🔆Supreme Court Judgements For Women:
▪️VISHAKHA GUIDELINES, 1997:
✅Sexual harassment includes such unwelcome sexually determined behaviour as physical contact and advances; a demand or request for sexual favors; sexually colored remarks; showing pornography; any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non- verbal conduct of sexual nature.
✅Sexual harassment as defined at the work place should be notified, published and circulated.
✅Where such conduct amounts to a specific offence under law, the employer should initiate appropriate action by complaining with the appropriate authority.
✅Victims of sexual harassment should have the option to seek transfer of the perpetrator or their own transfer.
✅An appropriate mechanism should be created for redressal of the complaint.
▪️HADIYA CASE
✅The Supreme Court has observed that choice of a partner is a person’s fundamental right, and it can be a same-sex partner. The observation came on the first day of hearing by a Constitution Bench of petitions challenging the constitutionality of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
✅Section 377 criminalises private consensual sex between adults.
Key Observations:
✅The right to sexual orientation was meaningless without the right to choose a partner.
✅The observations were drawn from the March 2018 judgment in the Hadiya case, which held that influencing an adult’s choice of partner would be a violation of the fundamental right to privacy.
✅It is to be further tested whether Section 377 stood in conformity with Articles 21 (right to life), 19 (right to liberty) and 14 (right to equality) of the Constitution.
▪️Judgement On Section 497 Of The Indian Penal Code
✅The Supreme Court had struck down Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalized adultery.
✅It also declared Section 198 of the Criminal Procedure Code as unconstitutional, which deals with the procedure for filing a complaint about the offence of adultery.
✅ It said that the 158-year-old law was unconstitutional and is violative of Article 21 (Right to life and personal liberty) and Article 14 (Right to equality).
✅There is no data to back claims that abolition of adultery as a crime would result in “chaos in sexual morality” or an increase of divorce.
✅Any provision of law affecting individual dignity and equality of women invites the wrath of the Constitution.
✅It’s time to say that a husband is not the master of a wife. Legal sovereignty of one sex over other sex is wrong.
✅ Section 497 is based on the Doctrine of Coverture. This doctrine, not recognised by the Constitution, holds that a woman loses her identity and legal right with marriage, is violative of her fundamental rights.
▪️SABARIMALA CASE :
✅The Supreme Court in Indian Young Lawyers’ Association v/s State of Kerala Case declared Rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorization of Entry) Act of 1965, which authorizes restriction on women “of menstruating age”, as ultra vires the Constitution.
✅Supreme Court set aside a Kerala High Court judgment of 1991 that upheld the prohibition, pointing that the celibate nature of the deity was “a vital reason for imposing this restriction on young women”.
▪️Faith vs Right case:
✅Every citizen has equal rights in religious matters, we can’t discriminate against them on the basis of caste, race, gender etc, according to Article 15 of the constitution.
✅Assures protection to every religious denomination to.
✅ Can’t not stop women due to their biological cycle.
#society
#women
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▪️VISHAKHA GUIDELINES, 1997:
✅Sexual harassment includes such unwelcome sexually determined behaviour as physical contact and advances; a demand or request for sexual favors; sexually colored remarks; showing pornography; any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non- verbal conduct of sexual nature.
✅Sexual harassment as defined at the work place should be notified, published and circulated.
✅Where such conduct amounts to a specific offence under law, the employer should initiate appropriate action by complaining with the appropriate authority.
✅Victims of sexual harassment should have the option to seek transfer of the perpetrator or their own transfer.
✅An appropriate mechanism should be created for redressal of the complaint.
▪️HADIYA CASE
✅The Supreme Court has observed that choice of a partner is a person’s fundamental right, and it can be a same-sex partner. The observation came on the first day of hearing by a Constitution Bench of petitions challenging the constitutionality of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
✅Section 377 criminalises private consensual sex between adults.
Key Observations:
✅The right to sexual orientation was meaningless without the right to choose a partner.
✅The observations were drawn from the March 2018 judgment in the Hadiya case, which held that influencing an adult’s choice of partner would be a violation of the fundamental right to privacy.
✅It is to be further tested whether Section 377 stood in conformity with Articles 21 (right to life), 19 (right to liberty) and 14 (right to equality) of the Constitution.
▪️Judgement On Section 497 Of The Indian Penal Code
✅The Supreme Court had struck down Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalized adultery.
✅It also declared Section 198 of the Criminal Procedure Code as unconstitutional, which deals with the procedure for filing a complaint about the offence of adultery.
✅ It said that the 158-year-old law was unconstitutional and is violative of Article 21 (Right to life and personal liberty) and Article 14 (Right to equality).
✅There is no data to back claims that abolition of adultery as a crime would result in “chaos in sexual morality” or an increase of divorce.
✅Any provision of law affecting individual dignity and equality of women invites the wrath of the Constitution.
✅It’s time to say that a husband is not the master of a wife. Legal sovereignty of one sex over other sex is wrong.
✅ Section 497 is based on the Doctrine of Coverture. This doctrine, not recognised by the Constitution, holds that a woman loses her identity and legal right with marriage, is violative of her fundamental rights.
▪️SABARIMALA CASE :
✅The Supreme Court in Indian Young Lawyers’ Association v/s State of Kerala Case declared Rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorization of Entry) Act of 1965, which authorizes restriction on women “of menstruating age”, as ultra vires the Constitution.
✅Supreme Court set aside a Kerala High Court judgment of 1991 that upheld the prohibition, pointing that the celibate nature of the deity was “a vital reason for imposing this restriction on young women”.
▪️Faith vs Right case:
✅Every citizen has equal rights in religious matters, we can’t discriminate against them on the basis of caste, race, gender etc, according to Article 15 of the constitution.
✅Assures protection to every religious denomination to.
✅ Can’t not stop women due to their biological cycle.
#society
#women
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
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👍17
🔆Role played by Start-ups in Augmenting the Economic Image of India
✅ The PM has announced that January 16 will be celebrated as National Start-up Day. Start-up is therefore the new star in our midst.
✅A mature start-up ecosystem, with seasoned entrepreneurs and technology-led solutions,
paves the way for innovation and expanding its global footprint.
▪️Change in Focus overtime:
✅Every few decades, we have a new focus and new vision in the business-scape.
✅At the point of Independence, it was all about “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.
✅As agriculture boomed and as Operation Flood got plentiful milk for India, manufacturing became the focus.
✅Subsequently came the push on manufacturing-for-exports to earn valuable foreign currency.
✅Then there was push towards creating services of every kind for itself first and for export later.
✅The end-to-end services revolution has become the hallmark of India to date, with the success brought in by TCS, Infosys and Wipro.
✅India has begun a very robust start-up culture.
✅In 2021 alone, Indian start-ups have so far raised upward of $20 billion in funding, achieved unicorn statuses, and more.
▪️The ultimate motivator:
✅The ultimate motivator of them all: Money.
✅ Investors are looking out for ideas and the entrepreneur is creating a glut of ideas to chase.
✅ Entrepreneurs have made billions out of big ideas to date in the world of start-ups.
✅The funded ideas are growing into enterprises that are offering jobs.
✅Out of these start-ups have emerged the unicorns (start-ups with a valuation of $1 billion plus).
✅ As the world will celebrate its 1,000th unicorn, India will surely celebrate its 100th, representing a robust 10% market share.
▪️The Start-up Economy :
✅The proliferation of this start-up economy has brought with it new business opportunities, innovation, tech-centric approaches and job creation across sectors.
✅The flow of investments from traditional industries into tech-focused sectors has been instrumental for entrepreneurs.
✅Even amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian start-ups have provided indigenous, tech-enabled solutions from testing kits and ventilators to remote monitoring, as well as innovations in supply chain management, logistics, and education.
✅Solutions built by Indian start-ups saw widespread adoption not just domestically but also on a global scale.
✅The ability of the young generation to take risks, move fast, and disrupt things without fear, has become our biggest asset today.
▪️Digital Decade :
✅ The next 10 years ahead for India is the digital decade. Digitalism is the new religion.
✅ India of the future will be built by thousands of start-ups that will spur the innovation process.
✅Out of a thousand, one will win. And this win will compensate for all the losses.
✅This win will then spur on an entire new generation of ideas that will continue the virtuous cycle.
▪️Way Forward
✅In order to achieve the demographic dividend, education, and reskilling, and upskilling of our workforce is crucial.
✅Apart from policy-level decisions that promote entrepreneurship, the onus is also on India’s corporate sector to foster entrepreneurialism.
✅With Indians set to make up one-fifth of the world’s working-age population in the next five years, the country stands at the cusp of unprecedented economic growth, and the opportunity to be a global game-changer.
✅Speed, inclusion, and sustainability are key elements in this mission.
✅The Indian start-up ecosystem must focus on developing solutions that allow businesses in key sectors to meet goals of national importance.
✅It must view India’s economic and social challenges as opportunities for growth and leverage new technologies.
#GS3
#economy
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
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@upsc_4_economy
✅ The PM has announced that January 16 will be celebrated as National Start-up Day. Start-up is therefore the new star in our midst.
✅A mature start-up ecosystem, with seasoned entrepreneurs and technology-led solutions,
paves the way for innovation and expanding its global footprint.
▪️Change in Focus overtime:
✅Every few decades, we have a new focus and new vision in the business-scape.
✅At the point of Independence, it was all about “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.
✅As agriculture boomed and as Operation Flood got plentiful milk for India, manufacturing became the focus.
✅Subsequently came the push on manufacturing-for-exports to earn valuable foreign currency.
✅Then there was push towards creating services of every kind for itself first and for export later.
✅The end-to-end services revolution has become the hallmark of India to date, with the success brought in by TCS, Infosys and Wipro.
✅India has begun a very robust start-up culture.
✅In 2021 alone, Indian start-ups have so far raised upward of $20 billion in funding, achieved unicorn statuses, and more.
▪️The ultimate motivator:
✅The ultimate motivator of them all: Money.
✅ Investors are looking out for ideas and the entrepreneur is creating a glut of ideas to chase.
✅ Entrepreneurs have made billions out of big ideas to date in the world of start-ups.
✅The funded ideas are growing into enterprises that are offering jobs.
✅Out of these start-ups have emerged the unicorns (start-ups with a valuation of $1 billion plus).
✅ As the world will celebrate its 1,000th unicorn, India will surely celebrate its 100th, representing a robust 10% market share.
▪️The Start-up Economy :
✅The proliferation of this start-up economy has brought with it new business opportunities, innovation, tech-centric approaches and job creation across sectors.
✅The flow of investments from traditional industries into tech-focused sectors has been instrumental for entrepreneurs.
✅Even amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian start-ups have provided indigenous, tech-enabled solutions from testing kits and ventilators to remote monitoring, as well as innovations in supply chain management, logistics, and education.
✅Solutions built by Indian start-ups saw widespread adoption not just domestically but also on a global scale.
✅The ability of the young generation to take risks, move fast, and disrupt things without fear, has become our biggest asset today.
