All about Gravitational Waves

History :--

A century ago, Albert Einstein hypothesised the existence of gravitational waves, small ripples in space-time that dash across the universe at the speed of light.

But scientists have been able to find only indirect evidence of their existence. On February 11, at a news conference called by the U.S. National Science Foundation,researchers announced at long last direct observations of the elusive waves.

The discovery would represent a scientific landmark, opening the door to an entirely new way to observe the cosmos and unlock secrets about the early universe and mysterious objects like black holes and neutron stars.

What are gravitational waves?

Gravitational waves are small ripples in space-time that are believed to travel across the universe at the speed of light. They are like tiny waves on a lake — from far away, the lake’s surface looks glassy smooth; only up very close can the details of the surface be seen. They were predicted to exist by Albert Einstein in 1916 as a consequence of his General Theory of Relativity.

Scientists spot elusive space-time ripples

The highly elusive ‘gravitational waves’ have finally been detected. Understandably, and justifiably, there is great elation within the global physics community, astrophysicists and cosmologists in particular.

What did Einstein say about gravity?

While Sir Isaac Newton visualised gravitational force as a pulling force between objects, Albert Einstein opined it to be a pushing force due to the curvature of four dimensional spacetime fabric. The curvature of spacetime stems from the dent heavy objects produce on spacetime fabric, which can be compared to the dent one could see on a plastic sheet when a massive ball is placed.

How are these waves detected?

Scientists have been trying to detect them using two large laser instruments in the United States, known together as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), as well as another in Italy.

The twin LIGO installations are located roughly 3,000 km apart in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington. Having two detectors is a way to sift out terrestrial rumblings, such as traffic and earthquakes, from the faint ripples of space itself.

The LIGO work is funded by the National Science Foundation, an independent agency of the U.S. government.

What is LIGO?

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory is a large-scale physics experiment aiming to directly detect gravitational waves.

LIGO operates two gravitational wave observatories in unison: the LIGO Livingston Observatory in Livingston, Louisiana, and the LIGO Hanford Observatory, on the DOE Hanford Site, located near Richland, Washington.

These sites are separated by 3,002 kilometers. Since gravitational waves are expected to travel at the speed of light, this distance corresponds to a difference in gravitational wave arrival times of up to ten milliseconds.

Why is the study important?

Discovery of gravitational waves would represent a scientific landmark, opening the door to an entirely new way to observe the cosmos and unlock secrets about the early universe and mysterious objects like black holes and neutron stars.

Did scientists ever detect gravitational waves?

Although, physics supports the existence of gravitational waves, the strength of such waves even due to astronomically heavy bodies is awfully weak to be detected.On March 17, 2014, Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics erroneously claimed discovery of gravitational waves. The Harvard group, working at BICEP2 (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarisation) telescope, had reported that they had observed a twist in the polarisation of ancient light that goes back to the time of the big bang. But within a month, studies pointed out flaws in the study.

Agrarian Structure of Indian society through the lenses of land reforms till date

Agrarian Structure of Indian society through the lenses of land reforms till date

History of agricultural set up in India

Indian agriculture began in India in 9000 BCE.It is one of the main occupation in india at that time and even today it one of the main source of earning livelihood.

Vedic Period

The period also for the first time saw the domestication of animal elephant.Economy in the Rigvedic period was sustained by agriculture and pastoralism. Agriculture dominated the economic activity,its operations became complex with use of iron implements like black metal. Crops like wheat,rice,barley were cultivated,

Later Vedic period

During this period wide range of cereals, fruits, vegetables were cultivated.  Animal husbandry was also prevalent. Agriculture became much developed than the rigvedic period. Rice, wheat and barley was mainly cultivated. Cotton cultivation was in vogue. Various domesticated animals was used in ploughing.

