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From Barter to Bitcoin: Evolution of Money

2024-05-07T16:43:00.001+05:30

Money is a matter of functions four: a medium, a measure, a standard and a store.

Introduction

Before the medium of exchange - that is, "money" - came into the picture, there was no standard for the trade. The primitive humans, who were primarily hunter-gatherer socities did not require any medium of exchange. Since these socities were typically small and highly mobile, with individuals and groups relying on hunting, gathering, and foraging for their sustenance. The social organization of hunter-gatherer societies was relatively egalitarian, with individuals working together to ensure the well-being of the group.

Constitution of Nations

As the human socities became more sedentary and settled, the need for more complex social and political structures emerged. The development of agriculture and the establishment of permanent settlements allowed for the growth of larger communities and the emergence of social hierarchies. The need for exchange of goods and services arose, therefore the concept of medium of exchange has evolved significantly over time. The fascinating evolution of medium of exchange (money), from its humble beginnings to its modern-day manifestations is explained below:

1. Barter System: The Primitive Exchange

In the early stages of human civilization, as communities settled into distinct occupations and specialization emerged, the need for exchanging goods became apparent. Thus, the Barter System emerged as a way for individuals to trade commodities based on mutual convenience rather than monetary value. Dating back to as early as 6000 BC, the barter system played a significant role in early human societies, providing insights into their social and economic structures.

As societies expanded and became more complex, however, the limitations of the barter system became evident. It became increasingly challenging to track every item exchanged within growing communities. Consequently, early forms of money began to develop. These included items such as shells, stones, animal skins, and eventually precious metals like gold and silver coins. These forms of money provided a more standardized and convenient medium of exchange, facilitating trade and commerce within and between communities.

2. Commodity Money: From Shells to Gold

As societies became more intricate, the necessity for a more practical way of conducting trade became evident. This gave rise to what we now call Commodity Money. Commodity money refers to currency that derives its value from a tangible commodity, often rare metals or precious stones like gold, silver, copper, ivory, salt, and more. Initially, these items were valued for their inherent qualities such as rarity, weight, durability, shine, and malleability, making them suitable for use as currency.

The concept of commodity money dates back to ancient times when objects like seashells, bones, teeth, pearls, gold nuggets, silver ingots, and copper coins were used as forms of currency. However, as societies evolved, so did their currency. Gold coins, in particular, gained prominence during medieval times in both Europe and Asia. This shift occurred because gold offered superior resistance to corrosion and wear and tear compared to other metals commonly used in currency. Additionally, its distinct properties made it easier to identify and authenticate, further solidifying its role as a widely circulated form of commodity money.

3. Coinage: Standardized Currency and Exchange

The use of precious metals as money eventually evolved into coinage around 700 BC when ancient Lydians developed small bronze coins shaped after their king Cyrus II. This transition from using raw precious metals to standardized coins marked a significant advancement in monetary system.

The adoption of standardized currency was a direct response to the increasing complexities of trade and commerce. By offering a practical and universally recognized medium of exchange, coinage greatly facilitated transactions, fostering trade across regions. Furthermore, the standardization of coins played a crucial role in instilling trust and confidence in the monetary system. Individuals could easily verify the metal content and purity of the coins they received, enhancing their acceptance and reliability.

As time progressed, coins became increasingly popular, becoming the preferred currency for everyday transactions. However, with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, paper money emerged as a more convenient alternative. The ease of printing and circulation offered by paper currency led to its widespread adoption, eventually supplanting coins in many economies.

4. Paper Money and the Rise of Fiat Currency

As civilizations progressed and global economies expanded, there arose a need to update the medium of exchange due to the physical limitations of metal coins. While metal coins were durable and portable, their production required substantial amounts of raw materials and labor-intensive manufacturing processes, hindering mass production and widespread dissemination. Additionally, conducting large-scale transactions incurred significant transportation costs.

To address these challenges, the Chinese emperor during the Tang Dynasty introduced the concept of Paper Money around 806 AD. Unlike metal coins, paper money was backed by the guarantee of the emperor rather than tangible assets like gold reserves. This innovation gradually spread westward towards Europe and America, laying the groundwork for modern monetary systems.

Paper currency, unlike commodity money, is not backed by any physical commodity but derives its value from the trust and confidence of the people. This fiat currency system provided greater flexibility in monetary policy and facilitated the expansion of credit and lending. Today, paper currency remains widely used worldwide, serving as the foundation of most modern economies.

5. Electronic Money: Modern Financial Transactions

Technological advancements have profoundly transformed the landscape of payment methods, starting with the introduction of checks and credit cards during the 1960s and 1970s. However, the real revolution came with the rapid proliferation of Electronic Payment options in the 2000s, fueled by the emergence of online shopping platforms and the widespread adoption of mobile devices.

The advent of electronic money has ushered in a new era of financial transactions, characterized by increased accessibility, speed, security, and convenience. Consumers worldwide now have access to a plethora of electronic payment options, including e-wallets, debit/credit cards, and cashless payment apps, allowing for instantaneous purchases.

Electronic money pOnline transactions have significantly reduced reliance on physical cash, mitigating risks associated with theft, fraud, and loss. Furthermore, the rise of mobile wallets has further enhanced accessibility, offering intuitive touchscreen interfaces that make payments convenient anytime, anywhere.

5. Cryptocurrency: Decentralized Finance and Digital Assets

Cryptocurrencies burst onto the scene in 2009 with the creation of Bitcoin by an enigmatic figure known as Satoshi Nakamoto. Unlike traditional banking systems that rely on intermediaries like central banks, cryptocurrency transactions operate peer-to-peer (P2P), cutting out the need for third-party involvement in verification processes. This innovation promises enhanced security, privacy, and transparency in financial transactions.

One of the key features of cryptocurrencies is their ability to facilitate instant transfers across geographical boundaries, enabling seamless exchanges on a global scale. This is made possible by blockchain technology, which underpins many digital currencies, ensuring transparency and security by guarding against unauthorized tampering or manipulation.

Although still in its nascent stages, the rise of cryptocurrencies signifies a significant evolution in the concept of money and has the potential to revolutionize the future of finance. Despite initial doubts regarding their legitimacy and adoption, cryptocurrencies have experienced exponential growth, attracting millions of users worldwide and becoming mainstream investment vehicles.

The endorsement of cryptocurrencies by major institutions such as Tesla, Microsoft, and PayPal has further solidified their credibility, demonstrating growing trust and acceptance among investors and businesses. Governments are also recognizing the potential of blockchain technology, the backbone of cryptocurrencies, and are adopting regulatory frameworks to support their growth and integration into the mainstream economy.

Conclusion

In summary, the journey of money from bartering has been fraught with challenges faced by humanity. Early attempts at creating currencies evolved over thousands of years before arriving at modern solutions such as paper notes, digital payments, and now cryptocurrencies. Each stage of development addressed key issues encountered in previous stages fostering improved efficiency and convenience in conducting trades across borders. With advances in technology continuously changing monetary landscapes, new innovations will emerge challenging conventional practices and opening up exciting possibilities for future financial systems.

While embracing change might be daunting, it's crucial to remember that progress comes with sacrifice and adaptation. As we witness rapid transformation in our world today, understanding the roots of innovation will help us navigate uncharted territories ahead. So let's embrace each milestone along the road and welcome what lies ahead - the evolution of money never stops!

Union Budget 2023-24

2023-02-01T23:32:00.001+05:30

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2023, the fifth budget on February 01. With this budget India has marked the 75 years of Independence through Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Apart from this, the budget also laid down a plan for next 25 years and refers the same period as Amrit Kaal.

Amrit Kaal

What is Amrit Kaal? Last year, during the 75th Independence Day celebrations, PM Modi had unveiled a new roadmap for the country for the next 25 years, and termed it as 'amrit kaal.' This is a reference to deriving the best in every field, making it imperative for everyone to make 'prayas' for this. The purpose of Amrit Kaal is to better the lives of citizens, lessen the developmental divide between villages and cities, and reduce government interference in public life. It also entails the development or acquisition of the latest technologies for the country.

The Union Budget 2022-23 seeks to complement macro-economic level growth with a focus on micro-economic level all-inclusive welfare. The budget aims to lay a strong foundation to steer the Indian economy towards Amrit Kaal for the next 25 years, from India at 75 years to India at 100.

Visions for Amrit Kaal

Vision includes technology-driven and knowledge-based economy with strong pubic finances, and a robust financial sector. To achieve this, Jan Bhagidari through Sabka Saath Sabka Prayas is essential. The budget adopts the following seven priorities. They complement each other and act as the 'Saptrishi' guiding through the Amrit Kaal.

Inclusive Development
Reaching the Last Mile
Infrastructure and Investment
Unleashing the Potential
Green Growth
Youth Power
Financial Sector

During the Amrit Kaal, the government aims to attain the following vision:

Complementing the macro-economic level growth focus with a micro-economic level all-inclusive welfare focus.
Promoting digital economy & fintech, technology enabled development, energy transition, and climate action.
Relying on a virtuous cycle starting from private investment with public capital investment helping to crowd-in private investment.

Blueprint of Amrit Kaal

Four Priorities:

PM GatiShakti
Inclusive Development
Productivity Enhancement & Investment, Sunrise Opportunities, Energy Transition, and Climate Action
Financing of Investments

Other Highlights

Growth Rate: India’s economic growth in the current year (2021-22) is estimated to be 9.2% of GDP, the highest among all large economies.
- The revised Fiscal Deficit in the current year is estimated at 6.9% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) as against 6.8% projected in the Budget Estimates.
- The Fiscal Deficit in 2022-23 is estimated at 6.4% of GDP, which is consistent with the broad path of fiscal consolidation announced last year to reach a fiscal deficit level below 4.5% by 2025-26.

Other major Announcements

Personal Income Tax:The finance minister provides major relief in the personal income tax. The tax structure in the new personal tax regime has been changed by reducing number of slabs to five and increasing the tax exemption limit to ₹ 3 lakh. This will provide major relief to all tax payers in the new regime.
Indirect Tax Proposal: The indirect tax proposals announced emphasized on simplification of tax structure with fewer tax rates so as to help in reducing compliance burden and improving tax administration.
Productivity Linked Incentives: 60 lakh new jobs to be created under the productivity linked incentive scheme in 14 sectors.
Parvatmala: It is a National Ropeways Development Program, Parvatmala to be taken up on PPP mode.
Skill Development: Digital Ecosystem for Skilling and Livelihood (DESH-Stack e-portal) will be launched to empower citizens to skill, reskill or upskill through on-line training.
Saksham Anganwadi (New Generation Anganwadi): Integrated benefits to women and children through Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
PM-DevINE: New scheme Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North-East Region (PM-DevINE) launched to fund infrastructure and social development projects in the North-East.
Sunrise Opportunities: Government contribution to be provided for R&D in Sunrise Opportunities like Artificial Intelligence, Geospatial Systems and Drones, Semiconductor and its eco-system, Space Economy, Genomics and Pharmaceuticals, Green Energy, and Clean Mobility Systems.
GIFT-IFSC: World-class foreign universities and institutions to be allowed in the GIFT City.
- An International Arbitration Centre to be set up for timely settlement of disputes under international jurisprudence.
Digital Rupee: Introduction of Digital Rupee by the Reserve Bank of India starting 2022-23.

Disclaimer: The data displayed is excerpt of the budget presented by the Finance Minister in the Parliament. Infographics are taken from the Press Information Bureau, Government of India website.

Indian Armed Forces

2021-12-12T13:23:00.003+05:30

I am a warrior; defending my nation is my Dharma. I will train my mind, body and spirit to fight, excel in all devices and weapons - present and future. Always protect the weak, be truthful and forthright, be humane, cultured and compassionate, fight and embrace the consequences willingly. God give me strength that I ask nothing of you. ~ Bhagwat Gita

Background

Constitution of National Power

Power has always been an integral constituent of inter-state relations. Kautilya defined it as the possession of 'Might and Strength'. In the present-day global environment, our National Power gives us the ability and capability to secure our National Interests (capacities in the military, economic, science & technology, leadership, National character, education, and influence (Diplomacy)) and also National Borders.
Power is broadly classified as Hard Power and Soft Power.

Hard Power facilitates the use of military, economic and political means to influence other States;
Soft Power uses our cultural or ideological means to indirectly influence the behaviour of other States

Why Military?

Worldwide Armed forces are essentially seen as the security provider to the nation. Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India which are deployed to prevent insurgencies (internal) or wars (external).
As a Nation aspiring for a greater role, in the new World order, India can not remain detached from global developments. India has to be prepared to influence the world with its geography and all elements of National Power. The size of our Nation, our continental relevance as well as our strategic location at the “head and heart” of the Indian Ocean gives us tremendous leverage to preserve peace, promote stability, and maintain security. Our land borders and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) remain central to India's growth and security, and protecting it is our priority and responsibility.

INDIA'S GEOGRAPHY: India is a large sub-continent with about 33,00,000 sq km territory, land frontiers running over 15,000 km and a coastline of over 7,516 km. The National air space spans a much larger sphere and is estimated to be over approximately 40 million cu km.

India, having a history of conflicts with Pakistan and China, is confronted with the dangers of wars and intrusions in the sensitive Border States. The status of Jammu and Kashmir is the bone of contention between India and Pakistan. Indo-China relationships are complicated because China refuses to acknowledge the McMohan line. So it has to remain in a state of overall defence preparedness. However, the defence policy of India aims at promoting and sustaining durable peace in the subcontinent and, at the same time, equipping the defence forces adequately to safeguard against aggression.

INTERNATIONAL BORDERS: To its north lies Nepal, Bhutan, and China. Pakistan, Afghanistan are there to the north-west; and to the east lies Bangladesh (surrounded by Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura), Myanmar and China. To the south, we have the island country of Sri Lanka.

