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Daily Editorial Analysis

Editorials & Articles – 13 March 2024

ByULF TEAM

Mar 13, 2024 #Articles, #Editorial Analysis
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Editorials & Articles – 13 March 2024

Intra-group caste variances, equality and the Court’s gaze.

Topic: GS1 – Indian society –  Social Empowerment GS2 – Social Justice – Vulnerable Sections, GS2 – Polity – JudiciaryThe article delves into State governments’ power to sub-classify SCs and STs, crucial for UPSC aspirants studying constitutional provisions and affirmative action.
Context
  • The Supreme Court of India will rule on whether State governments can sub-classify within Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, addressing implications for affirmative action and constitutional equality.

 Introduction:

  • A seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court will rule on State governments’ power to sub-classify within Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in public employment.

Background and Significance:

  • The case involves a circular by Punjab in 1975, reserving 50% of SC seats for Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs, later struck down.
  • Punjab persisted, passing the 2006 law favouring Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs, again declared unconstitutional by the High Court.

The 2004 Chinnaiah case:

  • The 2004 Chinnaiah case involved the Supreme Court quashing Andhra Pradesh’s law that attempted to amend the Scheduled Castes list, emphasizing parliamentary exclusivity in such matters.
  • A 2020 Supreme Court appeal doubted Chinnaiah’s correctness, prompting the present seven-judge Bench.

Constitutional Aspect:

  • The case addresses whether State governments can sub-classify SCs and STs, involving Parliament’s exclusive domain.
  • Article 341 prohibits modifying the President’s SC list, raising questions about intra-group variances and reservations.

Legal Precedents:

  • In Chinnaiah case (2004) apex court quashed Andhra Pradesh’s law for amending the SC list, emphasizing parliamentary exclusivity.
  • The Court, in 2020, questioned Chinnaiah, referring to the Indra Sawhney case, allowing OBC sub-classification.

Equality and Caste Dynamics:

  • The Constitution’s Articles 14 to 16 promise substantive equality, recognizing historical caste-based discrimination.
  • Reservations should align with the constitutional vision, correcting historical wrongs and ensuring substantive equality.
  • The government’s positive duty, as per State Of Kerala vs N.M. Thomas (1975), involves making reservations and ensuring equality.

Punjab’s Approach:

  • Punjab’s law doesn’t modify the President’s list but accounts for inter se backwardness by giving preference to Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs.
  • The sub-classification aims to address inadequacies in existing reservation measures, constitutionally obligated to correct historical wrongs.

Constitutional Interpretation:

  • Article 341 does not explicitly prohibit sub-classification; it restricts State governments from altering the President’s SC list.
  • The sub-classification, not modifying the list, aligns with the constitutional theory allowing reasonable classifications for achieving equality.

Judicial Duty and Equal Opportunity:

  • The Supreme Court, in N.M. Thomas, acknowledged governments’ power and duty to make reservations, emphasizing equal opportunity.
  • State authority to provide special measures to the most discriminated castes within SCs and STs must fulfill the constitutional dream of equality.

Conclusion:

  • The judgment will clarify whether State governments can sub-classify within SCs and STs, addressing historical discrimination and ensuring equal opportunity.
  • In this landmark case, the Supreme Court’s decision will have far-reaching implications for affirmative action, reservations, and the pursuit of substantive equality under the Indian Constitution.
Sub-Classification of scheduled castes
Advantages:

  • Enhanced Representation: Sub-classification allows for a more nuanced representation within Scheduled Castes, ensuring that the specific needs of various groups are addressed adequately.
  • Targeted Welfare Programs: Tailoring welfare initiatives based on sub-classifications enables more targeted and effective distribution of resources, addressing the unique challenges faced by different sub-groups.
  • Empowerment through Education: Sub-classification can lead to targeted educational interventions, addressing specific barriers to education within sub-groups and promoting empowerment through knowledge.
  • Employment Opportunities: By recognizing distinct challenges faced by sub-groups, sub-classification facilitates the creation of employment opportunities that cater to the unique skill sets and circumstances of each sub-category.

