Conflict in Ethiopia

Why in News

The Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed has vowed to continue the military operation in the Tigray region amid concerns it could descend into civil conflict.

Key Points

• Military Operation: Abiy has declared war on the country’s Tigray region, which is ruled by the powerful Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), in response to its attack on a federal military base in Tigray.
• Background:
  
  • After becoming Ethiopia’s Prime Minister in April 2018, Abiy Ahmed reached out to the political opposition, ushered democratic reforms, lifted curbs on the media and made peace with Eritrea - moves that won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
    
    • Eritrea is a sworn enemy of the TPLF, which shares a long border with the Tigray region.
  • He also removed TPLF from senior government positions. His push to concentrate more power in the hands of the government alienated the TPLF further.
    
    • Abiy has formed a new political coalition, the Prosperity Party, all constituents of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), except the TPLF, joined the new platform.
  • When the federal government postponed the general elections in August to 2021 citing the coronavirus pandemic, Tigray politicians accused him of a power grab and held elections, in September, in the region, in defiance of the government.
  • Rising tensions led to an attack on the military base.
• Tigray People’s Liberation Front:
  
  • It is a militia-turned-party, which was part of the coalition that brought an end to the military dictatorship in 1991.
    
    • TPLF leader Meles Zenawi took over as the interim President in 1991 and became the first elected Prime Minister in 1995.
    • He is largely seen as the architect of the country’s ethno-federal system and remained in power till 2012.
  • It had played a dominant role in the country’s ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF - put together by Zenawi).
    
    • Though the EPRDF contains regional political parties such as the Amhara Democratic Party, the Oromo Democratic Party and the Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement, the TPLF remained the dominant political force.
      
      1. The Tigray people make up roughly 6% of the population, while the Oromos have a 34% share and the Amharas 27%. The Oromos have alleged marginalisation and called for better representation.
    • Over the years, the government led by the EPRDF, was accused of being increasingly authoritarian and there were frequent mass protests in the regions.
    • In 2018, the EPRDF chose Abiy, a former military intelligence officer, to lead the government amid growing protests and a political deadlock.
• Abiy’s Stand: Abiy, the country’s first Oromo leader, claimed that his actions are not driven by ethnic calculations but rather aimed at addressing the historic power imbalance in the country and making peace with the neighbours.
• Implications:
  
  • TPLF has fired rockets into Eritrea from Tigray, threatening a wider regional war in the Horn of Africa.
    
    • Horn of Africa houses the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.
  • Rebels also fired rockets into the neighbouring Amhara region. Even if Abiy is serious about keeping the operation short, it could spill out of control given the underlying complexities of the conflict. The TPLF has thousands of fighters under their command.
  • Also, the Tigray region shares a border with Sudan. The TPLF enjoyed good relations with Sudan’s ousted dictator Omar Bashir.
    
    • Sudan has an unresolved border dispute with Ethiopia. If Sudan’s new rulers keep the old links with the TPLF active and the border open for the rebels, the conflict could go on.
    • Earlier this year, in the midst of Ethiopia’s long-standing conflict with Egypt over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam over the Blue Nile, Sudan had already found itself forcefully involved in the spat.
  • There have also been reports of atrocities targeting civilians by both sides. Many have even fled to Sudan.

Way Forward

• Abiy can reach out to regional political leaderships, especially the TPLF, find common ground, and run the country peacefully by restoring the balance between ethnicities and regions and decentralising the federal government.
• The protection of civilian safety and security is essential. The African Union can play a role in this.

Source: TH

Article 32 of the Constitution

Why in News

Recently, the Chief Justice of India (CJI), during a hearing of a plea, said that the court is trying to discourage petitions filed under Article 32.

Key Points

• CJI’s View: CJI noted that there is a spate of Article 32 petitions and reiterated that the High Court can also uphold fundamental rights (under article 226).
• Article 32 of the Constitution (Right to Constitutional Remedies): It is a fundamental right, which states that individuals have the right to approach the Supreme Court (SC) seeking enforcement of other fundamental rights recognised by the Constitution.
  
