government)

Post Read Question:

(1) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2019)

1. According to the Indian Patents Act, a biological process to create a seed can be patented in India.

2. In India, there is no Intellectual Property Appellate Board.

3. Plant varieties are not eligible to be patented in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

UPSC Essentials: One word a day- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

Opinion

100 years ago, when a train robbery shook the Empire

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India and Indian National Movement

Mains Examination: GS-I: The Freedom Struggle —its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

What’s the ongoing story- Shyamlal Yadav writes— “The audacious act, famously known as the Kakori case or the Kakori train robbery conspiracy case, shook the British government and accelerated the freedom movement. This year marks the 100th year of the incident — on Friday, August 9, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the centenary celebrations.”

Prerequisites:

— What was the Kakori Train Action incident?

— Read about the Hindustan Republican Association.

Key takeaways:

— “The Kakori case was the first major action executed by the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), a revolutionary outfit set up in 1924 by, among others, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan and Sachindra Nath Bakshi.”

— “Bismil, who hatched the robbery plan, was joined in its execution by Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, Chandrashekhar Azad, Sachindra Nath Bakshi, Keshab Chakravarthy, Manmathnath Gupta, Murari Sharma, Mukundi Lal and Banwari Lal.”

— “While the revolutionaries only intended to rattle the British government, the death of a passenger named Ahmad Ali, when the Mauser gun of one of the revolutionaries accidentally went off, hurt their cause.”

— “Of the accused who were made to stand trial at the Special Sessions Court of Justice Archibald Hamilton, 19 persons were convicted. Bismil, Roshan Singh, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Ashfaqullah Khan were sentenced to death while the others got varying jail terms, including a deportation to the infamous Kala Pani (Cellular Jail in Port Blair) for five of them.”

— “While the sum stolen was paltry, the act was an audacious snook at the British Raj, whose response to Kakori was to set an example for future revolutionaries and restore British authority in the minds of the people.”

For Your Information:

— The Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) was founded by a group of young men who were disillusioned by Gandhi’s tactics and what they felt was zealous preaching of “non-violence.”

— Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqulla Khan, both poets, were among the group’s founding members. Sachindra Nath Bakshi and trade unionist Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee were among the others. The HRA would also include figures such as Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh. Their manifesto, Krantikari (Revolutionary), was published on January 1, 1925.

Points to Ponder:

— What is the significance of Kakori Train Action in the Freedom struggle of India?

— What happened to the HRA after the Kakori Train Action?

— What were the contributions of revolutionaries in the Indian freedom struggle?

Post Read Question:

(2) With reference to the Kakori Train incident, consider the following statements

1. The train robbery at Kakori was the HRA’s first major action which took place in 1925.

2. The objective was to fund the HRA and garner public attention for their work and mission.

3. The only major leader of HRA at this time who evaded arrest was Ram Prasad Bismil.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

How young revolutionary leaders executed the Kakori Train Robbery

Express Network

Jaishankar meets Muizzu, says New Delhi attaches top priority to ties with Maldives

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations, bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar  Saturday met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and other top leaders and assured them that New Delhi attached top priority to its multifaceted relationship with Male and was determined to further its developmental cooperation with the country.

Prerequisites:

— What is the history of bilateral ties between India and the Maldives?

—  What is the India Out campaign?

— What is the significance of Maldives for India?

— Map work: Location of Maldives, Atolls in news in Maldives,  Lakshadweep’s Minicoy Island.

Key takeaways:

— Jaishankar is on a three-day official visit to Maldives to reset the bilateral relationship, the first high-level trip from India after the archipelago nation’s pro-China president Muizzu assumed office last year.

— Jaishankar’s trip to the Maldives comes weeks after President Muizzu’s visit to India in June to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

— Muizzu reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to strengthening the historic and close connections between the Maldives and India. He stated India has always been one of the closest allies and invaluable partners, facilitating and providing aid whenever Maldives has needed it.

— Muizzu highlighted that India’s initiatives would provide significant economic benefits, boost the local economies, and together contribute to the nation’s prosperity.

For Your Information:

— The Maldives is an essential ally for India, helping to protect its maritime borders and monitor the wider Indian Ocean region, where China is waging war. The archipelago is located about 300 nautical miles (560 km) off the west coast of India and about 70 nautical miles (130 km) from Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep.

— The Chinese influence in the Maldives has progressively expanded over the last few decades. The island nation is a component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has resulted in an influx of Chinese money and a deepening of the two countries’ relationship—at the expense of India.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the areas of cooperation between India and the Maldives?

— What are the major challenges to India-Maldives relations?

— What steps can be taken by India to strengthen bilateral relations with the Maldives?

— What is the significance of India for the Maldives?

(Thought Process: Mention the essentials that India supplies to the Maldives, India’s support in the Maldives’ education system, the economic dependence of the Maldives on India—tourism—and India’s significant role during disasters.)

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(3) India and Maldives are separated by which of the following channels?

(a) Eight Degree Channel

(b) Nine Degree Channel

(c) Seven Degree Channel

(d) Ten Degree Channel

Mains

Discuss the political developments in Maldives in the last two years. Should they be of any cause of concern to India? (UPSC CSE 2013)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

India-Maldives ties: Amid row, why the two countries need each other and what is at stake

Transition to AI will augment efficiency of legal system: CJI

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Polity, Science and Technology

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions; Science and Technology- developments and their applications; Awareness in the fields of IT.

What’s the ongoing story- Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud Saturday said the transition to Artificial Intelligence (AI) would augment efficiency without impacting the foundational skills of the legal profession, and emphasised strengthening infrastructure in the courts to deal with pendency in cases.

Prerequisites:

— What is artificial intelligence (AI)?

— What are the areas of AI application?

— What are the different categories of AI?

Key takeaways:

— He said modern technology like AI was being used to translate court verdicts in regional languages. “I believe the transition to Artificial Intelligence will mirror the earlier embrace of technology by lawyers.” the CJI said.

— Justice Chandrachud said, “Sophisticated legal argumentation continues to remain in the exclusive realm of human lawyers. However, several routine tasks such as case law research, filing pleadings, reviewing contracts, and conducting due diligence can deeply benefit from artificial intelligence and automation. Relegating such tasks to artificial intelligence leaves lawyers with more time and bandwidth. They can focus on high-value activities such as legal strategy, innovative argumentation and personalised client services.”

For Your Information:

— Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines, especially computers, to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks include things like understanding language, recognising patterns, solving problems, and making decisions.

— Essentially, AI enables machines to think and learn from experience, just like humans do, but often at a much faster pace with access to vast amounts of data. Today, AI continues to evolve, integrating into various industries, driving innovation, and transforming everyday life.

Points to Ponder:

— What is India’s artificial intelligence (AI) Mission?

— Is there any legal framework for AI regulation globally and nationally?

— What are the advantages and disadvantages of AI?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(4) With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (UPSC CSE 2020)

1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units

2. Create meaningful short stories and songs

3. Disease diagnosis

4. Text-to-Speech Conversion

5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Mains

Elucidate the relationship between globalisation and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India. (UPSC CSE 2023)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

What is Artificial Intelligence, how is it revolutionising healthcare

The World Page

Dozens of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar killed in drone attack

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations.

What’s the ongoing story- A drone attack on Rohingya fleeing Myanmar killed many dozens of people, including families with children, several witnesses said, describing survivors wandering between piles of bodies to identify dead and injured relatives.

Prerequisites:

— Who are the Rohingya?

— What is the Rohingya crisis?

— Know India-Myanmar bilateral relations in detail

Key takeaways:

—  Four witnesses, activists and a diplomat described drone attacks on Monday that struck down families waiting to cross the border into neighbouring Bangladesh.

— A heavily pregnant woman and her 2-year-old daughter were among the victims in the attack, the single deadliest known assault on civilians in Rakhine state during recent weeks of fighting between junta troops and rebels.

— A spokesperson for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees said the agency was “aware of the deaths of refugees from the capsize of two boats in the Bay of Bengal” and it had heard reports of civilian deaths in Maungdaw but that it could not confirm the numbers or circumstances.

For Your Information:

— Monojit Majumdar writes— “The Rohingya have suffered systematic discrimination, disenfranchisement, and targeted persecution for decades — and small and large groups have been coming to Bangladesh from at least the 1970s following violence in Rakhine. Before 2017 — when the Myanmar military unleashed a brutal response to alleged attacks by a group called the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army — waves of Rohingya had come to Bangladesh in 1978, 1992, 2012, and 2016.”

Points to Ponder:

— How does illegal transborder migration pose a threat to India’s security?

— What is the Free Movement Regime on the India-Myanmar Border?

— What is the significance of Myanmar for India?

—  Since the coup in Myanmar, What has been India’s diplomatic approach to Myanmar?

Post Read Question:

(5) Consider the following pairs: (UPSC CSE 2016)

Community sometimes mentioned in the news

In the affairs of

1.

Kurd

Bangladesh

2.

Madhesi

Nepal

3.

Rohingya

Myanmar

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 3 only

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Who are the Rohingya?

Australian firm hopes fungi can slow global warming by stashing CO2 underground

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Environment and General Science

Mains Examination: GS-III: Environment

What’s the ongoing story- Across 100,000 acres in the vast agricultural heartland of Australia, an unusual approach is taking root to slow down the wrecking ball of climate change. Farmers are trying to tap the superpowers of tiny subterranean tendrils of fungus to pull carbon dioxide out of the air and stash it underground.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the fungi.

Key takeaways:

— It’s part of a big bet that entrepreneurs and investors around the world are making on whether dirt can clean up climate pollution. They are using a variety of technologies on farmland not just to grow food but to also eat the excess carbon dioxide produced by more than a century of fossil fuel burning and intensive agriculture.

— Why fungus? Because fungi act as nature’s carbon traders. As they sow crops, farmers are adding a pulverized dust of fungal spores. The fungus latches on to the crop roots, takes carbon that is absorbed by the plants from the air and locks it away in a form that may keep it underground for much longer than the natural carbon cycle.

— It’s still early days for most of these ventures, and exactly how much excess carbon they can remove and how long they can keep it underground remains contested. But their side benefits may be equally profound. They are all aimed at restoring the health of soils that have been degraded by decades of intensive agriculture by restoring microbes and minerals that they once contained.

For Your Information:

— The carbon removal potential of soils is huge. Soils hold three times more carbon than the atmosphere and they can potentially absorb more than 5 gigatons of carbon dioxide per year, or one-seventh of all the carbon dioxide that human activity injects into the atmosphere, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. That makes them the world’s second-largest carbon store, after oceans.

Points to Ponder:

— What is the significance of fungi in conservation?

— How fungi can help in tackling climate change?

Post Read Question:

(6) Consider the following organisms: (UPSC CSE 2013)

1. Agaricus

2. Nostoc

3. Spirogyra

Which of the above is/are used as biofertilizer/biofertilizers?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 3 only

Economy

Garment sector facing uncertainty, normalcy may return soon: Sitharaman

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic development

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: International relations, Economic development.

What’s the ongoing story- The Indian garment and knitted fabric sector is seeing a “bit of uncertainty” amid the ongoing political developments in the neighbouring country of Bangladesh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.

Prerequisites:

— What is the ongoing conflict in Bangladesh?

— What is the status of India-Bangladesh trade ties?

— What is the status of the textile sector in India?

Key takeaways:

— “I have held discussions on our textile garment investments in Bangladesh, many of which are from Tamil Nadu. The investments went there in good faith and they did well having gone there; exports from Bangladesh had also increased. The garment and knitted fabric sector is currently seeing a bit of uncertainty,” she said at the media briefing held after the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

— Ready-made garments represent more than 85 per cent of Bangladesh’s merchandise exports and over 70 percent of its total exports. In trade terms, Bangladesh is India’s biggest partner in the subcontinent, and India is Bangladesh’s second biggest partner in Asia after China. Their total bilateral trade amounted to $13 billion in the financial year 2023-24, according to the Commerce Ministry.

For Your Information:

— Earlier this week, political turmoil happened in Bangladesh when Sheikh Hasina resigned as the Prime Minister and fled the country. Soon after Parliament was dissolved leading to the creation of an interim government. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took oath on Thursday as the head of the interim government.

— In trade terms, Bangladesh is India’s biggest partner in the subcontinent, and India is Bangladesh’s second biggest partner in Asia after China. Their total bilateral trade amounted to $13 billion in the financial year 2023-24, according to the Union Ministry of Commerce.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the areas of cooperation and conflict between India and Bangladesh?

— How is the current political crisis in Bangladesh going to impact the India-Bangladesh bilateral trade?

— What is the significance of the textile sector in the Indian economy?

— What are the challenges faced by the textile industry in India?

— What are the key initiatives taken by the government of India with regard to the textile sector?

Post Read Question:

(7) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2020)

1. The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade.

2. “Textile and textile articles” constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh.

3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Bangladesh political crisis: Indian exporters stare at disruption in goods flow, brace for payment delays

ALSO IN NEWS

Somanathan, who cleaned up finances of govt, is new Cabinet Secy

The government Saturday appointed 1987-batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer TV Somanathan as the next Cabinet Secretary of India. He will have a two-year tenure beginning August 30. He will take over the charge from Rajiv Gauba, a 1992-batch IAS officer, who has been the Cabinet Secretary since 2019.

Bangladesh Chief Justice resigns after 2-hour ultimatum by students

Bangladesh’s Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and five other judges of the apex Appellate Division on Saturday tendered their resignation, five days after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime amid massive street protests and students marching towards the apex court demanding a revamp of the judiciary.

Russia evacuates over 76,000 in Kursk region amid Ukraine incursion

More than 76,000 people have been evacuated from areas bordering Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region, the local emergency ministry was quoted by the Tass news agency as saying on Saturday, following Ukraine’s incursion into the region this week.

Prelims Answer Key

1. (c)   2. (b)   3. (a)   4. (b)   5. (c)   6. (b)  7. (b)

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UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 04 to August 10, 2024

Brush up your current affairs knowledge with this week's top 15 questions and consolidate your UPSC-CSE preparation. Find answers along with explanations at the end of the quiz.

Written by Nitendra Pal Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:44 IST

Dark Blue Tiger butterflies collecting nectar from a flower. Find a question on bioindicator in today’s quiz. (Photographed by Jeswin Kingsly)

UPSC Weekly Quiz is a current affairs-based quiz on relevant topics from the past week, curated for the aspirants of competitive examinations. Attempt the weekly quiz every Saturday and find answers to the MCQs with explanations.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Silicosis, consider the following statements:

1. It is a respiratory disease which causes a hardening of the lungs.

2. It is caused when people work at construction or mining sites.

3. This disease has no cure.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 1 and 2 only

Explanation

— Silicosis is a respiratory illness that hardens the lungs. It is caused by silica dust or crystals found in soil, sand, concrete, mortar, granite, and artificial stone. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It is widely used in building, mining, oil and gas extraction, kitchen engineering, dentistry, pottery, and sculpture. People who work in these occupations are frequently exposed to silica on a daily basis, which increases their chance of acquiring silicosis. The sickness, for example, has caused havoc in small mining towns in India. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Silicosis is a degenerative disease with no cure. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Silicosis can develop slowly, usually after 10 to 20 years of work exposure to silica dust.

— Silicosis can cause other dangerous diseases, such as lung cancer, although scientists are unsure how this occurs. Some believe that silica dust creates deposits in the lungs, which cause persistent irritation.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

Consider the following sports:

1. Wrestling

2. Judo

3. Equestrian

4. Taekwondo

5. Curling

Which of the following games given above are played according to the weight categories?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

(d) 1, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation

— Wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics following the official weigh-in on Wednesday morning, ahead of her anticipated gold medal battle that evening. She will return from Paris without receiving a medal.

— While she passed the weigh-in on Tuesday, Vinesh was discovered to be “a few grammes over 50 kg” at the Wednesday morning weigh-in.

— Weight divisions divide combat sports such as wrestling, boxing, judo, taekwondo, weightlifting, and mixed martial arts (MMA).

— Equestrian and Curling are not played as weight division.

— Because athletes of similar weight (and thus size) are expected to have similar physical characteristics, weight classes are intended to create a reasonably level playing field in which larger and bulkier competitors do not compete with smaller ones.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the pyrocumulonimbus clouds, consider the following statements:

1. They are formed only when there is an extremely hot wildfire or a volcanic eruption.

2. These clouds can trigger strong winds that can make the spread of the wildfire faster.

3. These clouds are situated at low heights and depend on other clouds to generate thunderstorms.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The current wildfires in the United States and Canada are so fierce that they have produced ‘pyrocumulonimbus’ clouds, which have the ability to spit out thunder and cause other fires.

— They only appear when there is an exceptionally hot wildfire; volcanic eruptions can also result in the development of pyrocumulonimbus clouds. Not all wildfires produce pyrocumulonimbus clouds. For example, these clouds arose during the Australian bushfires in 2019-2020, when temperatures reached 800 degrees Celsius. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The strong heat from the fire warms the surrounding air, which rises into the atmosphere. As this heated, buoyant air—carrying water vapour, smoke, and ash—rises, it expands and cools. Once cool enough, water vapour condenses on the ash, forming a grey or brown cloud. At this point, the cloud is known as a pyrocumulus cloud, or ‘fire cloud’. However, if there is enough water vapour available and the upward movement of hot air intensifies, pyrocumulus clouds can develop into pyrocumulonimbus clouds.

— These clouds can reach heights of 50,000 feet and produce their own thunderstorms. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Although pyrocumulonimbus clouds can cause lightning, they do not produce much rain.

— These clouds can also cause high gusts, making the wildfire spread faster and more unpredictable. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the manganese nodules, consider the following statements:

1. They are found in the deep sea.

2. They are also known as polymetallic nodules.

3. It forms in a very short period of time providing extensive sources.

4. It forms the key component of electric car batteries.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation

— The ocean floor contains large amounts of metals and rare earths. However, harvesting these lucrative materials could permanently harm fragile marine ecosystems.

— The International Seabed Authority, or ISA, is developing a set of regulations to govern the exploitation of raw resources from the ocean below.

— Several states, notably Germany, Brazil, and the Pacific island nation of Palau, have stated that they would not consent to the new standards until the environmental impact has been thoroughly explored. China, Norway, Japan, and the Central Pacific microstate Nauru have all pushed for a rapid resolution so that mining companies can begin implementing their plans.

— Deep Sea Mining corporations are especially interested in polymetallic nodules, often known as manganese nodules. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

— These potato-sized lumps, formed over millions of years from silt deposits, are primarily made of manganese, cobalt, copper, and nickel, basic minerals used in electric car batteries. Hence, statement 3 is not correct and statement 4 is correct.

— As the globe transitions to renewable energy, the International Energy Agency predicts the demand for these metals to double by 2040.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

Several EU member states such as Austria, Hungary and Slovakia are still heavily dependent on Russian gas via the Ukrainian transit route.

Statement-II:

The European Union has significantly increased the amount of Russian gas it imports, from its supply in 2021 to 2024.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Explanation

— In late June, Ukraine tightened existing sanctions against Lukoil, effectively prohibiting the business from using Ukraine as a transit country to send pipeline crude oil to other countries.

— Lukoil and other suppliers continue to deliver Russian crude oil to Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic via the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline, which goes via Ukraine.

— Russian gas was never officially sanctioned by the EU, and it has long posed a unique problem. In the first half of 2024, EU member states bought €11 billion worth of Russian oil and gas, with €3.6 billion from liquefied natural gas (LNG) and €4.8 billion from pipeline natural gas.

— The EU has considerably cut the amount of Russian gas it imports, from approximately 40% in 2021 to 15% in 2024. However, other EU member states, like Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, continue to rely heavily on Russian gas via the Ukrainian transit route, according to CREA. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

The term “carry trade” refers to:

(a) When money is borrowed from a country where interest rates are low and invested in a country where interest rates are high.

(b) Transfer of goods and services in a country’s currency system not in US dollars.

(c) When money is borrowed from a country where interest rates are high and invested in a country where interest rates are low.

(d) Trade between the countries excluding the trade of services.

Explanation

— Global investors are constantly looking for methods to make money. One method is to borrow money in a country with low interest rates and then invest it (after changing the currency) in a country with substantially higher interest rates. Simply defined, this is a carry trade.

— Such possibilities can arise because central banks in many nations strive to keep interest rates at a level that is appropriate for their own economic conditions.

— An example is Japan, where the central bank (the Bank of Japan) kept interest rates at zero percent between 2011 and 2016, and has actually lowered them even lower (-0.10%) since 2016. The goal behind low interest rates is to boost economic activity.

— Higher interest rates in Japan caused the yen to strengthen versus the dollar and most other emerging country currencies. Over the last week, the yen’s exchange rate has risen versus currencies such as the dollar, real, rupee, and peso.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

With reference to the Clean Plant Programme, consider the following statements:

1. The programme has been launched under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

2. The initiative will ensure superior produce with enhanced taste, appearance and nutritional value.

3. It will not provide access to virus-free and high-quality planting materials.

4. The programme will be implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— The Cabinet approved the Rs 1,766 crore Clean Plant Programme (CPP) under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). The mission will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 4 is not correct.

— The CPP will enable access to virus-free, high-quality planting material, resulting in higher agricultural yields and better earning opportunities.

— The program will ensure that consumers receive high-quality, virus-free food, improving the taste, appearance, and nutritional content of fruit. Hence, statement 2 is correct and statement 3 is not correct.

— The Programme will prioritise inexpensive access to clean plant material for all farmers, regardless of land size or socioeconomic background.

— The Programme will actively involve women farmers in its design and implementation, ensuring that they have access to resources, training, and decision-making power.

— The Programme will handle India’s different agroclimatic conditions by producing clean plant varieties and technology tailored to each region.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

The proposed Malwa canal was recently in news. This new irrigation channel will be developed in:

(a) Uttar Pradesh

(b) Maharashtra

(c) Punjab

(d) Jammu and Kashmir

Explanation

— Almost seven decades after the Bhakra Main Line (BML), Sirhind Feeder, and Bist Doab canals were built in the mid-1950s, Punjab plans to invest Rs 2,300 crore on a new irrigation route that will span around 150 km north-south in the state’s south-western portion.

— The projected 149.53-kilometer canal is named after Malwa, the largest and politically most important of Punjab’s three geographical and cultural areas, which spans the whole southern half of the state.

— The projected 50-foot-wide, 12-foot-deep canal will begin at the Harike Headworks on the Sutlej River in Ferozepur district and convey 2,000 cusecs of water.

— The proposed canal will end at Warring Khera hamlet in Muktsar district, near the Haryana border, and will run parallel to the Sirhind Feeder and Rajasthan Feeder canals, to the latter’s east. The canal, which is expected to take five years to complete, is intended to irrigate 2 lakh acres of land across seven districts.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 9

With reference to the bioindicator, consider the following statements:

1. It is a living organism that gives us an idea of the health of an ecosystem.

2. It provides the effects of different pollutants in the ecosystem.

3. Copepods are an example of a bioindicator.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Frogs are very important bioindicators, their presence or absence signals the state of the environment.

— A living thing that provides information about the condition of an environment is called a bioindicator. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Certain species are highly susceptible to environmental contamination. The organism may exhibit altered morphology, physiology, behaviour, or even death.

— Copepods and other small water crustaceans, which are found in many water bodies, are one type of bioindicator. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— In contrast to physical and chemical tests, bioindicators can provide information on the cumulative effects of various pollutants in the ecosystem as well as the potential duration of a problem. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

With reference to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), consider the following statements:

1. It is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which was started in 2014.

2. The Mission Olympic Cell is a dedicated body created to assist the athletes who are selected under the TOPS.

3. Beside foreign training and International competition, it provides the athletes with a monthly stipend of Rs 100,000.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 only

Explanation

— The government is currently nurturing 1,050 individuals selected under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), covering all costs associated with training, equipment, and international participation.

— The government has three initiatives in place to uncover and foster grassroots talent while also providing opportunities for them to play at the national and international levels.

— Under Khelo India, the government established a centre in each district. It also organises state and national events for school and college students aged 14 and up.

— There is a KIRTI programme (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification) that recognises talents in schools and institutions.

— Currently, a talent discovery procedure is underway in the country, with one lakh talented athletes to be identified.

— The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) launched the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) in September 2014 to improve India’s performance at the Olympics and Paralympics. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The initiative is fully operational and has been providing all necessary support to potential athletes identified for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including foreign training, international competition, equipment, and coaching camps, in addition to a monthly stipend of Rs. 50,000/- for each athlete. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) is a specific entity designed to help athletes who have been selected under the TOP Scheme.The MOC is chaired by the Director General of the Sports Authority (DG SAI). Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in)

QUESTION 11

Three underwater geographical structures have been renamed as Ashoka seamount, Chandragupt ridge and Kalpataru ridge. These geographical structures are located in:

(a) Indian Ocean

(b) Arabian Sea

(c) Bay of Bengal

(d) Andaman Sea

Explanation

— Three undersea geological structures in the Indian Ocean have been given names proposed by India.

