Indian Authorities Research Articles

Provisional Authority. Police, Order, and Security in India. By Beatrice Jauregui. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 2016.

Provisional Authority. Police, Order, and Security in India. By Beatrice Jauregui. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 2016.For many among us the idea of police authority being anything but secure would be novel. Shored up on the one hand by the state's monopoly of force and on the other by unwavering commitment from democratically elected governments, the notion that police authority may be in some way provisional barely merits thought. Indeed, the very firmness of this presumption is reinforced and made manifest by its occasional disruption, such as in the case of the violent protests against police brutality in the United States in recent years and the concomitant rise of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The exception confirms the rule.My first experience of the provisionality of police authority - its contingency and conditionality - took place on a very cold and bleak afternoon in January 2005 in the city of Srinagar, Kashmir, a disputed region of Northern India. As I stood in a city street an armored police vehicle rounded the corner and came upon a car double-parked, the driver at the wheel but the car blocking the way. The scene that followed undid my understanding and presumptions about policing. First, the driver of the police vehicle honked and honked, while the car driver studiously ignored the implicit demand to move on. Second, the policeman at the wheel exited the vehicle, lathi (long baton) in hand, smashed the offending driver's window, dragged him from the car and began to beat him on the ground. Third, thinking that my presence as a westerner might in some way temper the exercise of police violence I stepped forward, making myself clearly visible on the pavement. The police officer looked up at me, then got back down to the job of beating the errant driver. As the bloodied driver was shoved back behind the wheel to clear his obstruction I walked away, chastened yet powerless.Beatrice Jauregui's Provisional Authority: Police, Order, and Security in India considers each of these phenomena as well as a host of others based on more than two years' ethnographic fieldwork with police in India's largest and in many ways most complex state, Uttar Pradesh (pop. 200 million in 2011; were it a nation state, it would be the sixth largest by population in the world). Though a relatively short book, at just 158 pages, it is remarkably dense both with ideas - reframing in important ways the way we might think about police authority - and data. On the latter, the book provides what might become a textbook example of fine ethnographic work. Jauregui is a Hindi speaker and seems also to get the rough drift of a number of minor vernacular languages. Without these skills it is difficult to imagine a work of such depth and sensitivity being achievable. Reading this book as a criminologist engaged in a project to envision a new criminology unhooked from metropolitan master discourses, I felt I was seeing unfold before me new ways of thinking and new practices of research suitable for work in the global South.Jauregui's argument concerning the provisionality of police authority in India is far too complex and multidimensional to be summarized into a nutshell here (see pp. 142-44 for her own effort to achieve such a distillation). I will instead attempt to trace the broad contours of her approach. This begins with the relationship of police to the state and a vision of police authority that is less about a Weberian probability of obedience to command, or a routinized belief in its legitimacy, and more about shifting capabilities and evaluations of the provision of 'the good' and 'the goods'. (p. 16). Though she seems at pains at a number of points to distinguish her conclusions from broad Foucauldian claims regarding power, what stuck me most here was her subtle and skilful approach to the study of police authority as a constantly shifting game in motion. Her repeated returns to the field, providing examples from her notes of the ways police, from a new recruit posted to a small thana (local station) to senior officers, as well as citizens who alternately cry for police assistance and damn their mendacity, and the politicians who valorize officers' sacrifices while playing them like chess pieces (see pp. …

Physico - Chemical, Sensory, Textural, and Microbiological Quality of Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese) Marketed in Bengaluru City

Paneer has great value in diet because it is a rich source of high quality proteins, fat, and minerals. Paneer has a short life span of 5-7 days at refrigeration storage, but freshness of the product is lost after 3 days. So, the present study was carried out to know the quality of different brands of paneer sold in Bengaluru city. A total of 80 packets of eight different brands were analyzed for their quality. Wide variation in chemical composition like moisture (49% to 64 %), fat (13.5% to 24%), protein (18% to 23 %), and lactose (1.75% to 4.23 %) existed in the samples. Total bacterial count was observed between 25.40 and 41.10 × 104 /gm, yeast and mold count was observed to be 13.75 and 20.90 × 101/gm, coli-form count was 3.95 to 7.65 × 101 /gm, and Staphylococcus aureus count was 1.10 to 2.20 ×101/gm. Instrumental hardness value varied between 27.56 and 62.22 N. About 75% of the brands did not conform to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Act (FSSAI) labeling requirements. It is said that India is the largest producer of milk in the world, but improvisations like more awareness about FSSAI Act with respect to packaging, labeling, chemical, microbial requirements, etc. have to be brought about. Further, more hygienic environment during the production of paneer by establishing pre-requisite programs like good manufacturing techniques, good hygienic practices, and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Programme have to be created by manufacturers to bring out utmost quality products in the Indian market.

