Why in the News?

The 17th edition of the Global Gender Gap Report 2023 of the World Economic Forum (WEF) has reflected that at the current rate of progress, it will take 131 years to close the global gender gap and it is 149 years in populous South Asian countries including India.

Women in Leadership roles:

1. As proxy leaders
   1. Historical evidence reveals that women who have assumed leadership roles were allowed not merely for their sheer industry, competence and intelligence, but for the convenience of men to serve some political agenda.
2. Privileged women get opportunity for leadership positions. Such privileges include,
   1. higher education
   2. support of influential mentors or families, or belong to upper classes or castes.
   3. Nepotistic advantages
      1. For instance, Indira Gandhi who had the highest elitist advantage and politically active, was sworn in as PM only after the death of Shastri in 1966, but Rajiv Gandhi, by virtue of being the son and though not a politically active person was sworn in immediately fielded after Mrs Gandhi’s assassinations.

Bridging the gap:

1. Reservation
   1. It enforces affirmative action and equity as the first step to equality. 
   2. Though the claim that it leads to inefficiency or incompetency arise, they are short term, and can be removed soon after opportunity for skill building is made available.
   3. The claim of incompetence due to reservation is a misplaced notion, as statistics show that,
      1. women perform much better than men in academics
      2. women graduate from colleges than men
      3. more women enter the workforce than men.
2. Women’s Reservation (128^th Amendment) Bill, 2023:
   1. Though India was early to adopt universal adult suffrage, the role of women in political arena has been minimal.
   2. The no. of women in leadership positions dips low not because of their incompetence, but because of the hegemony of men.
   3. The bill shall act as the first step towards actualising gender parity.
3. The bill seeks to empower women who remain marginalised in the political discourse.
4. It shall pave way for a New Egalitarian society that envisages equal rights for both men and women as endorsed by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to achieve gender equality
5. Women-centric policy making and holding government accountable in women-related issues can become effective with more representation of women in the parliament.
6. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), considered an International Bill of Rights for women, in Article 7 upholds women’s right to hold political and public office.
7. Creates conditions for a revitalised democracy that bridges the gap between representation and participation

About:

Women representation:

1. In the first Lok Sabha elections of 1951, only 22 women MPs (4.41%) were elected out of 489 seats. It increased to 78 women MPs in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the highest ever (14.36%).
2. The no. of women candidates contesting Lok Sabha elections has slowly and steadily increased, from just 45 in the second Lok Sabha elections of 1957 to 726 in 2019.

Challenges in Women’s Representation in the Parliament:

1. Inaccessibility of Institutions
   1. Political tickets offered women candidates are less as this is a highly centralised process in a political party.
   2. Large section of women who win parliamentary tickets have family political connections, or are ‘dynastic’ politicians. Out of the 41% of all women candidates elected in the 2019 Lok Sabha 30% elected were dynasts.
   3. In political circles, it has been widely held that women candidates are less likely to win elections than men, which leads to political parties giving them fewer tickets.
   4. The male-dominated party structures in India dominated by patriarchal mindsets make it difficult for women politicians to obtain party nominations to fight parliamentary elections
2. Non-facilitating Structural Conditions:
   1. Election campaigns in India are extremely demanding and time-consuming and women candidates face problems such as,
      1. Family commitments
      2. Responsibilities of child-care
      3. A male-dominated political party structure
      4. Women are subjected to humiliation, inappropriate comments, abuse and threats of abuse
      5. Parliamentary elections can be extremely expensive, and massive financial resources are required and its is challenging to arrange for own campaign financing when party power do not support financially.
      6. Threat of criminalised politics is high, where the role of muscle power becomes paramount and offering unfavourable conditions for women participation.
      7. Women themselves can be influenced by patriarchal societal norms, a phenomenon known as ‘internalised patriarchy’ where many women consider it their duty to prioritise family and household over political ambitions.

What are the Criticisms involved?

1. Reservation for women would perpetuate the unequal status of women since they would not be perceived to be competing on merit.
2. The bill also diverts attention from the larger issues of electoral reform such as criminalisation of politics and inner party democracy.
3. Political reservation has increased redistribution of resources in favour of the groups that benefit from reservation.
4. Reservation of constituencies for women will result in them not being considered for general seats, despite their competency.
5. Women elected under reservation invest more in the public goods closely linked to women’s concerns rather than for whole-of-the-society.
6. The issue of proxy representation where women elected to office were being largely “controlled” by their male family members shall surface, an issue widely seen in local governments that has the 33% reservation policy for women brought through the 73^rd and 74^th amendments to the Constitution.

