31 August 2022

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

1 – All about the Abortion Laws: GS II – Government Policies and Interventions

Abortion laws in India have existed since:

• In the 1960s, as the number of induced abortions increased, the Union government ordered the creation of the Shantilal Shah Committee to study the possibility of legalising abortion in the nation.
• To reduce maternal mortality brought on by unsafe abortions, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act was passed in 1971.
• This law specifies the conditions under which a medical abortion may be carried out. It is an exception to Sections 312 and 313 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
• Under Section 312 of the IPC, anybody who “voluntarily induces a woman with child to miscarry” faces a maximum three-year prison sentence, a fine, or both, unless they acted in good faith in an effort to save the pregnant woman’s life.
• This provision practically forbids all abortion in India.
• A person who causes a miscarriage without the pregnant woman’s consent is punishable under Section 313 of the IPC with a fine, life in jail, or a maximum 10-year prison term, regardless of how far along in her pregnancy the lady is.

MTP evolution from 1971 until 2021:

• In 2021, the MTP Act had its most current change.
• Prior to that, new rules were put in place in 2003 to allow the use of misoprostol, a recently discovered abortion medicine, to terminate a pregnancy up to seven weeks into it.
• The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act of 2021 specifies the circumstances under which an abortion following a doctor’s recommendation is permitted.
• The maximum gestational period at which a woman may have a medical abortion was increased from 20 weeks by the 2021 Act to 24 weeks.
• This revised upper limit is only valid under specific conditions.
• MTP may now be available based on the advice of a single licenced medical professional up to 20 weeks of gestation.
• Between 20 and 24 weeks, two licenced medical specialists’ opinions are required.
• Under the previous version of the Act, a medical abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy required the consent of one registered doctor, whereas abortions up to 20 weeks required the consent of two doctors.
• Furthermore, only a four-member Medical Board constituted in each State in accordance with the Act may end a pregnancy after 24 weeks of gestation on the grounds of foetal abnormalities.
• The law also states that an abortion may be carried out anytime necessary by a single licenced medical expert in order to save the pregnant woman’s life, despite any of the aforementioned restrictions.
• Unmarried women may also get an abortion under the aforementioned criteria because the 2021 Act does not require spousal approval. If the lady is a minor, a guardian’s consent is required.

Interventions by the courts in cases involving abortions:

• The Supreme Court ruled in the historic Right to Privacy decision in the 2017 case Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India and others that a pregnant person’s choice to continue or end a pregnancy is a part of that person’s right to privacy as well as their right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Calcutta High Court approved a 37-year-old woman’s request for a medical abortion at 34 weeks of pregnancy even though the country’s present rules do not authorise unconditional abortions. This was done since the foetus had been shown to have an incurable spine abnormality.
• The Court granted this after the State Medical Board rejected the woman’s application for MTP.
• This ruling made abortion legal in the country up until the current stage of pregnancy.

The following are defences of the anti-abortion law:

• According to a 2018 research in the Lancet, India has 15.6 million abortions yearly as of 2015.
• According to the most recent National Family Health Survey 2019–2021, 27% of abortions were carried out at home by the mother.
• According to the United Nations Population Fund’s State of the World Population Report 2022, almost 8 women die every day in India as a result of unsafe abortions (UNFPA).
• Only gynaecologists or obstetricians are authorised to perform abortions in accordance with the MTP Act.
• However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s 2019–20 Rural Health Statistics report reveals that there is a 70% shortage of obstetrician–gynecologists in rural India.
• Critics assert that because the law forbids anytime abortions, it forces women to get risky, illegal abortions.
• Statistics show that 8,00,000 unsafe and illegal abortions, many of which result in maternal death, are performed each year in India.
• Pregnant transgender and non-binary people who are physiologically able to bear children are not included because the term “woman” is used in the law.
• They are forced to reject their gender identity and adopt a gender-binary one instead.
• Other significant issues are affordability and social stigma that promote risky abortions.
• Only those with adequate finances have access to the expensive private medical clinics that offer abortion procedures.

Conclusion:

• Given that India’s situation is far from perfect, it is important to think about and adopt innovative practises from around the world.
• We should strive for diversity, complete physical autonomy, and reproductive equity.
• We shouldn’t begin running the country by measuring our advancement by the rate of regression.
• When assessing bodily autonomy and reproductive rights, one must take into account legal, medical, and social factors.
• Until women and non-binary pregnant people have complete control over their own bodies in accordance with these principles, it is impossible to suggest that India is paving the way for the West.

