UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 23rd March 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Solomon Islands

Why in News?

A state-backed Chinese company recently won a contract to develop a key port in the Solomon Islands.

Key Facts about Solomon Islands:

• Location:
  • It is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania.
  • It is situated in the southwest Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,000 km to the northeast of Australia.
• Capital: Its capital, Honiara, is located on the largest island, Guadalcanal.
• The terrain is mountainous and heavily forested.
• More than 90% of the islanders are ethnic Melanesians.
• Once a British protectorate, the Solomon Islands achieved independence as a republic in 1978.
• Language:
  • There are 63 distinct languages in the country, with numerous local dialects. 
  • English is the official language, but Pijin is the common language for the majority of people.

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a series of petitions seeking to criminalise marital rape.

What is Marital Rape?

• Marital rape is the act of sexual intercourse with one’s spouse without her consent.
• It is no different manifestation of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
• It is often a chronic form of violence for the victim which takes place within abusive relations.

Status in India

• Historically considered as right of the spouses, this is now widely classified as rape by many societies around the world.
• In India, marital rape is not a criminal offense (as protected under IPC section 375).
• India is one of fifty countries that have not yet outlawed marital rape.

Recent observations by Delhi HC

• Spousal intimacy: In a marriage, conjugal expectation is a two-way street, where “consent is given as a part of spousal intimacy although the will to engage may be absent”.
• Need for written agreement: If every such case is treated as marital rape, then the only way partners in a marriage may survive would be by drawing up a detailed written agreement.
• Burden of evidentiary record: This would lead to creating a detailed evidentiary record of every act of intimacy and/or by inviting a third party to act as a witness.
• Defying marital obligations: The HC said that marriage was accompanied by obligations that the partners had to bear, including conjugal expectations, financial obligations and, finally, duty towards progeny.
• Sexual liberty of spouses: The bench also underlined the signs of injury on a partner need not necessarily mean there had been non-consensual sex as “in the age of sexual liberation”, injuries could be a sign of “passion”.
• Cruelty not rape: Forced sexual intercourse between a husband and wife cannot be treated as rape. At worst, it can be treated as sexual abuse found in Section 3 of the Domestic Violence Act.
• Clash of ego: A wife cannot prescribe a particular punishment that can be imposed on the husband ‘to satisfy her ego’,” the HC said.

Reasons for rebuttal of this concept

• The reluctance to define non-consensual sex between married couples as a crime and to prosecute has been attributed to:
  • Traditional views of marriage
  • Interpretations of religious doctrines
  • Ideas about male and female sexuality
  • Cultural expectations of subordination of a wife to her husband
  • It is widely held that a husband cannot be guilty of any sexual act committed by himself upon his lawful wife their on account of their mutual matrimonial consent.

Why it must be a crime?

• Associated physical violence: Rape by a spouse, partner or ex-partner is more often associated with physical violence.
• Mental harassment: There is research showing that marital rape can be more emotionally and physically damaging than rape by a stranger.
• Compulsive relationship: Marital rape may occur as part of an abusive relationship.
• Revengeful nature: Furthermore, marital rape is rarely a one-time event, but a repeated if not frequent occurrence.
• Obligation on women: In the case of marital rape the victim often has no choice but to continue living with their spouse.

Violation of fundamental rights

• Marital rape is considered as a violation of FR guaranteed under Article 14 of the Indian constitution which guarantees the equal protection of laws to all persons.
• By depriving married women of an effective penal remedy against forced sexual intercourse, it violates their right to privacy and bodily integrity, aspects of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.

Problems in prosecuting marital rape

• Lack of awareness: A lack of public awareness, as well as reluctance or outright refusal of authorities to prosecute is common globally.
• Gender norms: Additionally, gender norms that place wives in subservient positions to their husbands, make it more difficult for women to recognize such rape.
• Acceptability of the concept: Another problem results from prevailing social norms that exist.