— The Ashoka Seamount and Chandragupt Ridge are named after Mauryan dynasty emperors. Kalpataru Ridge is the third feature for which the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) have recently assigned names originally given by India.

— There are now seven structures in the Indian Ocean, mostly named after Indian scientists or names offered by India in this region.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 12

With reference to the Ayushman Bharat, consider the following statements:

1. It is a scheme to provide health cover up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year.

2. The scheme has been rolled out for the bottom 40 per cent of the population.

3. The inclusion of households is based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011.

4. The scheme is particularly for rural areas and not for urban areas.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— Analysis of unit-level data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES 2022-23) has revealed a dramatic decline in the incidence of poverty since 2011-12.

— Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is a scheme to provide health coverage or health insurance of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— PM-JAY has been rolled out for the bottom 40 per cent of the poor and vulnerable population, targeting approximately 12 crore households. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The inclusion of households is based on criteria mentioned in the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 for rural and urban areas. Hence, statement 3 is correct and statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 13

Consider the following diseases:

1. Heart disease

2. Salmonella

3. Chronic lung disease

4. Measles

How many of the above diseases are examples of Non-Communicable diseases?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— A software developed by doctors and technicians at AIIMS in Delhi is an important initiative. A digitally connected healthcare ecosystem might enhance treatment outcomes, particularly in rural India, where a shortage of specialists frequently prevents early diagnosis and therapy.

— Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), often known as chronic diseases, are non-transmissible diseases that often last a long time.

— NCDs include mental health issues, strokes, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease. NCDs are predicted to be responsible for one in every two disability-affected life years and one in every five deaths among adolescents worldwide.

— Salmonella and Measles are communicable diseases.

— The majority of the NCD disability burden among teenagers is attributable to mental health issues.

— NCDs are generally caused by behaviours that commonly begin in childhood and adolescence, such as physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, tobacco use, and problematic alcohol consumption.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: data.unicef.org)

QUESTION 14

Consider the following:

1. Allowing a non-Muslim chief executive officer and at least two non-Muslim members to be appointed by the state government to the Waqf Boards at the state level.

2. Allow the district collector to act as the arbiter on whether a property is Waqf property or government land.

Which of the above are the proposed changes of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which renames the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995, states that in response to recommendations from various committees, including the Rajinder Sachar Committee and the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf Council, it has become “necessary” to amend the Act in order to overcome shortcomings and improve the efficiency of Waqf property administration and management.

— The Waqf (Amendment) Bill proposes numerous significant reforms, including permitting the state government to select a non-Muslim chief executive officer and at least two non-Muslim members to state-level Waqf boards. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It is also proposed that the district collector serve as the adjudicator of whether a property is Waqf or government land. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— A Waqf is a personal property donated by Muslims for a specific purpose, whether religious, philanthropic, or private. While the beneficiaries of the property may differ, ownership of the property is assumed to be with God.

— Waqf properties in India are controlled by the Waqf Act of 1995. However, India has had a legal framework for managing Waqfs since 1913, when the Muslim Waqf Validating Act went into effect.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 15

Which of the following states have approved to notify the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve?

(a) Maharashtra

(b) Madhya Pradesh

(c) Telangana

(d) Chhattisgarh

Explanation

— A long-pending proposal to designate a new tiger reserve, the third largest in the nation, was approved by Chhattisgarh after the state’s tiger population fell precipitously in recent years.

— The fourth big cat reserve in Chhattisgarh is the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, which combines a wildlife sanctuary with an existing national park. It covers 2,829 square kilometres over four of the state’s northern districts.

— The tiger population in Chhattisgarh decreased from 46 in 2014 to 17 in 2022, according to a National Tiger Conservation Authority assessment released in July 2023.

— The establishment of this tiger reserve will promote eco-tourism in the state and provide job possibilities for people living in the core and buffer zones as guides, tourist vehicle operators, and resort managers. Furthermore, the National Project Tiger Authority will provide additional money for the reserve’s operations, allowing new livelihood development projects in the nearby villages.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Weekly Quiz

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 28 to August 03, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 21 to July 27, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 14 to July 20, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 07 to July 13, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 30 to July 06, 2024

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World Biofuel Day – All you need to know for UPSC Prelims and Mains

Why have biofuels gained increased attention in recent years? How are biofuels related to energy security and increasing farmers' income?

Written by Roshni Yadav

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:45 IST

The Government of India has implemented several initiatives to increase the blending of biofuels. (Image Source: Canva)

Every year on August 10, World Biofuel Day is observed to underline the significance of biofuels as a sustainable source of energy. The day also commemorates the successful operation of an engine on peanut oil by German engineer Sir Rudolf Diesel on August 9, 1893.

In recent years, biofuels gained increased attention due to a number of factors such as the rising concerns about climate change and the increasing health issues caused by air pollution from burning fossil fuels, which are not only expensive but also limited in supply.

Hence, biofuel has been endorsed as a sustainable alternative to traditional fuel and energy sources both at the national and global levels.

Understanding Biofuels

The fuel derived from the biomass of plants or animal wastes is known as biofuel. It is commonly produced from corn, sugarcane and animal waste like cow dung. Since these sources are renewable unlike fossil fuels, they come under renewable sources of energy. The two most common biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.

1. Ethanol: It is produced by fermentation of residues of crops like corn and sugarcane. The ethanol after fermentation is mixed with petroleum, which dilutes the latter and reduces the emissions. Ethanol-10 or E10 is the most common blend in which 10 per cent composition is Ethanol.

Ethanol is 99.9% pure alcohol that can be blended with petrol. This is unlike the 96% extra neutral alcohol that goes to make potable liquor or the 94% rectified spirit used in paints, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other industrial products.

2. Biodiesel: It is produced from used cooking oil, yellow grease or animal fats. During its production, cooking oil or fat is burned with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, which produces Biodiesel.

Diagram explaining the process of production of ethanol (Image: Screengrab-https://afdc.energy.gov/)

Importance of Biofuels

1. Environmental Benefits: Biofuels hold great environmental significance as they not only offer the potential to mitigate some of the negative environmental consequences of fossil fuel production and usage, such as greenhouse gas pollution and the issue of finite resource depletion but also provide the medium for better waste management.

2. Energy Security: India is the world’s third-largest consumer of crude oil and depends on imports to meet over 85 percent of its requirements. A rising energy demand and high reliance on imports present energy security challenges for India. In this context, we can say that biofuel can help in ensuring energy security as well.

3. Economic Benefits: Increased use of biofuel will help reduce the dependence on imported oil and, in turn, adjust India’s import bill. The production of biofuels through crops like corn, sugarcane, etc., could also increase farm income and help address the challenges of sales and storage associated with the over-production of food grains and sugar.

Government Initiatives and Policies on Biofuels

The Government of India has implemented several initiatives to increase the blending of biofuels. The government is promoting biofuels intending to reduce import dependency, improve farmers’ remuneration, and address environmental concerns, as well as promote better waste management practices.

1. National Policy on Biofuel

The Indian government approved the “National Policy on Biofuel” in 2018. It aims at reducing dependence on imports by encouraging fuel blending. With bioethanol, biodiesel, and bio-CNG in focus, its key parts include the Ethanol Blending Programme (EPB), production of second-generation ethanol (derived from forest and agricultural residues), increasing capacity for the production of fuel additives under the “Make in India” program, R&D in feedstock, which is the starting material for ethanol production, and financial incentives for achieving these goals.

In May 2022 due to biofuel advancements, the policy was amended to introduce several changes. The most important amendment has been advancing the 20% blending date by five years from Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2030 to 2025-26.

2. Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA)

The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) is a multi-stakeholder alliance that includes governments, international organizations, and industries. It was formally launched last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the leaders of the USA, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Singapore, Bangladesh, Mauritius and the UAE on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

The alliance aims to facilitate international cooperation and promote the use of sustainable biofuels. Additionally, it aims to facilitate global biofuel trade and provide technical support for national biofuel programs. 24 countries and 12 international organizations have already agreed to join the alliance.

3. Reduced GST on Ethanol: To promote ethanol blending, the government reduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate from 18% to 5% on ethanol intended for blending under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.

4. Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana: The government has notified Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana to promote Second Generation (2G) ethanol production from cellulosic and lignocellulosic including petrochemical routes in the country by providing financial support.

India’s Progress on the Path of Sustainable Energy through Biofuels

India has overcome initial challenges and achieved success in its ethanol-petrol blending program in recent years. This success has led the government to expedite the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol, a mixture of 20% anhydrous ethanol with 80% motor gasoline fuel volume by volume by moving the deadline up to 2025-26 from the original target of 2030.

The government has stated that the country is on track to meet this revised timeline. Additionally, India is exploring the possibility of blending diesel with suitable biofuels and natural gas with biogas.

India’s Progress on the Path of Sustainable Energy through Biofuels (Source: Ethanol Booklet 2023 by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas)

Focus on ethanol has impacted the environment as well as life of the farmers positively. During 2013-14, 38 crore liters of ethanol were purchased, which  increased more than 10 times to 408 crore liters in Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 21-22. In ESY 21-22 approximately `25,750 crore of ethanol was purchased, a large sum of which  went into the pocket of our farmers. It has especially benefitted the sugarcane farmers, according to Ethanol Booklet 2023 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Harish Damodaran Writes—

India’s ethanol production programme has come a long way in the past five years, both in terms of the quantities supplied by sugar mills/distilleries to oil marketing companies (OMCs) and the raw material used — from cane molasses and juice to rice, damaged grains, maize and, down the line, millets.

Issues and Challenges Related to Biofules

There are some issues and challenges associated with biofuels:

1. Environmental issues:  Biofuel production and use have environmental consequences such as increased land and water resource requirements and air and groundwater pollution. Also the growing demand for biofuels can change the cropping pattern and hit the crop basket.

As  per the report,

One litre of ethanol from sugar requires about 2,860 litres of water.

2. Food versus Fuel challenge: There is also concern regarding the balance between food security and energy security, depending on the choice of feedstock and the production process in the context of biofuels.

Thus, a well-balanced strategy should be followed to attain the goal of sustainable energy while ensuring the food and economic security of the country.

Post Read Questions

Prelims

(1) According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? (2020)

1. Cassava

2. Damaged wheat grains

3. Groundnut seeds

4. Horse gram

5. Rotten potatoes

6. Sugar beet

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only

(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

(2)With reference to the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), consider the following statements:

1. GBA is a France-led initiative towards the goal of sustainability and clean energy.

2. The alliance is aimed at facilitating international cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels.

3. All the member countries are members of G20.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

(3) Consider the following statements regarding ethanol:

1. Ethanol yields from grains are higher than from molasses.

2. Under the ethanol blending programme, the government has fixed the target of 20% blending of ethanol with petrol by 2025.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Mains

(1) What do you understand by bioenergy, and how is it generated? Explain how it will aid in meeting India’s energy needs.

(2) What are the prevailing challenges on India’s path to sustainable energy? What should be the way forward?

Prelims Answer Key

1. (a)   2. (a)   3. (c)

(Source: Ethanol+petrol: How to blend more and blend better, Biofuels, their future, Ethanol Booklet 2023, PM formally launches Global Biofuels Alliance, PIB)

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UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on Amazon rainfaorests, Sabina Shoal and more (Week 70)

Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims 2025? Check your progress and revise your topics through this quiz on International Relations.

Written by Nitendra Pal Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 15:27 IST

Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil. Find a question on the Amazon rainforests in today’s quiz. (Image source: Reuters)

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on International Relations to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the MCQs on Weekly Current Affairs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

QUESTION 1

Consider the following statements:

1. India kept its options open on the question of refugees and the government can declare any set of refugees as illegal immigrants.

2. India is a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees.

3. Cox’s Bazaar is the biggest refugee camp in the world.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, is expected to stay in India for some time after her ambitions to visit the United Kingdom were thwarted by a “technical roadblock.”

— Despite the lack of an official refugee policy, India has opted to allow her to stay.

— According to the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees and the subsequent 1967 Protocol, a refugee is anyone who is outside their country of origin and is unable or unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

— According to the UN, the Rohingya fled following Myanmar’s military crackdown in Rakhine state in 2017, resulting in the world’s worst refugee crisis. Cox’s Bazaar, in Bangladesh, is the world’s largest refugee camp today. Myanmar asserts that the Rohingya, who are mostly Muslims, are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— India has already welcomed refugees, with approximately 300,000 persons identified as such. This comprises Tibetans, Chakmas from Bangladesh, and refugees from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, among others. However, India is not a signatory to either the 1951 UN Convention or the 1967 Protocol. India does not have a refugee policy or a refugee statute. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The government can declare any group of refugees as illegal immigrants, as it did with the Rohingya despite UNHCR verification, and treat them as trespassers under the Foreigners Act or the Indian Passport Act. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

Which of the following countries are covered under the Amazon rainforests?

1. Brazil

2. Venezuela

3. Peru

4. Argentina

5. French Guiana

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

(c) 1, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

Explanation

— According to government data, deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest increased in July for the first time in 15 months, reversing a trend of decreasing devastation under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

— According to preliminary data released by the Environment and Science Ministries, around 666 square kilometres (257 square miles) of jungle were cleared in July, which is 33% more than the 500 square kilometres (193 square miles) cleared in July 2023.

— Deforestation in the Amazon, which encompasses approximately 40% of South America, is typically associated with agricultural growth and illegal mining.

— Other causes include an Amazon drought, this year’s municipal elections, and the environmental workers’ strike, which began in June, according to Brazilian Vice Minister for Environment Joao Capobianco.

— The Amazon rainforest spans nine countries: Brazil, Suriname, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, French Guiana, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Guyana.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

The region ‘Carolina’ was in news due to the landfall of tropical storm Debby. It is located in:

(a) Yemen

(b) United States

(c) Canada

(d) Philippines

Explanation

— Tropical Storm Debby made its second landfall early Thursday, northeast of Charleston, South Carolina. The storm has raised concerns about flash floods in South and North Carolina.

— On Monday, Debby made landfall as a Category 1 storm in Florida’s Gulf Coast. It then travelled through northern Florida and Georgia before reaching the Atlantic Coast.

— The National Hurricane Centre warned that Debby could dump another 3 inches of rain on sections of eastern South Carolina.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

In which of the following countries, children are at risk of dying due to famine?

(a) Sudan

(b) Ghana

(c) Côte d’Ivoire

(d) Burkina Faso

Explanation

— Malnourished children in a famine-stricken camp for war-displaced people in Sudan’s western Darfur region are at risk of death, according to one charity organisation, which was obliged to restrict malnutrition treatment due to a blockade enforced by a renowned paramilitary group.

— According to Doctors Without Borders, the Rapid Support Forces, which have besieged al-Fasher city as part of their war against the Sudanese military, have stopped three trucks carrying lifesaving medical supplies, including therapeutic food, for the city and the nearby Zamzam camp, where famine was declared last week.

— The violence has killed thousands of people and driven millions to hunger. It caused the world’s worst displacement catastrophe, with over 10 million people having to evacuate their homes since April 2023, according to the UN migration agency.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Sabina Shoal was recently in news. It is located in:

(a) Bay of Bengal

(b) Indian Ocean

(c) Black Sea

(d) South China Sea

Explanation

— China’s coast guard said it was watching Philippine patrol and fishing vessels that had congregated near the disputed Sabina Shoal, claiming China’s “indisputable sovereignty” over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

— The Chinese coast guard reaffirmed that the stranded ship “violates” China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests, as well as “undermines” peace and stability in the South China Sea.

— Sabina Shoal is also known as Xianbin Reef in China, and Escoda Shoal in the Philippines.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 70)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 69)

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Conflicts in West Asia: Iraq in disarray

Iraq was the abode of the Mesopotamian civilisation in ancient times and the seat of the Abbasid Empire during the mediaeval period. Why is the country today a sad reflection of its past?

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:47 IST

The United Nations cultural agency has discovered five bombs hidden within the walls the historic al-Nouri Mosque in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq, a remnant of the Islamic State militant group's rule over the area, UNESCO said in a statement. (AP)

— Md. Muddassir Quamar

(There are areas in the world that remain beset by conflicts. West Asia is one such region that has been in the grip of conflicts at least since the mid-20th century. The escalation after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war further upended the political landscape of the region. What are the prospects for containing the conflicts? How does regional instability affect India’s interests? We will feature a series of articles on major conflicts in West Asia, exploring the root cause of the conflicts, the reasons behind the recent escalation, and its effect on India’s interests. In the following article, Md. Muddassir Quamar analyses the instability in Iraq.)

The modern Middle East has remained unstable and ridden with conflicts due to various historical, political and socio-economic factors. Besides the domestic and regional problems, the involvement of great powers in regional affairs is often considered as either causing troubles or aggravating them as far as the Middle East is concerned.

Iraq is one of the prime examples of how the confluence of domestic, regional and international factors devastated a state and society. Historically, the area that today constitutes Iraq was a prosperous and flourishing land. The abode of the Mesopotamian civilisation in ancient times and the seat of the Abbasid Empire during the mediaeval period, Iraq today is a sad reflection of its past.

The state of disarray in Iraq today is such that the central authority has only limited control over the security of the state. There are multiple centres of authority, and the elected government has only been able to exert limited influence over different sectors.

At times, militias run by individuals and associated with various political movements exert greater control over resources and people than the elected government.

Furthermore, terror groups such as the Islamic State (ISIS) remain active and are reportedly regaining ground. Security remains a serious concern as the Iraqi armed forces are challenged by the proliferation of armed militants backed by influential leaders and external actors.

Iraq under Saddam Hussein

Iraq has a history of conflicts and problems, especially under former President Saddam Hussein. After taking control of the state in 1979, he appropriated power, eliminated any opposition, and used brute force to suppress any opposition to his rule, including by Kurds and Shias.

Saddam’s ambitions for regional leadership meant that he attacked Iran in 1980 in the name of preventing the export of the Islamic revolution that caused the Iraq-Iran war. Having pushed Iraq into serious economic troubles, Saddam invaded Kuwait in 1990 on the flimsy ground that Kuwait has historically been a part of Iraq.

The US-led coalition war to liberate Kuwait and the subsequent international sanctions further deteriorated the Iraqi economy and weakened the state. To make matters worse, the George Bush administration partly blamed Iraq for the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US and the possession of weapons of mass destruction, and decided to intervene militarily to bring about a regime change.

The US invasion of Iraq

The 2003 US invasion proved to be a defining moment in the contemporary history of Iraq, changing its fate and creating a power vacuum that continues to haunt Iraq two decades since. The initial success of the US-led military intervention was as swift as it was misleading. Saddam was removed, captured, tried and executed, and his regime was dismantled. However, this created a strong resentment among the Sunni population in the country that went on to back the insurgency led by radical and extremist groups.

Map showing Iraq and the Middle East. (Google Maps)

The Sunni insurgency primarily targeted the US military but also resented the increasing Shia control over the state under Iranian patronage. The targeting of the Shi’a population and shrines meant that Iraq descended into a violent sectarian conflict that took the shape of a civil war between 2006 and 2008. The Sunni insurgency in Iraq was led by the Islamic State in Iraq that traced its origin to Al-Qaeda and the remnants of the Ba’athist regime of Saddam.

The 2011 Arab uprisings and ISIS

While Iraq was yet to recover from the violence and turmoil caused by the US invasion, the Arab uprising broke out in December 2010, soon engulfing the entire region. Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain faced serious political upheavals; other regional countries were also not free from their impact.

Although Iraq did not witness a popular uprising, unlike Egypt and Syria, the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, saw the regional situation as an opportunity to achieve the goal of establishing a global Islamic State and the long-ended institution of Islamic Caliphate. He gained a strong following among the Iraqi Sunni population, who were unhappy with the sectarian state of politics under the elected government.

Baghdadi called for a wider jihad against the US and its allies in the region to free Arab-Islamic territories from their control. By select use of Quranic and Hadith injunctions and savvy use of social media, ISIS was able to gain a significant global following and attract several thousand youths from across the region and the world to Iraq to fight for the so-called al-Dawla al-Islamiyah or the Islamic State.

ISIS also spread its fight in Syria and soon was able to take control of vast swathes of land in Iraq and Syria. In 2014, after taking control of the ancient city of Mosul in Iraq, Baghdadi announced the establishment of the global Islamic Caliphate and declared himself as the new Caliph.

Defeat of ISIS

The reign of terror that began in Iraq and Syria soon spread to other parts of the Middle East, and its impact was felt far beyond the region in Europe, Africa, and South, Southeast and Central Asia. The refugee crisis emerging from Iraq and Syria created mayhem in Europe.

Eventually, it led to the US-led military coalition undertaking counterterrorism measures simultaneously with Iran to help the Iraqi armed forces and the Iraqi Kurdish forces known as peshmerga that finally defeated ISIS by the end of 2017. Baghdadi was finally killed in October 2019 in Syria, where he was hiding in Idlib province.

While ISIS was defeated, the inability of the Iraqi political class and social groups to come to terms with the problems facing the country has caused Iraq to remain under political uncertainty and resulted in increased security challenges. Discontent among the youth with the political system has risen as the proportional representation system has not resolved the people’s socio-economic challenges.

Growing Political Discontent

Challenges such as poor educational and employment opportunities, negligible civic amenities and scarcity of basic needs such as drinking water and food created a situation in Iraq that witnessed a series of popular protests in different parts of the country between 2018 and 2020. The advent of COVID-19 and its impact on the healthcare and economy further created serious discontent among the people.

The Iraqi polity is a divided house today. Despite the increasing socio-economic and security challenges and growing political discontent, Iraqi leaders have refused to put up a united front. It took Iraqi politicians almost a year to form a government after the parliamentary elections in October 2021, when the group led by Muqtada al-Sadr emerged as the single largest group.

The stalemate among Sadrist and other political groups ended in Sadr calling for the mass resignation of elected members of his group from the parliament, eventually paved the way for the discredited former Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, to make a political comeback, propping loyalist Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, as the new premier. Despite international support, Sudani has not been able to bring Iraq out of its political, economic and security problems.

Iraq’s multifaceted challenges

Consequently, the  government enjoys little domestic support as major political groups, especially Sadrists, youth movements, and the majority of Sunnis, remain dissatisfied with the state of affairs. Meanwhile, several domestic and international reports have suggested that ISIS is slowly trying to regain lost ground and mount a comeback, especially in the northeastern Sulaymaniyah governorate.

Iraq today faces a serious and multifaceted challenge encompassing economic, political, societal and security domains. The demographic and political divisions among Sunni, Kurd and Shi’a have hardly served the people who have time and again demanded better educational and economic opportunities.

Mounting food and water security woes and the growing threats from climate change and global warming have aggravated the people’s problems. Conventional security threats continue to loom on the horizon. Unconcerned, the political class remains divided into sectarian and partisan lines, busy seeking support and proving loyalty to their regional and international benefactors.

The geopolitical tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the broader regional turmoil due to the Israel-Hamas war that has threatened to escalate into a full-blown Israel-Iran war, if not contained, can once again engulf Iraq into a quagmire that would push it into another phase of endless violence and turmoil.

Post Read Question

When did Iraq invade Kuwait and why?

Why did the US invade Iraq in 2003? Discuss its consequences.

Iraq is one of the prime examples of how the confluence of domestic, regional and international factors devastated a state and society. Comment.

ISIS is reportedly trying to regain lost ground and mount a comeback, especially in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. What kind of implications could it have for India?

(The author is Associate Professor of Middle East studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Views are personal. @MuddassirQuamar)

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UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on India AI mission and significance of the Prime Meridian (Week 63)

Are you preparing for UPSC CSE 2024 or CSE 2025? Here are questions from GS paper 1 for this week with essential points as the fodder for your answers. Do not miss points to ponder and answer in the comment box below. Try them out!

Written by Nitendra Pal Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:48 IST

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the Mission and said its aim was to establish the computing powers of AI within the country. Attempt a question on IndiaAI mission in today’s answer writing practice. (Created using Dall-E)

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

QUESTION 1

Discuss the key objectives and challenges associated with the India AI mission. How can the government address the digital divide to achieve the mission’s goals?

QUESTION 2

Examine the historical and cultural significance of the Prime Meridian and its role in global timekeeping.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: Discuss the key objectives and challenges associated with the India AI mission. How can the government address the digital divide to achieve the mission’s goals?

