Q1. There have been calls to confer National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with Constitutional recognition. What is the significance of such a move? Critically analyze the functioning of the NHRC in recent years. How can its functioning be made more effective? 15 marks, 250 words)
Topic- Statutory Bodies:
Introduction:
National Human Rights Commission is a statutory body created through the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. Recently NHRCs status was downgraded by deferring its Category ‘A’ status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. This makes one ponder over the functioning of the NHRC over the years, calls to give it a Constitutional Status and reforms needed to make it an effective organization safeguarding human rights of our citizens.
Body :
- Significance of conferring Constitutional Status
- Achievements of NHRC in recent years
- Issues in the functioning of NHRC
- Reforms needed to make its functioning more effective
Conclusion :
NHRC, despite inviting jargons like ‘toothless tiger’ can become a body to be reckoned with if it is reformed in a time bound manner. Judicial oversight, political will and parliamentary oversight are crucial pillars of such a reform. A solid Human Rights machinery can improve India’s soft power along with democratic credentials as the world’s largest democracy lest India’s own commitments in the sphere of human rights may be called into question.
UPSC Syllabus Statutory Bodies:
Why was this question asked?
Q. National Human Rights Commission in India can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of the above observation, assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards. (UPSC CSE 2014)
Introduction
National Human Rights Commission is a statutory body created through the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. Recently NHRCs status was downgraded by deferring its Category ‘A’ status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. This makes one ponder over the functioning of the NHRC over the years, calls to give it a Constitutional Status and reforms needed to make it an effective organization safeguarding human rights of our citizens.
Body Status :
Significance of conferring Constitutional Status:
- It will get complete functional independence while discharging Constitutional obligations as its members can only be removed by a special majority of both the houses of the Parliament. Thus the members enjoy a security of tenure.
- It assumes the powers of a civil court to summon documents from any public organization under the Government of India or a State.
- Its orders and advices garners the power of precedence as they will be used in future as reference while adjudicating on a matter.
- It prevents conflict of interest as its members will not be eligible for further employment in the Government of India or a State.
- The entire expenses of the Commission will be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India and hence will not be subject to the vote of the Parliament.
Achievements of NHRC in recent years:
- Custodial deaths: The Commission’s 1997 guideline mandates that every alleged custodial death and encounter killing be reported to it within 24 hours. This prevents police excesses and biased investigation that have been a cause for concern in the law-and-order machinery.
- Gender justice: Efforts of NHRC were crucial in delivering compensation ranging from Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 9 lakhs to 49 victims by the State Government in the Muzaffarpur Shelter Home Case.
- Case clearance rate: Cases have been resolved within months with 17 lakh cases disposed till 2021 and compensation has been paid in 90% of them.
- Awareness generation: Around 200 conferences have been conducted across the country to generate awareness on the crucial aspects of human rights and consequences of violating it.
Issues in the functioning of NHRC:
- A toothless tiger: Former NHRC Chairman H.L. Dattu has called NHRC, a toothless tiger as it is only a recommendatory body. It is upto the Government concerned to act on its recommendations affecting NHRCs punitive power.
- Conflict of Interest: Custodial deaths rose from 444 in 1995 to 5,496 in 2015. Most officers in the NHRC have been deputed from the police departments. But most cases are against these police departments demonstrating clear conflict of interest.
- Vacancy: Between 1995 and 2015, the number of complaints rose by 1,455% while the staff strength decreased by 16.94% in the same period. This glaring vacancy has increased the pendency and overall effectiveness and efficiency of the Commission.
- Pendency: From 11,617 cases in 2010-11, the pendency had increased to 40,766 in 2015-16. The rising pendency in the backdrop of staff shortage create structural and procedural inefficiencies in the effective functioning of the NHRC.
Reforms needed to make its functioning can be made more effective:
- Provision of a Constitutional Status: The provision of Constitutional Status along with the conferment of contempt power can ensure that the recommendations of NHRC are given due emphasis by respective departments.
- Parliamentary oversight: Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 must be amended to make time bound appointments to the NHRC. Parliamentary oversight can further strengthen the staff capacity of NHRC.
- A separate investigation and prosecution mechanism: Deputation of officers from the State Police Departments must be done away with to avert the situations of conflict of interest. Thus a separate investigation and prosecution wing of NHRC can satisfactorily meet this requirement.
- Citizen charter: An agenda containing deliverables, their responsibility and time frame to deliver must be etched into a robust citizen’s charter of the NHRC. Trustworthiness and confidence of the citizens will be natural consequences of such a mechanism.
