1 – About the Naxalism in India:

GS III

Topic  Internal Security of India

·      Naxal Movement in India:

·      In its early stages, the movement was strongly ideologically motivated and led by leaders like Charu Majumdar, Kondapalli Seetharamaiah, Nagabhushan Patnaik, and others.

·      With time, the movement’s direction and character shifted, becoming more ruthless and sanguinary.

·      Nevertheless, it maintained the impression that it genuinely supported the oppressed and poor, notably the tribal people.

·      Despite losing some of the support of the urban intellectuals, Maoism still resonates with certain of the more ideologically committed sectors at universities and colleges.

·      The main Maoist activity hotspots in Chhattisgarh right present are Dantewada, Bastar, Bijapur, and Sukma.

·      Between the early stage (1967–1972) and the current Maoist movement, the taxonomy of naxalism has experienced major changes.

·      Today, it has evolved into a highly organised, militaristic movement that puts terrorising populations ahead of furthering its own objectives.

·      The Special Operations Group of Odisha and the Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh conducted a coordinated operation that cost the Communist Party of India (Maoist) roughly 30 of its cadres.

·      According to many, it marked the start of the Naxalite movement’s downfall in the country.

·      Causes:

·      Political elements:

·      The characteristics of tribal peoples and the democratic system’s disregard for them were among the key reasons of such uprisings.

·      lack of political influence in India to provide possibilities for structural uplift to the underprivileged sectors of society in the affected states.

·      Lack of tribal community participation in politics

·      Economic factors:

·      In Naxal-affected areas, there is economic inequality, underdevelopment, and poverty.

·      The way of life of the tribes is threatened by mining companies’ intrusion into their woods and territories.

·      Indigenous tribal population deprived of their lands and separated from their customary sources of subsistence

·      The benefits of resource exploitation are not shared with the indigenous population.

·      Damage to the environment:

·      Environmental degradation in the form of the depletion of land and water resources is a result of mining and industrial activity.

·      Absence of crucial infrastructure:

·      inadequate access to basic services like food, freedom, education, and sanitization.

·      The socially deprived tribals make up the majority of the Naxalites’ support base as a result of inequity, illiteracy, and a lack of opportunities.

·      The CRPF suffered the following setbacks in its conflict with the Naxals:

·      States do not share a common strategy.

·      Between the Central forces and the state police, there is inadequate contact.

·      Forces in Maoist-affected states lack the necessary battle preparedness and training.

·      There isn’t a formal system in place for exchanging intelligence across governments and regions.

·      Due to their knowledge with the region, Naxalites enjoy a significant advantage in armed warfare.

·      Governmental plan:

·      As part of Operation Green Hunt, which started in 2010, there was a major deployment of security officers in the naxal-affected districts. There were 223 districts affected by naxalism in 2010, but there are currently just 90.

·      Aspirational Districts Program:

·      The government’s approach to combating left-wing extremism is comprehensive, with a focus on security, development, safeguarding the rights and entitlements of local populations, improved governance, and public perception management.

·      Law and order maintenance falls predominantly under the purview of state governments because “Police” and “Public Order” are matters of state jurisdiction.

·      implementing the Scheme for Special Infrastructure to fill critical infrastructure shortages in states affected by left-wing extremism.

·      Assistance is offered for State Police training via the Ministry of Defense.

·      support for programmes promoting civic participation and community policing.

·      There is a “National Policy and Action Plan to Address Left Wing Extremism” to put a stop to the menace as soon as feasible.

·      The objective of anti-left-wing extremism (LWE) policy is to improve the deployment of central forces in the Naxal-infested regions of the state.

·      Naxalism alternatives in India:

·      A good leadership:

·      The Naxals’ presence in the country also reveals the weaknesses in the legal system, which has failed to thwart the threat.

·      The central government must implement a thorough national plan to defeat naxalism.

·      Dialogue:

·      A solution might be discovered through discussions between Naxal leaders and government representatives.

·      The government needs to engage the Naxalites in substantive dialogue.

·      Increase employment while raising wages:

·      Due to the unpredictable employment and living situations in the area, the locals had little alternative but to join the Naxals.

·      We must first provide the local community with honest, well-paying employment opportunities if we are to successfully battle Naxalism.

·      Services for rehabilitation and relocation:

·      Poor people’s situation has only gotten worse due to the lack of any preparations for the resettlement of the displaced people brought on by the presence of mining grounds, irrigation areas, industries, etc. in the area.

·      More consideration must be given to the rehabilitation of the affected population.

·      Halt the destruction of the environment:

·      Depletion of land and water resources as a result of industrial and mining activity, which results in environmental degradation

·      The disruption of village life has a detrimental effect on tourism.

·      Refrain from political marginalisation of weaker groups:

·      The ruling elite still treats Schedule castes, Schedule tribes, and Lower Classes unfairly.