Armed Forces of India

Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India. They consist of the Army, Navy, Air Force supported by the Paramilitary forces (Indian Coast Guard, Assam Rifles and Special Frontier Forces) and various inter-service institutions such as the Strategic Forces Command. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian Armed Forces are under the management of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which is led by the Union Cabinet Minister of Defense.
The top-level structure of the armed forces of India is as follows:

Armed Forces: The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India mainly consists of three professional uniformed services -
1. Indian Army:The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Indian Army is to ensure national security and national unity, to defend the nation from external aggression and internal threats, and to maintain peace and security within its borders.
2. Indian Navy:The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The primary objective of the navy is to safeguard the nation's maritime borders, and in conjunction with other Armed Forces of the union.
3. Indian Air Force:Indian Air Force is the arm of the Indian Armed Forces. The primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict.
Indian Armed Forces are the world's third-largest military force and have the world's largest volunteer army. Its Supreme Commander is the President of India. Its three service wings have their respective Chiefs. The top officer is the Chairman of the Chief of Staff Committee. All services fall under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Rashtriya Rifles (RR): Rashtriya Rifles is a branch of the Indian Army under the authority of the MoD. It is a counter-insurgency/ anti-terrorist force made up of soldiers deputed from other parts of the Indian Army. They are sometimes misidentified as part of the Paramilitary forces. One half of the RR comes from the Indian Army's infantry and another half from the rest of the Indian Army. The force is deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. The reputation of RR as a specialized anti-terrorist force forces militants to avoid any kind of direct confrontation.
The RR units come under five "Counter Insurgency Force " (CIF) HQ's. Each CIF is responsible for an area of the Kashmir Valley and Jammu Division. The CIF are as follows:
1. Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) R/ Romeo Force: Rajouri and Poonch
2. Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) D/ Delta Force: Doda
3. Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) V/ Victor Force: Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Budgam
4. Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) K/ Kilo Force: Kupwara, Baramulla and Srinagar
5. Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) U/ Uniform Force: Udhampur and Banihal
It comprises 65 battalions.
Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMF): Paramilitary Forces assist the Indian Armed Forces particularly closely and are led by officers of the Indian Army or Indian Navy. The term Paramilitary is not formally used, informally it consists of:
1. Indian Coast Guard (ICG): Indian Coast Guard is the maritime paramilitary force of the Union of India. Its mission is the protection of India's maritime interests, enforces maritime law and conducts search and rescue operations, with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. It operates under the MoD. It works in close cooperation with the Indian Navy, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Revenue (Customs) and the Central and State police forces.
  The Indian Coast Guard operates five regions:
  1. Western Region (W): HQ - Mumbai
  2. Eastern Region (E): HQ - Chennai
  3. North-East Region (NE): HQ - Kolkata
  4. Andaman & Nicobar Region (A&N): HQ - Port Blair
  5. North-West Region (NW): HQ - Gandhinagar
  It has over 20,000 active personnel, 160+ vessels and 62 aircraft.
  India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is 20,13,410 sq.km., Territorial Waters span is 1,55,889 sq.km., and the total coastline is 7,516.6 km.
2. Assam Rifles (AR): The Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force of the Indian Army. They perform many roles including the provision of internal security under the control of the Indian Army. In times of war, they can also be used as a combat force to secure rear areas if needed.
  It is the only paramilitary force with a dual control structure. While the administrative control of the force is with the MHA, its operational control is with the Indian Army, which is under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
  There are currently 46 battalions of Assam Rifles with a sanctioned strength of 63,747 personnel.
3. Special Frontier Force (SFF): The Special Frontier Force is a paramilitary special force of India. Its main goal originally was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in the event of another Indo-China war; however, SFF has been fielded by the R&AW and the Indian government in various covert and overt operation theatres.
  The current SFF force levels are around 10,000 men.
  Battalions have a strength of around 900, are composed of six companies each company consisting of 123 men.
  There is also a force of around 700 Gorkhas in the SFF at any given time.
Nuclear Command Authority (NCA): It is the top authority for command, control and operational decisions regarding India's nuclear weapons programme. NCA's directives are operationalised by the SFC (Strategic Forces Command) under the control of a Commander-in-Chief of the rank of Air Marshal (or its equivalent) in charge of the management and administration of the tactical and strategic nuclear forces.
Strategic Forces Command: sometimes called Strategic Nuclear Command, forms part of India's Nuclear Command Authority. It is responsible for the management and administration of the country's tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile.
National Security Guard (NSG): The National Security Guard is an elite counter-terrorism unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The NSG is a 'Federal Contingency Deployment Force' to tackle all facets of terrorism in the country. As a specialised counter-terrorism force, it is intended to be used "only in exceptional situations " and is not meant to take over the "functions of the State Police Forces or other Para Military Forces ".
The NSG members are also known as Black Cats because of the black drill cotton coveralls and balaclavas or helmets they wear.
The NSG has a total personnel strength of about 14,500.
The NSG's specific goals include - Neutralization of terrorist threats, Handling hijacking situations in air and on land, Bomb disposal (search, detection and neutralisation of IEDs), PBI (Post Blast Investigation), Engaging and neutralizing terrorists in specific situations and Hostage Rescue
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF): Central Armed Police Forces refers to the uniform nomenclature of five Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Their role is to defend the national interest mainly against internal threats. They are as follows:
1. Border Security: Border security refers to measures taken by one or more governments to enforce their border control policies. India maintains free movement with Nepal and Bhutan, border security focuses primarily on the Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Myanmar borders. Different forces of Border Security are:
  1. Border Security Force (BSF): The Border Security Force (BSF) is a border guarding force of the Government of India on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
    A central police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, its duties also include VIP security, election supervision, guarding vital installations and counter-Naxal operations.
    The BSF also has active roles during times of war.
    It has 257,363 personnel in 186 battalions.
  2. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP): Indo-Tibetan Border Police is responsible for security along the Indo-Tibetan border and its surrounding areas.
    It has 89,432 personnel in 56 fighting, 2 DM and 4 specialised battalions.
  3. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): Sashastra Seema Bal is deployed at the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders.
    It has 76,337 personnel and 67 battalions, as well as some reserved battalions.
  4. Assam Rifles (AR): It has been guarding the Indo-Myanmar barrier as per the government policy "one border one force ".
    The Assam Rifles is not a part of CAPF but a part of CPMF.
2. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): The Central Industrial Security Force's primary task is to provide industrial security. It guards industrial installations nationwide which are owned by the central government, secures seaports and airports, and provides security for certain non-governmental organizations.
  It has a total strength of about 1,44,418 personnel in 132 battalions including 9 reserve battalions.
3. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): The Central Reserve Police Force's main objective is to assist states and union territories' law-enforcement agencies in maintaining law and order and containing insurgency. It is deployed as an anti-terrorist unit in several regions and operates abroad as part of United Nations peacekeeping missions.
  The Central Reserve Police includes:
  1. The Rapid Action Force (RAF), a 15 battalion anti-riot force trained to respond to sectarian violence.
  2. The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), a 10 battalion strong anti-Naxalite/COIN force.
  The Central Reserve Police Force has 313,678 personnel in 247 battalions.
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) includes Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
Special Protection Group (SPG): The Special Protection Group (SPG) is an agency of the Government of India whose sole responsibility is protecting the Prime Minister of India. The SPG protects the Prime Minister at all times both in India and abroad, as well as the Prime Minister's immediate family members residing with them at their official residence.
Railway Protection Force (RPF): Railway Protection Force is a security force for "the better protection and security of railway property and passenger area ". The force is under the authority of the Indian Ministry of Railways.
Central Police Forces ("Federal Police "): Andaman and Nicobar Police, Chandigarh Police, Delhi Police, Dadra and Nagar Haveli Police, Daman and Diu Police, Home Guard, Lakshadweep Police, Puducherry Police.

Besides the above, the Indian army is guarding land borders along the LOC on the Pakistan border and LAC on the China border and the Indian Navy and Coast Guard are vested with the responsibility of coastal borders, where the State (Marine) Police are acting as the second line of defence.

From Farm Laws to Farmer Protest

2021-02-05T20:50:00.001+05:30

On 17^th September 2020, Lok Sabha passed the three farm laws - (i) Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; (ii) Farmer's (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020; (iii) Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 - followed by the Rajya Sabha on 20^th September 2020. The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, gave his assent on 27^th September 2020.

First bill relaxes restrictions governing purchases and sale of farm produce, the second relaxes restrictions on stocking under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955, and third introduces a dedicated legislation to enable contract farming based on written agreements.

Status of Agriculture in India

Agriculture in India is without a doubt, one of the most pertinent sectors of the Indian economy. Contribution of Agriculture and its allied activities in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has reduced a lot from more than 50% in 1950 to around 16% in 2019, but still it constitutes around 60% of the labour force, which is a skewed figure (see Fig:1).

Fig:1 India: Distribution of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) across economic sectors from 2009 to 2019. Source: Statista

Impact of the Farm Laws

From low productivity to fragmented landholdings, lack of storage infrastructurre and high indebtedness, there are several reasons for persistent agrarian distress in India. These three new - somewhat controversial - laws are unlikely to be a panacea for farmers' troubles. Their goal, in essence, is to allow greater play of market forces in agriculture.

One view is that this will improve farm incomes, attract investment and technology, and increase productivity. It will also free the farmer from the control of middle men who effectively run wholesale markets. Other view is that it will increase the corporatisation of agriculture. There are no easy answers. But experts agree that in a country where agriculture employs so many millions, leaving farmers' fates to the vagaries of the market cannot be the only answer.

History of Market Regulation Programme in India

The concept of a agriculture produce market regulation programme in India dates back to the British Raj: raw cotton was the first farm produce to attract the attention of the Government to make available the supplies of pure cotton at reasonable price to the textiles mills in Manchester (UK). Consequently, India's first regulated market (Karanja) was established in 1886 under the Hyderabad Residency Order, with the first legislation being the Berar Cotton and Grain Market Act of 1887. This Act later became the model for enactment in other parts of the country. The recommendation of the Royal Commission of Agriculture in 1928 is considered as an important landmark in the history of agriculture marketing.

During the 1960s and 1970s, most of the states enacted and enforced Agriculture Produce Markets Regulation (APMR), Acts. All primary wholesale assembling markets were brought under the ambit of these Acts. An Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) was constituted to frame the rules and enforce them. Thus, the organized agriculture marketing came into existence through regulated markets.

In 2015, the Union Budget proposed to create a United National Agriculture Market with the help of state governments and NITI Aayog. In 2017, the central government had released model farming acts. The Standing Committee on Agriculture (2018-19), however, noted that several reforms suggested in the model acts had not been implemented by the states. The committee also suggested Centralization, which was thought to be reducing competition and participation, with undue commissions, market fees, and monopoly of associations damaging the agriculture sector. Accordingly a committee of seven Chief Ministers was set up in July 2019 to discuss implemetation. Reforms have been formed by the Goverment in the form of three Acts in 2020.

The passing of these Acts led to the protest by farmers in India specially Punjab, Haryana and west parts of Uttar Pardesh.

Farmers' Protest

The current farmers' protest is an ongoing protest against three farm acts which was passed by the parliament and ratified by the President in September 2020. Indian farmers are fearing that they might lose more than they could gain after the new Farm Laws 2020 thereby taking the protest to the streets. Farmer unions and their representatives have demanded that the laws be repealed and will not accept anything short of it, they are also demanding a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

While the government projected that the three laws will remove middlemen and allows farrmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country. However, the protesting farmers have expressed their apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of the MSP and do away with the 'Mandi' (wholesale marker) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

The protests have been the stongest in Punjab and neighbouring Haryana state, where the mandi system is strong and the productivity is high - so only the government has been able to buy that volume of produce at a set price.

Many rounds of talks between the Centre and farmers took place with neither of them retriving their foot. Centre is continuously saying that the Farm Laws 2020 have been made keeping in mind the benefits of farmers throughout the country, while the Farmers' Unions and their respresentative asking to repeal the Farm Laws 2020 stating that it is corporate-friendly and anti-farmer. There have been many arrests, deaths and suicides during the protest.

Supreme Court's Intervention

The Supreme Court jumped in and pulled up the Centre for its handling of the farmers protest against the new farm laws saying that it is extremely disappointed with the way negotiations between them - Center and Farmers - were going and it will constitue a committee headed by a former Chief Justice of India to resolve the impasse. On 12^th January, 2021 SC suspended the farm laws and formed a committee to look into the grievances of protesting farmers.

While the negotiations between the Centre and Farmer Unions was still on, the government offered to put the three laws on hold for 12-18 months, which was outrightly denied by the farmers. This offer still holds open.

Farmers Republic Day Parade, 2021

On 26^th January 2021, tens of thousands of farmers protesting agricultural reforms drove a convoy of tractors earlier than the alloted time to start the tractor rally (Kisan Gantantra Diwas Parade 2021 also Kisan Parade) into New Delhi. The farmers drove on the prohibited routes, and some section of tractor rally turned violent and protesting farmers clashed with the police. Some protestors reached the Red Fort and hoisted Nishan Sahib (Sikh religious flag) and farmer union flags on the mast on the rampart of the Red Fort.

Current Situation

With the budget session going on in the Parliament, the opposition is demanding to end the matter peacefully and urgently.

Internet services have been shutdown in the outskirts of Delhi, roads have been barricaded, nail on the roads have been put in place in view of thousands of farmers protesting against the farm laws.

With the protest continuing undeterred and some global personalities extending support to the movement, a clear line has been drawn by minitry of external affairs that it is an internal matter of india. Aso many celebrities responded with hastags - #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda, stating that external forces can be spectators but not participants.

Conclusion and Way Forward

The haste with which these three farm laws have been passed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha through a mere voice vote amidst pandemonium in the parliament is questionable. The bills weren't even sent to the Parliamentary committees. There was no open consulation and feedback, no stakeholder meetings were held to discuss these reforms and no concensus building was done to garner support for these farm. All these factors together did a disservice to the entire democratic process of lawmaking.

The farrmers and farmers' unions were not informed about how the system replacing the APMC will be good for them in the long run. There is a fear that the entire APMC system and the existing MSP-based government procurement system could end.

It is going to be very difficult in the coming days as no one - the Centre as well as the farmers - is not receding from their stand on the bill. One of the solution to this problem is dialogue, the center is ready to have a clause-by-clause discussion with the farmers but the farmers are demanding to repeal the laws. Government is ready to put the these laws in abeyance for 12-18 months, but farmers saying that for what we are fighting for will not be achieved by merely putting the laws in abeyance for 12-18 months.

Other solution is that the government listen to the farmers' demand and repeal the laws, but it is very unlikely to happen, because since the inception of the laws the government is of the view that it is in the favour of the farmer so now it cannot change their stand atleast after this long.

What will be the outcome of this tussle between the government and farmers only the time will tell, but till then we have to be very vigilant about the coming scenerio.

Disclaimer: The views are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other individual, institute or government body.

Caste Discrimination Is an Everyday Reality

2020-10-19T16:08:00.008+05:30

“I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can't be any worse..” ~ Mark Twain

Introduction

India is the World's largest democracy, containing the second largest population in the World. Since the Independence in 1947 the World's perception of India has changed; from categorizing and treating it as a 'developing' nation to today's belief of India to be a superpower with a strong ally in the international arena.

Caste Pyramid

There are many internal problems in India which need immediate attention, including the issue of caste discrimination and untouchability. Caste discrimination and untouchability is not something new; it derives its root from ancient India. It is a cultural and social phenomenon that has been a part of the traditions of Hinduism for thousands of years, dividing people into castes in a hierarchical order based on their descent. Manusmriti (book on Hindu law which dates back to at least 1,000 years BC), justifies and acknowledges the caste system as the basis of order and regularity of society.

Since Independence, successive governments made efforts to impede the caste discrimination and untouchability through various legislation. Still, their actions barely moved the stone, especially in rural India, and it is still practised with proud.

