Weekly Current Affairs (22nd to 30th November 2022) - 1 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Trends in Demography

Context: According to the projection by the United Nations, in 2022, China will for the first time register an absolute decline in its population and in 2023, India’s population to reach 1,428.63 million, will surpass China’s 1,425.67 million.

What are the Drivers of Population Change?

Total Fertility Rate (TFR):

• TFR has fallen for India in the last three decades.
  • Between 1992-93 and 2019-21, it came down from 3.4 to 2; the fall was especially significant in the rural areas.
  • In 1992-93, the average rural Indian woman produced one extra child compared to her urban counterpart (3.7 versus 2.7). By 2019-21, that gap had halved (2.1 versus 1.6).
  • A TFR of 2.1 is considered as “replacement-level fertility”.
  • The TFR is the average number of births by women aged 15-49 based on surveys for a particular period/year.

Fall in Mortality:

• Crude Death Rate (CDR) fell to single digits for China first in 1974 (to 9.5) and for India in 1994 (9.8), and further to 7.3-7.4 for both in 2020.
  • The CDR was 23.2 for China and 22.2 for India in 1950.
  • CDR is the number of persons dying per year per 1,000 population.
• Mortality falls with increased education levels, public health and vaccination programmes, access to food and medical care, and provision of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Life Expectancy at Birth:

• Between 1950 and 2020, life expectancy at birth went up from 43.7 to 78.1 years for China and from 41.7 to 70.1 years for India.
• Reduction in mortality normally leads to a rising population. A drop in fertility, on the other hand, slows down population growth, ultimately resulting in absolute declines.

What are the Implications of the Trends for China?

• China’s TFR was 1.3 births per woman, marginally up from the 1.2 in the 2010 and 2000 censuses, but way below the replacement rate of 2.1.
• From 2016, China officially ended its one-child policy which was introduced in 1980.
• The UN, nevertheless, projects its total population at 1.31 billion in 2050, a 113 million-plus drop from the 2021 peak.
• The decline in China's population of prime working age is concerning as it creates a vicious cycle wherein the number of working people to support dependent decreases but the number of dependents starts increasing.
• The proportion of the population aged between 20 and 59 years crossed 50% in 1987 and peaked at 61.5% in 2011.
• As the cycle reverses, China's working-age population will fall below 50% by 2045.
• Moreover, the average (median) age of the population, which was 28.9 years in 2000 and 37.4 years in 2020, is expected to soar to 50.7 years by 2050.

What are the Steps taken by India to Control Population?

• India became one of the first developing countries to come up with a state-sponsored family planning programme in the 1950s.
  • A population policy committee was established in 1952.
  • In 1956, a Central Family Planning Board was set up and its focus was on sterilisation.
  • In 1976, GOI announced the first National Population Policy.
• National Population Policy, 2000 envisaged achieving a stable population for India.
  • The Policy aims to achieve stable population by 2045.
  • One of its immediate objectives is to address the unmet needs for contraception, health care infrastructure, and personnel and provide integrated service delivery for basic reproductive and child health care.
• National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India.
  • NFHS has had two specific goals:
  • To provide essential data on health and family welfare needed for policy and programme purposes.
  • To provide information on important emerging health and family welfare issues.
• Realising the potential of education in tackling the problems of growing rate of population, the Ministry of Education launched a Population Education Programme with effect from 1980.
  • The Population Education programme is a central sector scheme designed to introduce Population Education in the formal education system.
  • It has been developed in collaboration with the United Nations Funds for Population Activities (UNFPA) and with the active involvement of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Way Forward

• There is an opportunity for India to reap a demographic dividend as its working-age population's share of the overall population reached 50% only in 2007 and will peak at 57% by the mid-2030s.
  • But reaping demographic dividend is contingent upon the creation of meaningful employment opportunities for a young population.
• There needs to be preparedness with suitable infrastructure, conducive social welfare schemes and massive investment in quality education and health.
• For those already in the 25-64 age bracket, there is a need for skilling, which is the only way to ensure they are more productive and have better incomes.
• New skills and opportunities for women and girls befitting their participation in a 3 trillion dollar economy is urgently needed.

