Monthly Current Affairs January 2020

Easy to PICK151 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” money power from politics. A person Chairman or the Speaker of such who had incurred disqualification for House, and his decision is final. defection does not deserve to be an MP or an MLA even for a single day.  The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies. What did the court recommend? Disqualification:  Disqualification petitions under the If a member of a house belonging to a Tenth Schedule should be adjudicated political party: by a mechanism outside Parliament or  Voluntarily gives up the membership the Legislative Assemblies. The court suggested a permanent tribunal of his political party, or headed by a retired Supreme Court  Votes, or does not vote in the judge or a former High Court Chief Justice. legislature, contrary to the directions of his political party. However, if the  The court said the Speakers should member has taken prior permission, or is condoned by the party within 15 decide Tenth Schedule days from such voting or abstention, the member shall not be disqualified. disqualifications within a “reasonable  If an independent candidate joins a political party after the election. period”. What was ‘reasonable’ would  If a nominated member joins a party six months after he becomes a member depend on the facts of each case. of the legislature. Unless there were “exceptional Exceptions under the law: Legislators may change their party without circumstances”, disqualification the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances. The law allows a party to petitions under the Tenth Schedule merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its should be decided by Speakers within legislators are in favour of the merger. In such a scenario, neither the members three months. The court noted that who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face this period was ‘reasonable’, as the disqualification. ordinary life of the Lok Sabha or the Decision of the Presiding Officer is subject to judicial review: Legislative Assemblies was merely The law initially stated that the decision of the Presiding Officer is not subject to five years. judicial review. This condition was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1992, About the Tenth Schedule thereby allowing appeals against the  The Tenth Schedule was inserted in Presiding Officer’s decision in the High the Constitution in 1985 by the Court and Supreme Court. However, it 52nd Amendment Act. held that there may not be any judicial intervention until the Presiding Officer  It lays down the process by which gives his order. legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.  The decision on question as to disqualification on ground of defection is referred to the

Easy to PICK152 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Merits of anti-defection law:  Provides stability to the government by preventing shifts of party allegiance.  Ensures that candidates remain loyal to the party as well the citizens voting for him.  Promotes party discipline.  Facilitates merger of political parties without attracting the provisions of Anti-defection  Expected to reduce corruption at the political level.  Provides for punitive measures against a member who defects from one party to another. Various Recommendations to overcome the challenges posed by the law: 1. Dinesh Goswami Committee on electoral reforms: Disqualification should be limited to following cases:  A member voluntarily gives up the membership of his political party  A member abstains from voting, or votes contrary to the party whip in a motion of vote of confidence or motion of no-confidence. Political parties could issue whips only when the government was in danger. 2. Law Commission (170th Report)  Provisions which exempt splits and mergers from disqualification to be deleted.  Pre-poll electoral fronts should be treated as political parties under anti- defection  Political parties should limit issuance of whips to instances only when the government is in danger. 3. Election Commission:  Decisions under the Tenth Schedule should be made by the President/ Governor on the binding advice of the Election Commission.

Easy to PICK153 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2020 report Syllabus subtopic: Important  Many African countries are experiencing a drop in real incomes International Institutions, agencies and and a rise in poverty. fora - their Structure, Mandate  Moderate or extreme working poverty is expected to edge up in 2020-21 in Prelims and Mains focus: about the developing countries, increasing the obstacles to achieving Sustainable report and its key highlights; About ILO Development Goal 1 on eradicating poverty everywhere by 2030. and its other reports Currently working poverty (defined as earning less than USD 3.20 per News: UN's International Labour day in purchasing power parity terms) affects more than 630 million Organization released its report, The workers, or one in five of the global working population. World Employment and Social Outlook:  Inequalities related to gender, age and Trends 2020 (WESO) on Monday, geographical location continue to plague the job market, with the report About the report showing that these factors limit both The annual WESO Trends report analyses individual opportunity and economic key labour market issues, including growth. unemployment, labour underutilisation, working poverty, income inequality,  Some 267 million young people aged labour income share and factors that 15-24 are not in employment, exclude people from decent work. education or training, and many more endure substandard working Key highlights of the report condition.  Global unemployment is projected to  The rise in trade restrictions and increase by around 2.5 million in protectionism, which could have a 2020 and almost half a billion people significant impact on employment, is are working fewer paid hours than seen as a potentially worrying trend, as they would like or lack adequate access is the significant drop in the share of to paid work. national income in the form of wages, compared to other forms of production.  Global unemployment has been Labour underutilisation and poor- roughly stable for the last nine years quality jobs mean our economies and but slowing global economic growth societies are missing out on the means that, as the global labour force potential benefits of a huge pool of increases, not enough new jobs are human talent. being generated to absorb new entrants to the labour market. What does the report recommend?  In addition, 165 million people do not have enough paid work, and 120 million have either given up actively searching for work or otherwise lack access to the labour market. In total, more than 470 million people worldwide are affected.