Indus Valley Civilisation

During this time though agriculture was important for their livelihood but to some extent people were engaged in various other types of trade in order to earn their livelihood. Indus people used to keep cattles, goats, pigs, sheeps for food. Farmers grew fruits such as dates, grapes, melons and also wheat and peas.

Middle Ages-Early Modern Era (1200-1757AD)

  The Tamil people cultivated a wide range of crops such as rice, sugarcane, millets, black pepper, various grains, coconuts, beans, cotton, plantain, tamarind and sandalwood.  Jackfruit, coconut, palm, areca and plantain trees were also known.  Systematic ploughing, manuring, weeding, irrigation and crop protection was practiced for sustained agriculture.

Portugese introduced the cultivation of tobacco. The Malabār Coast was the home of spices, especially black pepper, that had stimulated the first European adventures in the East. Coffee had been imported from Abyssinia and became a popular beverage in aristocratic circles by the end of the century. Tea, which was to become the common man's drink and a major export, was yet undiscovered, though it was growing wild in the hills of Assam.

Land management was particularly strong during the regime of Akbar the Great (reign: 1556-1605), under whom scholar-bureaucrat Todarmal formulated and implemented elaborated methods for agricultural management on a rational basis. Indian crops—such as cotton, sugar, and citric fruits—spread visibly throughout North Africa, Islamic Spain, and the Middle East.

Colonial British Era – Republic of India (1757-1947)

Few Indian commercial crops like opium, cotton, indigo and rice made it to the global market under British raj in India. Due to increase in the production of agricultural crops were seen in the 19^th century, canals were built.

After independence India focused on agriculture in order to become self sufficient in providing food to its people.  Special programs were undertaken to increase the supply of food supply. A milestone in Indian history in order to improve the food production was the introduction of the Green Revolution in the year 1960. This helped to make India a self sufficient country with increasing GDP growth. Even India’s export and import increased through the agriculture.

Later many developments took place in order to strengthen the sector of agriculture like constituting NABARD,Council of agricultural research, National Dairy Development Board, etc.

Land Reforms in India 

Introduction

Land Reforms in India is done mainly help the poor farmers and land holders to get rid of various difficulties like abolishing land tenure system,ceiling on land holding, distribution of surplus land, consolidation of holdings, compilation of land records.The main aim for introducing land reforms in India in order to save the poor and landless poors from being exploited in land relations, empowerment of women to ensure greater access to land and abolishing gender bias in land legislation.

What’s the need of land reforms:

The need of land reforms in India can be felt if we quickly take a look at the history of land reforms which took place after independence in India-

1.Government came up with the land reforms in the first five year plan started  in 1951.

2. In the second five year plan the abolition of intermediaries took place in order to give protection to the tenants.

3. The second five year plan categorically ruled out the procedure of land ceiling. The plan proposed that the ceiling of the holding should be fixed at about three family holdings.

4. Abolition of Zamindars and other intermediaries (jagirdars, inamdars, malgujars, etc) between the state and the cultivator.

5. A high powered committee in 1948 with J.L.Nehru as its Chairman recommended that all intermediaries should be replaced by non-profit making agencies like cooperatives..

National Land Reforms Policy

This policy focuses on those aspects of land reforms which if implemented in true letter and spirit will have the potential to tilt the balance in favour of the landless and poor.

Recognising the need for land among the poorer sections of the society, many S tate Governments had come up with land distribution programmes to facilitate land ownership for the poor.

In addition to the govt. lands, other categories of land like the ceiling surplus lands, bhoodan lands etc.were also distributed to the landless poor for cultivation purposes.

In order to provide homestead land, minimum agricultural land, and shelter to every family, it is essential that a land pool is created.

Evict ineligible encroachers of government lands, ceiling surplus and bhoodan lands and distribute to the landless poor.

Every state should revise its ceiling limits, if the existing limit is more than 5-10 acres in the case of irrigated land and 10-15 acres for non- irrigated land.

States shall adopt single window system for re- distribution of ceiling surplus land within a specified time frame.

