Daily News Simplified - DNS
27 06 19
Notes
THE
SL. NO. TOPICS HINDU
PAGE NO.
1 54 nations back India for UNSC non-permanent seat 01
2 Negotiating the forks in the road to diplomacy 10
3 Police station in Satara tops SMART police survey 07
4 Centre set to roll out ‘Jal Shakti’ scheme for water-starved areas 09
5 RBI begins monitoring HFCs 15
Dated: 27. June. 2019 DNS Notes
Title 1. 54 nations back India for UNSC non-permanent seat (The Hindu, Page 01)
Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II international relations
Theme UNSC
Highlights
Why in the news?
India has won the unanimous support of all countries in the 55-member Asia-Pacific
Group at the United Nations in support of its bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN
Security Council (UNSC) for a two-year term in 2021-22. Moreover, both Pakistan and
China have supported India's bid in the Asia-Pacific group.
Functions & Powers of UNSC:
The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international
peace and security and therefore takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat
to the peace or act of aggression. In case of a conflict, it calls upon the parties to a
dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends terms of settlement. Security
Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain
or restore international peace and security.
It also recommends to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General
and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of
Justice.
I is authorised to establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the
performance of its functions.
While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states,
only the Security Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then
obligated to implement under the Charter.
Composition of UNSC:
Article 23 of UN Charter states that the Security Council shall consist of fifteen
Members of the United Nations. The Republic of China, France, the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America shall be
permanent members of the Security Council.
The General Assembly shall elect ten other Members of the United Nations to be non-
permanent members of the Security Council, due regard being specially paid, in the
first instance to the contribution of Members of the United Nations to the maintenance
of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the Organization, and
also to equitable geographical distribution.
The non-permanent members of the Security Council shall be elected for a term of two
years. A retiring member shall not be eligible for immediate re-election.
Each year the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of 10 in total)
for a two-year term. The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis as
follows: five for African and Asian States; one for Eastern European States; two for the
Latin American and Caribbean States; and two for Western European and other States.
According to Article 108 of the United Nations Charter, the Charter can be amended by
a General Assembly decision approved by two thirds of General Assembly membership
and ratified by two thirds of Member States, including the permanent members of the
Security Council.
Dated: 27. June. 2019 DNS Notes
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Dated: 27. June. 2019 DNS Notes
Title 2. Negotiating the forks in the road to diplomacy (The Hindu, Page 10)
Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II international relations
Theme G 20 summit
Highligh
ts Now according to the author, Indian govt is going to undertake several important
meeting in the later this month such as G20 summit and have meeting of RIC trilateral,
JIA trilateral, meeting of the BRICS countries, and possible bilateral meeting with Donald
Trump and Vladmir Putin. Such important meeting will continue with an important one
in October between, which is the Wuhan summit between PM Modi and Chinese
President Xi Jingping.
Now according to the author, in each of these meeting represent a fork in the road, or
basically two separate paths that India can undertake. One path leads towards the U.S.
and the other towards Russia & China.
India up till now has been able to take a balanced approach between both the two blocs.
This has been based on India's policy of strategic autonomy based on multi alignment.
Now what this means is that India will take it own foreign policy decisions on any issue
based on India's national interest, and whichever bloc or country is able to help India
achieve its national interest, India will partner with that country on that issue.
So for an example, India is working China with in Climate Change talks against the
climate change policies of US and other developing countries. Similarly, India worked
with US in UNSC against China's objection to declaring Masood Azhar as a global
terrorist. Similarly, India is working with China in trying to reform IMF, WB and forming
AIIB and NDB while India is working with US in containing China policies in Indo-Pacific
region.
However according to the author, this policy has now become unsustainable. First due to
rise in divide and confrontation between the US and Russia-China bloc. And secondly,
the policies of Donald Trump. Recent example of this is of Iran. Now China and India
were top two importers of Iranian oil in the world. However the US imposed sanctions
on Iran and demanded for each country to reduce their import of Iranian oil to zero.
