UPSC Key: Syrian Civil War, Farmer IDs and Ajmer Sharif Dargah

As rebels sweep through Aleppo, Russian, Syrian jets intensify bombing in northwest

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

What’s the ongoing story: Russian and Syrian warplanes targeted insurgents in an Aleppo city suburb on Saturday, two Syrian military sources said after the rebel fighters penetrated the heart of the city in Syria’s northwest in a surprise attack the previous day.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Map Work-Aleppo

• What you know about ‘Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’?

• Analyse the impact of intensified airstrikes by Russian and Syrian forces on the ongoing peace efforts in Syria. How do these actions reflect the larger geopolitical contest in the region?

• Examine the humanitarian consequences of the Syrian Civil War with a specific focus on the recent conflict in Aleppo. What measures can the international community adopt to mitigate the suffering of civilians?

• Discuss the role of international actors such as Russia and Iran in the Syrian Civil War. How has their involvement influenced the outcome of the conflict?

• The conflict in Aleppo is symptomatic of the broader instability in the Middle East. Critically evaluate the geopolitical implications of the Syrian Civil War for the region and the world.

• The use of airstrikes in civilian-populated areas raises significant ethical concerns. Evaluate the balance between military objectives and the protection of civilian lives in modern warfare.

Key Takeaways:

• Insurgent groups, notably Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have launched significant offensives, breaching Aleppo’s western outskirts for the first time since 2016. This has resulted in the capture of over 50 villages and strategic areas, including parts of Aleppo and Idlib provinces

• In retaliation, Syrian government forces, supported by Russian airstrikes, have intensified bombing campaigns on rebel-held areas. These operations aim to reclaim lost territories and suppress insurgent advancements.

• The escalation has led to significant civilian casualties and displacement. Airstrikes have reportedly killed at least 25 people, including children, and forced thousands to flee their homes, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

• The United Nations and various international actors have expressed deep concern over the renewed violence and its impact on civilians. Calls for de-escalation and the protection of non-combatants have been reiterated, emphasizing the need for a political solution to the conflict.

• The conflict’s resurgence affects regional stability, with neighboring countries like Turkey monitoring the situation closely to prevent further refugee influxes and address security concerns related to Kurdish militias.

Do You Know:

• The conflict lay dormant since a ceasefire was negotiated in 2020, which is why recent developments have come as a surprise. In response to the advance, the government of Syria and Russia have united forces to regain control of rebel-occupied territory.

• Syrian rebels led by the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has retained control of Idlib since 2020, advanced eastward toward Aleppo, the second-largest city in the country.
—Two days later, Syrian insurgents seized control of Aleppo, forcing the Syrian army to redeploy and announce a “temporary withdrawal”.
—The rebel attack was also the first time since 2016 that opposition forces have seized territory in Aleppo.

• The Syrian civil war began around the “Arab Spring” of 2010, dubbed so as many countries in the Middle East and North Africa saw uprisings against authoritarian governments that had been in power for decades. In some nations, such as Tunisia and Egypt, ruling governments were forced out. In most others, governments and militaries crushed the movements.

• The Internet and social media websites such as Twitter, which were then taking off, were believed to have played a role in the spread of pro-democracy ideas in the region. Foreign governments, such as the United States and Russia, also responded to the events based on their respective strategic interests.

• In Syria, protests began against the rule of President Assad, who came to power in 2000. Today, he controls major parts of the country, barring a few regions. These include Kurdish-majority areas in east Syria, parts of the south, and parts of the Syrian desert ruled by offshoots of the group affiliated with the erstwhile Islamic State.

• In March 2020, Turkey (which has historically backed Syrian rebels) and Russia (which has allied with the Assad regime) entered into a ceasefire deal in Idlib. This has remained in place, with the HTS retaining de facto control of the province since then.

• HTS is a former al-Qaeda affiliate previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra (Al Nusra Front) and designated a terrorist group by the US, Russia and Turkey, among other nations. However, Turkey’s links to HTS are complex.
—A Financial Times report points to a mutually beneficial relationship, with Turkey serving as “Idlib’s ultimate protector from large-scale attacks by regime forces and their Russian backers, while Ankara also controls the border into the province, through which HTS depends on trade and taxes.”