Climate Change Performance Index 2023

Context: India has ranked 8th in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2023.

• India ranked 10th in CCPI, 2022.

What is CCPI?

About:

• Published by: Germanwatch, the New Climate Institute and the Climate Action Network annually since 2005.
• Scope: It is an independent monitoring tool for tracking the climate protection performance of 59 countries and the European Union. These countries collectively account for more than 92% of global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions.
• Aim: It aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries.
• Criteria: The CCPI looks at four categories, with 14 indicators: GHG Emissions (40% of the overall score), Renewable Energy (20%), Energy Use (20%), and Climate Policy (20%).

CCPI 2023:

• Overall Performance (Country-wise):
  • No country performs well enough in all index categories to achieve an overall very high rating.
    The first three overall positions therefore remain empty.
  • Denmark, Sweden, Chile and Morocco were the only four small countries that were ranked above India as 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th respectively.
  • The ranking given by CCPI places India as the only G-20 country in the top 10 rankers.
  • The United Kingdom ranked 11th in CCPI 2023.
  • China falls ranked 51st in CCPI 2023 and received an overall very low rating.
  • The United States (US) rises three ranks to 52nd that’s still overall very low rating.
  • The Islamic Republic of Iran ranked 63rd, hence, placing it last in the CCPI 2023.
• India’s Status:
  • Performance: India-+ has been ranked amongst top 5 countries in the world, and the best among the G20 countries. India’s rank is the best amongst all large economies. India earns a high rating in the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, with a medium for Climate Policy and Renewable Energy. The country is on track to meet its 2030 emissions targets (compatible with a well-below 2°C scenario). However, the renewable energy pathway is not on track for the 2030 target.
  • Concerns: Since the last CCPI, India has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and announced a net zero target for 2070. However, roadmaps and concrete action plans for achieving the targets are missing. India is among the nine countries responsible for 90% of global coal production. It also plans to increase its oil, gas, and oil production by over 5% by 2030. This is incompatible with the 1.5°C target.
  • Suggestions: The experts suggested to lay stress on a just and inclusive energy transition, as well as the need for decentralised renewable energy and capacities for rooftop photovoltaics. A carbon pricing mechanism, the need for more capacities at the subnational level, and concrete action plans for achieving the targets are key demands.

9th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus

Context: Recently, the Defence Minister of India participated in the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

What are the Key Highlights of the address by India?

• On Terrorism: India called for urgent and resolute global efforts to counter transnational and cross-border terrorism, terming it as the gravest threat to regional and global security.
• Other Security Concerns: India brought to the forum's attention other security concerns arising out of the global Covid-19 pandemic, such as Energy and Food Security .
• On Maritime Security: India advocates a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and calls for peaceful resolution of disputes while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. It was also stated that the ongoing ASEAN-China negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea should be fully consistent with international law, in particular United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and should not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of nations that are not party to these discussions.

What is ADMM-Plus?

About:

• The 2nd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in 2007 at Singapore adopted a resolution to establish the ADMM-Plus.
  • The first ADMM-Plus was convened at Hanoi, Vietnam in 2010.
  • Brunei is the Chair of the ADMM Plus forum for the year 2021.
• It is an annual meeting of Defence Ministers of 10 ASEAN countries and eight dialogue partner countries.
  • The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional organization which was established to promote political and social stability amid rising tensions among the Asia-Pacific’s post-colonial states.

Membership:

• The ADMM-Plus countries include ten ASEAN Member States (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia) and eight Plus countries, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, and the United States.

Aim:

• It aims to promote mutual trust and confidence between defence establishments through greater dialogue and transparency.

Areas of cooperation:

• Maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations and military medicine.

CITES CoP19

Context: The 19th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is being held at Panama City.

• CoP19 is also known as the World Wildlife Conference.

What are the Highlights of the Conference?

