What is the International Centre for Audit of Local Governance? 

 Inauguration: On July 18, CAG Girish Chandra Murmu inaugurated the International Centre for Audit of Local Governance (iCAL) in Rajkot, India’s first institute dedicated to setting global standards for auditing local governance.

• Function of iCAL:
  • Platform: iCAL will facilitate collaboration among policymakers, administrators, and auditors involved with local governments.
  • Objective: Enhance the independence and effectiveness of local government auditors through training, leadership development, and capacity-building initiatives.
  • Significance: Serve as a think tank to address grassroots governance issues via workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, and peer exchanges.
• Local Body Audits in India:
  • Three-Tier System: India’s auditing system includes the Union government, state governments, and local bodies (urban and rural).
  • Entities Involved:
    • State-Level: State offices like Examiner of Local Fund Accounts (ELFA) or Director of Local Fund Accounts (DLFA) audit local body fund utilization.
    • CAG: Conducts audits at central and state levels, including local bodies, and provides advice and support to ELFA/DLFA.
• Need for iCAL:
  • Increased Funding: With substantial funds flowing to local bodies, improved auditing practices are necessary for effective financial management.
  • Global Practices: Promoting global best practices and institutional collaboration among supreme audit institutions (SAIs) to enhance local government audits.
  • Addressing Inefficiencies: iCAL aims to rectify inefficiencies in local body financial management and reporting, as highlighted by the Reserve Bank of India’s 2022 report.
• Way Forward:
  • Capacity Building: Focus on expanding training and capacity-building programs for auditors and local government officials.
  • International Collaboration: Strengthen partnerships with global audit institutions and promote knowledge exchange.

In the absence of well – educated and organised local-level government systems, Panchayats and Samitis have remained mainly political institutions and not effective instruments of governance. Critically Discuss. (2015)

‘Bhil Pradesh’

• Recent Rally: A large gathering of Bhil tribe members occurred at Mangarh Dham, Rajasthan, to demand an independent ‘Bhil state.’
• About the Bhil Tribe:
• Geographical Presence: Indigenous groups in western India—Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Tripura.
• Status: Listed as a Scheduled Tribe in several states under India’s reservation program.
• Size and Dispersion: One of India’s largest and most widely dispersed tribes.

• Historical Background:

• Historical Control: Dominated large parts of Gujarat from the 11th to 15th centuries.
• Rebellions: Played roles in resisting the Mughal Empire and British rule.
• Criminal Tribes Act: Classified as a criminal tribe in 1871 due to resistance against colonial authorities.
• Village Leadership: Traditionally led by a headman (gameti) with authority over local disputes.

• Language:

• Languages Spoken: Various Indo-Aryan languages, collectively called Bhil languages, and regional languages like Marathi, Gujarati, and Bengali.
• Dialects: Bhili language has up to 36 dialects, merging with regional languages.
• Speakers: Approximately 10 million Bhili speakers recorded in the census.

• Culture:

• Art and Music: Known for Pithora paintings, traditional dances (Ghoomar), and unique musical instruments.
• Religious Practices: Blend of animism and Hinduism, with local deities and worship of gods like Bhati dev, Bhilat dev, and Baba dev.
• Festivals: Celebrates mainstream festivals (Rakhi, Navratri, Dashera, Diwali, Holi) and traditional ones (Akhatij, Navmi, Bhagoria).
• Agriculture: Practices shifting cultivation, locally known as ‘Podu’ or ‘Bewar.’

• Background of Bhil Pradesh Demand:

• Historical Demand: The idea of a tribal state including parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra has been discussed before.
• Political Initiation: Demand for a separate tribal state proposed by Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) formed in 2017.
• Current Demand: Bhil community seeks to create Bhil Pradesh from 49 districts across four states.
• Historical Context: Govind Guru first advocated for a separate tribal state in 1913 following the Mangarh massacre, which is considered the “Adivasi Jallianwala.”

• Reasons for the Demand:

• Historical Division: Tribal-majority regions were divided post-Independence.
• Demographics: Tribals make up about 14% of Rajasthan’s population according to the 2011 census.
• Implementation Issues: Slow implementation of laws and schemes for tribals.

• Example of Implementation Issues:

• Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996: Aimed to decentralize governance and empower gram sabhas in tribal areas.
• Rajasthan Adoption: Law adopted in 1999 but rules only formulated in 2011; awareness of the law is still limited.

INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS (ICCPR)

• Recent Review: India successfully completed its 4th periodic review by the Human Rights Committee under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
• Background of the Human Rights Committee:
• Composition: Consists of 18 independent experts who serve individually.
• Function: Monitors ICCPR implementation, reviews state reports, and issues observations and recommendations.

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):

• Purpose: Multilateral treaty focusing on civil and political rights, including:
  • Right to life
  • Freedom of religion, speech, and assembly
  • Electoral rights
  • Due process and fair trial
• Adoption: Adopted by UN General Assembly Resolution 2200A (XXI) on December 16, 1966; entered into force on March 23, 1976.
• Parties and Signatories: As of June 2024, has 174 parties and six signatories (notably China and Cuba); North Korea is the only state to attempt withdrawal.
• International Bill of Human Rights: ICCPR, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

• Obligations Under ICCPR:

• Rights Protected:
  • Right to life and dignity
  • Equality before the law
  • Freedom of speech, assembly, and association
  • Religious freedom and privacy
  • Protection from torture, ill-treatment, and arbitrary detention
  • Gender equality
  • Right to a fair trial
  • Family life and minority rights
• Government Responsibilities: Must take administrative, judicial, and legislative actions to uphold these rights and provide effective remedies.

• Monitoring Compliance:

• Review Process: Monitored by the UN Human Rights Committee through regular state reports.
• Reporting Schedule: States must report one year after accession and subsequently as requested by the Committee (usually every four years).

CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO

• Visit by S. Jaishankar: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s strong support for Mauritius during his two-day visit, emphasizing alignment with principles on decolonization and sovereignty.
• About Chagos Archipelago:
• Location: A group of seven atolls with over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, about 500 km south of the Maldives.
• Geography: Southernmost part of the Chagos–Laccadive Ridge, a submarine mountain range.
• Major Islands:
  • North: Salomon Islands, Nelsons Island, Peros Banhos
  • South-West: Three Brothers, Eagle Islands, Egmont Islands, Danger Island
  • Southeast: Diego Garcia (largest island)
• Features: Mostly low-lying atolls around lagoons.

• Historical Context:

• Colonial History: Initially a dependency of French Mauritius; ceded to the UK by the Treaty of Paris in 1814.
• British Indian Ocean Territory: In 1965, the UK created the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) as Mauritius approached independence.
• Mauritian Independence: Mauritius gained independence in 1968 and has claimed the Chagos Archipelago as its territory since then.

• International Legal Opinions:

• ICJ Advisory Opinion (2019): Stated that the UK must end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago promptly and that all UN members should cooperate in completing Mauritius’ decolonization.
• ITLOS Ruling (2021): Confirmed that the UK has no sovereignty over the Chagos Islands and that they should be returned to Mauritius.

DAVIS STRAIT

• Davis Strait: Known for its complex geological features.
• Recent Research: Unveiled a notable aspect of the region.
• Discovery: Identified a microcontinent formed through intricate plate tectonic processes.
• Discovery: Geologists identified an isolated block of thick continental crust in the Davis Strait.
• Thickness: The crust measures 19-24 kilometers thick.
• Formation: Likely separated from Greenland due to east-west extension along its margin.
• Name: This formation has been named the Davis Strait proto-microcontinent.

• About Davis Strait:

• Location: Southern arm of the Arctic Ocean, north of the Labrador Sea.
• Position: Lies between southeastern Baffin Island (Canada) and southwestern Greenland.
• Function: Separates Baffin Bay (north) from the Labrador Sea (south) and is part of the Northwest Passage, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
• Dimensions: Approximately 400 miles (650 km) north to south and 200 to 400 miles wide.

NATIONAL BANK FOR FINANCING INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT (NABFID)

• Government Plan: Increase NaBFID’s capital base to 1 trillion with support from banks.
• Background:
  • Role of NaBFID: Critical in financing India’s infrastructure projects.
  • Capital Expansion: Aligns with India’s development needs.
• About National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID):
  • Type: Specialized Development Finance Institution (DFI) in India.
  • Establishment: Created by the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act, 2021.
  • Objective: Address long-term financing needs of critical infrastructure projects.
  • Market Impact: Aims to strengthen bonds and derivatives markets and boost the economy.
  • Recognition: Recognized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as an All-India Financial Institution (AIFI).
  • Focus: Channels investments into sectors like energy, roads, railways, and urban infrastructure.