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Explained: The state of the war in Syria, and the bloody battle for Idlib

Practice/Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

1.Consider the following pairs: (2018)

	Towns sometimes mentioned in news	Country
1.	Aleppo	Syria
2.	Kirkuk	Yemen
3.	Mosul	Palestine
4.	Mazar-i-sharif	Afghanistan

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 4
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 and 4

FRONT PAGE

Amid slowdown, RBI-Govt gulf widens, growth to holding rates

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: Much before data released on November 29 showed that India’s economic growth had slumped to a seven-quarter low of 5.4 per cent in July-September, discussions within the government had questioned RBI’s upward revision of growth estimates to 7.2 per cent for 2024-25 and flagged worries about the cumulative impact of its prudential measures, The Indian Express has learnt.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the challenges faced by the Reserve Bank of India in balancing its mandate of price stability with the government’s objective of promoting economic growth, especially in the context of the recent economic slowdown and rising inflation.

• Examine the effectiveness of the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) as a tool for managing liquidity in the banking system.

• How can adjustments to the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) influence economic growth and inflation?

• Analyse the implications of differing priorities between the government and the central bank on economic policy-making. How can such differences impact investor confidence and economic stability?

• Evaluate the factors contributing to the recent rise in food inflation in India. What measures can be taken by both the government and the RBI to address this issue without hampering economic growth?

• Critically assess the potential consequences of premature interest rate cuts in an economy experiencing high inflation. What are the risks and benefits associated with such a policy decision?

Key Takeaways:

• The RBI is prioritizing inflation control, especially given the October consumer price index inflation rate of 6.2%, which exceeds its upper tolerance limit. The central bank is concerned that persistent high inflation could undermine economic stability.

• The government emphasizes growth and suggests that the RBI should not overly focus on food inflation when setting interest rates. Conversely, the RBI maintains that price stability is essential for sustainable growth and is cautious about easing rates amid inflationary pressures.

• Despite political pressure, the RBI is expected to keep rates steady in the near term, possibly considering a slight easing through a cash reserve ratio cut. The government may implement supply-side measures to reduce food prices and consider tax reliefs to boost consumption.

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal have publicly advocated for lower interest rates to stimulate growth. They argue that high interest rates are detrimental to consumption and investment

Do You Know:

• A government official said, the first red flag came when RBI raised the GDP growth forecast for 2024-25 to 7.2 per cent in June from 7 per cent in April since it was out of sync with other signals. “At this point, incremental information – very hot summer, monsoon getting delayed – was negative,” the official said.

• The rate-setting panel will meet against a backdrop of growing concerns over slowing economic growth and elevated inflationary pressures. These two factors will likely weigh on the MPC’s decision in its December 6 policy announcement.

• “Given the rather uncertain global environment and the possible impact on inflation and the fact that currently inflation has been averaging close to 5.9 per cent in the last two months, a status quo on the repo rate will be the logical outcome from the policy,” said Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, Bank of Baroda.

• The recent data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that the country’s real gross domestic product (GDP) slumped to a seven-quarter low of 5.4 per cent in July-September 2024. This compares with a growth of 6.7 per cent in the April-June 2024 quarter and 8.1 per cent in the July-September 2023 period.

• Consumer price-based inflation (CPI), or retail inflation, surged to a 14-month high of 6.21 per cent in October 2024, compared to 5.5 per cent in September.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 RBI Policy: Why MPC is likely to keep the repo rate unchanged in December meeting?

Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
2. With reference to Indian economy, consider the following: (2015)
1. Bank rate
2. Open market operations
3. Public debt
4. Public revenue
Which of the above is/are component/ components of Monetary Policy?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 1, 3 and 4

Trump threat to BRICS: Give up idea of replacing dollar or face 100% tariffs

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: Setting the stage to counter any challenge to the dollar’s domination in global trade, US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened the BRICS grouping, which has India, Russia and China among its key members, with “100 per cent tariffs” if they moved to create a new currency or back any other option as the world’s reserve.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the possible consequences of the United States imposing 100% tariffs on BRICS countries in response to their efforts to establish an alternative currency.

