Population Growth Rate of India Overestimated

• A recent study has suggested that India’s population growth rate is highly overestimated by existing models.
• By 2025, India is expected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country due to higher fertility rates and a younger population.
• According to the study, accounting for the diversity and differences in the levels of education among people can help arrive at more accurate projections.
  • Since, education level across all of India has increased over time, and is associated with a lower fertility rate, the same projection may predict a drastically smaller population when accounting for education and increasing urbanization.
  • Combining both effects, the influence of education appears to dominate, resulting in a lower population projection.
• To account for the diversity between different areas of India, researchers designed a study based on a five-dimensional model that includes:
  • Rural or urban place of residence,
  • State,
  • Age,
  • Sex, and
  • Level of education.
• Further, accurate population projections could help India and its workforce catch up with more developed Asian countries with higher GDP per capita.
• The team of scientists noticed that users of population data in many sectors look at data without considering any differences in behaviors, as if all people would behave like an average person.
• The researchers concluded that in addition to age and sex, education should also be routinely included in population forecasts because of its well-established implications for improving the economy and quality of life, while reducing population growth and mortality rates.

Centre for Removal of NOTA from Rajya Sabha Poll

The Centre has supported a PIL petition reserved for judgement in the Supreme Court for scrapping the None of the Above (NOTA)option from the Rajya Sabha (RS) polls.

• According to the Centre, NOTA in indirect elections, such as in the Rajya Sabha, would lead to horse-trading, corruption and use of extra constitutional methods to defeat a party candidate.

Background

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a circular in 2014 allowing RS members to opt for NOTA in the RS polls.
• The Chief Justice of India has observed that NOTA is meant only for universal adult suffrage and direct elections and not for polls held by the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote as done in the Rajya Sabha.

Concerns

• The Political parties expressing dissatisfaction about the move made by the ECI, said that it was not in sync with the idea of the Open ballot system used in polls for the RS and the Legislative councils.
• The Apex Court stated that the idea behind NOTA is to allow the voter to register a protest vote,which is not the case with RS where preferences have to be disclosed on party lines and the voter cannot say that he would give first preference to a candidate and then give NOTA.
• Moreover, MPs who vote against party directions dont gets disqualified as no party can issue whip in the RS elections.
  According to the petitioner, the Election commission of India cannot negate the provisions enumerated in Article 80 (4) which says that RS members shall be elected in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
• However, the Election Commission has countered the arguments against NOTA by saying that a person, along with a right to vote, also has the right not to vote.

NOTA

• None of The Above (NOTA) is a ballot option in which the voter have the choice to record his disapproval of all the candidates in a voting system.
• The Supreme Court in PUCL v. Union of India judgement, 2013 directed the use of NOTA in the context of direct elections to the Lok Sabha and the respective State Assemblies.
• The judgment delineated that in a direct election the voters must be given an option to choose “None of the above” to express their dissatisfaction with all the candidates/ political parties on the ballot.

Way Forward

• The use of NOTA can only become a meaningful tool if it becomes ‘Right to Reject’ rather than being a just mechanism to express resentment.
• Proper consensus needs to developed before reaching conclusion.

Cabinet Clears Bill to Restore the Provisions of SC/ST Act

The Centre has decided to introduce a Bill to restore the original provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which the Supreme Court had struck down in a March, 2018 ruling.

• The Amendment Bill seeks to insert three new clauses to the original Act:
  
  • For the purposes of the Act, preliminary enquiry shall not be required for registration of a First Information Report against any person.
  • The arrest of a person accused of having committed an offence under the Act would not require any approval.
  • The provisions of Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which deals with anticipatory bail shall not apply to a case under this Act, notwithstanding any judgment or order of any Court.
  • The preamble of the amendment says that the decision to arrest or not to arrest cannot be taken away from the investigating officer, a power given under the criminal procedure code in which there is no provision for a preliminary enquiry.

