Reasons behind such decision to end FMR
[1] Security concerns: The security forces have for decades grappled with members of extremist groups carrying out hit-and-run operations from their clandestine bases in the Chin and Sagaing regions of Myanmar.
[2] Trafficking: The ease of cross-border movement, even before the FMR was in place, was often flagged for inward trafficking of drugs and outward trafficking of wildlife body parts.
[3] Ethnic tensions: The trigger for the rethink on the FMR was the conflict that broke out between the majority Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur in May 2023. Kuki tribes invites Chin community in Manipur to settle and involved in poppy cultivation in Manipur.
[4] Illegal migrants: Over the past decade, the Manipur government has been expressing concern over the “influx” of Myanmar nationals, a euphemism for Kuki-Chins, calling for an Assam-like National Register of Citizens to weed out the “illegal immigrants”.
Why are Mizoram and Nagaland opposed to ending the FMR?
[1] Unscientific boundary: Mizoram CM says that the border was imposed by the British to divide the people belonging to the Zo ethnic stock that ignores sociology.
[2] Ethnic ties: Mizos people share ethnic ties with the Chin people across the border. People in border area marry across the border.
[3] Dissatisfaction by local groups: Naga Students’ Federation condemned the Centre’s move and said that the decision to fence the border and end the FMR was “regressive”, which would exacerbate conflicts in the region.
♛ Decoding World Affairs
[1] Security concerns: The security forces have for decades grappled with members of extremist groups carrying out hit-and-run operations from their clandestine bases in the Chin and Sagaing regions of Myanmar.
[2] Trafficking: The ease of cross-border movement, even before the FMR was in place, was often flagged for inward trafficking of drugs and outward trafficking of wildlife body parts.
[3] Ethnic tensions: The trigger for the rethink on the FMR was the conflict that broke out between the majority Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur in May 2023. Kuki tribes invites Chin community in Manipur to settle and involved in poppy cultivation in Manipur.
[4] Illegal migrants: Over the past decade, the Manipur government has been expressing concern over the “influx” of Myanmar nationals, a euphemism for Kuki-Chins, calling for an Assam-like National Register of Citizens to weed out the “illegal immigrants”.
Why are Mizoram and Nagaland opposed to ending the FMR?
[1] Unscientific boundary: Mizoram CM says that the border was imposed by the British to divide the people belonging to the Zo ethnic stock that ignores sociology.
[2] Ethnic ties: Mizos people share ethnic ties with the Chin people across the border. People in border area marry across the border.
[3] Dissatisfaction by local groups: Naga Students’ Federation condemned the Centre’s move and said that the decision to fence the border and end the FMR was “regressive”, which would exacerbate conflicts in the region.
♛ Decoding World Affairs
👌14
Popular Essays (2023)
1. Visionary decision making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/visionary-decision-making-happens-at-the-intersection-of-intuition-and-logic/)
2. Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/education-is-what-remains-after-one-has-forgotten-what-one-has-learned-in-school/)
3. Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands – two equally harmful disciplines (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/girls-are-weighed-down-by-restrictions-boys-with-demands-two-equally-harmful-disciplines/)
4. A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/a-society-that-has-more-justice-is-a-society-that-needs-less-charity/)
5. Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposition (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/thinking-is-like-a-game-it-does-not-begin-unless-there-is-an-opposite-team/)
6. Not all who wander are lost (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/not-all-who-wander-are-lost/)
7. Mathematics is the music of reason (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/mathematics-is-the-music-of-reasons/)
8. Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/inspiration-for-creativity-springs-from-the-effort-to-look-for-the-magical-in-the-mundane/)
♛ Decoding World Affairs
1. Visionary decision making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/visionary-decision-making-happens-at-the-intersection-of-intuition-and-logic/)
2. Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/education-is-what-remains-after-one-has-forgotten-what-one-has-learned-in-school/)
3. Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands – two equally harmful disciplines (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/girls-are-weighed-down-by-restrictions-boys-with-demands-two-equally-harmful-disciplines/)
4. A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/a-society-that-has-more-justice-is-a-society-that-needs-less-charity/)
5. Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposition (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/thinking-is-like-a-game-it-does-not-begin-unless-there-is-an-opposite-team/)
6. Not all who wander are lost (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/not-all-who-wander-are-lost/)
7. Mathematics is the music of reason (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/mathematics-is-the-music-of-reasons/)
8. Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/inspiration-for-creativity-springs-from-the-effort-to-look-for-the-magical-in-the-mundane/)
♛ Decoding World Affairs
❤7
Decoding World Affairs pinned «Popular Essays (2023) 1. Visionary decision making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/visionary-decision-making-happens-at-the-intersection-of-intuition-and-logic/) 2. Education is what remains after…»
Decoding World Affairs
On January 1, the Rural Development Ministry made Aadhaar-Based Payment Systems (ABPS) is being used in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Let's look into it...
Potential benefits
[1] Remove duplicate job cards: MGNREGA has been facing key challenge in policy execution due to duplicity of job card. AEPS has the potential to reduce the duplicity of job cards.