• Evaluate the strategic motivations behind the BRICS nations’ consideration of a new currency.

• Examine the role of economic sanctions in international relations, particularly in the context of the BRICS countries seeking alternatives to the U.S. dollar.

• Critically assess the challenges and opportunities associated with the formation of a new international currency by a coalition like BRICS.

• Analyse the potential global economic implications of the BRICS nations’ initiative to create a new currency aimed at reducing dependence on the U.S. dollar. How might this affect the existing international financial order?

• How effective are sanctions as a tool of foreign policy, and what are their limitations?

• How the U.S. Dollar Became the World’s Reserve Currency

Key Takeaways:

• President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and recent members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates—if they attempt to establish or support a currency that could challenge the U.S. dollar’s global dominance.

• Trump’s warning targets any BRICS initiative to create a new currency or endorse an alternative to the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency. He emphasized that countries pursuing such actions would face severe economic repercussions, including substantial tariffs and restricted access to the U.S. market.

• Trump’s stance reflects concerns over potential challenges to U.S. economic influence and the dollar’s reserve currency status. Imposing such tariffs may disrupt global trade dynamics, affecting supply chains and economic relations between the U.S. and BRICS countries.

Do You Know:

• Trump’s threat comes at a time when US sanctions on Russia resulted in Russian oil being redirected from Europe to Asia. In an effort to reduce reliance on the US dollar and to internationalise the Indian rupee, the Reserve Bank of India allowed invoicing and payments for international trade in Indian rupees in 2022, after sanctions were imposed on Russia amid the Ukraine war.

• Notably, foreign exchange market turnover (daily averages), as per the BIS Triennial Central Bank Survey 2022, shows the US dollar is the dominant vehicle currency, accounting for 88 per cent of the global forex turnover. The rupee accounted for 1.6 per cent. The survey stated that if rupee turnover rises to equal the share of non-US, non-Euro currencies in global forex turnover of 4 per cent, it will be regarded as an international currency.

• However, India’s trade with Russia in domestic currency remains low due to Indian banks’ fear of US sanctions and an unbalanced trade relationship between the two countries. While there has been a multifold rise in India-Russia trade after the Ukraine war, it has been firmly in favour of Russia. India’s exports to Russia stood at $4.2 billion in FY24, but increasing oil imports from Moscow have widened the import bill to $61 billion. As a result, Russia has a huge pile of rupee reserves that it has not been able to use to settle bilateral trade using domestic currency, and is instead using it to invest in Indian stocks and bonds.

• On the contrary, bilateral trade between Russia and China in domestic currency has jumped. A more balanced Russia-China trade has helped transactions using the yuan and rouble. China-Russia trade in 2023 crossed a record $240-billion mark. The Russian government said that over 90 per cent of the bilateral trade settlement is now in Russian roubles.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 How the U.S. Dollar Became the World’s Reserve Currency

Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
3. Consider the following statements: (2016)
1. New Development Bank has been set up by APEC.
2. The headquarters of the New Development Bank is in Shanghai.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

EXPRESS NETWORK

Make farmer IDs faster: Ministry instructs states

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

Main Examination: General Studies I: e-technology in the aid of farmers.

What’s the ongoing story: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) has asked the states to organise camps to ensure a faster generation of Farmer ID. 

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is farmer ID in India?

• What is the primary objective of the Agriculture Ministry’s directive to states regarding the creation of digital Farmer IDs?

• Discuss the significance of creating digital Farmer IDs in the context of e-governance in agriculture.

• Identify and analyse the potential challenges that state governments may face in the rapid implementation of the digital Farmer ID initiative.

• Evaluate the role of Aadhaar as a primary identifier in the implementation of agricultural schemes.

