Tags :GS 1/ Social Issues

India and Drug Abuse

In News

Recently, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) have

arrested two persons, including a Pakistani national, and seized 20.57 kg of heroin being

smuggled in via Punjab.

About Drug Addiction

● Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive

drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.

● It is considered a brain disorder because it involves functional changes to brain

circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control.

India and Drug Abuse

● According to a report by the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), India is

one of the major hubs of illicit drug trade ranging from age-old cannabis to newer

prescription drugs like tramadol, and designer drugs like methamphetamine.

● The money from the drug trade is used to finance terrorism, human trafficking, illegal

businesses etc.

● India lies in the middle of two major illicit opium production regions in the world, the

Golden Crescent in the west and the Golden Triangle in the east which makes it a

viable hub of the illicit drug trade.

○ Golden Triangle: It includes the regions of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand and is

Southeast Asia’s main opium-producing region and one of the oldest narcotics

supply routes to Europe and North America.

○ Golden Crescent: It includes Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan and is a principal

global site for opium production and distribution.

● Major Reasons for Drug Abuse

○ Abuse of drugs among friends and peers

○ Lack of social support

○ Stress in life

○ Low socioeconomic status

○ Mental disorder such as depression

○ Lack of friends in school or any social setting

○ Traumatic events

○ The economic downturn caused by the global pandemic may drive more people

to substance abuse or leave them vulnerable to involvement in drug trafficking

and related crime.

● Impacts

○ It has aggravated the crime scenario in India.

○ Persons dealing with narcotic drugs are instruments in causing the deaths of

innocent and vulnerable victims.

○ Other impacts like losing job, financial troubles, sexual abuse, accidents and

injuries, legal consequences, etc.

Legal Provisions in India and World

● The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act)

○ It outlaws the recreational use of cannabis.

○ Under the Act, the production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase,

transport, and use of cannabis is a punishable offence.

○ The NDPS Act, however, does not apply to the leaves and seeds of cannabis

plants.

○ In case the CBD is extracted from the leaves of the cannabis, then technically it

is not illegal.

○ CBD oil manufactured under a licence issued by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,

1940 can be legally used.

● The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

○ It is vested with the power to charge individuals in cases related to the illegal use

and supply of narcotics.

○ India is a signatory to various international drug-related UN conventions and the

responsibility of implementation of the provision of these international

conventions also lies with NCB.

● The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)

○ It is the central policy-making body for the UN drug control system, which meets

on an annual basis

○ The Vienna-based CND was founded in 1946.

○ It is to decide on the scope of control of substances by placing them in the

schedules of global drug control conventions.

Source: TH

Tags: GS 2/Constitutional Bodies

Issues in Model Code of Conduct of ECI

In News

Recently, the elections in West Bengal and Assam have been marked by violations of the Model

Code of Conduct

About Model Code of Conduct

● The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political

parties and candidates prior to elections, to ensure free and fair elections.

● This code is based on consensus among political parties.

● This is in keeping with Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives the Election

Commission the power to supervise elections to the Parliament and state legislatures.

● The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the

date that results are announced.

● The MCC is not enforceable by law. However, certain provisions of the MCC may be

enforced through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian

Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and Representation of the People

Act, 1951.

● Evolution of MCC

○ A form of the MCC was first introduced in the state assembly elections in Kerala

in 1960. It was a set of instructions to political parties regarding election

meetings, speeches, slogans, etc.

○ In the 1962 general elections to the Lok Sabha, the MCC was circulated to

recognised parties, and state governments sought feedback from the parties.

■ The MCC was largely followed by all parties in the 1962 elections and

continued to be followed in subsequent general elections.

○ In 1979, the Election Commission added a section to regulate the ‘party in power

and prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage at the time of elections.

○ In 2013, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include

guidelines regarding election manifestos, which it had included in the MCC for

the 2014 general elections.

● Committee of Parliament Recommendations

○ It recommended that the code should be made a part of the Representation of

the People Act 1951.

● Stand of ECI

○ The ECI did not agree to it on the ground that once it becomes a part of the law,

all matters connected with the enforcement of the code will be taken to court,

which would delay elections.