China refused this US demand and India indirectly agreed. Now Iran was selling India oil
cheaper than international oil prices which was good for the Indian economy, however
because of US pressure we had take a decision that might not have been in our national
interest. Similarly, Huawei which is a Chinese company provides the best and cheapest
technology infrastructure for the upcoming 5G network US wants us to not allow
Huawei. Now allowing Huawei in India's 5G trials would again might not be in our
national interest. Apart from this, there are several other examples of how it has become
difficult for India to take it own foreign policy decisions on any issue based on India's
own national interest. On more and more issues we are being forced to take side with
US even though it might not be in our national interest.
A solution according to the author is that India needs a substantive and more clearly
defined foreign policy objectives.
One objective should be to have backing of India's neighbours on international issues.
Dated: 27. June. 2019 DNS Notes
So for an example, if India is against BRI then India must convince Sri Lanka, Nepal,
Bangladesh and others to support India's stand against BRI. Second objective is that
India needs its own list of demands from its relationships with big powers. so for eg., it is
an open secret that one of the main reason why India supported US demand to reduce
Iranian oil imports was for US support in UNSC to declare MA as global terrorist and for
helping India in blacklisting Pakistan in Financial Action Task force.
Thirdly, India needs to avoid tactical transactionalism in its foreign policy objectives.
Now what this means is that India shouldn't only focus on short term give and take with
other countries but rather long term strategic objectives. One way to form these long
term objectives is to go back to policy non-alignment. Now it doesn't mean go back to
NAM but rather that form long term objectives that democratises international relations
through which India can safeguard own national self-interests.
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Dated: 27. June. 2019 DNS Notes
Title 3. Police station in Satara tops SMART police survey (The Hindu Page 07)
Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – Polity & Governance
Theme Police reforms
Highligh What’s the news?
ts
Recently the Quality council of India, executed a survey based on the SMART police
concept.
In the survey , the Kalu police station in Rajasthan’s Bikaner topped the survey followed
by PS in Andaman and West Bengal.
The survey was commissioned by Union Home Ministry and was executed by the Quality
council of India.
The survey assessed 87 shortlisted PS across the country on number of parameters like
performance in controlling crime , infrastructure of the police building , mess and optimal
use of technology, citizen feedback , approachability and discipline of the police
personnel, storage of manual records in the police station as well as the station head
officer’s (SHO’s) declaration of the budgetary process.
About SMART Police
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 called for making the police a ‘SMART’ force —
Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive,
Techno savvy and Trained.
About QCI
• Quality Council of India (QCI) was set up in 1997 by Government of India jointly
with Indian Industry as an autonomous body under the administrative control of
the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
• Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations
namely ASSOCHAM; CII; and FICCI.
The main aim of the QCI is to
• to establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure for conformity
assessment bodies;
• providing accreditation in the field of education, health and quality promotion.
Besides the role of putting in place the accreditation structure,
• it also promotes the adoption of quality standards relating to Quality
Management Systems (ISO 14001 Series), Food Safety Management Systems (ISO
22000 Series) and Product Certification and Inspection Bodies through the
accreditation services provided by National Accreditation Board for Certification
Bodies (NABCB).
QCI is governed by a Council comprising of 38 members including the Chairman and
Secretary General. The Council has an equal representation of Government, Industry and
other Stakeholders
Dated: 27. June. 2019 DNS Notes
The Governing Council shall be the apex level body responsible for formulating the
strategy, general policy, constitution and monitoring of various components of QCI
including the Accreditation Boards with the objective of ensuring transparent and
credible accreditation system.
The Governing Council, through a Governing Body will monitor the progress of activities
of the respective boards.
About Governing Body
• The affairs of QCI are be administered, directed and controlled by the Governing
Body.
• The Governing Body has 21 members from various stakeholders. It has
representations from organizations working in quality domain, industry and the
government.
• The Governing Body manages all the affairs and funds of QCI and has authority to
exercise all the powers subject, nevertheless in respect of expenditure, to such
limitation as the Government of India may from time to time impose.
• The Governing Body has the power to frame amend or repeal bye laws not
inconsistent with the rules for the administration and management of the affairs
of QCI as per the provisions contained in Rules & Regulations.
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Dated: 27. June. 2019 DNS Notes
Title 4. Centre set to roll out ‘Jal Shakti’ scheme for water-starved areas (The Hindu
Page 09)
Syllabus Mains: GS II – Polity & governance
Theme Water conservation and promotion
Highlight
s Water scarcity, which is broadly understood as the lack of access to adequate
quantities of water for human and environmental uses, is considered to be one
of the most important global risks for society.