Definition and Background

India's Caste System is one of the World's longest surviving hierarchical system followed even today. Caste discrimination and untouchability are illegal in India, but its beliefs and practices still exist deep inside rural India, and to some extent in urban India too.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) report: "A defining feature of Hinduism, caste encompasses a complex ordering of social groups based on ritual purity.

Brahma and the origins of caste

A person is considered a member of the caste into which he or she is born and remains within that caste until death. However, the particular ranking of that caste may vary among regions and over time. Differences in status are traditionally justified by the religious doctrine of karma, a belief that one's deeds in previous lifetimes determine one's place in life. In order of precedence, these are the Brahmins [ब्राह्मण] (priests and teachers), the Kshatriyas [क्षत्रिय] (rulers and soldiers), the Vaisyas [वैश्य] (merchants and traders), and the Shudras [शूद्र] (labourers and artisans). A fifth category falls outside this system and consists of those known as 'untouchables' or Dalits [दलित]; they are often assigned tasks [considered] too ritually polluting [such as garbage collection] to merit inclusion within the traditional varna system."

The caste system in India is more than 2000-years-old Hindu tradition which derives its root from early civilizations on the Indian subcontinent. Caste-based discrimination can influence all spheres of life, and it violates the fundamental human right, including civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights. It is also a significant impediment to achieving national development goals as the majority of the affected groups are often excluded from the development processes.

The system traditionally discourages people from different castes to interact with each other more than out of necessity, for example, by prohibiting inter-caste marriage. Especially in rural areas, caste divisions dominate in housing, marriage, and general social interaction - divisions that are reinforced through the practice and threat of social ostracism, economic boycotts, and even physical violence. It should be noted that in contemporary urban India, social attributes towards the traditional caste stratification are changing, especially as new forms of occupations are developing.

Nevertheless the caste system continues to survive in modern India. During the 80s and 90s caste discrimination became much debated issue on the political arena following a report published by a government commission that mapped out and defined current 'backward' castes and ethnic group in India. The debate also saw the creation of numerous local and national parties claiming to be representing Schedule Caste and Tribes, some becoming very successful.

Caste Discrimination in Practice

Being in a deeply engrained social structure, encountering caste-based discrimination is part of day-to-day life. Discrimination is often housing, work and access to public spaces. There are examples of Dalits being denied access to public services such as deep wells, water taps, health care and education. Segregation in housing, schools and cremation grounds, occupational restrictions, the prohibition of ownership and access to land, bonded labour, forced prostitution and manual scavenging are other examples of discrimination in everyday life of Dalits.

Discrimination on caste base can also be seen in terms of relative underdevelopment of low-caste groups: the literacy rate of Dalits is significantly lower than for the rest of the population, infant mortality and under-five mortality among Dalits are much higher than the average, and Dalits are paid lower wages than other workers for similar tasks. These are just a few specific examples.

There are also more violent forms of caste-based discrimination. Dalits are on occasions subjected to violent attacks, murder, harassment, and other atrocities. These cases are rarely reported, investigated or prosecuted, as police, lawyers and judges often belong to more dominant castes and are unwilling to get involved. Impurity in such cases remains a common practice. However, it has to be acknowledged that media are becoming more vocal on the conditions of Dalits.

India's Legal Framework

The Indian Constitution (1947) protects the fundamental rights of every citizen, including equality, freedom of speech, expression, belief, assembly, association, movement, education, equality of opportunity in matters of public employment without discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, caste or gender. Article 15 of the Constitution of India prohibits discrimination based on caste and Article 17 declared the practice of untouchability to be illegal. Despite its constitutional abolition in 1950 the practice of "untouchability"-the imposition of social disabilities on persons because of birth into a particular caste- remains very much a part of rural India. This law doesn't deter those who adamantly continue to follow the system.

India's legal framework, The Indian Penal Code (IPC), provides various provisions specifically adopted to prevent forms of caste discrimination and other violations of minority rights, both on national and state level. Instead of foundational rights' framework for the protection of every citizen of India, the Penal Code provides various Acts to prevent specific types of behaviours, such as The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 and The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993. For example The Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 list 'unlawful' behaviours against Schedule Caste and Tribes (by defining atrocities such as intimidation, sexual abuse, denial of access to water etc.)

Both the Constitution and the Indian Penal Code provides almost a watertight package of individual rights for the Indian population and the problem caste-based discrimination does not lie in an insufficient legal framework - rather than it is a question of implementation.

Implementation issues

As noted above, many laws have been introduced to prevent caste-based discrimination and untouchability. The government has set up several bodies and commissions to monitor progress, and some measures enable Dalits access into public office employment. The problem is not the legislative but its implementation. At all levels, there is a lack of political will to ensure that the laws are applied on the ground. Untouchability, bonded labour, poverty, manual scavenging, segregation, landlessness and violence are the everyday reality whatever the laws, rules and special measures prescribe. Impunity is a core factor why it is so tricky for Indian authorities to come to terms with caste discrimination.

Conclusion

The discriminatory practices are chronic and deep-rooted in the community. Custom and traditional practice is an excuse, as is the fear of 'SIN' and psychological fright of becoming sick or harm to assets and, therefore, the majority of people are not ready to change their discriminatory behaviour towards Dalits. For the same reasons,Dalits are also afraid of raising their voices against the discriminatory practices. Dalit awareness has been raised but no opportunity has been created to break the discriminatory socio-economic relations between Dalits and Non-Dalits.

After looking at the extent of caste-based discrimination prevailing in the society, isolated and exclusive intervention is not sufficient to make a meaningful social transformation. Hence, integrated attempts are inevitable to address this situation.

Disclaimer: The views are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other individual, institute or government body.

Farm Law Controversy - Agriculture Reform 2020

2020-09-24T22:12:00.003+05:30

India is mainly an agricultural society/ country. Agriculture is the most important occupation for most of the Indian families. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy and will continue to remain so for a long time (as it seems now). Indian agriculture is characterised by agro-ecological diversities in soil, rainfall, temperature and cropping season. Agriculture and its allied sector employ more than half of the workforce in the country. However, it contributes only about 17% of the GDP.

Distribution of Farmland in India

86% of total farmers are small and marginal, and they only own 47% of the total agricultural land, medium farmers are 13%, and they own 44% of the land, and the rest belongs to large farmers (see figure 1). The average size of farm holdings gradually reduced from 2.58 ha to 1.57 ha (2017-18 data) due to fragmentation of landholding generations after generation. These small and marginal farmers have limited resources compared to medium and large farmers.

Fig 1: Distribution of farmland assets in India

Government's Role

As the majority of India's population is engaged in Agriculture and its allied services, the intervention of the government(s) - State and Central - is very much visible throughout the Agri-spectrum. 'Business' of agriculture in the Constitution is divided between the Centre and the State -

The intra-state trading and Agri-Marketing System (APMC) come under State List,
The inter-state trading comes under Union List,
The trade and commerce in food items come under Concurrent List.

From time to time, all the State and the Central government(s) have made rules and regulations, passed bills and made acts to regulate the agricultural produce and its distribution (see figure 2). Some of these regulations, acts are outdated and are in dire need of reformation. For example, the Essential Commodity Act, 1955 was made when there was a scarcity of food grains in India. The successive government should have amended the law after the success of the Green Revolution in 1960-70s, but the law remained as it is.

Fig 2: Farm-to-Fork Chain

Central governments formed many committees/ commissions over the years to seek possible suggestions to change/ improve the agricultural production and distribution system in India. Few of the committees formed are Dr M.S. Swaminathan committee for National Commission on Farmers (2004) to address the nationwide calamity of farmer suicide, Shanta Kumar Committee on Food Corporation of India restructuring (2014) to suggest restructuring or unbundling of FCI with a view to improving its operational efficiency and financial management, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture (PSCA) (2019-20) etc. Some of them pointed out that, a) the APMCs are not working properly and drastic reforms are required, b) there has been cartelisation of buyers to drop the price intentionally, c) fees levied on farmers to register in APMC are very high, and, d) Associations outside the APMCs are making the entry difficult and thus making less competition etc.

The three Bill(s)

Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 - (Free Trade across India) - The main provisions of this bill are:
- The new legislation will create an ecosystem where the farmers and traders will enjoy the freedom of choice of sale and purchase of Agri-produce.
- It will also promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under State Agricultural Produce Marketing legislations.
- The farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their produce and will not have to bear transport costs.
- The Bill also proposes electronic trading in transaction platform for ensuring a seamless trade electronically.
- In addition to mandis, freedom to do trading at farmgate, cold storage, warehouse, processing units etc.
- Farmers will be able to engage in direct marketing, thereby eliminating intermediaries resulting in full realisation of price.
Farmer's (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 (Contract Farming across India) - The main provisions of this bill are:
- The new legislation will empower farmers for engaging with processors, wholesalers, aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters, etc., on a level playing field—price assurance to farmers even before sowing of crops. In the case of higher market price, farmers will be entitled to this price over and above the minimum price.
- It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor. Due to prior price determination, farmers will be shielded from the rise and fall of market prices.
- It will also enable the farmer to access modern technology, better seed and other inputs.
- It will reduce the cost of marketing and improve the income of farmers.
- Effective dispute resolution mechanism has been provided for with clear timelines for redressal.
- The impetus to research and new technology in the agriculture sector.
Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Free Stocking of Agri-Produce, by anyone) - This bill amends the Essential Commodity Act, 1955 and removes the holding limit on Agri-produce. Since India has become surplus in most Agri-commodities, the farmers are unable to get better prices due to lack of investment in cold storage, warehouses, processing and export as holding capacity was imposed by the ECA. The government will interfere only when prices increase sharply.

Assumptions and Concerns

Availability of Buyers: First and the foremost question will the private parties will blindly jump-in in the Agri-produce trade. We already know what happened in Bihar when the then state government decided to close the APMC and let the private player be the buyers in 2006. After 14 years, the condition of the farmers has not improved as it was envisaged at that time.
The Mandi's infrastructure is also not improved as it was thought it would due to the entry of private players.
Farmers/ Associations have a concern that it may turn into another Bihar situation, but this time on a Pan-India level.
The framework of Contract Farming: Farmers/ Associations have a concern that farmers will be under pressure, and they will not be able to determine prices. In the case of dispute, big companies will be at advantage due to their sheer size. Although Dispute Resolution Mechanism System (DRM) is in place, still, this is no guarantee that the small farmers will win against the big companies.
Export Policy is unreformed: The government has made many amendments in the bill and brought new bills, but the export policy on Agri-products in unreformed making it at the hands and wills of government itself. This also needs an amendment.
Food Security: When the government is freeing itself from buying (through Food Corporation of India) and distribution what will happen to the Food Security of India. Nobody knows.
Zero Tax outside the APMCs: The farmers/ associations fears that no tax outside the APMC will slowly diminished its role and will be withered out in due course of time.

Government's explanation

The informal sector to be formalised: The biggest informal sector of India is finally going to formalised by incorporation of these bills. A new category of aggregator will rise in the market and will challenge the APMC and exiting traders, thereby increasing competition.
APMCs will not close: Inter-state trading is relaxed under these new bills. Government has ensured that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will continue (although there is no mention of MSP in the Bill).
Outside APMCs no Mandi Tax: The farmer does not have to pay any tax outside the APMC, thereby increasing their disposable income. More income in hand means more prosperity.
The investment will come: 21^st c. requires investment, opening the door to the private players will attract more investment, farming infrastructure will develop, transportation of Agri-goods will rise, thereby increasing the exports (exports will help the giants though)
No construction is allowed of any kind by the private party on agricultural land (it is there in the bill).
Arhatiyas monopoly to be reduced by creating an alternative parallel market.
No other obstructionist law will be applied to the Agri-produce as part of the contract farming.

Summary

When everything - Manufacturing and Services sectors - is contracting in the GDP, only the agriculture sector is rising. Agriculture is a great golden ray of hope.
Farming in India will slowly become privatized now.
APMC system may withered-out over the years.
States' local revenue (taxes collected on APMC) will be affected very highly.
Slowly and steadily Government of India will stop Food Subsidy and Fertilizer Subsidy.

Disclaimer: The views are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other individual, institute or government body.

The World After Coronavirus

2020-06-28T20:57:00.000+05:30

Pre and Post Coronavirus way of life

Coronavirus or COVID-19 is now synonymous to lockdowns, curfews, massive airport screenings, quarantine and social distancing across the globe. It has affected every aspect of - political, economic, social, technological and cultural - life. The world as we know before the coronavirus and after the coronavirus is not going to be the same. There will be many fundamental changes in an individual's life, structural changes in the functioning of the society, and functional changes on the professional front. Already face masks, social distancing, priority to health etc. have become the new norm across the globe.

Background

On December 31, 2019, China reported the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of cluster of cases and pneumonia of an unknown cause in Wuhan City in Hubei province. On January 09, 2020, WHO issued a statement saying Chinese researchers have made "preliminary determination" of the virus as a novel coronavirus.

Since the announcement, there have been reports of more than 4.9 lakh deaths due to COVID-19 across the world till June 25, 2020. More than 180 countries reported the cases, including India. COVID-19 has held the world in a paralytic embrace for over five months now.

History told us that nothing is absolute and permanent, but it is far from clear on how long the COVID-19 is going to last. This air-bourne life-threatening disease attacks only human being thus discouraging us from coming into close contact with each other. As a result, places that require people to work in groups and communities are currently out of limits. The modern mechanized way of life came to a standstill.

Our planet and humankind have been through many waves of adversities from the oldest recorded Typhoid Epidemic in 430 BC Athens to most recent ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. All the past events like wars or epidemics & pandemics impacted every aspect of human life, and this time is no different. From the industrial revolution to socio-economic transformations, human beings have always adopted towards self-preservation. Indeed, the world has undergone quite significant changes in less than 100 years! So wouldn't be worthwhile to ponder over the possible aftermaths of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and kind of the world we might be stepping into once this phase is just another page in history.

Global Impact

The world has always witnessed the movement of people, goods, services since the dawn of human civilization. Globalization or notion of exchange and interchange has always existed. However, the contemporary form of globalization surpasses its earlier versions, owing to its speed, scale and reachability driving on the wings of innovations in information and communication technology.

As the world becomes more and more connected, it also becomes interdependent. If this interdependency is left unmanaged, it will inevitably lead to many systematic risks.

Appeals to nationalism and closed borders will not resolve the complexities of globalization. It is time for action. National and international governments, businesses and their citizens must do everything they can to flatten the epidemic curve immediately. Its time for world government's to launch coordinated international efforts to find vaccines, mobilize medical supplies to stop the spread of COVID-19. In the meantime, we also need to ensure that we prepare ourselves for the future.

Economic Risk

Source: IMF

The impact of economic fallout due to coronavirus is now visible all around the world. Its further severity will depend on how long the pandemic lasts. Longer, the pandemic severe its effect on the economy. The initial assessment estimates that economic impact due to coronavirus will far exceed that of the 2008 economic crisis in its scale and global impact, leading to losses which will exceed $9 trillion easily, or well over 10% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Recently, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) has already cut its global GDP growth forecast for 2020 to -4.9% from an April estimate of -3.0%, while also toning down its optimism for a swift recovery in 2021.

