7th September 2024

Topic: Black Coat Syndrome

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Governance

Source: Indian Express

Context

• During her speech at the National Conference of District Judiciary, India’s President Draupadi Murmu introduced the term “black coat syndrome” to highlight the enduring issue of court pendency.
• She likened it to the “white coat syndrome” that hospital patients experience.
  
  

About

• The President criticized the “culture of adjournment” in case decisions, pointing out that impoverished villagers are still reluctant to approach the courts because they believe that pursuing justice will make their lives even more difficult.
• Justice should not be postponed, the President emphasized, particularly in situations involving women and children.
  
  

Difficulties in the Indian Judicial System

• Caseload: According to the “State of the Judiciary” report, as of October 2023, there were over five crore pending cases across all higher and subordinate courts in India.
• However, there are only 20,580 judges employed by the Supreme Court, the high courts, and the district courts to handle them.
• Infrastructure: A lack of basic technology and infrastructure in many courts can make them less effective.
• 19.7% of district courts, according to the National Judicial Data Grid, lacked gender-specific restrooms as of September 2023.

• Judgeship vacancies: As of October 2023, there were up to 347 open positions in the nation’s high courts, out of the 1,114 authorized judges.

– Similarly, there are up to 5,300 open district judge positions in the district judiciary, out of a sanctioned strength of 25,081 judges.

• Inclusivity: As of right now, just three judges (9.3%) are female on India’s highest court.
  – There are only 103 female judges in high courts (13.42%).
• However, the district judiciary has significantly improved, with 36.33% of its judges being female.
  
  

Actions made to address the problem

• Utilizing technology for information and communication (ICT):
• The goal of the Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project is to make the decisions of the highest court available digitally.
• Virtual court system: Videoconferencing is used to conduct regular court proceedings virtually.
• The eCourts portal serves as a one-stop shop for all parties involved, including litigants, advocates, governmental organizations, law enforcement, and regular people.
• NJDG, or the National Judicial Data Grid: Researchers, academicians, and the general public now have access to statistics on cases pending at the federal, state, district, and individual court levels.
• National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms (2011): Its introduction aimed to improve access by decreasing systemic delays and arrears.
  To guarantee prompt justice, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods such as online dispute resolution, gram nyayalayas, and lok adalats are employed.
• The Commercial Courts Act of 2015 mandates that commercial disputes be settled through pre-institution mediation.
• Fast Track courts: These courts are being established in order to reduce the time it takes to deliver justice and to expedite cases involving serious crimes, elderly people, women, and children, among other groups.
  
  

Way Forward

• Workload and Capacity: According to the Chief Justice of India, the courts must handle more cases than they can handle at their current 71% capacity in order to keep up with the number of new cases that are being filed.
• Judge Vacancies: There are currently 28% of judges in district courts.
• National Integration of Judicial Recruitment: The necessity of national integration of judicial recruitment was underscored by the Chief Justice.
• Committees for the Management of Cases at the District Level: These committees ought to be set up in order to identify target cases, retrieve documents, and effectively handle cases at the district level.
• Resolution of disputes before litigation can aid in lowering the backlog of cases.
• Approximately 1,000 cases were arbitrarily settled in a recent Lok Adalat held by the highest court in five working days.
• The Malimath Committee (2003) suggested in its report that, in light of the protracted case backlog, the vacation period be shortened by 21 days.

• It is necessary to address the perceived disparity between the High Courts and the district judiciaries. This gap is thought to be a holdover from colonial subjugation and ought to be resolved to create a more unified judicial system.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2050673

Mains Model Questions

Q. Analyze the main reasons why cases in the Indian judiciary are still pending. What role do problems with infrastructure and structure play in this issue?

Introduction:

With an alarming number of pending cases, the Indian judiciary, one of the last strongholds of democracy and justice, is facing an increasingly difficult task. According to data that the government recently submitted to the Rajya Sabha, the number of cases that are pending in different courts is getting close to five crores. This represents not only an administrative burden but also a serious danger to the provision of prompt justice.