Challenges:

  • Identification Complexity: Determining sub-classifications may be challenging, as it requires a nuanced understanding of socio-economic factors, historical injustices, and cultural nuances that vary across regions.
  • Potential for Discrimination: Sub-classification might inadvertently perpetuate discrimination or hierarchies within Scheduled Castes, potentially leading to social divisions and conflicts.
  • Administrative Burden: Implementing and managing sub-classification can pose administrative challenges, including accurate data collection, monitoring, and evaluation.
  • Policy Fragmentation: Sub-classification may lead to fragmented policy approaches, making it essential to strike a balance between targeted interventions and maintaining a cohesive framework for social inclusion.

A new sense of urbanisation that is dominating

Topic: GS1 – Indian society – Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
UPSC aspirants benefit from understanding the shifting paradigm in urban development, merging political and religious roles, and the state’s role in resource allocation.
Context
  • The article discusses the inauguration of India’s new Parliament building and the Ram temple, examining the evolving paradigm of urban development – Questioning the merging of political and religious roles, and emphasizing the need for social good over religious investments.

 Introduction:

  • Recent events, including the inauguration of the new Parliament building and the Ram temple by the Prime Minister, raise questions about the merging of political and religious roles.

Religious Cities as Urban Paradigm:

  • The inauguration of the Ram temple and substantial investments in Ayodhya’s infrastructure prompt speculation about religious cities becoming a new model of urban development.

Colonial vs. New Cities:

  • Traditional cities developed over the past two centuries were designed for industrialization and transport of goods, while new cities like Ayodhya, Kashi, and Pushkar are envisioned as symbols of modernism.

Modernism in Cities:

  • Colonial cities incorporated modernist features in architecture, culture, literature, and human behaviors, with influences from architects like Le Corbusier and Habib Rahman.
  • Modern towns were designed with spaces for theater, culture, art, and recreation, emphasizing inclusivity in design and development.

Changing Urbanization Dynamics:

  • The current urbanization phase challenges the idea that cities are centres of enlightenment, workplaces, and habitats, shifting towards being centres of pilgrimage and faith.
  • Corporates invest heavily in small towns like Ayodhya, altering the traditional understanding of cities as primarily workplaces.

Revivalism and Faith-Centric Urbanization:

  • A new form of urbanization in India aligns cities with the majority religion, merging systems with faith rather than separating them.
  • Massive investments in Ayodhya and other projects, such as the Central Vista, Sardar Patel statue, and the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train, reflect this approach.

Role of the State and Social Good:

  • The role of the state in building cities and directing investments comes into question.
  • Democratic societies should direct surplus capital towards social good, focusing on building modern institutions, education, health, and social infrastructure.
  • India’s current trend of allocating resources for religious projects reflects a form of centralization and ghettoization based on religious grounds.

Need for Decentralization and Democratisation:

  • The answer to this trend lies in decentralization, democratisation, and dynamic coexistence, ensuring citizens have equal rights and access to resources.

Conclusion:

  • The changing paradigm in urban development, emphasizing religious-centric models, raises concerns about the role of the state in directing resources and the need for a focus on social good in a diverse and democratic society.

Welcome all

Topic: GS2 – Governance – Government policies – Issues arising out of their design & implementation. This topic is relevant for both Prelims and Mains as the analysis delves into the constitutional aspects of the CAA, including its compatibility with constitutional principles such as secularism and equality before the law.
Context:
  • The political landscape in India is marked by controversy and division over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019.
  • While some assert the need for constitutional amendments once a certain parliamentary majority is reached, others deny such intentions.
  • However, the recent pre-election announcement of the enactment of rules under the CAA 2019 raises concerns about the erosion of India’s secular foundations.

 Undermining Constitutional Secularism:

  • The government’s decision to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 as a fulfillment of a poll promise is seen as a deliberate move to undermine India’s constitutional secularism.
  • By granting citizenship based on religious affiliation and excluding Muslims from its purview, the Act contradicts the secular nature of India’s Constitution, which guarantees citizenship regardless of religion.

Impact of CAA 2019:

  • The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 allows for the granting of citizenship to specific religious groups from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, while excluding Muslims.
  • This discriminatory aspect has sparked widespread criticism, with allegations that the Act lacks provisions for proving persecution, despite claims of offering fast-track citizenship to persecuted individuals.

Violation of Constitutional Principles:

  • The Act, in conjunction with its accompanying rules, represents a departure from constitutional principles.
  • Articles 5 to 10 of the Constitution outline citizenship provisions without regard to religion.
  • However, the CAA 2019 introduces religious criteria for naturalization, contradicting the secular foundation of the Constitution.

