TOPIC: GS 2 Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.
Time tests ties
What is the news?
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Delhi saw both he and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirming traditional India Russia ties
Bilateral Front
- Both sides appeared to make progress on strategic cooperation, cooperation in energy, nuclear and space sectors, and on talks on a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
- They discussed were more agreements on military technical cooperation for the joint production of Indiamade Russian weapons
- Indiamade Russian weapons, highlighting Russia being the only partner supplying India “cuttingedge military technology”.
- As avenues for more investment in connectivity including the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor and the Chennai Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor.
The areas of divergence
- Russian foreign minister praised of Russia- China ties was clearly not shared by Indian counterpart .
- While India focused on “IndoPacific” strategy but, Russia preferred the more continental reference to the “AsiaPacific” region.
- Lavrov’s d indirect reference to the Quad as an “Asian NATO” was significant, although he said both sides agreed that military alliances in Asia were inadvisable and counterproductive.
- On Afghanistan as well, the Russian push for bringing the Taliban into a powersharing arrangement in Kabul seemed to come up against India’s consistent push for a “democratic Afghanistan”.
- The absence of a meeting at the highest level seemed more in focus.
- Lavrov’s first visit to Pakistan in nine years and was a clear message of deepening ties.
- Russia was ready to strengthen Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts with the supply of “relevant equipment”, which will raise eyebrows in Delhi.
Way forward
While India and Russia have successfully addressed divergences between them, even deep, traditional and “timetested relations” of the kind they have shared for decades cannot be taken for granted, and the two sides should move quickly, if they desire to dispel the notion that those ties are under any strain.
Mains question
India and Russia must ensure their relationship is not strained by changed reality. Discuss
Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/time-tests-ties-the-hindu-editorial-on-india-russia-relations/article34285080.ece
TOPIC : GS 2 Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.
For Lok Adalats, speed overrides quality
What is the news?
Pendency in Judicial system
Lok Adalat is one of the alternative dispute redressal mechanisms, it is a forum where disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled/ compromised amicably.
- DPSP – Article 39 – A was inserted in the constitution by the 42nd Amendment act.
- It enjoins upon the state to secure that the operation of legal System promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity and in particular to provide free legal aid by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way and to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities
- Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
- The award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal against such an award lies before any court of law.
- If the parties are not satisfied with the award of the Lok Adalat though there is no provision for an appeal against such an award, but they are free to initiate litigation by approaching the court of appropriate jurisdiction by filing a case by following the required procedure, in exercise of their right to litigate.
- There is no court fee payable when a matter is filed in a Lok Adalat.
- If a matter pending in the court of law is referred to the Lok Adalat and is settled subsequently, the court fee originally paid in the court on the complaints/petition is also refunded back to the parties.
- The persons deciding the cases in the Lok Adalats are called the Members of the Lok Adalats, they have the role of statutory conciliators only and do not have any judicial role; therefore they can only persuade the parties to come to a conclusion for settling the dispute outside the court in the Lok Adalat and shall not pressurize or coerce any of the parties to compromise or settle cases or matters either directly or indirectly.
- The Lok Adalat shall not decide the matter so referred at its own instance, instead the same would be decided on the basis of the compromise or settlement between the parties.
- The members shall assist the parties in an independent and impartial manner in their attempt to reach amicable settlement of their dispute
Nature of cases that can be referred to the Lok Adalats
- Any case pending before any court.
- Any dispute which has not been brought before any court and is likely to be filed before the court.
Mains question
Lok Adalat reduces pendency from judiciary. Critically Analyse
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/for-lok-adalats-speed-overrides-quality/article34267191.ece
PRELIMS PUNCHERS
- 1. Duncan Passage
Duncan Passage is a strait in the Indian Ocean. It separates Rutland Island (part of Great Andaman) to the north, and Little Andaman to the south. West of Duncan Passage is the Bay of Bengal; east is the Andaman Sea. It lies within the exclusive economic zone of India protected by the integrated tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Command of Indian Military.