Easy to PICK154 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”  Countries must ensure that economic growth and development occurs in a way that leads to the reduction of poverty and better working conditions in low-income countries, through structural transformation, technological upgrading and diversification.  We will only find a sustainable, inclusive path of development if we tackle labour market inequalities and gaps in access to decent work. About International Labour Organisation (ILO)  The ILO is a UN agency whose mandate is to advance social justice and promote decent work by setting international labour standards.  Established in 1919  HQ : Geneva, Switzerland  India is a founder member of ILO  The ILO registers complaints against entities that are violating international rules; however, it does not impose sanctions on governments  The ILO has 187 member states: 186 of the 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands are members of the ILO.  In 1969, the organisation received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving peace among classes, pursuing decent work and justice for workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing nations. Reports published by ILO 1. World Employment and Social Outlook report 2. Global Wage Report 3. World Social Protection Report

Easy to PICK155 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Democracy Index Syllabus subtopic: Important International Institutions, agencies and fora - their Structure, Mandate. Prelims and Mains focus: About the Index and its findings on India and the world: about EIT and its various reports News: The latest edition of the Democracy Index spells gloom for India. The world’s biggest democracy slipped 10 places in the 2019 global ranking to 51st place. About the study Reasons given for India’s low score  The survey attributes the primary cause  The report, “A year of democratic setbacks and popular protest”, of “the democratic regression” to “an published on Wednesday by The erosion of civil liberties in the Economist Intelligence Unit — the country”. research and analysis division of The Economist Group, which is the sister  The report talks about the repeal of company to The Economist newspaper both Article 370 and Article 35A and — records how global democracy how ahead of the move, “the fared, analysing 165 independent government deployed a large number states and two territories. of troops in J&K, imposed various other security measures and placed India’s performance on the Index local leaders under house arrest, including those with pro-India  India’s overall score fell from 7.23 to credentials.” 6.9, on a scale of 0-10, within a year  “The government also restricted Internet access in the State,” it notes. (2018-2019) — the country’s lowest It says the NRC exercise in Assam excluded 1.9 million people from the since 2006. final list, and that “the vast majority of people excluded from the NRC are  India was graded in electoral process Muslims.” and pluralism (8.67), government  On the CAA, the report says, “The new citizenship law has enraged the functioning (6.79), political large Muslim population, stoked participation (6.67), political culture (5.63) and civil liberties (6.76).  In the Asia and Australasia region, India ranks eighth, behind Taiwan and Timor-Leste.

