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Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk2 

Context

• The Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2 would incorporate heavy standoff weaponry like SCALP, an air-to-ground, long-range deep strike missile.
• The LCA Mk2 will be able to incorporate unique armaments from many nations, unlike other aircraft.

About LCA Tejas Mk2:

• An Indian fighter jet known as the Indigenous LCATejas Mk2 is capable of carrying eight Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) missiles at once in addition to incorporating both modern armaments from other nations.
• The LCA Mk2, which has increased range and mission endurance, is an updated version of the LCA Tejas Mk1.
• For fighting a war, the LCA Tejas Mk1 has a mission endurance of 57 minutes, whereas the LCA Tejas Mk2 has a mission endurance of 120 minutes.
• When the Jaguar, MiG-29, and Mirage 2000 start to become obsolete in ten years, the LCA Mk2 will be promoted as a successor.
• By 2024, the aircraft should be in service after passing a crucial design review and starting production.
• The LCA Mk2 will be able to carry 6.5 tonnes of weapons. The LCA Mk2 will be powered by a GE-414 engine from General Electric.

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) – what are they?

• In 1984, the Government of India established the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to oversee the LCA program, which marked the beginning of the LCA program.

Features:

• Intended to carry a variety of precision-guided air-to-air and air-to-surface weaponry.
• Capability for air-to-air refuelling.

Additional Tejas variants:

• Tejas Trainer: A two-seat operational conversion trainer used to train pilots for the air force.
• LCA Navy: The Indian Navy is equipped with twin- and single-seat carriers.

HAL Ties Up HENSOLDT For Tech Transfer

Context

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will provide Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services for engines of US’s MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft System as India is in discussions to buy 30 MQ-9B drones to enhance its surveillance capabilities along the China border and the Indian Ocean region.

• In another announcement, Germany based HENSOLDT and HAL announced a collaboration agreement covering design/IPR Transfer for design and manufacturing of Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) for Indian helicopters.

What is the MQ-9B Sea Guardian?

• The MQ-9B Sea Guardian has changed the game in maritime domain awareness. It’s the first unmanned aerial system of its kind that can search the ocean surface and the depths in support of naval intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
• It is designed to fly over the horizon via SATCOM for up to 30 hours (depending on configuration) in all types of weather.
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) of US is the manufacturer of the MQ-9Bs.
• Indian Navy operates two MQ-9B Sea Guardians taken on lease in 2020.

What are the Highlights Related to Tech-Transfer Between India and Germany?

• HAL and HENSOLDT will collaborate on the design and manufacturing of Obstacle Avoidance Systems (OAS) for Indian helicopters, primarily the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), with potential future exports.
  • The OAS system will provide smart visual cues to pilots to reduce their workload, increasing flight safety, and mission effectiveness, particularly in crucial mission phases under adverse visual conditions.
  • The system is a LiDAR-based sensor with synthetic vision and 3D conformal symbology to detect objects and terrain, providing assistance to the pilot through safety lines, enhancing situational awareness to increase flight safety.

What is LiDAR Technology?

• LiDAR, or light detection and ranging, is a popular remote sensing method used for measuring the exact distance of an object on the earth’s surface.
• LiDAR uses a pulsed laser to calculate an object’s variable distances from the earth surface.
  • These light pulses — put together with the information collected by the airborne system — generate accurate 3D information about the earth surface and the target object.

UAPA Tribunal Upholds Centre’s Decision to Ban PFI

Context

Recently, five months after its constitution, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal upheld the Centre's decision to ban Popular fronts of India and its affiliates.

What is the Background of the Issue?

• In September 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a gazette notification declared the PFI an “unlawful association” along with “its associates or affiliates or fronts.
• The notification issued by the MHA imposed a ban on the PFI and its associate organizations, including the Rehab India Foundation (RIF) and Campus Front of India, for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.

What is UAPA?

