UPSC Daily Current Affairs- September 06, 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Context

Heavy floods in Pakistan has pushed the archeological site of Mohenjo Daro – near the bank of the Indus river – to the “brink of extinction”. 

• Pakistan’s Department of Archaeology has said that Mohenjo Daro might be removed from the world heritage list, if urgent attention towards its conservation and restoration is not given.

About Mohenjo Daro

• Mohenjo Daro, a group of mounds and ruins, is a 5000-year-old archaeological site located about 80-km off the city of Sukkur.
• It comprises the remnants of one of two main centres of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, the other one being Harappa, located 640 km to the northwest, in Punjab province.
• Mohenjo Daro, which means ‘mound of the dead’, was one of the oldest cities of the world.
• Known to be a model planned city of the ancient civilisation, the houses here had bathrooms, toilets and drainage system.
• The sheer size of the city, and its provision of public buildings and facilities, suggests a high level of social organization.
• Though in ruins, the walls and brick pavements in the streets are still in a preserved condition.

How did it came to prominance

• The ruins of the city remained undocumented for around 3,700 years, until 1920, when archaeologist RD Banerji visited the site.
• Its excavation started in 1921 and continued in phases till 1964-65.
• The site went to Pakistan during Partition.

What next for the site

• According to media reports, many streets and sewerage drains of the historical ruins have been badly damaged due to the floods.
• However, the work of removing the sediments deposited due the flooding is still underway.
• But if this kind of flooding happens again, the heritage site may once again get buried under the ground, archaeologists say.
• It is expected that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will visit the site during his visit to Pakistan on September 11.
• The visit might provide some clarity on if the site has lost some of its attributes that are necessary for it to retain its prestigious world heritage tag.

Losing world heritage tag

• There are around 1,100 UNESCO listed sites across its 167 member countries.
• Last year, the World Heritage Committee decided to delete the property ‘Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City’ (UK) from the World Heritage List.
• This was due to the irreversible loss of attributes conveying the outstanding universal value of the property.
• Liverpool was added to the World Heritage List in 2004 in recognition of its role as one of the world’s major trading centres in the 18th and 19th centuries – and its pioneering dock technology, transport systems and port management.
• Before that, the first venue to be delisted by the UNESCO panel was the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman, in 2007, after concerns over poaching and habitat degradation.
• Another site to be removed from the World Heritage list in 2009 was Elbe Valley in Dresden, Germany, after the construction of the Waldschloesschen road bridge across the Elbe River.

Context

• Recently, the Prime Minister paid tribute to V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, the legendary freedom fighter on his 151^th birth anniversary on 5^th September 2022.
• He was popularly known as Kappalottiya Tamilan (The Tamil Helmsman) and Sekkizuththa Semmal (scholarly gentry who suffered at the oil press).

Who was Chidambaram Pillai?

• Birth: Vallinayagam Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai (VOC) was born 5^th September 1872 to an eminent lawyer Olaganathan Pillai and Paramyee Ammai in Ottapidaram, Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
• Early Life: VOC graduated from Caldwell College, Tuticorin. Before beginning his law studies, he worked for a brief period as a taluk office clerk.
  • His tussle with the judge forced him to seek fresh pastures at Tuticorin in 1900.
  • Until 1905, professional and journalistic activities consumed most of his energy.
• Entry in Politics: VOC entered politics in 1905 following the partition of Bengal.
  • Towards the end of 1905, VOC visited Madras and was drawn closer to the Swadeshi Movement initiated by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai.
  • VOC was drawn towards Ramakrishna Mission and came into contact with Subramania Bharati and the Mandayam family.
  • It was not until the arrival of VOC at Tuticorin (Present day Thoothukudi) that the Swadeshi movement in Tirunelveli district began to gather force and momentum.
• Role Played in Freedom Movement: By 1906, VOC won the support of merchants and industrialists in Tuticorin and Tirunelveli for the idea of establishing a Swadeshi merchant shipping outfit by the name of the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company (SSNCo).
  • He established many institutions like Swadeshi Prachar Sabha, Dharmasanga Nesavu Salai, National Godown, Madras Agro-Industrial Society Ltd and Desabimana Sangam.
  • VOC and Siva were aided in their efforts by a number of Tirunelveli-based lawyers, who formed an organisation called the Swadeshi Sangam, or ‘National Volunteers’.
  • The nationalist movement acquired a secondary character with the beginning of the Tuticorin Coral Mills strike (1908).
  • Even prior to Gandhiji’s Champaran Satyagraha (1917), VOC took up the cause of the working class in Tamil Nadu, and thus he is a forerunner to Gandhiji in this respect.
  • VOC, along with other leaders, resolved to take out a mammoth procession on the morning of 9th March 1908 to celebrate the release of Bipin Chandra Pal from jail and to hoist the flag of Swaraj.
• Writings: Meyyaram (1914), Meyyarivu (1915), Anthology (1915), Thirukural with literary notes of Manakudavar (1917), Tholkappiam with literary notes of Ilampooranar (1928), Autobiography (1946).
• Death: V.O.C died on 18^th November 1936 in the Indian National Congress Office at Tuticorin.