Social Change

Habits which we have adopted in the wake of COVID-19 is going to stick around for a long time now. Our vigilance around things like disinfecting surfaces is probably going to continue. Our new way of interacting with each other like “live long and prosper” salutes instead of handshakes, video chats instead of conference-room huddles. Government is going to reorient their attitudes towards public health issues and systems.

Technological Upgradation

Once again, the world is turning to technology to devise more advanced features that can help the business operate in these despairing global conditions. A new paradigm in cloud computing, stepping up AI, Machine Learning, and Cyber Security is happening as we speak to safeguard people's health and ensure longevity. New pathways are being channelized in the realm of cloud-based technologies, which allows employees to work in the absence of a physical workspace.

Technological up-gradation not only automated the manufacturing process but also challenged the service sectors such as call centres and administrative process. This pandemic made the companies realized that they can now provide these services more cheaply with computers in the basement of a headquarters than by people at distant locations. Technological up-gradation poses a profound question about the future of work everywhere. It is a particular challenge for low-income countries with a young population of work seekers.

Forthcoming Future

Eventually, we will get over this crisis. But too many people will have died, the economy will be severely scarred, and the threat of pandemic will remain. The priority then must be not only recovery but also establishing a robust multilateral mechanism for ensuring that a similar or even worse pandemic never again rises.

There is no wall high enough that will keep out the next pandemic, or indeed any of the other significant threats to our future. Detection and determination of future biological threats are of utmost importance.

Disclaimer: The views are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other individual, institute or government body.

The Kalapani Imbroglio

2020-05-26T23:10:00.001+05:30

The new political map of Nepali comprising of the disputed lands of Kalapani, Limpuyadhura, Lipulekh, published on May 20, 2020. Photo: Nepal government

The dispute over Kalapani, between India and Nepal, was revived in November 2019 when India published a political map showing the newly created Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Both India and Nepal claim to Kalapani. On May 8, India inaugurated 80 km Darchula-Lipulekh pass link, cutting across the disputed Kalapani area, which is used by Indian pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar.

On May 22, Nepal has released a new political map that claimed Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh of Uttarakhand as part of Nepal's territory. The area of Susta (West Champaran district, Bihar) can also be noted on the map. Kalapani territory is an area under Indian administration as part of the Pithoragarh district in Uttarkhand state but is also claimed by Nepal. It also shares a border on the north with Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Source: CNN

Reasons for Conflict

The origin of conflict of the Kalapani and Lipulekh dates back to the treaty of Sangauli, which was signed in December 1815 and ratified on March 04, 1816.

The treaty of Sagauli was an agreement between the Gurkha chiefs of Nepal and the British Indian government that ended the Anglo-Nepalese (Gurkha) War (1814-16). By the treaty, Nepal renounced all claim to the disputed Tarai, or low land country and ceded its conquests west of the Kali River and extending to the Sutlej River. Nepal remained independent, but it received a British resident with the status of an ambassador to an independent country rather than of the controlling agent of the supreme government in an Indian State.

Boundaries of Nepal altered by the Sughauli Treaty

As per Article V of the Sagauli treaty, "West of the Kali River" belongs to India. The treaty fails to mention the source of the Kali (Sharda/ Mahakali) river, which has become the bone of contention between the two countries. Nepal's claim to the reason is based on this river as it became the marker of the boundary of the kingdom of Nepal. The source of river Kali, according to Nepal, is in the mountains of Limpiyadhura, which is higher in altitude than the rest of the river's flow. India, on the other hand, says that the border begins at Kalapani, which India says is the source of the river.

The dispute is mainly because of the varying interpretation of the origin of the river and various tributaries that slice through the mountains. While Nepal's claim of the territory East of the Kali is based on the Limpiyadhura origin, India says the river takes the name Kali near Kalapani.

Importance of Lipulekh

Lipulekh pass, also known as Lipu-Lekh Pass/ Qiangla or Tri-corner is a high altitude mountain pass situated in Western Himalayas. It is an international mountain pass between India, China and Nepal. Lipulekh and Kalapani are geo-strategic and geo-political importance as India can keep against any attempt of encroachment by China or on movements of People's Liberation Army (PLA) in case of an armed conflict with China. The Lipulekh pass is geo-economic as well since this pass is used by Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims and tourist on their way to Kailash Mansarovar.

India-Nepal Border Conflict

The dispute of Lipulekh and Kalapani is not new. It has remained unresolved since 1962 as Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are posted since the India-China war of the same year. To resolve the border dispute issue, many ministerial meets and visits have had occurred in the past with no conclusive outcomes.

In 2015, Nepal raised a severe objection when India and China signed Lipulekh agreement which renewed India's Mansarovar pilgrimage connection. Neither of the sides consulted Nepal or even sought its opinion before that agreement. The issue is dangling in the air for so long, and it is going in neither direction. There is a hope that both the countries will resolve this issue through friendly consultations and refrain themselves from taking any unilateral action that may complicate the situation in the future.

India-Nepal Relations/ Way Forward

Despite having "Special Relations" with historical, cultural, political, economic, traditional and religious links, Nepal always has grievances against India. However, since the "Economic Blockade" of 2015, where Kathmandu saw a "Hidden Indian Hand", there is a massive upsurge of anti-India feeling amongst the political and the general population. To maintain friendly relations with neighbouring country, India needs to resolve this border issue through serious dialogue, unlike in the past.

Disclaimer: The views are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other individual, institute or government body.

Population and Economic Growth

2020-05-12T22:30:00.000+05:30

The twin relationship between population and economic growth has always been a subject of great interest to economists, as population is a resource that supplies the labour force needed for industrialization that symbolises economic growth. However, it is an established principle that labour alone cannot produce anything without the help of other resources. If other resources needed for production are available in sufficient quantity, then a larger lobour force could become a productive asset of a country.

Growth Rate of Population

At any point of time, all countries have some people living there, the number of these people constitutes the size of population of that country at that time. This number, however, keeps on changing continuously through birth, deaths and immigration. Therefore, increase in the number of people during a fixed period of time, in a country, is called the growth rate of population.

The rate of growth of population during a period is estimated as the ratio of increase in population during a period to the total population at the beginning of the period. The growth rate of population depends upon the birth rate (estimated as total number of birth per thousand of population). The difference between birth rate and death rate during a year per 1000 population.
There is a reciprocal relationship between rate of growth of population of a country and its economic growth. On the one hand population growth of a country is effected by its economic growth and on the other; economic growth too can be affected by population growth rate.

Effects of Population Growth Rate on Economic Growth

The effects of high growth rate of population on economic growth of developing countries, such as ours, can best be explained by examining its effects on the resources of these countries. These resources are: Human resources, natural resources and capital (man-made) resources.

Effects on Human Resources

As population supplies human resources, the large human resources are the sources of large potential labour force that can be both a source of strength and a source of weakness as well. However, labour alone cannot produce anything as production requires natural resources and capital too. For the engagement of large and fast increasing labour more and more other resources are needed.
In developing countries like India, where there is already a shortage of capital, natural resources are getting scarce with a fast increasing population. These developing countries are unable to utilize even their existing labour force that is main cause behind the large level of unemployment there. The high rate of growth of population also creates problems in the process of improving the quality of human resources. As modern production techniques require highly skilled labour force. In this context, the literacy level is quite low in developing countries. Due to the already large size of population huge capital resources are required for removing illiteracy and for skill formations; this problem becomes more intense because of the fast rate of growth of population.

Effects on Natural Resources

Natural resources include land surface, minerals, forests and water, etc. a large part of the land area, fixed one, of a country is used for agriculture. The high growth rate of population creates many problems by increasing pressure of labour force on land. It results in further division of land holdings, that ultimately and adversely affect the productivity of the land, sometimes further subdivisions of the land lead to the wastage of land itself.
The fast growing population on the one hand and lack of work opportunities on the other results in more people than required for working in agriculture. This increasing pressure on agricultural land thus results in unemployment.
In addition, fast urbanization creates many other problems such as congestion, slums, insanitation population etc. One of the most crucial factors that create a land related problem in the process of Urbanization is the migration of the people to urban areas in search of work. All these problems cast negative effect on economic growth. The intensity of the problem can be comprehended from the fact that the pressure of population of land has been steadily increasing resulting in the increase of density from 117 per sq. km. in 1951 to 324 in 2001.

Effects on Capital Formation

In economic growth of any country capital plays a very important and more or less a decisive role. A large part of resources for investment that developing countries generate are eaten away by their fast growing population as fast growth rate of population results in rapid increase in the requirements of consumption.
The high growth rate of population reduces the supply of these resources for raising the per capital income and quality of life of people in developing countries, due to which economic growth of these countries are adversely affected.

Effects of Economic Growth on the Growth rate of population

Numerous studies on the economies of the world have displayed that as in the underdeveloped countries both the birth rate and the death rate remain high, the gap between birth rate and death rate remains low, hence the rate of growth of population in such countries is slow. In these countries the income level is so low that malnutrition and undernourishment have become a permanent feature. Medical and sanitation facilities are nearly non-existent. Even safe drinking water is not available to a very large section of the population.
When economic growth takes place, the income levels start increasing, that eventually lead to improvement in standard of living. Medical and sanitation facilities improve and some diseases are eradicated; all these have a direct effect on death rate that starts falling rapidly.
As economic growth catches momentum, there appears a further improvement in the level of income and nutritional levels. Literacy level rises and standard of living improves. There is a greater acceptance of small family norm. All these changes affect both the death rate as well as birth rate. During this phase of economic growth, through which India is passing, the decline in birth rate is faster. As a result of this faster decline in birth rate and the death rate stagnating at a low level, the gap between birth rate and death rate is again very small, clearly indicating that the rate of growth of population is very slow, a trait that all developing countries share and show how much is it important to create a balance between economic growth and population growth to achieve the final aim of creating a developed society.

The electronic Renminbi (e-RMB)

2020-05-03T22:31:00.000+05:30

Basics of Chinese Currency

RMB is an abbreviation for 'Ren Min Bi', which means 'People's money'. Yuan is the base unit of RMB just as Dollar in USD. (1 RMB = 10 jioa = 100 fen)
Chinese money comes by two names: Renminbi is the name of the currency and yuan refers to its primary unit.
Renminbi is the official currency of China and act as a medium of exchange, but the yuan is the unit of account of the country's economic and financial system.

Reasons behind launching e-RMB

Replacing the dollar - A soverign digital currency provides a functional alternative to the dollar settlement system and blunts the impact of any sanctions or threats of exclusion both at a country and company level. China has successfully achieved Trade Globalisation, Economic Globalisation, and Military and Geo-strategic Globalisation, but it has failed to achieve Financial Globalisation. Without Financial Globalisation it is not possible to replace the Dollar as the World's Reserve Currency.
Finacial Globalisation of China - It may also facilitate integration into globally traded currency markets with a reduced risk of politically inspired disruption.
More control - Because cash transaction were offline and transaction data from existing payment platforms was scattered, the Central Bank of China (PBoC) was unable to monitor cash flow in real time.
Rise of Private Money - There is a growing sense that Central Banks worldwide should issue a digital version of cash to prevent the 'privatisation' of money by commercial entities and IT firms!
Chinese Blockchain exists - China has in the past week made its Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN), available for global commercial use, according to reports. The BSN, led by Chinese government-backed think tank State Information Centre, is a global infrastructure that claims to help projects create and run new blockchain applications for a lower cost. It also aims to accelerate the development of smart cities and the digital economy.
Imapact of Coronavirus - The still-raging novel coronavirus pandemic and the higher health and hygiene awareness among the masses have also added impetus to the trial of the digital currency. While there has been a dramatic drop in the cash in circulation in Wuhan, the initial ground zero of the viral outbreak, most retailers there refuses to accept coins or paper money as a precaution against highly contagious pathogen.

Technical details of e-RMB (CBDC)

PBoC's Digital Currency Research Institute does not want a Blockchain-based approach as it is a decentralised and distributed digital ledger, and PBoC's role will be centralised bookkeeping and administration (and Chinese state is authorisation with total central control).
The soverign digital currency will be pegged to the natioanl currency. The digital yuan e-RMB will have the same legal tender status as cash.
China's Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DECP) poject for a digital yuan began in 2014. Official launch may be in May 2021.
The PBoC will be the sole issuer of the digital yuan, initially offering the digital money to commercial banks and other operators. Public would be able to convert money in their bank accounts to the digital version and make deposits via electronics wallets.
The technology allows the digital currency to be exchanged without an Internet Connection, and that it can be used to make contactless payments.
Many 'Central Bank Digital Currencies' (CBDCs) are being thought of across the world. The interest in CBDCs is due to the factor like declining cash use and plans for privately owned 'stablecoins', such as Facebook's Libra.
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) confirmed in April that it had received an application for a payment system licence from the Geneva-based association governing Facebook's planned cryptocurrency Libra.
The Central Bank of France (The Bank de France), and the UK (Bank of England (BoE)) are also both moving forward in respect of CBDCs.

China's monetary system and e-RMB

What happens to the existing money? Other forms of money supplies and savings like M1 (the total amount of M0 outside of the private banking system, the amount of demand deposits and other checkable deposits) and M2 (M1 plus savings accounts and money markets accounts etc) will remain unchanged.
Actually, a part of the nation's M0 supply will be digitized. M0 supply is the monetary base that is the total of all physical currency including coinage. China's M0 supply stood at 8.3 trillion yuan (UD$ 1.17 trillion) in 2019. But annual increase in this has slackened to just 3-4% since 2012 and is impressive to the surges in credit and loans.
Compared this with double-digit growth in M0 throughout 2000-2010 period. PBoC governor Yi Gang said all paper money already issued and in circulation ot deposits will not be affected. But the cash system needs to be reformed now. Velocity of the money in circulation will not be disrupted either.
Digital payment platforms are already widespread in China, namely AliPay, owned by Alibaba's Ant Financial, and WeChat Pay, owned by Tencent, but they do not replace existing currency. With PBoC's backing, the e-RMB will gain traction fast and give the duopoly of AliPay and WeChat Pay tough competition.
PBoC clarified that transactions facilitated by these platforms fall in the category of M1 and M2 and would not be affected when part of the nation's M0 supply digitalised. The PBoC is starting trials in Shenzhen, Suzhou, Chengdu, and Xiong'an, a new national development zone on the outskirts of Beijing.

What changes now is the Dollar ($) threatened?

The upcoming digital yuan will be 'tokenized' money, fully backed by the central bank of the world's second largest economy.
Its value draws from the Chinese State's ability to impose taxes in perpetuity. Other national authorities are bound to follow soon.
The token will be a private blockchain, a peer-to-peer network for sharing information and validating transactions, with the People's Bank of China in control of who gets to partcipate. To begin with, the currency will be supplied via the banking system and replace some part of the physical cash. That won't be hard, given the ubiquitous presence of Chinese QR code-based digital wallets such as AliPay and WeChat Pay.
It will start small, but the digital yuan can disrupt both traditional banking and the post-Bretton Woods system floating exchange rates that the world has lived with since 1973. For China, blockchain and the yuan digital currency are a national strategic priority - almost at the level of the internet.