Present regulations in India

• Indian Penal Code criminalizes rape in most cases, although marital rape is not illegal when the woman is over the age of 18.
• However, until 2017, men married to those between 15 and 18 could not be convicted of rape.
• Marital rape of an adult wife, who is unofficially or officially separated, is a criminal offence punishable by 2 to 7 year in prison; it is not dealt by normal rape laws which stipulate the possibility of a death sentence.

According to the Protection of Women From Domestic Violence Act (2005), other married women subject to such crime by their husbands may demand for financial compensation.

• They also have the right to continue to live in their marital household if they wish, or may approach shelter or aid homes.
• However, marital rape is still not a criminal offence in this case and is only a misdemeanour.

Arguments against criminalization

• Subjective: It is very subjective and intricate to determine whether consent was acquired or not.
• Prone to Misuse: If marital rape is criminalized without adequate safeguards it could be misused like the current dowry law by the dissatisfied wives to harass and torture their Husbands.
• Burden on Judiciary: It will increase the burden of judiciary which otherwise may serve other more important causes.

Way forward

• Sanctioning marital rape is an acknowledgement of the woman’s right to self-determination (i.e., control) of all matters relating to her body.
• In the absence of any concrete law, the judiciary always finds it difficult to decide the matter of domestic rape in the absence of solid evidence.
• The main purpose of marriage is procreation, and sometimes divorce is sought on the ground of non-consummation of marriage.
• Before giving a final interpretation, the judiciary must balance the rights and duties of both partners.

Source: Indian Express

Why in News?

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently demolished more than 250 slums that had encroached inside the centuries-old Mahim Fort in a bid to make it suitable for redevelopment.

About Mahim Fort:

• Location: It is a fort in Mahim in Mumbai, Maharashtra state.
• The fort was built by Maharaja Pratapbimb of the Rajput dynasty in the 11th century AD.
• History:
  • In 1516, Portuguese commander Dom Joao de Monoy entered the Mahim Creek and defeated the commander of the Mahim fort.
  • The fort was the site of frequent skirmishes between the Portuguese and the Ali Shah, a Gujarati ruler before the island of Mahim was appropriated from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat by the Portuguese in 1534.
  • In 1661, the Portuguese ceded the island of Mahim as dowry to Charles II of England. 
  • After the English gained control of the fort, it was strengthened by Sir Thomas Grantham in 1684 and became a strategic watchtower against possible Portuguese attacks and later from the Marathas.
  • In 1772, the Portuguese attempted to attack this fort, but they were repelled by the British with cannonballs.
• Architecture:
  • The present structure seen here is the last modified structure by the British East India Company.
  • The building material used here is Sea rocks, limestones, and granite stones. 
  • This fort is unique for its masonry rock works. 
  • The total design of this fort looks square and rectangular shape when seen from the outer side.
  • The main fortification walls are built high and thick.
  • There are many bastions found on these walls, which are in a square model.

Source: Indian Express

GS-II

Why in News?

The Rajasthan Assembly passed the Right to Health (RTH), even as doctors continued their protest against the Bill, demanding its complete withdrawal.

Right to Health (RTH): A conceptual insight

• RTH is a fundamental human right that guarantees everyone the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
• It is recognized as a crucial element of the right to an adequate standard of living and is enshrined in international human rights law.

Scope of RTH

• RTH covers various health-related issues, including-
  • Access to healthcare services, clean water and sanitation, adequate nutrition, healthy living and working conditions, health education, and disease prevention.
  • Accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services,
  • Eliminating barriers to healthcare access
  • Informed consent to medical treatment and accessing information about their health.

What is the Rajasthan Right to Health Bill?

• Free treatment: RTH gives every resident of the state the right to avail free Out Patient Department (OPD) services and In Patient Department (IPD) services at all public health facilities and select private facilities.
• Wider scope of healthcare: Free healthcare services will include consultation, drugs, diagnostics, emergency transport, procedures, and emergency care. However, there are conditions specified in the rules that will be formulated.
• Free emergency treatment: Residents are entitled to emergency treatment and care without prepayment of fees or charges.
• No delay in treatment: Hospitals cannot delay treatment on grounds of police clearance in medico-legal cases.
• State reimbursement of charges: After emergency care and stabilisation, if patients do not pay requisite charges, healthcare providers can receive proper reimbursement from the state government.