There is an urgent need to re- visit the land ceiling limits in different categories. Excluding the achievements of some States like West Bengal, Kerala, and J& k.

Impact Of Land Reforms  

End of feudalism, feudal land owning classes.

Updation of land records.

The land reforms in India have led to emergence of a class of modern entrepreneurs of farmers.

It has reduced the exploitation of tenants and income of the small farmers.

Important Events of Indian Freedom Movement

The important movements of the Gandhian phase:-

Khilafat Movement: 

The Khilafat movement was launched as the communal movement in defense of the Turkish Khalifa and save his Empire from dismemberment by Britain and other European powers. The chief cause of the Khilafat Movement was the defeat of Turkey in the First World War. The harsh terms of the Treaty of Sevres (1920) was felt by the Muslims as a great insult to them. The Muslims in India were upset over the British attitude against Turkey and launched the Khilafat Movement. Ali brothers, Muhammad Ali, Shaukat Ali, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Dr. M. Ansari, among others, started the movement. October 17, 1919 was known as Khilafat Day when the Hindu united with Muslims in fasting and observed a hartal on that day. The Khilafat Movement merged with the Non-cooperation Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920.

Non-cooperation Movement: 

The Indian National Congress, under the leadership of Gandhi, launched his first innovative protest, the Non-cooperation Movement on 1 August, 1920. It involved surrender of all titles, honorary offices and nominated posts in local bodies. British courts, offices and all kinds of government-run educational institutions were boycotted.

Chauri-Chaura Incident (1922): 

During the Non-cooperation Movement, being provoked by some policemen, a section of the crowd attacked them. The police opened fire. In retaliation, the entire procession killed 22 policemen and set the police station on fire. A stunned Gandhi decided to withdraw the movement.

Civil Disobedience Movement: 

Civil Disobedience Movement was launched in 1930 under Gandhi’s leadership with the violation of the Salt Law after Dandi Salt March.

The Dandi march (Salt Satyagraha) started from Sabarmati Ashram and ended at Dandi (a place in Gujrat). This was followed by a lot of agitation all over the country. This angered the British government which resulted in the imprisonment of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. On March 1930, Gandhi signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact with the Viceroy Lord Irwin to call off the Movement but it finally came to an end on 7th April 1934.

The Individual Satyagraha (August 1940): 

Mahatma Gandhi launched in Individual Satyagraha. It was limited, symbolic and non-violent in nature. Acharya Vinoba Bhave was the first Satyagrahi and he was sentenced to three months imprisonment. Jawaharlal Nehru was the second Satyagrahi and imprisoned for four months. The individual Satyagraha continued for nearly 15 months.

Quit India Movement: 

The Quit India Movement, also called the August Movement, launched on 8th August, 1942. It was a result of Gandhi’s protest against the return of Sir Stafford Cripps. He wanted to negotiate with the British government for the independence of India through this movement. He gave slogan – ‘Do or Die. On 9th August leaders of the Congress like Abul Kalam Azad, Vallabhbhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were arrested. The movement can be divided into four phases :

In the first phase of the Quit India Movement, there were processions, strikes and demonstrations

The second phase of the movement saw raids on the government buildings and municipal houses. Along with this, post offices, railway stations and police stations were set on fire.

The third phase of Quit India movement began in September 1942. Mobs bombed police in places like Bombay, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Gradually, the movement gained back its peaceful form and continued till Mahatma Gandhi was released on May, 1944. This was the fourth phase of the movement.

Some other Important Events of Indian Freedom Struggle:-

The Home Rule Movement (1916):

The release of Tilak after 6 years of jail is Mandalay (Burma) moderated the launching of Home Rule Movement by Tilak and Mrs. Annie Besnat, both of whom decided to work in close co-operation to launch the movement to attain concessions, disillusionment with Morley – Minto Reforms and Wartime miseries.

