Month: November 2022

Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture(KJWA)

Post author By balancedreport
Post date November 28, 2022

India has voiced its adamant opposition to discussions held as part of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA), which aimed to increase efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector.

The Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) decision, which recognises the special potential of agriculture in combating climate change, is a historical one.
The KJWA was developed as a new procedure to promote discussions on agriculture in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change during the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP) in Fiji in 2017. (UNFCCC).
Six issues, including soils, fertiliser usage, water, livestock, techniques for assessing adaptation, and the socio-economic and food security implications of climate change across the agricultural sectors, will be covered through the collaborative work.

Reasons why India opposed the discussions under the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA)?

Mitigation, or the attempts to lower greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture sector, is mentioned in a draught decision under the Koronivia Joint Work.
India has expressed opposition to this proposal and said that these are “survival” emissions produced by the impoverished, not “luxury” emissions. It attributed the current climate crisis to the rich countries’ historical emissions.
In the majority of the world’s developing nations, agriculture is carried out by small and marginal farmers who labour arduously, suffer the whims of extreme weather and climate fluctuation, and endure added stress from climate change.
India has said that developed countries want to use the world’s agriculture, lands, and seascapes as a site of mitigation for their wasteful, excessive emissions.
This is why they are attempting to expand the scope of mitigation to include agriculture.
India has taken a similar stance towards methane emissions in the agricultural sector. Given how heavily dependent India is on agriculture, it doesn’t want any mention of emissions from that sector. Over 50% of Indians rely on income from farming.

Economics

Urban agriculture concept and technological application

Post author By balancedreport
Post date November 28, 2022

Urban and peri-urban agriculture, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, play a key part in the world’s food and nutritional security, hence the organisation is attempting to promote these activities through the Urban Food Agenda.

Urban Agriculture

Agriculture in urban and peri-urban regions is referred to as urban agriculture. Peri-urban areas are those that are situated between the periphery of metropolitan and regional centres and the rural environment, shifting from rural land uses (such as agricultural or animal production) to urban ones (such as the built environment, manufacturing, services, and utilities).
Food and non-food product cultivation: Urban agricultural methods aim to cultivate or develop a variety of food and non-food items, and include tasks like livestock rearing, aquaculture, beekeeping, and large-scale floriculture.

Potential of Urban Agriculture in Indian Cities

Little area India has a sizable population, with its total urban area estimated to be roughly 222,688 square kilometres, or 6.77 percent of the nation’s total land area. Around 500 million Indians, or 35% of the country’s total population, reside in this little region.
Less space is available for conversion to green spaces: According to the Urban & Regional Development Plans Formulation & Implementation guidelines, Indian cities should set aside 10% of their geographic space for greens (gardens, playgrounds, public parks, and the like). This would leave 22,268 sq. km of the total urban area available for conversion to public green spaces.
Urban agriculture is hindered by space constraints: Even if 111,34 sq km (half of this area) were dedicated to urban agriculture rather than parks, gardens, playgrounds, and horticulture, this would still represent only 5% of the nation’s total urban area and 0.56 % of its agricultural land. This illustrates the spatial limitations that urban agriculture must deal with.

Use of technology

Building freestanding crop beds above the current soil level is a farming practise known as raised bed farming. In order to create a closed planting bed, raised beds are occasionally covered with plastic mulch. The technique makes it possible to better manage the soil and lessen soil compaction. Additionally, the planted area is shielded from excessive rain. The productivity of this strategy is significantly higher than conventional farming.
Container gardening: Growing plants in containers as opposed to putting them in the ground is known as container gardening. Polyethene plastic bags, clay pots, plastic pots, metallic pots, milk jugs, ice cream tubs, bushel baskets, barrels, and planter box bottles are a few examples of containers. It is possible to cultivate the majority of vegetables in containers in backyard gardens.
Aquaponics: A closed-loop aquaponics system makes use of the advantages of the nitrogen and carbon cycles, two fundamental ecological building blocks. Plants are fertilised and watered with fish water that is rich in nutrients. Only a few inputs are needed by this system, principally energy and certain essential plant nutrients.
By stacking numerous crop racks vertically and creating multiple layers on a single plot of ground, the vertical farming approach fundamentally tries to increase the amount of agricultural area.
Using raised beds, row farming, or a hydroponic greenhouse, food crops can be cultivated under rooftop plant production (RPP) systems. Growing plants in a nutrient solution with or without a soilless substrate to give physical support is known as hydroponics. The cultivation area is maximised using RPP systems using artificial lighting. RPP can be used to grow crops that need greater vertical space and stronger lighting.