Easy to PICK156 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” communal tensions and generated large registered the greatest decline as protests in major cities.” discrimination against minorities, especially in Xinjiang, intensified, and  The Index also categorises India digital surveillance of the population under “flawed democracies”, continued apace. countries that hold free and fair elections and where basic civil  The report describes the year in Asia as liberties are respected, but have one filled with “drama and tumult,” significant weaknesses in aspects of with Hong Kong being the epicentre democracy, such as problems in of protest in the continent. Globally, governance, an underdeveloped “the sheer number of protests spanning political culture and low levels of different time zones” caught the political participation. attention of commentators everywhere, says the report, topped by Norway  According to the report, there are only (9.87) and followed by Iceland, 22 “full democracies” as compared to Sweden and New Zealand. North 54 “authoritarian regimes” and as Korea (1.08) figures at the bottom. many “flawed democracies,” that include the U.S. About Economist Intelligence Unit Global score  The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)  The average global score also recorded is a British business within the Economist Group providing its worst value ever, down from 5.48 forecasting and advisory services in 2018 to 5.44, driven by a sharp through research and analysis, such as regression in Latin America and monthly country reports, five-year Sub-Saharan Africa, a lesser one in country economic forecasts, country the Middle East and North Africa risk service reports, and industry (MENA) region, and by stagnation in reports. the remaining regions that were covered.  The EIU provides country, industry, and management analysis worldwide  Almost one-half (48.4%) of the and incorporates the former Business world’s population live in a democracy International Corporation, a UK of some sort, although only 5.7% company acquired by its parent reside in a “full democracy”, down company in 1986. The EIU has several from 8.9% in 2015 as a result of the offices across the globe including two US being demoted from a “full offices in China and one in Hong democracy” to a “flawed democracy” Kong. in 2016. Publications: of  The total score of some 68 countries 1. E-readiness rankings declined from 2018, but almost as 2. Global Liveability Ranking many (65) recorded an improvement. 3. Quality-of-Life Index Thailand registered the biggest 4. Democracy Index improvement in score owing to an 5. CHAMPS (China) election in March 2019, which was 6. Consensus Economics: Surveys the first since the military coup d’état in May 2014, while China International Economic Forecasts

Easy to PICK157 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Coronavirus Syllabus subtopic:  The virus has spread from Wuhan  Issues Relating to Development and around China to population centres including Beijing, Shanghai, Macau Management of Social Sector/Services and Hong Kong. Abroad, Thailand relating to Health, Education, Human has confirmed four cases, while the Resources. United States, Taiwan, South Korea  Important International Institutions, and Japan have each reported one. agencies and fora - their Structure, Mandate.  The Chinese-ruled gambling hub of Macau confirmed its first case of Prelims and Mains focus: About the pneumonia linked to the coronavirus Coronavirus: its origins; symptoms and and tightened body-temperature measures taken to contain it screening measures. News: Deaths from China’s new flu-like  A first case of the virus emerged in virus rose to 17 on January 22, Hong Kong on January 22, media heightening global fears of contagion reported. The patient arrived via high- from an infection suspected to have come speed railway from the mainland and from animals. had been quarantined. Background  New cases may appear as China has  The previously unknown and stepped up monitoring. But there was no evidence of “super-spreaders” contagious coronavirus strain capable of disseminating the virus emerged from the central city of more widely, as happened during the Wuhan, with cases now detected as far SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory away as the United States. Officials Syndrome) outbreak. SARS was believe the origin to be a market thought to have crossed to humans where wildlife is traded illegally. from civet cats sold for food.  With more than 11 million people, Wuhan is central China's main industrial and commercial centre and an important transport hub, home to the country's largest inland port and gateway to its giant Three Gorges hydroelectric dam.  The rise in the mobility of the public has objectively increased the risk of the epidemic spreading. Global health emergency?  The World Health Organisation (WHO) began an emergency meeting to rule if the outbreak was a global health emergency.

Easy to PICK158 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Precautions taken worldwide severe acute respiratory disease,  Airports round the world have stepped originated from wild mammals. up screening of people from China.  The virus is constantly adapting and  Russia's consumer safety watchdog mutating which makes controlling the outbreak a challenge for the said it had strengthened its sanitary authorities. and quarantine control, Britain said it would start enhanced monitoring of  The virus can spread via human-to- passengers arriving from Wuhan and human contact and can also spread Singapore started screening all via respiratory transmission. passengers arriving from China.  Mexico said it was investigating a potential case of the virus.  North Korea banned foreign tourists from January 22 due to the virus, several foreign tour operators said, losing one of its main sources of foreign currency.  India: Passengers are being screened at airports and no cases have been detected. A travel advisory had been issued and posted on the Health Ministry’s website About the Coronavirus  The coronavirus is a family of viruses that can cause a lot of mild to life- threatening diseases.  It is the cousin of the more popular Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus. Mostly these viruses affect animals and do not spread to human beings. However, there are seven strains of this virus that can affect humans.  The symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, and difficulty in breathing. In severe cases, the condition can progress to pneumonia, kidney failure and even death. For now, there is no vaccine for the new virus.  All the six coronaviruses known to humans, including the one that caused