• 52 proposals have been put forward that would affect the regulations on international trade for: sharks, reptiles, hippos, songbirds, rhinos, 200 tree species, orchids, elephants, turtles and more.
• India’s Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) is included in Appendix II of the convention, thereby requiring it to follow CITES regulations for the trade of the species.
  • A relief was provided by easing the CITES rules for export of Dalbergia sissoo based products. This is expected to boost Indian handicraft exports.
• The Conference has accepted a proposal to include sea cucumbers (Thelenota) in Appendix II of the Convention.
  • An analysis published by the Wildlife Conservation Society-India (WCS-India) this September showed that sea cucumbers were the most frequently trafficked marine species in India from 2015-2021.
  • Tamil Nadu had recorded the highest number of marine wildlife seizures during this period, according to the analysis. The state was followed by Maharashtra, Lakshadweep and Karnataka.
• India’s proposal for induction of fresh water turtle Batagur kachuga (Red Crowned Roofed Turtle) earned wide support of the parties in CoP 19 of CITES. It was widely appreciated by the parties and well accepted when introduced.
  • Operation Turtshield, India’s efforts to curb wildlife crime was appreciated.
  • India also highlighted that many of the species of turtles and freshwater tortoises which are recognized as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened are already included in Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and given high degree of protection.
• India has decided not to vote against a proposal to re-open the international trade in ivory at the ongoing conference.

What is CITES?

• CITES is an international agreement between governments — 184 at present — to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
• The convention entered into force in 1975 and India became the 25th party — a state that voluntarily agrees to be bound by the Convention — in 1976.
• States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention ('joined' CITES) are known as Parties.
• Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws.
• All import, export and re-export of species covered under CITES must be authorised through a permit system.
• Every two to three years, the Conference of the Parties meets to review the implementation of the Convention.
• It has three appendices:
• Appendix I
  • It lists species that are the most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants.
  • Examples include gorillas, sea turtles, most lady slipper orchids, and giant pandas. Currently 1082 species are listed.
  • They are threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research.
• Appendix II
  • It lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled.
  • Most CITES species are listed in this Appendix, including American ginseng, paddlefish, lions, American alligators, mahogany and many corals.
  • It also includes so-called "look-alike species", i.e., species whose specimens in trade look like those of species listed for conservation reasons.
• Appendix III
  • It is a list of species included at the request of a Party that already regulates trade in the species and that needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation.
  • Examples include map turtles, walruses and Cape stag beetles. Currently 211 species are listed.
  • International trade in specimens of species listed in this Appendix is allowed only on presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates.
• Species may be added to or removed from Appendix I and II, or moved between them, only by the Conference of the Parties.

Draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animal (Amendment) Bill-2022

Context: Recently, the Government has introduced the draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animal (Amendment) Bill-2022 to amend the six-decade-old law Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960.

• The draft has been prepared by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

What are the Proposed Amendments?

• Bestiality as a Crime: The draft includes ‘bestiality’ as a crime under the new category of ‘gruesome cruelty’. “Bestiality” means any kind of sexual activity or intercourse between human being and animal. Gruesome cruelty has been defined as “an act that leads to extreme pain and suffering to the animals which may cause lifelong disability or death”.
• Punishment for Gruesome Cruelty: A minimum fine of Rs 50,000 may be imposed and may be increased to Rs 75,000 by a judicial magistrate in consultation with the jurisdictional veterinarians, or the cost may be determined by the judicial magistrate whichever is more, or a maximum fine of one year that may be extended to three years.
• Punishment for killing an Animal: A maximum 5-year imprisonment, along with a fine.
• Freedoms to Animals: The draft also proposes insertion of a new Section 3A, which provides ‘five freedoms’ to animals. It shall be the duty of every person having charge of an animal to ensure that the animal in his care or under his charge has:
  • Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
  • Freedom from discomfort due to environment
  • Freedom from pain, injury and diseases
  • Freedom to express normal behaviour for the species
  • Freedom from fear and distress
• Community Animals: In the case of community animals, the local government shall be responsible for their care.
  • The draft proposals introduce the community animal as “any animal born in a community for which no ownership has been claimed excluding wild animals as defined under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

What does the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 say?

