Freedom of Religion

Why in News?

Recently, the Tamil Nadu (TN) Government has stated that the Article 25 (Freedom of Religion) of the Indian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to propagate his religion, while replying to a petition in the Supreme Court (SC).

• The petitioner complained about the instances of forceful conversion in TN, violating the Fundamental Rights.

What is the Case About?

• The petitioner sought an NIA (National Investigation Agency)/CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) investigation into the “root cause” of the death of a 17-year-old girl in Tamil Nadu amidst a swirl of accusations that she had been forced to convert to Christianity. The petition argued that forcible or deceitful conversion was a violation of fundamental rights.
• TN govt has replied that the acts of missionaries to spread Christianity by themselves cannot be seen as illegal, since the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to propagate his religion under Article 25.
  • However, if their act of spreading their religion is against public order, morality and health and against other provisions of Part III of the Constitution, it has to be viewed seriously.

What is Understood by the Freedom of Religion?

• About:
  • Every citizen is entitled with this right and liberty to preach, practice and propagate the religion of his choice.
    • An opportunity is also provided by this right to spread it among everyone without any fear of government intervention.
    • But also, it is expected by the state to practice it amicably within the jurisdiction of the country.
• Need:
  • India is home to people following different religions and having different faiths. As per the Pew Research Centre 2021 data, there are 4,641,403 people who follow other religions apart from the six major religions which are Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Christianity.
  • So with such a diverse population, following different religions and beliefs, it becomes necessary to protect and secure rights regarding the faith of each and every religion.
• Secularism:
  • The 42^nd Constitutional amendment in 1976 added the word ‘secular’ to the preamble of the Constitution. India being a secular state, is a no state religion which means that it follows no particular religion.
    • In Ahmedabad St. Xavier’s College v. State of Gujarat (1975), the SC held that Secularism neither means anti-god nor pro-god. It just ensures that no one is differentiated on the basis of religion eliminating the concept of God in matters of the state.
• Constitutional Provisions Related to Freedom of Religion:
  • Article 25: It imparts freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.
  • Article 26: It gives freedom to manage religious affairs.
  • Article 27: It sets freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion.
  • Article 28: It gives freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions.

What are the Major Judicial Pronouncements on Freedom of Religion

• Bijoe Emmanuel and Ors. v. State of Kerala (1986):
  • In this case, three children of Jehovah’s Witnesses sect were suspended from the school as they refused to sing the national anthem claiming that it is against the tenets of their faith. The court held that expulsion is violative of fundamental rights and the right to freedom of religion.
• Acharya Jagdishwaranand v. Commissioner of Police, Calcutta (1983):
  • The Court held that Ananda Marga is not a separate religion but a religious denomination. And the performance of Tandava on public streets is not an essential practice of Ananda Marga.
• M. Ismail Faruqui v. Union of India (1994):
  • The apex court held that the mosque is not an essential practice of Islam, and a Muslim can offer namaz (prayer) anywhere even in the open.
• Raja Birakishore v. State of Orissa (1964.):
  • The validity of the Jagannath Temple Act, 1954 was challenged as it enacted provisions to manage the affairs of Puri temple on the grounds that it is violating Article 26. The court held that the Act only regulated the secular aspect of seva puja, therefore, it is not violative of Article 26.

Source: TH

Model Code of Conduct 

Why in News?

As the Karnataka Assembly Elections draw closer, political parties are trading accusations of hate speech against each other.

• The parties have approached the Election Commission of India regarding violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

What is MCC?

