IMF cuts India’s growth forecast to 6.8% this year

The world, including India, will experience an overall slowdown in the next year owing to the impact of the Russia­Ukraine war, tightening monetary conditions globally, the highest inflation in decades, and lingering effects of the pandemic, according to the International Monetary Fund

• India is projected to grow at 6.8% in the current fiscal year, following 8.7% growth in fiscal year that ended March 31 as per figures released in the IMF’s October 2022  World Economic Outlook: Countering the Cost-of-Living Crisis at the start of the World Bank IMF Annual Meetings.
• Growth rate for this year for India has been revised downward by 0.6 percentage points relative to the IMF’s June 2022 forecast
• This is due to a weaker output in the second quarter, and subdued external demand, the IMF said. The forecast for the next fiscal year remains unaltered at 6.1%.
• The IMF has projected 6.9% consumer price inflation this year and 5.1% next year.

About IMF:

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an intergovernmental organization which has 190 member countries.
• The idea of the creation of IMF was conceptualised in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference.
• IMF came into operation on 27th December 1945.

Mission of IMF:

• furthering international monetary cooperation,
• encouraging the expansion of trade and economic growth, and
• discouraging policies that would harm prosperity.

IMF helps countries going through a foreign currency shortage by giving them long term loans with low interest rates.

SDR:

• Special Drawing Rights (SDR) is an international reserve asset created by the IMF.
• SDR basket contains US dollar, euro, Japanese yen, and British pound sterling and Chinese Renminbi as standard currencies.
• The two criteria to be included in SDR basket are the export criterion and the freely usable criterion.
• A currency meets the export criterion if its issuer is an IMF member or a monetary union that includes IMF members and is also one of the top five world exporters.
• For a currency to be determined “freely usable” by the IMF, it has to be widely used to make payments for international transactions and widely traded in the principal exchange markets.

Why IMF cut India’s growth forecast:

IMF has forecasted lower growth rates across the globe since:

• the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war,
• tightening monetary conditions globally,
• the highest inflation in decades, and
• lingering effects of the pandemic.

Projections of IMF

• India is projected to grow at 6.8% in the current fiscal year, following 8.7% growth in fiscal year that ended March 31 as per figures released in the IMF’s October 2022 World Economic Outlook.
• The IMF has also projected 6.9% consumer price inflation this year and 5.1% next year.
• For the world as a whole, growth will slow down from 6.0% in 2021 to 3.2% in 2022 and 2.7% in 2023.

RTI pleas pile up at information commissions across India

17 years after India got the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the transparency regime in the country remains a mirage with nearly 3.15 lakh complaints and appeals pending with 26 information commissions across India.

• The number of appeals and complaints pending in 2019, from data obtained from 26 information commissions was 2,18,347.
• The number climbed up to 2,33,384 with data obtained from 23 information commissions, in 2021 the number was 2,86,325 with data from 26 commissions and in 2022, it was 3,14,323
• The highest number of pending cases was in Maharashtra at 99,722, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 44,482, Karnataka at 30,358, the Central Information Commission at 26,724 and Bihar at 21,346.
• Under RTI law, information commissions are the final appellate authority and are mandated to safeguard and facilitate people’s right to information.
• According to a separate report by the Transparency International, one fourth information commissioner posts are vacant and there are only 5% (only 8) women information commissioners in the country.

Concerns Related to RTI Implementation

• On the occasion of 16 years of implementation of the RTI Act in India in October 2021, Satark Nagrik Sangathan has compiled a report on the performance of information commissions across the country based on information accessed under the RTI Act.
• The Report is titled, ‘Report Card of Information Commissions 2020-21’.
• The report accused the various Information Commissions of acting as a major bottleneck in effective implementation of the RTI Law.
• Reasons given for negative feedback:
  • A huge backlog of second appeals,
  • Lengthy wait time for hearings,
  • Hesitancy in posting penalties and
  • Increasing opacity in the working of the commissions
  • The commissions have been plagued with vacancies,
  • Poor choice of commissioners,
  • Untrained staff and
  • A non-cooperative set of public information officers (PIOs).
  • Threat to some RTI activists who seek information to expose corruption.

Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005

• About:
  • The Right to Information (RTI) Act was enacted by Parliament in 2005 to empower citizens, promote accountability and transparency in the working of the government and contain corruption.
  • Recently, the Parliament passed the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
    • As per the act, the CIC and ICs will hold office for a term of five years. The Amendment removes this provision and states that the central government will notify the term of office for the CIC and the ICs.
• New breed of activism and citizenship:
  • Despite challenges in the RTI act, people have used it fiercely and owned the law like no other.
  • In the unequal battle of trying to hold power to account, it offers a sense of hope for the human desire for dignity, equality, & the capacity to enforce these to some extent.
  • RTI addresses the issue of constitutional rights and empowers people to demand answers – basis of democracy. It encourages a culture of asking questions of ordinary people.
  • It can help us escape from policy paralysis, and build a more informed, equitable and robust decision-making process.
• Public Authorities need to make disclosures on various aspects of their structure and functioning. It includes:-
  • disclosure on their organisation, functions, and structure,
  • powers and duties of its officers and employees, and
  • financial information.
• ‘Public Authorities’ include bodies of self-government established under the Constitution, or under any law or government notification.
  • For instance, these include Ministries, public sector undertakings, and regulators.
  • It also includes any entities owned, controlled or substantially financed and non-government organisations substantially financed directly or indirectly by funds provided by the government.

Functioning of Right to Information Act

• A three-tier structure for enforcing the right to information has been set up under the RTI Act 2005.
  • Public Information Officers: The first request for information goes to the Assistant Public Information Officer and Public Information Officer, designated by the Public Authorities.
    • These Officers are required to provide information to an RTI applicant within 30 days of the request.
  • Appellate Authority: It caters to the appeals against decisions of the Public Information Officer.
  • State Information Commission or the Central Information Commission (CIC): Their major function is to listen to appeals against the order of the Appellate Authority.
    • These Information Commissions consist of a Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and up to 10 Information Commissioners (ICs).

Challenges

• Bureaucratic attitude: An oft-repeated excuse for this disdainful attitude is the number of inane queries or those with perverse motives. The reality, however, is that such queries constitute only around 4 percent of the total appeals and can easily be managed.
• Various issues in State Information Commissions:
  • Vacancies are not filled;
  • Some continue without chiefs
  • Disallowing any “uncomfortable” information.
• PIOs:
  • The audacity of PIOs in some cases is confounding: An information commissioner of Madhya Pradesh issued an arrest warrant in the name of a PIO for flagrant violation of 38 summons to appear for commission hearings and non-compliance with SIC orders.
  • Any serious RTI query or one which concerns more than one government department requires intervention by higher officials, but it is the PIOs from junior ranks who attend hearings and are often clueless.
  • It is the junior ranks who face the wrath of the commissions and even face penalties. 
• Negligence on Government’s part: The government department was equally negligent in taking disciplinary action against the PIO. Such a cavalier attitude is a great drawback for the RTI regime.
• Code of Conduct: The attitude of a few commissioners going public with their political proclivities is another cause for concern.
• Several RTI cases are embroiled in judicial procedures. High courts are quick to give stay orders on CICs’ decisions. The Act clearly states that the final appeal lies with the information commissions, so the appeals are masked as writs to obtain relief from high courts.
• Whistleblowers losing interest: Key stakeholders seem to be losing their enthusiasm.

Supreme Court of India vs Subhash Chandra Agarwal Case: Supreme Court declared that the Office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is a ‘public authority’  under the purview of the transparency law, Right to Information Act (RTI) and observed that the transparency does not undermine judicial independence.

Way Ahead

• A strong political system is a must for the RTI regime to flourish.
• The Indian information law, rated as one of the strongest in the world, needs to be bolstered by raising awareness amongst the people and organising rigorous training of government officials.
• A code of conduct must be evolved for the central and state information commissioners.
• It is imperative for the commissioners to keep a strict distance from government heads and officialdom.
• It is now up to the public, civil society, media, courts and finally the commissioners themselves to shore up the sagging morale of the RTI set-up.
• It is imperative to ensure freedom of the press and democratic institutions, punish errant officials and maintain complete autonomy of the information commissions, in the interest of the people and the nation at large.

India’s life expectancy to hit 82 by 2100: UN

India’s life expectancy in 1950 was 35.21 and it will be 81.96 in the year 2100. To understand this, it must be noted that India’s life expectancy in 2022 is 70.19. In 150 years, India’s improvement will be 57%, if we go by the estimates. Just to put this into perspective, the same for the United States will be 23%.

• Over the years, increased medical care, better diets, and healthier lives have all contributed to higher life expectancy statistics.
• People have access to clean water, antibiotics, vaccines and food that is more plentiful and nutritious. People are also more aware of the benefits of exercise and wise lifestyle decisions.
• The life expectancy has improved as a result of numerous medical and healthcare advancements.
• The creation of vaccinations is one of the most crucial. Millions of people die every year from diseases like smallpox and polio before immunisations were developed.
• In many regions of the world, vaccinations have eradicated certain diseases, significantly lowering mortality rates.
• Since cleanliness and living conditions have improved, so has life expectancy. Thanks to better sewage systems, people now live in environments that are cleaner than before.
• Nowadays, fewer microorganisms are exposed to humans, reducing the risk of disease and even death.
• The infant and child mortality rates in India have decreased. Additionally, advances in health throughout the age spectrum have increased. These two factors both played a role in the rise in life expectancy.
• Most initial increases in life expectancy can be attributed to decreases in newborn and child mortality. In later stages of demographic transition, increases are more closely linked to age-specific mortality declines.