[2] Reduce wage payment delays: It has been noticed that due to long procedure through traditional bank method, delay in payment was seen. AEPS would reduce requirement of details and speed up wage payment.
[3] Lower payment rejections: AEPS claims to reduce payment rejection because earlier large number of details like bank account, beneficiary name and IFSC code along with job details were required. Now less details are required and thus there will be lower rejection in payment.
Associated challenges
[1] Exclusion error: As per the government’s own data, as on Jan11, 2024, out of a total of 25.6 crore registered workers, only 16.9 crore workers are eligible for ABPS while all workers are eligible for account-based payments.
[2] Stalling payments: Since different administrative units are involved in creating different documents in rural areas, spelling mismatches are common. It is because authentication is successful only when all the details including spelling and gender in the job cards match with those in the Aadhaar database.
[3] Fund diversion: Niti Aayog recently reported that 28% of maternity benefit payments under the Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandana Yojana went to an account different from that provided by the beneficiary. It may be possible in MGNREGA as well.
[4] Possible fraud: There have been rampant abuses of this facility by corrupt business correspondents, especially “roaming business correspondents”, to extort money from unsuspecting victims by persuading them to put their finger in a point of sale machine under some pretext.
♛ Decoding World Affairs
[1] Remove duplicate job cards: MGNREGA has been facing key challenge in policy execution due to duplicity of job card. AEPS has the potential to reduce the duplicity of job cards.
[2] Reduce wage payment delays: It has been noticed that due to long procedure through traditional bank method, delay in payment was seen. AEPS would reduce requirement of details and speed up wage payment.
[3] Lower payment rejections: AEPS claims to reduce payment rejection because earlier large number of details like bank account, beneficiary name and IFSC code along with job details were required. Now less details are required and thus there will be lower rejection in payment.
Associated challenges
[1] Exclusion error: As per the government’s own data, as on Jan11, 2024, out of a total of 25.6 crore registered workers, only 16.9 crore workers are eligible for ABPS while all workers are eligible for account-based payments.
[2] Stalling payments: Since different administrative units are involved in creating different documents in rural areas, spelling mismatches are common. It is because authentication is successful only when all the details including spelling and gender in the job cards match with those in the Aadhaar database.
[3] Fund diversion: Niti Aayog recently reported that 28% of maternity benefit payments under the Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandana Yojana went to an account different from that provided by the beneficiary. It may be possible in MGNREGA as well.
[4] Possible fraud: There have been rampant abuses of this facility by corrupt business correspondents, especially “roaming business correspondents”, to extort money from unsuspecting victims by persuading them to put their finger in a point of sale machine under some pretext.
♛ Decoding World Affairs
❤13🔥2❤🔥1
https://decodingworldaffairs.com/role-of-judiciary-in-promoting-democracy-in-india/
Read this essay and know about the role of judiciary in promoting democracy in India.
Connect us to unlock premium content, join a community of informed global citizens and appreciate our hard work...
▶️ Telegram: https://bit.ly/dwa-telegram
▶️ YouTube: https://bit.ly/dwa-youtube
Read this essay and know about the role of judiciary in promoting democracy in India.
Connect us to unlock premium content, join a community of informed global citizens and appreciate our hard work...
▶️ Telegram: https://bit.ly/dwa-telegram
▶️ YouTube: https://bit.ly/dwa-youtube
Decoding World Affairs
Role of Judiciary in Promoting Democracy in India - Decoding World Affairs
Context: (1) An age of Judicial governance (2) Constitutional safety (3) Protection of weaker section (4) Challenges in Judiciary.
❤4🥰1
Decoding World Affairs
Chinese influence in Africa is high on the global agenda, as China within just a few decades has become a key political and economic power in the continent. Let's ponder upon Chinese interest in Africa...
Chinese interests in Africa
[1] Critical minerals: Africa supplies 90% of the world’s cobalt and platinum, and 75% of coltan, essential for electronics. China has the largest refineries in Africa for rare earths and minerals that are vital to its emerging tech industry.
[2] Political support: In the UN General Assembly, Africa is the largest bloc and has the power to swing resolutions on contentious issues like the South China Sea. Africa has been vocal in supporting China in the international arena including its “One China” policy for Taiwan and Hong Kong.
[3] Challenging US hegemony: China is encouraging Africa to trade in Chinese currency. China’s debt restructuring of Zambia’s $4.1 billion loan has incentivised borrowers towards RMB. With lower Chinese interest rates and the depreciation of African local currency, the RMB stands as an alternative to the dollar.
[4] Commercial opportunities: Africa imports largely from China for finished goods. The African markets for Chinese exports are beneficial for the Chinese economy.
♛ Decoding World Affairs
[1] Critical minerals: Africa supplies 90% of the world’s cobalt and platinum, and 75% of coltan, essential for electronics. China has the largest refineries in Africa for rare earths and minerals that are vital to its emerging tech industry.
[2] Political support: In the UN General Assembly, Africa is the largest bloc and has the power to swing resolutions on contentious issues like the South China Sea. Africa has been vocal in supporting China in the international arena including its “One China” policy for Taiwan and Hong Kong.