• About:
  • The UAPA is aimed at prevention of unlawful activities association in India. Its main objective is dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India. It is also known as Anti-terror law.
    • Unlawful activities refer to any action taken by an individual or association intended to disrupt the territorial integrity and territorial sovereignty in India.
  • The act assigns absolute power to the central government and provides for death penalty and life imprisonment as the highest punishments.
• Major Provisions of the UAPA:
  • UAPA provides special procedures to deal with terrorist activities, among other things; the central government may designate an individual/organization as a terrorist/terrorist organization if it:
    • Commits/participates in acts of terrorism,
    • Prepares for terrorism,
    • Promotes terrorism, or
    • Is otherwise involved in terrorism.
  • Under the Act, an investigating officer is required to obtain the prior approval of the Director General of Police to seize properties that may be connected with terrorism.
    • Additionally, if the investigation is conducted by an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the approval of the Director General of NIA would be required for seizure of such property.
    • It empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases in addition to those conducted by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above
• Procedure Followed:
  • The declaration of an association as unlawful is communicated through a gazette notification and by affixing a copy on the association's offices or through loudspeakers in the area where the association conducts its activities.
    • The notification remains valid for five years from the date of publication, subject to the tribunal's order under the UAPA.
  • When the Centre declares an organization as unlawful, a tribunal is established by the Center to further investigate and confirm whether the decision is justified.
    • The notification by the Centre does not take effect until the tribunal confirms the declaration and the order is published in the official gazette.
  • The government must send the notification to the tribunal within 30 days of issuing the gazette notification to have the ban ratified.
    • Additionally, the MHA must refer to the Tribunal along with the cases that the NIA, Enforcement Directorate, and state police forces have registered against the association and its members across the country.

What is the UAPA Tribunal?

• The UAPA provides for a tribunal to be constituted by the government for its bans to have long-term legal sanctity.
  • It is headed by a retired or sitting judge of a High Court.
• On receiving notification from the Centre, the Tribunal calls upon the concerned association to show cause, within 30 days from the date of the service of such Centre’s notice, that why it should not be declared unlawful.
  • After hearing arguments from both sides, the Tribunal can hold an inquiry to decide within 6 months whether there is sufficient evidence to declare an association unlawful association.
• Under the UAPA, the Centre's notification cannot have an effect until the tribunal confirms the declaration in its order.

What are the Criticisms of the UAPA?

• Lack Of Substantive and Procedural Process: Section 35 of UAPA allows government to list any individual as a terrorist. The government may do so, based on only major suspicion and without any process.
  • The vague powers of State to detain and arrest individuals who it believes to be indulged in terrorist activities gives itself more powers vis-a-vis individual liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• Indirect Restriction on Right to Dissent: The right to dissent is a part and parcel of the fundamental right to free speech and expression and therefore, cannot be abridged in any circumstances except for mentioned in Article 19 (2).
  • The Amendment to UAPA in 2019 empowered the ruling government, under the garb of curbing terrorism, to impose indirect restriction on the right to dissent which is detrimental for a developing democratic society.
• Time Consuming: In almost 43% of the cases, the charge sheet has taken more than a year or two to be filed. This has led to a delay in getting justice.

Khalistan Issue

Context

Amritpal Singh, a follower of the Sikh militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who has been preaching the Idea of Khalistan Separatist Movement in Punjab for a few months, has managed to escape.

What is the Khalistan Movement?

• The Khalistan movement is a fight for a separate, sovereign Sikh state in present day Punjab (both India and Pakistan).
• The movement was crushed in India following Operation Blue Star (1984) and Operation Black Thunder (1986 and 1988), but it continues to evoke sympathy and support among sections of the Sikh population, especially in the Sikh diaspora in countries such as Canada, the UK, and Australia.

What is the Timeline of the Khalistan Movement?

• India’s Independence and Partition:
  • The origins of the movement have been traced back to India’s independence and subsequent Partition along religious lines.
  • The Punjab province, which was divided between India and Pakistan, saw some of the worst communal violence and generated millions of refugees.
  • Lahore, the capital of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s great Sikh Empire, went to Pakistan, as did holy Sikh sites including Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.
• Demand for Autonomous Punjabi Suba:
  • The political struggle for greater autonomy began around the time of Independence, with the Punjabi Suba Movement for the creation of a Punjabi-speaking state.
  • In 1966, after years of protest, Punjab was reorganized to reflect the Punjabi Suba demand.
  • The erstwhile Punjab state was trifurcated into the Hindi-speaking, Hindu-majority states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, and the Punjabi-speaking, Sikh-majority Punjab.
• Anandpur Sahib Resolution:
  • In 1973, Akali Dal, the major force in the new Sikh-majority Punjab, released a list of demands that would guide the political path among other things, the Anandpur Sahib Resolution demanded autonomy for the state of Punjab, identified regions that would be part of a separate state, and sought the right to frame its own internal constitution.
  • While the Akalis themselves repeatedly made it clear that they were not demanding secession from India, for the Indian state, the Anandpur Sahib Resolution was of grave concern.
• Bhindranwala:
  • Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a charismatic preacher, soon positioned himself as “the authentic voice of the Sikhs, in contrast to the Akali Dal’s leadership.
  • It is believed that Bhindranwale was propped up by Sanjay Gandhi to stand against the Akalis for Congress’s political benefit. However, by the 1980s, Bhindranwale had grown so much that he started to become a problem for the government.
• Dharam Yudh Morcha:
  • In 1982, Bhindranwale, with support from the Akali Dal’s leadership, launched a civil disobedience movement called the Dharam Yudh Morcha. He took up residence inside the Golden Temple, directing demonstrations and clashes with the police.
  • The movement was geared towards the demands first articulated in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, which addressed concerns of the state’s rural Sikh population. However, amidst growing religious polarization, sectarian violence, and Bhindranwale’s own harsh rhetoric against Hindus, Indira Gandhi’s government declared the movement tantamount to secession.
• Operation Bluestar:
  • Operation Blue Star began on 1st June 1984, but due to fierce resistance from Bhindranwale and his heavily armed supporters, the Army’s operation became larger and more violent than had been originally intended, with the use of tanks and air support.
  • Bhindranwale was killed and the Golden Temple was freed of militants, however it gravely wounded the Sikh community around the world.
  • It also galvanised the demand for Khalistan.
• Aftermath of Operation Bluestar:
  • In October 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikh bodyguards, triggering the worst communal violence since Partition, where over 8,000 Sikhs were massacred in massive anti-Sikh violence.
  • A year later, Sikh nationalists based in Canada blew up an Air India flight killing 329 people. They claimed that the attack was to “avenge Bhindranwale’s killing”.
  • Punjab saw the worst violence, becoming the hub of a long-drawn-out insurgency that lasted till 1995.
  • The bulk of the population turned against the militants, and India headed towards economic liberalisation.

