AMIGOS IAS Current Affairs (20th August 2024)

A Change in India’s Power Export Rules

GS 3: Economy: Exporting power

Why is it in the news?

• On August 14, 2024, Reuters reported a significant amendment to India’s power export regulations which introduces a new provision allowing Indian power exporters to redirect their output to domestic grids if there are delays in payments from partner countries.
• This change appears to be a measure to mitigate political and economic risks, particularly concerning Bangladesh, which relies heavily on power imports from India.

More about the news

• India’s first transnational power project, the Godda plant in Jharkhand, is central to this situation. Operated by Adani Power, this ultra super-critical thermal power plant supplies a total of 1,496 megawatts of power to Bangladesh.
• The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for this project, signed with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) in November 2017, spans 25 years. The project aims to enhance Bangladesh’s energy situation by providing a more cost-effective alternative to expensive liquid fuel-based power.
• The Godda project has faced criticism, primarily due to its use of coal imported from the Carmichael mine in Australia. Critics argue that this arrangement imposes high costs on Bangladesh.
• For instance, reports indicated that the coal price of $400 per metric ton stipulated in the PPA was significantly higher than the $250 per metric ton that Bangladesh pays for coal at its other plants.
• Additionally, the high capacity and maintenance charges associated with the project have been deemed excessive by industry standards.
• Bangladesh’s need for power imports is driven by underutilization and supply constraints. Despite progress in expanding electricity access, the country has faced challenges such as fuel and gas shortages.
• These issues, compounded by financial shocks from volatile energy prices, have led to frequent blackouts and underused power generation capacity. As of mid-2023, Bangladesh had a total installed generation capacity of 24,911 MW, with significant idle capacity.
• The recent amendment to India’s export rules grants greater flexibility to power exporters, allowing them to access the domestic market if needed. This adjustment aims to reduce dependency on external markets and address payment delays, which have been a recurring issue.
• According to experts, even if power supplies to Bangladesh were interrupted, the impact would be short-lived, lasting only a few days due to existing reserves and generation capacities.

Have newly sworn-in Prime Ministers fulfilled their I-Day promises?

GS 2: Polity and Governance: PM’s Vision and its implementation

Why is it in the news?

• On August 15, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India) by 2047 in his 11th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort.
• This marks a continuation of a tradition where newly sworn-in Prime Ministers outline their vision and policy priorities on Independence Day.

Evaluating how these promises have been implemented from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (1952, 1957, 1962)

• In 1952, Nehru promised to tackle food shortages and uplift the poor. Foodgrain production increased from 51.99 million to 59.20 million tons, but poverty rates remained high, with urban and rural poverty peaking and fluctuating.
• By 1957, Nehru focused on peace with Pakistan and neutrality in the Cold War. India signed treaties with Pakistan and established the non-alignment movement.
• In 1962, Nehru aimed to close the wealth gap. Although the wealth gap decreased during the 1960s, it has since widened, with the top 1% now holding 40% of the nation’s wealth.

Lal Bahadur Shastri (1965)

• Shastri’s 1965 promises included avoiding talks with Pakistan, reducing machine imports, investing in agriculture, and taking over foodgrain procurement and distribution.
• While he backtracked on not negotiating with Pakistan by signing the Tashkent Declaration, the establishment of the Food Corporation of India fulfilled his agricultural and distribution promises.

Indira Gandhi (1967, 1971, 1980)

• In 1967, Gandhi pledged to address price rises and implement a three-language formula, which led to the National Policy on Education and some progress in controlling inflation.
• By 1971, she promised support for Bangladesh and controlling inflation. India supported Bangladesh and later imposed Emergency measures to manage inflation.
• In 1980, she promised to address the Moradabad riots and tackle corruption. While action was taken, violence persisted, and corruption remains an ongoing issue.

Morarji Desai (1977)

• Desai’s promises included eradicating untouchability, stabilizing prices, and increasing employment.
• With untouchability already prohibited by law, the actual eradication was unclear. Inflation did stabilize but unemployment rose, failing to meet his promises.

Charan Singh (1979)

• Singh pledged to reconsider nuclear options, eradicate corruption, boost small industries, and offer better prices to farmers. Despite his short tenure, nuclear policy changes occurred, but promises on small industries and agriculture were not realized.