Conclusion

Urban agriculture encounters a number of obstacles, but each of these can be overcome by implementing a variety of technological solutions, establishing urban agriculture initiatives in peri-urban areas, launching community initiatives in open areas, and changing planning guidelines and local ordinances to recognise urban agriculture as a ULB activity.

Governance

Measles outbreak: Children’s immunization programme must be expedited

Post author By balancedreport
Post date November 28, 2022

Public health officials in the nation are concerned about a measles outbreak in Mumbai. In the last two months, the city has reported more than 200 cases, and at least 13 children have died as a result.

Measles

Measles is a virus that is extremely contagious.
The paramyxovirus family virus that causes measles often spreads through direct contact and the air.
The respiratory tract becomes infected by the virus, which then spreads throughout the body.
There is no evidence that measles affects animals; it is a human disease.

Signs and symptoms

A high fever, runny nose, coughing, red and watery eyes, and little white patches within the cheeks can appear in the early stages of measles.
Blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea and associated dehydration, ear infections, or severe respiratory infections including pneumonia are among the most significant side effects.

At risk

Young children who have not received the measles vaccine are most susceptible to the disease and its fatal complications.
Pregnant women who are not immunised are also at danger.
Anyone who is non-immune (who has not received a vaccination or who received a vaccination but did not develop immunity) can contract the disease.

Transmission:

Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases.
It is spread by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions.

Treatment:

For the measles virus, there is no specialised antiviral medication.
Through supportive care that promotes healthy nutrition, appropriate fluid intake, and treatment of dehydration with the WHO-recommended oral rehydration solution, severe consequences from measles can be decreased.
Two doses of vitamin A supplements should be given to every child who has been diagnosed with measles.

Prevention:

Key public health measures to lower measles mortality worldwide include routine childhood vaccination against the disease and massive immunisation drives in nations with high case and death rates.
Measles vaccination is frequently given along with the rubella and/or mumps shots.

Sudden outbreak of Measles in India

Backsliding in the universal immunisation programme during the pandemic: According to all indications, the outbreak appears to have been brought on by a relapse in the universal immunisation programme during the pandemic.
Data from the state government show that only 41% of Mumbai’s eligible children have received a measles vaccination.
Parents are allegedly displaying reluctance to continue their children’s vaccination schedule after they were feverish after receiving the first shot.
ASHA employees and other overworked public health officials have also had to deal with vaccine reluctance.

Efforts by Government

Mission Indradhanush: The Mission Indradhanush effort of the Centre has increased immunisation coverage and decreased intershot intervals recently.
Low coverage during the past two years: Research from WHO and UNICEF has revealed that immunisation programmes, particularly those focusing on DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus) and measles, have suffered over the previous two years in low- and middle-income countries, including India.
At least 100,000 youngsters missed their vaccinations due to the movement restrictions early in the pandemic, according to data from the National Health Mission’s computer system.
India has accelerated immunisation following the pandemic: According to anecdotal evidence, India’s campaign for universal immunisation increased toward the end of the pandemic. However, measles is a very contagious illness. Experts had previously issued a warning that even a 5% decline in vaccination rates can compromise herd immunity and cause an outbreak. Their fears are coming true, as evidenced by the disease’s resurgence in Mumbai.

Conclusion

Studies have indicated that during the epidemic, kid immunisation suffered as attention was diverted to adult vaccination. Governments must carefully assess at the local level how many children escaped the immunisation net during this time after the pandemic peaked and take corrective action.

Economics

Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement between India and Australia (AI-ECTA)

Post author By balancedreport
Post date November 28, 2022

The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) between Australia and India has been approved by the Australian Parliament. This agreement has been viewed as a chance for expanding Indian businesses.

Background

Australia and India formally reopened CECA negotiations in September 2021 with the goal of reaching an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA).
It aspires to speedily liberalise and expand bilateral trade in products and services, using this as a base to pick up the more ambitious CECA negotiations.

