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Front Page

- Despite red flags over ‘excessive profiteering’, ministry reimposed solar module shortlist of domestic producers

- A derelict school still running — just to keep 7 kids from dropping out

- J&K Police to MHA: Connectivity issues, enable Jio for new laws implementation

- Judiciary to police, institutions have to be rebuilt, says student leader now in Bangladesh interim govt

- Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance of Kolkata doctor rape-murder incident, lists case for August 20

- Air India air hostess assaulted by intruder in London airport hotel room, local police launch probe

- Delhi HC comes to rescue of aspiring cop rejected over tattoo, opens doors for others

- Secretary General Golam Parwar interview: Jamaat says won’t be threat to India; but it’s easier said than done

- Vandalism at RG Kar: TMC men, students, gym trainer, delivery staff among accused

- Vinesh Phogat’s village open heart and purse strings: 750 kg ladoos, chowkidar gifts Rs 100, pagdi and sword

- Vinesh returns: Love I got worth more than 1,000 Olympic Golds

- India blundered by putting all eggs in one (Hasina) basket, needs to shift policy: BNP

Despite red flags over ‘excessive profiteering’, ministry reimposed solar module shortlist of domestic producers

Data shows domestic modules 90% more expensive; could impact power tariffs.

Written by Aggam Walia

New Delhi | Updated: August 19, 2024 07:04 IST

Domestic manufacturers are now charging 90% more for solar modules compared to their foreign competitors, based on recent estimates.

DESPITE CONCERNS flagged at the highest levels in the government over market concentration in India’s solar PV module industry and its potential to inflate household electricity tariffs, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy reimposed its mandate requiring solar projects to source modules exclusively from a government-approved list of domestic manufacturers starting April 1.

Prior to the reimposition of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) order, former Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh and the central public sector enterprise SJVN Ltd had explicitly flagged concerns around domestic manufacturers engaging in “excessive profiteering” and warned of higher tariffs for future projects fuelled by more expensive domestic modules, according to documents accessed by The Indian Express under the RTI Act.

Notably, companies linked to just five manufacturers — Waaree Energies, Adani Solar, Nasdaq-listed ReNew Power, US-based First Solar and Tata Power — control nearly half of the current capacity listed on the ALMM, first issued by the ministry in March 2021.

Domestic manufacturers are now charging 90% more for solar modules compared to their foreign competitors, based on recent estimates.

The price gap between domestic and imported modules, mainly from China, has widened significantly in recent years. Compared to 6% in the first quarter (Q1) of FY22, domestic modules turned 50% more expensive in Q1 FY24, before nearly doubling in Q1 FY25, according to an analysis of CRISIL data.

The ALMM order mandates all government-assisted or -associated solar projects to use only enlisted modules, effectively barring the use of imported modules in most projects. The order aims to bolster domestic clean technology manufacturing and enhance energy security by reducing import dependence.

Former Minister, SJVN flagged concerns

In March 2023, the ministry put the ALMM order in abeyance for a year after the then Union Minister R K Singh noted that it was “imposed prematurely” due to insufficient domestic manufacturing capacity, which in turn was slowing the addition of solar capacity, according to file notings accessed by The Indian Express.

Singh also noted that the order was not “brought in to enable some manufacturers to exploit the people of India by charging extortionate prices”, which in turn can become “a burden on the people, because the people will have to pay a higher cost for power”.

In the final months of FY24, when the ministry was reviewing ALMM applicability for FY25, concerns around higher cost of domestic modules persisted. In February this year, Singh noted that module manufacturers import cells from China and only assemble them in India. Currently, cell manufacturing capacity in India is below 10 GW.

“…this is not Make in India and… they charge hefty margin for the same. It has been stated that the present price of cells in China is around 6 cents, that after imposition of 25% of duty which we have put in place it comes to 7.5 cents. The fabrication cost is not more than 7-8 cents. Therefore, the modules should be available for 16 cents; however, the module manufacturers are charging 23-24 cents. This is excessive profiteering. Protection has not been given to them to overcharge the people. The higher prices of module lead to higher price of electricity for the people,” Singh said in a signed note.

Singh was not alone in voicing these concerns. SJVN Ltd, a public sector enterprise in which the central government owns a 55% stake, formally appealed to the ministry for a nine-month extension of the abeyance order.

“It is humbly submitted that the non-extension of procurement of Solar PV Modules for the manufacturers appearing in the ALMM will derail the ambitious target of GOI to develop 50 GW solar capacity and will also affect the tariff for upcoming projects,” SJVN’s then CMD Geeta Kapur wrote to the ministry on February 8.

The ministry, former minister Singh and SJVN did not respond when The Indian Express sought their comments.

The ministry reimposed the ALMM order from April 1, expanding it to include previously exempt open access and captive projects despite industry appeals. In May, it exempted export-oriented green hydrogen projects, which will potentially require 125 GW of renewable energy by 2030.

The order was reimposed because senior officials in the ministry believed that the enlisted capacity of around 50 GW was sufficient and that the duty-free import of solar modules from ASEAN countries was detrimental to domestic producers.

‘Chinese overcapacity is distorting prices’

“The reality is that too many in India’s solar industry are willing to sacrifice our country’s strategic objectives in exchange for continued access to Chinese solar panels, which are being dumped in India. It’s unfortunate that these players see distorted pricing driven by Chinese overcapacity as the benchmark rather than recognising the political, commercial, and ethical risks posed by deepening their – and India’s — reliance on China’s solar supply chain,” Sujoy Ghosh, V-P and MD for India at First Solar told The Indian Express.

In 2022, the industry withdrew an anti-dumping case it had initiated with the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) after the imposition of a 40% basic customs duty (BCD) on imported solar PV modules, which remains in effect, “alleviated the price pressure being suffered by the domestic industry”.

Ghosh also said that higher module prices and power tariffs are not correlated. “Let’s look at the data: in the past two years, prices of solar power purchase agreements (PPA) increased 8.5%, from an average of Rs 2.3-2.4 per kilowatt-hour to an average of Rs 2.5 to 2.6 per kilowatt-hour. Conversely, solar module prices decreased by 57% in the same period. The reality is that there is no tangible correlation between higher module prices and PPA prices,” he said.

Domestic modules 90% more expensive

According to data on domestic and imported prices of monocrystalline modules — currently the most widely used type — compiled by a CRISIL subsidiary, the price disparity between domestic and imported modules has reached unprecedented levels.

In June 2024, the average cost of imported modules on a cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) basis, before the application of any local taxes or duties, stood at 9.1 cents per watt. In stark contrast, domestic modules were priced at 18 cents per watt, effectively making them at least twice as expensive as their imported counterparts.

This is a sharp divergence from just three years ago. In FY22, the average cost of imported modules was 28.7 cents per watt, compared to 26.9 cents per watt for domestic modules — nearly at parity. Module costs are a critical component of solar project economics, often accounting for 50% to 60% of the total cost of commissioning a project.

While module prices have fallen globally, including in India, the decline has been far more rapid in China, driven by economies of scale and a swift expansion of manufacturing capacities. One large domestic module manufacturer told The Indian Express that it could take at least 2-3 years for made-in-India modules to become more competitive against imported ones.

Domestic capacity set to grow further

While the currently enlisted capacity on the ALMM stands at around 50.6 GW, some industry experts expect the available capacity to be much lower.

“After accounting for operational efficiency, exports and low-quality modules, the supply of high-efficiency domestic modules to the Indian market will only be around 20-22 GW, much less than the annual solar installation target of 30-35 GW, apart from another 5 GW target for rooftop solar,” a report released in May by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis and JMK Research said. The report said that ALMM should include leading global manufacturers until March 2026.

In a file noting, Bhupinder S Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, said that the capacity is expected to rise to 90-100 GW by around 2026 on account of commissioning of manufacturing capacities awarded in the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for solar PV modules.

Till now, the ministry has announced incentives for 48.3 GW of module manufacturing capacities under the PLI scheme. Of the total awarded capacities, 18.9 GW or 39 per cent has been awarded to the top five manufacturers namely Waaree Energies, ReNew Power, First Solar, Adani Solar, and Tata Power for incentives worth roughly Rs 5,685 crore.

These companies collectively hold 49% of the total enlisted capacity on the ALMM, with Waree leading with 10.7 GW, followed by Adani’s 4.1 GW, and ReNew’s 3.7 GW.

Under the PLI scheme, the government has also awarded a Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) subsidiary 10 GW of manufacturing capacity for incentives worth Rs 5,015 crore. RIL is targeting to commission 20 GW of manufacturing capacity by the end of FY25, according to its latest annual report.

‘ALMM to prevent circumvention of BCD’

Bhalla also noted that the ALMM order is “the only way” to prevent the circumvention of BCD by importing from ASEAN countries. “As per import data of India for 2023-24 (April-November), out of import of USD 2081 million worth of solar PV modules, 38% i.e. around USD 780 million emanated from ASEAN countries with zero BCD under India-ASEAN FTA (free trade agreement). ALMM is the only way to prevent circumvention of the 40% BCD through ASEAN countries,” he wrote.

According to official trade data, in FY24 India imported solar PV modules and panels worth Rs 36,134 crore, with modules worth Rs 23,678 crore or 66 per cent coming from China. Solar PV modules from China attract BCD.

In April this year, after the reimposition of the ALMM order, the total value of module imports increased by 107 per cent to Rs 2,158 crore compared to April 2023, largely on account of pending deliveries. In the following month, the value of imports dropped by 65 per cent to Rs 516 crore compared to May 2023.

A derelict school still running — just to keep 7 kids from dropping out

Despite not fulfilling the minimum enrollment criteria of 20 students, this primary school, located around 1 km from Dwarka Expressway, has not been shut and continues to be a lifeline for its little learners.

Written by Aiswarya Raj

Gurgaon | Updated: August 19, 2024 05:59 IST

The verandah of the Govt Primary School in Gurugram’s Gopalpur Khera functions as a ‘classroom’. (Express photo by Aiswarya Raj)

Behind the iron gate lies a derelict building overrun by knee-high vegetation. Without even a board to announce its name, the only signs of life at Gurugram’s Government Primary School Gopalpur Khera are its seven students who troop past its faded tricolour gates each day, besides their sole teacher.

Despite not fulfilling the minimum enrollment criteria of 20 students, this primary school, located around 1 km from Dwarka Expressway, has not been shut and continues to be a lifeline for its little learners.

Past the unkempt front yard with brown plastic chairs, seepage stains mar the roof and walls of the school. Barring one, its three other classrooms are locked. A peek inside the only open classroom reveals a sad state of affairs: there’s broken furniture, some kitchen utensils, a lawn mower, a carrom board, trunks and a chunky television.

The school’s only two toilets for students are filthy and the kitchen partially damaged. The midday meal is cooked and served by an agency hired by the Haryana government. Located under the Garhi Harsaru cluster in the Municipal Corporation of Manesar area, the Gopalpur Khera school was established in 1985. Locals say it fell into a state of neglect over the last few years after the transfer of one of its two teachers.

Sitting cross-legged on a dusty red-black mat in the verandah, his back towards the blackboard with triple-digit Maths problems scrawled all over, Divesh, 11, a student of Class 5, is reading his English textbook. Children of migrant labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, all seven students are forced to study in the school’s verandah due to the lack of an active power connection.

Despite moving to Gurugram and this school from Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj just a year ago with his migrant parents, Divesh is the only student who wears a uniform, can multiply and divide three-digit numbers, and also read sentences in English. Sitting next to him, besides his five other schoolmates, is a shy six-year-old staring at his textbook.

With the school’s lone tutor — Lalita Chawla, a guest teacher who joined in July on a 45-day contract — on leave, substitute teacher Anil Kumar from the nearest primary school, around 2 km away, is covering for her. Using one hand to swat the flies or brush off the ants swarming the “classroom”, the children sit with their books in the other. The teacher sits away from them, making himself available when the need arises.

Divesh tells The Indian Express, “Earlier, two classrooms were open and we would sit there. There were more children in school then. Now, since there is no power, we can’t sit inside.”

Though the student register for the current academic year is missing, one from last year shows that over 25 children studied in the school till March 2024.

In 2011, the Haryana government had said it would undertake a rationalisation exercise at primary and upper primary schools before each academic year to decide on appropriate action — merge or close schools depending on enrollment. An Education Department official told The Indian Express that government schools are required to have at least two teachers even if the strength is just 25 children. According to an annual report on school education for 2022-2023 by the Ministry of Education, Haryana has 11.46 lakh primary students enrolled in 8,688 primary institutions. Gurugram has 222 attached primary schools and 141 independent ones.

Substitute teacher Kumar says, “These children’s parents are labourers. They send them to study here because the school is close to their houses. If the children are shifted to Garhi Harsaru Primary School (around 2 km away) due to low enrollment numbers, the parents will make them sit at home rather than sending them to a school that is far away. While a merger will not affect teachers, the sweeper, cook (who now serves the meal) and the guard will be out of jobs.”

Jal Singh, the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) at the Garhi Harsaru cluster, says attempts to merge schools with low enrollment numbers has led to protests in the past. “Around 2022, we realised the strength of students at the Gopalpur Khera school had started falling. We discovered there were very few children in Gopalpur Khera settlement and most were going to private schools. To slow the dropout rates, the then teacher offered to pay for the education of the children at the Gopalpur Khera school,” he says.

“After that teacher left this April 2024, seven others from schools in the cluster took turns to teach the remaining students. We did try to move these children to another primary school (Garhi Harsaru school) this year, but they simply stopped going to school. So we decided against the move,” he says, adding that Garhi Harsaru Primary School, a co-ed school, has 278 students across nine classes and 10 teachers.

DDO Singh says a girl’s school was merged with Garhi Harsaru Senior Secondary School in 2022 due to inadequate infrastructure, but many locals protested against the move saying they did not want to send their girls to a co-ed school.

The issue with Gopalpur Khera school, says Muni Ram, the District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO), is that it has very few residents and even fewer children. “Though the district has no single-teacher schools, we have not received any orders from higher authorities to close this one,” he says.

Meanwhile, villagers say the Gopalpur Khera school was once popular. Rajesh Chauhan, 60, a housewife, says all three of her children studied at the Gopalpur Khera school in the 2000s. “It was a good school back then and even had teachers. Everyone’s children studied there,” she says.

Parvesh Kadiyan, 35, a tailor who has been living in the village for five years, sends her four-year-old to a private school a few hundred metres away.

“The Gopalpur Khera school neither has teachers, nor children,” says Parvesh, leading to her surprised friend asking: “Isn’t that school closed?”

Parvesh recalls, “I remember the old teacher from the school who lived here. He would pitch in each time the school needed funds. But no one sends their children to government schools anymore. Even if the fee is high, we all feel that private schools are better.”

DEEO Ram says, “In case of a promotion or transfer, we usually get vacancies filled. However, in the case of this school, the vacancies exist due to the school’s strength.” As per the DDO, it did not receive any demand for funds from the Gopalpur Khera school in April 2024. “The fund is shown as nil,” DDO Singh says.

Lalita, the current teacher at the school, says she has been facing multiple challenges since July, given her multiple roles, including attending training sessions, Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) activities, meetings, etc. “The children need separate classes and attention. If they keep sitting together, we will not know how much they are lagging behind their peers. These are children from slums and won’t be able to afford going to a school in another village if this closes,” she says.

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J&K Police to MHA: Connectivity issues, enable Jio for new laws implementation

In the meeting, which lasted for around two hours, DG Swain said their investigation officers are facing difficulties in accessing lockers under the e-Sakshya app, for which the network (Jio) being used by the police stations in J&K needs to be whitelisted.

Written by Mahender Singh Manral

New Delhi | Updated: August 19, 2024 05:59 IST

Issue was discussed in a meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and attended by DGP R R Swain. (PTI/File)

Facing Internet connectivity issues in implementing the three new criminal laws, the Jammu and Kashmir Police has asked the Union Home Ministry to whitelist Reliance Jio so that it can be used in police stations across the Union Territory, The Indian Express has learnt.

The issue was discussed in a review meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla. Chief Secretaries and DGs of all Union Territories highlighted teething issues faced in the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam rolled out on July 1. J&K Police DG R R Swain was present at the meeting.

A senior official in J&K said that in most of the areas, there are only cable lines installed by Airtel and BSNL but there are network issues in remote areas where only Optical Fibre of Jio have been installed. “In all these apps of NIC (National Informatics Centre), whenever police personnel posted in remote locations are uploading documents, the app does not authorise the Jio network. So we have raised this issue in the meeting and are coordinating with the officials of NIC for a solution,” the official said.

While the Union Home Ministry has asked the NIC to send a technical team to J&K to resolve challenges in syncing large audio-visual files with e-Sakshya (e-evidence), a mobile-based application to help police record the scene of crime, as well as technical issues related to services such as e-signature, SMS notification, Nyaya Setu, Nyaya Shruti and e-court.

“The Centre has also asked that the UTs of J&K and Ladakh should together take up the issues being faced by them with the J&K and Ladakh High Court,” an officer familiar with the matter said.

In the meeting, which lasted for around two hours, DG Swain said their investigation officers are facing difficulties in accessing lockers under the e-Sakshya app, for which the network (Jio) being used by the police stations in J&K needs to be whitelisted.

“Swain informed that the availability of lesser bandwidth is also creating problems in downloading files. Some of their issues have been resolved, while the other issues are being actively addressed by the NIC,” the officer said.

In the meeting that lasted for over two hours, Additional DGP of Ladakh S D Singh Jamwal said they are facing some data synchronization challenges with the e-Sakshya app.

“In the meeting, Jamwal also informed that the J&K and Ladakh High Court already has a video conferencing mechanism for conducting trials, which they will align with e-Sakshya. They have also raised the necessity for mock sessions with the judiciary to implement the e-Courts system,” the officer said.

An MHA official said the NIC had developed applications, e-Sakshya, Nyay Shruti and e-Summon, for facilitating videography and photography of crime scenes, judicial hearings and delivery court summons electronically under the new criminal laws.

The e-Sakshya (e-evidence) is a mobile-based application which allows police to record the scene of crime, search and seizure in a criminal case and upload the file on the cloud-based platform. Every recording is around four minutes long and several such files would be uploaded for each FIR.

“eSakshya App, which facilitates videography and photography of crime scenes, along with onboarding documents have been shared with police departments of all the States and UTs. All the States/UTs have tested it. Nyay Shruti is an app, which facilitates judicial hearings through electronic means, along with onboarding documents that have been shared with all the States/UTs and e-Committee of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India for implementation at the courts. The e-Summon app facilitates delivery of court summons electronically,” the official said.

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Mahender Singh Manral

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance of Kolkata doctor rape-murder incident, lists case for August 20

A three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud will hear the matter on August 20, 2024.

Written by Ananthakrishnan G

New Delhi | Updated: August 19, 2024 07:57 IST

Medical professionals protest against the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College. (Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)

Days after the Calcutta High Court, expressing displeasure over the handling of the case relating to the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at the R G Kar Medical College in Kolkata, transferred the probe to the CBI, the Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the August 9 incident.

A three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud will hear the matter Tuesday. The bench also comprises Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

The supplementary cause list of the Supreme Court for August 20 shows “in re: alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in R.G.Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata and related issues” listed for hearing before the bench, indicating that the court may also look into the acts of vandalism by a mob at the hospital on the night of August 14.

On August 13, the High Court division bench of Chief Justice

T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, while expressing displeasure over the handling of the case and observing that “there appears to be no significant progress in the investigation”, transferred the probe from Kolkata Police to the CBI.

Supporters of rival football clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan at a protest in Kolkata. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

The High Court said it would monitor the probe and the CBI would be required to submit a report to the court in three weeks.

A day later, a mob targeted doctors holding a midnight protest against the rape and murder, The mob also vandalised the hospital. Facing criticism over the violence, police have released 76 photos of people allegedly involved in the vandalism, and made 30 arrests.

On Sunday, The Indian Express reported that two TMC workers, several men in their teens or 20s, and a couple of women were among people identified or arrested in connection with the vandalism.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Opposition BJP and CPM of orchestrating the vandalism at the hospital and spreading fake news on social media.

On August 16, the High Court, while criticising the police over the mob violence and vandalisation of parts of the hospital, called it an absolute failure of the state machinery. The bench said it was hard to believe that the police intelligence did not have information about the gathering of 7,000 people, when the state’s lawyer told the court that a mob of such a number had assembled at the hospital.

The High Court directed the police and the hospital authority to file separate affidavits narrating the “true state of affairs” at the hospital. All connected matters will be heard on August 21.

Police have arrested a civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, in connection with the junior doctor’s rape and murder.

The case has sent shockwaves across the country, and has led to protests by doctors in several cities.

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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

Air India air hostess assaulted by intruder in London airport hotel room, local police launch probe

The air hostess, who sustained injuries, was rescued by those in adjacent rooms and hotel staff who responded to her cries for help, and the intruder was nabbed.

Written by Sukalp Sharma

New Delhi | Updated: August 19, 2024 07:50 IST

The airline is pursuing the matter with the local police. (File Photo)

An Air India air hostess staying in a hotel near the London Heathrow airport was assaulted by an intruder who entered her room late at night, according to sources. The incident took place earlier this week.

The air hostess, who sustained injuries, was rescued by those in adjacent rooms and hotel staff who responded to her cries for help, and the intruder was nabbed.

The airline confirmed the incident, but did not elaborate on the nature of assault and injuries sustained by the air hostess. The matter is being investigated by London police and Air India is working with it to “pursue the matter to the fullest extent of the law”, the airline said.

“Air India accords foremost priority to the safety, security and well-being of our crew and staff members. We are deeply anguished by an unlawful incident of intrusion at a hotel, operated by a major international chain, that affected one of our crew members,” an Air India spokesperson said.

“We are providing all possible support to our colleague and their broader team, including professional counselling. Air India is also working with the local police to pursue the matter to the fullest extent of the law,” the spokesperson said.

While the airline did not name the hotel where the incident took place, sources said the hotel is operated by the Radisson group and located a stone’s throw away from London’s main airport. Air India has now decided to move its crew from the hotel, which was being used by cabin crew for London layovers on a routine basis, to another London hotel.

“We constantly review travel and stay arrangements, made at reputed international hotel chains, based on feedback of our employees and internal review to ensure the safety and comfort of employees. In this particular instance, we have taken immediate measures and decided to move our colleagues to another hotel,” Air India said.

Over the past few months, some cabin crew members had raised concerns about the hotel where the incident occurred, it is learnt. Although a star-rated hotel, cabin crew members alleged that the hotel did not have proper security and was inadequately manned late at night, according to sources.

“We have reached out to the management of the current hotel to ensure the security of colleagues staying there. We have been given an assurance that there will be no compromise to safety and security till such time our colleagues are relocated to another hotel,” the airline said.

After receiving medical attention in London, the air hostess has now been flown back to India by the airline, it is learnt.

As the probe is still underway, the identity of the intruder is not known yet. It is also not clear if the intruder was staying at the same hotel or was an outsider who managed to not just enter the property but was also able to access the corridors and rooms.

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Sukalp Sharma

Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. Before joining The Indian Express, Sukalp had long and enriching stints at financial newswire Informist and the Express Group’s pink paper The Financial Express. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More

Delhi HC comes to rescue of aspiring cop rejected over tattoo, opens doors for others

The verdict may also lead the SSC to constitute a medical board to review candidates rejected based on tattoos. According to rules, persons with certain tattoos who wish to apply for a post in the Delhi Police may have to get them removed.

Written by Sohini Ghosh

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 08:29 IST

The medical test for the post of Delhi Police constable was held on January 20. File

A determined youth and a recent Delhi High Court ruling have come as a ray of hope for multiple young men and women who aspired to join the Delhi Police but were rejected because of impermissible tattoos on the right forearm, which is considered the saluting arm.

Nearly a year ago, in September 2023, Deepak Yadav came across a direct recruitment notification by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) on vacancies for the post of Delhi Police constable (executive) and decided to give it a go.

A resident of Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, the 20-year-old cleared the computer-based exam in December 2023. Only two hurdles remained now — the medical exam, which includes a physical fitness test, on January 20, 2024, and the removal of his mother’s name that was tattooed on his right forearm as a child.

To avoid getting rejected during the physical fitness test — since tattoos on the saluting forearm are not permitted — Yadav got his removed by undergoing a laser tattoo removal surgery. On January 20, the date of his medical examination, he checked all of the boxes under the criteria of physical fitness. Things were looking up, that is, until the examiners took one look at his right forearm and declared him unfit on account of a “faded tattoo”.

Undeterred, he sought a review medical examination. By Yadav’s calculations, he had around two weeks before the review medical examination, giving him enough time to undergo four to five more sessions to permanently erase the remnants of the tattoo. However, instead of two weeks, his review medical examination was scheduled two days later — on January 22, 2024. The SSC’s review medical board too declared him “unfit”.

A resolute Yadav, who was in the process of getting his tattoo removed and not in the mood to give up, decided to appeal against his second rejection. What followed was five months of rounds in various courtrooms.

Yadav first moved the Principal Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in February, challenging the SSC’s decision. In April 2024, the CAT ruled in his favour, saying that “there is no bar for reconsideration of case of the applicant(s) who have tattoos for second medical re-examination”. Citing multiple sources, the CAT expounded on the tradition of tattoo culture among various indigenous tribes in India. The tribunal further directed the SSC to conduct a medical examination to decide if Yadav was fit to be appointed as a constable.

The SSC challenged this order before the Delhi High Court, seeking that it be quashed and set aside. After personally inspecting Yadav’s right forearm and looking at his faded tattoo scar, a Division Bench of Justice Suresh Kait and Justice Girish Kathpalia on July 24 held that a candidate cannot be rejected on such grounds. Directing the SSC and the Delhi Police to allow Yadav to belatedly join within a week the second batch for training that had commenced on July 1, the High Court stressed that “opportunity is always granted to such (a) candidate to get it removed within a time bound manner”.

The High Court ruling added, “When any candidate has a tattoo on his/her forearm and is entering the selection process of any force including Delhi Police, and if that tattoo is objectionable to the petitioners herein, then an opportunity is always granted to such candidate to get it removed in a time-bound manner. If he or she still does not get it removed, his or her candidature is liable to be rejected.”

The Delhi High Court noted that even before the medical board and the review medical board held its exam in a span of two days in January 2024, Yadav was already undergoing laser surgery for tattoo removal and did not get an opportunity to appear before the review board after the procedure was completed.

Sources told The Indian Express that Yadav’s case has come as a bright spot for nearly 40 other similarly situated candidates. Having appeared for the posts of male and female constables (executive) in the 2023 Delhi Police recruitment examination, these candidates were not considered because of similarly impermissible tattoos despite subsequently removing them or being ready to remove them.

The verdict may also lead the SSC to constitute a medical board to review candidates rejected based on tattoos. According to rules, persons with certain tattoos who wish to apply for a post in the Delhi Police may have to get them removed. When the SSC issued the advertisement for recruitments in the Delhi Police on September 1, 2023, it included the criteria under medical standards. Clause 13.2 specified the conditions under which tattoos on various body parts are permissible — as well as their content, location and size. Tattoos on the saluting forearm are not permitted.

The High Court’s verdict in the case is not a first when it comes to ruling in favour of such aspirants. In November 2022, a Justice Kait-led Division Bench granted people appearing for the post of constable in the Central Armed Police Forces Examination, National Investigation Agency, Secretariat Security Force (SSF), and Rifleman (General Duty) in Assam Rifles Examination, 2021, the liberty to appear before a medical board after removing the tattoos from their saluting forearms.

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Secretary General Golam Parwar interview: Jamaat says won’t be threat to India; but it’s easier said than done

Jamaat’s secretary general Parwar also said, “There has been a wrong perception created that Jamaat is an extremist, fundamentalist and communal party. They have labelled us like that.”

Written by Shubhajit Roy

Dhaka | Updated: August 18, 2024 19:25 IST

Parwar was freed from jail two days after Hasina fled country

CLAIMING that his organisation will be a “friend of India and the people of India”, the Secretary General of the banned outfit and the premier Islamist organisation in Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami, has said it will not be a threat to India, the India-Bangla borders will be stable, and there will be no terrorist activity by the outfit.

Golam Parwar, a former MP of Jamaat-e-Islami between 2001-2006, was arrested by the Sheikh Hasina government on July 20 and was freed two days after she fled. In an interview here to The Indian Express here, he said: “India is a friendly country…people of India are not our enemies. The Modi government’s policy ainted non-Awami League parties as anti-India. They think that only the Awami League can keep them safe, and if Islamic parties like ours come, then it will become a breeding ground for terrorists. This is a wrong perception.”

“We can assure the people of India that we will not be a threat to India, that the borders will be stable and there will be no terrorist activity from our side,” said Parwar, the outfit’s Secretary General since 2020. The group was de-registered in 2013 and has, therefore, not been eligible to contest elections.

However, a change of heart for the Jamaat is easier said than done given the organisation’s record in domestic politics, seen as being defined by its hardline ideology, and its patronage of terror networks that have posed many a security challenge for India and within. Officials said the challenge is for the interim government to map its contours of engagement with the Jamaat, which is a banned organisation.

Jamaat chief and then Industries Minister Motiur Rahman Nizami was convicted and handed the death penalty for the 10-truck arms and ammunition haul that took place in Chattogram on the night of April 1, 2004, when police and Coast Guard interrupted 10 trucks and seized extensive illegal arms and ammunition at a jetty of Chittagong Urea Fertilizers. The weapons and ammunition were allegedly meant for terrorist groups, including the ULFA.

Nizami was executed on May 11, 2016, after Bangladesh Supreme Court upheld his death penalty for committing crimes against humanity during the country’s Liberation War.

With the Jamaat since 1986, Parwar, 66, is a postgraduate degree holder in accounting. He sat down with a notebook — prepared with talking points for the interview — and a clutch of Bangla newspapers in the first-floor office of Dainik Sangram, a pro-Jamaat-e-Islami publication. He has two iPhone 15s on the table, and said he has had to change phones due to police harassment. The office doesn’t have much security, except a lone guard at the entrance, where some people wait to meet him.

Parwar was in jail on August 5 when he watched on TV that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had quit and fled the country. “I saw the visuals and the news on TV in jail, and the dark period under the Awami League has now come to an end,” he said.

On the violence against Hindus since August 5 – at least five have been killed and there are more than 200 incidents – Parwar denied any Jamaat involvement. “They (those behind the attacks) are criminal elements who have taken the advantage of the situation, some out of past enmity, some local disputes, and they should be dealt with as per law. The authorities must investigate and do justice…according to Islamic philosophy, we don’t believe in violence against our brothers.”

He said that Ameer (Chief) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman — who is the head of the outfit that was deregistered in 2013 and banned on August 1, 2024 — had visited the Dhakeshwari temple and had met Hindu minority groups.

Hindu minority leader Basudeb Dhar, who met the Jamaat-e-Islami leaders as incidents of attacks against Hindus were being reported, told The Indian Express, “I told the Jamaat leaders that you have an image of being a communal and fundamentalist group. This is your opportunity to prove yourself otherwise.” Dhar said that Jamaat sent its people to guard the temple as the violence had broken out and the police were not around in the first few days after the fall of Hasina government.

Jamaat’s secretary general Parwar also said, “There has been a wrong perception created that Jamaat is an extremist, fundamentalist and communal party. They have labelled us like that.”

When pressed on the links between Jamaat-e-Islami and terrorist outfits like HUJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami) and others, he said, “There has been no evidence of links between Jamaat-e-Islami and terrorist outfits”.

Asked about the period, 2001-2006, during the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP)-Jamaat alliance government, when there were anti-India terror acts from Bangladesh, he said, “We were just two ministers out of 60 and about 20 seats out of 200, so our influence was proportionately limited. There were incidents but those were criminal activities. There was no involvement of Jamaat-e-Islami workers then, and there is no involvement of workers now against Hindus or temples. Those who committed those crimes should be brought to justice. This is due to our commitment to Islamic philosophy, our Imaan.”

In August 2005, around 500 bomb explosions took place across Bangladesh at 300 locations in 63 out of its 64 districts. The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, a group affiliated with al Qaida, claimed responsibility for the bombings. The Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (Bangladesh) cooperated with the JMB in carrying out the bomb blasts.

The bomb blasts took place when the BNP coalition government was headed by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and that period was marked by a sharp surge in radical Islamist influence.

Quoting verses from a Surah (chapter) in Holy Quran, he said that when Islamic party forms a government, they have to follow “equity, human dignity and social justice”. “And this is for all mankind, for all Hindus, Muslims and other groups,” Parwar said, adding that he has been in and out of prison for almost eight of the 16 years of Hasina government where none of these tenets of “equity, human dignity and social justice were followed.”

Underlining that the Awami League rule was “a dark period for the opposition space”, he said that what the world saw of people entering the PM’s residence, the Gana Bhaban, was the “outburst of 16 years of pent up anger”.

He said that the students were protesting for jobs and they were simply asking, “where are the jobs that we deserve”. “When Hasina abused them as Razakars, that was a big mistake,” he said.

Critical of India’s support to Hasina, Parwar said that the Indian “intelligence agencies (had) failed to understand the ground situation.” Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for congratulating the chief of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, he said: “Without saying so in public, they (Indian officials) appear to be accepting their mistakes.”

Asked about the Jamaat-e-Islami’s role in the protests, he said: “A lot of our relatives and friends and their children had participated. We extended our support but it was a students and people’s movement. We gave statements, but not indulged in violence.”

Asked about the status of the ban on the party, Parwar said, “We were banned on August 1, at the peak of the protests, and four days later, the Hasina government collapsed. We have asked the interim government to revoke the ban that was put on us. Let’s see.”

As one leaves the office, and his aide accompanies this correspondent to the exit, a man, in his 30s, tells the aide, “Now you are going to be in power, please get our work done.”

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Vandalism at RG Kar: TMC men, students, gym trainer, delivery staff among accused

Facing criticism over the violence, the police have released 76 photos of people allegedly involved in the vandalism, and made 30 arrests.

Written by Ravik Bhattacharya , Atri Mitra

Kolkata | Updated: August 18, 2024 18:33 IST

Inside RG Kar’s emergency building after it was ransacked Wednesday. File photo

Two Trinamool Congress workers, several men in their teens or 20s, and a couple of women — these are among people identified or arrested in connection with the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on the night of August 14, The Indian Express has found.

The vandalism took place when doctors were holding a midnight protest against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the hospital. Facing criticism over the violence, the police have released 76 photos of people allegedly involved in the vandalism, and made 30 arrests.

The Indian Express spoke to the families of 15 people — 14 who have been arrested and one who is allegedly absconding.

Many of the men and women left home that night after telling their families that they were going to protest against the rape and murder – but ultimately became accused in the vandalism. Most also live within a five-kilometre radius of the hospital, and some had gone with their friends. They include:

Soumik Das, 24: About three kilometres from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Nagerbazar police station area, is the residence of Das, a gym instructor and a local TMC worker.

A photo and video released by the police purportedly show him using a baton to ransack parts of the emergency building. He has since been arrested.

“He has not been home since the incident. Police came and asked us to bring him to the station, but he was eventually arrested from elsewhere. He is repentant; he got swayed by emotion,” said his aunt, who did not wish to be identified.

A photo and video released by the police purportedly show Soumik Das using a baton to ransack parts of the emergency building. He has since been arrested. (Photo: X/@KolkataPolice)

“Ask the party whether he worked for them or not. Ask anyone here – they will tell you that he was a party (TMC) worker. He was not alone; other youths also went with him,” she said.

Just before his arrest, Das admitted to a Bengali news channel that he was at the site of the vandalism. “I have committed a mistake and I repent. We all went from Shyambazar… We are emotional… Many in my gym also went there,” Das, a B.Com graduate, told the channel.

Locals said he is known to Sukanta Sen Sharma, a local TMC leader and councillor of ward number 14. Sukanta, however, said, “I don’t know him. I don’t think he belongs to our party. Everyone is a TMC supporter or worker these days; some are friends, some are enemies.”

Jabbar Ansari, 40: In a photo released by the police, Jabbar is purportedly seen giving instructions to people inside the emergency building as the vandalism was underway. He has not been arrested so far.

His sister, Bacchiya Apa, said he has not returned home since that night. “We do not know where he is, but the police are calling every day,” she said. “I do not know what he has done. But it is not right to disturb us. My brothers are known TMC workers in the area, respected people.”

His elder daughter, aged 20, said, “I have seen the picture. He is a respected man. He must have been asking them (the miscreants) to leave the hospital.”

His elder brother too said they don’t know where he is.

Rishi Kant Mishra, 35: About half a kilometre from RG Kar is where Mishra, who was picked up by police on Friday night, lives. “They said he pelted stones. We don’t know. I went to the police station and they told me he had been arrested,” said Lakshman Mishra, his brother.

Rishi Kant Mishra. (Photo: X/@KolkataPolice)

Mishra’s elder brother Srikant is a building materials supplier and a TMC worker, with neighbours saying the two are often seen at party events. Mishra, locals said, works in a godown.

Subhodip Kundu, 23: About half an hour from the hospital, in Muraripukur, are the homes of three friends who have been arrested. Among them is Subhodip alias Sunny, who is unemployed and was arrested on the afternoon of August 16. A photo purportedly shows him standing on a fallen guardrail near the hospital gate.

“He and two of his friends went there on the evening of August 14. He told me after he returned. He was capturing whatever was happening on his phone while standing on that guardrail,” claimed Dola Kundu, his mother.

Subhodip Kundu. (Photo: X/@KolkataPolice)

“After police took him away, we went to the local TMC ward councillor, who refused to help us,” she said.

Soumyadip Mahish, 22: Mahish, who delivers food for an app-based firm, lives five minutes from Kundu’s residence. His father Gopal Mahish, too, claimed he had gone to the hospital “with his friends, to see the protests”.

Soumyadip Mahish. (Photo: X/@KolkataPolice)

“He is not involved in the vandalism. We asked the TMC councillor to help us but he refused. The families of all three boys from the neighbourhood went to him last night,” he said.

Sourav Dey, 20: The third youth to be arrested from the neighbourhood, Dey works in a pesticide manufacturing company. His family did not speak much, though his aunt, Basoya Dey, said he was arrested on Friday evening. “We believe he is innocent,” she said.

Paul Ghosh, 27: Ghosh, who runs a computer business, is a resident of Muktaram Babu Street, three kilometres from RG Kar. His family claims he was there to protests against the junior doctor’s rape and murder.

“He and his friends went to Shyambazar to protest. Many people did. He said it is his duty. At 11 am, he spoke to me on the phone and said he will come home after midnight,” claimed his father Jagabandhu Ghosh.

“On Friday afternoon, the police came and informed us that he had been arrested. The police should arrest vandals, not bystanders,” said his mother Krishna Ghosh.

Tusi Haldar, 19: Haldar, one of two women to have been arrested, lives a kilometre from the hospital. Her family said she is a student.

Photos purportedly show her inside the emergency building, with a bamboo in her hand.

Photos purportedly show Tulsi Haldar inside the emergency building, with a bamboo in her hand. (Photo: X/@KolkataPolice)

“We all went to Shyambazar for the rally. Then there was commotion at RG Kar and somehow my daughter got caught in it. I don’t know anything else. Police came to our home this afternoon. My daughter had just had his lunch when they took her away,” claimed her mother Bishakha.

Asked about the photo, she reiterated that her daughter is innocent.

Ruma Das, 27: A resident of Baranagar, about five kilometres from RG Kar, Ruma was arrested from the spot. “She was supposed to go for a candlelight march near our home. We have no clue how she landed up in RG Kar. We spoke at 2 am and she said she was okay and would return soon,” said Toti Das, her mother.

“The next day, the police informed us that she had been arrested. We don’t know what to do. They have slapped such grave sections against her,” she said. Before leaving her job earlier this year, Ruma used to work in a private company.

Pradip Sen, 22: A resident of Ultadanga area, Sen is a driver, his family said. “He went out that day and got drunk. Then he and his friends went to RG Kar. I called him many times but he didn’t respond. At 3 am, he got back home and told me that the police had lathi charged them,” said his wife, Polly. She said he was arrested on August 15.

“If he has done such a thing, he should be punished. But he does not figure in the photos released by the police,” she said.

Raju Bag, 28: Bag, who is unemployed, lives four kilometres from the hospital. “He left home in the evening, like many others from the neighbourhood, to visit RG Kar for the protest. His picture was not released by the Kolkata police. I think this is a mistake. Where is the proof?” said Asha Bag, his mother, who works as a domestic help.

Debashish Mondol, 27: Mondol works as a delivery person for a local grocer. “He went out with boys from the neighbourhood after dinner. He told me he was going for the candle march, but did not return. The next day, a photo of him standing on a police barricade was released,” said Raju Mondol, his father.

“Police came on August 15 and I told them he was just a bystander. They did not listen. Later, we went to the police station and he surrendered,” said Raju.

Surojit Karmakar, 34: Surojit, an electrician, went to RG Kar with Debashish Mondol and Raju Bag. Locals claim the men were drunk.

“They all went to protest. Where is the proof that he committed a crime?,” said Pinky Karmakar, his wife.

Md Azlan Ul Haq, 19: The family of the college student, who lives in the vicinity of the hospital, claimed he went to check what the commotion was about. “At night, there were rallies and some commotion. My son went to see what was happening. In the morning, he didn’t return. We finally learnt from the court that he has been arrested,” said Sahina Haq, his mother. “He is not that kind of a boy. His career will be ruined.”

Tanvir Alam, 19: Alam, who used to be a driver but is currently unemployed, also lives in the vicinity of the hospital. “Like all boys in the neighbourhood, he went to RG Kar on hearing about the commotion. The next day we saw a photo released by the Kolkata police of him standing inside the emergency department,” said Mukhtar Ali, his uncle.

“We went to the police station to see him but were not allowed,” he said.

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Vinesh Phogat’s village open heart and purse strings: 750 kg ladoos, chowkidar gifts Rs 100, pagdi and sword

At about 10 am, around the time Vinesh Phogat’s flight from Paris landed in the Capital, 10-year-old Anshaj Kumar, a resident of Balali, was tasked with guarding the temple premises that had 750 kg of desi ghee laddoos.

Written by Nitin Sharma

Balali | Updated: August 18, 2024 21:56 IST

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat at her village, Balali, on her return to Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, on Sunday, August 18, 2024. (Jasbir Malhi)

IT’S BEEN a long day for 10-year-old Anshaj Kumar, a resident of Balali, aka Vinesh Phogat’s village in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri district which is a three-and-a-half hour drive away from Delhi on most days. At about 10 am, around the time Phogat’s flight from Paris landed in the Capital, he was tasked with guarding the temple premises that had 750 kg of desi ghee laddoos.

The wait for Phogat gets over past midnight, when she finally reaches the village, over 12 hours after she walked out of the Delhi airport. With every Haryana village on the way wanting to honour her, she couldn’t have driven past the men, women and children lined up on the highway.

Through the day, Anshaj sits in a corner of the stage set up for Phogat’s felicitation, maintaining a single-line school notebook that has entries of voluntary donations by the villagers for their “chhori” who missed out on a medal at the Paris Olympics. As the pile of laddoos shrink, the amount in his accounting book increases.

Young Anshaj Kumar guarding the 750kg ladoos in the temple room at Balali Village. (Express Photo by Jasbir Malhi)

The list of contributors is a heartening read, an indication of how much the villagers — cutting across social strata — care for the little girl who they saw grow up to be a champion wrestler. The neatly-bunched soiled notes in Anshaj’s drawer don’t have the sparkle of gold or silver, but it is an assurance to Phogat that she is not alone.

There is Sanjay Chowkidar, the village watchman who is the tenth person on the list of contributors, with Rs 100 next to his name. Raghbir Master with Rs 500; Shalu Badal with a garland of notes worth Rs 5,100; Kunwar Bir Singh with a pagdi and sword; Natu (Vikrant Fauji) of Fauji Bhaichara group with Rs 21,000 among others.

Deep into the night, as the debate over the Phogat entourage’s GPS location continues, donors keep queuing up. And Anshaj, with a smile, lists their names, counting and re-counting the notes.

Sanjay Chowkidar is reluctant to talk but agrees when coaxed. His memories about Phogat date back to the day when she was barely five years old. “She was like my daughter,” he says, and goes on to narrate his Phogat story. “When I used to take my round at night, she would often tell me, ‘uncle, you are so brave’. See now, who turned out to be brave? She is the bravest girl in the world and the strongest too.” He chokes with emotion, but doesn’t bother to wipe his tears as he takes his seat next to the stage.

Anshaj, too, wants to be quoted. “Vinesh Didi toh humare liye gold hain (Vinesh Didi is like gold for us). Since the time I can remember, we would get laddoos when she won… How can we miss this time,” he says, before adding that Balali has got over the shock of her disqualification. “For us, she is an Olympic medallist and we will tell her this.”

The real excitement can be seen among Balali’s women. Phogat’s long-time neighbour, Dhanpati, remembers her as a mischievous girl who was also responsible and warm-hearted. “Her father was everything for her; after his demise, Vinesh became the family’s shield. As a child, she would help her mother manage the livestock, work in the fields or even fight for the family’s rights. I wish every girl in the village was like Vinesh. She teaches everyone to fight for their rights,” she says.

