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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has airlifted nearly 70,000 Army troops and heavy platforms like tanks, artillery guns and BMPs weighing over 9,000 tonnes as part of efforts towards enhancing the overall operational preparedness in eastern Ladakh since India and China entered a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) three years ago, latest estimates show.
According to officials, the massive transport operations launched by the IAF in the immediate aftermath of the Galwan Valley clashes led to induction of multiple divisions of Army troops — estimated to be over 68,000 — as well as strategic airlift over 300 BMPs, around 100 tanks and artillery guns totalling a load over 9,000 tonnes.
The updated details come as the military standoff between India and China along the LAC in eastern Ladakh has entered its fourth consecutive year.
Despite extensive diplomatic and military discussions between the two sides — leading to disengagement at the post-2020 friction points and creation of buffer zones there — an estimated 50,000-60,000 troops remain deployed on both sides of the India-China border and India has significantly ramped up infrastructure development along the LAC.
Moreover, legacy issues along the LAC such as Depsang Plains and Demchok continue to persist, and some of them will be discussed in the 19th round of India-China military talks scheduled Monday.
The City
Listing platform, 50% subsidy: What's on offer under 'Dilli Bazar’ (Page no. 5)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
A specialised listing platform in English and Hindi, a 50% subsidy incentive to rope in sellers — these plans are part of the AAP-Delhi government’s ambitious e-commerce marketplace platform, ‘Dilli Bazar’.
Proposed under last year’s Rozgar Budget, the marketplace policy’s aim is to set up an online portal that will help sellers in Delhi showcase their unique products and services and reach a wider customer base.
According to a Cabinet note prepared by the Industries department this year, ‘Dilli Bazar’ will comprise a specialised listing platform with key differentiators as well as an app. Transactions will be enabled through collaboration with an existing e-commerce partner.
As per the Cabinet note, the plan is to select and engage a Managed Service Provider (MSP) for three years (subject to extension).
While the e-commerce marketplace will be an MSP-owned app, having an exclusive arrangement with the Delhi government to support city businesses, the listing platform will be designed and developed by MSP.
Govt. & Politics
President to launch advanced frigate Vindhyagiri in Kolkata on August 17 (Page no. 11)
(GS Paper 3, Defence)
President Droupadi Murmu will launch Vindhyagiri, a Project 17A frigate, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata, on August 17.
Named after a mountain range in Karnataka, Vindhyagiri is the sixth ship of the Project 17A frigates. Under the Project 17A programme, four ships by Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) are under construction.
The project’s first five ships were launched by MDL and GRSE, between 2019-2022.
These warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems, adding that the technologically advanced frigate pays a befitting tribute to the distinguished service of its predecessor, the erstwhile INS Vindhyagiri, a Leander Class ASW Frigate.
Editorial
Erasing Macaulay’s mark (Page no. 12)
(GS Paper 2, Governance)
Shri 420, Chachi 420, IPC 420 — such titles may lead the American observer down a path of herbal contemplation, conjuring images of something associated with cannabis culture.
One would expect a cameo from Snoop Dogg in one of these movies. However, the Indian context, and sometimes South Asian, is different. The term “420” signifies a confident trickster in these movies.
Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, the inspiration behind these titles, is far from a gateway to an alternate state of consciousness.
Soon Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 will be replaced with Section 316 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). While Section 420 is only one such example, the Union government proposes to completely reform the criminal justice system.
The IPC had a total of 511 sections, in contrast to the 356 sections contained in BNS. Along with this, the home minister introduced Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023, to replace the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898.
Furthermore, Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 will supersede the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Many committees had recommended such changes.
It is a paradox of our criminal justice system that, even today, it bears the indelible marks of Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay.
While the British themselves refrained from instituting a codified criminal justice system, they did not hesitate to draft such provisions for India, remnants of which persist to this day. There are five reasons why these bills are important.
Ideas Page
Delhi and Taipei, just friends (Page no. 13)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
The recent arrival in Taipei of three retired Indian service chiefs has led to media speculation about the message that Delhi was sending, about “India’s options” in case of a military operation by Beijing to reunite Taiwan with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
This speculation was lent a sharp edge by American analyst Ashley Tellis’s recent comment that India’s vulnerability to Chinese domination, “guarantee(s) that New Delhi will never involve itself in any US confrontation with Beijing that does not directly threaten its own security.