India-Australia ECTA

It includes practically all of the tariff lines that Australia and India trade in.
Tariff Lines: This product falls under the definition of a tariff line item. A particular tariff is a tax that is tacked directly onto a single imported good and is unrelated to the value of that import. Typically, a certain tariff is determined by the volume or number of imported items.
Australia will grant India preferential market access on 100% of its tariff lines, while India will grant Australia preferential market access on more than 70% of its tariff lines.
Indian STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) graduates will be eligible for extended post-study work visas under the terms of the agreement.
It will grant 96% of Indian exports to Australia duty-free access, as well as 85% of Australian exports to the Indian market.
Visas: Every year, 1,800 yoga instructors and Indian chefs are allowed to travel to Australia from India, and 1,000 work/vacation visas will be made available for young professionals. Over 100,000 Indian students will benefit from post-study work permits for up to four years.
Wine: India has agreed to lower tariffs on Australian wine over a ten-year period, although the existing 150% customs levy on wine bottles under $5 will remain in place.
Agriculture and dairy industries: By excluding the most delicate agricultural products from the FTA, India has completely shielded its dairy industry from any tariff reductions.

Significance

To start, from the current level of US$ 31 billion in bilateral commerce, it will surpass US$ 45–50 billion in 5 years. By 2026–2027, India’s merchandise exports are forecast to grow by $10 billion.
Secondly, because labor-intensive industries will gain, it is anticipated that this will lead to the addition of at least 10 lakh new jobs in India, as well as several prospects for investment and startup promotion.
Thirdly, it would give Indians in Australia better job possibilities and boost remittances to India.
Increased Exports: India now has a tariff disadvantage of 4% to 5% in numerous labor-intensive industries compared to rivals in the Australian market including China, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The ECTA’s removal of these restrictions might greatly increase India’s exports of goods.
Cheaper Raw Materials: Raw materials and intermediate goods make up a larger portion of Australian exports to India. Many Indian companies will benefit from cheaper raw materials and increase their competitiveness as a result of having zero-duty access to 85% of Australian goods, especially in industries like steel, aluminium, electricity, engineering, and so forth.
Change in Perceptions of India: The new trade agreement will help to dispel misconceptions about India in the developed world, which have long stereotyped it as being “protectionist,” as well as concerns about its willingness to conduct business with other nations.

Effects on India

Strengthening of global supply chains: India’s goal in concluding a comprehensive economic partnership with these nations is to join the global value chains (GVCs), which are primarily based on trade and foreign direct investment.
Promote a global perspective: Investment protection is covered in several major mega-economic treaties, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
A more robust Indo-Pacific Strong Australia-India economic ties will also pave the way for a stronger Indo-Pacific economic architecture that is based on developing capacity-led connections, complementarities, sustainable commitments, and mutual dependence across nations and sub-regions rather than just on flows of physical goods, money, and people.

Economics

EAC-PM Paper Identifies ‘Serious Issues’ With 3 Global Indices’ Methodologies

Post author By balancedreport
Post date November 28, 2022

In a recent working paper, the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister examined three perception-based indices: the Freedom in the World Index, the V-DEM indices, and the EIU Democracy Index.

Key Highlights

India has been ranked at the same level as it was during the Emergency in the 1970s according to the Freedom in the World Index and V-DEM rankings.
India is currently ranked below nations like Northern Cyprus.
However, the technique employed in these perception-based indices has significant flaws, according to the report.
The World Bank ought to make sure that these organisations operate with more transparency and accountability because these indices serve as inputs for the World Governance Indicators.

Issues

The judgments of a small number of unidentified “experts” form the foundation of these indices.
The questions that are asked are subjective and written in such a way that it is impossible to provide an objective response, let alone one that allows for cross-national comparison.
Some inquiries that ought to be made but are not
Some of the questions included in these indices are not a reliable indicator of democracy in all nations.

Freedom in the World Index

Freedom House has been publishing it since 1973.
The classification for India is “partly free.”
India will receive a score of 66 in 2022.
On political rights, 33 out of 35; on civil liberties, 33 out of 42.
Democracy Index
The Economist Intelligence Unit is the publisher (EIU).
India is categorised as a “Flawed Democracy.”
India is in 46th place.
India saw an improvement in its ratings in the categories of political involvement, civil liberties, and government operation.

Varieties of Democracy (V-DEM) indices

The Varieties of Democracy Institute at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden created it, and it comes out with six indices that cover different facets of democracy: liberal democracy, Electoral democracy, liberal component, egalitarian component, participatory component, and deliberative component.
India’s position: 93rd

Environment & Biodiversity

India’s Potential Contribution to the Loss and Damage Fund

Post author By balancedreport
Post date November 28, 2022

The 197 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) decided to make it possible to finance loss and damage for those who most need it.