Body:

Causes of Case Pendency in the Indian Court System

• Judge Shortage: There is a notable deficiency in the number of judges across the board in the judiciary. Vacancies in the high court average 30%, occasionally reaching nearly 50%, while subordinate court vacancies average 22%. This shortage drastically reduces the judiciary’s capacity to handle cases efficiently.
• Strength Needed vs. Sanctioned: The sanctioned strength of judges is insufficient on its own. The Law Commission’s 1987 report, the 120th, suggested 50 judges for every 10 lakh people. But there are currently only 15 judges in India for every 10 lakh people.
• Complicated Legal Processes: Protracted and intricate legal processes are a major cause of delays. Judges could be more efficient if they spent less time on procedural formalities, which take up a lot of time.
• Adjournments and Delays: Cases are drawn out over time by frequent adjournments and procedural delays. Attorneys further clog the system by taking advantage of these delays on behalf of their clients.

Structural and infrastructure Issues

• Judges’ Workload Is Growing: Due to the overwhelming workload caused by the lack of judges and staff, hearings and decisions are delayed.
• Establishing Bottlenecks in Procedures: The system moves cases more slowly because of antiquated practices and a lack of technology.
• Improving Inefficiency: It is challenging to track cases and expedite procedures when court infrastructure and case management systems are inefficient.

Conclusion:

The resolution of case pendency requires a multipronged approach. Increasing judicial funding, embracing technology, modernizing the legal infrastructure, and streamlining the appointment process are all essential. By addressing its structural and infrastructural flaws, the legal system in India can resolve cases more quickly and effectively.

Topic: 33% reservation for women in police force

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Polity

Source: Business Standard

Context

The Rajasthan government decided to change the State Police Subordinate Service Rules, 1989, allowing for a 33% reservation for women in the police force.

Present Situation

• The proportion of women in Indian police has increased over time.
• It’s important to remember that this progress is still gradual.
• On January 1, 2022, women accounted for 11.7% of all State police officers.
• Since law enforcement is a state function, increasing the number of female police officers and achieving a better gender balance falls primarily under the purview of state governments and union territory (UT) administrations.
  
  

Women’s Place in the Police Force

• Better Management of Violence Against Women: Higher reporting rates and more adept management of sexual assault, domestic abuse, and other crimes are correlated with greater representation of women in law enforcement.
• Improved Police-Community Relations: Because of their strong interpersonal communication skills and decreased propensity to use force, women officers are typically trusted more by their communities.
• Effective Problem-Solving Skills: Women in law enforcement have strong problem-solving abilities.
• In terms of decision-making and service delivery, diverse workforces—which include a healthy proportion of men and women—are more innovative, resilient, and efficient.
  
  

Problems and Difficulties

• Problems with the infrastructure: Many female police officers voiced their displeasure with the inadequate facilities, such as the absence of separate restrooms and insufficient places to report harassment at work.
• Prejudiced Beliefs: A subset of the public harboured misconceptions regarding women’s suitability for police work.
• Workplace: Sexism and gender bias are prevalent in the hostile work environment that women in the police force frequently encounter.
  
  

Steps taken

• The State Governments and UT Administrations have received frequent advisories from the Ministry of Home Affairs asking them to raise the proportion of female police officers to 33% of the total force.
• States and Unions are urged to make sure that every police station has ten female constables and three female sub-inspectors in order to keep a women’s help desk staffed twenty-four hours a day.
• States are urged to enhance welfare programs for female police officers, such as lodging, healthcare, and restrooms, in order to foster a positive work environment.
• Extensive Promotion and Fee Waiver: Female applicants are not required to pay application fees, and the recruitment process is extensively publicized.
• Because of the high number of crimes against women, the Supreme Court has emphasized the urgent need for more women to be represented in the police force.
  