The three chiefs were in Taiwan to participate in a seminar on maritime affairs, organised by a Taiwanese think-tank. These Track-2 discussions would, obviously, be of an academic nature.
But so prickly is China about Taiwan and so charged is the Sino-Indian relationship with mistrust that the visit may invite caustic comments from Beijing.
As a matter of fact, the Republic of China or RoC (the official designation of Taiwan and its associated islands) has, for many years, been welcoming senior retired officers of the Indian armed forces to participate in conferences and visit its military units and defence installations.
The reason is quite simple: The RoC as one of the world’s most insecure nations welcomes any sign of support from any quarter — especially from India, a nation of consequence with which it has some convergence of security interests.
World
US-led naval group warns ships to evade Iran waters to avoid seizure (Page no. 14)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
A U.S.-led naval coalition in the Gulf has warned ships in the region to stay away from Iranian waters to avoid possible seizure, the U.S. Navy said.
The warning shows tensions remain high in and around the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran seized tankers in late April and early May, while Washington and Tehran finalise a deal to free five U.S. citizens detained in Iran and the U.S. allows $6 billion in Iranian funds held in South Korea to be unfrozen.
The International Maritime Security Construct is notifying regional mariners of appropriate precautions to minimise the risk of seizure based on current regional tensions, which we seek to de-escalate," Commander Timothy Hawkins, spokesman for the Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet. Vessels are being advised to transit as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible.
About a fifth of the world's crude oil and oil products pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point between Iran and Oman at the mouth of the Gulf.
Explained
Making urea deliver more (Page no. 15)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Late last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched ‘Urea Gold’ fertiliser. Developed by the state-owned Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (RCF), it is basically urea fortified with sulphur.
Normal urea contains 46% of a single plant nutrient: Nitrogen or N. Urea Gold has 37% N plus 17% sulphur or S and aims at two things.
The first is to deliver S along with N. Indian soils are deficient in S, which oilseeds and pulses – the country is significantly import-dependent in both – particularly require.
The second is to improve the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of urea. Coating of S over urea ensures a more gradual release of N. By prolonging the urea action, the plants stay greener for a longer time.
Farmers tend to apply urea when they notice the leaves turning yellowish. If the crop retains greenness for an extended period, they would reduce the frequency of application and use, say, only two bags, as against three, for an acre of paddy or wheat.
RCF is yet to commercially introduce Urea Gold or reveal any pricing details. The maximum retail price (MRP) for a 45-kg bag of ordinary neem-coated urea is around Rs 254, net of local taxes.
Indications are that Urea Gold, given its higher NUE from the slow-release mechanism, may be sold in 40-kg bags. The MRP is expected to be fixed at Rs 400-500 per 40-kg bag.
Vacation of Supreme Court, High court judges: the debate and the facts (Page no. 15)
(GS Paper 2, Judiciary)
Terming court vacations a “colonial legacy”, a parliamentary panel has recommended that High Court judges take turns going on vacation to tackle the mounting pendency of cases.
For reducing pendency, there is a need to have a multi-pronged strategy. However, at the same time, it is an undeniable fact that vacations in the judiciary are a ‘colonial legacy’ and…entire court going on vacation en masse causes deep inconvenience to the litigants.
In its 133rd report, “on the subject of judicial processes and their reforms”, the parliamentary panel headed by BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi, reiterated a suggestion made by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) R M Lodha on court vacations earlier.
The Committee is of the view that the suggestion of…Shri R M Lodha on court vacations, that instead of all the judges going on vacation, all at one time, individual judges should take their leave at different times through the year so that the courts are constantly open and there are always benches present to hear cases.
The demand for doing away with court vacations is primarily due to two factors, the report says: one, the “huge pendency of cases in our courts”, and two, the inconvenience faced by the litigants during court vacations.
Economy
RBI selects McKinsey & Company, Accenture Solutions to use AI, ML (Page no. 17)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The Reserve Bank has selected global consultancy firms McKinsey and Company India LLP and Accenture Solutions Pvt Ltd India to develop systems using artificial intelligence and machine learning for its supervisory functions.
The RBI is looking to extensively use advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse its huge database and improve regulatory supervision over banks and NBFCs. For this purpose, the central bank plans to hire external experts.
In September last year, the RBI invited expressions of interest (EoI) for engaging consultants for the use of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning for generating supervisory inputs.