Rajiv Gandhi (1985)

• Gandhi promised peace in Assam and Punjab, a Lok Pal Bill, and resolution to the Sri Lanka-Tamil conflict. While the Rajiv-Longowal Accord aimed to resolve Punjab issues and some progress was made on the Assam front, the Sri Lanka conflict escalated, and the Lok Pal Bill remained unpassed.

V.P. Singh (1990)

• Singh’s key achievement was the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations for OBC reservation. However, other promises, including reservation for the poor in legislatures and a national agriculture policy, were not fulfilled.

P.V. Narasimha Rao (1991)

• Rao’s promises included incentives for foreign investors, elections in Punjab, minority protection, rapid industrialization, and the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission.
• Rao succeeded in opening the market to foreign investors and implemented Phase 1 of the water mission. However, the protection of minorities fell short due to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and its violent aftermath.

H.D. Deve Gowda (1996)

• Gowda focused on Jammu-Kashmir assurances, Uttarakhand formation, continuing defense programs, extending PDS, and a national water-sharing policy.
• He made progress on Jammu-Kashmir and PDS but faced delays with Uttarakhand’s formation and the water-sharing policy.

I.K. Gujral (1997)

• Gujral’s tenure saw significant foreign policy achievements, including the Gujral Doctrine and a ceasefire in Nagaland.
• He also resisted signing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) but failed to pass the Lokpal Bill and make substantial progress on the Right to Information Act.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998)

• Vajpayee promised the implementation of the Cauvery accord, protection to minorities, job creation, and funding for girls’ education.
• The Cauvery accord was implemented, his government created 6 crore jobs, and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was launched to promote education.

Manmohan Singh (2004, 2009)

• Singh promised to postpone farm loan repayments, expand the budget for minorities, and achieve a 9% growth rate.
• He fulfilled the loan waiver promise but did not expand the budget for minorities. Despite a global recession, India achieved substantial economic growth during his tenure.

Narendra Modi (2014, 2019, 2024)

• In 2014, Modi launched the NITI Aayog and PM Jan Dhan Yojana, and aimed to make India a manufacturing hub. While the NITI Aayog was established and PMJDY expanded financial inclusion, the manufacturing sector did not see major growth.
• In 2019, he promised to appoint a Chief of Defence Staff, implement the Jal Jeevan Mission, ban single-use plastics, and boost infrastructure investment. He achieved the CDS appointment and Jal Jeevan Mission progress, though the latter is incomplete.
• In 2024, Modi promised a secular civil code, peace with Bangladesh, chip manufacturing boost, and simultaneous elections. The outcome of these promises will unfold as his third term progresses.

Google’s ‘monopolist’ judgement in the US and its repercussions in India

GS 3: Economy: Anti-Competitive practices

Why is it in the news?

• In August 2024, a federal judge in the United States declared Google a “monopolist,” accusing it of illegally maintaining a monopoly in online search.
• This landmark judgement reflects the growing concern about the dominance of major tech companies, echoing the antitrust challenges faced by giants like Apple and Microsoft in the past.
• The ruling underscores the issues with market dominance in the digital age and could lead to significant changes in how digital businesses operate.

More about the news

• In India, the repercussions of this US judgement are likely to influence the regulatory landscape. The US ruling, which might include proposals to break up Google’s various business units, could inspire similar regulatory actions in India.
• Currently, Google is embroiled in disputes over its app store billing policies and alleged anti-competitive practices in online advertising. As India’s legislative framework evolves, competition is poised to become a crucial tool for regulating big tech.
• India has proposed a major overhaul of its antitrust laws to address digital monopolies, drawing inspiration from the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
• The proposed Digital Competition Bill, 2024, aims to prevent tech giants from self-preferencing their services and misusing data. This bill could impose heavy penalties on violations, potentially requiring substantial changes from companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon.
• There is growing concern among Indian officials that the majority of recent innovation is concentrated within a few major tech firms due to high market barriers for new entrants.
• The Digital Competition Bill seeks to address these issues by creating a presumptive framework to curb anti-competitive practices before they fully emerge. This approach aims to foster a more competitive market and support smaller companies struggling against the dominance of big tech.

Additional Information:

What is Digital Competition Bill, 2024?