Rowlatt Act (March 1919): 

As per this Act, any person could be arrested on the basis of suspicion. No appeal or petition could be filed against such arrests. This Act as called the Black Act and it was widely opposed.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April, 1919): 

On the Baisakhi day (harvest festival), a public meeting was organized at the Jallianwala Bagh (garden) to support the Rowlatt Satyagraha. General Dyer marched in and without any warning opened fire on the crowd. According to official report 379 people were killed and 1137 wounded in the incident.

The Swaraj Party (Jan, 1923): 

The suspension of the Non Cooperation Movement led to a split within Congress in the Gaya session of the Congress in December 1922. On 1 January 1923 leaders like Motilal Nehru and Chittranjan Das formed a separate group within the Congress known as the Swaraj Party to contest the council elections and wrecked the government from within.

Simon Commission (Nov, 1927): 

Simon Commission was appointed in the chairmanship of Sir John Simon by the British Conservative government to report on the working of the Indian constitution established by the Government of India Act of 1919. All its seven members were Englishmen. As there was no Indian member in it therefore the Commission faced a lot of criticism. Lala Lajpat Rai was seriously injured in the police lathi charge in a large anti-Simon Commission demonstration on 30 October 1928 and he passed away after one month.

Poona Pact (1932): 

Poona pact was an agreement upon a joint electorate between the untouchables and the Hindus which The Poona pact took place at Yerawada jail in Pune on 24th September, 1932.

Cripps Mission (1942): 

The British Government in its continued effort to secure Indian cooperation sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India on 23 March 1942. This is known as Cripps Mission. The major political parties of the country rejected the Cripps proposals. Gandhi called Cripp’s proposals as a “Post-dated Cheque”.

The Cabinet Mission (1946): 

Three members of the British Cabinet – Pathick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander – were sent to India 15 March, 1946, under a historic announcement in which the right to self-determination and the framing of a Constitution for India were conceded. This is known as the Cabinet Mission.

Water Wars :could be reality ??

If you thought water wars are a thing of the future, think again. Up to 180 million people in India face ‘severe’ water scarcity all year round

A staggering 180 million people in India face “severe” water scarcity all year round, according to a research paper published in the latest edition of Science Advances, which depicts, in its maps, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana as being among the worst affected.

Water scarcity has been “underestimated” by previous studies, as also the number of people affected by the deficit, says the paper titled “Four billion people facing severe water scarcity”. This could be because the studies assessed water scarcity at very large geographical units and vast temporal spans (annually rather than on a monthly basis).

Globally, four billion people — or 66 per cent of the population — live with severe water scarcity for at least a part of the year. And of these, one billion live in India and 0.9 billion live in China. This “implies that the situation is worse than suggested by previous studies, which give estimates between 1.7 and 3.1 billion” worldwide.

Needless to say, the victims of water over-extraction are the “users themselves, who increasingly suffer from water shortages during droughts, resulting in reduced harvests and loss of income for farmers, threatening the livelihoods of whole communities”, says the paper.

Implications for India

There are specific geographical areas where the water crisis is particularly acute. For instance, in the Ganges basin, blue water — or fresh water (surface water and aquifers) — is being consumed in a “countercyclical” fashion, with “water consumption being highest when water availability is lowest”.

So what do these findings mean for India where irrigated area under cultivation accounts for a little less than half the cultivated area? “There is no doubt that there could be better water management, especially through water harvesting, and that ‘more crop per drop’ can be achieved, for instance through better irrigation technology,” says economist Venkatesh Athreya. “However, discussions on water do not adequately deal with the growing inequities in consumption, characterised by huge concessions to big capital, guaranteeing them water on demand and at low cost. On the other hand, small and marginal farmers, who produce a substantial proportion of our foodgrain, have rather limited access to water and often at high cost.”