  • The SC has power to issue directions or orders or writs for the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights. The writs issued may include habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari and quo-warranto.
  • The right to move the SC shall not be suspended except as otherwise provided for by the Constitution. Thus, the Constitution provides that the President can suspend the right to move any court for the enforcement of the fundamental rights during a national emergency (Article 359).
  • In case of the enforcement of Fundamental Rights, the jurisdiction of the SC is original but not exclusive. It is concurrent with the jurisdiction of the high court under Article 226.
    
    • Original, because an aggrieved citizen can directly go to the SC, not necessarily by way of appeal.
    • Concurrent means when the Fundamental Rights of a citizen are violated, the aggrieved party has the option of moving either the high court or the Supreme Court directly.
  • Since the right guaranteed by Article 32 (ie, the right to move the SC where a fundamental right is infringed) is in itself a fundamental right, the availability of alternate remedy is no bar to relief under Article 32.
  • However, the SC has ruled that where relief through the high court is available under Article 226, the aggrieved party should first move the high court.
  • In the Chandra Kumar case (1997), the SC ruled that the writ jurisdiction of both the high court and the Supreme Court constitute a part of the basic structure of the Constitution.
• Counter-Argument:
  
  • Even as the SC underlines the powers of the high courts, it has in the past transferred cases to itself from the high courts.
    
    • Most recently, the SC transferred the case involving land use for the national capital’s Central Vista project to itself from the Delhi High Court. Incidentally, the petitioners had not sought such a transfer.
  • When such transfers are made, the petitioners lose a stage of appeal that would otherwise have been available had the high courts heard and decided the case.
  • Recently, the SC also conveyed its concerns that in many matters involving personal liberty, the High Courts are not exercising their jurisdiction as constitutional courts.

Source: IE

UAE Issues Golden Card Visa

Why in News

Recently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has approved the issuance of a 10-year golden card visa for more professionals, including PhD holders, physicians, engineers as well as graduates from certain universities.

• Golden Visa is citizenship by investment or residency by investment program. It is directed to wealthy foreign nationals who want to acquire residency in a certain country by investing a substantial amount of money or by purchasing a property.

Key Points

• UAE’s Golden Card Visa:
  
  • It grants 10-year residency to these visa holders and their families.
  • Eligibility:
    
    • All holders of doctorate degrees, medical doctors and computer, electronics, programming, electrical and biotechnology engineers.
    • Those with specialised degrees in artificial intelligence (AI), big data and epidemiology, as well as high school students living in the UAE who rank top in the country and students from certain universities with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.8 or higher.
  • The changes will take place from 1^st December 2020.
• Background:
  
  • Foreigners in the UAE usually have renewable visas valid for only a few years tied to their employment.
  • In May 2019, the UAE started granting 5 and 10-year renewable visas to certain foreign investors, entrepreneurs, chief executives, scientists and outstanding students, under the Golden Card scheme.
    
    • The scheme offers unprecedented benefits to the cardholders and their families while creating an attractive environment for business and growth.
    • It attracts greater foreign investment and stimulates the local economy, making it more efficient and attractive for investors.
    • It also increases the UAE's competitiveness and reaffirms the country's position as a global incubator.
  • The government in the past couple of years has made its visa policy more flexible, offering longer residencies for certain types of investors, students and professionals.
• Reasons Behind the Move:
  
  • The UAE's economy has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and low oil prices, prompting many expatriates to leave. The move intends to bring them back now and keep the “talented people and great minds” in the Gulf country and help in nation-building.
  • It will attract talented professionals from various fields of expertise and further encourage innovation, creativity and applied research, adding to the appeal of a career in the UAE for the world’s brightest minds.
• Significance for India:
  
  • It would attract more Indian professionals and businessmen to the Gulf nation and strengthen the India-UAE Relations.
    
