Inter-Services Organizations Act

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Inter-Services Organisations Act                                                                                 

Why in News?

The government recently introduced the Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) Act, allowing the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command to manage personnel from all military branches, improving operations and teamwork.

What are the Key Features of the Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) Act?

Background:

• The Armed Forces currently operate under separate Service Acts: The Army Act (1950), the Navy Act (1957), and the Air Force Act (1950).
• These distinct acts can cause challenges in maintaining uniform discipline, coordination, and efficient proceedings across inter-service establishments.
• The ISO Act does not change existing service acts, rules, or regulations.

Features of the ISO Act:

Empowering ISO Leadership:

• Grants Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command of ISOs disciplinary and administrative control over service personnel from any branch (Army, Navy, Air Force).
• Simplifies command structure and ensures efficient decision-making within ISOs.

Constituting and Classifying ISOs:

• Formally recognizes existing ISOs like the Andaman and Nicobar Command, Defence Space Agency, and National Defence Academy.
• Allows the central government to establish ISOs with personnel from at least two of the three services (Army, Navy, Air Force).
• ISOs are commanded by an Officer-in-Command or a Commander-in-Chief for Joint Services Commands (tri-service).

Applicability and Qualifications:

• Can extend to other centrally controlled forces beyond the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Specifies eligibility criteria for Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command, requiring high-ranking officers from each service.

Control and Commanding Officer:

• The central government has ultimate authority over ISOs, issuing directives related to national security, administration, and public interest.
• Establishes the role of Commanding Officer, responsible for specific units, ships, or establishments within an ISO, with authority to initiate disciplinary or administrative actions.

What is the Significance of Integration of Armed Forces?

Enhanced Operational Effectiveness:

Better Coordination and Understanding: Joint planning and training improve collaboration between services, crucial for modern warfare. The ISOs Act, 2024 empowers ISO leadership to execute a unified command.

Faster Decision-Making:

Streamlined Command Structures: Integrated units allow for quicker decision-making on the battlefield. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), established in 2019, acts as a single-point military advisor to the government, enhancing coordination in defence planning and procurement.

Optimum Resource Utilisation:

Reduced Duplication and Optimised Allocation: Integration reduces redundant efforts and optimizes resource use across all services. Integrated theatre commands streamline planning, logistics, and operations.

Conclusion

The integration of the Indian armed forces has been a long-term vision, and past steps indicate progress in the right direction. Additionally, incorporating modern warfare systems like China’s Information Support Force, Cyberspace Force, or the USA’s Space Force can significantly enhance India's defense capabilities to meet modern warfare needs and challenges.

Sariska Tiger Reserve

Why in News?

Recently, the Supreme Court of India clarified that protected areas include not only national parks and wildlife sanctuaries but also critical tiger habitats, such as tiger reserves.

This clarification relates to its earlier 2023 order stating that mining is not permissible within national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and within 1 km of their boundaries. The case in question concerns the buffer zone created to protect the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan.

What are the Key Facts About the Sariska Tiger Reserve?

About Sariska Tiger Reserve:

Location: Situated in the Aravali hills, part of Alwar District, Rajasthan.

History: Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and a tiger reserve in 1978 under India's Project Tiger.

Feature: Includes ruins of temples, forts, pavilions, and a palace. Notable landmarks include Kankarwadi Fort, where Mughal emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh, and a famous temple of Lord Hanuman at Pandupole, linked to the Pandavas.

Flora and Fauna:

Landscape: Characterized by rocky terrains, arid scrub-thorn forests, grasslands, cliffs, and semi-deciduous forests.

Vegetation: Dominated by dhok trees, salar, kadaya, gol, ber, banyan, gugal, bamboo, kair, among others.

Wildlife: Home to Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, sambhar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar, hyenas, and jungle cats.

Other Protected Areas in Rajasthan:

• Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
• Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur
• Ranthambore National Park
• Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Udaipur
• National Chambal Sanctuary (tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh)
• Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan's 4th Tiger reserve)

What are Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs)?

About:

National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016): This plan required state governments to declare land within 10 km of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as Eco-Fragile Zones or Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.

Activities Around ESZs:

• Prohibited Activities: Commercial mining, sawmills, polluting industries, major hydroelectric projects, and commercial wood use.
• Regulated Activities: Tree cutting, establishment of resorts, commercial use of natural water, erection of electrical cables, drastic changes in agriculture, and road widening.
• Permitted Activities: Existing agricultural or horticultural practices, rainwater harvesting, organic farming, and use of renewable energy sources.

Significance of ESZs:

• Buffer Zones: ESZs act as buffers around protected areas, regulating activities to minimize the negative impacts of development and human intervention.
• In-Situ Conservation: They aid in the conservation of species like the One-horned Rhino in Kaziranga National Park, Assam.
• Wildlife Corridors: ESZs help maintain wildlife corridors and reduce man-animal conflicts by preventing wild animals from entering human settlements.
• Fragile Ecosystem: Many ESZs include wetlands, mangroves, and reefs, crucial for biodiversity. Regulating activities in these areas helps preserve their ecological functions.

Indian Manufacturing Needs Product Sophistication

Why in News?

Recently, the finance minister emphasized that the Indian manufacturing sector should focus on developing more sophisticated products. The government is prepared to provide policy support to help achieve this goal.