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— The IndiaAI Mission seeks to create a comprehensive ecosystem that encourages AI innovation by democratising computing access, improving data quality, developing indigenous AI capabilities, attracting top AI talent, facilitating industry collaboration, providing startup risk capital, ensuring socially impactful AI projects, and promoting ethical AI.

— This mission promotes the responsible and inclusive growth of India’s AI ecosystem through the following seven pillars:

IndiaAI Compute Capacity

IndiaAI Innovation Centre

IndiaAI Datasets platform

IndiaAI Application development initiative

IndiaAI Future skills

IndiaAI Startup Financing

Safe and Trusted AI

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

Objectives

— To implement intelligent systems in a variety of decision-making processes, improve connection, and increase productivity.

— To apply intelligent systems to meet India’s societal demands in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, smart cities, infrastructure, and mobility.

— To generate new information and build novel applications for intelligent systems.

What are the challenges associated with IndiaAI?

— Data security and privacy issues

— Limited AI expertise and lack of investment to implement AI solutions

— Lack of AI and cloud computing infrastructure

— Lack of data and poor data quality

— Lack of integrity and ethics with AI and ML solutions

How can the government address the digital divide to achieve the mission’s goals?

— With the rapid expansion of generative AI and the introduction of newer and more powerful Large Language Models (LLMs), countries and organisations around the world are racing to stay up with the rapid advancements and jockey for leadership positions.

— The goal is to increase compute capacity to meet local demand while also bridging the “AI divide” by providing low-cost compute for targeted industries.

— The technology is advancing at breakneck speed, with Nvidia releasing new versions every 12 months. The game will inevitably go beyond Nvidia, with Intel, AMD, startups such as Cerebrus, and every major technology corporation releasing their own AI-focused CPUs.

— AI is a vital technology that the country must maintain control over. As a result, the government should form strong contractual relationships and provide a clear mandate that this sovereign AI capacity be hosted within the country’s boundaries.

Conclusion:

— The Cabinet has budgeted Rs 10,372 crore for this effort. It is built around a few important pillars, including dataset platforms, innovation and application development centres, and future skills, as well as startup finance and a focus on safe and trusted AI.

— Both the AI for All plan and the IndiaAI Mission are commendable moves by the government; but, it must now collaborate with industry and geopolitical allies to ensure that its tenets are effectively implemented and that we become leaders in this inevitable age of AI.

(Source: IndiaAI Mission: How the government can realise its goal of AI without a digital divide by Jaspreet Bindra, indiaai.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

Role of AI in Healthcare, Space and other fields

Role of AI in agriculture

Challenges in implementing AI

Related Previous Year Questions

Elucidate the relationship between globalisation and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India. (2023)

What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also? (2021)

QUESTION 2: Examine the historical and cultural significance of the Prime Meridian and its role in global timekeeping.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— The prime meridian is the line of 0° longitude, which serves as the beginning point for measuring distances east and west around the Earth. The prime meridian is arbitrary, thus it might be anywhere.

— The prime meridian separates the eastern and western hemispheres. The International Date Line is located halfway around the planet, at 180 degrees longitude.

— The Prime Meridian and the International Date Line form a circle that divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. This is comparable to how the Equator acts as the 0° latitude line, dividing the Earth into the northern and southern hemispheres.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

Historical and cultural significance in India

— The Ujjain prime meridian is first mentioned in the ancient Sanskrit work Surya Siddhanta, which was written between the fourth and eighth century CE.

— The literature offers sophisticated ideas about astronomy, geography, and mathematics, ranging from the motion of celestial bodies to the procedure for calculating sine values.

— According to Surya Siddhanta’s mythology, the scripture was a revelation from the Sun God (or Surya) to the asura Maya.

— In the first chapter of the Surya Siddhanta, the concept of a prime meridian (also known as rekha or ‘line’) is introduced in regard to the method for estimating planetary position.

— Some scholars believe Ujjain’s relative location vis-a-vis ancient trade routes had something to do with the prime meridian passing through it.

— Burgess wrote in his accompanying commentary to Surya Siddhanta “Of all the centres of Hindu culture, it lay nearest to the great ocean-route by which, during the first three centuries of our era, so important a commerce was carried on between Alexandria, as the mart of Rome, and India… That the prime meridian was made to pass through this city proves it to have been the cradle of the Hindu science of astronomy, or its principal seat during its early history.”

Role of Prime Meridian in global timekeeping

— To symbolise zero degrees longitude—the line splitting the world in half—a prime meridian is arbitrarily selected. From this line, one can measure any position east or west. For example, in his Geographia from the second century CE, the Alexandrian polymath Ptolemy traced his prime meridian through the Insulae Fortunatae (the “Fortunate Isles,” which are today’s Canary Islands) off the western coast of Africa.

— The world became increasingly interconnected and time became standardised in the 19th century because of technological advancements like the telegraph, steamships, and railroads.

— In 1884, the International Meridian Conference was held in Washington, DC, where representatives from 26 countries decided to “adopt a single prime meridian for all nations, in place of the multiplicity of initial meridians which now exist”.

— The prime meridian also establishes Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). UTC does not alter daylight savings time or anything else. The prime meridian is the standard for longitude, while UTC is the standard for time. All countries and regions use UTC to measure their time zones.

— The prime meridian also contributes to the International Date Line. The 180° longitude line is halfway between the prime meridian and the Earth’s longitude, which is 360°. The International Date Line refers to the meridian at 180° longitude.

Conclusion:

— Much like the Equator divides Earth into the northern and southern hemispheres by acting as the 0° latitude line, the prime meridian and the International Date Line form a circle that divides Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

— The Eastern Hemisphere is located east of the prime meridian and west of the International Date Line, and it includes the majority of Earth’s landmasses, including all of Asia and Australia and most of Africa.

(Source: From Ujjain to Greenwich: a brief history of prime meridians by Arjun Sengupta, education.nationalgeographic.org)

Points to Ponder

Difference between prime meridian and International date line

What is Indian Standard Time?

Related Previous Year Question

Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 deg N latitudes and on the western side of the continents. Why? (2013)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 61)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 62)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 62)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 63)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 63)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 62)

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UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Economy MCQs on Monetary Policy Committee, Core inflation and more (Week 70)

Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims 2025? Check your progress and revise your topics through this quiz on Economy.

Written by Nitendra Pal Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:50 IST

Brush up your knowledge of Economy by solving the MCQs. Find a question on the Monetary Policy Committee in today's quiz. (REUTERS/File Photo)

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Economy to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the International Relations Quiz.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

QUESTION 1

With reference to the BIMSTEC bloc, consider the following statements:

1. The bloc has been negotiating a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) since 2004 which came into effect in 2023.

2. Bangladesh was India’s largest trading partner within the bloc in 2023-24.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed concern about the slow pace of talks for a trade agreement with the seven member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) bloc, saying that the approach to boosting regional trade should be reconsidered.

— The BIMSTEC bloc includes seven countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand.

— Since 2004, the union has been negotiating a potential Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with 22 rounds of discussions completed, the most recent of which took place in 2018. Six years have passed, and no further conversations have occurred. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— India’s overall trade with BIMSTEC countries totalled $44.32 billion in 2023-24.

— Thailand was India’s largest commercial partner in the bloc, with exports of $5.04 billion and imports of $9.91 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $4.87 billion. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Core inflation, consider the following statements:

1. It is defined as the change in the costs of goods and services including food and energy sectors.

2. It is often calculated using the wholesale price index.

3. It estimates the effect of increased prices on consumer income.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

— The Economic Survey, released before the Budget on July 22, made a case for modifying the central bank’s inflation targeting framework to exclude food inflation.

— India’s inflation targeting framework should explore targeting inflation, excluding food, because increased food prices are generally supply-induced rather than demand-induced.

— Core inflation is the change in the prices of goods and services that excludes those from the food and energy sectors. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— These items are excluded from our estimate of inflation because their prices are significantly more volatile.

— It is most commonly estimated using the consumer price index (CPI), which measures the cost of goods and services. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— It estimates the effect of increased prices on consumer income. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.investopedia.com)

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Monetary Policy Committee, consider the following statements:

1. Section 45ZB of the RBI Act provides for the constitution of a six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

2. Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India acts as Chairperson or ex officio of the committee.

3. The MPC is required to meet at least two times a year.

4. The first MPC was constituted in 2019.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) None

Explanation

— The RBI Act of 1934 was revised in May 2016 to give a legal basis for implementing the flexible inflation targeting framework. The first such MPC was established on September 29, 2016. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— Section 45ZB of the modified RBI Act of 1934 establishes an empowered six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) to be appointed by the Central Government via announcement in the Official Gazette. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The primary goal of monetary policy is to maintain price stability while also promoting growth.”

— The present MPC members, as notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette of October 5, 2020, are as under:

— Governor of the Reserve Bank of India—Chairperson, ex officio; Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, in charge of Monetary Policy—Member, ex officio;

— One officer of the Reserve Bank of India to be nominated by the Central Board—Member, ex officio;

— Three other members having knowledge of economy will hold office for a period of four years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

— The MPC calculates the policy repo rate needed to meet the inflation objective.

— The MPC is required to meet at least four times per year. The MPC meets with a quorum of four members. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Each MPC member has one vote, and if there are equal votes, the Governor has a second or casting vote.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: rbi.org.in)

QUESTION 4

Consider the following statements:

1. This crop grows well in semi-arid conditions and can be grown up to 500 metres above mean sea level.

2. It is only grown commercially in Maharashtra, with some small-scale plantations in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

3. It can withstand frost to some extent in the dormant stage, but is injured at temperatures below -11 degrees Celsius.

4. Planting is usually done in spring (February-March) and July-August in sub-tropical and tropical regions respectively.

The above-mentioned lines refer to which crop?

(a) Turmeric

(b) Pearl Millet

(c) Pomegranate

(d) Red gram

Explanation

— Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is one of India’s most important commercial fruit crops. It is indigenous to Iran (Persia). Planting is usually done in spring (February-March) and July-August in sub-tropical and tropical regions respectively.

— Pomegranate is only grown commercially in Maharashtra. Small-scale plantations can also be found in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana.

— Pomegranate is a relatively new crop to Rajasthan, grown in an estimated 12,500 hectares, which includes 10,000 hectares over south Barmer, Sanchore, Jalore and Sirohi, and 2,500 hectares covering north Barmer, Jodhpur and Phalodi districts.

— India exports pomegranate mainly to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Netherlands etc.

— Pomegranate grows well under semi-arid conditions and can be grown upto an altitude of 500 m. above m.s.l.. It thrives well under hot, dry summer and cold winters provided irrigation facilities are available. The tree requires a hot and dry climate during fruit development and ripening. Pomegranate tree is deciduous in areas of low winter temperature and an evergreen or partially deciduous in tropical and sub-tropical conditions. It can tolerate frost to a considerable extent in dormant stage, but is injured at temperature below – 11 degree C.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Consider the following statements about labour data published by Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):

1. Labour data for urban areas is published every quarter.

3. Labour data for rural areas is released annually.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— According to the report, the labour force participation rate (LFPR), or those working or seeking or available for work in the labour force, was the highest in four years at 39.3 per cent in 2020-21, as was the worker population ratio (WPR) at 36.3 per cent. WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.

— The National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics of Programme and Implementation (MoSPI) conducts the PLFS for rural and urban areas.

— Labour data for rural areas is published annually, while that for urban areas is released every quarter. There is a gap of at least a year in the release of the annual PLFS report. Hence, statement 1 and statement 2 are correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 70)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 69)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 69)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

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CAR-T cell therapy: Challenges and possible solutions

There are challenges in CAR-T cell therapy. How do the ongoing research, technological innovations, and collaborative efforts within the scientific and medical communities offer hope for more effective, safer, and widely accessible CAR-T therapies?

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:42 IST

The future of CAR-T cell therapy is promising, with significant potential to further revolutionise cancer treatment. (Representational image via Canva)

— Amit Kumar

(The Indian Express has launched a new series of articles for UPSC aspirants written by seasoned writers and erudite scholars on issues and concepts spanning History, Polity, International Relations, Art, Culture and Heritage, Environment, Geography, Science and Technology, and so on. Read and reflect with subject experts and boost your chance of cracking the much-coveted UPSC CSE. In the following article, Amit Kumar, a doctoral candidate at IIT Delhi, discusses the challenges in CAR-T cell therapy and the way forward.)

CAR-T cell therapy has shown remarkable success in treating certain cancers. However, there are disadvantages and challenges in the therapy. Some of them are as follows:

1. Severe Side Effects: CAR-T cell therapy can cause severe side effects, the most notable being Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. CRS occurs when the infused CAR-T cells trigger a massive release of cytokines (small proteins that play a crucial role in cell signalling within the immune system), leading to high fever, nausea, headache, low blood pressure, and, in severe cases, organ failure.

Neurotoxicity can result in confusion, seizures, and other neurological complications. Both conditions – CRS and neurotoxicity – can be life-threatening and often require intensive medical intervention. These side effects necessitate close monitoring and prompt management in a hospital setting, highlighting the need for careful patient selection and preparation before undergoing CAR-T cell therapy.

2. Limited Availability: The therapy requires specialised facilities and expertise, which are not widely available, limiting its accessibility to certain regions and institutions.

3. Variable Efficacy: While CAR-T cell therapy has shown impressive results in many patients, it is not universally effective. Some patients may not respond to the therapy, or their cancer may relapse after an initial period of remission. The reasons for this variability are not fully understood, and more research is needed to identify predictive markers of response and to develop strategies to enhance the durability of the treatment.

4. Tumor Antigen Escape: Some patients who initially respond to CAR-T cell therapy may experience a relapse. This can occur due to the loss or mutation of the targeted antigen on cancer cells, a phenomenon known as antigen escape. As the cancer cells evolve to evade the CAR-T cells, the therapy becomes less effective, posing a significant challenge for long-term disease control.

5. Immunosuppression: Patients may experience prolonged immunosuppression, increasing the risk of infections.

6. Long-Term Effects and Follow-Up: Patients who receive CAR-T cell therapy require extended monitoring for long-term and late side effects, and potential relapses.

Ensuring that there are systems in place for such follow-up care is essential, as is addressing the ethical responsibility of healthcare providers to manage and support patients over the long term.

The way forward

1. Improved Accessibility: Investment in infrastructure and specialised training at more healthcare facilities can expand access to CAR-T cell therapy. In addition, international partnerships can facilitate the sharing of technology and expertise, making CAR-T therapies available in low- and middle-income countries.

2. Enhanced Safety: Developing and implementing standardised protocols for managing side effects like Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity can improve patient outcomes. This includes rapid-response teams and access to necessary medications in these conditions.

3. Increased Efficacy: Developing CAR-T cells that target multiple antigens on cancer cells can reduce the likelihood of antigen escape and improve efficacy. Also, investigating methods to modify the tumor microenvironment to support CAR-T cell activity and persistence can improve therapeutic outcomes.

4. Expanding Applicability: While CAR-T therapy has been highly successful in treating blood cancers, its application to solid tumors remains challenging. Research is focused on identifying suitable targets and overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.

5. Automation and Accessibility: Streamlining the CAR-T cell production process through automation and standardisation can reduce costs and improve accessibility. Innovations in manufacturing, such as point-of-care production facilities, will make CAR-T therapy more widely available.

6. Integrating emerging technologies: Emerging technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein) for precise genetic editing, artificial intelligence for optimising treatment protocols, and synthetic biology for designing novel CAR constructs will drive innovation in CAR-T cell therapy.

The future of CAR-T cell therapy is promising, with significant potential to further revolutionise cancer treatment. Ongoing research, technological innovations, and collaborative efforts within the scientific and medical communities will lead to more effective, safer, and widely accessible CAR-T therapies. As these therapies progress, they offer hope not only for treating a wider variety of cancers but also for addressing other diseases, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.

India’s first Indigenous CAR-T cell therapy

NexCAR19 CAR-T therapy is developed indigenously in India by IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Centre, and industry partner immunoACT. India’s first home-grown advanced cell and gene therapy for cancer is the world’s most Affordable CAR-T therapy.

NexCAR19 is designed to target cancer cells carrying the CD19 (Cluster of Differentiation 19) protein, a marker on cancer cells, enhancing precision in treatment.

Initially approved for patients aged 15 and above with B-cell lymphomas (a type of cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes) who did not respond to standard treatments, leading to relapse or recurrence. Approximately 70% of patients respond to NexCAR19 treatment, with some achieving complete remission.

Lab and animal studies indicate lower drug-related toxicities, including reduced neurotoxicity and Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS). Initially, NexCAR19 was priced at Rs 30-40 lakh. ImmunoACT aims to eventually reduce the cost to Rs 10-20 lakh, making the therapy more accessible.

NexCAR19 is a groundbreaking advancement for India’s medical landscape, reflecting the nation’s growing expertise in biotechnology and personalised medicine. It offers hope for cancer patients and sets a precedent for future innovations in cancer therapy in India.

Post Read Question

Discuss the significance of CAR T-Cell therapy in treating cancer.

What are the disadvantages and challenges in CAR-T cell therapy? Discuss possible solutions.

NexCAR19, a cutting-edge CAR-T cancer therapy developed in India, sets a precedent for future innovations in cancer therapy in India. Comment.

(Amit Kumar is a doctoral candidate at IIT Delhi.)

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UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment, Geography, Sci-Tech MCQs on EarthCARE satellite mission, Sea Groynes and more (Week 70)

Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims 2025? Check your progress and revise your topics through this quiz on Environment, Geography, Science and Technology.

Written by Nitendra Pal Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:40 IST

Currently, nuclear power capacity constitutes around 2 per cent of the total installed capacity of 4,17,668 MW (May 31, 2023). Find a question on the country’s first Indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor in today’s quiz. (File Image)

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we will cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Environment, Geography, Science and Technology to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the Economy Quiz.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

QUESTION 1

Consider the following statements:

1. This river is a trans-boundary river which flows through India and Bangladesh and also forms the boundary between the two countries.

2. The river is experiencing a problem of siltation, resulting in a thin flow of water in the dry season and floods in the rainy season.

3. This river flows in three parts.

4. The river is a tributary of Kalindi River.

The above mentioned statements refer to which of the following rivers?

(a) Kushiyara River

(b) Teesta River

(c) Ichamati River

(d) Barak River

Explanation

— The Ichamati River is a transboundary river that flows between India and Bangladesh, serving as the border between the two nations.

— The river is suffering from siltation, resulting in a narrow flow of water in the dry season and floods in the rainy season.

— The Ichamati River flows in three parts:

(1) The lengthier section runs from the Mathabhanga River, a Padma distributary, and after running for 208 km, it enters the Kalindi River near Hasnabad in North 24 Parganas and Debhata in Satkhira District.

(2) Originally the main river west of Dhaka and

(3) Ichamati from Dinajpur.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: iwai.nic.in)

QUESTION 2

Consider the following statements about the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):

1. It was established in 1994.

2. The UN declared the decade of 2020 to 2030 the United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Every year, World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed to raise awareness about the earth’s declining land cover and to encourage people to work together to address this pressing issue.

— Currently, one-third of the world’s land is degraded, affecting 3.2 billion people, highlighting the gravity of the crisis and the need for immediate action to battle desertification and drought.

— World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is marked yearly on June 17, and the theme for 2024 is “United for Land, Our legacy, Our future.”

— In the early 1990s, world leaders met at the Rio Earth Summit to address critical challenges such as desertification, biodiversity loss, and climate change. In response, the United Nations established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1994. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— In 2007, the United Nations named 2010 to 2020 the United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification. This campaign aims to promote awareness about the need of land preservation and to stimulate community action to battle desertification and droughts. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the EarthCARE satellite mission, consider the following statements:

1. It is a satellite mission operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Japanese Aerospace Agency (JAXA).

2. It will develop climate and weather forecasting models by understanding the role of cloud-aerosol-radiation interactions.

3. It is a Sun-synchronous orbit mission.

4. It was launched using the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— EarthCARE is a climate satellite mission operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Aerospace Agency (JAXA). Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— It will develop climate and weather forecasting models by studying the interplay between clouds, aerosols, and radiation. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It is a mission to Sun-synchronous orbit that was launched on May 28, 2024, with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Hence, statement 3 and 4 are correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Source: http://www.esa.int)

QUESTION 4

Which of the following nuclear power plants has developed the country’s first Indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR)?

(a) Tarapur Atomic Power Plant

(b) Rawatbhata Atomic Power Plant

(c) Kudankulam Atomic Power Plant

(d) Kalpakkam Atomic Power Plant

Explanation

— The crucial second stage of India’s three-stage nuclear programme received a boost with the start of ‘core loading’ at the country’s first indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.

— Core loading is the process of inserting nuclear fuel assemblies into the core of a nuclear reactor.

— The completion of core loading will effectively signal the first step towards ‘criticality’ — the start of a self-sustaining nuclear fission reaction that will eventually lead to power generation by the 500 megawatt electric (MWe) FBR.

— India will become the second country, after Russia, to have a commercial working FBR. China has a minor rapid breeder program, but programs in Japan, France, and the United States have been halted because of safety concerns.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Which of the following can be achieved using Sea Groynes?

1. Traps sediments

2. Widening of beaches

3. Reduces erosion

4. Increases the fish concentration in nearby areas.

5. Diverts ocean currents

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 3 and 4 only

(b) 1, 2 and 5 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation

— A groyne is a stiff hydraulic structure formed from an ocean coastline (in coastal engineering) or a river bank that disrupts water flow and restricts sediment migration. Hence, 1 is correct.

— These are narrow, shore-perpendicular hard constructions designed to obstruct longshore sediment transport by holding a portion of the sediment that would otherwise be carried alongshore.

— They are typically robust, long-lasting constructions and are regarded as a hard-engineering protection measure. Groynes are typically created on exposed and moderately exposed sedimentary beaches to mitigate erosion risks. They can be built using a range of materials, including rock armour, concrete, dolos, tetrapods, steel piling, and hardwood timber.

— Groyne promotes beach widening, which helps to preserve an appealing beach environment that is valuable for recreation and tourism. Hence, 2 is correct.

— It also holds silt, resulting in beach broadening, reduces erosion, and more wave energy dissipation. Hence, 3 is correct.

— It provides a strong structure for the long-term stabilisation of coasts exploited for social activities.

— Increase in the fish concentration in nearby areas and diversion in ocean currents are not achieved by Sea Groynes. Hence, 4 and 5 are not correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Source: http://www.ctc-n.org)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 70)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 70)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 69)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 69)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 69)

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Understanding UK political parties

Where do the political parties representing the right and the left rest on the UK’s political system? How does it relate to India’s political spectrum? How is the newly-elected Labour Party government expected to shape India-UK ties?

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:39 IST

Police warring riot protection equipment patrol the seafront esplanade following an anti immigration protest in Weymouth, Britain August 4, 2024. REUTERS

— Ankita Dutta

(The Indian Express has launched a new series of articles for UPSC aspirants written by seasoned writers and erudite scholars on issues and concepts spanning History, Polity, International Relations, Art, Culture and Heritage, Environment, Geography, Science and Technology, and so on. Read and reflect with subject experts and boost your chance of cracking the much-coveted UPSC CSE. In the following article, Ankita Dutta describes the political parties in the UK.)

The ongoing riots across the United Kingdom (UK) triggered by a stabbing attack in northwest England is seen as a major test for the new Labour Party government just a month after it was voted into power with a landslide majority.

In addition to the issue of immigration and misinformation, far-right-led violence has been seen as compounding the problem. In this context, having an understanding of the UK’s political spectrum by locating parties representing the right and the left would help comprehend the ongoing violence and other issues.

Political system in the UK

The UK comprises England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It has a constitutional monarchy, which largely remains ceremonial and symbolic. The Parliament has a two-house system – the House of Commons (lower house) and the House of Lords (upper house) – which meet at the Palace of Westminster in London.

The House of Commons comprises 650 members elected directly, while the House of Lords, whose numbers are not fixed, comprises life peers, bishops and hereditary peers. The Prime Minister heads the executive branch of government for five years.

The UK has also devolved governments and transferred varying levels of power to the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Whig and Tory

The party system in the UK traces its origin to the 18th century when Whig and Tory were two opposing political factions in England. However, these terms can be traced back to the Exclusion Crisis (1679-81), and their specific meaning has varied over time.

In simple terms, Whigs supported Exclusion (of Catholic James, Duke of York and next in line for the English throne) and Tories were their Royalist opponents.

Therefore, Whigs were seen as supporters of Parliament over the monarch, while the Tories were the opposite.

