26 May 2023

• Polity: The Krishna River dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana highlights the limits of inter-state water tribunals.
• Governance: A civil servant conduct code review found existing rules vague and without a comprehensive ethical framework.
• International: India-Australia signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement covering MATES scheme for Indian professionals.
• Climate: WHO-WMO released a 10-year Climate, Environment and Health Implementation Plan.
• Finance: International Financial Services Centres were allowed to offer foreign STEM and fintech courses without UGC/AICTE rules.

GS area: Polity (Centre-state relations, Water disputes)

The Krishna River water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana escalated as both states proposed projects exceeding 1973 tribunal allocations.

• Historical background:
  • A 1956 "Gentlemen's Agreement" protected Telangana's water interests within Andhra Pradesh.
  • The 1973 Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal allocated shares among Karnataka (27.25 TMC), Maharashtra (585 TMC) and Andhra Pradesh (811 TMC).
  • The 2014 Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act mandated an Apex Council comprising the Union Jal Shakti Minister and the CMs of AP and Telangana, overseeing the Krishna River Management Board and Godavari River Management Board.
• Current issue: Both successor states are planning projects exceeding their 1973 allocations without proper tribunal clearance.
• Constitutional basis:
  • Article 262: Empowers Parliament to provide adjudication of inter-state water disputes. A tribunal's decision is final; the Supreme Court's jurisdiction is excluded under Parliament's law.
  • Inter-State River Water Disputes Act 1956: Governs tribunal formation. Tribunals take years to constitute and decades to deliver awards.
• Reforms recommended: Establish a permanent tribunal with Supreme Court appellate jurisdiction. Amend Article 262 and the 1956 Act.

Static linkage: Article 262, inter-state water disputes, federalism (Polity).

GS area: Environment (Climate change, Health)

The World Health Organisation and World Meteorological Organisation endorsed a joint Climate, Environment and Health Implementation Plan for 2023 to 2033.

• Objective: Integrate climate services, environmental monitoring and health services to manage extreme weather impacts on human health.
• India context:
  • India recorded its hottest March in 2022.
  • Extreme heat could displace 600 million Indians by 2030.
  • Rising cases of malaria, dengue and malnutrition are linked to climate change.
  • 15,000 Europeans died from heat in 2022. India's exposure is far larger.
• Key initiative: The UN "Early Warnings for All" programme focuses on extreme heat response in vulnerable countries.

Static linkage: Climate health linkages, WHO, WMO (Environment/International Relations).

GS area: International Relations

India and Australia signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA). The scheme includes MATES: the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early Professionals.

• MATES target group: Indian professionals in the early career stage.
• Goal: Two-way exchange of students, graduates, researchers and business people.
• Consulate expansion: India is opening a consulate in Brisbane, adding to existing offices in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.
• Energy cooperation: An India-Australia hydrogen task force was established, reflecting both countries' interest in green hydrogen supply chains.

Static linkage: India-Australia bilateral relations, migration, connectivity (International Relations).

GS area: Polity (Governance, Civil services)

A review of conduct rules for Indian civil servants found them vague and without a comprehensive ethical code.

• Governing rules:
  • All India Services Conduct Rules 1968 (for IAS, IPS, IFoS).
  • Central Civil Services Conduct Rules 1964 (for other central government employees).
• Historical basis: K. Santhanam Committee (1962) recommendations on corruption prevention.
• Key requirements: Maintain integrity, political neutrality and accountability. Restrictions on family employment through position, political activity and criticism of government policy.
• Gift threshold: Civil servants must report gifts exceeding 25,000 rupees from non-official sources.
• Gap: India has no comprehensive ethical code equivalent to international standards (OECD, Singapore Public Service). Rules are procedural rather than value-based.

Static linkage: Civil services, AIS conduct, governance reforms (Polity).

GS area: Economy (Finance, Education)

Foreign institutions offering STEM and fintech courses in India's International Financial Services Centres were exempted from UGC and AICTE regulations.

• IFSCA: The International Financial Services Centres Authority regulates activity in Indian IFSCs.
• Regulatory model: Home country regulations of foreign institutions apply in IFSCs. IFSCA has limited jurisdiction over their educational activities.
• GIFT City: Gujarat International Finance Tec-City in Gandhinagar. India's first and only IFSC.
• Comparators: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Singapore International Commercial Court.
• Purpose: Attract global financial institutions to set up in India while offering regulatory flexibility comparable to offshore financial centres.

Static linkage: GIFT City, IFSC, financial regulation, education policy (Economy).

• India's child wasting: India has the world's highest child-wasting rate at 18.7 per cent (2020). About 50 per cent of the world's wasted children live in India. Stunting declined from 41.6 per cent in 2012 to 31.7 per cent in 2022.
• SAMARTH campaign (Rural Development Ministry): Promoted digital transactions across 50,000 gram panchayats. Focus on empowering women in the digital economy. Part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Tina Turner (1939-2023): American singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee died on 24 May 2023. Her life exemplified resilience. Relevant to UPSC ethics for values of perseverance and reinvention.