Background

• The SC ruling resulted in the protests from dalit groups, which said the order diluted the law. The demand for introduction of an ordinance or an Amendment Bill to restore the provisions was demanded by the dalit groups.
• The Supreme Court had observed in the judgment that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 has become an instrument to blackmail innocent citizens and public servants.
• The court observed that the past three decades have seen complainants who belong to the marginalised sections of society, use the POA to exact vengeance and satisfy vested interests.
• The court also observed that instead of blurring caste lines, the Act has been misused to file false complaints to promote caste hatred.
• On March 20, the SC struck down the provision that made immediate arrest of an accused under the 1989 law mandatory.
• The court also allowed the accused persons to apply for anticipatory bail. The 1989 law, in fact, prohibits anticipatory bail, saying the accused on bail could terrorise the victims.
• The Supreme Court issued a slew of guidelines to protect people against arbitrary arrests under the Act, directing that public servants could be arrested only with the written permission of their appointing authority, while in the case of private employees, the Senior Superintendent of Police concerned should allow it.
• A preliminary inquiry should be conducted before the FIR was registered to check if the case fell within the ambit of the Act, and whether it was frivolous or motivated, the court ruled.

Salient Features of the Act

• The Act delineates specific crimes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as atrocities, and describes strategies and prescribes punishments to counter these acts.
• The Act identifies what acts constitute “atrocities.” All offences listed in the Act are cognizable. The police can arrest the offender without warrant and start investigation into the case without taking any orders from the court.
• The Act calls upon all the states to convert an existing sessions court in each district into a Special Court to try cases registered under it.
• The Act creates provisions for states to declare areas with high levels of caste violence to be “atrocity-prone” and to appoint qualified officers to monitor and maintain law and order.
• The Act provides for the punishment for wilful neglect of duties by non-SC/ST public servants.
• The Acts designates for each District a Court of Session as a Special Court for speedy trial of offences under the Act
• The Act provides for the appointment of Public Prosecutors/Special Public Prosecutors for conducting cases in special courts.
• The Act is implemented by the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, which are provided due central assistance under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for effective implementation of the provisions of the Act.

Provisions Against Untouchability in India

• Article 17- Abolition of Untouchability. It is a Fundamental Right (Part III), available against individual; Article 17 does not define the term ‘untouchability’.
• To expand the ambit of Article 17, the government came up with the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. The new legislation was enacted to deal with more violent caste-driven atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
• Above provisions are not exhaustive, there are many other provisions which prevent any form of discrimination or promote the weaker section. E.g. Article 46 from Directive Principles of State Policy talks about promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.
• Article 330 provides for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and Article 332 provides for the reservation of seats in the Legislative Assemblies of the States.

Bill for Quick Resolution of Commercial Disputes Passed in Lok Sabha

Replacing an ordinance, a Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been passed by Lok Sabha to resolve commercial disputes worth Rs 3 lakh or more. The law will be given prospective effect so that the authority of the judicial forum at present adjudicating the commercial disputes is not affected.

Need for Legislation

• There has been a steep rise in the number of commercial disputes at domestic and international levels.
• Growing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and overseas commercial transactions have also contributed to a significant increase in commercial disputes.
• Bringing down the specified value of commercial disputes would reduce the time taken for resolution of such disputes and improve India's ranking in the ease of doing business.
• Over the years, the Law Commission and Parliamentary Standing Committees have observed that due to high pendency of cases the judicial system is unable to dispose of cases in a timely manner.
• The Law Commission in 2003 and 2015 recommended that a law be enacted to establish commercial courts to resolve commercial disputes of high value. They argued that adjudication of high value commercial disputes requires specialised expertise, and has a larger impact on foreign investments and economic growth of the country.

Highlights of the Bill

• The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 provides for commercial courts and commercial divisions of high courts to adjudicate commercial disputes with a value of at least one crore rupees. The Bill reduces this limit to three lakh rupees.
• The Bill allows state governments to establish commercial courts at the district level, even in territories where high courts have ordinary original civil jurisdiction.
• In areas where high courts do not have original jurisdiction, state governments may set up commercial appellate courts at the district level to consider appeals from commercial courts below the level of a district judge.
• A provision for mandatory mediation has been provided in those cases where no urgent relief is being sought by the parties to the dispute. The mediation may be conducted by authorities constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (such as the National and District Legal Services Authority). The mediation process is required to be completed within a period of three months (may be extended by another two months). A signed settlement between the parties will have the same effect as an arbitral award under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
• Under the Act, if a counterclaim was filed in a commercial dispute of at least one crore rupees in a civil court, the civil court could transfer the suit to a commercial court. The Bill removes this provision in relation to transfer of suits.