Clinical Trial Regulations In India : Past, Present and Future

Clinical trials are the only way of establishing the safety and efficacy of any new drug before its introduction in the market for human use. Clinical trials (with safeguards) are necessary for introduction of new drugs for a country like India, considering its disease burden and emergence of new variants of disease.The regulatory bodies need to frame guidelines and regulatory approval processes on a par with international standards. Many of the new laws, guidance documents, notifications and initiatives for regulating pharmaceutical industry were in the charts for quite a long time. Indian regulatory authorities have started looking into speedy implementation and providing support in terms ofnecessary infrastructure and investment. JMS 2017; 20(1):5-17

On-field and laboratory measurement of nanoparticle emission in the wake of gasoline vehicle

Nanoparticle emission from gasoline driven vehicles is reported to be significantly lower compared to diesel vehicles. Accordingly, there is no threshold limit implemented by the regulatory authorities in India for gasoline driven vehicles. Recent studies however indicate that this is true as far as the mass concentration of the nanoparticles is concerned. The number concentration of nanoparticles particularly of smaller dimensions is reported to be significantly higher for gasoline driven vehicles under certain operating range of speed and load. Smaller the dimension of the particles more are their residence time in environment and more susceptible are these particles to be inhaled by human respiratory and cardiovascular system. Thus an estimate of the size distribution of nano-sized particulate matter emission from gasoline driven vehicle is of immense importance in context to Indian urban population. In this direction, laboratory measurements are reported for the nanoparticle size distribution emitted from a gasoline engine under different loading conditions. On-field measurements are carried out in the wake of a stationary vehicle under idling and throttling condition. Simultaneous measurement of vehicular acceleration and deceleration is also reported along with nanoparticle distribution in the wake of a moving vehicle. The measurements reported in this paper reveal the need for deciding threshold value of number concentration to be implemented for gasoline vehicles by the Indian regulatory authorities.

The Johnstone Affair and Anti-Communism in Interwar India

In 1928, British colonial authorities in India detained and held J.W. Johnstone, a US citizen, for nearly a month before deporting him first to Europe and then back to the USA. Johnstone’s eventual arrest and deportation became a major ‘affair’ with far-reaching implications for India, the British Empire and even the USA. In the weeks after Johnstone’s arrival, the colonial state launched an extensive and worldwide investigation into his identity and potential ties to communism. In analyzing the story of the Johnstone affair, this article highlights British colonial anxieties and preoccupations with the spread of international communism in interwar India. Moreover, this article also argues that the response to the Johnstone arrest – in India and the United States of America especially – produced a number of unintended consequences. Both the American working class movement and the Indian trade unionist movement appropriated the Johnstone affair to call for global solidarities against the oppression of British and US imperialism worldwide.

A cross-sectional study on prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in India: rationale and methods

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common preventable and treatable chronic respiratory disease, which affects 210 million people globally. Global and national guidelines exist for the management of COPD....

Towards Sustainable Public Health Surveillance in India: Using Routinely Collected Electronic Emergency Medical Service Data for Early Warning of Infectious Diseases

Infectious disease surveillance, timely detection and early warning of outbreaks present a complex challenge to health authorities in India. Approaches based on the use of unexplored data sources, like emergency medical services (EMS) data, can contribute to the further advancement of public health surveillance capacities in India and support and strengthen the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) strategy. This research followed a mixed method approach including a series of semi-structured interviews and fever data analysis of the EMS operating dispatch system in Andra Pradesh, India. In this paper, we explore whether routinely collected EMS health data can improve sustainable infectious disease surveillance and early warning capacity. The result highlights the need for improved surveillance systems for early warning of infectious diseases in India. The data availability at the EMS dispatch centre includes patient data and spatial information and can be used for near real-time analysis. Routine data relevant for health surveillance can be extracted to provide timely health information that supplements and enhances more traditional surveillance mechanisms and thus provides a cost-efficient, near real-time early warning system for the operating states. The designed intervention is sustainable and can improve infectious disease surveillance to potentially help the government officials to appropriately prioritize timely interventions to prevent infectious disease spread.

Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India : Fair Rate of Return for Airports

An estimate of the fair rate of return on capital is a critical input into tariff regulation. A too high estimate will lead to high tariffs for consumers; a too low estimate will not provide adequate incentives for investment. The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India has issued a consultation paper for finalizing the norms and procedure for estimating the fair rate of return. It now needs to reconcile the differing view and approaches of different stakeholders.