Source The Indian Express

2 – Naxalism: GS III – Internal Security of India

Naxal Movement in India:

• In its early stages, the movement was strongly ideologically motivated and led by leaders like Charu Majumdar, Kondapalli Seetharamaiah, Nagabhushan Patnaik, and others.
• With time, the movement’s direction and character shifted, becoming more ruthless and sanguinary.
• Nevertheless, it maintained the impression that it genuinely supported the oppressed and poor, notably the tribal people.
• Despite losing some of the support of the urban intellectuals, Maoism still resonates with certain of the more ideologically committed sectors at universities and colleges.
• The main Maoist activity hotspots in Chhattisgarh right present are Dantewada, Bastar, Bijapur, and Sukma.
• Between the early stage (1967–1972) and the current Maoist movement, the taxonomy of naxalism has experienced major changes.
• Today, it has evolved into a highly organised, militaristic movement that puts terrorising populations ahead of furthering its own objectives.
• The Special Operations Group of Odisha and the Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh conducted a coordinated operation that cost the Communist Party of India (Maoist) roughly 30 of its cadres.
• According to many, it marked the start of the Naxalite movement’s downfall in the country.

Causes:

Political elements:

• The characteristics of tribal peoples and the democratic system’s disregard for them were among the key reasons of such uprisings.
• lack of political influence in India to provide possibilities for structural uplift to the underprivileged sectors of society in the affected states.
• tribal communities aren’t involved in politics enough

Economic factors:

• In Naxal-affected areas, there is economic inequality, underdevelopment, and poverty.
• The way of life of the tribes is threatened by mining companies’ intrusion into their woods and territories.
• Indigenous tribal population deprived of their lands and separated from their customary sources of subsistence
• The benefits of resource exploitation are not shared with the indigenous population.

Damage to the environment:

• Environmental degradation in the form of the depletion of land and water resources is a result of mining and industrial activity.

Absence of crucial infrastructure:

• inadequate access to basic services like food, freedom, education, and sanitization.
• The socially deprived tribals make up the majority of the Naxalites’ support base as a result of inequity, illiteracy, and a lack of opportunities.

The CRPF suffered the following setbacks in its conflict with the Naxals:

• There is no unified plan among the states.
• Between the Central forces and the state police, there is inadequate contact.
• Forces in Maoist-affected states lack the necessary battle preparedness and training.
• There isn’t a formal system in place for exchanging intelligence across governments and regions.
• Due to their knowledge with the region, Naxalites enjoy a significant advantage in armed warfare.

Governmental plan:

• As part of Operation Green Hunt, which started in 2010, there was a major deployment of security officers in the naxal-affected districts. There were 223 districts affected by naxalism in 2010, but there are currently just 90.

Aspirational Districts Program:

• The government’s approach to combating left-wing extremism is comprehensive, with a focus on security, development, safeguarding the rights and entitlements of local populations, improved governance, and public perception management.
• Law and order maintenance falls predominantly under the purview of state governments because “Police” and “Public Order” are matters of state jurisdiction.
• implementing the Scheme for Special Infrastructure to fill critical infrastructure shortages in states affected by left-wing extremism.
• Assistance is offered for State Police training via the Ministry of Defense.
• support for programmes promoting civic participation and community policing.
• There is a “National Policy and Action Plan to Address Left Wing Extremism” to put a stop to the menace as soon as feasible.
• The objective of anti-left-wing extremism (LWE) policy is to improve the deployment of central forces in the Naxal-infested regions of the state.

Way Forward:

A good leadership:

• The Naxals’ existence in the country also reveals the weaknesses in the legal system, which has failed to thwart the menace.
• The central government must implement a thorough national plan to defeat naxalism.

Dialogue:

• A solution might be discovered through discussions between Naxal leaders and government representatives.
• The government needs to engage the Naxalites in substantive dialogue.

Increase employment while raising wages:

• Due to the unpredictable employment and living situations in the area, the locals had little alternative but to join the Naxals.
• We must first provide the local community with honest, well-paying employment opportunities if we are to successfully battle Naxalism.

Schemes for rehabilitation and relocation:

• Poor people’s situation has only gotten worse due to the lack of any preparations for the resettlement of the displaced people brought on by the presence of mining grounds, irrigation areas, industries, etc. in the area.
• More consideration must be given to the rehabilitation of the affected population.

Halt the destruction of the environment:

• Depletion of land and water resources as a result of industrial and mining activity, which results in environmental degradation
• The disruption of village life has a detrimental effect on tourism.