Conclusion
National Human Rights Commission, despite inviting jargons like ‘toothless tiger’ can become a body to be reckoned with if it is reformed in a time bound manner. Judicial oversight, political will and parliamentary oversight are crucial pillars of such a reform. A solid Human Rights machinery can improve India’s soft power along with democratic credentials as the world’s largest democracy lest India’s own commitments in the sphere of human rights may be called into question.
Q2. Discuss the NISAR mission that is set to be launched by the end of 2024. Explain briefly such joint-satellite missions realized by ISRO through international cooperation. 15 marks (250 words)
Topic- Space Technology:
Introduction
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar(NISAR) is a NASA-ISRO joint mission to co-develop and launch a dual band Synthetic Aperture Radar on an earth observation satellite. It is set to be launched in 2024 heralding a new era of space cooperation between 2 major space faring nations. Its significance stretched from earth observation to disaster management with unique features among the joint-space missions launched till now.
Body
- About the mission
- Objectives of the mission
- Significance of the mission
- Other joint-satellite missions realized by ISRO through international cooperation
Conclusion
Space is emerging to be the new arena of strategic cooperation apart from its scientific and developmental benefits. Earth observation and hazard mapping have become important interventions in tackling climate change. Space cooperation missions like NISAR have great potential in exploring new boundaries through their spin-off effects. Greater private sector participation must also be ensured to garner investments and undertake riskier and unique missions in the space sector for holistic advancement.
UPSC Syllabus Space Technology:
Why was this question asked?
Q. The safe landing of NASA’s ‘Curiosity’ Rover has sparked many possibilities. What are those and how could humankind benefit from them. (UPSC CSE 2012)
Introduction:
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is a NASA-ISRO joint mission to co-develop and launch a dual band Synthetic Aperture Radar on an earth observation satellite. It is set to be launched in 2024 heralding a new era of space cooperation between 2 major space faring nations. Its significance stretched from earth observation to disaster management with unique features among the joint-space missions launched till now.
Body
About the mission
- The planned mission life of the satellite will be for 3 years providing crucial insights into the complex geological processes.
- NASA will provide L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and a solid-state recorder while ISRO will provide satellite bus, S-band SAR and launch vehicle.
- The satellite will be the first radar imaging satellite to use dual frequencies.
- The satellite will be carried in a GSLV Mark – II launch vehicle to the dawn to dusk type sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 747 km.
Objectives of the mission
- Elevation mapping: It can map the elevation of Earth’s land and ice mass four to six times a month at resolutions ranging from 5-10 meters. Digital Elevation Maps can be prepared from such observations for scientific use.
- Earth Observation: It will study the changes in the Antarctic cryosphere measuring changes in the thickness of polar ice and ice-sheet collapse.
- Geological processes: It will also explore the evolution and state of Earth’s crust to understand tectonic changes and plate movements.
- Disaster Management: It will over the course of operation will observe and measure natural hazards like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides.
Significance of the mission
- Scientific collaboration: The mission paves the way for technology and knowledge sharing and exposure to international best practices in satellite manufacturing and management providing long term benefits to ISRO.
- Disaster resilience: UNESCAP predicts that, India loses 1.7% of its GDP every year owing to the damage caused by disasters. NISAR will provide crucial data to create hazard maps which will in turn result in targeted interventions in hazard management.
- Spin-off effects: Unknown benefits can be yielded due to collaboration between ISRO and NASA as data from the observations of the Antarctic cryosphere can aid in managing Himalayan cryospheric ecosystems.
- Spatial planning: Resolution of urban congestion, geo-tagging of assets, land allocation for housing and commercial purposes in hazard free zones and compensatory afforestation can be objectively fostered through the use of data collected from NISAR.
- Awareness: Such missions will spark scientific fire in young minds to make them pursue astrophysics as a career option thereby improving the human resource base in the long run.
Other joint-satellite missions realized by ISRO through international cooperation:
- MEGHA-TROPIQUES: The joint Indo-French mission was launched in 2011 to study the tropical atmosphere and climate related aspects such as monsoons, cyclones etc.
- SARAL: It was also a joint Indo-French mission to study ocean through altimetry. It was launched in 2013 and the data from it currently made available to global scientific community.
- UNNATI: More than 60 participants from 30 countries have been accommodated in 8-week capacity building programme for nano-satellite development.
- GAGANYAAN: India is collaborating with a host of countries like France, Russia and the US for its manned space mission. This marks a new era of space cooperation with collaboration in crucial missions impacting nation’s soft power.
Conclusion
Space is emerging to be the new arena of strategic cooperation apart from its scientific and developmental benefits. Earth observation and hazard mapping have become important interventions in tackling climate change. Space cooperation missions like NISAR have great potential in exploring new boundaries through their spin-off effects. Greater private sector participation must also be ensured to garner investments and undertake riskier and unique missions in the space sector for holistic advancement.