Tearing up, she points out how Phogat stood up to higher-ups, leading the protest against then WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

In the shamiana outside, a few girls, all budding wrestlers, are returning from training at the local akhada. The halwai from the neighbouring village of Jhoju Kalan calls them inside. “Have warm milk and laddoos. It will make you strong to cheer for Vinesh Didi when she arrives. You too have to be like her,” he says.

Among the gifts Vikrant Fauji’s Rs 21,000 and Sanjay Chowkidar’s (right) Rs 100 (Express Photo by Jasbir Malhi)

Among the girls is two-time Asian Cadet Champion and last year’s World Cadet Bronze medallist Neha Sangwan. “Vinesh Didi has reached where no other wrestler from the village has. For us, the Olympic Gold was hers and that’s what we want to tell her. Didi met us before the Olympics and told us that every single one of us should dream about the Olympics,” she says.

Village Sarpanch Reetika Sangwan can’t make it to the felicitation function. She is a young mother of a month-old son. She has assigned the task to her husband Bindraj. “She has told me to bring Vinesh’s blessings as well as a cloth touched by her. I will make my newborn boy wear it so that he gets the same courage as her,” he says.

“Vinesh has done the whole clan, as well as Khaps, proud. Apart from the honours like pagdi (turban), we are also weighing her with laddoos and coins. It does not matter that she missed the medal due to some grams. She is worth more than any weight, and these laddoos and coins of her weight will be distributed to the poor,” says Balwant, the head of the Phogat Khap.

Balali’s younger residents urge the DJ to play a recently released “Phogat inspired” Haryanvi song. It is titled “Sherni”, and the lyrics go thus: “Karo swagat sherni ka, ladke aye se, Paris main naam uncha kar ke aye se, char baar ke champion hara di se, fir bhi dhokha.”

Well into the night, the younger ones dance as the elders cheer. Among them is Sanjay Chowkidar. There’s no need to guard the streets today, nobody’s sleeping at Balali.

Vinesh returns: Love I got worth more than 1,000 Olympic Golds

Phogat’s return to India was delayed as she stayed back in Paris to await the outcome of her appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), challenging her disqualification from the 50-kg gold-medal bout at the Olympics for being 100g overweight.

Written by Namit Kumar

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 12:13 IST

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat is greeted by supporters at New Delhi’s IGI Airport after she returned from Paris on Saturday. (Image: Gajendra Yadav)

NEVER HAS an athlete without a medal around her neck got the kind of grand homecoming that awaited Vinesh Phogat on Saturday. It took even the wrestler by surprise.

Phogat’s return to India was delayed as she stayed back in Paris to await the outcome of her appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), challenging her disqualification from the 50-kg gold-medal bout at the Olympics for being 100g overweight. Her appeal was dismissed on Wednesday.

On Saturday, as she exited from Gate No. 18 of Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3 at around 10.30 am, Phogat seemed to be in a state of daze — the Paris trauma of the missed medal writ large on her face. Eyes puffed due to lack of sleep, cheeks shrunk, and a messy haircut given by her trainer a cruel reminder of the night before the final weigh-in, she looked around expressionless.

Then she broke into a smile. She had spotted her mother, brother, other family members and her two fellow protesters, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, with whom she had sat at Jantar Mantar last year, leading the protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment by some of the country’s elite wrestlers.

Phogat was escorted to a waiting SUV and made to sit on top of it. The assembled crowd raised slogans, showered rose petals and covered her with marigold garlands. Overwhelmed by the show of affection, the wrestler broke down, then wiped her tears and folded her hands to acknowledge the crowd.

A group of schoolgirls, who had travelled to Delhi from rural Haryana, could be heard talking about the bout where “Vinesh didi” took down Japanese legend Yui Susaki, who was unbeaten till then.

An elderly woman pushing an overloaded luggage trolley dodged the crowd to get a glimpse of Phogat. “What all she has gone through… what is she made of,” she wondered aloud.

The politics, ahead of the coming Haryana Assembly elections, was hard to miss. Congress leader Deepender Hooda was with Phogat at the airport, greeting fans and accepting garlands. BJP member and former boxer Vijender Singh was there too.

The cavalcade of cars with the Phogat entourage had freshly-printed pictures of the wrestler with a caption that read, “mahri chhori, khara sona (my daughter, pure gold)”. On the way to her village of Balali, in Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana, they made many pit stops — starting with a quick halt at Mahipalpur, Delhi’s Jat-dominated area close to the airport.

All along the way, small reception parties were waiting, under colourful shamianas with plastic chairs arranged in neat rows. After a few stops, Phogat looked emotional. Though reluctant to speak initially, she later took the microphone and addressed the gatherings. “So what if they didn’t give me the gold medal, people here have given me more than that. The love and respect that I have received is worth more than a thousand Olympic gold medals,” she said.

Her brother Harinder, who organised the road trip to the village, talked about the outpouring of public affection for Phogat. “Vinesh is returning to the country. People have come here at the (Delhi) airport to welcome her. People are also waiting to welcome her to our village. They are excited to meet Vinesh and encourage her,” he said.

As they made their way to the Delhi-Haryana border, on the outskirts of Gurgaon, the reception took on a different colour. Away from the swarm of cameras and police, the fans could get closer to the one they had been waiting for. Next to the highway, at a small felicitation organised by a local property dealer, the mood was visibly jubilant.

Slogans raised about “struggle” and “revolution” were drowned out by celebratory Haryanvi folk music blaring from speakers. There were traffic jams on the road as drivers stopped to take a look.

Phogat and Punia braved the passionate crowds as elders made their way to bless them and, in an endearing scene, several parents were seen bringing their daughters to present flowers to, and get a glimpse of, their idol. At every crossroad, Phogat’s SUV was stopped by a crowd of selfie-seekers.

By late evening, Phogat seemed exhausted, but the smile that was missing from the photographs that emerged from Paris after her disqualification was back.

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- North and eastern India brace for heavy rainfall this week

- Jharkhand CM accuses BJP of poaching MLAs amid speculation of Champai Soren switching sides

- EAM Jaishankar calls on Kuwaiti PM, Crown Prince; discuss bilateral ties

- Cong leader Gaurav Gogoi slams Assam CM for security failures after ULFA(I) bomb claims

- Grenade hurled at former BJP MLA’s home in Manipur

- BJP will have no pre-poll alliance in J-K: Ravinder Raina

- Privatisation of IAS is ‘Modi’s guarantee’ for ending reservation: Rahul Gandhi slams lateral entry

- NCPCR chief questions ‘radical’ curriculum in Bihar madrasas, demands UN probe

- Amit Shah: CAA doesn’t take away citizenship, Cong-led previous govts let ‘intruders’ in

- Ex-Jharkhand CM Champai Soren leaves for Delhi amid speculations of him likely to join BJP

- Minor girl gangraped in bus parked at Dehradun ISBT, 2 drivers among five held

- Forest teams expand search for tiger that strayed out of Sariska National Park

- Tripura CM launches intensified awareness programme to control HIV/AIDS

Kerala man working at Russian military camp killed in shell attack

The family is awaiting the intervention of the Indian embassy in Russia to bring his body back to the state, they said.

Written by Shaju Philip

Thiruvananthapuram | August 19, 2024 07:28 IST

Sandeep was not married and is survived by his father, Chandran, and mother, Valsala. (Photo: Representative/Reuters)

A man from Kerala, who was working at a Russian military camp amid the country’s war with Ukraine, has died in a shell attack, his family said.

Sandeep, 36, was a native of Nayarangadi at Trikkur panchayat in Thrissur district. An electrician by profession, he had flown to Russia in April to work at a restaurant.

“Two days ago, we got a message from a Russian Malayali association that a person from Thrissur had died in a shell attack. The victim, according to the message, was working at a Russian military canteen… The association wanted to identify the deceased person. Then, we verified the details and found it was Sandeep,” said Sandeep’s cousin, Saran.

The family said they had lost contact with Sandeep recently.

“He told us that he was employed in Moscow and had sent one month’s salary home. After one month, he rarely contacted the family and was reportedly taken out of Moscow. We later came to know that he was at the military canteen, which was exposed to attacks from Ukraine forces,” said Saran.

Sandeep was not married and is survived by his father, Chandran, and mother, Valsala. Both his parents are farm workers.

The family is awaiting the intervention of the Indian embassy in Russia to bring his body back to the state, they said.

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Nicobar residents raise concerns about land acquisition for airport

The proposed project — part of the Rs 72,000-crore Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project — comprises a transshipment port, Greenfield International Airport, power plant, township and allied developments.

Written by Nikhil Ghanekar

New Delhi | Updated: August 19, 2024 06:01 IST

The SIA report is also silent on the potential impacts of the airport project on the indigenous Great Nicobarese and Shompen tribespeople.

The residents of Great Nicobar Island, who will be affected by land acquisition for the Greenfield International Airport project, have raised demands for a fair and comprehensive compensation package after a social impact assessment (SIA) report was submitted before the Union Territory administration last month.

The proposed project — part of the Rs 72,000-crore Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project — comprises a transshipment port, Greenfield International Airport, power plant, township and allied developments. It will be built on 834.6 hectares of land, of which nearly 400 hectares is private land and the rest is government land.

In June, Delhi-based Probe Research and Social Development Pvt. Ltd, the agency that carried out the SIA study, had held a public hearing on the draft SIA with the stakeholders. After this, the final SIA report, detailing private land acquisition, loss of plantations and project impacts was submitted to the Andaman and Nicobar administration late last month. An SIA study is legally mandated under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR), 2013.

Residents of Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar in Campbell Bay taluk, the two villages where nearly 400 hectares of land will be acquired for the project, have raised concerns that displacement for the airport will cause hardship and loss of livelihoods. Project-affected residents criticised the SIA report for not fully capturing the potential impacts of the large project.

They have demanded, among other things, that the local administration should revise circle rates for land, fix higher compensation for loss of fruiting trees and provide jobs for one family member of each affected family and shops near the proposed airport.

“The families that settled here in the 1970s had to face a lot of hardships as resources were not plentiful. The community also suffered loss of land during the great tsunami of 2004. This will be another episode of displacement and hardship for us. We want land in lieu of land and Rs 50,000 for each coconut tree that will be lost,” said Prahlad Singh, 43, Pradhan of Laxmi Nagar Gram Panchayat, which comprises the affected villages of Shastri Nagar and Gandhi .

The Greenfield Airport project will affect 263 families, as per the SIA report, and nearly all of the coconut, betel nut, guava, banana and mango plantations will be acquired for the project.

The project-affected families belong to the ex-servicemen community and were settled in GNI from different parts of mainland India four to five decades ago. Coconut and betel nut farming forms the mainstay of their income source. Nearly 30,000 coconut trees, 60,000 betel nut trees, 450 mango trees and other fruit trees such as guava and banana will be lost to land acquisition, as per the SIA report.

E S Rajesh, the pramukh and samiti member of Laxmi Nagar Gram Panchayat, told The Indian Express that the SIA report fails to mention what would be the adverse impacts of the project on the water resources of the region. “There would be an influx of outsiders because of not only the airport construction work, but also the tourism that it will attract. There are issues of water shortages even now. But the report has not analysed these issues,” he said.

The Directorate of Social Welfare Department, Andaman & Nicobar administration, to whom the report was submitted, did not respond to queries seeking comment.

The SIA report is also silent on the potential impacts of the airport project on the indigenous Great Nicobarese and Shompen tribespeople.

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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

CBI questions ex-principal of R G Kar Hospital for 3rd day

Former principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital Dr Sandip Ghosh has been questioned for over 30 hours in the past three days

By: Express News Service

Kolkata | Updated: August 19, 2024 06:01 IST

Dr Sandip Ghosh, former principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital (Courtesy: R G Kar Medical College and Hospital)

Former principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital Dr Sandip Ghosh was questioned by the CBI for the third consecutive day on Sunday in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor on the hospital premises on August 9.

So far, Ghosh has been questioned for over 30 hours in the past three days, with the central agency officials seeking details of his phone calls before and after the incident to find out if there was any conspiracy, sources said.

The central agency is also scrutinising the circumstances surrounding the three-hour delay in informing the junior doctor’s family after she was found dead inside the seminar hall of the hospital, CBI officials said.

“We are also trying to understand the circumstances surrounding the hospital authorities’ decision to initiate renovation work in the chest medicine department, which is close to the scene of the crime and cross-referencing Dr Ghosh’s statements with accounts from other doctors and interns present at the time of the incident,” a CBI official told The Indian Express.

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IMD predicts heavy rainfall for northern, eastern India this week

The monsoon trough, as on Sunday, prevailed along its normal position.

By: Express News Service

Bengaluru | August 19, 2024 02:27 IST

With more than three-quarter of the southwest monsoon season completed, the all-India rainfall stood at 622.2mm, about 4% above normal. (File Photo)

The season’s rain deficient prevailing in states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu could be eased with fresh heavy spells of rainfall forecast this week.

In its forecast issued Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that widespread rainfall with intermittent heavy spells is expected mainly over Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

This will be in connection with the development of a fresh low pressure system in the Bay of Bengal and its expected movement across Bangladesh into the Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha.

With more than three-quarter of the southwest monsoon season completed, the all-India rainfall stood at 622.2mm, about 4% above normal.

Most regions of north and eastern India, where many areas remain deprived of normal rainfall this season, will experience heavy spells during the next three to four days, the Meteorological Department said.

Enhanced rainfall would affect Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Rajasthan and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh till August 21.

The monsoon trough, as on Sunday, prevailed along its normal position.

Rainfall activity is likely to pick up towards the month-end over peninsular India, the Meteorological Department’s extended range forecast indicated. In addition, cyclonic circulations prevailed over south-west Pakistan and north Karnataka regions, respectively.

During this week, Marathwada, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will receive heavy rainfall till August 24.

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Padma awardee docs seek law to protect healthcare workers

The 2019 draft had proposed stringent norms, with punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh for violence against doctors on duty.

Written by Anonna Dutt

New Delhi | Updated: August 19, 2024 05:19 IST

A law for prevention of violence against doctors was one of the demands raised by several resident doctors’ associations such as the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association and professional bodies such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA). (Express Photo)

EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY with family of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at a Kolkata hospital, at least 70 Padma awardee doctors wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, asking him to personally intervene to address the “alarming situation” amidst the ongoing protest by doctors across the country. They also sought a special law for protection of healthcare workers at the earliest.

“We stand in unwavering solidarity with the victim’s family, whose pain and loss are unimaginable. We also extend our full support to the medical community, who are increasingly confronting such violence in the course of their work,” the doctors said in their letter.

They put forth five demands — from harsher and time-bound punishment for perpetrators of sexual violence to enhanced safety measures at hospitals. Supporting the demand of the protesting doctors for a special law to protect healthcare workers, they urged for the harshest punishment for physical or verbal violence against doctors. They also asked for stricter implementation of existing legal provisions.

A law for prevention of violence against doctors was one of the demands raised by several resident doctors’ associations such as the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association and professional bodies such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

While a Bill was drafted in 2019 after a nation-wide protest, it was never tabled in Parliament. “We strongly believe that an Ordinance to this effect can be brought immediately, and the Bill should be passed post-haste so that all those working in healthcare delivery systems in the country can work without fear, in service of suffering patients,” the letter to the PM said.

The 2019 draft had proposed stringent norms, with punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh for violence against doctors on duty.

Dr Harsh Mahajan, one of the signatories and founder of Mahajan Imaging, told The Indian Express: “Although there is no formal association, we decided to add our voice and urge the PM to intervene himself. There is a need for a separate law for doctors because the conditions they face are different from other professions. Many times doctors have to work for 36 hours at a time and yet they may not have access to a duty room to sleep. They may live in hostels far away and have to walk in the dark. Just count the number of incidents we have seen in the last five years, something needs to be done.”

Dr Yash Gulati, another signatory and renowned orthopaedic surgeon, said: “The (Kolkata) incident was discussed in a group of Padma awardee doctors and we decided to add our voice. While we understand that sometimes relatives are distressed or they think that there has been some negligence, but violence is not the answer. There are mechanisms for recourse — doctors have to be safe at work.”

“Let this tragedy serve as a catalyst for real, lasting change. We owe it to the late Nirbhaya, and to all victims of sexual violence, and to future generations to create a society where such horrors are unthinkable,” the letter says.

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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

BJP workers blame CPI(M) for party activist’s death; burn tyres, block highway in Tripura

Former Union minister Pratima Bhowmik and local BJP MLA Bindu Debnath joined the agitators and demanded strict punishment for those responsible for the death

Written by Debraj Deb

Agartala | August 18, 2024 22:08 IST

Pal succumbed to injuries allegedly received during a clash with CPI(M) cadres at Kathalia block in Sepahijala district on the day of the counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls.

BJP workers burnt tyres and blocked the highway in Sonamura under Sepahijala district Sunday after receiving the news of the death of party activist Ashish Pal.

According to reports, BJP supporters took out a procession with the body and also attacked local offices of the CPI(M) and the Congress.

Pal succumbed to injuries allegedly received during a clash with CPI(M) cadres at Kathalia block in Sepahijala district on the day of the counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls.

Former Union minister Pratima Bhowmik and local BJP MLA Bindu Debnath joined the agitators and demanded strict punishment for those responsible for the death.

“Ashish Pal, BJP activist of Sonamura mandal, was brutally attacked by CPI(M) cadres on the counting day on August 12. He died at 3 am Sunday at GBP hospital. We demand the arrest of CPI(M) hooligans,” said Bhowmik.

Speaking to reporters in Agartala later in the day, BJP state chief spokesperson Subrata Chakraborty also demanded the strictest punishment for CPI(M) cadres involved in the attack.

Meanwhile, the police arrested one accused and started a manhunt to trace the others allegedly involved in the attack on Pal.

The three-tier panchayat polls were conducted on August 8 and the votes were counted on August 12.

The ruling BJP which won 71 per cent of panchayat seats uncontested, swept the remaining seats where polls were held.

The saffron party emerged victorious in 5,883 out of 6,370 gram panchayat seats, 404 panchayat samity seats, and 113 zilla parishad seats.

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No injustice should be done to any candidate: UP CM Yogi Adityanath on HC order in teacher recruitment case

The court's order has triggered a political row in the state with the opposition parties accusing the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of "playing with the reservation system".

By: PTI

Lucknow | Updated: August 18, 2024 21:41 IST

CM Adityanath directed the Basic Education Department to proceed according to the Allahabad High Court's order asking the state government to prepare a fresh selection list. (File photo)

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said the Uttar Pradesh government firmly believes that the benefit of reservation should be be extended to all reserved category candidates, ensuring that no candidate faces injustice.

He also directed the Basic Education Department to proceed according to the Allahabad High Court’s order asking the state government to prepare a fresh selection list for the appointment of 69,000 assistant teachers within three months.

The court’s order has triggered a political row in the state with the opposition parties accusing the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of “playing with the reservation system”.

During a meeting with officials of Basic Education Department, Adityanath said, “The government is of the clear opinion that the benefit of the reservation facility provided by the Constitution should be available to all the candidates of the reserved category and no injustice should be done to any candidate.” The chief minister was briefed by the Basic Education Department on all aspects of the court’s decision regarding the recruitment of 69,000 assistant teachers, according to an official statement.

“Adityanath then directed the department to proceed based on the observations made by the Supreme Court and the ruling by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court,” the statement added.

In the recent Allahabad High Court ruling, a bench comprising Justice AR Masoodi and Justice Brijraj Singh set aside the selection lists issued in June 2020 and January 2022, which included 6,800 candidates of the reserved categories.

The bench also revised the earlier order and said the reserved category candidates who qualify for the general category merit list should be migrated to that category. In addition, the benefit of vertical reservation should also be extended to horizontal reservation categories, it had said.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took to X on Sunday to apparently target Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya over his recent remarks on the Allahabad High Court’s order Yadav in a post in Hindi alleged that the “favoured deputy chief minister” is part of the government that snatched reservation from the youth.

When they got justice after a long fight, he came forward to portray himself as sympathetic to their cause, he said.

Hitting back at Yadav for his remarks, Maurya alleged the “Congress’ pawn ‘SP Bahadur’s PDA is a big lie”.

‘PDA’ is an acronym for “picchde, Dalit and alpsankhyak” (backwards, Dalit and minorities) coined by Yadav in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections and battling for their rights was a major poll plank of the Samajwadi Party.

In a post on X on Saturday, Maurya had said, “The decision of the Allahabad High Court in the recruitment of teachers is a welcome step towards social justice. This is the victory of those backward category people and Dalits who fought a long battle for their rights. I welcome them wholeheartedly.”

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Indian Coast Guard Director General Rakesh Pal dies of ‘cardiac arrest’ in Chennai

Pal was in Chennai to attend an ICG event with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

By: Express Web Desk

Chennai | Updated: August 19, 2024 05:59 IST

Indian Coast Guard Director General Rakesh Pal. (Photo: X/ @IndiaCoastGuard)

Indian Coast Guard Director General Rakesh Pal died at a government hospital in Chennai following a “cardiac arrest”, Defence sources told news agency PTI on Sunday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoled Pal’s demise. On a post on social media platform X, Singh wrote: “Deeply saddened at the untimely demise of Shri Rakesh Pal, DG, Indian Coast Guard in Chennai today. He was an able and committed officer under whose leadership ICG was making big strides in strengthening India’s maritime security. My heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.”

#WATCH | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin paid last respects to Indian Coast Guard chief Rakesh Pal who passed away today in Chennai after suffering a cardiac arrest. pic.twitter.com/1dgAXf32U5

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2024

Pal was in Chennai to attend an ICG event with Singh. He was admitted to the state-run Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital (RGGH) earlier in the day, PTI reported, after he complained of uneasiness.

Singh, who also took part in a state government event to release a commemorative coin on late Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi’s birth centenary, rushed to the hospital to pay his respects after being informed of Pal’s demise.

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‘No woman safe in Bengal under Mamata Banerjee regime,’ says BJP leader Pratima Bhowmik

Pratima Bhowmik alleged that the Bengal administration and the police tried to pass off the woman doctor’s murder as a suicide.

Written by Debraj Deb

Agartala | August 18, 2024 20:49 IST

Bhowmik criticised the Opposition INDIA bloc for not ‘speaking out’ on the R G Kar incident. (Photo: X/ @PratimaBhoumik)

Former Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik on Sunday demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the recent gang-rape and murder of a woman doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

Likening the Trinamool Congress-led government to the Taliban, Bhowmik said in Agartala, “No one has got freedom of speech in West Bengal. The regime in West Bengal is functioning in Talibani style led by Trinamool Congress-backed goons. The government and the police have no role… As people have awakened, Mamata Banerjee should resign from her post. No woman is safe in Bengal till she (Banerjee) is there.”

Bhowmik alleged that the Bengal administration and the police tried to pass off the doctor’s murder as suicide and former principal of RG Kar Medical College Sandip Ghosh was neither terminated from his post nor suspended but was transferred to another big institute.

Criticising the Opposition INDIA bloc for not ‘speaking out’ on the R G Kar incident, the BJP leader said, “They always work for a community… they always prefer vote bank politics.”

Meanwhile, Tripura BJP spokesperson Subrata Chakraborty said party worker Ashish Pal succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. He was allegedly attacked by CPI(M) cadres outside a counting centre on Monday.

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Assam: Special DGP holds review meetings; multiple SITs formed to crack ULFA(I) bomb cases

Special DGP Harmeet Singh is touring the state and holding a series of security meetings with police officials of each district after the major intelligence lapse.

By: PTI

Dibrugarh | August 18, 2024 20:03 IST

Besides, two "bomb-like" items each were recovered from Sivasagar and Lakhimpur, while one each was found in Nagaon and Nalbari. (Screengrab/ ANI)

Assam Police has formed multiple special investigation teams in 10 districts where “bomb-like substances” were found, following claims by the banned ULFA(I) of planting explosives in 24 locations to trigger serial blasts on Independence Day, a senior official said on Sunday.

Special DGP Harmeet Singh is touring the state and holding a series of security meetings with police officials of each district after the major intelligence lapse, giving ammunition to the opposition to demand “immediate resignation” of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio.

“Special Investigation Teams (SITs) have been formed to investigate the 10 cases where bomb-like substances were found. We are looking forward to the safety and security of the public. Nobody will be spared if found involved in planting the materials,” Singh told reporters here.

The SITs will be led by an additional superintendent of police in the districts under the supervision of the SP, with an assistant commissioner of police leading the team in Guwahati, and the operations will be monitored by the joint commissioner of police or the commissioner himself, he added.

Police had unearthed “bomb-like substances” from at least 10 places, including four in Guwahati, after the banned ULFA (I) on Thursday claimed to have planted bombs in 24 locations across Assam on Independence Day.

Besides, two “bomb-like” items each were recovered from Sivasagar and Lakhimpur, while one each was found in Nagaon and Nalbari.

Singh said, “Our paramount responsibility is to provide safety and security to the people of Assam. The SITs are tasked with conducting a thorough investigation to determine the nature of substances and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.” He said a review meeting was convened during the day in light of the recoveries and police brainstormed the “most effective strategies” moving forward.

“I want to make it unequivocally clear that anyone who attempts to harm the citizens of this state will face consequences,” the Special DGP said.

In presence of senior officials, Singh reviewed the security arrangements of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sadiya districts under the jurisdiction of the North Eastern Range.

On Saturday, he attended a similar meeting in Sivasagar where he reviewed the scenario of Majuli, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Charaideo districts.

Singh said he will visit each district in coming days and similar review meetings will take place across the state.

Meanwhile, four persons were detained in Sivasagar in relation to the case, while a minor was picked up in Lakhimpur on Friday for questioning, officials said.

DGP G P Singh on Friday announced a cash reward of up to Rs 5 lakh for credible information leading to the identification of those involved in manufacturing, transportation and planting of the “IED-like devices” in different parts of the state.

In an email purportedly from the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) to media houses, including PTI, the outfit asserted that the bombs did not explode due to “technical failure”.

ULFA(I) said the blasts were scheduled to take place between 6 am and noon on Thursday but after failure in execution, it sought public cooperation for defusing the explosive devices.

The email, which was sent minutes after the Chief Minister completed his speech on the occasion of 78th Independence Day, prompted the security forces to send multiple teams to all the places mentioned by ULFA(I) to look for explosives along with bomb disposal squads assisted by other central security forces, including the Army.

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North and eastern India brace for heavy rainfall this week

In its forecast issued on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted widespread rainfall with intermittent heavy spells mainly over Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal

By: Express News Service

Bengaluru | August 18, 2024 19:49 IST

Most regions of north and east India, where many areas remain deprived of normal rainfall this season, will experience heavy spells during the next three to four days, the IMD said. (File photo)

The season’s rain deficit prevailing in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Jammu could ease with fresh intense spells of rainfall forecast this week.

In its forecast issued on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted widespread rainfall with intermittent heavy spells mainly over Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

The IMD said a fresh low-pressure system has developed in the Bay of Bengal and it was expected to move across Bangladesh into the Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Odisha.

With more than three-quarters of the southwest monsoon season completed, the all-India rainfall stood at 622.2 mm, which was about 4 per cent above normal.

Till now, eight states or Union Territories have recorded a deficit rainfall – Manipur (-37 per cent), Punjab (-34 per cent), Chandigarh (-30 per cent), Jammu and Kashmir (-28 per cent), Nagaland (-26 per cent), Bihar and Mizoram (-25 per cent, each) and Himachal Pradesh (-21 per cent).

Most regions of north and east India, where many areas remain deprived of normal rainfall this season, will experience heavy spells during the next three to four days, the IMD said.

Enhanced rainfall would affect Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Rajasthan and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh till August 21.

The monsoon trough, as on Sunday, prevailed along its normal position. Rainfall activity is likely to pick up towards the end of this month over peninsular India, the IMD’s extended range forecast suggested. In addition, cyclonic circulations prevailed over south-west Pakistan and north Karnataka regions, respectively.

During this week, Marathwada, and Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh are expected to receive heavy rainfall till August 24. Southern peninsular India, too, will continue to experience some rainfall activity till Tuesday. Kerala, Mahe, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and parts of Tamil Nadu are likely to receive isolated heavy rainfall spells.

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Jharkhand CM accuses BJP of poaching MLAs amid speculation of Champai Soren switching sides

Hemant Soren's statement came hours after JMM legislator and former chief minister Champai reached Delhi.

By: PTI

Godda | August 18, 2024 19:15 IST

Hemant Soren alleged that the BJP brought people from Gujarat, Assam and Maharashtra to "spread poison among the tribals, Dalits, backward classes and minorities and make them fight with each other". (File photo)

Amid speculation that JMM leader Champai Soren could join the BJP, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday accused the saffron camp of “poaching” MLAs and “dividing society”.

Soren’s statement came hours after JMM legislator and former chief minister Champai Soren reached Delhi.

Addressing a government function in Jharkhand’s Godda district, Hemant Soren alleged that the BJP brought people from Gujarat, Assam and Maharashtra to “spread poison among the tribals, Dalits, backward classes and minorities and make them fight with each other”.

“Forget about society, these people work to break families and parties. They poach MLAs. Money is such a thing that it doesn’t take long for politicians to move here and there,” he said.

Notably, Champai Soren left for Delhi on Sunday, amid speculations that he is likely to join the BJP, sources said.

A close associate of Champai Soren claimed that the former chief minister left for the national capital from Kolkata.

Soon after landing in Delhi, the JMM leader told reporters that he hadn’t met any BJP leader and was in the national capital on a “personal” visit.

Hemant Soren also said that the assembly elections in Jharkhand are due this year but the poll schedule would be “decided by the opposition party in the state, not by the Election Commission”.

“It seems the Election Commission is no longer a constitutional institution, as it has been occupied by BJP people,” he alleged.

“I challenge them (BJP) that if the assembly elections are held today, they will be wiped out from Jharkhand tomorrow,” the chief minister said.

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EAM Jaishankar calls on Kuwaiti PM, Crown Prince; discuss bilateral ties

Jaishankar, who arrived here on Sunday on a day-long visit, appreciated Sheikh Sabah's perspectives on the deepening of India-Kuwait ties and conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

By: PTI

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 18:22 IST

Jaishanakar earlier called on Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and sought his insights on taking the bilateral ties to a higher level. (Photo: x/ @DrSJaishankar)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday called on Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Muhammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and discussed ways to take the bilateral ties to a higher level.

Jaishankar, who arrived here on Sunday on a day-long visit, appreciated Sheikh Sabah’s perspectives on the deepening of India-Kuwait ties and conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Pleased to call on His Highness Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.

“Appreciated his perspectives on the deepening of India-Kuwait ties. Valued his views in regard to further economic cooperation,” he added.

Jaishanakar earlier called on Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and sought his insights on taking the bilateral ties to a higher level.

“Honoured to call on His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait. Conveyed the greetings of the President and Prime Minister,” he said in another post n X.

“India and Kuwait share centuries-old bonds of goodwill and friendship. Our contemporary partnership is expanding steadily. Thank him for his guidance and insights on taking our ties to a higher level,” Jaishankar added.

Earlier, Jaishankar was received by his Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya upon his arrival in the country.

Jaishankar’s visit will enable both sides to review various aspects of India-Kuwait bilateral relations including political, trade, investment, energy, security, cultural, consular and people-to-people contacts, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement ahead of the visit.

His comes nearly two months after 45 Indians had died in a devastating fire at a building in Kuwait. At least 49 foreign workers were killed and 50 others injured in the fire in June at the seven-storey building in Kuwait.

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Cong leader Gaurav Gogoi slams Assam CM for security failures after ULFA(I) bomb claims

Gogoi slammed the BJP-led government and questioned if police and intelligence wings were sleeping when the outfit had planted the "suspicious objects" across the state.

By: PTI

Guwahati | August 18, 2024 18:16 IST

Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi. (File photo)

Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday said Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Home Department have failed in providing security after “bomb-like substances” were recovered from at least 10 places, following ULFA(I)’s claims of planting 24 bombs.

Gogoi slammed the BJP-led government and questioned if police and intelligence wings were sleeping when the outfit had planted the “suspicious objects” across the state.

“If ULFA can plant bombs or suspicious objects at so many places, isn’t that a failure of our Home Department and intelligence? In this modern era, we are constantly under surveillance. Our phones are being tapped, I guess my phones are also tapped through Pegasus.”

“ULFA sent a strong message, and I must ask, what were the CM and his Home Department doing? Was the police asleep? ULFA carried out their plan with such precision that no one had a clue! It proves how much our Home Department has failed,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a party function in Jorhat.

Gogoi alleged that the Home Department, which is looked after by Sarma, is engaged in protecting the mafia, cow smugglers and syndicate.

“But when it came to giving security to us, it failed. The CM has failed. He failed when he was minister of Education, Health and Finance in earlier governments. Now he has failed as Home Minister also. He has only succeeded as PWD minister in floating super tenders and ordering flyovers in Guwahati and other places,” he added.

Police had unearthed “bomb-like substances” from at least 10 places, including four in Guwahati, after the banned ULFA (I) on Thursday claimed to have planted bombs in 24 locations to trigger serial blasts across Assam on Independence Day.

Following the massive security lapse, the opposition demanded immediate resignation of the Chief Minister for “total failure” of his government.

Asked if he will contest against Sarma in Assembly polls in 2026, Gogoi said, “If the party decides, I will contest from Jalukbari (CM’s constituency). If it asks me to contest from Jorhat or Golaghat, then I will do so accordingly. Whatever the party decides, I will do that.” The Congress leader said his aim is to fulfill the unfinished dream of his father and former CM Tarun Gogoi regarding development of Assam.

“Everyone understands there has been a political tremor inside BJP after the Lok Sabha elections. Prior to the elections, people from Congress joined the BJP. After the results, now people from BJP and other parties are joining the Congress.

“I assure that if the central government changes or becomes restless, if PM Modi becomes restless after the poll results of Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma will be the first person to leave that sinking ship,” he asserted.

Asked about Sarma’s recent comment that all property of his family would be donated to the public, Gogoi said the CM has listed only 2-3 property and said these would be donated to the public.

“However, he and his family members have a long list of property, of which only one per cent has been made public. He wants to keep that 99 per cent with him and only one per cent will be donated… Nobody takes his words seriously,” he added.

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Grenade hurled at former BJP MLA’s home in Manipur

No casualties were reported in the incident that took place around 10.30 pm on Saturday in Imphal East.

By: Express News Service

Imphal | August 18, 2024 18:08 IST

A team of police and forensic officials visited the spot as part of the investigation. (File/ Representational Photo)

An explosive substance was thrown on Saturday night at the Imphal East home of former BJP MLA Nahakpam Indrajit, whom a proscribed underground outfit had threatened and accused of involvement in illegal activities.

Police said no casualties were reported in the incident that occurred around 10.30 pm at the former Keshtrigao MLA’s home in Thambalkhong Sabal Leikai. The assailants came in a car, took advantage of rain and hurled what is suspected to be a hand grenade at the main gate, they said.

While the motive behind the attack is not yet clear, the Porompat police have registered a case. A team of police and forensic officials visited the spot as part of the investigation.

In its July 25 diktat, the underground outfit gave the former MLA five days to “surrender” and warned him of dire consequences.

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BJP will have no pre-poll alliance in J-K: Ravinder Raina

He said the party is fully geared up for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and will announce the first list of candidates soon.

By: PTI

Jammu | August 18, 2024 17:49 IST

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, MoS Jitendra Singh, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh and J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina with former J&K minister Choudhary Zulfikar Ali after Ali joined BJP, in Jammu, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (PTI Photo)

he Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not form any pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, state party president Ravinder Raina said here.

He, however, said discussions are ongoing with 8 to 10 independents in the Kashmir valley for contesting the elections together.

He said the party is fully geared up for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and will announce the first list of candidates soon.

“The BJP will have no pre-poll alliance with any political party in Jammu and Kashmir,” Raina told reporters here.

“We are in talks with 8 to 10 independent candidates in the Kashmir Valley. If these discussions materialise, we will formulate a strategy to contest the elections jointly,” he said.

The BJP will field its candidates in the Kashmir valley and win the elections with a majority, he said.

“We will contest majority of seats in Jammu and Kashmir. However, we are working on a strategy for joint contest with some independent candidates in Kashmir (Valley),” he said. “The BJP will have a big victory in J&K and will form its government in the union territory.” On former minister Choudhary Zulfikar Ali joining the BJP, Raina said he is a prominent leader with a strong support base in the Rajouri-Poonch belt. “The BJP will receive a significant boost from his inclusion.” Responding to former chief minister Omar Abdullah’s statement on Article 370, Raina said Abdullah’s party is losing ground in Jammu and Kashmir, which is why he is issuing such remarks.

Abdullah stated on Saturday in that as its first action after the Assembly polls in the Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir House would pass a resolution against the Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370.

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Privatisation of IAS is ‘Modi’s guarantee’ for ending reservation: Rahul Gandhi slams lateral entry

The former Congress president also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh instead of the Union Public Service Commission".

By: PTI

New Delhi | August 18, 2024 17:02 IST

"Reservation of SC, ST and OBC classes is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry on important posts in various ministries of the central government," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. (File photo)

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday termed as an “anti-national step” the government’s move of recruiting public servants through lateral entry, alleging that the reservation of SCs, STs and OBCs is being “openly snatched away” by such an action.

The former Congress president also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh instead of the Union Public Service Commission”.

Gandhi’s attack came after it emerged that 45 specialists would soon join key posts of joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries in different central ministries.

Usually, such posts are manned by the officers of all-India services — the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) — and Group A services, among others.

“Reservation of SC, ST and OBC classes is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry on important posts in various ministries of the central government,” Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

“I have always said that the underprivileged are not represented in all the country’s top posts, including the top bureaucracy. Instead of improving it, they are being pushed further away from the top posts through lateral entry,” he said.

“This is a robbery of the rights of talented youth preparing for UPSC and an attack on the concept of social justice including reservation for the underprivileged,” he alleged.

The SEBI is a vivid example of what representatives of a few corporates will do by sitting on decisive government posts, where for the first time a person from the private sector was made the chairperson, Gandhi said in an apparent reference to the conflicts of interest allegations against SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch.

The INDIA bloc will strongly oppose this “anti-national step” that hurts both the administrative structure and social justice, Gandhi said.

“Privatisation of the IAS is Modi’s guarantee for ending reservation,” he said.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Saturday advertised 45 posts — 10 of joint secretaries and 35 of directors/deputy secretaries — to be filled through the lateral entry mode on a contract basis. It is the biggest tranche of lateral recruitment being undertaken by the Centre, an official said.

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NCPCR chief questions ‘radical’ curriculum in Bihar madrasas, demands UN probe

He also questioned the involvement of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in designing such a curriculum for madrasas, calling it the "height of appeasement by both UNICEF and the Madrasa Board".

By: PTI

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 15:54 IST

The NCPCR chairman called on the United Nations to investigate these activities and urged that the Madrasa Board be dissolved. (File photo)

NCPCR Chairman Priyank Kanoongo on Sunday raised serious concerns over the “radical” curriculum in government-funded madrasas of Bihar and the enrolment of Hindu children in such schools.

He also questioned the involvement of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in designing such a curriculum for madrasas, calling it the “height of appeasement by both UNICEF and the Madrasa Board”.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairman called on the United Nations to investigate these activities and urged that the Madrasa Board be dissolved.

According to Kanoongo’s recent post on microblogging platform X, textbooks such as Talimul Islam are being used in these institutions, which label non-Islamic individuals as “kafir” (infidels).

He noted with alarm that Hindu children are also reportedly enrolled in these madrasas, but the Bihar government is yet to provide official figures.

On the question of transferring Hindu children from madrasas to regular schools, the Bihar Madrasa Board reportedly stated that the madrasa curriculum was prepared by UNICEF India, Kanoongo said in his post and condemned it, saying it was the “height of appeasement” by both the bodies.

“It is not the UNICEF’s job to create a radical curriculum using money received as donations and grants from governments, under the guise of child protection,” read his post in Hindi on Sunday.

A reaction is awaited on the matter from UNICEF.

Many books included in the curriculum of these madrasas are published in Pakistan and research on their content is ongoing, the NCPCR chairman said.

“A madrasa is not a place for basic education of children in any form, children should study in regular schools and Hindu children should not be in madrasas at all,” Kanoongo said.

Kanoongo further highlighted that the use of funds for activities outside the scope of the Right to Education (RTE) Act constitutes a violation of both the Indian Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as he demanded a probe into these activities by the United Nations in India and the UN.

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Amit Shah: CAA doesn’t take away citizenship, Cong-led previous govts let ‘intruders’ in

Amit Shah said that those who took refuge in India were denied their rights due to the appeasement politics of past governments.

By: Express News Service

Mumbai | Updated: August 19, 2024 01:44 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during the inauguration of various developmental projects, in Ahmedabad. (PTI)

The Congress-led governments of the past indulged in politics of appeasement by not granting citizenship to refugees from neighbouring countries but allowed “intruders” into India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said while awarding citizenship to 188 Hindu refugees from Pakistan under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Ahmedabad Sunday.

Hailing CAA as an act of giving rights to lakhs of refugees living in India and not to take away citizenship of the minorities, he added that laws are for the people and not the vice-versa. “On the one hand, you allowed intrusion from the borders, you let crores of intruders enter and get citizenship illegally. On the other hand, you told those who follow law, who gave you application (to get citizenship) that there is no such scope in the law. The law is for the people, people are not for the law,” he said.

“In the past, those who took refuge in India between 1947 and 2014 were not given this right (citizenship) and justice was not done by the governments led by the Congress and its allies owing to the policy of appeasement. They were persecuted in the neighbouring countries because they were Hindu, Jain, Buddhist or Sikh, but their persecution continued in our country. They longed for justice for three generations, but this policy of appeasement of INDI alliance did not give justice to those refugees. BJP leader (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi provided them justice,” Shah added.

Facing the consequences of the Partition, Congress leaders had promised citizenship to Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain refugees from neighbouring countries, the Gandhinagar MP said. “Congress leaders had taken appropriate decision… But as elections arrived, promises made in 1947, 1948, and 1950 by Jawaharlal Nehru and calls made by Mahatma Gandhi were forgotten, because they (Congress) felt that if granted citizenship, it would anger their vote bank. Because of appeasement, lakhs and crores of people were denied citizenship. There cannot be a bigger sin than this,” Shah alleged.

He said that the journey from 1947 to 2019, and from 2019 to 2024 (CAA was enacted in 2019) will be remembered differently in the history of India. He also asked why the previous governments had not given citizenship to those refugees, who took refuge in India to save their mothers and daughters and religion.

“In 2014, we had promised that if the BJP gets the mandate, we will bring CAA. We did bring CAA in 2019. We started providing justice to crores of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs who were deprived of justice,” Shah, who is also the Union Minister of Cooperation, said.

He told refugees from all over the country to apply for citizenship without hesitation as this will not affect their job or their properties since they will be granted citizenship with retrospective effect. “The law has no provision of criminal cases. Everyone is pardoned because the government had delayed and not you,” he said.

Shah also touched upon the subject of religious persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh over the years. “At the time of Partition, 27 per cent of Bangladesh’s population was Hindus. Today, it is 7 per cent. Where did they go? They were forcefully converted. Do they not have a right to follow a religion of their choice? If they can’t live with self-respect in the neighboring country and then come to us for refuge, what should we do? We can’t be just a mute spectator,” the Union minister said.

Earlier in the day, Shah attended an event of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in the Prahlandnagar area to inaugurate or lay foundation stone of developmental works worth Rs 1,003 crore. Appealing to people to grow trees, Shah praised AMC’s resolve to plant 30 lakh trees in 100 days.

– With PTI inputs

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Ex-Jharkhand CM Champai Soren leaves for Delhi amid speculations of him likely to join BJP

Some media reports had on Friday claimed that Soren could join the saffron party ahead of the Jharkhand assembly elections.

By: PTI

Ranchi/jamshedpur | Updated: August 18, 2024 17:58 IST

Soren had on Saturday said he had no idea about the speculations. (File)

JMM leader and former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren left for Delhi on Sunday amid speculations of him likely to join the BJP, sources said.

A close associate of Soren claimed that the former chief minister left for the national capital from Kolkata on Sunday.

He refused to divulge further details.

Soon after landing in Delhi, Soren told reporters that he hasn’t met any BJP leader and he is in the national capital on a “personal” visit.

Some media reports had on Friday claimed that Soren could join the saffron party ahead of the Jharkhand assembly elections.

But, Soren had on Saturday said he had no idea about the speculations.

“I don’t know anything about such speculations and reports… I am where I am…” he had told reporters here before leaving for Jamshedpur.

When BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Amar Bauri was asked about speculations of Soren joining the BJP, he said, “I have no official confirmation. I am getting information only through the media.”

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Minor girl gangraped in bus parked at Dehradun ISBT, 2 drivers among five held

From the CCTV footage, the officer tracked down the bus driver, a resident of Bhagwanpur area, and during interrogation, the names of four others surfaced, he said.

Written by Avaneesh Mishra

Dehradun | Updated: August 19, 2024 08:00 IST

According to senior police officers, the girl told the CWC about the sexual assault during a counselling session.

Five persons were arrested and booked Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl on August 13 inside a bus parked at Dehradun ISBT, said the police.

The girl was earlier taken into the custody of State Child Welfare Committee (CWC) after a guard found her alone at the ISBT on the afternoon of August 13. Later, during a counselling session, she alleged she was sexually assaulted.