Cabinet Approves Policy Framework For Unconventional Hydrocarbons

The centre has approved the policy to permit exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons such as Shale oil/gas, Coal Bed Methane (CBM) etc.

• It will be carried out under the existing Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs), CBM contracts and Nomination fields to encourage the existing Contractors in the licensed/leased area to unlock the potential of unconventional hydrocarbons in the existing acreages.

Background

• Prior to the new policy, existing contractors were not allowed to explore and exploit CBM, shale gas and other unconventional hydrocarbons from the allotted licensed area. Similarly, contractors with CBM fields were not allowed to exploit any other hydrocarbons except CBM.
• India currently has around 100-200 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of shale gas reserves in five sedimentary basins and there is a strong possibility of shale reserves in Cambay basin, Krishna-Godavari Basin and Cauvery basin among others.
• With the approval of this policy, there will be a complete shift from ‘One hydrocarbon Resource Type’ to ‘Uniform Licensing Policy’ which is presently applicable in Hydrocarbon Exploration & Licensing Policy (HELP) and Discovered Small Field (DSF) Policy.

Benefits

• Unearthing Hydrocarbon reserves- It will enable the realization of prospective hydrocarbon reserves in the existing Contract Areas.
• Increase in Investment and production- It will lead to new investment in Exploration and Production (E&P) activities and unearthing new hydrocarbon discoveries which will result in increased domestic production.
• Creating Employment opportunities- Exploration and exploitation of additional hydrocarbon resources is expected to spur new investment, the impetus to economic activities, additional employment generation and thus benefitting various sections of society.
• Application of technology- This will lead to the induction of new, innovative and cutting-edge technology and forging new technological collaboration to exploit unconventional hydrocarbons.

RBI Raises Interest Rates by 25 bps

The Reserve Bank of India in its third bi-monthly policy raised the repo rate by 0.25 per cent to 6.5 per cent because of inflationary concerns.

• The reasons for this hike are:
  • The need to contain retail inflation after it quickened to 5% in June, 2018,
  • Mounting domestic and global uncertainties,
  • HRA (House Rent Allowance) revisions by state governments likely to push housing inflation,
  • Uncertainties in Global financial markets,
  • Risk of fiscal slippage by the Centre or States.
  • The larger-than-average increase in minimum support price (MSP), and
  • Volatility in crude oil prices.

• The increase will push up the cost of loans for all borrowers as banks are likely to increase interest rates on loans in tandem. This is because a hike in repo rate will mean that banks' marginal cost based lending rate (MCLR) in all likelihood will go up.
• This is now the first time since October 2013 that the repo rate has been raised at two consecutive policy meetings.
• The committee kept its policy stance neutral, keeping its options open for further rate hikes. The reason it cited for the neutral stance was the potential impact of trade tensions between the US and China and a possibility of a currency war.

Growth Outlook

• The RBI retained the GDP forecast for the current fiscal at 7.4 per cent because of:
  • Robust corporate earnings especially that of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies,
  • Buoyant rural demand due to MSP hike,
  • Favourable monsoon and
  • Rising investments.
•  It also forecasted the GDP at 7.5-7.6 per cent in the second half of the current fiscal.

Few Instruments of Monetary Policy:

• Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF): Allows banks to borrow money from RBI through repurchase agreements. LAF consists of repo and reverse repo operations. This arrangement allows banks to respond to liquidity pressures and is used by governments to assure basic stability in the financial markets.
• Repo rate: It is also known as the benchmark interest rate and it is the rate at which the RBI lends money to the banks for a short term. If RBI wants to make it more expensive for the banks to borrow money, it increases the repo rate similarly, if it wants to make it cheaper for banks to borrow money it reduces the repo rate.
• Reverse Repo rate: It is the short term borrowing rate at which RBI borrows money from banks. The Reserve bank uses this tool to tighten liquidity in the banking system. An increase in the reverse repo rate means that the banks will get a higher rate of interest from RBI.
• Marginal Cost of funds based Lending Rate (MCLR): It refers to the minimum interest rate of a bank below which it cannot lend, except in some cases allowed by the RBI.
  The MCLR methodology for fixing interest rates for advances was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India with effect from April 1, 2016. This new methodology replaces the base rate system introduced in July 2010.

