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Daily Editorial Analysis

Editorials & Articles : 6 May 2024

ByULF TEAM

May 6, 2024
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Editorials & Articles : 6 May 2024

It is time to operationalise the Indian Defence University

Topic: GS2 – Governance – Government policies – Issues arising out of their design & implementation
Context
● The article discusses the necessity of establishing the Indian Defence University (IDU) to enhance the country’s defence preparedness and strategic thinking.

● It highlights the historical background of the IDU proposal, the challenges in the current professional military education system, and the urgency of the establishment of Indian Defence University (IDU).

Introduction:

  • In an era of dynamic warfare and evolving security challenges, the establishment of dedicated defence universities has become a global trend.
  • However, India’s lack of an equivalent institution, such as the Indian Defence University (IDU), poses significant concerns for its defence preparedness. Countries like Pakistan and China have already established defence universities.
  • This analysis delves into the historical background, challenges in the current professional military education system, and the urgent need to operationalize IDU to bolster India’s strategic acumen and national security capabilities.

Professional Military Education (PME):

  • The evolving nature of warfare necessitates a robust Professional Military Education (PME) system.
  • The U.S. serves as a model, with significant reforms initiated by the Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganisation Act and ‘Ike’ Skelton’s recommendations to enhance military education.
  • Indian armed forces require a comprehensive education system emphasising academic rigour to address contemporary security challenges effectively.

Historical Context:

  • The idea of an Indian Defence University (IDU) dates back to 1967 when the Chiefs of Staff Committee proposed its establishment.
  • After the Kargil conflict, a committee chaired by Dr. K. Subrahmanyam recommended the creation of IDU.
  • Despite initial approval in 2010, progress on establishing IDU has been slow, hindering the development of a unified Professional Military Education (PME) framework.

Challenges in Current System:

  • While India boasts world-class training institutions, there is a lack of an integrated Professional Military Education (PME) framework and interdisciplinary approach to strategic thinking.
  • Affiliations with universities for degree courses do not adequately address military education requirements.

Purpose and Structure of IDU:

  • IDU aims to bridge existing gaps in Professional Military Education (PME) by providing higher military education with a qualified faculty comprising academics, serving, and retired military officers.
  • The curriculum of IDU would encompass diverse subjects relevant to national security and defence, blending theory with practical application.

Misconceptions about Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU):

  • Comparing Indian Defence University (IDU) with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) is inappropriate as their objectives and curricula differ significantly.
  • RRU’s focus is not solely on military requirements for war management and plan execution.

Urgency of Establishing IDU:

  • Delays in commissioning IDU undermine defence preparedness, strategic culture, and inter-service integration.
  • Operationalizing IDU is imperative to lay the foundation for joint warfighting through a forward-looking military education curriculum.

Conclusion:

  • The establishment of IDU is long overdue, and its realisation is critical for enhancing India’s defence preparedness and strategic acumen.
  • Prompt action is required to initiate IDU and develop a curriculum aligned with contemporary security challenges and the evolving nature of warfare.
Importance of Indian Defence University (IDU) in strengthening the country’s defence capabilities and strategic planning
Importance:

● Enhances Defense Preparedness: IDU serves as a crucial institution to prepare military officers for contemporary security challenges, ensuring readiness in defence operations.

● Fosters Strategic Thinking: By providing a comprehensive education system, IDU cultivates strategic thinking among officers, enabling them to anticipate and adapt to evolving threats effectively.

● Promotes Inter-Service Integration: IDU facilitates collaboration and synergy among different branches of the armed forces, leading to better coordination and joint warfighting capabilities.

● Addresses Deficiencies in Current System: India’s fragmented professional military education system lacks an integrated framework. IDU fills this gap by offering a centralised institution focusing on academic rigour and practical application.

● Incorporates Multidisciplinary Approach: With a diverse curriculum covering subjects relevant to national security and defence, IDU equips officers with a holistic understanding of defence strategy, combining theory with practice.