Members of the state CWC had lodged a complaint based on which the police registered an FIR against the five accused — Dharmendra Kumar (32), driver of the bus the girl was on, Devendra (52), the bus conductor, Ravi Kumar (34), a driver of a Volvo bus, Rajpal (57), who was assigned to the Volvo bus, and Rajesh Kumar Sonkar (38), a cashier at the ISBT, said Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh.

Police said they have allegedly confessed to the crime. Police have seized the bus, where the alleged incident took place and the Volvo bus parked next to it, Singh said.

An FIR has been filed under section 70(2) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to the gangrape of a minor, as well as sections of the POCSO Act.

“On August 13, around 1.30 am, a guard at the ISBT noticed a girl sitting at a shop while a man was talking to her. Finding it suspicious, he alerted our 1098 Child Helpline. When questioned, the girl seemed fine and only mentioned that her parents had passed away and she had come from Patiala. Following standard procedure, she was handed over to the CWC after basic counselling and shifted to the Government Girls Home for her safety,” said SSP Singh.

During subsequent counseling sessions, the girl, suspected to be mentally challenged, did not mention the alleged sexual assault or any medical issues, Singh said. Therefore, a basic medical test was conducted and no rape test was done at the time, he said, adding that the girl neither had a phone nor any identification on her.

“During the third counselling session on August 16, it was revealed that she is from Moradabad and had travelled to Dehradun from Delhi on a state roadways bus. The assault also came to light during this session. The girl alleged that five people had sexually assaulted her. A team comprising female officers have been formed to investigate. We have also found video footage which shows a person lingering near the girl. This has been corroborated with the guard’s account,” said the SSP.

From the CCTV footage, the officer tracked down the bus driver, a resident of Bhagwanpur area, and during interrogation, the names of four others surfaced, he said.

Investigation revealed that the accused driver of the Delhi-Dehradun bus noticed the girl at the Kashmiri Gate bus station, Singh said, adding that the girl boarded the bus, which left Kashmiri Gate at 4.30 pm Monday and arrived in Dehradun around 10:30 pm.

“The bus was then parked at the ISBT bus parking area. The girl was found around 1:30 am Tuesday, and the incident occurred between that time,” said Singh. Later, the police received information that the girl’s parents were alive, and she had reportedly left home on many occasions earlier without informing them.

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Forest teams expand search for tiger that strayed out of Sariska National Park

The tiger attacked four people in Darbarpur village in Khairthal-Tijara on Thursday.

By: PTI

Jaipur | August 18, 2024 12:28 IST

Five-seven forest teams are camping in Jhabua forest in Rewari after pugmarks of the tiger -- ST 2303 -- were found in the area, Sarkiska Range Forest Officer Sitaram Meena said on Sunday. (Photo: Mohnish Kapoor/GTF PIC2)

Forest teams have expanded their search to track a tiger that strayed into the jungles of Rewari in Haryana from Rajasthan’s Sariska National Park after attacking four people in Khairthal-Tijara district.

Five-seven forest teams are camping in Jhabua forest in Rewari after pugmarks of the tiger — ST 2303 — were found in the area, Sarkiska Range Forest Officer Sitaram Meena said on Sunday.

“The forest is dense so it is difficult to tranquillize and trap the big cat. We have alerted the villagers and the administration about the movement of the tiger. Efforts are being made to trap it,” he said.

The tiger attacked four people in Darbarpur village in Khairthal-Tijara on Thursday. One person was severely injured in the attack.

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Tripura CM launches intensified awareness programme to control HIV/AIDS

Before launching the awareness programme, Saha held a review meeting on HIV/AIDS-related issues at the Civil Secretariat on Saturday.

By: PTI

Agartala | August 18, 2024 12:22 IST

Launching the campaign on Saturday, the CM stressed on the importance of public awareness and precautionary measures needed to check and control the spread of HIV infection. (Express Photo)

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha launched a state-wide intensified information education and communication (IEC) campaign to raise mass awareness among the people of the state about HIV and AIDS.

Launching the campaign on Saturday, the CM stressed on the importance of public awareness and precautionary measures needed to check and control the spread of HIV infection.

Before launching the awareness programme, Saha held a review meeting on HIV/AIDS-related issues at the Civil Secretariat on Saturday.

“Chaired a review meeting of the Tripura State AIDS Control Society at the Secretariat, discussing progress, challenges, and future strategies to combat HIV/AIDS in the state. The meeting discussed the progress, challenges and future strategies to combat HIV/AIDS in the state.

“Committed to ensuring quality healthcare and support services to all and achieve the target of ending HIV/ AIDS by 2030!” the chief minister said in a post on X.

In the meeting, the CM said, “Students from school to college level should be made aware of the dangers of this disease… “.

Saha said permission has already been granted to start drug rehabilitation centres in eight districts of the state, which was also mentioned in the state budget.

“Additionally, another rehabilitation centre with modern facilities will be constructed in Bishramganj under Sepahijala District,” said Saha.

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Opinion

- Ashok Gulati writes: The path to Viksit Bharat runs through fields

- August 19, 1984, Forty Years Ago: Protests For NTR

- SC verdict on states taxing mining activities: Unfounded spectre of retrospective taxation

- Express View: In India-Bangladesh ties, stakes are high

- Japan’s Foreign Minister writes: India and Japan, co-creators of new solutions

- Vandita Mishra writes: PM Modi’s I-Day speech, between the lines

- Faizan Mustafa writes: UP’s anti-conversion law will create social disharmony

- R G Kar Hospital incident underline needs for legal protection for safety of healthcare workers

- Mental health of medical students can no longer be ignored

- A safe space, between home & our clinic

- Disparity among Dalits needs to be acknowledged

- Tavleen Singh writes: Why PM Modi’s Independence Day speech this year was uninspiring

- P Chidambaram writes: Things are not what they seem to be

Ashok Gulati writes: The path to Viksit Bharat runs through fields

Investing in R&D, irrigation, opening up land-lease markets, and building value chains of perishables can help India provide food security in the face of climate change.

Written by Ashok Gulati

August 19, 2024 07:55 IST

India’s agri-growth has been moderate in relative terms. In the 20 years from 2004-05 to 2023-24, which covers both the Manmohan Singh and the Narendra Modi governments, agri-GDP increased by 3.6 per cent on average. (Illustration by C R Sasikumar)

India’s 78th Independence Day is an occasion to look back on our major achievements as well as failures. We need to learn from them to move faster towards the Prime Minister’s cherished dream of Viksit Bharat@2047. The year 2047 seems distant, but to achieve the ambitious goal, we must have our milestones clearly defined for every three to five years till 2047. This will help us measure progress on a given time scale, and if required, course-correct midway. India is, of course, not the only country with such challenges. When we become viksit by 2047, where will other major countries be, especially those in our neighbourhood?

The two fundamental duties of the state are to secure borders and promote peace and prosperity at home. I am not an expert on border security, but suffice it to say, that India has managed reasonably well on that front despite conflicts with Pakistan and China. However, the rapid rise of China poses both economic and military challenges. Almost all our neighbours are moving closer to China. We need better policy and diplomacy.

Domestic peace and prosperity come primarily from freedom from hunger and poverty. When India gained Independence in 1947, more than 75 per cent of the country’s population was shackled by extreme poverty. Four years before Independence, in 1943, an estimated 1.5 to 3 million people died of starvation. The biggest debacle on the food security front, however, took place in China, where an estimated 30 million people died of starvation during the Great Leap Forward from 1958 to 1963. Both nations had exploding populations in 1960s and had major challenges in feeding their people. Both were saved by the introduction of new technologies in agriculture — India witnessed the Green Revolution in the late 1960s, and China too experienced a similar breakthrough.

China learnt its lessons much earlier than India, and ushered in economic reforms in 1978, starting with agriculture. It dismantled the commune system, moved on to the household responsibility system and freed the prices of most of its crops from government control. As a result, the income of China’s farmers increased by more than 14 per cent per annum between 1978 and 1984. It is this rise in real incomes in rural areas that provided the demand base for items, produced by China’s Town and Village Enterprises (TVEs). Today, China is the hub for global manufacturing, and its per capita income is almost five times that of India in dollar terms.

China’s farm sector produces almost double the value of produce than that of India even though it has less area under cultivation. China has not only opened land lease markets for 30 years but also supports its farmers immensely, primarily through income support on a per acre basis. The Chinese government also gives the country’s farmers market price support (producer support estimate or PSE), which is even higher than in the OECD countries. In contrast, India’s PSE is negative. In other words, the government actually taxes farmers through restrictive trade and marketing policies, even though it gives input subsidies — in fertilisers or power, for example.

At the same time, we must also remember that China imposed the one-child norm from 1981 to 2016, which contributed to a faster rise in the country’s per capita income. There is a lot to learn from this experiment. Although India cannot and should not impose the one-child norm, investing in the girl child’s education is critical to contain population growth, especially at lower levels of income.

India’s agri-growth has been moderate in relative terms. In the 20 years from 2004-05 to 2023-24, which covers both the Manmohan Singh and the Narendra Modi governments, agri-GDP increased by 3.6 per cent on average. This is reasonably good to feed the nation, especially because population growth has been coming down over the years — it’s below 1 per cent per annum today. India is also a net exporter of agri-produce. Its exports in the last three years are around $51 billion, while the country’s imports amount to $34 billion. While the exports are diversified — rice, marine products, spices and buffalo meat — India’s imports are primarily that of edible oils and pulses.

The government has been harping on achieving self-sufficiency in pulses. However, that is not going to happen if it goes about the objective in a business-as-usual manner. In fact, if the policies do not change for the better, I am afraid the country’s imports may go up to eight to 10 million tonnes by 2030 because the demand is likely to touch 40 million tonnes — we have been producing between 22 to 25 million tonnes in the last seven to eight years. Pulses are less water- and fertiliser-consuming. If governments reward farmers who grow pulses with the kind of subsidies they provide rice cultivators — in power and fertiliser — the country will not only be self-sufficient in pulses but people will eat healthier diets. The change will also have a positive effect on soil, water, and environment (GHG emissions). Our research at ICRIER suggests that providing Rs 35,000/ha to farmers in the Punjab-Haryana belt for at least five years could encourage a shift from paddy to pulses. The change requires bold policy making, but it is doable provided the Centre and the states join hands.

Agri-R&D, irrigation, opening up land-lease markets, building value chains of perishables on the lines of the Amul model are some of the other policy measures that need to be put in place. Only then can India provide food security on a sustainable basis in the face of climate change. Nutritional security still remains a major challenge. Roughly 35 per cent of our children below the age of five are stunted. We need to move from food security to nutrition security.

The writer is Distinguished Professor at ICRIER. Views are personal

August 19, 1984, Forty Years Ago: Protests For NTR

August 19, 1984, Forty Years Ago: About 170 MLA supporters of the former chief minister, N T Rama Rao, will be paraded before President Zail Singh on August 20 to demonstrate the majority support he still enjoyed and to expose the unconstitutional manner in which his ministry was dismissed.

By: Editorial

August 19, 2024 07:50 IST

August 19, 1984, Forty Years Ago: This is the front page of The Indian Express published on August 19, 1984, Forty Years Ago.

About 170 MLA supporters of the former chief minister, N T Rama Rao, will be paraded before President Zail Singh on August 20 to demonstrate the majority support he still enjoyed and to expose the unconstitutional manner in which his ministry was dismissed. This was decided by an all-party action committee as part of a plan to get the “puppet government” of N Bhaskara Rao dismissed and the Rama Rao ministry installed immediately.

17 Dead In AP

The death toll in police firings on irate mobs protesting against the dismissal of the N T Rama Rao ministry in several parts of Andhra Pradesh rose to 17, with four people succumbing to injuries and delayed reports of two more deaths in police firing in the Cuddappah district. This takes the number of persons killed in police firing on violent agitators to 19.

Karnataka’s Turn?

The Kranti Ranga leader, S Bangarappa’s talks with Congress (I) MPs during his current visit to the capital led to speculation in political circles on the possibility of a Kashmir and Andhra-type operation being repeated in Karnataka. Bangarappa said his current visit had no political significance. Bangarappa had a meeting with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, some months ago when the question of the merger of the Kranti Ranga faction led by him with the Congress (I) had been discussed.

South Africa Polls

The Security Council has declared as “null and void” South Africa’s “so-called new constitution” and the elections to be held along racial lines. The 15-member Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution sponsored by the eight-member non-aligned group “strongly” rejecting both the “constitution” and the “elections”.

SC verdict on states taxing mining activities: Unfounded spectre of retrospective taxation

While the SC has softened the financial setback for companies, it is undeniable that this protracted judicial process and reversal of verdicts can undermine business confidence

By: Editorial

August 19, 2024 07:30 IST

Retrospective taxation essentially implies raising a new tax demand for a time in the past when such a tax did not exist.

On July 25, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that states in India have the power to tax mining activities, and that their collecting “royalties” from mining leaseholders does not violate the Constitution. This ruling has wide-ranging ramifications not just for India’s federal polity but also for the mining companies. The apex court was soon moved by mining companies with the aim of convincing it to apply this ruling prospectively — that is, starting 2024. Last week, the SC ruled that the ruling will be applicable from 2004. This has raised concerns about the spectre of retrospective taxation, but a close reading of the latest verdict suggests that this is not the case.

Retrospective taxation essentially implies raising a new tax demand for a time in the past when such a tax did not exist. But the facts of the current case are substantially different. In 1989, in the India Cements case, a seven-judge SC bench ruled that royalty is a tax and the states can’t raise any such revenue demands. In 2004, in the Kesoram case, a five-judge bench revisited this issue and concluded that there was a “typographical error” in the India Cements judgment. While this judgment by a smaller bench could not overturn the 1989 ruling, it set the precedent for different states to raise demands for royalty payments from companies. In 2011, the SC took notice of the continuing confusion on the matter and sent it to a bigger nine-judge bench, the Mineral Area Development Authority or MADA case. The MADA ruling in July conclusively overturned the 1989 India Cements judgment. In its ruling last week, the same nine-judge bench chose to start the application of its ruling from 2004 — the date of the Kesoram case verdict. The court explained that it applies prospective overruling when a law is found to be ultra vires to the Constitution. But, “In the case of taxing statutes, such a declaration would make the State liable to refund all amounts collected under the invalid legislation.”

While the SC has softened the financial setback for companies — they are required to pay only the principal amount, not the interest, and the payment can be staggered over 12 years — it is undeniable that this protracted judicial process and reversal of verdicts can undermine business confidence. However, the primary responsibility of creating a stable policy environment lies not with the court but with policymakers — both at the Centre and states. In this regard, it is all the more important that policymakers ensure that — as the sole dissenting voice, Justice B V Nagarathna, warned — this verdict does not lead to the “breakdown of the federal system” in the context of mineral development.

Express View: In India-Bangladesh ties, stakes are high

Delhi must engage all political forces and institutions in Bangladesh to get a sense of its changing domestic dynamics, and to guard against surprises ahead

By: Editorial

August 19, 2024 07:27 IST

There is far too much at stake — in the form of economic interdependence and mutual security — for Delhi and Dhaka to allow suspicions and grievances to overwhelm the need to preserve a beneficial partnership.

The first conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief adviser to the new government in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, last Thursday, underlines the imperative of geography that binds the two nations and the resilient foundation for good relations that has been laid in the last decade and more. Underlying the positive conversation was a recognition by both sides of the importance of putting behind some of the acrimony between Delhi and Dhaka triggered by the tumultuous conditions under which the old order collapsed in Bangladesh and Delhi’s anxious response to it. On his part, PM Modi reiterated “India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh” and underlined Delhi’s “commitment to supporting the people of Bangladesh through various development initiatives.” Yunus assured Modi “that the interim government would prioritise the protection, safety and security of Hindus and all minority groups in Bangladesh”.

There is far too much at stake — in the form of economic interdependence and mutual security — for Delhi and Dhaka to allow suspicions and grievances to overwhelm the need to preserve a beneficial partnership. To be sure, there are lingering concerns in Delhi on how the new rulers came to power in Dhaka; and there is a deep sense of hurt in Bangladesh that India stood by the authoritarian rule of Sheikh Hasina until the very end. As reports in this paper from Dhaka in the last few days have highlighted, senior officials of the new regime as well as leaders of political parties that were opposed to Hasina fully understand the importance of the relationship with India and are open to looking ahead rather than continuing to bicker about the past. Yet, the two sides need to be mindful of the potential dangers to the re-engagement between Delhi and Dhaka.

India was right in providing refuge to Sheikh Hasina. But Delhi needs to impress upon the former PM the dangers of indulging in political activity from Indian soil. Dhaka, too, must avoid the temptation of embarking on legal processes to extradite her from India that will put Delhi in an awkward position. At stake is not just the question of managing this delicate moment in bilateral relations. It is, even more, about ending the bouts of violent retribution that have followed every major political change in Bangladesh. Bangladesh needs internal political reconciliation; it also needs a long overdue closure on the nation’s disputed history and contested identity. The continuing mob violence in Dhaka undermines the lofty ideals of the student movement to build a new democratic order in Bangladesh. There are enough forces within and outside Bangladesh that are desperate to hijack the student movement for their own narrow political ends and drag the nation back into perpetual internal conflict. Undoubtedly, the new order in Bangladesh is fragile; Delhi must engage all political forces and institutions in the country, without prejudice, to get a deeper sense of its changing domestic dynamics and to guard against political surprises ahead. For now, though, helping Yunus succeed is India’s best insurance against continuing instability in Bangladesh.

Japan’s Foreign Minister writes: India and Japan, co-creators of new solutions

The friendship between Japan and India is built on a common foundation of long historical ties and democracy. As the world faces various challenges and stands at a turning point in history, Japan and India are expected to make a significant contribution to peace and stability.

Written by Kamikawa Yoko

Updated: August 19, 2024 07:52 IST

Japan Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Today, I am visiting India for the first time since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs. As a member of the Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship Association and a long-time promoter of Japan-India relations, I am sincerely looking forward to feeling the vibrancy of India.

Japan and India have historical ties which date back to the introduction of Buddhism in the 6th century. My hometown, Shizuoka Prefecture, also has deep ties with India. For example, while Shizuoka is famous for its green tea, Tada Motokichi, who ran a tea business in Shizuoka in the 19th century, is said to have learned black tea production techniques in India, brought them back to Japan, and applied them to green tea production.

Japan and India, which forged such deep ties, launched the “Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership” in 2014, and in the past decade have dramatically strengthened our relationship in wide-ranging areas. Through our past efforts, I am convinced that there are tangible possibilities for further cooperation in the future. Based on this conviction, I would like to broaden the scope of our bilateral relationship built up over the years, and further deepen our relationship in the following four areas by formulating concrete projects.

First, in the area of defence and security, my visit will include the third Japan-India Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”), the first such meeting in nearly two years. Cooperation in the security area has made remarkable progress in recent years, including joint exercises between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Indian Armed Forces in all types of land, sea, and air forces, as well as efforts to promote defence equipment and technology cooperation. Through this “2+2” meeting, I would like to share our understanding of the strategic environment, and further promote various efforts. I look forward to fruitful discussions with Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Minister Rajnath Singh.

Japan Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko

Second, in the economic area, we have made steady progress in specific projects including our flagship High-Speed Rail project, the development of the northeastern region, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi attaches great importance to, and the industrial value chain concept linking the northeastern region of India to the Bay of Bengal. In addition, our countries are firmly committed to achieving the 5-trillion-yen target of public and private investment and financing in five years, which was set by the leaders in 2022. Building on this track record of cooperation, we will continue to promote cooperation in new areas such as Green Transformation and Digital Transformation, as well as development of the investment and business environment, to take our relationship to the next stage.

Thirdly, ties between the people of Japan and India are the foundation of our bilateral relationship, and we would like to greatly expand the base of people-to-people exchange in the future. The extension of this year’s “Japan-India Tourism Exchange Year” to fiscal year 2024 was announced on the occasion of the Japan-India Strategic Dialogue in March. From September to October, various events will be held intensively in India as “Japan Month”, and similar events will be held in Tokyo as “India Month”. We hope that these efforts will further promote mutual exchanges between our countries.

Fourth, I would like to work with India in the area of Women, Peace and Security (WPS), which the Japanese government has firmly promoted in recent years and which is also my lifework. WPS is based on the idea that society can be much closer to a more sustainable peace through the participation of women themselves in leadership positions in prevention as well as humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, while at the same time working to protect vulnerable groups such as women in times of crisis. India is one of the countries that has deployed many women in PKOs, and at the Japan-Australia-India-US (Quad) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo last month, which I hosted and in which Minister Jaishankar also participated, we committed to contributing to and implementing the WPS Agenda, including its application to disaster risk reduction. We would like to consider how we can materialise cooperation with India on WPS.

In addition to these bilateral efforts, Japan and India are deepening cooperation globally, including through multilateral frameworks. At the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting last month, we reaffirmed our opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion, and our steadfast commitment toward the realisation of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP).

The friendship between Japan and India is a unique one, as it is built on a common foundation of long historical ties and democracy. As the world faces various challenges and stands at a turning point in history, Japan and India, as partners in “co-creating” new solutions, are expected to make a significant contribution to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. I sincerely hope that my visit to India will mark a new page in the Japan-India relationship and lead to the further deepening of our partnership.

The writer is the Foreign Minister of Japan

Vandita Mishra writes: PM Modi’s I-Day speech, between the lines

He sounded different. Even when he spoke of a big and controversial move — the Uniform Civil Code — he did it with an uncharacteristically constrained style

Written by Vandita Mishra

August 18, 2024 21:34 IST

In 2014, the newly-elected PM had announced that he was not going to play by the old formalities and rules so far — his I-Day speech seemed to carry that message. (Photo: X/ @narendramodi)

Dear Express Reader

There was a sameness to the frame, but as Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke from the ramparts of Red Fort, he sounded somewhat different. Listening to his 11th consecutive I-Day speech, it was possible to spot an absence: There was no striking new coinage.

In 2014, the newly elected PM who had come riding a clamour for change from a Congress dispensation surrounded by allegations of corruption, and a long-simmering Hindu assertion risen to the surface, had announced that he was not going to play by the old formalities and rules so far — his I-Day speech seemed to carry that message.

The new prime minister said two things that stood out in his first I-Day speech on August 15. He spoke on the issue of swachhta, or sanitation, urging MPs to use their constituency development funds to build toilets in homes and schools, and separate toilets for girls in schools: ”In one year we should be able to build toilets so that on Independence Day next year, we can proudly say all the schools in the country have toilets”.

And, less than two years after the gruesome rape and assault of a young woman in a bus in Delhi had become a crime story that struck a chord across the nation, he spoke of the need for families to hold their sons accountable rather than impose more restrictions on their daughters. Every parent asks their daughter where she is going, when she will be back home. “But do these parents ask their sons where they are going?” he asked. Because those who rape are someone’s sons, he said.

At that time, the PM used the grandeur of the occasion and the imposing locale to reach inside homes to talk to people about the need for cleanliness and about raising their sons better. It seemed to be a marker of the just-begun prime ministership — the ability to speak many languages, to make small moments large, and the ambition to speak to the people directly, dispensing with mediators and mediating institutions.

There was no comparable moment of outreach in PM Modi’s 11th I-Day speech at the Red Fort. It could be that 10 years later, after an election verdict that has stripped his party of a majority and made him dependent on allies, he has lost some of the confidence in his own ability to pierce the abstraction and strike an intimate chord — that confidence had, even in the last I-Day address in 2023, made him address the nation as “mere parivarjano (my family members)” instead of the more conventional “mere deshvasiyon (my countrymen)” or the stereotypical “bhaiyon aur behenon (brothers and sisters)”.

Or it could be that 10 years on, despite the self-congratulation, he knows that on the ground, on both sanitation and crimes against women, for instance — the two issues he once framed in a different language from the Red Fort — there are no clean slates and large areas of changelessness.

Vinesh Phogat has just returned from Paris, her photographs in today’s newspapers show a wan face, trauma still writ large. It was not just the 100g of excess weight that finally kept her from the winner’s podium, it is, also, the arduous odds she had to fight against in her own country in the run-up to the Olympics. Her ordeal had started after she took on Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, six-term MP, five times on the BJP ticket, accused of sexual harassment by some of the country’s most decorated women wrestlers.

As Phogat fought the ruling establishment in the Wrestling Federation, the Modi-led government mostly remained a mute and unmoved spectator — it took the court’s intervention and direction even to file an FIR, the task of breaking the standstill was passed by an abdicating government to the court.

On swachhta or sanitation, to see the distance not travelled, go to any small town in UP or Bihar, and see how garbage and poor drainage in particular still discolour and sully public spaces. The signboards and slogans of the Swachhta Abhiyan are an unintended reproach. They point to the unfinished task, its dismal obstinacies and difficulties, not to any accomplishment.

This I-Day, then, PM Modi did not have either the heady mandate, or the benefit of doubt, that he had in 2014 and his speech reflected that. It had no breakout moments, and it stayed within the well-worn Modi territory of framing broad-brush aspirations — “Viksit Bharat at 2047” — and painting an enemy within — those who have “vikrit mansikta (perverted mentality)” and who are naysayers or “nirashavadi”.

Even when he spoke of a big and controversial move — the Uniform Civil Code needs to be implemented, he said — he did it with an uncharacteristically constrained style.

The UCC is a “core” issue for the BJP, and the only one of the three — the Ram temple and Article 370 being the other two — that remains unfulfilled. It has rightly raised apprehensions, especially in the minorities, of the BJP’s intent to impose uniformity, flatten out India’s diversities.

A UCC must be brought in, the PM said, which is “secular” not “communal”, after a discussion that must be joined by the people, and because the Constitution mentions it and the Court has said it is a desirable goal.

The fact that he called it “secular” — so far, for the BJP, secular has been a term of abuse — and that he called for a larger debate and sought the shield of Court and Constitution, makes this big strike different from his other moves that have revelled in shock-and-awe, secrecy and the attempt to take by surprise.

Till next week,

Vandita

Faizan Mustafa writes: UP’s anti-conversion law will create social disharmony

There has been scarcely any informed debate on the efficacy of laws against religious conversion. Any such conversations have been part of a narrative based on the bogey of Hindus losing their majority.

Written by Faizan Mustafa

Updated: August 18, 2024 20:36 IST

In recent years, some BJP-ruled states have either passed or changed laws that deal with religious conversion.

There will be no lasting peace between or within nations without peace among and within religious communities. Religious conversion has been a fractious issue in Independent India. Religion has arguably also made some aspects of the Universal Civil Code (UCC) and the Abrogation of Article 370 more contentious.

The UCC’s goal has been partly achieved with the enactment of a such a code in Uttarakhand and the Presidential assent to it, even though some of its provisions are inconsistent with central laws applicable to Hindus. Religious conversion, thus, is the only issue that needs to be settled, especially since the right wing in the country has consistently talked of the “threat” of Hindus converting to Christianity and Islam.

Conversion is a social problem. Can a law solve it? Why are no statistics presented to shine a light on the number of prosecutions under anti-conversion laws? How many of these cases have resulted in convictions? The first anti-conversion laws were passed as early as 1968 in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha by the Samyukta Vidhayak Dal and Swatantra Party governments. However, their efficacy in curbing conversion remains a matter of debate. In any case, why should the state’s permission be required to change religion – a purely private matter?

Conversations on conversion rarely take the form of an informed debate, substantiated by data. Even a liberal like Atal Bihari Vajpayee had called for a national debate on conversions, but no such debate was ever held. In recent years, some BJP-ruled states have either passed or changed laws that deal with religious conversion. Changes to existing laws are often justified on the grounds that they weren’t adequate deterrents. For instance, while introducing UP’s Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the state’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Suresh Khanna said, “Kanoon ko aur kattar banaya gaya hai” (the law has been made more stringent).

Passed on July 30, the piece of legislation is of a piece with the trite narrative of Hindus losing their numerical majority. The Bill has increased the punishment from 10 years imprisonment to life imprisonment for fraudulent or forced conversion. It’s a different story that even the death penalty hasn’t deterred crime in the country.

Abjuring the classical principle of defining penal acts, the UP Bill defines the offence in a wide and extremely loosely worded manner: “Threatening, attacking, marrying, promising to marry, conspiring, or trafficking a woman, minor, or anyone with the intent to convert as a serious crime punishable with imprisonment up to 20 years or life imprisonment (the remainder of convict’s life).” In other words, courts cannot remit life imprisonment – like in the Bilkis Bano case, which the Supreme Court overturned – in “forced conversion” cases.

One is at loss to understand the wording of the Bill: Why couldn’t its drafters think the term “anyone” will ipso facto encompass minors and women?

The new stringent law could create tensions amongst communities because, under its Section 4, any person can register an FIR in conversion cases. Earlier only the person’s relatives could have filed a FIR. In most cases, such FIRs are not likely to lead to convictions as has been the experience with almost all such laws.

Historically, most conversions to Islam and Christianity in India have taken place from among the ranks of the economically poorest and socially most defenceless Hindus. The Hindu majority saw converts as people who had betrayed the nation by dividing the community. It saw conversion as an act of revolt against the higher Hindu castes, which claimed to have resisted what many Hindus saw as a religio-cultural invasion by foreign conquerors. Therefore, it is no coincidence that religious conversions were condemned by many Hindu organisations, several of whom also advocated re-conversion to Hinduism (ghar wapsi). Therefore, all anti-conversion laws exempt reconversion though re-conversion too is nothing but conversion.

In the Constituent Assembly, leaders with a rightist bent had suggested a ban on conversions. But the proposal was rejected. Thus, the Constitution allows people to “profess, practice and propagate” religion. Propagation means to transmit or spread one’s religion by the exposition of its tenets. Where propagation ends and conversion begins is difficult to say. But the law as it stands today is quite clear that “propagation” does not include “conversion”. Those favouring a national anti-conversion law often take the support of the Supreme Court judgment in Rev. Stanislaus v. State of Madhya Pradesh (1977), in which the Court held that the MP Freedom of Religion Act, 1968 and Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1968 are valid and not ultra-vires to the Constitution even though the Acts were hindrances in the propagation of one’s religion. It was held that the “right to propagate” does not mean the “right to convert”.

Soli Sorabjee, India’s attorney general during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, had advocated the review of Rev Stanislaus.

The right to propagate one’s idea is inherent in the concept of speech and expression. In his magisterial work, Constitutional Law of India, H M Seervai, one of India’s best legal minds, described the decision as “productive of great public mischief”.

That said, forcible and fraudulent conversion is indeed bad and not approved by any religion. By the same logic then, shouldn’t the denial of benefits of affirmative action to lower caste converts be seen as an “inducement” and “allurement” to remain within the Hindu fold? A petition on this issue has been pending in the SC for decades.

It is necessary to remind ourselves about the India Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of. He said, “I do not expect the India of my dream to develop one religion, that is, to be wholly Hindu or wholly Christian or wholly Mussalman, but I want it to be wholly tolerant, with its religions working side by side.”

The author is the Vice-Chancellor of Chanakya National Law University, Patna. The views are personal

R G Kar Hospital incident underline needs for legal protection for safety of healthcare workers

Healthcare practitioners often work under immense stress. They have to closely interact with the public during their most vulnerable and emotional moments. To do their jobs effectively, they need legislation that shields them from violence

August 18, 2024 14:00 IST

Despite widespread outcry for enacting a central law to protect healthcare workers, lawmakers are yet to take action.

By Hamad Bin Khalid

The recent horrific incident at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, where a female resident doctor was raped and murdered while on duty, underscores a painful reality: The urgent need for national legislation to ensure the safety of healthcare workers across India. This tragedy is not an isolated one: It is a disturbing reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by those who dedicate their lives to caring for others. Protection for doctors and the entire community of healthcare workers, including medical, paramedical and support staff is important. Anyone involved in providing essential healthcare services is at risk of facing violence, often from an aggressive and emotionally charged public.

Despite widespread outcry for enacting a central law to protect healthcare workers, lawmakers are yet to take action. The fact that public health and hospitals are state subjects under the Indian Constitution adds to the complexity of this issue. A draft Bill, the Health Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill of 2019, was proposed and solicited for suggestions and objections. However, the Home Ministry decided not to move forward with it, expressing concerns about the potential for other professional communities to seek similar protections. While this decision reflects a broader consideration, it is important to acknowledge that healthcare is an essential service, with practitioners often working under immense stress and closely interacting with the public during their most vulnerable and emotional moments. This environment can breed violence, making the need for legal protection all the more urgent.

The daily reality for healthcare professionals is one of constant sacrifice. Doctors, nurses and allied paramedical staff often neglect their own safety, health and personal needs to prioritise patient care. They work long hours under immense pressure, frequently putting their own lives at risk. It is disheartening that despite the genuine and understandable need for protection, healthcare workers have not yet received the legal safeguards they require.

As a healthcare professional practising in one of the premier teaching hospitals in the capital city of India and having served in multiple states across the country, I can unequivocally state that violence against healthcare professionals has reached alarming levels over the past few years. This increase in violence is directly attributable to the lack of legal protection for healthcare workers. The ongoing protests by doctors across the country are making a plea for the enactment of the Central Protection Act (CPA) for healthcare workers.

Examining the evolution of legislation addressing violence against healthcare workers in India reveals a distressing lack of uniformity. The Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Amendment Act of 2023 was enacted after the tragic murder of Vandana Das, a junior doctor on duty in Kerala last year. While such legal reforms are welcome, it is saddening that it takes tragedies to spur action. We should not have to wait for more lives to be lost before enacting meaningful protections. Several states have implemented laws to protect healthcare workers, but the approach of individual states addressing this issue has led to a patchwork of laws that are often inconsistent and filled with loopholes. The ordinance promulgated in April 2020 to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, during the Covid-19 pandemic, rightly recognised the importance of healthcare workers’ relentless efforts. However, healthcare workers must receive comprehensive legal protection not only during pandemics but in routine times, so they can serve the public without fear of harassment or assault.

Healthcare workers are not asking for special treatment or recognition of the nobility of their profession. They are simply seeking the safety and protection necessary to perform their duties effectively and serve the nation better. Healthcare workers are human — they have families and loved ones and the same emotions as everyone else. Despite this, they are often on call at all hours of the day and night, responding to queries and providing medical opinions because they understand the urgency and importance of their work. Even during protests, many are trying to ensure that no patient is left untreated and that emergency services are not disrupted because they know how critical their role is. It is time for the public and lawmakers to recognise the righteousness of this cause and support it. We must come together to advocate for this much-needed legislation to safeguard those who dedicate their lives to our well-being.

The writer is senior Resident Doctor, the Department of Hospital Administration, AIIMS, New Delhi

Mental health of medical students can no longer be ignored

The constitution of a taskforce to study the mental health of medical students is a welcome measure. Governments at central and state levels, however, need to do more and address mental health challenges of all sections of people.

Written by K. Sujatha Rao

New Delhi | August 18, 2024 11:58 IST

. The Commission’s online survey showed that a whopping 27.8 per cent of undergraduate students had mental-health conditions and 31.3 per cent of postgraduate students had suicidal thoughts. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)

On August 16, The Indian Express reported that the National Medical Commission has constituted a Task Force for the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Medical Students in response to the alarming incidents of 122 suicides by medical students in the last five years. The Commission’s online survey showed that a whopping 27.8 per cent of undergraduate students had mental-health conditions and 31.3 per cent of postgraduate students had suicidal thoughts. Clearly, mental health cannot be neglected anymore — it needs a calibrated policy.

The 2015-16 National Mental Health Survey showed that 10.6 per cent of the above 18-year-old population had such disorders – this includes 16 per cent of those in the productive age group of 30-49 years. The survey revealed that the lifetime morbidity affected 150 million people, with 1 per cent reporting high suicidal risk. The human resources required to deal with the condition and treatment facilities are woefully inadequate. This means that the treatment gap in the country is an extremely disquieting 80 per cent.

It has been apparent for some time now that mental health is low priority for policymakers. Against an estimated need of over Rs 93,000 crore for addressing this challenge, the Union government earmarked Rs 600 crore in 2019 (the allocation in the latest Budget is Rs 1,000 crore, less than 1 per cent of the health budget) of which 93 per cent was for tertiary institutions such as NIMHANS and the psychiatry departments of medical colleges, leaving Rs 40 crores for the District Mental Health Programme and other community-based initiatives. Of this amount, only Rs 2.91 crore was spent.Poor policy attention is often ascribed to the “lack of political will”. However, the more important reason is the substantial knowledge gap – “how-to” intervene and “when-to” intervene are often difficult challenges for policymakers.

The rights-based National Mental Health Policy of 2014 and the Mental Health Act of 2017 did indicate a shift in policy towards ensuring that the mentally ill receive as much priority as those suffering from physical ailments and are treated with dignity. While the policy and the Act delineate a clear vision, there is a lack of clarity on implementation, the financial and physical resources required, and by when.

A common critique of India’s policymaking system is the substantial hiatus between what needs to be done and what is actually feasible and doable. Formulating strategic interventions requires a nuanced understanding of the challenges and constraints within which a system works. Such initiatives require consultation and dialogue among all stakeholders. India’s success in stemming HIV-AIDS can offer lessons in the country’s endeavours to tackle mental health-related challenges. To formulate policy and implement the National Aids Control Programme’s-III’s strategy, the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) sought the intervention of 20 Technical Resource Groups, with at least 250 representatives from diverse sections of society such as academia and those involved in sex work.

The HIV-AIDS story has lessons in four key realms. One, crafting strategic interventions based on epidemiological evidence drawn from a concurrently operating surveillance system. Two, the importance of modelling different options and the wide array of interventions required in different geographies among different target groups. These exercises provide data related to cost-effectiveness and supply crucial information required for scaling up interventions. Three, advocacy related to systemic issues and removal of stigma – here, parliamentarians, media, judiciary, police and other government departments were involved. Four, engagement with leaders of the community and civil society – this endeavour was allocated 25 per cent of the budget. The programme framers realised that without the active engagement of community leaders, the policy would not touch the lives of the most marginalised, especially the groups which are often stigmatised. The programme was centrally funded. Most importantly, however, the interventions were designed with active participation and dialogue with states and affected communities.

Such an approach is urgently needed to craft an implementable strategy for mental-health patients – like HIV-AIDs patients, their condition is chronic, they require empathy from society and commitment from different government sectors. Mental-health problems are often products of the times: Pressures and stress caused by poverty, growing inequalities of opportunity, the frustrations due to lack of jobs, judgmental and discriminatory environment on account of barriers of caste, gender and religion are powerful triggers which, if left unaddressed, can keep recurring despite medication. In other words, biomedical approaches are not enough to teach mental-health conditions.

Notwithstanding the policy vacuum, civil society has been active.

Good quality research and solid evidence based on models of rehabilitation and care continuum of those with mental disorders is available, thanks to the pioneering efforts of groups such as Banyan in Tamil Nadu, Sangath in Goa and Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy in Pune. Evidence-based strategies such as creating short-stay homes and emergency care centres and peer leader-led interventions need to be studied for scaling up. The Chennai-based Banyan, for instance, focuses on addressing the needs of an estimated 60 lakh homeless and abandoned women, who are mentally ill, through its innovative Home Again intervention. This is a comprehensive strategy consisting of five stages – awareness, rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration with family. Public policy focuses on treatment. In contrast, the Banyan model continues to engage with people who have received treatment and helps them to develop the necessary social skills to get reintegrated with society and family.

It is time the government prioritises mental health and implements community-anchored and affordable interventions. In the ultimate analysis, public policy on mental health must be driven by a sense of justice. An autonomous implementing agency along the lines of NACO can help mobilise the required financial and human resources, balance institutional care with community involvement and enable the widening of the effort for addressing the varied needs of affected people at different levels. The constitution of a taskforce to study the mental health of medical students is a welcome measure. Governments at central and state levels, however, need to do more and address mental health challenges of all sections of people.

The writer is a Former Union Health Secretary

A safe space, between home & our clinic

As colleagues, we watch each other’s backs, but unfortunately nothing seems to be enough. Fear of violence/sexual assault exists in the mind of every woman doctor at work.

Written by Dr Manali Agarwal

Updated: August 18, 2024 10:46 IST

There have been case fatalities where doctors have been at the receiving end of the wrath of the patient’s family and bystanders, who refuse to accept that the patient was critical when brought in.

Much of the conversation today is focussed on the recent rape and murder at Kolkata’s R G Kar Hospital. It’s sad that it took an extreme episode to finally talk about the challenges that women medicos have been facing for years, compelling some of us to take self-defence classes.

As an intern, I had rural postings in peripheral areas in PHCs , where we had to do night duty for casualty cases. We would get traffic accident cases regularly, where the patient would be inebriated and invariably misbehave with us. Lack of proper security personnel worsened the situation. Often, bystanders and goons would also join in.

There have been case fatalities where doctors have been at the receiving end of the wrath of the patient’s family and bystanders, who refuse to accept that the patient was critical when brought in. We have heard of innumerable cases of doctors being beaten up by a patient’s family. This kind of violence against healthcare workers has become the norm, rather than the exception. We have also recently heard of an incident at a hospital in Delhi where a patient walked around semi-naked and made inappropriate gestures at women doctors.

In remote areas, commuting to and from the medico’s residence/hostel to the hospital is a challenge since official vehicles are not always available. The duty doctor has to arrange their own means of commuting, which mostly includes walking alone on the streets. Sometimes, there is no dedicated duty doctor room in departments and residents don’t have a proper place to rest. Some hospital areas also lack a designated changing room for women residents.

Simple security measures can be reassuring for women residents. For example, provide official vehicles during odd hours to ensure safe pick-up and drop. Identify blind zones on campus that have no CCTV coverage. CCTVs ensure continuous monitoring and help security personnel respond promptly to any suspicious activity. The campus must be well-lit and guards posted at dark spots. Also, signage must be put up at various places, highlighting penalties under the law for violence against medicos.

While immediate steps are necessary, we must also address the larger systemic issues that contribute to the vulnerability of women in the healthcare sector. For long, we have been urging the government and relevant authorities to implement the Central Healthcare Protection Act, dedicated to the safety of healthcare workers, particularly women, in their workplaces. We have been campaigning for a government oversight committee to regularly audit the safety measures in place at medical institutions and ensure compliance with the highest standards of security.

Above all, a safe space mostly exists in the mind. So we must foster a culture of respect within our medical institutions. Regular training programmes on gender sensitivity, workplace harassment and the legal rights of healthcare workers should be made mandatory for staff and students. There should also be counselling services or legal aid for healthcare workers suffering from workplace harassment.

As medical interns, women have devised their own armour. Almost everybody these days carries pepper spray, shares their live location with family and takes care to come “appropriately” dressed at their workplace. As colleagues, we watch each other’s backs, but unfortunately nothing seems to be enough. Fear of violence/sexual assault exists in the mind of every woman doctor at work. And that’s really not a good space to be in when she has to deliver the best care she can. All I can say is that this case is just the tip of the iceberg.

The writer, a former senior resident at AIIMS, New Delhi, is a clinician

Disparity among Dalits needs to be acknowledged

In fact, recognising internal disparity is an opportunity to both cultivate spontaneous solidarities among Dalit castes and actualise the constitution of a genuinely unified Dalit category and politics.

Written by Milind E Awad

Updated: August 18, 2024 10:45 IST

While there is broad agreement among stakeholders on the introduction of creamy-layer status within SC/ST reservation, sub-classification based on caste has received mixed responses.

A  seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court said states can create sub-classifications within the reserved categories for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). After this decision, along with the masses and political parties, elite universities and public institutions have become the battleground for discussing sub-classification and creamy layer issues. It is evident that there are two views on sub-classification: one in its favour, the other in its opposition.

However, both are critical of introducing the creamy-layer clause in SC categorisation. The Cabinet too has clarified that there is no plan to implement the creamy layer exclusion for SC and ST quota. This consensus stems from the shared notion that SCs and STs are historically humiliated communities and that reservation, in this case, is an attempt to redress generational social exclusion. Thus, creamy-layer sub-categorisation that excludes economically secure members of the SC/ST community cannot be used as a form of differentiation for the latter to continue to face discrimination.

While there is broad agreement among stakeholders on the introduction of creamy-layer status within SC/ST reservation, sub-classification based on caste has received mixed responses. Critics argue that it will fragment the pan-Dalit identity, and that privileged sections of the SC/ST communities are assertive and visible because they embraced the process of Ambedkarisation. Finally, they highlight the limited character of social change achieved by reservation and  demand its effective implementation.

However, this ‘pan-Dalit identity’ is projected by the meta-narrative created by SCs visible in the public sphere, who not only participated in the Ambedkarite movement but also achieved a middle-class status thanks to reservation in education and employment early on.

Moreover, the visibility of communities including the neo-Buddhists (Maharashtra), Malas and Adi-Andhras (Telangana and AP), Holeyas (Karnataka), Pallans and Paraiyars (TN), Pulayas (Kerala), and Jatavs and Chamars in (north India) can also be attributed to their sizable population. However, communities including the Mangs (Maharashtra), Madigas (Telangana), Arunthathiyars (TN), and Valmikis and Mazhabis (north India) are ‘late entrants’ in the anti-caste movement.

The procedural history of sub-classification can be traced to the B N Lokur Committee constituted in 1965. It observed that the welfare benefits were concentrated in “numerically large and politically well-organised communities”.  Ten years later, Punjab issued a notification giving preference to Valmiki and Mazhabi Sikh castes, identified as most backward, in SC quota. In the 1990s, the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi  emerged as a strong voice, demanding sub-classification in AP. In response, the state formed the R Raju Committee. Based on its recommendation, AP created sub-classification within SC reservation that was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2004.