What is the Status of the Khalistan movement today?

• Punjab has long been peaceful, but the movement lives among some Sikh communities overseas.
• The diaspora is composed predominantly of people who don’t want to live in India.
• These people include many who remember the bad old days of the 1980s, and thus the support for Khalistan remains stronger there.
• The deep-rooted anger over Operation Blue Star and the desecration of the Golden Temple continues to resonate with some in the newer generations of Sikhs. However, even as Bhindranwale is viewed as a martyr by many and the 1980s remembered as dark times, this has not manifested into tangible political support for the Khalistan cause.
• There is a small minority that is clinging to the past, and that small minority remains significant not because of popular support, but rather because they are trying to keep up their political influence with various political parties both from the left and the right.

Global Terrorism Index 2023

• The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) places India at 13th. Even while assaults and fatalities declined, the report reveals that Afghanistan remained the nation most severely afflicted by terrorism for the fourth year in a row.

With connection to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI)

• The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is a thorough study that examines the effects of terrorism on 163 nations, or 99.7% of the world's population.
• The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) uses information from Terrorism Tracker and other sources to generate the GTI report.
• GTI Score:
• The GTI generates a composite score in order to assess nations according to how much terrorism has affected them.
• Each nation is given a number from 0 to 10, with 0 denoting no damage from terrorism and 10 denoting the greatest quantifiable impact of terrorism.
• The GTI takes into account terrorism-related occurrences, hostages, and deaths.

What are the GTI's main highlights?

• The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), a think organisation, creates the GTI report using information from TerrorismTracker and other sources.
• Since January 1, 2007, Terrorism Tracker has kept records of terrorist attacks.
• Nearly 66,000 terrorist attacks from 2007 to 2022 are included in the dataset.
• Globally, terrorism-related fatalities decreased by 9% to 6,701 deaths, a 38% drop from their peak in 2015.
• Pakistan saw the second-largest increase in terror-related fatalities globally in 2022, with a substantial increase to 643.
• The region with the lowest average GTI score continues to be South Asia.
• In 2022, there were 1,354 terrorist-related fatalities in South Asia.
• For the eighth year in a row, Islamic State (IS) and its affiliates were the deadliest terrorist organisation on the planet, carrying out the most attacks and killings of any organisation in 2022.

Sahel and Af-Pak region:

• Attacks carried out by unidentified Jihadists resulted in eight times more fatalities worldwide than in 2017, accounting for 32% of all terrorism-related fatalities, and 18 times more in the Sahel.
• The Sahel is the area most affected by terrorism, accounting for 43% of all fatalities, a 7% increase over the previous year.
• The Sahel and Af-Pak region's jihadi upheavals continue to be major contributors to the rise in fatalities.
• Global trends: As terrorism declines in the West, attacks increase in other areas.
• Extreme far-right movements are expanding in both Europe and North America.