However, the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89 modified the divisions, with Tories accepting some of Whig ideals, such as limited constitutional monarchy in place of divine rights of Kings. Later on, Tories came to be identified with Anglicanism, merchant classes, and official administerial groups, while Whigs were the aristocratic landowning families and wealthy middle class.

Left and right

The French Revolution and wars with France complicated the divisions between the two parties – with a large section of moderate whigs deserting the party. With the rise of conservatism (as championed by Sir Robert Peel and Benjamin Disraeli) and liberalism (propounded by Lord John Russell and William Gladstone) – the political space changed. While Tory has continued to be used to designate the Conservative Party, Whig has ceased to have much political meaning.

Another critical feature of the party system is understanding the political spectrum – as left and right. Each end represents a set of principles about the best way to organise society so people can thrive. The terms’ left’ and ‘right’ were first used during the French Revolution – with those on the right supporting the monarchy (hence the status quo) and on the left, supporting change (hence the revolution).

In larger terms, the left argues for government regulation, higher taxes on the rich, and a robust welfare system for the poor. They tend to adopt a progressive view, often favouring social change or reform. On the other hand, those on the right favour the protection of individual freedom, calling for the government’s limited role and are more traditionalist in their outlook. They support less government regulation, lower taxes and private sector competition for better services.

Conservative and Labour

In the UK, the Conservatives are on the right of the political spectrum, while the Labour Party is on the left. In India, the picture is more complicated due to its multiple-party system. The two major parties that have been at the Centre are the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress.

The BJP is called the right-wing party due to its emphasis on duty, tradition, and nationalism, while Congress is more centrist. However, left-wing parties like the Communist Party of India are also part of the larger spectrum.

The recent shift in the UK from right to left comes after a difficult period in British politics, which included immigration concerns and the Brexit referendum, as well as more recent challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, fractured healthcare, conflict in Ukraine, and a cost-of-living crisis.

While the political system of the UK remains dominated by the Conservatives and Labour, several other parties have emerged, such as the Liberal Democrats, which were in power with the Conservatives from 2010-2015; Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage; Scottish National Party, led by John Swinney; Plaid Cymru, in Wales, led by  Rhun ap Iorwerth; and Democratic Unionist Party, Northern Ireland, led by Gavin Robinson.

The 2024 elections

The 2024 result in this regard is critical as it highlighted a notable shift in voter support away from the traditional two-party dominance towards alternative parties. This was evident in the Liberal Democrats winning 72 seats and Reform UK five seats.

Reform party gained a significant vote share in constituencies with a higher proportion of the electorate who voted to leave the European Union (EU) in the 2016 referendum, indicating right-leaning and pro-Brexit sentiments. These developments indicated a possible fragmentation of the political landscape in the future.

For the Conservative Party, the 2024 general election marked the worst performance in its history, with many prominent leaders, such as Liz Truss and Penny Mordaunt, losing their seats. Labour’s performance, on the other hand, placed Keir Starmer among the top Labour leaders, with a seat share close to that achieved by Tony Blair in 1997 and 2001.

However, the landslide victory of Labour can be attributed to voters’ dissatisfaction with the Conservative government’s handling of the cost of living crisis, fractured healthcare, and internal party conflicts, thereby suggesting that the result was more an anti-Conservative vote than a pro-Labour one.

India-UK Ties

India’s relations with the UK have been underwhelming despite the long intertwined histories of the two nations. Unwarranted interference in India’s internal matters has always been a point of contention between the two countries – especially with the Labour Party under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, which was perceived as antagonistic towards India with its repeated references to Kashmir.

However, Prime Minister Starmer has outlined a commitment to pursuing a ‘new strategic partnership’ with India. Moreover, the new government also has a chance to build on the accomplishments of the previous Conservative administrations, such as the 2+2 dialogue (defence and foreign minister), enhanced cyber partnership, 2030 roadmap for relations, and the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Most notably, the UK’s delinking of ties with India and Pakistan signals a shift towards constructive engagement. While the focus for Starmer will be on reviving the UK’s post-Brexit economy, managing illegal immigration, etc., with New Delhi, the finalisation of the FTA will remain critical.

They have maintained their commitment to signing the FTA. However, the timelines remain elusive, and the key lingering issues are India’s demand for greater access for its skilled professionals and the UK’s demand for lower import duties on goods like Scotch whiskey.

Immigration remains a sticking point despite the signing of the migration and mobility agreement, with India’s demand for temporary visas for its service sector workforce. Addressing these challenges will require deft diplomacy and an understanding of the sensitivities on both sides.

Post Read Question

What do you understand by the terms Whig and Tory? How do they relate to India’s political parties?

Draw a comparison between the Indian and British forms of Parliamentary governance.

In the 2024 general elections, Labour Party emerged victorious. What does this mean for India-UK ties?

(Ankita Dutta is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for European Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.)

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Explained

- Ex-ISI chief who went to Kabul after Taliban takeover, arrested: reasons and context

- Trump-Musk interview on X reportedly hit by DDoS attack: What it means

- What is Bangladesh’s St Martin’s Island, under spotlight after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation?

- Why the withdrawal of the draft Broadcast Bill raises more questions than it answers

- How Tungabhadra dam gate was swept away, why farmers are fearful

- Once thriving, now all but gone: a history of Kerala’s Jewish communities

- All you need to know about the Hindenburg-Adani-Buch saga

- Why Ukraine has carried out incursion into Russia’s Kursk region

- Hindenburg alleges impropriety by Sebi chief: what conflict-of-interest rules apply to market regulators in US and UK?

- Hindenburg’s new allegations: How SEBI board is supposed to address conflicts of interest

- How Centre’s Clean Plant Programme plans to boost India’s production of fruits

- NASA’s Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore could be stuck in Space till 2025: What happens now?

Ex-ISI chief who went to Kabul after Taliban takeover, arrested: reasons and context

Faiz Hameed is accused of corruption while in service, and of engaging in questionable activities after retirement. This makes him the third senior officer to face arrest under the current leadership in Pakistan.

Written by Man Aman Singh Chhina

Chandigarh | Updated: August 14, 2024 04:56 IST

Afghan nationals paint over a picture of Pakistan's ISI Chief, Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, during a protest against Pakistan near a police station in New Delhi in 2021. (REUTERS/File Photo)

The Pakistan Army has begun court martial proceedings against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (retd), who was until recently Director General of the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI).

The Army announced Lt Gen Hameed’s arrest on Monday (August 12). He is accused of corruption while in service, and of engaging in questionable activities after retirement.

The general, who was Pakistan’s top spymaster from June 2019 to November 2021, was considered close to the jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and was in the running to succeed Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa as Pakistan Army Chief.

Hameed resigned in November 2022, soon after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed (then) Lt Gen Asim Munir to the top post.

A couple of weeks after the last American soldiers withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban took power in August 2021, Hameed, who was then ISI chief, visited Kabul on the invitation of the country’s new rulers. He was seen along with other Pakistani officials, having tea in a hotel.

What are the allegations against Lt Gen Hameed?

The Field General Court Martial (FGCM) against the retired general has been ordered following adverse observations made by the Supreme Court of Pakistan about nine months ago.

On November 14, 2023, the court, which was hearing a petition filed by the owner of a real estate company, said in a written order that the allegations made by the petitioner against Hameed were “of an extremely serious nature, and if true, undoubtedly would undermine the reputation of the federal government, the armed forces, ISI and Pakistan Rangers”.

“Therefore”, the three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa said, “they cannot be left unattended”, according to a report published by Dawn at the time.

The petitioner, one Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of Top City housing scheme, a private housing society in the Chowki Hameedan area of Islamabad, had accused Hameed and his associates of extortion.

It was alleged that in May 2017, when Hameed was a senior officer in the ISI, officials of the spy agency and personnel of the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers raided the offices of Top City and Moeez’s home and took away gold and diamond jewellery after falsely accusing him of terrorism.

The petitioner said that he was subsequently forced to “pay Rs 4 crore in cash” and “sponsor a private TV network for a few months” in a deal brokered by Hameed’s brother, Sardar Najaf. Two Brigadiers of the ISI were named in the petition for having allegedly coerced Moeez.

What action has been taken against Hameed, and where is he now?

In April 2024, a Court of Inquiry headed by a Major General of the Pakistan Army was convened against Lt Gen Hameed. The Summary of Evidence has culminated in the court martial.

In a press release, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said: “Complying with the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain correctness of complaints in Top City case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd)…

“Consequently, appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), under provisions of Pakistan Army Act.”

The retired general has been put under arrest. However, unlike civilians, he has not been put in jail. Hameed has been housed in a guest room of an Army officers’ mess in Rawalpindi, with an Army officer and some troops deputed to guard him.

In what positions did Hameed serve during his military career?

Hameed was commissioned in the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army in 1987, and he is a course-mate of Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Hameed served in 56th battalion of the Baloch Regiment, and on promotion to the rank of Major General, commanded the 16 Infantry Division in Pano Aqil in Southern Sindh. Subsequently, he was posted to ISI as DG Counter Intelligence.

Hameed came into the limelight during the November 2017 dharna by the far right Barelvi Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). Hameed was accused of having engineered the three-week sit-in at the Faizabad interchange that paralysed the Pakistani capital and triggered violence at several places in the country. The general was subsequently cleared of the accusations.

On promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General, Hameed was appointed as Adjutant General in General Headquarters of Pakistan Army in June 2019. Three months later, he was appointed DG ISI, replacing Gen Asim Munir, the current Army Chief. Imran was Prime Minister at the time, having won the July 2018 election with the backing of the Army.

Hameed was considered close to then Army Chief Gen Bajwa. However, Bajwa removed him as DG ISI in October 2021, apparently after differences between them grew, and sent him as GOC 11 Corps Peshawar. Imran, who has acknowledged that he would have liked Hameed to stay on as ISI chief, opposed the transfer, but eventually gave in.

In August 2022, Hameed was again removed from his post and transferred as GOC 31 Corps in Gujranwala. Hameed remained there until he retired.

Gen Bajwa himself is in the crosshairs of the current military establishment. There is some talk in Pakistan that Hameed is being punished for refusing to testify against Imran. Some commentators have said that in Pakistan’s topsy-turvy politics, Hameed has an eye on the possibility of Imran’s fortunes changing for the better.

How often has Pakistan’s Army acted against its senior officers, serving or retired?

Hameed is the third senior officer to have run foul of Gen Munir.

In April 2024, Lt Gen Ayman Bilal Safdar, the GOC 1 Corps stationed at Mangla in Punjab, was forced to resign after the ISI recorded some critical comments he made about the Army Chief during a visit to Saudi Arabia. An Artillery officer, Lt Gen Safdar could have had a shot at the office of Army Chief in 2025 if Gen Munir retires at the end of his three-year term.

Before that, in May 2023, Lt Gen Salman Fayyaz Ghani, then GOC 4 Corps at Lahore, was sacked after Flag Staff House, the GOC’s official residence, was vandalised by workers of Imran’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party.

Dawn reported that Pakistani military courts have convicted a three-star and a two-star general for espionage and mutiny in 2019 and 1995 respectively. Several other military officers were also indicted in the latter case. In a number of other cases, instead of court-martialling general officers, the military removed them after disciplinary proceedings, Dawn said.

Trump-Musk interview on X reportedly hit by DDoS attack: What it means

Elon Musk cited a “massive DDoS attack” for the technical glitches during his recent audio interview with Donald Trump on X. We explain how such attacks work.

By: Explained Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 23:00 IST

A Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack simply means that a website or any other online service cannot be accessed because it has been the target of attacks from a malicious actor. (Via Canva)

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk hosted former US President and Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump on his social media platform X on Monday (August 12) for a live audio interview. However, their conversation started after a 40-minute delay and witnessed several glitches, due to what appeared to be a “massive DDoS attack on X”, Musk said in a post.

What happens in such attacks? We explain.

What is a DDoS attack?

A Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack simply means that a website or any other online service cannot be accessed because it has been the target of attacks from a malicious actor.  According to the US government’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, this targeting is done by directing a large number of users against a particular online server at the same time to “flood” it.

Bots can also be used to overwhelm the network, resulting in slow loading times or a total pause in internet services.

Computers connect to the Internet and one another through unique Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned to each device. The data they exchange is divided into smaller chunks, called “packets”. The tech company IBM’s website notes, “By using up a resource’s available bandwidth, DDoS attacks prevent these resources from responding to legitimate connection requests and packets.”

In the case of a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, multiple sources work against one target. This makes the culprit harder to locate.

How do DoS and DDoS attacks work?

There are different ways of carrying out DOS attacks. Botnets, which are networks of compromised devices, can be deployed by potential attackers.

In a “Smurf Attack”, the attacker sends Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) broadcast packets to several hosts. The ICMP can be normally used to communicate data transmission errors to systems, but in this case, attackers send it maliciously.

While communicating, attackers use a spoofed source IP address which actually belongs to the target machine. As the target machines respond, they end up flooding their own servers, resulting in a DDoS attack.

Then there is an “SYN flood”, which occurs when an attacker sends a request to connect to the target server but does not complete the connection. Normally, the request source asks for a connection, and then the target accepts by sending an acknowledgement. Finally, the request source finalises the connection.

In this case, the attacker sends a request and receives an acknowledgement, but does not complete the connection. Multiple, targeted incomplete connections again result in a load for the server, making it difficult to complete legitimate connections smoothly.

What are the signs of a DoS attack and how can it be dealt with?

Slowing internet speed and inability to access an online service are signs of a DoS attack. However, firewalls and online security systems are the best sources for verifying this because internet issues can also be the result of other factors.

For instance, back in May 2023, Elon Musk hosted Florida Governor and then Republican Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis on Spaces, the same audio platform on X where he hosted Trump. That interview also began after a delay of 30 minutes. Musk then blamed the high volume of listeners — around 4,20,000 — for the system being strained. This time, around one million people tuned in.

Anti-virus software can help detect unusual traffic, alert users and thwart DDoS attacks.

How significant can DoS attacks be?

DoS attacks can cause major disruption, lasting for anywhere between a few hours to a few days. In 2016, major websites like Spotify, Twitter and Amazon were unavailable for many hours because of a DDoS attack.

Before the Paris Olympics, France’s state services were targeted in a major cyberattack. “Several hacker groups claimed responsibility for the attacks on Telegram, a messaging app, including one calling itself Anonymous Sudan which said it had launched a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack on French government network infrastructure”, according to an AFP report.

What is Bangladesh’s St Martin’s Island, under spotlight after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation?

The island is located in the northeastern region of the Bay of Bengal, close to the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar. It is nine kilometres away from the southern tip of Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula.

By: Explained Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 18:54 IST

The 7.3 km long island is mostly flat and sits at an elevation of 3.6 metres above the mean sea level. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, on Sunday (August 11) said that a recent “resignation” statement, allegedly published by a newspaper, attributed to her mother was “completely false and fabricated”. According to the alleged statement, Hasina said she could have continued to remain in power if she had given Bangladesh’s “St Martin’s Island and Bay of Bengal to America”.

The statement seems to be taken from a 2023 speech by Hasina in which she claimed that “there will be no problem to hold on to power if Saint Martin’s Island is leased out, but she won’t do that,” according to a report by Prothom Alo. She, however, did not take the name of any country.

In her speech, the former prime minister also accused the opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), of wanting to sell the island. She said, “How did the BNP come to power in 2001? They came to power by pledging to sell gas. Now do they want to sell the country or come to power by pledging to sell St Martin’s island?”

Here is a look at St Martin’s Island and its history.

Where is St Martin’s Island located?

The island is located in the northeastern region of the Bay of Bengal, close to the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar. It is nine kilometres away from the southern tip of Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula.

The 7.3 km long island is mostly flat and sits at an elevation of 3.6 metres above the mean sea level. It is Bangladesh’s only coral island — there are reefs from 10-15 km to the west-northwest — and is also a breeding ground for sea turtles.

The island has a permanent population of about 10,000 people. As it is a prominent tourist attraction, an average of 10,000 tourists stay there every day, according to a report published by The Daily Sun.

What is the history of the island?

The island was once part of the Teknaf peninsula (around 5,000 years ago) but gradually got submerged into the sea. Around 450 years ago, the southern suburbs of present-day St Martin’s Island resurfaced — the northern and rest of the parts of the island rose above sea level in the following 100 years, according to The Daily Sun report.

The Arab merchants were among the first ones to settle on the island. They began to arrive there in the 18th Century. The merchants initially named the island “Jazira” (meaning “the island” or “the peninsula”) and later changed it to “Narikel Jinjira” or “Coconut Island”.

In 1900, British India annexed the island during a land survey. By then, some fishermen had settled on the island — they were either Bengali or from the Rakhine community (who were based in present-day Myanmar). During the British occupation, the island came to be known as St Martin’s Island, named after then Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Martin, according to some reports.

After the partition of British India in 1947, it became part of Pakistan and subsequently, a part of independent Bangladesh after the 1971 Liberation War.

Why the withdrawal of the draft Broadcast Bill raises more questions than it answers

The new draft proposed to regulate independent news content creators on social media platforms as OTT broadcasters, raising concerns about widespread government control on online content

Written by Soumyarendra Barik

New Delhi | August 13, 2024 16:06 IST

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw during a cabinet briefing in New Delhi on 19.06.2024 (Express photo by Anil Sharma)

After facing intense criticism from a wide range of stakeholders, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting withdrew a fresh draft of the Broadcast Bill which it had privately circulated among a handful of industry stakeholders. The draft had triggered controversy and criticism over fears that the government was trying to exert greater control over online content, by trying to regulate independent creators on platforms like YouTube, Instagram and X.

On Monday, stakeholders received calls from the government asking them to return copies of the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, which was shared with them in July.

The Indian Express has learnt that a major difference of opinion emerged within the bureaucracy of the ministry on whether the Bill should apply to non-news online content creators. As per the draft Bill, such creators would have fallen under the category of OTT broadcasters. This is one of the reasons why the government wants to rework the contours of the Bill, said sources.

The MIB did not respond to requests for a comment on the issue. But, in a statement posted on X on Monday night, the ministry referred to an earlier draft Bill placed in public domain in November last year, and said it “is holding a series of consultations with the stakeholders” and is offering them “further additional time” till October 15 to issue their comments. “A fresh draft will be published after detailed consultations,” it said.

The ministry’s statement, however, made no mention of the 2024 draft – which has led to more questions among stakeholders.

The unanswered questions

The statement has confused stakeholders, especially those who were not part of the group with which the government shared the 2024 version of the draft Bill. “Are we supposed to send our comments on the November 2023 version of the now withdrawn draft, because a copy was never formally shared with us,” said a person from the industry, requesting anonymity.

The second key question is around the secretive nature of the consultations that the government has engaged in since July this year. After it significantly altered and expanded the focus of the 2023 Bill (a draft of which was released publicly) to prepare the 2024 version, it has not held wide consultations on it. It consulted a handful of stakeholders including some industry bodies, telecom companies and tech companies. The 2024 version of the Bill was also only shared with these entities who were discouraged from sharing it further as they were given watermarked versions of the Bill with a code unique to each of them to prevent leaks.

Now, the government’s statement suggests that it is ignoring the privately circulated draft and is instead asking people to send comments to the one released in 2023. “But knowing that the government’s intention changed significantly in the latest version, are people supposed to send in their comments with that in mind? It also begs the question, if a provision is not included in the 2023 version but was present in the 2024 version, how can we make comments specific to that,” a second industry executive said.

Why the government wants to regulate independent news creators

It is understood that some of the big Indian creators of current affairs and news content on YouTube are on the government’s radar. To be sure, as per the current wording under the Bill, even foreign creators may fall under its ambit, although enforcing Indian content regulations on them could be challenging.

A senior government official said one key reason behind the significant expansion of scope in the current draft Bill compared to the version which was released for public consultation in November 2023 has been the “role a number of independent content creators played in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls”.

“There were a number of instances where creators made videos on current affairs which made some sensational claims about the government and its senior leaders in the run up to the elections. That’s when it was decided that there has to be an accountability measure for these creators as well, to create a level-playing field between mainstream press and independent creators,” the official said.

The expanded remit of the now withdrawn broadcast Bill

The Bill, which sought to replace the 1995 Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, deals with television broadcasting. In November last year, the ministry had invited comments on a draft Bill that consolidated the legal framework for the broadcasting sector and extended it to OTT content and digital news and current affairs as well. However, the new draft Bill, shared privately with some stakeholders last month, significantly altered the focus of the 2023 draft Bill.

The new draft Bill came under intense criticism after it expanded its remit from OTT content and digital news to include social media accounts and online video creators, sought to define a “digital news broadcaster” in sweeping terms to include independent content creators, and proposed prior registration with the government.

There was pushback from independent content creators publicly, and big tech companies privately, over fears of government overreach.

The latest draft sought to define “digital news broadcasters” to include “publisher of news and current affairs content”, which means any person who broadcasts news and current affairs programmes through an online paper, news portal, website, social media intermediary, or other similar medium as part of a systematic business, professional or commercial activity but excluding replica e-papers.

This definition could include users on YouTube, Instagram, and even X, who generate advertising revenue through paid subscriptions or monetise their social media accounts through affiliate activities.

It allowed the government to specify a threshold for the number of subscribers or viewers for OTT broadcasters, who would then have to intimate it of their existence and operations and also adhere to a programme code and an advertisement code.

These online content creators would have to set up a content evaluation committee (CEC), and “strive to make” the committee diverse by including individuals with knowledge of different social groups, women, child welfare, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities. The names of people in their CEC would have to be shared with the government.

Creators would be allowed to only run programmes which are certified by the CEC. However, such certification would not be required for programmes that are already certified for public viewing in India by a statutory body, educational programmes, news and current affairs programmes, live events, animation for children, and other programmes that the government may designate.

Soumyarendra Barik

Soumyarendra Barik is Special Correspondent with The Indian Express and reports on the intersection of technology, policy and society. With over five years of newsroom experience, he has reported on issues of gig workers’ rights, privacy, India’s prevalent digital divide and a range of other policy interventions that impact big tech companies. He once also tailed a food delivery worker for over 12 hours to quantify the amount of money they make, and the pain they go through while doing so. In his free time, he likes to nerd about watches, Formula 1 and football. ... Read More

How Tungabhadra dam gate was swept away, why farmers are fearful

Cultivators with fields upstream are afraid that draining of the reservoir to carry out repairs will impact irrigation; those downstream have the same fear, apart from apprehensions of flooding due to increased outflows from the dam.

Written by Akram M

Bengaluru | Updated: August 13, 2024 12:09 IST

The 33-gate dam on the Tungabhadra in Karnataka was completed in 1953. (PTI Photo)

A flood alert has been sounded downstream of the Tungabhadra dam in Karnataka’s Koppal district after one of the 33 crest gates of the massive stone masonry dam across the Tungabhadra river was washed away late on Saturday evening (August 10).

Repairs can be carried out only after two-thirds of the dam is emptied, the Tungabhadra Board, which manages the project, said. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Water Resources Minister, visited the dam on Sunday.

How the gate broke

The dam has 33 ‘vertical lift’ type gates that move on rollers embedded in the masonry. The gates are operated from an overhead bridge.

“On 10.08.2024, 10 spillway gates were operated, i.e. from gate No. 12 to 21 to height of 1.5 feet and the discharge through the spillway gate was 22,890 Cusecs,” the Tungabhadra Board said in a statement on Sunday. Spillways or overflow channels are structures used for the controlled release of water from a reservoir.

“During the said incident, i.e., at 10.50 pm, the spillway gate No. 19 was washed away from the groove of spillway,” the statement said.

The crest (or spillway) gate failed after a link in the chain used to operate it broke. The force of the water in the dam swept the 60-foot-by-20-foot gate, weighing around 20 tonnes, some 500 ft away, J Purushottham, president of the Tungabhadra Farmers’Association, said.

Local sources said welding was carried out on the chain links of the spillway gates to strengthen them 3-4 years ago. Purushottham said that considering the chain links were old, Karnataka had suggested that the links be replaced with steel cables to operate the crest gates. “Such a system is in place in the Alamatti dam in Bagalkot district,” he said.

Water in reservoir

On August 10, the reservoir level was at its maximum 1,633 ft, and the dam was full to its capacity, about 105.8 thousand million cubic (TMC) ft, according to Tungabhadra Board data. The inflow was 40,925 cusecs (cubic ft per second), and outflow was 28,133 cusecs.

According to the Tungabhadra Board statement issued by its Secretary O R K Reddy, following early inflows into the dam, water had been released through three gates on July 22 and, as inflows increased subsequently, around 1.65 lakh cusecs was released on August 1.