○ The position taken by the ECI is sound from a practical point of view. But then

the question about the enforceability of the code remains unresolved.

Issues

● There are crucial issues that need to be examined in the context of the model code and

the exercise of powers by the ECI under Article 324.

● Since it is a code of conduct framed on the basis of a consensus among political parties,

it has not been given any legal backing.

● Transfer of officials

○ One issue relates to the abrupt transfer of senior officials working under State

governments by an order of the commission.

○ The ECI orders the transfer on the assumption that the presence of those

officials will adversely affect the free and fair election in that State.

○ . It is actually not clear whether the ECI can transfer a State government official

in the exercise of the general powers under Article 324 or under the model code.

■ Article 324 does not confer untrammelled powers on the ECI to do

anything in connection with the elections.

■ Transfer of officials etc is governed by rules made under Article 309 of the

Constitution which cannot be bypassed by the ECI under the purported

exercise of the power conferred by Article 324.

● Administrative moves

○ Another issue relates to the ECI’s intervention in the administrative decisions

of a State government or even the union government.

○ According to the model code, Ministers cannot announce any financial grants in

any form, make any promise of construction of roads, provision of drinking water

facilities, etc or make any ad hoc appointments in the government. departments

or public undertakings.

■ These are the core guidelines relating to the government. But in reality,

no government is allowed by the ECI to take any action, administrative or

otherwise, if the ECI believes that such actions or decisions will affect free

and fair elections.

■ For instance,a recent decision of the ECI to stop the Government of

Kerala from continuing to supply kits containing rice, pulses, cooking oil,

■ The question is whether the ECI could have taken such a decision either

under the model code or Article 324.

■ The model code does not provide any clue.

Conclusion

● There is no doubt that the ECI, through the conduct of free and fair elections has

restored the purity of the legislative bodies.

● However, no constitutional body is vested with unguided and absolute powers.

● Neither citizens nor the ECI is permitted to assume that the ECI has unlimited and

arbitrary powers.

Election Commission of India

● The Election Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on

25th January 1950.

● The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional body

responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.

● The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative

Assemblies, State Legislative Councils and the offices of the President and Vice

President of the country.

● It is not concerned with the elections to panchayats and municipalities in the

states.

○ For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election

Commission.

Constitutional Provisions

● Its powers, appointment and duties are mentioned in Part XV of the Constitution

(Article 324 to Article 329) and the Representation of People Act.

● Article 324: Superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in an

Election Commission.

● Article 325: No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a

special electoral roll on the ground of religion, race, caste or sex.

● Article 326: Elections to the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies of States to be on

the basis of adult suffrage.

● Article 327: Power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections to

legislature.

● Article 328: Power of Legislature of a State to make provision with respect to

elections to such Legislature.

● Article 329: Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.

Source:TH/FL

Tags: GS3/ Indian Economy and related issues

Approval Of Extradition Of Nirav Modi To India

In News

Recently, the UK home office has cleared the extradition of Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi in

connection with the ₹13,758 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud.

About

● This comes two months after the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London ruled that a

prima facie case was made out against him.

○ He has the legal recourse of approaching the U.K. High Court within 14 days to

seek permission for moving an appeal against the Secretary of State’s decision.

○ Unless there is an appeal, a requested person must be extradited within 28 days

of the Secretary of State’s decision to order extradition.

Source:HT

What is Nirav Modi's Case?

● Nirav Modi is a luxury diamond jeweller and designer who was ranked 57 in the Forbes

list of billionaires in 2017. He is also the founder of the Nirav Modi chain of diamond

jewellery retail stores.

● He is the key accused in the Punjab National Bank’s scam that relates to a fraudulent

letter of undertaking worth Rs 10,000 crore issued by the bank.

● According to the complaint filed by PNB with the CBI, the fraudulent issuance of Letters

of Undertakings (LOU) was detected at the Mid Corporate Branch, Brady House in

Mumbai.

● A set of partnership firms — Diamond R US, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds —

approached the bank on January 16 with a set of import documents and requested for

Buyer’s Credit to make payments to overseas suppliers.