COVID-19: A Biological Disaster

2020-04-11T10:51:00.000+05:30

21^st century is marred by the outbreak of various zoonotic diseases. Be it the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Ebola haemorrhagic fever, Nipah virus encephalitis, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Swine Flu (H1N1) or Bird Flu (H5N1). They have resulted in millions of fatalities around the globe. The new addition in this line is the new strain of coronavirus i.e. SARS-CoV2 which has resulted into COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic is notified as 'biological' disaster by the government of India. Hence it is important to understand the meaning of “biological disaster” and assess India’s preparedness with respect to handling of a “biological disaster”.

Means to Counter Biological disaster

As per the constitutional norm, health is a state subject. The primary responsibility of dealing with the state government. There are a number of legislations that control and govern the nation's health. Government can enforce these legislations to contain the spread of diseases. Some of the commonly used legal instruments are:

Epidemic Diseases Act of 1987
Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the rules (1986)
National Disaster Management Act 2005

Infrastructure at National Level

At national level various institutions which are responsible to deal with biological disaster are as follows:

National Disaster Management Authority
National Executive Committee
National Crisis Management Committee
Security Forces
Various Ministries and scientific Institutions
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- Ministry of Health and Family Affairs
- National Centre of Communicable Diseases
- National Institute of Epidemiology

Infrastructure at State Level

At State level various institutions which are responsible to deal with biological disaster are as follows:

State Disaster Management Authority
Various Labs, Medical Colleges and State Departments

Infrastructure at District Level

At District level various institutions which are responsible to deal with biological disaster are as follows:

District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)
Local disaster Management Committee

Non-governmental Organisations

Non-governmental organisations form an important role civil society. Mostly consisting of people who are socially aware and have lot of flair for public service, they try to supplement the effort of the government delivery system.

Though these NGOs are quite forthcoming for extending help to the government agencies during natural calamities, their help in case biological disaster is not guaranteed because of the fear factor associated with the emergencies. It is therefore important to have periodic liaison with such groups and train them so that they can act, as force multipliers towards government efforts of disaster mitigation.

Issues Pertaining to Management of Biological Disaster

Managing Biological Disasters could be tricky due to various issues acting as a constraint which includes:

No separate policy for Biological Disasters
Shortage of Medical and Paramedical Staff
Limited Medical supplies
Bio-safety Laboratories
Inadequate R&D

Solutions

Following measures must be adopted to counter biological disaster better:

Adopting Proper Approach like Prevention-Mitigation-Rehabilitation
Dedicated National policy on Biological Disaster
More Budgetary Allocation
Ensuring Institutional CO-ordination

Conclusion

In terms of bio-defence preparedness, India has taken the basic precautions and has abs elementary structure in place. No only legal structures, India has also established a vast network of institutions from civil defence at the local bodies level to the military and para-military forces at the national level.

The problem in India's bio-defence mechanism is in terms of coordination between various agencies, lack of medical resources and proper action plan. This inadequate state of bio-defence preparedness needs to be overhauled on a war footing to deal with any future exigency because time and tide wait for none.

A World of Inequality

2020-04-07T13:33:00.002+05:30

The truth about inequality

The great promise of communism in the 20^th century was the removal of inequalities. However if failed comprehensively by 1991.
The worldwide spread of capitalism and LPG wad the next big promise. But sadly data show that the world income inequality has grown and diminished.
The seven key truths about income inequalities are:

Income inequalities is lowest in Europe and highest in Middle East.
The top 10% income share is 37% in Europe, 41% in China and 56% in India.
In the Middle East top 10% cornered 61% of National Income.
Since 1980s inequality has sharply risen in India, China, Russia, and North America.
Regions like Brazil, Middle East and Sub-Sharan Africa are the inequality frontiers, as they never experienced post World War-II egalitarian.
In 1980 the top 1% income share was roughly 10% in US and Western Europe, but today it is roughly 20% in US and 16% in Western Europe.
The bottom 50% of share in America steeply dropped from 20% in 1980 to ~13% today.

The Elephant curve of inequality

The x-axis as a world population divided into 100 groups of equal population size increasing from left to right.
The top 1% was divided into 10 groups, and the richest again into 10.
The topmost was again divided into 10 groups (equal population size). And the topmost was again divided into 10 groups.
The y-axis shows the income growth of an individual in any group between 1980-2016.

Learnings:

The top 1% captured 27% of all global growth 1980-2016.
The bottom 50% captured 12%.
In the bottom 50% most were from India and China.
The rest were the squeezed bottom 90% from America and Western Europe who saw the lowest average growth in income level.
This graph shows that from 1980 to 2016 the global top 1% receive 15%-22% of total income share. The global bottom 50% were always lower than 10%.

Private versus Public Capital

Capital is anything that enhances a person's power to do economically useful work.
It can be of two types - Private to Public (Government).
It is seen that inequality is driven by unequal ownership of capital, and since 1980s large transfer of public to private wealth in all the countries.
In rich nations now, public wealth is negative to zero. governments do not have the capability to tackle inequality anymore.
The sum of public and private wealth is equal to National Wealth
Net Private Wealth is equal to the difference of Net Private Assets and Net Private Debts (Net Private Wealth = Net Private Assets - Net Private Debts)
Net Public Wealth is equal to the difference of Net Public Assets and Net Public Debts (Net Public Wealth = Net Public Assets - Net Public Debts)
The ratio of Net Private Wealth to the Net National Income shows how much more powerful are individual compared to government
When the net Public Wealth reduces, it diminishes the government ability to:
1. Regulate the economy
2. Redistribute Income
3. Mitigate Rising Inequality

The Indian situation

Income inequalities have reached historically high levels. The Share of top 1% is 22% of National Income while the top 10% earning 56%.
Deregulation and economic reforms have increased inequality
Post 1980s, the top 0.1% have captured more growth than combined bottom 50%, the middle 40% is stuck.
Income Tax was introduced in India in 1922 and tax department has regularly published statistics except for the period 2000-2010.
Till Rajiv Gandhi came along in 1980s, India was a close, inward looking and a highly regulated economy hence inequalities were low but post 1980 huge LPG (Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation) reforms saw the unwanted fallout rising inequality
The seventh five year plan (1985-1990) relaxed regulations, increased external borrowing and increased exports. Top marginal income tax fell from 97.5% to 50%.
By 1990 thing started changing disruptly. Due to D-D-D-D (Delicensing-Deinvestment-Denationalisation-Decontrol), we saw capital gaining over labour

COMPARISON OF NATIONAL INCOME HELD BY DIFFERENT GROUPS
Parameter	In 1983	In 2015*
Top 1% earned	10% of National Income	21.3% of National Income
Top 10% earned	35% of National Income	56.1% of National Income
Middle 40% earned	43% of National Income	29% of National Income
Bottom 50% earned	21.8% of National Income	14.7% of National Income
* later date data not available

The future of Global Income Inequality

Convergence forces like growth in an emerging economy, and divergence forces like growing inequality within the nation will shape the future of global inequality.
Until the "within country" inequality are tackled well, global income inequalities will keep rising. A nightmarish scenario will be if in 2050 top 1% hold 24% and bottom 50% less than 9% of the total National Income.
Three scenario exists:
1. All countries follow their own inequality
2. All countries follow US inequality trend
3. All countries follow EU inequality trend
Ideal Outcome: Scenario 3 where the gap between top 1% and bottom 50% will only by 19% -(minus) 13.5% only
How to tackle top income groups:
1. Marginal Income Tax
2. Inheritance Tax

Tackling inequality

More equal access to education and well paying jobs is the key to fighting stagnation and sluggishness
Final Solutions:
1. Progressive income tax is a good option
2. Tackling massive tax evasion is a must
3. Access to education and good job are the only guarantee to large term capability creation
4. Reducing public debt is important so that the governments can invest more in the future

Viruses versus Humans - Battle for life

2020-04-01T19:57:00.000+05:30

Who came first - Viruses or Humans?

Do humans really mark the pinnacle of evolution of viruses? While we’ve evolved along a pathway of ever-increasing complexity, viruses have streamlined, successfully jettisoning all but a handful of essential genes. Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. They are present everywhere, in our surrounding, the oceans, the soil and in every living being. Retroviruses contributed to about half of our genomic sequences and to the evolution of the mammalian placenta. Contemporary viruses reflect evolution ranging from the RNA world to the DNA-protein world.

Viruses and Bacteria both descended from an ancient cellular life form. But while - like humans - bacteria evolved to become more complex, viruses became simpler. Today, viruses are so small and simple, thet can't even replicate on their own. Viruses carry only the essential genetic information they need to be able to slip inside a host cell and coax it into making new copies of the virus (the influenza, for instance has a mere 14 protien-coding genes). Because viruses are usually so basic, many biologist didn't think they could even be classified as life form.

How Viruses are different from Bacteria

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BACTERIA AND VIRUSES
Bacteria	Viruses
Bacteria do not need a host organism for reproduction.	Viruses replicate only inside the host.
Considered as living organisms.	Not considered as living organisms.
Larger and Visible under light microscope.	Smaller and visible under the electron microscope.
Contain a Peptidoglycan/ Lipopolysaccharide cell wall.	Contain a protein coat instead of a cell wall.
Unicellular.	Don't have cells.
A single, circular chromosome is present.	DNA/ RNA strand present.
Can be either beneficial of harmful.	Usually harmful, though useful in genetic engineering.
Cause localised infections.	Cause systematic infection.
Food poisoning, gastritis, ulcers, meningitis, pneumonia, etc. are caused.	AIDS, common cold, influenza, chickenpox, etc. are caused.
Infections can be prevented by Antibiotics.	Spreads can be prevented by vaccuines.

What is immunity in Humans

The immune system (or immunity) protects the human body against disease or other potentially damaging foreign bodies. When functioning properly, the immune system identifies and attacks a variety of threats, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, while distinguishing them from the body's own health tissue. Every part of your body, including your immune system, functions better when protected from environmental assaults and bolstered by healthy-living strategies.

What do Viruses and Microbes do to Humans?

Many human infections are caused by either bacteria or viruses.

Bacterium under right conditions reproduces by diving into two. Each daughter cell then divide in two and so on, so that a single bacteria can bloom into a population of some 500,000 or more within just eight hours. If the environmental conditions don't suit the bacteria, some varieties morph into dormant state. They develop a tough outer coating and await the appropriate change of conditions. These hibernating bacteria are called spores. Spores are harder to kill than active bacteria because of their outer coating.

CURING A BACTERIAL INFECTION: The body reacts to disease by increasing local blood flow (inflammation) and sending in cells from the immune system to attac and destroy the bacteria. Antibodies produced by the immune system attach to the bacteria and help in thier destruction. Serious infections can be treated with antibiotics, which work by distrupting the bacterium's metabolic processes.

Viruses pose a considerable chhallenge to the body's immune system because they hide inside cells. This makes difficult for antibodies to reach them.

CURING A VIRAL INFECTION: Antibiotics are useless against viral infections. This is because viruses are so simple that they user their host cell to perform their activities for them. So antiviral drugs work differently to antibiotics, by interfering with the viral enzyme instead.

Are all Viruses bad?

Viruses are mostly known for their aggressive and infectious nature. But they're not all bad. Some viruses can kill bacteria, while others can fight against more dangerous viruses. So like protective bacteria (probiotics), we have several protective viruses in our body. Bacteriophages (or "phages") are viruses that infect and destroy specific bacteria. They're found in the mucus membrane lining in the digestive respiratory and reproductive tracts.

Viral infections at young age are important to ensure the proper development of our immune systems. In addtion, the immune system is continuosly stimulated by systemic viruses at low levels sufficient to develop resistance to other infections.

What is "HERD IMMUNITY"?

Herd immunity is the indirect protection from a contagious infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection. This means that even people who aren't vaccinated, or in whom the vaccine doesn't trigger immunity, are protected because people around them who are immune can act as buffer between them. Once herd immunity has been established for a while, and the ability of the disease to spread is hindered, the disease can eventually be eliminated. This is how world eradicated smallpox, for example.

What lies ahead?

There is a beautiful commentary from the movie "War of the Worlds", which describe our history and possible future with the tiny creatures (viruses, bacteria, fungus, etc.) with whom we have been in contact for a long time.

"From the moment the invaders arrived, breathed our air, ate and drank, they were doomed. They were undone, destroyed, after all of man's weapons and devices had failed, but the tiniest creatures that God in his wisdom put upon this earth. By the toll of a billion deaths, man has earned his immunity, his right survive among this planet's infinite organisms. And that right is ours against all challenges. For neither fo men live nor die in vain." --- War of the Worlds Commentary.

Top Things To Do During 21 Day Lockdown

2020-03-27T14:49:00.001+05:30

Well, the lockdown/ curfew has barely begun, and people are already bored. As restaurants, bars, beaches, parks, and pretty much everything else has been closed, all you can do it get out and got to a general store to buy necessary items.

As the total number of cases around the globe are increasing day-by-day, I think it was a necessary step that was required to contain the spread of the pandemic Coronavirus.

However, thinking out of the box, the 21 day isolation may very well present us with the opportunities to try out our hands at something new or even get things done around the house which we have been putting off.

without further ado, let us now take a look at the top 8 things we can do during a lockdown:

1. EXERCISE

A complete lockdown behind the doors can take a took on the mental health as well as the physical health, and lockdown can easily translate to a week of slouching on the couch. At a time like this, it becomes to get the blood circulation and retain health.

This can be done with some exercises which can be done at the comfort of your home itself. There are many exercises which can be done at home with using any fancy equipments. You can also do some Yoga, Stretching, or even some low, medium and high intensity workout depending on your needs and ability.

2. BINGE WATCHING

Well, no matter how much you would hate getting locked down, but it does come with a silver lining, which is, you will not find a better time to binge-watch the series you always wanted to watch for so long.

There are too many shows you can binge-watch on so many platforms, such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hotstar and many more. If there are some movies you were after, this is the best time you can watch it.

You always have the option to watch a series that's needed like Friends, Game of Thrones, Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, the option are endless.

3. READ A BOOK

There was a time, before smartphones and gadgets, people loved to read books, that was how people used to pass time. A good book will keep you entertained for hours, and if you fancy a non-fiction genre, it will teach you many things.

The best thing about the technology? If you do not have a book on the shelves, you can download then on the device from various platforms like Amazon, Play store etc.

4. COOKING

In the next week, even the best home cooks will go through a series of tests, with all the meals they will have to prepare at home. But, with the markets remaining open and hopefully stocked up, the home cooks will have all the necessary tools to keep the health up to the mark.