• Examine how the creation of digital Farmer IDs can influence agricultural policy-making in India. Consider aspects such as data accuracy, targeted interventions, and monitoring and evaluation.

• Compare the digital Farmer ID initiative with similar digital identity programs in other countries. What lessons can India learn from these international experiences to ensure the success of its initiative?

Key Takeaways:

• The government is advancing its Digital Agriculture Mission, aiming to provide unique digital identities, akin to Aadhaar, to 11 crore farmers by FY 2026-27. This initiative, known as AgriStack, is designed to streamline service delivery and enhance access to agricultural schemes.

• The government plans to commence nationwide farmer registration in October, targeting the issuance of unique IDs to 5 crore farmers by March 2025. These IDs will be linked to comprehensive data, including land records, crop details, and benefits availed, facilitating easier access to various agricultural schemes.

• States like Uttar Pradesh have initiated campaigns to enroll farmers under the ‘farmers registry’ program, providing unique IDs to streamline access to services such as farm loans, insurance, and agricultural credit. The state aims to complete the registration before September 30, with a pilot conducted in Farrukhabad district.

• Pilot projects have been conducted in six states—Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu—to test the creation of Farmer IDs and the Digital Crop Survey. Additionally, 19 states have signed Memorandums of Understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture for implementing AgriStack.

• The Digital Agriculture Mission includes components like the Krishi Decision Support System and Soil Profile Mapping, aiming to provide timely and reliable information to the agriculture sector. The mission is expected to create both direct and indirect employment opportunities in agriculture

Do You Know:

• Known as Kisan Pehchaan Patra or Farmer ID is an Aadhaar-linked unique digital identity that is linked dynamically to the state’s land records, besides having information like demographic, crops sown and ownership details.

• The database created through the Farmer ID will be known as Farmer’ registry — one of the three registries under Agri Stack component of the Centre’s Digital Agriculture Mission for creation of digital public infrastructure in the farm sector, which was approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this year.

• The government aims to create digital identities for 11 crore farmers, out of which 6 crore farmers will be covered in financial year 2024-25, three crore in financial year 2025-26, and two crore farmers in 2026-27. This is why the Centre has now asked states to adopt a camp-mode approach to provide the Farmer ID. On November 28, the Agriculture Ministry sent a communication to the states in this regard.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍A five-year report card for PM-Kisan

Practice/Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
4. In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture? (2020)
1. Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops
2. Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
3. Social Capital development
4. Free electricity supply to farmers
5. Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system
6. Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 5 only
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 2, 3 and 6 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Ans: (c)

Global talks on plastic treaty collapse over sharp differences, to continue next year

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story: Negotiations to ratify a legally binding pact to curb plastic pollution failed in Busan after the chair of the talks said that critical and unresolved issues, which needed additional time for consensus, prevented an agreement.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What are the major point of contention leading to the collapse of the global plastic treaty talks?

• Discuss the challenges faced in formulating a global treaty to combat plastic pollution, as evidenced by the recent collapse of negotiations.

• Analyse the role of major plastic-producing nations in the global plastic treaty negotiations.

• Evaluate the significance of eliminating harmful chemicals from plastic production in the context of sustainable development.

• Examine the impact of phasing out harmful plastic products on global environmental health. How can international cooperation be enhanced to facilitate such initiatives?

• Critically assess the effectiveness of non-binding agreements in addressing global environmental challenges like plastic pollution.

Key Takeaways:

• Negotiations for a legally binding United Nations treaty to address global plastic pollution have stalled due to significant disagreements among participating nations. The fifth round of talks, held in Busan, South Korea, concluded without consensus, prompting plans to resume discussions next year.

• Over 100 countries, including members of the European Union and developing nations, advocated for capping plastic production to mitigate pollution. They emphasized that without controlling production, efforts to reduce plastic waste would be insufficient.

• Conversely, major oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia opposed production limits, focusing instead on waste management solutions. Their stance reflects concerns about the economic impact on their petrochemical industries.

• Discussions also centred on eliminating harmful chemicals used in plastic manufacturing. Many nations supported phasing out substances detrimental to human health and the environment.