What is the Status of India’s Manufacturing Sector?

The Importance of the Manufacturing Sector in India:

• Contributes 17% of India's GDP.
• Employs over 27.3 million workers.
• Aims to increase its contribution to 25% of GDP by 2025 (Make in India goal).
• Key sectors: automotive, engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and consumer durables.

Recent Performance:

• Manufacturing exports hit a record high of USD 447.46 billion in FY23, a 6.03% increase from FY22.
• Key industrial sectors saw a slowdown in January 2024, with growth at 3.6%, down from 4.9% in December 2023 and 9.7% in January 2023.
• Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for April-October 2023 was 143.5, reflecting 43.5% growth from the base year (2011-12).
• Capacity utilisation rose to 68.3% in Q2 (2021-22) from 60.0% in the previous quarter.

Sectoral Growth and Investment:

• Increased FDI inflows in sectors like Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (+46%), Food Processing Industries (+26%), and Medical Appliances (+91%).
• Employment in the sector grew from 57 million (2017-18) to 62.4 million (2019-20).
• Despite COVID-19 disruptions, the manufacturing sector showed positive Gross Value Addition (GVA).

Opportunities for the Manufacturing Sector:

1. Broad Domestic Market and Demand:

• Strong demand for goods domestically and internationally.
• Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in May 2024 was 58.8, indicating expansion.

2. Sectoral Advantage:

• Significant growth in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, electronics, industrial machinery, and textiles.
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing costs are 30%-35% lower than in the US and Europe.

3. Global Market Outreach:

• Shift in Global Value Chains (GVC) from Europe to Asia.
• Foreign value-added (FVA) in India's domestic demand from Global South partners increased from 27% in 2005 to 45% in 2015.

4. Rise of MSMEs:

• MSMEs contribute about 30% to GDP and nearly 45% of total exports.

5. Robust Demand:

• Rising demand for Indian manufacturing products, both domestically and internationally.
• The sector has the potential to reach USD 1 trillion by 2025.

6. Competitive Advantage:

• Growth driven by increased production capacity, cost advantages, supportive government policies, and private investment.
• Sets the stage for sustained economic growth.

What are the Challenges to the Manufacturing Sector in India?

1. Reliance on Outdated Technology and Inadequate Infrastructure:

• Limits global competitiveness and ability to meet international quality standards.

2. Shortage of Skilled Workforce:

• Only 24% of India's workforce has the skills needed for complex manufacturing jobs, compared to 52% in the US and 96% in South Korea (World Bank).

3. High Input Costs:

Logistics costs in India are 14% higher than the global average, reducing overall competitiveness (RBI, 2022).

4. Complex Regulatory Environment:

• Deters businesses from setting up manufacturing units in India.
• Land acquisition is complex; the Land Titling Act proposed by NITI Aayog is yet to be passed.

5. Competition from China and Import Dependence:

• In 2023-24, China accounted for almost 42% of India's textiles and clothing imports, 40% of machinery, and 38.4% of electronics imports.
• China leads global manufacturing, with nearly 30% of global output in 2022 (WTO).

Way Forward

Need for Industry 4.0 in Indian Manufacturing:

• Reports suggest that Industry 4.0 technologies could help the manufacturing sector achieve a 25% share in GDP.
• Indian manufacturers are increasingly investing in digital transformation, allocating 35% of their operating budgets towards technology, with potential for further increase.

Investment in Infrastructure:

Improving infrastructure standards and accessibility, along with reducing logistics costs, can attract increased investment and business interest in manufacturing.

Promoting Export-Oriented Manufacturing:

• Encouraging the development of export-oriented manufacturing can open new markets and enhance competitiveness.
• Support for entering new markets and policies incentivizing export-oriented manufacturing can be beneficial.

Financial Assistance:

• Many MSMEs struggle to access credit for export-related activities. Enhanced access to finance can support their growth in the manufacturing sector.

Enabling Regulations:

• Simplifying regulations and making them more efficient can lighten the regulatory burden on businesses and promote increased investment.

Emphasis on Skill Development:

• Increasing availability of training and skill development programs can address the shortage of skilled labor in manufacturing, enhancing competitiveness.

Example from Vietnam:

• Vietnam has become a global manufacturing hub due to its relatively large, well-educated, and skilled labor force.

Initiative to Eliminate Mercury-Containing Medical Devices

Why in News?

The governments of Albania, Burkina Faso, India, Montenegro, and Uganda have joined forces to address chemical pollution by initiating a USD 134-million project aimed at eliminating the use of mercury in medical devices.

What are the Key Highlights of the Initiative to Eliminate Mercury?

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) leads the initiative.
• The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
• The World Health Organization (WHO) executes the project.
• The goal is to reduce healthcare's impact on the environment and human health.
• It aims to improve the management of mercury waste and promote alternatives.
• Specifically, it targets the phase-out of mercury-containing thermometers and blood pressure measuring devices.
• The project plans to eliminate these devices at a rate of 20% per year.
• Over 1.8 million people are expected to benefit from this initiative.
• Mercury-containing medical devices are safe when intact but pose risks if broken or improperly disposed of.
• Inhalation of mercury vapours from broken devices can harm the lungs, kidneys, and nervous system.