The Maldives, the evolution of a democracy

Why in the News?

The Maldives, South Asia’s smallest nation-state, held its latest Presidential election successfully, indicating that democracy is thriving and free and fair election has enhanced the country’s international prestige.

Five men, shared future:

1. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (1978 to 2008) gave way to a multiparty democracy under a new constitution. 
2. Mohamed Nasheed became the first directly elected President. 
3. Abdulla Yameen, the most pro-China president so far, served his full term (2013–18).
4. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (2018-2023) became the architect of ‘India First’ policy.
   1. Though Solih had done a commendable work at difficult times such as COVID-19, the Ukraine war, and the global economic slowdown, he was defeated due to the following reasons:
      1. His fight against the currents of history: no incumbent has been re-elected in the Maldives.
      2. The split of MDP party ad failed reconciliation led to loss by the same margin, ~8% of the votes.
      3. Solih’s efforts to effectively counter the disinformation campaign launched by the opposition alliance failed due to absence of Mr. Nasheed, a communicator par excellence.
5. Mohamed Muizzu has been elected as the new President lately.

The path ahead:

1. To focus on domestic priorities of development while leveraging foreign policy to promote his nation’s interests.
2. In external relations, the new administration will have at least three choices:
   1. Revert to ‘India Out’ campaign of former President Yameen
   2. Continue with ‘India First’ policy of the outgoing President.
   3. Innovate a calibrated policy to facilitate balancing of relations with its key partners, especially China and India.
3. Changing world dynamics:
   1. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which Maldives had accepted under the leadership of Mr. Yameen, is currently is in serious trouble. 
   2. The Sri Lankan financial crisis required India’s steady help.
   3. There is currently changed equations between India and the Gulf States, which shall be considered by Maldives.

Notes for India:

1. Though the next phase of regional diplomacy may be complex, there are enough assets and achievements exist to impart confidence.
2. A positive mindset among people of Maldives have been reinforced by extensive development work and numerous small community development projects by India in the island state.
3. India is a major source of tourism, imports and investment and also acts as the as the first responder during an emergency in the Maldives.
4. What more can be done?
   1. The Colombo Security Conclave (comprising India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius, Bangladesh and the Seychelles) should be strengthened for ensuring maritime security and the development of the Blue Economy.

1. 2. India has to make efforts in The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to invite the Maldives as an observer at its next summit.
   3. Additional resources have to be provided so that India’s strategic community and media organisations take greater interest in a small but vital neighbour, to build bridges of mutual understanding and trust.

Hamas attack: Israel-Saudi deal as target

Why in the News?

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel, which triggered the latter to officially declare war against the former in the Gaza strip.

Reasons for the Hamas attack:

1. To disrupt or destroy ongoing negotiations for the normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, mediated by the United States.
   1. Israel and Saudi Arabia have moved closer and are at a verge of signing an agreement that has potential to bring change in the political landscape of the Middle East. 
   2. It could also mean that support for an independent Palestinian state is no longer a priority for the Arab world, of which Saudi Arabia is the leader.
   3. The attack comes after the US announcement that the “basic framework” of the agreement was in place. 

What is the potential deal between Israel and Saudi?

1. The deal shall entail that Saudi Arabia will recognise Israel for the first time since the latter’s establishment in 1948.
2. The kingdom has so far shied away from formalising ties with the Jewish state primarily because of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
3. The Saudis have been demanding Palestinian statehood since the beginning.
4. However, Saudi presently needs security guarantees from the US (a mutual defence pact) in exchange for recognising Israel.
5. It includes US support for a Saudi civilian nuclear programme and US approval for the sale of sophisticated weapons to the kingdom. 
6. Israel, which is technologically advanced in a wide range of fields, will also help Riyadh move its economy beyond oil.

But how will the formalisation of ties with the Saudis help Israel?

1. Saudi Arabia is the richest and most powerful of the Arab countries and the formal relationship will bring economic benefits to Israel.
2. It would give legitimacy to the State of Israel in the mostly-Muslim region and help the country become a significant player in West Asia.
3. It will bestow political gains upon Israel’s Prime Minister who is battling deep divisions in Israeli society over the policies of his far-right governing coalition such as attempts to muzzle Israel’s judiciary.