Researchers looked at blue water scarcity on a per-month basis dividing up the area according to specific grid cells. Water scarcity was calculated as the ratio of the blue water “footprint” (consumption) in a grid cell to the total blue water availability in the cell. They classified water scarcity as low, moderate, significant and severe.

Using crop maps, data on growing periods, estimated irrigation requirements, and data on actual irrigation, researchers calculated the blue water footprint of crop production.

“Meeting humanity’s increasing demand for fresh water and protecting ecosystems at the same time, thus maintaining blue water footprints within maximum sustainable levels per catchment, will be one of the most difficult and important challenges of this century,” the paper concludes. And a vital strategy to reduce blue water consumption would be to increase the productivity of rain-fed agriculture, it adds.

3 pics that shows reality of india's health sector

Poor expenditure of GOI on health sector :- 
Even less than some of LDC's

Very low per cent of expenditure of total GDP on health sector is a one of the reasons behind the poor health condition in India.

Debate on GM Mustard

INTRO :- 

Genetically Modified Crop involves artificial insertion of genes of organism from a different species. this leads to the modification of the DNA of the said crop using genetic engineering techniques. In most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species.

WHY IMPORTANT ??

---GM crops have been touted as the harbinger of food security in India. In developing countries like India where agriculture forms the backbone of economy, and climate fails to provide any surety to the crop protection:-This is being contended because of the following reasons-

1. They increase crop yields by 22%, reduced chemical pesticides by 37% and increased farmer profits by 68%.
1. GM crops can be made to tackle climate changes i.e. heat waves, biotic-abiotic stress, climatic conditions like-droughts and chilled conditions by insertion of appropriate genes and thus acreage of crops can be increased.
2. Productivity and nutrient amount can be enriched that will ensure availability of balanced diet e.g. Golden rice has Vitamin A
3. Ability to tackle attacks by pest and common plant diseases will keep pilferage under check

FIRST GM CROP IN INDIA :- 

In India, Bt Cotton was the first crops to get permission. Being the first one, these crops were started as an experiment to test out their viability. 

However, the new GM crops like GM Mustard are not being given permission because of the concerns like:

1. Comprehensive risk assessment regarding the after-effects of GM crops on surrounding environment has not been carried out
2. Biodiversity--India India also has mega biodiversity hotspots like the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats which are rich in biodiversity yet ecologically very sensitive. there is a global conviction that GM crops cannot be introduced in centres of origin and diversity. India been a mega-biodiversity hotspot zone, with major crops like rice, brinjal, mustard finding their origin here, Gm vareities might pose a threat to the domestic and wild var of these crops.

3. There is also the danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and other anti-nutrition factors in foods.
4. GM cotton has shown a mixed picture and is now being criticized for being vulnerable to Whitefly attacks shows that some of the claims were unfounded
5. GM seeds cannot be reused and Monsanto holds the monopoly in supply of GM seeds. Thus, in the long run this create dependency on a foreign firm
6. GM crops are immune to antibiotics and their consumption by human beings can lead to anti-microbial resistance among them thus rendering antibiotics ineffective in case of disease
7. opponents of GM mustard point out that cotton is not a food crop, while mustard is India’s largest edible oil-yielding crop.
8. there are also apprehensions about Biosafety test results have not been shared in public
9. Has a trait of a terminator seeds – which could require farmers to buy seeds perennially--this can influence farmers’ income and thus their economic access to food. 
10. Cross pollination of GM variety with varieties grown in eastern India remains a threat
11. Department of Biotechnology is the regulator as well as the promoter of GM crops.