  

Suggestions and Way Forward

• To encourage more women to join the police force, efforts should be made to establish a supportive atmosphere and the necessary infrastructure.
  creating recruitment boards in every state to guarantee consistent hiring of females.
• To combat ingrained patriarchy in police organizations, a model policy is required.
• Gender stereotypes should not be applied when making deployment decisions, allowing women to assume prominent roles in operations and investigations.
• Establish a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination.
• It is imperative that police forces become more gender-sensitive. Discriminatory ideas about women’s potential need to be addressed.
• Programs for sensitization ought to support initiatives for greater representation.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

https://www.livemint.com/news/rajasthan-news-bjp-govt-approves-33-quota-for-women-in-police-11725462320753.html

Mains Model Questions

Q. Re-examining the concept of all-woman police stations is necessary to effectively empower women. Analyze the statement.

Introduction:

In India, the number of all-woman police stations has skyrocketed in the last several years. They were created expressly to address crimes against women. Although there has been a rise in the reporting of crimes against women, the intended goals have not been met.

Body:

Why should the concept of all-female police stations be reconsidered?

• Female representation: In 2009, the benchmark target for women’s representation in the police was set by the Union Home Ministry at 33%. This goal is still far off, though, as the majority of female police officers are employed in Bihar (25.3%).
• Women’s safety: India ranks 148th out of 170 countries in the Women, Peace and Security Index 2021, indicating that vulnerable women’s situations are common in the nation.
• Numerous challenges still face women due to inadequate infrastructure, such as gender-specific changing areas in police stations, inadequate childcare support systems, and separate restrooms.
• Male coworkers are less cooperative because of the patriarchal view of masculinity. Additionally, this system assigns the collective responsibility for women’s safety to a police station staffed exclusively by women.
• It is implied by this idea that the women officers are limited to handling crimes against women.
  
  

What actions are necessary?

• The leadership of the police and political parties needs to be made aware of the need to stop crime against women.
• The female officers must receive thorough training in all areas of law enforcement before being assigned to both urban and rural police units.
• It is not advisable to post female police officers in computer departments, counseling rooms, front desks, etc.
• In police stations, facilities such as restrooms and female-only changing areas should be constructed with sufficient care.
• Gender equality, women’s rights, and male collaboration with female coworkers must all be covered in basic police training. It is also important to emphasize these subjects in in-service workshops.

Conclusion:

Therefore, rather than segregating female police officers, they ought to be integrated into the mainstream police force and trained to handle all kinds of criminal activity. The goal of women’s empowerment will then be realized when there is only a female police force and it becomes an effective force.

Topic: FOCAC Summit

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – International Relations

Source: Reuters

Context

• A $51 billion funding commitment to African nations was made by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.

• Around 30 infrastructure projects throughout the continent will receive financial support from China totaling 360 billion yuan ($50.7 billion).
• “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future” is this year’s theme.
  
  

What is the FOCAC?

• The strategic partnership between China and African countries was formalized in 2000 with the founding of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
• Every three years, a summit is held, with China or an African member serving as the alternate host.
• With the exception of Eswatini, all 53 countries on the African continent are members of the FOCAC.
• Eswatini opposes Beijing’s “One China” Policy by maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

• Another member is the Commission of the African Union.
  
  

China’s Prominent Investment in Africa

• China’s strategy for investing in African nations has shifted; the country now wants to focus only on “small and beautiful projects” rather than large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Additionally, it wants to market cutting-edge, environmentally friendly technologies in which Chinese companies have made significant investments.
• Motives behind China’s Modified Approach: The summit takes place at a time when China’s economy is still struggling after the pandemic and its annual growth target appears unattainable.
• The manufacturers are facing difficulties related to unemployment and deflation.
• Concerns regarding loan defaults are also present; in 2020, Zambia missed payments on a loan, and Ghana defaulted on most of its $30 billion external debt in 2022.

