26th March 2021
First Training Squadron’s (1TS) Overseas Deployment
Recently, the Indian Naval Ship INS Shardul made a port call at Antsiranana, Madagascar as part of First Training Squadron’s (1TS) Overseas Deployment.
- The First Training Squadron’s (1TS) forms a part of Southern Naval Command (SNC).
- The 1TS is the training command of the Indian Navy.
- India and Madagascar share a strong maritime relation and visit by the First Training Squadron to Antsiranana is a step towards further strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two nations.
INS Shardul
- It is the lead ship of the Shardul-class amphibious warfare vessels.
- It is a Landing Ship Tank of the Indian Navy whose primary role is to transport troops, vehicles, armaments and accomplish all objectives of an amphibious operation.
- Its objectives includes landing of combat equipment and personnel to an Amphibious Objective Area.
- It has the capability to launch and recover Marine Commandos through sea as well as by helicopters.
- It can act as a "Hospital Ship" with facilities provided in containerised form as well as a "Fleet Tanker" for limited exercise.
Madagascar
- It is the largest African island situated in the Indian Ocean.
- In terms of area, it is the fourth largest island country in the world.
- It is recognized as one of the world's top ten hotspots for biodiversity.
- In January 2020, Indian Navy launched 'Operation Vanilla' to assist the population of Madagascar affected by Cyclone Diane.
National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM)
Recently, the Minister of State for Jal Shakti has informed that out of nearly 33 lakh sq km geographical area of the country, a mappable area of around 25 lakh sq km has been identified by the CGWB to be covered under National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM).
National Aquifer Mapping and Management program
- It was started as a part of the Ground Water Management and Regulation scheme to describe and characterize the aquifers to develop plans for ground water management.
- The plans related aquifer maps and management are being regularly shared with State Governments through the State Ground Water Coordination Committees which is being chaired by the concerned Principal Secretaries of the respective States.
- The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is the implementing agency of the NAQUIM.
- The CGWB is responsible for organizing Public Interaction Programme (PIP) regularly in order to facilitate participation at grassroots levels for the discussion related to aquifer maps and management plans,
- The vision of the programme is to:
- Identify and map aquifers at the micro level;
- Quantify the available groundwater resources; and
- Propose plans appropriate to the scale of demand and aquifer characteristics, and institutional arrangements for participatory management.
- Aquifer mapping is a process wherein a combination of geologic, geophysical, hydrologic and chemical field and laboratory analyses are applied to characterize the quantity, quality and sustainability of ground water in aquifers.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
- It is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- It is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibilities of providing scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation and regulation of ground water resources of the country.
- It was established in 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube wells Organization under the Ministry of Agriculture and it was merged with the Ground Water Wing of the Geological Survey of India during 1972.
- It is a multi-disciplinary scientific organization consisting of Hydro-geologists, Geophysicists, Chemists, Hydrologists, Hydro-meteorologists and Engineers.
Adjournment Sine Die
Recently, the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned sine die at the end of the Budget session of Parliament after the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die which brought the nearly two-month long Budget session to an end.
Adjournment Sine Die
- The phenomenon of Adjournment Sine Die means terminating a sitting of Parliament for an indefinite period.
- It implies that when the House is adjourned without naming a day for reassembly, it is called adjournment sine die.
- The power of adjournment as well as adjournment sine die lies with the presiding officer of the House.
- The presiding officer can also call a sitting of the House before the date or time to which it has been adjourned or at any time after the House has been adjourned sine die.
- The presiding officer (Speaker or Chairman) declares the House adjourned sine die, when the business of a session is completed.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
Recently, the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs has informed the Lok Sabha regarding functioning of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
- It was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
- The amendment has bifurcated erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes two separate Commissions namely:
- The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), and
- The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
Composition of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
- The term of office of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and each member is three years from the date of assumption of charge.
- The Chairperson has been given the rank of Union Cabinet Minister, and the Vice-Chairperson that of a Minister of State and other Members have the ranks of a Secretary to the Government of India.
- They are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
- Their conditions of service and tenure of office are also determined by the President.
Functions of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
- To investigate & monitor matters relating to safeguards provided for STs under the Constitution or under other laws or under Govt. Order, to evaluate the working of such Safeguards.
- To inquire into specific complaints relating to Rights & Safeguards of STs;
- To participate and advise in the Planning Process relating to Socio-economic development of STs, and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;
- To submit report to the President annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, upon/ working of Safeguards, Measures required for effective implementation of Programmers/ Schemes relating to Welfare and Socio-economic development of STs; and
- To discharge such other functions in relation to STs as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify
Constitutional Safeguards for STs
Educational & Cultural Safeguards
- Article 15(4): Special provisions for advancement of other backward classes (which includes STs)
- Article 29: Protection of Interests of Minorities (which includes STs)
- Article 46: The State shall promote, with special care, the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes, and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation etc.