Should India Adopt GM ??

it is time for India which rallies under food security issues to put more thrust into the issue to make out the best out of it like most developed countries have done--

1. India is reeling under issues like falling agricultural GDP in the last 5 decades; degradation of land/groundwater resources/ exponential growth of population, and hence the demands of secured sources of food is augmenting day by day; when climatic factors play a negative role most of the time.
2. India annually imports 3 million tonnes of soyabean oil and another 0.4 million tonnes of rapeseed oil (both food crops) which are predominantly GM, and no bad effects have yet been visible with their use
3. Cotton-seed yields not only fibre (lint), but also oil and oilcake (meal) fed to animals. Cotton-seed oil is, in fact, the second largest produced edible oil in the country after mustard- thus no lss than a food-crop, and 95 % of India's cotton production already Bt, there is no visible evidence on population about any harmful toxins or likewise.
4. It can cross pollinate with non-GM varieties but that is a safe process
5. GM Canola is already imported in India and consumed with safe evidences.
6. Developed nations like USA, UK etc have a wide range of GM food crops which has ensured food security to their populations.
7. Finally GM crops like mustard has the following advantages—Higher crop yield/ reduced farm costs/ increased farm profits/ improvement in the health and environment.

 

1. If GM food is allowed to be sold to consumers, they must have the right to know what they are buying, and labelling should be made mandatory.
2. India has taken only halting steps towards establishing a strong regulatory system; the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill, 2013, which provided for multi-level scientific assessments and an appellate tribunal, has lapsed. Hence, a strong regulatory authority should be established.

3. It is also true that dependence on GM crops is a risky proposition. Hence, India needs to tap the potential of other technologies. As pointed out by a parliamentary committee India has better options for increasing productivity, like molecular breeding and integrated pest management, that can serve it in good stead for the time being.
4. Gm crops should be subjected to more intense regulatory scrutiny and are not introduced unless they pass through multiple filters.Unless India is open to the introduction of cutting edge agricultural technology, inadequate farm yields will be hard to improve.

---The discussion about safety of a product has yet again turned into a crude debate about people being pro- or anti-science. The appraisal system remains amenable to political direction. However, there need to be appropriate policy and regulatory framework in place. Government should ensure bio-safety data is accessible to civil society.
GM crops alone will not solve the hunger problem, but they can be an important component in a broader food security strategy.
Science remains incidental in a regime where political discretion remains the only rule applied consistently.

TRAI rules in favour of Net neutrality

TRAI has ruled against differential pricing for data services in a major support to Net Neutrality.

The TRAI ruling can be seen as a blow to Facebook’s Free Basics, Airtel Zero and other similar data services which offered access to some websites and content for free.

TRAI has ruled against differential pricing in order to keep the Internet open and non-discriminatory for users.

Major Highlights of the order:

TRAI has ruled that no service provider shall offer or allow discriminatory pricing for data services based on content.

It has ruled against any arrangement or agreement between any service provider or any person that adheres to differential pricing for data services.

TRAI has allowed for special reduction of tariff for accessing or providing emergency services during times of public emergency. The authority has asked for the same to be reported within seven working days.

The telecom regulator has ruled that if a service provider is found violating the regulation, there will be a penalty of Rs 50,000 for each day of contravention, subject to a maximum of Rs 50 Lakhs.

TRAI has also exempted intranets or closed communication networks from this regulation, but has added a caveat saying if a closed network is used for the purpose of evading these regulations then the prohibition will definitely apply.

TRAI has stated that it may review the regulation after two years.

Previous debate on NET Neutrality :-

The regulator and Facebook have been at loggerheads over the issue with the authority terming the social networking giant’s attempt to lobby for its Free Basics initiative a “crude” attempt at turning the consultation over differential pricing of data services into an “orchestrated opinion poll” on Free Basics.

Facebook had partnered with Reliance Communications in India to offer Free Basics service.

However, the services were put in abeyance, post a TRAI order to this effect.

Critics had argued that allowing access to a select few apps and web services for free violates the principle of net neutrality – the principle that all websites and data on the Internet should be treated as equal.

What is the significance of TRAI ORDER ?

The TRAI notification favoring net-neutrality is in line with what was seen in the US in 2010 when FCC favoured an ‘Open Internet’ and then came up with an ‘Open Internet order’ in early 2015.