• The lack of agreement on whether decisions should be made by consensus or majority vote further complicated negotiations. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia insisted on consensus, effectively granting any nation veto power and making it challenging to reach binding agreements.

• Negotiators plan to reconvene in 2025 to continue discussions, aiming to finalize the treaty by the end of that year. The delay underscores the complexity of balancing environmental imperatives with economic and political interests.

Do You Know:

• Plastic production has surged from 2 million tonnes in 1950 to 348 million tonnes in 2017, with projections indicating a potential doubling by 2040. The proliferation of plastic waste has led to significant environmental challenges, including marine pollution and adverse effects on wildlife.

• In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted a resolution to develop a legally binding treaty addressing plastic pollution across its entire lifecycle. The proposed treaty aims to encompass measures from plastic production and design to waste management, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to tackling pollution.

• Developing countries advocate for financial and technical support to manage plastic waste, while developed nations emphasize reducing plastic production and promoting recycling. Some corporations support the treaty, focusing on recycling and waste management, whereas others express concerns about potential economic impacts and regulatory constraints.

• India contributes to a fifth of global plastic pollution, according to a study published in the journal Nature in September. It accounts for 20% of the world’s global plastic pollution with emissions of 9.3 mt, which is significantly more than the countries next in the list — Nigeria (3.5 mt), Indonesia (3.4 mt) and China (2.8 mt), the study said.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Why the world needs a global plastic treaty

Practice/Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
5. In India, ‘extend producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following? (2019)
(a) The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998
(b) The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999
(c) The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011
(d) The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011

EXPLAINED

Prior sanction: what SC said on ED cases against public officials

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Money-laundering and its prevention

What’s the ongoing story: Citing as precedent a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress MP P Chidambaram moved the Delhi High Court seeking a stay of their respective trials.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is the prior sanction provision?

• What does the recent SC verdict say?

• Is prior sanction required in other kinds of cases?

• How will the requirement of prior sanction impact ED cases involving public servants?

• Discuss the implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling that mandates prior government sanction to prosecute public servants under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

• How does Supreme Court’s decision balance the need for accountability with the protection of public servants from undue harassment?

• Analyze the interplay between Section 197(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as clarified by the Supreme Court.

• Evaluate the impact of requiring prior government sanction for prosecuting public servants on the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures in India.

• Compare the legal provisions related to the prosecution of public servants in India with those in other democratic countries.

• Critically assess the policy rationale behind requiring prior sanction for prosecuting public servants under laws like the PMLA.

Key Takeaways:

• The Supreme Court of India has ruled that prosecuting public servants under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) requires prior government sanction, as stipulated in Section 197(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). This decision has significant implications for ongoing and future cases involving public officials.

• Section 197(1) of the CrPC mandates that no court shall take cognizance of offenses alleged to have been committed by public servants while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of their official duties, without prior sanction from the appropriate government authority.

• The Supreme Court affirmed that this provision applies to prosecutions under the PMLA, ensuring that public servants are protected from frivolous or vexatious litigation for actions performed in their official capacity.

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) contended that Section 71 of the PMLA, which gives the Act overriding effect over other laws, negated the need for prior sanction.

• The Court rejected this argument, stating that Section 65 of the PMLA makes the provisions of the CrPC applicable to proceedings under the Act, provided they are not inconsistent with the PMLA. Since there is no inconsistency between Section 197(1) of the CrPC and the PMLA, the requirement for prior sanction stands.

• Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram challenged the trial court’s cognizance of charges against him in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case, arguing that the ED had not obtained the requisite prior sanction under Section 197(1) of the CrPC.

• Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Delhi High Court stayed the trial court proceedings against Chidambaram, acknowledging the necessity of prior sanction for prosecuting public servants under the PMLA.

• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also invoked the Supreme Court’s decision to seek protection in a money laundering case, arguing that the lack of prior sanction renders the proceedings invalid. This precedent has opened avenues for public servants to challenge prosecutions under the PMLA where prior sanction was not obtained.