• About:
  • The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the ECI to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections.
  • It helps EC in keeping with the mandate it has been given under Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives it the power to supervise and conduct free and fairelections to the Parliament and State Legislatures.
  • The MCC is operational from the date on which the election schedule is announced until the date of the result announcement.
• Evolution:
  • The origin of the MCC lies in the Assembly elections of Kerala in 1960, when the State administration prepared a ‘Code of Conduct’ for political actors.
  • Subsequently, in the Lok Sabha elections in 1962, the ECI circulated the code to all recognized political parties and State governments, and it was wholeheartedly followed.
  • It was in 1991 after repeated flouting of the election norms and continued corruption, the EC decided to enforce the MCC more strictly.
• MCC for Political Parties and Candidates:
  • Prohibitions:
    • Criticism of political parties must be limited to their policies and programmes, past record, and work.
    • Activities such as using caste and communal feelings to secure votes, criticizing candidates on the basis of unverified reports, bribing or intimidation of voters, etc. are prohibited.
  • Meetings:
    • Parties must inform the local police authorities of the venue and time of any meeting in time to enable the police to make adequate security arrangements.
  • Processions:
    • If two or more candidates plan processions along the same route, the political parties must establish contact in advance to ensure that the processions do not clash.
    • Carrying and burning effigies representing members of other political parties is not allowed.
  • Polling Day:
    • Only voters and those with a valid pass from the EC are allowed to enter polling booths.
    • All authorized party workers at polling booths should be given suitable badges or identity cards.
      • Identity slips supplied by them to voters shall be on plain (white) paper and shall not contain any symbol, name of the candidate or the name of the party.
  • Observers:
    • The EC will appoint observers to whom any candidates may report problems regarding the conduct of the election.
  • Party in Power:
    • The MCC incorporated certain restrictions in 1979, regulating the conduct of the party in power. Ministers must not combine official visits with election work or use official machinery for the same.
    • The party must avoid advertising at the cost of the public exchequer or using official mass media for publicity on achievements to improve chances of victory in the elections.
    • From the time elections are announced by Commission, the ministers and other authorities must not announce any financial grants, or promise any construction of roads, provision of drinking water, etc. Other parties must be allowed to use public spaces and rest houses, and these must not be monopolized by the party in power.
  • Election Manifestos:
    • The ECI directs that political parties and candidates must adhere to the following guidelines while releasing election manifestos for any election (Parliament/State Legislatures):
      • The election manifesto shall not contain anything against the ideals and principles enshrined in the Constitution.
      • Political parties should avoid making promises that are likely to vitiate the purity of the election process or exert undue influence on voters.
      • Manifestos should reflect the rationale for promises and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it.
    • Manifestos shall not be released during the prohibitory period, as prescribed under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act 1951, for single or multi-phase elections.

Is the MCC Legally Enforceable?

• Though the MCC does not have any statutory backing, it has come to acquire strength in the past decade because of its strict enforcement by the EC.
  • Certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the IPC 1860, CrPC 1973, and RPA 1951.
• In 2013, the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice recommended making the MCC legally binding and recommended that the MCC be made a part of the RPA 1951.
• However, the ECI argues against making it legally binding. According to it, elections must be completed within a relatively short time or close to 45 days and judicial proceedings typically take longer, therefore it is not feasible to make it enforceable by law.

What are the Criticisms of the MCC?

• Ineffectiveness in Curbing Malpractices:
  • The MCC has failed to prevent electoral malpractices such as hate speech, fake news, money power, booth capturing, voter intimidation, and violence.
  • ECI is also challenged by new technologies and social media platforms that enable faster and wider dissemination of misinformation and propaganda.
• Lack of Legal Enforceability:
  • MCC is not a legally binding document and relies merely on moral persuasion and public opinion for compliance.
• Interference with Governance:
  • MCC imposes limitations on policy decisions, public spending, welfare schemes, transfers, and appointments.
  • ECI is often criticized for applying the MCC too early or too late, affecting development activities and public interest.
• Lack of Awareness and Compliance:
  • It is not widely known or understood by voters, candidates, parties, and government officials.

Source: TH

National Health Accounts Estimates

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the 7^th National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates for India (2019-20), which was produced by the National Health Systems Resource Centre.

• The NHA estimates are prepared by using an accounting framework based on the internationally accepted System of Health Accounts 2011, provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).

What are the Key Highlights?

