8 March 2024 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis

Indian Express Editorial Analysis

8-March-2024

1. The bias that must go

Topic: GS1 – Society – Role of women and women’s organization This topic is relevant for both Prelims and Mains in the context of understanding the gender disparities within institutions, including the justice delivery system.

Context:

Across the world, diversity stands as a cornerstone of effective institutions, emphasizing the importance of inclusion, particularly of women, in operationalizing this value. This article delves into the implications of gender diversity within justice delivery systems, examining existing disparities and the necessity for proactive measures towards inclusion.

 Gender Disparities in the Justice Delivery System:

• The India Justice Report (IJR) reveals a glaring gender gap across various subsystems constituting the justice delivery system, encompassing police, judiciary, prisons, legal aid, and human rights commissions.
• Despite quotas aiding women’s entry, their representation remains disproportionately low, with the majority relegated to lower echelons.
• Statistical data from 2022 highlights alarming figures, indicating a dearth of women in key positions such as judgeships, with only a minimal presence in higher ranks of law enforcement and prison administration.

Institutional Failure to Promote Gender Diversity:

• The lack of gender diversity is evident at all levels of justice administration, with women significantly underrepresented in leadership roles.
• The absence of a woman Chief Justice of India or a substantial number of female judges underscores the institutional reluctance to prioritize gender inclusion.
• Even institutions like the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and state commissions exhibit minimal female representation, reflecting a systemic disregard for gender diversity.

Challenges in Policymaking and Implementation:

• Despite acknowledged targets to enhance women’s participation in policing, progress remains sluggish, with only a fraction of women occupying positions within law enforcement agencies.
• While sporadic instances of women attaining prestigious positions surface, they often serve as exceptions rather than indicative of systemic change.
• Women encounter substantial barriers, including biased perceptions and discriminatory practices, hindering their advancement within male-dominated institutional cultures.

Institutional Bias and Deflection of Responsibility:

• The persistent underrepresentation of women reflects entrenched institutional biases, with decision-makers often deflecting responsibility by questioning the feasibility of accommodating more women.
• Such deflections overlook systemic barriers and perpetuate a culture of exclusion.
• Institutions must prioritize addressing gender-based challenges, ensuring inclusivity and equitable opportunities for all genders.

The Imperative for Institutional Transformation:

• Research emphasizes that diversifying institutions enhances internal dynamics and public trust.
• While strides have been made towards inclusion, policy initiatives often fall short of addressing underlying biases and promoting genuine equality.
• To foster a truly inclusive environment, justice administrators must lead by example, reevaluate recruitment practices, and implement measures to support gender diversity effectively.

Conclusion:

• Addressing gender disparities within justice delivery systems necessitates a paradigm shift towards proactive inclusion policies and practices.
• By dismantling institutional barriers and fostering a culture of equality, institutions can uphold core values of justice and equity, ensuring that all genders have equal opportunities to contribute and thrive.

What is the Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI)?

The GGPI is a composite index that assesses gender disparities in key dimensions of human development, including health, education, inclusion, and decision-making. The GGPI is developed by UN Women and UNDP as part of a new global report titled ‘The Path to Equality: Women’s Empowerment and Gender Parity in Human Development’, which was launched in July 2023. The GGPI aims to capture the status of women relative to men across different contexts and dimensions. It also reflects the multidimensional and interrelated nature of gender equality. What is the Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI)? The WEI is a composite index developed by UN Women and UNDP. It measures women’s empowerment across five dimensions: life and good health, education, skill-building and knowledge, labour and financial inclusion, participation in decision-making, and freedom from violence. The WEI captures women’s power and freedom to make choices and seize life opportunities. The development of the WEI marks a significant milestone in evidence-based policymaking and serves as a baseline for monitoring the government’s progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) on gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.

PYQ: Which of the following gives ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking to the countries of the world? (2017) (a) World Economic Forum (b) UN Human Rights Council (c) UN Women (d) World Health Organization Ans: (a)

Practice Question:  Examine the existing disparities and institutional challenges hindering the inclusion of women in key positions within the judiciary, law enforcement, and human rights commissions. Critically evaluate the implications of gender imbalance on the effectiveness and legitimacy of these institutions. (250 words/15 m)

2. BANKING FOR NET ZERO

Topic: GS2 – Governance – Government policies – Interventions for development in various sectors GS3 – Indian Economy – Issues relating to mobilization of resources This topic is relevant for both Prelims and Mains as this analysis delves into the Reserve Bank of India’s initiatives and policies aimed at managing climate-related risks within the banking sector.

Context:

As the global community moves towards phasing out fossil fuel consumption in the coming decades, the financial system, particularly the banking sector, faces significant challenges and opportunities. This analysis explores the implications of this transition for the Indian banking system, highlighting the need for proactive measures to manage climate-related risks effectively.

Current Exposure and Risk Assessment:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) estimates that Indian banks currently have relatively high exposure to utilities, metal, and transport sectors, posing a notable risk in the context of climate change.
• While the aggregate exposure level remains moderate, disparities exist between public and private sector banks.
• Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) also extend a significant portion of their credit to sectors such as power and auto, further amplifying systemic risks due to interconnectedness between banks and NBFCs.

Transition Towards Green Investments:

• As fossil fuel-based assets and processes are phased out, there is a growing demand for green investments.
• The RBI is actively focusing on risk management and aligning policies with the transition to net zero.
• Initiatives such as lending to renewable energy under priority sector lending and frameworks for green deposits signify efforts to support sustainable finance.
• Additionally, the RBI’s draft disclosure framework on climate-related financial risks aims to enhance transparency and preparedness among regulated entities.

Disclosure Framework and Risk Assessment:

• The RBI’s disclosure framework sets thematic pillars for reporting, including governance, strategy, and risk management.
• Regulated entities are expected to provide information on internal processes, strategy formulation, and risk assessment related to climate change.
• Stress testing through climate scenario analysis is emphasized, requiring entities to align scenarios with national policies and assess risks across different time horizons.

Metrics and Targets for Reporting:

• Reporting of metrics and targets, such as greenhouse gas emissions and financed emissions, will commence in the financial year 2027-28.
• These metrics are crucial for tracking progress towards sustainability goals and ensuring accountability.
• However, capacity building is identified as a key factor for successful implementation of the framework, considering the varying technical capacities of banks.

Conclusion:

• While the RBI’s draft framework aligns with international standards and signals a significant regulatory shift, it is imperative for regulated entities to monitor asset quality in both fossil fuel-based and green sectors.
• As entities prepare to report under the framework, attention must be paid to capacity building and continuous adaptation to evolving sustainability requirements.
• By proactively addressing climate-related risks and embracing sustainable finance, the banking sector can contribute to a smoother transition towards net zero emissions.

What is Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA)

Industry-led and UN-convened, the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) is a group of leading global banks committed to financing ambitious climate action to transition the real economy to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. NZBA’s framework, guidance, and peer learning opportunities support members to design, set, and achieve credible science-based net zero targets for 2030 or sooner that deliver value for their investors, clients, and customers. NZBA is the climate accelerator for UNEP FI’s Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and the sector-specific alliance for banks under the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ).

PYQ: The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of (2016) (a) pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East (b) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change (c) capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (d) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals Ans: (b)

Practice Question:  Discuss the implications of transitioning to net zero emissions on the Indian banking sector. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Reserve Bank of India’s initiatives in managing climate-related risks and fostering green investments. (250 words/15 m)

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