Liberalization of Proof Requirements:

  • The rules accompanying the CAA 2019 liberalize proof requirements for citizenship, with a presumption of persecution and a lenient approach to documentation.
  • This contrasts sharply with the stringent criteria typically associated with citizenship applications, raising questions about fairness and consistency in the process.

Centralization of Administration:

  • The Act centralizes the citizenship application process under the Union government, deviating from previous practices where applications were made to district collectors.
  • This centralization raises concerns about bureaucratic efficiency and accountability, potentially marginalizing local authorities and communities.

Legal Challenges and Criticisms:

  • Legal challenges to the CAA highlight its violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.
  • Critics argue that the Act discriminates against Muslims and overlooks persecuted minorities in neighboring countries like Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
  • Internal contradictions, such as conflicting cutoff dates for citizenship, further compound the controversy surrounding the Act.

Alternative Solutions

  • While the intent to protect persecuted individuals is commendable, critics advocate for granting refugee status to all persecuted persons, regardless of religious affiliation.
  • They argue for adherence to international conventions like the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1961 as a more equitable and principled approach to addressing persecution.

Conclusion:

  • The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and its accompanying rules have sparked intense debate and legal challenges in India.
  • Critics argue that the Act undermines constitutional secularism, violates principles of equality, and perpetuates discrimination based on religious affiliation.
  • Alternative solutions, such as granting refugee status to all persecuted individuals, are proposed as more inclusive and principled approaches to addressing persecution.
  • The resolution of this contentious issue will have profound implications for India’s democratic principles and social cohesion.
India’s Refugee Policy
  • India is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol and does not have a national refugee protection framework.
  • However, it continues to grant asylum to a large number of refugees from neighbouring States and respects UNHCR’s mandate for other nationals, mainly from Afghanistan and Myanmar.
  • While the Government of India deals differently with various refugee groups, in general it respects the principle of for holders of UNHCR documentation.
  • For some time now, India’s concerns about security have had a more restrictive impact on asylum space in the country.
  • Mixed migration flows have further complicated the identification and protection of refugees and UNHCR has significantly modified and increased its registration activities to cope with this and provide the necessary support to the Government.
  • In the absence of a national legal and administrative framework, UNHCR, based in New Delhi, conducts refugee status determination (RSD) for asylum-seekers from non-neighbouring countries and Myanmar.
  • UNHCR also has a presence in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in the south to support the voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees.
  • Although India has a large population of stateless people, no accurate estimates of the number are available.

TRADE GAINS

Topic: GS2 – International Relations – Agreements involving India or affecting India’s interests This topic is relevant for both Prelims and Mains in the context of understanding India’s trade policies and agreements with various countries and blocs.
Context:
  • Over the past few years, the Narendra Modi government has actively pursued trade agreements with various countries, signaling a shift towards greater openness and a desire to boost economic ties.
  • Recent agreements with Australia, the UAE, and now the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) represent a departure from previous practices of abandoning negotiations midway, marking a positive development in India’s trade policy approach.

Implications of the EFTA Agreement:

  • The newly signed agreement with the EFTA states aims to significantly increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India over the next decade, potentially generating one million direct jobs in the country.
  • With Switzerland being India’s largest trading partner within the EFTA bloc, the agreement holds promise for reducing the trade deficit, particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals, machinery, and chemicals, where tariffs will be eliminated.

Scope of the Agreement:

  • The agreement primarily focuses on industrial goods, with tariffs being eliminated on most exported items to India, excluding agricultural products.
  • While India offers tariff reductions on a significant portion of its imports, particularly in the non-agricultural sector, agricultural items remain outside the purview of the deal.
  • Additionally, the agreement covers the services sector, aiming to boost exports in areas such as information technology and facilitate the movement of skilled personnel.

Policy Implications and Targets:

  • The Indian government has set ambitious targets for exports of goods and services by 2030, aiming to reach $2 trillion.
  • Achieving this goal will require comprehensive policy action, including lowering tariffs and entering into deeper free trade agreements while safeguarding national interests.
  • Additionally, measures must be taken to ensure that the benefits from these trade agreements are fully realized, reflecting the critical importance of effective implementation and monitoring mechanisms.