▪️Digital Decade :
✅ The next 10 years ahead for India is the digital decade. Digitalism is the new religion.
✅ India of the future will be built by thousands of start-ups that will spur the innovation process.
✅Out of a thousand, one will win. And this win will compensate for all the losses.
✅This win will then spur on an entire new generation of ideas that will continue the virtuous cycle.
▪️Way Forward
✅In order to achieve the demographic dividend, education, and reskilling, and upskilling of our workforce is crucial.
✅Apart from policy-level decisions that promote entrepreneurship, the onus is also on India’s corporate sector to foster entrepreneurialism.
✅With Indians set to make up one-fifth of the world’s working-age population in the next five years, the country stands at the cusp of unprecedented economic growth, and the opportunity to be a global game-changer.
✅Speed, inclusion, and sustainability are key elements in this mission.
✅The Indian start-up ecosystem must focus on developing solutions that allow businesses in key sectors to meet goals of national importance.
✅It must view India’s economic and social challenges as opportunities for growth and leverage new technologies.
#GS3
#economy
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
@upsc_4_economy
👍15🔥1😁1🤩1
🔆Disinvestment of Public Sector Units (PSUs)
✅Disinvestment, or divestment, refers to the act of a business or government selling an asset or the process of dilution of a government’s stake in a PSU (Public Sector Undertaking).
✅After Air India privatisation, listing of India’s largest insurer LIC could be another important milestone in the country’s economic reforms agenda.
▪️Rationale behind divestment
✅ Financing economic recovery
✅ Government raise resources to support the economic recovery and meet expectations of higher outlays for healthcare.
✅The increase in public spending is financed by garnering disinvestment proceeds and monetising assets.
▪️Minimum government Maximum governance :
✅Some believe that “the government has no business being in business”.
✅ To eliminate the need for the government’s involvement in non-strategic areas.
✅Government presence distorts competitive dynamics for private players.
▪️Raising efficiency :
✅To diversify the ownership of PSU for enhancing efficiency of individual enterprise.
🔸 Eg: Hindustan Zinc is one of the world’s largest zinc-lead miner and one of the top 10 silver producers. It benefitted from the privatisation.
✅ Better economic potential under private players
✅ Due to various factors like infusion of capital, technology up-gradation and efficient management practices.
✅ Better utilization of taxpayer money
🔸 Loss making PSU’s results in consumers and taxpayers bearing the brunt of inefficient PSU operations.
✅Instead, government can use the same resources into areas that directly benefit people.
▪️Concerns / Challenges :
✅ Government has mostly used disinvestment for fiscal reasons rather than growth objectives.
✅Process of disinvestment is not favoured socially as it is against the interests of socially disadvantaged people.
✅Over the years the policy of divestment has increasingly become a tool to raise resources to cover the fiscal deficit with little focus on market discipline or strategic objective.
✅Sometimes with the emergence of private monopolies consumer welfare will be reduced.
✅ Mere change of ownership from public to private does not ensure higher efficiency and productivity.
✅ It may lead to retrenchment of workers who will be deprived of the means of their livelihood.
✅Private sector, which are profit motive, has a tendency to use capital intensive techniques which will worsen unemployment problem in India.
✅ Loss making units don’t attract investment so easily.
▪️Way Forward :
✅A third-party valuation of every PSU’s assets and a minimum number of bidders, can be necessary pre-condition with each sale.
✅Monetization of PSU assets instead of disinvestment which yield more.
✅Investment in PSUs has to be in terms of generation of adequate social and strategic returns.
✅Spending the sums raised from such strategic sales in long-term infrastructure assets that can yield enduring returns to the economy.
✅The government should, exit non-strategic sectors such as hotels, soaps, airlines, travel agencies and the manufacture and sale of alcohol.
✅ The government should look into strengthening the regulatory framework that ensures efficient market conditions.
✅ Instead of creating PSUs, the government should create regulations that would ease the entry of new players.
✅ The regulations should also ensure that the basic necessities of the consumers are met.
#GS3
#economy
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
@upsc_4_economy
✅Disinvestment, or divestment, refers to the act of a business or government selling an asset or the process of dilution of a government’s stake in a PSU (Public Sector Undertaking).
✅After Air India privatisation, listing of India’s largest insurer LIC could be another important milestone in the country’s economic reforms agenda.
▪️Rationale behind divestment
✅ Financing economic recovery
✅ Government raise resources to support the economic recovery and meet expectations of higher outlays for healthcare.
✅The increase in public spending is financed by garnering disinvestment proceeds and monetising assets.
▪️Minimum government Maximum governance :
✅Some believe that “the government has no business being in business”.
✅ To eliminate the need for the government’s involvement in non-strategic areas.
✅Government presence distorts competitive dynamics for private players.
▪️Raising efficiency :
✅To diversify the ownership of PSU for enhancing efficiency of individual enterprise.
🔸 Eg: Hindustan Zinc is one of the world’s largest zinc-lead miner and one of the top 10 silver producers. It benefitted from the privatisation.
✅ Better economic potential under private players
✅ Due to various factors like infusion of capital, technology up-gradation and efficient management practices.
✅ Better utilization of taxpayer money
🔸 Loss making PSU’s results in consumers and taxpayers bearing the brunt of inefficient PSU operations.
✅Instead, government can use the same resources into areas that directly benefit people.
▪️Concerns / Challenges :
✅ Government has mostly used disinvestment for fiscal reasons rather than growth objectives.
✅Process of disinvestment is not favoured socially as it is against the interests of socially disadvantaged people.
✅Over the years the policy of divestment has increasingly become a tool to raise resources to cover the fiscal deficit with little focus on market discipline or strategic objective.
✅Sometimes with the emergence of private monopolies consumer welfare will be reduced.
✅ Mere change of ownership from public to private does not ensure higher efficiency and productivity.
✅ It may lead to retrenchment of workers who will be deprived of the means of their livelihood.
✅Private sector, which are profit motive, has a tendency to use capital intensive techniques which will worsen unemployment problem in India.
✅ Loss making units don’t attract investment so easily.
▪️Way Forward :
✅A third-party valuation of every PSU’s assets and a minimum number of bidders, can be necessary pre-condition with each sale.
✅Monetization of PSU assets instead of disinvestment which yield more.
✅Investment in PSUs has to be in terms of generation of adequate social and strategic returns.
✅Spending the sums raised from such strategic sales in long-term infrastructure assets that can yield enduring returns to the economy.
✅The government should, exit non-strategic sectors such as hotels, soaps, airlines, travel agencies and the manufacture and sale of alcohol.
✅ The government should look into strengthening the regulatory framework that ensures efficient market conditions.
✅ Instead of creating PSUs, the government should create regulations that would ease the entry of new players.
✅ The regulations should also ensure that the basic necessities of the consumers are met.
#GS3
#economy
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
@upsc_4_economy
👍14
🔆Groundswell report on climate change :
✅The Report was recently released by the World Bank. It examined how the impacts of slow-onset climate change, such as water scarcity, decreasing crop productivity and rising sea levels, could lead to millions of what it describes as “climate migrants” by 2050.
✅The report provides a series of policy recommendations that can help slow the factors driving climate migration and prepare for expected migration flows, including:
1. Reducing global emissions and making every effort to meet the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement.
2. Embedding internal climate migration in far-sighted green, resilient, & inclusive development planning.
3. Preparing for each phase of migration, so that internal climate migration as an adaptation strategy can result in positive development outcomes.
4. Investing in better understanding of the drivers of internal climate migration to inform well-targeted policies.
#GS3
#Environment
#mains_2022
#mains
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✅The Report was recently released by the World Bank. It examined how the impacts of slow-onset climate change, such as water scarcity, decreasing crop productivity and rising sea levels, could lead to millions of what it describes as “climate migrants” by 2050.
✅The report provides a series of policy recommendations that can help slow the factors driving climate migration and prepare for expected migration flows, including:
1. Reducing global emissions and making every effort to meet the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement.
2. Embedding internal climate migration in far-sighted green, resilient, & inclusive development planning.
3. Preparing for each phase of migration, so that internal climate migration as an adaptation strategy can result in positive development outcomes.
4. Investing in better understanding of the drivers of internal climate migration to inform well-targeted policies.
#GS3
#Environment
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#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
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👍11
🔆Fly Ash
✅Popularly known as Flue ash or pulverised fuel ash, it is a coal combustion product.
▪️Composition:
✅Composed of the particulates that are driven out of coal-fired boilers together with the flue gases.
✅Depending upon the source and composition of the coal being burned, the components of fly ash vary considerably, but all fly ash includes substantial amounts of silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO), the main mineral compounds in coal-bearing rock strata.
✅Minor constituents include: arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, thallium, and vanadium, along with very small concentrations of dioxins and PAH compounds. It also has unburnt carbon.
▪️Health and environmental hazards:
✅ Toxic heavy metals present: All the heavy metals found in fly ash nickel, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, lead, etc—are toxic in nature. They are minute, poisonous particles accumulate in the respiratory tract, and cause gradual poisoning.
✅Radiation: For an equal amount of electricity generated, fly ash contains a hundred times more radiation than nuclear waste secured via dry cask or water storage.
✅Water pollution: The breaching of ash dykes and consequent ash spills occur frequently in India, polluting a large number of water bodies.
✅ Effects on environment: The destruction of mangroves, drastic reduction in crop yields, and the pollution of groundwater in the Rann of Kutch from the ash sludge of adjoining Coal power plants has been well documented.
✅However, fly ash can be used in the following ways:
1. Concrete production, as a substitute material for Portland cement, sand.
2. Fly-ash pellets which can replace normal aggregate in concrete mixture.
3. Embankments and other structural fills.
4. Cement clinker production – (as a substitute material for clay).
5. Stabilization of soft soils.
6. Road subbase construction.
7. As aggregate substitute material (e.g. for brick production).
8. Agricultural uses: soil amendment, fertilizer, cattle feeders, soil stabilization in stock feed yards, and agricultural stakes.
9. Loose application on rivers to melt ice.
10. Loose application on roads and parking lots for ice control.
#GS3
#Environment
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✅Popularly known as Flue ash or pulverised fuel ash, it is a coal combustion product.
▪️Composition:
✅Composed of the particulates that are driven out of coal-fired boilers together with the flue gases.
✅Depending upon the source and composition of the coal being burned, the components of fly ash vary considerably, but all fly ash includes substantial amounts of silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO), the main mineral compounds in coal-bearing rock strata.
✅Minor constituents include: arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, thallium, and vanadium, along with very small concentrations of dioxins and PAH compounds. It also has unburnt carbon.
▪️Health and environmental hazards:
✅ Toxic heavy metals present: All the heavy metals found in fly ash nickel, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, lead, etc—are toxic in nature. They are minute, poisonous particles accumulate in the respiratory tract, and cause gradual poisoning.