    • The Indian expatriate community is reportedly the largest ethnic community in the UAE, constituting roughly about 30% of the country's population, which has played a major role in the economic development of the UAE.
  • It will also facilitate the return of Indians who want to resume work after the relaxation of Covid-19-related restrictions, for which India had requested the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in early November 2020.

Source: TH

Sex Ratio and India

Why in News

According to the 2018 report on “vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System”, Arunachal Pradesh recorded the best sex ratio at birth in the country while Manipur recorded the worst sex ratio at birth.

• The report was published by the Registrar General of India.
• Sex ratio at birth is number of females born per thousand males. It is an important indicator to map the gender gap of a population.

Key Points

• Arunachal Pradesh recorded 1,084 females born per thousand males, followed by Nagaland (965), Mizoram (964), Kerala (963).
• The worst sex ratio was reported in Manipur (757), Lakshadweep (839) and Daman & Diu (877), Punjab (896) and Gujarat (896).
• Delhi recorded a sex ratio of 929, Haryana - 914.
  
  • The ratio was determined on the basis of data provided by 30 States and Union Territories as the requisite information from six States namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal is not available.
  • Major states are states with populations 10 million and above as per the 2011 Census.
• The Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2018 shows that sex ratio at birth in India, declined marginally from 906 in 2011 to 899 in 2018.
  
  • Contrary to popular perception, India’s sex ratio at birth declined even as per capita income increased nearly 10 times over the last 65 years, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of government data.
  • This could be because rising income, which results in increased literacy, makes it easier for families to access sex-selective procedures.
• Issues Related to Lower Sex Ratio at Birth:
  
  • Gender-imbalance:
    
    • Prof. Amartya Kumar Sen, in his world famous article “Missing Women‟ has statistically proved that during the last century, 100 million women have been missing in south Asia.
    • This is due to discrimination leading to death, experienced by them from womb to tomb in their life cycles.
    • An adverse child sex ratio is also reflected in the distorted gender makeup of the entire population.
  • Distortion in the Marriage System:
    
    • Adverse ratio results in a gross imbalance in the number of men and women and its inevitable impact on marriage systems as well as other harms to women.
    • In India, some villages in Haryana and Punjab have such poor sex ratios that men “import” brides from other States. This is often accompanied by the exploitation of these brides.
    • There are concerns that skewed sex ratios lead to more violence against both men and women, as well as human-trafficking.

Way Forward

• Bringing Behavioural Change:
  
  • Increasing female education and economic prosperity help to improve the ratio. In this pursuit, the government’s Beti-Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign has achieved remarkable success in bringing behavioural change in the society.
• Sensitizing Youth:
  
  • There is an urgent need to reach young people for reproductive health education and services as well as to cultivate gender equity norms.
  • For this, the services of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) can be leveraged, especially in rural areas.
• Stringent Enforcement of Law:
  
  • India must implement the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 more stringently and dedicate more resources to fighting the preference for boys.
  • In this context, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board decision to include ultrasound machines in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 is a step in the right direction.

Source: TH

Inflation Data: October 2020

Why in News

Recently, the wholesale price inflation data for the month of october 2020 was released.

• The wholesale price-based inflation is measured by Wholesale Price Index (WPI).

Key Points

• Wholesale Inflation:
  
  • Wholesale price inflation increased to the highest level in eight months, reaching 1.48% in October 2020, compared with 0% in October 2019 and 1.32% in September 2020.
    
    • It was driven by manufactured items as per the data released by the commerce and industry ministry.
  • The manufactured product group inflation hit a 19-month high of 2.1%, and core inflation accelerated to the highest level in 18 months at 1.7%.
  • Core Inflation excludes volatile goods from the basket of commodities tracking Headline Inflation. These volatile commodities mainly comprise food and beverages (including vegetables) and fuel and light (crude oil).
    
    • Core inflation = Headline inflation – (Food and Fuel) inflation
• Implication:
  
  • Increase in core inflation suggests improvement in demand conditions, which have improved after the Covid-19 related lockdown was lifted.
  • As a large part of this is due to festival related demand, it will be too early to term this as a general recovery.