Conclusion and Future Outlook:

  • At this pivotal juncture in India’s development trajectory, it is imperative for the government to push ahead with its trade agenda and capitalize on the opportunities presented by recent agreements.
  • By fostering closer economic ties with strategic partners like the EFTA states, India can stimulate growth, create employment opportunities, and enhance its global competitiveness.
  • However, sustained efforts are required to address challenges and maximize the benefits of these agreements for the country’s overall economic prosperity.
What are the Challenges in India-EFTA Relations?
1. Data exclusivity and specific Duration Clauses –

  • Data exclusivity safeguards the clinical trial information of a pharmaceutical company, about a particular medication. During the exclusivity period, generic competitors cannot use the originator’s data to get approval for similar drugs.
  • These provisions would promote monopolization for foreign pharmaceutical companies and would be a setback for the Indian generic industry. This will also lead to a rise in the cost of affordable medicines in India.

2. Differences in Economic Structures –

  • Bridging the differences in the economic interests of different economic structures of India (developing country with low per capita) and EFTA countries (developed economies with high per capita income) is a formidable challenge.

3. Intellectual Property Rights Protection – Challenge of protection of IPR of the EFTA companies engaged in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and machinery manufacturing. 4. Market access challenges –

  • There are issues regarding tariffs, quotas, and non-tariff barriers which are hindering the free market access between the two parties. Further, there are wide-ranging differences in regulations, standards, and legal frameworks.
International arms transfers report by the SIPRI

Why in news?

  • The latest data on international arms transfers has been released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). As per this report, India was the world’s top arms importer between 2019-2023.

What’s in today’s article?

  • Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
  • Key highlights of the report by the SIPRI
  • Challenges faced by India in Indigenous Production
  • Conclusion

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

  • It is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.
  • Established in 1966, SIPRI is based in Stockholm, Sweden. It is regularly ranked among the most respected think tanks worldwide.
  • Its mission is to:
    • undertake research and activities on security, conflict and peace;
    • provide policy analysis and recommendations;
    • facilitate dialogue and build capacities;
    • promote transparency and accountability

Key highlights of the report by the SIPRI

  • India continues as the world’s largest arms importer despite ongoing efforts to bolster its defense-industrial base.
    • Between 2019 and 2023, the country accounted for a significant 9.8% of the total global arms imports.
  • Steady increase in arms import
    • 4.7% increase in India’s arms imports between 2014-18 and 2019-23.
    • This growth is partially attributed to emergency procurements made in response to the prolonged military standoff with China.
  • Changing Dynamics in Arms Suppliers
    • Russia (historically been India’s primary weapons supplier), still accounted for 36% of its arms imports.
    • However, this trend is shifting, with India increasingly diversifying its sources to include Western countries and domestic manufacturers.
    • The report highlights that the period between 2019-23 marked the first five-year span since 1960-64 where Russian deliveries comprised less than half of India’s arms imports.
  • Growing Role of Western Suppliers
    • France and the United States are emerging as key suppliers to India, collectively accounting for 46% of its arms imports.
    • This trend is expected to continue with significant contracts in the pipeline, such as India’s procurement of 31 armed MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones from the US and 26 Rafale-M fighters from France.
  • Global Arms Trade Landscape
    • Top importers
      • India is followed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Ukraine, Pakistan, Japan, Egypt, Australia, South Korea, and China.
    • Top exporters
      • United States leads with a 42% share, followed by France and Russia.
  • India’s Role as a Major Arms Customer
    • India emerges as the largest arms customer for France, Russia, and Israel, indicating its significant role in global arms procurement.
    • This underscores India’s reliance on diverse sources for its defense needs, reflecting its geopolitical positioning and security concerns.
  • China’s Dominance in Supplying Pakistan
    • China plays a pivotal role as the primary arms supplier to Pakistan, with a substantial 61% of its exports directed towards Islamabad.
    • Additionally, China exports 11% of its arms to Bangladesh, further solidifying its influence in the region.

Challenges faced by India in Indigenous Production

  • Projects under Strategic Partnership (SP) model have not materialised yet
    • Despite efforts to promote indigenous defense production, including the ‘Make in India’ initiative, challenges persist. None of the ‘Make in India’ projects under the strategic partnership model have materialized yet.
      • SP model is a framework introduced by the Indian government to encourage collaboration between the public & private sectors in the defense industry.
      • Under this model, private companies are selected as strategic partners to work alongside the government-owned defense entities in the development & production of key defense platforms and systems.
  • Need for Overhaul in SP Policy
    • Key areas for improvement include a reassessment of the pricing methodology, ensuring long-term orders to sustain production, and addressing other bottlenecks that hinder project implementation.
  • Low Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Defense
    • India’s defense sector has attracted only a meagre Rs 5,077 crore in FDI since its opening to private companies in 2001.
    • This is despite the government’s efforts to liberalize FDI regulations, allowing up to 74% through the automatic route and up to 100% through the government route in 2020.