GS-II

Context

Recently, the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed the Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

What are the Amendments?

• The amendment Bill has diluted the binding aspect of the Lokayukta order, allowing the competent authority to now either reject or accept the ombudsman’s report.
  • With the amendment the state government will get the power to either accept or reject the verdict of the anti-corruption body, after giving an opportunity to be heard.
  • The amendment will make Lokayukta a body for just making recommendations or sending reports to the government.
• It has also made the Legislative Assembly the competent authority to review an indicting report against the Chief Minister.
  • If a Lokayukta report indicts a cabinet minister, the Bill vests the reviewing authority in the Chief Minister.
• And in the case of legislators, the competent authority will be the House Speaker.
• The Bill exempts political leaders from the purview of the Act.
• The Bill allows for retired High Court judges to be appointed Lokayukta.
• Section 14 of the Act which has now been amended said that if the Lokayukta is satisfied on the complaint against the public servant being substantiated that he should not continue to hold the post held by him, he shall make a declaration to that effect in his report to the competent authority who shall accept it and act upon it.
  • In other words, if the public servant is the Chief Minister or a Minister, he shall forthwith resign his office. Such a provision does not exist in any of the State laws or the Lokpal Act of the Centre.

What is the Concept of Lokpal and Lokayuktas?

• The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 provided for the establishment of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for States.
• These institutions are statutory bodies without any constitutional status.
• They perform the function of an "ombudsman” and inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for related matters.
• The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 provides for establishing a Lokpal headed by a Chairperson, who is or has been a Chief Justice of India, or is or has been a judge of the Supreme Court, or an eminent person who fulfills eligibility criteria as specified.
  • Of its other members, not exceeding eight, 50% are to be judicial members, provided that not less than 50% belong to the SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, or are women.
  • The Lokpal was appointed in March 2019 and it started functioning since March 2020 when its rules were framed.
  • The Lokpal is at present headed by former Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court Pradip Kumar Mohanty.
  • The Lokpal has jurisdiction to inquire into allegations of corruption against anyone who is or has been Prime Minister, or a Minister in the Union government, or a Member of Parliament, as well as officials of the Union government under Groups A, B, C and D.
  • Also covered are chairpersons, members, officers and directors of any board, corporation, society, trust or autonomous body either established by an Act of Parliament or wholly or partly funded by the Centre.
  • It also covers any society or trust or body that receives foreign contributions above Rs. 10 lakhs.

What are the Concerns related to Lokayukta Act?

• The Lokayukta law was enacted to inquire into cases of corruption of public functionaries such as Ministers, legislators, etc. who are covered by the Prevention of Corruption Act. This Act does not include office bearers of political parties in its definition clause.
  • Basically, the Prevention of Corruption Act deals with corruption in the government and allied agencies, statutory bodies, elected bodies, etc. The functionaries of political parties do not come within the mischief of this law.
  • So, it is difficult to understand how they can be brought within the sweep of the Lokayukta Act.
• Another problematic provision in this law is the one which deals with the reports of Lokayukta (Section 12).
  • It says that the Lokayukta shall, on the allegation of corruption being substantiated, send the findings along with recommendation of action to the competent authority who is required to take action as recommended by the Lokayukta.
  • It further says that if the Lokayukta is satisfied by the action taken by the competent authority, he shall close the case. The question is how the Lokayukta can close a corruption case which is a criminal case and which invites imprisonment for three to seven years.
    • Lokpal files the case in court after the investigation. There is no provision in the central law under which the Lokpal can close the case before it reaches the court.

Context

On the occasion of Teacher’s Day 2022, the Prime Minister of India announced a new initiative - PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India).

• It will be a laboratory for the new National Education Policy (NEP) and under the first phase, 14,500 schools will be upgraded.

Why is Teacher’s Day Celebrated in India?

• Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year, since 1962, on September 5, to recognise and celebrate the works of educators including teachers, researchers and professors in India.
• After Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan took charge as the President of India in 1962, some students sought permission from him to celebrate his birthday. Dr Radhakrishnan, however, did not approve any fancy celebration but rather requested that the day be observed as Teachers' Day.
• About Radhakrishnan
  • Birth: He was born into a Telugu family in Tiruttani town of Tamil Nadu, on September 5, 1888.
  • Academics
    • He studied philosophy at the Christian College, Madras.
    • After completing his degree, he became a Professor of Philosophy at Madras Presidency College and then subsequently Professor of Philosophy at the University of Mysore.
  • Employment
    • He served as the first Vice-President of India from 1952 to 1962 and the second President of India from 1962 to 1967.
    • He was also the Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952.
    • He also served as the fourth Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from 1939 to 1948.
  • Recognition: In 1984, he was posthumously (after death) awarded the Bharat Ratna.
  • Notable Works: Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy, Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore, The Hindu View of Life, Kalki or the Future of Civilisation, An Idealist View of Life, The Religion We Need, India and China, and Gautama the Buddha.

What do we know about The Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) Yojana?

• About
  • It is a centrally sponsored scheme for upgradation and development of more than 14500 Schools across the country.
  • It aims at strengthening the selected existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies.
• Significance
  • It will showcase all components of the National Education Policy 2020 and act as exemplar schools and also offer mentorship to other schools in their vicinity.
    • The aim of these schools will not only be qualitative teaching, learning and cognitive development, but also creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21^st century skills.
  • Pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based, inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible and enjoyable.
  • Focus will be on achieving proficiency in learning outcomes of every child in every grade.
    • Assessment at all levels will be based on conceptual understanding and application of knowledge to real life situations and will be competency-based.
  • These schools will be equipped with modern infrastructure including labs, smart classrooms, libraries, sports equipment, art room etc. which is inclusive and accessible.
    • These schools shall also be developed as green schools with water conservation, waste recycling, energy-efficient infrastructure and integration of organic lifestyle in curriculum.

Context

The National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex regulatory body of medical professionals in India, has written to all State Medical Councils, banning sexual conversion therapy and calling it a “professional misconduct”. 

• The NMC has empowered the State bodies to take disciplinary action against medical professionals who breach the guideline.
• The NMC was following a Madras High Court directive to issue an official notification listing conversion therapy as a wrong, under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquettes and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.

What is Sexual Conversion Therapy?

• Conversion or reparative therapy is an intervention aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of an individual.
• It uses either psychiatric treatment, drugs, exorcism and even violence, with the aim being to make the individual a heterosexual.
• The conversion therapy umbrella also includes efforts to change the core identity of youth whose gender identity is incongruent with their sex anatomy.
• Often, the therapy is offered by quacks with little expertise in dealing with the issue.
• As late as 2018, medical books listed homosexuality and lesbianism as a “perversion”.

What are the risks?

• The interventions under conversion therapy are provided under the false premise that homosexuality and diverse gender identities are pathological.
• They are not; the absence of pathology means there is no need for conversion or any other like intervention.
• Conversion therapy poses the risk of causing or exacerbating mental health conditions, like anxiety, stress and drug use which sometimes even lead to suicide.

What is the role of the Madras High Court in the ban?

On June 7, 2021, Justice N. Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court gave a landmark ruling on a case he was hearing about the ordeal of a same-sex couple who sought police protection from their parents.

• Pending adequate legislation more protective of the community, Justice Venkatesh issued a slew of interim guidelines.
• It aimed for the police, activists, Union and State Social Welfare Ministries, and the National Medical Commission to ensure their safety and security to lead a life chosen by them.
• The ruling prohibited any attempt to medically “cure” or change the sexual orientation of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual or of any other orientation) people.
• It urged the authorities to take action against professionals involving themselves in any form or method of conversion therapy,” which could include the withdrawal of licence to practice medicine.
• On July 8, 2022, the court gave an order to the NMC directing it to issue necessary official notification by enlisting ‘Conversion Therapy’ as a professional misconduct.

What were some of the other guidelines issued by the court?

• The court asked the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to draw up a list of NGOs and other groups which could handle the issues faced by the community, and gave it a time of 8 weeks from the date of the order.
• The court said the community should be provided with legal assistance by the District Legal Services Authority in coordination with law enforcement agencies.
• It asked agencies to follow the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, in letter and spirit.
• The court said it was imperative to hold sensitisation programmes for an all-out effort to understand the community and its needs.