Easy to PICK159 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) Syllabus subtopic:  The first group of United Nations  India and its Neighborhood- Relations. military observers arrived in the  Important International Institutions, mission area on 24 January of 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between agencies and fora - their Structure, India and Pakistan in the State of Mandate. Jammu and Kashmir. Prelims and Mains focus: About the  These observers, under the command issues raised at the meeting by Pakistan; of the Military Adviser appointed by about UNMOGIP and India’s position on the UN Secretary-General, formed it; about WEF the nucleus of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and News: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Pakistan (UNMOGIP). Khan on Wednesday urged the international powers, including the UN and  Following renewed hostilities of 1971, the U.S., to help de-escalate tensions UNMOGIP has remained in the area with India, saying they “must act” to to observe developments pertaining to prevent the two nuclear- armed the strict observance of the ceasefire countries from reaching a point of no of 17 December 1971 and report return. thereon to the Secretary-General.  He also claimed that India might  India maintains that the UNMOGIP, attempt to raise tensions at the border has outlived its utility and is in order to divert attention from irrelevant after the Shimla Agreement domestic protests against the new and the consequent establishment of citizenship law and the Kashmir issue. the LoC.  Mr. Khan also demanded that UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) be allowed along the Line of Control. Background Mr. Khan, is in Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum annual meeting. About UNMOGIP  Established: January 1949  Location: India and Pakistan  Headquarters: Islamabad (November to April) and Srinagar (May to October)  Method of financing: UNMOGIP is funded through the UN regular budget

Easy to PICK160 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Commission for sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies  The commission has been appointed and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of to look into the existing list of OBCs their Design and Implementation. and categorise the castes that have not benefitted from reservation in Prelims and Mains focus: about the government jobs and education. commission: its mandate and significance; Article 340  It is also expected to give its News: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday recommendations to ensure that these approved a six- month extension in the marginalised communities get the tenure of the commission to examine benefits of various schemes. sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBC),  The commission is headed by the G.  The Cabinet also approved an addition Rohini, former Chief Justice of the to the commission’s terms of reference. Delhi High Court. Background:  The commission will now also study  The Commission was constituted the various entries in the Central list of OBCs and recommend correction of under Article 340 of the any repetitions, ambiguities, Constitution with the approval of inconsistencies and errors of spelling President on 2nd October, 2017 with or transcription. an initial time frame of 12 weeks.  The expenditure involved are related to Why did the commission sought an the establishment and administration extension? costs of the Commission, which would continue to be borne by the  The commission has come to the view Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. that it would require some more time Signif9icance to submit its report since the The Communities in the existing list of OBCs which have not been able to get any repetitions, ambiguities, major benefit of the scheme of reservation for OBCs for appointment in Central inconsistencies and errors of spelling Government posts & for admission in Central Government Educational or transcription, etc., appearing in the Institutions are expected to be benefitted upon implementation of the existing Central list of OBCs need to recommendations of the Commission. The Commission is likely to make be cleared. recommendations for benefit of such marginalized communities in the Central  Hence the commission has sought List of OBCs. extension of its term by six months, that is up to July 31, 2020 and also addition in its existing terms of reference. Mandate of the Commission

Easy to PICK161 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Article 340 in the Indian Constitution Appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes 1. The President may by order appoint a Commission consisting of such persons as he thinks fit to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labour and to make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the Union or any State to remove such difficulties and to improve their condition and as to the grants that should be made for the purpose by the Union or any State the conditions subject to which such grants should be made, and the order appointing such Commission shall define the procedure to be followed by the Commission. 2. A Commission so appointed shall investigate the matters referred to them and present to the President a report setting out the facts as found by them and making such recommendations as they think proper . 3. The President shall cause a copy of the report so presented together with a memorandum explaining the action taken thereon to be laid before each House of Parliament.

