Internal Security: January 2022 Current Affairs - UPSC PDF Download

International Counter Terrorism Conference 2022

Why in News
Recently, the International Counter Terrorism Conference 2022 was organised by the Global Counter Terrorism Council (GCTC).

• GCTC is an International Think-Tank Council with an overarching mission of reducing the vulnerability of people worldwide to terrorism by preventing, combating and prosecuting terrorist acts and countering incitement and recruitment to terrorism.
• Earlier, in the 13th BRICS Summit held in 2021, BRICS counter terrorism action plan was adopted.

Key Points

1. Issues Raised by India:

• Emergence of New Religiophobia:
  (i) Emergence of new “religiophobia”, especially against Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs, is a matter of serious concern and needs to be recognised, just like Christianophobia, Islamophobia and anti-semitism, to bring a balance in discussions on such issues.
  (ii) Religiophobia: An irrational or obsessive fear or anxiety of religion, religious faith, religious people or religious organisations.
  (iii) Labeling Terrorism: In the past two years, several Member States have been trying to label terrorism into categories such as racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism, violent nationalism, right wing extremism, etc.
  (iv) Calling it a “dangerous” tendency, India said this goes against some of the accepted principles agreed to by all UN Member States in the recently adopted Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.  Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy states that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations should be condemned and there cannot be any justification for any act of terrorism, whatsoever.

2. India’s Efforts to Counter Terrorism

• India’s Annual Resolution on Counter-Terror
  (i)  India’s annual resolution on the issue of counterterrorism was adopted by consensus in the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
  (ii) India, a victim of state-sponsored crossborder terrorism, has been at the forefront in highlighting the serious threat to international peace and security emanating from acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by terrorist groups.
• Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism: Amid growing fears that terrorists will again nest in Afghanistan and increase attacks in Africa, India’s foreign minister has recently urged for the adoption of the convention.
  In 1996, with the objective of providing a comprehensible legal framework to counter terrorism, India proposed to the UNGA the adoption of the “Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism” (CCIT).
  CCIT seeks a universal definition of terrorism, prosecution of terrorists under special laws, making cross-border terrorism an extraditable offence worldwide, among others.
• Financial Action Task Force (FATF): India is a member of FATF whose objective is to set standards and promote effective imple mentation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

3. Terrorism in India
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act is the primary anti- terrorism law in force in India.  The National Security Guard (NSG) is a paramilitary force that is primarily responsible for counterterrorism and anti-hijacking operations.  India faces terrorism from secessionists in Kashmir, the north-east and to an extent in Punjab, from left-wing extremist groups in central, east-central and south-central India.
India is one of the countries which is most affected by terrorism in the world.

AFSPA Extended in Nagaland

Why in News
The Konyak Civil Society Organizations, the guardian umbrella of organizations of the Konyaks, has slammed the extension of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 (AFSPA).

• The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 has been extended in Nagaland for six months from 30th December 2021.

Konyak

1. About
The Konyak are the largest tribe, followed by Ao, Tangkhul, Sema, and Angami in Nagaland. Other Naga tribes include Lotha, Sangtam, Phom, Chang, Khiemnungam, Yimchungre, Zeliang, Chakhesang (Chokri), and Rengma.
The term ‘Konyak’ is believed to have been derived from the words ‘Whao’ meaning ‘head’ and ‘Nyak’ meaning ‘black’ translating to ‘men with black hair’.
They can be grouped into two groups, namely ‘Thendu’, which means the ‘Tattooed Face’ and ‘Thentho’, meaning the ‘White face’.

2. Habitat

Reside mostly in the Mon district also known as ‘The Land of The Anghs’, they are also found in some districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Myanmar. In Arunachal Pradesh, they are known as the Wanchos (‘Wancho’ is a synonymous term for ‘Konyak’).

• Ethnically, culturally, and linguistically the Noctes and Tangsa of the same neighbouring state of Arunachal Pradesh, are also closely related to the Konyaks.

3. Festivals Celebrated
The three most significant festivals were Aolingmonyu, Aonyimo and Laoun-ongmo.

• Aolingmonyu is celebrated in the first week of April after sowing of seeds, and this marks the beginning of a new year. Its religious significance is to appease God for a prosperous harvest.
• The Aonyimo is celebrated in July or August after the harvest of the first crops such as maize and vegetables.
• The Laoun-ongmo is a thanks-giving festival and is celebrated after all agricultural activities are completed.

Key Points

1. Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958:

Background

• A reincarnation of the British-era legislation that was enacted to quell the protests during the Quit India movement, the AFSPA was issued by way of four ordinances in 1947.
• The ordinances were replaced by an Act in 1948 and the present law effective in the Northeast was introduced in Parliament in 1958 by the then Home Minister, G.B. Pant.
• It was known initially as the Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act, 1958.
• After the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland came into being, the Act was adapted to apply to these States as well.

About

• The ASFPA gives unfettered powers to the armed forces and the Central armed police forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in contravention of law and arrest and search any premises without a warrant and with protection from prosecution and legal suits.
• The law first came into effect in 1958 to deal with the uprising in the Naga Hills, followed by the insurgency in Assam.

Disturbed Areas

• The Act was amended in 1972 and the powers to declare an area as “disturbed” were conferred concurrently upon the Central government along with the States.
• Currently, the Union Home Ministry issues periodic “disturbed area” notification to extend AFSPA only for Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
• The notification for Manipur and Assam is issued by the State governments.
• Tripura revoked the Act in 2015 and Meghalaya was under AFSPA for 27 years, until it was revoked by the MHA from 1st April 2018.
• The Act was implemented in a 20-km area along the border with Assam.
• Jammu and Kashmir has a separate J&K Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1990.

