Daily Current for UPSC CSE
Topics Covered
- India – Maldives
- Tribunals
- Study on Cash Transfers
- RodTEP scheme
- Facts for Prelims
1 . India – Maldives
Context: the government of Mohamed Muizzu decided against renewing a hydrographic survey agreement with India.
What is hydrography?
- It is the science of studying oceans, seas, and other water bodies, by compiling and analysing data, maps, and charts.
- Branching off from applied sciences, it looks at measuring and describing the physical attributes of water bodies and predicting how they might change over time. While it is said to be undertaken primarily for safety of navigation, it also supports other activities, such as economic development, security and defence, scientific research, and environmental protection. Hydrographical measurements include tidal, current and wave information.
What is India’s expertise?
- India has been an active member of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) since 1955.
- The Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD) was established in 1874 in Kolkata.
- It is the nodal agency for hydrographic surveys and has a fleet of indigenously built modern survey ships.
- India partners with many countries in the Indian Ocean Region and African and East Asian countries such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Maldives, Mozambique, Vietnam, Myanmar, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.
- According to the INHD, its role has broadened over time, owing to the heightening global character of hydrography and “its growing potential as a force multiplier” in terms of maritime diplomacy.
- Personnel from 39 countries have trained at the National Institute of Hydrography, functioning under the INHD.
Why was the 2019 MoU significant?
- The MoU was signed in June 2019, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the Maldives. It was Mr. Modi’s second visit to the Maldives since he participated at President Solih’s swearing-in ceremony in 2018.
- Months before the time the MoU was inked, President Solih and the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had secured a landslide win in the general elections.
- The two Indian Ocean neighbours, and their leaders, backed by a decisive majority, committed to close cooperation in development, defence and maritime security.
- The first meeting of the Joint Commission on Hydrography was held in the Maldives in September 2019. Following the agreement, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Indian Navy have carried out three joint hydrographic surveys in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Why has the Cabinet decided against renewing the agreement?
- While President Muizzu has not made a statement specifically on the MoU on the joint hydrographic survey, a senior official told Maldivian media that the decision was aligned to the current administration’s pledge to terminate all agreements with foreign parties that are detrimental to or endanger the national security of the Maldives.
- The message appeared to be in line with Mr. Muizzu’s broad election campaign, pledging to remove Indian troops from the country and “restoring the Maldives’s sovereignty”.
- Once he assumed charge, the core demand of the ‘India Out’ campaign led by former President Abdulla Yameen, found mention in President Muizzu’s first set of official announcements.
How has India responded?
- In its first response to the Cabinet decision, the Ministry of External Affairs said India had a “proven track record” in the field.
What does this mean for India-Maldives ties?
- Going by recent developments, it appears as if New Delhi will have to brace for a challenging phase of its Male partnership.
- Maldives is a member of the Colombo Security Conclave, an initiative aimed at enhancing Indian Ocean maritime security, that includes India, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius. However, earlier this month, the Maldives skipped the latest round of the Conclave’s NSA-level meet held in Mauritius.
- Notably, it coincided with Maldivian Vice-President Hussain Mohamed Latheef’s visit to China, to attend the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation, where he said the Maldives was eager to explore novel avenues of collaboration and cooperation with China.
- The MEA’s response to the termination of the Maldives’s joint hydrographic initiative with India, pointed to New Delhi’s belief that its neighbours should tap the “benefits” of India’s expertise.
2 . Tribunals
Context: The Supreme Court has clarified that tribunals functioning under the strict parameters of their governing legislation cannot direct the government to make policy.
About the case
- The Bench was dealing with a question of whether the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) could have directed the government to make a policy to fill up the post of the Judge Advocate General (Air).
- It has been observed time and again that a court cannot direct the government for legislation or a policy to be made.
- The court noted that the AFT was vested with the powers of a civil court. The Tribunal did not have the powers of the Supreme Court or the High Courts.