About:

• It discusses different forms of cruelty, exceptions, and killing of a suffering animal in case any cruelty has been committed against it, so as to relieve it from further suffering.
• The legislative intent of the Act is to “prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals”.
• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) was established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Act.
• This Act provides for punishment for causing unnecessary cruelty and suffering to animals. The Act defines animals and different forms of animals.
• In the case of a first offence, fine which shall not be less than ten rupees but which may extend to fifty rupees.
  • In the case of a second or subsequent offence committed within three years of the previous offence, fine which shall not be less than twenty-five rupees but which may extend to one hundred rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with both.
  • It provides the guidelines relating to experimentation on animals for scientific purposes.
• The Act enshrines the provisions relating to the exhibition of the performing animals, and offences committed against the performing animals.

Criticism: The Act has been criticised for being ‘speciesist’ (put very simply, the assumption that humans are a superior species deserving more rights), for its quantum of punishment being negligible, for not defining ‘cruelty’ adequately, and for slapping a flat punishment without any gradation of crimes.

Russia’s Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker

Context: Recently, Russia touted its Arctic power at a flag-raising ceremony and dock launch for two nuclear-powered icebreakers that will ensure year-round navigation in the Western Arctic.

What is the Significance of the Russian Icebreakers?

• To Strengthen Russia’s Status as a Great Arctic power: Both icebreakers were laid down as part of Russia’s large-scale, systematic work to re-equip and replenish the domestic icebreaker fleet, to strengthen Russia’s status as a “great Arctic power.”
  • In the last two decades, Russia has reactivated several Soviet era Arctic military bases and upgraded its capabilities.
• For Studying Arctic Region: For Russia, it is essential to study and develop the Arctic, to ensure safe, sustainable navigation in this region, and to increase traffic along the northern sea route.
• Cut Down Time to Reach Asia: The development of this most important transport corridor will allow Russia to more fully unlock its export potential and establish efficient logistics routes, including to South East Asia. For Russia, the opening of the Northern Sea Route will cut down time to reach Asia by up to two weeks compared to the current route via the Suez Canal

What is the Significance of the Arctic Region?

• Economic Significance: The Arctic region has rich deposits of coal, gypsum and diamonds and also substantial reserves of zinc, lead, placer gold and quartz. Greenland alone possesses about a quarter of the world's rare earth reserves. The Arctic already supplies the world with roughly 10% of its oil and 25% of its natural gas, mostly from onshore sources. It is also estimated to hold 22% of the Earth’s undiscovered oil and natural gas reserves.
• Geographical Significance: The Arctic helps circulate the world's ocean currents, moving cold and warm water around the globe. Also, Arctic Sea ice acts as a huge white reflector at the top of the planet, bouncing some of the sun's rays back into space, helping keep the Earth at an even temperature.
• Strategic Importance: The Arctic is taking on greater strategic significance due to climate change, as a shrinking ice cap opens up new sea lanes. There has been a race among Arctic states and near-arctic states to augment their capabilities in a bid to be ready to capitalize on the melting Arctic.
  • Eg: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been conducting regular exercises in the region.
  • China, which calls itself a near-Arctic state, has also announced an ambitious plan for a polar silk route to connect to Europe.
• Environmental Significance: The Arctic and the Himalayas, though geographically distant, are interconnected and share similar concerns. The Arctic meltdown is helping the scientific community to better understand the glacial melt in the Himalayas, which has often been referred to as the ‘third pole’ and has the largest freshwater reserves after the North and South poles.

Where does India stand with respect to the Arctic?

• Since 2007, India has an Arctic research programme with as many as 13 expeditions undertaken till date.
• In March 2022, India unveiled its first Arctic policy titled: ‘India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development’.
  • The policy lays down six pillars: strengthening India’s scientific research and cooperation, climate and environmental protection, economic and human development, transportation and connectivity, governance and international cooperation, and national capacity building in the Arctic region.
• India is also one of the 13 Observers in the Arctic Council, the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation in the Arctic.
  • The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental body that promotes research and facilitates cooperation among Arctic countries on issues related to the environmental protection and sustainable development of the Arctic region.

What is the Arctic?