Loss and damage (L&D) fund

Loss and damage (L&D) refers to the negative effects that vulnerable communities and nations experience as a result of a changing climate.
Making wealthy nations pay: Rich nations had long rejected L&D payments. They were under so much pressure that they had to accept their accountability.

COP27: Agreement between all parties

Creation of the Transition Committee: As part of the COP27 agreement, a Transition Committee for L&D was created, with equal representation from wealthy and developing nations.
Operationalizing the funding arrangement: By COP28 in the UAE next year, the committee must set up institutional arrangements, identify and expand sources of funding, and coordinate with current funding arrangements.

Role India can play in facilitating the Loss & Damage

Create a Global Vulnerability Index: CEEW created a Climate Vulnerability Index for India last year. It was discovered that more than 80% of Indians are extremely vulnerable to severe weather calamities. These publicly available data aid in the mapping of key vulnerabilities and the development of strategies for enhancing resilience through the climate-proofing of infrastructure, communities, and economies.
India would be wise to bring professionals together and support the creation of a South-led research consortium that is focused on the scientific investigation of “event attribution” science. This would advance climate research, raise awareness of sensitive areas, increase research capacity in poor nations, and reinforce the L&D framework.
Promote the Early Warning Systems Initiative: The Early Warnings for All Executive Action Plan, unveiled at COP27. Within five years, it wants to guarantee that early warning systems will protect every individual on Earth. In order to prevent annual losses of $3-16 billion due to natural disasters in developing countries, it has called for targeted investments of $3.1 billion between 2023 and 2027.
Utilize the CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure): India established the CDRI “to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster hazards in support of sustainable development.” In order to facilitate the creation of a comprehensive disaster-risk financing plan in more than 35 nations and multilateral organisations, CDRI is now conducting a Fiscal Risk Assessment research.

Other strategies for Loss & Damage funds

Pressuring the developing nations: With rising emissions, pressure must also be applied to the major emerging economies to contribute to L&D financing. Increasing adaptation spending is necessary to limit L&D compensation.
Global Resilience Reserve Fund: To build an insurance buffer against catastrophic physical and macroeconomic shocks that climate threats would impose, the global resilience reserve fund is capitalised using IMF Special Drawing Rights.
Enhanced and expedited emissions mitigation: Although the world’s nations this week revealed their long-term low-carbon emissions development strategies, they must employ scientific techniques to quantify their long-term targets in order to provide guidance to business and investors.

Conclusion

Loss and damage financing is really a temporary fix. By 2030, global emissions must be cut by 50%, but there is no condemnation for not putting out convincing strategies to do it. India’s Lifestyle for Environment programme promoted sustainable living. Because it is now too late, the world needs to adjust its perspective on climate change.

Uncategorized

Central Information Commission (CIC) and The RTI

Post author By balancedreport
Post date November 25, 2022

The Central Information Commission, the supreme agency responsible for enforcing India’s transparency laws, has the crucial responsibility of deciding whether or not information should be disclosed. However, it appears that the commission has abandoned its main responsibility in situations with more public significance.

Central Information Commission (CIC)

Public information officers (PIOs) are employed by each of the central departments and ministries under the direction of the chief information commissioner (CIC). The Indian President is directly responsible for CICs.
There is a Chief Information Commissioner and a maximum of ten Information Commissioners who make up the Commission. Aside from the Chief Information Commissioner, the Commission now has six information commissioners.
They are chosen by the President based on the advice of a committee that includes the PM as Chairperson, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister that the PM has nominated.
Office tenure: The CIC/IC shall serve in that capacity for the Central Government’s specified period of time or until they reach the age of 65, whichever comes first. Reappointment is not possible for them.

Powers:

Any person who makes an information request under RTI, 2005 is required to submit a complaint to the Commission, which is then required to investigate it.
If there are good reasons, the Commission may order an inquiry into any matter (suo-moto power).
The Commission has the same summoning, requesting of documents, etc., powers as a civil court when conducting an investigation.

RTI Procedure and the role of CIC

The Right to Information Act gives citizens the option to submit requests to any public entity, and they are promised a response from the public information officer of that public body within 30 days.
A citizen may file an appeal at the departmental level and then a second and final appeal with the Information Commission in the event of a non-response or disagreement with the response.
The State Information Commission in each State hears second appeals involving State agencies. The Central Information Commission is in charge here.

