Internal Security - 3 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Agreement between Government of India, Government of Assam and Representatives of 8 Adivasi Groups

Context:

• An agreement was signed between the Government of India, the Government of Assam, and representatives of 8 Adivasi groups in New Delhi. The purpose of the agreement was to resolve the longstanding issue of Adivasis and tea garden workers in Assam.

Provisions of the Agreement:

• The agreement has several provisions to protect the social, cultural, ethnic, and linguistic identity of Adivasi groups. 
• Additionally, it aims to further strengthen them through the establishment of a Tribal Welfare and Development Council. This council will ensure speedy and focused development of tea gardens.
• The agreement also includes measures for the rehabilitation and resettlement of armed cadres and welfare provisions for tea garden workers. 
• A special development package of Rs.1000 crore (Rs.500 crore each by the Government of India and the Government of Assam) will be provided over a period of 5 years for infrastructure development in villages/areas with tribal populations.

Importance of the Agreement:

• The Union Home Minister highlighted that this agreement is an important landmark in the direction of the government's vision of a peaceful and prosperous Northeast. 
• The government has taken many efforts towards the peace and development of the Northeast, including settling disputes and promoting the rich culture of the region.

Recent Developments

• The government has been working towards making the Northeast peaceful and developed, with several agreements signed in recent years, including the NLFT agreement in 2019, the BRU-REANG and Bodo accord in 2020, the Karbi Anglong agreement in 2021, and the Assam-Meghalaya Inter-State Boundary Agreement in 2022.

Future Plans:

• The Home Minister announced that the Union Government has decided to resolve all border disputes between the Northeastern states and all disputes related to armed groups before 2024.

Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) Missile

Why in news:

• DRDO conducted two successful test flights of the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile.

About the VSHORADS Missile:

• The VSHORADS missile is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
• MANPADs are short-range, lightweight and portable surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by individuals or small groups to destroy aircraft or helicopters.
• The VSHORADS missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully proven during the tests.
• The missile is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor and is meant for neutralising low altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
• The design of the missile including launcher has been highly optimised to ensure easy portability.

Reaction Control System:

• A Reaction Control System (RCS) is responsible for attitude control and steering by the use of thrusters.
• The RCS system is capable of providing small amounts of thrust in any desired direction or combination of directions.

Significance:

• This new missile equipped with modern technologies will give further technological boost to the Armed Forces.

Ban on PFI

Why in news:

• The Popular Front of India and its affiliated organizations have been prohibited by the Indian government for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 due to their connections with terrorism.

About Popular Front of India (PFI):

• PFI is a Muslim organization in southern India.
• It was formed in 2007 through the merger of three organizations: National Democratic Front in Kerala, Karnataka Forum for Dignity, and Manitha Neethi Pasarai in Tamil Nadu.
• The announcement of the formation was made during a rally in Bengaluru on February 16, 2007.

Ban on PFI by the Centre

About the Ban:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the PFI an "unlawful association."
• The ban includes several associated organizations, such as RIF, CFI, AIIC, NCHRO, National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation Kerala.

Reasons for the Ban:

• The PFI has been linked to SIMI and JMB, both of which are proscribed organizations.
• Some of the PFI's founding members are leaders of SIMI.
• There have been instances of international linkages between the PFI and global terrorist groups like ISIS.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) & its Provisions

About:

• UAPA was originally enacted in 1967 and was amended in 2004 and 2008 to become an anti-terror law.
• The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019 was passed in August 2019 to designate individuals as terrorists on certain grounds.

Section 7:

• Section 7 of the UAPA empowers the government to prohibit the use of funds by an unlawful association.
• Law enforcement agencies are given the power to search premises of such organizations and examine their books of account.

Section 8:

• Section 8 of the UAPA gives the Centre the power to notify any place it deems to be used for the purpose of an unlawful association.

Section 10:

• Section 10 of the UAPA criminalizes membership of a banned organization and applies to anyone who aids their objectives.

UAPA Tribunal

About:

• The UAPA provides for a tribunal under a High Court judge to be constituted by the government for its bans to have long-term legal sanctity.
• Orders to declare an organization as unlawful are issued by the Centre under Section 3 of the UAPA.

Powers:

• The tribunal has the power to regulate its own procedure and hold hearings in different states for allegations pertaining to those states.
• The tribunal has the same powers as a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 to make inquiries.

Mission DefSpace

Why in news:

• The Prime Minister has initiated a new program called ‘Mission DefSpace’ during the DefExpo event.
• The fourth Defence Indigenisation List has been released which prohibits imports of 101 items after specific deadlines.
• The Prime Minister has also revealed the indigenous trainer aircraft, HTT-40, which has been designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at the India Pavilion in the Expo.

