Recently, India-Indonesia expressed satisfaction with their progress in defence collaboration at the 7th India-Indonesia Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting.
About India-Indonesia Relations
Background
India and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in 1951.
India and Indonesia have shared two millennia of close cultural and commercial contacts.
India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Indonesia along the Andaman Sea.
Convergence between India-Indonesia Relations
Geo-Strategic Cooperation: India and Indonesia strategic relations are driven by their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and have shared vision of the Indo-Pacific. Indonesia is critical to India’s Act East Policy because Indonesia lies at the intersection of the Pacific Ocean, the Malacca Straits and the Indian Ocean.
China Factor: The rise of China and its assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific is the driving engine of the relationship. Both countries have territorial disputes with China. Indonesia has irreconcilable differences with China over the nine-dash line in the south China sea.
Economic Cooperation: Indonesia is the second largest trading partner of India in the ASEAN region. Bilateral trade has increased from USD 4.3 billion in 2005-06 to USD 38.84 billion in 2022-23.
Defence Cooperation: Both countries enjoy close defence cooperation. India and Indonesia are jointly developing the Sabang deep sea port which lies close to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Garuda Shakti, Samudra Shakti are joint military exercises between Indonesia and India.
Cultural Cooperation: The Hindu, Buddhist and later Muslim faith travelled to Indonesia from the shores of India. The Indonesian folk art and dramas are based on stories from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Divergence between India-Indonesia Relations
Close relations with China: Though India and Indonesia have close defence relations, Indonesia is not ready to go against China on certain economic matters. The total trade value of the two countries as of October 2022 reached US$122.47 billion.
Kashmir Issue: Indonesia has largely maintained a neutral stance on the Kashmir issue. However, sometimes Indonesia takes a stand opposing India during the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meets. During the 1965 Indo−Pakistani War, Indonesia supported Pakistan.
Islamic identity politics: Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. Indonesia’s summoning of the Indian ambassador over the Delhi riots (CAA Riots), has impacted the relationship.
Trade deficit: India runs a trade deficit with Indonesia. India's balance of trade is roughly negative $21.89 billion. India is one of the largest buyers of coal and crude palm oil from Indonesia and imports minerals, rubber, pulp & paper and hydrocarbons reserves.
Way Forward
Trade in Local Currency: Trading in national currencies is crucial. It is expected to slash transaction costs as countries can bypass the use of American dollars. It will also likely bring bilateral trade to greater heights.
Support in Multilateral forums: Though both countries have shared vision about the Indo-Pacific. However, they should support each other in promoting international law and norms, freedom of navigation and the objectives of peace and security.
Domestic politics: Both countries should strengthen their bilateral ties to a level where their respective domestic politics does not spill over onto their bilateral relations.
E-Commerce Sector
Time to Read :🕑 5 Mins
Why in news?
Recently, Invest India forecasts India's e-commerce to soar to $325 billion by 2030.
More about the news
Regulatory Framework for E-commerce in India
Currently the e-commerce sector has been governed by the Information Technology Act, Consumer Protection Act, FDI Policy on e-commerce and Competition Act.
The taxation related issues have been governed by the Income Tax Act, 1961, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Goods and Services Tax (GST)
The legal issues have been governed by the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, the Patents Act, 1970 and Labor laws
The report is released by the investment promotion and facilitation agency Invest India.
The report added that the nation's digital economy is expected to reach an impressive $800 billion by 2030.
Currently, India's e-commerce sector is valued at $70 billion, India's online shopping makes up approximately 7 percent of the country's total retail market, therefore presenting a huge opportunity for growth.
Invest India underscores the growing prominence of rural-centric e-commerce, anticipating a significant portion of demand to originate from tier 2-4 towns and rural areas by 2026.
In the coming years, several factors, like high internet penetration, low-cost internet services, and substantial increase in rural smartphone users, are expected to propel the sector towards a promising future.
With a staggering 881 million users, India boasts the world's second-largest internet user base, positioning itself to emerge as the third-largest online retail market by 2030.
Challenges faced by India’s E-commerce sector
Low Internet penetration: Internet is the backbone of e-commerce. Nearly 665 million Indians or 45 per cent of the rural population did not have access to the internet as of 2023.
Absence of Cyber Laws: Cybersecurity governance falls under the Information Technology Act of 2000, regulating e-commerce, electronic contracts and data protection. The act does not take care of subjects such as individual property rights, content regulation to privacy and data protection specific legislation.
Digital Illiteracy: In urban areas, digital literacy is relatively higher at 61% as compared to just 25% in rural areas. Digital illiteracy is one of the main reasons for this gap.