● Supports Defence Modernization: IDU plays a pivotal role in aligning military education with technological advancements and modern warfare tactics, ensuring that the armed forces remain agile and adaptive.

● Strengthens National Security: By producing well-trained and strategically-minded officers, IDU contributes significantly to bolstering India’s overall defence capabilities, safeguarding the nation against external threats and challenges.

Challenges:

● Fragmented Education System: India’s military education landscape is characterised by disparate institutions, lacking a unified framework for professional military education.

● Lack of Interdisciplinary Approach: Current institutions primarily focus on technical and operational aspects, neglecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern warfare and strategic thinking.

● Insufficient Academic Rigour: Many existing military training establishments lack the academic depth required to address contemporary security challenges adequately.

● Limited Civil-Military Integration: There is a gap between military and civilian expertise, hindering comprehensive strategic planning and decision-making.

● Slow Progress in Establishing IDU: Despite initial approval in 2010, the establishment of the Indian Defence University (IDU) has faced delays, prolonging the absence of a centralised institution for higher military education.

● Resource Allocation: Allocating sufficient resources, including funding and qualified faculty, poses a significant challenge in establishing and maintaining a comprehensive defence university like IDU.
Practice Question:  Explain the importance of Indian Defence University (IDU) in strengthening the country’s defence capabilities and strategic planning. (150 Words /10 marks)
Make the poor richer without making the rich poorer
Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy – Inclusive Growth
Context
●   The article explores the recent election discourse in India, centering on the concept of “redistribution” following the Congress party’s manifesto release.

●  It delves into the widening economic disparity globally and proposes a pragmatic approach to bridge the gap by maximising economic growth, reforming taxation, and implementing social welfare programs.

Introduction:

  • The recent election discourse in India has centred around the concept of “redistribution” following the release of the Congress party’s manifesto.
  • Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegations, the manifesto does not explicitly mention redistribution, mangalsutras, or wealth tax.
  • However, this has ignited a significant debate on India’s inequality and the strategies to bridge the wealth gap.

Understanding Economic Disparity:

  • Over the past two decades, economic inequality has widened considerably globally, including in India.
  • Politicising this issue detracts from the urgent need to address the growing wealth gap.
  • The core debate revolves around how to create a more equitable and just society.

Approaches to Bridging the Gap:

  • Bridging the rich-poor gap can occur by making the rich poorer, the poor richer, or both.
  • Developed nations, with slower growth rates, often adopt a “Pareto Optimum” approach, which necessitates making trade-offs between individuals’ welfare, balancing benefits for one person without harming another.
  • Developing nations, with faster growth potential, have more flexibility in their approaches to reducing inequality.

Challenges with Wealth Taxation:

  • The proposal of a wealth tax aims to extract from the super-rich and redistribute to the poor, reflecting a zero-sum mentality.
  • However, taxing wealth acquired through unfair means should not substitute for addressing systemic issues.
  • Imposing punitive taxes on the wealthy may hinder investment and capital flight, particularly in a developing economy like India.

Concerns with Inheritance Tax:

  • While inheritance tax seems morally justified, it doesn’t significantly impact economic inequality.
  • The goal is to reduce wealth disparity, not solely to address ethical dilemmas.
  • Vindictive tax measures may not generate substantial resources or foster a conducive economic environment.

Importance of Economic Growth:

  • Economic growth is crucial for expanding the overall economic pie, especially in India’s developmental stage.
  • Jobless growth and skewed capital-labour dynamics contribute to widening inequality.
  • Rebalancing this skew through labour-focused policies is essential for reducing economic disparity.

Taxation Reforms:

  • India’s tax system exacerbates inequality, with the burden disproportionately falling on the poor and middle class.
  • Tax reforms, such as simplifying GST and introducing a new direct tax code, are imperative to rectify this imbalance.