Context

Preventive detentions in 2021 saw a rise by over 23.7% compared with the year before, with over 1.1 lakh people being placed under preventive detention, according to statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). 

What does NCRB report say on Preventive Detention?

• Over 24,500 people placed under preventive detention were either in custody or still detained as of 2021-end — the highest since 2017 when the NCRB started recording this data.
• Over 483 were detentions under the National Security Act, of which almost half (241) were either in custody or still detained as of 2021-end.
• In 2017, the NCRB’s Crime in India report found that 67,084 persons had been detained as a preventive measure that year.
• Of these, 48,815 were released between one and six months of their detention and 18,269 were either in custody or still in preventive detention as of the end of the year.

Various provisions invoked for Preventive Detention

• Among other laws under which the NCRB has recorded data on preventive detentions are the:
  • Goonda Act (State and Central) (29,306),
  • Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (1,331), and
  • A category classified as “Other Detention Acts”, under which most of the detentions were registered (79,514).
• Since 2017, the highest number of persons to be placed under preventive detention has consistently been under the “Other Detention Acts” category.

Concerns over the report

• The number of persons placed under detention has been increasing since 2017 — to over 98,700 in 2018 and over 1.06 lakh in 2019 — before dipping to 89,405 in 2020 (due to lockdowns).
• The number of persons placed under preventive detention has seen an increase in 2021.

Preventive Detention in India

A police officer can arrest an individual without orders from a Magistrate and without any warrant if he gets any information that such an individual can commit any offense.

• Preventive Detention Law, 1950: According to this law any person could be arrested and detained if his freedom would endanger the security of the country, foreign relations, public interests, or otherwise necessary for the country.
• Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) 1968: Within the ambit of UAPA law the Indian State could declare any organization illegal and could imprison anyone for interrogation if the said organization or person critiqued/questioned Indian sovereignty territorially.

Rights of an Arrested Person in India

A/c to Article 22(1) and 22(2) of the Indian constitution:

• A person cannot be arrested and detained without being informed why he is being arrested.
• A person who is arrested cannot be denied to be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice. This means that the arrested person has right to hire a legal practitioner to defend himself/ herself.
• Every person who has been arrested would be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours.
• The custody of the detained person cannot be beyond the said period by the authority of magistrate.

Exceptions for Preventive Detention

Article 22(3) says that the above safeguards are not available to the following:

• If the person is at the time being an enemy alien
• If the person is arrested under certain law made for the purpose of “Preventive Detention”

Issues with preventive detention

• Arbitrariness: The police determinations of whether a person poses a threat are not tested at a trial by leading evidence or examined by legally trained persons.
• Rights violation: Quiet often, there is no trial (upto 3 months), no periodic review, and no legal assistance for the detained person.
• Abuse: It does not provide any procedural protections such as to reduce detainees’ vulnerability to torture and discriminatory treatment, and to prevent officials’ misusing preventive detention for subversive activities.
• Tool for suppression: In the absence of proper safeguards, preventive detention has been misused, particularly against the Dalits and the minorities.

What has the apex court recently rule?

• Preventive detention is a necessary evil only to prevent public disorder, ruled the Supreme Court in 2021.
• The State should not arbitrarily resort to “preventive detention” to deal with all sundry “law and order” problems, which could be dealt with by the ordinary laws of the country.
• Whenever an order under a preventive detention law is challenged, one of the questions the court must ask in deciding its legality is: was the ordinary law of the land sufficient to deal with the situation?
• If the answer is in the affirmative, the detention order will be illegal.

Upholding the Article 21

• Preventive detention must fall within the four corners of Article 21 (due process of law) read with Article 22 (safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention) and the statute in question, Justice Nariman ruled.
• The Liberty of a citizen is a most important right won by our forefathers after long, historical, and arduous struggles.

GS-III

Context

India's creative economy comprising the arts and crafts, audio and video arts and design, among others, accounted for exports of goods and services worth $121 billion in 2019, according to a paper by the Exim Bank of India.

What are the Key Findings of the Paper?

• India's total exports of creative goods and services stood close to $121 billion in 2019, of which exports of creative services accounted for almost $100 billion.
• In India, the contribution of the design segment was 87.5% of the total creative goods exports in 2019, and another 9% is contributed by art and crafts segment.
• Besides, in the Indian context, the creative goods industry has a trade surplus of $16 billion.
• Creative economy was significantly diversified in the country and industries such as the entertainment sector give an important push to the creative economy.
• India ranks 6^th globally, outside the U.S., with respect to the top international box office markets by revenue.
• As per the study, technology is playing a critical role along with human creativity, knowledge, intellectual property in this evolving arena.