Changes in RTI amendment 2019

Prior to the 2019 modification to the RTI Act, information commissioners (ICs) appointed to the CIC had statuses equivalent to those of a Supreme Court justice and the Chief Election Commissioner. They had terms of service and a fixed period of five years.
Following the 2019 revisions, the Centre granted itself the authority to alter and decide upon these parameters whenever it pleased, undermining the commission’s and its personnel’s independence.

Concerns raised over the changed approach of CIC

Decreasing accountability: According to records, there hasn’t been a single order for disclosure in cases involving public interest. A new body of law that the current group of information commissioners jointly established has added more barriers to a citizen’s desire for accountability.
Systematic disregard for the confidentiality obligation: The Commission has adopted a new procedure for transferring its authority to consider cases to the Ministry in front of it. The Ministries typically reaffirm their prior position of non-disclosure, most frequently on the flimsy pretext of national interest.
Refusing to do its duty: After these public bodies issue new orders, which are typically just a restatement of their previous position against disclosure, the CIC declines to consider any new challenges to those orders, failing to fulfil its obligation to decide the cases.
Ignoring the idea of natural justice: A fundamental tenet of natural justice is that no one should be allowed to decide a case for which they are personally responsible. However, the commission now permits, or rather wants, the Ministry itself to act as the judge in their own case and determine if a disclosure is required. This is despite the Ministry being accused of breaking the RTI Act.
Brand-new items like pending lawsuits and stay orders: It is extremely rare for a case to be kept waiting for a final ruling or a stay order, and the RTI Act makes no allowances for either.
Officers are unafraid of any legal penalties: Bureaucrats reject RTIs with joy, knowing full well that they are protected by the Information Commissioners and are not subject to the harsh penalties outlined in Section 20 of the RTI Act.

@the-end

The transparency regime in India is obscured by gloom. Citizens must exert significant pressure on the government to take action and designate trustworthy commissioners. Lawyers must assist willing citizens in bringing cases to court and pursuing justice.

Source—https://cic.gov.in/#:~:text=The%20Central%20Information%20Commission%20has,over%20all%20Central%20Public%20Authorities.

Uncategorized

A review of nutrition programmes

Post author By balancedreport
Post date November 25, 2022

Regarding its global standing on a crucial indication of human progress, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022 has handed India more dismal news. India came in at position 107 out of 121. India is still plagued by malnutrition

Global hunger Index (GHI)

The GHI examines stunting, wasting, and mortality among children as well as caloric insufficiency throughout the population, making it a crucial indicator of nutrition, especially for children.
According to the National family health survey findings (NFHS-5)
According to India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) from 2019 to 21, 35.5% of children under the age of five had stunting, 19.3% had wasting, and 32.1% had an underweight condition.

Budgetary allocation for Government Schemes

Funding gaps: A number of strategies have been proposed by experts to address the issue of chronic malnutrition, many of which are included in the current government financed programmes. However, there are still holes in the plumbing, or funding and implementation, of these projects.
Saksham Anganwadi: The Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition (POSHAN) 2.0 programme, which now also includes the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme, is carried out by the Indian government.
It aims to work with young women, expectant mothers, nursing mothers, and kids under three.
However, the allocated funding for this programme for FY2022-23 was only 20,263 crore, or less than 1% of what was actually spent in FY2020–21—a slight increase over the course of two years.
PM POSHAN: Previously known as the Mid-Day Meal programme, PM POSHAN is also known as Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools).
With a budget of 10,233.75 crore, the FY2022-23 budget was 21% less expensive than the FY2020-21 budget.
It is obvious that the budgets allotted fall far short of the sums needed to significantly improve the nation’s nutrition.

@the-end

India has been plagued by malnutrition for a number of years. Even if a month-long POSHAN Utsav may look fantastic on paper, it cannot replace the difficult daily work. Making child hunger the top priority of the government apparatus is urgently required, year-round.

Uncategorized

Excellence in Leadership in Family Planning (EXCELL) Awards-2022

Post author By balancedreport
Post date November 25, 2022

At the International Conference on Family Planning held in Pattaya, Thailand, India is the only nation to have won the Leadership in Family Planning (EXCELL) Awards-2022 in the “country category.”

Key Highlights

Modern contraceptive methods have been widely adopted in India, aiding couples in their decision-making on family size.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – 5 data show these.
According to NFHS-5 data, the country’s overall contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) increased from 54% to 67% when compared to NFHS-4.
In a similar vein, the percentage of unmet needs for family planning significantly decreased from 13% to 9%.