✅Radiation: For an equal amount of electricity generated, fly ash contains a hundred times more radiation than nuclear waste secured via dry cask or water storage.
✅Water pollution: The breaching of ash dykes and consequent ash spills occur frequently in India, polluting a large number of water bodies.
✅ Effects on environment: The destruction of mangroves, drastic reduction in crop yields, and the pollution of groundwater in the Rann of Kutch from the ash sludge of adjoining Coal power plants has been well documented.
✅However, fly ash can be used in the following ways:
1. Concrete production, as a substitute material for Portland cement, sand.
2. Fly-ash pellets which can replace normal aggregate in concrete mixture.
3. Embankments and other structural fills.
4. Cement clinker production – (as a substitute material for clay).
5. Stabilization of soft soils.
6. Road subbase construction.
7. As aggregate substitute material (e.g. for brick production).
8. Agricultural uses: soil amendment, fertilizer, cattle feeders, soil stabilization in stock feed yards, and agricultural stakes.
9. Loose application on rivers to melt ice.
10. Loose application on roads and parking lots for ice control.
#GS3
#Environment
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
@Upsc_4_environment
👍13😢1
🔆Carbis Bay Declaration - G7 Summit
✅The G-7 summit recently took place in the U.K., and the leaders jointly signed the Carbis Bay Declaration.
✅Vaccine : The G7 pledged over the next 12 months to secure a further one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses.
✅This will be either through donating surplus supplies or providing further finance to Covax. [Covax is the UN-backed scheme charged with distributing vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.]
✅ The G7 also committed to invest $12 trillion in the combined pandemic recovery plan.
✅It also pledged to reinforce global surveillance for potentially dangerous diseases.
✅Economy : The joint statement set out plans to reduce roadblocks to production in Africa.
✅On the controversial issue of enforced temporary waivers of patents, it said the leaders will support manufacturing in low income countries.
✅They would engage constructively on the issue of intellectual property waivers in discussions at the WTO.
✅The G7 also agreed to increase the special drawing rights (SDRs) in IMF of low-income countries by
$100bn.
✅Consensus amongst the seven-member countries on countering China was an important message from the
meet.
✅The final G-7 communiqué holds no less than four direct references to China, each negative.
✅It includes criticising Beijing for its -
i. rights record in Xinjiang and democratic freedoms in Hong Kong
ii. “non-market policies and practices”
iii. concerns over its actions in the China Seas
✅The G7 also underscored “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.
✅Besides, there was a demand for a transparent investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
✅The G7 also vowed to cooperate with China on issues such as the climate.
✅ India is a special guest to the G-7/G-8 since 2003.
✅It has maintained its independent course, especially on political issues.
✅ At the recent meet, India voiced concerns about some clauses in the joint communiqué on Open Societies.
✅The communiqué condemned “rising authoritarianism”, net shutdowns, manipulation of information, and rights violations.
✅These are areas the Indian government has often been criticised for in the recent years.
✅However, India signed off on the joint statement by G-7 and guest countries on “open societies.”
✅The statement reaffirms and encourages the values of “freedom of expression, both online and offline".
✅In the present, India will be expected to walk the talk on its commitments at the G-7 outreach, especially in the
areas of information clampdowns. [Notably, India had the largest number of Internet shutdowns in 2020.]
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✅The G-7 summit recently took place in the U.K., and the leaders jointly signed the Carbis Bay Declaration.
✅Vaccine : The G7 pledged over the next 12 months to secure a further one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses.
✅This will be either through donating surplus supplies or providing further finance to Covax. [Covax is the UN-backed scheme charged with distributing vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.]
✅ The G7 also committed to invest $12 trillion in the combined pandemic recovery plan.
✅It also pledged to reinforce global surveillance for potentially dangerous diseases.
✅Economy : The joint statement set out plans to reduce roadblocks to production in Africa.
✅On the controversial issue of enforced temporary waivers of patents, it said the leaders will support manufacturing in low income countries.
✅They would engage constructively on the issue of intellectual property waivers in discussions at the WTO.
✅The G7 also agreed to increase the special drawing rights (SDRs) in IMF of low-income countries by
$100bn.
✅Consensus amongst the seven-member countries on countering China was an important message from the
meet.
✅The final G-7 communiqué holds no less than four direct references to China, each negative.
✅It includes criticising Beijing for its -
i. rights record in Xinjiang and democratic freedoms in Hong Kong
ii. “non-market policies and practices”
iii. concerns over its actions in the China Seas
✅The G7 also underscored “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.
✅Besides, there was a demand for a transparent investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
✅The G7 also vowed to cooperate with China on issues such as the climate.
✅ India is a special guest to the G-7/G-8 since 2003.
✅It has maintained its independent course, especially on political issues.
✅ At the recent meet, India voiced concerns about some clauses in the joint communiqué on Open Societies.
✅The communiqué condemned “rising authoritarianism”, net shutdowns, manipulation of information, and rights violations.
✅These are areas the Indian government has often been criticised for in the recent years.
✅However, India signed off on the joint statement by G-7 and guest countries on “open societies.”
✅The statement reaffirms and encourages the values of “freedom of expression, both online and offline".
✅In the present, India will be expected to walk the talk on its commitments at the G-7 outreach, especially in the
areas of information clampdowns. [Notably, India had the largest number of Internet shutdowns in 2020.]
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👍13
🔆IAS Officers and Central Posting
✅The Centre has proposed amendments to the IAS (Cadre) Rules in order to exercise greater control in central deputation of IAS officials.
✅ All India Services : It was Sardar Patel who had championed the creation of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS) as All India Services (AIS).
✅AIS members would be recruited and appointed by the Centre and allotted to various States and could serve both under the State and the Centre.
✅Patel considered the AIS essential to provide a connecting link between implementation at the field level and policymaking at the top.
✅ Current rule on deputation - Central deputation in the IAS is covered under Rule-6 (1) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules-1954.
✅ As per the rules, AIS officers are made available for central deputation through a consultative process involving the Centre, the States and the officers concerned.
✅ In case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the Central Government.
✅ Every year, the States would prepare an “offer list” of officers who had opted for central deputation and the Centre would choose officers only from among those “on offer” from the States.
✅Proposed Amendments : The Department of Personnel and Training wrote to state governments that various state/joint cadres are not sponsoring adequate number of officers for central deputation, as part of Central Deputation Reserve.
✅As a result of this, the number of officers available for central deputation is not sufficient to meet the requirement at Centre.
✅The Central Government has proposed amendments to Rule 6(1) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 and has sought the views of State governments before January 25, 2022.
✅It has said that it is mandatory for the State government to provide certain fixed number of IAS officers for central deputation every year.
✅ It requires the State government to release such officers whose services may be sought by the Central Government in specific situations.
✅ In case of any disagreement, the State Government concerned shall give effect to the decision of the Central Government within a specified time.
✅States Response : States perceive the proposed amendments as a serious infringement of their right to deploy IAS officers since the cutting edge of policy implementation is mostly at the State level.
✅West Bengal has objected that the proposals are against the spirit of cooperative federalism and will affect administration of the state.
✅The proposed amendment more or less compels a State government to offer IAS officers for central deputation even when these officers themselves may not wish to go on central deputation.
✅ In S.R. Bommai vs Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court held that States have an independent constitutional existence and are neither satellites nor agents of the Centre.
✅In a federal setup, differences between the Centre and States are inevitable but it should be resolved in the spirit of cooperative federalism keeping the larger national interest in mind.
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✅The Centre has proposed amendments to the IAS (Cadre) Rules in order to exercise greater control in central deputation of IAS officials.
✅ All India Services : It was Sardar Patel who had championed the creation of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS) as All India Services (AIS).
✅AIS members would be recruited and appointed by the Centre and allotted to various States and could serve both under the State and the Centre.
✅Patel considered the AIS essential to provide a connecting link between implementation at the field level and policymaking at the top.
✅ Current rule on deputation - Central deputation in the IAS is covered under Rule-6 (1) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules-1954.
✅ As per the rules, AIS officers are made available for central deputation through a consultative process involving the Centre, the States and the officers concerned.
✅ In case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the Central Government.
✅ Every year, the States would prepare an “offer list” of officers who had opted for central deputation and the Centre would choose officers only from among those “on offer” from the States.
✅Proposed Amendments : The Department of Personnel and Training wrote to state governments that various state/joint cadres are not sponsoring adequate number of officers for central deputation, as part of Central Deputation Reserve.
✅As a result of this, the number of officers available for central deputation is not sufficient to meet the requirement at Centre.
✅The Central Government has proposed amendments to Rule 6(1) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 and has sought the views of State governments before January 25, 2022.
✅It has said that it is mandatory for the State government to provide certain fixed number of IAS officers for central deputation every year.
✅ It requires the State government to release such officers whose services may be sought by the Central Government in specific situations.
✅ In case of any disagreement, the State Government concerned shall give effect to the decision of the Central Government within a specified time.
✅States Response : States perceive the proposed amendments as a serious infringement of their right to deploy IAS officers since the cutting edge of policy implementation is mostly at the State level.
✅West Bengal has objected that the proposals are against the spirit of cooperative federalism and will affect administration of the state.
✅The proposed amendment more or less compels a State government to offer IAS officers for central deputation even when these officers themselves may not wish to go on central deputation.
✅ In S.R. Bommai vs Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court held that States have an independent constitutional existence and are neither satellites nor agents of the Centre.
✅In a federal setup, differences between the Centre and States are inevitable but it should be resolved in the spirit of cooperative federalism keeping the larger national interest in mind.
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👍18🔥1😢1
🔆Criminal Justice System - Problems and Solutions
✅The criminal justice system is a collective enterprise authorized and supported by the legitimacy and coercive power of the state to create and administer law. The purpose of criminal law is not only to deter criminal deviance and protect society from crime, but also to provide procedural safeguards to individuals and protect innocents from State persecution.
▪️Need For Reform In Criminal Justice System In India :
✅Decades-old System: The Criminal Justice System in India is a several decades-old system, based on the system established by British in India, without any major changes.
✅Colonial Foundations Of Our Criminal Law: The fundamental principles of IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act continue to reflect state paternalism and Victorian morality of the colonial state.
✅ Inadequately Manned: The implementation of the criminal justice system rests with three institutions, i.e. the police, the courts, and the prisons.
✅With a ratio of 144 police officers per 100,000 citizens, the Indian police are operating at a 30% vacancy.
✅Indian judiciary has a judge population ratio of 18 judges per million in compared to 50 to 110 judges per million in developed countries.
✅ Pendency of Cases: The efficacy of any justice system can be judged by the speed by which the cases are disposed of. As present, there are around 3.5 crore cases pending in the judicial system, much of which are concentrated in the district and subordinate courts.
✅Delay in Investigation of Crimes or the haphazard way in which the cases are investigated, greatly contribute to the delay in dispensing prompt justice.