Challenges Related to Terrorism Globally

• Use of Emerging Technology by Terrorists: New advancements in computing and communications, such as widespread internet access, end-to-end encryption, and virtual private network (VPN), have allowed more radicalised people around the world to carry out different kinds of operations, increasing the threat.
• Politicisation of Terrorism Countermeasures: To varied degrees, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (P5) have used their veto authority to block efforts to identify terrorists.
• terrorism funding The World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) believe that criminals launder up to $4 trillion annually. Terrorists have also used charities and auxiliary remittance systems to mask their financial moves.
• The public's confidence in the integrity of the system is damaged, and it affects the global financial system.
• Consequences for India
• Kashmir: After Article 370 was repealed in regards to organised terror, the security situation in Kashmir did improve, but new problems surfaced in the shape of an increase in lone-wolf attacks and increased use of drones for cross-border terrorism.
• Sikh separatism: As Punjab's socio-political climate takes a drastic turn, secret Sikh separatist sentiments are beginning to show indications of rebirth.
• Cross-border narco-terror networks: In Kashmir and Punjab, drug abuse is on the rise, and these networks are a major contributor to this trend.
• India currently lacks the necessary tools to handle the threat posed by terror drones, whose sightings drastically increased in 2022.

Way Forward

• Re-energizing the Global Counter-Terrorism Agenda: It is important to re-energize the global counter-terrorism agenda by highlighting the need for unity and limiting the P5's veto power over the identification of terrorists globally.
• Adopting a Universal Definition of Terrorism: A universal definition of terrorism is required in order for all UNGA members to be able to include it in their own criminal laws, outlaw terror organisations, try terrorists under special laws, and make international extradition a crime.
• At the UN, India made a proposal in 1986 for a drafting of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). The UNGA has yet to accept it, though.

Inter-Services Organizations Bill, 2023

Context

The passage of the Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill, by the Parliament is a step closer towards realising the long-awaited reform of theaterisation of the Armed Forces in India.

What is the current setup of armed forces in India?

• Service Acts- Armed forces personnel in India are governed separately by
  • The Army Act, 1950
  • The Navy Act, 1957
  • The Air Force Act, 1950

Issues

• Disciplinary action- The Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of such Inter-services Organisations (ISOs) are not empowered to exercise disciplinary and administrative powers over the personnel belonging to other services.
• This has a direct impact on command, control and discipline of the Inter-services Organisations.
• Time consuming- The personnel serving in the ISOs need to be reverted back to their parent Service units for any disciplinary or administrative action.
• Financial constraints- It has financial implications relating to the movement of the personnel.
• Complexities- The problem becomes more cumbersome when the proceedings arise from the same set of facts and circumstances but involves personnel belonging to different services.
• Pendency of cases- Multiple sets of proceedings under the respective Services Act are required to be initiated, which hampers speedy disposal of cases.

What are the key features of the bill?

• Inter-services Organisation- It will placed under the command of an Officer-in-Command.
• It includes
  • Andaman and Nicobar Command
  • Defence Space Agency
  • National Defence Academy
• Power of central government- Central government may constitute an Inter-services Organisation which has personnel belonging to at least 2 of the three services.
• Central government may also issue directions to such organisations on grounds of national security, general administration, or public interest.
• The central government may notify any force (in addition to the three forces) raised and maintained in India to which the Bill will apply.
• Joint Services Command- It is constituted under Inter Service Organisation which may be placed under the command of a Commander-in-Chief.
• Control of Inter-services Organisations- The Bill empowers the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command of an Inter-services Organisation to exercise command and control over the personnel serving in or attached to it. 
• Commander-in-Chief- The officers eligible to be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command are
  • A General Officer of the regular Army (above the rank of Brigadier)
  • A Flag Officer of the Navy (rank of Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral, Vice-Admiral, or Rear-Admiral)
  • An Air Officer of the Air Force (above the rank of group captain)
• The Commander-in-Chief will be empowered to exercise all disciplinary and administrative powers vested in
  • General Officer Commanding the Army
  • Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of a Naval Command
  • Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of an Air Command,
  • Any other officer/authority specified in the service Acts or by the Government.
• Commanding officer- It provides for a Commanding Officer who will be in command of a unit, ship, or establishment.  
• The officer will perform duties assigned by the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of the Inter-services Organisation. 
• The officer will be empowered to initiate all disciplinary or administrative actions over the personnel appointed, deputed, posted, or attached to that Inter-services Organisation.

What are the advantages of the move? 

Establishment of theatre commands is a major military reform that seeks to roll the existing individual commands of the three services into tri-services organisations with a common military aim. 

• Integrated theatre command- Establishment of Inter Service Organisation will pave the way for creation of integrated theatre command.
• Better coordination- It will help to cope up with the new challenges involved in modern warfare which is more technology and network-centric and aid in better jointness within the military.
• Precursor to One Border One Force-
• Cost effective- Due to integration of services, there will be speedy disposal of cases and reduce the finance associated with it.
• Simplification- It simplifies the multiple set of proceedings, and eases the disciplinary action against the personnel.