Source: TH

Vulture Action Plan

Why in News

Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched a Vulture Action Plan 2020-25 for the conservation of vultures in the country.

Key Points

• Background:
  
  • Vulture numbers saw a decline as much as 90% in some species in India since the 1990s in one of the most drastic declines in bird populations in the world.
  • Between the 1990s and 2007, numbers of three presently critically-endangered species, the Oriental white-backed, long-billed and slender-billed vultures decreased massively with 99% of the species having been wiped out.
  • The number of red-headed vultures, also critically-endangered now, declined by 91% while the Egyptian vultures by 80%.
  • The decline in vulture populations came into limelight in the mid-90s..
  • Reason for decline:
    
    • The cause of the decline was established as diclofenac, a veterinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in 2004, which is used to treat pain and inflammatory diseases such as gout in carcasses that vultures would feed off.
    • Just 0.4-0.7% of animal carcasses contaminated with diclofenac was sufficient to decimate 99% of vulture populations.
  • The MoEFCC released the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2006 with the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) banning the veterinary use of diclofenac in the same year.
• Objectives of the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025.
  
  • Drug control:
    
    • To ensure minimum use of Diclofenac.
    • To Prevent the poisoning of the principal food of vultures, the cattle carcasses, with veterinary NSAIDs, by ensuring that sale of veterinary NSAIDs is regulated and is disbursed only on prescription and by ensuring that treatment of livestock is done only by qualified veterinarians.
    • To carry out safety testing of available NSAIDs on vultures and to develop new ones which do not affect vultures.
    • To ensure that DGCI must institute a system that automatically removes a drug from veterinary use if it is found to be toxic to vultures.
      
      1. Such a system would ensure that drugs other than diclofenac that are toxic to vultures like aceclofenac and ketoprofen are banned for veterinary use.
  • Upscaling conservation:
    
    • To establish Additional Conservation Breeding Centres along with Vulture Conservation Centres with samples and information collected from the wild analysed and stored at these centres.
    • To implement the Vulture Safe Zone programme at eight different places in the country where there are existing populations of vultures.
    • To launch conservation plans for the Red-headed and Egyptian vultures, with breeding programmes for both.
    • To declare a Vulture Safe Zone only when no toxic drugs are found in undercover pharmacy and cattle carcass surveys, for two consecutive years, and the vulture populations are stable and not declining.
    • To build Four rescue centres for different geographical areas like Pinjore in the north, Bhopal in ventral India, Guwahati in Northeast and Hyderabad in South India.
• Other Efforts:
  
  • National:
    
    • The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) also established the Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme.
    • A Vulture Care Centre (VCC) was set up at Pinjore, Haryana in 2001 to study the cause of deaths of vultures in India.
      
      1. The Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore is the world’s largest facility within the state’s Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary for the breeding and conservation of Indian vulture species.
  • International: SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction)
    
    • The consortium of like-minded, regional and international organizations, created to oversee and coordinate conservation, campaigning and fundraising activities to help the plight of south Asia’s vultures.
    • Objective: To save three critically important species from extinction through a single programme.
    • SAVE partners: Bombay Natural History Society, Bird Conservation Nepal, RSPB (UK), National Trust for Nature Conservation (Nepal), International Centre for Birds of Prey (UK) and Zoological Society of London.

Vultures in India

• India is home to nine species of vultures, but most of them face the danger of extinction.
• The nine species of vultures & their International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status are:

• Why vultures should be protected:
  
  • The scavenging lifestyle that gives them a bad reputation is, in fact, that makes them so important for the environment, nature and society.
  • Vultures feeding on dead animals help areas getting rid of carcasses that, otherwise, would provide foul smells and scenery for a much longer period hence also known as nature’s cleanup crew.
  • Vultures also play a valuable role in keeping wildlife diseases in check.

Source: IE