[Mission 2023] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 25 November 2022

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Government policies and issues arising out of it

Source: IE

 Direction: The article discusses how the shortcomings of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 led to the creation of a new draft on the subject, key provisions in the draft and future challenges.

Context: The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying have opened a draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) Bill, 2022, for public comment.

Background:

• The draft is an attempt to overhaul the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, introducing 61 amendments to the law.
• Along with animal welfare organisations, the Supreme Court (in A Nagaraja case 2014) asked the Parliament to amend the PCA Act to provide an effective deterrent.
• In 2020, a group of MPs cutting across party lines wrote to the then Animal Husbandry Minister, urging that the punishment in the 1960 Act be increased.

The main changes proposed in the 1960 law:

• Five freedoms to animals: Every person in charge of an animal must ensure that the animal has freedom from –
  • Thirst, hunger and malnutrition;
  • Discomfort due to environment;
  • Pain, injury and diseases;
  • Fear and distress, and the
  • Freedom to express normal behaviour for the species
• Defining “gruesome cruelty”: Any act involving animals that causes extreme pain and suffering and is likely to leave the animal disabled for life. It proposed to include “Bestiality” as a crime under “Gruesome cruelty.”
• Several offences have been made cognizable: This means offenders can be arrested without an arrest warrant.
• Responsibility of local governments: In the case of a community animal, the local government (municipality/panchayats) shall be responsible for taking care of such animals in a manner developed by the State Government or by the Board.
• More stringent punishments: The draft proposes fines from Rs 50,000 – 75,000 or the cost of the animal, whichever is more, or with imprisonment of 1-3 years, or with both, for the offence of gruesome cruelty. It suggests a maximum of 5 years imprisonment for killing an animal.

Need for strengthening the law:

• Increasing instances of cruelty to animals in India.
• Poor deterrence for potential offenders: First-time offenders under the PCA Act are punished with a fine of Rs 10-50, otherwise a fine between Rs 25 – 100, a jail term of three months, or both.

Concerns:

• Simply increasing the quantum of punishment may not be enough to stop cruelty against animals.
• Some already marginalised communities like madaris and snake charmers may be disproportionately affected.

SC on cruelty to the animal while recently hearing the Jallikattu case:

• Prevention of cruelty is not an “absolute idea”.
• The Constitution commands us to be compassionate to all living creatures, but it should have a balance. Should we, for example, be compassionate if a mosquito lands on us?
• Animals should be treated as friends, and brothers and they have the same rights as human beings.
• The Constitution recognises liberty, which is inherent in every living being, whether it be in any form of life.

Way ahead:

• Behavioural changes through sensitisation programs.
• Steps are needed to mitigate the larger issues of vanishing animal habitats and climate change exacerbating man-animal conflict.

Insta Links:

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

Mains Links:

Q. Critically comment on the Centre’s move to notify new rules to regulate livestock markets under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA). (200 Words)

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Indian Economy and related issues

Source: IE

 Direction: This article throws light on the basic economic concept of rupee depreciation, its impacts and how to curb it, in the context of the present scenario in India. The article is important as it is an analysis by C Rangarajan

Context: According to former RBI Governor C Rangarajan, containing domestic inflation is critical to halting the rupee depreciation.

Inflation: It is a rise in prices, which can be translated as the decline of purchasing power over time.

Depreciation: It reduces the value of a country’s currency when compared with the currency of other countries (say $, measured by an exchange rate of the local currency wrt $).

The value of the currency and its depreciation:

• The current account (export and import of goods and services) and capital account (inflow and outflow of funds) in the balance of payments are important elements to determine the value of the currency.
• The value of a currency can be strong despite the high current account deficit because there is enough capital flowing from outside into the country.
• Therefore, the supply of foreign currency increases not because of trade but because of the decision to invest or because of the decision to keep deposits in the country.
• The main reason for the rupee depreciating in its value (against the dollar) is because of the capital account – the outflow of funds and the lack of funds coming from outside.
• That is because the US Fed, with a view to controlling inflation in the US, really raised the rate of interest. Therefore, investors find the US more attractive.

Impact of depreciation of rupees:

• An undervalued currency is better because it is more attractive for exports and reduces the current account deficit.
• It discourages imports because the imported goods become more expensive (due to the reduction in the value of the rupee) and which leads to rising inflation.
• Because India imports more than exports, the steady deterioration in the value of the rupee is not helping the economy.
• So long as inflation in India is higher than the inflation in other countries, the value of the rupee will continue to depreciate.

Steps to be taken to stabilise the rupee’s exchange rate:

• Must reduce inflation rate: The RBI and the government must work together to keep the inflation rate in the margins set under the inflation targeting scheme (4+/-2%).
• Raising the rate of interest: It helps to control inflation while also having an impact on the value of the rupee.

Challenges ahead for India:

• Poor outlook for exports: This is mainly due to the global slowdown driven by the confluence of stubbornly high inflation, rising borrowing costs and geopolitical tensions.
• Rising risks of stagflation: Stagflation is a period when slow economic growth and joblessness coincide with rising inflation.

Some relief for the Indian economy: Resilient domestic demand and a revived investment cycle will propel the economy’s growth and create more jobs in the coming months.

Insta Links:

Currency Depreciation

Mains Links:

Q. Examining the current account balance of a country’s BOP can provide a good idea of its economic activity. Discuss.

Prelims Links:

GS Paper 4

Syllabus: Application of Ethics/Governance/

Source: Indian Express

Direction: Examples from already serving bureaucrats or the ones who have worked towards bringing reforms in society add value to your answer. This can be used as a way forward in GS -2 Electoral reforms/ Ethics – upright public servant.

Context: The Supreme Court, mooting the idea of including the Chief Justice of India in the selection process for the Chief Election Commissioner, has said a person like former CEC, the late T N Seshan, “happens once in a while”.

T N Seshan’s contributions:

 Electoral Reforms:

• His strict commandments were – no bribing or intimidating voters, no distribution of liquor during the elections, no use of official machinery for campaigning, no appealing to voters’ caste or communal feelings, no use of religious places for campaigns, and no use of loudspeakers without prior written permission.
• He also enforced the Model Code of Conduct, strictly monitored limits on poll expenses, and cracked down on several malpractices like wall graffiti.
• The issuance of Voter IDs for all eligible voters came into being under his strict watch.

Ethical Values:

• Integrity: He was instrumental in rooting out many of the corrupt and unfair practices followed by political parties during elections in India.
• Transparency and Accountability: his ideas and philosophies were inclined towards transparent and accountable governance.
• Leadership Qualities: He did not bow in front of corrupt politicians and worked towards the betterment of society.

He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1996 for his resolute actions to bring order, fairness, and integrity to elections in India, the world’s largest democracy.

Mains Link:

Q. Discuss the significant role played by T N Seshan in establishing progressive and autonomous election commission machinery in the country. (250 words)