Importance of the FOCAC 2024

• Narrowing the widening trade gap between China and Africa by boosting imports of processed minerals and agricultural products may be one of the summit’s objectives.
• China’s geopolitical objective is to satisfy these African demands in order to maintain their support in the struggle with the United States.
• As in the past, African leaders are expected to seek support for expensive items but also place more emphasis on the sustainability of debt.
  – Kenya’s recent deadly protests were brought on by the government’s obligation to pay off its debt to China and other foreign creditors.
  – In light of these developments, African leaders present at the forum want more favourable loans from China in addition to increased investment.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/focac-china-africa-9551476/

Mains Model Questions

Q. Increasing interest of India in Africa has its pros and cons. Critically Examine. (UPSC PYQ 2015)

Introduction:

Growing economic, strategic, and cultural ties between India and African nations are indicators of the latter’s growing interest in the continent. Although this offers Africa and India a number of opportunities, it also raises questions about the possible drawbacks of such engagement.

Body:

Pros of India’s Growing Engagement with Africa

• Energy Security: India’s need for energy security has motivated its relations with Africa. Africa is a major supplier of gas and oil, and India’s growing energy needs can be satisfied by working with Africa.
• Natural Resources: Minerals, metals, and agricultural products are among the vital natural resources found in Africa. India can guarantee both its access to these resources and their sustainable use by fostering relationships with African nations.
• New Markets: By interacting with Africa, India can lessen its reliance on traditional Western markets and diversify its export markets. This can encourage greater regional integration and help India fortify its economic ties with Africa.
  
  

Cons of India’s Growing Interest into Africa

• Economic Dependency: India may become economically dependent on Africa as a result of its interactions with the continent. As a result, India may have less autonomy and influence over decisions, and it may be more vulnerable to regional political unrest.
• Political Difficulties: Ethnic conflicts, terrorism, and ineffective governance are just a few of the political difficulties that face the complex continent of Africa. India may face these difficulties as a result of its engagement with Africa, which could be detrimental to its strategic and economic objectives.
• Competition with China: China’s expanding influence in the region presents a challenge to India’s efforts in Africa. India may have less access to resources and markets as a result of China’s strong investments in Africa, which could present serious strategic difficulties.

Conclusion:

India and Africa stand to gain a great deal from each other’s growing interest in Africa, especially in the areas of trade, investment, and cultural exchange. It prompts worries about the possible drawbacks, like resource exploitation and unstable political environments. India should continue to take a balanced approach to its interactions with Africa and make sure they are long-lasting and mutually beneficial.

Topic: Government targets 500 million Tonnes Steel Production by 2034

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Economy

Source: News on AIR

Context

During his speech at the fifth ISA Steel Conclave, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry set a goal to produce 500 million tonnes of steel by 2034.

India’s Steel Production Situation

• India surpassed Japan in 2018 to become the second-largest producer of crude steel worldwide.
• The production of finished steel was 138.5 MT and crude steel was 143.6 MT in FY24.
• India consumed 119.17 MT of finished steel in FY23 and 138.5 MT in FY24.The total amount of finished steel imported and exported in FY24 was 8.32 MT and 7.49 MT, respectively.
• In FY23, the per capita consumption of steel was 86.7 kg.
  
  

India’s Steel Industry’s Potential

• India’s large reserves of iron ore and easy access to inexpensive labor make it competitive in the world economy.
• India possesses the world’s fifth-largest reserves of iron ore.
• In July 2023, India overtook China as the leading country in developing coal-based steel capacity, as per the most recent report released by Global Energy Monitor (GEM).
• Growth of the Automobile Industry One of the biggest users of steel is the automotive industry.
• The demand for steel rises as India’s middle class grows and their purchasing power rises, which in turn drives up demand for automobiles.
• Urbanization: As the population grows and urbanization increases, so does the need for housing, business space, and urban infrastructure. This pattern supports the ongoing need for steel in the building and real estate industries.