What lies ahead?

• The integration of Indian armed forces with renewed vigour and future-readiness has been indeed boosted by this bill.
• China, with whom India shares a long and contested border, reorganised its 7 military regions into 5 theatre commands a few years ago.
• India also needed to evolve its response to such changes.

Dima Hasao Peace Pact: Assam

Context

Recently, the Assam government and the Union Government signed a peace agreement with Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA).

• On the appeal of the Chief Minister in September, 2021, the DNLA declared a unilateral ceasefire for a period of six months. Since then, the ceasefire has been continuously extended.

Main Features of this Peace Agreement

• Abide by the Indian Constitution: The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed that makes the DNLA lay down its arms and abide by the Constitution of India.
• To disband its organization: It will disband its armed organization and vacate all camps occupied by DNLA cadres and join the mainstream. Accordingly, it’s all 179 DNLA cadres will surrender their arms and ammunition.
• Development of Dimasa tribal areas: The central and state governments each will offer Rs 500 crore for the development of the Dimasa tribal areas.
• Dimasa Welfare Council: Government of Assam will set up Dimasa Welfare Council to protect, preserve and promote a social, cultural, and linguistic identity to meet political, economic, and educational aspirations. In addition, it will also secure speedy and focused holistic development of the Dimasa people residing outside the jurisdiction of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC). Dimasa Tribal Region is run by NCHAC.
• Demand for inclusion: To examine the demand for the inclusion of additional villages contiguous to the NCHAC with the Council, the MoU also provides a provision for the appointment of a commission under the Sixth Schedule (Paragraph 14) of the Constitution of India. The Sixth Schedule of the Indian constitution under Article 244 has special provisions for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions namely Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) that have some legislative, judicial, and administrative autonomy within a state.

Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA)

• Insurgent Group: DNLA is an insurgent group that operates in Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam.

• Foundation: It was established in April 2019. The objective of DNLA was to seek a sovereign territory for the Dimasa tribals and it launched an armed insurgency to achieve its goal.

• Objective: The motto of this group is to “develop a sense of brotherhood among the Dimasas coupled with rebuilding the trust and faith among the Dimasa society for regaining the Dimasa Kingdom”.

• Financial Resources: The financial resources of this group are extortion and taxation. “It draws its sustenance and support from the NSCN(IM) of Nagaland.

About Dimasas

• Area of their residence: Dimasa-Kacharis or “The Dimasas” are the earliest known rulers and settlers of Assam. Now they live in Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Hojai and Nagaon districts of central and southern Assam and in parts of Nagaland.

• Identity: According to some historians, they are “aborigines” or the “earliest known inhabitants of the Brahmaputra Valley”.

• Descendance: It was believed that the Dimasa kings were the descendants of the rulers of the ancient Kamarupa kingdom who ruled large parts of Assam and the south bank of the Brahmaputra between the 13th and 16th centuries prior to Ahom rule.

• Capital: The earliest capital of “The Dimasas” was Dimapur (now in Nagaland) and later it was shifted to Maibang in North Cachar Hills.

• They were very powerful and brought almost all southern belt of Brahmaputra under their subjugation in the 16th century.

Protection to Dimasas under Indian Constitution

• Both districts Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong enjoy special status under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

• They are under the control of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) respectively.

• It is a powerful body and almost all the departments of government are under its control except the police and Law and Order which is under Assam Government.

History of Militancy in Dima Hasao Region

• The hill districts of Assam, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao have had a long history of insurgency by Karbi and Dimasa groups which reached its zenith in the mid-1990s. Its core demand was statehood.

• In Dima Hasao, the demand for statehood began in the 1960s in addition to the other tribal sections of undivided Assam.

• While new states such as Meghalaya were carved out but the regions of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar remained with Assam on a promise of more power by the government. It also comprises the implementation of Article 244 (A) which allows for an ‘autonomous state’ within Assam in some tribal areas. This was never implemented.

Dimasa National Security Force

• The demand for a full-fledged state, ‘Dimaraji’, gathered momentum which led to the formation of the militant Dimasa National Security Force (DNSF) in 1991.

• Though, it surrendered in 1995 but its commander-in-chief (Jewel Gorlosa) escaped and formed the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD).

• The DHD began negotiations with the government in 2003 but its commander-in-chief broke and formed the DHD-J (Jewel) with an armed group called Black Widow. These groups were violent by nature and had very popular support. They signed a ceasefire in 2012.