Refrain from political marginalisation of weaker groups:

• The ruling elite still treats Schedule castes, Schedule tribes, and Lower Classes unfairly.
• Because they don’t engage equally in political elections and campaigns, these marginalised groups are easy targets for naxals.

Reduce disparity:

• Two of the main reasons that have driven the emergence of naxalism are economic inequality and the expanding gap between the rich and the poor.
• This gap needs to be partially filled quickly in order to resist Naxalism.

Make sure that the needs of the ordinary people are met:

• One of the key reasons for instability is the usage of tribal lands and forests for industrial purposes.
• land loss, lack of access to needs including food, clean water, freedom, and education

Take action to enhance the tribal people’s welfare:

• The majority of the Naxalites’ supporters are socially backward tribal people because of inequity, ignorance, and a lack of chances.
• It is essential to prevent these people from falling into the Naxal trap.

Current police enforcement agencies:

• The majority of law enforcement is handled by the state governments.
• A number of federal agencies are under the control of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
• With its agencies armed with state-of-the-art artillery, the federal government must advance into these unstable states while supporting the frequently under-resourced state authorities.

How to procced ahead:

• The federal and state governments, the administration, and the security apparatus all need to see that the movement cannot be approached solely from a law and order standpoint.
• It is apparent that the process of improving the lives of the disadvantaged and indigenous people must be expedited if the movement is to be successfully put an end to.
• The primary objective of the counterinsurgency campaign will be to win over the hearts and minds of the tribal population and other disadvantaged groups.
• Infrastructure upgrades for the road and rail network will aid in stifling Maoist propaganda as well as economic development.
• The improved road connectivity would also improve the effectiveness of operations carried out by the security forces.
• rewarding people who have been turned in and providing them with alternate life support systems

Source The Indian Express

3 – India’s First Space Mission: GS III – Space Technology

About:

• The Gaganyaan mission of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• Three missions into orbit are scheduled to be launched according to the Gaganyaan schedule.
• There will be one manned and two unmanned space missions.
• The Gaganyaan system module, also known as the Orbital Module, would carry three Indian astronauts, one of whom is a woman.
• It will orbit the planet at a low Earth orbital altitude of 300–400 km for 5-7 days.

Payloads:

• The cargo will be a spacecraft carrying people called the crew module.
• powered by two service module-mounted liquid-propellant engines.
• It will contain features for mission cancellation and emergency evacuation.
• Launch: Because it has the necessary payload capacity, the three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle GSLV Mk III, also known as the LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), will be used to launch Gaganyaan.

Russia’s Role:

• The Human Space Flight Centre of the ISRO and the Russian government-owned Glavkosmos inked a deal for the training in June 2019. It involves Russian support in the selection of applicants, their medical examination, and their training in space.
• The applicants will thoroughly examine the Soyuz manned spacecraft’s equipment and train in short-term weightlessness aboard the Il-76MDK aeroplane.
• The Soyuz spacecraft was made in Russia. The Soyuz shuttles passengers and supplies to and from the space station.
• Il-76MDK, a military transport plane, was developed especially for parabolic flights by would-be astronauts and space tourists.

Importance:

• The nation’s level of science and technology will rise, and young people will be inspired.
• Gaganyaan will involve a wide range of divisions, organisations, laboratories, subject areas, and businesses.
• It will help to promote industrial growth.
• The government recently established a new organisation, IN-SPACe, as part of efforts to increase commercial participation in the space sector.
• It will advance technology for the betterment of society.
• It will help to improve international cooperation.
• One International Space Station (ISS) developed by various countries might not be sufficient. Local ecosystems will be necessary, and Gaganyaan will focus on addressing local needs for the security of food, water, and energy.

Source The Science Reporter

4 – All about the LoC: Prelims Specific Topic

About the LoC:

• The “Line of Control,” originally known as the “Cease-fire Line,” received a new name after the Simla Agreement, which was signed on July 3, 1972.
• The area of Jammu that is controlled by India is known as the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are independent regions governed by Pakistan. The northernmost point of the Line of Control is designated as NJ9842.
• Another ceasefire line separates the Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin region from the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir.
• The Line of Control, which also prevented access to the Jehlum valley, split Kashmir in two.

Trade and Commerce along the LoC:

• Jammu and Kashmir’s LoC trade exists to facilitate the exchange of frequently used goods among local groups.
• Trade is permitted at two Trade Facilitation Centers, one each in the districts of Chakkan-da-Bagh and Poonch’s Salamabad, Uri, and.
• The trade is only allowed on those four days of the week.
• There are no duties involved in the transaction; it is a barter system.

Source The Hindu