Social Security and Welfare Programs:

  • Social security nets are essential to support the poor until they can benefit from economic growth.
  • Funding Social Security programs can be achieved through faster growth, higher tax revenue, and efficient welfare delivery.

Balancing Act for Reducing Inequality:

  • A pragmatic approach involves maximising economic growth, minimising unemployment, and lowering the tax burden for the common person.
  • It requires a delicate balance of labour market incentives, welfare safety nets, and investment attraction.
  • Punitive taxation of the rich is not a sustainable or wise solution, as India can reduce inequality by uplifting the poor without penalising the wealthy.

Conclusion:

  • Addressing economic inequality requires a comprehensive strategy that prioritises economic growth, tax reform, and social welfare.
  • India’s focus should be on making the poor richer without resorting to punitive measures against the wealthy.
Inequality in India
Inequality Trends in India:

●  Wealth Inequality: Top 10% own 77% of national wealth; poorest half have only 4.1%.

●  Income Inequality: Top 10% and 1% hold 57% and 22% of total income respectively; bottom 50% share reduced to 13%.

● Tax Burden: 64% of GST from bottom 50%; only 4% from top 10%.

● Global Hunger Index: India’s score at 28.7, considered serious; highest child-wasting rate.

●  Healthcare Accessibility: 63 million pushed into poverty annually due to healthcare costs; majority unable to access needed care.

(Source – The Economic Times, December 7, 2022)

Causes of Increasing Inequality in India:

●  Unequal Access to Education: Disparities in educational opportunities perpetuate socio-economic inequalities, limiting upward mobility for marginalised communities.

●  Informal Sector Dominance: The dominance of the informal sector in India’s economy leads to low wages, insecure employment, and lack of social protection, exacerbating income disparities.

● Unequal Distribution of Wealth: Concentration of wealth among a small elite contributes to widening income gaps and socio-economic inequalities.

● Caste and Gender Discrimination: Persistent caste-based and gender-based discrimination marginalise certain groups, limiting their access to opportunities and resources.

● Urban-Rural Divide: Disparities between urban and rural areas in terms of infrastructure, employment opportunities, and access to basic services widen income and wealth gaps.

Way Forward:

● Investment in Education: Enhance access to quality education and skill development programs to promote equal opportunities for all.

● Job Creation: Implement policies to stimulate job creation, particularly in sectors with high labor-absorptive capacity, to reduce unemployment and underemployment.

● Social Protection: Strengthen social safety nets and welfare programs to provide financial support and assistance to vulnerable populations.

● Progressive Taxation: Introduce progressive tax policies to redistribute wealth and reduce income inequalities.

● Gender and Caste Equality: Promote gender equality and social inclusion through affirmative action policies and measures to address caste-based discrimination.

● Rural Development: Focus on rural development initiatives to bridge the urban-rural divide and promote inclusive growth.

Jobs picture in perspective

Topic: GS2 – Governance – Government policies – Interventions for development in various sectors

GS3 – Indian Economy – Issues relating to development and employment

 

Context:
  • The India Employment Report 2024, jointly presented by the Institute for Human Development (IHD) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has garnered significant attention.
  • However, certain findings within the report have been subject to misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
  • This analysis aims to delve into the comprehensive insights provided by the report, highlighting both positive developments and emerging challenges in the Indian labor market.

What is India Unemployment Report?

  • The India Employment Report 2024 is the third in the series of regular publications by the IHD on labour and employment issues.
  • This report on Youth Employment, Education and Skills examines the challenge of youth employment in the context of the emerging economic, labour market, educational and skills scenario in India and changes over the past two decades.
  • The report is primarily based on analysis of data from the National Sample Surveys and the Periodic Labour Force Surveys between 2000 and 2022, with a postscript for 2023.