Do You Know:

• Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (CrPC) bars courts from taking cognisance of offences alleged to have been committed by a judge, a magistrate, or a public servant who was “acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duty” while committing the alleged offence, unless prior or “previous” sanction has been given by the government. An identical requirement can be found under Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) as well.

• On November 6, the apex court held that Section 197(1) of the CrPC will apply to alleged offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) too. A Bench comprising Justices A S Oka and Augustine George Masih delivered the verdict in a case involving IAS officers Bibhu Prasad Acharya and Adityanath Das, both of whom are facing money laundering charges, in a case that also implicates former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.
—In a short, 18-page decision, the SC essentially upheld an January 2019 order by the Telangana High Court which set aside the trial court’s order taking cognisance of the case. The challenge was on the ground that both of them were public servants and, therefore, it was necessary to obtain prior sanction under Section 197(1) of the CrPC before they could be prosecuted.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Prior sanction required to prosecute public servants for money laundering: SC

Previous Year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels. (2021)

Dargah Sharif of Ajmer

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies I: Secularism

What’s the ongoing story: A court in Ajmer last Wednesday admitted a petition requesting a survey of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the shrine of the revered Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (also spelt ‘Muinuddin’, ‘Muiniiddin’, or ‘Mu’in al-din’). The petition claims that the dargah was constructed “after demolishing Hindu and Jain temples” that stood at the site.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the implications of legal claims asserting that historical religious sites, such as the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, were originally temples. How do such claims affect communal harmony and the preservation of cultural heritage in India?

• Analyse the role of the judiciary in adjudicating disputes involving historical religious sites. What principles should guide courts in balancing historical claims with contemporary communal sensitivities?

• Evaluate the impact of revisiting historical claims about religious sites on India’s secular fabric. How can the state ensure that such claims do not disrupt social cohesion?

• The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is a symbol of India’s syncretic traditions. Discuss the importance of preserving such sites in promoting interfaith harmony. What challenges do they face in the current socio-political climate?

• Examine the legal framework in India governing the status and management of religious sites with contested histories. How effective are these laws in preventing communal conflicts?

Key Takeaways:

• A recent legal petition has ignited controversy by asserting that the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the mausoleum of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, was constructed atop a pre-existing Shiva temple. This claim has led a local court in Ajmer to issue notices to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, the

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Ajmer Dargah Committee, seeking their responses.

• The petition references the 1911 book “Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive” by Har Bilas Sarda, a former judge and politician. Sarda’s work mentions a tradition suggesting that within the dargah’s cellar lies an image of Mahadeva (Shiva), which was historically worshipped by a Brahmin family. The book also notes that remnants of Hindu and Jain temples were utilized in the dargah’s construction.

• On November 27, 2024, Civil Judge Manmohan Chandel issued notices to the aforementioned parties, requesting their responses to the petition’s claims. The court has scheduled the subsequent hearing for December 20, 2024.

• Representatives of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah have dismissed the claims as baseless and detrimental to communal harmony. Syed Sarwar Chishti, Secretary of the Anjuman Committee (a body of dargah caretakers), emphasized the shrine’s 850-year history as a symbol of unity and questioned the motives behind such petitions.

• This case emerges amid a series of similar legal disputes in India, where claims have been made regarding the existence of Hindu temples beneath prominent Islamic religious sites. Notably, controversies have arisen over the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Eidgah in Mathura, with petitions alleging that these mosques were built atop demolished temples.

Do You Know:

• Ajmer, then referred to as Ajaymeru, was once the capital of the Chauhans, a Rajput clan that ruled parts of present-day Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh from the seventh to the 12th centuries CE. Ajaydeva is credited with constructing the city in the mid-12th century.
The town was sacked by the Afghan invader Muhammad of Ghor after he defeated Prithviraj III (popularly known as Prithviraj Chauhan) in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192. The Ghurid army killed, looted, and “destroyed the pillars and foundations of the idol temples” in Ajaymeru, Har Bilas Sarda, an Ajmer-based jurist, wrote in Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive (1911). Sarda’s book is the primary source material cited in the petition filed before the court.

• Sufi traditions — especially those of the Chishti order of Sufism to which Moinuddin and later Sufi masters such as Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, and Nasiruddin Mahmud Chiragh Dehlavi, all of Delhi, belonged — drew heavily from pre-existing local practices, which were seen as heretical in orthodox Islam. The Chishti saints in India preached a message of tolerance and inclusivity.

• Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer exemplified this heterodoxy. He “watched ascetics perform yoga… He realised how much he had in common with the wandering mystics of the land who, like him, were unafraid to express their utter devotion to their creator as the ultimate means of achieving spiritual perfection,” historian Mehru Jaffer wrote in The Book of Muinuddin Chishti (2008).

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Ajmer Sharif Dargah: Rajasthan’s beacon of spiritual and cultural richness

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

A push for growth

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: India has been enjoying high economic growth even in the midst of global turmoil. After a strong growth of 8.2 per cent in 2023-24, followed by 6.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2024-25, GDP growth has decelerated to 5.4 per cent in the second quarter.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the challenges faced by the government in balancing the need for economic growth with the imperative of controlling inflation, especially in the context of the recent GDP slowdown and rising food prices.

• Analyse the role of the Reserve Bank of India in addressing the current economic slowdown. Should the central bank prioritize growth over inflation control in its monetary policy decisions?

• Evaluate the effectiveness of increased infrastructure spending and tax reliefs as strategies to revive economic growth in India. What are the potential risks and benefits associated with these measures? • Examine the impact of weakened manufacturing and consumption on India’s overall economic performance. What targeted interventions can the government implement to revitalize these sectors?

• Critically assess the factors contributing to the rise in food inflation in India. How can the government and the central bank collaborate to address this issue without stifling economic growth?

Key Takeaways:

• The expenditure-wise break-up of the GDP data showed moderation in consumption, investment and exports. Private consumption growth moderated to 6 per cent, but remains relatively healthy compared to the 4 per cent growth recorded in 2023-24.

• Investment in the economy was being strongly supported by the government sector. However, government capex contracted sharply in the first quarter due to election related restrictions and has been slow to recover.

• Centre’s capex has fallen by 15 per cent in the first half of this year, while the consolidated capex by state governments has fallen by 11 per cent during this period. Investments by major central public sector enterprises also contracted by 11 per cent in the first half, though there has been some improvement in the second quarter.

• Coming to the external sector, growth in exports of goods and services has also moderated. Monthly trade data shows that while merchandise exports have been relatively muted in the midst of low global economic growth, services sector exports have sustained their healthy growth momentum.

• Consumption growth is likely to see some improvement in the coming quarters supported by healthy growth in agriculture production and rural demand. A likely moderation in food inflation in the coming months would be another factor supportive of consumption. However, we need to be wary of global developments and the risk of imported inflation. The developments in the job market and growth in household incomes would be a critical factor influencing consumption growth.

Do You Know:

• Government capex that had been weak in the first half is likely to pick up strongly in the second half. In the first half, the central and state governments (consolidated) have only reached 37 per cent and 28 per cent respectively of their budgeted capex for the year.

• Overall GDP growth for this year is likely to be lower at around 6.5 per cent. While this growth number is still healthy, it is concerning as India moves lower from 7-8 per cent growth recorded in the last two years.

• In the upcoming budget, the government could also look at providing some tax benefits to households to spur consumption. A spurt in domestic consumption would also provide the required trigger for a sustained pick up in private capex. The global environment is likely to remain uncertain in the coming year with implications for the Indian economy. The Donald Trump government in the US and a likely trade war will add further volatility to the global scenario. This makes it even more critical for the government to strengthen domestic demand to ensure sustainable growth.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍GDP growth rate slumps to near two-year low of 5.4% in July-Sept

Practice/Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
6. A decrease in tax to GDP ratio of a country indicates which of the following? (2015)
1. Slowing economic growth rate
2. Less equitable distribution of national income
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (b)  2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (c) 6. (b)

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