·      Because they don’t engage equally in political elections and campaigns, these marginalised groups are easy targets for naxals.

·      Reduce disparity:

·      Two of the main reasons that have driven the emergence of naxalism are economic inequality and the expanding gap between the rich and the poor.

·      This gap needs to be partially filled quickly in order to resist Naxalism.

·      Make sure that the needs of the ordinary people are met:

·      One of the key reasons for instability is the usage of tribal lands and forests for industrial purposes.

·      land loss, lack of access to needs including food, clean water, freedom, and education

·      Act to improve the welfare of the tribal people:

·      The majority of the Naxalites’ supporters are socially backward tribal people because of inequity, ignorance, and a lack of chances.

·      It is essential to prevent these people from falling into the Naxal trap.

·      Current police enforcement agencies:

·      The majority of law enforcement is handled by the state governments.

·      A number of federal agencies are under the control of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

·      With its agencies armed with state-of-the-art artillery, the federal government must advance into these troubled states while supporting the frequently under-resourced state authorities.

·      Way Ahead:

·      The federal and state governments, the administration, and the security apparatus all need to see that the movement cannot be approached solely from a law and order standpoint.

·      It is apparent that the process of improving the lives of the disadvantaged and indigenous people must be expedited if the movement is to be successfully put an end to.

·      The primary objective of the counterinsurgency campaign will be to win over the hearts and minds of the tribal population and other disadvantaged groups.

·      Infrastructure upgrades for the road and rail network will aid in stifling Maoist propaganda as well as economic development.

·      The improved road connectivity would also improve the effectiveness of operations carried out by the security forces.

Source  The Indian Express

2 – Details of the Gaganyaan Mission:

GS III

Topic  Space Technology

·      About:

·      The Gaganyaan mission of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

·      Three missions into orbit are scheduled to be launched according to the Gaganyaan schedule.

·      There will be one manned space voyage and two unmanned ones.

·      The Gaganyaan system module, also known as the Orbital Module, will carry three Indian astronauts, one of whom is a woman.

·      It will orbit the planet at a low Earth orbital altitude of 300–400 km for 5-7 days.

·      Payloads:

·      The cargo will be a spacecraft carrying people called the crew module.

·      powered by two service module-mounted liquid-propellant engines.

·      It will contain features for mission cancellation and emergency evacuation.

·      Launch: Because it has the necessary payload capacity, the three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle GSLV Mk III, also known as the LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), will be used to launch Gaganyaan.

·      Russian Role in the Mission:

·      The Human Space Flight Centre of the ISRO and the Russian government-owned Glavkosmos inked a deal for the training in June 2019. It involves Russian support in the selection of applicants, their medical examination, and their training in space.

·      The applicants will thoroughly examine the Soyuz manned spacecraft’s equipment and train in short-term weightlessness aboard the Il-76MDK aeroplane.

·      The Soyuz spacecraft was made in Russia. The Soyuz shuttles passengers and supplies to and from the space station.

·      Il-76MDK, a military transport plane, was developed especially for parabolic flights by would-be astronauts and space tourists.

·      Importance: It will advance science and technology in the country and inspire youth.

·      Gaganyaan will involve a wide range of divisions, organisations, laboratories, subject areas, and businesses.

·      It will help to promote industrial growth.

·      The government recently established a new organisation, IN-SPACe, as part of efforts to increase commercial participation in the space sector.

·      It will advance technology for the betterment of society.

·      It will help to improve international cooperation.

·      One International Space Station (ISS) developed by various countries might not be sufficient. Local ecosystems will be necessary, and Gaganyaan will focus on addressing local needs for the security of food, water, and energy.

Source  The Hindu

3 – About the Leader of Opposition:

GS II

Topic  Indian Parliament

·      What is the origin of the phrase “leader of the opposition”?

·      The first Speaker of the Lok Sabha was G V Mavalankar. The rule that Mavalankar developed to determine the opposition leader in the parliament has achieved prominence.

·      Mavalankar’s rules stipulate that in order to be designated as the leader of the opposition, a party’s leader must hold at least 55 seats, or 10% of the total number of seats in the House.

·      A National Political Party just announced that it will not run for the role of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament due to a lack of members.

·      Only 52 members make up the second-largest party in the parliament, falling three short of the required amount.

·      The following responsibilities belong to the opposition leader:

·      selecting opposition members to serve as shadow ministers, acting as the opposition’s primary spokesperson, presiding over sessions when the opposition evaluates laws and debates policy choices, and organising the opposition during a federal election.

·      What Does It Mean to Be the Opposition Leader in Parliament?

·      The leader of the opposition is allegedly referred to as the “Shadow Prime Minister.” If the government is forced to dissolve due to an unforeseen event, the Leader should be prepared to take over.