This time will not only help the home cooks put their creativity to good use, but also the other people who always wanted to try their hands at it but could never do it.

Cooking is a really good time pass, and it will hold on the anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

5. BAKE

If you have kids with you, or you have sweet tooth yourself, baking could be one of the best things you could do during your lockdown period. Bake some cookies, or a cheesecake, as who does not like cheesecake, right?

Baking will keep you distracted for hours, especially from the chaos that's being made due to the Coronavirus.

6. CLEANING

At a time when a deadly virus is trying to enter your house and your body, cleaning could not only help reduce the risk of you catching the virus but also refresh your mind.

With all sports banned and gyms closed, this will get your body moving and also break down the monotony. Additionally you should always clean the high-touch surfaces such as removes of the TV and other appliances, switches, doors of the refrigerators ad the know of the faucets.

7. BOARD GAMES

Well, many people would say that playing board games would be counterproductive and defy the purpose of self-quarantine. However, there are ways you can enjoy some family time and still remain safe while playing the games.

If you have a game like Ludo, Monopoly, or a Poker set, all you need is some family members and protective gears like gloves. Wear the gloves and play the games, just make sure you do not touch your face or the food while you are wearing those gloves.

If you have a gaming console such as Play Station or an Xbox, you can spend days and won't know where the lockdown days went by.

8. GET SOME SUN

Staying indoors for 21 days straight could cause a drop in the levels of Vitamin-D apart from affecting your mental health. If you live on private property like bungalow or have an apartment with balcony or a terrace that gets some sunshine, make sure you go there and get some light.

You can otherwise stock up Vitamin-D supplements as long as you can do that.

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

2020-03-22T19:42:00.001+05:30

All the 4 convicts of Nirbhaya Rape Case were hanged on the 20^th March at 05:30 AM (IST).

It seemed like Justice has been served to the Nirbhaya, but is it really the true justice? True justice is something which is meant to be handled at the present moment, but in this case the Justice has been served 7 years 3 months and 4 days or, 2651 days later.

Nobody could understand the frustration which was dealt by the family members during the trial period, waiting, waiting and just waiting for the justice to be served. Why the judiciary took so much time for the justice to be served? There are many possible reasons for this delay, as indicated by the experts. These reasons will be discussed later in the article.

But first of all, Justice is one of civilisation’s foundational Right. Securing justice – social, economic and political – to all citizens is one of the key mandates of the Indian Constitution. This has been explicitly made so in the Article 39-A of the Constitution that directs the State “to secure equal justice and free legal aid for the citizens”.

Problem:

The experiences of last 62 years show that the State has failed squarely on addressing some very basic issues – quick and inexpensive justice and protecting the rights of poor and the vulnerable. The justice delivery system is on the verge of collapse with more and more cases clogging the system. There are cases that take so much of time that even a generation is too short to get any type of redressal.

It is therefore imperative for the judiciary to perform its duty properly for any society to continue its pursuit of peace, harmony and progress. Unfortunately, the Indian judiciary, despite its many successes, suffers from severe structural problems that prevent it from functioning properly. The judiciary’s travails, specifically those relating to delays and backlog are well documented and don’t need repetition. However, it is only in the last few years that these structural problems have been better understood empirically thanks to the availability of better data.

There are many problems prevailing the Indian Judiciary system which are delaying the verdict of the cases. Some of the causes and the possible solutions are listed below ~~(these causes and solutions, suggested by experts, are taken and compiled from various sources)~~:

Causes of Huge Pendency in Court:

LESS NUMBER OF JUDGES: The most noticeable purpose behind the pendency of cases is the deficient portrayal of judges in the Indian Judiciary. The number of judges is not as much as required. With an officially low extent of judges in various cases, the Indian legal is deficient with regards to the base fundamental necessity of judge’s numbers.

POOR ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM: Another reason for the pendency of cases in Indian courts is the ascent in abuse of law.

FILING OF FALSE CASES: Another huge reason behind the pendency of cases in Indian courts is recording false cases with malafide plan for making pointless inconveniences others. At that point now and again there are circumstances when advises endeavor to play their card, they either ask for giving further date by giving different reasons or they are absent with the goal that they get next date for hearing because of which there is superfluous deferral in the event that procedure. Counsels try to extract more time for preparation of cases.

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE OF SUBORDINATE COURTS: This is the age of technology, today even the smallest office in the private sector is well equipped with computers and other electronic gadgets, which help them to raise their efficiency and update their records. But our Judiciary has not been provided with the technical assistance of faxes, dicto-phones and other such devices. Almost all the courts have heaps of rotten files in the basement. Thus, though we are living in the age of computers, yet our methodologies are outdated and urgently need a re-look.

EXCESSIVE CROSS-EXAMINATION: The issue of over the top and pointless interrogation is likewise extremely pertinent to talk about in shortening the deferral.

ABUSE OF PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION: Now a-days, courts are over-overflowed with trivial PILs. Paltry PIL isn't associated with the general population intrigue. Be that as it may, under the pretense of PIL, solicitor needs to serve his own intentions and thus it causes delay in choosing numerous vital cases.

NON-COMPLIANCE OF PROVISIONS UNDER CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE - 1973: The Code provides certain provisions for settlement of disputes and for speedy trial for instance, compounding of offences, plea bargaining, summary trial etc. But the problem is that this provision is not implemented properly.

GREAT NUMBER OF APPEALS: Vast number of requests additionally blocks the expedient transfer of cases. Courts need to invest their valuable energy in transfer of the huge number of claims. Thus, courts can't give their chance in the transfer of other imperative issues.

NON-ADHERENCE OF ORDER-X OF CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE - 1908: Order X CPC manages examination of gatherings by the court. Law Commission of India in its Seventy Seventh Report says that "with a specific end goal to make powerful utilization of arrangements of Order X, it is basic that trial judge should read ahead of time the pleadings of the gatherings and should know the instance of each gathering at exactly that point he can put inquiries and edge issues appropriately." So, resistance of arrangements of Order X drags out the issue.

Solutions to reduce huge pendency in courts:

The following steps could be taken into consideration for reducing pendency in Courts and also for fast justice delivery too-

REMOVING REDUNDANT LAWS: It was discovered that outdated and excess laws make disarray among subjects as well as increment pendency of cases, as there are different perspectives from different individuals.

PRACTICING LTERNTVE DISPUTE MECHANISM: Suit through the courts and councils set up by the State is one method for settling the question which is an antagonistic strategy for question determination which prompts win-lose circumstance while in Alternative Disputes Resolution what is attempted to be accomplished is win-win circumstance for both the gatherings. There is no one who is failure and the two gatherings feel fulfilled toward the day's end. The ADR systems incorporate assertion, arrangement, intervention and assuagement.

FOUNDATION OF FAST-TRACK COURTS: On the proposal of the eleventh Finance Commission, 1734 Fast Track Courts of Sessions Judges were authorized for transfer of old pending cases

ESTABLISHMENTS OF LOK ADALATS: Keeping in mind the end goal to accomplish the target revered in Article 39-A of the Constitution of India, the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 was established to give free and equipped legitimate support of the weaker areas of the general public to guarantee that open doors for securing equity are not denied to any resident by reason of monetary or different inabilities. To accomplish that objective, Lok Adalats are being held at different places in the nation and countless are being discarded with lesser expenses.

SETTING UP e-COMMITTEE: Extraordinary compared to other methods for viably accomplishing the improvement of the legal parts in the nation was reception of data innovation based frameworks in the legal system to make the legal more successful in giving expedient and opportune equity to the prosecutors.

EMERGENCE OF GRAM NYALAYA: It is comprehended that the Ministry of Law and Justice is drawing a Gram Nyayalayas Bill with a goal to secure equity, both common and criminal, at the grass-root level to the residents, which would be the most reduced court of subordinate legal and might give simple access to equity to prosecutor through agreeable strategies, utilization of neighborhood dialect and portable courts wherever vital. In the event that established, such Gram Nyayalayas would truly make equity available and will be reasonable to the normal man at their doorway.

ADHERENCE TO PROPER JUDICIAL EDUCATION: Law Commission of India in its Seventy Seventh Report likewise manages a similar issue. Thusly, there ought to be appropriate preparing and training for the judges. Identity of judges assumes a fundamental part in equity conveyance framework. It very important for the judges to have a proper judicial education and should abstain from biasness in the court of law. They should keep in mind the principles of Natural Justice & Audi Alteram Partem also.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO PLEA BARGAINING: With the inclusion of new Chapter XXI-A in the Code of Criminal Procedure by Act 2 of 2006, the idea of Plea Bargaining turned into a reality and part of our criminal statute

STRENGTHENING OF LEGAL AID SYSTEM: Article 39-A of the Constitution mandates the State to secure that the activity of the lawful framework advances equity based on measure up to circumstance. The State is required to give lawful guide to guarantee that open doors for securing justice are not denied to any native by reason of monetary or other disabilities. The effect of Article 39-A read with Article 21 of the Constitution has been to fortify the privilege of a man engaged with a criminal continuing to lawful guide. The privilege of correspondence before law and equivalent assurance of laws, conceded to our natives, regardless of their social and monetary status will stay fanciful unless and until each resident including the individuals who are from monetarily and socially in reverse classes can have access to the Justice Delivery System by drawing in an effective and equipped Advocate, who can effectively put their case before the Courts and look for equity for them.

Conclusion:

As Martin Luther King once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." But for a good judiciary it is essential that justice should be impartial, speedy and cheap. Therefore if someone delays something as important as justice knowing that injustice is a threat to it, then the person is denying justice.

Nirbhaya Case: Justice Served

2020-03-20T20:33:00.000+05:30

Nirbhaya Case History:

16^th December of 2012 was the day when India witnessed a horrific incident. Because of the heinous incident, India lost a daughter once again, but the daughter had to go through more than what is called heart-wrenching. It was the night when Jyoti Singh was gang raped and her friend Awindra Pratap Pandey was almost beaten to death. Though, he somehow escaped the fury of death. Jyoti, was fighting for her life after she had been brutally assaulted by six men.

The six men (Ram Singh, the bus driver, Mukesh Singh, his brother, Vinay Sharma, an assistant gym instructor, Pawan Gupta, a fruit seller, Akshay Thakur and a Juvenile) were already present in a bus that Jyoti along with her male friend boarded. It is believed that the men on the bus passed some comment to which Jyoti and her friend reacted. After this, the men couldn’t stand that a woman raised her voice. In order to satisfy their ego, they raped Jyoti. One of them was a juvenile too and is said to be the most brutal one. Jyoti’s private part was damaged that caused extensive internal bleeding. They were thrown from the moving bus in Mahipalpur area. A few passersby noticed and informed the police.

Those six men were eventually arrested, and a police complaint was filed with charges of gangrape and murder. The victim, on the other hand was struggling to live in the Safdarjung hospital in New Delhi. Upon seeing her condition, even the doctor was left in tears, he said “To date, he has never seen such a picture of humanity’. The injuries were so grave that she was flown to the Mount Elizabeth hospital in Singapore on the 26^th December 2012. On the 29^th December 2012, 13 days after that heinous incident, she breathed her last. She had been a fighter all this while and had the zeal to live. Hence, media and everyone preferred calling her Nirbhaya which means fearless. Also, of course, Indian Media is not allowed to name a rape victim or of sexual assault as per the directions from the Supreme Court of India.

Out of the six accused, Ram Singh died within the four walls of police custody. Police claim that it was a suicide while his family and lawyer claim that it was a murder. After the death of Ram Singh on the 11^th of March, 2013 inside the Tihar Jail, the list of proofs and evidences were presented until the 8^th of July, 2013. After this, the juvenile was sent to a reform facility as per the Juvenile Justice Act 2000. Rest of the four adults were found guilty and were sentenced to death on the 10^th of September 2013 by a Fast Track Court of Delhi. Several pleas had been filed by the rapists in order to delay their execution.

Jyoti Singh AKA Nirbhaya may not be present to witness what has been happening after she left this world; she will definitely be at peace considering the facts that the pending case is showing its progress gradually. She would have been extremely delighted to see how India and people from other countries too have been standing beside her and waiting to hear the judgement.

Actions After That:

Jyoti Singh succumbed to death on the 29th of December 2012. Five days after her death, a charge sheet was filed against those five men who were adults.

The six men were arrested within 24 hours of the rape.
Ram Singh hanged himself in Tihar Jail on the 11^th of March 2013
The presentation of pieces of evidence completed on the 8^th of July 2013 by the Fast Track Court of Delhi
They were given the death sentence three days after they were found guilty by the Fast Track Court
The upholding of the guilty verdict took place on the 13th of March 2014 by the High Court of Delhi
The Juvenile Justice Board decided that the juvenile be tried as a juvenile and not as an adult and be sentenced accordingly. He was further sentenced to three years of Juvenile reform after which he was set free on the 20^th of December 2015
After the death sentence, Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta had the liberty to appeal against the conviction on the 31^st of March 2014. It got extended to July
Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur also urged the court to put a stay on their death sentence as they will plea for their conviction
They got a stay order on the 14^th of July 2014 (which court on the decision given by which court?)
The four accused except the juvenile were also held for robbing Ram Adhar, a carpenter aged 35 and sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment
The Supreme Court rejected the plea petition of the convicts on the 5^th of May 2017
Another review petition for mercy was filed by three convicts and that too got rejected by the Apex Court on the 9^th of July 2018
Akshay pleaded again to be granted mercy in the month of November 2019
Curative petitions challenging death sentence of two, Mukesh and Vinay Sharma, were rejected in January 2019 by a group of five judges of the Supreme Court. The judges were RF Nariman, Arun Mishra, Ashok Bhushan, R Banumathi, and NV Ramana
The first death warrant was declared by a Delhi Court on the 7^th of January 2020
The first execution date was 22^nd of January 2020 at 7 am in Tihar Jail
Mukesh, one of the convicts has filed a mercy plea to the President which was rejected on the 17^th of January 2020
After the plea, the second death warrant issued on 1^st of February
The lawyer had filed a plea to put a stay order on the date of execution as the four convicts had their legal remedies to complete together
After that third death warrant issued on 3^rd of March
One of the convict, Pawan Gupta, filed yet another petition requesting to convert death warrant to life imprisonment
On 2^nd March, 1 day before the date of hanging, a 5 judge bench of the Supreme Court dismissed the curative petition. The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, too, rejected his mercy plea the same day
On the 5^th March 2020, the Patiala house court issued another death warrant. The court said that they will be hanged on the 20^th March 2020 at 5:30 AM (IST).

Finally, as all the 4 convicts have exhausted all their legal courses, after 7 years 3 months and 4 days or, 2651 days, Nirbhaya and her family received the justice they deserved. Justice served.

Abrogation of Article 370 - Impact and Reality

2019-08-06T16:18:00.001+05:30

What is Article 370?

Article 370 of the Indian Constitution used to give special status to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. The article was drafted in Part XXI of the Constitution: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions. Under this article all the provisions of the constitution which are applicable to other states are not applicable to J&K. For example, till 1965, J&K had a Sadr-e-Riyasat for governor and prime minister in place of chief minister.