▪️Way Forward
✅Rights of Crime Victims: Victimological underpinnings ought to be given a major thrust in reforming laws to identify the rights of crime victims. The launch of victim and witness protection schemes, use of victim impact statements, advent of victim advocacy, increased victim participation in criminal trials, enhanced access of victims to compensation and restitution, all point towards the increased role of victims in the
criminal justice system.
✅Construction of new offences and reworking of the existing classification of offences must be informed by the principles of criminal jurisprudence which have substantially altered in the past four decades.
🔸 For instance, liability questions in offences need a fresh look. Criminal liability could be graded better to assign the degree of punishments.
🔸New types of punishments like community service orders, restitution orders, and other aspects of restorative and reformative justice could also be brought in this fold.
✅Rework on the scheme of chapters and classification of offences: Chapters of the IPC are overloaded at several places. It is unnecessary to have hundreds of sections in the category of property offences. Even the chapters on offences against public servants, contempt of authority, public tranquility, and trespass can be redefined and narrowed.
✅Unprincipled criminalization must be avoided to save the state from dealing with too many entrants into the criminal justice system.
✅ Principled Sentencing: On the procedural side, sentencing reforms are highly imperative. Principled sentencing is needed as judges at present have the discretion to decide the quantum and nature of sentence to be imposed and often sentence convicts differently for crimes of the same nature and/or gravity.
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✅The criminal justice system is a collective enterprise authorized and supported by the legitimacy and coercive power of the state to create and administer law. The purpose of criminal law is not only to deter criminal deviance and protect society from crime, but also to provide procedural safeguards to individuals and protect innocents from State persecution.
▪️Need For Reform In Criminal Justice System In India :
✅Decades-old System: The Criminal Justice System in India is a several decades-old system, based on the system established by British in India, without any major changes.
✅Colonial Foundations Of Our Criminal Law: The fundamental principles of IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act continue to reflect state paternalism and Victorian morality of the colonial state.
✅ Inadequately Manned: The implementation of the criminal justice system rests with three institutions, i.e. the police, the courts, and the prisons.
✅With a ratio of 144 police officers per 100,000 citizens, the Indian police are operating at a 30% vacancy.
✅Indian judiciary has a judge population ratio of 18 judges per million in compared to 50 to 110 judges per million in developed countries.
✅ Pendency of Cases: The efficacy of any justice system can be judged by the speed by which the cases are disposed of. As present, there are around 3.5 crore cases pending in the judicial system, much of which are concentrated in the district and subordinate courts.
✅Delay in Investigation of Crimes or the haphazard way in which the cases are investigated, greatly contribute to the delay in dispensing prompt justice.
▪️Way Forward
✅Rights of Crime Victims: Victimological underpinnings ought to be given a major thrust in reforming laws to identify the rights of crime victims. The launch of victim and witness protection schemes, use of victim impact statements, advent of victim advocacy, increased victim participation in criminal trials, enhanced access of victims to compensation and restitution, all point towards the increased role of victims in the
criminal justice system.
✅Construction of new offences and reworking of the existing classification of offences must be informed by the principles of criminal jurisprudence which have substantially altered in the past four decades.
🔸 For instance, liability questions in offences need a fresh look. Criminal liability could be graded better to assign the degree of punishments.
🔸New types of punishments like community service orders, restitution orders, and other aspects of restorative and reformative justice could also be brought in this fold.
✅Rework on the scheme of chapters and classification of offences: Chapters of the IPC are overloaded at several places. It is unnecessary to have hundreds of sections in the category of property offences. Even the chapters on offences against public servants, contempt of authority, public tranquility, and trespass can be redefined and narrowed.
✅Unprincipled criminalization must be avoided to save the state from dealing with too many entrants into the criminal justice system.
✅ Principled Sentencing: On the procedural side, sentencing reforms are highly imperative. Principled sentencing is needed as judges at present have the discretion to decide the quantum and nature of sentence to be imposed and often sentence convicts differently for crimes of the same nature and/or gravity.
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👍11
🔆India Tops in Remittance
✅The first WHO “World report on the health of refugees and migrants” was released.
✅In 2021, India was the top remittance recipient ($87 billion nearly 2. 75% of GDP) among low- and middle- income countries.
🔸 It recorded a marginal decline of 0.2% in 2020 and a growth of 8% in 2021.
🔸 For India, remittances peaked at 4% of GDP in 2009.
✅ Remittances in India were way ahead of China and Mexico's 53 billion$, the Philippines (36 billion$) and Egypt (33 billion$) - the other four countries in top five.
✅ The United States was the largest source country for remittances, followed by United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.
✅ In many low- and middle-income countries, migrants stepped up their support to families back home,
especially to countries affected by the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
✅In most other areas, remittances have also recovered strongly, registering growth of 5-10% in Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and northern Africa, southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
✅The key contributing factors are the willingness of migrants to support their families in times of need, together with the fiscal stimuli and employment support programmes implemented in the United States and European destination countries.
✅In the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the Russian Federation, the recovery of outward remittances was also facilitated by stronger oil prices and the resulting pickup in economic activity.
As per an RBI article remittances from the US (23% of total inward remittances in 2020-21) have surpassed that of UAE (17-18%).
▪️State-wise share
✅The share of the traditional remittance recipient states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, has almost halved in 2020-21.These states had strong dominance in the Gulf countries.
✅These states accounted for only 25% of total remittances in 2020-21compared to over 42% in 2016-17.
✅ Now, Maharashtra has emerged as the top recipient state surpassing Kerala. Maharashtra now accounts
for almost 35% of the total remittances in 2020-21.
▪️Significance of Remittance
✅ It is a sum of money sent to another party, usually in another country.
✅ It is an important and positive economic result of migration for migrants themselves and for family and friends remaining in their home countries.
✅It accounts for a large fraction of the global movement of funds. Despite predictions that remittances would fall due to COVID-19, remittances proved to be resilient.
✅ It now stands at more than threefold above official development assistance and are more than 50% higher than FDI, excluding in China.
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✅The first WHO “World report on the health of refugees and migrants” was released.
✅In 2021, India was the top remittance recipient ($87 billion nearly 2. 75% of GDP) among low- and middle- income countries.
🔸 It recorded a marginal decline of 0.2% in 2020 and a growth of 8% in 2021.
🔸 For India, remittances peaked at 4% of GDP in 2009.
✅ Remittances in India were way ahead of China and Mexico's 53 billion$, the Philippines (36 billion$) and Egypt (33 billion$) - the other four countries in top five.
✅ The United States was the largest source country for remittances, followed by United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.
✅ In many low- and middle-income countries, migrants stepped up their support to families back home,
especially to countries affected by the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
✅In most other areas, remittances have also recovered strongly, registering growth of 5-10% in Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and northern Africa, southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
✅The key contributing factors are the willingness of migrants to support their families in times of need, together with the fiscal stimuli and employment support programmes implemented in the United States and European destination countries.
✅In the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the Russian Federation, the recovery of outward remittances was also facilitated by stronger oil prices and the resulting pickup in economic activity.
As per an RBI article remittances from the US (23% of total inward remittances in 2020-21) have surpassed that of UAE (17-18%).
▪️State-wise share
✅The share of the traditional remittance recipient states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, has almost halved in 2020-21.These states had strong dominance in the Gulf countries.
✅These states accounted for only 25% of total remittances in 2020-21compared to over 42% in 2016-17.
✅ Now, Maharashtra has emerged as the top recipient state surpassing Kerala. Maharashtra now accounts
for almost 35% of the total remittances in 2020-21.
▪️Significance of Remittance
✅ It is a sum of money sent to another party, usually in another country.
✅ It is an important and positive economic result of migration for migrants themselves and for family and friends remaining in their home countries.
✅It accounts for a large fraction of the global movement of funds. Despite predictions that remittances would fall due to COVID-19, remittances proved to be resilient.
✅ It now stands at more than threefold above official development assistance and are more than 50% higher than FDI, excluding in China.
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👍12
🔆E-bill System Launched
✅The Ministry of Finance recently launched the electronic bill (e-Bill) processing system, on the occasion of 46th Civil Accounts Day.
✅The e-Bill system has been developed by the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) Division in the office of the Controller General of Accounts in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
🔸PFMS is a web-based online software application which started during 2009 as a Central Sector Scheme of the Planning Commission with the objective of tracking funds released under all Plan schemes of the Government of India, and real time reporting of expenditure at all levels of Programme implementation.
✅It has been rolled out on a pilot basis in eight ministries and will be implemented in all ministries and departments in a phased manner in 2022-23.
🔆Need For E-bill System :
✅ Currently, the suppliers of various goods and services to the government have to submit physical copies of their bills to the respective ministries/departments/offices of the government.
✅Similarly, government employees also need to submit hard copies of their claims. At the backend too, the processing of bills is done through a mixed system of physical and digital modes.
✅So, the suppliers/vendors have to visit the offices to deliver bills. Moreover, they are unable to track the status of the processing of their bills.
▪️E-bill System :
✅Under the e-Bill system, vendors/suppliers can upload their bills online from anywhere through digital signature.
✅At the backend too, the electronic bill received will be processed digitally at every stage and finally, the payments will be credited digitally to the vendor.
✅Moreover, the vendor/supplier would be able to track the status of bill processing online.
▪️Benefits :
✅It will eliminate the physical interface between suppliers and government officers and stop any possible rent seeking in the clearance of dues.
✅Since the bills will be processed by First-In-First-Out (FIFO) method, it will reduce the discretion in processing the bills.
✅It will enhance transparency, efficiency and faceless-paperless payment system, trackable in a real time basis.
✅This end-to-end digitization will strengthen the Digital India ecosystem and facilitate ease of doing business.
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✅The Ministry of Finance recently launched the electronic bill (e-Bill) processing system, on the occasion of 46th Civil Accounts Day.
✅The e-Bill system has been developed by the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) Division in the office of the Controller General of Accounts in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
🔸PFMS is a web-based online software application which started during 2009 as a Central Sector Scheme of the Planning Commission with the objective of tracking funds released under all Plan schemes of the Government of India, and real time reporting of expenditure at all levels of Programme implementation.
✅It has been rolled out on a pilot basis in eight ministries and will be implemented in all ministries and departments in a phased manner in 2022-23.
🔆Need For E-bill System :
✅ Currently, the suppliers of various goods and services to the government have to submit physical copies of their bills to the respective ministries/departments/offices of the government.
✅Similarly, government employees also need to submit hard copies of their claims. At the backend too, the processing of bills is done through a mixed system of physical and digital modes.
✅So, the suppliers/vendors have to visit the offices to deliver bills. Moreover, they are unable to track the status of the processing of their bills.
▪️E-bill System :
✅Under the e-Bill system, vendors/suppliers can upload their bills online from anywhere through digital signature.
✅At the backend too, the electronic bill received will be processed digitally at every stage and finally, the payments will be credited digitally to the vendor.
✅Moreover, the vendor/supplier would be able to track the status of bill processing online.
▪️Benefits :
✅It will eliminate the physical interface between suppliers and government officers and stop any possible rent seeking in the clearance of dues.