Conclusion

  • India’s status as the world’s top arms importer underscores the need for strategic reforms to enhance its defense-industrial base and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. As the country continues to navigate geopolitical challenges, fostering a robust domestic defense manufacturing sector will be crucial for achieving long-term security goals.
The Dandi March Movement

Why in News?

  • PM Modi launched a master plan for the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram redevelopment project in Ahmedabad, on the anniversary of the historic Dandi March.

What’s in Today’s Article?

  • About Dandi March (Origin, Reasons, Build-Up, Timeline, Impact, etc.)
  • Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram redevelopment project

Dandi March

  • The Dandi March, also known as Salt March / Salt Satyagraha, was a major non-violent protest action led by Mahatma Gandhi in March-April 1930.
  • The march was the first act in an even-larger campaign of civil disobedience (satyagraha) Gandhi waged against the British rule in India that extended into early 1931.
  • It garnered Gandhi widespread support among the Indian populace and considerable worldwide attention.

Reasons Behind the Dandi March:

  • Salt production and distribution in India had long been a lucrative monopoly of the British.
  • Through a series of laws, the Indian populace was prohibited from producing or selling salt independently, and instead Indians were required to buy expensive, heavily taxed salt that often was imported.
  • This affected the great majority of Indians, who were poor and could not afford to buy it.
  • Indian protests against the salt tax began in the 19th century and remained a major contentious issue throughout the period of British rule.

Build-up to the Dandi March:

  • On 5 February 1930, newspapers reported that Gandhi would begin civil disobedience by defying the salt laws. The salt satyagraha would begin on 12 March and end in Dandi with Gandhi breaking the Salt Act on 6 April.
    • Gandhi chose 6 April to launch the mass breaking of the salt laws for a symbolic reason—it was the first day of National Week, begun in 1919 when Gandhi conceived of the national hartal (strike) against the Rowlatt Act.
  • Gandhi prepared the worldwide media for the march by issuing regular statements from the Sabarmati Ashram, at his regular prayer meetings, and through direct contact with the press.
  • For the march itself, Gandhi wanted the strictest discipline and adherence to satyagraha and ahimsa.
  • For that reason, he recruited the marchers not from Congress Party members, but from the residents of his own ashram, who were trained in Gandhi’s strict standards of discipline.
  • The 24-day march would pass through 4 districts and 48 villages.
  • On 2 March 1930 Gandhi wrote to the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, offering to stop the march if Irwin met eleven demands, including reduction of land revenue assessments, cutting military spending, imposing a tariff on foreign cloth, and abolishing the salt tax.
  • The Viceroy held any prospect of a “salt protest” in disdain. After he ignored the letter and refused to meet with Gandhi, the march was set in motion.

Timeline of the Dandi March:

  • On 12 March 1930, Gandhi and 78 satyagrahis set out on foot for the coastal village of Dandi in Navsari district of Gujarat, 385 km from their starting point at Sabarmati Ashram.
  • The first day’s march of 21 km ended in the village of Aslali, where Gandhi spoke to a crowd of about 4,000.
  • As they entered each village, crowds greeted the marchers, beating drums and cymbals.
  • Gandhi gave speeches attacking the salt tax as inhuman, and the salt satyagraha as a “poor man’s struggle”.
  • Each night they slept in the open. The only thing that was asked of the villagers was food and water to wash with.
    • Gandhi felt that this would bring the poor into the struggle for sovereignty and self-rule, necessary for eventual victory.
  • Upon arriving at the seashore of Dandi on 6th April, Gandhi raised a lump of salty mud and declared, “With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire.”
  • He then boiled it in seawater, producing illegal salt.
  • He implored his thousands of followers to likewise begin making salt along the seashore, “wherever it is convenient” and to instruct villagers in making illegal, but necessary, salt.