The European Union also ruled in favor of treating all Internet traffic equally. Though some of their amendments allowed for differentiation and have been a subject of intense criticism.

Way ahead 

for the government:

Now, it is up to the government to find innovative ways to actually get all citizens access to this Internet as India’s ranking in universal broadband access is abysmally poor and the digital divide continues to widen.


for the Telecom Service Providers:

Telecom service providers may not be happy with this notification. However, they still have the ability and freedom to create different kind of Internet access packages; as long as content is not a parameter to provide or bar access to anyone.

Such practices have already started elsewhere with products such as bandwidth on demand, bandwidth calendaring etc. to create premium products.

Obviously, it will require changes in network and operations but that’s where the telecom roadmap goes.

Pakistan ‘very concerned’ at India’s military modernisation

Pakistan’s military establishment is said to be “very concerned” about the conventional military modernisation programme of the Narendra Modi government, and “frustrated” that no “deal” had been struck with India since the NDA came to power.

As the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) published its annual “Military Balance 2016” report on Tuesday, Ben Barry, a senior expert who works with the military-strategic communities in India and Pakistan, said there was “great optimism” in Islamabad when Modi came to power.

“In the government and security community in Pakistan there was great optimism when Modi came to power, that he would be able to engage Pakistan and maybe strike a deal (normalisation of relations, reduction of tension over security),” Barry told HT.

“But I think there is some frustration in Islamabad that they haven’t been able to achieve that. We have contacts with the Pakistani military. I think they are very concerned about India’s conventional military modernisation.”

Barry, a former brigadier in the British army, said Pakistan was particularly concerned with India acquiring advanced weapons systems like Apache helicopters, C-130 Hercules aircraft and T-90 tanks. The India-US nuclear deal too remained a matter of concern in Islamabad.

According to the IISS expert, “We should take confidence that there hasn’t been a repetition of the terrible massacre in Mumbai. I may be proved wrong, though, but given the state of various extremist groups in Pakistan, it is very, very difficult for the Pakistani government to withdraw all of them. They may have had a hand in generating some of these and setting them up, but it’s quite difficult to turn them off.”

Barry said Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif was able to “take advantage” of the 2014 massacre in an army-run school in Peshawar to launch Operation Zarb-e-Azb to clear North Waziristan of militant groups.

“There is no doubt that it has made considerable difference. Islamist terrorist groups and their capabilities have been considerably degraded by the Pakistan Army and the police,” Barry said.

The “Military Balance 2016” report details various initiatives taken by the Modi government to encourage FDI and private sector participation in defence, and lists the personnel and assets of India’s armed forces and reserve forces.

“The Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ policy aims to strengthen the indigenous defence-industrial base through measures that include reforming India’s foreign direct investment cap. However, industrial-capability limitations and bureaucratic obstacles have hampered a number of promising initiatives,” it said.

Focussing more on developments related to Russia, China, Iran and NATO, the analysis states that western military technological superiority is eroding due to the proliferation of advanced military capabilities and growing accessibility to military-relevant high technology around the world.

Raise resources through monetisation rather than taxes or borrowing

Tough to Maintain fiscal Deficit This Year :- 

This year, India will have to face many challenges in sticking to the fiscal consolidation roadmap as the expected revenues may not be fully realised and subsidy cuts may be delayed.

And the government is also finding it difficult to manage the conflict of financing additional expenses of Rs.1 lakh crore for implementation of Seventh Pay Commission recommendations  and enhanced allocations to public investment to keep the economy on a growth path.

The Budget does have the benefit of large savings on fuel subsidy due to lower oil prices. But, this alone is not sufficient. Hence, to fill the gap, the government might have to raise additional taxes or resort to borrowings.

But, the path of raising taxes or borrowing to fund increased expenses will adversely impact debt, currency and equity market. Instead smartly monetising assets from land, natural resources and spectrum to investment in Specified Undertaking of UTI’s (SUUTI’s) will positively impact markets.