Concerns for India’s Steel Industry

• Cost and Availability of Raw Materials: The cost and availability of raw materials like coking coal and iron ore are critical to the steel industry.
• Ninety percent of India’s coking coal needs are still met by imports.
• Global Competition: Indian steel producers must contend with fierce competition from global firms in the fiercely competitive steel sector.
• In the past, the industry was greatly impacted by the dumping of steel products, particularly those from China and Vietnam.
• Bottlenecks in the infrastructure: Insufficient transportation infrastructure, ineffective logistics, and power outages impede the seamless functioning of the steel sector. Moreover, it raises the cost of production.
  
  

Steps taken by the Government

• India has set targets to achieve a total crude steel capacity of 300 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) and a total crude steel demand/production of 255 MTPA by 2030–31, as per the National Steel Policy 2017 (NSP 2017).

• With the intention of lowering imports, the government unveiled the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy in 2019.
• The DMI & SP Policy, which gives preference to domestically manufactured iron and steel products in government procurement, has led to an approximate ₹34,800 crore import substitution.
• Labeling steel produced in the nation with the “Made in India” designation is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Steel to set Indian-made steel apart from other brands.
• An agreement to conduct research and development in the steel sector and produce coking coal (used in steel making).
• Initiatives to promote environmental sustainability and lower carbon emissions can receive financial support from stakeholders through the “Promotion of Research & Development in Iron & Steel Sector” scheme.
• Under the automatic route, the government permitted 100% of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the steel industry.
• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released data showing that, between April 2000 and March 2024, FDI inflows totaling US$ 17.51 billion were attracted to the Indian metallurgical industries.
  
  

Way Forward

• To establish India as a top global steel producer, innovation is required to achieve low emissions, high productivity, and superior quality.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) is needed at every stage of the value chain to maximize output, reduce waste, and improve efficiency.
• In order to promote sustainable manufacturing, it is also necessary to address the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) with leaders in the steel industry and create fair playing fields for domestic industries.
  
  

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

https://www.ibef.org/news/union-minister-of-commerce-and-industry-mr-piyush-goyal-sets-500-million-tonnes-domestic-steel-production-target-by-2034#:~:text=Union%20Minister%20of%20Commerce%20and%20Industry%2C%20Mr.%20Piyush%20Goyal%2C,of%20steel%20production%20by%202034.

Mains Model Questions

Q. Account for the present location of iron and steel industries away from the source of raw material, by giving examples. (UPSC PYQ 2020)

Introduction:

The iron and steel industry’s foundation, growth, and concentration depend heavily on raw material and energy resources. Because steel lost a lot of weight during processing, early steel plants were mostly situated near coal during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

But as time went on, factors like the exhaustion of raw materials, the introduction of new technology (such electric furnaces), and the development of fuel-efficient vehicles encouraged the iron and steel sector to relocate away from the sources of raw materials.

Body:

• The availability of capital and markets, in addition to raw material availability, play a significant role in the localization of industries, such as the iron and steel sector.
• Market-based location is typically found in nations with sparse deposits of iron ore and coal.
• The major iron steel regions of “Tokyo-Yokohama” and “Osaka-Kobe-Heemeji” are driven by the market.
• The location of the iron and steel industries is also influenced by transportation.
• In certain situations, the intermediate location benefits greatly from being accessible to markets, raw materials, and transportation. Its port location confers benefits.
  – For instance, the first port-based plant began operations in 1992 and is located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh; it is called the Vizag Steel Plant.
• The depletion of raw material reserves has resulted in disadvantages for industries that rely on them.
• In addition, industries were drawn to regions with less expensive transportation due to the significant decrease in the use of coal and the advancement of fuel economy.
  – For instance, raw materials are available at a significantly lower cost at a break-of-bulk location or inexpensive water route because of loading and unloading facilities.

Conclusion:
These days, the market, iron ore, and coal all play equal roles in determining where steel plants are located. However, the location of the steel plant is determined by the geographic coincidence of any two factors.