The Kerala government has officially launched the Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON). Through KFON, Kerala aims to reduce the digital divide by ensuring high speed broadband internet access to all houses and government offices. Kerala was the first state to declare the right to internet as a basic right.

About the Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON) -

KFON will act as an infrastructure provider.

Ø  KFON is an optical fibre cable network of 30,000 kms, with 375 Points-of-Presence across Kerala.

Ø  The KFON infrastructure will be shared with all service providers, including cable operators.

Ø  While KFON will do the cable work for government offices, individual beneficiaries will have to depend on private, local internet service providers.

Ø  KFON promises an internet speed from 10 mbps to 10 Gbps. The quality of mobile phone calls is also expected to improve.

Ø  Once KFON is connected to mobile towers in Kerala, it will speed up transition to 4G and 5G.

Aim —

Ø  The project is aimed at ensuring universal Internet access and narrowing the digital divide, which has become especially acute after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Ø  For this it will create a core network infrastructure (information highway) with nondiscriminatory access to all service providers.

Stakeholders —

Ø  KFON project is a joint venture of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Kerala State IIT Infrastructure Limited.

Ø  Implementation- by a consortium led by Central PSU Bharat Electronics Limited.

Ø  Consultant — Price Waterhouse Coopers

Ø  Operations and maintenance by Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL)

Ø  System integrator - Bharat Electronics (BEL)

Ø  Funding -The project is fully funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the state government agency for funding infrastructure projects.

Ø  Beneficiaries

Ø  Through KFON Internet connections would be provided free of cost to 20 lakh belowpoverty-line (BPL) families.

Ø  In the first stage of KFON, the government wants to provide connectivity to 30,000 government offices and 14,000 BPL families in the state.

What was the need for KFON?

Ø  Existing TELCOS have only limited infrastructure in the rural areas —

Ø  The telecom sector is dominated by private players.

Ø  The government is of the view that existing TELCOS have only limited infrastructure in the rural areas.

Ø  Their wireless connectivity infrastructure is providing only limited bandwidth.

Ø  Due to the low business potential in rural areas, private TELCOs are not keen to enhance connectivity infrastructure.

Ø  Limited reach of Kerala State Wide Area Network (KSWAN) —

Ø  KSWAN, the existing state Information Infrastructure connecting government offices, is limited to 3,800 premises.

Ø  Hence, the Government in 2017 decided to establish KFON, for efficient service delivery, assured Quality of Service, reliability, interoperability, and security

Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has questioned the success of the PLI scheme in promoting domestic manufacturing and exports. The PLI scheme introduced by the Centre in 2020 involves substantial subsidies for manufacturing companies. 

Evaluating the PLI scheme for manufacturing in India -

Strategies to Protect Domestic Markets and Boost Employment —

Ø  There is a need to focus on the micro sector for generating sufficient demand and employment.

Ø  The shift of demand from unorganised to organised sectors may lead to the decline of high-employment sectors.

Ø  The priority should be addressing the structural problem of demand and economic slowdown.

Targeting and Subsidising Strategic Sectors —

Ø  We cannot discount the importance of targeting strategic sectors with high potential.

Ø  Strategic sectors, such as green industries, have booming demand due to global commitments towards sustainability.

Ø  Competition among countries necessitates monitoring and developing strategies accordingly.

Subsidies and Role of Demand —

Ø  The PLI scheme, based on supply-side economics, may not work without sufficient demand.

Ø  The organised sector, benefiting from PLI, contributes little to employment generation due to automation.

Ø  Addressing demand issues and reducing inequalities are crucial for boosting the economy.

Structural Issues and Bureaucratic Control —

Ø  There is a need to address structural issues, including infrastructure, education, and R&D.

Ø  There is existing demand for strategic industries targeted under PLI, indicating the potential for import substitution.

Ø  PLI should be seen as an incentive for incremental output, necessary to attract investments in a globally integrated economy.

Cronyism and Distinction between Subsidies —

Ø  There are risks of cronyism and political influence in determining sector-specific subsidies.

Ø  Distinguishing between general subsidies driven by macroeconomic factors and specific subsidies for sectors/companies is crucial.

Ø  Indirect taxes, necessitated by subsidies, can lead to price increases, making subsidies necessary for exports and supporting the poor.

Conclusion -

Ø  The success of the PLI scheme in promoting domestic manufacturing and exports remains a subject of debate. Addressing demand issues, reducing inequalities, and avoiding cronyism are essential for effective subsidy policies. Structural improvements in infrastructure, education, and R&D are necessary for long-term growth in the manufacturing sector.

The Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that Delhi Education Minister Atishi has been cleared to travel to the UK. Atishi has been invited by Cambridge University to speak at a conference on June 15 in her official capacity.

She had moved the court seeking directions to the government to decide on granting her political clearance before it is too late.

What is the process that CMs and state ministers must follow in order to travel abroad?

Ø  Inform the Cabinet Secretariat and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) — As per the 2015 circular, the Cabinet Secretariat and the MEA should be kept informed of the proposed foreign visit, either official or private, of Chief Ministers and Ministers of State Governments/Union Territories.

Ø  Prior political and FCRA clearances are mandatory — Before informing the Cabinet Secretariat, prior political clearance and FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) clearance are mandatory. In case of Chief Ministers and Ministers of state governments, a copy of the application must also be sent to the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA).

What is political clearance?

Ø  Political clearance comes from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This is required not only for public servants but for any government servant for a foreign trip.

Ø  The decision to grant political clearance is taken based on multiple factors such as —

Ø  the nature of the event,

Ø  the level of participation from other countries,

Ø  the kind of invitation that has been extended, and

Ø  India’s relations with the host country.

Ø  Since 2016, applications can be made for e-political clearance, on the portal epolclearance.gov.in.

Ø  The concerned ministry and the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) entertain an application only if political clearance from the MEA is attached with the request.

Ø  Without this clearance, no public servant can go abroad.

Any other clearances needed -

Different officers need different additional clearances —

Ø  Chief Ministers, ministers of state governments and other state officials also need clearance from the Department of Economic Affairs.

Ø  For Union ministers, after getting political clearance from the MEA, additional clearance is needed from the Prime Minister, whether the trip is official or personal.

Ø  Only if trip is official, Lok Sabha MPs need clearance from the Speaker, and Rajya Sabha members from the Chairperson (Vice President of India).

Ø  For MPs, it is not obligatory to inform the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha secretariat if the trip is private.

Ø  For officers of various ministries up to Joint Secretary level, clearance is given by the minister concerned, after political clearance.

Ø  For those above that rank, the proposal needs approval of a screening committee of secretaries.

Ø  Rules vary according to the duration of the visit, the country to be visited, and the number of members in a delegation.

Ø  If the foreign trip involves the hospitality of organisations other than those of the UN, FCRA clearance is needed from the Home Ministry.

Ø  For government employees, all foreign trips, official or personal, need approval.

Ø  Instances when requests by CMs/ministers for political clearance were denied -

Ø  There had been many instances in the past when centre denied political clearance.

Ø  In October 2019, the then Delhi CM had to address a conference in Denmark through videoconferencing, as the Centre denied clearance to a trip there.

Ø  Earlier, the MEA had denied political clearance to trips by then Chief Ministers Tarun Gogoi (Assam) to the US and Israel, and Arjun Munda (Jharkhand) to Thailand.

Do judges need clearance for foreign trips?

Ø  For official foreign travel, the proposal by a Supreme Court or High Court judge is sent to the Department of Justice (DoJ).

Ø  This is done after taking clearance from the Chief Justice of India.

Ø  The DoJ, after taking political clearance from the MEA and in some cases from the Home Ministry (when FCRA is involved), issues approval.

Ø  In February, 2011, the DoJ issued new guidelines with restrictions particularly on the personal travel of judges of the higher judiciary. These guidelines were struck down by the Delhi High Court in May, 2012.

Ø  In July, 2021, the Centre issued an Office Memorandum stating that “in such cases, where Visa Support Notes Verbale are sought from MEA by the Hon’ble Judges of SC/ HC , prior Political Clearance of the MEA is to be submitted for the intended private or official visits abroad”.

Ø  Delhi High Court struck down the memorandum in April, 2022, saying “it is uncalled for, given the high offices judges are holding”.

Serbian protesters and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) peacekeepers recently clashed in Kosovo, leading to more than 60 injuries. It is the most serious violence seen in the region in over a decade.

What factors are contributing to the current tension?

Ø  Ethnic Divide: There is a longstanding divide between ethnic Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo. Northern Kosovo, where tensions are particularly high, has a majority Serbian population.

Ø  Blockade of Albanian Mayors: Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo have attempted to block Albanian mayors from assuming their positions in local councils. This has further escalated tensions between the two communities.

Ø  Boycott of Local Elections: In April 2023, Serbs in northern Kosovo boycotted the local elections, resulting in a very low voter turnout of less than 3.5%. As a result, the election results were rejected by the Serbs, who viewed them as illegitimate.