Existing schemes in Rajasthan

• The flagship Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme provides free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh, which has been increased to Rs 25 lakh in the latest budget.
• The Rajasthan Government Health Scheme covers government employees, ministers, current and former MLAs, etc.
• The Nishulk Nirogi Rajasthan scheme provides free OPD and IPD services in government hospitals and covers about 1,600 medicines, 928 surgicals, and 185 sutures.
• The Free Test scheme provides up to 90 free tests in government hospitals and has benefited 2.93 crore persons between March-December 2022.

Need for the RTH Scheme

• The state prioritizes healthcare and wants Rajasthan to be a great example of good health.
• The Health Minister has received many complaints about private hospitals asking for money from patients who have the Chiranjeevi card.
• So, they are bringing in a new law to stop this.
• The new law will make sure that future governments follow it and provide free healthcare to everyone.

Controversy with the RTH Law: Emergency Care Provisions

• Emergency care was a contentious issue in the RTH.
• The clause states that people have the right to emergency treatment and care for accidental emergency, emergency due to snake bite/animal bite and any other emergency decided by the State Health Authority under prescribed emergency circumstances.
• Emergency treatment and care can be availed without prepayment of requisite fee or charges.
• Public or private health institutions qualified to provide such care or treatment according to their level of health care can offer emergency care.

Issues raised by healthcare professionals

• Existing burden of schemes: Doctors are protesting against the RTH because they question the need for it when there are already schemes like Chiranjeevi that cover most of the population.
• Specialization concerns: They are also objecting to certain clauses, such as defining “emergency” and being compelled to treat patients outside their specialty as part of an emergency.
• Unnecessary obligations: The Bill empowers patients to choose the source of obtaining medicines or tests at all healthcare establishments, which means that hospitals cannot insist on in-house medicines or tests.

Way forward

• Given the contentious nature of the Bill, it is important for all stakeholders to come to the table and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the issues at hand.
• It should involve liaison between government, doctors, patient advocacy groups, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the concerns raised by all parties and identify potential solutions.
• This could be followed by a revision of the Bill, incorporating feedback and suggestions from all stakeholders, and a renewed effort to build consensus and support for the legislation.
• Additionally, greater efforts could be made to improve transparency and accountability in the healthcare system, with a focus on educating patients about their rights.

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

The demand for the old pension scheme (OPS) is growing in India, particularly after some states announced plans to revert to it. The mainstream critique of OPS is centered around inefficiency and fiscal deficit concerns. However, it is crucial to examine the policy from the class and welfare perspectives.

What is pension?

• A pension is a retirement plan that provides a stream of income to individuals after they retire from their job or profession. It can be funded by employers, government agencies, or unions and is designed to ensure a steady income during retirement.

What is Old Pension Scheme (OPS)?

• The OPS, also known as the Defined Benefit Pension System, is a pension plan provided by the government for its employees in India.
• Under the OPS, retired government employees receive a fixed monthly pension based on their last drawn salary and years of service.
• This pension is funded by the government and paid out of its current revenues, leading to increased pension liabilities.

Did you know: The National Pension System (NPS)?

• NPS is a market-linked, defined contribution pension system introduced in India in 2004 as a replacement for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
• NPS is designed to provide retirement income to all Indian citizens, including government employees, private sector workers, and self-employed individuals.