• Proposed in March 2024, the bill aims to regulate large digital enterprises, by preventing big tech companies from favoring their services or misusing data and to ensure a level-playing field and fair competition in the digital space.
• The bill includes provisions to establish presumptive norms to prevent anti-competitive practices and promises substantial penalties, potentially reaching billions of dollars, for violations.
• The new law mirrors the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) by targeting anti-competitive practices of major tech firms, requiring them to open their services and avoid favoring their own offerings over competitors.

Significant provisions:

• The Bill proposes to designate enterprises with significant market presence and financial strength in India as Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs), with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) empowered to make these designations.
• SSDEs are those enterprises that provide core digital services in India and have a significant presence and significant financial strength in the country.
• The Bill aims to designate Associate Digital Enterprises (ADEs) to assess and regulate how data shared within a tech group benefits its affiliated companies.
• The CCI can investigate and take action against enterprises outside India for non-compliance with the Act or its regulations.

Discovery of liquid water on Mars for the first time

GS 3: Science and Technology: Life on Mars

About the news

• Scientists have announced a groundbreaking discovery: liquid water exists on Mars, deep within the planet’s rocky outer crust.
• This revelation comes from a new study titled ‘Liquid Water in the Martian Mid-Crust,’ published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
• The research provides the first evidence of liquid water on Mars beyond the known ice at the poles.

More about the news

• The study utilized data from NASA’s Mars Insight Lander, which operated from 2018 until its retirement in December 2022.
• The lander’s seismometer recorded over 1,300 quakes, allowing researchers to analyze seismic waves and infer the composition of Martian material.
• By applying a geophysical model similar to those used on Earth, they identified a layer of fractured igneous rock, such as granite, filled with liquid water, located about 10 to 20 kilometres beneath the Martian surface.
• The researchers suggest that this water could have seeped from the Martian surface billions of years ago when the planet possibly had rivers, lakes, and oceans. Further, the study noted that the groundwater likely infiltrated from the surface during a warmer period in Mars’ history.
• The study estimates that if the findings are representative of the entire planet, the water trapped in these rock fractures could fill an ocean 1-2 kilometres deep.
• While this discovery does not confirm the presence of life on Mars, it raises the potential for finding a habitable environment.
• The study emphasizes that water is essential for life, and the newly identified underground reservoir could theoretically support life, similar to extreme environments on Earth.
• However, this finding poses challenges for plans to colonize Mars, such as those proposed by Elon Musk, as drilling 10-20 kilometres deep to access this water would be a significant technical hurdle.

Additional Information:

About NASA’s Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) Lander:

• The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) mission is a robotic lander that is the first to focus on studying the deep interior of Mars.
• The InSight mission is part of NASA’s Discovery Program (1992).
• Objective: This mission aims to study Mars’ deep interior over two years to uncover the processes that shaped all rocky planets in the inner solar system, including Earth and the Moon.
• Among its science tools are a seismometer for detecting quakes, sensors for gauging wind and air pressure, a magnetometer, and a heat flow probe designed to take the planet’s temperature.
• It is being supported by a number of European partners, which include France’s Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA).

1.5     The threat to India’s khadi tradition and national symbol

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Handloom/ handicraft sector

Why is it in the news?

• Sonia Gandhi, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, highlights a critical issue regarding India’s national flag and its associated fabric, khadi.

More about the news

• Recently, Prime Minister Modi’s promotion of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign coincides with growing concerns over the flag’s authenticity and significance.
• The core issue lies in the decision to allow machine-made polyester flags, which contrasts with the traditional requirement for khadi, a fabric symbolically significant to India’s history and independence.
• Khadi, which Mahatma Gandhi championed as a symbol of self-reliance and resistance during colonial rule, was historically mandated by the Flag Code of India for making the national flag.
• However, an amendment in 2022 allowed polyester flags and exempted them from GST, undermining khadi’s unique status.
• This change has led to a decline in khadi production and has adversely impacted the traditional khadi industry, as highlighted by a strike by the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha.
• The shift towards polyester flags not only erodes the symbolic value of khadi but also reflects a broader neglect of India’s handloom and handicraft sectors.
• Since 2014, the government’s policies, including GST and demonetization, have strained handloom workers and weakened these traditional industries. The Vishwakarma Yojana, which excludes handloom workers, further illustrates the lack of support for these artisans.
• Additionally, the government’s failure to regulate khadi’s market and ensure fair pricing for traditional hand-spun khadi undermines the workers’ livelihoods and the fabric’s historical value.
• To honour India’s legacy and support its artisans, khadi must be reinstated as the exclusive fabric for the national flag, restoring its role as a symbol of national pride and freedom.

