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Addapedia Editorial Analysis: Daily News Editorial Analysis 03 October 2024

Addapedia Editorial Daily News , 03 October 2024: In this Addapedia Editorial Analysis, We cover Important News Editorials from Newspapers and provide you with detailed analysis. This ADDAPEDIA Editorial Analysis will help you in understanding the National and International events Current affairs and the background of a particular topic. This comprehensive News analysis will help you in Clearing CA and Interview for many exams.

Editorials usually cover a particular topic that might be National, State or any International event which is most important to acquire brief knowledge about the event. Editorials are written by Famous news analysts, Politicians, Business analysts, Civil Servants or a person who has immense knowledge in that particular field. Knowing Editorials will not only understand the geo-political relations but also how to write and describe any particular issue which helps especially in PSC, SSC and Banks Exams.

China-Vietnam red diplomacy

(The Hindu, 03-10-24)

Context: Vietnamese President To Lam’s recent visit in Sep’24 to China and its impact on Vietnam-China relations in the context of regional geopolitics.

What was the purpose of Vietnamese President To Lam’s visit to China?

To revive communist connections and Mao Zedong-Ho Chi Minh comradeship
To strategically infuse political trust in the bilateral relationship
To strengthen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building “a Vietnam-China community with a shared future”.
The visit comes against the backdrop of the U.S. and the Philippines wooing Vietnam to pressure and corner China in the South China Sea.

How does the Vietnam-China relationship differ from Vietnam-US relations?

Vietnam-US relationship involves scrutiny of government’s actions for human rights violations
US has condescending attitudes toward the Vietnam political system
Vietnam-China relationship is mutually appreciative and supportive, barring territorial contestations.
China has emphased on giving Vietnam a priority in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy and supporting Vietnam in upholding leadership.
Vietnam’s present Communist leadership wants to learn from CPC’s success model & replicate it.

What economic ties exist between Vietnam and China?

Bilateral trade valued at $171.9 billion in 2023
China is Vietnam’s largest import market and second-largest export market
China ranked fourth in investments in Vietnam in 2023 with $4.47 billion

How is Vietnam balancing its relationships with China and other countries?

Pursuing “Bamboo Diplomacy” to safeguard and maximize strategic interests
Softly ‘hedging’ with the US, India, Russia, and Japan
Maintaining cultural and civilizational connections (Buddhism) with India while sharing ideological ties with China
While China-Vietnam exchanges are often hindered by inherent irritants (Territorial disputes over the Paracel Islands, trade deficits), the relationship between India and Vietnam is free of any obstacles and characterised by shared ambitions for a prosperous and multi-polar Asia.

Can you answer the following question?

Analyze the strategic implications of Vietnam’s balancing act between China and other regional powers in Southeast Asia. How does this impact India’s “Act East” policy and its role in the Indo-Pacific region?

Ladakh seeking Special Status

(The Hindu, 03-10-24)

Context: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained on the Delhi border on Oct 1^st as he led a group of protesters to petition the Central government for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution among other demands for autonomy to the region.

Similar demands have been raised in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

What is asymmetrical federalism?

Asymmetrical federalism is where some States and areas have more autonomy than others.
A classical federation like the U.S. or Australia is a symmetrical federation as all States enjoy the same set of powers and autonomy.
In India, there are a few States/ areas that enjoy more autonomy or have special provisions under the Constitution than others.

What is the history of the Fifth and Sixth Schedules?

Tribal populations were never fully subjugated by earlier Muslim rulers. They did not intervene in tribal customary laws or their lifestyles.
Till the entry of the British, the tribals were the masters of their forests and ancestral lands.
However, the initial British laws and their forest policies affected the tribal way of life.
Their traditional rights over forest lands were not recognised and their movement inside forests became restricted.
This discontentment resulted in various tribal rebellions like the Kol rebellion (1831-32), Santhal revolt (1885), Munda Rebellion (1899-1900) and Bastar rebellion (1911).
These rebellions culminated in the British policy of ‘isolation’ towards the tribals, and the creation of ‘excluded’ and ‘partially excluded’ areas under the Government of India Act, 1935.
- The ‘excluded’ areas mainly consisted of hilly regions in the northeast. In these areas, the power of legislation was in the hands of the Governor.
- ‘Partially excluded’ areas consisted of tribal tracts in present day Bihar, Bengal, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. In these areas, central and provincial legislature laws were applicable but with modifications or exceptions as decided by the Governors.
The Fifth and Sixth Schedules have been modelled on the above basis.