However, the demand for sub-classification in SC reservation by state and non-state actors was not an isolated case. We have seen the formation of commissions across India recommending categorisation and sub-classification of the SC reservation based on their findings: Hukum Singh Commission (UP, 2001), Lahuji Salve Commission (Maharashtra,  2003), Sadashiva Commission (Karnataka,  2005), Usha Mehra Commission (Centre, 2007) and the Janarthanam Commission (TN, 2008).

I argue for extending the social justice principle underlying the SC/ST reservation to castes that have not been able to access welfare resources. If reservation was introduced to redress the enormous socio-economic inequality among historically disadvantaged castes through proportional representation, then why not use the same principle for backward castes within the SC category? In the same context, the Supreme Court’s 2024 verdict takes note of the data and rationalises the necessity of sub-classification for the most disadvantaged and marginalised groups that have failed to access the benefits of reservation.

Thus, instead of penalising or silencing the internal contradiction within the Dalit community, it is pertinent that those upholding the cause acknowledge the vast disparity in socio-economic status, education and employment in the community. In fact, recognising internal disparity is an opportunity to both cultivate spontaneous solidarities among Dalit castes and actualise the constitution of a genuinely unified Dalit category and politics.

Milind E Awad teaches at JNU and is a Dalit rights activist

Suraj Yengde, author of ‘Caste Matters’, curates Dalitality, and has returned to Harvard University

Tavleen Singh writes: Why PM Modi’s Independence Day speech this year was uninspiring

If Modi’s speech this year was uninspiring, it is because he has few new achievements to list. We must hope that real change happens now.

Written by Tavleen Singh

Updated: August 18, 2024 19:25 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Red Fort during Independence day celebration in New Delhi on Thursday. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

As someone born three years after India awoke to ‘life and freedom’ on that magical midnight, I had the misfortune to spend my growing years in those socialist decades when everything was shabby, second rate and in short supply. So for me, personally, the liberalisation that a Congress prime minister was forced to bring remains among the best things that have happened in our journey as a modern nation. The truth is that we got political freedom on August 15, 1947, but along with it came an economic dictatorship through central planning. It was the liberalisation brought by P V Narasimha Rao that gradually dismantled the licence raj. It is sad that this Congress prime minister has been so disrespected by his own party. He deserves our reverence and gratitude.

This was the first thought that crossed my mind while listening to the Prime Minister’s long speech from the Red Fort last week. But I paid attention to how Narendra Modi praised his own ‘reforms’ and wondered if he knew that there has been only a limited amount of real reform in the past decade. Roads, airports, trains stations and ports are being built faster, which is good. The welfare state is more efficient, which is also good. And history will record that one of Modi’s real achievements was the dramatic change in rural sanitation brought by the Swachh Bharat campaign that he announced in a more memorable speech from the Red Fort. I found it hard to agree with him when he asserted that he had transformed governance.

This is not true. The reason why none of the new denizens of that privileged enclave known as Lutyens’ Delhi has discovered this is because there is an iron dome above this piece of expensive real estate that prevents all real information from breaking through. Modi’s ministers are more inaccessible than Congress ministers ever were. This could be because he never had the courage to kick them out of their palatial bungalows and order them to live as more humble Indians do. This has led to serious failures in governance.

A recent, scary example is the way his Education Minister began by denying that there had been paper leaks in the NEET examinations or that the National Testing Agency (NTA) was seriously flawed. It was only because desperate students took to the streets and news channels took up their cause that this minister was forced to listen.

One of the most important reforms that should have been made in the past ten years is in the sphere of education. Millions of Indian children are forced to turn to government schools and colleges, because they are all they can afford, and they remain as lousy as they were before. Modi’s chief ministers have governed some of our most backward states in the past decade, and they did nothing to improve the rotten school system they inherited. The Prime Minister spoke of how he wanted to see a time when Indian students would not need to go abroad for higher education, but does he know that this remains a distant dream because of his government’s neglect of real reform. It is silly to boast of how many new colleges have been built if they continue to offer nothing that can be called an education. Quality is the problem. Not quantity.

My mind continued to wander during the speech, so I started calculating the things that India has achieved and the things that we have failed to achieve. Achievements make a shorter list. It is to the credit of Narasimha Rao and Narendra Modi that India at least looks better than it did in the years before the economy was liberalised. Private enterprise has bloomed and flourished and today we have world-class companies, hospitals, colleges, schools, hotels and restaurants. They would be much better if governance had improved enough to get officials out of the way. This has not happened so what has bloomed alongside is corruption as a mega industry.

If colonial governance had not continued to be practised by the men living under that iron dome much more could have been achieved. Instead of tinkering with this and that, the Law Minister should have discovered by now that the justice system does not work. It is too cumbersome, too expensive and too stuck in administrative methods that died in developed countries a century ago. The Minister for Urban Affairs would have noticed that our cities and towns look like vast slums with oases of cleanliness and prosperity dotted here and there. Has the Prime Minister noticed yet that there are no smart cities?

When Modi became prime minister a decade ago, he seemed to mean it when he promised economic liberalisation, but this has turned out to be a false promise. When was the last time you heard of a government company being privatised? When was the last time you heard an official mention the word? It must be sadly said that Modi has spent ten years walking along the same path that Congress prime ministers walked and it is a path that leads to that decrepit socialist India in which midnight’s children and some who came a few years later spent their childhood and youth. If Modi’s speech this year was uninspiring, it is because he has few new achievements to list. We must hope that real change happens now.

P Chidambaram writes: Things are not what they seem to be

Did Ms Buch disclose her past connections and actions — and the potential conflict of interest — to SEBI, to the government, to the Justice Sapre Committee, and to the Supreme Court?

Written by P Chidambaram

Updated: August 18, 2024 10:42 IST

If you cut out the superstition, melodrama and the chaos, you will find the truth. The central question was, what was the source of investment in a business group? The group denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the money was legitimate.

The unfolding saga of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has gripped the attention of the business and financial world. Sherlock Holmes said, “If you remove superstition, melodrama and chaos, all you’re left with is cold facts.” The superstition in the saga is that a government always speaks and acts in the interest of the people. The melodrama is that the story pits Big Business against the Small Investor and at the end of the day we must avoid blood and gore. The chaos is because too many people speak in too many voices and the result is only noise.

If you cut out the superstition, melodrama and the chaos, you will find the truth. The central question was, what was the source of investment in a business group? The group denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the money was legitimate. The doubters alleged that the money was through over-invoicing and round-tripping, and was illegitimate. SEBI investigated the matter and reported that it had found, prima facie, nothing wrong, but the doubters were not satisfied. Ultimately, the Supreme Court asked a five-member Committee under Justice Sapre to investigate and report.

What Committee Found

What the Justice Sapre Committee found — and could not find — are important. The Committee found that there were 13 overseas investors including 12 foreign portfolio investors (FPI). The ‘beneficial owner’ of each FPI had been disclosed but the ultimate beneficial owner — the last natural person in the chain — had not been disclosed. Why? Because the requirement to disclose the last natural person had been done away with in 2018! Nevertheless, SEBI claimed that it had investigated the ownership of the 13 overseas entities since October 2020 but had drawn a blank. The Committee’s comment was scathing:

“Without such information SEBI is unable to satisfy itself that its suspicion that has been aroused can be put to rest. The securities market regulator suspects wrongdoing but also finds compliance with various stipulations in attendant regulations. Therefore, the record reveals a chicken-and-egg situation.”

On the connected question if the investors or their beneficial owners were ‘related parties’ to the investee companies, the Committee found that the terms ‘related party’ and ‘related party transaction’ had been amended substantially in November 2021 but with prospective effect, some from April 1, 2022 and some from April 1, 2023! The Committee’s comment on this aspect was equally scathing:

“Having adopted the path of making explicit stipulations prospectively, the feasibility of testing the principles underlying the regulations governing related party transactions has been eroded.”

The final conclusion of the Committee was that “…it appears that the legislative policy of SEBI on the ownership structure of FPIs has moved in one direction while the enforcement by SEBI is moving in the opposite direction.”

Sebi Carries On

Nevertheless, SEBI continued with its investigations into 24 specific cases. When the Committee’s report was submitted to the Supreme Court, the Court heard arguments and by an order dated January 3, 2024 upheld SEBI’s actions. The Court also directed SEBI to complete its investigations in three months. Seven months have elapsed.

Conflict Of Interest

Everyone thought that the allegations of the short-seller, Hindenburg Research, had been given a quiet burial in January 2024, but the short-seller hit the headlines again in August 2024 when it made allegations against Ms Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson of SEBI, and her husband, Mr Dhaval Buch. Ms Buch was appointed whole time member of SEBI in April 2017. After she completed her tenure, and a gap, she was appointed Chairperson on March 1, 2022. When the crucial decisions were taken in 2018 and 2021-24, Ms Buch was in a decision making position in SEBI.

Allegations of conflict of interest have been made against Ms Buch. It appears that she and her husband had economic interests in entities that were investigated by SEBI and reviewed by the Justice Sapre Committee. Ms Buch admitted her investments but offered explanations: they were made when she and her husband were private citizens; that they had redeemed the investments upon her appointment in SEBI; and that the companies concerned had become dormant soon after.

The issue is not whether there was wrongdoing or actual conflict of interest on the part of Ms Buch. The issue is not whether the government is shielding Ms Buch in order to shield the business group. Rather, the issue is a simple and straightforward one: Did Ms Buch disclose her past connections and actions — and the potential conflict of interest — to SEBI, to the government, to the Justice Sapre Committee, and to the Supreme Court? Apparently not. Nor did Ms Buch recuse herself from the investigations.

Assuming all the facts in Ms Buch’s favour, at the least she committed a grave and culpable error. She ought to have made a disclosure and recused herself from the case. Her participation has tainted the investigations. She must resign and the allegations investigated de novo.

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UPSC Key | Mpox outbreak, Global Development Compact, Lateral entry and more

Exclusive for Subscribers Daily: How are the Global Development Compact and Mpox outbreak relevant to the UPSC Exam? What significance do topics like the Lateral Entry and Uniform Civil Code have for the preliminary and main exams? You can learn more by reading the Indian Express UPSC Key for August 18, 2024.

Written by Roshni Yadav

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 21:55 IST

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified mpox as a global public health emergency. Know more in our UPSC Key. (File/ Representational Photo)

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Govt & Politics

Last-century financial bodies failed to fight challenges: PM proposes ‘Global Compact’

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story- Proposing the creation of a human-centric “Global Development Compact”, PM Narendra Modi Saturday called the Voice of the Global South Summit a platform to “give voice to the needs and aspirations of those who have been unheard till now”.

Prerequisites:

— What do you understand by the term “Global South”?

— Read about the Voice of the Global South Summit.

Key takeaways:

— PM Modi, delivering his opening remarks during the virtually held India-hosted third summit, said, “global governance and financial institutions formed in the last century have been unable to fight the challenges of this century.”

— Announcing the ‘Compact’, PM Modi said needy countries will not be burdened with debt in the name of development finance. The foundation of the ‘Compact’, he said, will be based on India’s development journey and experiences of development partnership.”

— “Under this Compact we will focus on trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, technology sharing, project-specific concessional finance and grants. To strengthen trade promotion activities, India will start a special fund of USD 2.5 million,” he said, adding that a fund of USD 1 million will be provided for this.

— Urging that steps be taken to reduce the gap between the Global North and the Global South, he said the Summit of the Future in the UN next month can become an “important milestone for all this” and emphasised that the Global South need to unit, stand together in one voice, become each other’s strength and learn from each other’s experience.

For Your Information:

— In the simplest sense, Global South refers to the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania. Most of these countries, where 88 per cent of the world population lives, experienced colonial rule and historically lagged in achieving substantial levels of industrialisation.

— The developed countries of North America and Europe, on the other hand, are often referred to as the Global North. These countries have a history of pursuing imperial policies.

— According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Global South countries typically exhibit lower levels of development, higher income inequality, rapid population growth, agrarian-dominant economies, lower quality of life, shorter life expectancy, and significant external dependence.

— The term Global South, thus, denotes political, geopolitical, and economic similarities between nations. Hence, it should not be conflated with strict geographical connotations. For instance, most Asian countries fall under the Global South. Yet, countries such as Israel, South Korea, and Japan are considered part of the Global North because of their higher levels of development.

Points to Ponder:

— What is the Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Repository?

— Evaluate the significance and emergence of the term Global South.

— What are the challenges for India as a leader in the Global South?

— What is the significance of Africa for India in its vision for the Global South?

Post Read Question:

The rise of the Global South as an economic and political force has brought focus on the changing global order. Comment.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

20th-century global institutions unable to face present challenges, say PM Modi, Jaishankar, urge Global South to unite

UPSC advertises 45 lateral entry posts; plot to keep SC/ST away from quota: Kharge

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance, polity and governance

Mains Examination:  GS-II: Constitution, Polity and Governance

What’s the ongoing story- The Union Service Public Commission  (UPSC) Saturday sought applications for lateral entry from private sector, state/UT government and PSU employees for 45 posts of Joint Secretary, Director and Deputy Secretary across 24 Central ministries which will be filled on contract basis by September 17.

Prerequisites:

— What is ‘lateral entry’ into the bureaucracy?

— Read the constitutional provisions related to the UPSC.

Key takeaways:

— Appointment to the posts will be on a contract basis for a period of three years, extendable to five years depending upon performance, and central government employees are not eligible for the posts, the advertisement said.

— The lateral recruitment — referred to as appointment of private sector specialists in government departments — began in 2018 after NITI Aayog and the Sectoral Group of Secretaries on Governance recommended it in its report in 2017.

— “Keeping in view their specialised knowledge and expertise in the domain area, lateral recruitment at the level of Joint Secretary, Director and Deputy Secretary in Government of India, has been undertaken to appoint persons for specific assignments. So far 63 appointments have been made through lateral entry at the level of Joint Secretary, Director and Deputy Secretary during the last 5 years. Presently 57 officers are in positions in Ministries/ Departments,” Jitendra Singh, MoS for Personnel, had told the Rajya Sabha on August 8.

For Your Information:

— In 2019, Minister of State for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha that “lateral recruitment is aimed at achieving the twin objectives of bringing in fresh talent as well as augment the availability of manpower”.

— Basically, the idea behind lateral recruitment is for the government to tap into individuals’ domain expertise and specialised know-how, regardless of whether they are career bureaucrats or not.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the benefits of lateral entry into the bureaucracy?

— What is the criticism of lateral entry recruitment?

— How have lateral entries been kept out of the ambit of reservation?

— What are the major administrative reforms recommended by the committees?

Post Read Question:

How is lateral entry into the bureaucracy a challenging administrative reform?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

UPSC issues ad for lateral entry into bureaucracy: What is the policy, why it has no reservation provision

AIMPLB says UCC unacceptable, PM’s ‘secular civil code’ pitch objectionable

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Constitution, Polity, Government policies and interventions

What’s the ongoing story- Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) during his Independence Day address, saying it’s time the country moves towards a civil code that is “secular” and not “communal” and “discriminatory” as the existing one, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Saturday said Modi’s call is “highly objectionable” and “unacceptable.”

Prerequisites:

— What is the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?

— Read the constitutional provisions related to religious freedom and UCC.

— Know about the personal laws in India.

— What was the Constituent Assembly debate regarding the adoption of UCC?

Key takeaways:

— “The Board in no uncertain terms makes it clear that it is unacceptable to Muslims as they will never compromise with Sharia Law (Muslim Personal Law),” the statement read, adding that its spokesperson SQR Ilyas — in a press statement — has expressed “shock at the PM’s announcement to term Personal Laws based on religion, as communal ones and to further replace them with a Secular Civil Code.”

— From the ramparts of Red Fort on Thursday, PM Modi had said, “… I say it is the need of the hour that there should be a Secular Civil Code in the country. We have spent 75 years under the Communal Civil Code. Now we will have to move towards a Secular Civil Code. Only then we will get relief from the discrimination happening on the basis of religion in the country…”

For Your Information:

— A Uniform Civil Code would provide for one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities, in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, etc.

— The framers of the Constitution recognised the need for uniform personal laws, but placed it in the Directive Principles of State Policy. Article 44 of the Constitution says that “the State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India”.

— Article 44 is among the Directive Principles of State Policy. Directive Principles are not enforceable by court, but are supposed to inform and guide governance.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the arguments for and against the implementation of UCC?

— Analyse the Conflict Between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.

— What are the challenges associated with the implementation of UCC?

— What has the 22nd Law Commission said about UCC?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(1) Consider the following provisions under the Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in the Constitution of India: (UPSC CSE 2012)

1. Securing for citizens of India a uniform civil code

2. Organising village Panchayats

3. Promoting cottage industries in rural areas

4. Securing for all the workers reasonable leisure and cultural opportunities

Which of the above are the Gandhian Principles that are reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Mains

Discuss the possible factors that inhibit India from enacting for its citizens a uniform civil code as provided for in the Directive Principles of State Policy. (UPSC CSE 2015)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

PM’s UCC pitch: Time for secular civil code, lived 75 yrs with communal one

The 360° UPSC Debate: Is Uniform Civil Code ‘unnecessary and undesirable’ or ‘justice for all communities’

Express Network

Mpox outbreak risk low, keeping eye on travellers: Health Ministry

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, III: Government policies and interventions, Science and Technology

What’s the ongoing story- Health units at airports, seaports, and ground crossings will be sensitised, 32 laboratories will be ready along with the health facilities for detecting, isolating, and managing cases of Mpox, health ministry said on Saturday.

Prerequisites:

— What do you understand by the term “pandemic”?

— What is Mpox?

— Know about the criteria of the WHO to declare any disease a public health emergency of international concern.

— Read about the WHO.

Key takeaways:

— A joint monitoring group under the chairmanship of director general of health services Dr Atul Goel said that the risk of a large outbreak in the country remains low but there was a possibility of the infection being imported by travellers.

— Since the beginning of 2022, India has recorded 30 cases of Mpox — previously referred to as Monkey Pox — with the last case being recorded in March this year. No cases of Mpox have been recorded in India during the current outbreak, the statement said.

— Earlier this week, the World Health Organisation sounded its highest level of alarm for Mpox again — the outbreak between July 2022 and May 2023 was also declared Public Health Emergency of International Concern. While the infections were largely caused by the less deadly clade II Mpox during the previous outbreak, the current concern stems from a faster spreading and deadlier variety.

— The current outbreak is largely caused by clade I Mpox, which is now transmitted sexually. While clade I infection is known to be transmitted through close contacts or coming in contact with infected droplets on surfaces, transmission through sexual contact has not been reported earlier.

For Your Information:

— Mpox, a viral disease previously known as monkeypox, has recently garnered significant global attention due to its increasing spread and the emergence of new variants. It is a self-limiting disease but can lead to death, especially among children and those with weak immune systems.

— The World Health Organization (WHO) classified mpox as a global public health emergency. This comes after a surge in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the virus spreading to neighbouring countries.

— Mpox was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Over the decades, mpox cases have arisen intermittently in many African countries, with occasional outbreaks in non-African regions as a result of international travel and the importation of infected animals.

— The vaccines developed for smallpox are up to 80 per cent effective against mpox.

Points to Ponder:

— What is the difference between endemic, pandemic and epidemic?

— What is India’s preparedness against the pandemic?

— What is the role of WHO in providing global health security?

Post Read Question:

(2) With reference to the Mpox, consider the following statements:

1. It was first discovered in humans in Nigeria.

2. It is not transmitted from animals to humans.

3. The vaccines developed for smallpox are up to 80% effective against mpox.

4. The World Health Organization classified mpox as a global public health emergency.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

WHO declares Mpox a global health emergency again

IMD rain forecasts for Mumbai wrong by 42% in July. What explains these extreme misses?

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian geography

Mains Examination: GS-I, GS-III: Important Geophysical phenomena, Science and Technology

What’s the ongoing story- When Mumbai woke up on July 8, it was taken by surprise – large parts of the city were inundated in the 200 mm overnight rains. But nothing about the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) prediction, issued the previous day, had prepared the city for the downpour. The agency had issued a yellow alert, which meant the city was expected to receive up to 115 mm of rainfall in 24 hours. But the metropolis ended up getting 267 mm rain in the period.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)

— What are Doppler Weather Radars?

Key takeaways:

— This wasn’t a rare miss by the IMD. Data reviewed by The Indian Express shows that the agency, despite being equipped with some of the most advanced instruments, issued inaccurate district forecasts for Mumbai on at least 13 days in July, of which, on eight days, the forecast warnings were off by more than 25 per cent.

— Mumbai is home to two doppler weather radars, one of the most sophisticated instruments in modern meteorology….Through the regular scans, the radars help in providing localised forecasts depending on cloud developments and other factors.

— IMD acknowledges that its forecasts, particularly the city-specific forecasts, have not been perfect, but says its accuracy levels are improving.

— “IMD’s forecasting systems have improved by 40-50 per cent in the last decade compared to previous years. But it needs to be understood that weather forecasting is a nonlinear science, which means that unlike other sciences, weather has greater unpredictability,” said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology.

— In the last one decade, IMD has seen a significant increase in its observational network. It operates more than 400 weather stations, besides having over 1,000 automatic weather stations and 1,300 automatic rain gauges. That has enabled IMD to provide much better forecasts. But the weather systems have also become much more unpredictable in the last few years. This is particularly true of extreme weather events,  exposing the inadequacies of the IMD.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the weather forecasting methods used by the IMD?

— What challenges are faced by the IMD in providing accurate weather forecasts?

— What steps have been taken by the government concerning Meteorology in India?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(3) With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.

2. An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Nino’s impact on the monsoon.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Mains

Discuss the meaning of colour-coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas given by India Meteorological Department. (UPSC CSE 2022)

Front Page

Karnataka Gov sanctions CM prosecution

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Constitution, Indian Polity and Governance, Various Constitutional posts, powers, functions.

What’s the ongoing story- Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot on Saturday accorded sanction for prosecution against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and allowed three private complainants to file cases in court seeking a probe against him over allotment of 14 housing sites in Mysuru to his wife in 2021 (when the BJP was in power) in exchange for 3.16 acres of land acquired from her by Mysuru authorities.

Prerequisites:

— Constitutional provisions related to the Governor and State Government.

— Office of Governor-know the historical background

— Know about the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and  Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Key takeaways:

— “I hereby accord sanction against Chief Minister Sri Siddaramaiah under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for the commission of the alleged offences as mentioned in the petitions,” Gehlot said in a August 16 communication released Saturday.

— The Karnataka government is expected to challenge the Governor’s decision. “Cabinet has decided that the sanction for prosecution has no constitutional backing. We are going to challenge… It has strongly condemned the Governor for working as a representative of the Central government,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said.

For Your Information:

— Article 153 of the Constitution says “There shall be a Governor for each State.” A few years after the commencement of the Constitution, an amendment in 1956 laid down that “nothing in this article shall prevent the appointment of the same person as Governor for two or more States”.

— The landmark case of Shamsher Singh v State of Punjab, decided in 1974 by a seven-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, established that a Governor is required to exercise their formal constitutional powers solely upon and in accordance with the aid and advice of their ministers, except in limited well-known exceptional circumstances.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the powers and functions of the Governor?

— What is the relationship between the Governor and the state government?

— How does the role of the governor differ from that of the President in terms of their constitutional positions?

— What are the recommendations made by various committees with regard to office of the Governor?

(Thought Process: Administrative Reforms Commission of 1968, Sarkaria Commission of 1988, Venkatachaliah Commission of 2022, observations made by the Supreme Court, and more.)

— What is the Supreme Court’s stand on office of Governor?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(4) Which of the following are the discretionary powers given to the Governor of a State? (UPSC CSE 2014)

1. Sending a report to the President of India for imposing the President’s rule

2. Appointing the Ministers

3. Reserving certain bills passed by the State Legislature for consideration of the President of India

4. Making the rules to conduct the business of the State Government

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Mains

Discuss the essential conditions for exercise of the legislative powers by the Governor. Discuss the legality of re-promulgation of ordinances by the Governor without placing them before the Legislature. (UPSC CSE 2022)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

What explains the frequent disagreements between state governments and Governors?

Economy

China dominates supply of electronic components for ‘made in India’ products

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic development

Mains Examination: GS-III: Indian economy

What’s the ongoing story- In the financial year 2023-24, India imported electronic components worth over $12 billion from China and $6 billion from Hong Kong, with the two accounting for more than half of total such imports to India – suggesting that the country’s growing footprint in electronics manufacturing may not yet be translating into reduced reliance on Beijing.

Prerequisites:

— What is the objective of the ‘Make in India’ initiative launched by the Government of India?

— What is the status of India-China trade?

— What are the top 5 products imported and exported by India?

Key takeaways:

— In the last five years, electronics imports from China and Hong Kong have far outnumbered imports from other major manufacturing hubs like South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and all ASEAN countries, combined.

— In fact, in 2023-24, electronic components imports stood at $34.4 billion, making them the fifth largest commodity to be imported to India, after crude, gold, petroleum products, and coal, according to data sourced from the Ministry of Commerce. These components constitute key building blocks for the finished electronics products that are currently being assembled in India – from smartphones to televisions.

— The overall picture of India’s reliance on Chinese supply of electronic components becomes clearer when compared to the imports from some other electronics hubs – such as South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and ASEAN countries which include the likes of Vietnam and Malaysia.

— In the last five years, barring 2022-23, the quantum of import of electronic components from China alone has outnumbered such imports from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and all ASEAN countries, combined. Put together, imports from China and Hong Kong have been more than the other countries in each of the last five years. This is despite India having free trade agreements with ASEAN countries, Japan and South Korea.

—  India is seemingly warming up to the idea of letting more Chinese entities set up bases in the country in partnership with domestic firms, as part of joint ventures. The Economic Survey 2023-24 said that India should reduce the import of Chinese products while maintaining investments from Beijing.

Points to Ponder:

— What is the significance of electronic manufacturing in India’s economic growth?

— What measures have been taken by the government to boost the domestic manufacturing of electronic products?

— What are the challenges faced by India in reducing its reliance on Chinese imports?

— What steps should be taken to boost domestic production of electronic components?

Post Read Question:

(5) What is/are the recent policy initiative(s) of the Government of India to promote the growth of manufacturing sector? ( UPSC CSE 2012)

1. Setting up of National Investment and Manufacturing Zones

2. Providing the benefit of ‘single window clearance’

3. Establishing the Technology Acquisition and Development Fund

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Prelims Answer Key

1. (b)   2. (b)    3. (b)    4. (b)    5. (d)

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UPSC Essays Simplified | How to write an Ethics essay for your exam?

'Given the various national debates around UPSC, it is likely that an essay on the ethical dimension will be asked this year', says Ravi Kapoor. What are the key themes and content ideas in essays with ethical dimensions? Let's learn through examples.

Written by Manas Srivastava

New Delhi | August 18, 2024 13:17 IST

Why is it important to prepare Essays with Ethical dimensions for UPSC? (Image Source: Freepik)

How to write essays for UPSC Civil Services Exams? We have an answer for you in the form of our new series.

In UPSC Essentials’ special series UPSC Essays Simplified, we take you through various steps of writing a good essay. While there is no set formula or fixed criteria prescribed, Manas Srivastava talks to Ravi Kapoor, our expert, in this new series who guides the aspirants with a simplified framework on how to write a good essay. Don’t miss ‘The Essay Exercise’ towards the end of the article.

About our Expert: Ravi Kapoor (Ex-IRS) offers free quality mentorship to UPSC aspirants, drawing upon his ten years of experience to create customised and productive curriculum. Through a free mentorship programme, he integrates tailored educational materials, psychological principles, visual learning techniques, and a strong emphasis on mental well-being into his teaching skills granting aspirants a chance to learn from his expertise.

From last 2 weeks, we have started to devote one article to each of the dimensions of essay topics and go into the details of the themes, so that you never run out of content while writing an essay on any topic. In past we have discussed spiritual essays and temporal Essays. Today, let’s talk about essays with Ethical dimensions.

Q. Why is it important to prepare Essays with Ethical dimensions for UPSC?

Given the importance of GS IV in Ethics the UPSC loves to include essay topics that incorporate elements of ethics, values, and morality in the Essay Paper. Moreover, given the various national debates about UPSC selection processes, it is likely that an essay on this dimension will be asked this year. Therefore it is important to cover everything you need to know about the Ethical dimension from the point of view of essay writing and give you content ideas along with a solved example and an assignment.

Q. What are the key themes and content ideas in UPSC essays with ethical dimensions?

1. The conflict between Ethical Values and Practical Realities:

Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not (UPSC 2018)

Theme: This theme delves into the idea that true ethics and integrity are tested not in public but in private, where actions are guided by an internal moral compass rather than external recognition.

Content Ideas:

Discuss the role of integrity in public service, emphasising the importance of doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Use examples from Indian civil servants who have upheld ethical standards, such as E. Sreedharan, who is known for his work on the Delhi Metro. You can also highlight recent events in the news and their implications.

Analyse how the concept of integrity plays out in various professions, including journalism, law, and business, where ethical dilemmas often arise in the face of practical challenges.

Reflect on the Gandhian principle of “Satyagraha” (truth-force) as an example of moral integrity in action, where the pursuit of truth and justice was paramount, regardless of public acclaim or recognition.

2. The importance of Moral Values in Governance:

Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed (UPSC 2017)

Theme: This theme explores how unchecked greed can lead to corruption and moral decay, particularly in governance and public administration.

Content Ideas:

Discuss the impact of greed on governance, using examples of corruption scandals in India, such as the 2G spectrum case or the Commonwealth Games scam, where greed led to the betrayal of public trust.

Reflect on the role of ethical leadership in preventing corruption and ensuring good governance. Highlight leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri, whose modesty and integrity are celebrated in Indian political history.

Analyse the measures taken by the Indian government to curb greed and corruption, such as the implementation of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, and the importance of promoting transparency and accountability in public life.

3. Ethics in Public Life:

The Best Way to Find Yourself is to Lose Yourself in the Service of Others (UPSC 2018)

Theme: This theme focuses on the ethical responsibility of individuals, particularly public servants, to dedicate themselves to the service of others, emphasizing selflessness and altruism.

Content Ideas:

Discuss the concept of “Seva” (service) in Indian culture, where public service is viewed as a moral duty, drawing on examples of Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, who dedicated their lives to the service of the nation.

Explore the challenges faced by public servants in maintaining ethical standards while serving the public, especially in situations where personal and professional interests conflict.

Reflect on the significance of community service and social work in shaping ethical and moral values, using examples of NGOs and individuals in India who have made significant contributions to society, such as Kailash Satyarthi’s work against child labor.

4. The Role of Values in Decision Making:

Values are Not What Humanity Is, But What Humanity Ought to Be (UPSC 2019)

Theme: This theme invites exploration of the gap between existing human behaviour and the ideal values that should guide our decisions and actions.

Content Ideas:

Discuss how values such as justice, equality, and compassion should inform decision-making in public policy, using examples like India’s Right to Information Act (RTI), which embodies the value of transparency.

Analyse the role of values in judicial decisions, where judges must balance legal principles with ethical considerations, as seen in landmark cases like the decriminalization of Section 377 in India.

Reflect on the role of education in inculcating values in society, drawing on initiatives like the inclusion of ethics and moral science in school curricula to nurture future generations.

5. The Ethics of Technology

Technology as the Silent Factor in Ethical Decision-Making

Theme: This theme explores the ethical challenges posed by technological advancements and their impact on society.

Content Ideas:

Discuss the ethical implications of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and genetic engineering, where decisions must balance innovation with moral considerations.

Reflect on the ethical concerns surrounding data privacy in the digital age, using examples like the Aadhaar debate in India, where technology’s role in governance raised significant ethical questions.

Analyze the role of ethical guidelines in technology development, emphasizing the need for regulations that ensure technology serves humanity’s best interests without compromising moral values.

6. Morality in Economic Decisions:

The Richness of India Lies in the Richness of Its Morals

Theme: This theme addresses the intersection of ethics and economics, exploring how moral considerations should guide economic policies and practices.

Content Ideas:

Discuss the ethical implications of economic policies, such as India’s approach to poverty alleviation programs like MNREGA, which aim to provide dignity through work.

Reflect on the ethical challenges in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability, using examples like the Chipko Movement or the Narmada Bachao Andolan, where moral values inspired resistance against environmentally harmful projects.

Analyse the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in promoting ethical business practices, using examples from Indian companies that have made significant contributions to social welfare.

Q. How to structure Ethical dimensional essays of UPSC CSE?

Structuring the Essay

To effectively address these themes in an essay, it is essential to maintain a well-organized structure:

1. Introduction:

Begin by introducing the concept of ethics, values, and morality, and their importance in shaping individual and collective behavior. Briefly outline the specific theme or topic of the essay and its relevance in today’s world.

2. Main Body:

Philosophical Insights: Incorporate philosophical perspectives on ethics and morality, drawing from both Indian and Western thought, to provide depth to the discussion.

Practical Examples: Use relevant Indian examples to illustrate key points, demonstrating how ethical principles are applied—or neglected—in various contexts.

Contemporary Relevance: Connect ethical principles to contemporary issues, showing how they continue to be relevant in addressing the challenges of modern society.

3. Conclusion:

Summarise the key arguments made in the essay, reflecting on the broader implications of ethics, values, and morality in shaping a just and equitable society. Emphasise the importance of upholding ethical standards in personal and public life, and suggest areas for further reflection or action.

The UPSC Essay Exercise

STEPS

ESSAY TOPIC:
A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity

ESSAY TOPIC FOR PRACTICE:
Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them must be right.

Identify the core theme (Refer to Deconstruction article of this series: Click here)

Society with justice, society needing charity

Which ideas from the ethical dimension can be used

Entitlements, expectations, good governance, cultural values, ethical role models, celebration of integrity, Scandinavian countries, public trust, transaction trust, Corruption etc.

Write an introduction using the techniques taught in the article on Introductions. (Click here)

There is a curious relationship between justice and the need for charity in a society.
While charity on an individual level is good and desirable, at societal scales, it implies that there is a population that must be in need of it- and that mean there is a fundamental inequality within society.

The presence of large-scale inequality, in turn implies that there must be injustice somewhere in some form-which could be economic or political.

You may compare and contrast India with Norway .

The more justice there is, the less there is a need for charity. While one can argue that this asymmetry is due the significant wealth imbalance between Norway and India, one cannot rule out the case of Bhutan- where its not the GDP that matters, but the GHP (Gross Happiness Index).

It is justice that leads to happiness, not economics.

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For your answers, queries and suggestions write at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com.

Manas Srivastava

Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than four years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called ‘Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik’ and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called ‘You Ask We Answer’.His talks on ‘How to read a newspaper’ focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University’s Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women’s Studies by the Women’s Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on ‘Psychological stress among students’ at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More

UPSC CSAT Simplified: Shortcuts to Profit and Loss problems

To shop or not to shop often depends on discounts. But can you calculate discounts, profit and loss accurately and swiftly, especially for your CSAT exam? Here are the tricks and questions to practice.

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 12:07 IST

UPSC often asks tricky questions on profit and loss in its CSAT paper. The downside of such questions is that it might take us a lot of time to solve through traditional methods.

—Mudit Gupta

(Are you preparing for UPSC CSE 2025? You must not ignore the CSAT paper. UPSC Prelims 2024 had a clear message for students that CSAT practice has to be a constant part of preparation. So, UPSC Essentials’ special series ‘UPSC CSAT Simplified’ presents some important topics from the qualifying CSAT paper of UPSC prelims. The aim is to provide you with some tested methods to answer the questions correctly without wasting precious time.)

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the August edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

THE DISCOUNT PROBLEM

Suppose you have gone shopping, and you like a product. We all like discounts on our products. What if it’s the season of festivals and the shopkeeper gives you a discount of 15% followed by a discount of 10%?

Have you ever wondered what your net discount would be in such a scenario? Would it be a 25% total discount or a total discount of 12.5% or none of the above?

UPSC often asks such tricky questions in its CSAT paper. The downside of such questions is that it might take us a lot of time to solve through traditional methods. But the UPSC CSAT paper is all about accuracy with swiftness. So, in this article, let’s try a shortcut to solve such questions with ease.

What is the shortcut and how to use it?

CASE 1

Let us say a shopkeeper first gives you a discount of 15% and then gives you a discount of 10%. To put it differently, let us say a shopkeeper gives you a successive discount of 15% and 10%, then what would be the net discount rate? Let us calculate it using the shortcut given below.

Let us consider:

- a = -15

- b = -10

We add a minus (-) sign here to depict the discount (i.e. a price reduction). Please note that for this shortcut, we will always use the negative sign whenever a discount is given to us. Putting the values of ‘a’ and ‘b’ in the shortcut we get:

NET DISCOUNT = -23.5%

It means that if the shopkeeper gives us a successive discount of 15% followed by a discount of 10%, the net discount over the original price will be 23.5%.

CASE 2

The successive discounts were one part of the business. But when we run a shop, there might be different scenarios that can encounter us. Let us say a shopkeeper is running a toy shop. On one of the toys the shopkeeper makes a profit of 15% and on the other toy he makes a loss of 10%.

Can you tell the net profit or loss of the shopkeeper? It might take us some time and calculation to solve this problem. However, we can use the shortcut used above to solve this problem in no time.

Let us consider:

- a = +15%

- b = -10%

We have considered the value of ‘a’ with a ‘+’ sign to depict profit and the value of ‘b’ with a minus (-) sign to depict loss. Please note that we always consider profit as positive and loss as negative.

Putting the values of ‘a’ and ‘b’ in the shortcut we get:

NET = +3.5%

The positive sign in the net value depicts profit. It means that if the shopkeeper is selling one toy at a profit of 15% and another toy at a loss of 10%, then the net profit will be 3.5%.

CASE 3

On similar lines, let us consider a case where the shopkeeper is making a profit of 10% on one toy and a profit of 5% on another toy. In such a case, since the shopkeeper is making a profit on both the toys, we will consider the values of ‘a’ and ‘b’ as positive:

- a = +10%

- b = +5%

Putting the value in the shortcut we get:

NET PROFIT= +15.5% (The + sign depicts profit)

CASE 4

Let us say, the shopkeeper is making a profit of 10% on one toy and a loss of 10% on another toy. Now if I ask you his net profit or loss, your first instinct would say that he neither made a loss nor made a profit. He just did both the transactions at breakeven. However, your instinct might be wrong. Let us see how!

In the above example:

- a = +10% (depicting the profit of 10%)

- b = -10% (depicting the loss of 10%)

Putting the values in the shortcut we get the following:

NET LOSS= -1% i.e. a loss of 1%

Check your progress:

If a shopkeeper sells one product at a loss of 5% and another product at a loss of 20%, then what would be his net loss?

(About our Expert: Mudit Gupta has been a mentor and faculty for the UPSC Civil Services exam for 8 years with expertise in CSAT, Polity, International Relations, and Current Affairs. He is known to break complex concepts into simpler ones that allow UPSC aspirants to develop a grip over the subject matter.)

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UPSC Key | SSLV, Krishi-DSS, Right To Education and more

Exclusive for Subscribers Daily: How are SSLV and Krishi-DSS relevant to the UPSC Exam? What significance do topics like Panama Canal and Right To Education (RTE) have for your preliminary and main exams? You can learn more by reading the Indian Express UPSC Key for August 17th, 2024.

Written by Khushboo Kumari

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 10:27 IST

The smallest launch vehicle of the ISRO— SSLV— in its third and final developmental flight Friday placed the EOS-08 and SR-0 satellites into a precise 475-km circular orbit. Know more in our UPSC Key. (Photo: Youtube/ISRO)

🚨 Attention: UPSC Key is now all 7 Days a Week!🚨

Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 17, 2024. If you missed the August 16th, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the August 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

After launch success, ISRO says SSLV development is complete

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-III: Science and Technology

What’s the ongoing story-  The smallest launch vehicle of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) — SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) — in its third and final developmental flight Friday placed the EOS-08 and SR-0 satellites into a precise 475-km circular orbit. With this, the SSLV will be inducted into the space agency’s fleet of operational launch vehicles.

Prerequisites:

— What is SSLV?

— What are ISRO’s recent achievements?

Key takeaways:

— The technology of the vehicle, however, will be transferred to the private industry for commercial flights in bigger numbers.

— The VTM or Velocity Trimming Module is the last liquid-propellent based stage of the rocket which is used to correct the velocity just before injecting the satellites into orbit. It was this stage, which did not switch on during the first development flight of the SSLV due to a previous misreading of sensors, leading to the satellites being injected into an unstable orbit.

— ISRO’s EOS-08, which was the primary payload on the mission, is a 175-kg experimental satellite, carrying on board three new technologies.

— The Electro-Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR) is designed to capture images in mid-wave and long-wave infra-red during the day and night. The data can be used for surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity observation, and industrial and power plant disaster monitoring.

— The Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R) has been designed to demonstrate that reflected signals from satellite-based navigation systems like GPS can be used for applications such as ocean surface wind analysis, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, flood detection, and inland waterbody detection.

— Notably, the third payload SiC UV Dosimeter will be used to study the amount of UV radiation that will hit the viewport of the crew module in preparation for the Gaganyaan mission.

For Your Information:

— ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is a three-stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages. It also has a liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage, which can help adjust the velocity as it prepares to place the satellite.

— Essentially, the aim behind SSLVs is to produce low-cost launch vehicles with short turnaround times and minimal infrastructural requirements. The SSLV can launch satellites weighing up to 500kg and accommodate multiple satellites.

— The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation of Indian satellite launch vehicles. first used in 1994…. It has also been called “the workhorse of ISRO” for consistently delivering various satellites into low earth orbits (less than 2,000 km in altitude) with a high success rate.

— On the other hand, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles (GSLVs) have been instrumental in launching communication satellites in the geosynchronous transfer orbit… It is a circular orbit 35,786 kilometres above Earth’s equator.

Points to Ponder:

— What is the significance of SSLV?

— What are the major ISRO’s mission?

— What are the achievements of ISRO?

Post Read Question:

(1) With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2018)

1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.

2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.

3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 1 and 2

(d) 3 only

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

ISRO launches SSLV: What is the aim behind developing Small Satellite Launch Vehicles?

Express Network

Govt launches geospatial decision support system for agriculture: ‘Will be a milestone’

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-III: Agriculture

What’s the ongoing story- The Centre on Friday unveiled the Krishi-Decision Support System (K-DSS) portal, a satellite-based geospatial platform that will provide farmers with information on the weather, groundwater levels, soil health, reservoir storage levels etc and include data like satellite images.

Prerequisites:

— What is the Digital Public Infrastructure?

— What is the purpose of the Digital crop survey?

Key takeaways:

— The Krishi-DSS was launched during the National Conference on Space Driven Solutions for Agriculture Transformation in India organised by the agriculture ministry.

— The one-day conference is part of the events planned by the government in the run-up to the first National Space Day 2024, which will be observed on August 23, the first anniversary of India’s landing on the moon.

— Nilesh M Desai, Director, Space Applications Centre (SAC), said that the engagement between the agriculture ministry and space sector goes back to 1969 when, for the first time, an experiment was undertaken to examine the disease in coconut plants using remote sensing techniques. Since then, he said, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched several satellites that are very useful for the agriculture sector.

— The Krishi-DSS is part of the Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech on July 23.

— The Krishi-DSS will function as a repository of standardised geospatial data on weather, soil, crop, reservoir, and groundwater data. It will also integrate data related to government schemes and services, an official said.

Points to Ponder:

— Read about Budget 2024 on the Agriculture sector

— How space technology has transformed the agriculture sector?

— What are the advantages and challenges of the new age technology in agriculture?

Post Read Question:

How does e-Technology help farmers in production and marketing of agricultural produce? Explain it. (UPSC CSE 2023)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Union Budget 2024: On agriculture, a lack of vision

Explained

Why scare rainfall restricted the passage of ships through Panama Canal

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-I, III: Geography, Environment

What’s the ongoing story- While more 36 to 38 ships pass through the canal each day on average, last December, traffic had dropped to as low as 22 ships a day, with more than 160 ships stuck in anchor on both sides of the canal. This is because of the drop in the water levels of Lake Gatun, the artificial reservoir key to the Panama Canal system’s operation, due to a drought.

Prerequisites:

— Location of Panama Canal

— What is an Isthmus?

Key takeaways:

— The 82-km canal, which remains one of the greatest feats of engineering in history, is a shortcut for ships travelling between the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans by cutting through the Isthmus of Panama in Central America. It saves approximately 12,600 km in a trip between New York and San Francisco, and is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world.

— The Panama Canal is not a simple channel of water connecting two larger water bodies — it is a sophisticated, highly-engineered system which uses a system of locks and elevators to take ships from one end to the other.

— This is needed because the two oceans that the Panama Canal connects do not lie at the same elevation, with the Pacific slightly higher than the Atlantic… This is achieved using a lock system which lifts and drops vessels to the required sea level at either end of the canal.

— The Panama Canal needs massive amounts of fresh water to facilitate the passage of ships using this system of locks. Most of this water is supplied from Lake Gatun using the force of gravity (no pumps are needed).

— According to a report by The New York Times, the passage of a single ship needs more than 50 million gallons (almost 200 million litres) of water. Thus, every day, the canal uses two-and-a-half times the amount of water consumed by the 8 million residents of New York City.