Easy to PICK162 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” India-Brazil agreement on legal and criminal cooperation Syllabus subtopic: Bilateral, Regional and  Under the MoU, both sides will work Global Groupings and Agreements towards establishing cooperation in the involving India and/or affecting India’s E&P (exploration & production) interests. initiatives in Brazil and India, research Prelims and Mains focus: about the & development in this sector, Brazilian President’s visit: agreements to exploring collaboration in liquefied be signed and their significance; about natural gas projects in Brazil, India and India-Brazil relations third countries. News: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an agreement on bilateral legal  It will also encourage collaboration in and criminal cooperation to be sealed oil energy and environmental issues, during the coming visit of President Jair including energy policies such as Bolsonaro of Brazil. energy efficiency, energy research development and expansion of the Context: Brazilian President Bolsonaro is regional energy infrastructure scheduled to arrive on Friday to be the networks. chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. Aim of the agreement  To enhance effectiveness of both the countries in investigation and prosecution of crime through cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.  It is expected to bolster counter-terror cooperation between the two countries. Other agreements to be signed Three pacts, covering: 1. research in minerals and mining, 2. child behaviour and 3. energy cooperation. MoU for cooperation in the oil and natural gas sector  The MoU in the energy sector will allow for joint exploration in the petroleum and natural gas segment.

Easy to PICK163 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Amnesty International study Syllabus subtopic: marked tweets as “abusive” or “problematic” as well as the nature of  Important International Institutions, abuse. Each tweet was marked by agencies and fora - their Structure, multiple people, amounting to 4,74,383 Mandate. total answers.  Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups  The data was then submitted to a team and associations, donors, charities, of data scientists “to validate and institutional and other stakeholders analyse”. Amnesty said it conducted this analysis in the US and the UK in Prelims and Mains focus: about the 2018 to build the world’s “largest report and its findings; about Amnesty and crowd-sourced dataset of online abuse its objectives against women”. News: Amnesty International India Key findings of the study study of thousands of tweets found that  Over the Lok Sabha election period women politicians are trolled more on social media. last summer, one in every seven tweets mentioning women politicians in India How was the study conducted? were “problematic” or “abusive”,  The data set involved 1,14,716 random amounting to over 100 such tweets to each woman politician every day. samples of 7 million total tweets mentioning 95 Indian women  Non-BJP women politicians faced 56.7 politicians between March and May per cent more online abuse than 2019. Based on nomination papers, the women politicians from the BJP, sample of women were MPs in the according to the study. two most recent Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections, MLAs as of  As part of a global quantitative February 2019, party office-bearers analysis on women contesting and spokeswomen, current and elections, the study also found that former chief ministers, and members Indian women politicians faced far from reserved constituencies. more online abuse (13.8 per cent of tweets) than their counterparts in  The categories of online abuse the UK or the US on Twitter (7.1 per include threats of physical or sexual cent). violence, caste or religious slurs, and sexist discrimination. The Decoders  Muslim women received almost 55.5 read tweets in English, Hindi, Bengali, per cent more problematic or abusive Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, content than women from other Marathi, Tamil and Telugu. religions.  Between July and November 2019, the  Examples of sexist abuses from India organisation crowd sourced 1,907 included Hindi slurs for ‘witch’ and digital volunteers, who were given a ‘prostitute’ as well as threats to send random set of tweets. The decoder the politician concerned to Pakistan.

Easy to PICK164 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” What did the report recommend? \"the ultimate, irreversible denial of Given the significance of Twitter among human rights. the political elite, the report suggests, “Twitter is failing in its responsibility to  The organization was awarded the respect women’s rights online.” It 1977 Nobel Peace Prize for its recommends more focus on regional “defence of human dignity against languages in India, continuously torture,” and the United Nations Prize evaluating its efforts against online in the Field of Human Rights in 1978. violence against women, and more transparency about its content  In the field of international human moderation process. rights organizations, Amnesty has the third longest history, after the About Amnesty International International Federation for Human Rights and broadest name recognition, (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) and is believed by many to set standards for the movement as a  It is a non-governmental organization whole. (NGO) with its headquarters in the United Kingdom focused on human rights.  The stated mission of the organization is to campaign for “a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments.”  It works to mobilize public opinion to generate pressure on governments that let abuse take place. Amnesty considers capital punishment to be