- The National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM)
It was initiated as a part of the Ground Water Management and Regulation scheme to delineate and characterize the aquifers to develop plans for ground water management. Aquifer maps and management plans are being regularly shared with State Governments through the State Ground Water Coordination Committees, chaired by the concerned Principal Secretaries of the respective States and also with the respective District Authorities for their suitable ground water specific demand side and supply side interventions. To facilitate participation at grassroots levels, public interaction programmes (PIP) are being regularly organized by the CGWB in which aquifer maps and management plans are discussed in detail.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has been entrusted with the responsibilities of developing & disseminating technologies, monitoring national policies for the scientific and substainable development and management of India’s ground water resources. CGWB periodically takes up various studies which include ground water management studies, exploratory drilling programmes, monitoring ground water level and water quality through a network of ground water observation wells etc and the result collected is shared with the concerned States for taking up suitable ground water specific interventions
Sources : https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1563249
- Mangrove for the Future (MFF)
It is a multi-country, multi sectoral, multiagency initiative. It builds a collaborative platform to promote investment and action to conserve coastal ecosystems. In April 2006 at a meeting held in New York by IUCN and the UN office of the special envoy on tsunami recovery, UN chief and UN representatives from all the tsunami affected countries endorsed the MFF initiative. It focuses on India, Indonesia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, & Maldives.
The goal of Mangroves for the Future is to conserve and restore coastal ecosystems as key assets which support human well-being and security in the Indian Ocean Region. Mangroves for the Future has two major objectives is to strengthen the environmental sustainability of coastal development. Promote the investment of funds and effort in coastal ecosystem management
- Eurasian Economic Union
The Eurasian Economic Union is an economic union of states located in Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and Central Asia. The Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union was signed on 29 May 2014 by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, and came into force on 1 January 2015.Member countries Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The Eurasian Economic Union has an integrated single market of 180 million people and a gross domestic product of over $5 trillion. The EAEU encourages the free movement of goods and services, and provides for common policies in the macroeconomic sphere, transport, industry and agriculture, energy, foreign trade and investment, customs, technical regulation, competition and antitrust regulation. Provisions for a single currency and greater integration are envisioned for the future
PRELIMS QUESTIONS
Qn 1. Consider the following statement regarding Mangroves for the Future
- The report is from WWF
- It focuses on Malaysia, Indonesia, Comoros , Sri Lanka, Thailand, & Maldives.
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only (b) 2 only
(c).Both (d). None of above
Answer: D
It is a multi-country, multi sectoral, multiagency initiative. It builds a collaborative platform to promote investment and action to conserve coastal ecosystems. In April 2006 at a meeting held in New York by IUCN and the UN office of the special envoy on tsunami recovery, UN chief and UN representatives from all the tsunami affected countries endorsed the MFF initiative. It focuses on India, Indonesia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, & Maldives.
The goal of Mangroves for the Future is to conserve and restore coastal ecosystems as key assets which support human well-being and security in the Indian Ocean Region. Mangroves for the Future has two major objectives is to strengthen the environmental sustainability of coastal development. Promote the investment of funds and effort in coastal ecosystem management
Qn 2. Consider the following statement regarding Eurasian Economic Union
- The Eurasian Economic Union is an economic union of states located in Western Europe, Western Eastern Asia and Central Asia
- Member countries Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only (b) 2 only
(c).Both (d). None of above
Answer: B
The Eurasian Economic Union is an economic union of states located in Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and Central Asia. The Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union was signed on 29 May 2014 by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, and came into force on 1 January 2015.Member countries Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The Eurasian Economic Union has an integrated single market of 180 million people and a gross domestic product of over $5 trillion. The EAEU encourages the free movement of goods and services, and provides for common policies in the macroeconomic sphere, transport, industry and agriculture, energy, foreign trade and investment, customs, technical regulation, competition and antitrust regulation. Provisions for a single currency and greater integration are envisioned for the future