○ Buyers Credit is, typically, a short-term loan facility extended to an importer

by a bank to finance goods and services.

○ It is a common mode of transaction in international trade where a bank extends

credit to the importer and a finance agency based in the exporter’s country

guarantees the loan.

● The firms have Nirav Modi, his brother Nishal Modi, Mr. Nirav’s wife Ami Nirav Modi, and

Mehul Chinubhai Chokshi as partners.

● A special court, in December 2019, declared diamond businessman Nirav Modi a

fugitive economic offender, on a plea of the Enforcement Directorate.

Fugitive Economic Offender

● An FEO is defined by The Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, 2018 as “any

individual against whom a warrant for arrest in relation to a scheduled offence has been

issued by any court in India, who

○ has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution; or

○ being abroad, refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution”.

● The FEO Act aims “to provide for measures to deter fugitive economic offenders from

evading the process of law in India by staying outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts, to

preserve the sanctity of the rule of law in India and for matters connected therewith or

incidental thereto”.

● Procedure to be followed: The investigating agencies have to file an application in a

Special Court under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act containing details of the

properties to be confiscated, and any information about the person’s whereabouts.

○ The Special Court will issue a notice for the person to appear at a specified place

and date at least six weeks from the issue of notice.

○ Proceedings will be terminated if the person appears. If not the person would be

declared as a Fugitive Economic Offender based on the evidence filed by the

investigating agencies.

○ The person who is declared as a Fugitive Economic Offender can challenge the

proclamation in the High Court within 30 days of such declaration according

to the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.

Source: IE

Broad Topic: GS 2, India & Foreign Relations, Agreements Involving India &/or Affecting

India’s Interests, Effect of Policies & Politics of Developed & Developing Countries on

India’s Interests

US-China Agreement on Climate Change

In News

Recently, the US and China have agreed to cooperate with other countries to curb climate

change.

About the Agreement

● The agreement was reached by the US and Chinese special envoys for climate in

Shanghai.

● The visit was aimed at discussing raising global climate ambition ahead of the US

Leaders Summit on Climate.

○ It will be held virtually on 22nd-23rd April 2021.

○ Fourty world leaders including the Prime Minister of India have been invited.

○ It will push for an agreement to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius-global warming

limit “within reach”.

○ The participants are expected to announce more ambitious national targets

for cutting carbon emissions ahead of or at the meeting, along with pledging

financial help for developing countries.

● Significance

○ Both countries are committed to cooperating with each other and with others to

tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and

urgency that it demands.

○ Fighting global warming is among the US’s top highest priorities.

■ Under Biden's Presidency, the US has rejoined the Paris climate

accord, from which his predecessor Donald Trump had withdrawn earlier.

○ US-China cooperation is key to a success of global efforts to curb climate

change.

■ Both are the world’s two biggest carbon polluters and frayed

relations over human rights, trade and China’s territorial claims to

Taiwan and the South China Sea have been threatening to undermine

such efforts.

Paris Agreement

● It is a landmark agreement as it brings all nations into a common cause to undertake

ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, for the first time.

● It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change which replaced the

Kyoto Protocol, an earlier related agreement.

● It was adopted by 196 parties at COP 21 in Paris, in December 2015 and entered into

force in November 2016.

● Conference of Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the United

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

● Aims: To limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius as

compared to pre-industrial levels.

● Frameworks

○ Technology Framework.

○ Capacity Building Framework.

○ Transparency Framework.

● Implementation

○ It requires economic and social transformation, based on the best available

science.

○ It works on a 5-year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out

by countries.

○ Countries have submitted their plans for climate action known as Nationally

Determined Contributions (NDCs).

○ To better frame the efforts towards the long-term goal, it invited countries to

formulate and submit by 2020 long-term low greenhouse gas emission

development strategies (LT-LEDS).

■ LT-LEDS provide the long-term horizon to the NDCs and are not

mandatory.

■ Nevertheless, they place the NDCs into the context of countries’ long-

term planning and development priorities, providing a vision and

direction for future development.