Multi-decadal land cover evolution in the Sundarban, the largest mangrove forest in the world

Having one of the most vulnerable coasts of the world to climate change, Bangladesh and India are facing new challenges to protect Sundarban, the largest mangrove in the world, from adverse impacts of climate-driven changes. In this study, unsupervised classification of mangrove density is performed on Landsat images of four time periods over 35 years (1975-77, 1989, 2000 and 2010) to identify the spatio-temporal evolution of the Sundarban mangrove, and infer the causes of observed changes. Specifically the influences of environmental and anthropogenic drivers on these changes are discriminated by correlating the observed change patterns with cyclones' tracks, erosion processes and areas of expected human influences as assessed by local stakeholders. Results highlight a very dynamic system, with rapid changes characterized by decreasing mangrove density, mainly in India, erosion and accretion. There is ∼1.2% (or 11,500 ha) net erosion in 35 years in Sundarban, which remains limited relative to the documented high rate of sea level rise of 6 mm/yr. Mangrove density changes are attributed to cyclones, increased salinity and anthropogenic influences. Based on interpretation of the spatial pattern of density changes by local stakeholders, we conclude that the zones accessible to human activities are significantly more affected by land cover changes. Management policies of Sundarban by Bangladeshi and Indian authorities should acknowledge the important role played by natural or global drivers like sea level change, cyclones in affecting the mangrove as well as manage the localized anthropogenic pressures.

An Analytical Study of Corporate Social Responsibility Spending by Companies Based on Government of India's CSR Mandate

Over the years, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained wider implications not only from a philanthropic perspective, but also from a real business standpoint. This paper attempted to identify how large and successful companies in India have contributed towards CSR activities on the basis of norms and regulations prescribed by the Indian authorities as stipulated in the Company's Act, 2013. This paper also attempted to categorize the companies based on the degree of conducting various CSR activities as mandated by the Companies Act. We have provided the findings and recommendations on the basis of descriptive and inferential analysis. This paper also attempted to deliver some guidance to those companies who are yet to start their CSR activities or have contributed very little on the CSR front.

A Step towards Adopting an Approach in Line with BEPS Measures: India Revises Its Comments in the Draft UN Manual

The Indian tax authorities have updated their comments in the country-specific chapter in the 2016 Draft UN Transfer Pricing Manual, including with regard to marketing intangibles; location savings; intra-group services; financial transactions; the use of multiple year data; and the arm’s length range and its impact on Indian MNEs.

A Journey Through Development of Inland Waterways in India

Inland Waterways (IWT) is the finest mode of transportation available.With lowest capital cost, low running cost and low maintenance cost the cost of moving goods through this mode is just a fraction of other modes like Road and Rail.On top of this IWT is an environment friendly mode with least external costs.India has been blessed with long navigable waterways in excess of 14000 KM.However, post-independence IWT never got the desired attention resulting in IWT share of total transportation a meagre 0.4%.This prompted the authors to evaluate the progress of IWT since independence, the various challenges being faced and suggest possible steps to increase IWT share in India. The paper outlines the various waterways in India, the governance structure to manage IWT, various policies and programs undertaken by Indian authorities to promote IWT, a comparison of Indian IWT with US, China and EU, the key barriers in growth and future recommendations.

An Assessment of The Functioning of Legal Services Authorities in India: A Theoretical Perspective

An Assessment of The Functioning of Legal Services Authorities in India: A Theoretical Perspective

Use of antiseptic for cord care and its association with neonatal mortality in a population-based assessment in Bihar State, India

ObjectivesDry cord care is recommended for all births by the Health Ministry in India. We report prevalence of antiseptic cord care in the context of neonatal mortality in the Indian...

The impact of monetary policy on output and inflation in India: A frequency domain analysis

In the recent past, several attempts by the RBI to control inflation through tight monetary policy have ended up slowing the growth process, thereby provoking prolonged discussion among academics and policymakers about the efficacy of monetary policy in India. Against this backdrop, the present study attempts to estimate the causal relationship between monetary policy and its final objectives; i.e., growth, and controlling inflation in India. The methodological tool used is testing for Granger Causality in the frequency domain as developed by Lemmens et al. (2008), and monetary policy has been proxied by the weighted average call money rate. In view of the fact that output gap is one of the determinants of future inflation, an attempt has also been made to study the causal relationship between output gap and inflation. The results of empirical estimation show a bi-directional causality between policy rate and inflation and between policy rate and output, which implies that the monetary authorities in India were equally concerned about inflation and output growth when determining policy. Furthermore, any attempt to control inflation affects output with the same or even greater magnitude than inflation, thereby damaging the growth process. The relationship between output gap and inflation was found to be positive, as reported in earlier studies for India. Furthermore, the output gap causes inflation only in the short-tomediumrun.