And what’s in the deal for the United States?

1. The US wants to counter the growing Chinese influence in the region by giving security guarantees to Saudi Arabia.
2. In April 2023, Beijing successfully mediated an agreement that restored formal ties between the Saudis and Iran, long-time rivals in the region. 
3. The US also wants to improve its fraught relations with Saudi, its traditional ally, as both have several confrontations in recent years, including over the murder of US journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents.

What would the Palestinians get in the deal?

1. Saudi Arabia has publicly said it remains fully committed to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, in which Arab nations offered Israel normalised ties in return for,

• A statehood deal with the Palestinians
• Full Israeli withdrawal from territory captured in 1967.

2. However, Saudi officials have noted that a deal is possible even if it falls short of providing Palestinians an independent state also suggested for a two-state solution.
3. Even if a deal is reached, it won’t change the reality of the Israeli occupation or the conflict as a whole.

Need for an evidence-based traditional medicine

Why in the News?

A plea has been filed by a manufacturer of indigenous drugs against a medical practitioner alleging that his social media thread affected their business.

Modern medicine

1. It became science-based in the 19^th century, where advances in technology was utilised to study the functioning of the human body in health and disease more accurately and perform surgeries and processes like dialysis for kidney failure and the heart-lung machine.
2. The idea of falsifiability (a standard of evaluation of scientific theories and hypotheses by logically contradicting with an empirical test) led to advances in evaluating medical therapies. 
3. Continually refining mode of modern science facilitated by ideas from across the world, led to abandonment of ineffective methods and build a coherent system of effective ones.
4. Modern medicine tests every new therapy and accepts it into the fold if found effective.

Traditional medical systems of India:

1. India has six recognized systems of traditional Systems of medicines:
   1. Ayurveda
      1. Has well-defined conceptual framework consistent throughout the ages.
      2. One of the first medical systems to advocate an integrated approach towards matters of health and disease.
      3. It is considered as a complete medical system that takes into account of the physical, psychological, philosophical, ethical and spiritual wellbeing of mankind. 
   2. Siddha
      1. Being closely identified with Tamil civilization, this system of medicine depends on drugs of metal and mineral origin to large extent.
      2. The diagnosis is based on ‘ashtasthana pareeksha’ (examination of eight sites) that encompasses examination of nadi (pulse), kan (eyes), swara (voice), sparisam (touch), varna (colour), na (tongue), mala (faeces) and neer (urine). 
   3. Unani
      1. With origin as Greece, it was established by Hippocrates and developed by Aristotle, which was later introduced in India by the Arabs.
   4. Yoga
   5. Naturopathy
   6. Homoeopathy
2. Challenges
   1. Lack of physiological basis such as of Ayurveda leads to assumption that its therapies are not sound.
      1. It had constrained understanding of functioning of human body due to lack of available technology. 
      2. However, it constantly emphasized on diagnoses and therapies on a sound understanding of the human body.
      3. It is based on reason-based world view rather than faith-based forms such as Atharva Veda.
   2. Ayurvedic medicines are commonly combinations of ingredients and so its interaction with each other has been uncertain.

Way forward:

1. Ayurvedic medicines have to evaluated by the methods of modern science to increase its acceptability without compromising the wholeness of Ayurvedic formulations. 
2. New investigational methods and trial designs can be used to evaluate Ayurvedic therapies without undermining the classical bases of administering them must be worked out.
3. Evidence-based appraisal of all traditional medical systems has to be carried out to retain and develop what is useful, and integrate them into one cogent system of medicine available to all.
4. Traditional medical systems should not be denounced wholesale and requires open-mindedness disciplined by scepticism.
   1. For instance, the Nobel-winning anti-malarial artemisinin was synthesised by investigators who took cues from a 1,600-year-old text of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The impact of Claudia Goldin’s work-Nobel Prize in Economics

Why in the News?

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences for 2023 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was awarded to Harvard University Professor Claudia Goldin.

• She was awarded for “having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes”.
• Her work “first comprehensive account of women’s earning and labour market participation through the centuries”. 
• Claudia Goldin is only the 3^rd women to have won the prize (for Economics) and the first to do it solo.