TRAI Allows the Sale of 5G Spectrum

• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended the auction of spectrum for offering 5G services for the first time in the country.
• The 5G airwaves, i.e. the spectrum in 3300-3600 MHz, should be put to auction. Further to avoid monopolisation of this band, there should be limit of 100 MHz per bidder.
• To check potential misuse and windfall gains, it proposed a five-year lock-in for 5G spectrum, instead of two years for other bands.
• 5G auction, a first for India, is expected to be a catalyst for internet of things (IoT) innovations that would speed up machine learning and artificial intelligence.
• It has also recommended for over 43% reduction in the reserve prices of 700 MHz band spectrum.It had no takers in the 2016 auctions due to high pricing.
• The regulator also pointed out that there is an urgent need of audit of all allocated spectrum both commercial as well as spectrum allocated to various PSUs and government organisations by an independent agency on a regular basis.

Concerns

• According to few experts, lowering the spectrum prices alone doesn't fix anything. Until and unless the spectrum usage charge, licence fees and other levies are lowered as well, the industry may not be able to cope with the requirements for state-of-the-art infrastructure needed for new technologies and early rollout of 5G.
• The financial health of the telecom sector and its revenue growth is a cause of concern as a result intense competition.

Rajasthan Became the First State to Implement the Biofuel Policy

Rajasthan has become the first state to implement the National Policy on Biofuels unveiled by the centre in May 2018.

Key Highlights

• The desert state will focus on increasing production of oilseeds and establish a Centre for Excellence in Udaipur to promote research in the fields of alternative fuels and energy resources.
• As per the state government:
  • A biodiesel plant of the capacity of 8 tonnes a day had already been installed in the State.
  • The state government would promote marketing of biofuels and generate awareness about the same.
  • The State Rural Livelihood Development Council would also encourage women’s self help groups to explore the scope for additional income through the supply of biodiesel.

Background

• In order to promote biofuels in the country, a National Policy on Biofuels was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in 2009.
• Biofuels in India are of strategic importance as it augers well with the ongoing initiatives of the Government such as Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill Development and offers great opportunity to integrate with the ambitious targets of doubling of farmers income, import reduction, employment generation, waste to wealth creation.
• Biofuels programme in India has been largely impacted due to the sustained and quantum non-availability of domestic feedstock for biofuel production which needs to be addressed.

National Policy on Bio Fuels

• The Policy categorises biofuels as:
  
  • Basic Biofuels- First Generation (1G) 
  • Advanced Biofuels- Second Generation (2G) 
• The Policy focuses on Expansion of the scope of raw materials for ethanol production by allowing use of sugarcane Juice, sugar containing materials like sugar Beet, sweet sorghum, starch containing materials like corn, cassava, damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, rotten potatoes, unfit for human consumption for ethanol production.
• The Policy allows use of surplus food grains for production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the approval of National Biofuel Coordination Committee.
• With a thrust on Advanced Biofuels, the Policy indicates a viability gap funding scheme for 2G ethanol Bio refineries of Rs.5000 crore in 6 years in addition to additional tax incentives, higher purchase price as compared to 1G biofuels.
• The Policy encourages setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel production from non-edible oilseeds, used cooking oil, short gestation crops.
• Roles and responsibilities of all the concerned Ministries/Departments with respect to biofuels has been captured in the Policy document to synergise efforts.

Benefits

• Reduced Import Dependency on crude oil through increased supply of ethanol. It will also result in the savings of forex.
• Cleaner Environment through reduction in the rate of crop burning and reduction in green house gases due to the conversion of agricultural residues/wastes to biofuels.
• Health Benefits-Prolonged reuse of Cooking Oil for preparing food, particularly in deep-frying is a potential health hazard and can lead to many diseases. Used Cooking Oil is a potential feedstock for biodiesel and its use for making biodiesel will prevent diversion of used cooking oil in the food industry.
• Municipal solid waste management (MSW)-Using available technologies which can convert waste/plastic, MSW to drop in fuels has the potential to provide around 20% of drop in fuels.
• Employment Generation -One 100klpd 2G bio refinery can contribute 1200 jobs in Plant Operations, Village Level Entrepreneurs and Supply Chain Management.
• Additional income to Farmers -By adopting 2G technologies, agricultural residues/waste which otherwise are burnt by the farmers can be converted to ethanol and can fetch a price for these waste if a market is developed for the same.