Impact of Dandi March:

  • Mass civil disobedience spread throughout India as millions broke the salt laws by making salt or buying illegal salt.
  • Gandhi continued his satyagraha against the salt tax for the next two months, exhorting other Indians to break the salt laws by committing acts of civil disobedience.
  • Thousands were arrested and imprisoned, including Jawaharlal Nehru in April and Gandhi himself in early May after he informed Lord Irwin of his intention to march on the nearby Dharasana saltworks.
  • News of Gandhi’s detention led to tens of thousands more to join the satyagraha.
  • The march on the saltworks went ahead as planned on May 21, led by the poet Sarojini Naidu, and many of some 2,500 peaceful marchers were attacked and beaten by police.
  • Gandhi was released from custody in January 1931 and began negotiations with Lord Irwin aimed at ending the satyagraha campaign.
  • A truce subsequently was declared, which was formalized in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact that was signed on March 5, 1931.

Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram redevelopment project:

  • PM Modi launched a master plan for the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram redevelopment project in Ahmedabad, on the anniversary of the historic Dandi March.
  • The central government and Gujarat government are jointly implementing the Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project at a cost of around Rs 1,200 crore.
  • During the inauguration, PM Modi emphasised the importance of conservation of heritage. He said, “A country which cannot conserve its heritage also loses its future.”
  • He stressed upon the need for the collective responsibility of all Indians to preserve this globally renowned site.
  • He outlined the government’s commitment to restoring old buildings to their original form, aiming to eliminate the necessity for new constructions
GI Tag – Cuttack’s famed silver filigree work and Majuli masks of Assam

Why in news?

  • The famous Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi (Silver Filigree), traditional Majuli masks & Majuli manuscript painting in Assam were given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Centre.

What’s in today’s article?

  • GI tag
  • Majuli masks of Assam
  • Majuli manuscript painting
  • Cuttack’s Rupa Tarakasi (Silver Filigree)

GI Tag

  • About
    • A GI tag is conferred upon products originating from a specific geographical region, signifying unique characteristics and qualities.
    • It serves as a trademark in the international market.
    • The GI tag would help consumers differentiate between authentic products and products sourced from outside the said geographical region.
  • Legal provision: The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act was enacted in India in September 2003.
  • Governing body for GI
    • International Level: It is governed by WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
      • It derives its origin from Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
    • In India – Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is also Registrar of Geographical Indications.

Majuli masks of Assam

  • Background: Majuli
    • Majuli is the largest river island in the world. It is also the seat of Assam’s neo-Vaishnavite tradition.
    • It has been home to the art of mask-making since the 16th century.
    • Today, many of its traditional practitioners are working to take the art out of their traditional place in sattras, or monasteries.
  • About Majuli masks
    • These are handmade masks used in bhaonas on the island of Majuli in Assam.
      • Bhaonas are theatrical performances with devotional messages under the neo-Vaishnavite tradition.
    • The masks are used to depict characters in devotional performances.
    • It was introduced by the 15th-16th century reformer saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
  • Features of Majuli masks
    • The masks can depict gods, goddesses, demons, animals and birds — Ravana, Garuda, Narasimha, Hanuman, Varaha Surpanakha all feature among the masks.
    • They can range in size from:
      • those covering just the face (mukhmukha), which take around five days to make,
      • to those covering the whole head and body of the performer (chomukha), which can take up to one-and-a-half months to make.
    • The masks are made of bamboo, clay, dung, cloth, cotton, wood and other materials available in the riverine surroundings of their makers.
  • The art practised in monasteries
    • Majuli has 22 sattras, and the mask-making tradition is by and large concentrated in four of them — Samaguri Sattra, Natun Samaguri Sattra, Bihimpur Sattra and Alengi Narasimha Sattra.
      • Sattras are monastic institutions established by Srimanta Sankardev and his disciples as centres of religious, social and cultural reform.
      • Today, they are also centres of traditional performing arts such as borgeet (songs), xattriya (dance) and bhaona (theatre).

Majuli manuscript painting

  • It is a form of painting — also originating in the 16th century — done on sanchi pat, or manuscripts made of the bark of the sanchi or agar tree, using homemade ink.
  • The earliest example of an illustrated manuscript is said to be a rendering of the Adya Dasama of the Bhagwat Purana in Assamese by Srimanta Sankardev.
  • This art was patronised by the Ahom kings. It continues to be practised in every sattra in Majuli.
  • Majuli manuscript painting also received the GI tag.