- Even the High Courts cannot, in the exercise of the powers under Article 226 of the Constitution, direct the government or a department to formulate a particular policy.
- It said the creation or sanction of a scheme or policy regarding the service of defence personnel or their regularisation was the “sole prerogative of the government”.
About Tribunals
- Tribunals in India are quasi judicial bodies for settling various administrative and tax-related disputes, including Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), National Green Tribunal (NGT), Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) and Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), among others.
- Composition: The tribunals will consist of Chairman, vice-chairman and others whose terms of office will be restricted to five years and they will be eligible for reappointment after retirement.
Constitutional Provisions
- Tribunals were not part of the original constitution, it was incorporated by 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
- Article 323-A deals with Administrative Tribunals.
- Article 323-B deals with tribunals for other matters.
- Under Article 323 B, the Parliament and the state legislatures are authorised to provide for the establishment of tribunals for the adjudication of disputes relating to the following matters :
- Taxation
- Foreign exchange, import and export
- Industrial and labour
- Land reforms
- Ceiling on urban property
- Elections to Parliament and state legislatures
- Food stuff
- Rent and tenancy rights
- Article 323 A provides for the establishment of tribunals for public service matters only, Article 323 B, on the other hand, provides for the establishment of tribunals for certain other matters.
- Tribunals under Article 323 A can be established only by Parliament, while tribunals under Article 323 B can be established both by Parliament and state legislatures with respect to matters falling within their legislative competence.
3 . Study on Cash Transfers
Context: A study by Amartya Sen’s Pratichi Trust on Lakshmir Bhandar, one of the flagship schemes of the West Bengal government, points out that the cash incentives have increased the women beneficiary’s ability to make financial decisions and position in the family, but larger issues of child marriage and domestic violence require special attention.
Findings of the report
- From the gender perspective, although issues of security, dignity, and freedom of choice for women are being addressed to a certain extent through Lakshmir Bhandar, larger background realities like child marriage, and domestic violence still need special attention.
- It pointed out that 85.55% of women report that they decide how to spend the money themselves, followed by joint decision-making with their husbands at 10.76%.
- Another interesting figure pointed out is that the majority of the respondents report that their position in their family is enhanced due to Lakshmir Bhandar (Yes=61.07%, No=38.93%).
- The picture across social groups is also mostly equitable (though the perception of STs might demand more probing).
- From the policy point of view, it is important to ensure that there is conversation and awareness regarding the conflicting realities of domestic violence, child marriage and gender-based discrimination on the one hand and the benefits or freedom that accrue to women as a result of direct cash transfer programmes on the other.
- Lakshmir Bhandar has presented before women of modest background considerable promises for making a difference to their quotidian lives.
- It emphasised that entitlement, however, small but regular and steady has a multiplier effect on the lives of the beneficiaries.
Recommendations
- Women from similar economically deprived backgrounds particularly those from the OBC category and Muslims be treated at par with SC/ST category as far as the cash entitlement is concerned.
- There should be an attempt to enhance ST participation in the scheme as their enrolment is still low in comparison to the proportion of their population.
4 . RodTEP scheme
Context: The Union government is trying to work out a mechanism to provide tax remission benefits on exports of sugar, which was placed in the ‘restricted’ category in mid-2022, and is also considering a demand from tea exporters to raise their tax remission rates.
About the issue
- The Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme, launched in January 2021, is aimed at ensuring that no domestic taxes are added on to goods’ shipments meant for export
- Authorities had denied benefits under the scheme to sugar exporters after the sweetener was removed from the ‘free’ category in June 2022 as a pre-emptive measure to boost domestic availability and avoid a spurt in prices.
- “Any item which is restricted is not entitled for the RoDTEP benefits. So once sugar was brought into the restricted list, it has been prevented from getting RoDTEP,
About the Scheme
- The RoDTEP Scheme was introduced by the Government as a duty remission scheme on exports and is being implemented from 1st January 2021.