Kosovo-Serbia Conflict:

Serbia and Kosovo:

Ø  Serbia is a landlocked country in eastern Europe, while Kosovo is a small landlocked region southwest of Serbia.

Ø  Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s statehood.

Ø  Ethnic and Religious Composition:

Ø  Kosovo is home to different ethnic and religious groups, with the majority being Albanians (92%) and a minority of Serbs (6%).

Ø  Serbs are primarily Eastern Orthodox Christians, while Albanians in Kosovo are predominantly Muslim. Other minority groups include Bosnians and Turks.

The Battle of Kosovo:

Ø  Serbian nationalists view the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 as a significant moment in their national struggle.

Ø  Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians see Kosovo as their own and accuse Serbia of occupation and repression.

Breakup of Yugoslavia:

Ø  Yugoslavia was a country in the Balkans from 1945 to 1992, composed of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.

Ø  Nationalism and weakening central government led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia, with each republic becoming independent.

Ø  Slovenia was the first to secede in 1991, and nationalist rhetoric fueled fear and mistrust among ethnic groups.

Ø  In 1998, ethnic Albanian rebels formed the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) to challenge Serbian rule.

NATO Intervention:

Ø  NATO intervened in 1999 due to Serbia’s harsh response, leading to a 78-day air campaign against Kosovo and Serbia.

Ø  Serbia agreed to withdraw its forces from Kosovo, resulting in the return of Albanian refugees and the displacement of many Serbs.

Ø  Since June 1999, Kosovo has been under international administration, with its final status remaining unresolved. Serbian leaders faced war crimes indictments.

Current Status of Kosovo:

Ø  Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but Serbia does not recognize it as an independent country.

Ø  Recognition of Kosovo’s independence varies among different countries.

Ø  Countries such as India, China, and Russia do not recognize Kosovo as a separate country.

Ø  The United States, the majority of EU countries, Japan, and Australia recognize Kosovo’s independence.

Ø  Currently, 99 out of 193 United Nations (UN) member countries recognize Kosovo’s independence.

India’s Stand on the Status of Kosovo:

Ø  India does not recognize Kosovo as an independent country.

Ø  India argues that Kosovo does not meet the three principles required for recognition: defined territory, duly constituted government accepted by the people, and effective control over an area of governance.

Ø  India has opposed Kosovo’s membership in various international bodies, including UNESCO, Apostille Convention, Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, and Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units.

Ø  India’s non-recognition of Kosovo is based on its support for Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as the two countries have a longstanding relationship.

According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), parts of the Delhi-NCR region witnessed ground-level ozone readings exceeding the safe standards (50 ppb over an 8-hour average) between March and May.

Moreover, the region is seeing a rare phenomenon where ozone levels remain elevated even at night (should ideally become negligible during the night) and has become a yearlong problem.

What is ‘Ground-level Ozone’?

Ø  Also known as tropospheric ozone, ground-level ozone is a colourless and highly irritating gas that forms just above the Earth’s surface (up to 2 miles above the ground).

Ø  Ground-level ozone is a “secondary” pollutant - not directly emitted into the air but rather produced when two primary pollutants react in sunlight and stagnant air.

Ø  These two primary pollutants are nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Ø  NOx and VOCs come from natural sources as well as human activities.

Ø  About 95% of NOx from human activity comes from the burning of coal, gasoline and oil in motor vehicles, homes, industries and power plants.

Ø  VOCs from human activity come mainly from gasoline production and combustion, residential wood combustion and from the evaporation of liquid fuels and solvents.

Ø  Ground-level ozone is likely to breach safety standards on hot summer days in urban areas, but can also reach unhealthy levels during colder months.

Ø  The pollutant can also travel long distances due to wind and affect rural areas Harmful effects of Ground-level ozone -

On human health —

Ø  As ground-level ozone is a highly reactive gas, it has serious health consequences.

Ø  Those with respiratory conditions, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and particularly children with premature lungs and older adults are at serious risk.

Ø  This can inflame and damage airways, make lungs susceptible to infection, aggravate asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis leading to increased hospitalisation.

Ø  The pollutant can affect sensitive vegetation and ecosystems — Including forests, parks and wildlife refuges. Significantly, it can harm sensitive vegetation during the growing season too.

Ø  What is the situation of Ground-level Ozone in India?

Ø  In recent years, ground-level ozone has become a serious public health issue in India.

Ø  According to the 2020 State of Global Air report,

Ø  Seasonal 8-hour daily maximum concentrations have recorded one of the highest increases (17%) in India between 2010 and 2017.

Ø  Age-standardised rates of death attributable to ground-level ozone are among the highest in the country.