Problem in Payment gateways: The payment gateways have an unusually high failure rate by global standards. Ecommerce companies using Indian payment gateways are losing out on business, as several customers do not reattempt payment after a transaction fails.
Logistics Problem: Given the huge extent of the country, there are thousands of cities that are not easily reachable. An absence of unified access to a substantial proportion of potential customers is affecting the growth of the sector.
Inconsistent Postal Address:The postal addresses in India are neither consistent nor do they accurately convey or represent geolocation.
Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020
These rules were notified by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
The Consumer Protection (Ecommerce) Rules 2020 attempts to combine the teeth of the Consumer Protection Act 2019, Indian exchange control laws (IEC Regulations) and the Information Technology Act 2000, to ensure fair play in technology and data driven ecommerce environments.
The Rules are applicable to all goods and services bought or sold over digital or electronic networks including digital products.
The rules provide for the appointment of a nodal person of contact or an alternate senior designated functionary in every company, who is resident in India, to ensure compliance with the Indian Laws.
Every e-commerce entity shall provide for disclosure of material information on the e-commerce marketplace in a clear and accessible manner. Every seller has to make sure that descriptions, images, and other content of goods or services are accurate.
Where an e-commerce entity offers imported goods or services for sale, it shall mention the name and details of any importer.
Every e-commerce entity shall establish an adequate grievance redressal mechanism by appointing a Grievance Officer.
The rules prohibit the display or promotion of misleading advertisements by e-commerce entities.
No e-commerce entity shall impose cancellation charges on consumers cancelling after confirming purchase unless similar charges are also borne by the e- commerce entity, if they cancel the purchase order unilaterally for any reason.
Every e-commerce entity shall only record the consent of a consumer for the purchase of any good or service offered on its platform where such consent is expressed through an explicit and affirmative action,
No e-commerce entity shall adopt any unfair trade practice, whether in the course of business on its platform or otherwise.
Way Forward
Strengthen Infrastructural Presence: E-commerce in India is not just a marketplace; it's a catalyst for economic growth, innovation, and inclusivity. There is a need to strengthen issues like lack of Internet penetration, digital illiteracy and physical infrastructure.
Strengthen Payment Gateways: Despite all the efforts, some people still don't have access to banks. To overcome these challenges, more awareness campaigns and training camps should be arranged in rural areas to educate people about the benefits of having bank accounts and doing digital payments.
Strengthen e-commerce rules: the current e-commerce rules are plagued by overregulation. The government aims to release the new rules to address six broad areas of the e-commerce ecosystem like data, infrastructure development, e-commerce marketplaces, regulatory issues, stimulating domestic digital economy and export promotion through e-commerce.
Data Protection Law: There is a need to implement stringent measures to protect personal data from breaches, unauthorized access, and cyberattacks. It could be protected with the enactment of the data protection law as recommended by the BN Srikrishna Committee.
Re-Polling
Time to Read :🕑 7 Mins
Why in news?
Recently, the Election Commission of India ordered re-polling on one booth in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar.
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The re-polling was ordered after two groups of people clashed over boycotting the elections, damaging EVMs.
India’s election laws provide a framework for handling situations where the normal polling process is disrupted for any reason, including damage to EVMs, booth-capturing, natural disasters, or a candidate’s death.
The provisions for repolls, adjournments, and the voiding of polls ensure that the democratic process remains fair, transparent, and uninterrupted.
The Election commission ordered the repolling by exercising powers conferred by the Section 58 of the Representation of People Act, 1951.
Various provision related to repolling
Fresh poll in the case of destruction of ballot boxes: Under Section 58 of the RPA (‘Fresh poll in the case of destruction, etc., of ballot boxes’), the EC can declare the poll at a polling station to be void if:
an unauthorised person has unlawfully taken away any EVM;
any EVM has been accidentally or intentionally destroyed, or lost, or damaged, or tampered with; or
a mechanical failure develops in any EVM during the recording of votes.
In such cases, the Returning Officer (RO) immediately informs the EC and the Chief Electoral Officer of the state about the relevant facts and material circumstances, after considering which, the EC can declare the poll void and formally fix the date and time for a new poll.
Booth-capturing:it is defined in Section 135A of the RPA, includes all or any of the following activities by any person or persons:
seizure of a polling station, affecting the conduct of elections;
taking possession of a polling station, allowing only his or their supporters to vote;
intimidating or threatening any elector and preventing him from going to the polling station;
seizure of a counting place affecting the counting of votes;
involvement of any person in government service in any of the above activities.
Death of a candidate:
As per Section 52 of RPA, amended in 1996, the poll shall be adjourned only in case of the death of a recognised political party’s candidate.
The above provision applies if the candidate with a valid nomination dies at any time after 11.00 a.m. on the last date for making nominations, until the commencement of the poll.