— Last year, lower water levels in Lake Gatun meant that far fewer ships could pass through the canal every day, and those which did pass, often had to reduce their cargo to make the passage.

— This permanent problem stems out of a much greater one which threatens humanity — climate change. Years of extreme rainfall deficits are not unheard of in Panama. But they have become increasingly common, and experts say as Earth heats up further, they might become even more common in the future.

For Your Information:

— Glaciers are epic ice-flows that have carved out mountains and valleys over millennia — the oldest in South Africa dates back 2.9 billion years.

— But these ancient forces of nature, which hold enough fresh water for around two billion people, are melting. At least half of the world’s mountain glaciers are likely to disappear by 2100 as the world heats up due to climate change.

— Cold climate cultures are struggling to deal with this loss.In 2019, a funeral ceremony was held at Iceland’s Okjökull Glacier, said to be the first lost to global heating.

Points to Ponder:

— Economic Survey on Climate Change

— What is the impact of climate on sea level?

— What are global initiatives to tackle climate change?

— What is the economic cost of climate change?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(2) Panama Canal joins which of the following two water bodies?

(a) Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean

(b) Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean

(c) Atlantic Ocean and Paciifc Ocean

(d) Arctic Ocean and Atlantic Ocean

Mains

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one meter by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region? (UPSC CSE 2023)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

The growing cost of climate change

What are mountain glaciers and why do they matter?

Questions in cosmic history

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-III: Science and Technology

What’s the ongoing story- With its huge mirror — five times bigger than that of its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope — the JWST, which was launched on Christmas Day in 2021 and arrived at its destination, the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2 in January 2022, has been peering at the early epochs in the history of the Universe, when the first galaxies had barely formed.

Prerequisites:

— What is the Hubble Space Telescope?

— What is the James Webb Telescope?

Key takeaways:

— The rate of expansion of the Universe has been a subject of scientific debate for quite some time. Two different methods of determining the rate have yielded results that differ by as much as 10%.

— One method is based on phenomena in the early Universe — which implies events at a great distance, because the light we see from distant objects started its journey a long time ago. The other method relies on local celestial objects — although ‘local’ means a region spanning billions of light years.

— Some stars vary their brightness in a periodic manner, and the duration of this change tells us something about how bright they really are. From this, one can figure out their distance and, in turn, how the Universe has been expanding.

— The new space telescope was expected to nail the reason for the mismatch between the results obtained by the two methods. But its measurements seem to have only increased the discrepancy.

For Your Information:

— Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to detect an extremely red, gravitationally lensed supermassive black-hole in the early Universe. The black hole’s colours suggest that it lies behind a veil of dust that obscures much of the light from the material it is consuming.

— Black holes “accrete” material before consuming it. This accretion lets out massive amounts of radiation brighter than the galaxy it is hosted in, causing it to appear like a bright star sometimes. The image from which the researchers identified the images was of a field of a cluster of galaxies called Abell 2744.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the major collaborations between ISRO and NASA?

— What is the significance of the James Webb Telescope?

— Why did Scientists want to know how the universe began?

Post Read Question:

Launched on 25th December 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor Space Telescopes? What are the key goals of this mission? What benefits does it hold for the human race? (UPSC Mains 2022)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

James Webb Space Telescope used to discover extremely red supermassive black hole

Editorial

Making it right

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Issues related to education

What’s the ongoing story- The recent verdict given by the Bombay High Court indicates the kind of spanners that state governments have thrown in the RTE’s track. That court set aside a government order issued earlier this year… This provision calls upon unaided private schools to reserve one-fourth of their seats for the poor. The Maharashtra government’s order said that private schools need not implement this provision if there is a government school within a distance of 1 kilometre.

Prerequisites:

— What is the Right to Education (RTE)?

— What are the constitutional provisions related to the right to education?

— What are the significant provisions related to the Right to Education?

Key takeaways:

— Maharashtra is not the only state where the bureaucracy came up with this clever idea. The government gave two arguments in support of its order. One was about resources. If they are being spent for providing easy access to a government school, why should they be duplicated? This argument is rooted in the rule that the government will reimburse a private school for the cost of enrolling a poor child.

— The other argument put forward was about the Right to Education itself. It was not “absolute” in the sense that other fundamental rights are. This logic is quite popular; what is surprising is that a state government is using it, thereby revealing its lack of commitment to a law enacted by Parliament as a follow-up to a constitutional amendment.

— When the RTE was promulgated, it was expected to serve as a conscience raiser. The idea of giving every child the right to be at a school has waited for a long time. Gopal Krishna Gokhale tried to seek approval for it in the Imperial Legislative Assembly in 1911. He failed.

— The RTE’s progress is far from reassuring. Amendments to the original Act have dented several key aspects that were intended to make elementary education experientially deep for children across the socio-economic divide. The biggest failure of the system to live up to RTE’s vision is in teacher training. It has remained the weakest link in the policy chain.

— About 15 years ago, the J S Verma Commission, which was appointed by the Supreme Court, gave clear-cut guidelines to revamp teacher training. Our system has ensured that interest in these guidelines wouldn’t last long. Interest in RTE itself has been waning for some time now.

For Your Information:

— Boys are more likely than girls to repeat primary grades in 130 out of 142 countries, with data indicating their poorer progression through school, according to a new Global Education report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

— The report titled ‘Leave no child behind: Global report on boys’ (2022) disengagement from education’ pointed out that no less than 132 million boys of primary and secondary school age are out of school.

Points to Ponder:

— What is the status of the education system in India?

— What are the issues related to the education system in India?

— What are the initiatives taken by the government to promote education?

— What are the challenges to the RTE?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(3) Which of the following provisions of the Constitution does India have a bearing on Education? (UPSC CSE 2012)

1. Directive Principles of State Policy

2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies

3. Fifth Schedule

4. Sixth Schedule

5. Seventh Schedule

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3, 4 and 5 only

(c) 1, 2 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Mains

Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (UPSC CSE 2021)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Boys at greater risk of repeating grades, failing to complete education than girls: UNESCO

Answers are in our history

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-I, II: Society, Issues related to women

What’s the ongoing story- The rights of women workers in the informal sector and recognition of unpaid household work were key agenda items. Almost eight decades later, the needle of progress has not moved much.

Prerequisites:

— What is the status of women’s employment in India?

— Historical background to Women’s economic empowerment

Key takeaways:

— The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Index places India at 142 amongst 146 countries on economic participation and opportunity. Without economic freedom, there is no freedom for women. In our patriarchal society, they have to follow the dictates of the male breadwinners.

— Founded in 1917, the Women’s Indian Association was the first national women’s organisation that aimed to address the various challenges faced by women. Stri Dharma, its mouthpiece, carried regular articles highlighting the plight of women including factory workers. — There were around 2,53,000 women factory workers in 1927. Their activism led to banning of night working hours for women, and the Bombay Maternity Benefit Act, 1929 which gave benefits of eight weeks’ wages — four weeks each before and after delivery.

— “It is in the economic sphere that women will have to fight hard to establish her position,” Hansa Mehta said in her presidential address at the annual convention of the All-India Women’s Conference (AIWC) in 1945.

— In 1947, the sub-committee on women of the National Planning Committee, formed in 1939 by Subhas Chandra Bose, echoed these sentiments in its report. It called for equality of opportunity in employment, advocated a common civil code, and also proposed that inheritance laws be made gender-neutral.

— Recognition of unpaid domestic work must not be limited to paeans about women’s resilience. There should be economic compensation in the form of income support for homemakers. Several state governments provide a monthly financial allowance to women — Gruha Lakshmi (Karnataka)…. These need to be replicated across the country and indexed to inflation.

For Your Information:

— After many decades of falling, India’s women’s labour force participation rate (WLFPR) is today trending upwards — rising to 37 per cent in 2022-23 from its nadir of 23 per cent in 2017-18. This increase is primarily driven by rural women, as rural WLFPRs increased to 41 per cent, with urban WLFPR remaining at 25 per cent.

— Historically, women have faced structural barriers to participating in the workforce and achieving financial independence, despite India’s phenomenal growth. Occupational segregation kept women limited to low-growth, low-productivity sectors…

— The Gender Budget of 2024-25 presents the highest financial allocation for schemes designed to promote women-led development since the inception of gender budgeting in 2005, at Rs 3.2 lakh crore. This is about 6.8 per cent of the total expenditure budget and around 1 per cent of GDP. It is an increase of almost 37 per cent over the Gender Budget in 2023-24.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the challenges faced by women in employment?

— Why women’s participation in the economic sector is poor?

— What steps need to be taken by the government to increase women’s participation in the workforce?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(4) Which of the following gives the ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking to the countries of the world? (UPSC CSE 2017)

(a) World Economic Forum

(b) UN Human Rights Council

(c) UN Women

(d) World Health Organization

Mains

How does patriarchy impact the position of middle-class working women in India? (UPSC CSE 2014)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Does Gender Budget 2024 address women’s employment?

Economy

India’s fuel exports to Europe shift entirely to longer route around Africa amid attacks on ships in Red Sea

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-I, III: Geography, Economy

What’s the ongoing story- With no signs of a let up in threat to ships transiting the Red Sea, India’s petroleum product exports to Europe have shifted entirely to the significantly longer and costlier, albeit safer, route around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.

Prerequisites:

— Read about Russia-Ukraine war

— Who is Houthi?

—  Map work: Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb strait, Suez Canal

Key takeaways:

— Since late last year, numerous cargo ships have come under attack from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen around the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which leads to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, forming the shortest, although narrow, route to the Mediterranean Sea and beyond from the Arab Peninsula, North-East Africa, and the Arabian Sea.

— The route is seen as an important artery of global goods and energy supplies. The Houthis have been claiming that they are targeting vessels with links to Israel and its allies in response to its military offensive in Gaza.

— As per trade sources, taking the Cape of Good Hope route instead of the Suez Canal adds 15-20 days to the voyage to Europe from India, apart from significantly inflating the freight costs.

— Higher risk premiums and longer voyages have hit movement of goods between Asia and Europe, and Asia and North America in terms of significantly higher freight rates.

— India was traditionally not the biggest of fuel sources for Europe, with the continent depending heavily on Russia for energy imports. However, in the aftermath of Moscow’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as Europe started shunning Russian crude oil and fuels, India emerged as the largest buyer of Russian seaborne crude and also a major fuel supplier to Europe with all such shipments passing through the Red Sea.

For Your Information:

— As reported earlier by The Indian Express, tankers carrying Russian crude have largely been immune to the security situation in the Red Sea region, which has forced a number of major shipping lines and Western oil companies to shun the route and instead take the much longer route around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Higher risk premiums and longer voyages have hit movement of goods between Asia and Europe in terms of higher freight rates.

— Russian oil cargoes departing from the North Sea and Black Sea ports take the Suez Canal-Red Sea route to reach Asia, specifically India and China, which are currently the biggest buyers of Russian crude.

Points to Ponder:

— How does global unrest impact the shipping industry?

— What is the impact of the Russia and Ukraine war on the shipping industry?

— What is the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on India?

— What is the status of India’s oil imports?

Post Read Question:

(5) Consider the following pairs:

(Strait)                           (Location)

1. Malacca                        Between Malaysia and Indonesia

2. Sunda                           Between Australia and Papua New Guinea

3. Bab-el-Mandeb         Between Yemen and Eritrea

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:

Red Sea Crisis: India’s petroleum exports to Europe nosedive to 18-month low in January

UPSC Ethics and Essay Snippet

‘Wordly Wise’ from The Editorial Page

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint’, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”

— Vincent van Gogh

(Thought Process: What do you mean by “inner voice”? How can the inner voice sometimes act as a barrier to utilising our true potential? How do you think self-doubt hampers creativity? How can we overcome the inner voice that says, “You can’t do it”? Is conquering that voice a challenging task? Why is self-belief important? Why are we afraid to take the first step in challenging ourselves? How can the first step help silence all those doubts? What does it tell us about your attitude? Also, ponder this quote by Sylvia Plath  “The worst enemy of creativity is self-doubt.”)

Prelims Answer Key

1. (a)   2. (c)   3. (d)   4. (a)   5. (a)

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UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 11 to August 17, 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 Manas Srivastava , Nitendra Pal Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 11:06 IST

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence near Moscow, Russia July 8, 2024. Find a question on the India-Russia economic ties in today's quiz. (Reuters)

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 August 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 Mpox, consider the following statements:

1. It was first discovered in humans in Nigeria.

2. It is not transmitted from animals to humans.

3. The vaccines developed for smallpox are up to 80% effective against mpox.

4. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified mpox as a global public health emergency.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— Mpox, a viral disease previously known as monkeypox, has recently garnered significant global attention due to its increasing spread and the emergence of new variants.

— It is a self-limiting disease but can lead to death, especially among children and those with weak immune systems.

— The World Health Organization (WHO) classified mpox as a global public health emergency. This comes after a surge in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the virus spreading to neighbouring countries. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

— Originally discovered in the late 1950s, the virus was misattributed to monkeys because it was first identified in a laboratory setting in Denmark. However, researchers now believe that rodents are the primary reservoir of the virus.

— Mpox was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Over the decades, mpox cases have arisen intermittently in many African countries, with occasional outbreaks in non-African regions as a result of international travel and the importation of infected animals. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The vaccines developed for smallpox are up to 80 per cent effective against mpox. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The current issue derives from the spread of MPXV clade Ib, which is primarily transmitted sexually.

— Historically, clade I infections spread through zoonotic spillover episodes, which occur when animals and humans are in close proximity. Clade Ia infections that spread in this manner continue to impact areas of DRC where the disease was endemic. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs), consider the following statements:

1. It is a three-stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages.

2. They can carry satellites weighing up to 1500kg and accommodate multiple satellites.

3. The aim behind SSLVs is to produce low-cost launch vehicles with short turnaround times.

4. It is known as “the workhorse of ISRO”.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Explanation

— The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) on its third developmental mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

— The SSLV-D3 accurately deployed the Earth observation satellite EOS-08 into orbit.

— It also signals the end of ISRO/Department of Space’s SSLV Development Project. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, and India’s private space sector can now manufacture SSLVs for commercial missions.

— ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is a three-stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages. It also has a liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage, which can help adjust the velocity as it prepares to place the satellite. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The aim behind SSLVs is to produce low-cost launch vehicles with short turnaround times and minimal infrastructural requirements. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The SSLV can launch satellites weighing up to 500 kg and accommodate multiple satellites. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation of Indian satellite launch vehicles. PSLVs are also known as “the workhorse of ISRO”. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), consider the following statements:

1. It is a quasi-judicial commission in India.

2. It was set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986.

3. The Commission is headed only by a sitting or a retired Judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 1 and 2 only

Explanation

— A family of three had to abandon their travel plans to Edmonton, Canada when Jet Airways went bankrupt and ceased operations in April 2019. Five years later, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (henceforth, the National Commission) ordered Goibibo, the online travel agency through which the tickets were booked, to issue a refund.

— The National Consumer Disputes Redressal organisation (NCDRC) is a quasi-judicial organisation in India, established in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. Its headquarters is in New Delhi. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

— In accordance with Rule 3(12)(a) of the Tribunal (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2021, the Commission is presided over by a sitting or retired Judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India or a sitting or retired Chief Justice of an Hon’ble High Court. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Section 23 of the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 states that any individual aggrieved by an NCDRC order may file an appeal with the Supreme Court of India within 30 days.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ncdrc.nic.in)

QUESTION 4

The central government has recently advised states and Union Territories to use plastic waste in the construction of roads in cities. What are the advantages of using plastic waste in road construction?

1. Higher resistance to deformation

2. Low resistance to water-induced damages

3. Improves stability and strength

4. Improves fatigue life

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 2 and 4 only

Explanation

— To tackle the challenge of plastic waste management, the central government has recently advised states and Union Territories to use plastic waste in the construction of roads in cities.

— There are various advantages of using Waste Plastic as a modifier in binders such as:

(i) Higher resistance to deformation

(ii) Higher resistance to water induced damages

(iii) Increased durability and improved fatigue life

(iv) Improved stability and strength

(v) Environment friendly solution

— The government has advised states and UTs to use plastic waste up to 8% of the weight of bitumen in roads within cities, including internal roads of housing colonies and office complexes.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.npcindia.gov.in)

QUESTION 5

The Port of Odessa was in the news due to an attack on its port infrastructure. It is the largest port of:

(a) Ukraine

(b) Egypt

(c) Norway

(d) Finland

Explanation

— Russian forces attacked port infrastructure in Ukraine’s southern city of Odessa on Wednesday evening, injuring at least two people.

— Ukraine’s port infrastructure has suffered frequent Russian attacks since Russia withdrew last summer from a U.N.-brokered deal that had guaranteed safe shipments of Ukrainian grain.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

With reference to the Captagon, consider the following statements:

1. It is a synthetic drug which was originally manufactured in Germany to treat attention deficit disorders.

2. In the last decade, Syria has become the largest producer and exporter of Captagon.

3. It affects the nervous system.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Captagon, commonly known as “poor man’s cocaine,” has emerged as the drug of choice among young adults throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

— Captagon was made illegal in 1986 in most countries and discontinued in medical markets. However, an illicit version of Captagon emerged in eastern Europe and the Middle East in the early 2000s.

— It is a synthetic drug which was originally manufactured in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s where it was intended to treat attention deficit disorders. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The pill contains fenethylline, a synthetic amphetamine, caffeine, and other stimulants. Fenethylline is metabolised by the body into two molecules: amphetamine and theophylline, both of which are stimulants.

— Its effects on the nervous system are similar to amphetamine. As a psychostimulant, Captagon can induce euphoria, increased wakefulness and increased physical and mental performance. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Syria has become the largest producer and exporter of Captagon over the last decade, leading experts to name it the Middle East’s narco state. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

Which of the following statements is not correct about the Tungabhadra river?

(a) The river is formed by two streams joining near Shimoga.

(b) The river flows into the Godavari at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh.

(c) The river forms part of the boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

(d) The river while flowing through its course covers the maximum distance in Karnataka.

Explanation

— 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).

— The dam has 33 ‘vertical lift’ type gates that move on rollers embedded in the masonry. The gates are operated from an overhead bridge.

— The Tungabhadra, which is formed at the confluence near Shimoga of two streams, Tunga and Bhadra, that rise in the Western Ghats. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The river flows into the Krishna at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The river, which forms part of the boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, has a total catchment area of almost 70,000 sq km. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— It flows through 382 km of Karnataka, 58 km of which form the border with Andhra Pradesh, and 91 km of which it flows through Andhra Pradesh. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

— 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.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

The Krishi-Decision Support System (K-DSS) portal, a satellite-based geospatial platform that will provide farmers with information on:

1. Weather

2. Availability of seeds/saplings

3. Health of Soil

4. Level of groundwater

5. Level of reservoir storage

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only

(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation

— The Centre launched the Krishi-Decision Support System (K-DSS) portal, a satellite-based geospatial platform.

— The platform will offer farmers with information on weather, groundwater levels, soil health, reservoir storage levels, and other data, such as satellite photos.

— The Krishi-DSS was unveiled during the Agriculture Ministry’s National Conference on Space Driven Solutions for Agriculture Transformation in India.

— Space technology and remote sensing-based solutions can help to secure India’s food supply and make farmers profitable.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 9

When microplastics remain in the body for the long term, It leads to:

1. Inflammation in the body tissue

2. Weaken the immune system

3. Increases the risk of chronic diseases

4. Gastrointestinal Distress

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— A revolutionary investigation undertaken by Toxics Link, an environmental research company, discovered the alarming presence of microplastics in every salt and sugar brand tested in India.

— The study looked at ten types of salt, including table, rock, sea, and local variations, as well as five types of sugar purchased from both online and physical retailers.

— These tiny plastic particles ranged in size from 0.1 to 5 millimetres and came in a variety of shapes such as fibres, pellets, films, and pieces.

How do microplastics affect in the long-term?

— Microplastics can inflame the body’s tissues. When these particles enter the body, they activate an immunological response, resulting in inflammation and oxidative damage.

— Continuous exposure to microplastics can impair the immune system. This increases the body’s susceptibility to infections and disorders since the immune system is continually dealing with foreign particles.

— It raises the risk of chronic diseases. Long-term exposure to microplastics has been related to major health consequences such as cancer, reproductive problems, and neurological abnormalities. These particles may interfere with hormone regulation, biological activities, and even gene expression, increasing the risk of chronic illnesses.

— Consuming microplastics can lead to gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, discomfort, and changes in bowel habits.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

Consider the following:

1. Taxes on lands and buildings

2. Taxes on mineral rights subject to any limitations imposed by Parliament by law relating to mineral development.

3. Taxes on income other than agricultural income.

4. Taxes on the sale or purchase of newspapers.

How many of the above taxes are part of the State List under the seventh schedule of the Constitution of India?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— In a decision with significant financial implications for mining companies, the Supreme Court (SC) gave limited retrospective effect to its recent decision upholding states’ authority to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land, allowing them to collect tax arrears beginning April 1, 2005, but without interest or penalty.

— A 9-judge Constitution bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said that “bearing in mind the consequences that would emanate from the past period…while the states may levy or renew demands of tax, if any, pertaining to Entries 49 and 50 of List II of the Seventh Schedule in terms of the law laid down in the” ruling, “the demand of tax shall not operate on transactions made prior to 1 April 2005”.

— Article 246 of the Constitution mentions three lists in the Seventh Schedule — union, state and concurrent lists.

— Entry 49 of List II concerns “taxes on lands and buildings” and Entry 50 of List II concerns “taxes on mineral rights subject to any limitations imposed by Parliament by law relating to mineral development”.

— Taxes on income other than agricultural income and taxes on the sale or purchase of newspapers come under the Union list.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 11

With reference to 70th National Film Awards 2024, consider the following pairs:

1. Best Book on Cinema – Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography

2. Best Actor – Manoj Bajpayee, Gulmohar

3. Best Director – Rishab Shetty, Kantara

4. Best Actress – Nithya Menen in Tiruchitrabalam

Which of the above pairs are not correctly matched?

(a) 2 and 4 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Explanation

— The winners of the 70th National Film Awards were announced at the National Media Center in New Delhi on Friday. The ceremony will be held at a future date, when the best Indian films produced across languages in the calendar year 2022 will be honoured by the President. Feature and non-feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, were eligible for contention.

Here is the list of some of its winners at the 70th National Film Awards:

FEATURE CATEGORIES

Best Feature Film – Aattam

Best Actor – Rishab Shetty, Kantara

Best Actress – Nithya Menen in Tiruchitrabalam, and Manasi Parekh in Kutch Express

Best Director – Sooraj Barjatya, Uunchai

Best Supporting Actress – Neena Gupta, Uunchai

Best Supporting Actor – Pawan Malhotra, Fouja

Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment – Kantara

Best Debut – Fouja, Pramod Kumar

Special Mentions – Manoj Bajpayee in Gulmohar, and Sanjoy Salil Chowdhury for Kadhikan

Best Critic – Deepak Dua

Best Book on Cinema – Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer

QUESTION 12

With reference to India-Russia economic relations, consider the following statements:

1. Russia-India bilateral trade has exceeded Russia-China bilateral trade in 2023.

2. Russia has rapidly ascended to become India’s top oil supplier.

3. ‘Dynamic exchange rate’ of the currencies could help push the trade between the two countries manifold.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Aimed at increasing exports to Russia amid widening trade deficit with the country, the Reserve Bank of India is in talks with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation to work out a currency exchange rate, a government official said on Wednesday.

— This comes as Russia has rapidly ascended to become India’s top oil supplier, but Indian exports to Russia have struggled, resulting in a $57 billion trade deficit in the bilateral trade worth $66 billion in FY24. The gap has resulted in Moscow seeking yuan due to its rising demand for Chinese goods. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— An exchange rate is essential for the two countries to settle trade without using the dollar. Currency challenges come due to the trade imbalance between the two countries. In contrast, Russia-China bilateral trade has crossed a record $240 billion in 2023. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— “Currently there is no exchange mechanism between rouble and rupee. Now there is only cross currency reference which is happening right now. That adds a layer of additional premium so the idea is to avoid that. That will happen only when the two currencies are traded freely at the same exchange rate without referencing,” the official said.

— “Dynamic exchange rate could help push the trade from $4.5 billion to $45 billion. If you want your rupee vostro accounts to be actually functional a direct exchange rate is required. Normally, barring euro and dollar any other exchange mechanism is via a referencing mechanism which is either a dollar or euro,” the official said. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 13

With reference to The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) consider the following statements:

1. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is released by the NITI Aayog.

2. The ranking framework evaluates institutions on five broad parameters — teaching, learning and resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach, and inclusivity, and perception.

3. IISc Bangalore has been placed first in the research category in 2024 ranking.

Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 3 only

Explanation

— The Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Monday released the ninth edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— In the research category, IISc Bengaluru has been placed at the top, followed by IIT Madras and IIT Delhi at the second and third places respectively. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— This year, the evaluation criteria have also been modified. The faculty-to-student ratio has been changed from 1:15 to 1:10 in medical institutes and increased from 1:15 to 1:20 in the state government universities.

— The ranking framework evaluates institutions on five broad parameters — teaching, learning and resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach, and inclusivity, and perception. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 14

Consider the following statements :

Statement I: India’s petroleum product exports to Europe have shifted entirely to the significantly longer and costlier, albeit safer, route around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.

Statement II: Since late last year, numerous cargo ships have come under attack from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen around the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

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 explains Statement-I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statemen-I

(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect

(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Explanation

— With no signs of a let up in threat to ships transiting the Red Sea, India’s petroleum product exports to Europe have shifted entirely to the significantly longer and costlier, albeit safer, route around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— As per ship tracking data, not even one Europe-bound fuel taker that set sail from India in June and July took the Red Sea route, which used to be the mainstay of India’s exports to Europe and other Western markets. In fact, this has been the story largely over the past five months, with the exception of a few isolated cargoes that took the seemingly perilous route in March and May.

— Since late last year, numerous cargo ships have come under attack from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen around the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which leads to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, forming the shortest, although narrow, route to the Mediterranean Sea and beyond from the Arab Peninsula, North-East Africa, and the Arabian Sea.

(Source: Kpler)

— The route is seen as an important artery of global goods and energy supplies. The Houthis have been claiming that they are targeting vessels with links to Israel and its allies in response to its military offensive in Gaza. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 15

Nord Stream pipelines run under:

(a) Baltic Sea

(b) Black Sea

(c) Adriatic Sea

(d) North Sea

Explanation

— Almost two years after the September 2022 bombing of the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea, it remains unclear who sabotaged the pipes. The destruction of the pipelines that supplied natural gas from Russia to Germany exacerbated the energy crisis in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

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Manas Srivastava

Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than four years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called ‘Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik’ and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called ‘You Ask We Answer’.His talks on ‘How to read a newspaper’ focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University’s Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women’s Studies by the Women’s Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on ‘Psychological stress among students’ at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More

How has UPSC asked questions on India’s Freedom Struggle

The Freedom Struggle topic requires the ability to connect historical events with broader themes. Here are 9 key takeaways from the trend analysis of mains exam that every UPSC aspirant must know.

Written by Khushboo Kumari

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 18:49 IST

Lord Mountbatten swears in Jawaharlal Nehru as the first Prime Minister of India on 15 August 1947. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Indian National Movement has remained a pivotal topic in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, reflecting the significance of India’s struggle for independence in the country’s historical narrative. The nature and nuances of questions on this topic have evolved with varying focus on key events, figures, and ideologies.

Here’s a detailed trend analysis of UPSC questions related to the Indian National Movement, exploring the evolving patterns and highlighting areas that have gained prominence in recent years. By examining these trends, aspirants can reflect on their preparation strategies and ensure a thorough understanding of this crucial period in Indian history.

Where do we find the Indian National Movement in the UPSC Syllabus?

Prelims: The History of India and the Indian National Movement.

Mains: General Studies I: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

Micro topics: Revolt of 1857, Growth of nationalism in India (1858-1905), Socio-religious movement, Formation of Indian National Congress, Moderates & Extremists, Militant nationalism, Beginning of mass nationalism (1919-1939), Role of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders, Non-cooperation movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement, Government of India Acts, Role of Governors, Movements- Peasant, tribal, princely states, sepoy; factors leading to partition and independence, integration of princely states, and nature of Indian Independence struggle.

Let’s see the trend…

What has been the weightage of the ‘Freedom Struggle’ topic in the History section of UPSC Mains exam over the years (2013-2023)?

Topic-wise analysis of the previous year’s questions asked by UPSC

What the above tables tell us – 9 key takeaways

1. A comprehensive analysis shows that the frequency of questions from Indian Independence Movements has been between 3 and 5. Consequently, a strong preparation in this area will ensure the ability to tackle any question thrown in this direction.

2. Examining the trend of the questions, the UPSC has consistently focused on certain key areas – the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the National Movement, the political, social, and economic ideas of important personalities of our national movement – both foreign and Indian, British economic policies and its impact, and the socio-religious reform movements in pre-independence India.

3. UPSC has been significantly emphasising on topics related to the National movement since a long time. Especially over the past decade, there has been a repetition of questions from this particular part of the syllabus. For instance, in 2012, UPSC posed a question on the ideological evolution of the national movement and a somewhat similar question has been asked in 2020 as well

4. Questions on the economic impact of colonialism have also appeared several times. In recent years, the examination has also begun to address newer aspects of this theme. For example, in 2018, a question on indentured labour and its impact during the colonial period was asked, marking the first time this topic was covered. Before that, the UPSC had asked questions about the decline of artisans, the decline of the textile and small cottage industries, and the drain of wealth.

5. ‘Governor Generals’ is another frequently asked topic. The UPSC has asked questions about Lord Lytton, Lord Ripon, Lord Curzon, and Lord Dalhousie. Notably, in 2010, the UPSC featured a question on Lord Dalhousie’s annexation policy, and on a similar line, another question on Dalhousie had been asked in 2013.

6. In terms of contributions by important personalities, UPSC has asked about the evaluation of the contribution of Subhash Chandra Bose to India’s freedom. In 2016, it asked a comparative question between the approaches to the freedom struggle by Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi.

7. The socio-religious reform movements and their contribution to Indian nationalism have also been a focal point in the mains examination. Questions have been asked about the Ramakrishna Mission, Theosophical society, Arya Samaj as well as the overall character of these movements. This makes the section particularly important for aspirants. One should be well-versed with the contributions of Swami Vivekanand, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dayanand Saraswati, and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. In 1984, UPSC asked a question about the 19th century as a period of the ‘Indian Renaissance’. There have been recurrent questions on this topic in 2006 and 2019.

8. Mahatma Gandhi and his contribution to the National movement have been consistently asked by UPSC over the years. The pattern of questions has been simple. In recent times, UPSC has started asking questions that require an overall understanding of the topic. In terms of comparison with other personalities like Rabindranath Tagore and Jawaharlal Nehru, the most common areas are – Education, Nationalism, Economy, Social.

9. Questions regarding proposals leading to Indian independence have been notably absent in recent examinations. Historically, the UPSC has addressed topics such as the Cripps Mission, the Mountbatten Plan, the Cabinet Mission, and the C. R. Formula.

So what…

The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country is a comprehensive topic requiring the ability to connect historical events with broader themes. The questions themselves present a dynamic challenge to aspirants to focus on critical analysis and conceptual clarity. It is also important from the perspective of prelims as well.

The purpose of this trend analysis is to help you realign your preparation on this, for better navigation and enhancing chances of success in the exam. You now know which are the important areas that should be the focus. But, it does not mean other sections are irrelevant. UPSC loves to surprise students. It is better to be prepared for a section where you can be sure. Gear up for your preparation, solve as many previous years questions as you can. Remember, in this section you can easily score good marks and must not overlook it.

Happy Independence Day!

UPSC Issue at a Glance | Bangladesh Crisis and India: 4 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains

Bangladesh crisis has been in news for the past few weeks. Here's what you must know about India-Bangladesh ties and the recent developments.

Written by Roshni Yadav

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 17:31 IST

People gather around the residence of Bangladeshi prime minister in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 05 August 2024. (EPA-EFE/STR via PTI)

UPSC Issue at a Glance is a new initiative of UPSC Essentials to focus your prelims and mains exam preparation on an issue that has been in the news. Every Thursday, cover a new topic in Q&A format and don’t miss MCQs, Points to Ponder and key takeaways. Also, don’t forget to check the answers of MCQs towards the end of the article. This week’s topic is Bangladesh Crisis and India. Let’s get started!

If you missed the UPSC Issue at a Glance | Landslides: 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains from the Indian Express, read it here.

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the August edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

What is the issue?

The recent turmoil in Bangladesh resulted in the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the establishment of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. This event is considered a significant turning point in Bangladesh’s history and has introduced new dynamics in regional politics. As a neighboring country of India, Bangladesh has always played a crucial role in India’s “neighborhood first” policy. Therefore, it is important to understand the recent political change in Bangladesh from a broader perspective.

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.

Other areas of relevance: UPSC Aspirants will find it useful in Essays, and Current affairs for their Personality tests.

What will you learn from this article?

1. What is the history of the Liberation of Bangladesh and what role did India play in it?

2. What are the areas of cooperation between India and Bangladesh?

3. What are the challenges in India and Bangladesh ties?

4. How does the current Bangladesh turmoil present a challenge for India?

Question 1: What is the history of the Liberation of Bangladesh and what role did India play in it?

Answer: Bangladesh was part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971, but the people of this region felt oppressed by the domination of western Pakistan and the imposition of the Urdu language. They began protesting against the unfair treatment of Bengali culture and language, and demanded fair representation in administration and political power.

Under the leadership of Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman, a popular struggle for autonomy ensued and in the 1970 elections, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujib, secured a majority in the proposed constituent assembly for the entire Pakistan. However, the West Pakistani leadership refused to acknowledge this and arrested Sheikh Mujib, leading to violent suppression by the Pakistani army and a significant refugee crisis in India.

1971 Bangladesh Liberation War (Express Archive)

In response to the people’s demand for independence, the government of India provided financial and military support. This led to a war between India and Pakistan in December 1971, resulting in the surrender of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan and the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation.

Do you Know?

India was one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh and establish diplomatic relations immediately with it in December 1971.

Points to Ponder:

— What was the Operation Jackpot?

— What was the Operation Searchlight?

— Map work: Location of Bangladesh and Indian states sharing boundaries with Bangladesh.

Question 2: What are the areas of cooperation between India and Bangladesh?

Answer: India and Bangladesh have deep-rooted bonds of history, language, culture, and many other commonalities. The exceptional nature of their bilateral ties is reflected in a comprehensive partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust, and understanding. The cooperation between both the nations can be seen in various areas.

1. Economic Cooperation: Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh in Asia. In the fiscal year 2023-24, Bangladesh exported goods worth USD 1.97 billion to India, and the total bilateral trade for that year amounted to USD 14.01 billion.

Anjishnu Das Writes— “Bangladesh is the biggest export destination for India’s cotton, accounting for 34.9% of India’s total cotton exports (some $2.4 billion in FY24). Other major Indian exports to Bangladesh are petroleum products and cereals. India’s top import from Bangladesh are readymade garments, amounting to $391 million in FY24. In recent years, Bangladesh has emerged as a major global hub for textiles.”

2. Security and Border Management: The two countries’ agencies actively cooperate on police matters, anti-corruption activities, and combatting issues such as illicit drug trafficking, fake currency, and human trafficking.

Do you Know?

Assam, West Bengal, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Tripura share borders with Bangladesh.

— India and Bangladesh have resolved long-pending issues, such as the Land Boundary Agreement in 2015.

— Peaceful and cooperative security mechanisms for the 4,096 km long international border include border fencing, joint inspection of boundary pillars, and joint boundary demarcation, including riverine boundaries.

3. Defence Cooperation: The cooperation between India and Bangladesh is also evident in the defense sector. Both the countries conduct joint exercises called Exercise Sampriti (for the army) and Exercise Bongo Sagar (for the navy).

4. Infrastructure and Connectivity: India and Bangladesh have consistently increased their cooperation to improve connectivity between the two nations through various modes of transportation. Efforts for greater connectivity to establish a long-lasting, people-centric partnership have led to the rehabilitation of 6 railway links between India and Bangladesh that were present before 1965.

Anjishnu Das Writes— “India has extended three lines of credit to Bangladesh since 2016 amounting to $8 billion for the development of road, rail, shipping and port infrastructure. In November 2023, two joint projects – the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link and Khulna-Mongla Port rail line – were inaugurated. The latest Akhaura-Agartala link, which provided an alternate route from mainland India to the Northeast, was the sixth cross-border rail line between the countries.”

— India and Bangladesh also have a Protocol on Inland Waterways Trade and Transit (PIWTT) that has been operational since 1972, for facilitating trade and transit between the two countries through the inland waterways. Both countries have also operationalized the Agreement for the usage of Chittagong and Mongla Ports in 2023.

5. Cultural Cooperation: It plays a crucial role in building people-to-people contacts between both nations. The cultural programs featuring renowned artists from India and Bangladesh contribute to the promotion of people-to-people contacts.

Points to Ponder:

— How is India assisting Bangladesh in capacity building and human resource development?

— What is a Land Boundary Agreement?

Question 3: What are the challenges in India and Bangladesh ties?

Answer: India and Bangladesh share a unique relationship rooted in a common cultural heritage, shared principles, and values. This relationship has been forged by common aspirations and the sacrifices of their peoples. However, there are some challenges to India-Bangladesh bilateral ties.

1. Challenge of Illegal Migration: The illegal migration from Bangladesh to India continues to be a major concern in bilateral relations. This influx of migrants puts a strain on Indian border states, not only impacting their resources but also presenting a challenge to security. The problem of illegal migration has intensified with the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.

2. Challenge of River Water Management: The management of transboundary river water has been a point of tension between India and Bangladesh. The two countries share 54 common rivers which directly impact the livelihoods of people in both countries. While both countries have signed major treaties related to river water sharing, such as the Ganga Waters Treaty and the Kushiyara River Treaty, negotiations are ongoing for other major rivers such as the Teesta.

3. Increasing Influence of China: The growing influence of China in Bangladesh is a point of concern for India. Bangladesh is a member of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. There is concern that China’s increasing involvement with Bangladesh can challenge India’s regional standing and impede its strategic aspirations.

Points to Ponder:

— What is the significance of Bangladesh for India?

Question 4: How does the current Bangladesh turmoil present a challenge for India?

Answer: How the turmoil in Bangladesh will impact India-Bangladesh bilateral relations is something that we will see in the coming times, but there are inevitable challenges that have emerged for India on various fronts with the recent turmoil in Bangladesh.

Anjishnu Das Writes— “Bangladesh has been a key ally to India since Sheikh Hasina came to power in 2009. From eradicating anti-India terrorist groups which operated out of safe havens in Bangladesh to facilitating greater economic, social, and cultural ties, Hasina’s tenure has fostered a healthy relationship between New Delhi and Dhaka.

Her exit could jeopardise this — affecting growing trade ties, restricting the movement of people and goods, and stalling a potential free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

A disruption in Indo-Bangladesh ties could thus restrict India’s access to the Northeast, which will be connected to mainland India only through the narrow “Chicken’s Neck” — only 22 km at its narrowest — between West Bengal and Assam.”

Considering the crisis in Bangladesh, it is important for India to address potential trade and security risks. This can be achieved through proactive measures and regional cooperation to minimize negative impacts and sustain economic stability and growth. It is crucial for India to take active steps to minimize damage and safeguard the important aspects of the relationship.

C. Raja Mohan writes—

India will need enormous strategic patience, faith in the logic of geography, belief in the centrality of commerce, and a strong political commitment to transcend the Partition pathologies in building relations with a changing Bangladesh.

Post Read Questions

Prelims

(1) Consider the following infrastructure projects:

1. Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link

2. Khulna-Mongla port rail line

3. Maitree super thermal power plant

4. MoU on Blue Economy and Maritime Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal

5. Jaynagar–Janakpur–Bardibas railway line

How many of the aforementioned infrastructure projects have India and Bangladesh agreed to collaborate on?

(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only

(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

(2) With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim.

2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.

3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

(3) How many of the following states share the borders with the Bangladesh?

1. Assam

2. West Bengal

3. Tripura

4. Mizoram

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) One only

(b) Two only

(c) Three only

(d) All four

(4) Exercise SAMPRITI is a military exercise between India and which of the following nations?

(a) Bangladesh

(b) Sri Lanka

(c) Nepal

(d) Thailand

Mains

(1) Discuss the significance of India’s relationship with Bangladesh in the context of regional cooperation and development. Highlight the recent developments between the two countries.

(2) Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive role in the emergence of Bangladesh. (UPSC CSE 2013)

(3) The protests in Shahbag Square in Dhaka in Bangladesh reveal a fundamental split in society between the nationalists and Islamic forces. What is its significance for India? ( UPSC CSE 2013)

(4) 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)

Prelims Answer Key

1. (c)

2. (b)

3. (d)

4. (a)

(Sources: Class 12 NCERT, Brief on India-Bangladesh Bilateral Relations 2024, How Sheikh Hasina’s ouster may impact India-Bangladesh trade ties, How India needs to deal with the new Bangladesh: 5 challenges beyond 1971)

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Explained

- Why the Elon Musk-owned X announced it will shut down operations in Brazil

- Can Sheikh Hasina be extradited to Bangladesh? What are India’s options?

- What the rise of 37-year-old Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra means for the country’s politics

- Why Odisha will plant 20 lakh palm trees for protection against lightning strikes

- Lessons from Wayanad, Himachal: As climate change intensifies, how to prepare for extreme weather events

- Mpox declared a global health emergency: will it trigger another pandemic?

- UPSC issues ad for lateral entry into bureaucracy: What is the policy, why it has no reservation provision

- What is the contribution of Indian Americans to US society and economy?

- Americans, Soviets or Israelis? Who killed Pakistan’s former President Zia ul-Haq?

- Explained: The bitter dispute in the Namdhari sect, which has left 8 people injured in a violent clash

- Meet ‘Ketamine Queen’ Jasveen Sangha, who supplied the drug to ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry

- From kesri to basanti: history and politics around the colour of the holy Nishan Sahib

- An Expert Explains: How James Webb Space Telescope has raised questions in cosmology

Why the Elon Musk-owned X announced it will shut down operations in Brazil

X has said a Brazilian Supreme Court judge threatened arrest against its legal representative, over the company’s refusal to censor some accounts. Elon Musk has previously rallied against the same judge. Here’s what happened.

Written by Rishika Singh

New Delhi | August 19, 2024 07:00 IST

Brazil's Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes (left) and Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X. (Reuters)

Elon Musk-owned social media platform X will shut down its operations in Brazil “effective immediately”, according to a post from its Global Government Affairs account on Saturday (August 17). X services, however, will remain available in the country.

X claimed that Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes threatened its legal representative with arrest if they did not comply with censorship orders.

The same judge earlier included Musk in an investigation into the spread of fake news in Brazil and accused him of obstructing proceedings. In response, Musk accused the judge of betraying Brazil’s constitution and its people and issued an extraordinary call for him to be sacked. Here’s what happened.

What prompted X operations’ closure in Brazil?

In its post, the Global Government Affairs account shared photos of a legal document, claiming it was the “secret order” from the judge. It reportedly ordered a daily fine of 20,000 reais ($3,653) and said an arrest decree against X representative Rachel Nova Conceicao would be imposed if the platform did not fully comply with Moraes’ orders.

“Despite our numerous appeals to the Supreme Court not being heard… and our Brazilian staff having no responsibility or control over whether content is blocked on our platform, Moraes has chosen to threaten our staff in Brazil rather than respect the law or due process,” the post said.

What did the Brazilian Supreme Court ask of X?

Brazil’s Supreme Court did not confirm or deny the order’s authenticity to Reuters. However, this is not the first time it has pulled up X.

The Supreme Court has been looking into the spread of fake news and online disinformation, which is false information deliberately shared with malicious intent. Their impact on politics, through mediums like WhatsApp and YouTube, has been a concern for years in Brazil. Concerning this, Justice de Moraes ordered some X accounts to be blocked.

What was the response from X?

X’s Government Affairs account said on April 7 that the court forced it to block “certain popular accounts in Brazil” and the reason for it was unknown.

Musk then made clear his intention to disobey the order on the same day. In a post, he said, “This judge has brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil. He should resign or be impeached. Shame @Alexandre, shame.”

The next day, he referred to the judge’s order as “the most draconian demands of any country on Earth!” He has since made multiple posts against de Moraes. He shared an X user’s post which claimed that “Brazil is engaged in a sweeping crackdown on free speech led by a Supreme Court justice named Alexandre de Moraes.”

The user claimed de Moraes has “required the censorship of specific posts, without giving users any right of appeal or even the right to see the evidence presented against them.”

On August 17, Musk posted, “The decision to close the X office in Brazil was difficult, but, if we had agreed to @alexandre’s (illegal) secret censorship and private information handover demands, there was no way we could explain our actions without being ashamed.”

What did Brazil’s SC hold?

Justice Alexandre de Moraes said on April 7 that Musk was waging a “disinformation campaign” on the court’s actions.

He referenced Musk’s actions in his order, saying, “The flagrant conduct of obstruction of Brazilian justice, incitement of crime, the public threat of disobedience of court orders and future lack of cooperation from the platform are facts that disrespect the sovereignty of Brazil.”

