Daily Current Capsules
21st September 2020
International Organisations
ECI to host International Webinar on
‘Issues, Challenges and Protocols for Conducting Elections during COVID-19

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the Webinar and its objective + about A-WEB + India A-WEB Centre ) + Mains ( GS II Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's
interests)

What's the NEWS

• The Election Commission of India is going to organize an International Webinar on 21st September 2020, on the Theme ‘‘Issues, Challenges and Protocols for Conducting Elections during COVID-19 : Sharing Country Experiences' on its completion of one year of Chairmanship of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).

Know! about Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB)

• The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) is largest association of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide.
• At present A-WEB has 115 EMBs as Members & 16 Regional Associations/Organisations as Associate Members.
• ECI has been very closely associated with the process of formation of A-WEB since 2011
• ECI hosted the 4th General Assembly of A-WEB on 03 Sep 2019 at Bengaluru and took over as Chair of A-WEB for 2019-2021 term.
• India A-WEB Centre has been established at New Delhi, for world class documentation, research and training for sharing the best practices and capacity building of officials of A-WEB members.
• This is the first Webinar being held by the India A-WEB Centre.
• Over 120 delegates from 45 countries across the world and 4 international organizations (viz. International IDEA, International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES), Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) and European Centre for Elections) are going to participate in the Webinar.

Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Parliament passes The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020

Relevance IN - Prelims ( facts related to these bills ( pros and cons) + Mains ( GS II Centre - State Relations + Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. + GS III issues related to farmers)
What's the NEWS

• • Parliament passed two bills aimed at transforming agriculture in the country and raising farmers' incomes.

The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020
Main provisions -

• The new legislation will create an ecosystem where the farmers and traders will enjoy freedom of choice of sale and purchase of agri-produce.
• It will also promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under State Agricultural Produce Marketing legislations.
• The farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their produce and will not have to bear transport costs.
• The Bill also proposes an electronic trading in transaction platform for ensuring a seamless trade electronically.
• In addition to mandis, freedom to do trading at farmgate, cold storage, warehouse, processing units etc.
• Farmers will be able to engage in direct marketing thereby eliminating intermediaries resulting in full realization of price.

Doubts - (MSP/APMC/e-NAM)

• Procurement at Minimum Support Price will stop
• If farm produce is sold outside APMC mandis, these will stop functioning
• What will be the future of government electronic trading portal like e-NAM

Clarification -

• Procurement at Minimum Support Price will continue, farmers can sell their produce at MSP rates, the MSP for Rabi season will be announced next week
• Mandis will not stop functioning, trading will continue here as before. Under the new system, farmers will have the option to sell their produce at other places in addition to the mandis
• The e-NAM trading system will also continue in the mandis
• Trading in farm produce will increase on electronic platforms. It will result in greater transparency and time saving

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020

Main provisions -

• The new legislation will empower farmers for engaging with processors, wholesalers, aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters etc., on a level playing field. Price assurance to farmers even before sowing of crops. In case of higher market price, farmers will be entitled to this price over and above the minimum price.
• It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor. Due to prior price determination, farmers will be shielded from the rise and fall of market prices.
• It will also enable the farmer to access modern technology, better seed and other inputs.
• It will reduce cost of marketing and improve income of farmers.
• Effective dispute resolution mechanism has been provided for with clear time lines for redressal.

 

• Impetus to research and new technology in agriculture sector.

Doubts - (Contract Farming)

• Under contract farming, farmers will be under pressure and they will not be able to determine prices
• How will small farmers be able to practice contract farming, sponsors will shy away from them
• The new system will be a problem for farmers
• In case of dispute, big companies will be at an advantage

Clarification -

• The farmer will have full power in the contract to fix a sale price of his choice for the produce. They will receive payment within maximum 3 days.
• 10000 Farmer Producer organizations are being formed throughout the country. These FPOs will bring together small farmers and work to ensure remunerative pricing for farm produce
• After signing contract, farmer will not have seek out traders. The purchasing consumer will pick up the produce directly from the farm
• In case of dispute, there will be no need to go to court repeatedly. There will be local dispute redressal mechanism.
  
  

Science & Technology
India's first CRISPR Covid-19 test developed

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) + Mains ( GS III Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new
technology.)
What's the NEWS

• The Tata CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) test, powered by CSIR-IGIB(Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology) FELUDA, received regulatory approvals today from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for commercial launch
• The Tata CRISPR test is the world's first diagnostic test to deploy a specially adapted Cas9 protein to successfully detect the virus.