[3] Challenging US hegemony: China is encouraging Africa to trade in Chinese currency. China’s debt restructuring of Zambia’s $4.1 billion loan has incentivised borrowers towards RMB. With lower Chinese interest rates and the depreciation of African local currency, the RMB stands as an alternative to the dollar.
[4] Commercial opportunities: Africa imports largely from China for finished goods. The African markets for Chinese exports are beneficial for the Chinese economy.
♛ Decoding World Affairs
❤22
Decoding World Affairs
A high level committee made under the chairmanship of former President ‘Ram Nath Kovind’ to examine the feasibility of simultaneous elections.
Argument for ONOE
[1] Saving of public money: Currently, the costs of conducting all State and parliamentary elections in a five-year cycle work out to the equivalent of ₹10 per voter per year (As per ECI). The NITI Aayog report has also said that when elections are synchronised, it will cost the equivalent of ₹5 per voter per year.
[2] Disengagement of politicism: To break the campaign mood of political parties. There are at least 5-6 State elections that happen every year. This results in political parties, including Ministers, being in ‘permanent campaign’ mode, which acts as a hindrance to policy making and governance.
[3] Arrest low efficiency in administration: Administrative machinery in the districts slow down during the election period with the primary focus being the conduct of elections.
[4] Ensure national security: There are also paramilitary forces that are withdrawn from the locations in which they are posted and deployed to the concerned State for the smooth conduct of elections.
♛ Decoding World Affairs
[1] Saving of public money: Currently, the costs of conducting all State and parliamentary elections in a five-year cycle work out to the equivalent of ₹10 per voter per year (As per ECI). The NITI Aayog report has also said that when elections are synchronised, it will cost the equivalent of ₹5 per voter per year.
[2] Disengagement of politicism: To break the campaign mood of political parties. There are at least 5-6 State elections that happen every year. This results in political parties, including Ministers, being in ‘permanent campaign’ mode, which acts as a hindrance to policy making and governance.
[3] Arrest low efficiency in administration: Administrative machinery in the districts slow down during the election period with the primary focus being the conduct of elections.
[4] Ensure national security: There are also paramilitary forces that are withdrawn from the locations in which they are posted and deployed to the concerned State for the smooth conduct of elections.
♛ Decoding World Affairs
❤10👌1
Decoding World Affairs
A high level committee made under the chairmanship of former President ‘Ram Nath Kovind’ to examine the feasibility of simultaneous elections.
Associated challenges
[1] Legal issue: Notably, the Law Commission submitted that simultaneous elections are not feasible within the existing framework of the Constitution. In any case, unless the term of each Lok Sabha and Assembly is fixed, and premature dissolution for whatever reason is barred, the idea is unworkable.
[2] Federal challenges: Conducting elections simultaneously to the Lok Sabha and all State assemblies would result in national issues overshadowing regional and State specific issues. National political parties would have a significant advantage over regional parties on account of this mechanism.
[3] Procedural constraints: It is said that the Constitution, the RPA 1951 and the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies would require appropriate amendments to conduct simultaneous polls. Any subsequent amendment needs ratification from at least 50% of the States.
[4] Functional challenges: What would happen if the Central or State government collapses mid-tenure or President rule under Article 356 is imposed in a state? Would elections be held again in every State or will the President’s rule be imposed?
♛ Decoding World Affairs
[1] Legal issue: Notably, the Law Commission submitted that simultaneous elections are not feasible within the existing framework of the Constitution. In any case, unless the term of each Lok Sabha and Assembly is fixed, and premature dissolution for whatever reason is barred, the idea is unworkable.
[2] Federal challenges: Conducting elections simultaneously to the Lok Sabha and all State assemblies would result in national issues overshadowing regional and State specific issues. National political parties would have a significant advantage over regional parties on account of this mechanism.
[3] Procedural constraints: It is said that the Constitution, the RPA 1951 and the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies would require appropriate amendments to conduct simultaneous polls. Any subsequent amendment needs ratification from at least 50% of the States.
[4] Functional challenges: What would happen if the Central or State government collapses mid-tenure or President rule under Article 356 is imposed in a state? Would elections be held again in every State or will the President’s rule be imposed?
♛ Decoding World Affairs
❤8
https://decodingworldaffairs.com/inspiration-for-creativity-springs-from-the-effort-to-look-for-the-magical-in-the-mundane/
#PhilosophicalEssay 2023
Connect us to unlock premium content, join a community of informed global citizens and appreciate our hard work...
▶️ Telegram: https://bit.ly/dwa-telegram
▶️ YouTube: https://bit.ly/dwa-youtubeshorts
#PhilosophicalEssay 2023
Connect us to unlock premium content, join a community of informed global citizens and appreciate our hard work...
▶️ Telegram: https://bit.ly/dwa-telegram
▶️ YouTube: https://bit.ly/dwa-youtubeshorts
Decoding World Affairs
Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane
This essay - Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane - was asked in UPSC CSE 2023.
❤6