Positive Developments in the Labor Market:

Employment Quality Improvement

  • The report underscores a positive shift in employment quality, evidenced by a robust Employment Condition Index across all states.
  • This improvement is particularly notable in the transition from agriculture-based employment to non-farm sectors, signaling a structural transformation in the economy.
  • Moreover, there has been a steady increase in regular employment while the unorganized sector witnessed a decline, indicative of a more stable labor market.

Increase in Female Workforce Participation:

  • A remarkable increase in the female workforce participation rate from 5% in 2019 to 37.0% in 2023 is highlighted.
  • Although predominantly in the agricultural sector and involving own-account or unpaid family work, this surge signifies a positive trend towards greater gender inclusivity in the labor force.

Resilience Amidst Covid-19:

  • Despite the global economic slowdown induced by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian labor market demonstrated resilience.
  • Wages of casual workers increased, particularly among the bottom income groups, potentially mitigating extreme poverty and deprivation.
  • Notably, both farm and non-farm job opportunities expanded during the pandemic period, indicating adaptability in the face of crisis.

Emerging Challenges:

Skewed Employment Patterns

  • The report underscores persistent challenges, such as the skewed distribution of employment towards agriculture, which continues to employ nearly half of the workforce.
  • Addressing this imbalance necessitates concerted efforts to accelerate non-farm job creation, particularly through labor-intensive manufacturing.

Youth Unemployment:

  • Youth unemployment emerges as a principal challenge, with educated youth comprising a significant portion of the unemployed.
  • This challenge is exacerbated by qualifications and skills mismatches, highlighting the need for enhancing the quality of education and skill development initiatives, in collaboration with the private sector.

Gender Disparities and NEET Population:

  • Gender disparities persist, with women predominantly engaged in less remunerative agricultural and unpaid family work.
  • Additionally, the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET) remains high, particularly among females.
  • Addressing these disparities requires targeted policies to boost women’s employment and cater to the needs of NEET populations.

Policy Recommendations:

The report proposes several policy measures to address emerging challenges and further enhance positive trends in the labor market:

(a) Prioritize labour-intensive production and growth strategies, with a focus on employment-generating sectors like manufacturing and agriculture.

(b) Improve the quality of jobs by strengthening social protection measures and promoting formalization.

(c) Address labour market inequalities, particularly by boosting women’s employment and implementing effective policies to tackle NEET populations.

(d) Enhance the effectiveness of skills training and active labor market policies, bridging the supply-demand gap in jobs and involving the private sector more actively.

(e) Generate reliable statistics to better understand the evolving dynamics of the labor market in the face of rapid technological changes.

 Conclusion:

  • The India Employment Report 2024 provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of the Indian labor market, highlighting both positive developments and persistent challenges.
  • By implementing targeted policy measures and fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, India can capitalize on its demographic advantage and achieve inclusive and sustainable growth in the coming years.
What are the Government’s Initiatives Related to Employment?
  • Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE)
  • PM-DAKSH (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi)
  • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
  • Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
  •  Start Up India Scheme
  • Rozgar Mela
  • Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme- Rajasthan.

What is the International Labor Organization?

  • It is the only tripartite United Nations (UN) agency.
  • It brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States (India is a member), to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
  • It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.
  • It was established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations and became the first affiliated specialised agency of the UN in 1946.
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)

Why in news?

  • Recently, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, expressed his commitment to invest billions of dollars towards the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

What’s in today’s article?

  • Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
  • Difference between AGI and AI
  • Skepticism regarding AGI

What is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)?

  • About
    • AGI refers to a machine or a software that can perform any intellectual task that a human can do.
    • This includes reasoning, common sense, abstract thinking, background knowledge, transfer learning, ability to differentiate between cause and effect, etc.
    • In simple words, AGI aims to emulate human cognitive abilities such that it allows it to do unfamiliar tasks, learn from new experiences, and apply its knowledge in new ways.
  • Significance
    • AGI has innumerable positive implications.
    • For instance, in healthcare, it can redefine diagnostics, treatment planning, and personalised medicine by integrating and analysing vast datasets, far beyond the capabilities of humans.
    • In finance and business, AGI could automate various processes and enhance the overall decision-making, offering real-time analytics and market predictions with accuracy.
    • When it comes to education, AGI could transform adaptive learning systems that work towards the unique needs of students.
    • This could potentially democratise access to personalised education worldwide.

