What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is Agnipath scheme?
• Why was Agnipath introduced?
• Why has Agnipath seen such strong opposition?

Why in News?

Agnipath scheme, announced in June 2022, has faced opposition from political parties and Armed Forces veterans. 

The opposition's campaign in states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, where the Armed Forces are a major employer, prominently featured opposition to this military recruitment scheme. The BJP's performance in these states suggests that this opposition resonated with voters. 

With the BJP now falling short of a majority in the Lok Sabha, key alliance partners like Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party have also called for a review of the scheme.

What is Agnipath scheme?

• About
  • Agnipath scheme is a central government scheme launched in 2022 for recruitment to the armed forces.
  • It is a recruitment process for individuals below the rank of officer, with the goal of deploying fitter, younger troops on the front lines, many of whom will be on four-year contracts.
    • The armed forces would also have the option to retain some of the best 'Agniveers.'
• Eligibility 
  • Candidates between the age of 17.5 years to 21 years will be eligible for enrolling in the Agnipath scheme.
  • Girls under the given age limit are open for the agnipath entry, while there is no such reservation for women under this scheme.
  • The recruitment standards will remain the same, and recruitment will be done twice a year through rallies.
• Pay & Benefits of Agniveers
  • If they die on duty, their family receives a lump sum of Rs 1 crore (including the Seva Nidhi package), and full pay for the period which the soldier could not serve. 
  • In case of disability, an Agniveer can receive upto Rs 44 lakh as compensation, depending on the percentage of disability suffered which is attributed to, or aggravated by military service.
• Agnipath is different from regular military service
  • Unlike soldiers in regular service, Agniveers do not draw pensions post-retirement.
  • Only 25% of Agniveers who are absorbed into the forces after four years will receive pension benefits, excluding their initial four years of service. 
  • This scheme aims to reduce the Armed Forces’ permanent force levels and significantly cut the defence pension bill, a longstanding concern for governments.
• Agniveers recruited so far
  • In the Army, two batches of 40,000 Agniveers have completed training and are under posting. 
  • The third batch of 20,000 began training in November 2023. 
  • In the Navy, three batches of 7,385 Agniveers have completed training. In the IAF, 4,955 Agniveers have completed training.

Why was Agnipath introduced?

• The Agnipath scheme, beyond reducing the Armed Forces’ wage and pension bill, aims to ensure a youthful profile for the forces. 
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the scheme as a game changer, intended to make the Armed Forces youthful, high-tech, and ultra-modern. 
• The average age in the Armed Forces, currently 32 years, will be reduced to 26 years with Agnipath's implementation.
• The government also argues that Agniveers, after completing their service, will positively contribute to civil society with their skills, discipline, and education. 
• This is expected to enhance workforce quality, productivity, and overall GDP growth.

Why has Agnipath seen such strong opposition?

• Critics argue that the Agnipath scheme creates a lesser cadre of soldiers who perform the same tasks as fully commissioned soldiers but with lower pay, fewer benefits, and limited prospects. 
  • Recently, an opposition leader wrote to President, highlighting the discrimination in benefits for the families of fallen Agniveers compared to regular soldiers, calling for urgent attention to this issue.
• This disparity has caused significant dissatisfaction among those who view military recruitment as a means to economic stability and upward mobility. 

Q.1. Who are Agniveers?

Agniveers are soldiers, airmen, and sailors recruited into the Indian Armed Forces for a four-year period under the Agnipath Scheme. The term "Agniveer" translates to "Fire-Warriors" and is a new military rank.

Q.2. What is Seva Nidhi package?

The Seva Nidhi package is a one-time severance package paid to Agniveers, or young people who serve in the Indian Armed Forces under the Agnipath scheme, after they complete four years of service.

Source: Explained: What is the Agnipath scheme and the opposition to it? | Mondaq | Vikaspedia

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Issues Faced by the AP Post-Bifurcation
• What Needs to be Done?

Why in News?

• Several issues relating to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 (APRA) remain pending between the two successor states - Telangana and AP, ten years after their bifurcation.
• Political analyses of the TDP's kingmaker role in the NDA have focused on Chandrababu Naidu's years-long efforts to secure AP's Special Category Status.