Know! all about Tata CRISPR

• This test uses an indigenously developed, cutting-edge CRISPR technology for detection of the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
• CRISPR is a genome editing technology to diagnosing diseases.
• The Tata CRISPR test is the world's first diagnostic test to deploy a specially adapted Cas9 protein to successfully detect the virus causing Covid-19.
• The Tata CRISPR test achieves accuracy levels of traditional RT-PCR tests, with quicker turnaround time, less expensive equipment, and better ease of use.
• CRISPR is a futuristic technology that can also be configured for detection of multiple other pathogens in the future.

• The Tata Group has worked closely with CSIR-IGIB and ICMR to create a high-quality test that will help the nation ramp up Covid-19 testing quickly and economically, with a ‘Made in India' product that is safe, reliable, affordable, and accessible.

Social Issues
Three Labour Codes in Lok Sabha introduced
Relevance IN - Prelims (about the provisions of these three codes- comprehensive view) + Mains ( GS II Social Issues - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
their design and implementation
What's the NEWS

• The Labour and Employment ministry introduced three Labour Codes in the Lok Sabha after considering 74% of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee
• All these Bills were earlier introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2019, after which it was referred to Parliamentary Standing Committee which submitted its report
  These bills are

(i) Industrial Relations Code, 2020,
(ii) Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Bill, 2020
(iii) Social Security Code, 2020.

• Code on Wages has already been approved by Parliament in the month of August, 2019 and has already become the law of the land.
• Along with this, three Bills introduced today will pave way for simplification of labour laws, its implementation and will bring immense labour welfare measures to the 50 crores workers in the country, both in the organised and unorganised sectors.
• On the recommendation of the second National Commission on Labour that the existing Labour Laws to be reduced to just 4 Labour Codes.

Code on Wages Act, 2019

• It seeks to regulate wage and bonus payments in all employments, where any industry, trade, business, or manufacturing is carried out.

It replaces the four laws:
1. The Payment of Wages Act, 1936
2. The Minimum Wages Act, 1948
3. The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
4. The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976

• The bill provides that the central government will fix minimum wages for certain sectors, including railways and mines, while the states would be free to set minimum wages for other category of employments.
• The code also provides for setting of a national minimum wage. The central government can set separate minimum wages for different regions or states.
• A statutory right has been created for minimum wages and timely payment of wages to all workers whether in organized or unorganised sector.
• It extends entitlement of minimum wages to all the workers in the country as against 30 per cent of the workforce, at present.
• At present, minimum wages are fixed for employment covering mainly mines sector, plantation, dock workers, building and construction workers, watch and ward, sweeping and cleaning and on manufacturing sector etc.
• Extension will take place to entire service sector (IT, hospitality, transportation etc.), domestic workers, unorganized workers, teachers.
• Method of fixation of minimum wage rates simplified. Factors to be taken into account are skills and geographical location
• Revision of minimum wages every 5 years.
• A statutory concept of ‘Floor Wage' introduced.

Advisory Board
The Central and State Governments will constitute advisory boards.
The Central Advisory Board consist of

1. employers
2. employees (in equal number as employers)
3. independent persons and
4. five representatives of State Governments.

• State Advisory Boards will consist of employers, employees, and independent persons.
• One-third of the total members on both the Central and State Boards will be women.
• The Boards will advise the respective governments on various issues including: fixation of minimum wages, and increasing employment opportunities for women

Labour Code on Industrial Relations 2019

• The Union cabinet approved the Labour Code on Industrial Relations 2019, allowing companies to hire workers on fixed-term contract of any duration. it also means that all workers will be treated at par with regular workers for benefits
• The code has retained the threshold on the worker count at 100 for prior government approval before retrenchment, but it has a provision for changing 'such number of employees' through notification.
• The code also provides setting up of a two-member tribunal (in place of one member) wherein important cases will be adjudicated jointly and the rest by a single member, resulting speedier disposal of cases
• Government officers for adjudication of disputes involving penalty as fines, thereby lessening the burden on tribunal.
• The industrial relations code is the third out of four labour codes that have got approval from the cabinet.
• The code will combine Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the Trade Unions Act, 1926, and the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.

Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019

• The Code repeals and replaces 13 labour laws relating to safety, health and working conditions.
• It entails duties for employers which include a) providing a workplace that is free from hazards that may cause injury or diseases, and b) providing free annual health examinations to employees, as prescribed.

Draft social security code, 2019

• It proposes to amalgamate legislations pertaining to provident fund, pension, medical insurance, maternity benefits, gratuity and compensation.
• It has proposed that the Central Government shall formulate and notify social security schemes for unorganised workers.
• It also proposes the Corporatization of Employment provident fund organisation(EPFO) and Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).

Bilateral Relations
Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial cooperation (BECA)
Relevance IN - Prelims (about BECA + LEMOA +COMCASA +GSOMIA +IFC-IOR+ Quad countries) + Mains ( GS II Bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• The U.S. is keen that India sign the last foundational agreement, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial cooperation (BECA), at the next India-U.S. 2+2 ministerial dialogue likely to held in October
• A maritime information agreement is also under active deliberation between India and the U.S.
• Once concluded, India will have such arrangements with all Quad countries - Australia, Japan and the U.S.