(Image Courtesy: WEF)

Green Contract

● It refers to a commercial contract which mandates that contracting parties cut

down greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions at different stages of delivery of

goods/services, including design, manufacturing, transportation, operations and waste

disposal, as applicable to the industry.

● The process commences at the bidding stage itself, when various interested

companies participate in the tender process. Here, a ‘green tender’ may prescribe

necessary ‘green qualifications’, which are to be considered when awarding the

contract.

○ Green qualifications: Using a predefined percentage of green energy,

adequate on-site waste management, reducing carbon emissions by a

certain level over time, etc.

● After a bidder is chosen, green obligations are prescribed in detail, making it binding

and enforceable in the eyes of the law, which makes sure that parties cut down

emissions.

○ One effective way to make sure that the service providers adhere to these

contractual obligations would be to provide for measurement criteria and audit

of the performance of the contractor with regard to these obligations. An

organisation may also choose to contractually highlight non-performance of

such obligations as a ground of contractual breach, with penalty prescriptions.

Another way to make sure that these obligations under the green contracts

resonate far is to make sure that they flow down to all levels of the supply chain

engaged in the delivery of goods and services.

● Ways to Cut Down Emissions

○ Contractual clauses providing for the use of good quality and energy-efficient

infrastructure for production of goods/services.

○ Efforts in day-to-day operations such as reducing noise, air and water pollution.

○ Ensuring eco-friendly means of transportation like bicycles on site.

○ Establishing and maintaining a sustainable waste management system.

● Significance

○ Indian corporations can play a major role in the country's sustainable

growth by opting for green contracts.

○ The service recipients can undertake thorough assessments on their current

standing on GHG emissions, and initiate relevant processes to contribute

their share in India’s green sustainable future.

○ Their execution may be more expensive than the normal brown contract,

however, global entities operating in a changing environment need to take

into consideration the greater environment costs at stake.

Source: TH

Broad Topic: GS 2, India & Foreign Relations, Effect of Policies & Politics of Developed &

Developing Countries on India’s Interests, GS 3, Indian Economy & Related Issues

India on Currency Monitoring List

In News

Recently, India has been put on the U.S. Treasury’s Currency Manipulators Monitoring List

along with 10 other countries for the April 2021 list.

● Other 10 countries are China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia,

Singapore, Thailand and Mexico.

○ All of these, except Ireland and Mexico, were on the December 2020 list.

Currency Manipulators

● The US government gives this label to countries which it feels are engaging in unfair

currency practices by intentionally devaluing their currency against the US Dollar.

○ It means that the enlisted nation is artificially lowering the value of its

currency to gain an unfair advantage over others as the devaluation reduces

the cost of exports from that country and artificially shows a reduction in

trade deficits as a result.

● Currency Manipulator Watch List

○ The US Department of Treasury releases the report titled ‘Macroeconomic

and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United

States’.

○ The semi-annual report reviews currency practices of the US’s 20 biggest

trading partners to track developments in international economies and inspect

foreign exchange rates.

○ Three criteria from the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015

are used to review partners and an economy meeting two of the three criteria

is placed on the Watch List.

■ A significant bilateral trade surplus (at least USD 20 billion over a 12-

month period).

■ A material current account surplus (at least 2 per cent of GDP over a

12-month period).

■ ‘Persistent one-sided intervention’ in forex markets (net purchases of

foreign currency totalling at least 2 per cent of the country’s GDP over a

12 month period are conducted repeatedly, in at least six out of 12

months).

○ Implications on the Enlisted Country

■ It deteriorates the financial image of a country in the markets with

respect to the foreign exchange policies including undervaluation of

currencies to gain export advantages.

■ However, inclusion in the list does not lead to any kind of penalty and

sanctions.

India’s Current Position

● According to the US Treasury Department, India met two of the three criteria, viz. the

trade surplus criterion and the “persistent, one-sided intervention” criterion.

● India was on the list in the December 2020 report as well.

● The status can lead to the rupee appreciating as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

might step back from its dollar purchases.