✅Since the bills will be processed by First-In-First-Out (FIFO) method, it will reduce the discretion in processing the bills.
✅It will enhance transparency, efficiency and faceless-paperless payment system, trackable in a real time basis.
✅This end-to-end digitization will strengthen the Digital India ecosystem and facilitate ease of doing business.
#governance
#revision_notes
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👍14
🔆State of India’s Environment Report 2022
✅The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has released the State of India’s Environment Report 2022.
✅ It is an annual publication of the CSE and Down To Earth.
✅ It has a comprehensive set of infographics and statistical analysis of how India’s states are faring in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
✅It focuses on climate change, migration, health and food systems.
✅ It also covers biodiversity, forest and wildlife, energy, industry, habitat, pollution, waste, agriculture and rural development.
▪️Key Findings Of This Report
✅Economy : The target for the economy is to raise the GDP to nearly $4 trillion by 2022-23. But by 2020, the economy has grown only to $2.48 trillion.
✅Employment : The target is to increase the female labour force participation rate to at least 30% by 2022-23, it stood at 17.3% in January-March 2020.
✅Housing : The targets are to construct 29.5 million housing units under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Rural and 12 million units under PMAY-Urban, only about 46.8% and 38% respectively of the targets under ‘Housing for All’ have been achieved.
✅Provision of Drinking Water : The target is to provide safe piped drinking water to all by 2022-23, only 45% of the target has been achieved.
✅Agriculture : The average monthly income of an agricultural household has increased to Rs 10,218 from Rs 6,426, this increase is largely due to increase in wages and income from farming animals.
✅ Digitisation of Land Records : Target is to digitise all land records by 2022. While many states have made good progress but Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Sikkim languish less than 10% digitisation of land records.
✅Air Pollution : The target is to bring down PM2.5 levels in Indian cities to less than 50 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3). In 2020, when vehicular movement was restricted due to the pandemic, 23 of the 121 cities monitored for PM2.5 exceeded 50 µg/m3.
✅Solid Waste Management : The target is to achieve 100% source segregation in all households solid waste but the overall progress is 78%.
✅Manual Scavenging : The target is the complete eradication, but India still has 66,692 manual scavengers.
✅Increasing Forest Cover : The target is to increase it to 33.3% of the geographical area, as envisaged in the National Forest Policy, 1988. By 2019, 21.67% of India was under forest cover.
✅ Energy : The target is to achieve 175 GW of renewable energy generation capacity by 2022 but only 56% of this target has been achieved.
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✅The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has released the State of India’s Environment Report 2022.
✅ It is an annual publication of the CSE and Down To Earth.
✅ It has a comprehensive set of infographics and statistical analysis of how India’s states are faring in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
✅It focuses on climate change, migration, health and food systems.
✅ It also covers biodiversity, forest and wildlife, energy, industry, habitat, pollution, waste, agriculture and rural development.
▪️Key Findings Of This Report
✅Economy : The target for the economy is to raise the GDP to nearly $4 trillion by 2022-23. But by 2020, the economy has grown only to $2.48 trillion.
✅Employment : The target is to increase the female labour force participation rate to at least 30% by 2022-23, it stood at 17.3% in January-March 2020.
✅Housing : The targets are to construct 29.5 million housing units under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Rural and 12 million units under PMAY-Urban, only about 46.8% and 38% respectively of the targets under ‘Housing for All’ have been achieved.
✅Provision of Drinking Water : The target is to provide safe piped drinking water to all by 2022-23, only 45% of the target has been achieved.
✅Agriculture : The average monthly income of an agricultural household has increased to Rs 10,218 from Rs 6,426, this increase is largely due to increase in wages and income from farming animals.
✅ Digitisation of Land Records : Target is to digitise all land records by 2022. While many states have made good progress but Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Sikkim languish less than 10% digitisation of land records.
✅Air Pollution : The target is to bring down PM2.5 levels in Indian cities to less than 50 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3). In 2020, when vehicular movement was restricted due to the pandemic, 23 of the 121 cities monitored for PM2.5 exceeded 50 µg/m3.
✅Solid Waste Management : The target is to achieve 100% source segregation in all households solid waste but the overall progress is 78%.
✅Manual Scavenging : The target is the complete eradication, but India still has 66,692 manual scavengers.
✅Increasing Forest Cover : The target is to increase it to 33.3% of the geographical area, as envisaged in the National Forest Policy, 1988. By 2019, 21.67% of India was under forest cover.
✅ Energy : The target is to achieve 175 GW of renewable energy generation capacity by 2022 but only 56% of this target has been achieved.
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👍14😢1
🔆Bharat NCAP
✅Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H) seeks comments on a proposal to introduce the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat-NCAP). India’s present Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) mandate a safety and performance assessment. However, this does not involve a crash test rating.
▪️About Bharat NCAP
✅ Description: It is a new car safety assessment programme which proposes a mechanism of awarding ‘Star Ratings’ to automobiles based upon their performance in crash tests. The proposed assessment will allocate Star Ratings from 1 to 5 stars.
✅Meeting global standards: BNCAP standard is aligned with global benchmarks and it is beyond minimum regulatory requirements.
✅Implementation: BNCAP will be rolled out from April 1, 2023.
✅Applicability: It will be applicable on type-approved motor vehicles of category M1 with gross vehicle weight
less than 3.5 tonnes, manufactured or imported in the country.
✅ M1 category motor vehicles are used for the carriage of passengers, comprising eight seats, in addition to driver’s seat.
✅Responsibility: The testing of vehicles for this programme will be carried out at testing agencies, with the necessary infrastructure.
✅Significance: It is intended to increase the export-worthiness of vehicles and competition on safety parameters among manufacturers, as well as instill consumer confidence in their safety.
▪️Vehicle Evaluation under BNCAP :
✅Parameters: The voluntary Bharat NCAP would assign vehicles star ratings on parameters such as Adult
Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP) and Safety Assist Technologies (SAT).
✅ Assessment: It would study frontal impact, side impact & possibility of a door opening after a crash.
✅Cars must have manual switches to disable airbags which should not be within the child’s reach.
✅ Mechanism: The car is crashed into an aluminium deformable barrier impersonating an opposing force of the same magnitude of a crash-like situation, with a 40% overlap.
✅Also, Bharat NCAP would conduct its frontal offset crash testing at 64 kmph instead of the prevailing 56 kmph norm.
✅Incentives: Vehicles that can accommodate a broad variety of child seats available in the domestic market would be rewarded.
✅ Higher ratings would be accorded to vehicles with a permanent warning label on frontal airbags.
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✅Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H) seeks comments on a proposal to introduce the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat-NCAP). India’s present Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) mandate a safety and performance assessment. However, this does not involve a crash test rating.
▪️About Bharat NCAP
✅ Description: It is a new car safety assessment programme which proposes a mechanism of awarding ‘Star Ratings’ to automobiles based upon their performance in crash tests. The proposed assessment will allocate Star Ratings from 1 to 5 stars.
✅Meeting global standards: BNCAP standard is aligned with global benchmarks and it is beyond minimum regulatory requirements.
✅Implementation: BNCAP will be rolled out from April 1, 2023.
✅Applicability: It will be applicable on type-approved motor vehicles of category M1 with gross vehicle weight
less than 3.5 tonnes, manufactured or imported in the country.
✅ M1 category motor vehicles are used for the carriage of passengers, comprising eight seats, in addition to driver’s seat.
✅Responsibility: The testing of vehicles for this programme will be carried out at testing agencies, with the necessary infrastructure.
✅Significance: It is intended to increase the export-worthiness of vehicles and competition on safety parameters among manufacturers, as well as instill consumer confidence in their safety.
▪️Vehicle Evaluation under BNCAP :
✅Parameters: The voluntary Bharat NCAP would assign vehicles star ratings on parameters such as Adult
Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP) and Safety Assist Technologies (SAT).
✅ Assessment: It would study frontal impact, side impact & possibility of a door opening after a crash.
✅Cars must have manual switches to disable airbags which should not be within the child’s reach.
✅ Mechanism: The car is crashed into an aluminium deformable barrier impersonating an opposing force of the same magnitude of a crash-like situation, with a 40% overlap.
✅Also, Bharat NCAP would conduct its frontal offset crash testing at 64 kmph instead of the prevailing 56 kmph norm.
✅Incentives: Vehicles that can accommodate a broad variety of child seats available in the domestic market would be rewarded.
✅ Higher ratings would be accorded to vehicles with a permanent warning label on frontal airbags.
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👍16❤2
🔆State Ranking Index for Implementation of NFSA 2013
✅ Recently, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, released the first State Ranking Index for implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
✅Among the 20 big states and Union Territories (UTs), Odisha topped the list while Goa came last.
✅1st Edition State Ranking Index for Implementation of NFSA
✅ It was launched by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
✅It highlights the reforms undertaken by States and UTs and creates a cross-learning environment and scale-up reform measures by all states and UTs.
▪️Key Features
✅It largely focused on NFSA distribution and will include procurement, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) distribution in future.
✅It is built on 3 key pillars which covers the end-to-end implementation of NFSA through TPDS.
🔸Coverage of NFSA, rightful targeting, and implementation of all provisions under NFSA.
🔸Delivery platform while considering the allocation of food grains, their movement, and last-mile delivery to Fair Price Shops (FPS).
🔸 Nutrition initiatives of the department.
▪️Benefits
✅ The index has been developed to create an environment of competition, cooperation and learning among states while addressing matters of food security and hunger.
✅ Increase transparency in system by publishing reliable and standard data in the public domain.
✅It can also be utilised by the global and Indian agencies for research and analysis.
▪️Ranking
✅ Overall, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh Secured the top three positions in the Index.
✅ Among the special category states (northeastern, Himalayan and Island states), Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim obtained the top positions.
✅ Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu scored the highest in terms of coverage, targeting and implementing provisions of NFSA.
✅ Bihar, Andhra & Telangana had the best delivery platform displaying the efficiency of the TPDS supply chain.
▪️How Did Odisha Come In First Place?
✅Robust end-to-end computerization of TPDS operations. A digitised beneficiaries database has been hosted in the public domain and updated in Ration Card Management System (RCMS) Centres.
✅All the food storage depots of the Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department have been fully automated.
✅Real-time electronic recording of doorstep delivery at FPSs across the State.
✅ All the Fair Price Shops are equipped with electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices which ensure distribution through automated mode.
✅One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Programme has been implemented across the state from 2021. PDS beneficiaries are now availing of intra-state/inter-state portability of ration cards.
✅Odisha has implemented the pilot scheme of ‘Supply of Fortified Rice under Public Distribution in Malkangiri
district’ from 2021.
#GS3
#example
#Food_security
#revision_notes
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#mains
Source PIB
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@upsc_4_economy
✅ Recently, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, released the first State Ranking Index for implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
✅Among the 20 big states and Union Territories (UTs), Odisha topped the list while Goa came last.