Indian Financial Sector: Structure, Trends and Turns

This paper traces the story of Indian financial sector over the period 1950-2015. In identifying the trends and turns of Indian financial sector, the paper adopts a three period classification viz., (a) the 1950s and 1960s, which exhibited some elements of instability associated with laissez faire but underdeveloped banking; (b) the 1970s and 1980s that experienced the process of financial development across the country under government auspices, accompanied by a degree of financial repression; and (c) the period since the 1990s till date, that has been characterized by gradual and calibrated financial deepening and liberalization. Focusing more the third period, the paper argues that as a consequence of successive reforms over the past 25 years, there has been significant progress in making interest and exchange rates largely market determined, though the exchange rate regime remains one of managed float, and some interest rates remain administered. Considerable competition has been introduced in the banking sector through new private sector banks, but public sector banks continue have a dominant share in the market. Contractual savings systems have been improved, but pension funds in India are still in their infancy. Similarly, despite the introduction of new private sector insurance companies coverage of insurance can expand much further, which would also provide greater depth to the financial markets. The extent of development along all the segments of the financial market has not been uniform. While the equity market is quite developed, activities in the private debt market are predominantly confined to private placement form and continue to be limited to the bluechip companies. Going forward, the future areas for development in the Indian financial sector would include further reduction of public ownership in banks and insurance companies, expansion of the contractual savings system through more rapid expansion of the insurance and pension systems, greater spread of mutual funds, and development of institutional investors. It is only then that both the equity and debt markets will display greater breadth as well as depth, along with greater domestic liquidity. At the same time, while reforming the financial sector, the Indian authorities had to constantly keep the issues of equity and efficiency in mind.

Indian Financial Sector: Structure, Trends and Turns

This paper traces the story of Indian financial sector over the period 1950–2015. In identifying the trends and turns of Indian financial sector, the paper adopts a three period classification viz., (a) the 1950s and 1960s, which exhibited some elements of instability associated with laissez faire but underdeveloped banking; (b) the 1970s and 1980s that experienced the process of financial development across the country under government auspices, accompanied by a degree of financial repression; and (c) the period since the 1990s till date, that has been characterized by gradual and calibrated financial deepening and liberalization. Focusing more the third period, the paper argues that as a consequence of successive reforms over the past 25 years, there has been significant progress in making interest and exchange rates largely market determined, though the exchange rate regime remains one of managed float, and some interest rates remain administered. Considerable competition has been introduced in the banking sector through new private sector banks, but public sector banks continue have a dominant share in the market. Contractual savings systems have been improved, but pension funds in India are still in their infancy. Similarly, despite the introduction of new private sector insurance companies coverage of insurance can expand much further, which would also provide greater depth to the financial markets. The extent of development along all the segments of the financial market has not been uniform. While the equity market is quite developed, activities in the private debt market are predominantly confined to private placement form and continue to be limited to the bluechip companies. Going forward, the future areas for development in the Indian financial sector would include further reduction of public ownership in banks and insurance companies, expansion of the contractual savings system through more rapid expansion of the insurance and pension systems, greater spread of mutual funds, and development of institutional investors. It is only then that both the equity and debt markets will display greater breadth as well as depth, along with greater domestic liquidity. At the same time, while reforming the financial sector, the Indian authorities had to constantly keep the issues of equity and efficiency in mind.

Role of development officers in the marketing of public sector health insurance policies in India

Health insurance is the fastest growing portfolio in Indian insurance. Due to its rapid growth, health insurance is treated now as a separate category by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). However in India, only 18% of people are covered under any health insurance policy. Hence, there is great opportunity for further growth of the health insurance market in India. Marketing health insurance policies involves unique practices compared to marketing any other product, because health insurance policies are service products and intangible by nature. This study uses primary data collected from 300 development officers as well as secondary data and analyses them with the help of discriminant function analysis (DFA) to identify the key personal and organisational characteristics that influence the performance of the development officers in the marketing of public sector health insurance policies in India.

Optimisation of energy storage for an electricity system in the Indian scenario

The purpose of any electrical network is to provide electrical power reliably wherever it is needed, avoiding any loss of load. To do this effectively, electricity networks usually consist of various different types of plants, giving a generation portfolio. Energy storage plays a very vital role in renewable energy generation and allows for supply and demand. The action of the energy storage should allow for a reduction of the overall system fuel cost while still meeting the load demand. The fuel cost supply curve is plotted to estimate energy storage in order to minimise the overall system fuel cost. We have used the historical data for the electricity demand from the website of Central Electricity Authority of India. The energy storage is optimised to minimise the overall fuel cost for the system in order to maximise profit.

A Study of Disclosures on Risk Management of Life Insurance Companies in India

This study attempted to find out different reporting practices used by Indian life insurance companies for risk management and risk governance in their annual reports. The factors considered for assessing the quality of the disclosure were risk management framework, risk governance, the independence and profile of chief risk officer, risk policies they explained, and quality certification they have obtained. The study showed that there was a very wide variation in content of their disclosures although every company was following the same corporate governance guidelines of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).