What are the key features of the Fifth and Sixth Schedules?

The Fifth Schedule is applicable to what are officially called ‘scheduled areas’ that are declared by the President.
- The guiding norms for declaring an area as a ‘scheduled area’ include preponderance of tribal populations, compactness of area, a viable administrative unit like a district or block, and economic backwardness.
- At present 10 States have such ‘scheduled areas.’
- There are Tribes Advisory Councils (TAC) that are set up in these States, consisting of not more than 20 members, of which three-fourths shall be tribal MLAs from the State.
- The TAC provides advice pertaining to welfare and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes (ST) in these States.
- The Governor, subject to the approval of the Central government, shall make regulations for the allotment and transfer of lands among the members of the STs.
- The Governor shall also regulate the businesses of money-lenders in ‘scheduled areas.’
- The Governor may direct that a particular act of Parliament or State legislature shall not apply or apply with modifications to such ‘scheduled areas.’
The Sixth Schedule is applicable to what are officially called as ‘tribal areas’ in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.
- There are 10 such ‘tribal areas’ at present in these four States. Autonomous District Councils (ADC) are formed in these ‘tribal areas.’
- Creates Autonomous District Councils (ADC)(30 members) with greater autonomy
- ADCs have powers to make laws on land, social customs, and local governance
- Empowers ADCs to establish primary schools, dispensaries, and manage local resources
- They can assess and collect land revenue and impose taxes on profession, trade etc.
- They can grant licences or leases for the extraction of minerals.
- The ADCs are empowered to constitute village and district council courts for the trial of suits and cases where the parties to the dispute belong to STs within the district.
Thus, the ‘tribal areas’ included within the Sixth Schedule enjoy greater autonomy through the ADC with more executive, legislative, judicial and financial powers than the ‘scheduled areas’ of the Fifth Schedule.
However, both these areas are aimed at protecting the indigenous culture and interests of STs while integrating them with the mainstream through various developmental policies.

What are special provisions for northeastern States?

Apart from the Fifth and Sixth Schedules, there are special provisions applicable to many of the northeastern States under Part XXI of the Constitution.
These are contained in
- Article 371A (Nagaland)
- Articles 371B (Assam)
- Articles 371C (Manipur)
- Articles 371F (Sikkim)
- Articles 371G (Mizoram)
- Articles 371H (Arunachal Pradesh).
They provide for
- The protection of local customary laws and practices with respect to Nagaland and Mizoram
- Mandates committees of MLAs from ‘Tribal Areas’ and ‘Hill areas’ in Assam and Manipur respectively
- Lists out special responsibilities of the Governors of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh for the development and maintenance of law and order.

Are further reforms needed?

First, the autonomy of the Fifth and Sixth Schedule areas are more on paper than in actual practice.
- The laws made by ADCs in ‘tribal areas’ are subject to the approval of the Governor of the State.
- When different parties are in power at the Centre, State as well as ADC, political differences affect the autonomy of these areas.
Second, notifying more ST habitations as ‘scheduled areas’
Third, the 125th Constitutional amendment bill (2019) introduced and pending in Rajya Sabha aims to grant more financial, executive and administrative powers to the existing 10 ADCs.
- This process needs to be expedited to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.
Fourth, Examining demands for inclusion of more areas under the Sixth Schedule
- Arunachal Pradesh Assembly and the Manipur Hill Area Committee for the ‘Hill areas’ in the State have passed resolutions in recent years for their inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.
- There is a growing demand for the inclusion of the Union territory of Ladakh as well in the Sixth Schedule.
Finally, the recognition and vesting of forest rights to tribals under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 should be ensured throughout the country including in the Fifth and Sixth schedule areas.

Can you answer the following question?

Critically analyze the effectiveness of the Fifth and Sixth Schedules in protecting tribal rights and promoting their development. Suggest measures to address the gaps in their implementation and make them more relevant in the current socio-economic context.

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കേരളത്തിലെ എല്ലാ മത്സര പരീക്ഷകൾക്കും ഓൺലൈൻ ക്ലാസുകൾ, വീഡിയോ കോഴ്‌സുകൾ, ടെസ്റ്റ് സീരീസ്, പുസ്തകങ്ങൾ, മറ്റ് പഠന സാമഗ്രികൾ എന്നിവ ചുവടെ നൽകിയിരിക്കുന്ന ലിങ്കിൽ ക്ലിക്കുചെയ്‌ത് കണ്ടെത്താനാകും.

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