Claudia Goldin’s work:

1. Goldin demonstrated how and why gender differences in earnings and employment rates have changed over time, by analysing 200 years of the United States’ archives.
2. Significant observations from her work:
   1. Female participation in the labour market exhibited a U-shaped curve rather than an upward trend over the entire period.
   2. The economic growth occurring in varied periods did not translate to reducing gender differences in the labour market
   3. several factors that are influencing the supply and demand for female labour include:
      1. Opportunities for combining paid work and a family
      2. Decisions (and expectations) related to pursuing education and raising children
      3. Technical innovations
      4. Laws and norms
      5. Structural transformation in an economy.
   4. She highlighted that both men and women lose.
      1. “Men are able to have the family and step up because women step back in terms of their jobs, but both are deprived.”
      2. “Men forgo time with their family and women often forgo their career”.

How did female participation move between agrarian and industrial era?

1. The transition from an agrarian to an industrialised society witnessed decrease in participation of married women in the early 19^th century, primarily due to difficulty in balancing the demands of their family and work.
2. It started to increase again with the growth of the services sector in the early 19^th century. 

3. Her work laid out how female participation in labour force was incorrectly assessed and stated in Censuses and public data.

• For instance, women’s occupation is categorised as “wife” as a standard practice in records, which leaves out activities of women besides domestic labour, as working alongside husbands in farms or family businesses, in cottage industries or production setups at home, such as with textiles or dairy goods.

4. Her work claimed that there is no historical consistency between female engagement in the overall labour force and economic growth.

What made the curve move upwards?

1. An upward trajectory for female participation in the labour force was witnessed in the early 20^th century due to reasons such as,
   1. Technological progress
   2. Growth of the service sector
   3. Increased levels of education leading to increasing demand for more labour.
   4. However, social stigma, legislation and other institutional barriers limited their influence.
2. “Marriage bars”, the practice of firing and not hiring women once married, peaked during the 1930s’ Great Depression and the following years which prevented women from continuing as teachers or office workers. 
3. Prevalent expectations about future careers by women.
   1. In early 19^th century, women were expected to exit the labour force upon marriage, which led to underestimation of educational choices.
   2. But around 1970s, married women would return to the labour force once their children were older which meant a reliance on educational choices by women.
   3. Though there was a massive influx of women into the labour market in the late 19^th century, the above pointed contributed little to average employment level for women.
4. Another factor includes introduction of birth control pills which helped women to plan their careers better, though it did not influence earnings gap between men and women.
5. Pay discrimination increased significantly with the growth of the services sector in the 20^th century and expectations paradigm of preference to employees with “long and uninterrupted careers” were given.

Use of Draconian laws & Law Enforcement agencies

Why in the News?

Recently, a media outlet called NewsClick has been booked under UAPA, the anti-terror law for allegations of receiving funds from organisation which are is an arm of the Chinese propaganda machinery. 

Considerations for the use of draconian law by the enforcement agencies:

1. The more draconian the law invoked against these entities (individual or group), more care has to be exercised by the enforcement agencies to ensure that it will stand up to judicial scrutiny.
   1. For instance, individuals are locked up for years only to be ultimately released by the superior courts.
2. Step has to be taken to limit collateral damage while combating those who seek to harm the state to uphold the foundational values of the Republic.
3. It has to be ensured that matters pertaining to non-bailable cases are decided early by enforcement agencies and the judiciary.

Why media needs regulation?

1. Concerns of propaganda fake news, further increased with the rise of artificial intelligence technology.
2. Media moving towards sensationalism and yellow journalism (publishing sensational news to attract readers and increase circulation).
3. Issue of paid news (someone paying a newspaper and getting something favourable to him published)

Regulation of media in India:

1. Press Council of India (PCI) established under the PCI Act of 1978, acts for preserving the freedom of the press and of maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.
2. A Code of Ethics for self-regulation of news channels has been devised by the News Broadcasters Association.

• The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), of the NBA, is empowered to warn, admonish, censure, express disapproval and fine the broadcaster a sum up to Rs. 1 lakh for violation of the Code.  

3. The IT act and IT rules regulates digital media such as online news publications, online curated content publishers including OTTs and social media platforms

Observations by the Judiciary:

1. Being critical of the government cannot be considered ‘anti-establishment’ and refusing security clearance to operate will create a ‘chilling effect’ on press freedom.
2.  Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India case (2020)
   1. The case dealt with suspension of mobile phone networks, internet services, and landline connectivity in the valley by the govt in J&K.
   2. The court held that freedom of speech and expression includes the right to disseminate information. 
   3. The wider range of circulation of information or its greater impact cannot restrict the content of the right, nor can it justify its denial.
   4. Right to carry on any trade or business under 19(1)(g), using the medium of internet, is constitutionally protected.