- Article 350: Right to conserve distinct Language, Script or Culture
- Article 350: Instruction in Mother Tongue.
Social Safeguard
- Article 23: Prohibition of traffic in human beings and beggar and other similar form of forced labour
- Article 24: Forbidding Child Labour.
Economic Safeguards
- Article 244: Clause(1) Provisions of Fifth Schedule shall apply to the administration & control of the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any State other than the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura which are covered under Sixth Schedule.
Political Safeguards
- Article 164(1): Provides for Tribal Affairs Ministers in Bihar, MP and Orissa
- Article 330: Reservation of seats for STs in Lok Sabha
- Article 337: Reservation of seats for STs in State Legislatures
- Article 334: 10 years period for reservation (Amended several times to extend the period.)
- Article 243: Reservation of seats in Panchayats
- Article 371: Special provisions in respect of NE States and Sikkim
India’s stand on Sri Lanka at United Nations
Recently, the India has abstained from voting on a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that makes a wide-ranging and damaging commentary on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.
It is the eighth resolution on Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council since the end of the war against the LTTE in 2009.
- India’s record of voting on these resolutions reflects:
- The ups and downs of New Delhi-Colombo relations;
- The pressures on coalitions in India;
- The influence of politics and parties in Tamil Nadu; and
- The ebb and flow of regional and international geopolitics
Resolution 46/L1, 2021
- It has decided to “strengthen” the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights.
- It aims to collect, consolidate, analyse, and preserve information and evidence and develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights.
- It also aims to advocate for victims and survivors and to support relevant judicial and other proceedings, including in Member States, with competent jurisdiction.
- It refers to “persistent” lack of accountability for rights abuses committed through the years by “all parties” in Sri Lanka, including the LTTE.
- It expresses a lack of confidence in the ability of the present government in Colombo to address the shortcomings.
- It describes the trends emerging over the past year as an “early warning sign” of the deterioration of the climate in Sri Lanka for individual freedoms and rights.
Previous Resolution of UNHRC on Sri Lanka
- Resolution S-11, 2009: It reflected Sri Lanka’s optimism following the defeat of the LTTE.
- It urged the international community to help with financial assistance towards rebuilding, and welcomed the “resolve” of the Sri Lankan government to begin a broader dialogue.
- The preamble to the resolution contained a commitment by Sri Lanka “to a political solution with implementation of the 13th Amendment to bring about lasting peace and reconciliation”.
- India, the architect of the 13th Amendment in Sri Lanka, was among the 29 countries that voted in favour of the resolution.
- Resolution 19/2, 2012: It was moved by United States.
- It took note of the LLRC report that it did not address the serious allegations of violations of international law, and urged it to implement the “constructive” recommendations contained in it.
- India was among 24 countries that voted in favour of the resolution along with the US and the European bloc.
- It came as a big shock to Colombo when New Delhi joined the West in acting against it.
- Resolution HRC 22/1, 2013: India was concerned at the lack of progress by Sri Lanka in commitments given in 2009, and urged it to move forward on public commitments.
- In 2013, India joined 25 countries including the European bloc in voting against Sri Lanka.
- India called on the devolution of political authority through full implementation of the 13th Amendment and building upon it.
- Resolution 25/1, 2014: India abstained from resolution that called for an independent and credible investigation and asked Sri Lanka to make public the results of its investigations into alleged violations by security forces.
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
- It is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system.
- It is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
- It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year.
- It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
Falling Market: Opportunity or Reason to Worry
Recently, a sharp rise in Covid numbers over the last two weeks has unnerved the markets, which have already been marked by concerns over high valuations and rise in bond yields.
Concerns associated with Falling Market
- There have been concerns over the rise in bond yields in the US and the domestic market besides the spike in Covid numbers in India.
- There is a feeling in the market that if bond yields in the US rise further, it may impact the fund flow into emerging markets.
- The US Fed has indicated that there may not be policy rate hikes through 2023 and it will continue to support the economy and maintain liquidity.
- The elevated levels of bond yields in the US have also resulted in some weakness and technology stocks are witnessing some correction.
Effect of rising yields on market
- The sudden bond yield rise has moderated the enthusiasm of equity market participants throughout the world.
- Bond yields are inversely proportional to equity returns i.e. when bond yields decline, equity markets tend to outperform, and vice versa.
- While a rise in bond yield raises the cost of capital for companies, which in turn compresses the valuations of their stocks, they also play a big role in FPI flow.
What is there for investors during fall in market?
- A number of existing investors have a feeling that they should have sold a portion of their holding when the Sensex hit the peak recently.
- The investors think that there are enough opportunities to buy good stocks and own for the longer term.
- India should follow a staggered approach of investing as they could go for either mutual fund investment through the SIP mode, or direct stock-picking in a staggered manner.
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