How is AGI different from AI we already use?

  • Scope and capabilities
    • The main difference between AGI and the more common form of AI, also known as narrow AI, lies in their scope and capabilities.
    • Narrow AI is designed to perform specific tasks such as image recognition, translation, or even playing games like chess—at which it can outdo humans, but it remains limited to its set parameters.
    • On the other hand, AGI envisions a broader, more generalised form of intelligence, not confined to any particular task (like humans).
  • AGI at the summit of all developments in artificial intelligence
    • Humans learn through their experiences — in school, home, or elsewhere; by talking to people or observing things; by reading books, etc.
    • The human brain then uses the information it has gathered to make decisions (often subconscious) that solve any given problem, or come up with a new one.
    • With AGI, researchers aim to build a software or computer that can do all this — everything that a human computer does.
    • Hence, experts put AGI at the summit of all developments in artificial intelligence.

Skepticism regarding AGI

  • Impact on environment
    • The humongous amount of computational power required to develop AGI systems raises concerns about its impact on the environment, both due to the energy consumption and generation of e-waste.
  • Division in society
    • AGI could also lead to a significant loss of employment, and widespread socio-economic disparity, where power would be concentrated in the hands of those who control the AGI.
  • New security vulnerabilities
    • It could introduce new security vulnerabilities, the kind we have not even thought about yet.
    • Its development could outrun the ability of governments and international bodies to come up with suitable regulations.
  • Impact on human capabilities and skills
    • If humans were to become dependent on AGI, it might even lead to the loss of basic human skills and capabilities.
  • AGI can outpace human being
    • Its abilities can outpace human beings’, making its actions difficult to understand and predict.
    • This might even lead to a situation where it becomes too independent, so much so that humans simply lose control.
Issues Faced by MSMEs in India

Why in News?

  • The Union Budget 2023-24 introduced a new provision in the Income-Tax (IT) Act that aims to secure payments to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within 45 days of supply of goods or services.
  • However, this provision has resulted in a peculiar problem – large companies cancelling orders to registered MSMEs and placing these with unregistered MSMEs.

What’s in Today’s Article?

  • MSMEs in India
  • Significance of MSMEs and Problems Faced by Them
  • Government’s Initiatives to Boost MSME Sector
  • Understanding the Latest Tax Compliance Guidelines for the MSMEs
  • What are the Concerns Raised by Big Companies and the MSMEs?

MSMEs in India:

  • MSMEs are often called the powerhouse of the Indian economy as they contribute significantly to employment generation, exports, and overall economic growth.
  • They reportedly account for more than 11 crore jobs and contribute around 27.0% of India’s GDP.
  • The sector consists of around 6.4 crore MSMEs, with 1.5 crore of them registered on the Udyam portal and employs around 23.0% of the Indian labour force, making it the 2nd-largest employer in India after agriculture.
  • They account for 38.4% of the total manufacturing output and contribute 45.03% of the country’s total exports.

Significance of MSMEs and Problems Faced by Them:

  • Significance of MSMEs for Indian economy: Labour intensive sector, promotes inclusive growth, leads to financial inclusion and promotes innovation.
  • Problems faced by MSMEs:
    • Problem of dwarfism: While dwarfs (firms that continued to remain small despite ageing) consume vital resources (could possibly be given to infant firms), they contribute less to job creation and economic growth as compared to infant firms.
    • Lack of funding: Most (90%)of the MSME funding comes from informal sources.
    • Poor integration of digital technologies: Integration of technologies such as big data, AI and virtual reality (Industry 4.0) into manufacturing operations in the sector is still in its infancy.
    • Environmental impact: The sector lacks cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship, which produce environment friendly products, promotes energy efficiency and has the potential to accelerate the transition to a circular and low carbon economy.