Cyber Security Service Providers Invest in Technologies to Prevent Attacks

With cyber threats rising rapidly, there is an increase in demand for cybersecurity service providers and their products.

• The security service providers are investing in the latest technologies such as machine learning to predict and prevent attacks.
• There is also more focus on mobile security solutions as the penetration of smartphones has increased.

Background

• According to the ‘State Of Endpoint Security Survey’, 90 per cent of the businesses in India have been either hit or are expected to be hit by ransomware.

• The survey also found that traditional security is no longer enough to protect against the evolving ransomware threats.
• Large enterprises are now investing almost 10-15 per cent of their IT spend on cybersecurity.
• The cybersecurity market, estimated to be Rs 1,000 crore is projected to grow at the rate of 19 per cent between 2018-2023.
• However, challenges also exist as evolving technologies give rise to new business models that increase the level of cyber attacks.

Way Forward

• Firms and cybersecurity providers must invest more in infrastructure and use advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to trap more malwares.

• Using technologies such as AI and ML to use the past data to learn the different patterns of cyber attacks and also incorporate the global attack pattern will help in making the detection more precise and intelligent.

Important Facts for Prelims (2 August 2018)

Agricultural Scientists' Recruitment Board

• It was set up by the government in November 1973, as an independent recruitment agency following the recommendations of the Gajendragadkar Committee.
• It functions as an independent recruitment agency in recruitment to various scientific positions in Agricultural Research Service and Research Management Positions of ICAR/DARE.
• For the purpose of autonomy, secrecy, accountability and efficient functioning, the government has decided to de-link ASRB from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). It will be attached with Deptt. of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare.
• Agricultural Scientists' Recruitment Board (ASRB) is a now 4-member body comprising of one Chairperson and three Members.

Indian-Origin Mathematician Wins Fields Medal

• Akshay Venkatesh, a renowned Indian-Australian mathematician, is one of four winners of mathematics’ prestigious Fields Medal, known as the Nobel prize for math.
• He was awarded for his profound contributions to an exceptionally broad range of subjects in mathematics and his strikingly far-reaching conjectures.
• The other three winners are Caucher Birkar, Peter Scholze, Bonn and Alessio Figalli.

Karkidaka Vavu Bali

• Karkidaka Vavu Bali is a ritual performed by Hindus in Kerala to honour their dead ancestors. It is observed every year on Amavasya or no moon days.
• Karkidakam (July to August) is the last month of the Malayalam calendar.
• This ceremony, called the Vavubali, is said to free the departed from their earthly shackles and ensure their safe passage in the afterlife.

GI Logo, Tagline Launched

• The Government of India launched a logo and tagline for Geographical Indications (GI) to increase awareness about intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the country.
• A GI product is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicraft and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory.
• Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to the fact of its origin in that defined geographical locality, region or country.
• Under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, geographical indications are covered as an element of IPRs.
• India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 with effect from September 2003.

Mission Solar Charkha

• On the occasion of UN SME Day (June 27, 2018), the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has launched the Mission Solar Charkha.
• The mission will oversee the implementation of 50 Solar Charkha Clusters across the country with a budget of Rs.550 crore for the year 2018-19 and 2019-20.
• The Solar Charkha Mission will entail a subsidy of Rs 550 crore in the initial two years for 50 clusters and every cluster will employ 400 to 2000 artisans. and contribute to the green economy.
• Solar Charkha Units have been classified as village industries and is expected to generate direct employment to nearly one lakh persons and contribute to the green economy.

Power Tex India

• The Government is implementing Power Tex India, a comprehensive scheme for powerloom sector development.
• India is the largest producer of cotton in the world and the second largest exporter of textiles in the world.
• Under the scheme, to improve quality and productivity, existing plain powerlooms are upgraded to semi-automatic and shuttleless looms, by providing financial assistance to powerloom units.
• The comprehensive scheme has the following components:
  • In-situ Upgradation of Plain powerlooms
  • Group Workshed Scheme (GWS)
  • Yarn Bank Scheme
  • Common Facility Centre (CFC)
  • Pradhan Mantri Credit Scheme for Powerloom Weavers
  • Solar Energy Scheme for powerlooms
  • Facilitation, IT, Awareness, Market Development and Publicity for Powerloom Schemes
  • Tex Venture Capital Fund
  • Grant-in-Aid and Modernisation & Upgradation of Powerloom Service Centres (PSCs)