·      India would be made weaker by the lack of such a Leader of the Opposition since they won’t be able to unite against the ruling party.

·      In order for the organisation to operate cohesively and successfully on legislative and policy issues, the opposition’s leader is essential.

·      Additionally, it helps to guarantee neutrality when choosing representatives for organisations like the CVC, CBI, Lokpal, and CIC that support accountability and openness.

·      The opposition leader also has a duty to watch out for violations of minority rights. They can also request discussions on these crucial subjects if they believe the government is trying to avoid parliamentary oversight.

·      The opposition leader serves as the chair of the Public Accounts Committee, which was established to monitor governing party spending.

·      What criteria are used to select the leader of the opposition?

·      The process for identifying the opposition leader is clearly laid out.

·      The designated leader of each opposition party shall be recognised as the opposition leader upon request by the opposition party with the highest numerical representation.

·      After her or his secretariat has reviewed the request, the speaker or chairperson thanks the requester.

·      Conclusion:

·      Under India’s almost unique system of government, the Leader of an Opposition has very specific duties to the state and the Parliament. In the current Government, the Leader of the Opposition has a critical role in situations like foreign peril or in matters that affect the security and safety of the realms. While he still criticises the administration, he must in a way be a supporter and even a bulwark of it. He must faithfully do these two duties.

Source  The Indian Express

4 – Details of the Cheetah Reintroduction in India:

Prelims Specific Topic

·      Plan for Reintroduction:

·      Simply releasing a creature back into its native habitat qualifies as its reintroduction.

·      Reintroducing large carnivores as a strategy for preserving endangered species and restoring ecosystem services has acquired increased support.

·      The cheetah is the only large carnivore that has become extinct, primarily as a result of historical overhunting in India.

·      The conservation of the cheetah will revitalise grasslands and their biomes and habitat, much like Project Tiger did for forests and all the species that have seen a rise in numbers.

·      Causes of the Extinction:

·      Due to hunting, habitat destruction, and a shortage of suitable prey, such as black buck, gazelle, and hare, the cat became extinct in India (1952).

·      The onset of climate change and rising human populations have only made these problems worse.

·      Reintroduction Action Plan: With support from the Wildlife Institute of India and the Wildlife Trust of India, the ministry will move 8–12 cheetahs from South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.

·      These countries have the animal’s biggest populations.

·      The big cats would live in Kuno Palpur National Park in Madhya Pradesh because of its excellent climate and ample prey base.

·      Information on the cheetah:

·      The cheetah is one of the oldest big cat species, having descended from predecessors who lived more than five million years ago during the Miocene epoch.

·      The cheetah is the world’s fastest terrestrial mammal, and it can be found in both Africa and Asia.

Source  The Down To Earth Magazine

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS  12 SEPTEMBER 2022 THE HINDU:

INDIA VIETNAM RELATIONS:

Historical connections between India and Vietnam:

Since the founding fathers of the two nations, Presidents Ho Chi Minh, Rajendra Prasad, and Prime Minister Nehru, the relationship between India and Vietnam has been particularly cordial and close.

Historical battles for independence from foreign hegemony are the main drivers of today’s traditionally amicable and friendly ties.

Following Vietnam’s 1954 victory over the French at Dien Bien Phu, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the first Westerners to travel there.

President Rajendra Prasad visited Vietnam in 1959, and President Ho Chi Minh visited India in February 1958.

The International Commission for Supervision and Control (ICSC), which was created to carry out the 1954 Geneva Accords and progress the peace process in Vietnam, was presided over by India.

India supported Vietnam’s fight for independence from France because it linked that country’s fight against British domination to Vietnam’s.

Since 1955, when Prime Minister Nehru emphasised that US involvement in Vietnam would be a mistake, India has been against US involvement.

On January 7, 1972, India formally established diplomatic ties with North Vietnam, three years before Saigon fell in 1975 and one year before the US departed from Vietnam.

Vietnam was unified with India’s help, and the two nations are friendly.

In South East Asia, Vietnam is a crucial ally. Along with the UN and WTO, India and Vietnam work closely together in a number of regional fora, such as ASEAN, the East Asia Summit, the Mekong Ganga Cooperation, and the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Connections between Vietnam and India in terms of trade and commerce:

Vietnam was designated as India’s “Most Favored Nation” in 1977.

After the two countries’ bilateral trade agreement was formed in 1978, the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) was signed on March 8, 1997.

The ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement, which was concluded in 2003, became effective in 2010.

Vietnam is India’s fifteenth-largest trading partner and comes in fourth in the ASEAN behind Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Vietnam is India’s tenth-largest trading partner.

Since the economies of Vietnam and India were both liberalised, there has been a major increase in bilateral commerce.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, trade between India and Vietnam has decreased by 22.47 percent over the preceding fiscal years.