✅1st Edition State Ranking Index for Implementation of NFSA
✅ It was launched by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
✅It highlights the reforms undertaken by States and UTs and creates a cross-learning environment and scale-up reform measures by all states and UTs.
▪️Key Features
✅It largely focused on NFSA distribution and will include procurement, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) distribution in future.
✅It is built on 3 key pillars which covers the end-to-end implementation of NFSA through TPDS.
🔸Coverage of NFSA, rightful targeting, and implementation of all provisions under NFSA.
🔸Delivery platform while considering the allocation of food grains, their movement, and last-mile delivery to Fair Price Shops (FPS).
🔸 Nutrition initiatives of the department.
▪️Benefits
✅ The index has been developed to create an environment of competition, cooperation and learning among states while addressing matters of food security and hunger.
✅ Increase transparency in system by publishing reliable and standard data in the public domain.
✅It can also be utilised by the global and Indian agencies for research and analysis.
▪️Ranking
✅ Overall, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh Secured the top three positions in the Index.
✅ Among the special category states (northeastern, Himalayan and Island states), Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim obtained the top positions.
✅ Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu scored the highest in terms of coverage, targeting and implementing provisions of NFSA.
✅ Bihar, Andhra & Telangana had the best delivery platform displaying the efficiency of the TPDS supply chain.
▪️How Did Odisha Come In First Place?
✅Robust end-to-end computerization of TPDS operations. A digitised beneficiaries database has been hosted in the public domain and updated in Ration Card Management System (RCMS) Centres.
✅All the food storage depots of the Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department have been fully automated.
✅Real-time electronic recording of doorstep delivery at FPSs across the State.
✅ All the Fair Price Shops are equipped with electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices which ensure distribution through automated mode.
✅One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Programme has been implemented across the state from 2021. PDS beneficiaries are now availing of intra-state/inter-state portability of ration cards.
✅Odisha has implemented the pilot scheme of ‘Supply of Fortified Rice under Public Distribution in Malkangiri
district’ from 2021.
#GS3
#example
#Food_security
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Source PIB
Join @CSE_EXAM
@upsc_4_economy
👍13❤1
🔆Strengthen Cyber Security the Right Way
✅Why in news : Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued directions relating to information security practices,
procedure, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents under Section 70-B(6) of Information Technology Act 2000.
▪️What are the new directions issued by CERT-In regarding Cyber security?
✅ Synchronisation of computer clocks to the network time protocol set at the National Physical Laboratory and National Informatics Centre (NIC).
✅Mandatory reporting of all cyber incidents within 6 hours of noticing or being brought to their notice in the prescribed format.
✅ Designating point of contact and notifying CERT-In.
✅Perform the actions notified by CERT-IN for cyber security mitigation.
✅ Maintain all logs of all ICT systems up to 180 days within Indian jurisdiction.
✅Data centres, virtual private network service providers, cloud service providers and virtual private server providers has to maintain all records of their users and usage for a minimum of 5 year even after the cancellation or withdrawal of registration.
✅The virtual asset industry too will have to maintain all KYC records and details of all financial transactions for
five years.
▪️Why new directions are issued?
✅CERT-IN has been struggling to get information and incident reporting from service providers, intermediaries as per section 70B(4) of the IT Act.
✅ This was impacting its responsibility as a collector, analyser and disseminator of information on cyber incidents
as well as coordinating incident responses and emergency measures.
▪️What are the concerns raised regarding these new directions?
✅Unrealistic deadlines : A window of 60 days has been provided before implementation of these compliances begins. Given the scale of the revamp, this might be too short a window.
🔸Multiple companies even from the MSME sector will take time to set up systems for compliances.
🔸Recruitment of additional manpower for compliance may take far longer.
🔸Also penalty for non-compliance is stiff (including up to one year of imprisonment and monetary fines).
✅Additional data storage requirement : At present, most entities maintain logs for around 30 days. To maintain logs for 180 days, the additional data storage device cost would be huge.
🔸To maintain the data for 5 years the compliance cost is going to rise substantially.
✅ Data localisation : Many entities having offshore servers have to shift their servers geographically in line with the government’s objective of localising data storage.
✅Privacy concerns : VPNs and virtual asset wallets are being asked to store and share KYC and transaction data. This raises privacy concerns.
🔸VPNs have been successful for corporates as well as individuals because they address privacy concerns.
✅Incidents to be reported : The directions do not differentiate between the scales and nature of the incident to be reported.
🔸An organisation might receive hundreds of phishing emails and the effort to notify each would drastically increase their compliance cost.
🔸In the absence of data protection law there is ambiguity on which information can be held back or how his sensitive personal information is being protected.
#GS3
#security
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
✅Why in news : Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued directions relating to information security practices,
procedure, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents under Section 70-B(6) of Information Technology Act 2000.
▪️What are the new directions issued by CERT-In regarding Cyber security?
✅ Synchronisation of computer clocks to the network time protocol set at the National Physical Laboratory and National Informatics Centre (NIC).
✅Mandatory reporting of all cyber incidents within 6 hours of noticing or being brought to their notice in the prescribed format.
✅ Designating point of contact and notifying CERT-In.
✅Perform the actions notified by CERT-IN for cyber security mitigation.
✅ Maintain all logs of all ICT systems up to 180 days within Indian jurisdiction.
✅Data centres, virtual private network service providers, cloud service providers and virtual private server providers has to maintain all records of their users and usage for a minimum of 5 year even after the cancellation or withdrawal of registration.
✅The virtual asset industry too will have to maintain all KYC records and details of all financial transactions for
five years.
▪️Why new directions are issued?
✅CERT-IN has been struggling to get information and incident reporting from service providers, intermediaries as per section 70B(4) of the IT Act.
✅ This was impacting its responsibility as a collector, analyser and disseminator of information on cyber incidents
as well as coordinating incident responses and emergency measures.
▪️What are the concerns raised regarding these new directions?
✅Unrealistic deadlines : A window of 60 days has been provided before implementation of these compliances begins. Given the scale of the revamp, this might be too short a window.
🔸Multiple companies even from the MSME sector will take time to set up systems for compliances.
🔸Recruitment of additional manpower for compliance may take far longer.
🔸Also penalty for non-compliance is stiff (including up to one year of imprisonment and monetary fines).
✅Additional data storage requirement : At present, most entities maintain logs for around 30 days. To maintain logs for 180 days, the additional data storage device cost would be huge.
🔸To maintain the data for 5 years the compliance cost is going to rise substantially.
✅ Data localisation : Many entities having offshore servers have to shift their servers geographically in line with the government’s objective of localising data storage.
✅Privacy concerns : VPNs and virtual asset wallets are being asked to store and share KYC and transaction data. This raises privacy concerns.
🔸VPNs have been successful for corporates as well as individuals because they address privacy concerns.
✅Incidents to be reported : The directions do not differentiate between the scales and nature of the incident to be reported.
🔸An organisation might receive hundreds of phishing emails and the effort to notify each would drastically increase their compliance cost.
🔸In the absence of data protection law there is ambiguity on which information can be held back or how his sensitive personal information is being protected.
#GS3
#security
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
👍4❤2
🔆Gender Budgeting
✅Women’s empowerment can be defined as promoting their sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change.
✅Without political representation being assured for them, schemes championing women’s empowerment appear to be a vote-catching strategy.
▪️Gender-responsive budgeting
✅Gender-responsive budgeting was adopted in India in 2005, and since then, there have been steady budgetary allocations for various programmes specific to women.
✅ These women-related programmes are now an essential part of every budget document.
✅Gender budgeting has emerged as a popular way for governments across the world to empower women and improve gender equality.
▪️Rising importance to women’s Empowerment :
✅An analysis shows that one of the major reasons for the close attention being given to women is due to their rising importance as voters.
✅There has been a steady and sharp decline in the gender bias in voting over time across all the states.
✅The sex ratio of voters has increased significantly.
✅women voters vote differently from men and have a remarkable effect on election outcomes.
▪️Concerns / Challenges
✅The Women’s Reservation Bill — envisaging 33% quota for women in the Lok Sabha and in all Legislative Assemblies — is still stuck despite being introduced in Parliament 13 years ago.
✅It underlines the reluctance of political parties to accommodate women in politics.
✅Several pro-women schemes introduced by the government do not include their political empowerment, rather women are compelled to remain consumers and not initiators or decision-makers.
✅The pandemic has witnessed an unequal impact on women not only in terms of securing food and nutrition, employment and livelihood opportunities, increased burden of unpaid work but also increased incidence of violence.
▪️Shortcomings in the Recent Budget :
✅ Under the Nirbhaya Fund (scheme for safety of women), the safety aspect does not include interventions to address domestic abuse such as shelter homes and legal aid.
✅ In the face of increased violence, the direly needed women’s helpline and ‘one-stop centre’ are missing from the current Budget.
✅Budget documents also reveal a cut in the funds allocated for the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD).
✅ Under Swachh Bharat, aspects like public toilets that are important for women venturing out of their homes are missing.
✅These could have been rectified and achieved if women had more representatives of their own in Parliament.
▪️Way Forward
✅The ‘role of women is the key to the progress’ of the nation, and hence, providing them with
accessible healthcare and education is a must in order to empower them and give them a larger role in the economy.
✅If women are included in the political policy-making process, their recommendations may
help their own empowerment.
#society
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
@UPSC_FACTS
✅Women’s empowerment can be defined as promoting their sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change.
✅Without political representation being assured for them, schemes championing women’s empowerment appear to be a vote-catching strategy.
▪️Gender-responsive budgeting
✅Gender-responsive budgeting was adopted in India in 2005, and since then, there have been steady budgetary allocations for various programmes specific to women.
✅ These women-related programmes are now an essential part of every budget document.
✅Gender budgeting has emerged as a popular way for governments across the world to empower women and improve gender equality.
▪️Rising importance to women’s Empowerment :
✅An analysis shows that one of the major reasons for the close attention being given to women is due to their rising importance as voters.
✅There has been a steady and sharp decline in the gender bias in voting over time across all the states.
✅The sex ratio of voters has increased significantly.
✅women voters vote differently from men and have a remarkable effect on election outcomes.
▪️Concerns / Challenges
✅The Women’s Reservation Bill — envisaging 33% quota for women in the Lok Sabha and in all Legislative Assemblies — is still stuck despite being introduced in Parliament 13 years ago.
✅It underlines the reluctance of political parties to accommodate women in politics.
✅Several pro-women schemes introduced by the government do not include their political empowerment, rather women are compelled to remain consumers and not initiators or decision-makers.
✅The pandemic has witnessed an unequal impact on women not only in terms of securing food and nutrition, employment and livelihood opportunities, increased burden of unpaid work but also increased incidence of violence.
▪️Shortcomings in the Recent Budget :
✅ Under the Nirbhaya Fund (scheme for safety of women), the safety aspect does not include interventions to address domestic abuse such as shelter homes and legal aid.