2. Controversy Around the Act:
Human Rights Violations

• The law empowers security personnel, down to non-commissioned officers, to use force and shoot “even to the causing of death” if they are convinced that it is necessary to do so for the “maintenance of public order”.
• It also grants soldiers executive powers to enter premises, search, and arrest without a warrant.
• The exercise of these extraordinary powers by armed forces has often led to allegations of fake encounters and other human rights violations by security forces in disturbed areas while questioning the indefinite imposition of AFSPA in certain states, such as Nagaland and J&K.

Recommendations of Jeevan Reddy Committee

• In November 2004, the Central government appointed a five-member committee headed by Justice B P Jeevan Reddy to review the provisions of the act in the northeastern states.
• The committee recommended that:  AFSPA should be repealed and appropriate provisions should be inserted in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
•  The Unlawful Activities Act should be modified to clearly specify the powers of the armed forces and paramilitary forces and Grievance cells should be set up in each district where the armed forces are deployed.
•  Second ARC Recommendation: The 5th report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) on public order has also recommended the repeal of the AFSPA. However, these recommendations have not been implemented.

3. Supreme Court Views on the Act:
The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of AFSPA in a 1998 judgment (Naga People’s Movement of Human Rights v. Union of India).  In this judgment, the Supreme Court held that

• a suo-motu declaration can be made by the Central government, however, it is desirable that the state government should be consulted by the central government before making the declaration;
• the declaration has to be for a limited duration and there should be a periodic review of the declaration 6 months have expired;
• while exercising the powers conferred upon him by AFSPA, the authorized officer should use minimal force necessary for effective action.

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

Why in News
Recently, the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) 1, which will be called INS Vikrant once it enters service with the Indian Navy, began another set of sea trials.

• INS Vikrant is the largest and most complex warship to be built in India.

Key Points

1. About Aircraft Carrier

•  An aircraft carrier is “a large ship that carries military aircraft and has a long, flat surface where they take off and land.”
  These floating air bases are equipped with a full-length flight deck capable of carrying, arming, deploying and recovering aircraft.
• They act as command and control of a naval fleet in times of war and peace.
  A carrier battle group consists of an aircraft carrier and its escorts, together making the group.
• During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy was the first to assemble a large number of carriers into a single task force known as Kido Butai.
• This task force was used during the Pearl Harbour Attack.

2. Aircraft Carrier in India
INS Vikrant (decommissioned): Beginning with INS Vikrant which served India from 1961 to 1997.

• India acquired the Vikrant from the United Kingdom in 1961, and the carrier played a stellar role in the 1971 war with Pakistan that led to the birth of Bangladesh.
• In 2014, INS Vikrant, was broken down in Mumbai. INS Viraat (decommissioned): INS Vikrant was followed by the Centaur-class carrier HMS (Her Majesty’s Ship) Hermes, which was rechristened in India as INS Viraat and served in the Indian Navy from 1987 to 2016.

INS Vikramaditya

• It is the Indian Navy’s largest aircraft carrier and warship converted from the Russian Navy’s decommissioned Admiral Gorshkov/Baku.
• INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier that was commissioned into service in November 2013.

INS Vikrant

• In order to commemorate the legacy of INS Vikrant (decommissioned), the First IAC will be named as INS Vikrant.
• It is built at Cochin Shipyard Limited.
• It is currently undergoing sea trials and is likely to be commissioned in 2023.
• Its construction propelled India into a select group of countries having capabilities to build state-of-the-art aircraft carriers.
• Operational Modalities: According to the Indian Navy, the warship will operate MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 helicopters, MH-60R multi-role helicopters and the indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH).

3. Significance of Aircraft Carriers
Currently, most of the world powers are operating or building technologically advanced aircraft carriers to safeguard their maritime rights and interests.
Thirteen navies across the world now operate aircraft carriers. Following are the name of a few:

• Nimitz Class, US
• Gerald R Ford Class, US
• Queen Elizabeth Class, UK
• Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia
• Liaoning, China
• INS Vikramaditya, India
• Charles De Gaulle, France
• Cavour, Italy
• Juan Carlos I, Spain
• USS America, US  Aircraft Carrier for India, provides a deterrent naval capability, that is not only essential but a strategic need.
• This is because India’s area of responsibility ranges from the east coast of Africa to the Western Pacific.

4. Future Endeavours
Since 2015, the Navy has been seeking approval to build a third aircraft carrier for the country, which, if approved, will become India’s second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-2).
This proposed carrier, to be named INS Vishal, is intended to be a giant 65,000-tonne vessel, much bigger than IAC-1 and the INS Vikramaditya

Indian Army Day

Why in News

• Army Day is celebrated every year on 15th January in India to commemorate the jawans and the Indian Army.
• This year India is celebrating its 74th Army Day.

Key Points

1. Historical Background
On 15th January 1949, Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa, who was then a Lieutenant General, took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British person to hold that post.  K. M. Cariappa adopted the slogan ‘Jai Hind’ which means ‘Victory of India’. He is also one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the Five-star rank of Field Marshal, the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

2. Army Day
Army Day is celebrated every year to honor the soldiers of the country, who have set the greatest example of selfless service and brotherhood and more than anything the love for the country.  In the celebration of Army Day, the parade is organised every year at the Cariappa Parade Ground of Delhi Cantonment.

3. Indian Army
The Indian army originated from the forces of the East India Company, which later became the ‘British Indian Army’, and eventually, after Independence, the Indian Army.
The Indian Army was founded almost 126 years ago by the British on 1st April, 1895. India’s army is considered the world’s fourth strongest army.