This article along with Article 35A defined that the J&K state's resident live under separate set of laws, including those related to citizenship, ownership of property, and fundamental rights, as compared to resident of other Indian states. As a result of this provision, Indian citizens from other states cannot purchase land or property in Jammu and Kashmir.

History of Article 370

In October, 1947, after signing on the Instrument of Accession by the then Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, three subjects on which Jammu & Kashmir were transferred its power to the government of India.

Foreign Affairs
Defence
Communications

In March 1948, the Maharaja appointed an interim government in the state, with Sheikh Abdullah as prime minister. In July 1949, Sheikh Abdullah and three other colleagues joined the Indian Constituent Assembly and negotiated the special status of J&K, leading to the adoption of Article 370. The controversial provision was drafted by Sheikh Abdullah.

Provisions of Article 370

Parliament needs the Jammu and Kashmir government's approval for applying laws in the state - except in cases of defence, foreign affairs, finance, and communication.

The law of citizenship, ownership of property, and fundamental rights of the residents of Jammu & Kashmir is different from the residents living in rest of India. Under Article 370, citizens from other states cannot buy property in Jammu & Kashmir. Under Article 370, the Centre has no power to declare a financial emergency in the state.

It is important to note that Article 370(1)(c) explicitly mentions that Article 1 of the Indian Constitution applies to Kashmir through Article 370. Article 1 lists the states of the Union. This means that it is Article 370 that binds the state of J&K to the Indian Union. Removing Article 370, which can be done by a Presidential Order, would render the state independent of India, unless new overriding laws are made.

Recent Developments

The government on 05.08.2019 moved a resolution to effectively abolish Article 370, which gives special power to the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The government also introduced a Bill to divide the state into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir (will have legislature like Delhi and Puducherry), Ladakh (will have no legislature like Chandigarh). The Rajya Sabha has passed the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill which bifurcate the state into two Union Territories. The Lok Sabha now must pass the Bill, which will then go to the President for his assent. Once the President signs the Bill and the government issues a notification, Jammu and Kashmir will no longer be a state.

What will change after Article 370?

Kashmir will no longer have a separate constitution but will have to abide by the Indian constitution much like any other state. All Indian laws will be automatically applicable to Kashmiris, and people from outside the state will be able to buy property there. There will be no separate flag for the state (which was there earlier).

Ground Reality

The concern is that some will take this as an opportunity to play spoiler and attack troops, attack pilgrims. Extremist terrorists may attack vulnerable targets or attack troops as a way of ramping up tensions, forcing the Indian government to respond militarily, and creating that spiral of violence that they benefit from.

The violence is not carried out by average Kashmiri citizens. The violence is carried out by extremists who are always looking for the right environment in which to cause violence.

The separatists will get a great boost. It gives them a talking point: We’ve been telling you for all this time that the Indian government doesn’t see you as one of them, and doesn’t respect Kashmiri identity.

In amid of this, Indian government has sent an estimated additional 25,000 troops to Kashmir, which is already one of the most militarized areas of the world.

Unemployment in India

2019-07-22T15:35:00.000+05:30

What is Unemployment?

Unemployment refers to a situation in which the workers who are capable of working and willing to work do not get employed or fail to secure work or any other activity which gives them income or means of livelihood. People who are unfit for work due to physical reason or do not want to work are excluded from the category of unemployment.

Basic Definitions

1. Workforce: A worker is one who participate in any economic activity.

2. Labour Force: It refers to the segment of population which supplies or offers to supply labour for production and therefore includes both employed and unemployed persons.

3. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): It is defined as the percentage of persons in labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.

4. Work Participation Rate: It is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.

5. Unemployment Rate: Is is defined as a number of unemployed people divided by the number of people in the labour force.

Rate of Unemployment = (Number of unemployed person/ Total labour force) x 100

Types of Employment

1. Structural Unemployment: It refers to a situation, which arises due to change in the structure of the economy. The transformation of economy from Labour intensive economy to a Capital intensive economy creates a structural unemployment due to skill gaps.

2. Seasonal Unemployment: It is an unemployment, which occurs during certain season of the year. For instance, in seasonal occupations like agriculture, tourism sector etc activities take place only in some season.

3. Voluntary Unemployment: It is a situation where workers are either not seeking work or are in transition from one job to another (quitting one job in search of another better job).

4. Involuntary Unemployment: It refers to the situation where workers are seeking jobs and are willing to work but are unable to get work.

5. Frictional Unemployment: The minimum amount of unemployment that prevails in an economy due to workers quitting their previous jobs and are searching for new jobs.

6. Cynical Unemployment: It arises due to deficiency or fall in effective demand from consumers which leads to fall in production and low demand for labour.

7. Disguised Unemployment: When too many people are employed than what is required to produce efficiently.

8. Underemployment: It is a situation under which people with a higher level of skills are employed in less productive jobs and thus fails to utilize Labour force fully as per their skills and expertise.

Causes of Unemployment

The unemployment problem in India has assumed alarming dimensions since independence. Among the many factors that have contributed to this, some are discussed below:

1. High Population Growth: The galloping increase in population of our country during the last decade has aggravated the unemployment problem in the country. Due to rapidly increasing population of the country, a dangerous situation has arisen in which the magnitude of unemployment goes on increasing each year.

2.Insufficient Rate of Economic Progress: Although India is a developing country, the rate of growth is inadequate to absorb the entire labour force in the country. The opportunities of employment are not sufficient are not sufficient to absorb the additions in the labour force of the country, which are taking place as result of the rapidly increasing population in India.

3. Absence of employment opportunities in activities other than agriculture: As enough other employment opportunities are not available, agriculture is the principal area of employment on our country. A major of rural unemployment is the extremely low rate of growth of agriculture. Thus, pressure on land is high, as about 2/3^rd of the labour force is engaged in agriculture. Land is thus overcrowded and a large part of the work force is underemployed and suffer from disguised unemployment.

4. Seasonal Employment: Agriculture in India offers seasonal employment; thus agriculture labour remains idle during off-season.

5. Increasing turnout of students from Indian Universities: During the last decade, educated unemployment has increased due to rapid turnout of graduates by the Indian Universities. Moreover, in the Indian educational system, more emphasis is placed on engineering and other technical subjects rather than on Art subjects. But there is unemployment amongst technical graduates as well. There is a lack of proper vocational education in the country.

6. Slow Developing Industries: Industrialization is not rapid in our country and industrial labour finds few job opportunities. The agricultural surplus labour force is not absorbed by the industrial sector.

Anti Poverty and Unemployment Programmes

1. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP): The objective of the scheme is to create productive assets for the families in rural areas living below poverty line. Bank Loans are provided to create productive assets to take up self-employment activities. They include agriculture horticulture, animal husbandry, poultry and weaving etc.

2. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana/Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojana: It is now became a programme for the creation of rural economic infrastructure with employment generation as the secondary objective.

3. Rural Housing – Indira Awaas Yojana: It was first merged with the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) in 1989 and in 1996 it broke away from JRY into a separate housing scheme for the rural poor.

4. Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY): The main objective of the scheme continues to be the generation of wage employment, creation of durable economic infrastructure in rural areas and provision of food and nutrition security for the poor.

5. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005: The main objective of this scheme is to provide at least 100 days of unskilled manual work to one person from each rural family at the minimum wage fixed by the State Govt. If the manual work is not provided to beneficiary within 15 days, he will be given unemployment allowance.

6. National Rural Livelihood Mission: Ajeevika (2011) It is a part of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)–the mission for poverty reduction is called Ajeevika (2011). It evolves out the need to diversify the needs of the rural poor and provide them jobs with regular income on monthly basis. Self Help groups are formed at the village level to help the needy.

7. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna: The cabinet on March 21, 2015 cleared the scheme to provide skill training to 1.4 million youth with an overall outlay of Rs. 1120 crore. This plan is implemented with the help of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through the National Skill Development Corporation. It will focus on fresh entrant to the labour market, especially labour market and class X and XII dropouts.

8. National Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojna (HRIDAY): HRIDAY scheme was launched (21 Jan. 2015) to preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country.

There is need for faster employment growth for not only absorbing the addition to the labour force, particularly with the ongoing demographic changes, but also reducing the unemployment rate. There is also a need to formulate a comprehensive policy to create adequate employment opportunities in New and Inclusive India.

Highlights of Union Budget 2019-20

2019-07-05T23:41:00.001+05:30

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented Budget 2019-20 on 05.07.2019

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman became second women in the history of Independence India to present the Union Budget. She presented the maiden budget of Narendra Modi 2.0 government in the Lok Sabha.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE BUDGET

10-POINT VISION FOR THE DECADE

Building Team India with Jan Bhagidari: Minimum Government Maximum Governance
Achieving green Mother Earth and Blue skies through a pollution-free India
Making Digital India reach every sector of the economy
Launching Gaganyan, Chandrayan, other Space and Satellite programmes
Building physical and social infrastructure
Water, water management, clean rivers
Blue Economy
Self-sufficiency and export of food-grains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables
Achieving a healthy society via Ayushman Bharat, well-nourished women & children, safety of citizens
Emphasis on MSMEs, Start-ups, defence manufacturing, automobiles, electronics, fabs and batteries, and medical devices under Make in India

DIRECT TAXES

Tax rate reduced to 25% for companies with annual turnover up to Rs. 400 crore
Surcharge increased on individuals having taxable income from Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 5 crore and Rs. 5 crore and above
Interchangeability of PAN and Aadhaar
- Those who don‟t have PAN can file tax returns using Aadhaar
- Aadhaar can be used wherever PAN is required
Pre-filling of Income-tax Returns for faster, more accurate tax returns

Tax proposals

Individual tax payers with taxable income of up to Rs 5 lakh will get full tax rebate from now on.
Those earning Rs 6.5 lakh will not have to pay tax, if they invested in specified savings such as PF, PPF, etc.
However, the tax slabs will remain unchanged.
This move will benefit around 3 crore middle class tax payers.
For salaried persons, Standard Deduction is being raised from the current Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000.
The Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on fixed deposits and postal deposits will be exempted for interest earned up to Rs 40,000 from Rs 10,000 currently.
The rent up to Rs 2.4 lakh will be exempted from TDS.
The benefit of capital gains of up to Rs 2 crore will be increased to investment on two residential houses. This benefit can be availed only once in a lifetime.
The benefit of the section 80IBA of Income Tax Act will be extended for one more year for availing of the affordable housing.

Section 80IBA of Income Tax Act, 1961: Section 80IBA deals with 100 percent deductions for the builders promoting affordable housing schemes subject to fulfilment of a few conditions.

Affordable Housing

Additional deduction up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs for interests paid on loans borrowed up to 31^st March, 2020 for purchase of house upto Rs. 45 lakhs
- Overall benefit of around Rs. 7 lakh over loan period of 15 years

Boost to Electric Vehicles

Additional income tax deduction of Rs. 1.5 lakh on interest paid on electric vehicle loans
Custom duty exempted on certain parts of electric vehicles

Relief for Start-ups

'Angel tax' issue resolved - start-ups and investors filing requisite declarations and providing information in their returns not to be subjected to any kind of scrutiny in respect of valuation of share premiums
Funds raised by start-ups to not require scrutiny from Income Tax Department
Special administrative arrangements for pending assessments and grievance redressal

INDIRECT TAXES

Exemptions from Custom Duty on items now manufactured in India is withdrawn
Defence equipment not manufactured in India exempted from basic customs duty
Increase in Special Additional Excise Duty and Road and Infrastructure Cess each by Rs. 1 per litre on petrol and diesel
Custom duty on gold and other precious metals increased

NEW INITIATIVES

India's water security

New Jal Shakti Mantralaya to look at the management of our water resources and water supply in an integrated and holistic manner
Jal Jeevan Mission to achieve Har Ghar Jal (piped water supply) to all rural households by 2024
To focus on integrated demand and supply side management of water at the local level
Convergence with other Central and State Government Schemes to achieve its objectives

Youth

New National Education Policy to be brought which proposes
- Major changes in both school and higher education
- Better Governance systems
- Greater focus on research and innovation
National Research Foundation (NRF) proposed
- To fund, coordinate and promote research in the country
- To assimilate independent research grants given by various Ministries
- To strengthen overall research eco-system in the country
- this would be adequately supplemented with additional funds
'Study in India proposed to bring students to study in Indian higher educational institutions
Khelo India Scheme to be expanded with all necessary financial support

MSME Sector

A scheme of sanctioning loans upto 'Rs 1 crore in 59 minutes' has been launched. GST-registered MSME units will get 2 percent interest rebate on incremental loan of Rs 1 Crore
MSMEs can now sell their products on the Government eMarketplace (GeM), a one-stop-shop to facilitate online procurement of common use goods

Other announcements

A Welfare Development Board will be created for nomadic and semi-nomadic community. A Committee under NITI Aayog will be formed to identify these committees
National artificial intelligence portal will be developed soon

Hindi vs Regional Language Issue

2019-06-28T12:50:00.001+05:30

A Closer Look at India’s languages (Infographic), Credit: daytranslations.com

The compulsory imposition of Hindi in schools under the draft National Education Policy (NEP) 2019 displeased non-Hindi speaking states like Tamil Nadu. After much backlash the clause was revised to make it non-mandatory. This was not the first time in the independence history of India that the issue of languages has arisen. It arose in the past, it will arise in the future.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

India has a rich heritage in terms of languages and every language spoken, even by the most remote areas, is respected by the Constitution.

“History demonstrates that, from times immemorial, India has been a multilingual country, each language having a certain region in which it was supreme, but none of these regions truly constituted unilingual kingdom or principality.”

In ancient India, Sanskrit was most prevailing language by the 'elites' and Pali was the medium of communication for 'low order' peoples. With the invasion came many languages like Persian, Turkish, Arabic, etc. but at the regional level, local dialects became popular. After few years when British invaded India they introduced English as the main languages in majority of the government offices (bureaucracy, courts etc.) and all the government functions began to carried out in English.

Debate for single language:

When the Indian Constitution was being framed in the Constitution Assembly the question of choosing one language as the official language arose in the minds of the Constitution makers. Debate was mainly among three popular languages, viz. Hindi, Urdu and Hindustani. “Most of the regional languages like Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, etc were found to be not suitable in spite of their literary accomplishments, owing to geographical restrictions.” These languages were not spread beyond a province/state. The whole assembly was divided into two groups one which supported Hindi and wanted it to become the official language and the other which did not favour Hindi to become the official language.

Those who favoured Hindi pointed out that Hindi is a mother tongue of around forty percent of the people living in the Country and understood by a large proportion of non-Hindi speaking population as well. But those doesn't favoured Hindi debated why not make any other languages as National language because there are many languages in the country and few of them have considerable following as well.