According to the Associated Press, which cited the text of the judgment, “Musk will be investigated for alleged intentional criminal instrumentalisation of X as part of an investigation into a network of people known as digital militias who allegedly spread defamatory fake news and threats against Supreme Court justices”.

Who is Judge Alexandre de Moraes?

De Moraes oversaw the case against former Brazilian President and right-wing politician Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), over the January 8, 2023 riots in Brasilia. Bolsonaro’s supporters entered government buildings and attacked them, a week after current socialist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in after winning the 2022 elections.

Many right-wing Brazilians see de Moraes as a biased judge. He earlier instructed the blocking of right-wing social media accounts over the January riots.

In 2020, de Moraes ordered Facebook and Twitter (not owned by Musk then) to block accounts spreading illegal content. While they agreed, the accounts were accessible if a user changed their app settings to a foreign location. The judge demanded a total block, which Facebook challenged.

In 2022, de Moraes banned the secure messaging app Telegram temporarily for not complying with an investigation into neo-Nazi chat groups. However, a federal court later lifted the restriction, saying a total ban was “not reasonable” given its impact on the freedom of communication for other users, DW reported.

President da Silva’s government has supported the judge. Solicitor General Jorge Messias earlier said in a post on X, “We cannot live in a society in which billionaires domiciled abroad have control of social networks and put themselves in a position to violate the rule of law, failing to comply with court orders and threatening our authorities.”

Why Musk refused to accept the order

Musk has claimed to be a “free speech absolutist”, saying governments instructing blocking of accounts infringes on people’s rights. But X has complied with some government requests earlier, as did Twitter.

In February 2024, X posted that the Indian government “issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment.” While it said it would comply with the orders, it disagreed with these actions, maintaining that “freedom of expression should extend to these posts.”

Musk was also accused of silencing his critics on his platform when the accounts of several journalists were suspended in January. Many claimed that the details of the grounds of suspension were not provided to them.

Can Sheikh Hasina be extradited to Bangladesh? What are India’s options?

India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty, under whose provisions Bangladesh may seek the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. But this does not necessarily mean that she will be extradited to her home country, where she faces a number of criminal cases

Written by Deeptiman Tiwary

New Delhi | August 19, 2024 06:01 IST

Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina. (Express File Photo - Renuka Puri)

With former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina facing multiple criminal cases back at home, it is likely that India’s eastern neighbour may push for her extradition.

Bangladesh’s de facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain said as much in an interview to Reuters on Thursday (August 15). He said that since Hasina’s ouster, a number of cases had been filed against her, and that should the country’s home and law ministries decide, Bangladesh may need her to “return to Bangladesh”. He also said that such a situation could diplomatically embarrass India, and that he was sure India “would take care of it”.

Do India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty?

Yes. India and Bangladesh signed an extradition treaty in 2013, which was then amended in 2016 to ease and hasten the exchange of fugitives between the two countries.

The treaty came into being in the context of several Indian fugitives, particularly those belonging to insurgent groups in the North East, hiding in and operating out of Bangladesh. At the same time, Bangladesh had been facing trouble from outfits such as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), whose operatives were found to be hiding in states like West Bengal and Assam in India.

The treaty allowed India to successfully extradite Anup Chetia, a top United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) leader, from Bangladesh to India in 2015. Since then, one more fugitive has been handed over to India by Bangladesh through the extradition route. According to sources, India too has handed over a couple of Bangladesh fugitives to its neighbour through this treaty.

What does the treaty say?

According to the treaty, India and Bangladesh are supposed to extradite individuals “who have been proceeded against… or have been charged with or have been found guilty of, or are wanted for… committing an extraditable offence” by a court of the requesting country.

An extraditable offence, the treaty says, is one which carries a minimum punishment of one year imprisonment. This includes financial offences. Crucially, for an offence to be extraditable, the principle of dual criminality must apply, meaning that the offence must be punishable in both countries.

The treaty says that extradition shall also be granted if there is an “attempt to commit or aiding, abetting, inciting or participating as an accomplice in the commission of an extraditable offence”.

Are there exceptions to these rules?

Yes. The treaty says that extradition may be refused if the offence is of “political nature”. But this is limited by the nature of offence. And the list of offences which cannot be deemed as “political” is rather long. These include murder; manslaughter or culpable homicide; assault; causing of an explosion; the making or possession of an explosive substance or weapons by a person intending to endanger life; the use of a firearm with intent to resist or prevent arrest; damaging property with intent to endanger life; kidnapping or taking of a hostage; incitement to murder; and any other offence related to terrorism.

So, can Hasina be extradited by Bangladesh?

Hasina is a political player, and she can claim to seek political asylum in India. However, some of the offences for which she has been booked are excluded from the definition of political crimes in the treaty. This includes cases of murder, enforced disappearance, and torture.

On August 13, Hasina was booked for the murder of a grocery store owner who had died in police firing last month. The very next day, a case of enforced disappearance was filed against her on the charge of kidnapping a lawyer in 2015. On August 15, Hasina was slapped with charges of murder, torture and genocide in a third case.

Things are further complicated by the fact that a 2016 amendment to Article 10 (3) of the treaty did away with the requirement for the requesting country to provide evidence of the offence committed. Now, merely an arrest warrant by a competent court of the requesting country is needed to process an extradition.

Given a request, will India have to send Hasina back?

Not necessarily. There are grounds spelt out for refusal of extradition requests in the treaty. Article 7 of the treaty says that “the request for extradition may be refused by the Requested State if the person whose extradition is sought may be tried for the extradition offence in the courts of that State.” This is not applicable in Hasina’s case.

That said, Article 8 lists out multiple grounds for refusal including cases in which an accusation has not been “made in good faith in the interests of justice” or in case of military offences which are not “an offence under the general criminal law”.

India has the option of refusing Hasina’s extradition on the ground that the accusations made against her are not “in good faith in the interests of justice”. But this has the potential to adversely impact New Delhi’s relations with Dhaka’s new ruling dispensation.

So, what should India do?

India has to look to build relations with whoever comes to power in Dhaka, and secure its long term strategic and economic interests in Bangladesh. At the same time, it must also be seen to be standing by Sheikh Hasina, a long time friend and ally to New Delhi.

“Do our critical interests lie in handing over Hasina to Bangladesh? They don’t. The legalese of the treaty does not matter. There are lawyers on both sides,” a former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer, who has dealt closely with Bangladesh, told The Indian Express.

The former spy argued that the matter did not even warrant a “balancing act”.

“There are enough interests in Bangladesh who would want to have good relations with India. The Awami League has not been finished. It has deep roots. It will rise again. There is an administration and a military that values Bangladesh’s relations with India. So, we have a critical mass that favours good relations… Then there are geographic realities. Bangladesh is surrounded by India. There are enough structural linkages between the two countries. The last word has not yet been written on the direction of these relations,” he said.

Some other security establishment sources that The Indian Express spoke to underlined that no country ever trades fugitives against its national interest, with or without treaty, and eventually, whatever happens will be a political call.

A former diplomat who has served in the region said it was too early to be alarmed.

“First of all, this is an interim government. Its statements should not bother India much. It is a regular government that India will look to engage with in the long term and thus pay heed to. Also, as of now, only FIRs have been filed. The case will have to be investigated, chargesheeted, and then the court will take cognisance following which the extradition process will start. A lot of water would have flown down the Teesta by then,” the former diplomat told The Indian Express.

“Beyond diplomacy, having a treaty means its legal provisions have to be satisfied. Then there are multiple examples of relations between two countries being healthy despite pending extradition requests,” he added.

What the rise of 37-year-old Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra means for the country’s politics

Paetongtarn Shinawatra comes from a political dynasty, with two Prime Ministers from her family having been overthrown in past coups. Her family's return to the centre of Thailand's politics comes amid a period of turmoil.

Written by Rishika Singh

New Delhi | Updated: August 19, 2024 06:01 IST

Thailand Prime Minister-elect Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrives with her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, at the Pheu Thai party headquarters ahead of a royal endorsement ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, August 18, 2024. (REUTERS/Panumas Sanguanwong)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Thailand’s new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Sunday (August 18), two days after the country’s Parliament elected her as the new PM. “Look forward to working with you to further strengthen the bilateral ties between India and Thailand that are based on the strong foundations of civilisational, cultural and people to people connect,” he said in a post on X.

Her election comes more than a year after her centre-right Pheu Thai party came second in the general election. Although the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) had won the largest number of seats, a political arrangement brokered by Paetongtarn’s father and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (2001-06) resulted in a coalition led by Pheu Thai coming to power.

Pheu Thai leader Srettha Thavisin became prime minister in August 2023. However, less than a year later, he was ousted from the position by the order of a constitutional court on August 14. The court said Srettha had been dishonest and had “breached ethical standards” by appointing an individual with a criminal conviction to his cabinet.

Paetongtarn is the third member of the Shinawatra family to become prime minister after Thaksin and his sister Yingluck, who occupied the post from 2011-14. Both Thaksin and Yingluck were removed from power in military coups.

Many in Thailand had looked to the MFP with hope of political reform, given the decades-old dominance of the military and the Thai royalty over the country’s politics.

Who is Petongtarn Shinawatra?

Petongtarn, the youngest-ever PM of the nation of 70 million, joined politics only three years ago. Having studied hotel management in the United Kingdom, she had been managing Thaksin’s Rende hotel group.

According to a profile published by the BBC, Petongtarn “describes herself as a compassionate capitalist, a social liberal who fully supports Thailand’s new equal marriage law”. However, her personality is mainly seen as being indistinct from the legacy and reputation of the powerful Shinawatra clan.

Thaksin, who is now 75, was in the police before joining politics. He also owned several businesses in key sectors and expressed disdain for the country’s entrenched elites, such as businessmen, bureaucrats, and other power players linked to the influential monarchy and the military. The two institutions are seen as helping sustain each other in Thailand’s constitutional monarchy.

Thaksin’s welfare policies cemented his popularity among poor and rural Thais. But in 2006, protests erupted following allegations that the Shinawatra family had failed to pay taxes on their businesses, leading to a military-orchestrated ouster.

Yingluck was accused by opposition leaders of running a proxy government for Thaksin. She too was ousted after a judicial order against her in 2014. Thaksin has since backed several parties, and has remained a powerful player in Thai politics.

What are the implications of the Shinawatras’ return to power?

Thaksin is seen as a once-popular leader who has joined hands with the conservative forces he was earlier positioned against. This ‘deal’ reportedly allowed the former PM to return to Thailand in 2023, after having lived in exile for 15 years. During this period, he was sentenced to eight years in prison over an abuse-of-power case during his tenure, but the sentence was reduced to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn last September.

On August 17, Thaksin received a royal pardon reducing his parole to two weeks, Reuters reported.

The recent events have raised concerns over the shrinking of spaces for strong political voices representing the will of the Thai people. In the 2023 general election, the MFP had emerged as the biggest party with 141 seats in the 500-seat lower house. Its major agenda was loosening the lèse majesté laws that punish any criticism of the Thai monarchy, including liking social media posts.

The party, led by 42-year-old Pita Limjaroenrat, enjoyed considerable support among the youth. It first appeared in politics in 2018 under the name Future Forward Party, but was dissolved by a constitutional court in 2020 over a violation of electoral rules. Viewing the ruling as politically motivated, tens of thousands took to the streets.

That sequence of events has now somewhat repeated itself. Earlier this month, a constitutional court ordered MFP to be dissolved over its “unlawful” pledge to reform lèse majesté laws. Its executive committee, which includes Limjaroenrat, was also banned from politics for 10 years. The MFP has been re-constituted as the People’s Party.

Limjaroenrat told The Guardian in an interview that Thailand was trapped in a “double lock democracy”, where the legal system and military coups were repeatedly being used to undermine election results.

What happens next?

Analysts believe Petongtarn Shinawatra will likely be in her father’s shadow, given her inexperience and the mammoth task of heading the government. Ensuring her political survival will be Thaksin’s major challenge given Thailand’s turbulent political history, which has seen 19 coups since the country became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

Another concern will be the economy. According to a Nikkei Asia report, “The economy has grown 1% to 4% per year since the 2014 coup, compared with around 5% for Southeast Asia as a whole. Cheap labour and infrastructure investments once drove rapid growth, but the country has struggled to further develop its industrial base even as Vietnam and other neighbours catch up.”

Why Odisha will plant 20 lakh palm trees for protection against lightning strikes

Nearly 4,000 people have lost their lives to lightning strikes in the last 11 years. The proposal, accepted by the government in July, is a step to reduce the number of deaths.

Written by Sujit Bisoyi

Bhubaneswar | Updated: August 18, 2024 16:48 IST

A lightning strike. (Express Photo - Partha Paul/representational)

Odisha has begun the plantation of 20 lakh palm trees to protect its population against injury or death due to lightning strikes, which were designated as a state-specific disaster in 2015.

The state minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari told ANI on Sunday (August 18) that Odisha was among the states severely affected by lightning strikes, and the plantation of palm trees would serve as a defence against them.

#WATCH | Bhubaneswar: Odisha Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Suresh Pujari says, “The number of deaths in Odisha due to lighting strikes are increasing…As a preventive measure, 20 lakh palm trees will be planted by the forest department across Odisha…We will make… pic.twitter.com/WlygIVmI7t

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2024

“The state forest department has started planting 20 lakh palm trees across the state. We intend to do it state-wide, and focus on vulnerable points such as schools. Through our effort, we hope to reduce the number of deaths and eventually bring it down to zero,” Pujari said.

The proposal was approved by the state government last month.

How many people have lost their lives to lightning in Odisha?

A total of 3,790 people have lost their lives to lightning strikes in the last 11 years, with 791 alone in the previous three fiscal years due to the increased frequency of lightning strikes. The state most notably recorded 61,000 lightning strikes in a two-hour interval on September 2, 2023, which killed at least 12 people.

The Special Relief Commissioner’s office said as many as 282 persons died in 2021-22 due to lightning strikes, 297 in 2022-23 and 212 in 2023-24. Most lightning-related fatalities were reported from districts such as Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Koraput and Nabarangpur.

The state government has provided ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for lightning deaths since 2015.

Why are lightning strikes of particular concern in Odisha?

Scientifically, lightning is a rapid and massive discharge of electricity in the atmosphere some of which is directed towards earth. Odisha is an eastern coastal state situated in the tropical zone, with its hot, dry climate presenting the perfect blend of conditions for lightning strikes.

The highest number of cloud-to-lightning (CG) strikes occur in eastern and central India according to the Annual Lightning Report 2023-2024, published by the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC) and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

A research paper titled “Climate Change and Incidence of Lightning in Odisha: An Exploratory Research”, published by the IMD in 2021 further establishes the role of climate change in exacerbating lightning strikes, with a nearly 10 per cent increase in lightning activity resulting from every one degree Celsius of long-term warming.

According to Manoranjan Mishra, a geography professor at Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Odisha is particularly susceptible because of its “complex combination of climatic factors which influence the occurrence of lightning including pre-monsoon and monsoon period, cyclonic activities influenced by sea temperature and the convective energy of the atmosphere.”

A co-author of the paper “Mapping main risk areas of lightning fatalities between 2000 and 2020 over Odisha state (India): A diagnostic approach to reduce lightning fatalities using statistical and spatiotemporal analyses”, Mishra said that very high and high lightning flash occurrences occur in the state’s northern and central parts.

Which populations are at risk?

With 96% of lightning strikes in rural areas, farmers and daily wage earners like agricultural labourers bear the brunt of lighting. Over 80% of the Odisha population depend on agriculture and other allied activities, and work long hours in open fields, making them vulnerable to lightning strikes.

Although most lightning strikes occurred between April and October, most deaths were reported during the peak agriculture season between June and October.

How can Odisha defend itself against lightning strikes?

Palm trees are uniquely suited to be lightning conductors because of their height among other trees. They contain high moisture and sap, can absorb lightning and reduce its direct impact on the ground.

The Special Relief Commissioner’s office has approved Rs 7 crore for the proposed plan. The state has banned the felling of existing palm trees and 19 lakh palm trees will initially be planted on the boundaries of the forests.

Experts have raised concerns about this proposal and demanded a more comprehensive and grounded strategy supported by proper data analysis. Mishra also pointed out that a palm tree needs at least 15 to 20 years to attain a height of 20 feet. There are also concerns that some trees could catch fire after lightning strikes.

While Odisha has adopted an early warning system to forecast lightning strikes and disseminates the message through media and social media, critics have pointed out that exact predictions of lightning strikes cannot be made. Widespread public awareness of the do’s and don’ts around a lightning strike is needed to educate residents in rural areas.

Lessons from Wayanad, Himachal: As climate change intensifies, how to prepare for extreme weather events

With two major natural disasters unfolding within 48 hours, India's disaster preparedness leaves much to be desired. An expert explains the status of India's disaster readiness and suggests a way forward

Hyderabad | Updated: August 18, 2024 20:34 IST

People stand as search operations are carried out after landslides hit Mundakkai village in Wayanad district in the southern state of Kerala, India, August 1, 2024. (REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas)

Written by Sneha Biswas

Two major natural disasters occurring within a span of 48 hours shook the nation recently.

A massive landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad, followed by a cloud burst over Shimla, Kullu, and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh resulted in more than 350 dead and hundreds missing. This situation needs our immediate attention. A discussion on both the science and policy perspectives of such events follows.

Understanding extreme climate events: Cloud burst and landslide

A cloud burst refers to a heavy downpour occurring within a small amount of time and in a small area. Cloud bursts are localised within a few square kilometres’ area, and are short-lived, often lasting only minutes.

According to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) definition, a cloud burst occurs when more than 100 mm/ hour precipitation occurs in a geographical area of 20-30 sq km. Reports said certain areas of Himachal Pradesh (Kangra, Dharamshala, Churi and Palampur) received 150 mm to 212 mm rain on August 2.

Cumulonimbus clouds are also known as thunderstorm clouds because they cause major rainfall and thunderstorm events. These gigantic clouds create a short but intense storm in the hilly regions, resulting in cloud bursts and flash floods. Over the last decade, the Himalayan region has seen some major cloud burst events such as the Kedarnath flash flood in 2013, and the Leh cloud burst in 2010.

The Vellarimala hill region in Wayanad on the other hand, received 572 mm of rain in just 48 hours (the average annual rainfall here is 3,000 mm), which caused a massive landslide that wiped out several villages. Landslides are triggered either by earthquakes or by intense rainfall events, and depend largely on the topography of an area, slope, rock and soil structure, land use, etc.

The National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) identifies the Western Ghats, North-West Himalayas, and the North-East Himalayas as some of the most landslide prone zones in the country. The 2011 report of the Madhav Gadgil Committee, and its recommendations on the Western Ghats have been spotlighted by the devastation in Wayanad.

India’s preparedness to deal with natural disasters

Hazards turn into disasters when a large population faces the consequences. Disaster studies note that the vulnerability of a population to natural disasters depends on some socio-economic root causes such as poverty, inequality, and iniquitous power structures, as well as unsafe conditions in which people live. When a trigger event such as cloud burst or landslide meets these root causes and unsafe conditions, a disaster follows.

In its latest (sixth) Assessment Report published in 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the body of the United Nations that works to disseminate scientific knowledge about climate change caused by human activities, cautioned that we will see an increase in the frequency of extreme events as a result of climate change.

Research suggests that developing countries such as India are focused more on relief and rehabilitation rather than on disaster preparedness. Despite the presence of improved early warning systems and disaster management authorities at the district, state, and national levels, India often fails in timely disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction.

Although the Kerala government is praised for the control and management of the Covid-19 pandemic and other public health situations over the years, it has failed to recognise the warning signs that have been flagged in earlier reports. At a time when the affected areas are reeling from the severe effects of the disaster, authorities at the Centre and in the state have been trading charges and allegations against each other.

Avoiding similar disasters: an outlook for the future

Both recent disasters (like earlier disasters that preceded them) have had huge repercussions in terms of the loss of lives, assets, and livelihoods, and the destruction of localities, villages, and towns. Settlements, roads, and bridges have been swept away, and even human bodies have been carried far away from the site of the tragedy. In order to avoid such large-scale social and economic impacts in the future, we need to take responsibility and define our path of sustainability.

* First, regulations should be strictly followed in the development planning for ecologically sensitive areas, properly taking into account environmental impact assessments, and the ecological footprints of projects.

* Second, both places where the recent disasters took place see mass tourism and a wide range of economic activities around it. ‘Ecotourism’ is suggested as an alternative; however, critics point out that even though ecotourism strives to combine conservation and development, it often ends up exacerbating the existing pressures on the environment. Alternative livelihood opportunities should be provided in fragile ecosystems, reducing the dependence on tourism.

* Third, automated weather stations should be established under each gram panchayat and urban local bodies to ensure timely evacuation and quick response to disasters.

* Fourth, climate change is no longer a distant phenomenon; its impact is knocking on our door. We should prioritise mitigation and adaptation plans at multiple levels. In the Union Budget presented last month, climate change was not among the nine priority areas identified by the Finance Ministry. The Budget allocation for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has seen a meagre increase of Rs 99.35 crore over the previous year (from Rs 3,231.02 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 3,330.37 crore in 2024-25). The only tick in the box for climate adaptation is the allocation of Rs 598 crore for climate-smart agriculture projects.

Sneha Biswas is an assistant professor at the School of Public Policy and Governance, Tata Institute of Social Sciences Hyderabad. She works in the areas of sustainability, disasters and vulnerability assessment.

Mpox declared a global health emergency: will it trigger another pandemic?

While it seems unlikely, the outbreaks in Africa and Europe have put health authorities on high alert, pushing for urgent action to curb the virus' transmission.

By: AP

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 15:30 IST

Vials of the JYNNEOS smallpox and monkeypox vaccine are placed on a table during a clinic offered by the Pima County Department of Public Health at Abrams Public Health Center in Tucson, Arizona, U.S., August 20, 2022. (REUTERS/Rebecca Noble/File Photo)

Written by Maria Cheng

The World Health Organization has declared the ongoing outbreaks of mpox in Congo and elsewhere in Africa to be a global emergency, requiring urgent action to curb the virus’ transmission.

Sweden has since announced it had found the first case of a new form of mpox previously only seen in Africa in a traveler, while other European health authorities warned more imported cases were likely.

Here’s a look at mpox and how likely it is to spread further:

Is mpox going to trigger another pandemic?

That seems highly unlikely. Pandemics, including the most recent ones of swine flu and COVID-19, are typically sparked by airborne viruses that spread quickly, including by people who may not be showing symptoms.

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is spread primarily through close skin-to-skin contact with infected people or their soiled clothes or bedsheets. It often causes visible skin lesions that could make people less likely to be in close contact with others.

To stay safe, experts advise avoiding close physical contact with someone who has lesions resembling mpox, not sharing their utensils, clothing or bedsheets and maintaining good hygiene like regular hand-washing.

On Friday, Europe’s Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that more imported cases of mpox from Africa were “highly likely,” but the chances of local outbreaks in Europe were very low.

Scientists say the risk to the general population in countries without ongoing mpox outbreaks is low.

How different is mpox from COVID-19?

Mpox spreads very slowly unlike the coronavirus. Shortly after the coronavirus was identified in China, the number of cases jumped exponentially from several hundred to several thousand; in a single week in January, the case count increased more than tenfold.

By March 2020, when WHO described COVID-19 as a pandemic, there were more than 126,000 infections and 4,600 deaths — about three months after the coronavirus was first identified.

In contrast, it’s taken since 2022 for mpox cases to hit nearly 100,000 infections globally, with about 200 deaths, according to WHO.

There are vaccines and treatments available for mpox unlike in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have what we need to stop mpox,” said Dr. Chris Beyrer, director of Duke University’s Global Health Institute. “This is not the same situation we faced during COVID when there was no vaccine and no antivirals.”

How quickly will these mpox outbreaks be stopped?

It’s unclear. The 2022 mpox outbreak in more than 70 countries was slowed within months, thanks largely to vaccination programs and drugs being made available to at-risk populations in rich countries.

At the moment, the majority of mpox cases are in Africa — and 96% of those cases and deaths are in Congo, one of the world’s poorest countries whose health system has mostly collapsed from the strain of malnutrition, cholera and measles. Although Congolese officials requested 4 million vaccines from donors, it has yet to receive any.

Despite WHO declaring mpox a global emergency in 2022, Africa got barely any vaccines or treatments.

Beyrer of Duke University said it was in the world’s interest to invest now in squashing the outbreaks in Africa.

“We are actually in a good place to get control of this pandemic, but we have to make the decision to prioritize Africa,” he said.

UPSC issues ad for lateral entry into bureaucracy: What is the policy, why it has no reservation provision

The Centre has opened a fresh round of lateral recruitments, from the private sector and elsewhere, into senior posts in the bureaucracy. Such appointments have also been criticised for not extending reservations to SC, ST and OBC communities.

Written by Shyamlal Yadav

New Delhi | Updated: August 19, 2024 08:00 IST

The Dholpur House in Delhi houses the UPSC. (Via Wikimedia Commons)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Saturday (August 17) issued an advertisement seeking applications for “talented and motivated Indian nationals for Lateral Recruitment” to the posts of Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary in 24 ministries of the Union government.

A total of 45 posts have been advertised with individuals having appropriate qualifications and experience from State/UT governments, PSUs, statutory organisations, research institutes and universities, and even the private sector eligible to apply. The advertisement mentions that all posts are “suitable for candidates belonging to the category of Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD).”

However, opposition party leaders, including Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, and Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, have criticised the policy for not having reservations for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates.

What is ‘lateral entry’ into the bureaucracy?

In 2017, NITI Aayog, in its three-year Action Agenda, and the Sectoral Group of Secretaries (SGoS) on Governance in its report submitted in February, recommended the induction of personnel at middle and senior management levels in the central government. These ‘lateral entrants’ would be part of the central secretariat which, till then, had only career bureaucrats from the All India Services/ Central Civil Services. They would be given contracts of three years, extendable to a total term of five years.

What are the positions open for lateral entry?

Based on the above recommendation, the first vacancies for lateral entrants were advertised in 2018, but only for Joint Secretary level positions. Posts of the rank of Director and Deputy Secretary were opened later.

A Joint Secretary, appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), has the third-highest rank (after Secretary and Additional Secretary) in a Department, and functions as the administrative head of a wing in the Department. Directors are one rank below Joint Secretaries, and Deputy Secretaries are one rank below Directors, although in most ministries, they perform the same job.

What was the Union government’s logic behind introducing lateral entries?

In 2019, Minister of State for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha that “lateral recruitment is aimed at achieving the twin objectives of bringing in fresh talent as well as augment the availability of manpower”.

On August 8, 2024, while responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said, “Keeping in view their specialized knowledge and expertise in the domain area, lateral recruitment at the level of Joint Secretary, Director and Deputy Secretary in Government of India, has been undertaken to appoint persons for specific assignments.”

Basically, the idea behind lateral recruitment is for the government to tap into individuals’ domain expertise and specialised know-how, regardless of whether they are career bureaucrats or not.

How many people have been appointed via lateral recruitment so far?

The first round began in 2018 and attracted a total of 6,077 applications for Joint Secretary-level posts. After a selection process by the UPSC, nine individuals were recommended for appointment to nine different Ministries/Departments in 2019.

Another round of lateral recruitment was advertised in 2021, with two more rounds in May 2023. In total, as MoS Jitendra Singh told the Upper House on August 9 this year, “63 appointments have been made through lateral entry… in the last five years. Presently, 57 officers [lateral entrants] occupy positions in Ministries/ Departments.”

What is the criticism of lateral entry recruitment?

Lateral entries have been criticised on the grounds that there are no quotas for SC, ST and OBC candidates in such recruitment.

Reacting to the latest advertisement, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge posted on X that the lateral entries were a “part of a well-planned conspiracy” and that “the BJP is deliberately making such recruitments in jobs so that SC, ST, OBC categories can be kept away from reservation”.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav condemned the move as a “dirty joke”, saying that had the 45 advertised appointments been made through the civil services examination, “nearly half of the openings would be reserved for SC, ST, and OBC candidates”.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said the policy deprives directly recruited employees working at lower-level posts, as they will not benefit from promotions. She also termed the lack of quotas a “direct violation of the Constitution”.

Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) leader and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Aazad invoked the recent debates about creamy layer quotas for the SC community, for excluding some of its members from being eligible for reservations. “A question to the honourable judges and the central government who are forcibly looking for creamy layer in OBC/SC/ST: Where does the so-called creamy layer of these classes go when they are in these posts?”

SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said in a post, “The time has come to launch a nationwide movement against the conspiracy being hatched by the BJP to place its ideological allies in high government positions through the back door in UPSC. This method will close the doors for today’s officers as well as for the youth to reach higher positions in the present and future”. He termed it a “plan” to take away reservations from what he calls the PDA communities (Pichde, meaning backward classes or OBCs, Dalits, Alpasankhyak or minorities).

Why are there no quotas in lateral recruitment?

In a May 15, 2018 circular, the DoPT noted that “in respect of appointments to Central Government posts and services there shall be reservation for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Class candidates in temporary appointments which are to last for 45 days or more”. This was a reiteration — with OBCs added — of a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs as far back as September 24, 1968. In effect, reservations have to be offered for any appointment in the bureaucracy.

However, on November 29, 2018, while the first round of lateral recruitment was being carried out, then DoPT Additional Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi wrote a letter to UPSC Secretary Rakesh Gupta, saying: “The candidates to be considered from the State Government, Public Sector, Autonomous Bodies, Statutory Bodies, Universities, would be taken on Deputation (Including Short Term Contract) with lien in the parent department. There are no instructions stipulating mandatory reservation for appointment on deputation”.

The letter further stated, “The present arrangement of filling up these posts may be deemed as a close approximation of deputation, where mandatory reservation for SC/ST/OBC is not necessary. However, if duly eligible SC/ST/OBC candidates are eligible, they should be considered and priority may be given to such candidates in similarly situated cases for ensuring holistic representation”.

How have lateral entries been kept out of the ambit of reservation?

Reservation in public jobs and universities is implemented via what is known as the “13-point roster”. According to this policy, a candidate’s position on a roster of openings is determined by dividing the quota percentage of their group (SC, ST, OBC, and now EWS) by a hundred.

For example, the OBC quota is 27%. Therefore, OBC candidates are recruited to every 4th post for which a vacancy arises in a department/cadre (100/27=3.7). Likewise, SC candidates, with 15% reservation, are supposed to fill every 7th vacancy (100/15=6.66), ST candidates, with 7.5% reservation, are supposed to fill every 14th vacancy (100/7.5=13.33), and EWS candidates, with 10% reservation, are supposed to fill every 10th vacancy (100/10=10).

According to this formula, however, there is no reservation for up to three vacancies. Files obtained from the DoPT by The Indian Express under the RTI Act state that “In a single post cadre, reservation does not apply. Since each post to be filled under this scheme [lateral entry] is a Single Post, reservation is not applicable”.

In the current round of recruitment, the UPSC has advertised 45 openings. If these were to be considered as a single group, according to the 13-point roster, six vacancies would be reserved for SC candidates, three for ST candidates, 12 for OBC candidates, and four for the EWS category. But since these vacancies have been advertised separately for each department, all of them are effectively single-post vacancies, and hence bypass the policy of reservations.

Shyamlal Yadav

Shyamlal Yadav is one of the pioneers of the effective use of RTI for investigative reporting. He is a member of the Investigative Team. His reporting on polluted rivers, foreign travel of public servants, MPs appointing relatives as assistants, fake journals, LIC’s lapsed policies, Honorary doctorates conferred to politicians and officials, Bank officials putting their own money into Jan Dhan accounts and more has made a huge impact. He is member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). He has been part of global investigations like Paradise Papers, Fincen Files, Pandora Papers, Uber Files and Hidden Treasures. After his investigation in March 2023 the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York returned 16 antiquities to India. Besides investigative work, he keeps writing on social and political issues. ... Read More

What is the contribution of Indian Americans to US society and economy?

The latest ‘Small Community, Big Contributions, Boundless Horizons: The Indian Diaspora in the United States’ report says Indian Americans annually contribute $300 billion in tax revenues and own 60% of all US hotels.

By: Explained Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 16:37 IST

Satya Nadella, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, gestures as he attends Microsoft's 'Young Innovators' Summit' in New Delhi, India February 26, 2020. (Photo: Reuters)

Indiaspora, a US-based non-profit organisation which details the contributions of Indian Americans to the US and their impact on the country, has released a new report. Titled, ‘Small Community, Big Contributions, Boundless Horizons: The Indian Diaspora in the United States’, the report quotes data from the Migration Policy Institute and says,

5.1 million Indian Americans represent the Indian diaspora including those born in India and in the US. The Indian diaspora in the US makes up only 1.5% of the population.

45% of them migrated to the US after 2010, while around 30% moved before 2000. The population is concentrated in New York State and California.

72 unicorn startups out of 648 in the US are led by Indian migrants. The collective value of these startups exceeds $195 billion. They employ approximately 55,000 people (13% of unicorn employees).

60% of all US hotels are owned by Indian Americans. These hotels generate approximately $700 billion in revenue and create more than 4 million jobs, directly and indirectly, annually.

35%-50% of all convenience stores in the US are owned by Indian Americans. They generate $350-$490 billion in revenues each year.

$300 billion is contributed in tax revenues by Indian Americans annually, on top of the $370-$460 billion in annual spending, which translates into a major economic wave in terms of sales tax, business growth, and support of employment.

13% of all 2023 journal publications were co-authored by scientists of Indian origin in the US, up from 11% in 2015.

35 out of top 50 colleges in the US have an Indian American in their leadership ranks, including roles like deans, chancellors, provosts, and directors of colleges.

28 out of the 34 Scripps Spelling Bee winners were of Indian origin since 2000.

$3 billion has been donated by Indian Americans to US universities since 2008.

$1.5–2 billion annually is contributed by Indian Americans to charity.

Americans, Soviets or Israelis? Who killed Pakistan’s former President Zia ul-Haq?

Even after 36 years of Zia’s death, there is no clarity on what led to the crash of the C-130. Was it a result of a technical issue or a sabotage? If it was sabotage, then who was behind it?

Written by Alind Chauhan

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 10:51 IST

President Ronald Reagan in meeting with President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq in Oval Office in 1982. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

On August 17, 1988, General Zia ul-Haq, who was president and army chief of Pakistan at the time, was killed in a mysterious air crash. His Lockheed C-130 Hercules, which was carrying 29 other passengers, including most of the Pakistani Army high command and then US Ambassador to Pakistan Arnold Raphel, crashed soon after it took off from Bahawalpur, Punjab.

Even after 36 years of Zia’s death, there is no clarity on what led to the crash of the C-130. Was it a result of a technical issue or a sabotage? If it was sabotage, then who was behind it?

A revenge killing?

One of the prime suspects in carrying out Zia’s alleged killing was Murtaza Bhutto, son of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In 1977, Zia seized power after ousting Zulfikar in a military coup. Subsequently, Zia had Zulfikar tried and hanged for political murder in a controversial trial.

Following his father’s hanging, Murtaza formed an anti-Zia guerrilla group, whose aim “was to destroy the Zia regime, and the means it used included sabotage, hijackings and assassination in Pakistan,” according to the investigative report, published by Vanity Fair in 1989, by American journalist Edward Jay Epstein.

The group had initially taken responsibility for destroying Zia’s C-130 but later retracted the claim after it was announced that US Ambassador Raphel was aboard the plane. However, Murtaza admitted that he had tried to kill Zia on five previous occasions.

Was it an inside job?

Over the years, Zia’s son, Ijazul Haq, has maintained that Zia’s then vice-chief General Aslam Beg was part of the conspiracy to kill his father. In a 2012 interview, Ijazul said, “General Beg caused the wreckage of the plane to be removed to hide the effects of a missile fired into the plane from another plane. He also prevented autopsies of the dead to hide the fact that everyone on the plane had died from gas poisoning. A report by an air force officer, Zaheer Zaidi, was suppressed because it focused on the ‘other plane’,” according to a report by The Express Tribune.

Gen Beg came under suspicion soon after the crash as he did not board Zia’s C-130 on the fateful day and was scheduled to fly back in another, smaller plane. Also, it was believed that Zia was planning to replace Gen Beg with Lt Gen Mohammed Afzaal.

However, after Zia’s death, Gen Beg did not make any attempt to take over the government or thwart the national elections that were scheduled to take place in November 1988. When Benazir Bhutto won the elections, the army did not intervene.

Were the Soviets behind the alleged assassination?

Another suspect was the Soviet Union. Zia was an ally of the United States against the Soviets in Afghanistan. He played a crucial role in arming and training the Afghan mujahideen to fight the Soviet occupation.

According to Epstein’s report, the General had offended the Russians so much that they had publicly said Zia’s “obstructionist policy cannot be tolerated” — the statement came just a week before the crash of the C-130.

However, officials in the Pentagon rejected the theory that the Soviets did it. They told Epstein that the Soviet leadership would not have allowed such a move, primarily due to the presence of the US ambassador on the plane. However, the officials later acknowledged that the ambassador and his colleagues were not supposed to fly on the C-130 — Raphel had made a last-minute decision to board the plane. Therefore, it was possible that the perpetrators did not know that the Americans were on the C-130.

This hypothesis was rejected by General Mahmud Ali Durrani, who had been Zia’s military secretary from 1983 to 1986, in a 2005 interview with Barbara Crossette, The New York Times’ South Asia bureau chief from 1988 to 1991.

Gen Durrani said, “The guest list for the flight on the presidential plane had been fixed by August 13, and the Americans were on it,” Crossette wrote in her report.

What about the US?

A conspiracy theory held the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) responsible for Zia’s death. Some suspected that the General had embarrassed the US on several fronts. For instance, Zia had continued to supply arms to Gulbadin Hekmatyar, who was once also the CIA’s most favoured mujahideen commander, but later seemed to have spun out of American control and began to harbour anti-American sentiments, according to a report by Dawn.

Zia had also assisted militants who had begun to infiltrate Kashmir from Pakistan. The US saw this as the General’s bid to open up “a new theatre of jihad”, the report by Dawn said.

Americans were also worried about the progress Zia was making in building a nuclear bomb.

This theory was further fuelled by how the US handled the crash investigation. Pakistan conducted the probe in collaboration with the Americans — the US Defense Department and aircraft experts were part of the investigating team.

However, “within two months of the crash, the American government was alone in promoting the idea, without concrete material evidence, that a mechanical malfunction had brought down the plane. Most Pakistanis didn’t see it that way. From the start, they assumed assassination,” Crossette wrote in her report.

Why was Israel under suspicion?

Former US Ambassador to India John Gunther Dean suspected Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, of playing a role in getting Zia killed. In an interview with Crossette, he claimed that Mossad downed the plane in an effort to stop Pakistan from developing a nuclear bomb.

“Dean does not say that he believes Israel was totally to blame for the crash of the Pakistani C-130. Rather, he says that there could have also been other familiar hands sharing in the plot: India (whose relations with Israel have improved dramatically since then), the Afghans, perhaps some Pakistanis, or the KGB,” Crossette wrote.

However, when Dean — at the time, he was in India as ambassador — told his suspicions to Washington, he was accused of being mentally unbalanced and subsequently forced into retirement.

Explained: The bitter dispute in the Namdhari sect, which has left 8 people injured in a violent clash

The latest clash in Haryana’s Rania was over the control of 11 acres of land. The factional fight between the groups of Uday Singh and Dalip Singh, however, has much deeper roots, going back several years

Written by Sukhbir Siwach

Chandigarh | Updated: August 18, 2024 10:52 IST

Satguru Ram Singh riding a horse. Painting is from the 19th century. (Wikimedia Commons)

Hundreds of followers of two rival groups of the Namdhari religious sect clashed violently in Rania in Haryana’s Sirsa district at the end of last week, leaving at least eight people injured.

The clash on August 11 between the factions led by brothers Sadguru Uday Singh and Thakur Dalip Singh revived bitter memories from eight years ago when the 88-year-old matriarch of the Namdharis, Chand Kaur, was shot dead in Ludhiana.

Haryana Police have registered FIRs against members of both factions over a dispute over 11 acres of agricultural land in Rania. What is this land and dispute?

But first, who are the Namdharis?

The sect was founded by Satguru Ram Singh on Baisakhi in 1857. He challenged the status quo, advocated social reform, and resisted the Raj in various ways. The British inflicted terrible punishments on the Namdharis and deported Ram Singh to Rangoon, from where he never returned. The Namdharis believe Ram Singh is still alive, and will return one day. Until then, they mourn his absence by wearing white.

Namdhari Sikhs consider the Guru Granth Sahib as the Supreme Gurbani, but they also believe in a living human Guru. The Namdharis consider the cow to be sacred, they are teetotallers, and avoid even tea and coffee. The sect’s sprawling headquarters is located in Ludhiana’s Bhaini Sahib near village Raiyaan, where Ram Singh was born. The sect has its deras across Punjab and Haryana, and has a presence in a few other countries, too.

What is the background of the factional feud?

After Ram Singh went missing, his gaddi (succession) went to his brother Satguru Hari Singh, and thereafter, in 1906, to Hari Singh’s eldest son, Satguru Partap Singh. Partap Singh was succeeded by his son Jagjit Singh. The feud began after Jagjit Singh’s demise in 2016.

Jagjit Singh had a daughter and two nephews — Uday Singh and Dalip Singh, the sons of Jagjit Singh’s brother Maharaja Bir Singh. Both Uday Singh and Dalip Singh had ambitions of succeeding Jagjit Singh. Uday Singh, who was backed by Chand Kaur, the wife of Jagjit Singh, won the war of succession, and was declared Satguru.

The Namdharis are a prosperous sect. Uday Singh controls more than 6,000 acres of prime land, including the Bhaini Sahib headquarters, which also houses two palatial bungalows.

Dalip Singh, The Indian Express had reported earlier, used to be in possession of nearly 120 acres of land at Jeewan Nagar in Haryana, the ancestral property of his father Bir Singh, where he ran a dera, besides a bungalow in Bengaluru. However, he was dispossessed of at least a portion of these properties.

Jasbir Singh, a member of the Jeewan Nagar dera management, had told The Indian Express: “A major portion of our land has been encroached by opponents of our dera, leaving just 55 acres with our dera. The Bengaluru bungalow is also not with us currently.”

On April 4, 2016, motorcycle-borne assailants gunned down Chand Kaur at the sect’s Bhaini Sahib headquarters. Both brothers had blamed the other for the murder at the time.

And what is the dispute with the Rania land?

This dispute is about 11 acres of agricultural land at Jeewan Nagar village near Rania, over which factions have laid claims.

The Dalip Singh faction has told Haryana Police that in 2019, a quasi-judicial court of then financial commissioner Anil Kumar (IAS), had passed a verdict on the dispute, and they had subsequently moved the Ellenabad sub-divisional magistrate to rectify the mutation. However, no decision has been taken so far.

In the FIR, the Dalip Singh faction has alleged that “following the orders of Thakur Uday Singh, 250-300 of his followers tried to enter the gurdwara (dera) of Dalip Singh on August 11 to take possession of the land”. The followers of Dalip Singh have accused the alleged attackers of firing on them and attempting to kill them.

The Uday Singh faction, on the other hand, claims that the land belongs to their sect, and has accused the rival sect of trying to take it over. In their police complaint, followers of the Uday Singh faction have said that they were applying urea to their paddy crop in the fields on August 11 morning, when they were attacked by the rival group, leading to injuries to eight persons.

A spokesperson of the Uday Singh faction told The Indian Express that the injured were taken to hospital and that two of them were in serious condition. The complainant, Karan Singh Bhinder, has received bullet injuries on his mouth. Others too, have received gunshot wounds.

The SHO of Rania police station, Inspector Dinesh Kumar, said the police were investigating.

Meet ‘Ketamine Queen’ Jasveen Sangha, who supplied the drug to ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry

According to the prosecutors, Sangha has been supplying ketamine from her 'stash house' since at least 2019. Estrada called her Los Angeles home a 'drug-selling emporium'.

By: Explained Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 10:54 IST

The prosecutors have alleged that Sangha’s distribution of ketamine on October 24, 2023, led to Perry’s death. (Express)

Known as “Ketamine Queen”, alleged drug dealer Jasveen Sangha is one of the five people who have been charged and arrested for supplying ketamine to the “Friends” actor Matthew Perry. Sangha, 41, is facing nine charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in Perry’s death on October 28, 2023.

The accused, including medical doctors and the actor’s assistant, “took advantage of Mr Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves,” US attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement.

Perry, who had publicly discussed his issues with addiction, had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for anxiety and depression at the time of his death, according to a report by The Guardian.

Ketamine is an anaesthetic that has been listed as a hallucinogen by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. It is referred to as a “dissociative anaesthetic hallucinogen” because it creates a feeling of detachment from pain and the environment.

Here is a look at Jasveen Sangha and the allegations against her.

Who is Jasveen Sangha?

According to the prosecutors, Sangha has been supplying ketamine from her “stash house” since at least 2019. Estrada called her Los Angeles home a “drug-selling emporium”, where she is alleged to have packaged and distributed drugs.

Media reports suggest that Sangha led a lavish lifestyle which she shared widely on social media.

“Ms Sangha is said to have mixed with celebrities socially as well, with one of her friends telling the Daily Mail she attended the Golden Globes and the Oscars,” according to a report by the BBC.

Less than two weeks after Perry’s death, Sangha, on November 8, 2023, posted photos on her Instagram account in which she was seen enjoying a trip to Japan. In February this year, she posted photos while on a getaway to Mexico.