✅ In the face of increased violence, the direly needed women’s helpline and ‘one-stop centre’ are missing from the current Budget.
✅Budget documents also reveal a cut in the funds allocated for the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD).
✅ Under Swachh Bharat, aspects like public toilets that are important for women venturing out of their homes are missing.
✅These could have been rectified and achieved if women had more representatives of their own in Parliament.
▪️Way Forward
✅The ‘role of women is the key to the progress’ of the nation, and hence, providing them with
accessible healthcare and education is a must in order to empower them and give them a larger role in the economy.
✅If women are included in the political policy-making process, their recommendations may
help their own empowerment.
#society
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
@UPSC_FACTS
👍10❤2
🔆Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
✅ Why in news: General Bipin Rawat, “the inspiring commander” died in a helicopter crash in December 2021. He was appointed as India’s first chief of defence staff (CDS) in 2019, and previously served as the chief of India's one-million strong army.
✅With the aim of modernisation of the military, General Rawat had revived the discourse on military integration by forming theatre commands.
✅The creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was recommended by the Group of Ministers in 2001.
✅The Kargil Review Committee (KRC) recommended the appointment of a CDS as a means to provide single-point professional military advice to the political leadership and also get the forces to work together.
✅ In recent times, D B Shekatkar Committee also propagated the post of CDS.
✅A single-point military adviser to the government as suggested by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999.
✅CDS oversees and coordinates the working of the three Services.
✅CDS would not exercise any military command and would provide impartial advice to the political leadership.
▪️Advantages:
✅ The post was created with the idea to increase efficiency and coordination between the forces.
✅To achieve better results at all stages and minimise the duplication of resources.
✅ With the dynamic nature of the security situation, an arbitrator amongst the three services and with the political class is of immense importance.
✅ Implementation of Defence Modernization policies like procurement etc., would become seamless.
✅ Concurring with global standard practices.
▪️Challenges:
✅There are other pending reforms to optimise the benefits from installing a CDS.
✅ In a trilateral setting, domination of the Army is prevalent.
✅Conclusion: With the creation of CDS, India embarked upon a much-delayed process of integration of the armed forces and the defence establishment. CDS therefore must be supplemented by other structural reforms.
#GS3
#security
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
✅ Why in news: General Bipin Rawat, “the inspiring commander” died in a helicopter crash in December 2021. He was appointed as India’s first chief of defence staff (CDS) in 2019, and previously served as the chief of India's one-million strong army.
✅With the aim of modernisation of the military, General Rawat had revived the discourse on military integration by forming theatre commands.
✅The creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was recommended by the Group of Ministers in 2001.
✅The Kargil Review Committee (KRC) recommended the appointment of a CDS as a means to provide single-point professional military advice to the political leadership and also get the forces to work together.
✅ In recent times, D B Shekatkar Committee also propagated the post of CDS.
✅A single-point military adviser to the government as suggested by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999.
✅CDS oversees and coordinates the working of the three Services.
✅CDS would not exercise any military command and would provide impartial advice to the political leadership.
▪️Advantages:
✅ The post was created with the idea to increase efficiency and coordination between the forces.
✅To achieve better results at all stages and minimise the duplication of resources.
✅ With the dynamic nature of the security situation, an arbitrator amongst the three services and with the political class is of immense importance.
✅ Implementation of Defence Modernization policies like procurement etc., would become seamless.
✅ Concurring with global standard practices.
▪️Challenges:
✅There are other pending reforms to optimise the benefits from installing a CDS.
✅ In a trilateral setting, domination of the Army is prevalent.
✅Conclusion: With the creation of CDS, India embarked upon a much-delayed process of integration of the armed forces and the defence establishment. CDS therefore must be supplemented by other structural reforms.
#GS3
#security
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
👍17
🔆India-Maldives Relations
✅As part of the government’s “Neighbourhood First” strategy, the Maldives are strategically significant to India because of their location in the Indian Ocean. Thus, perfectly complimenting each other in strategic interests.
▪️Developments:
✅ Upgrading strategic partnership between two nations, India and Maldives signed six agreements including cooperation in the area of cyber security, disaster management, social housing etc. to maintain stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
✅In July 2022, the cabinet approved the signing of an MoU for Judicial Cooperation between India and Maldives which will accelerate court digitisation and boost prospects for IT companies and start-ups in both countries.
✅Four MoUs in the areas of Developmental Projects, Youth affairs etc had been signed in 2020.
▪️Areas of convergence:
✅Greater Male Connectivity Project : The largest civilian infrastructure project in the Maldives. The project will connect the Maldives’ capital Male with three islands: Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. India also announced a fresh 100 million USD line of credit for the project.
✅High Impact Community Development Projects Scheme which include Maldives Institute of Technical Education, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital etc
✅To help the Maldives cope with the economic slowdown post-COVID-19 pandemic; India committed a 500 million US Dollar package. The package includes air, sea, intra-island and telecommunications.
✅Medical Tourism, cultural exchange, Type II diplomacy etc.
✅Geostrategic Positioning of Maldives forms a major component of India’s Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR - Security and Growth of All in the Region.
▪️Areas of divergence:
✅Radicalisation: Over the past ten years or more, more Maldivians have become attracted to terrorist organisations like the Islamic State (IS), Pakistan-based madrassas, and jihadist groups.
✅Previous political turmoil was a major relationship stressor which includes the “India Out” Campaign.
✅China’s strategic presence has grown in the area surrounding India. A significant “pearl” in China’s “String of Pearls” strategy in South Asia has emerged as the Maldives. There are speculations that China may be attempting to establish strategic outposts in the archipelago due to its strategic location in the Indian
Ocean.
✅Concerns of expatriate workers, particularly the unskilled ones, in Maldives.
▪️Way forward:
✅The recently concluded Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) highlighted the deepening security cooperation between the two nations. India continues to be a dedicated development partner for a secure, prosperous, and peaceful Maldives. However, Maldives should also continue with its “India First” policy for the sake of maintaining a strategic level of comfort in relations.
#IR
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
@UPSC_4_IR
✅As part of the government’s “Neighbourhood First” strategy, the Maldives are strategically significant to India because of their location in the Indian Ocean. Thus, perfectly complimenting each other in strategic interests.
▪️Developments:
✅ Upgrading strategic partnership between two nations, India and Maldives signed six agreements including cooperation in the area of cyber security, disaster management, social housing etc. to maintain stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
✅In July 2022, the cabinet approved the signing of an MoU for Judicial Cooperation between India and Maldives which will accelerate court digitisation and boost prospects for IT companies and start-ups in both countries.
✅Four MoUs in the areas of Developmental Projects, Youth affairs etc had been signed in 2020.
▪️Areas of convergence:
✅Greater Male Connectivity Project : The largest civilian infrastructure project in the Maldives. The project will connect the Maldives’ capital Male with three islands: Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. India also announced a fresh 100 million USD line of credit for the project.
✅High Impact Community Development Projects Scheme which include Maldives Institute of Technical Education, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital etc
✅To help the Maldives cope with the economic slowdown post-COVID-19 pandemic; India committed a 500 million US Dollar package. The package includes air, sea, intra-island and telecommunications.
✅Medical Tourism, cultural exchange, Type II diplomacy etc.
✅Geostrategic Positioning of Maldives forms a major component of India’s Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR - Security and Growth of All in the Region.
▪️Areas of divergence:
✅Radicalisation: Over the past ten years or more, more Maldivians have become attracted to terrorist organisations like the Islamic State (IS), Pakistan-based madrassas, and jihadist groups.
✅Previous political turmoil was a major relationship stressor which includes the “India Out” Campaign.
✅China’s strategic presence has grown in the area surrounding India. A significant “pearl” in China’s “String of Pearls” strategy in South Asia has emerged as the Maldives. There are speculations that China may be attempting to establish strategic outposts in the archipelago due to its strategic location in the Indian
Ocean.
✅Concerns of expatriate workers, particularly the unskilled ones, in Maldives.
▪️Way forward:
✅The recently concluded Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) highlighted the deepening security cooperation between the two nations. India continues to be a dedicated development partner for a secure, prosperous, and peaceful Maldives. However, Maldives should also continue with its “India First” policy for the sake of maintaining a strategic level of comfort in relations.
#IR
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
@UPSC_4_IR
👍9
🔆Digital Assets and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT)
✅ Why In news: Finance Minister announced a 30 per cent tax on income from virtual digital assets in the Union Budget 2022-2023.
It was further clarified that no deduction in respect of any expenditure or allowance shall be allowed while computing such income except the cost of acquisition.
✅Additionally, she also proposed a TDS on payment made in relation to the transfer of virtual digital assets at 1 per cent above a monetary threshold.
✅In short, the finance minister has proposed a flat 30 per cent tax on digital asset gains regardless of any long-term or short-term holding by the investor.
✅Additionally, if a virtual digital asset investor incurs losses during the transaction, it can’t be set off against any other income.
✅The gifting of virtual digital assets has also been proposed to be taxed in the hands of the recipient.
▪️What are Virtual Assets / Digital Currency?
✅The Reserve Bank will be issuing a digital currency, a currency only when it is issued by the central bank even if it is crypto. Anything outside the criteria is a cryptocurrency.
✅The Union Government clarified that what the RBI issues in the next fiscal will be the digital currency and everything else apart from that are digital assets being created by individuals and the government will be taxing the profit which are made during transactions of such assets at 30 per cent.
▪️Benefits:
✅ Instantaneous and hassle-free process.
✅ Alternative to physical cash
✅ Reduces the cost of cash printing and management.
▪️Disadvantages:
✅For Digital Currency strong technical mechanisms are required.
✅ lack of proper Internet connection across the country
✅Lack of skilled users
✅ Lack of electronics, gadgets, such as mobile, laptop, etc. between poor’s person.
✅Reduces the number of jobs in the banking sector.
▪️Non-Fungible Token or NFTs
✅ In the explanatory memorandum of the Finance Bill, the government stated, “To define the term “virtual digital asset”, a new clause (47A) is proposed to be inserted to section 2 of the Act.
✅Non fungible token and any other token of similar nature are included in the definition.
To conclude, the obstacles that digital currencies must overcome in order to become ‘mainstream’ are not just economic but mental, as well. The psyche of the end users’ needs to be open.
#GS3
#security
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
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✅ Why In news: Finance Minister announced a 30 per cent tax on income from virtual digital assets in the Union Budget 2022-2023.
It was further clarified that no deduction in respect of any expenditure or allowance shall be allowed while computing such income except the cost of acquisition.
✅Additionally, she also proposed a TDS on payment made in relation to the transfer of virtual digital assets at 1 per cent above a monetary threshold.
✅In short, the finance minister has proposed a flat 30 per cent tax on digital asset gains regardless of any long-term or short-term holding by the investor.
✅Additionally, if a virtual digital asset investor incurs losses during the transaction, it can’t be set off against any other income.
✅The gifting of virtual digital assets has also been proposed to be taxed in the hands of the recipient.
▪️What are Virtual Assets / Digital Currency?