Government’s Initiatives to Boost MSME Sector:

  • The Government of India has correctly identified MSME ecosystem development as a top priority for achieving Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
  • The ambitious ‘Make in India’ campaign in India aims to propel the country up the manufacturing value chain and position it as a global manufacturing hub.
  • Production linked incentives (PLI) schemes and the recently launched zero effect zero defect (ZED) certification are assisting in the promotion and growth of the sector.
  • The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) is also creating opportunities for self-employment and microenterprises, with over 7 lakh microenterprises being helped to become economically viable.
  • Digital Saksham initiatives, as well as the interlinking of the Udyam, e-Shram, National Career Service (NCS) and Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee-Employer Mapping (ASEEM) portals, demonstrate the promise of targeted digitalisation schemes.

Understanding the Latest Tax Compliance Guidelines for the MSMEs:

  • In India, businesses usually record expenses when they happen (accrual basis), even if they haven’t paid for them yet.
  • However, Section 15 of the MSMED Act 2006, and newly enacted Section 43B(h) of the IT Act says that businesses must pay these MSME Registered Enterprises within 15 days/ up to 45 days if they have an agreement.
  • If a business doesn’t comply with this regulation, they won’t be able to deduct these payments as expenses in the same year they incur them. This means their taxable income and business taxes could go up.
  • Also, in case of late payment to an MSME registered unit, the payer will be responsible to pay interest on the amount due.

What are the Concerns Raised by Big Companies and the MSMEs?

  • Bigger companies started flagging concerns about ballooning tax liability and many MSME owners reported cancellation of orders due to the new tax clause.
  • MSMEs also pointed out that big companies are shifting business to unregistered MSMEs, as it lends them the flexibility to not meet the mandatory provision and continue with a longer payment cycle of 90-120 days.
  • While some MSME associations have approached the Supreme Court against the new norm, the Union MSME Ministry is learnt to have reached out to industry players for solutions.
  • The Ministry has asked stakeholders to suggest ways to resolve the issues arising from the I-T Act and to recommend possible alternate mechanisms for timely clearance of MSME bills.
China’s Chang’e 6 Vs India’s Chandrayaan-4 Missions

Why in News? 

  • China launched a “first-of-its-kind mission”, Chang’e-6 spacecraft. It comes amid the buzz around the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) planning its next Moon mission – Chandrayaan-4.

What is the Chang’e 6 Lunar Probe? 

  • As per the CNSA, the Chang’e 6 is the world’s first attempt to retrieve substances from the moon’s far side – the side which is not visible from the Earth. It was launched onboard the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China’s Hainan Province. Till date, the US, the former Soviet Union and China have brought lunar samples back to Earth, but none has ever obtained samples from the far side of the moon.

What is the Aim of the Chang’e 6 Lunar Probe? 

  • The spacecraft consists of four components – an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a re-entry module. After carrying out the surface operations, the ascender’s rocket will elevate it to lunar orbit to dock with the re-entry module. It will transfer samples to the module, which will carry them to Earth.

What we Know About Chandrayaan 4 Mission? 

  • While Chang’e 6 mission aims to bring back samples from the Moon’s far side, India’s Chandrayaan 4 mission is being built to bring samples from the Moon’s south pole region. It is expected to be launched in 2027. Also, ISRO chief S Somanath recently said Chandrayaan-4 is the first step towards achieving the goal of India landing an astronaut on the moon in 2040.

How Chandrayaan 4 Mission may be Executed? 

  • The next lunar mission will likely involve a PSLV and an LVM3 as launch vehicle options. The mission will include five spacecraft modules – Re-entry module (RM), Transfer Module (TM), Ascender Module (AM), Descender Module (DM) and Propulsion Module (PM).
INCOIS Advises Coastal States to be on Alert

Why in the News?