On Monday, the water level was almost 1,631 ft, and the reservoir capacity was 97.75 TMC ft, Board data show.

Accumulated silt over the years now fills around 30 % of the original capacity of the dam. The state government has proposed to build a balancing reservoir to address this problem.

River and the dam

The Tungabhadra, which is formed at the confluence near Shimoga of two streams, Tunga and Bhadra, that rise in the Western Ghats, flows into the Krishna at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh. The river, which forms part of the boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, has a total catchment area of almost 70,000 sq km.

Tungabhadra Dam.

The Tungabhadra reservoir sprawls over an area of 378 sq km primarily in Karnataka’s Vijayanagar district. It is one of the major reservoirs in South India that supplies water for irrigation and industrial use, as well as drinking water to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The dam was first conceived of in 1860 to mitigate the impact of recurrent famine in Rayalaseema. Construction was begun by the erstwhile governments of Hyderabad and Madras in 1945, and the project was completed in 1953.

The Tungabhadra Board was established by a presidential order in 1953. The Board currently has a chairman appointed by the Union government, and four members, representing the Union government and the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Repairs and fears

The crest gate that has been swept away is located in the middle of the dam, and repairs can begin only after 60-65% of the water in the reservoir has been discharged.

The repair will be carried out as soon as possible with consultation with experts, the Tungabhadra Board has said. “Action is being taken to fabricate new stop lock gate… The…work will be completed within a week,” the Board said.

Cultivators with fields upstream are afraid that draining of the reservoir to carry out repairs will impact irrigation; those downstream have the same fear, apart from apprehensions of flooding due to increased outflows from the dam. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre has issued a flood alert to downstream areas.

Heavy rainfall could make the situation worse; however, no heavy rain is forecast in the region in the coming days.

Last year, due to a severe drought in the state, farmers either did not get the yield they hoped for, or avoided sowing altogether. Shivakumar said a projected inflow of around 50-60 TMC ft in September and October would help farmers in the region cultivate at least one crop this year.

Once thriving, now all but gone: a history of Kerala’s Jewish communities

From boasting a population of 20,000-50,000 in the mid-1940s, India’s Jewish population today is estimated to comprise 4,000-5,000 members.

Written by Shaju Philip

Thiruvananthapuram | Updated: August 13, 2024 12:14 IST

Clock tower of the Paradesi synagogue in Mattanchery. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queenie Hallegua, 89, died in Kochi on Sunday (August 11). She was the last woman of Kerala’s once-vibrant Paradesi Jewish community. Her death left her nephew Keith, 65, as the last Paradesi Jew in Kerala.

The Jews of Kerala

From boasting a population of 20,000-50,000 in the mid-1940s, India’s Jewish population today is estimated to comprise 4,000-5,000 members. Almost all belong to the Marathi-speaking Bene Israel community, settled on the Konkan coast for hundreds of years. They are not, however, the oldest Jewish community of India. That honour goes to one of Kerala’s two main Jewish communities.

MALABAR JEWS, also known as the Cochin Jews, trace their history to the days of King Solomon (hypothesised to be in the 10th century BCE, almost 3,000 years ago). Initially, they settled in Cranganore (present-day Kodungallur in Thrissur district), which the community itself referred to as Shingly.

The oldest documentary evidence of this community — a set of copper plates given to the local Jewish leader by the Cranganore’s Hindu ruler, from circa 1,000 CE — lists various economic and ceremonial privileges that the Jews enjoyed in the region. From the 14th century onward, and especially following the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, Malabar Jews moved further south from Cranganore to Cochin (now Kochi) where the local king rolled out the red carpet for them.

PARADESI JEWS, literally “foreign” Jews, migrated to the Indian subcontinent in the 15th and 16th centuries from the Iberian Peninsula. They fled to India due to persecution by the Catholic rulers of Spain and Portugal, and settled on the Malabar coast alongside pre-settled Jewish communities, as well as in Madras (now Chennai). The Paradesi Jews of Cochin were active in Kerala’s spice trade, and those settled in Madras were involved in the trade of Golconda diamonds and other precious stones.

The 16th century Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi, Kerala. (Via Wikimedia Commons)

In Kerala, the Paradesi Jews adopted Malyalam, and many local customs and traditions. But at some point, they stopped marrying those from Kerala’s older Jewish community, and began to look down on them. This effectively created two distinct Jewish communities in Kerala. Many accounts, especially by Western writers, refer to the Paradesis as “White Jews” and the Malabaris as “Black Jews”, although this pejorative characterisation is largely inaccurate.

In Cochin, the Koders were among the most prominent Paradesi Jewish families. Samuel Koder (1908-94) ran the Cochin Electric Company which operated from the 1940s till the late 1970s, before the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) bought it. He was one of the tallest Jewish leaders in India, and, according to his obituary in The New York Times, “an authority on the history of the Jews of Kerala”. Samuel’s father, also named Samuel (1869-1941), built the famous Koder House, now a boutique hotel in Kochi. Queenie was Samuel Jr’s daughter.

A dwindling community

Unlike Jewish communities in Europe or West Asia, the ones in India seldom faced anti-Semitism or persecution. Many, like the Koders, rose to high positions as agents of foreign trade, and advisers to Dutch and Hindu rulers. Later, during British rule, Jews in Kerala prospered as merchants and were employed as teachers, clerks, and lawyers in the ever-expanding British bureaucracy.

However, since the 1950s, there has been a steady migration of Kerala Jews to Israel. According to estimates, there are well over 4,000 ‘Cochinim’ in Israel today. Most belong to the Malabar Jewish community, with a few hundred Paradesis. Only 14 Malabar Jews, and one Paradesi Jew are now left in Kerala.

“Jew Streets” in Mattancherry and Kochi, and formerly Jewish-owned shops and business houses, are among the few remaining relics of Kerala’s once-thriving Jewish community. So are the state’s seven synagogues, the most prominent among which is the Paradesi Synagogue built in 1568 CE in Mattancherry, among the oldest synagogues in the Commonwealth. Queenie’s late husband Samuel Hallegua was its last warden.

There are three other Paradesi synagogues at Paravur, Chendamangalam, and Mala. All of them are protected monuments. Malabari Jews have three synagogues, with only the Kavumbhagam Ernakulam Synagoge still active. This too was taken over by the state government in 2021 for conservation.

All you need to know about the Hindenburg-Adani-Buch saga

Hindenburg alleged on Saturday that Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval Buch, had stakes in offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal.

Written by Hitesh Vyas , George Mathew

Mumbai | Updated: August 13, 2024 22:59 IST

Hindenburg alleged on Saturday that Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval Buch, had stakes in offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. (File photos)

A year and a half after its January 2023 report on the Adani Group, US-based short seller Hindenburg Research has levelled allegations against the chairperson of India’s capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

Hindenburg alleged on Saturday that Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval Buch, had stakes in offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal.

The Buchs have denied the allegation and Sebi has said that it has adequate internal mechanisms for addressing issues relating to conflict of interest, including a disclosure framework and provisions for recusal.

Key players in Adani-Hindenburg-Sebi story.

How and when did this saga begin?

In a 106-page report released on January 25, 2023, Hindenburg accused Gautam Adani’s Adani Group of “brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades”.

The report was published ahead of the Rs 20,000-crore follow-on public offer (FPO) of Adani Enterprises Ltd. Shares of Adani companies tanked, and the group subsequently called off the FPO, which was fully subscribed.

Adani denied the allegations. Most Adani shares have now recovered.

What happened after that?

On March 2, 2023, the Supreme Court set up a six-member expert committee to investigate whether there was regulatory failure in dealing with the alleged contravention of laws by the Adani Group or other companies.

Separately, the court asked Sebi, which was already looking at allegations against Adani companies, to specifically investigate if there was a violation of the minimum public shareholding norms in public limited companies, a failure to disclose transactions with related parties, or any manipulation of stock prices.

In May 2023, the expert committee said that the markets regulator “had drawn a blank” in its investigation into alleged violations in money flows from offshore entities into Adani companies.

In November 2023, the court said it had no reason to discredit Sebi, and that it did not have to treat the contents of the Hindenburg report as the “true state of affairs”.

On January 3, 2024, the court endorsed Sebi’s investigation, and refused to transfer the case to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or the CBI. It said Sebi had completed the probe in 20 out of 22 matters, and asked it to finish the job within three months. Sebi completed its probe into one more case in March, and has said the final investigation is close to completion.

What has Sebi been doing in this period?

On July 1, 2024, Hindenburg announced that it had received a show cause notice from Sebi for short selling of Adani Enterprises Ltd stock immediately before and after the release of its January 2023 report. The notice named Hindenburg Research, its founder Nathan Anderson, partner-investor Mark Kingdon, and three entities owned or controlled by Kingdon: Kingdon Capital Management LLC, M Kingdon Offshore Master Fund LP, and K India Opportunities Fund (KIOF) – Class F.

Hindenburg also said Sebi’s notice had “conspicuously failed to name…Kotak Bank, one of India’s largest banks and brokerage firms…, which created and oversaw the offshore fund structure used by our investor partner (Kingdon) to bet against Adani”.

A day later, Kotak Mahindra International Limited (KMIL) and KIOF stated that Hindenburg was never their client, nor had it ever been an investor in the Fund. The Fund was not aware that Hindenburg was a partner of any of its investors, it said.

What is Hindenburg’s new allegation?

Hindenburg has now alleged that “it suspects Sebi’s unwillingness to take meaningful action against suspect offshore shareholders in the Adani Group may stem from Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch’s complicity in using the exact same funds used by Vinod Adani, brother of Gautam Adani”.

Quoting “whistleblower documents”, Hindenburg alleged, “Sebi’s Chairperson had stake in obscure offshore entities used in the Adani money siphoning scandal.” It said Sebi was yet to take any action against other suspect Adani shareholders operated by wealth management firm India Infoline — EM Resurgent Fund and Emerging India Focus Funds.

Hindenburg alleged that Buch had ensured that accounts with ties to Adani “be registered solely in the name of Dhaval Buch”, her husband, two weeks before her appointment as Sebi Whole Time Member, and had subsequently redeemed the funds “through her husband’s name”.

“Despite disclaiming control, a private email she sent a year into her Sebi term (in 2018) shows she redeemed stakes in the funds through her husband’s name…,” Hindenburg has alleged.

How has the Sebi chairperson responded to the allegations?

Madhabi Puri Buch and Dhaval Buch have said their investment in the offshore funds mentioned by Hindenburg were made in 2015 when they were “private citizens” living in Singapore. The investment was made “almost 2 years before Madhabi joined Sebi…as a Whole Time Member”, they have said.

“The decision to invest in this fund was because the Chief Investment Officer, Anil Ahuja, is Dhaval’s childhood friend from school and IIT Delhi and, being an ex-employee of Citibank, JP Morgan and 3i Group plc, had many decades of a strong investing career. The fact that these were the drivers of the investment decision is borne out by the fact that when, in 2018, Ahuja left his position as CIO of the fund, we redeemed the investment in that fund,” the Buchs have said.

From 2011 to March 2017, Madhabi lived and worked from Singapore, initially as an employee of a private equity firm and subsequently as a consultant. The two consulting companies she set up, one each in India and Singapore, became dormant on her appointment at Sebi. These companies (and her shareholding in them) were explicitly part of her disclosures to Sebi, they have said.

What position has Sebi taken?

On Sunday, the regulator defended Buch. She has from time to time made relevant disclosures required in terms of holdings of securities and their transfers, Sebi said. “Chairperson has also recused herself in matters involving potential conflicts of interest,” it said.

“…More than 100 communications have been made seeking assistance from domestic/ foreign regulators and external agencies. Also, more than 300 documents…have been examined” during the probe into the Hindenburg matter, Sebi said. It advised investors to remain calm and exercise due diligence.

Why Ukraine has carried out incursion into Russia’s Kursk region

Some reports suggest that Ukraine has already captured more land since the beginning of the attack than it did over the entire course of last summer’s counter-offensive.

Written by Alind Chauhan

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 12:01 IST

A man reacts while standing next to burnt-out remains of cars in the courtyard of a multi-storey residential building, which according to local authorities was hit by debris from a destroyed Ukrainian missile, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Kursk, Russia August 11, 2024. (Reuters)

Ukrainian troops have advanced around 30 km into the Russian territory of the Kursk region, in what has been Kyiv’s largest incursion on Moscow’s territory since the start of the war in 2022. On Sunday, in a video address, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the surprise attack, launched on August 6, was being carried out to “restore justice” and “push the war into the aggressor’s territory”.

What is happening?

Although no independent reports from the region are available, some suggest that Ukraine has already captured more land since the beginning of the attack than it did over the entire course of last summer’s counter-offensive.

Russian forces are currently engaged with Ukrainian troops near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez — which are about 25 km and 30 km from the Russia-Ukraine border, Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The incursion involves three Ukrainian brigades — a total of six to eight thousand troops — sources told TVP World, a Poland-based news outlet.

Sudzha, located near Russia’s border with Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers have been posting videos on social media in which they claim to have captured a host of settlements in the Kursk region. The soldiers filmed themselves tearing down Russian flags in villages they have captured, or standing in front of road signs to show that they have entered a town.

Around 76,000 people have been evacuated from the region, where a state of emergency has been declared by local authorities, according to Russia.

Why has Ukraine launched the attack?

Currently, there is no clarity about the attack’s objectives. Military experts have said there could be several political and military reasons behind it.

Some experts suggest that Ukraine wants to seize as much land as possible to strengthen its position on the negotiation table. Ukrainian land captured by Russia could be exchanged for Russian land conquered by Ukraine.

It could also be possible that Ukraine wants to capture the Kursk nuclear power plant as a payback for Russia’s seizure of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant — it has been under Moscow’s control since 2022. The Kursk nuclear plant is just 60 km away from the Ukrainian border.

The incursion could be part of Ukraine’s effort to force Russia to redeploy its troops away from the east — the attack has come just weeks after Moscow captured several villages in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. This could help relieve some pressure on Ukrainian troops posed in the east.

What happens next?

It is quite unlikely that Ukraine would be able to hold all of the Russian territory it has advanced on. To maintain its current position, Kyiv would need to send more troops, tanks, and resources to the region.

In an interview with Polish Press Agency, retired Polish General Roman Polko said, “At a moment when Ukrainian defenders in the east are being pushed back on several axes, the use of highly capable Ukrainian combat forces in Kursk is either a brilliant countermove to shift the momentum in the war, or a strategic error which compounds the challenges in Ukraine’s eastern Ukraine defensive operations”.

Hindenburg alleges impropriety by Sebi chief: what conflict-of-interest rules apply to market regulators in US and UK?

US-based short seller has alleged that Madhabi Puri Buch invested in an offshore fund linked to the Adani Group a few years ago. The Sebi chief has said that she followed disclosure norms when appointed to the agency.

By: Explained Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:56 IST

The US Security and Exchange Commission headquarters in Washington DC, US (left) and the Financial Conduct Authority head office in London, UK. (Via Wikimedia Commons, FCA website)

In a new report released late on Saturday (August 10) evening India time, US-based short seller Hindenburg Research has made allegations of conflict of interest against Madhabi Puri Buch, chairperson of India’s markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

Hindenburg linked Buch to a set of allegations it had made against the Adani Group earlier in January 2023, and said that it “suspects Sebi’s unwillingness to take meaningful action against suspect offshore shareholders in the Adani Group may stem from Sebi chairperson Madhabi Buch’s complicity in using the exact same funds used by Vinod Adani, brother of Gautam Adani”.

After Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch, and Sebi denied the allegations, the government said it had “nothing further to add”.

As of now, two aspects merit attention, The Indian Express reported — one, whether Buch made full disclosures to the government and two, whether she recused herself while investigating a regulated entity where she or her husband had a direct or indirect interest.

What do the ethics codes of regulating agencies in the United States and United Kingdom say on alleged conflicts of interest?

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), US

The SEC’s five commissioners are appointed by the US President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The President designates one commissioner as chairman, the SEC’s top executive.

The SEC is covered by Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch of the federal government, which lay out general principles to uphold honesty, impartiality and fairness.

* The Standards say that employees are “prohibited…from participating personally and substantially in an official capacity in any…matter in which…[they] or any person whose interests are imputed to [them]… has has a financial interest, if [that] matter will have a direct and predictable effect on that interest”.

“Imputed interests” include the financial interests of the employee’s spouse and minor children, and other close relations. Violations could trigger “corrective action or…disciplinary action against an employee”, apart from criminal penalties for violating criminal statutes in the regulations.

* In addition, Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Members and Employees of the SEC, Executive Branch financial disclosure regulations, and a few other regulations also apply.

The Supplemental Standards prohibit employees from transacting in securities of companies under investigation, engaging in short selling, transacting in derivatives, participating in IPOs for seven calendar days after the offerings, or purchasing or carrying securities on margin (loan).

* To track employee holdings, the SEC has a Personal Trading Compliance System (PTCS). SEC employees must obtain pre-approval for securities transactions made by or on behalf of themselves, their spouses, their minor children, etc.

The PTCS is used for “submission and processing of Pre-Trade Requests for securities transactions and for the Annual Certification of Holdings for the previous calendar year”. After SEC employees submit and process Pre-Trade Requests for securities transactions, the Office of Ethics and Compliance reviews and approves/ rejects them.

* SEC employees are also required, with certain exceptions, to “report and certify all securities holdings” in an approved manner. Anyone who receives a conditional offer of employment from the SEC must report “all securities holdings after acceptance of that offer and before commencement of employment with the Commission”.

Financial Conduct Authority (FAC), UK

The UK government’s economic and finance ministry appoints members of the FAC board.

The FAC’s employee handbook defines conflict of interest: “A potential Conflict of Interest arises when it could be perceived that your actions could be influenced due to your relationships, your access to information, or your personal financial position.”

* Employees must complete a full review of actual or perceived conflicts of interest: “On an ongoing basis you are required to update that disclosure… Once a year you will be asked to formally attest that your declaration is up to date.”

* A Conflict of Interests Portal records activities related to such matters. The information is confidential with the employee’s manager “and those with a ‘need to know’, including the Conflict of Interests team and the Control Room”. Breach of policies on conflict of interest can lead to disciplinary action or dismissal.

* Employees must also disclose their personal positions, including holding securities in listed companies, direct holdings of securities and related investments in non-UK financial firms if they have a UK-based subsidiary or parent company, E-money balances in various types of online wallets or prepaid cards above £5,000, and any other financial relationship that could reasonably be considered a conflict due to its “sensitivity”.

Hindenburg’s new allegations: How SEBI board is supposed to address conflicts of interest

SEBI’s ‘Code on Conflict of Interest’ seeks to ensure that the board ‘conducts in a manner that does not compromise its ability to accomplish its mandate or undermine the public confidence’ in the body

By: Explained Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:56 IST

Madhabi Puri Buch is the first woman to head SEBI. (PTI Photo/File)

Almost 18 months after it accused the Adani Group of “brazen stock market manipulation” and “accounting fraud”, the US-based shortseller Hindenburg Research on Saturday (August 10) alleged that SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch “had stake in obscure offshore entities used in the Adani money siphoning scandal”, citing whistleblower documents.

In response, Madhavi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch said that the investment in question was made “almost 2 years before Madhabi joined SEBI”. They added that “all disclosures and recusals have been diligently followed, including disclosures of all securities held or subsequently transferred”.

Here is what SEBI’s ‘Code on Conflict of Interests for Members of Board’ (henceforth, the Code) says about disclosures and recusals.

What constitutes conflict of interest?

According to the Code, ‘conflict of interest’ refers to “any personal interest or association of a board member, which is likely to influence the decision of the Board in a matter, as viewed by an independent third party”. It can constitute a number of different things, which are either barred altogether or need to be disclosed by the concerned board member.

These include:

1. 01
Certain transactions in shares

The Code says that a member must disclose their, and their family’s (spouse, dependent children below 18 years of age) holdings within 15 days of the assumption of Office, and annually update this disclosure within 15 days of the close of the financial year. Moreover, substantial transactions (greater than 5,000 shares or of monetary value of 1 lakh) need to be disclosed within 15 days of such a transaction. Lastly, members are not allowed to deal in shares based on “unpublished price sensitive information which he may have got access to”.

2. 02
Outside private activities

SEBI board members are not allowed to hold any other office of profit, i.e. a position that brings or has the potential to bring to the person holding it some financial gain, advantage, or benefit. They are also not allowed to engage in any other professional activity, “which entails receipt of salary or professional fees”.

3. 03
Acceptance of gifts

Board members are not allowed to accept “any gift by whatever name called, to the extent possible, from a regulated entity”. If they do receive such a gift whose value exceeds Rs 1,000, they have to hand it over to the General Services Department of the SEBI, and are not allowed to keep it.

4. 04
Miscellaneous situations

Members are bound to disclose “any post, other employment or fiduciary position” which they hold or have held in the past five years, in connection with any regulated entity. This would include things like being a board member of a company, or being employed as a consultant by a company. Moreover, they must disclose “any other significant relationship, including a professional, personal, financial or family relationship held in connection with a regulated entity” and “any honorary position, by whatever name called, in any organisation”.

What is the procedure for managing conflict of interest?

As a general principle, SEBI board members are to “take all steps necessary to ensure that any conflict of interest… does not affect any decision of the Board” and not to “exploit to his personal advantage, any personal or professional relationship with regulated entities or any employee of such entities”.

This is to be done by a system of disclosures and recusals. Disclosures have to be made “at the earliest possible opportunity”. If any member is unsure whether there is a conflict of interest or not, they “shall seek determination from the Chairman”. If the chairman is in doubt regarding their own conflict of interest, she has to “seek determination from the [entire] Board”.

If the chairman or the board determines that there is indeed a conflict of interest, the concerned member “shall refrain from dealing with the particular matter”. The rules are very clear on this — “No Member shall hear or decide any matter where he has a conflict of interest”, they say. There is no scope for an exception.

Does the public have to be apprised about conflicts of interest in the SEBI board?

No. “The information as disclosed under this Code shall be kept confidential… save in the following circumstances”, the Code says. These circumstances include:

- Where there is a requirement for disclosure for the purposes of managing potential or actual conflicts;

- Where there is a requirement for disclosure following the change of responsibilities of a Member;

- Where there is a requirement for the purposes of disciplinary proceedings; or

- Where there is any legal or regulatory obligation to disclose the information.

The custody of all documents/records pertaining to board members’ disclosures is maintained by the secretary to the board. Members of the public can bring material evidence to this secretary in case they believe that “a Member has an interest in a particular matter”. The secretary is obligated to place the details of such a matter to the board.

How Centre’s Clean Plant Programme plans to boost India’s production of fruits

First announced in Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s interim Budget speech in February 2023, the CPP is also targeted at enhancing the quality of fruit crops across the nation.

Written by Harikishan Sharma

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:55 IST

First announced in Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s interim Budget speech in February 2023, the CPP is also targeted at enhancing the quality of fruit crops across the nation.

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), aimed at increasing the yield and productivity of horticulture crops in India.

First announced in Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s interim Budget speech in February 2023, the CPP is also targeted at enhancing the quality of fruit crops across the nation.

The Ministry of Agriculture has sought an allocation of Rs 1,765 crore for the programme. One half of this will be sourced from the budget of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), while the other half will be in the form of a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

How will the CPP work?

The programme has three main components geared towards helping farmers obtain virus-free, high-quality planting material (plants used for vegetative propagation) in order to increase crop yields and improve income opportunities. These are:

* Development of nine Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) which will provide disease diagnostics and therapeutics, create mother plants to be sent to nurseries, and quarantine all domestic and imported planting materials intended for commercial propagation and distribution;

* Enhancement of infrastructure, including the development of large-scale nurseries to facilitate the efficient multiplication of clean planting material — the mother plants obtained from the CPCs will be multiplied in nurseries and distributed to farmers;

* Creation of regulatory and certification process to ensure thorough accountability and traceability in the production and sale of planting material.

Centre’s Clean Plant Programme.

What is the need for the CPP?

India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world after China. From 2013-14 to 2023-24, the area under horticulture crops has risen from 24 million hectares to 28.63 million hectares, and production has increased from 277.4 million metric tonnes (mt) to 352 million mt.

India is also a major importer and exporter of fresh fruits. In the financial year 2023-24, India exported fresh fruits worth $1.15 billion, while it imported fruits worth $2.73 billion. With the rising consumption of fruits in the country, demand has specifically increased for planting materials of foreign apples, and “exotics” such as avocado and blueberry.