• The Arctic is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth.
• Land within the Arctic region has seasonally varying snow and ice cover.
• It consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Alaska (United States), Canada, Finland, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden.

Way Forward

• As the earth further heats up, which is more profound at the poles, the race for the Arctic is set to accelerate which makes the Arctic the next geopolitical hotspot with all interests converging on it – environmental, economic, political and military.
• India’s Arctic Policy is timely and is likely to provide a direction to India’s policy-makers on contours of India’s engagement with the region.
• There is a need to promote safe and sustainable resource exploration and development in the arctic region, with efficient multilateral actions taking into account cumulative environmental impacts.

Same-sex Marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre and the Attorney General for India on a plea by two gay couples seeking recognition of same-sex marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.

• As a result of several petitions, a two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud issued the notice.
• The non-recognition of same-sex marriage amounted to discrimination that struck at the root of dignity and self-fulfillment of LGBTQ+ couples.

What are the Arguments of the Petitioners?

• The Act is ultra vires the Constitution to the extent it discriminates between same-sex couples and opposite sex couples, denying same-sex couples both legal rights as well as the social recognition and status that flows from marriage.
  • The Special Marriage Act of 1954 ought to apply to a marriage between any two persons, regardless of their gender identity and sexual orientation.
• If not, the Act, in its present form should be declared violative of the fundamental rights to a dignified life and equality as “it does not provide for solemnisation of marriage between same sex couple”.
• The Act should grant same sex couple the same protection it allowed inter-caste and inter-faith couples who want to marry.
• There has been insufficient progress by simply decriminalizing homosexuality; equality must extend to all spheres of life, including the home, the workplace, and public places, for LGBTQ+ individuals.
  • Current population of LGBTQ+ are 7% to 8% of the population of the country.

What is the Legality of Same-Sex Marriages in India?

• The right to marry is not expressly recognized either as a fundamental or constitutional right under the Indian Constitution.
• Though marriage is regulated through various statutory enactments, its recognition as a fundamental right has only developed through judicial decisions of India’s Supreme Court. Such declaration of law is binding on all courts throughout India under Article 141 of the Constitution.

What are the Views of Supreme Court on Same Sex Marriages?

• Marriage as a Fundamental Right (Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. and others 2018):
  • While referring to Article 16 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Puttaswamy case, the SC held that the right to marry a person of one’s choice is integral to Article 21 of the Constitution. Article 16 (2) in the Indian constitution provides that there cannot be any discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them.
  • The right to marry is intrinsic to the liberty which the Constitution guarantees as a fundamental right, is the ability of each individual to take decisions on matters central to the pursuit of happiness. Matters of belief and faith, including whether to believe are at the core of constitutional liberty.
• LGBTQ Community Entitled to all Constitutional Rights (Navjet Singh Johar and others v. Union of India 2018):
  • The SC held that members of the LGBTQ community “are entitled, as all other citizens, to the full range of constitutional rights including the liberties protected by the Constitution” and are entitled to equal citizenship and “equal protection of law”.

What is the Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954?

About:

• Marriages in India can be registered under the respective personal laws Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Muslim Marriage Act, 1954, or under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
• It is the duty of the Judiciary to ensure that the rights of both the husband and wife are protected.
• The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India with provision for civil marriage for people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries, irrespective of religion or faith followed by either party.
• When a person solemnises marriage under this law, then the marriage is not governed by personal laws but by the Special Marriage Act.

Features:

• Allows people from two different religious backgrounds to come together in the bond of marriage.
• Lays down the procedure for both solemnization and registration of marriage, where either of the husband or wife or both are not Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, or Sikhs.
• Being a secular Act, it plays a key role in liberating individuals from traditional requirements of marriage.

Way Forward

• The LGTBQ community needs an anti-discrimination law that empowers them to build productive lives and relationships irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation and place the onus to change on state and society and not the individual.
• Once members of the LGBTQ community “are entitled to the full range of constitutional rights”, it is beyond doubt that the fundamental right to marry a person of one’s own choice has to be conferred on same sex couples intending to marry. More than two dozen countries have legalized same-sex marriage.