  • The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has cautioned coastal states to remain alert to the sea being rough with high waves and inundation of low-lying areas.

What’s in Today’s Article?

  • About INCOIS (Purpose, Activities, etc.)
  • About Swell Waves (Meaning, Features, etc.)
  • News Summary

About INCOIS:

  • Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is an autonomous organization, established in 1999, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  • It is a unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO).
  • Objective: To provide ocean data, information and advisory services to society, industry, the government and the scientific community.
  • Activities of INCOIS Include:
    • Provides round-the-clock monitoring and warning services for the coastal population on tsunamis, storm surges, high waves, etc.
    • Provides daily advisories to fisher folk to help them easily locate areas of abundant fish in the ocean while saving on both fuel and time used to search for the same.
    • Short term (3-7 days) Ocean State Forecasts (waves, currents, sea surface temperature, etc.) are issued daily.
    • Deploys and maintains a suite of Ocean Observing Systems in the Indian Ocean to collect data on various oceanic parameters to understand the processes in the ocean and to predict their changes.

What Are Swell Waves? 

  • Swell waves are formed by an ocean swell, hence the name swell surge.
  • Ocean swells do not occur due to the local winds, but rather due to distant storms like hurricanes, or even long periods of gale winds.
  • During such storms, huge energy transfer takes place from the air into the water, leading to the formation of very high waves.
  • It moves from very deep water—away from its source, such as a hurricane or other storm event—toward very shallow water near the coast.
  • Factors Affecting the Size of Swell Waves:
    • Wind speed: The greater the wind speed, the larger the wave.
    • Wind duration: The longer the wind blows, the larger the wave.
    • Fetch: The greater the distance the wind travels over open water, the larger the wave.
  • Swell Waves in India:
    • Usually, states like Kerala witness swell waves as a result of strong winds in the southern part of the Indian Ocean, where an ocean swell is generated, and the waves then travel north to reach the coast in two or three days.
    • The swell waves that were generated in March, 2024 after a low atmospheric pressure system moved over the region from the South Atlantic Ocean — 10,000 kilometres off the Indian coast.
    • The arrival of the pressure system resulted in strong winds, which led to the formation of swell waves of up to 11 metres in height. These waves hit the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep.
    • To forecast swell waves, INCOIS launched the Swell Surge Forecast System in 2020 which can give forewarning seven days in advance.

What is the Difference Between Swell Waves and Tsunamis?

  • Unlike swell waves, a tsunami is a series of enormous waves created by an underwater disturbance usually associated with earthquakes occurring below or near the ocean.
  • Tsunamis are around 10 times faster than swell waves.
  • Although both swell waves and tsunamis slow down near the coast, the latter hit land at 30–50 km/h.

Coastal States to be on Alert for swell waves:

  • The INCOIS has forecasted that high sea waves, also known as swell waves, might hit the coastal areas of Goa, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
  • INCOIS cautioned fishermen and coastal population and urged for total suspension of operational/recreational activities at beach/nearshore regions.
  • In March, swell waves led to flooding in several areas of Kerala — the worst affected were Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts.
  • Such flooding events are called Kallakkadal in Kerala.
Mullaperiyar dam controversy

Why in news?

  • Tamil Nadu has accused Kerala in the Supreme Court of complaining about the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam but blocking necessary maintenance work on the dam. It contended that Kerala has managed to delay even routine annual maintenance works, including painting, patch works, repair to staff quarters, etc., for two months to more than a year.
  • Tamil Nadu asked the court to tell Kerala to let them finish strengthening work on the smaller dams and the main dam, and to cut 15 trees for this.
  • The State also said that even though the supervisory committee had authority under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, it didn’t make sure Kerala allowed and helped with the dam’s strengthening and related works.

What’s in today’s article?