According to sources, between 2018-20, the EXIM committee for import of planting material of fruit plants permitted the import of 21.44 lakh apple plants in 2018, which increased to 49.57 lakh in 2020. In 2018, permission was given to import only 1,000 avocado plants which increased to 26,500 in 2020. Similarly, permissions for the import of blueberry plants went up from 1.55 lakh in 2018 to 4.35 lakh in 2020.

At present, the process of importing plants is very cumbersome, with imported plants having to be kept in quarantine for two years. The CPCs will cut this period down to six months, and thus make it easier for farmers to access disease free and genuine planting material for horticultural crops in India.

The concept of CPCs is on the lines of projects in countries like the US, Israel, and the Netherlands.

Harikishan Sharma

Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister’s Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More

NASA’s Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore could be stuck in Space till 2025: What happens now?

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore may be cooped up in ISS till February 2025 due to glitches in the Boeing spacecraft that took them to space. Can ISS accommodate them? How will their bodies react?

Written by Amitabh Sinha

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 11:51 IST

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on ISS. (Image credit: ISS Research/X)

A technical snag in the spacecraft that took them to the International Space Station (ISS) has forced astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to spend an extended period in space. Last week, NASA said they might have to wait till February 2025 to return to Earth.

Though in an unprecedented situation, Williams and Wilmore are not in danger. The ISS can comfortably house them for the next six months. Currently, there are seven other astronauts at the space station. The ISS, a permanent space laboratory orbiting Earth at a distance of about 400 km, is continuously manned and has never been without an astronaut since November 2000.

This is not the first time that astronauts have had to extend their stay at the ISS due to technical glitches. Williams and Wilmore, however, would have the longest unscheduled stay if they return in February.

Why are Williams and Wilmore stuck in space?

Williams and Wilmore travelled to the ISS on a Boeing spacecraft called Starliner in June. This spacecraft has made two trips to the ISS earlier but this was the first time it was carrying astronauts. Before the launch, a helium leak in Starliner’s propulsion system was detected but was not considered serious enough to abandon the journey. Although Starliner developed two more similar leaks on its way, it reached its destination without any trouble.

@Astro_Suni installs hardware for the SoFIE-MIST investigation, which aims to improve our understanding of material flammability in space and help address fire safety aboard @Space_Station and on future missions. pic.twitter.com/rJdXNhzvKl

— ISS Research (@ISS_Research) August 7, 2024

According to reports, due to the longer exposure to microgravity on the ISS, astronauts might experience several health-related issues such as bone density reduction, vision-related issues, and are also at a higher risk of cancer due to DNA damage. This is why space exploration missions are kept short, not lasting more than a few weeks.

However, after it docked with the ISS and the two astronauts transferred inside, more problems emerged in Starliner, raising questions over the safety of the astronauts on their return journey — originally scheduled after just a week. So far, ground engineers have not been able to resolve all issues to everyone’s satisfaction, leaving Williams and Wilmore stranded as they do not have a vehicle to return home.

The duo went to the ISS in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. (Image source: X/@Space_Station, NASA)

Both NASA and Boeing have said they hope to get Starliner in order soon. If that does not happen, the earliest that the astronauts can return to Earth would be in February 2025 on another vehicle that is set to travel to the ISS in September. This spacecraft, operated by SpaceX, is supposed to carry four astronauts to the ISS and bring them back in February. However, if Williams and Wilmore also have to be brought back, then the SpaceX spacecraft will carry only two astronauts in September.

Can the ISS accommodate them?

In recent years, the ISS, which has been operational for 25 years, has usually been hosting seven astronauts at any given time. These astronauts mostly belong to the five countries/regions whose space agencies manage this facility — the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe. The astronauts carry out a variety of space-based experiments and are themselves subjects of some experiments, particularly those regarding the study of impacts of the outer space environment on human bodies.

Nonetheless, the ISS is large enough to accommodate more astronauts. The number increases when a new team comes to take over or when astronauts arrive for short visits like Williams and Wilmore did. The facility is bigger than a typical six-bedroom apartment in the US, according to NASA. It has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, and even a gym. When visiting spacecraft attach themselves, additional space is created.

Cargo spaceships routinely make trips to the ISS, carrying essential supplies and attending to maintenance requirements. On their return, these spacecraft take back waste generated at the ISS and dispose of it into space at the time of re-entering Earth’s atmosphere where it gets burnt due to friction. In fact, one such cargo spacecraft, called Cygnus, operated by a private aerospace and defence firm Northrop Grumman, docked with the ISS last week. It carried more than 3,700 kg of cargo, which is currently being unpacked by the astronauts on board. It will remain docked with the space station till January after which it will return to Earth. As many as eight spacecraft can simultaneously dock themselves with the ISS.

The cargo spacecraft, however, cannot be used to bring back Williams and Wilmore as they are not equipped with the special capsules that can house humans in space.

Have astronauts stayed in space for a long duration?

Spending nine to 10 months in space is quite a long time but not unusual. Several astronauts have remained in space far longer than that.

The current record is held by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent 438 days at the Mir space station between January 1994 and March 1995. Russia’s Mir predated the ISS and was operational between 1986 and 2001 before being brought down.

More recently, US astronaut Frank Rubio completed 371 days at the ISS between September 2022 and September 2023.

Several other astronauts, including women, have spent more than 300 days in space.

Williams and Wilmore are likely to spend more than 250 days by the time they return. Both these astronauts are on their third visit to the ISS. Williams spent 196 days on her first visit in 2006-2007 and then another 127 days in 2012. Wilmore, during his two previous visits in 2014 and 2015, has spent a total of 178 days at the ISS.

What happens to the human body in space?

NASA has increasingly been deploying its astronauts for extended stay missions to study the impacts on human bodies. US astronauts flying to the ISS can now volunteer to be part of such experiments. NASA is running a programme to study the impacts of short (up to 3.5 months), routine (up to eight months), and extended stays (more than eight months) of astronauts in space.

Past studies have shown that bone density and muscle quality deteriorate faster in space than on Earth. Low gravity impacts brain fluids and extended stays can potentially alter brain structure. Extended stays can also increase the risk of heart disease.

Several other impacts have also been noticed. The ongoing programme would help in better understanding of these changes.

For these reasons astronauts aboard the ISS spend almost two hours every day in the gym, doing a range of physical exercises.

Business

- India’s weight in MSCI equity index rises; ‘may fetch around $3-bn inflows’

- Rupee settles flat at 83.97 against US dollar

- Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan steps down, Chipotle’s Brian Niccol to take over

- Indian Express Freedom Sale: Unlock Exclusive Savings Today

- TRAI directs telcos to disconnect unregistered telemarketers’ lines over spam calls, blacklist them

- Sensex, Nifty decline in early trade; HDFC Bank drags

- Factory output slows to 4.2% in June as manufacturing drops to seven-month low

- Madhabi Puri Buch redeemed funds through husband’s name 2 weeks after getting Sebi top post: Hindenburg

- Retail inflation dip under 4% after nearly 5 years, factory output eases to 5-month low

India’s weight in MSCI equity index rises; ‘may fetch around $3-bn inflows’

Tentative weight goes up from around 19% to close to 20%

Written by Hitesh Vyas

Mumbai | Updated: August 14, 2024 05:40 IST

MSCI excluded eight stocks including Cochin Shipyard, Indian Renewable Energy, Jaiprakash Associates and Network 18 Media & Investments from MSCI India Domestic Small Cap Index. (File Photo)

MSCI Inc has added seven stocks including Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL), Oil India, Vodafone Idea, and Zydus Lifesciences in MSCI India Index, resulting in net passive inflows of $2.7 billion to $3 billion from foreign institutional investors (FII) into the country.

The other stocks that have been included in MSCI India Index, which is part of MSCI Global Standard Index, are Dixon Technologies India, Oracle Financial Services and Prestige Estates Project. The latest changes will be effective from the close of August 30, MSCI said.

Bandhan Bank has been excluded from the index.

“With all the adjustments in the EM (Emerging Market) Pack, India’s tentative weight will remain close to 20 per cent. India should witness net FII passive inflow of $2.7 billion to $3 billion,” said Abhilash Pagaria Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research. Given the current pace and momentum, India’s weight could potentially cross 22 per cent by year-end, he said.

After the May 2024 rejig, when MSCI Inc included 13 domestic stocks including Canara Bank, JSW Energy Mankind Pharma and NHPC in its Global Standard Index, the country’s weight in the index rose to close to 19 per cent from 18.3 per cent.

“For HDFC Bank, the long-awaited weight increase is finally happening. MSCI has made an exception by raising with lower adjustment factor, leading to an inflow of $1.8 billion, equivalent to 93 million shares, with an impact of about 4.5 days in August Rejig,” Pagaria said. The remaining float adjustment (second and final tranche) is expected to be done in the November 2024 rejig, provided the foreign room remains at least 20 per cent, which is unlikely to pose a problem, he said. HDFC Bank shares ended at Rs 1,603 apiece, down 3.46 per cent, on BSE.

In the MSCI India Domestic Small Cap Index, 25 stocks, including Gulf Oil Lubricant India, Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar, GMR Power & Urban Infra, Go Digit General Insurance, India Shelter Finance, Inox Green Energy Services, Inox Wind Energy and Keystone Realtors, have been added.

MSCI excluded eight stocks including Cochin Shipyard, Indian Renewable Energy, Jaiprakash Associates and Network 18 Media & Investments from MSCI India Domestic Small Cap Index.

Separately, MSCI clarified that starting from the August 2024 Index Review, it will implement the index review changes, including changes in the Number of Shares (NOS), Foreign Inclusion Factor (FIF) and Domestic Inclusion Factor (DIF) of Adani Group and associated securities that have been previously postponed.

MSCI continues to monitor Adani Group and associated securities, including related to free float, and will issue further communication if appropriate

Rupee settles flat at 83.97 against US dollar

Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said, the rupee was again in a range of 3 paise with RBI selling at 83.97 while others buying dollar.

By: PTI

Mumbai | Updated: August 13, 2024 21:36 IST

The local unit had slumped 37 paise to settle at an all-time low of 84.09 against the US dollar on August 5. (File Photo)

The rupee witnessed range-bound trading and settled for the day on a flat note at 83.97 against the US dollar on Tuesday, as weak domestic markets and a surge in crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiments.

Forex traders said risk aversion in the global markets amid heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East between Israel and Iran also dented sentiments.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit traded in a tight range as it opened at 83.95 and finally settled at 83.97 against the American currency, unchanged from its previous close.

On Monday, the rupee settled for the day lower by 2 paise at 83.97 against the American currency.

The local unit had slumped 37 paise to settle at an all-time low of 84.09 against the US dollar on August 5.

“We expect the rupee to trade with a slight negative bias on risk aversion in the global markets amid heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. Rising crude oil prices and weak domestic markets may also weigh on the domestic currency,” said Anuj Choudhary – Research Analyst at Sharekhan by BNP Paribas.

However, mixed-to-weak US dollar amid dovish comments from Fed speakers may support the rupee at lower levels.

Investors may remain cautious ahead of the US CPI, retail sales and consumer confidence data from the US this week, said Choudhary, adding that USD-INR spot price is expected to trade in a range of 83.75 to 84.25.

Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said, the rupee was again in a range of 3 paise with RBI selling at 83.97 while others buying dollar.

“There was no opportunity for importers/exporters to be able to take a call on buying/selling dollar. The range for tomorrow is also expected between 83.85/84.05,” he added.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.06 per cent higher at 103.19.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, declined 0.27 per cent to USD 82.08 per barrel.

On the domestic macroeconomic front, the net direct tax collection in the country grew 22.48 per cent to about Rs 6.93 lakh crore as of August 11 of this fiscal.

The retail inflation eased to 3.54 per cent with food prices falling after a good monsoon. It was the lowest in last 5 years and has dipped below RBIs targeted rate of 4 per cent.

However, India’s industrial production slowed to a five-month low of 4.2 per cent in June 2024, mainly due to poor performance of the manufacturing sector, though power and mining sectors continue to perform well, as per official data released on Monday.

On the domestic equity market front, Sensex declined 692.89 points, or 0.87 per cent, to 78,956.03 points. The Nifty fell 208.00 points, or 0.85 per cent, to 24,139.00 points.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers in the capital markets on Tuesday as they offloaded shares worth Rs 2,107.17 crore, according to exchange data.

Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan steps down, Chipotle’s Brian Niccol to take over

Narasimhan, who was appointed as the company's head in September 2022, is stepping down from his role as CEO and as a member of the board with immediate effect.

By: Reuters

Updated: August 13, 2024 18:48 IST

(L-R) Outgoing Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan and Brian Niccol. (Photo Credit: X/Linkedin)

Starbucks said on Tuesday that Chipotle Mexican Grill’s head, Brian Niccol, will replace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Laxman Narasimhan.

The coffee chain has been under pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which owns a sizable stake and has been pushing it to improve its performance and stock price.

Narasimhan, who was appointed as the company’s head in September 2022, is stepping down from his role as CEO and as a member of the board with immediate effect.

Starbucks said Niccol will start in his new role on Sept. 9 and the coffee chain’s CFO, Rachel Ruggeri, will serve as interim CEO until then.

Chipotle said its board had appointed Chief Operating Officer Scott Boatwright as interim CEO.

Shares of Starbucks were up 10% in premarket trading while Chipotle’s stock was down 8%.

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New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 18:02 IST

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TRAI directs telcos to disconnect unregistered telemarketers’ lines over spam calls, blacklist them

Issuing its directive to telcos, TRAI said this "decisive action" is expected to significantly reduce spam calls and provide relief to consumers.

By: PTI

New Delhi | August 13, 2024 14:54 IST

TRAI in a release said it has issued "directives to access providers to disconnect all telecom resources of unregistered senders for making spam calls and to blacklist such senders under the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018" regulations. (File)

Sector regulator TRAI on Tuesday directed telcos to disconnect all telecom resources of unregistered telemarketers found making spam calls, and to blacklist them for up to two years.

Further, TRAI has asked telcos to comply immediately with its latest directive and submit regular updates on action taken in this regard on a fortnightly basis.

Issuing its directive to telcos, TRAI said this “decisive action” is expected to significantly reduce spam calls and provide relief to consumers.

TRAI in a release said it has issued “directives to access providers to disconnect all telecom resources of unregistered senders for making spam calls and to blacklist such senders under the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018” regulations.

Towards this, TRAI has mandated all access service providers to stop voice promotional calls whether pre-recorded or computer generated or otherwise from all unregistered senders or telemarketers (UTMs) using bulk connections or other telecom resources.

“… All promotional voice calls from the unregistered Senders/ Unregistered Telemarketer (UTMs) using Telecom Resources (SIP/ PRI/ other telecom resources) shall be stopped immediately,” TRAI said.

If any unregistered telemarketer or sender is found to be misusing telecom resources for making commercial voice calls in violation of the regulations resulting in consumer complaints, all its telecom resources will be disconnected by the primary telecom service provider for a period up to two years.

Further, such unregistered entities will be blacklisted for a period up to two years.

“…Information regarding blacklisting of the sender shall be shared by the OAP (Originating Access Provider) with all other access providers on DLT platform, within 24 hours, who will, in turn, disconnect all the telecom resources given by them to that sender within the next 24 hours,” TRAI said.

New telecom resources would not be allocated to them by any access provider during the period of blacklisting.

“All the unregistered Senders/ Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs) using SIP/PRI/ other telecom resources to make commercial voice calls to the citizen shall be migrated to the DLT platform within one month of the issue of this direction and submit compliance report within seven days thereafter,” TRAI said.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed all telcos to comply with its latest directive and submit regular updates on the actions taken on the first and sixteenth of every month.

The regulator has declared an all-out war against the rising menace of spam calls – last week TRAI had had warned that telcos will disconnect the telecom resources of entities that are found misusing bulk connections for making spam calls, and such entities would face blacklisting by all operators for up to two years.

TRAI held a meeting with regulatory heads of all the Telecom Service Providers last Thursday.

The meeting, Chaired by TRAI Chief, was attended by the Chief Regulatory Officers of Airtel, BSNL, Quadrant Televentures Limited (QTL), Reliance Jio, Tata Teleservices Limited, Vodafone Idea Limited and V-CON Mobile & Infra Private Limited.

Sensex, Nifty decline in early trade; HDFC Bank drags

The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 134.27 points to 79,514.65 in early trade. The NSE Nifty dipped 38.65 points to 24,308.35.

Mumbai | August 13, 2024 10:10 IST

In Asian markets, Seoul and Shanghai were quoting lower while Tokyo and Hong Kong traded in the positive territory.

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Tuesday dragged by blue-chip HDFC Bank and fresh foreign fund outflows.

Also mixed trends from global markets failed to give direction to the domestic equities.

The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 134.27 points to 79,514.65 in early trade. The NSE Nifty dipped 38.65 points to 24,308.35.

From the 30 Sensex firms, HDFC Bank, Tata Motors, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finance, Power Grid and Hindustan Unilever were the biggest laggards.

Bharti Airtel, Sun Pharma, Tata Consultancy Services and Axis Bank were among the gainers.

Nine of the ten Adani group firms bounced back during the early trade after declining sharply during intra-day on Monday.

In Asian markets, Seoul and Shanghai were quoting lower while Tokyo and Hong Kong traded in the positive territory.

The US markets ended on a mixed note on Monday.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) again turned sellers on Monday as they offloaded equities worth Rs 4,680.51 crore after a day’s breather, according to exchange data.

Retail inflation declined to a five-year low of 3.54 per cent in July mainly on account of subdued prices of food items, and base effect, according to official data released on Monday.

“Market’s dismissal of the Hindenburg report as inconsequential is significant. The market which has been climbing all walls of worries has climbed this Hindenburg wall too, instilling confidence in retail investors and DIIs flush with money,” said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Financial Services.

The dip in CPI inflation in July to 3.54 per cent is positive, he added.

India’s industrial production slowed to a five-month low of 4.2 per cent in June 2024, mainly due to poor performance of the manufacturing sector, though power and mining sectors continue to perform well, as per official data released on Monday.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude declined 0.90 per cent to USD 81.56 a barrel.

The BSE benchmark ended lower by 56.99 points or 0.07 per cent at 79,648.92 on Monday. The Nifty dipped 20.50 points or 0.08 per cent to 24,347

Factory output slows to 4.2% in June as manufacturing drops to seven-month low

Manufacturing, which accounts for 77.6 per cent of the weight of the IIP, slowed to a seven-month low of 2.6 per cent compared with 5 per cent in May and 3.5 per cent in June 2023.

By: ENS Economic Bureau

New Delhi | August 13, 2024 04:18 IST

The overall industrial output had recorded a growth of 4 per cent in June 2023 and 6.2 per cent in May this year. (Representative Image)

India’s factory output, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), eased to 4.2 per cent in June, the lowest level since January 2024, mainly due to a slower growth in manufacturing output.

Manufacturing, which accounts for 77.6 per cent of the weight of the IIP, slowed to a seven-month low of 2.6 per cent compared with 5 per cent in May and 3.5 per cent in June 2023.

The overall industrial output had recorded a growth of 4 per cent in June 2023 and 6.2 per cent in May this year.

Cumulatively so far in the financial year 2024-25, industrial growth has been recorded at 5.2 per cent during April-June as against 4.7 per cent in the previous financial year.

Mining output growth rose to 10.3 per cent in June from 6.6 per cent in May and 7.6 per cent in the year-ago period due to higher coal demand. As per the latest data, electricity output slowed to 8.6 per cent in June from 13.7 per cent in May but was higher than 4.2 per cent growth in the corresponding period in the previous year.

“Within manufacturing, growth was driven by electronics (after a long hiatus), electrical machinery, metals and the auto sector. There was some recovery in consumer demand for sure though aided by the base effect. Infra work, though muted due to the elections, did have a positive impact on metals and machinery…industry does appear to be on the right path and further pickup can be expected from the end of Q2 and Q3, as the festival season brings in higher demand,” Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, Bank of Baroda said.

As per the IIP data, 14 out of the 23 sectors in manufacturing registered growth in June, with manufacture of electrical equipment (28.4 per cent), furniture (16 per cent), and computer, electronic and optical products (10.7 per cent) were among the highest growing sectors. Other manufacturing (-12.6 per cent), tobacco products (-10.9 per cent),leather and related products (-3.9 per cent) were amongst the significant non-performers.

On the basis of use-base classification, the capital goods segment, a key indicator of the investment sentiment, showed slower growth of 2.4 per cent in June from the 2.9 per cent growth rate seen both in the previous month and the year-ago period. Consumer durables output — an indicator of consumption demand — grew 8.6 per cent mainly coming on the back of the base of (-) 6.8 per cent in June 2023. Consumer non-durable goods output, which reflects fast-moving consumer goods, was in negative territory at (-) 1.4 per cent in June over just 0.5 per cent growth last year.

“Moderating growth in the manufacturing and electricity sectors offset the acceleration in mining growth weighing on the overall industrial performance. The performance in consumption related segments remained mixed with output of consumer durables rising by 8.6 per cent while non-durables output contracted by 1.4 per cent. Broad-based consumption improvement and the revival of private investment remain crucial for industrial activity. From the consumption perspective, the trajectory of food inflation and progress of monsoon remain the key monitorable,” Rajani Sinha, Chief Economist, CareEdge Ratings said.

Madhabi Puri Buch redeemed funds through husband’s name 2 weeks after getting Sebi top post: Hindenburg

On Saturday, quoting “whistleblower documents”, Hindenburg had alleged that “SEBI’s Chairperson had stake in obscure offshore entities used in Adani money siphoning scandal.”

By: ENS Economic Bureau

Mumbai | Updated: August 13, 2024 05:07 IST

Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Madhabi Puri Buch speaks during CII's 17th Corporate Governance Summit, in Mumbai. (PTI Photo)

US-based short seller Hindenburg Research on Monday hit back at Securities and Exchange Board of India Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch alleging that she ensured the accounts with ties to Adani ‘be registered solely in the name of Dhaval Buch’, her husband, two weeks after her appointment as SEBI Chairperson and “redeemed the funds through her husband’s name”.

“Despite disclaiming control, a private email she sent a year into her SEBI term shows she redeemed stakes in the funds through her husband’s name, as per the whistleblower documents,” it alleged. On Saturday, quoting “whistleblower documents”, Hindenburg had alleged that “SEBI’s Chairperson had stake in obscure offshore entities used in Adani money siphoning scandal.”

SEBI had come out in Buch’s defence on Sunday, saying that the regulator has adequate internal mechanisms to address issues related to conflict of interest, which include disclosure framework and provision for recusal. Relevant disclosures required in terms of holdings of securities and their transfers have been made by the Chairperson from time to time, SEBI said. “Chairperson has also recused herself in matters involving potential conflicts of interest,” the regulator said, backing its Chairperson and advising investors to remain calm and exercise due diligence.

In another statement issued on Sunday, Madhabi Puri Buch and Dhaval Buch said the investment in the fund referred to in the Hindenburg report was made in 2015 when they were both private citizens living in Singapore and almost two years before Madhabi joined Sebi, even as a Whole Time Member. At no point in time did the fund invest in any bond, equity, or derivative of any Adani group company, they said in the statement.

Reacting to the clarification issued by Buch to its earlier allegations, Hindenburg said on Monday, “Buch’s response now publicly confirms her investment in an obscure Bermuda/Mauritius fund structure, alongside money allegedly siphoned by Vinod Adani. She also confirmed the fund was run by a childhood friend of her husband, who at the time was an Adani director.”

Further, Hindenburg alleged that Buch remained a 100 per cent shareholder of Agora Partners Singapore until March 16th, 2022, per Singaporean records, owning it during her entire time as a SEBI Whole Time Member. She only transferred her shares into her husband’s name two weeks after her appointment as SEBI Chairperson, the US firm alleged.

Buch became Sebi Whole Time Member in 2017 and Chairperson in 2022.

The US short seller said “Buch’s statement also claims that the two consulting companies she set up, including the Indian entity and the opaque Singaporean entity “became immediately dormant on her appointment with SEBI” in 2017, with her husband taking over starting in 2019.”

“As per its latest shareholding list as of March 31st, 2024, Agora Advisory Limited (India), is still 99% owned by Madhabi Buch, not her husband. This entity is currently active and generating consulting revenue,” it said. “Furthermore, Buch remained a 100% shareholder of Agora Partners Singapore until March 16th, 2022, per Singaporean records, owning it during her entire time as a SEBI Whole Time Member. She only transferred her shares into her husband’s name 2 weeks after her appointment as SEBI Chairperson,” Hindenburg said.

“The Singaporean consulting entity she set up doesn’t publicly report its financials like revenue or profit so it’s impossible to see how much money this entity has earned during her time at SEBI,” it claimed.