What is the Significance of this Study?

• The research paper maps the untapped export potential of India's creative economy.
• This study 'Reflection & Development of India's Creative Economy' is first of its kind.
• It analysed seven different creative segments such as art & crafts, audio visuals, design and visual arts, as per the UN classification, to map their export potential.
• The study also captured the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning, extended reality, and blockchain, which are impacting the functioning of the creative economy.
• It also analyses the Creative Economy policies of countries such as the U.K., Australia, France, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand where creative economy has found significant importance, with dedicated ministries or institutions.

Context

The Eurozone is almost certainly entering a recession, with surveys showing a deepening cost-of-living crisis and a gloomy outlook that is keeping consumers wary of spending.

About Recession

• A recession is a significant decline in economic activity that lasts for months or even years.
• Experts declare a recession when a nation’s economy experiences negative GDP, rising levels of unemployment, falling retail sales, and contracting measures of income and manufacturing for an extended period of time.
• Recessions are considered an unavoidable part of the business cycle—or the regular cadence of expansion and contraction that occurs in a nation’s economy.

What causes Recessions?

These phenomena are some of the main drivers of a recession:

• A sudden economic shock: An economic shock is a surprise problem that creates serious financial damage. The coronavirus outbreak, which shut down economies worldwide, is a more recent example of a sudden economic shock.
• Excessive debt: When individuals or businesses take on too much debt, the cost of servicing the debt can grow to the point where they can’t pay their bills. Growing debt defaults and bankruptcies then capsize the economy.
• Asset bubbles: When investing decisions are driven by emotion, bad economic outcomes aren’t far behind. Investors can become too optimistic during a strong economy.
• Too much inflation: Inflation is the steady, upward trend in prices over time. Inflation isn’t a bad thing per se, but excessive inflation is a dangerous phenomenon. Central banks control inflation by raising interest rates, and higher interest rates depress economic activity.
• Too much deflation: While runaway inflation can create a recession, deflation can be even worse. Deflation is when prices decline over time, which causes wages to contract, which further depresses prices. When a deflationary feedback loop gets out of hand, people and business stop spending, which undermines the economy.
• Technological change: New inventions increase productivity and help the economy over the long term, but there can be short-term periods of adjustment to technological breakthroughs. In the 19th century, there were waves of labour-saving technological improvements.

How long do recessions last?

• Gulf War Recession (July 1990 to March 1991): At the start of the 1990s, the U.S. went through a short, eight-month recession, partly caused by spiking oil prices during the First Gulf War.
• The Great Recession (2008-2009): As mentioned, the Great Recession was caused in part by a bubble in the real estate market.
• Covid-19 Recession: The most recent recession began in February 2020 and lasted only two months, making it the shortest US recession in history.

Can we predict a recession?

Given that economic forecasting is uncertain, predicting future recessions is far from easy. However, the following warning signs can give you more time to figure out how to prepare for a recession before it happens:

• An inverted yield curve: The yield curve is a graph that plots the market value—or the yield—of a range. When long-term yields are lower than short-term yields, it shows that investors are worried about a recession. This phenomenon is known as a yield curve inversion, and it has predicted past recessions.
• Declines in consumer confidence: Consumer spending is the main driver of the US economy. If surveys show a sustained drop in consumer confidence, it could be a sign of impending trouble for the economy.
• Drop in the Leading Economic Index (LEI): Published monthly by the Conference Board, the LEI strives to predict future economic trends. It looks at factors like applications for unemployment insurance, new orders for manufacturing and stock market performance.
• Sudden stock market declines: A large, sudden decline in stock markets could be a sign of a recession coming on, since investors sell off parts and sometimes all of their holdings in anticipation of an economic slowdown.
• Rising unemployment: It goes without saying that if people are losing their jobs, it’s a bad sign for the economy.

How does a recession affect individuals?

• We may lose your job during a recession, as unemployment levels rise. It becomes much harder to find a job replacement since more people are out of work.
• People who keep their jobs may see cuts to pay and benefits, and struggle to negotiate future pay raises.
• Investments in stocks, bonds, real estate and other assets can lose money in a recession, reducing your savings and upsetting your plans for retirement.
• Business owners make fewer sales during a recession, and may even be forced into bankruptcy.
• With more people unable to pay their bills during a recession, lenders tighten standards for mortgages, car loans, and other types of financing.