Issues Faced by the AP Post-Bifurcation:

• State without a capital:
  • According to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014,Hyderabad would be the common capital of AP and Telangana until June 2, 2024.
  • While a few office spaces, an interim Secretariat, and a High Court have been established, successive governments have not been able to make Amaravati the capital.
• State has not made rapid strides in terms of economic development:
  • The economy of the State has not improved compared to States such as Maharashtra and Gujarat.
  • Apart from Kia Motors in Anantapur, reportedly no other major players have ventured into Andhra Pradesh. 
• Major projects remain unrealised dreams: Major projects such as the Polavaram project, the Kadapa Steel Plant, and the South Coast Railway Zone in Visakhapatnam are delayed as they are not technically and economically feasible.
• High revenue deficit:
  • The Reorganisation Act mandated the Union government to lend support to AP for its resource gap for 2014-15.
  • The revenue deficit was estimated by the State government at ₹16,078 crore, however it was reduced to ₹3,979.50 crore by the Union government.
  • The revenue deficit touched ₹31,479.88 crore by March 2024 (preliminary estimates).
• Unresolved issues AP and Telangana:
  • The division of various institutions and corporations, listed in the Reorganisation Act, has not been completed due to a lack of consensus.
  • Assets belonging to nearly 245 institutions (worth about ₹1.42 lakh crore) mentioned in the Reorganisation Act, are yet to be divided between the two States.
• The people of AP attached to Hyderabad emotionally and economically:
  • The people of Andhra continue to rely on Hyderabad for health and educational facilities.
  • Policymakers and bureaucrats are not in Hyderabad, but they are still connected to the city emotionally.
  • This could be one of the reasons for the tardy progress in Andhra Pradesh.

What Needs to be Done?

• Establishing a capital in the State:
  • The YSRCP put forth the idea of three capitals, but this may not be easy and may run into legal issues.
  • Similarly, a grandiose capital, as planned by the TDP, will have fiscal problems if the various welfare schemes promised in the manifestos are implemented.
  • To win investors’ confidence, the government has to develop a capital with the resources it has now.
• The development of infrastructural facilities: This will give a big boost to the industry and service sector. As the Union government is prioritising port-led development, AP can look for a bigger share in the pie given its coastal advantage.
• Pending issues with Telangana need to be resolved:
  • Telangana must pay ₹6,756 crore to AP for the supply of power post-bifurcation (from June 2, 2014, to June 10, 2017).
  • The river management boards which were supposed to be set up in AP should be shifted to the State from Hyderabad.
  • Courts must adjudicate pending disputes, which includes division of the AP State Financial Corporation’s assets, sharing of Krishna and Godavari waters, etc., on a priority basis.

Discussion on Special Category Status to AP: This would make up for the revenue losses incurred by the AP following the split of the united state in 2014.

Q.1. Which constitutional provision is used for the bifurcation of States in India?

According to the Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, the Parliament may by law form a new State by separation of territory from any State or by uniting two or more States or parts of States or by uniting any territory to a part of any State.

Q.2. Why is ‘special category status’ demanded by states in India?

Special category status is a classification of regions or states by the central government to provide special assistance in the form of tax benefits and financial support for development of the region.

Source: Andhra Pradesh vs Telangana: Unresolved issues between the states that went to court | DH | TH

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is First Past the Post (FPTP) system?
• What is Proportional Representation (PR)?
• What are international practices?
• Way forward for India

Why in News?

The results of the Lok Sabha elections were declared on June 4. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won 293 seats with a 43.3% vote share while the Opposition bloc INDIA has secured 234 seats with a 41.6% vote share. Other regional parties and independents received about 15% of the votes but only won 16 seats in total.

As a result, many experts are now advocating for India to switch to a proportional representation system.

What is First Past the Post (FPTP) system?

• About
  • The FPTP system, also known as the simple majority voting system, is an electoral method where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins the election. 
  • This system is widely used in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and India for legislative elections.
• Working
  • Single-Member Districts - Each constituency elects one representative.
  • Plurality Wins - The candidate who receives the highest number of votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve an absolute majority (more than 50% of the votes).
• Advantages
  • Simplicity
    • Easy for voters to understand and participate in.
    • Straightforward counting process.
  • Strong and Stable Governments
    • Often produces a clear winner, which can lead to strong and stable governments.
    • Under this system, the ruling party/coalition can enjoy a majority in the Lok Sabha/Legislative assembly without obtaining majority of the votes (more than 50%) across constituencies. This increases stability of the govt.
  • Direct Representation
    • Provides direct representation of constituencies, ensuring that each geographic area has a dedicated representative.
  • Accountability
  • Representatives are directly accountable to their constituents, as they can be easily voted out in the next election if they do not perform well.
• Disadvantages of FPTP
  • Disproportionality
    • Can lead to a significant mismatch between the percentage of votes received and the percentage of seats won.
    • Smaller parties may be underrepresented, while larger parties may receive a disproportionate number of seats.
• Wasted Votes
  • Votes for losing candidates do not contribute to the overall election result, which can discourage voter participation.
  • Can lead to strategic voting, where voters choose not their preferred candidate, but the one they think has the best chance of winning.
• Minority Rule
  • A candidate can win with a minority of the votes if the opposition is divided among multiple candidates.
  • This can result in a government that does not reflect the majority preference of the electorate.
• Geographic Concentration
  • Parties with geographically concentrated support can win more seats than parties with evenly distributed support, even if they receive fewer overall votes.
• Encourages Gerrymandering
  • The system can incentivize the drawing of constituency boundaries to favor one party over another, known as gerrymandering.