Health Indicators	Definitions	Data of Growth Trends
Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE)	OOPE is the money paid directly by households, at the point of receiving health care. This occurs when services are neither provided free of cost through a government health facility, nor is the individual covered under any public or private insurance or social protection scheme.	The share of OOPE in total health expenditure has declined from 62.6% in 2014-15 to 47.1% in 2019-20.
Government Health Expenditure (GHE)	GHE constitutes spending under all schemes funded and managed by Union, State, and Local Governments including quasi-Governmental organizations and donors in case funds are channeled through Government organizations. health system as a low Government.	GHE’s share in the country’s total GDP increased from 1.13% (2014-15) to 1.35% (2019-20).
General Government Expenditure (GGE)	This is a proportion of the share of Government expenditures towards healthcare in the General Government Expenditures and indicates Government’s priority towards healthcare.	In GGE the share of health sector spending has steadily increased from 3.94% to 5.02% between 2014-15 and 2019-20.
Total Health Expenditure (THE)	THE constitutes current and capital expenditures incurred by Government and Private Sources including External funds.	In the Total Health Expenditure (THE) of the country between 2014-15 and 2019-20, the share of GHE has increased from 29% to 41.4%.
Social Security Expenditure (SSE)	It includes government-funded health insurance, medical reimbursement to government employees, and social health insurance programs.	The share of SSE on health has increased from 5.7% in 2014-15 to 9.3% in 2019-20.
Private Health Insurance Expenditures (PHIE)	PHIE constitute spending through health insurance companies where households or employers pay a premium to be covered under a specific health plan.	PHIE has increased from 3.4 % in 2013-14 to 7 % in 2019-20 estimates out of total Health Expenditure.
External/ Donor Funding for health	This constitutes all funding available to the country by assistance from donors.	It has increased from 0.3 % in 2013-14 to 0.5 % in 2019-20 out of total health expenditure.

Way Forward

• The state governments should move ahead in healthcare spending as percentage of their total budget to about 8% which is currently 4-5% for many states, adding that “this spending must be in line with the bigger picture of benefiting the citizens”.
• It is important to persist with this trend of expenditure on primary healthcare so that promotive and preventive health, which mostly take place at primary level, can be focused upon.
• The Fifteenth Finance Commission recommends that the public health expenditure of the Union and States should be increased together to reach 2.5% of GDP (Growth Domestic Product) by 2025.
  • Currently, 20% of the population has social and private health insurance, while the remaining 30%, known as the "missing middle," have no health insurance.

Source: PIB

Who’s Tipping the Scales Report: IPES

Why in News?

Recently, a report has been released by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES) titled “Who’s tipping the scales”, highlights how corporate capture of global Food Governance is increasingly taking place in more visible ways and raising concerns over Bluewashing.

What are the Highlights of the Report?

• Corporate Takeover of Food Governance:
  • There has been a growing presence of firms in governance and spaces, staking claims to be legitimate actors.
  • Over recent decades, corporations have succeeded in convincing governments that they must be central in any discussion on the future of food systems.
  • Corporate partnerships provided a key source of funding for global food governance institutions and corporations with greater influence over decision-making.
• Normalization of Corporate Role in Food Governance:
  • The role of private corporations in food governance and decision-making has been normalized by public-private partnerships and multi-stakeholder roundtables while public governance initiatives have become heavily dependent on private funding.
    • The UN Food Systems Summit, 2021 was described as a watershed moment in highlighting the importance of corporate influence in public health governance.
• Concerns Over Corporate Influence:
  • Civil society organizations, food scholars, and social movements have expressed concern that the increased involvement of corporations in food governance could lead to a weakening of the public good and impact the rights of people and communities.
• Visible and Invisible Corporate Influence:
  • Corporations have influenced global food governance in visible and invisible ways.
  • Corporate influence could be seen in global food systems platforms such as the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, the Food and Land Use Coalition, and the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement.
  • Other less visible ways in which corporate influence was seen in food systems governance was how the private sector enterprises provided political and institutional donations, shaped trading & investment rules and research strategies, and other structural aspects of global food systems.
• Causes of Increases Corporate Involvement:
  • The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Food Inflation, aggravated the issue of corporate involvement.
  • Following these crises, governments and multilateral agencies have been facing fund crunches.
• Incidences of Corporate Involvement:
  • The CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) relied-on funding from private firms and private philanthropic institutions connected to the food industry.
  • The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which was the CGIAR’s 2nd largest donor in 2020 contributed around USD 100 million, which was far more than what was contributed by individual governments including that of the USA.
  • The FAO was also found to have closely collaborated with corporations through industry partnerships throughout its history. However, the details regarding these contributions were not readily available.

What are the Recommendations?

• Create a robust conflict of interest and grievance policies and new mechanisms grounded in Human Rights, that allow people's organizations, social movements and other civil society actors to participate in food governance on their own terms.
• Build up autonomous processes and spaces for claims and proposals from people’s organizations and social movements, especially those that build agency for marginalized communities.

Source: DTE

Paris Agreement and its Failure to Address the Climate Change

Why in News?

Recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its State of the Global Climate 2022 report which pointed out that the Paris Agreement on Climate Change has been ineffective in fulfilling its agenda.

• The Paris Agreement that serves as the centre point of ongoing global negotiation on climate change was inked in 2015.

What has the Report Highlighted on Performance of Paris Agreement?

• Inability to Achieve Climate Related Goals:
  • After signing of the Agreement, the last eight years (2015-2022) have consecutively been the warmest years on record globally.
    • The situation could have been far worse if the La Nina weather event had not occurred in the past three years, which has a cooling effect on the weather system.
  • Globally updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to limit global warming to 1.5°C have failed even to achieve 2°C target.
  • The Paris Agreement has not been able to equitably phase out fossil fuels predominantly responsible for the climate crisis.
  • Neither the NDCs nor the disaster risk reduction and climate risk management plans are in place to combat climate-induced extreme weather phenomena.
• Suggestions:
  • To complement the Paris Agreement, a new global framework in the form of a Fossil Fuel Treaty should be introduced.
  • Most industrialised and emission-belching countries should be made to follow the Paris Agreement’s commitments.
  • Accelerated climate action with deeper, faster emissions cuts is needed as tools, the knowledge, and the solutions are available.
  • There is a need to undertake massively scaled-up investments in adaptation and resilience, particularly for the most vulnerable countries and communities who have done the least to cause the crisis.

Source: DTE

Rapid Fire Current Affairs

Flash Floods in the Horn of Africa

Reports from organizations like the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) and the Kenya Red Cross show dire cases of flash floods in Kenya, Tanzania, and parts of Horn of Africa. The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in Northeast Africa that includes countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. The floods come at a time when the countries in the Horn of Africa are struggling with a sharp surge in climate-linked disease outbreaks, including diarrhoea, cholera, and measles.

Flash floods are sudden and intense floods that occur when heavy rainfall exceeds the capacity of the soil and drainage systems to absorb it. Flash floods can cause widespread damage to infrastructure, crops, livestock, and human lives. These events have a high peak and typically occur within six hours of the rainfall. The intensity and distribution of rainfall, land use, topography, vegetation, soil type, and water content all affect the speed and location of flash flooding. To mitigate the impact of flash floods, it is essential to avoid living in valleys and instead live in areas on slopes with firm ground.

Read more: Landslide and Flash Floods

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Underground Ammunition Storage Facility

The Centre of Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) an Indian defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation has designed an Underground Ammunition Storage Facility, which reduces the blast effect on surrounding utilities during an explosion. The Design Validation Trial of this facility was successfully conducted recently, where 5,000 kgs of TNT (trinitrotoluene) was detonated in one of the chambers of the underground facility.

The unique design of the Underground Ammunition Storage Facility reduces the required safety distances by up to 50%, and the safety distance has been established up to 120 Metric Ton ammunition storage per chamber. The design ensures higher safety of ammunition stored from any kind of aerial attack or sabotage. This facility can be extensively used by the Armed Forces for storage of all types of ammunition, reducing the land footprint requirements, and providing enhanced safety of ammunition.

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Successful Trial of Air Droppable Container

The Indian Navy and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have successfully tested an air droppable container with a payload capacity of 150 kg, the container was dropped from an IL 38SD aircraft . The trial aimed to improve the naval operational logistics capabilities by providing a quick response to meet the critical engineering stores' requirements for ships deployed more than 2,000 kilometers from the coast. It also aims to reduce the need for ships to come closer to the coast to collect spares and stores.

The container's development was a collaborative effort of three DRDO laboratories, including the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, the Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra, and the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bengaluru. The successful test of the air droppable container will enhance the Indian Navy's operational capabilities, making it easier and faster to provide critical supplies to ships deployed far from the coast.

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India’s First Undersea Tunnels

India’s first undersea twin tunnels are set to open in Mumbai, after more than two years of work on the Mumbai Coastal Road Project by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The tunnels are part of the 10.58-kilometer-long Coastal Road project that connects Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The 2.07-kilometer-long tunnels are located 17-20 meters below sea level, with a nearly 1-kilometer stretch running under the sea. The project aims to reduce travel times during peak hours from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes. Six cross passages will be provided in the tunnels, four for pedestrians and two for motorists, with each tunnel having three lanes. The tunnels were created with the help of the largest tunnel-boring machine (TBM).