Easy to PICK165 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” One nation, one road tax Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies Implications and Interventions for Development in  A rejig in tax rates will have fiscal various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation. implications.  Tinkering with revenue has been a Prelims and Mains focus: about the govt.’s move and its implications; need for contentious issue. States have been reform in road tax structure averse to uniform tax rates as some of them would have to take a hit on News: The Union government is making a revenue collection. renewed push to get states on board to levy  It will depend on the states as road tax a uniform road tax for personal vehicles features on the state list. across the country. Current scenario Why?  Currently, each state has a different The move is expected to bring relief to automobile buyers, while also helping formula for calculating the tax rate, protect revenue of states as some which leads to anomaly in the final consumers tend to purchase vehicles in amount. states with lower taxes, resulting in a loss  For instance, in Delhi, the road tax is of revenue for those with higher taxes. calculated based on the make, model, engine and seating capacity of a Background vehicle. For four-wheelers less than  A group of ministers on transport set 1,000kg, the tax is more than Rs.3,800.  However, in Arunachal Pradesh, it is up by the roads ministry in 2018 had calculated on the basis of the sale price recommended a uniform road tax of a four-wheeler, which is 2.5% or structure for vehicles across states and Rs.6,250 for a vehicle costing Rs.2.5 that the tax be charged based on the lakh, and 6.5% or Rs.1.3 lakh for a car invoice price of a vehicle. For all costing over Rs.20 lakh. personal vehicles, the tax should be 8% for a vehicle costing under Rs.10 lakh, Way forward 10% for a vehicle costing between  On its part, the automobile industry has Rs.10 lakh and Rs.20 lakh and 12% for a vehicle costing more over Rs.20 lakh. been pushing for a uniform road tax  A recent meeting between the Centre structure along the lines of the unified and state transport ministers to discuss tax regime under GST as any the uniform road tax structure saw arbitrary increase in road taxes by most of the ministers agreeing to the certain state governments results in proposal. higher vehicle prices, adversely impacting sales. About Road Tax Road tax is paid during the registration of  This is a significant development for a vehicle in a particular state. It is levied the auto industry since it was their along with the goods and services tax long-standing demand. Apart from the (GST) and directly impacts the price of a poor state of the economy, increase in new vehicle. road taxes by states had impacted sales of vehicles in the past one year.

Easy to PICK166 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” India’s gas-based economy Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies CNG/LNG vehicles and making them and Interventions for Development in at par with electric vehicles. various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation. Process of implementation Prelims and Mains focus: about the draft  The draft policy suggests setting up of policy and its significance; initiatives taken to boost gas-based economy a committee, under the News: In a bid to boost India’s gas chairmanship of the chief secretary, economy, the Ministry of Petroleum and which will help formulate policies and Natural gas on Thursday released a draft streamline the processes for various city gas distribution policy. permissions to develop the CGD infrastructure. About the draft policy  The policy could be adopted by states  It will cause setting up of a suitable single-window clearance mechanism to facilitate speedy implementation of for the same in the state for the city gas distribution (CGD) networks promotion development of CGD and value-added services. infrastructure and ease of doing business.  With a view to promote clean and green fuel, the draft policy is looking  The committee will also make a to make CNG/LNG as the preferred suitable mechanism for permissions fuel in public transportation. State from state divisions of the Petroleum transport corporations will accord and Explosives Safety Organisation priority to CNG/ LNG buses, while (PESO), NHAI, the railways, etc. purchasing new buses and retrofitting in present alternate fuel fleet (which is Initiatives taken by the govt. to boost viable), in order to actively promote gas-based economy the usage of CNG/LNG in the public  Pricing and LNG marketing freedoms transport. have been given to gas producers.  Reduced road taxes and value-added LNG terminal capacity is being tax (VAT) may also be in the offing augmented and the national gas grid is for gas- driven vehicles. In order to being developed. provide user-friendly clean and green  The government will also provide fuel CNG and PNG to the general Rs.10,500 crore as viability gap public at affordable and reasonable funding for laying pipeline in eastern rates, VAT rates may be reviewed and and north-eastern India. Gas pipeline rationalized with a ceiling of 5%. network will be ready from Kutch to Kohima and Kashmir to Kochi.  Further, to promote the safe usage of Around Rs. 4 trillion worth of CNG/LNG in the transport sector, state investment is likely to be made in such policy thrust may be given by projects, which is a challenge as well rationalizing road tax for factory-fitted as an opportunity.