India has signed three foundational agreements:

1. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)
2. The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA)
3. The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)

 

• An extension to the GSOMIA, the Industrial Security Annex (ISA), was signed at the last 2+2 dialogue.
• While LEMOA has since been operationalised, COMCASA is at advanced stages of being operationalised.

Know! about some recent activities (Quad countries and MDA)

• There has been a sharp increase in India's maritime interactions with the Quad countries (India - Australia - Japan - USA) on a bilateral basis centred around information sharing for improved Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) in the Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific.
• In increasing military to military interactions, the U.S. has posted a liaison officer at the Navy's Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) meant to promote MDA.
• India has recently posted a liaison officer at the U.S. Navy Central Command in Bahrain and is also considering a U.S. request for posting liaison officers at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) and the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement

• LEMOA is a facilitating agreement that establishes basic terms, conditions, and procedures for reciprocal provision of Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services between the armed forces of India and the United States.
• It gives access, to both countries, to designated military facilities on either side for the purpose of refuelling and replenishment.

Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement:

• COMCASA is an India-specific version of the Communication and Information on Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA).
• The nomenclature was changed to COMCASA to make it India-specific and guarantee New Delhi that the intelligence data shared between the two countries won't be shared with a third party.
• It ensures that the militaries of the US and India can boost their "interoperability" as well as share operational intelligence in real-time in the years ahead.

• COMCASA will allow India to procure transfer specialised equipment for encrypted communications for US origin military platforms like the C-17, C-130 and P-8Is.

Industrial Security Annex (ISA) and General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA):

• The ISA is a part of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and it will pave the way for defence majors from the US to partner with Indian private sector companies for big-ticket defence deals for the Indian Armed Forces.
• ISA to the India-U.S. General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) provides a framework for exchange and protection of classified military information between the U.S. and Indian defence industries.
• Previously under GSOMIA, such information is exchanged between the Government authorities of the two countries but not between private parties.

Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR),Gurugram

• IFC-IOR is established with the vision of strengthening maritime security in the region and beyond, by building a common coherent maritime situation picture and acting as a maritime information hub for the region.
• To enable better interconnection, quicker analysis of information and provide timely inputs, the IFC-IOR would host Liaison Officers from partner countries.
• France became the first country to deploy a Liaison Officer at the IFC-IOR followed by the U.S.

2+2 dialogue

• It aims to discuss issues of strategic and security interests between the two countries.
• Defense and foreign ministers or secretaries meet with their counterparts from another country.
• India holds such talks with Japan and Australia, at the foreign secretary and defense secretary level.
• India holds ministerial-level talks only with the USA. Apart from India, the United States holds such ministerial dialogues with Australia and Japan also.
• The talks were announced in June 2017. The 2+2 dialogue has replaced the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue between the foreign and commerce ministers of the two countries that were held previously.

Prelims Factoids
IBSA grouping
Relevance IN - Prelims (about IBSA grouping )
What's the NEWS

• In a first, the IBSA grouping - India, Brazil and South Africa issued a joint statement calling for "accelerated and comprehensive reforms" of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

• The joint statement was issued after virtual IBSA foreign ministers meet.

Know! all about IBSA

• IBSA is a unique Forum which brings together India, Brazil and South Africa, three large democracies and major economies from three different continents, facing similar challenges.
• All three partners are developing, pluralistic, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious nations.
• IBSA, formalized at Foreign Ministers meeting in Brasilia in June 2003
• IBSA is a purely South-South grouping of like-minded countries, committed to inclusive sustainable development, in pursuit of the well-being for their peoples and those of the developing world.

Intergovernmental Negotiations framework

• 10 years after inter-governmental negotiations began, the negotiations remain in the informal stage.
• Intergovernmental Negotiations framework is a group within the United Nations that is looking into UNSC reforms but its conversation is considered "informal" in nature and United Nations General Assembly UNGA rule of procedure doesn't apply.

Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.

• IBSA also support for the representation of Africa in the Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories as stated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
• Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte declaration called for at least 2 permanent and 5 to 2 non-permanent UNSC seats to be given to African countries at UNSC.

Prelims Factoids
India has Air Bubble Agreements with 10 Countries

• Relevance IN - Prelims ( about air bubble agreement)

What's the NEWS

• India has entered into Air Bubble agreements with 10 countries viz. USA, Canada, France, Germany, UK, Maldives, UAE, Qatar, Afghanistan and Bahrain

Air Bubbles agreements

• These are temporary agreements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• They are reciprocal in nature i.e. airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.
• Tickets for the flights are sold through the airlines' website, travel agents and Global Distribution Systems.

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