The RO reports the fact to the EC and orders the adjournment of the poll to a date to be notified later by the Commission.
Natural disasters, other disruptions to polling: The Presiding Officer of a polling station can adjourn the poll at a polling station under section 57(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, in case of:
a natural calamity like a flood, a severe storm;
non-receipt or loss or damage to essential polling materials like EVM, electoral roll etc;
interruption or obstruction due to any riot or, open violence;
non-arrival of the polling party due to obstruction or any other serious difficulty; or
non-commencement of the poll within two hours from the scheduled time due to malfunctioning of EVM, or any other reason.
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
Time to Read :🕑 7 Mins
Why in news?
The Maharashtra Forest department is gearing up for translocation of a few tigers from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.
More about the news
The Maharashtra Forest department is awaiting the final go-ahead from the Union Environment Ministry; the NTCA had cleared the translocation plan in October 2023.
The translocation project is an important step in conservation of tigers in the forests of the northern Western Ghats, which form a key wildlife corridor between Maharashtra and Karnataka.
This corridor allows connectivity of tiger population in Sahyadri reserve, Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary, Amboli reserve forest, Mhadei wildlife sanctuary in Goa and Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary and Kali tiger reserve in Karnataka.
The 2023 tiger population estimation report also highlighted the threats posed to the wildlife corridor between the STR and Karnataka’s forests from mining activities, road projects and human settlements.
About Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra.
It is part of the ecoregions of North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests and North Western Ghats montane rain forests.
These ranges form a common boundary between Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa, and constitute rich evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests
The habitat of Sahyadri is composed of woodlands, grasslands and plateau, the latter locally referred to as “Sadaa”, which are lateritic in nature with considerable habitat value.
The reserve was notified in 2010 by amalgamating the Chandoli national park and Koyna wildlife sanctuary.
The Tiger Reserve is home to the endangered species of top carnivores such as the Tiger, Wild dog, and Leopard. The herbivores include Gaur, Sambar, Four Horned Antelope, Mouse Deer and Giant Squirrel.
The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) is one of only five tiger reserves in the country — Kaval in Telangana, Kamlang in Arunachal Pradesh, Dampa in Mizoram and Satkosia in Odisha being the other four — with zero tigers within the reserve.
Mullaperiyar Dam
Time to Read :🕑 5 Mins
Why in news?
Recently, Tamil Nadu moved the Supreme Court, accusing Kerala of obstructing work on Mullaperiyar dam.
About the Dam
Mullaperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River of Idukki district of Kerala.
The dam is built at the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers.
It is located 881 m (2,890 ft) above the sea level, on the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats. The Periyar National Park is located around the dam's reservoir.
The dam was constructed with limestone and “Surkhi" (burnt brick powder and a mixture of sugar and calcium oxide).
Although the dam is located in Kerala, it is operated by Tamil Nadu following an 1886 lease indenture for 999 years that was signed between the Maharaja of Travancore and the Secretary of State for India for the Periyar Irrigation works.
The dam's purpose was to divert the waters of the west-flowing River Periyar eastward to the arid rain shadow regions of the Theni, Madurai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu.
About Periyar River
Periyar, is the longest river and the river with the largest discharge potential in the Indian state of Kerala.
The source of the river lies in the remote forests of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The river originates from Chokkampatti Mala, a peak on the southern boundary of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The Periyar has a total length of approximately 244 kilometres and a catchment area of 5,398 square kilometres.
It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns.
Its major tributaries are Muthirapuzha River, Mullayar River, Cheruthoni River, Perinjankutti River and Edamala River.
Before joining the sea, the river bifurcates into the Marthandavarma and the Mangalapuzha branches.
The Mangalapuzha branch joins Chalakudy River and empties into the Lakshadweep Sea at Munambam and the Marthandavarma branch drains into the Cochin backwater system (part of Vembanad Lake).
Thrombocytopenia Syndrome
Time to Read :🕑 5 Mins
Why in news?
Recently, AstraZeneca has admitted that its Covid-19 vaccine can result in a rare side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.
About
Covishield, a vaccine is developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) is a rare condition in which blood clots form in unusual places in the body, and the number of platelets in the blood drops. Platelets are small cells that help blood to clot, so having too few of them can be dangerous.
The condition was observed in people who received adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccines, such as Vaxzevria, Covishield (AstraZeneca) and the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
TTS seems to occur because the body's immune system reacts to the vaccine by making antibodies that attack a protein involved in blood clotting.
Symptoms of TTS can include severe headaches, stomach pain, swelling in the legs, trouble breathing, and problems with thinking or seizures.
According to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TTS is classified into two tiers based on the location of the blood clot and the severity of the symptoms.
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