✅The Reserve Bank will be issuing a digital currency, a currency only when it is issued by the central bank even if it is crypto. Anything outside the criteria is a cryptocurrency.
✅The Union Government clarified that what the RBI issues in the next fiscal will be the digital currency and everything else apart from that are digital assets being created by individuals and the government will be taxing the profit which are made during transactions of such assets at 30 per cent.
▪️Benefits:
✅ Instantaneous and hassle-free process.
✅ Alternative to physical cash
✅ Reduces the cost of cash printing and management.
▪️Disadvantages:
✅For Digital Currency strong technical mechanisms are required.
✅ lack of proper Internet connection across the country
✅Lack of skilled users
✅ Lack of electronics, gadgets, such as mobile, laptop, etc. between poor’s person.
✅Reduces the number of jobs in the banking sector.
▪️Non-Fungible Token or NFTs
✅ In the explanatory memorandum of the Finance Bill, the government stated, “To define the term “virtual digital asset”, a new clause (47A) is proposed to be inserted to section 2 of the Act.
✅Non fungible token and any other token of similar nature are included in the definition.
To conclude, the obstacles that digital currencies must overcome in order to become ‘mainstream’ are not just economic but mental, as well. The psyche of the end users’ needs to be open.
#GS3
#security
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
👍6🤩1
🔆Unresolved Constitutional Cases
✅ Why in News: There have been docketfull of cases pending in the courts that involve crucial questions about state power, accountability
and impunity.
▪️What are the cases about?
✅The cases extend to cases of constitutional questions that arise in the course of controversial state action.
✅Issues revolve around the
🔸 Violation of rights
🔸Federal structure
🔸Elections
🔸 Questions of power
🔸 Accountability
✅ Consequently, the longer they are left hanging without a decision, the greater the damage that is inflicted upon our constitutional democracy’s commitment to the rule of law.
▪️What are some of these cases?
✅ Kashmir Case : There is the constitutional challenge to the Presidential Orders of August 5, 2019, that effectively diluted Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, and bifurcated the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, controlled by the Centre.
🔸This tendency seems to have gripped the Court and the case raises certain fundamental questions about constitutional power and accountability.
🔸First, it raises the question of whether the Centre can take advantage of an Article 356 situation in a State when no elected government and Assembly is in existence to make permanent and irreversible alterations in the very structure of the State itself.
🔸Second, the case raises the question of whether the Union Legislature has the authority not simply to alter State boundaries (Article 3 of the Constitution), but degrade a State into a Union Territory.
🔸 If it turned out that the Union Legislature have this power, it would mean that India’s federal structure is at the mercy of Parliament where it could convert India from a union of States to a union of Union Territories, if wanted.
🔸 The Supreme Court’s now two-and-a-half-year delay in hearing and answering these questions is unreasonable.
✅Electoral bonds case : The electoral bonds scheme authorises limitless, anonymous corporate donations to political parties, making election funding opaque and biased towards the ruling party.
✅This impacts not only the integrity of the election process but also the constitutional right of citizens to an informed vote.
✅The Supreme Court has refused to accord a full hearing to the constitutional challenge which is pending for more than four years.
✅CBI case : In 2013, the Gauhati High Court held that the CBI was not established under any statutory authority which was immediately stayed when it was appealed to the Supreme Court but never been heard.
🔸Thus, the CBI continues to function often controversially despite a judgment by a constitutional court that has
found its very existence to be illegal.
✅ CAA case : The constitutional challenges to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) remain unheard.
✅ UAPA case : The challenges to the much-criticised Section 43(D)(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which makes the grant of bail effectively impossible remains a concern.
🔸The challenge to Section 43(D)(5) is perhaps the case that most directly affects civil rights, as the section continues to be applied on a regular basis (as in the Bhima Koregaon case).
▪️What are the consequences of the pending of these cases?
✅ By not deciding, the Court is in effect deciding in favour of one party without a reasoned judgment that justifies its stance.
✅Judicial evasion of this kind is damaging for the accountability of the judiciary itself.
✅The Court’s inaction offers no reasoning and affects the public scrutiny and has a serious impact on the rule of law.
✅It must be acknowledged that the responsibility for constituting benches and scheduling cases rests solely with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
✅The importance of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary must be focused.
✅There is a need to hear and decide the important constitutional cases pending before the Court.
#polity
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
@upsc_polity_Governance
✅ Why in News: There have been docketfull of cases pending in the courts that involve crucial questions about state power, accountability
and impunity.
▪️What are the cases about?
✅The cases extend to cases of constitutional questions that arise in the course of controversial state action.
✅Issues revolve around the
🔸 Violation of rights
🔸Federal structure
🔸Elections
🔸 Questions of power
🔸 Accountability
✅ Consequently, the longer they are left hanging without a decision, the greater the damage that is inflicted upon our constitutional democracy’s commitment to the rule of law.
▪️What are some of these cases?
✅ Kashmir Case : There is the constitutional challenge to the Presidential Orders of August 5, 2019, that effectively diluted Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, and bifurcated the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, controlled by the Centre.
🔸This tendency seems to have gripped the Court and the case raises certain fundamental questions about constitutional power and accountability.
🔸First, it raises the question of whether the Centre can take advantage of an Article 356 situation in a State when no elected government and Assembly is in existence to make permanent and irreversible alterations in the very structure of the State itself.
🔸Second, the case raises the question of whether the Union Legislature has the authority not simply to alter State boundaries (Article 3 of the Constitution), but degrade a State into a Union Territory.
🔸 If it turned out that the Union Legislature have this power, it would mean that India’s federal structure is at the mercy of Parliament where it could convert India from a union of States to a union of Union Territories, if wanted.
🔸 The Supreme Court’s now two-and-a-half-year delay in hearing and answering these questions is unreasonable.
✅Electoral bonds case : The electoral bonds scheme authorises limitless, anonymous corporate donations to political parties, making election funding opaque and biased towards the ruling party.
✅This impacts not only the integrity of the election process but also the constitutional right of citizens to an informed vote.
✅The Supreme Court has refused to accord a full hearing to the constitutional challenge which is pending for more than four years.
✅CBI case : In 2013, the Gauhati High Court held that the CBI was not established under any statutory authority which was immediately stayed when it was appealed to the Supreme Court but never been heard.
🔸Thus, the CBI continues to function often controversially despite a judgment by a constitutional court that has
found its very existence to be illegal.
✅ CAA case : The constitutional challenges to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) remain unheard.
✅ UAPA case : The challenges to the much-criticised Section 43(D)(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which makes the grant of bail effectively impossible remains a concern.
🔸The challenge to Section 43(D)(5) is perhaps the case that most directly affects civil rights, as the section continues to be applied on a regular basis (as in the Bhima Koregaon case).
▪️What are the consequences of the pending of these cases?
✅ By not deciding, the Court is in effect deciding in favour of one party without a reasoned judgment that justifies its stance.
✅Judicial evasion of this kind is damaging for the accountability of the judiciary itself.
✅The Court’s inaction offers no reasoning and affects the public scrutiny and has a serious impact on the rule of law.
✅It must be acknowledged that the responsibility for constituting benches and scheduling cases rests solely with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
✅The importance of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary must be focused.
✅There is a need to hear and decide the important constitutional cases pending before the Court.
#polity
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
@upsc_polity_Governance
👍17
🔆What are the Women-Centric Findings of NFHS-5?
▪️ Underage Marriages:
✅The national average of underage marriages has come down.
✅According to NFHS-5, 23.3% of women surveyed got married before attaining the legal age of 18 years, down from 26.8% reported in NFHS-4.
✅ The figure for underage marriage among men is 17.7% (NFHS-5) and 20.3% (NFHS-4).
▪️Highest Surge:
✅ The rate has increased in Punjab, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura and Assam.
✅Tripura has seen the largest jump in marriages for women from 33.1% (NHFS-4) to 40.1%, and from 16.2% to 20.4% among men.
✅Highest Rate of Underage Marriages: West Bengal, along with Bihar, remains one of the states with the highest rate of underage marriages.
✅Lowest Rate of Underage Marriages: J&K, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Nagaland, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.
✅Teenage Pregnancies: Teenage pregnancies are down from 7.9% to 6.8%.
▪️Domestic Violence Against Women:
✅Overall: Domestic violence has come down marginally from 31.2% in 2015-16 to 29.3% in 2019-21.
✅ Highest and Lowest (States): Domestic violence against women is highest in Karnataka at 48%, followed by Bihar, Telangana, Manipur and Tamil Nadu.
▪️Women’s Empowerment:
✅Women’s empowerment
indicators portray considerable improvement at all India level and across all the phase-II States/UTs.
✅Significant progress has been recorded between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in regard to women operating bank accounts from 53% to 79% at all-India level.
✅ More than 70% of women in every state and UTs in the second phase have operational bank accounts.
✅ Anaemia: The incidence of anaemia in women (53.1 to 57%) and men (22.7 to 25%) has worsened in all States of India (20%-40% incidence is considered moderate).
✅Barring Kerala (at 39.4%), all States are in the “severe” category.
#GS1
#Social_issues
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
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▪️ Underage Marriages:
✅The national average of underage marriages has come down.
✅According to NFHS-5, 23.3% of women surveyed got married before attaining the legal age of 18 years, down from 26.8% reported in NFHS-4.
✅ The figure for underage marriage among men is 17.7% (NFHS-5) and 20.3% (NFHS-4).
▪️Highest Surge:
✅ The rate has increased in Punjab, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura and Assam.
✅Tripura has seen the largest jump in marriages for women from 33.1% (NHFS-4) to 40.1%, and from 16.2% to 20.4% among men.
✅Highest Rate of Underage Marriages: West Bengal, along with Bihar, remains one of the states with the highest rate of underage marriages.
✅Lowest Rate of Underage Marriages: J&K, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Nagaland, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.
✅Teenage Pregnancies: Teenage pregnancies are down from 7.9% to 6.8%.
▪️Domestic Violence Against Women:
✅Overall: Domestic violence has come down marginally from 31.2% in 2015-16 to 29.3% in 2019-21.
✅ Highest and Lowest (States): Domestic violence against women is highest in Karnataka at 48%, followed by Bihar, Telangana, Manipur and Tamil Nadu.
▪️Women’s Empowerment:
✅Women’s empowerment
indicators portray considerable improvement at all India level and across all the phase-II States/UTs.
✅Significant progress has been recorded between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in regard to women operating bank accounts from 53% to 79% at all-India level.
✅ More than 70% of women in every state and UTs in the second phase have operational bank accounts.
✅ Anaemia: The incidence of anaemia in women (53.1 to 57%) and men (22.7 to 25%) has worsened in all States of India (20%-40% incidence is considered moderate).
✅Barring Kerala (at 39.4%), all States are in the “severe” category.
#GS1
#Social_issues
#revision_notes
#mains_2022
#mains
Join @CSE_EXAM
👍13🤩2😱1