In this regard, few experts have put forth the following proposals to raise resources to accelerate economic recovery and reassure investors on fiscal stability.

Rationalise inverted duty structure wherever it exists by taxing finished goods at higher duty than raw materials.

The Government collects lots of data on many transactions such as buying of automobiles. Empower a private company to analyse that data and other publicly available information like social media to assist tax regulators to improve tax compliance.

Improve asset utilisation over asset hoarding. Incentivise faster conversion from land to affordable houses by taxing vacant land and unoccupied premises. Use that tax proceeds to give special incentive for buying of affordable houses so that multiplier effect of higher demand benefits sectors such as cement, housing finance company and construction workers.


Launch a fast track settlement mechanism for disputed taxes to increase revenue collections. Excess manpower can be deployed from fighting time consuming litigations to widening of tax base and improved compliance. Fear of law through better monitoring can improve India’s Tax to GDP ratio .

Introduce super rich tax including wealth tax and succession tax to mobilise revenue and narrow social divide. Globally estate tax is levied on common citizens. Let the rich share tax burden like the salaried class.


Levy two per cent wealth tax on gold holding above a minimum level including on that held by temples. Give exemption for investment in Gold Monetisation Scheme so that domestic gold gets recycled. We must reduce our annual net gold imports of $22 billion. Let domestic saving support our investment and job creation.


Curb the menace of black money in real estate and gold through improved governance. Appoint an appropriately empowered private company to buy real estate including land at declared value on behalf of government and monetise it. They should be incentivised with a large profit share. The entire flow of black money in real estate will come to a serious halt with swift execution of such measure. Track video recording of buyers making cash payment at jewellers to curb black money role in gold.

Tax super rich farmers on agriculture income and cap their fertilizer subsidy like LPG subsidy for rich people. A start can be made by voluntary giving up of subsidy like LPG subsidy.


Encourage creative destruction by providing incentives to scrap old automobiles above certain age. Government’s spend on such old vehicles will be far lower than taxes on replacement demand. The economy will benefit by way of lower pollution, better fuel efficiency and more jobs in auto sector.


Reduce the dependence on foreign savings by encouraging Indian savings to move from gold to bank deposits and mutual fund units. Introduce “Jan Nivesh” Yojana on the lines of the immensely successful Jan Dhan Yojana. It should encourage ease of doing investment by single KYC, simple documentation and appropriate distributor incentives.

Encourage retail investors to participate in PSU divestment through exclusive tax incentive. Incentives given will be far lower than divestment proceeds and will help in spreading equity cult among retail investors.

Plan to scrap income tax

A Pune-based tax research outfit, Arthakranti, has come out with a proposal to revamp the taxation system in India. The outfit, in its proposal, seeks to abolish income tax and over 30 local, State and Central taxes.    

• In this regard, the outfit recently gave a presentation before a sub-group of Secretaries set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

DETAILS :

• It advocates replacing the present tax system with a single 2% levy per receipt in bank accounts and recommends that just import duties be retained from the present system.
• The proposal envisages a system that does not tax consumption or income, as is the case now, but the “velocity of money”.
• The proposal is aimed at reducing corruption and eliminating the cost of compliance for taxpayers.
• The outfit has estimated that the levy it is proposing can be collected through the banking channel rather than the tax collection authorities.

Benefits:

• Without leading to a loss of revenue, it will plug tax evasion and avoidance.
• Arthakranti’s calculations show that the 2% tax will yield Rs. 40,00,000 crore.

Demerits :- 

Bank will get large amount of money which they dont required

Undisclosed money transactions will be increased in economy 

Very difficult to track and impose a limit above which 2% banking transaction will be imposed ==> people may also start barter system among themselves 

This is not the first time such a proposal has been received by the Centre. Several governments have earlier discussed plans to abolish income tax but rejected them.