Analyzing the Impact of OPS on India’s Socio-Economic Landscape

• Inequality and Regressive Redistribution: Under the National Pension System (NPS), the Sixth Pay Commission increased the basic salary of government employees to cover pension contributions and promote post-retirement savings. As a result, the salary of a government employee is higher than the income of more than 90% of the population. The OPS thus acts as a regressive redistribution mechanism favoring a better-off class.
• Rising Pension Liabilities: Pension liabilities of the government increased substantially due to the Sixth pay matrix, reaching 9% of total state expenditure. By 2050, pension expenditure will account for 19.4% of total state expenditures, assuming the current growth rate remains constant.
• Disproportionate Burden on the Lower Class: The bottom 50% of the population faces the inequitable burden of indirect taxation, six times more than their income. Due to OPS, they must bear the burden of supporting government employees’ pensions, which could push them further into poverty.
• Expenditure Challenges and Public Goods: As India’s population ages and public provision of education and healthcare becomes more critical, OPS poses expenditure challenges for providing public goods. This situation compels governments to compress already low social sector expenditures, pushing marginalized groups into further destitution.
• Monopolization of Future Labor Markets: The OPS facilitates the monopolization of future labor markets in the private sector by a proprietary class, allowing supervisory bureaucracy to consolidate its position and emerge as a dominant group.

Recommendations for Equitable Resource Distribution

• Opposition to the OPS should focus on equitable distribution of resources and expansion of universal provisions of public goods.
• Implement a participatory pension system for government employees to provide more egalitarian outcomes.
• Tweak the NPS to provide a guaranteed monthly return for lower-rung employees.
• Address unequal pay among various ranks of employees through administrative reforms.
• Advocate for progressive taxation of the top 10% and a rationalization of political executives’ pensions and profligacy.

Facts for prelims: NPS vs OPS

Conclusion

It is essential to recognize the disenchantment with neoliberalism driving the demand for the OPS. Government employees and policymakers must work together to address the challenges posed by OPS and implement pension reforms that prioritize equitable resource distribution, efficient allocation, and social welfare.

Source: The Hindu

GS-III

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Minister of Science & Technology inaugurated Asia’s largest 4-metre International Liquid Mirror Telescope at Devasthal in Uttarakhand.

About International Liquid Mirror Telescope:

• ILMT is the first liquid mirror telescope designed exclusively for astronomical observations and is the first optical survey telescope in India.
• It has a 4-meter-diameter rotating mirror made up of a thin layer of liquid mercury to collect and focus light.
• The metal mercury is in liquid form at room temperature, which is highly reflective and designed to survey the strip of the sky passing overhead each night. 
• The Devasthal observatory is equipped with the largest aperture telescope available in India that will use Big Data and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) algorithms to classify objects in the sky.
• The telescope has three components: A bowl containing a reflecting liquid mercury metal, an air bearing (or motor) on which the liquid mirror sits, and a drive system.
• The mercury is protected from the wind by a scientific grade thin transparent film of mylar.
• The reflected light passes through a sophisticated multi-lens optical corrector that produces sharp images over a wide field of view and a 4k CCD camera, located above the mirror at the focus, records 22 arc-minute wide strips of the sky.
• The data collected from the ILMT, over an operational time of 5 years, will be ideally suited to perform a deep photometric and astrometric variability survey.
• Maintained by the Aryabhata Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES).

Source: Indian Express

Why in News?

Scientists think they have explained the unexpected behavior of ‘Oumuamua, the first known interstellar object in the Solar System.

About Oumuamua:

• It is the first confirmed object from another star (interstellar object) to visit the solar system.
• The object was discovered on 19, 2017, by the NASA-funded Pan-STARRS1 telescope.
• Astronomers named the object 1I/2017 U1 (‘Oumuamua), Hawaiian for “a messenger from afar arriving first.”
• Size and Shape: The object is believed to be at least a quarter-mile (400 meters) long and cigar-shaped, with a length roughly ten times longer than the width.
• What was the Mystery?
  • It had no bright coma or dust tail, like most comets, and a peculiar shape.
  • It was accelerating away from the sun in a way that astronomers could not explain.
  • Recent Finding: Researchers say the answer might be the release of hydrogen from trapped reserves inside water-rich ice as the comet warmed up in the sunlight.

Source: Indian Express