Additional Information:

Overview of the Flag Code of India:

• The Flag Code of India takes effect from January 26,2002,consolidates guidelines, statutory provisions from the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, along with non-statutory instructions, to provide comprehensive rules for the display and use of the national flag.
• Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 – It restricts the use of the national flag, government coats-of-arms, the official seals of the President and Governor, pictorial representations of Mahatma Gandhi and the Prime Minister, and the Ashoka Chakra.
• Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 – It forbids the desecration or insult of national symbols such as the national flag, Constitution, anthem, and map.
• It has been divided into three parts:
• Part I of the Code contains general description of the National Flag.
• Part II of the Code is devoted to the display of the National Flag by members of public, private organizations, educational institutions, etc.
• Part III of the Code relates to display of the National Flag by Central and State governments and their organisations and agencies.

Khadi – An Important National Icon of the Freedom Movement

• Khadi, introduced to India in 1918, was crucial for achieving self-sufficiency and independence from British textiles.
• The khadi movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi from the Sabarmati Ashram in May 1915 aimed at fostering national unity and economic self-reliance.
• Derived from the term ‘khaddar,’ khadi is hand spun and hand-woven cotton fabric, symbolizing resistance against British rule due to its coarse texture.
• Spun using the charkha (Indian spinning wheel), khadi also featured on the Indian national flag in the 1930s.
• Gandhi promoted Swadeshi products and boycotted foreign goods, making khadi a symbol of nationalism and Swaraj (self-rule).
• The movement aimed to unite all classes by encouraging participation in spinning khadi, fostering social and economic empowerment.
• Thus khadi became the national fabric of India and a central icon in the country’s independence struggle.

About Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign:

• The ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 2022, encourages citizens to bring the Tiranga home and hoist it to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.
• The initiative aims to foster patriotism and raise awareness about the Indian National Flag among the people.
• Various outreach activities are being organized nationwide as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga celebrations, including:
• Tiranga Runs: To be organized in various cities across the country to promote patriotism.
• Tiranga Concerts: Musical events featuring patriotic songs to celebrate our national heritage.
• Street Plays (Nukkad Nataks): Performances in local communities to spread the message of unity and patriotism.
• Painting Competitions: Engaging the youth and children in artistic expressions of their love for the nation.
• Exhibitions on the Evolution of Tiranga: Showcasing the history and significance of the national flag.
• Flash Mobs: Enthusiastic displays of national pride in public places.

UPSC Civil Services Prelims PYQ:

Q. Consider the following statements concerning the National Flag of India according to the Flag Code of India, 2002: (2023)

Statement-I: One of the standard sizes of the National Flag of India is 600 mm x 400 mm.

Statement II: The ratio of the length to the height (width) of the Flag shall be 3:2.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect

(d) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Answer: D

Q. With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour Indian National Flag here.

(b) Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India Movement of Andhra region from here.

(c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.

(d) Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set up headquarters of Theosophical Society first here.

Answer: C

The far-right riots in Britain

GS 2: International Relations: Riots in Britain

About the news

• The recent far-right riots in Britain reflect a troubling resurgence of urban violence, reminiscent of past disturbances like the 1981 Brixton and Toxteth riots and the 2001 unrest in Burnley and Oldham.
• This year’s violence, however, is marked by white working-class individuals attacking targets such as mosques and immigrant accommodation, diverging from earlier riots that predominantly involved black and ethnic minority youths clashing with police accused of racial bias.
• The immediate trigger for the riots was a false rumour that a Muslim immigrant was behind a knife attack in Southport, which killed three young girls. This misinformation, rapidly spread by social media, was amplified by far-right figures like Tommy Robinson.
• Their rhetoric incited violent reactions from their followers. The riots also reflect a broader trend of dehumanizing immigrants, a policy exacerbated by previous and current UK governments.
• Former Prime Minister Theresa May’s “hostile environment” for illegal immigrants and recent rhetoric from figures like Home Secretaries Priti Patel and Suella Braverman, alongside Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s anti-immigration stance, have intensified anti-immigrant sentiments.
• Right-wing media has shown unusual concern for the English working class during these riots, despite their historical role in creating class divisions. This reaction comes amid a backdrop of austerity measures that have worsened working-class conditions and exacerbated social tensions.
• Additionally, the riots can be seen as a reaction to pro-Palestine protests, which were branded as anti-Semitic by right-wing commentators.
• The Labour government under Keir Starmer, wary of losing support to the immigration-focused Reform UK Party, has been criticized for its tepid response to both the riots and the broader issues of racial and social justice.
• The impact of ongoing austerity measures has further weakened the British state’s capacity to address these challenges effectively.