Modhera Sun Temple

Prime Minister of India recently witnessed the 3D light and sound show explaining the importance of the centuries-old Sun temple built during the Chalukya dynasty.

About Sun Temple at Modhera:

• It was built in 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Solanki dynasty and is a protected monument maintained by Archaeological Survey of India.
• The temple complex is divided into three components:
  • Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall,
  • Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and
  • Kunda, the reservoir.
• The temple is suspected to have been built to commemorate the defense of Modhera by Bhima I against Mahmud of Ghazni.
• The temple complex is built in Maru-Gurjara style also known as Solanki style.
• The exclusively carved temple complex and the magnificently sculpted kund are jewels in the art of masonry of the Solanki period apparently which was also known as the Golden Age of Gujarat.

Modheshwari Mata Temple:

• The temple is located near the ruins of famous Sun Temple, where another original place of worship is situated below the step-well.
• This temple is very famous amongst the Modh clan of Gujarat as Goddess Modheshwari is considered as the deity of the Modh clan.
• The Goddess Modheshwari is believed to be a form of Goddess Parvati and is known for having 18 arms with each arm carrying various weapons to protect the clan from danger.

Other Important Sun Temples in India:

• Sun Temple at Konark, Odisha
• Martand Sun temple, Kashmir
• Katarmal Sun Temple, Uttarakhand
• Dakshinarkaa temple Gaya, Bihar
• Bhramanya temple, Unao, Madhya Pradesh
• Surya Prahaar temple, Assam
• Suryanar Kovil Temple at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu
• Suryanarayana temple at Arasavalli, Andhra Pradesh

When an order can be given to put down a tiger

Tiger T-104 was put down by the forest department of Bihar in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve according to protocol laid down by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for man-eater tigers, on the orders of the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW) of Bihar.

• The tiger in question was a three-year-old male, who had killed 10 people in the district.
• Four years ago, Avni or T1, the man-eating tigress of Yavatmal district in Maharashtra, had been similarly eliminated after she mauled 13 people to death.
• Tiger is listed under Schedule 1 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA).

Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR):

• It is the 18th tiger reserve of India, situated in the North West corner of the State of Bihar, in West Champaran district of the state.
• In north, the protected areas are bordered by Nepal while the Indian state Uttar Pradesh bounds the Wildlife Sanctuary from western side.
• VTR comprises of the Valmiki National Park and Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The pristine forest and wilderness of VTR is an excellent example of Himalayan Terai landscape.
• The VTR forest area covers 901.07 sq km, out of which Wildlife Sanctuary is 880.78 sq km. and National Park is about 335.64 sq. km.
• VTR is one of the eleven Level 1 Tiger Conservation Units (TCU) in the Indian sub- continent, where long term survival of Tigers (Panthera tigris) is possible.
• The Reserve has also been designated as Important Bird Area (IBA) by the Indian Bird Conservation Network.
• Fauna: Tigers, sloth bear, leopard, Indian gaur, hyena, wild dogs, blue bull, leopard cat, wildcat, fishing cat, Himalayan pan. The dolphin & gharial are present in Gandak river.
• Flora: Bhabar Dun Sal Forest, Dry Siwalik Sal Forest, West Gangetic Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest.

Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972:

• In India, wildlife conservation and protection are maintained under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The Act is a product of the times when environmental jurisprudence was rapidly developing in India with due credit to judicial activism.
• The current Act is comprehensive and protects all kinds of animals – amphibians to birds, mammals, and reptiles and specified plants that cannot be destroyed and damaged without the approval of the government.
• Powers to the State Governments: to protect and preserve animals and birds as per Section 3 including prohibition on the capturing, killing, selling, buying, possessing of the animals including their plumage (feathers) and to grant licenses.
• The Central Government is empowered to appoint the Director of Wildlife Preservation.
• The State Government is required to appoint the Chief Wildlife Warden(CWW), Wildlife Wardens, and Honorary Wildlife Wardens.
• Hunting and poaching are prohibited under the Act with exceptions such as special permission may be granted by CWW for purposes like education, scientific research, etc.
• Constitution of the National Board for Wildlife with the PM as its chairperson.
• 6 schedules include protection to both animals and plants including Vermin (specified in Schedule five)
• Recognition of Protected Areas (PAs) such as Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks.