*Regulating Bodies for Media:*

1) *Press Council of India (PCI) -*
1) helping newspapers maintain their independence
2) build a code of conduct for journalists and news agencies

Limitations on the powers of the PCI:
1) The PCI has limited powers of enforcing the guidelines issued. 
2) It cannot penalize newspapers, news agencies, editors and journalists for violation of the guidelines3)
3) It does not have the power to review the functioning of the electronic media like radio, television and internet media.

2) *News Broadcasters Association.* 
# The NBA has devised a Code of Ethics to regulate television content.
# NBA, is empowered to warn, admonish, censure, express disapproval and fine the broadcaster a sum upto Rs. 1 lakh for violation of the Code

3) *Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) :* controlling content of movies and television shows, etc.

4) *The Advertising Standards Council of India* has also drawn up guidelines on content of advertisements.

*Way Forward:*

The Media is referred as fourth estate of democracy. But free press does not mean an uncontrolled press. There shall be an uplifting the standards of journalism can only be solution. Every journalist must honestly and consciously make an attempt not to fall in any trap and raise the standard of journalism.

# Types of media

Some topic for essay could be on post covid /new normal etc.
This article could help . https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/11/our-post-pandemic-world-and-whats-likely-to-hang-round/?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=hu-facebook-general&utm_medium=social

*QUOTE *

"‘SMART’ force — Strict andg Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Techno savvy and Trained."
- PM Narendra Modi.

*Police issues & Reforms*

Police - State Subject

*SDG-16 :* Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, *provide access to justice for all* and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

*Issues Related to Functioning of Police :*

1) *An Overburdened Police Force* :
# Sanctioned police strength - 181 police per lakh, the actual strength was 137 police.(2016)
# United Nations’ recommended standard - 222 police per lakh persons.
State police forces had 24% vacancies (about 5.5 lakh vacancies) in January 2016.
# long working hours, which negatively affects his efficiency and performance.

2) *Lack of Police accountability:* complaints of unwarranted arrests, unlawful searches, torture and custodial rapes.

3) *Poor quality of investigation* -
In 2015, the conviction rate for crimes recorded under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 was only 47%.
The reasons for low conviction rates in India is poor quality of investigation. (Law Commission ,2012)

4) *Political Criminalisation Nexus:*
Excessive power in the hands of police has been abused by the political executive to unduly influence police personal to serve personal or political interests. (ARC)

5) Law & order State subject - Centre state cooperation missing due to politics.

6) *Lagging modernisation Project* - CAG report -
# Modernisation without adequate increases in manpower - District control room without manpower.
# Basic facilities like forensic lab, fingerprint bureaus lacking.

7) Police Training-
# use of modernised equipment’s & process is low.
# unwanted police officers transferred to training institutions.

8) Lack of role clarity -
Police personal for VIP security. (Around 30% In Delhi)

*Steps taken by Govt :*

1) Assistance to States for Modernisation of Police Scheme: by MHA-
To reduce dependence on paramilitary troops and equipping police with latest equipments.
2) CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems)-
Connecting police stations to centralised database.
3) Scheme for Mega City Policing
4) Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)

*Case Study : Community Policing*

In Kerala, an earlier project, namely the Janamaithri Suraksha Project had paved the
way for „ Community Police‟ system.Beat officers visit houses and
understands their needs and interacts with the community.This helps them to build link with the community members.

*Way Forward-*

1) Revamping Criminal Justice System: *Implementing Menon Committee and Malimath Committee recommendations.* Witness protection etc.
2) Replicating The Model Police Act, 2006

3) *Implementing Supreme Court Directives in Prakash Sigh Case,2006:*

a) Set up National Security Commission
b) Set up State Security commission.
c) Separate investigation and law& order function.
d) Set up Police Establishment Board
e) Set up Police Complaint Authority at state and district level.
f) Two year fixed term for DGP & SP.

4) Reforms in political system to reduce criminalisation of politics.
5) Changes in recruitment - Ensuring dedicated and honest police offices.
———————————————

*Status of Implementation of Supreme Court directions in Prakash Singh Case as per Justice Thomas Committee:*

1) State Security Commission(SSC) dominated by govt & police officers.
2) Composition & power of SSC & Police establishment Board at variance with SC directive.
3) Many SSC - No power to issue binding recommendations.
4) Duration of Directors and IGS not fixed - T.P. Senkumar case in Kerala.

Fig: Police officers per 1,00,000 inhabitants.

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/columnists/love-and-war.html
Dr Ajoykumar Ex IPS, Ex MP

*QUOTE *

“Our urban spaces and governance mechanisms have become the theatres for political conflicts and economic struggles. ‘Exclusionary’ urbanization is benefitting certain social groups to the detriment of others, and directing resources to large metropolises depriving small and medium towns of funds needed for infrastructure and essential services”

— Hamid Ansari, Former, VP of India.

*ULB’s and URBAN ISSUES:*

*Urban Local Bodies* -

74th Constitutional Amendment-

Part IXA - The Municipalities

3. Schedule XII - illustrative list of functions that may be entrusted to municipalities.

Issues of ULB’s regarding fund, function & functionaries are the same as of PRIs. *Some additional points are the following.*

1)Further delegation of powers from ULBs: For eg- Smart Cities -decision-making powers available to the ULB to the Chief Executive Officer of the SPV.
2) Financial paucity-. Indian cities revenue is less than 1% of gross domestic product.

*Report :* Annual Survey of India’s City System, 2017 by *Janaagraha,* Centre for Citizenship and Democracy - Survey of 23 cities.

1) Lack of local democracy, with only two of the 23 cities putting in place ward committees and area sabhas at least on paper.
2) Only 9 of the 23 cities had a citizen’s charter.
3) cities don’t release even basic data about their functioning in usable formats.
4) Most Indian cities use town and country planning acts which were drafted decades before the economy was liberalized and the
5) lack of a modern, contemporary urban planning framework *may be costing India 3% of its GDP every year.*

*Steps taken by govt for ULBS :*

1. Performance linked grants: The 14th Finance Commission - Performance Grant to ULBs based on various reforms in areas like accounting, auditing, reporting, etc.
2. Comprehensive road map for municipal reforms by Union ministry of housing and urban affairs. The road map, consisting of three tiers of reforms along three main avenues - Governance, Planning, and Finance.
3. Municipal Bonds: In 2017, NITI Aayog in its Three-year Action Agenda document also talks of utilizing Municipal Bond market. This would ensure low cost of borrowing.
4. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT):
• It focuses at transforming 500 cities and towns into efficient urban living spaces over a period of five years.
• It follows a project oriented development approach in contrast to the area based approach of Smart Cities Mission.

*QUOTE *


"Your mantra must be Reform to Perform to Transform"

- Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi @ Civil Service Day.

*CIVIL SERVICES & REFORMS*

*Civil Services* - is professional body, comprised of career bureaucrats which are permanent, paid, Efficient & skilled.

*Features:*

1) Civil Functions
2) Impartial Selection
3) Neutrality - for political establishment
4) Anonymity - Ministerial responsibily

*Importance of the Civil Service to governance:*

1)Service presence throughout the country and its strong binding character
2)Effective policy-making and regulation
3)Effective coordination between institutions of governance
4)Leadership at different levels of administration.
5)Service delivery at the cutting edge level
6)Provide ‘continuity and change’ to the administration.

*Ailments afflicting Indian civil services :*

A) *Structural Weaknesses :*

1) Too much hierarchy
2) Oversised
3) Outmoded rules and procedures

B) *Operational weaknesses :*

1) Lack of professionalism and poor capacity building
2) Inefficient incentive systems
3) Lack of adequate transparency and accountability procedures - there is also no
safety for whistle blowers
4) Arbitrary and whimsical transfers – insecurity in tenures impedes
institutionalization
5) Political interference and administrative acquiescence
6)A gradual erosion in values and ethics

C) *Attitudinal Weaknesses :*

1) Elitist mentality
2) Procedure compliance than performance compliance
3) Status Quoist

*Civil Service Reforms :*

A) *Recruitment:*
1) Increase intake of specialist
2) Lateral Entry
3) Second ARC- National Institute of Public Administration
4) Hota Committee Report - Aptitude & leadership test , code of ethics

B) *Training:*

2nd ARC- Composition of LBSNAA, SVPNPA broadened by inducting experts.

C) *Performance Management:*

1) 6th Pay commission- Performance related incentive Scheme
2) Move from annual confidential report to Annual Performance Appraisal Report
3) 360 degree Appraisal.

Hong Kong Civil Services - continuation in the job subject to verifying the performance indicators from time to time.

D) *Attitudinal Reform* - Restore pride in service

Fig.1: Foundational Values for Civil Services ( NOLAN Committee)

*QUOTE

“My ideal village will contain intelligent human beings. They will not live in dirt and darkness as animals. Men and women will be free and able to hold their own against anyone in the world.”
-M.K . Gandhi

*PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS*

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment -
Part IX -“The Panchayats”
Schedule XI- illustrative list of functions that may be entrusted to PRIs.

*ISSUES WITH PRIS*

*A)Issues related to Fund*

1) local government expenditure as a percentage of total public sector expenditure comprising Union, State and local governments is only around 7%. 24% in Europe, 27% in North America and 55% in Denmark.
2) Insufficient local revenue generation: Economic Survey 2017-18 - local bodies appear to be not collecting revenues from taxes to the extent they can.
3) Most state governments have not devolved enough taxation powers to Panchayats.
4) Even if states have given these powers, their collection is low due to their reluctance to tax locals and they remain dependent on fund devolution.
5) PRI’s are unwilling to revise tax rates periodically.
6) Unwillingness to borrow from Financial Institutions: Despite being empowered to access loans for public infrastructure and service delivery, most Gram Panchayats have not borrowed making them unable to plan effectively for long term.
7) Non-implementation of recommendations of State Finance Commission by state govt.

*B)Issues related to function :*

1. There is very little actual devolution of functions and authorities by the States to PRIs.
2. The roles and responsibilities of local governments remain ill-defined despite activity mapping in several States.
3. Creating parallel bodies - eg: Rural Development Agency of Haryana enter into the functional domain of panchayats resulting in confusion, duplication of efforts and shifting of responsibilities.
4. Appear as ‘Government Agencies’ and politicization of PRIs.
5. Weak and inefficient District Planning Committees (DPCs): They are too weak and non-starters in many States. In States like Gujarat, the DPC has not been constituted.


*C) Issues related to functionaries :*

1. Non-accountability
2. Lack of Capabilities of elected and selected
3. Lack of oversight by state govt.
4 Collusion between elected functionaries and officials.
5. Variation across states- Wide variation across States in terms of engagement - qualification and mode of recruitment, duration, remuneration, travel allowances and other conditions for similar cadres.
6. No HR policy in majority of the States-some governments such as Haryana and Rajasthan have educational qualifications for candidates contesting elections for PRI’s.

*Steps taken by Govt for PRIS.*

1. Ministry of Women & Child Development - “Capacity Building Programme for Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) of Panchayati Raj”. It is working on developing EWRs as “change agents”,
2. Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan: It is a centrally sponsored scheme which aims at making rural local bodies self-sustainable, financially stable and more efficient.
3. Mission Antyodaya - to optimize outcomes and increasing the efficiency of Gram Panchayats through effective social capital, capacity building of PRIs, promoting participatory planning and implementation of the schemes
5. Sumit Bose committee has made recommendations in its report titled “Performance Based Payments for Better Outcomes in Rural Development (RD) Programmes”

*Challenges faced by Elected Women Representatives (EWRs):*

Although women constitute approximately 44% of total elected representatives in PRIs, they face numerous challenges.

1. Lack of leadership skills: This makes it difficult for them to assert or even openly express their opinions.
2. Male domination( Sarpanch Pati): Even after getting elected most of their work in panchayats is done by their husbands.
3. General absence of EWRs from panchayat’s meetings due to discouraging attitudes of the family members.
4. Illiteracy, lack of awareness about the structure and functions of PRIs.

Fig :Local body Expenditure comparison