(Image Courtesy: TOI)

Source: TH

Facts in News

World Liver Day

● It is observed every year on 19 April. ● Aim: To spread awareness about liver-related disease. ● The liver is the second largest and the most complex organ

in the body, with the exception of the brain. ● It is responsible for many important functions like processing

nutrients, filtering the blood, producing bile, regulating hormones, maintaining blood sugar levels, blood clotting and fighting infections.

● According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), liver diseases are the tenth most common cause of death in India.

● Liver diseases can be caused by hepatitis A, B, C, alcohol and drugs.

● The consumption of contaminated food, water and drug abuse are the reasons behind viral hepatitis disease.

○ “Hepato” means liver and “itis” means inflammation. Hence, Hepatitis means the inflammation of the liver.

● Cirrhosis is a complication of liver disease that involves loss of liver cells and irreversible scarring of the liver.

Gallantry

Awards

● Gallantry Awards have been instituted by the Government of India to honour the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted forces and civilians.

● These gallantry awards are announced twice a year - first on the occasion of Republic Day and then on the occasion of Independence Day.

● Gallantry Awards are classified into two Categories ● Gallantry in the Face of Enemy

○ Param Vir Chakra (PVC) ○ Mahavir Chakra (MVC) ○ Vir Chakra

● Gallantry Other than in the Face of Enemy ○ Ashok Chakra ○ Kirti Chakra ○ Shaurya Chakra

Lingaraj Temple

● It was built during the 11th century AD.

● The temple has been described as “One of the finest examples

of purely Hindu temples in India.

● Lingaraj is referred to as ‘Swayambhu” – (self-originated

Shivling).

● The temple marks the culmination of the temple architecture in

Bhubaneswar, Odisha which was the cradle of the Kalinga

School of Temple Architecture.

● The sprawling temple complex has one hundred and fifty

subsidiary shrines.

● The temples are considered a masterpiece of Indian

Architecture for their detailed plan, proportions, seamless

joints, elegant craftsmanship and impressive dimensions.

● The temple can broadly be divided into four main halls.

○ The Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum).

○ The Yajana Mandapa (the hall for prayers)

○ The Natya Mandapa (dance and music hall)

○ The Bhoga Mandapa (where devotees can have the

Prasad (offering) of the Lord).

● The exquisite carvings depicting chores of daily life, the activity

centres, apart from being a place of worship makes the temple

a place for social and cultural gathering, somewhat like a

modern community centre

.

Disc-Footed Bat

● Scientific name: Eudiscopus denticulus.

● Habitat: Southern China, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar.

● It is India’s first bamboo-dwelling bat with sticky disks.

● It has been recorded in Meghalaya’s Lailad area near the

Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, about 1,000 km west of its

nearest known habitat in Myanmar.

○ It has raised Meghalaya’s bat count to 66, the most

for any State in India.

● The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) came across this very

specialised small bat with disk-like pads in the thumb and

bright orange colouration while sampling in a bamboo patch

in 2020.

● Its flattened skull and adhesive pads enable them to roost

inside cramped spaces, clinging to smooth surfaces such as

bamboo internodes.

● It is also genetically very different from all other known bats

bearing disk-like pads.

● Its very high frequency echolocation calls are suitable for

orientation in a cluttered environment such as inside bamboo

groves.

(Image Courtesy: TH)

Oxygen Express

● These will be run by the Railways in the following days to

transport Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) and oxygen

cylinders across the country.

● The requirement for Medical Oxygen is a critical component

in the treatment of Covid-19 affected patients and it has

increased manifold amidst the resurgence of cases.

● These will send oxygen wherever there is a demand

● Green Corridors are being created for fast movement of

Oxygen Express trains which will transport LMO through roll-

on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) service with road tankers placed on flat

wagons.

World Heritage Day 2021

● Every year, it is celebrated on 18th April and is also known as

International Day for Monuments and Sites.

● History: In 1982, the International Council on Monuments

and Sites (ICOMOS) suggested to the United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) that 18th April should be celebrated as this day,

which was approved during the 22nd General Conference in

1983.

● Theme for 2021: Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures

○ The conservation of cultural heritage requires careful

examination of the past, and its practice demands

provision for the future

● Significance: It is dedicated to the conservation and

promotion of cultural heritage through various activities

undertaken by the ICOMOS.