According to data by the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency, the
water table had dropped alarmingly in 70 of the 76 talukas, with more than 25
reporting a drop of more than two metres.
To meet the challenge, the Centre is set to initiate the Jal Shakti Abhiyan to
ramp up rainwater harvesting and conservation efforts in 255 water-stressed
districts from July 1, in line with the government’s promise to focus on water.
Though water is a State issue, the campaign would be coordinated by 255
central IAS officers of Joint or Additional Secretary-rank, drawn from ministries
as varied as Space, Petroleum and Defence.
The campaign would run from July 1 to September 15 in States receiving rainfall
during the south-west monsoon, while States receiving rainfall in the retreating
or north-east monsoon would be covered from October 1 to November 30.
Overall, 313 blocks with critical groundwater levels would be covered, along
with 1,186 blocks with over-exploited groundwater and 94 blocks with low
groundwater availability.
Benefits of ‘Jal Shakti’ Abhiyan
o The Jal Shakti Abhiyan would aim to accelerate water harvesting,
conservation and borewell recharge activities already being carried out
under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
scheme and the Integrated Watershed Management Programme of the
Rural Development Ministry, along with existing water body restoration
and afforestation schemes being undertaken by the Jal Shakti and
Environment Ministries. Progress would be monitored in real time.
o Block and district-level water conservation plans would be drafted, and
Kisan Vigyan Kendras would hold melas to promote better crop choices
and more efficient water use for irrigation. A major communications
campaign on TV, radio, print, local and social media would be carried out,
with celebrities mobilised to generate awareness for the campaign.
Dated: 27. June. 2019 DNS Notes
o Scientists and IITs would provide technical support, while national NGOs
would aid in community mobilisation. State- and district-level officials
would also join these teams on the ground.
About Jal Kranti Abhiyan
Jal Kranti Abhiyan is being celebrated during the year 2015-16 to consolidate water
conservation and management in the country through a holistic and integrated
approach involving all stakeholders, making it a mass movement.
The objectives of Jal Kranti Abhiyan are :-
Strengthening grass root involvement of all stakeholders including Panchayati Raj
Institutions and local bodies in the water security and development schemes (e.g.
Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM);
Encouraging the adoption/utilization of traditional knowledge in water resources
conservation and its management;
To utilize sector level expertise from different levels in government, NGO’s, citizens etc;
and
Enhancing livelihood security through water security in rural areas.
Jal Gram Yojana is one of the most important activity of the Jal Kranti Abhiyan under
which two villages in every district (preferably being a part of dark block or facing acute
water scarcity) are being selected as Jal Grams. A committee at village/block level is
being formed for implementation and monitoring of works under Jal Gram Yojana for
every Jal Gram. The role of the village level committee are :- (i) Providing inputs for
formulation of water security plan (ii) Implementation of works (iii) Monitoring of works
(iv) Advocacy of water conservation in village (v) Meeting once in a fortnight.
Dated: 27. June. 2019 DNS Notes
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Dated: 27. June. 2019 DNS Notes
Title 5. RBI begins monitoring HFCs (The Hindu Page 15)
Syllabus Mains: GS III –Economy
Theme NBFCs
Highlights Context:
In response to the present NBFC crisis, the RBI has decided to monitor the financial
health of Housing finance companies (HFCs) on a daily basis.
Details
The Housing finance companies are a category of NBFCs which specialize in lending
loans for the housing. The HFCs are regulated by National Housing Bank. Some of
the HFCs in India are DHFL, Bajaj Housing, Capital First etc.
In recent times, the HFCs have mainly relied on short term borrowings (through
Commercial papers) to give long term loans for the construction of houses.
This has led to asset-liability mismatch.
After the series of defaults by IL&FS, the banks have been reluctant to give loans to
HFCs. This has further aggravated the financial condition of the HFCs.
These HFCs have raised money from various financial institutions, including Mutual
fund companies. Hence, default on the repayment obligations could have an
contagion impact on the entire financial sector.
Hence, in order to prevent further escalation in the crisis, the RBI has now decided to
monitor the liquidity position, asset-liability gap and repayment schedules of the
HFCs on a daily basis.
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