What is Proportional Representation (PR)?

• About
  • PR is an electoral system designed to allocate seats in the legislature in proportion to the number of votes each party receives. 
  • This system contrasts with the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, where the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins. 
  • PR aims to create a more accurate reflection of the voters' preferences across the entire electorate.
• Working
  • Party Lists - Voters typically cast their vote for a party rather than an individual candidate. 
    • The party then allocates seats to candidates from their list based on the proportion of votes received.
  • Multi-Member Districts - Each district elects multiple representatives, which allows for proportional allocation.
  • Thresholds - Often, a minimum percentage of votes (threshold) is required for a party to gain representation, to prevent excessive fragmentation.
  • Types of Proportional Representation:
  • List PR - Voters choose a party, and parties receive seats based on their share of the vote. Seats are filled by candidates from the party’s list.
  • Mixed-Member PR - Combines elements of FPTP and PR. Voters cast two votes: one for a candidate and one for a party. 
    • Some seats are filled by individual candidates, while others are allocated to parties based on their share of the vote.
  • Single Transferable Vote (STV) - Voters rank candidates in order of preference. 
    • Seats are allocated based on the proportion of votes each candidate receives, with surplus votes and eliminated candidates' votes transferred according to voter preferences.
• Advantages of PR
  • Fair Representation
  • Ensures that parties receive seats in proportion to their share of the vote, leading to a more accurate reflection of the electorate's preferences.
  • Minority Inclusion
    • Smaller parties and minority groups have a better chance of gaining representation, promoting diversity in the legislature.
  • Reduced Wasted Votes
  • Fewer votes are wasted as most votes contribute to the election of a candidate, increasing voter satisfaction and participation.
  • Encourages Voter Turnout
    • Voters may feel their vote has more impact, leading to higher voter turnout.
• Disadvantages of PR
  • Coalition Governments
  • While coalitions can be a strength, they can also lead to unstable governments if coalition partners frequently disagree, resulting in inefficiency or frequent elections.
  • Complexity
  • PR systems can be more complex for voters to understand and for electoral authorities to administer compared to simpler systems like FPTP.
  • Fragmentation
  • Can lead to a fragmented legislature with many small parties, making it difficult to achieve a majority consensus.
  • Weaker Constituency Links
  • Representatives may be less accountable to specific geographic constituencies since they are elected on a party list basis rather than as individuals.
  • Influence of Party Leadership
  • Party leaders often have significant control over candidate lists, which can centralize power within the party and reduce individual accountability of representatives.

What are international practices?

• Brazil and Argentina: These countries use the party list Proportional Representation (PR) system for their elections.
• South Africa, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain: These countries also use the party list PR system to ensure fair representation of political parties based on vote share.
• Germany: Bundestag Structure
  • Out of 598 seats, 299 seats (50%) are filled from constituencies under the First Past the Post (FPTP) system. 
  • The remaining 299 seats (50%) are allocated to parties that secure at least 5% of the votes, based on their vote share.
• New Zealand: House of Representatives Structure
  • Out of 120 seats, 72 seats (60%) are filled through the FPTP system from territorial constituencies. 
  • The remaining 48 seats (40%) are distributed among parties that secure at least 5% of the votes, based on their vote share.

Way forward for India

• Law Commission's Recommendation (170th report, 1999)
  • The Law Commission in its report, ‘Reform of the electoral laws’, recommended the introduction of the Mixed-Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system on an experimental basis.
    • It suggested that 25% of seats could be filled through a PR system by increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha.
• Upcoming Delimitation Exercise and associated challenges
  • A delimitation exercise to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats is due after the first Census conducted post-2026.
  • The population growth in the last five decades has been uneven across regions.
  • Determining the number of seats in proportion to population alone may conflict with federal principles.
  • It could lead to disenchantment in States that might lose representation through such a method.
• Way out through MMPR System
  • Introducing the MMPR system for incremental seats or at least 25% of the total seats from each State/UT during the delimitation exercise could balance representation.
  • This approach could mitigate concerns of southern, northeastern, and smaller northern States by preventing domination of larger States solely through the FPTP system.

Q.1. What is Mixed-Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system?

Under MMP systems, the PR seats are awarded to compensate for any disproportionality produced by the district seat results. For example, if one party wins 10 per cent of the vote nationally but no district seats, then it will be awarded enough seats from the PR lists to bring its representation up to 10 per cent of the seats in the legislature. Voters may get two separate choices, as in Germany and New Zealand. Alternatively, voters may make only one choice, with the party totals being derived from the totals for the individual district candidates.

Q.2. What is the meaning of partylist?

A party-list system is a type of electoral system that formally involves political parties in the electoral process, usually to facilitate multi-winner elections. In party-list systems, parties put forward a list of candidates, the party-list who stand for election on one ticket.

Source: Is it time for proportional representation? | Explained | ORF | The Hindu