  • Mullaperiyar Dam Issue
  • Provisions for the distribution of water in Indian Constitution
  • Dam Safety Act and Mullaperiyar dam

Mullaperiyar Dam Issue

About the dam:

  • The dam is situated at the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers.
    • The dam is located entirely in Kerala.
  • It was built in the late 1800s in the princely state of Travancore (present-day Kerala) and given to British-ruled Madras Presidency on a 999-year lease in 1886.
    • The agreement granted full rights to the Tamil Nadu to construct irrigation projects on the land.
  • The dam was built to divert eastwards a part of the west-flowing Periyar river, to feed the arid areas of Tamil Nadu.

Situation after Independence

  • After the independence, the Kerala government said that the earlier agreement signed between British Raj and Travancore was invalid and needed to be renewed.
  • As a result, the agreement was renewed in the 1970s.
    • Tamil Nadu was given rights to the land and the water from the dam as well as the authority to develop hydro-power projects at the site.
    • Kerala received rent in return.

Origin of the dispute:

  • Safety concerns surfaced in 1979 after it was reported in the Kerala that a minor earthquake had caused cracks in the dam.
  • The Central Water Commission was asked to examine the structure and suggest ways to strengthen it.
    • As an emergency measure, the commission recommended that the level of water stored in the reservoir be lowered to 136 feet from about 142 feet.
    • It held that the water level could be raised to the dam’s full capacity of 152 feet after the structure was strengthened.
  • This caused two divergent perspectives leading to the emergence of dispute between these two states:
    • Tamil Nadu claims that though it has undertaken periodic repairs on the dam, the Kerala government has not allowed it to raise the water level.
    • Kerala, on the other hand, contends it is not safe to raise the water level as Idukki district, where the dam is located, is earthquake-prone.

Supreme Court Judgement

  • In 2006, the Supreme Court allowed the Tamil Nadu government to raise the water level to 142 feet, contending that the apprehensions raised by Kerala were baseless.
    • The Kerala government countered this with an amendment to the 2003 Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act.
    • The amendment classified the Mullaperiyar dam as endangered and restricted the level of water in it to 136 feet.
      • This amendment was declared unconstitutional by the SC in 2014.
    • In 2014, SC said that Kerala could not obstruct Tamil Nadu from raising the water level to 142 feet.
    • To allay Kerala’s concerns, it directed that a three-member supervisory committee be set up to:
      • oversee the process of raising the water level,
      • inspect the dam routinely, and
      • look into the safety concerns.

Provisions for the distribution of water in Indian Constitution

  • The relevant provisions of the Indian Constitution are
    • Entry 17 in the State List,
    • Entry 56 in the Union List, and
    • Article 262

Dam Safety Act and Mullaperiyar dam

  • About the act
    • The act is aimed at addressing the long-felt need for addressing issues concerning the safety of major dams all over the country.
      • The act came into force in December 2021.
    • It provides for surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of certain dams for prevention of disasters related to dam failure.
    • It also creates institutional mechanisms to ensure their safe functioning.
  • Key provisions of the act:
    • The Act covers those dams having a height of over 15m and between 10m and 15m with certain stipulations.
    • It seeks to create two national institutions—
      • National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) to evolve dam safety policies and recommend necessary regulations, and
      • the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) to implement policies and address unresolved issues between the two States.
    • The NDSA will be the regulatory body.
    • The legislation also envisages the formation of State Dam Safety Organisations and State Committees on Dam Safety.
    • Dam owners will be held responsible for the construction, operation, maintenance, and supervision of dams.
  • Linkages between Dam Safety Act and the Mullaperiyar dam
    • As per the Act, the NDSA will perform the role of the State Dam Safety Organisation for a dam located in one State and used by another.
    • Hence, the Mullaperiyar dam comes under the purview of the NDSA.
    • Experts believe that there is every possibility of the Union government will indicate in the court that the NDSA can subsume the functions of the supervisory committee.

By ULF TEAM

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