- The Scheme provides a mechanism for reimbursement of taxes, duties and levies, which are currently not being refunded under any other mechanism, at the central, state and local level, but which are incurred by the export entities in the process of manufacture and distribution of exported products. Under the Scheme, a support of Rs. 27,018 crores has been extended.
- The RoDTEP scheme operates under a budgetary framework and for FY 23-24, a budget of Rs 15,070 crores is available to support 10610 HS lines at the 8 digit level.
- It is a WTO compliant Scheme and follows the global principle that the taxes/duties should not be exported, they should be either exempted or remitted to exporters, to make the goods competitive in the global market.
- It will be administered by the Department of Revenue and its implementation will be done by the customs.
Features
- Refund of the previously non-refundable duties and taxes: Mandi tax, VAT, Coal cess, Central Excise duty on fuel etc. will now be refunded under this particular scheme. All the items under the MEIS and the RoSTCL (Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies) are now under the purview of the RoDTEP Scheme.
- Automated system of credit: The refund will be issued in the form of transferable electronic scrips. These duty credits will be maintained and tracked through an electronic ledger.
- Quick verification through digitisation: Through the introduction of the digital platform, the clearance happens at a much faster rate. Verification of the records of the exporters will be done with the help of an IT-based risk management system to ensure speed and accuracy of transaction processing.
- Multi-sector scheme: Under RoDTEP, all sectors, including the textiles sector, are covered, so as to ensure uniformity across all areas. Additionally, a dedicated committee will be set up to decide regarding the sequence of introduction of the scheme across the various sectors, what degree of benefit is to be extended to each sector, and such related matters.
5 . Facts for Prelims
Bab el-Mandeb
- The Bab-el-Mandeb is a strait between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, Djibouti,and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa.
- It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and by extension the Indian Ocean.
- It acts as a strategic link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
Ocular Microbiome
- A genome is the entire set of DNA instructions found in a cell. In humans, the genome consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes located in a cell’s nucleus.
- A biome refers to the species that are present in a location. Ocular microbiome refers to the bacteria, fungi and viruses that are present in the eye.
- The microbes in a healthy ocular microbiome act like a barrier, preventing invasion by harmful pathogens.
- The ocular microbiome is also significantly different in the conjunctiva (the thin, clear membrane that protects the eye) and the cornea (the outermost clear layer that helps in focusing and refraction of the eye) of patients with infectious diseases such as fungal keratitis when compared to healthy eye microbiomes.
Kinnow
- The Kinnow is a high yield mandarin hybrid cultivated extensively in the wider Punjab region of India and Pakistan.
- It is a hybrid of two citrus cultivars — ‘King’ (Citrus nobilis) × ‘Willow Leaf’ (Citrus × deliciosa)
- It matures in January or February.
CENTCOM
- The United States Central Command is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense.
- It was established in 1983, taking over the previous responsibilities of the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF)
- It directs and enables military operations and activities with allies and partners to increase regional security and stability in support of enduring U.S. interests.
- Command Priorities include: Deter Iran, Counter Violent Extremist Organizations, Compete Strategically by Regional Constructs and Integrated Air and Missile Defense/ Counter Unmanned Aerial systems.
Nematocysts
- It is a specialized cell in the tentacles of a jellyfish or other coelenterate, containing a barbed or venomous coiledthread that can be projected in self-defence or to capture prey.
- They are found in some animals, but especially jellyfish, corals, sea anemones, and hydras, that serve as potent weapons to hunt prey and fend off predators.
- Each nematocyst consists of a capsule containing a coiled, thread-like tubule and a bulbous structure with toxins. When stressed, the nematocyst rapidly ejects the tubule, often with an acceleration surpassing that of a bullet.
- The toxins in nematocysts also have different effects. Some are paralytic, immobilising the prey; others are cytolytic, meaning they break down cells.