India’s Condemnation of Hamas Attack

Why in the News?

Indian government has unambiguously condemned the terror attack and expressed its solidarity with Israel.

Indian policy on the Middle East in the recent years:

1. Establishment of full diplomatic relations with Israel.
2. India has aligned its position closer to the realities on the ground. 
   1. Though India stands for the “Palestinian cause”, it has considered the fact that several Arab countries have begun to make their peace with Israel without preconditions.
   2. India has recognised that violent religious extremism of Hamas and other forces threatens not only Israel but also moderate Arab states in West Asia.
   3. The divisions within Palestine have become deep between the Palestine Authority in Ramallah and the Hamas in Gaza.
3. Political focus on India’s current solidarity with Israel masks the extraordinary transformation of Delhi’s ties with the Arab world in the last decade. 
   1.  The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have emerged as important strategic partners.
      1. I2U2 grouping: India, US, Israel, and the UAE 
      2. India has teamed with US, Europe, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to build a corridor between the Subcontinent and Europe through the Arabian Peninsula.
   2. India’s traditional anti-Western stance in the Middle East has been changed as limiting the Anglo-American role in the Middle East was among the main objectives of Indian diplomacy in 1960s.
   3. India’s move of de-linking of India’s regional diplomacy from religion.
      1. The partition of the Subcontinent based on religion and Pakistan’s quest for mobilising support in the Middle East in the name of Islamic solidarity severely complicated India’s engagement with the region. 
4. India’s response of condemnation of attack underlines its interest-driven foreign policy.
   1. Refusal to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine was shaped by the need to protect Delhi’s long-standing equities in Russia.
   2. India’s staunch support to Israel is rooted in the centrality of the terror question in India’s security calculus.

Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary

1. The sanctuary lies in the Indo-Chinese transition zone and so has highly endemic and significant flora and fauna species.
2. The sanctuary has been named after the Dibang River, a tributary of Brahmaputra River. 
3. It lies adjacent to the Mouling National Park.
4. Has been declared as one of the major bio-diversity hotspots of the world by UNESCO in 1988.
5. It houses some of the endangered species that includes:
   1. Mishmi takin (the takin is the national animal of Bhutan),
   2. The Asiatic black bear
   3. Musk deer
   4. Blyth’s tragopan.
   5. Red panda
   6. Mishmi Hills giant flying squirrel

Kamlang Tiger Reserve (TR)

1. The Kamlang TR is present in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh and is contiguous to the Namdhapa Tiger Reserve.
2. It is home to all four big cats - tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard.
3. It also has several species of hornbills such as Rufous-necked hornbills and Wreathed hornbills that visits in the winters. 
4. Glaw lake/ Glow Lake is the source of the Kamlang River that flows across the sanctuary.
5. Tribal people who reside around the periphery of the sanctuary include Mishmi, Digaro Mishmi, and Miju Mishmi people.

Tele Manas Seva

1. Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele MANAS) was introduced in the Union Budget 2022.
2. The Tele MANAS entrusted the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to guide its overall implementation. 
3. Ranking from first to third, in the larger States category, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh were awarded.
4. In the smaller States category, Telangana, Jharkhand, and Kerala were awarded.
5. The services range from specialized care via call by mental health specialist to urgent in-person intervention through Health and Wellness Centre (HWCs) and tertiary care centers.

WACE pattern-Cyclones

1. Cyclogenesis is an indicator that denotes the chance of a cyclone forming.
2. It depends on parameters such as  
   1. Sea surface temperature
   2. The ocean heat content
   3. Change in winds from the surface into the upper atmosphere (or the vertical shear)
   4. Rotation of winds near the surface.
3. A rapid increase in the cyclogenesis potential over the Arabian Sea in 1990s coincided with a shift in the so-called ‘Warm Arctic, Cold Eurasian’, or WACE, pattern.
4. WACE is a pattern of warm surface temperatures over the Arctic and a large cold surface temperatures over Eurasia. 
5. This pattern is associated with upper-level circulation changes that reach into the Indian Ocean sector.