Can Sheikh Hasina be extradited to Bangladesh?

GS 2: International Relations: India-Bangladesh

About the news

• With former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina facing multiple criminal charges at home, there is speculation that Bangladesh may seek her extradition from India.
• Bangladesh’s de facto foreign minister, Touhid Hossain, indicated in an August 15 interview that if Hasina’s home and law ministries decide, they might request her return. Hossain suggested that such a request could diplomatically complicate relations between the two countries, but expressed confidence that India would handle the situation appropriately.
• India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty, signed in 2013 and amended in 2016, which facilitates the exchange of fugitives.
• This treaty was designed to address issues such as Indian insurgents hiding in Bangladesh and members of groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operating in India.
• It has previously allowed the successful extradition of individuals like Anup Chetia, a top leader of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), from Bangladesh to India.
• The treaty specifies that extradition is required for individuals charged with or convicted of offenses that are punishable in both countries, provided the crime carries a minimum one-year imprisonment.
• However, it also allows for refusal of extradition if the offense is deemed “political” in nature.
• The list of offences that cannot be classified as “political” includes murder, manslaughter, assault, causing explosions, making or possessing explosives or weapons to endanger life, using firearms to resist arrest, damaging property to endanger life, kidnapping, incitement to murder, and other terrorism-related crimes.
• Hasina, a prominent political figure, could potentially claim political asylum in India, which might complicate the extradition process. The charges against her include murder, enforced disappearance, and torture—some of which fall outside the political crime exception in the treaty.
• The 2016 amendment to the treaty also simplified the extradition process by removing the need for the requesting country to provide detailed evidence of the offense, requiring only an arrest warrant.
• Even if Bangladesh requests Hasina’s extradition, India is not obligated to comply. The Article 8 of the treaty lists out multiple grounds for refusal on grounds such as the request not being 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” or if the accused might face unfair treatment.
• While India could potentially refuse the request to avoid diplomatic tensions with Dhaka, this could affect relations with Bangladesh’s new government.
• Hence, India’s approach to this situation will need to balance its strategic and economic interests with maintaining good relations with Bangladesh. Despite legal considerations, political factors will play a significant role in the final decision.
• Moreover, observers suggest that the matter will require careful diplomatic handling, and that it is too early to determine the outcome as the legal process in Bangladesh is still unfolding.

Additional Information:

What is Extradition?

• Supreme Court of India defined ‘Extradition is the delivery on the part of one State to another of those whom it is desired to deal with for crimes of which they have been accused or convicted and are justifiable in the Courts of the other State’.
• An extradition request can be made for individuals who are under investigation, on trial, or convicted, but in cases under investigation, law enforcement must carefully ensure they have prima facie evidence to support the allegation in the foreign court.

Extradition Law in India:

• In India, the extradition of fugitive criminals is regulated by the Indian Extradition Act of 1962, which governs both the extradition of individuals to and from India.
• Extradition can be based on treaties between India and other countries; currently, India has extradition treaties with over 40 countries and agreements with 11 others.
• According to Section 2(d) of the Act, an ‘Extradition Treaty’ includes any treaty, agreement, or arrangement between India and a foreign state concerning the extradition of fugitives, binding on both parties. Typically, extradition treaties are bilateral.
• The Consular, Passport and Visa Division of the Ministry of External Affairs serves as the nodal authority, overseeing the administration of the Extradition Act and handling both incoming and outgoing extradition requests.

Principles Governing Extradition:

• Absence of Treaty: Without a formal treaty, states are not obligated to extradite individuals.
• Treaty Crime Requirement: Extradition is typically limited to crimes specified in the treaty, which may differ between states.
• Military and Political Offences: Extradition may be refused for purely military or political offences. However, terrorist offences and violent crimes are generally excluded from this category.
• Dual Criminality: Extradition requires that the conduct in question constitutes a criminal offence in both India and the requesting state.
• Procedural Compliance: Extradition may be denied if the procedures outlined in the Indian Extradition Act of 1962 are not properly followed.