International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP)

The largest scientific conference on family planning and reproductive health in the world, it serves as a global strategy for family planning and reproductive health.
The most recent conference took place in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2018.
This conference is held every two years as of 2009.
Kampala, Uganda, hosted the first conference in 2009.
It offers a chance to interact with groups from civil society, youth organizations, academia, governments, corporations, cities, parliaments, and labour unions in order to share knowledge, celebrate achievements, and acknowledge advancements made in the direction of achieving universal access to family planning systems, services, and products.

Source—https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1876954#:~:text=India%20wins%20the%20prestigious%20EXCELL,on%20right%20information%20%26%20reliable%20services.

Polity

Assam-Meghalaya Boundary Dispute

Post author By balancedreport
Post date November 25, 2022

The recent firing incident on the Assam-Meghalaya border has put the focus on the five-decade-old boundary issue between the two north-eastern states.

The dispute

Meghalaya was separated from Assam in 1970 as an autonomous State, and it achieved full statehood in 1972.
The Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act of 1969, which the Meghalaya administration refused to approve, served as the foundation for the creation of the new State.
This was due to the Act adopting a 1951 committee’s suggestions for defining Meghalaya’s border.
Areas of the current East Jaintia Hills, Ri-Bhoi, and West Khasi Hills districts in Meghalaya were relocated to the Karbi Anglong, Kamrup (metro), and Kamrup districts of Assam based on the recommendations of that panel.
Following statehood, Meghalaya disputed these transfers, alleging they belonged to its indigenous chieftains.
Assam said that Meghalaya’s administration was unable to produce any paperwork or historical records to support its claim to these territories.
On the basis of an official claim made by Meghalaya in 2011, the dispute was reduced to 12 sectors after claims and counterclaims.

Other North-East boundary disputes

Assam, which has border issues with numerous states, was mainly eliminated from the creation of the Northeastern states.
Apart from Mizoram, which gradually split off into distinct states during British rule, Assam also encompassed modern-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya during that time. Assam is now having boundary issues with each of them.
Assam and Nagaland are separated by a 500-km border.
In two significant violent incidents that occurred in 1979 and 1985, at least 100 people died. The Supreme Court is now hearing the boundary dispute.
Conflicts were first documented along the approximately 800 km Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in 1992, according to the same study.
Since then, both sides have made a number of claims of unauthorised encroachment and there have been sporadic skirmishes. The Supreme Court is now deliberating on this boundary dispute.
The 884-km border between Assam and Meghalaya also frequently experiences flare-ups. There are now 12 areas of contention between the two states, according to statements from the Meghalayan government.

Government of both states

The two States first attempted to negotiate a settlement to their border dispute, but their first significant move came in May 1983 when they established a joint official committee to handle the matter.
The committee recommended that the Survey of India redefine the boundary with the participation of both States in its report turned in in November 1983 in an effort to resolve the conflict.
There was no further action taken. As more territories started to be in dispute, the two States decided to establish an impartial panel in 1985.
The committee, which was led by Justice Y.V. Chandrachud, sent in its report in 1987.
The report was rejected by Meghalaya because it was reportedly pro-Assam.
2019 saw a petition from the Meghalayan administration asking the Supreme Court to order the Centre to resolve the conflict. The petition was turned down.

How was the ice broken?

When the nation celebrates its 75th anniversary of independence on August 15, 2022, the Home Minister requested all of the north-eastern States to settle their boundary disputes by that date in January 2021.
Given that the sister-States in the area either shared a ruling party, it was thought that the project might move more quickly.
The two States decided to restart negotiations at the CM level in June 2021 and to use a “give-and-take” approach to resolve their differences once and for all.
Six “least complicated” areas—Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata, and Ratacherra—from the 12 disputed sectors were picked for resolution in the first round.
Three regional committees were established by each of the two States, one for each district impacted by the disputed sectors.

Principles followed

The “five principles” on how to handle the problem were entrusted to these committees, each of which was led by a cabinet minister.
These criteria include a contested area’s historical facts, ethnicity, administrative convenience, people’s willingness, and the contiguousness of the land, preferably with natural boundaries like rivers, streams, and rocks.
The committee members interviewed people in the contested areas and met with local stakeholders on multiple occasions.
This made it possible for the six contested sections to be closed on March 29.

Issues

Assam government officials argued that it was preferable to let go of areas over which they had no administrative authority than to “live with an annoyance forever.”
The “give-and-take” model, according to people in the other six contentious sectors, might be disastrous for them.
Non-tribal individuals are more likely to be afraid of living in a “tribal Meghalaya with no rights” than tribal people.