Hindenburg said the Indian entity, still 99% owned by the SEBI Chairperson, has generated Rs 23.985 million (US $ 312,000) in revenue (i.e. consulting) during the financial years (FY22, FY23 and FY24), while she was serving as Chairperson, as per its financial statements.

“This is especially important given whistleblower documents showing that Buch used her personal email to do business using her husband’s name while serving as a Whole Time Member of SEBI,” the US firm alleged.

“This raises the question: What other investments or business has the SEBI Chairperson engaged in through her husband’s name while serving in an official capacity?” Hindenburg alleged.

“Buch said her husband used the consulting entities starting in 2019 to transact with unnamed “prominent clients in the Indian industry”. Do these include clients SEBI is tasked with regulating?” the US firm alleged.

“Buch’s statement promised a “commitment to complete transparency”. Given this, will she publicly release the full list of consulting clients and details of the engagements, both through the offshore Singaporean consulting firm, the Indian consulting firm and any other entity she or her husband may have an interest in?” it asked. “Finally, will the SEBI Chairperson commit to a full, transparent and public investigation into these issues?”

On Saturday, the US-based Hindenburg Research, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) alleged that Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the Adani money siphoning scandal. The short-seller alleged that the couple invested in Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund (GDOF), in which Vinod Adani, brother of Gautam Adani, had invested.

The SEBI press statement came soon after Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch issued their second statement within a gap of 24 hours. “Supreme Court in its order of January 3, 2024 noted that SEBI had completed 22 out of 24 investigations into the Adani group. Subsequently, one more investigation was completed in March 2024, and one remaining investigation is close to completion,” the regulator said.

During the ongoing investigation in this matter, more than 100 summons, around 1,100 letters and emails have been issued to seek information. “Further, more than 100 communications have been made seeking assistance from domestic/foreign regulators and external agencies. Also, more than 300 documents containing around 12,000 pages have been examined,” it said.

The joint statement of the Sebi chairperson and her husband said that as confirmed by Ahuja, at no point in time did the fund invest in any bond, equity, or derivative of any Adani group company.

“The decision to invest in this fund was because the Chief Investment Officer, Anil Ahuja, is Dhaval’s childhood friend from school and IIT Delhi and, being an ex-employee of Citibank, J.P. Morgan and 3i Group plc, had many decades of a strong investing career. The fact that these were the drivers of the investment decision is borne out by the fact that when, in 2018, Ahuja, left his position as CIO of the fund, we redeemed the investment in that fund,” they said.

Retail inflation dip under 4% after nearly 5 years, factory output eases to 5-month low

Core inflation — non-food, non-fuel segment — inched up marginally to 3.4 per cent in July compared with 3.1 per cent in June.

Written by Aanchal Magazine

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 07:34 IST

Among food items, vegetables inflation rate eased to 6.83 per cent in July from 29.32 per cent. (Express file photo)

After remaining above the 4 per cent mark for nearly five years, retail inflation slipped below this level to a 59-month low of 3.54 per cent in July mainly due to a high base effect, data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) showed Monday. The last time retail inflation rate was below the 4 per cent mark — a key level in the 4+/- 2 per cent band of medium-term inflation target set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) — was 57 months ago in September 2019.

Food inflation rate also slipped to a 13-month low of 5.42 per cent in July from 9.36 per cent in June. Food inflation has hovered between 8-9 per cent during the last eight months as prices of vegetables, cereals and pulses have stayed consistently elevated. On a month-on-month basis, however, the Consumer Price Index (Combined), on which retail inflation is based, gained momentum across the categories of food, clothing, housing and the overall index value. According to analysts, retail inflation is expected to breach the 4 per cent mark in August 2024, stoked by food inflation.

Data released separately showed the country’s factory output for June, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), eased to a five-month low of 4.2 per cent, mainly due to a slower growth in manufacturing output.

The lower inflation rate has come after the RBI last week continued to keep the repo rate unchanged for the ninth time in a row. After the monetary policy review Thursday, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das had also raised concerns about food inflation stating that food inflation pressures cannot be ignored given the high share of food in the consumption basket.

Among food items, vegetables inflation rate eased to 6.83 per cent in July from 29.32 per cent, while cereals and products inflation stood at 8.14 per cent in July as against 8.75 per cent in the previous month. Pulses inflation continued to stay in double digits at 14.77 per cent in July compared with 16.07 per cent in June. The retail inflation surge is mainly triggered by higher food inflation, with food and beverages carrying a weight of around 46 per cent in the CPI.

“Food inflation has come down to 5.4 per cent which is more due to a base effect rather than falling prices. The major pain points remain in the cereals and pulses basket. While inflation numbers may come down due to this effect, the new crop will enter only post September which will determine the future course of price movements,” Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, Bank of Baroda said.

Economists are of the view that the slow pace of disinflation has delayed rate cuts by the RBI and the process may get slowed further as the inflation rate is expected to again go up above 4 per cent in the next two months, with even the RBI forecasting 4.4 per cent inflation in Q2 with food inflation as the major driving force.

The Consumer Food Price Index-based inflation eased to 5.42 per cent in July from 9.36 per cent in June coming on the high base of 11.51 per cent in July 2023. Rural food inflation stood at 5.89 per cent in July, higher than urban food inflation of 4.63 per cent. Fuel and light segment recorded a deflation of 5.48 per cent in July as against a deflation of 3.66 per cent in June, primarily due to base effect.

Core inflation — non-food, non-fuel segment — inched up marginally to 3.4 per cent in July compared with 3.1 per cent in June. However, it is “too early to term it as demand revival”, Paras Jasrai, Senior Analyst, India Ratings said. “Retail inflation is expected to breach the 4% mark in August 2024, mainly due to food inflation. The core inflation in August 2024 is expected to remain the same as July 2024 at 3.4%. Based on current inflationary and growth trends, Ind-Ra does not expect any change in policy rates/stance in FY25,” it said.

Aanchal Magazine

Aanchal Magazine is Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and reports on the macro economy and fiscal policy, with a special focus on economic science, labour trends, taxation and revenue metrics. With over 12 years of newsroom experience, she has also reported in detail on macroeconomic data such as trends and policy actions related to inflation, GDP growth and fiscal arithmetic. Interested in the history of her homeland, Kashmir, she likes to read about its culture and tradition in her spare time, along with trying to map the journeys of displacement from there.   ... Read More

Sunday Eye

- Independence Day Special: How first-time MPs are hoping to be changemakers

- ‘Be A Man, Yaar!’: YouTube show tackles struggles with masculinity through free-wheeling chats with Bhuvan Bam, Vicky Kaushal and more

Independence Day Special: How first-time MPs are hoping to be changemakers

As India celebrates democracy and freedom, young MPs, who have entered Parliament for the first time, tell us about their hopes and dreams for the people they represent

Written by Vidhatri Rao , Sanjana Suchdev

Updated: August 13, 2024 18:19 IST

Iqra Choudhary Kairana, Uttar Pradesh (Credit: Renuka Puri)

At New Delhi’s Karnataka Bhavan canteen, Sagar Khandre, the 26-year-old Member of Parliament (MP) from Bidar, is talking between spoonfuls of poha when a man walks up to him. He says he is from Sagar’s constituency and has travelled two days to meet the MP in Delhi. A couple of minutes later, another man walks over and talks to him about a pipeline being built in Bengaluru by a major Indian conglomerate. Yet another comes to invite him for an event. Sagar shakes hands with each of them, greets them in Kannada and takes selfies with them.

In another part of the Capital, Iqra Choudhary, 29, the newly elected Samajwadi Party (SP) MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Kairana, too, is getting used to the newfound attention. Though she belongs to a political family and has grown up in the public eye, the five years she spent studying in Delhi and the one doing a masters in London gave her an anonymity that she is now having to shed. Making her way through Delhi’s Khan Market, she gets some curious glances.

A man follows her to a coffee shop and tells her that he has been tracking her work since the time she campaigned for her brother Nahid Hasin in the 2022 Assembly elections. “Kairana is just 100 km from Delhi, so a lot of people recognise me. I have always been told that I can never say no to people; that is turning out to be an advantage in politics,” she says.

Elected to the 18th Lok Sabha, Sagar and Iqra are among seven first-time under-30 MPs who, as representatives of their constituencies, are finding their feet and voice in the country’s supreme legislative body — Parliament.

In a country with over half the population (nearly 52 per cent) below 30 as per the NHFS-5 (National Family Health Survey 5), and people under 25 projected to outnumber those over 65 at least until 2078 as per UN’s population estimates, every articulation of theirs will be carefully watched.

The seven MPs are Iqra, Sagar, Priya Saroj, Pushpendra Saroj, Shambhavi Choudhary, Sanjna Jatav and Priyanka Jarkiholi. We meet some of them as they make their

big debut.

How do these first-time MPs — some of whom were preparing for exams, finishing their studies, and thinking of plans ahead just six months ago — navigate challenges?

Many fall back on family.

Of the seven, only Congress’s Sanjna, an MP from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, has no political lineage. She is also the only one who has been part of local governance as a member of the zila parishad. The viral video of Sanjna dancing to a folk song after her win — a rare moment of joy and abandon for Indian women politicians — and the powerful image of her with the women in her family in their traditional clothes on the steps of Parliament, are few and far in between.

On the other hand, some have the guaranteed support that a family steeped in politics brings.

When we visit Priya, 25, who represents Machhlishahr, UP, she is at a temporary accommodation — the official MP bungalows have not been allocated yet. Her father Tufani Saroj is a three-time MP and is currently an MLA from the Kerakat seat in UP. “Some people have been working with my father for over 25 years. I continue to work with them. I do my research and my father guides me. He lost the 2014 election. During these 10 years without a post, he just travelled the area. In my first speech this session, I took a lot of pointers from him… My brother handles my social media accounts,” says Priya.

Sagar’s father Eshwara Khandre, too, is a cabinet minister in Karnataka. Having one’s family in politics is an advantage, says Sagar, “It is not just us. If you look at all the MPs, the majority of them come from (political) backgrounds… There is a thing about accepted leadership, right? For people around you to accept your leadership, it gets really hard (without such connections), no matter how efficient or hardworking or smart you are.”

But, beyond family, there are mentors within Parliament. One cannot discount the camaraderie among them. For instance, after the inaugural session of Parliament in June, a senior Opposition leader hosted a few MPs at his home. Some of these under-30 MPs met each other for the first time here. Later, a few of them met for dinner at an Italian restaurant in an upscale Delhi neighbourhood.

Priya Saroj, Machhlishahr, Uttar Pradesh

Amid the din of the bustling restaurant, Iqra, Pushpendra, Sagar and Priya got to know one another. They found common ground as they discussed the challenges of dealing with local officials and fund allocation in their respective constituencies. They discovered the issues that they faced were varied.

For Sagar and Pushpendra, a 25-year-old Samajwadi Party MP from UP’s Kaushambi, it is unemployment among the youth. For Iqra, it is the problems of sugarcane farmers. And for Priya, it is about getting railway lines in Machhlishahr.

Says Iqra: “We have met a couple of times and have discussed a range of things… There are procedures in Parliament and they are logistical questions. For instance, Rule 377, then Zero Hour questioning, the ballot system in place for your questions getting picked in the Lok Sabha… These are the professional aspects. On the personal front, we are getting to know each other. Pushpendra studied at Queen Mary University in London and I was at SOAS (School of Oriental and Asian Studies, London). I studied law, so did Priya.”

Many of these MPs speak of their bond with Baramati MP Supriya Sule, who they call Supriya tai. Pushpendra says, “Supriya ji said if we need any help, we can go to her because she gets along with everybody. Proposition, opposition, anybody. I went up to (Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi) Mr Tharoor and introduced myself. He was also very nice and well-spoken. At an airport lounge, I met Jagdambika Pal from the BJP, a very experienced politician. He was the one who walked up to me and said hi. That was very nice.”

Shambhavi Choudhary, Samastipur, Bihar

Shambhavi, 26, who is from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, says South Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj and Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur had advice for her. “The main point that really stuck with me was that he (Thakur) asked me to listen to everybody. Sit in Parliament and observe — that itself will give you a lot of inputs… He revealed how he was nervous before his first speech, but assured me that everything would go well and I did not have to worry. That was really kind of him,” says Shambhavi.

*******

On the weekend, when the House is not in session and they head back home, they have a different routine. Shambhavi says, “We have a very big constituency, with six legislative Assembly seats. People come to meet you from faraway places… So, connectivity is very important.”

And in these seats that the seven MPs represent, they are still confronted with basic issues: water, electricity, roads, education and health. Iqra says, “My constituency is primarily rural and agrarian. So, people are not used to paying electricity bills till now. Whenever there is a transition that happens, it becomes difficult to put people in that system. That is the challenge we are facing — to get people to start paying bills.” She also speaks of the lack of woman doctors in her constituency. “There is just one woman doctor for three Assembly constituencies… That is about one woman doctor for 10 lakh people in a primary health care centre. This one doctor has to go for hearings, if there are rape cases, attend to patients and also deliver babies.”

Sanjna Jatav, Bharatpur, Rajasthan

In her debut speech in Parliament, Sanjna said: Mein zameen se judi hui hun aur kisaan parivar ki beti hu, isliye kisaanon ka dard mehsoos karti hu (I am from an agrarian family myself so I can understand the pain of the farmers). She underlined a fundamental problem people faced: water crisis.

Pushpendra, son of former MP and current MLA Indrajeet Saroj, says he gets calls for jobs every single day: “Even qualified individuals just want Rs 5,000-6,000 a month to support their family. That is very depressing to see.” Meanwhile, Sagar speaks of higher allocation for funds in Kalyana Karnataka, the more backward region in the state, under which Bidar falls.

For Priya, as a Dalit woman, empowerment is key.“In our village, upper and lower castes still cannot intermingle. As MPs, too, we have faced this. We are not allowed in many temples. Main ek extra push dena chahungi un logon ko jo abhi bhi vanchit hain apne rights se (I want to give an extra push to the underprivileged who are deprived of their rights).”

Pushpendra Saroj, Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh

When Pushpendra took his oath in English, people back home were “fascinated”, he says, “I am probably more comfortable in English but going ahead, whatever I speak in Parliament is going to be in Hindi… I am representing my people and they have hope in me. They want someone to speak for them, so it’s important how I conduct myself.”

Priya studied law at Amity University and had her politics figured out but when it was time to communicate her ideas to people, she faced a problem — she was thinking in English or Hinglish. “I used to use words like ‘representative’ and ‘transparency’. Now, I am consciously using Hindi words. Apne kshetra mein humare kaaryakram jo bhi hote hain, usmein main koshish karti hun ki shudhh Hindi mein bolun (In any event that I participate at home, I try and speak in proper Hindi). I look at every word beforehand. I use words such as samaanta (equality) and adhikaar (rights). What happens when you use these words? Your people understand what you want to say,” she says.

Among the seven, three (Priya, Sagar and Iqra) have studied law, while Shambhavi has a masters in sociology, and Pushpendra a bachelors in finance. But the chasm between what they have studied and the realities of Indian public life are stark.

Sagar Eshwar Khandre, Bidar, Karnataka

Says Iqra, “I went to Lady Shri Ram College, so there is a seed of feminism in me. But what I encounter back in my constituency is a different kind of feminism. For me, it is important to fight for them. It is about bringing women up to that parity level, the question of wearing what you want comes later. It is about getting access to basic things. There are very peculiar and instance-based issues. And appearance matters, too. I wear a headscarf for religious reasons and culturally, too. Jat women and Gujjar women in my seat cover their head.”

“The triple talaq issue is an example. Earlier, women would get a faisla (judgement). Now, there are more cases of abandonment among Muslim women. It is not that this law has helped. The woman has no recourse. This problem is spreading. Then, there are issues like inheritance — what happens when someone’s husband dies, etc… These are the kind of issues we have to deal with on a daily basis,” she adds, “Most literature I read in college is not from India. And Bihar is a completely different set-up. Some theories you read do not accommodate certain things we see,” says Shambhavi.

*****

Priyanka Jarkiholi, Chikkodi, Karnataka

Life as an MP is a grind, a 24×7 demanding lifestyle — on an average some of them meet 300 people a day.

But, is there anything that they miss? Priya says dancing. “I used to be in the dance society in my college. But, of course, I have no time for that now.”

Others feel a pinch of nervousness, too. Shambhavi says, “People are always taking pictures. So, you have to be proper all the time. I would initially think: ‘What if I say something wrong? What if I misspell something? I will be trolled.’ In the beginning, I received a lot of hate comments because people are not used to seeing a young woman out there… But when I was in the field, interacting with people, that is what really matters.”

‘Be A Man, Yaar!’: YouTube show tackles struggles with masculinity through free-wheeling chats with Bhuvan Bam, Vicky Kaushal and more

The YouTube show Be A Man, Yaar is nudging its audience to review tropes of masculinity through honest conversations and perspectives on gender. The second season will also see interviews with Boman Irani, Rohan Bopanna, Kartik Aryan, Imran Khan, Gajraj Rao and Dr Vikas Divyakirti.

Written by Heena Khandelwal

Updated: August 13, 2024 17:15 IST

Bhuvan Bam on Season 2 of Be A Man, Yaar!

In his early 20s, a skinny Vicky Kaushal would struggle with insecurities about his physical appearance, constantly worrying why he couldn’t put on weight. “If you are skinny with a baby face and bony structure, you are not considered macho. It (inferior complex) was quite prominent, especially during my teenage years,” said the actor.

Naseeruddin Shah never wanted to be like his father (who never hugged him). “I wanted my children to hug me, show me their affection, and be frank with me,” the veteran actor revealed. However, Shah now reflects that unknowingly, certain things were ingrained in him, which saw him behaving, unintentionally though, very strictly with his children.

Kaushal and Shah opened up about their struggles with masculinity on season one of Nikhil Taneja’s YouTube show, Be A Man, Yaar! What could be called a confessional for those in the entertainment industry (mostly men), Taneja’s show brings anecdotes from childhood and takes away the sting of memes through positive reinforcement.

The first season premiered in September and October last year, featuring prominent figures such as actors Shah and Kaushal, director-producer Karan Johar, comedian Zakir Khan and genderfluid actor, model, and drag queen Sushant Divgikr, also known as Rani KoHEnur.

In its second season, the chat show focuses on vulnerability.

The second episode of season 2 saw Delhi-based content creator and writer Bhuvan Bam talking about his father’s battle with alcohol addiction. “We (my brother and I) were quiet until we were in school, but when we realised that it (alcohol) was a problem, we began intervening and with authority,” shared Bam, in a matter-of-fact tone, adding that early on in his life, he had realised that everyone is sailing in similar boats. The irony of his life was that while managing the fights at home, Bam’s YouTube channel BB Ki Vines had kicked off, which garnered a loyal fan base waiting below his house for a glimpse of him.

Bam lost both his parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked if he has been able to process their loss, he admitted that he isn’t ready yet and needs more time. In response, Taneja suggested that he consider therapy. This episode, where he also talked about his relationship and how he prioritises it, was released on July 17 and has already garnered over 1.1 million views — the highest so far.

“The idea is to have conversations that are seeped in ideas and emotions,” says Taneja. The show, produced by Yuvaa — a platform founded by Taneja in partnership with director Anand Tiwari and film producer Amritpal Singh Bindra, is divided into segments, the first being “Unboxing Boyhood”. “We want people to remember who they were as children and what experiences shaped them,” adds Taneja, 37.

Also Read | Karan Johar reveals he pretended to be in love with a girl in 10th standard on Be a Man, Yaar

Each guest receives a trunk filled with personal artefacts, like a ticket from the first film they saw, childhood photos or photos of actors who left a lasting impression. One such trunk had something straight out of school for comedian Zakir Khan. “Zakir mentioned in one of his podcasts that as a child, he never bought name stickers with cars on them because he thought he would never be able to afford a car. Now that he can, we wanted him to have those stickers,” says Taneja.

Other segments of the show put a positive spin on rapid-fire questions and mean tweets. “I thought, can we ask guests about other men they admire and give them a shout-out? Instead of reading mean tweets, can we read the nicest comments they’ve received?” The idea was to leave viewers with a positive feeling and remember the show with fondness. In the second season, they have introduced a segment where two women from the guests’ lives ask them any questions they like.

The seeds for the show were sown about seven years ago when Taneja was working with Yash Raj Films as General Manager and Head of Content & Development for Y-Films. He was doing fairly well in his career but he battled with anxiety and didn’t have anyone to talk to. “Men are sometimes not allowed to speak out loud because society does not know how to react. Because how can the person who’s supposed to be ‘strong’, talk openly about being weak,” he asks. Taneja sought therapy, which helped him deal with his anxiety and over time made him realise that “vulnerability is strength, not weakness”.

This realisation led Taneja to quit his job and establish Yuvaa, a socially responsible media company, in 2018. Their roadshows took them to over 30 cities, visiting over 150 campuses including IITs, IIMs and NIFTs, and meeting about 15,000 young people. The one finding that resonated everywhere was that young men in India are lonely.

Javed Akhtar on Season 2 of Be A Man, Yaar!.

He learned that fear and stigma of judgement prevented young men from openly talking about their issues with others. It was then that Taneja decided to create a parallel narrative. He says, “When people say ‘be a man and don’t cry,’ I want to say, ‘Be a man, yaar! It’s okay to cry’. When people say, ‘Be a man, be tough,’ I want to respond saying, ‘Be a man, yaar! It’s okay to be emotional.’” The idea was to reclaim that being a man doesn’t necessarily mean being alpha, macho or toxic, it could also mean being gentle, kind and vulnerable.

Initially, Taneja planned to write a book interviewing well-known men who could serve as role models. The idea soon turned into a show, though he confirmed that there is a book in the pipeline with Penguin Random House.

In the second season of Be A Man, Yaar!, the guest list goes beyond cinema and includes lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, educator and author Dr Vikas Divyakirti, singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad, tennis player Rohan Bopanna and actors Kartik Aryan, Imran Khan, Boman Irani and Gajraj Rao.

Tech Review

- I tested the Asus ZenBook S 16 powered by the AMD Ryzen AI processor and was pleasantly surprised for two reasons

- These headphones made me rediscover the power of wires and now I know I had been living a lie

I tested the Asus ZenBook S 16 powered by the AMD Ryzen AI processor and was pleasantly surprised for two reasons

The AMD-powered Asus ZenBook S 16 offers a 16-inch Windows notebook as slim and light as a MacBook Air.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Written by Anuj Bhatia

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 08:12 IST

You'd expect AMD's flagship processor to be fast and it certainly is. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

I am a die-hard fan of thin-and-light notebooks — as a frequent traveller, I prefer to carry the lightest notebook that combines power, long battery life, and form, and the one that I can trust. The MacBook Air has been my go-to everyday laptop because it caters to my needs, and I’m sure it also does for others.

I didn’t want to consider other options — perhaps due to loyalty — until AMD approached me to review the new Asus ZenBook S 16, one of the first laptops to feature the flagship Ryzen AI processor. Moreover, AMD’s claim that the ZenBook S 16 is as thin and light as the MacBook Air (review) changed my mind. It is a 16-inch laptop that looks beautiful, is slim and light, and has a gorgeous OLED display with an insanely fast processor.

I was a little puzzled at first, but I decided to give it a try. After using the device for a few days, here’s my review.

Testing the ZenBook S 16 with the faster Ryzen AI 9 HX 370

I did not feel the notebook get warm or hot, as is typically the case with Intel-powered notebooks. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

I tested the ZenBook S 16 with 32 GB of memory and the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip. It also features a 2880×1800 (3K) touchscreen OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, a large 78Wh battery, a 1 TB SSD, and a built-in AMD Radeon 890 M GPU. As of now, Asus has yet to launch the ZenBook S 16 with AMD’s latest Ryzen AI processor in India, so I don’t have concrete information on the release date or pricing. Internationally, the model I tested retails for $1700 (or approximately Rs 1,42,722).

I had six questions before switching to the ZenBook S 16

* Is it too big?

* How good is the display?

* Can I type for long hours on the keyboard?

* What’s the battery life like?

* Is it possible to run games on it?

* Will I be able to run legacy programmes?

Damn, it’s lightweight and gorgeous

The geometric lines on the top of the lid give the notebook a sci-fi feel. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

For the longest time, Apple’s MacBook Air was considered lightweight, setting a new benchmark for portable notebooks. But I was stunned by the ZenBook S 16. At 1.5 kilograms and measuring 13.92 x 9.57 x 0.47 to 0.51 inches, the ZenBook S16 is as slim and lightweight as the 15-inch MacBook Air. Mind you, this is a 16-inch Windows notebook with a large battery and a powerful processor.

