UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2 : Questions on Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and Panama Canal (Week 83)

QUESTION 2

Discuss the Panama Canal’s historical significance in US-Latin American relations, focussing on the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: Examine critically the issues encountered with the implementation of India’s Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Discuss the reasons behind the recent farmers’ rallies demanding its implementation.

Introduction:

— The Centre enacted the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013 (also known as the Land Acquisition Act, 2013) to replace the out-of-date Land Acquisition Act of 1894.

— The 2013 Act establishes a modern framework for land acquisition while ensuring appropriate compensation and rehabilitation for impacted communities. The Act went into effect on January 1, 2014. Some changes were made in 2015.

Body:

— Since February, Punjab farmers have been camping at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders of Punjab and Haryana, demanding legal status for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of crops, among a dozen other demands from the central government. One of the most important demands is the execution of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013.

Key features of this Act

— The Act’s most important elements are its fair compensation and consent requirements. Landowners are entitled to compensation that is twice the market value in cities and four times the market value in rural areas. Furthermore, 70% of impacted families must approve to Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives, whereas 80% consent is necessary for private company land acquisition.

— Acquiring irrigated multi-cropped land is restricted beyond the restrictions set by state governments. If such productive land is acquired, the government must create an equal amount of wasteland for agricultural use. If an individual is dissatisfied with an award made under the Act, they can seek redress from the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (LARR) Authority.

— The Act also requires a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) to determine the social, environmental, and economic consequences of land acquisition. Furthermore, the Act includes provisions for Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R), which provide benefits for impacted families such as:

(i) A residence for displaced family.

(ii) Financial support for job loss.

(iii) Dependent families receive income from employment or annuities.

(iv) Infrastructure development in resettlement zones includes roads, schools, and healthcare facilities.

Conclusion:

— “Both the central and state governments are responsible for not implementing the Act in its original form,” stated Jagmohan Singh, General Secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union.

— He mentioned the ongoing situation in Noida, where approximately 160 farmers were recently arrested for protesting the lack of “fair” compensation for state-acquired property for projects such as the Yamuna Motorway.

— The Land Acquisition Act of 2013 is a progressive regulation that offers fair pay and financial security for farmers. Its permission clause allows farmers to decide whether their land can be bought, permitting them to resist forced acquisitions.

— The Act’s rehabilitation measures help displaced households by providing livelihood aid and vital infrastructure in resettlement sites.

(Source: Why protesting farmers demand implementation of the Land Acquisition Act 2013 by Anju Agnihotri Chaba)

Points to Ponder

Read about Land Acquisition Act of 2013

When the Act is already in force, why are farmers demanding its implementation?

Related Previous Year Questions

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 remains inadequate in promoting incentive-based system for children’s education without generating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyse. (2022)

What are the aims and objects of the recently passed and enforced, The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations are also covered under the Act? (2024)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the Panama Canal’s historical significance in US-Latin American relations, focussing on the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977.

Introduction:

— The Panama Canal had long been envisioned, owing to the high expense and time required to get from one ocean to the other by circumnavigating South America.

— It was constructed between 1904 and 1914, primarily because of US contributions. Until then, the region’s distinctive terrain made building a canal problematic. France had already abandoned similar projects due to their enormous cost.

Body:

— Colombia ruled Panama until 1903, when a US-backed coup helped the country gain independence. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 granted the United States rights to build and maintain the canal, as well as permanent rights over the Panama Canal Zone.

— However, according to the US government’s Office of the Historian website, the Panamanian delegate entered the treaty negotiations without formal government approval and had not lived in Panama for 17 years. This prompted many Panamanians to dispute the treaty’s legality.

US’s role in Panama Canal’s construction

— The United States’ solution to the engineering difficulty was a system of “locks,” or compartments with open and closeable entrance and exit doors. The locks operate as water lifts, raising ships from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake (26 meters above sea level), allowing ships to sail through the Canal’s channel.

— Though construction efforts were eventually successful, they came at a high cost – more than $300 million for what was then the most expensive construction project in US history, as well as the deaths of thousands of workers.

— The canal now receives approximately 14,000 transits each year, however this figure has decreased in recent years due to the lake’s draining. Around 6% of global trade (by value) occurs through it.

Conclusion:

— In the 1970s, presidential candidate Jimmy Carter was also opposed to a treaty, but following his victory in 1976, his opinion changed. The Torrijos-Carter Treaties were signed the following year, granting the United States the ability to militarise the Panama Canal against “any threat to its neutrality”. Furthermore, the Panama Canal Zone would expire on October 1, 1979, and the Canal would be returned to Panamanians on December 31, 1999. There is no mention of Trump’s “One Dollar” in the post.

— Recently, US President-elect Donald Trump accused Panama of charging exorbitant fees for permitting US ships to use the Panama Canal, an artificial canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

(Source: Trump threatens to ‘demand the return’ of Panama Canal: What is its history, significance? by Rishika Singh)

Points to Ponder

Read about the Torrijos-Carter Treaty

Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903

Related Previous Year Questions

‘The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China’s supply chain and strategically to counter China’s political and economic dominance.’ Explain this statement with examples. (2024)

Critically analyse India’s evolving diplomatic, economic, and strategic relations with the Central Asian Republics (CARs), highlighting their increasing significance in regional and global geopolitics. (2024)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 81)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 82)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 82)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 81)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 82)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 83)

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