Ultimately, when the Constituent Assembly was on the verge of losing its unity, a compromise called Munshi-Ayyangar formula was adopted without dissent. This formula did not provide any national language. It proposed that Hindi in the Devanagari script would be the “official language of the Union” and that English would continue to be used for all official purposes for fifteen years from the date of the Constitution, which could be extended by Parliament. But the day never came. In 1967 The Official Languages Act provided indefinite usage of English and Hindi as the official languages of the country.

CONSTITUTION IN RELATION TO LANGUAGE

India is a multilingual country. So the fathers of our Constitution felt the need to specify the languages to be used in the state functions. Therefore, Part XVII of the Indian Constitution came into existence which not only provides for the official language of the Union (Article 343-344) and official languages of the states (Article 345) but also the language of interstate-communication (Article 346-347), language to be used in the courts and in legislative processes (Article 348). Apart from these provisions, there are some special directives too (Article 350-351).

Munshi-Ayyangar Formula also recommended the Language Commission to include all the regional language in order to give them equal respect and to prevent them from being ignored. Eighth Schedule contains the name of the languages which have been recognized as the official languages. At present there are twenty-two languages enumerated in the Schedule.

Significance of single Language

India is a nation comprising of people from different backgrounds, religions, languages and culture. In such a diverse nation, there is a constant search to find a common attribute that binds people together into a single identity. In this regard, language is most often imposed on people by governments. The role of national language is in the social transformation. The existence of a single language brings about togetherness and attachment in the society.

The aim of the Constitution makers in attempting to make India a monolingual nation was not to promote monopoly of Hindi by overthrowing other Indian languages. Instead they wanted to introduce ‘a pan-Indian language’ which could be used for governing India and which the citizens could use to communicate with others who did not speak their language.

Basically, a national language is required to bring together, diverse cultures and ethnicities under a single roof so that a nation can develop easily and speedily with least friction. A close knit and integrated society develops at a faster rate as compared to a disintegrated society.

CONCLUSION

The issue of national language has grown more complex than what the constitution makers had thought it to be. The recent separation of Telangana as a separate state from Andhra Pradesh is also a result of lingual conflict. It is evident from this instance that a language has the power to make or break a country. People develop an attachment towards those who speak their language.

Though India has been unsuccessful so far as implementation of a single language as official language is concerned, the policy of bilingualism has somehow helped in restoring social harmony and national unity in so far as language is concerned.

The Preamble to the Constitution of India specifically provides for unity and integrity of the nation. Therefore, nothing should be done that would be inconsistent with the ideal.

Youth India - Untapped Power

2019-05-26T21:42:00.000+05:30

Youth UNESCO Definition:

Best understand as a period of transition from the dependence on childhood to adulthood's independence and awareness of our independence as a member of a community. Youth is a more fluid category rather than a fixed age group.

Youth being enthusiastic, vibrant, innovative and dynamic in nature is the most important section of the population. They are the most valuable segment of the population and are not a ready laboratory to test the finished products of the state apparatus. Rather, they are the variables that should be utilized for creating new opportunities based on the skills of contemporary relevance. The youth of the nation are the trustees of prosperity. Youth force is dynamic in nature as most skills and orientations are acquired in this age.

The youth can act ideally as a bridge between two generations. It is an age cohort that, if explained properly, can understand the need of flexibility in order to smoothen its own growth and development. This section of the population needs to be harnessed, motivated, skilled and streamlined properly to bring rapid progress.

With the array of social, political or civil movements, the youth have been at the center of activities. It offers tremendous opportunities for youth to show their strengths as a self-organizing force with the potential for innovation and for embracing change.

The youth today understands that absoluteness or autonomy alone will not offer solutions to all the problems. They are no longer rigid in matter of inter-dining and inter-community marriage. They are questioning the derogatory and insensitive approach to follow humans without basing on the lines of caste, class, race and gender.

One of the most crucial factors that help youth in finding roots is the use of, and emphasis on technology. Technology is emerging as an effective option in all efforts to address the issue of economics.

Technology has helped mankind achieve seemingly impossible feats and we look at conquering new milestone each day. Technology has also been used for the betterment of lives more so in the developing nations. Digital environment leads to faster communication, quicker learning and also links two geographically distant places on a common platform. At the touch of a button, we can share ideas, consult, collaborate and articulate the thoughts and actions.

Technology has enabled equal opportunities; at least in matters of accessibility and it is again to the credit of youth that they have been at the forefront of learning and adaptation of new technology options.

The biggest achievement of the youth and technology co-option can be said to be a risk-taking spirit and the rise of startups. The sheer grit of youth, coupled with technology has made entrepreneurship universally accessible.

There is an urgent need to recognize, accept and appreciate the working of a young mind. This recognition has to be substantially different from the strict and rigid mindset of expectations from the youth. Rather the concern is to bring out variables that are considered important for the youth by means of dialogue and other initiatives.

Youth has always been of vital concern of the Government of India. Various youth development programmes undertaken by the Union Government after Independence, like National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and the schemes for financial assistance to NGOs [Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (Focused on developing long term strategies for good citizenship and youth leadership at the grass root level) now aims to provide a more holistic and overall development as it now operates in an interdisciplinary approach rather than a compartmentalized one] engaged in youth development bear ample testimony to this fact.

Some of the important initiatives of the government are mentioned below:

Nation Youth Policy, 2014: To empower the youth of the country to achieve their full potential, and through them enable India to find its rightful place in the community of nations
Skill up graduation Training Program (SUTP): Vocational training.
Life Skill Training for Adolescents: Empowerment of adolescents.
- Tribal Youth Exchange Program (TYEP)
- The North-East Youth Exchange Program

ARISE! AWAKE! AND STOP NOT UNTIL-THE-GOAL-IS-ACHIEVED

General Election - 2019

2019-05-20T11:18:00.001+05:30

Source: https://www.eci.gov.in/

General Election, the biggest Democratic 'Festival' (comes every five year) was ended on 19.05.2019. This festival was observed in 543 constituencies across 29 states and 7 Union Territories (UTs), spread over a month, in seven phases. About 900 million citizens were eligible to vote in one of the seven phases depending on the region. More than 350 political parties of various sizes and ideologies contested to win the trust of the people and vie to win seats in Lok Sabha. The finale (counting of votes) will be concluded on 23 May, 2019.

Some of the important national issues ~~(according to me)~~ on which General Election - 2019 was fought on are as follows:

National Security

India in the recent times have been struggling with the problem of terrorism. Action against terrorism and extremism was the main focus by the majority of the political parties. The issue of lousy procurement policies in defense and declining defense budget was also raised during the campaigns.

Farmers

Increasing farmers' income, financially supporting them and eradicating the agrarian distress was one of the top promises by almost all the major political parties. Some political parties also advocated for farm loan waivers to please the farmer community.

Taxation Policy and Economic Road map

Since the launch of Goods & Services Tax (GST), it was always in debate be it because of its multiple tax rates, poor implementation or late disbursement of claims. Simplification of GST and faster adjustment of claims was another priority for the parties.
Stability of macro-economics and speedy development of economics and work towards making India the third-largest economy in the world by 2030. GDP growth was also the issue.

Jobs

With the huge buzz over the state of employment in the country in the past few years, parties advocate to put significant focus on creating new employment opportunities and protecting existing ones.

Poverty

Eliminating poverty was on the top priority for the parties, The political parties have come up with their own plans for eliminating the poverty.

Manifestos were released by different political parties focusing on range of issues that have been a burden to citizens. Taking these manifestos the two biggest national parties - BJP and Congress - were seem to be competing on contrasting claims on most issues.

Exit polls are out, each one is claiming a clear mandate for NDA+. Lets see what result day (23.05.2019) bring to us.

Sanctity of Media

2019-04-16T11:26:00.000+05:30

I have already written a post on Media and its role in a Democracy, in which I concluded that unbiased media is a must for Democracy to operate efficiently (a very well known fact). Now we are going to analyse how the highly skewed or biased media intentionally or unintentionally can change the course of natural flow of any news, or change the flow of news in a particular direction.

It is wrong to say that every-time every-thing has to be unbiased, because its not. The closest thing to unbiased I have witnessed is the scientific studies which are designed to be void of all emotional associations while presenting data and information.

To be human is to have biases as we all individuals have our prejudices, preferences and positions; to write or think without reflecting them in some way or the other is nearly impossible. In media sector, however, we have to try. Media person or journalists should be factual and as fair as the facts allow them to be. Well-executed journalism allows readers to trust the facts presented and let them explore the different angles to make their own decisions based on information that is complete as time and space allows.

Not every-time media has to be unbiased. That is why print media have editorial/ opinion sections and and electronic media have panel discussions. The primary job of the editorial/ opinion/ discussion is to help people understand and see all the possible sides (positives/ negatives/ good-effects/ side-effects etc) of the news being reported from the domain experts themselves. The problem arises when media side themselves with one or the other political parties or leaders, who have partisan views and spin everything for their benefits. By siding themselves, the media is damaging themselves and their reputation by not functioning as a tool to inform the public on actual facts of events, but instead have become influence brokers, activists, and fancy ideological political action committees for a party or person.

The free and unbiased media is supposed to report facts as they find them. It is not the journalist's job to tell the story from their own political slant, leanings, or what they desire the public to conclude. They are to report the facts and let the people arrive to their own conclusion. As we all know, politics is a dirty business and sometimes it is difficult to come to a conclusion one way or another, and sometimes it is difficult to fully grasp what is being objectively and unbiasedly reported.

The media is flawed and they often cover what they want or will make errors obviously. What people need to understand is that while bias is unavoidable, facts do exist and that's what ultimately have to hold the sources up to. Are they factual and if they are not, you can at the very least assess different level of bias.

Pulwama Terror Attack

2019-02-15T19:33:00.001+05:30

Pulwama Terror attack. Photo: PTI

A convoy of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was targeted by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants (claimed the responsibility of the attack) with a car bomb in Awanripora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday, February 14, 2019. This is a worst-ever terror attack on the security forces in the state in the last few years. At least 38 security personnel were martyred and three were missing.

This dastardly attack was strongly condemned by the Indian government and has given a stern message to isolate Pakistan globally. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Friday 15, 2019 pledged that perpetrators of the cowardly attack will "pay a heavy price for it". Now, all the government machinery is focusing on Pulwana attack and have no intention to forgive Pakistan.

The Central Reserve Police Force in its statement said, "We will not forget, We will not forgive-We salute our martyrs of attack and stand with the families of our martyr brothers. This heinous attack will be avenged".

Foreign Secretary Sh. Vijay Gokhle had conveyed that Pakistan must take "immediate and verifiable" action against the JeM, adding that it must "immediately stop groups or individuals associated with terrorism operating from its territories." The Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood was summoned by the foreign secretary at the Ministry of external affairs.

After the attack, there is a nation-wide outburst of anger and aggression against the state of Pakistan. Many anti-Pakistani protests are happening all around the country demanding a fair and quick action against Pakistan. Protests also erupted outside the Pakistan High Commission in the national capital.

Protestors raise slogans against Pakistan during a demonstration against the Pulwama terror attack, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo

Shiv Sena activists raise slogans during a protest against the Pulwama terror attack at Lalbaug, in Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo

Ground of various nations:

The international community, including the United States (US), Sri Lanka, Nepal, Russia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh condemned the dastardly attack on Indian security Personnel.

The US has issued a travel advisory for travel to Pakistan due to terrorism.

On the other hand, Pakistan's ally, China once again backed its 'friend' and refused to support India's appeal to list the Pakistan-based terror group - Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) - chief's Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" by the UN.

Pakistan denied any involvement in it and said, "We strongly reject any insinuation by Indian media and government that seek to link the attack to Pakistan without investigations."

Actions taken by India - post-attack:

Source: Times of India

Withdraw of the 'Most Favored Nation' (MFN) status granted to Pakistan - Removal this status means that India can now enhance the custom duties to any level on goods coming from Pakistan.

(MFN status is helpful for developing nations. The countries with the status have broader access to a market for trade goods, reduced cost of export items owing to highly reduced tariffs and trade barriers.)

"Free Hand" to the security forces - To deal with the situation and bring justice to the martyrs free hand have been given to the security forces.

Other options India seek could be:

One or two or as many required "Surgical Strikes" on terror camps- Indian army can easily take out the camps of Pakistan, and be victorious, but the long term efficacy is questionable.
A big attack on mainland Pakistan using the Cold Start strategy - We can win the war after weeks of massive damaging on both sides (assuming no nuclear missiles will be launched). China will also retaliate with full force mainly due to two reasons:

China is 'all weather' friend of Pakistan
China's heavy investment in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and mainland Pakistan.

Diplomacy - Could be the last option, as the whole nation is demanding justice.

Role of Media in Democracy

2019-02-10T13:02:00.000+05:30

Democracy is a system of government in which all the citizens/ people exercise their power by voting their representatives. Thus, public opinion is an important aspect. The people, in turn, could have the government accountable and change it, if they knew what it is/ was doing. So, there is a need to inform the people of them so that there is a check on the government.

There are three main pillars of Democracy - Executive, Legislature and Judiciary - on which it stands. But there is the fourth one, which is kind of hidden, Media which keeps eyes and ears on these three, and informs the people about their policies and actions. Media plays a crucial role in shaping a healthy democracy. Media makes people aware of various social, political and economic activities happening around the country and the world. It is like a mirror, which shows us or strives to show us the bare truth and harsh realities of life.

Media came into existence in 1780 with the introduction of a newspaper namely The Bengal Gazette and since then it has undoubtedly evolved and became more active over the years. It is the media who remind politicians about their unfulfilled promises at the time of elections. TV news channels excessive coverage during elections helps people, especially illiterates, in electing the right person to the power. This reminder compels politicians to be up to their promises in order to remain in power.

Media is very powerful in shaping the minds of citizens. Constrictive journalism identifies the problems in our society and serves as a medium for deliberation which in turn helps in making a healthy environment for society, the destructive journalism, on the other hand, corrupts the mind of the citizens.

Today, in the age of information technology we are bombarded with information. We get the pulse of the world events with just a click of a mouse. The flow of information has increased manifolds. Thanks to information technology we are well connected and well aware of breaking news all the time. Now, we don't have to go and fix ourselves in front of the television to do so.

No one is perfect in this world so is the media. It acts as a catalyst for democracy and development, helping to make public participation meaningful. The impact of media is really noteworthy. Excessive coverage or hype of sensitive news has led to communal riots at times. The illiterates are more prone to provocations than the literates. Constant repetition of the news, especially sensational news, breeds apathy and insensitivity.

Hence, a neutral media is a must in a democracy to truly and effectively identify the loopholes in the democratic system, which can plug to the fullest satisfaction of the people as its measure. If media does not discharge its responsibility independently in any democratic country, the politicians are bound to behave like dictations or even worse than them. Media carries with it a huge responsibility in a democratic setup which it has to fulfill very carefully without any bias toward anyone by bringing out the real facts before the public.

The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable - Pinley Peter Dunne