“Sangha posted pictures sunning herself by a luxurious poolside and overlooking the beach, drinking cocktails. She has also posed for a number of glamorous photoshoots, including one holding a gun which shoots fake dollar bills,” according to a report by The Independent.

What are the allegations against Sangha?

The prosecutors have alleged that Sangha’s distribution of ketamine on October 24, 2023, led to Perry’s death. She is accused of selling 50 vials of the drug to the actor for about $11,000.

When authorities raided her home recently, they found more than 80 vials of ketamine along with thousands of pills that included methamphetamine, cocaine, and Xanax.

Besides Perry, Sangha has been linked to another drug-related death. “In August 2019, Sangha allegedly sold ketamine to Cody McLaury, 38, in the hours before he died from an overdose,” the report by The Independent said. Despite McLaury’s death, Sangha continued to sell ketamine from her home.

If she is convicted of all the charges in Perry’s case, Sangha would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, according to the authorities concerned.

From kesri to basanti: history and politics around the colour of the holy Nishan Sahib

Gurdwaras run by the SGPC are changing the colour of the Sikh flag from a shade of saffron to the bright yellow hue of spring, the colour of sacrifice with deep cultural resonance in Punjab. But these colours have a political significance as well.

Written by Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Amritsar | Updated: August 18, 2024 15:39 IST

Twin Nishan Sahib earlier in Kesri (saffron, left) and now in Basanti (Panthic) at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. (Wikimedia Commons, Express photo by Rana Simranjit Singh)

Earlier this month, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) changed the colour of the two iconic Nishan Sahibs in front of the Akal Takht in the Golden Temple complex from kesri (saffron) to basanti, a bright yellow that is associated with spring, and which has historical, cultural, and religious significance in Punjab.

On August 4, five days before this change, the historical Gurudwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district, which is associated with Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh religion, had become the first to “restore” the basanti colour of the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag that flies at every gurdwara.

All gurdwaras managed by the SGPC — in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh — are in the process of changing the colour of the flag, an official of the committee said.

The Basanti (Panthic) Nishan Sahib in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. (Express photo by Rana Simranjit Singh)

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), which manages the gurdwaras in Delhi, is likely to follow the SGPC’s lead.

From kesri to basanti

Prior to the ongoing change, most SGPC gurdwaras had kesri Nishan Sahibs, a shade of bhagwa (saffron) that is very similar to the flag of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

However, in 2020, Gurudwara Sacha Dhan Sahib in Sector 60 of Mohali under its president Rajinder Pal Singh changed the colour of the Nishan Sahib to basanti from kesri. After his successor, who was elected in 2022, went back to kesri, Rajinder Pal Singh approached the Akal Takht and asked that basanti should be restored in accordance with the official Sikh Code of Conduct (Rehat Maryada).

On July 6 this year, the Jathedar of the Akal Takht wrote to the SGPC asking it to resolve the confusion over the colour of the Nishan Sahib. Xanthic (relating to yellow) and greyish blue are prescribed in the Code, but both kesri and basanti can be considered as shades of yellow. Kesri, which resembles the Hindu religious shade of bhagwa, is used in most gurdwaras, while Nihang sects mostly use blue Nishan Sahibs.

Debate with a history

An article published in the SGPC publication Gurmat Parkash in 1995 suggests the disagreement over kesri and basanti goes back to pre-Independence times.

As the Congress, which was leading the freedom struggle, debated the colours of the Indian national flag, Akali leaders wanted the Sikh colour to be included. There is some evidence to suggest that the Congress had agreed to the Sikh demand; however, during its general house meeting in August 1930, the SGPC, which was then led by Baba Khadak Singh, passed a resolution asking Sikhs to participate in the freedom movement under the Sikh flag.

In 1931, saffron (kesri) became one of the colours in the (still evolving) national flag. Master Tara Singh, who had become SGPC president, agreed to kesri; however, Baba Khadak Singh insisted that only basanti was acceptable.

In 1936, the official Sikh Code of Conduct laid down that the cloth of the Nishan Sahib should be either of xanthic (basanti) or of greyish blue (surmai) colour. However, over the decades, kesri became the most common colour of the Nishan Sahib.

“We don’t want to create a new confusion. We will sit with the Akal Takht Jathedar and other experts to decide which shade should be used for the Nishan Sahib. There are different shades of yellow and blue. We will confirm the right shade and then let the Sangat know,” Bhagwant Singh, manager of Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), had told The Indian Express earlier.

Contested colours

The kesri shade is seen to have gained popularity during the militancy in Punjab. According to the pro-Khalistan writer Sarabjit Singh Ghuman, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale often referred to kesri in his speeches, and asked Sikhs to gather under the kesri flag.

“After the attack on Akal Takht (during Operation Blue Star), there was anger in the community, and kesri became a symbol of resistance. Sikh youth started wearing kesri turbans,” Ghuman said. Indeed, post 1984, police often suspected anyone wearing a kesri turban or dupatta of being a sympathiser of militants.

Many popular songs eulogising militants mentioned the kesri colour. Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans, former BJP MP from North West Delhi, sang ‘Patta patta singhan da vairi’ wearing a kesri turban. Although the song was about 18th-century Sikhs who were targeted by the Mughals and Afghans, it was understood as referring to contemporary Sikh militants who wore “sunehri” turbans.

In the 18th century, the Udasi and Nirmala sects, which are considered more aligned with Hindu traditions, played a role in the spread of the kesri shade among Sikhs. While their kesri was not identical to today’s bhagwa, some Sikh scholars have argued that the popularity of the shade among Sikhs was a consequence of the hegemonising influence of the Hindu religion.

Rajinder Pal Singh said, “All gurdwaras used to have a basanti colour Nishan Sahib until the late 1970s and early 80s. It has changed only recently. I also feel that in the name of kesri, the saffron shade is being used in gurdwaras under the influence of right-wing Hindu bodies. This was the reason why I approached the Akal Takht to implement what is written in the Sikh Code of Conduct.”

Ghuman pointed out that basanti, kesri, and bhagwa can all be broadly considered shades of yellow. “When Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale popularised kesri, it was not the shade that is now in use, which is almost like the bhagwa used by right-wing Hindu bodies. The kesri shade that is now in use is different from what the Sant advocated. Kesri became closer to saffron in the 90s, and now is no different from saffron,” Ghuman said.

Colours in politics

Basanti has always been popular in the culture of Sikhs and Punjabis. The association of the colour with the bravery and sacrifice of Bhagat Singh — the popular ‘Mera rang de basanti chola’ was written by Ram Prasad Bismil while in jail, and was sung as a patriotic anthem by Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary comrades — led the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to seek to appropriate it; party leaders including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, wear basanti turbans and dupattas.

A white turban has traditionally been associated with the Congress in Punjab. The SAD flag is kesri, but party leaders wear blue turbans.

Sikh writer Bhabhishan Singh Goraya said, “An article was published in the English magazine ‘Sikh Monitor’ in 1998, in which then SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra was accused of changing the colour of Nishan Sahib in SGPC gurdwaras from basanti to kesri. Even SAD had a blue colour party flag. I am not sure when they switched to kesri.”

After the SGPC’s switch from kesri to basanti, the colour of the Nishan Sahib in gurdwaras is closer to the shade adopted by the AAP in Punjab than that of the SAD party flag.

An Expert Explains: How James Webb Space Telescope has raised questions in cosmology

Images from the James Webb Space Telescope are puzzling — instead of newborn galaxies, the early phases of the Universe appear to be full of adult-sized galaxies. The standard model of the Universe has had to be patched up earlier — could a more comprehensive rethink of cosmic history be in order now?

Written by Biman Nath

Updated: August 18, 2024 10:56 IST

James Webb Space Telescope’s mesmerising picture of Carina Nebula, which is located approximately 8,500 light-years from Earth. (NASA)

Images from the largest and most powerful telescope in space have dazzled everyone, but they have left astronomers rather nonplussed. The jigsaw puzzle of the history of the Universe is getting more difficult than ever to solve with the pieces that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is gathering.

With its huge mirror — five times bigger than that of its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope — the JWST, which was launched on Christmas Day in 2021 and arrived at its destination, the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2 in January 2022, has been peering at the early epochs in the history of the Universe, when the first galaxies had barely formed.

Its images were, however, very different from what astronomers had thought they would see.

Won’t you be our cosmic neighbor, M106?

This galaxy with a very active black hole, is one of the brightest and nearest spirals to ours. Its central region is lit up by its black hole gobbling up dust and gas, which heats up, creating powerful radiation. https://t.co/UwDj4WUh9i pic.twitter.com/ABSq7smr90

— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) August 9, 2024

They had expected to find newborn galaxies — instead, the early phases of the Universe appear to be full of adult-sized galaxies. And if that is not enough of a puzzle, the rate at which the Universe is expanding, as measured by the space telescope, appears to be at odds with other pieces of data.

Ways to measure expansion

The rate of expansion of the Universe has been a subject of scientific debate for quite some time. Two different methods of determining the rate have yielded results that differ by as much as 10%.

One method is based on phenomena in the early Universe — which implies events at a great distance, because the light we see from distant objects started its journey a long time ago. The other method relies on local celestial objects — although ‘local’ means a region spanning billions of light years.

Some stars vary their brightness in a periodic manner, and the duration of this change tells us something about how bright they really are. From this, one can figure out their distance and, in turn, how the Universe has been expanding.

The new space telescope was expected to nail the reason for the mismatch between the results obtained by the two methods. But its measurements seem to have only increased the discrepancy. Its deeper inspection of the local method of measurement gives a rate of expansion that is somewhat faster than that based on early Universe measurements.

The question is, which method is more reliable?

The early Universe method relies on a relic radiation from the primeval epochs, when the Universe was hot. The radiation has now cooled down as the Universe has expanded, and has become a microwave ‘hum’ that pervades everything. If you make a fist, hundreds of photons from this relic radiation will pass through it every second!

A detailed analysis of this radiation can tell us how fast the Universe has been expanding. In other words, one method depends on how well we know our stars, and the other on how well we understand the history of the Universe.

‘Adults in a kindergarten’

There have been problems with the early history of the Universe as well.

The space telescope was designed to peer at toddler galaxies. Galaxies such as our Milky Way contain roughly a hundred billion stars. But around 13 billion years ago, when the Universe was less than a tenth of its current age, small clumps of matter began to gather together and create suitable conditions for lighting up the first stars.

Those baby galaxies were supposed to be relatively small. But the data coming out of JWST seem to show full-bodied galaxies at the dawn of the Universe! Most of them seem to contain billions of stars. It has been as mind-boggling as, say, finding a bunch of adults playing in a kindergarten.

Some galaxies that JWST has imaged and analysed date back to when the Universe was barely a few hundred million years old. Yet, they seem to contain billions of majestically bright stars. They could have been exceptions, but then such objects should be rare — which they are not. Even if they are to be treated as exceptions, one would have to come up with an explanation for such exuberant formation of stars at the dawn of the Universe. Although astronomers still hope to find some explanation, even if one has to push the limits of astrophysical processes, some have begun to wonder if there was something wrong after all with our basic ideas of the Universe.

Crossroads of knowledge

There is only one Universe. And we are a part of it. We can’t change it, tweak it, or experiment with it. Which makes it unlike any other topic of research in science. Yet, beginning with the last century, equipped with Einstein’s theory of gravitation and large telescopes, physicists made ambitious attempts to study and explain the Universe.

Over the decades, a ‘standard model’ of the Universe has emerged, which is appealing in its simplicity, and also flexible enough to accommodate complexity. Based on it, a history of the Universe has been sketched out — barring the very first moment, which remains elusive.

However, the so-called ‘standard model’ has needed quick fixes in more than one aspect. Faced with a mismatch between the inventory of matter and the observed pull of gravity, scientists have invented “dark matter”, although no one has any idea what it is made of. The Universe also appears to be in a hurry while expanding. In order to explain this, we have brought in “dark energy” — but we remain clueless about its nature.

Some astronomers have begun to think that the gaps in our understanding may not be just a matter of details — and may warrant a comprehensive revision of what we think of the Universe. There have been occasions in the history of science when scientists have held on to existing ideas by introducing patchwork to accommodate contradictions between theory and observations. The Greeks for example, kept introducing complexities to the orbits of planets around the Earth, disregarding suggestions that their basic geocentric model of the Universe was wrong.

Scientists sometimes behave as though their conventional model is the only possibility, and ignore the conflicting measurements, until a tectonic shift changes everything. It is not possible to predict how, if at all, a paradigm shift will take place. Only time will tell if the puzzling results from the space telescope will be explained away by another patchwork, by inventing another ‘dark’ something, or if they will lead to a rethink of cosmic history.

The author is an astrophysicist at the Raman Research Institute, Bangalore.

Business

- FPI strategy: Sell in stock market and buy through IPO route

- BPCL to invest Rs 1.7 lakh crore in next 5 years

- Sustainability standards to shape future of global trade; must take seriously: Welspun Living CEO & MD

- Rising demand, stagnant output pushes oil import dependency beyond 88% in April-July

- India needs more reforms; fewer GST rates will raise revenue: IMF’s Gopinath

- China dominates supply of electronic components for ‘made in India’ products

- Banks woo depositors with special schemes amid contest with markets

FPI strategy: Sell in stock market and buy through IPO route

FPIs sold equity for Rs 28,976 crore through the exchange even while investing Rs 11,483 crore through the primary market category in the month of August so far.

Written by George Mathew

Mumbai | Updated: August 19, 2024 06:01 IST

The primary market issues are at comparatively lower valuations while in the secondary market, the valuations continue to remain high. (File Photo)

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are now engaged in the strategy of selling stocks in the stock market and investing through the initial public offering (IPO) route.

FPIs sold equity for Rs 28,976 crore through the exchange even while investing Rs 11,483 crore through the primary market category in the month of August so far. “A significant trend in FPI flows recently, which has become pronounced in August, is the sustained selling by FPIs through the exchange while continuing to invest through the ‘primary market & others’ category. This difference in FPI behaviour is due to the differences in valuations,” said V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist, Geojit Financial Services.

The primary market issues are at comparatively lower valuations while in the secondary market, the valuations continue to remain high. “So FPIs are buying when securities are available at fair valuations and selling when the valuations get stretched in the secondary market,” he said.

Analysts said this trend is likely to continue since India is the most expensive market in the world now and it is rational for FPIs to sell here and move the money to cheaper markets. “This picture doesn’t change even if the market turns more bullish on fears regarding US recession receding,” Vijayakumar said.

However, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) led by LIC and mutual funds bought heavily in August. DIIs made net investments of Rs 34,060 crore in August so far. LIC, the largest institutional investor, invested Rs 38,000 crore in the stock market in the June quarter and Rs 132,000 crore in the previous financial year. It’s expected to invest more in the remaining quarters of the financial year.

FPI outflows witnessed in August were primarily driven by a combination of global and domestic factors. “Globally, concerns about the unwinding of the Yen carry trade, potential global recession, slowing economic growth and ongoing geopolitical conflicts led to market volatility and risk aversion. Domestically, after being net buyers in June and July, some FPIs might have chosen to book profits following a strong rally in previous quarters,” said Vipul Bhowar, director, Listed Investments, Waterfield Advisors.

Additionally, mixed quarterly earnings and relatively higher valuations have made Indian equities less attractive. Despite these factors, India’s strong economic performance, including GDP growth, reduced fiscal deficit, manageable current account deficit, and strong sector growth and industrial production, continues to attract many FPIs, indicating that FPI flows into India should persist,” Bhowar said.

On Friday, the BSE Sensex rose 1.68 per cent, or 1,330.96 points to close 80,436.84 while Nifty 50 surged 1.65 per cent, or 397.4, to finish at 24,541.15. The US CPI inflation rose 2.9 per cent for the 12 months ending July, the smallest 12-month increase since March 2021. “Positive US economic data like cooling inflation and robust retail sales numbers shrugged off recession fears while talks of a rate cut by the US Fed as early as next month fuelled a mega rally across global equities, including India,” said Prashanth Tapse, senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities Ltd.

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, recent data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) showed. If inflation remains below the 4 per cent level, the RBI is expected to cut rates by the end of the calendar year.

BPCL to invest Rs 1.7 lakh crore in next 5 years

BPCL has launched 'Project Aspire', a five-year strategic framework with a planned capital expenditure of Rs 1.7 lakh crore.

By: ENS Economic Bureau

Mumbai | August 19, 2024 04:45 IST

BPCL currently holds 14 per cent of India's oil refining capacity and 25 per cent of the fuel retailing network. (File Photo)

State-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has proposed to invest Rs 1.7 lakh crore over the next five years in petrochemicals, green energy, gasoline marketing and oil refining businesses.

BPCL has launched ‘Project Aspire’, a five-year strategic framework with a planned capital expenditure of Rs 1.7 lakh crore. The project is based on two pillars: ‘Nurturing the Core’ (refining, marketing, and upstream petroleum products) and ‘Investing in Future Big Bets’ (petrochemicals, gas, green energy, non-fuel retail, and digital), the company said in its Annual Report.

BPCL said it is implementing petrochemical projects at two of its three oil refineries. “A Rs 49,000 crore ethylene cracker project is being developed at the Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh, with oil refining capacity increasing from 7.8 million tonnes to 11 million tonnes by 2029. A polypropylene project is planned at the Kochi refinery in Kerala by 2027,” BPCL Chairman and MD G Krishnakumar said.

“The company plans to install 4-wheeler fast chargers at 6,000 retail outlets across 400 highway corridors in the next five years,” it said. BPCL has installed over 3,000 EV charging stations, including 900 fast chargers on 120 highway corridors, it said.

The company is developing renewable energy capacity, aiming for 2 GW by 2025 and 10 GW by 2035. Investments include Rs 1,000 crore for two 50 MW wind power plants and Rs 300 crore for a 72 MWp solar project. “BPCL is executing green hydrogen projects, including a 5 MW electrolyser plant at Bina refinery. The company is also focusing on biofuels, selling petrol with 20 per cent ethanol blend at 4,279 outlets and building compressed biogas plants,” it said.

BPCL currently holds 14 per cent of India’s oil refining capacity and 25 per cent of the fuel retailing network.

The company is establishing a corporate venture capital fund to invest in promising startups, it said.

Sustainability standards to shape future of global trade; must take seriously: Welspun Living CEO & MD

India is primarily a cotton-growing country, focused on natural fibres and accounts for nearly 7 per cent of the global home textiles trade, with a significant share of exports to the United States.

Written by Aggam Walia

New Delhi | Updated: August 19, 2024 07:58 IST

Welspun Living CEO and Managing Director Dipali Goenka

India’s home textile market, valued at $9.6 billion in 2024, is projected to grow to over $15 billion within the next five years, according to Mordor Intelligence. The country accounts for nearly 7 per cent of the global home textiles trade, with a significant share of exports to the United States.

Welspun Living Ltd is a major player in the industry with a market capitalization of approximately $2 billion. In an interview with Aggam Walia, Dipali Goenka, CEO and Managing Director of Welspun Living, discussed sluggish domestic demand, competitiveness of the Indian textile industry, and emerging sustainability standards in global trade. Edited Excerpts:

Post-Covid, there has been a trend of premiumisation in various consumer sectors. There have also been concerns around a K-shaped trajectory of economic recovery. Is that a trend you see in the textile sector as well?

Yes, you are right. Let’s talk about the GDP of India, a steady state GDP of around 7 per cent and inflation also controlled. Having said that, last year saw slow growth in the whole consumption story. The whole investment was in infrastructure and that’s where the growth was coming in. But the consumer was not buying. It was really very slow. Having said that, the luxury segment was growing.

Now as we go forward, I think we are seeing an off take happening. But let me also tell you that the first quarter started very slow with single digit growth. Now, with the holiday season coming in–they always say August 15 to Jan 26 is India’s season of festivals–we’ll see how that pans out. The signals are coming in that it’s going to be reasonably okay.

The textile sector is one area where the government is focussing on increasing exports. However, Vietnam and Bangladesh are seen to be more cost-competitive compared to India. Do you see things changing?

When you talk about competitiveness, India is in a very good spot, both in terms of its consumer story and its position in the world supply chain. In my category, cotton, India is now the biggest producer and exporter, especially after the Xinjiang issue in China.

Looking at countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Pakistan– Bangladesh has been at the epicentre of the textile value chain due to low manpower costs. But they’re struggling now with a single port, infrastructure issues, rising power costs, and recent unrest causing instability. Vietnam is like a satellite for Chinese companies, and minimum wages are rising there too. Pakistan also faces challenges.

India, on the other hand, is a stable democracy with a young workforce. The government is taking many initiatives in skilling and improving competitiveness. The recent budget highlighted skilling opportunities, including for women. We see India in a very good position right now. It’s also up to us to make this happen or lose the opportunity.

One problem stakeholders in the midstream segment talk about is an uncompetitive raw material supply chain, specifically for man-made fibres. Do you think that’s a concern?

India is primarily a cotton-growing country, focused on natural fibres. When you talk about polyester, China definitely has a competitive edge. But with the PLI schemes coming in and the government’s impetus on manmade fibres, that’s something we’ll have to watch going forward. For Welspun, though, we’re in a good spot, as we consume more than 85 to 90 per cent natural fibre.

Europe is looking at introducing sustainability standards for textile imports, like it has done for steel. Now, the steel industry has been scrambling to become compliant. Do you see similar challenges for the textile industry?

I’m very happy it will happen because It’s something the textile industry urgently needs to tackle, especially with the landfill challenges we’re facing. At Welspun, we’ve committed to a 2030 target, with clear milestones that we report on a quarterly basis. This includes being energy and water positive and minimising our environmental impact.

One of the biggest challenges is post-consumer waste, particularly when exported products need to be reintegrated into our value chain. The infrastructure to handle this is still developing, but we’re actively working on recycling and innovative solutions. I believe Europe’s lead in ESG practices sets a crucial example.

We must take these requirements seriously, as they’ll shape the future of global trade. We’ve already seen the benefits of moving towards sustainability. For example, our Anjar facility operates entirely on recycled water. We’re also transitioning to green energy by 2030, driven by past experiences where the rising costs of coal imports caused significant disruptions. Running plants on green energy not only gives savings of 30 to 40 per cent, but also ensures long-term stability and competitiveness in an uncertain energy market.

Welspun exports heavily to the US and some other locations as well. How do markets abroad compare with India?

The American consumer is highly capable, with the United States accounting for 30 percent of global home textile consumption. The UK and Europe follow, but their market is fragmented. India is slowly emerging, though its base remains small. The American market is huge and highly engaged, with frequent buying occasions like college events, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Black Friday sales.

America’s consumer economy presents great opportunities due to its large base. Even if I grow at 4 or 5 per cent, though we are growing at a close double digit, we see that it’s good enough because the base is so huge. The UK and Europe have been struggling, but the European economy is showing signs of improvement. Japan is increasingly looking towards India as an alternative to China for outsourcing. The Middle East is experiencing rapid growth, especially in the luxury segment. For example, our Christy brand is growing at over 35 percent there.

How do you see the relationship between e-commerce and traditional retail evolving in India?

In the US, e-commerce is growing significantly. Before Covid, we thought it was cannibalising retailers and offline stores. But they’re now learning to coexist. It’s become quite beautiful – as a consumer, I can buy offline, online, or pick up from the store. Stores are becoming like warehouses. You have inventory there, can dispatch from the store, or buy from the store. It’s called BOPIS – buy online, pick up in store. In India, while organised retail exists, mom-and-pop stores still rule. The kind of service they provide is unmatched. They’re going to be a very important and integral part of India’s entire ecosystem.

Rising demand, stagnant output pushes oil import dependency beyond 88% in April-July

Total production of petroleum products from domestic crude oil was 9.5 million tonnes in April-July, which means that the extent of India’s self-sufficiency in crude oil was just 11.7 per cent, down from 12.2 per cent in the corresponding period a year ago.

Written by Sukalp Sharma

New Delhi | Updated: August 19, 2024 06:01 IST

India’s energy demand has been rising briskly, leading to higher oil imports and increasing dependence on imported crude. (Representational Image)

India’s reliance on imported crude oil to meet its domestic consumption needs climbed to over 88 per cent in the first four months of the current financial year due to rising demand for fuel and other petroleum products amid flagging domestic oil production. The country’s oil import dependency in April-July was 88.3 per cent, up from 87.8 in the year-ago period as well as for the full financial year 2023-24 (FY24), per latest data from the oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC).

India’s energy demand has been rising briskly, leading to higher oil imports and increasing dependence on imported crude. Reliance on imported oil has been growing continuously over the past few years, except in FY21, when demand was suppressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country’s oil import dependency stood at 87.8 per cent in FY24, 87.4 per cent in FY23, 85.5 per cent in FY22, 84.4 per cent in FY21, 85 per cent in FY20, and 83.8 per cent in FY19.

Heavy dependence on imported crude oil makes the Indian economy vulnerable to global oil price volatility, apart from having a bearing on the country’s trade deficit, foreign exchange reserves, rupee’s exchange rate, and inflation. The government wants to reduce India’s reliance on imported crude oil but sluggish domestic oil output in the face of incessantly growing demand for petroleum products has been the biggest roadblock.

India’s crude oil imports rose to 81.6 million tonnes in April-July from 79.7 million in the year-ago period, per PPAC data. In value terms, the growth was even more due to relatively higher prices of oil in the international market. The country’s gross oil import bill in the first four months of FY25 rose nearly 17 per cent year-on-year to $49 billion from $41.9 billion.

In early 2015, the government had set a target to reduce reliance on oil imports to 67 per cent by 2022 from 77 per cent in 2013-14, but the dependency has only grown since. Cutting costly oil imports continues to be a key focus area for the government, which has taken a number of policy measures to incentivise investments in India’s oil and gas exploration and production sector.

Reducing oil imports is also one of the fundamental objectives of the government’s push for electric mobility, biofuels, and other alternative fuels for transportation as well as industries. Over the past few years, the government has also intensified efforts to raise domestic crude oil output by making exploration and production contracts more lucrative and opening vast acreages for oil and gas exploration. While there has been a pick-up in electric mobility adoption and blending of biofuels with conventional fuels, it is not enough to offset petroleum demand growth.

The computation of the level of import dependency is based on the domestic consumption of petroleum products and excludes petroleum product exports as those volumes do not represent India’s demand. With a refining capacity of almost 257 million tonnes per annum, India—the world’s third-largest consumer of crude oil and also one of its top importers—is a net exporter of fuels and other petroleum products. Export of crude oil from India, however, is not permitted.

India’s domestic consumption of petroleum products in April-July rose 4.8 per cent year-on-year to 80.9 million tonnes, underscoring robust demand, particularly for transportation fuels petrol and diesel. Domestic crude oil output for the first four months of FY25 declined marginally to 9.7 million tonnes from 9.8 million tonnes in the corresponding period of last year.

Total production of petroleum products from domestic crude oil was 9.5 million tonnes in April-July, which means that the extent of India’s self-sufficiency in crude oil was just 11.7 per cent, down from 12.2 per cent in the corresponding period a year ago. In April-July of last year, consumption of petroleum products sourced from indigenous crude oil was 9.4 million tonnes, while total domestic consumption was 77.2 million tonnes.

Sukalp Sharma

Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. Before joining The Indian Express, Sukalp had long and enriching stints at financial newswire Informist and the Express Group’s pink paper The Financial Express. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More

India needs more reforms; fewer GST rates will raise revenue: IMF’s Gopinath

Gopinath said money from international institutions or multilateral development banks are going to be a fraction of the spending that is needed and so countries would need to rely on domestic resource mobilisation.

Written by Aanchal Magazine

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 07:55 IST

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with first deputy MD of IMF Gita Gopinath in New Delhi on Saturday. (Image source: @FinMinIndia)

To achieve the status of a developed country and an advanced economy, India needs a more skilled workforce, an increase in women’s labour force participation with critical focus on safety, investment in infrastructure along with more structural changes, especially land and labour reforms, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Gita Gopinath said.

Speaking at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of her alma mater Delhi School of Economics, Gopinath also stressed on the need to improve the fiscal space by raising the revenue-to-GDP ratio, adding that fewer tax rates and broadening of base under GST can result in additional revenues.

Gopinath said money from international institutions or multilateral development banks are going to be a fraction of the spending that is needed and so countries would need to rely on domestic resource mobilisation.

“In the case of India, given its stage of development, increasing fiscal space is not going to come about through reducing overall spending. So overall expenditures are going to go up… so the creation of fiscal space and any fiscal consolidation should happen through the channel of raising revenues-to-GDP,” she said.

India, for example, can increase revenues-to-GDP through Goods and Services Tax (GST). “Now, GST has begun to deliver good results. As we see it, if there is a way to simplify further, so you have fewer of these different tax rates and broaden in the base, which is, you have fewer exceptions. Then you can end up with raising about 1 percentage point of GDP in additional revenue through this,” she said.

Broader tax base for personal income tax is also going to be helpful and making sure that there are no loopholes or too many leakages that happen in terms of tax exemptions, she said, adding that more work is needed on the property tax front. “It is very important to have sufficient progressivity in the taxation system and to make sure that it is actually delivering. In the case of India and other countries in the world, the more focus should be in making sure you are getting enough from your capital gains tax, it is going to be critical. Also, in many countries, more can be done on the property tax front. There is now much better technology to be able to implement this better. That’s another area where work is needed,” she said.

Gopinath further said that it is a tremendous aspiration to get to a developed country status and India needs structural reforms on an ongoing basis. “It doesn’t happen automatically and requires ongoing, consistent efforts on a pretty broad scale across many areas to deliver on that. India has grown well, in terms of, its overall growth rate and at 7 per cent it is the fastest growing major economy in the world. The question is how does one keep up the momentum, in fact raise it further so that you can increase per capita incomes in India to get to being an advanced economy,” she said.

Enlisting the areas where India needs to step up to be a high-income country, Gopinath said the country needs a workforce that is much more skilled and has much higher levels of education. “If you look at the years of formal education, for example, for the workforce in India, compared to its other G20 peers it’s on the lower end. So increasing the quality of education, the depth of that education, the amount of skills that people, students pick up, it’s going to be absolutely critical,” she said.

Investment in infrastructure is also going to be crucial, with the government already having done a lot in the public infrastructure space and digital infrastructure, but there is still a “big gap between what is needed and where the country is”, she said.

Ease of doing business, regulatory environment, the efficiency of the judicial system are also going to be critical, she said. Land and labour reforms will also play a crucial role in the elevation of India to high-income country. “Land reforms, absolutely critical. In the case of labour markets much greater flexibility in the labor markets. In 2019, the Parliament passed a new set of labour codes. Those code provide a nice blend between getting labour market Flexibility but also protecting workers. Implementing that is going to be absolutely critical, she said.

India also needs to be more open to trade and lower tariffs, she said. “We are certainly in an environment where trade integration is being questioned but I think it is very important for India to open up to trading even more. On an average, tariff rates in India are higher than in its other peer economies. If it wants to be an important player on the world stage and an important part of global supply chains, it’s going to require a reduction of those tariffs,” she said.

It is “super important that women’s labour force participation goes up from where it is”, she said. “Now at 35 per cent, (there) is no way, no path to get to a high-income status without being able to bring more women into the workforce, for which safety is absolutely critical.

On the question of how India can create more fiscal space, Gopinath said governments around the world are grappling with very high spending needs, which include both the spending need from the day-to-day job of running the country and additional spending that’s needed to deal with the climate transition, digital transition, including AI, along with ageing populations in many countries that require countries to provide for them in terms of health and pensions.

Apart from raising revenue-to-GDP ratio, India can also look at saving money through targetted transfer of benefits and subsidies, she said. Giving the example of fertiliser subsidies, she said those remain non-targeted at this point, with unlimited amounts being given to farmers. She cited the example of Karnataka, where a pilot is being conducted to look at tailoring it to the farm size, which is also an environment-friendly measure, she said. “Doing more on that front to make sure the list of beneficiaries that you have are indeed the right group that you are trying to target. Saving on that front can also play an important role on the revenue side,” she 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

China dominates supply of electronic components for ‘made in India’ products

In the last five years, electronics imports from China and Hong Kong have far outnumbered imports from other major manufacturing hubs like South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and all ASEAN countries, combined.

Written by Soumyarendra Barik

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 20:33 IST

In fact, in 2023-24, electronic components imports stood at $34.4 billion, making them the fifth largest commodity to be imported to India, after crude, gold, petroleum products, and coal, according to data sourced from the Ministry of Commerce. (File Photo)

In the financial year 2023-24, India imported electronic components worth over $12 billion from China and $6 billion from Hong Kong, with the two accounting for more than half of total such imports to India – suggesting that the country’s growing footprint in electronics manufacturing may not yet be translating into reduced reliance on Beijing.

In the last five years, electronics imports from China and Hong Kong have far outnumbered imports from other major manufacturing hubs like South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and all ASEAN countries, combined.

In fact, in 2023-24, electronic components imports stood at $34.4 billion, making them the fifth largest commodity to be imported to India, after crude, gold, petroleum products, and coal, according to data sourced from the Ministry of Commerce. These components constitute key building blocks for the finished electronics products that are currently being assembled in India – from smartphones to televisions.

Import share from China, Hong Kong

In the financial year 2019-20, electronic components imports from China and Hong Kong stood at over $10 billion, accounting for 62 per cent of the total imports in the category. A year later, in 2020-21, while the value of such imports from the two countries dipped slightly to $9.5 billion, their share of the overall imports remained constant at 62 per cent.

In 2021-22, the value of such imports from China and Hong Kong nearly doubled to $17.7 billion, accounting for more than 68 per cent of the total imports. 2022-23 was a bit of an outlier year, when the share of China and Hong Kong in exporting electronic components to India marginally dipped below 50 per cent for the first time in five years, to 49.7 per cent.

Experts said imports from Hong Kong should be seen as Chinese imports since it is companies from the mainland who run some of their operations in the territory.

The overall picture of India’s reliance on Chinese supply of electronic components becomes clearer when compared to the imports from some other electronics hubs – such as South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and ASEAN countries which include the likes of Vietnam and Malaysia.

In the last five years, barring 2022-23, the quantum of import of electronic components from China alone has outnumbered such imports from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and all ASEAN countries, combined. Put together, imports from China and Hong Kong have been more than the other countries in each of the last five years. This is despite India having free trade agreements with ASEAN countries, Japan and South Korea.

Growth in domestic electronics assembly

India’s emergence as an electronics assembly hub for smartphones has been notable. Today, almost all phones sold in India have been assembled locally in the country, with companies like Apple also exporting phones that were assembled in India. For instance, India exported smartphones worth around $15 billion in 2023-24, of which iPhones contributed 65 per cent, or about $10 billion – up from $5 billion in the previous year.

But, that growth has meant that India’s reliance on imported electronic components – such as printed circuit boards, integrated circuits, advanced displays, camera modules etc. – has increased given that the country currently lacks any substantial manufacturing base for these crucial components.

“China has built its manufacturing base over the last three-four decades. It is very difficult to rapidly decouple from them given that they are the biggest producers of the components that India would need for its domestic manufacturing processes,” a senior government official said.

Take Apple as an example. While the company’s expansion in India has meant more of its suppliers are looking to set shop in the country, in 2023, as many as 157 Apple contractors manufactured in mainland China, up from 151 the previous year. The number of Indian suppliers, however, remained stagnant at 14.

Govt incentives & future prospects

To remedy the situation, the government is understood to be working on an incentive scheme for electronic components. “The details are currently being worked out, but the overall outlay could be between Rs 30,000 crore – Rs 40,000 crore,” a second government official said requesting anonymity.

Even as India’s factory output for smartphones has risen, leading to a steady rise in exports, local value addition has not increased to a desirable amount. Currently, local value addition in mobile phone assembly is around 15 per cent, while a healthier number would be around 35-40 per cent. As tensions at the border in the last few years have proven to be the nadir of India-China relations, New Delhi as moved towards an economic blockade of sorts – its actions include banning China-based social media companies like TikTok, increasing scrutiny on investments from the mainland, excluding Chinese products from some telecom equipment on account of national security, and visa restrictions on Chinese technicians.

But, India is seemingly warming up to the idea of letting more Chinese entities set up bases in the country in partnership with domestic firms, as part of joint ventures. The Economic Survey 2023-24 said that India should reduce the import of Chinese products while maintaining investments from Beijing.

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

Banks woo depositors with special schemes amid contest with markets

According to bank officials, current and savings bank (CASA) deposits declined during the quarter. SBI’s CASA deposits fell to Rs 19.41 lakh crore from Rs 19.14 lakh crore in March 2024.

Written by Hitesh Vyas , George Mathew

Mumbai | Updated: August 18, 2024 07:17 IST

Slower growth in deposits has led to an increase in the cost of funds for banks. (File Photo)

With deposit growth slowing down, banks are racing to mobilise funds through special deposit schemes and other innovative plans to meet the credit demand in the system. Many banks have reported a decline in deposits during the quarter ended June 2024 as customers are now looking at alternative avenues like the capital markets to park their funds for better returns.

State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest bank, registered a fall in deposits to Rs 49.01 lakh crore in the June quarter of FY25, compared to Rs 49.16 lakh crore in the March 2024 quarter. Bank of Baroda reported a fall in deposits from Rs 13.26 lakh crore to Rs 13.06 lakh crore in the June quarter. Other banks also reported a similar trend during the June quarter.

Among private banks, HDFC Bank’s deposit base remained flat at Rs 23.76 lakh crore on a sequential basis in June 2024.

CASA deposits and impact on bank strategies

According to bank officials, current and savings bank (CASA) deposits declined during the quarter. SBI’s CASA deposits fell to Rs 19.41 lakh crore from Rs 19.14 lakh crore in March 2024. “The decline in deposit growth has forced some banks to raise deposit rates in certain buckets. Credit growth is now outpacing deposit growth. Customers are now focusing more on the capital market where returns are far higher than bank deposits. They were seen breaking fixed deposits to invest in mutual fund schemes,” said a bank official.

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest data shows that credit growth rose by 15.1 per cent as of July 2024, compared to 14.6 per cent on a year-on-year basis. However, deposit growth declined to 10.6 per cent from 12.9 per cent a year ago.

SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara said that the current phase of credit growth outpacing deposits is temporary. “We have seen that when alternative options are available, people have gone to markets but bank deposits remain the channelling source. We had a similar situation in 2007 when loans outpaced deposits, but it was a temporary phenomenon which we should be able to navigate with our investment book,” he said while unveiling the bank’s quarterly results last week.

Banks launch special deposit schemes

In order to mobilise higher deposits, banks have been launching special term deposits. Recently, lenders such as SBI, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, RBL Bank, and Bandhan Bank have launched special retail deposit schemes. Banks are also focusing on niche segments for deposit mobilisation. In July, SBI launched ‘Amrit Vrishti’—a scheme that offers 7.25 per cent interest on deposits for 444 days. Bank of Baroda also launched the ‘Monsoon Dhamaka’ deposit scheme, offering interest rates of 7.25 per cent for 399 days and 7.15 per cent for 333 days.

Amid concerns over the shift of household savings from banks to alternative investment avenues, resulting in slower deposit growth compared to credit, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das recently asked lenders to garner deposits through innovative product offerings and use their wide branch network.

Alternative investment avenues are becoming more attractive to retail customers, and banks are facing challenges on the funding front with bank deposits trailing loan growth, he said. “Banks are taking greater recourse to short-term non-retail deposits and other instruments of liability to meet the incremental credit demand,” Das said.

Govt’s focus on small deposit mobilisation

Last week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked banks to take the old-fashioned route to bring back focus on mobilising “small deposits” and not just big deposits in order to reverse the slowdown in deposit growth rate.

“It’s right that credit is going through digital format and collection of deposits is not. Huge big deposits have always been a very lazy banker’s job, but the trickles which come are going to be the bread and butter money to lend regularly. So that trickle (small deposit mobilisation) was the emphasis a long, long time ago…the requisite small deposits, that’s also one of the very critical jobs of the bank. It might be grinding monotony but that’s where your bread and butter lies,” she said.

However, slower growth in deposits has led to an increase in the cost of funds for banks, which has forced banks to raise their lending rates. Recently, SBI raised its marginal cost of funds (MCLR) by 10 basis points (bps) across all tenors. In the last three months, SBI has raised MCLR by up to 30 bps in some of the tenors.

Mutual funds vs. bank deposits

Analysts said equity schemes of mutual funds had given four to five times more returns than bank deposits, prompting people to focus on the capital market for higher returns. After adjusting for inflation, they were hardly getting two or three per cent returns from bank deposits. Mutual fund players said that the notion that the slowdown in bank deposits due to higher subscription to mutual funds seems to be misinformed. They said that the shift of money from bank deposits to mutual funds will not affect banking system liquidity as the money remains in the banking system.

“Prima facie it seems that bank deposits and mutual funds are competing with each other, but there will be no impact on the banking system liquidity because of money flowing into mutual funds,” said Sandeep Bagla, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Trust Mutual Fund.

He attributed strong returns, ease of investing, the ability to invest regularly in the market through systematic investment plans (SIPs), and growing awareness among retail investors as the primary reasons for higher retail participation in mutual funds.

“In the last seven years, the returns from equity markets and equity-oriented mutual fund schemes have been very strong and so people are looking to earn those returns and are investing in mutual funds. The fact that one can invest regularly in the market at all levels through SIPs has also resulted in a lot of savings moving into SIPs,” Bagla said.

The data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) showed that the contribution of systematic investment plans (SIPs) touched an all-time high of Rs 23,332 crore in July. The net assets under management of the mutual fund industry grew by 6.23 percent to touch a record high of Rs 64.97 lakh crore as of July 31, 2024.

Sunday Eye

- What makes Naruto a superhero for Indians? Here’s why manga and anime are sweeping across generations

- Books to read: After the dust settled on Babri Masjid

- India That is Bharat: An Introduction to the Constitutional Debates discusses issues that still resonate

- Younger Indians are choosing lab-grown diamonds over mined ones

What makes Naruto a superhero for Indians? Here’s why manga and anime are sweeping across generations

From the captivating storytelling and intricate art styles to the relatable characters and a sense of community, these Japanese fiction genres have carved out a special place in the hearts of its fans

Written by Aditya Vaddepalli , Gayatri Thomas

Updated: August 18, 2024 21:56 IST

Anime has become a cultural phenomenon that resonates deeply, offering both personal and collective experiences

Pasang, chef and founder of Japanese restaurant Lea Izakaya in Delhi’s Humayunpur, recently got a strange request from a group of youngsters. “Bhaiya, Naruto ramen milega (Do you have Naruto ramen?).” Naruto Uzumaki, the protagonist of the popular eponymous manga series, is often seen wolfing down bowls of ramen. And who doesn’t want to be like Naruto?

“I’ve imbibed Naruto in my life. I used to be an introvert but after watching the show, it gave me the courage to speak up. I personally think the world would be a better place if people watched Naruto,” says Mumbai-based manga artist Jazyl Homavazir.

Similarly, at Rohit Pandey’s Harajuku Tokyo Café in Saket, Delhi, a loyal clientèle of young adults keeps returning for Japanese choux pastries shaped like pandas and manga macarons.

While cuisine is one of the many gateways for anime fans to live the Japanese way of life, those like 22-year-old Nikhil Tripathi made that living a reality. In December 2022, Nikhil moved to Tokyo for work from Delhi. On his first day, Nikhil hurried to the Suga Shrine, a quaint temple of the Shinto religion, excited to see the stairs leading up to it. This was the site in filmmaker-novelist Makoto Shinkai’s anime feature Kimi no Na wa (2016), where much of the action unfolded. “In high school, my elder brother introduced me to this film. I loved the movie so much that it inspired me to learn Japanese and eventually move to Japan,” says Nikhil, now, a marketing consultant with a Tokyo firm.

Manga (Japanese comics) and anime (Japanese animation) have been around for decades, but now it’s part of the daily diet for many aged between 12 and 25, some even older. There are several reasons for this.

For Utkarsh Singh, 22, anime helped him interpret life. “The stories deal with the main character’s struggles: having a dream, going to any extent to achieve it, and never giving up. It helps you when you are struggling as a kid who never fits in and when you feel that no one is there for you.”

****

Manga’s origin dates to 13th-century Japanese scrolls with sequential images full of humour and wit. Post-World War II, Japan witnessed fervent manga production as the country opened up to the world. As opposed to American comics, which are in colour, mangas are largely printed in black-and-white. With short deadlines of weekly releases, the monotone colour scheme allows manga publishers to save time and printing cost. Animes, which adapted these comics to screen, saw a boom in the 1980s with shows such as Gundam, Macross and Dragon Ball. While these were initially geared for the North American and European audience, now there’s a burgeoning Indian audience, whose fandom is anything but lukewarm. We don’t need to look too far to find an otaku (anime nerd) today.

For Delhi-based Priyamveda Gupta, 16, the anime Death Note became her doorway to an obsession with anime. It was during the Covid lockdown, upon a friend’s recommendation, that the then 12-year-old, with her father, watched the show. Since then, there is no stopping her. “You feel more ‘seen’ when you watch an anime. One finds resonance with the characters. One day, I would like to visit production houses like A-1 Pictures and Ufotable in Japan with a bouquet saying, ‘You have a small budget but your animation is amazing’. We have great respect for manga and anime artists,” she says.