It’s an achievement to fit so much power and capability into a notebook this slim and lightweight. My backpack immediately felt lighter, and I couldn’t believe there was a 16-inch notebook inside. I worked at my desk and sat on the couch, and I didn’t feel like I was using a 16-inch laptop. It’s much lighter than you might think. You won’t struggle to place it on a coffee table or a desk at a co-working space.

Not only did the company make the S16 lighter and thinner than ever, but its design is also uncommon and unique, though subtly so. It looks very different from the MacBook Air or Dell XPS—the two laptops most people are familiar with in the premium segment. Just look at the ZenBook S 16. I’m told this notebook is made from Ceramic-Ceraluminum, which is essentially a mixture of aluminium and ceramic, providing a smooth texture similar to that of porcelain products. The geometric lines on the top of the lid give the notebook a sci-fi feel. I could imagine a geeky scientist with big glasses using the ZenBook S16. Its build is premium, and the design strikes a balance between edgy and professional-looking, with a thin lid and a deck that shows minimal flex.

The port selection on the 16-inch ZenBook S 16 is similarly well thought out. On the left side, you’ll find an HDMI port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a headphone jack, while the right side offers one USB Type-A port and a full SD card slot. The HDMI port is a nice addition, and so is the SD card slot, especially if you are a YouTuber, content creator, or photographer using a professional camera.

A 16-inch OLED display is great for consuming media and presentations

The OLED display is fantastic for consuming media. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

The display is beautiful. It’s a 3 K, 120 Hz OLED screen, and it’s very close to viewing printed text on a physical page — it’s that good. The OLED screen draws you in with its thinner bezels, higher refresh rate, and punchy colours. I finished watching the last season of Emily in Paris, and the colours appeared to pop even more.

While some people might use their computers primarily for media consumption, I use mine for productivity tasks more than anything else. I wear glasses and often have difficulty reading small text, but thankfully, the display on the ZenBook S16 not only offers vivid colours but also feels less tiring on my eyes at the end of the day. That’s great news for me. I was equally impressed by the speakers—they get very loud. I could hear the dialogue clearly, and the sound was clean.

Almost perfect keyboard and trackpad

The keys themselves have a very short travel. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Some may not give much consideration to a keyboard, but I beg to differ. As a writer who writes a lot, almost every day, you could call me a purist. I test all varieties of keyboards — standalone, laptop keyboards, you name it.

The keyboard on the ZenBook S 16 isn’t my favourite (I prefer the keyboards on a MacBook and a Surface Pro), but I’d still rate it highly among all the laptop keyboards I’ve tested in recent months. The keys are spaced out nicely, and they feel comfortable to type on, though not as natural as I’d prefer. Meanwhile, the trackpad’s size on this laptop is surprisingly large. It’s smooth and offers distinct left and right clicks.

AMD silicon keeps the momentum despite heavy competition

In real-world usage, this laptop feels quick and responsive. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

What sets this laptop apart is the new Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip. And I mean it. The competition in the silicon space is cutthroat, and while consumers now have options to choose notebooks running ARM-based PC chips from Apple and Qualcomm, AMD maintains its strength, rivalling its closest competitor, Intel, with its legacy PC architecture. Throughout my tests, I saw performance gains over previous-generation AMD processors, and these gains were evident in whatever tasks I undertook.

Simple computing tasks like running multiple Chrome tabs, writing and filing stories, and streaming music were faster, as you would expect from a newer processor. However, I found the new Ryzen chip to be slightly more powerful for tasks relevant to creators, such as photo and video editing, playing games, and running pro-grade apps. There was no noticeable load time. I ran multiple programmes in the background, edited a short video in 4K, and had 35 Chrome tabs open while editing documents on Google Docs. It just worked.

I did not feel the notebook get warm or hot, as is typically the case with Intel-powered notebooks. The fan kicks in only occasionally, and the processor stays cool. Whether the laptop is plugged in or unplugged, you get similar performance. AMD’s new Ryzen chip is extremely powerful and is much more efficient. For me, though, where AMD’s chip which is based on the x86 Windows platform has a lead over a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Apple M3 Silicon, for matter, is access to legacy programmes and applications designed for Windows operating systems. Gaming is another area where AMD’s chip has a lead over the competition, though I’d say the GPU isn’t powerful enough to run all AAA games smoothly (Cyberpunk 2077, for example) on the Asus ZenBook S16.

Good battery life, but MacBook Air leads

The ZenBook S 16’s 78Wh battery can last between 9 and 10 hours, based on my tests. While this isn’t exceptional and likely won’t beat the MacBook Air M3, which can easily exceed 15 hours, it is still quite decent. To be clear, I used the ZenBook S16 for productivity work almost every day with the notebook unplugged. I’m sure a Snapdragon-powered notebook might offer slightly longer battery life; however, the trade-off is that you can’t edit heavy videos or play games on it. Regardless, the battery performance of the ZenBook S16 is significantly better than most Intel-powered laptops.

Observations

* The battery estimation on the ZenBook S 16 fluctuates. After several days of use, I struggled to gauge how much battery was left.

* In ideal lighting situations, the 1080 p camera (supports Windows Hello) on the ZenBook S16 showed minimal grain, and the colours appeared reasonably accurate.

* The bundled stylus is a nice addition.

The AI stuff is meh

AMD, like others, has been marketing their new laptops as designed for artificial intelligence because the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) allows the device to run on-device Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI apps. For now, at least, the use cases for AI are still quite limited. On the ZenBook S 16, two applications demonstrate the use cases of generative AI: Asus’ StoryCube, which is essentially an intelligent repository for all your media, and the AI image generation app, Amuse. In my opinion, both apps don’t show the full potential of what AI can do.

I’d like to make one thing clear: although the ZenBook S 16 has the specs that qualify it as a Copilot Plus PC, neither Asus nor AMD is marketing it as such. This means many of the AI-powered features like Co-Creator and Live Translation aren’t available on the ZenBook S16 yet, but they are expected to be rolled out by the end of the year.

A beautiful notebook that looks distinctive and performs well

The attention to ergonomic details is a giant bonus. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Frankly, I was taken aback by the ZenBook S 16. I did not expect a 16-inch Windows notebook powered by a traditional chip to be as slim, light, and portable as the MacBook Air. That alone is a major selling point, given that the AMD-powered notebook falls right in between a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro. This isn’t a perfect machine, though. Its size and performance give the ZenBook S 16 an edge over the competition, even though the battery life may not surpass that of notebooks from Qualcomm and Apple.

Asus ZenBook S 16

The Good

The Bad

Super light and thin

Battery life could have been longer

Gorgeous design

Bright, solid screen

Decent audio quality

Appropriate for gaming and video editing

Performance is comparable to M3 and Snapdragon X Elite

Anuj Bhatia

Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at Indianexpress.com who has spent a decade covering gadgets, apps, and gaming. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. ... Read More

These headphones made me rediscover the power of wires and now I know I had been living a lie

The HD 620S delivers unfiltered music, just the way it was meant to be enjoyed and it's an investment for those who truly love music.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Rs. 32,990

Written by Nandagopal Rajan

New Delhi | Updated: August 13, 2024 08:10 IST

Considering its size, these are really light in weight. (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

There is too much wireless in our lives. So much so that wired products seem archaic sometimes and we prefer to go wireless even when a cord connection is available. But wires are not just about nostalgia, they still have an edge on stability and quality. The new Sennheiser HD 620S tries to reinforce that for a young audience unaware of this quality of wires.

The Sennheiser HD 620S is a robust-looking over-the-ear headphone that offers only a wired option. It has a closed-back design but tries to create the audio profile of an open headphone. It is lightweight, especially considering the size of these headphones, and comes with a very sturdy chassis that can last for years. I loved the comfort of the ear cups with its cushions on the headband which meant I could use these for hours without realising I had them on.

Cushions on the headband and earcups make it a comfortable headphone. (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

But with wired headphones, there is a peculiar problem these days — that of having to find a source. Since none of the smartphones in my house have a 3.5mm port, I turned to the MacBook as my source, streaming high-res files from Apple Music. To use this with one of the new phones you will need to get an adapter. But if you do have a music system at home, this also gives you a 6.3mm adapter.

I started with a high-res version of Santana’s Evil Ways and the drums moving from left to right in the start felt as if I was listening to the song on a speaker. In fact, despite being a closed-design headphone the HD 620S offers the kind of spatial profile that makes it feel open and more natural.

But it was with Perşembe’nin Düzleri (Canlı) that I was blown away. The ensemble of string instruments and vocals showcased the range of these headphones as well as their ability to transport you to unseen worlds. The audio profile is so balanced that you start questioning what you were listening to all this while. This is when I realised I had been spending too much time on in-ear TWS models recently.

These headphones can last for decades. (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

Also, I have over the past few years become too used to noise-cancelling products and missed that a good headphone can create a personal space for you without the need for negating ambient sounds around you. With the HD 620S, you are aware of what’s happening around you, but then the music soon pulls you in and you lose interest in everything else. Soon you sink into your own bean bag of audio bliss.

The HD 620S can push the bass too, but not to the extent that it kills the song itself as some headphones are prone to. I tried some techno beats to reconfirm and was not disappointed. And listening to an audiophile version of Spanish Harlem I knew this was right up there with the best headphones I have used.

At Rs 32,990, the Sennheiser HD 620S is the investment you make out of your love for music. I see people who buy this spend longer hours on weekends taking in their best playlists and gradually spending more money to move to better sources of high-quality music. Also, given the build quality these headphones are going to last you decades, gradually making the cost of ownership seem lower than even wireless headphones.

For me, I am questioning my choices of the past few years and might make a pivot back to wired headphones that give unfiltered music, just the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Sennheiser HD 620S Pros

Sennheiser HD 620S Cons

Open and natural audio profile despite closed-back design

Requires a wired connection (may need an adapter for newer smartphones)

Balanced audio with impressive range

Price point may be high for some (Rs 32,990)

Lightweight and comfortable for long listening sessions

Sturdy build quality, built to last

Creates a personal audio space without noise cancellation

Delivers unfiltered, high-quality music

Nandagopal Rajan

Nandagopal Rajan writes on technology, gadgets and everything related. He has worked with the India Today Group and Hindustan Times. He is an alumnus of Calicut University and Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. ... Read More

Science

- ‘We’re in the middle of an intense geomagnetic storm’: What NASA has to say about solar eruptions triggering colourful auroras

- Mars may have enough underground water to form a global ocean: New study

- As Sunita Williams, Barry Wilmore’s stay at space station extends indefinitely, their status might change to full-time expedition crew members

‘We’re in the middle of an intense geomagnetic storm’: What NASA has to say about solar eruptions triggering colourful auroras

Severe geomagnetic storms can disrupt power grids, GPS, and radio signals.

By: Science Desk

Bengaluru | August 13, 2024 10:26 IST

The moon makes it way towards the horizon to set amongst red and green aurora. (Image credit: Matthew Dominick/X)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) weather prediction centre on Monday warned about an extended geomagnetic storm of level G4 (severe). According to NOAA, this could cause fluctuations in weak power grids and impact satellite operations. On the brighter side, it also leads to the visibility of colourful auroras in high-latitude regions in select parts of Canada and the United States.

We’re in the middle of an intense geomagnetic storm! 🌎🧲💥

A series of solar eruptions arriving at Earth are triggering widespread auroras. Here’s what NASA space weather analyst Carina Alden saw last night as she traveled through Michigan and Wisconsin! https://t.co/KG5pvCdyit pic.twitter.com/qrpdkva4Vj

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) August 12, 2024

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with Sunita Williams and few others, shared a captivating timelapse video. The video shows the “moon setting into streams of red and green aurora”, followed by a “sunrise illuminating the Soyuz with a light blue hue”. It was captured using an Arri Zeiss 15mm, T1.8 lens mounted onto a Nikon Z9, which was recently delivered to the ISS via the Cygnus cargo spacecraft.

What causes solar flares and auroras?

When solar activity on the Sun’s surface reaches its maximum, it results in the eruption of solar flares, also known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These are caused by an unstable magnetic field on the surface. CMEs are classified into different categories based on severity, with G1 considered the mildest and G5 as severe. A severe G5 flare was witnessed in May. It could cause massive disruption in power grids, GPS, and radio signals.

Timelapse of the moon setting into streams of red and green aurora followed by a sunrise lighting up Soyuz with a light blue.

The aurora have been amazing the past few days. Great timing for trying out a new lens that recently arrived on Cygnus.

15mm, T1.8, 1/3s exposure,… pic.twitter.com/otFv5pZ6vd

— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) August 12, 2024

When charged particles (CMEs) collide with Earth’s atmosphere, they interact with gas, causing the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, to light up the sky.

A moderate geomagnetic storm, G2, is said to continue until August 14, which means auroras will continue to be visible across different parts of the world.

Mars may have enough underground water to form a global ocean: New study

Although the InSight lander is no longer operational, scientists are still analyzing data collected from 2018 to 2022, seeking more insights into Mars' interior.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: August 13, 2024 10:45 IST

Historically, Mars was wet almost all over more than 3 billion years ago, but as its atmosphere thinned, much of its surface water is believed to have either escaped into space or become buried underground. (File Photo)

A recent study indicates that Mars might hold vast amounts of water beneath its surface, potentially enough to form a global ocean.

The research, released on Monday, is based on seismic data from NASA’s Mars InSight lander, which recorded over 1,300 marsquakes before ceasing operations two years ago.

According to lead scientist Vashan Wright from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, this water is likely located between seven to twelve miles (11.5 to 20 kilometers) deep in the Martian crust, ABC news reported.

Wright explained that this water probably seeped into underground cracks billions of years ago when Mars had surface rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans.

ABC News reports that researcher Wright tempered expectations about the discovery of water on Mars, saying, “The presence of water on Mars doesn’t automatically mean it supports life. Rather, our findings suggest that there are environments on Mars that have the potential to be habitable.”

The team used computer models alongside InSight’s seismic readings to conclude that underground water was the most plausible explanation for the observed data. The results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Wright added that if the underground water near InSight’s location at Elysium Planitia, close to Mars’ equator, is representative of the entire planet, it could be enough to fill a global ocean up to two kilometers deep.

However, confirmation would require drilling and other equipment to explore further and search for any signs of microbial life.

Although the InSight lander is no longer operational, scientists are still analyzing data collected from 2018 to 2022, seeking more insights into Mars’ interior.

Historically, Mars was wet almost all over more than 3 billion years ago, but as its atmosphere thinned, much of its surface water is believed to have either escaped into space or become buried underground.

As Sunita Williams, Barry Wilmore’s stay at space station extends indefinitely, their status might change to full-time expedition crew members

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore might have to stay at the International Space Station for at least six months, with additional responsibilities.

By: Science Desk

Bengaluru | Updated: August 13, 2024 08:17 IST

Sunita installs hardware for the SoFIE-MIST investigation. (Image credit: ISS Research/X)

Boeing’s Starliner is facing challenges such as helium leakage and thruster failures, which may result in astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore being stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) until NASA devises a backup plan to bring them back to Earth. According to a report by CNBC, NASA is considering using the SpaceX Dragon capsule to bring the astronauts back in February 2025.

Until then, Williams and Wilmore might continue to live on the ISS as full-time expedition crew members. Full-time expedition crew members, compared to test-flight crew will have different roles and responsibilities at the ISS. According to NASA, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore are still guests at the ISS and are not a part of Expedition 71. However, if Boeing fails to rectify the issues and they end up at the ISS until February, they will be transitioned into full-time crew members and have to take up duties similar to expedition crew members.

According to Dana Weigel, NASA’s manager of the International Space Station Program, “Butch and Suni are fully trained, they’re capable and current with EVA (spacewalks), with robotics, with all the things we need them to do”.

Williams prepares DNA samples to identify microbes found in space station wastewater as a part of GiSMOS. By analyzing wastewater samples aboard the station, scientists can ensure crew health and safety and increase the scope of onboard microbial monitoring during missions. pic.twitter.com/khWX2Swng6

— ISS Research (@ISS_Research) August 7, 2024

“A couple of years ago, we made the decision — knowing that this was a test flight — to make sure that we had the right resources, supplies and training for the crew, just in case they needed to be on ISS, for whatever reason, for a longer period of time,” Weigel adds.

NASA is reportedly considering sending Boeing’s Starliner to space without any astronauts on board. This would leave SpaceX’s Dragon Crew-9 mission as the return vehicle for the astronauts currently on the International Space Station. SpaceX’s Dragon Crew-9, which has a capacity of four passengers, may only carry two astronauts to the ISS in order to accommodate the returning crew.

According to the latest reports, Crew-9 is not scheduled for takeoff until at least September 24th. These missions typically last five to six months, so all four astronauts may return to Earth by February 2025.

Table of Contents

Indian Express

Daily Briefing

Daily Briefing: Govt withdraws broadcast Bill; understating the Hindenburg-Adani-Buch saga; Doctors’ protest in Kolkata; & more

Front Page

Bangladesh unrest: Govt should have spoken out against quota, met protesters, says Hasina son

Express in Dhaka: Reaching out to Bangla Hindus, Muhammad Yunus visits temple, underlines equal rights

Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina seeks justice, calls for mourning on day father was killed

Air hostess who took taxi bike molested by rider in Chanakyapuri

Helping Wayanad: Girls broke their piggy bank, an elderly woman her surgery fund

Assam CM gave it ‘flood jihad’ tag, N-E university gets national rank honour

PM plot case: Bail rule, jail exception even in stringent law, says SC

Delhi L-G rejects AAP choice, picks Gahlot to hoist Tricolour on I-Day

Calcutta High Court orders CBI probe into doctor rape-murder case, expresses displeasure with investigation so far

Fund Buch couple invested in part of structure under Sebi probe

Facing criticism, Govt withdraws new draft of broadcast Bill

Doctor’s rape-murder: Protests swell, Mamata Banerjee sets cops a deadline

New Hindenburg report | As Opposition seeks JPC probe, BJP hits back: Fictitious report, bid to destabilise markets

5 dead, 200 incidents: Fear grips Hindus in Bangladesh, leaders meet Yunus today

Two churches built on ‘encroached forest land’ razed in Mirzapur

Rajkot fire chief caught ‘taking bribe’ weeks after assuming charge, arrested

As Sebi chief Madhabi Buch digs heels in, key query: Did she disclose fund linked to Adani?

Express in Dhaka: ‘Students brought her down because they felt stifled… but when Mujib’s statues were destroyed, we cried’

India

J&K contempt case: IAS officer gives written apology to judge

India confident of working with whoever will be next US President: Jaishankar

MP HC says automatic bail cancellation against natural justice, fundamental rights

Bangladesh border situation: Govt panel, BGB held 83 meets in 3 days

Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: OPD services remain affected as doctors’ strike enters Day 2

Rainfall that caused Wayanad landslides influenced by climate change, shows study

File affidavit on action against Assam top forest officer, NGT tells Centre

Hindenburg: Fresh plea in SC seeks compliance with probe order against Adani

Confident we’ll be able to work with whoever is US President: Jaishankar

Tripura Panchayat polls: Sweeping win for BJP even as ally TIPRA Motha opens account; Oppn blames violence for their loss

Five-member expert team begins inspection of landslides-hit areas in Wayanad

Union cabinet approves road connecting proposed Vadhvan Port to NH48, says JNPA

Kerala landslides: search operations, rehabilitation activities continue side-by-side

Doctors, medical students stage protest in Tripura against Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder

On Patriot’s Day, Manipur CM Biren Singh says state was moving towards development at a faster pace before widespread violence

EC to meet Home Secretary to review Jammu and Kashmir security situation

Adivasi-Dalit groups call hartal in Kerala on Aug 21 over SC reservation verdict

After Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder, NMC asks medical colleges to ensure safe workplace, send report within 48 hrs of each incident

Bihar constable, her husband and children found dead at police lines residence; cops suspect murder-suicide

Bihar stampede: Police arrest flower vendor

BJP’s ally Devanathan Yadav arrested by TN Economic Offences wing police

Delhi Confidential

Delhi Confidential: Akhilesh Yadav’s complaint promptly addressed by the Centre; VHP releases helpline no. for Bangladeshi Hindus

Opinion

C Raja Mohan writes: Bangladesh and the ‘foreign hand’ bogey

UPSC aspirants don’t need coaching classes to succeed. Here’s my story

In his centenary year, making sense of Guru Dutt in the classroom

To understand what’s going on in Bangladesh, look at its past, army and society

August 13, 1984, Forty Years Ago: Tamil Extremists Held

The songs of Haniya: A confident music

Centre’s waiver for clinical trials: For the patient’s sake

A Bangladesh without Sheikh Hasina, a reset for Delhi

In Manish Sisodia case, Supreme Court shows the way

Express View: Monsoon and the good news for inflation

Hindenburg revelations raise questions — Sebi and its chief Madhabi Puri Buch must answer

Tariq Mansoor writes: Why fears around Waqf Amendment Bill are exaggerated

Mani Shankar Aiyar writes: Natwar Singh, friend, patron and man of many parts

Sanjay Srivastava writes: For a nation that aspires to Olympic glory, what is the role of the state?

UPSC-CSE Key

Independence Day: The lead-up to India’s independence and partition

UPSC Key | Tungabhadra dam, Western Ghats, UNESCO Kalinga Prize and more

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : History, Culture and Social Issues MCQs on AIML, Prarthana Samaj, Gender Gap Index Report 2024 (Week 71)

UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 : Questions on Geomagnetic storms and objectives and benefits of the Clean Plant Programme (Week 64)

UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance MCQs on Anti defection law, Article 239AA and more (Week 71)

UPSC Key | Megaquake, Clean Plant Programme, SEBI and more

Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik | How did invasions change Indian culture?

UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | August 5 to August 11, 2024

UPSC Key | Rohingya, Kakori Train Action, Patent and more

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 04 to August 10, 2024

World Biofuel Day – All you need to know for UPSC Prelims and Mains

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on Amazon rainfaorests, Sabina Shoal and more (Week 70)

Conflicts in West Asia: Iraq in disarray

UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on India AI mission and significance of the Prime Meridian (Week 63)

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Economy MCQs on Monetary Policy Committee, Core inflation and more (Week 70)

CAR-T cell therapy: Challenges and possible solutions

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment, Geography, Sci-Tech MCQs on EarthCARE satellite mission, Sea Groynes and more (Week 70)

Understanding UK political parties

Explained

Ex-ISI chief who went to Kabul after Taliban takeover, arrested: reasons and context

Trump-Musk interview on X reportedly hit by DDoS attack: What it means

What is Bangladesh’s St Martin’s Island, under spotlight after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation?

Why the withdrawal of the draft Broadcast Bill raises more questions than it answers

How Tungabhadra dam gate was swept away, why farmers are fearful

Once thriving, now all but gone: a history of Kerala’s Jewish communities

All you need to know about the Hindenburg-Adani-Buch saga

Why Ukraine has carried out incursion into Russia’s Kursk region

Hindenburg alleges impropriety by Sebi chief: what conflict-of-interest rules apply to market regulators in US and UK?

Hindenburg’s new allegations: How SEBI board is supposed to address conflicts of interest

How Centre’s Clean Plant Programme plans to boost India’s production of fruits

NASA’s Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore could be stuck in Space till 2025: What happens now?

Business

India’s weight in MSCI equity index rises; ‘may fetch around $3-bn inflows’

Rupee settles flat at 83.97 against US dollar

Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan steps down, Chipotle’s Brian Niccol to take over

Indian Express Freedom Sale: Unlock Exclusive Savings Today

TRAI directs telcos to disconnect unregistered telemarketers’ lines over spam calls, blacklist them

Sensex, Nifty decline in early trade; HDFC Bank drags

Factory output slows to 4.2% in June as manufacturing drops to seven-month low

Madhabi Puri Buch redeemed funds through husband’s name 2 weeks after getting Sebi top post: Hindenburg

Retail inflation dip under 4% after nearly 5 years, factory output eases to 5-month low

Sunday Eye

Independence Day Special: How first-time MPs are hoping to be changemakers

‘Be A Man, Yaar!’: YouTube show tackles struggles with masculinity through free-wheeling chats with Bhuvan Bam, Vicky Kaushal and more

Tech Review

I tested the Asus ZenBook S 16 powered by the AMD Ryzen AI processor and was pleasantly surprised for two reasons

These headphones made me rediscover the power of wires and now I know I had been living a lie

Science

‘We’re in the middle of an intense geomagnetic storm’: What NASA has to say about solar eruptions triggering colourful auroras

Mars may have enough underground water to form a global ocean: New study

As Sunita Williams, Barry Wilmore’s stay at space station extends indefinitely, their status might change to full-time expedition crew members