Cuttack’s Rupa Tarakasi (Silver Filigree)

  • About
    • Odisha’s Cuttack is known for its silver filigree work, of intricate design and fine craftsmanship.
    • In Odia, tara means wire and kasi means to design.
    • Thus, as part of Rupa Tarakasi, silver bricks are transformed into thin fine wires or foils and used to create jewellery or showpieces.
    • While different grades of silver are used in the main metal alloy, the craftsmen also use other metals like copper, zinc, cadmium and tin.
  • Origin
    • While the exact origin of the filigree art in Cuttack is not clear, it is known to have existed as far back as the 12th century.
    • The art form received considerable patronage under the Mughals.
    • Over the years, as Cuttack transitioned through the hands of different rulers, the silver filigree took on a new form with each.
  • Popular product categories
    • The popular product categories now found in Cuttack are jewellery, decorative artifacts, accessories, home décor and religious/cultural pieces.
    • The iconic items found only in Cuttack are the Durga Puja Medha (silver decorations for the Durga idol and pandal), Odissi jewellery, religious/cultural pieces linked directly to the customs of Odisha, and the Dama chain.
The Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024

Why in News?

  • The Department of Pharmaceuticals issued the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024.

What’s in Today’s Article?

  • Need for the UCPMP 2024
  • Highlights of the UCPMP 2024 on Ethical Practices of Pharma Companies
  • Highlights of the UCPMP 2024 on Drugs
  • Implementation of the UCPMP 2024

Need for the UCPMP 2024:

  • The UCPMP 2015 for Pharmaceutical as well as Medical Device Industry is being implemented (w.e.f. 1.1.2015) to prevent unethical practices by the pharmaceutical companies.
  • Much of the criticism that this version of the code attracted was related to its voluntary nature. There was no legal backing to its provisions and it therefore remained toothless.
  • There has been a long-pending demand of various health activists to make it mandatory. Even the 2017-18 annual report of the Department of Pharmaceuticals insisted on making it mandatory.
  • While the government has now removed the word ‘voluntary’ from the code, which was there in the previous version, it has stopped short of making it mandatory.
  • It has now merely ‘requested’ the pharmaceutical companies’ associations to see to it that the code is ‘implemented’.

Highlights of the UCPMP 2024 on Ethical Practices of Pharma Companies:

  • Engagement of the pharmaceutical industry with healthcare professionals for Continuing Medical Education (CME) should only be allowed –
    • Through a well-defined, transparent, and verifiable set of guidelines, and
    • Conduct of such events in foreign locations is prohibited by the uniform code.
  • Medical representatives must not use any incentive and must not pay for access to a healthcare practitioner.
  • Companies or their representatives should not pay cash or monetary grants to any healthcare professional or their family members (both immediate and extended) under any pretext.
    • Gifting is prohibited by any pharmaceutical company or its agent (distributors, wholesalers, retailers, etc).
  • Additionally, no pecuniary advantage or benefit in kind may be offered, supplied or promised to any person qualified to prescribe or supply drugs by any pharmaceutical company or its agent.
  • Paid travel, hotel stays should not be extended to healthcare professionals or their family members by pharmaceutical companies or their representatives, unless the person is a speaker for a CME, etc.
  • The Union government has allowed firms to provide research grants for healthcare professionals, provided these are done in a transparent manner.
  • The guidelines allow the industry to support research for studies authorised by bodies such as the Indian Council for Medical Research or the Drug Controller General of India.

Highlights of the UCPMP 2024 on Drugs:

  • On drugs, the UCPMP states that promotion of a drug must be consistent with the terms of its marketing approval.
  • Claims for the usefulness of a drug must be based on up-to-date evaluation of all available evidence.
  • The word ‘safe’ must not be used without qualification, and it must not be stated categorically that a medicine has no side effects, toxic hazards, or risk of addiction.
  • The word ‘new’ must not be used to describe any drug which has been generally available or any therapeutic intervention which has been generally promoted in India for more than a year.

Implementation of the UCPMP 2024:

  • The UCPMP is to be circulated for strict compliance, and all associations have been requested –
    • To constitute an Ethics Committee for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices,
    • Set up a dedicated UCPMP portal on their website, and
    • Take further necessary steps for the code’s implementation.
  • All Indian pharmaceutical associations are to upload the UCPMP on their website along with the detailed procedure for lodging of complaints.
    • This will be linked to the UCPMP portal of the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

By ULF TEAM

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