That anime doesn’t shy away from serious and progressive themes adds to its young appeal

One of the most popular anime film production companies is Tokyo-based Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli. Their 2023 animation The Boy and the Heron won them an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. This semi-autobiographical anime tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who lost his mother during World War II. Their films — including popular ones such as Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) and My Neighbor Totoro (1988) — create magical realms where the supernatural and the mundane coexist.

*****

From the captivating storytelling and intricate art styles to the relatable characters and a sense of community, anime has carved out a special place in the hearts of its fans. It’s more than mere entertainment — it’s a cultural phenomenon that resonates deeply, offering both personal and collective experiences.

Popular titles among Indian manga readers include Jujutsu Kaisen, Death Note, Demon Slayer, Spy X Family, One Piece, Chainsaw Man and Naruto. Death Note tells the story of a brilliant but bored high-school student Light Yagami, who discovers a notebook that grants the power to kill anyone whose name is written in it, and delves into the depths of human nature. In Spy X Family, we meet elite spy Twilight, who is tasked with creating a fake family for his latest mission. The story combines action, comedy and heartwarming moments, exploring the delicate balance between duty and love.

A reason for manga’s popularity among young adults is the diversity of genres — action, sci-fi, adventure, fantasy, romance, comedy, horror, business and commerce. There’s a manga for every demographic. These include Kodomomuke (for children), which packs in simple, wholesome storylines, with vibrant art styles and positive role models. Shounen, aimed at young boys, is packed with high-energy action. It features protagonists who grow stronger through epic battles and unbreakable friendships.

Shoujo targets young girls and focuses on romance, emotional drama and beautiful art. It tells heartfelt stories about love, personal growth and overcoming obstacles. For adults, there is Seinen, which offers sophisticated narratives, with gritty realism and psychological depth, and Josei, that presents realistic portrayals of romance and daily life.

***

That anime doesn’t shy away from serious and progressive themes adds to its young appeal. Diya Sood, 21, shares how the anime Your Lie in April taught her to deal with grief and sorrow. “Watching anime has taught me to be empathetic. Shows like Komi Can’t Communicate (2021-22) and A Silent Voice (2016) explore mental health issues,” says Shimla-based Diya. This psychology student adds that anime even has characters dealing with mental health issues, showing that there are people who will support them for who they really are. “It is also a bridge between people, fostering connections through shared interests and experiences. When I encounter an introvert who watches anime, they become comfortable opening up to me,” she says.

Anasuya, a final-year law student from Bengaluru, points to the Boys’ Love (BL) genre, with popular titles like Yuri on Ice (2016-17) and Sasaki to Miyano (2022-), and how it highlights LGBTQIA+ relationships.

Yuri on Ice, for instance, is the story of a once-promising figure skater Yuri Katsuki who faces a career slump until his idol, the enigmatic Russian champion Victor Nikiforov, becomes his coach. The plot captures the struggles and triumphs of chasing dreams and finding love, on and off the ice.

****

India watched its first anime in 1993 on Doordarshan. Dubbed in Hindi, Janguru Bukku Shonen Moguri, an Italian-Japanese production, instantly became a household hit. So popular that even 40-year-olds today get nostalgic hearing its opening score. Composed by Vishal Bhardwaj with lyricist Gulzar, it went — Jungle jungle baat chali, pata chala hai/ Arrey chaddi pehnke phool khila hai, phool khila hai. “The Jungle Book was the first anime that we saw. It says a lot about our awareness of

what anime was back in the day and how it is right now,” says Jatin Verma, founder of Comicon India.

Sony’s Crunchyroll, the anime OTT service recently launched in India, predicts that Indian subscribers will contribute 60 per cent to its global growth rate in a few years. Viz Media, one of the largest publishers of manga (comics and graphic novels) worldwide, exports around 3,000 manga titles to India every year.

Aoi Ishimaru, director, Arts and Cultural Exchange, Japan Foundation, New Delhi, says that for students, anime and manga are the tickets to understanding their culture. The Foundation’s Manga Cafe (library section dedicated to the genre) teems with school children. One can borrow a book for 15 days but several return them in just three to four days.

While these Japanese genres have picked up in popularity, they also fill the gap that is left behind with the decline of the superhero genre of Marvel and DC.

Manga and anime have seen a steady rise in India. “Since 2012, we might have seen a 50 per cent increase in the books distributed across India. Currently, around 300,000 to 500,000 books are in circulation and we get approximately 250-350 new titles a year. The growth has been phenomenal — 300-400 per cent — since 2020,” says Rahul Srivastava, MD, Simon & Schuster, the official distributor for Viz Media titles in India.

While these Japanese genres have picked up in popularity, they also fill the gap that is left behind with the decline of the superhero genre of Marvel and DC. “In DC and Marvel movies, the world goes around the main characters. But in anime, even the villain gets to be the lead. Sometime, a third team, which is not even important, gets its own story. They show the beauty of Japan — they’ll have cuts of flying butterflies, water falling and famous places of the country. These nuances make people not just fall in love with the main character but with the whole country,” says Nikhil.

Shared values between India and Japan is another cause for the instant connection with animes and manga. Meghna Rawat (aka Misa), 21, a cosplayer, thinks it’s because Indians and Japanese respect everything, from elders to nature. “We also pray and pay our respect to rivers, forests, trees and other things, which is common in Japan,” says Meghna.

****

Finally, anime offers a form of escapism. John Francis, 23, a 3D artist, recalls how transitioning from cartoons to anime opened up fantastical worlds that he could immerse himself in, bringing to the fore complex narratives that cartoons often lacked. Anime has helped him understand his own emotional landscape. “I feel my emotions more deeply nowadays. It’s not just about the action or the drama; it’s about the intricate web of relationships that these characters navigate. It teaches us the importance of empathy, understanding and communication,” says Thrissur-based John.

(Inputs by Hijam Yaiphabi)

Books to read: After the dust settled on Babri Masjid

From testimonies of those who lived to see the Babri Masjid’s demolition, to a detective story about misogyny and violence, here are the new publications you must read

Written by Udbhav Seth

August 18, 2024 05:30 IST

Riverside Stories: Writings from Assam (Source: Amazon)

Iru: The Remarkable Life of Irawati Karve (Rs 699, Speaking Tiger) is a novelistic biography of the reputed 20th century anthropologist, whose Yuganta: The End of an Epoch, an analysis of Mahabharata as history instead of mythology, earned her both bouquets and brickbats. It’s penned by writer Urmilla Deshpande, Karve’s granddaughter, and scholar Thiago Pinto Barbosa, and aims to add a personal footnote to the decorated academic’s life.

Punjabi Centuries (Rs 2150, Orient Blackswan) is a volume that analyses the many versions of Punjab that have existed in history – both in the imagination and soil – through scholarly works on the state’s music, economy, politics, geography and literature. It has been edited by Anshu Malhotra and tracks Punjabi identity from the 19th century to modern day, contributed to by scholars from India, the US, UK and Canada.

Iru: The Remarkable Life and Punjabi Centuries. (Source: Amazon)

Riverside Stories: Writings from Assam (Rs 595, Zubaan) is a collection of 39 pieces – stories, poems, visuals – edited by gender scholar Banamallika Choudhury. The pieces have been contributed by cisgender women and transgender people, and the book is the sixth in a series featuring writing from Northeast India, with previous instalments on Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram.

Riots and After in Mumbai (Source: Amazon) and Unwinding a Death Spiral (Source: Panther Paw)

Riots and After in Mumbai (Rs 699, Yoda Press) by journalist Meena Menon has come out in a new edition, with forewords by Christophe Jaffrelot and Moosa Qureshi. The 2012 classic includes testimonies from survivors of the riots shortly after kar sevaks demolished the Babri mosque in Ayodhya. In two months, almost 1000 people died, most of whom were Muslim, in a political earthquake whose tremors reverberate to this day.

Unwinding a Death Spiral (Rs 650, Panther’s Paw) by Gargi Harithakam is a detective story. Anchored by a woman known only as ‘I’, it follows the death of a seven-month-old girl in the womb of Sunaina, motivating the detective to question not only the death but her own life, the society she’s lived in, and the place of women in a country which frequently subjects them to violence and marginalisation. The list of suspects begins with Sunaina’s immediate acquaintances but expands steadily to the places she’s grown up in.

India That is Bharat: An Introduction to the Constitutional Debates discusses issues that still resonate

The book tackles critical questions such as fundamental rights, citizenship, Kashmir's special status, the national language, and the protection of minorities. Its coverage extends to the higher judiciary and the constitutional role of the office of the Governor

Written by Chakshu Roy

August 18, 2024 05:30 IST

In its 17 chapters, Rajeeve guides the reader through the Constituent Assembly debates to highlight how our Constitution framers deliberated on questions that still dominate public discussion. (Source: Amazon)

Books that get straight to the point are refreshing. The author works hard to separate the grain from the chaff, letting the reader quickly reach the crux of the matter. India that is Bharat: An Introduction to the Constitutional Debates by P Rajeeve is one such book.

Rajeeve is currently a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly and the state minister for law, industries and coir. He was active in state politics and came to national attention when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2009. His relentless use of House rules to sharpen parliamentary scrutiny of the government made his six-year tenure in the Council of States stand apart from that of other MPs.

The parliamentary convention dictates that at the end of their Rajya Sabha tenure, the retiring MP discusses their time in the House. Rajeeve’s tenure was till 2015, and in an unrelated development, the government prorogued the Rajya Sabha to promulgate the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Ordinance. It meant that Rajeeve lost the opportunity to give his farewell address. But the speeches made by his fellow parliamentarians are a testament to his contribution to our parliamentary discourse.

Then Leader of the House, Arun Jaitley, said, “As far as we in the Treasury Benches are concerned, for more than one good reason, we will miss Mr P Rajeeve. His departure makes our job easier because whoever was in the Government, he used to keep them on their toes. Every day he was ready with one point or the other and he was not willing to let go till the last minute.”

The Leader of the Opposition, Gulam Nabi Azad, wanted Rajeeve’s iPad to help him better understand the rules. TMC’s Derek O’Brien stated that the P in P Rajeeve’s name stood for Parliament, and Shiromani Akali Dal’s Naresh Gujral wanted the government to nominate him to Parliament.

India that is Bharat is succinct and compact. In its 17 chapters, Rajeeve guides the reader through the Constituent Assembly debates to highlight how our Constitution framers deliberated on questions that still dominate public discussion. He wrote it to “investigate how the secular and democratic culture of the Constitution was formed.”

The book starts by highlighting the debate in the Constituent Assembly that led to naming our country “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States” in Article 1 of the Constitution. It then traces the other documents that were precursors to our Constitution, including a private member bill that a British Labour Party MP had introduced in the House of Commons. The book also draws attention to the 15 women Constituent Assembly members and their contributions.

But Rajeeve’s book also tackles critical questions such as fundamental rights, citizenship, Kashmir’s special status, the national language, and the protection of minorities. His coverage extends to the higher judiciary and the constitutional role of the office of the Governor. He highlights the differences in opinion, the consensus and the compromise that led to the shaping of the Constitution.

Throughout the book, the reader will get glimpses of Rajeeve’s outlook on critical issues as a constitutionalist, a parliamentarian and a politician. As Rajeeve writes in the book’s introduction, “Protecting the Constitution is a prerequisite for protecting freedom, democracy and secularism. For that the Constitution has to be read in conjunction with the history of its formation.”

The writer works at PRS Legislative Research

Younger Indians are choosing lab-grown diamonds over mined ones

As consumers the world over are going for lab-grown diamonds, their popularity looks set to rise in India, despite a recent price slump

Written by Heena Khandelwal

Updated: August 18, 2024 20:35 IST

An exhibit of LGD jewellery at the International Jewellery Show (IIJS) in Mumbai (Courtesy: Pradip Das)

Earlier this year, Mumbai-based Aashi Sottany was introduced to lab-grown diamonds (LGD) by a friend who sells jewellery made from them. “It’s exactly like a diamond—it has the same shine, look, and feel, and it’s much cheaper than a natural diamond,” says the 26-year-old PR professional. She recently bought a pendant set with a pair of earrings, each featuring half-a-carat of LGD, and a one-carat diamond ring. “It’s my engagement ring. I suggested this idea to my now fiancé, and he loved it. I also bought him an LGD ring, so we saved a lot of money,” she adds. Her ring cost about Rs 30,000, and the pendant set, which her parents bought as part of her wedding trousseau, cost Rs 36,000.

Sottany is one of an increasing tribe of consumers drawn to LGDs. According to Future Market Insights, the lab-grown diamond jewellery market was valued at $264.5 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a 14.8 per cent CAGR over the next decade, potentially reaching $1.19 billion by 2033.

Known by various names over the years—from synthetic to man-made and lab-grown—these diamonds are not mined but grown in a reactor using a thin slice of high-quality diamond that serves as a seed for growing LGD. “Diamonds need specific temperatures, environments, and gases to grow. We replicate these conditions inside the reactor, exposing the seeds to carbon-rich gases and carbon deposits. The process mimics natural conditions but occurs in a much shorter time frame,” explains Smit Patel of Greenlab Diamonds, a leading player in the industry since 2017. Patel uses the Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) method, producing CVD diamonds.

LGDs have the same physical appearance and chemical composition as natural diamonds and cannot be distinguished by the naked eye. “We ourselves have been diamond tiers for 60 years. My grandfather came to Surat with nothing and started cutting and polishing with one wheel. When we showed him our first lab-grown diamond in 2017, he asked me, ‘Which mine has it come from?’ He couldn’t tell the difference because there is none. We saw a future in LGDs and fully shifted our focus,” adds Patel.

LGD jewellery designs (Courtesy: Kira Diam)

While some say there’s no definitive figure on the number of carats a machine can produce, Kira Diam, founded a year-and-a-half ago, prides itself on being one of the largest manufacturers and producers, accounting for 25 per cent of India’s production. “We have a 700,000-sq ft facility in Surat with 2,500 machines and produce approximately 150,000 carats of polished diamonds per month,” says Shanay Parekh, partner at Kira Diam. The transformation cycle from seeds to diamonds takes about 25-30 days, followed by 45 days of cutting and polishing, done by the same experts in Surat.

Similarly, Surat’s Vaghasiya family, who has traded natural diamonds for over twenty years, began exploring LGDs four years ago. “My father and his brothers started with buying loose natural diamonds, and my cousins and I followed. We noticed the growth of LGDs and saw it as a lucrative business opportunity, so we transitioned fully to LGDs. The margins were substantial at that time,” says 38-year-old Satish Vaghasiya, who showcased his diamonds at the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) in Mumbai.

The spike and the fall

The demand for lab-grown diamonds surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in 2020-21, according to Anshul Doshi of Bijoux Fine Jewellery, a Zaveri Bazaar-based jewellery designer and manufacturer. “This spike was driven by millennials, who have seen their mothers and mothers-in-law’s jewellery mostly sitting in bank lockers, and by Gen Z, who prefer spending on experiences like travel or investment options rather than on expensive jewellery. However, the trend wasn’t limited to younger generations,” he explains. The increased demand led to higher prices and substantial margins, which attracted more players into the market. This influx resulted in an oversupply, causing a subsequent price drop.

A recent report from the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) revealed that prices have plummeted by 65 per cent over the past year, from Rs 60,000 to Rs 20,000 per carat, due to local overproduction and oversupply from abroad. The report estimates that the number of LGD production units has risen to 10,000.

Most designers, manufacturers, and growers agree that prices have dropped significantly but say while they experienced losses on inventory, these were offset by profits made in earlier years.

“It’s a price correction,” Patel notes. “We anticipated this because the industry is still new. On average, growth has been 400 per cent, and although prices have corrected, the volume of exports has continued to increase.”

A polished LGD (Courtesy: Kira Diam)

“There is no control over production, leading to a supply that exceeds demand. Additionally, as a technology-based product, prices tend to fall over time, as seen with similar products in the past. This creates hesitation among sellers to keep inventory,” says Vipul Shah, Chairman of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

Despite India being one of the leading producers of lab-grown diamonds, the largest consumer market remains the United States. Domestically, LGDs are yet to solidify their position. “Until last year, we had no presence at IIJS,” reveals Patel.

Parekh admits that they are encountering resistance from Indian retailers. “Many retailers have a stake in the natural diamond business or hold significant inventory… However, this resistance is gradually decreasing, and within the next 12 months, LGDs are expected to be available at leading retail jewellery stores,” he says.

The decline in prices has also been a deterrent for some customers. “People want to look good in jewellery but also view it as an investment. Since LGDs lack resale value, many from the older generation—who have traditionally upgraded their diamonds—find this a drawback,” notes Anshul Doshi.

“Diamonds, whether lab-grown or natural, are not ideal investments. The allure of diamonds has been heavily marketed by companies like De Beers, but unlike gold, diamonds do not guarantee a price increase,” says Disha Shah of DiAi Design, adding that the conversation around LGDs often focuses on price rather than the design possibilities they offer. “With LGDs, we can create custom shapes like butterflies or clouds, which would be prohibitively expensive with natural diamonds due to high losses. The younger generation is also drawn to LGDs for their sustainability and the fact that they are ‘blood-free’—they are not mined, thus avoiding the human rights abuses and child labour associated with traditional diamond mining,” Shah concludes.

Parekh is optimistic about the future of lab-grown diamonds. “Natural diamonds are affordable only to a small percentage of the population, roughly the top one per cent. Lab-grown diamonds, however, cater to the next 15-20 per cent of consumers. The current challenge is a lack of awareness. But once we overcome this, we can expect to see a similar trend to what’s happened in the US, where LGDs now account for 60 per cent of the market,” he says.

Tech Review

- Noise brings noise-cancelling to more ears… and we are happy

- Motorola Edge 50 made me realise flagship smartphone experience need not cost a lot

Noise brings noise-cancelling to more ears… and we are happy

Noise N1 Pro is pushing the envelope even further on what to expect at affordable price points.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Rs. 1,499

Written by Nandagopal Rajan

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 09:15 IST

Noise N1 Pro combines sleek design with advanced noise-cancelling at an unbeatable price. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

One would think a company named Noise would never make noise-cancelling earphones. But this Indian company has launched what could well be the most affordable noise-cancelling headphones, taking what was once a creamy layer of technology to everyone with a smartphone. For context, the Noise N1 Pro has a price tag of just Rs 1,499.

I have always — at least so far — had this theory that audio quality was invariably a function of money. So, better audio quality was always the domain of the more expensive devices. But over the past few years, we have seen that audio technologies, as well as experiences, have become better at lower price points too. Companies will now need new technologies to find exclusivity of premium price points. From what I have experienced, the Noise N1 Pro is pushing the envelope even further on what to expect at affordable price points.

The Noise N1 Pro has a stylish look with a golden chrome finish for the box. The angled metallic feel of the earphones is unique and reminds you of the tail fins of commercial aircraft. These stems are touch-sensitive and help you switch modes or increase volume with a soft touch.

The Noise N1 Pro stands out with its sleek, metallic design and elegant golden chrome finish, adding a touch of luxury to an affordable package. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

When I popped on the earphones for the first time, I was disappointed that I could hear my BLDC fan whirring away in the living room. But when I long pressed the stem and the advanced noise cancellation was activated with an audio alert. Then, in a jiffy, all the noise was sucked in by the Noise earphones. Ironic, but effective.

After consuming an HBR podcast early this morning, I decided to put the earphones to the test with a proper binaural test recording. The audio range test and the binaural test went off well. The deep bass test, which usually rattles a lot of drivers, was smooth on the Noise N1 Pro with its 11mm drivers standing their ground and showing no visible signs of weakness.

When I switched to a high-resolution lossless file of Ullen: Infinite Bach on Apple Music, I was not expecting much. But the Noise N1 Pro was surprisingly decent. Yes, this is no Sennheiser, but then most users are not expecting anything of that sort… neither do they have the context. And when you listen to a great classical composition and it impresses you, that’s all you are expecting… especially when you have not paid more than you have for your smartphone.

Listening to A R Rrahman’s Bhoomi Bhoomi, I was impressed by how well the earphones could manage a rich composition like this. Yes, there were parts you craved for a bit more clarity and space, but that’s when you are reminded of the price tag of this one. There are times when you feel the Noise N1 Pro struggles a bit with the lows, but it is not a secular problem and emerges only with some types of mixes. And let me tell you most people will not even notice.

The Noise N1 Pro offers good call quality, and most users will not have any complaints. The set has an IPX5 water resistance rating, and you should not worry if you get caught in the drizzle while on a morning walk. The battery lasts up to 60 hours on a full charge.

With a price tag of Rs 1499, we should be proud that an Indian company has been able to democratise noise cancellation, that too in the week of our independence. The Noise N1 Pro truly wireless earphones tick all the boxes especially given the price point. This one is making all the right noises.

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

Motorola Edge 50 made me realise flagship smartphone experience need not cost a lot

Motorola Edge 50 is one of the most unique smartphones in this price range, with an emphasis on practicality rather than sheer performance.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Rs. 27,999

Written by Vivek Umashankar

Bengaluru | Updated: August 18, 2024 09:03 IST

With its IP68 rating, and metal frame, it feels like a premium smartphones. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

On most days, once I am done testing a smartphone, I put my SIM card back into my Galaxy S23 Ultra (review). Most entry-level and mid-tier smartphones I tested recently miss out on several features that hamper the overall user experience. These features aren’t necessarily deal-breakers, but they are good to have and elevates the smartphone experience.

However, after testing the Motorola Edge 50, I found myself hesitant to swap my SIM card back. Despite being a budget smartphone, it offers nearly everything I expect from a premium flagship. The Edge 50 has remained my primary device.

That said, the Motorola Edge 50 isn’t without its flaws. Certain issues could be deal-breakers for some users. Here’s my review of the Motorola Edge 50 after a month of usage.

An unboxing experience that’s hard to forget

The scented box leaves further elevate the unboxing experience. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Smartphone unboxing experiences have gotten worse over the years. Most boxes barely include anything except the smartphone. In this regard, Motorola gets full marks from me. When opening for the first time, the scented box awakens your senses.

Unlike most brands which have diluted the unboxing experience in the name of saving the environment, Motorola has chosen a different approach. Instead of cutting down on the necessary accessories such as a case and charger, Motorola is including a case made of bio-degradable material that looks and feels premium. Even the entire box the phone comes in is made using recycled paper.

It’s slim, IP68-rated, and looks premium

The free bundled case also feels premium. (Image credit: Vivek Umashnakar/The Indian Express)

The Motorola Edge 50 looks almost identical to the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, introduced a few months ago. The phone is MIL-STD-810H certified by SGS and is the thinnest smartphone to get US-military-approved certification.

This certification makes it shock and drop-resistant, which should ensure the longevity of the device even during accidents.

I enjoy listening to music while taking showers, and the Motorola Edge 50 has been my music companion for the last month. As it is IP68 rated, it is water and dust-resistant, and I was not bothered about the shower water falling on the device.

Unlike a Samsung Galaxy or an Apple iPhone, where the touch doesn’t work when the screen is wet, the Motorola Edge 50, with its Smart Water Touch technology, continues to function without any issue.

The phone has a curved back panel and a curved display, which makes the device feel slimmer than it already is. On top of that, the leather back panel also offers plenty of grip, and even if it gets soiled, a simple rinse under the tap should restore the device to its full glory.

A display that’s a treat to movie buffs

The display is fast, sharp, and colourful. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

The 6.67-inch curved display on the Motorola Edge 50 offers 1.5K resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a pOLED panel with HDR+ certification. Unlike most phones of this class, where the display loses its shine under direct light, the Edge 50 offers up to 1200 nits in the high brightness mode, and up to 1,600 nits in HDR mode, ensuring the visibility of the screen in almost any lighting condition.

The downside of the curved display is that installing a screen protector is a hassle. Unlike most mid-tier phones, the phone also doesn’t come with a screen protector. However, the warning sticker Motorola has included talks about how installing a UV screen protector can damage the phone, along with a set of sealing tape to cover the ports, a precautionary measure that goes a long way.

Coming back to the display, I love how saturated it gets in the vivid mode, and also glad that it is set to “vivid” by default. Anyone who likes true-to-life colours can switch to the natural mode. I enjoyed hours of YouTube streaming on the Motorola Edge 50, followed by occasional movie streaming on platforms like Prime Video and JioCinema.

The curved display is not that great for gaming. One can opt for devices like the iQOO Neo 9 Pro or the OnePlus Nord 4 in this regard, and these have more capable processors too.

A flagship-like camera setup, mid-range-like performance

The phone has a proper triple-camera setup. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Triple cameras on phones costing around Rs 30,000 are fairly common these days. However, most phones either include a macro lens or a depth sensor. With the Edge 50, Motorola has outdone itself by including a 50 MP wide-angle lens, a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 10 MP telephoto lens. There is also a 32 MP selfie camera at the front.

The phone takes stunning pictures, vibrant and detailed. However, it takes slightly over a second for the camera app to open, and there is a lag in the shutter button too due to which I end up clicking blurred pictures very often. Hope Motorola will be able to fix these issues with a software update.

All four cameras, including the selfie shooter, can capture videos at 4K resolution, a welcome move.

Here are some camera samples from the Motorola Edge 50:

Motorola Edge 50 camera sample. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Motorola Edge 50 camera sample. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Motorola Edge 50 camera sample. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Motorola Edge 50 camera sample. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Motorola Edge 50 camera sample. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

An underpowered smartphone

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 AE is a bit of a letdown. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

The Motorola Edge 50 has almost everything and is quite comparable to premium flagship smartphones, except for the performance. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 AE paired with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage holds back this device when it comes to performance with an AnTuTu score of 6.9 lakh. While a regular user might not notice this, heavy users who multitask and enjoy gaming will feel the phone is underwhelming, especially when compared to similarly-priced smartphones like the iQOO Neo 9 Pro (review), Poco F6 (review), and even the recent OnePlus Nord 4 (review). The phone was struggling even when I tried to edit a reel on Instagram.

As I don’t play games often, this really didn’t bother me, and the Edge 50 worked fine for me. If you are not a gamer, the Motorola Edge 50 will be more than enough for you.

It runs on Android 14 and is eligible for two major OS updates and three years of security updates. However, unlike the Edge 50 Ultra (review), it is not running on the latest Hello UI and is still based on MyUX. Motorola has confirmed that the device will be updated to Hello UI and will also introduce new AI features in the coming days.

Almost all-day battery, with the power of fast and wireless charging

The phone supports wireless charging. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

The Motorola Edge 50 packs a big 5,000 mAh battery, and the phone can easily last for an entire day for most users. There is 68W fast wired and 15W wireless charging, which again makes it feel like a flagship device. The company is also including a USB-PD fast charging adapter in the box, which is a bonus.

An excellent mid-tier smartphone let down by lacklustre performance

A premium feeling smartphone with mid-tier performance. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

The Motorola Edge 50 is a near-perfect smartphone priced under Rs 30,000, except for its performance. Some of the popular phones in this class are almost twice as fast. However, they don’t offer as many features as the Edge 50.

If you are a non-gamer and don’t really care about performance, but want a premium-looking smartphone with a solid set of features, the Edge 50 is a great pick.

Motorola Edge 50

Pros

Cons

Premium design with vegan leather back and metal frame

Underwhelming performance for heavy users and gamers

IP68 water and dust resistance

Camera app and shutter lag

MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability

Vibrant 1.5K pOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate

Excellent display visibility in all lighting conditions

Versatile triple camera setup with 50MP main, 13MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto lenses

4K video recording on all cameras

5,000 mAh battery with 68W fast wired and 15W wireless charging

Includes 68W fast charger in the box

Runs on Android 14 with promised updates to Hello UI and AI features

Thoughtful unboxing experience with recycled materials

Smart Water Touch technology for wet screen usage

Science

- Rare super blue moon to be visible on August 19, first of 4 remaining super moons of 2024

- Astronaut Sunita Williams likely facing eyesight issues aboard ISS as NASA explores alternative solutions for return

- Supermoon blue moon rising on August 19: Where to spot it and how to get the best view

- Living walls: Indian student develops carbon capturing building material

Rare super blue moon to be visible on August 19, first of 4 remaining super moons of 2024

Get ready to witness a full-sized moon shining through the night sky.

By: Science Desk

Bengaluru | Updated: August 18, 2024 21:56 IST

Supermoons are a common phenomenon and one can expect three to four supermoons each year. (Image: Freepik)

Attention sky gazers! A rare full moon, also known as a super blue moon, will be visible from across the Earth on August 19 and will remain visible for the next three days, according to NASA. Starting this Sunday, the full moon will be visible until Wednesday. The next three remaining super moons of 2024 will appear on September 17, known as the Harvest Moon, October 17, known as the Hunter’s Moon, and November 15’s full moon, known as the Beaver Moon.

Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi Purnima, celebrated on the full moon day, is coinciding with the super blue moon this year, making it even more special for Indians.

A full moon or a third full moon in a season is called a super blue moon when it is within 90 per cent of its closest approach to the Earth, and this term was coined back in 1979 by Richard Nolle, a prominent astrologer.

Contrary to its name, a super blue moon will not look blue. However, on occasions, the moon has appeared blue due to a large amount of smoke in the sky.

Compared to a regular full moon, a supermoon will be up to 30 per cent brighter and up to 14 per cent larger. During this super blue moon, 98 per cent of the moon’s nearside will be illuminated by the Sun on Sunday, gradually increasing to 99 and 100 per cent in consecutive days. At the peak of the supermoon, it will be around 225,288 miles away from the Earth.

No special equipment is required to observe the blue moon, which can be witnessed with the naked eye and captured using a digital camera or smartphone with a dedicated moon mode.

Astronaut Sunita Williams likely facing eyesight issues aboard ISS as NASA explores alternative solutions for return

While there has been no confirmation on the return of Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, reports claim that Williams is facing an eyesight issue.

By: Science Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 18:33 IST

Sunita Williams seen 'training' in the video posted by NASA. (Photo captured from NASA video/X)

Astronaut Sunita Williams, who has been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) along with her peer Barry Wilmore, seems to be facing a health issue. The duo’s return on Boeing’s Starliner has encountered some serious complications, delaying it for days. Even as Boeing considers alternatives like SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to bring the astronauts back, new reports state that Williams, 58, is experiencing eyesight issues on the ISS. This condition is reportedly linked to the prolonged exposure to microgravity.

Williams’ condition is known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) and it reportedly affects the fluid distribution in the body leading to issues with vision. This condition causes blurry vision and can also change the structure of the eye. Scans of Wiliams’ retina, cornea, and lens have been conducted to gauge her eye health.

On the other hand, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon mission is slated for September 2024. Williams and Wilmore are likely to return to Earth on this mission which will prolong their stay in space to over eight months from the initially planned eight days. The Crew Dragon mission is expected to return to Earth in February 2025.

Boeing has been harshly criticised for its delayed and costly space missions. Now, opting for the SpaceX spacecraft will be another dampener for the aerospace company. In the last couple of months, numerous reports have suggested that Boeing has been grappling with a series of technical issues and delays that resulted in monumental cost.

Meanwhile, another key challenge Nasa is facing at present is the incompatibility of spacesuits. This is because the spacesuits that have been designed for Boeing’s Starliner are not fit for the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. Essentially, if Williams and Wilmore are to return on the Dragon, they may have to ditch their space suits which could raise more safety concerns. Nasa is currently working to address these issues and reports also suggest that Nasa is considering dispatching SpaceX suits along with the Crew-9 Dragon mission.

What happened to Starliner?

Boeing’s Starliner mission is a milestone in space exploration by private players in the US, as so far, only Elon Musk’s SpaceX has succeeded in sending US astronauts to space. Boeing Starliner is officially known as CST-100 and is considered a key aspect of Nasa’s Commercial Crew Program aimed at sending astronauts to ISS via private players.

On June 5, Starliner was launched with the crew expected to spend around eight days in orbit as a test-run. It was slated to return to Earth on June 14. The spacecraft closed in on the ISS a day after launch, however, it suffered some last-minute thruster failures which nearly averted its docking to the station. Nine days later, the undocking of the spacecraft was pushed to June 22, following which the astronauts got on a call with Boeing mission managers to discuss the end of the mission and review the flight operations.

Following the delay, Boeing announced that the astronauts would remain on the ISS. However, there was no return date decided. A spokesperson from the company said that the helium leaks and thruster issues reported earlier have been stabilised. In the following days, Williams and Wilmore expressed confidence in their return on the Boeing Starliner in a press conference from the ISS. As days progressed, there were numerous back and forths. Earlier this month, a Nasa official said that the duo could return on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February 2025 if Starliner continues to be unsafe.

Meanwhile, Nasa and Boeing have been reported to have conducted over 100k simulations to zero in on the best approach for their return. Reportedly, the decision on how to bring the astronauts back will be made by the end of this month.

Supermoon blue moon rising on August 19: Where to spot it and how to get the best view

The first of the four successive supermoons this year is set to take place on August 19. Here’s all that you need to know to make the most of this celestial event.

By: Science Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2024 09:05 IST

Supermoons have gained attention over the years due to their size and brightness. (File Image: NASA/Michael Democker)

For all those who have been eagerly waiting for the next big celestial event, there is good news. As reported earlier, this year we are expected to see four supermoons in a row. The first of the four will take place on August 19, Monday at 2:26 PM EDT (about 12:00 AM IST). Interestingly, this will be a Supermoon Blue Moon.

For the uninitiated, according to NASA, a supermoon occurs when the moon is within 90 percent of its nearest approach to Earth. The term supermoon was coined by astronomer Richard Nolle in 1979. Full supermoons are known to be the brightest and biggest full moons of the year. It appears around 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than a regular moon. While the size and brightness could seem significantly high, it is rather difficult to tell the difference during the phenomenon.

On the other hand, there are two types of Blue Moon, and they have nothing to do with the color blue. A third full moon in a season that has four full moons is known as a seasonal blue moon. This is the type of Blue Moon that will be visible on August 19. The second type refers to the second full moon in a single calendar month. The first Blue Moon was recorded in English dates from 1528 onwards. It is believed that the name Blue Moon originated from an old phrase meaning ‘betrayer moon’. Around the 1940s, the second full moon of a month with two full moons came to be known as a ‘Blue Moon.’

Supermoons have gained attention over the years due to their size and brightness. The next full moon will be in September and October.

Where to spot the supermoon Blue Moon?

Researchers claim that although the full moon rises at 2:26 PM EDT on August 19, it will continue to appear nearly full on nights closer to the date. This supermoon Blue Moon can be witnessed globally; however, the specific time when it will be visible may vary depending on the location and time zone.

In North America, the Super Blue Moon will reach its peak at 2:26 PM EDT on August 19. Here, however, it will appear full for about three days—from Sunday morning through early Wednesday morning, according to NASA. It will be visible on August 18, 19, and 20. Meanwhile, in Asia and Australia, the full moon will take place on the morning of August 20 from Nepal Standard Time eastward across the rest of Asia and Australia to the International Date Line. In India, we will be able to see it during the night of August 19 and into the early morning of August 20.

For those in Europe and Africa, the Super Blue Moon will be visible on the night of August 19. It will appear full from the evening of August 18 through the night of August 19 and into the early morning of August 20.

Some tips to get the best view of the supermoon blue moon:

To get the best view of the supermoon, consider a location with a clear view of the horizon and minimal air pollution. Experts say that the supermoon will be visible shortly after it rises in the east-southeastern sky. This makes it important that you settle for an open area away from city lights.

Although a supermoon is visible to the naked eye, using binoculars or a telescope can enhance the experience by revealing more details of the moon’s surface. Remember, clear skies are vital for the best viewing experience. You should check the weather forecast for your area to make sure that no clouds obstruct your view.

Experts suggest that one should give time for their eyes to adjust to the darkness. Vision will improve over time, with color vision adapting within 10 minutes and black-and-white vision improving for an hour or more. It is recommended that you avoid exposure to bright lights to maintain your night vision.

Also, there is something called the ‘moon illusion,’ which happens when the moon is near the horizon. The moon can appear larger due to this, which makes it the ideal time for photography or even enjoying the view. The effect is strongest when the moon is either rising or setting.

If you have plans to take pictures, we recommend using a camera with a zoom lens to capture the details of the Super Blue Moon. Get a tripod to help the camera stabilize and produce higher-quality shots.

Living walls: Indian student develops carbon capturing building material

Tamuli developed the C-ELM under the guidance of research supervisors during his MSc in Bio-Integrated Design, even innovating new methods to culture cyanobacteria at home during the Covid-19 lockdown in London.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: August 18, 2024 09:09 IST

The first panels were publicly displayed inside the "Bioscope" pavilion at St Andrews Botanic Garden, showcasing low-carbon, nature-inspired construction methods designed by the collective Studio Biocene. (Representational/File Photo)

An Indian student at University College London (UCL) has developed an innovative construction biomaterial that utilises living microorganisms to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, potentially revolutionising the building industry’s carbon footprint.

Prantar Tamuli, a Master’s student in UCL’s Biochemical Engineering Department, recently introduced this material as part of an art installation at St Andrews Botanic Garden in Scotland.

The biomaterial, known as a cyanobacterial engineered living material (C-ELM), incorporates living cyanobacteria within translucent panels that can be mounted on the interior walls of buildings. As the microorganisms grow through photosynthesis, they capture carbon dioxide from the air.

“My goal with developing C-ELM is to shift the construction of our future human habitats from being a significant carbon-emitting activity to one that actively sequesters carbon,” Tamuli was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Through a process called biomineralisation, the captured CO2 is converted into calcium carbonate, effectively trapping the carbon.

A kilogram of C-ELM can capture up to 350g of carbon dioxide, while the same amount of traditional concrete would emit approximately 500g of CO2. A wall covered with 150 square metres of these panels could sequester about one tonne of carbon dioxide.

“The potential of this biomaterial is immense. If scaled up and widely implemented, it could significantly reduce the construction industry’s carbon footprint,” said Professor Marcos Cruz of UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture and co-director of the Bio-Integrated Design Programme, according to the report by PTI.

Tamuli developed the C-ELM under the guidance of research supervisors during his MSc in Bio-Integrated Design, even innovating new methods to culture cyanobacteria at home during the Covid-19 lockdown in London.

Dr Brenda Parker, co-director of the Bio-Integrated Design Programme, added, “By breaking down traditional disciplinary barriers, we can enable breakthroughs like these. Biotechnology is now in a position to transform sustainable design and construction,” PTI reported.

Inspired by studying stromatolites—ancient structures formed by algal mats—Tamuli focused on the cyanobacteria species *Kamptonema animale*, which grows in long strands that easily bind to surrounding materials within the panels. The calcium carbonate produced by the cyanobacteria strengthens and reinforces the panels.

These panels offer multiple benefits for buildings, including being lightweight, sound-absorbing, translucent enough to allow light to pass through, and thermally insulating to improve energy efficiency.

The first panels were publicly displayed inside the “Bioscope” pavilion at St Andrews Botanic Garden, showcasing low-carbon, nature-inspired construction methods designed by the collective Studio Biocene. A patent for C-ELM technology has been filed by UCL’s commercialisation company, UCL Business.

Table of Contents

Indian Express

Front Page

Despite red flags over ‘excessive profiteering’, ministry reimposed solar module shortlist of domestic producers

A derelict school still running — just to keep 7 kids from dropping out

J&K Police to MHA: Connectivity issues, enable Jio for new laws implementation

Judiciary to police, institutions have to be rebuilt, says student leader now in Bangladesh interim govt

Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance of Kolkata doctor rape-murder incident, lists case for August 20

Air India air hostess assaulted by intruder in London airport hotel room, local police launch probe

Delhi HC comes to rescue of aspiring cop rejected over tattoo, opens doors for others

Secretary General Golam Parwar interview: Jamaat says won’t be threat to India; but it’s easier said than done

Vandalism at RG Kar: TMC men, students, gym trainer, delivery staff among accused

Vinesh Phogat’s village open heart and purse strings: 750 kg ladoos, chowkidar gifts Rs 100, pagdi and sword

Vinesh returns: Love I got worth more than 1,000 Olympic Golds

India blundered by putting all eggs in one (Hasina) basket, needs to shift policy: BNP

India

Kerala man working at Russian military camp killed in shell attack

Nicobar residents raise concerns about land acquisition for airport

CBI questions ex-principal of R G Kar Hospital for 3rd day

IMD predicts heavy rainfall for northern, eastern India this week

Padma awardee docs seek law to protect healthcare workers

BJP workers blame CPI(M) for party activist’s death; burn tyres, block highway in Tripura

No injustice should be done to any candidate: UP CM Yogi Adityanath on HC order in teacher recruitment case

Indian Coast Guard Director General Rakesh Pal dies of ‘cardiac arrest’ in Chennai

‘No woman safe in Bengal under Mamata Banerjee regime,’ says BJP leader Pratima Bhowmik

Assam: Special DGP holds review meetings; multiple SITs formed to crack ULFA(I) bomb cases

North and eastern India brace for heavy rainfall this week

Jharkhand CM accuses BJP of poaching MLAs amid speculation of Champai Soren switching sides

EAM Jaishankar calls on Kuwaiti PM, Crown Prince; discuss bilateral ties

Cong leader Gaurav Gogoi slams Assam CM for security failures after ULFA(I) bomb claims

Grenade hurled at former BJP MLA’s home in Manipur

BJP will have no pre-poll alliance in J-K: Ravinder Raina

Privatisation of IAS is ‘Modi’s guarantee’ for ending reservation: Rahul Gandhi slams lateral entry

NCPCR chief questions ‘radical’ curriculum in Bihar madrasas, demands UN probe

Amit Shah: CAA doesn’t take away citizenship, Cong-led previous govts let ‘intruders’ in

Ex-Jharkhand CM Champai Soren leaves for Delhi amid speculations of him likely to join BJP

Minor girl gangraped in bus parked at Dehradun ISBT, 2 drivers among five held

Forest teams expand search for tiger that strayed out of Sariska National Park

Tripura CM launches intensified awareness programme to control HIV/AIDS

Opinion

Ashok Gulati writes: The path to Viksit Bharat runs through fields

August 19, 1984, Forty Years Ago: Protests For NTR

SC verdict on states taxing mining activities: Unfounded spectre of retrospective taxation

Express View: In India-Bangladesh ties, stakes are high

Japan’s Foreign Minister writes: India and Japan, co-creators of new solutions

Vandita Mishra writes: PM Modi’s I-Day speech, between the lines

Faizan Mustafa writes: UP’s anti-conversion law will create social disharmony

R G Kar Hospital incident underline needs for legal protection for safety of healthcare workers

Mental health of medical students can no longer be ignored

A safe space, between home & our clinic

Disparity among Dalits needs to be acknowledged

Tavleen Singh writes: Why PM Modi’s Independence Day speech this year was uninspiring

P Chidambaram writes: Things are not what they seem to be

UPSC-CSE Key

UPSC Key | Mpox outbreak, Global Development Compact, Lateral entry and more

UPSC Essays Simplified | How to write an Ethics essay for your exam?

UPSC CSAT Simplified: Shortcuts to Profit and Loss problems

UPSC Key | SSLV, Krishi-DSS, Right To Education and more

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 11 to August 17, 2024

How has UPSC asked questions on India’s Freedom Struggle

UPSC Issue at a Glance | Bangladesh Crisis and India: 4 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains

Explained

Why the Elon Musk-owned X announced it will shut down operations in Brazil

Can Sheikh Hasina be extradited to Bangladesh? What are India’s options?

What the rise of 37-year-old Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra means for the country’s politics

Why Odisha will plant 20 lakh palm trees for protection against lightning strikes

Lessons from Wayanad, Himachal: As climate change intensifies, how to prepare for extreme weather events

Mpox declared a global health emergency: will it trigger another pandemic?

UPSC issues ad for lateral entry into bureaucracy: What is the policy, why it has no reservation provision

What is the contribution of Indian Americans to US society and economy?

Americans, Soviets or Israelis? Who killed Pakistan’s former President Zia ul-Haq?

Explained: The bitter dispute in the Namdhari sect, which has left 8 people injured in a violent clash

Meet ‘Ketamine Queen’ Jasveen Sangha, who supplied the drug to ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry

From kesri to basanti: history and politics around the colour of the holy Nishan Sahib

An Expert Explains: How James Webb Space Telescope has raised questions in cosmology

Business

FPI strategy: Sell in stock market and buy through IPO route

BPCL to invest Rs 1.7 lakh crore in next 5 years

Sustainability standards to shape future of global trade; must take seriously: Welspun Living CEO & MD

Rising demand, stagnant output pushes oil import dependency beyond 88% in April-July

India needs more reforms; fewer GST rates will raise revenue: IMF’s Gopinath

China dominates supply of electronic components for ‘made in India’ products

Banks woo depositors with special schemes amid contest with markets

Sunday Eye

What makes Naruto a superhero for Indians? Here’s why manga and anime are sweeping across generations

Books to read: After the dust settled on Babri Masjid

India That is Bharat: An Introduction to the Constitutional Debates discusses issues that still resonate

Younger Indians are choosing lab-grown diamonds over mined ones

Tech Review

Noise brings noise-cancelling to more ears… and we are happy

Motorola Edge 50 made me realise flagship smartphone experience need not cost a lot

Science

Rare super blue moon to be visible on August 19, first of 4 remaining super moons of 2024

Astronaut Sunita Williams likely facing eyesight issues aboard ISS as NASA explores alternative solutions for return

Supermoon blue moon rising on August 19: Where to spot it and how to get the best view

Living walls: Indian student develops carbon capturing building material