Machinery and equipment rank among India’s major exports, which also include seafood, medicines, cotton of all varieties, textiles, and leather accessories. Chemicals, plastic resins, chemical goods, fibres of all types, steel of all sorts, fabrics of all kinds, common metals, jewellery, and precious stones are some of the other top exports.

Mobile phones and their accessories, computers and electronic devices, machinery and equipment, chemicals, rubber, common metals, wood and wooden products, fibres of all kinds, pepper, automobiles, steel products, coffee, footwear, chemical goods, and polymers and resins are the main imports from Vietnam.

The two nations’ bilateral foreign investments have increased as well.

Energy, mineral exploration, agroprocessing, sugar, tea, coffee production, agrochemicals, information technology, and auto components are the primary industries in which India has interests.

As of 2020, Vietnam had 6 active projects with an estimated total investment of $28.55 million in India.

Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and building materials make up the majority of Vietnam’s investments in India.

Exploration of oil:

In 1988, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), which is under the supervision of the Indian government, started doing business in Vietnam.

Block 6.1 exploration rights were granted to it.

The producing fields Lan Tay and Lan Rosneft are located in Block 6.1, a 955 km2 area in the South China Sea’s Nam Con Son Basin.

1.33 million tonnes of condensate and gas with an oil equivalent were produced in Block 6.1 by ONGC Videsh, which held a 45 percent stake in the block.

Vietnamese and Indian Strategic Partnership:

In order to promote shared security, prosperity, and growth for everyone in the area, India and Vietnam have resolved to step up their strategic partnership in accordance with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, which aims to promote and enhance close ties between India and Southeast Asian countries, includes Vietnam and India as participants.

Vietnam has endorsed India’s proposal to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and become a permanent member of the UN Security Council (APEC).

India and Vietnam have also joined together in strategic partnerships to create nuclear energy, improve regional security, and combat terrorism, global crime, and drug trafficking.

Military collaboration

Defense cooperation has grown to be a pillar of our strategic alliance with Vietnam.

Vietnam is interested in India’s Brahmos missiles, Dhruv advanced light helicopters, and Akash surface-to-air systems.

Along with this, additional elements of defence relations include collaboration on defence R&D, capacity building, resolving common security issues, and personnel training.

In 2020, the Indian Navy’s INS Kiltan made a stop in Ho Chi Minh City to deliver flood relief supplies to the citizens of Central Vietnam (Mission Sagar III).

In addition to the Vietnamese People’s Navy, it took part in the PASSEX exercise.

The relationship between India and Vietnam has:

In order to advance bilateral defence cooperation, the defence ministers signed the “Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defense Partnership towards 2030.”

With the completion of the projects covered by a USD 500 million Defense Line of Credit, Vietnam’s defence capabilities will significantly increase, advancing the government’s objective to “Make in India, Make for the World.”

There has been the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Logistics Support.

Moving forward:

In India’s Act East strategy, which strives to fortify mutually beneficial ties and guarantee equitable prosperity for everyone in the region, Vietnam has a vital role to play.

Vietnam will eventually become more integrated into the SAGAR (Security and Growth All in the Region) plan as it moves closer to realisation.

The Indo-Pacific region benefits from the relationship between India and Vietnam in terms of security and the blue economy.

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS  12 SEPTEMBER 2022 THE INDIAN EXPRESS:

MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE:

What precisely is MSP?

The minimum support price is the price the government pays farmers for their wheat (MSP). MSPs have been created for 23 crops farmed in both the Kharif and Rabi seasons.

What methodology was used in its calculation:

The rate at which the government purchases crops from farmers is known as the MSP, which is calculated at least one and a half times the producers’ cost of production.

According to the Union Budget for 2018–19, MSP would be kept at 1.5 times the cost of production.

Two times a year, the MSP is determined using recommendations made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), a statutory organisation that submits separate reports for the kharif and rabi seasons.

Which production costs are included while determining MSPs:

When recommending MSP, the CACP considers both “A2+FL” and “C2” expenditures.

All of the money farmers spend on things like seeds, pesticides, fertilisers, hired labour, gasoline, and irrigation is included in category A2 expenditures.

A2+FL considers actual out-of-pocket expenses as well as the worth of unpaid family labour.

In addition to A2+FL, the C2 expenses also comprise the rent and interest forfeited on owned land and fixed capital assets.

MSP’s drawbacks include:

The main issue with the MSP is a lack of government procurement equipment for all crops, with the exception of wheat and rice, which the Food Corporation of India actively purchases under the PDS.

Farmers who live in places where the government buys all of their grain profit the most, while those who live in areas where government grain purchases are less common are frequently impacted.

Additionally, the MSP-based procurement system relies on commission agents, intermediaries, and APMC representatives, all of whom are difficult for smaller farmers to get a hold of.