About:

• Prime Minister launched ‘Mission DefSpace’ at the DefExpo
• Aim: Develop innovative solutions for the three services in the space domain through Indian industry and start-ups
• 75 challenges are being opened to get innovative solutions based on defence requirements in the space domain
• Startups, innovators and the private sector will be invited to find solutions for the problems that will include both offensive and defensive capabilities
• Aims to develop a range of military applications for space warfare and enable private industries to offer solutions to the armed forces for future requirements
• Defence applications in space will not only help the Indian armed forces but can also be extended to friendly foreign nations

Indigenisation of Defence:

• Indigenisation: Capability of developing and producing any defence equipment within the country for achieving self-reliance and reducing import burden
• DRDO, DPSUs, and private organisations are playing a critical role in the indigenisation of defence industries
• 4th Indigenisation List lays special focus on equipment that is being developed and likely to translate into firm orders in the next 5 to 10 years
• Listed items will provide ample visibility and opportunity to the domestic defence industry for understanding the trend and futuristic needs of the armed forces
• Indigenisation will promote domestic industry, reduce fiscal deficit, generate employment, instil nationalism, and provide security against hostile neighbours

HTT-40 Indigenous Trainer Aircraft:

• Basic training aircraft developed by HAL for the Indian Air Force
• It will replace the ageing fleet of HAL HPT-32 Deepak trainers
• Offers best-in-class fuel economy and power rating
• Takes-off from a short distance and has a high climb rate
• Maximum speed of 450km/h and can reach a maximum distance of 1,000 km
• Stall speed with flaps down is 135 km/h.

Appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Why in news:

• The government of India has appointed retired Lt General Anil Chauhan as the next CDS.
• He will also function as the Secretary to the Department of Military Affairs.

Roles and Responsibilities of CDS

• The CDS was created in 2019 to act as the primary military advisor to the government.
• The CDS has a dual role, as the most senior uniformed officer in rank (First among equals) and as a Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs.
• To create jointness among the armed forces and facilitate the creation of integrated theater commands.
• To help in prioritizing capital acquisition for the modernization of the forces.

Work Done by CDS since its Inception:

• The last CDS directed the commissioned officers at the level of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in each of the services to report on the possible structure of integrated theater commands.
• Four to five integrated theater commands have been envisioned.
• As per the requirement, the integrated commands will be able to utilize resources from all three services available under them.
• The operational control of all resources will be with the Theatre Commander, which will report to the Chiefs of Staff Committee headed by the CDS.

Widened CDS Selection Pool:

• The government has amended the service rules of the armed forces related to the eligibility for the post of CDS.
• The amendments make all serving and recently retired three-star and four-star officers from the three services who are under the age of 62 eligible for the post of CDS.
• The amended rules & regulations enable the three-star officer's appointment to the post of CDS.
• The government also notified the possible extension of the service of the CDS if deemed necessary subject to a maximum age of 65 years.

Critical Analysis of the Amended Rules:

• Benefits of the amended rules are a wider pool of potential candidates on a level playing field with the serving officers.
• Issues of seniority versus merit may arise since the most senior officer of the service is usually appointed as a service chief.

Way Forward

• The new CDS has the responsibility of building consensus over the reorganization plan by catering to objections from the Air Force and addressing other grievances.
• It will help in India's defense preparedness and modernization, promote the image as a net security provider in the South Asian region, and prevent aggression on borders (LAC and LOC).

Border Infrastructure and Management

Why in news:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has given its approval for the extension of the Central Sector Umbrella Scheme called "Border Infrastructure and Management" (BIM) during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle, which will span from 2021-22 to 2025-26. This will require a total expenditure of Rs.13,020 crore.

Infrastructure Created Under BIM

The BIM scheme will help in the creation of infrastructure such as:

• Border Fence
• Border Flood Lights
• Technological Solutions
• Border Roads
• Border Outposts (BOPs) and Company Operating Bases

This infrastructure will secure India's borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

India's Borders

India has borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. The length of the border is:

• 3,323 km with Pakistan
• 4,096 km with Bangladesh
• 3,488 km with China
• 1,751 km with Nepal
• 699 km with Bhutan
• 1,643 km with Myanmar.

Initiatives to Secure Borders:

• Apart from the BIM scheme, the government has taken other initiatives to secure the borders. These initiatives are:

Vibrant Villages Programme:

• The Vibrant Villages Programme will cover border villages with sparse population, limited connectivity, and infrastructure. These villages often get left out from the development gains. The activities under this programme will include:
  • Construction of Village Infrastructure
  • Housing
  • Tourist Centers
  • Road Connectivity
  • Provisioning of Decentralized Renewable Energy
  • Direct to Home Access for Doordarshan and Educational Channels
  • Support for Livelihood Generation

This move has been taken to counter the Chinese 'model villages' close to the LAC (Line of Actual Control). It will be an improved version of the existing Border Area Development Programme.

Border Area Development Programme (BADP):

• BADP initiated during Seventh Five Year Plan (1985-90)
• Aims to ensure balanced development of border areas and promote a sense of security among the border population
• Aims to meet special development needs of people living in remote and inaccessible areas situated near the international border
• Saturate border areas with essential infrastructure through convergence of Central/State/BADP/Local schemes and participatory approach

Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS):

• Two pilot projects covering about 71 Kms on Indo-Pakistan Border (10 Kms) and Indo-Bangladesh Border (61 Kms) completed
• CIBMS involves deployment of state-of-the-art surveillance technologies such as thermal imagers, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms, aerostats for aerial surveillance, unattended ground sensors, radars, sonar systems, fibre-optic sensors, and a command and control system that receives data from all surveillance devices in real time
• BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) under CIBMS being used on Indo-Bangladesh border in Dhubri district of Assam

Border Road Organization (BRO):

• Founded in 1960
• Plays a major role in providing defense infrastructure including roads, bridges, highways, airports, tunnels, buildings, and other such structures
• Constructed lifelines of over 53,600 km for the people of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.