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the recent heavy rainfall and its impact on Tamil Nadu. It raises questions about weather forecasting and preparedness, and emphasizes the need for better coordination between different departments..

Writer's picture: Deepanshu SinghDeepanshu Singh

The recent heavy rainfall and its impact on Tamil Nadu. It raises questions about weather forecasting and preparedness, and emphasizes the need for better coordination between different departments and agencies in order to mitigate the effects of such disasters. This is relevant to the topic of disaster management, which is an important part of the UPSC syllabus for GS 3.

  • Tamil Nadu has experienced a month of turbulence with heavy rainfall in the southern parts of the state.

  • The rainfall was attributed to upper air circulation and resulted in extremely heavy rainfall in 39 places, with Kayalpattinam recording 95 cm.

  • The northeast monsoon has been disrupted by this freak occurrence.

  • Approximately four million people have been severely affected by the heavy rainfall.

  • The Tamirabharani river experienced a flow of 1.5 lakh cubic feet per second, which is rare.

  • The exact data on human loss is yet to be determined, but it is expected to be on the lower side.

  • Infrastructure such as roads, rail lines, canals, tanks, electric poles, and houses have been damaged.

  • Relief operations are being supervised by Ministers and senior officers.

  • Governor R.N. Ravi has convened a meeting of heads of departments of the Central government to discuss the operations.

  • The recent heavy rainfall in the state has raised questions about weather forecasting and preparedness.

  • The Meteorological Department had issued warnings of "very heavy to extremely heavy" rain for three days starting from December 14.

  • The department's defense is that the exact amounts of rainfall and their precise locations cannot be predicted accurately.

  • There is a need for the scientific community to work towards more precise forecasting.

  • Closer coordination between different departments and agencies is necessary to improve preparedness.

  • A better working relationship between the Meteorology department and the Railways could have prevented the running of the Tiruchendur train.

  • Changes to train services in the southern districts were made reactively rather than proactively.

  • A more cohesive working arrangement among different agencies can help mitigate the impact of such events.

The introduction of the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, which aims to consolidate the law for wireless networks and Internet service providers. It highlights the potential benefits of the Bill, such as simplifying bureaucratic procedures and promoting ease of doing business in the telecom sector. However, it also raises concerns about privacy, surveillance, and the need for transparency in rule-making.

  • The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 aims to consolidate the law for wireless networks and Internet service providers.

  • The 46-page statute simplifies bureaucratic procedures for telecom operators, such as applying for licenses and permits.

  • Licensing processes will be digitized and telecom operators will have access to district- and State-level authorities for permissions and dispute resolution.

  • The Bill provides clarity for the satellite Internet industry, stating that it will not need to bid for spectrum.

  • Industry bodies have welcomed the Bill for streamlining regulatory landscape and promoting ease of doing business.

  • The Bill could provide regulatory stability and an enabling environment for the next phase of telecom expansion.

  • The Bill could help connect over half of India's population who are currently on the margins of the connected world.

  • The definition of telecom is broad and includes a range of services, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance.

  • The proposed solutions to deal with spamming concerns in the Bill require compromises to privacy.

  • The issues of surveillance reform and Internet shutdowns have significant implications and should not be avoided.

  • The government should address these concerns with an open mind, considering the extensive powers granted by the Bill.

  • Transparency and consultation are crucial in conducting rule-making and notifying subordinate legislation.

  • The regulation and lawmaking of the Internet world need to comprehensively address the issues that have come with the digital explosion.

The recent Supreme Court judgment on the removal of Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy and its implications for the rest of the country. It also explores the impact of the verdict on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir, the Court's perspective on peace and security, and the implications for democracy in India.

  • The Supreme Court's judgment on the August 2019 presidential orders has significant implications for Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy and the division of the state into two Union Territories.

  • The judgment grants the President greater powers over states and allows long-term political and territorial decisions to be made under limited-term emergency conditions.

  • The verdict undermines the rights of states vis-à-vis the Union, including issues of statehood and division.

  • The judgment negates the right to consultation of the state's elected representatives, which was previously upheld by the States Reorganisation Commission in 1953-55.

  • The impact of the judgment on the ground is ambiguous in Jammu, disappointed in Kargil, welcoming in Ladakh (with reservations), and ominous in the Valley.

  • Jammu's ambiguity stems from economic dispossession post-2019, as trade, retail, and mining rights were awarded to national rather than local industry.

  • Kargil is disappointed because its majority Shia population wishes to retain ties to the Valley.

  • Leh welcomes separation from the Valley but desires an elected administration instead of a Lieutenant-Governor.

  • The judgment raises questions about peace, security, and the fundament of democracy in India.

  • The verdict has reinforced the belief that Kashmiris are resented by the rest of India and their voice is silenced.

  • The circumstances in which the President of India passed his August 5 orders were draconian, with additional troops sent in, politicians and activists put in detention, Section 144 applied, and a total communications blackout imposed.

  • The judgments do not mention these events in their summaries.

  • The judges accepted the alleged security threat to the Amarnath Yatra as background to the presidential orders and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

  • Security has been accepted as a reason for the delay in restoring statehood, despite the administration's claim of improvement in the situation.

  • Blanket acceptance of alleged security concerns has led to unwarranted arrests of journalists, activists, and comedians.

  • Failure to probe security concerns has closed debate on policy and performance in tackling internal and external conflict.

  • There was no published inquiry into the security lapse leading to the Pulwama terrorist attack in February 2019.

  • Policy accountability is critical to operational improvement.

  • The recent judgment ignores the violation of human and political rights in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019.

  • Peacemaking offers the best solution to internal conflict.

  • Violence in Jammu and Kashmir has been rising after the adoption of purge and censorship policies by the Union Home Ministry.

  • The India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement has deteriorated.

  • The peace process of 2002-13 resulted in a sharp decrease in violence.

  • The rise in violence between 2016-2018 could have been effectively countered by improving democratic practice on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir and engaging in peace talks with Pakistan.

  • The extreme clampdown of August 2019 and the actions taken under its cover run the risk of an upsurge in violence if democracy is restored.

  • Justice Kaul suggests the possibility of a truth and reconciliation commission to bridge the gap in Jammu and Kashmir.

  • The proposal for a truth and reconciliation commission was made over a decade ago by then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah but found few takers.

  • Unlike the South African commission, which took place in the context of a peace agreement, there is no peace process in Jammu and Kashmir today.

  • The removal of autonomy and administrative bias towards developers and industrialists from outside the former State can only harden alienation in the Valley.

  • The article concludes by stating that moving forward from the current situation will not please anyone.

  • The Union administration could start a new peace process

  • It could restore statehood and hold elections

  • It could return freedom of expression

  • The administration needs to be prepared for an outpouring of anger

  • The anger should be responded to with compassion and understanding

  • The administration should not use bullets and prison bars to respond to the anger

  • The administration needs to return to the blueprint for a solution developed by A.B. Vajpayee and Mr. Singh

  • The blueprint includes disarmament of armed groups and demilitarisation of the area

  • The blueprint also includes a soft border with autonomy for both Jammu and Kashmir and its Pakistan-held parts

  • The blueprint also includes an option of joint development for the whole of the former princely State

  • The current administration is unlikely to return to that blueprint

  • It is uncertain if another blueprint can be sustained.

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Deepanshu Singh

UPSC Mentor, Indian Govt. Advisor

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