Easy to PICK167 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” About Petroleum and Explosives Safety  It is a statutory authority. Organisation (PESO)  PESO is a department formed by Government of India under Department for the Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to administer Explosives Act 1884, Explosive Substance Act, Petroleum Act 1934, Inflammable substance Act 1952 and Environment Protection Act 1986 to control import, export, transport, storage and usage of explosive materials, flammable materials, pressure vessels, cryogenic vessels, design and installation of all necessary and relevant infrastructure etc.  PESO is a regulatory authority, with autonomous status. The Department is headed by Chief Controller of Explosives and is headquartered at Nagpur in the State of Maharashtra in India.  The authority framed various rules like Petroleum Rules 2002, Explosive Rules 2008, Gas Cylinder Rules 2002, Static & Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) 2016, Ammonium Nitrate Rules, Calcium Carbide Rules 1987, Cinematographic Films Rules, 1948 etc.  It was established during the British India in 1890s as Department of Explosives and later expanded to various other activities.  PESO is known for one of the most efficient departments in India. The officers are selected by the UPSC into Indian Petroleum and Explosives Safety Service (IPESS), a central civil services cadre.

Easy to PICK168 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI-2019) Syllabus subtopic: Role of NGOs, SHGs, Singapore (85), Sweden (85) and various groups and associations, donors, Switzerland (85). charities, institutional and other stakeholders.  India’s ranking has slipped from 78 to 80 compared to the previous year. Prelims and Mains focus: About the key Its score of 41 out of 100 remains the highlights of the index; India’s same. performance; About Transparency International  In democracies such as India and Australia, unfair and opaque political News: Transparency International financing, undue influence in released the Corruption Perceptions decision-making and lobbying by Index (CPI-2019) on Thursday. powerful corporate interest groups have resulted in stagnation or a About the Index decline in the control of corruption. The 2019 CPI draws on 13 surveys and expert assessments to measure public  The report has revealed that a majority sector corruption in 180 countries and of countries are showing little to no territories, giving each a score from zero improvement in tackling corruption. (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).  It also shows corruption is more Key highlights pervasive in countries where big  The top ranked countries are New money can flow freely into electoral campaigns and where governments Zealand and Denmark, with scores of listen only to the voices of wealthy or 87 each, followed by Finland (86), well-connected individuals.  In the Asia Pacific region, the average  China has improved its position from score is 45, after many consecutive 87 to 80 with a score of 41 out of 100, years of an average score of 44, which a two-point jump. “illustrates general stagnation” in the region.

Easy to PICK169 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”  Despite the presence of high  TI does not conduct investigations performers like New Zealand (87), into corruption itself but instead Singapore (85), Australia (77), Hong brings together officials in the areas of Kong (76) and Japan (73), the Asia government, business, civil society, Pacific region hasn’t witnessed and the media to promote transparency substantial progress in anti-corruption in private and public affairs and to efforts or results. In addition, low lobby for anticorruption measures. performers like Afghanistan (16),  TI targets corruption at every level, North Korea (17) and Cambodia (20) from local governments to continue to highlight serious multinational corporations, in keeping challenges in the region. with its belief that corruption creates  According to Transparency and perpetuates poverty, weakens International, while often seen as an democracy, distorts national and engine of the global economy, in terms international trade, endangers national of political integrity and governance, security, and threatens natural the Asia Pacific region performs only resources around the world. marginally better than the global  It focuses on five areas of concern: average. 1. corruption in politics,  Many countries see economic openness 2. corruption in the private sector, as a way forward, however, 3. corruption in public contracting, governments across the region, from 4. poverty and development, and China to Cambodia to Vietnam,  international anticorruption continue to restrict participation in conventions. public affairs, silence dissenting voices TI is governed by a board of and keep decision-making out of directors, which is elected at an public scrutiny. annual meeting of national chapters  Given these issues, it comes as no and individual members. surprise that vibrant economic powers  It publishes several annual reports, like China (41), Indonesia (40), including the Vietnam (37), the Philippines (34) and 1. Global Corruption Report, others continue to struggle to tackle 2. Global Corruption Barometer, and corruption. 3. Corruption Perceptions Index, which About Transparency International (TI) ranks countries by perceived level of  TI, a nonpartisan, nonprofit corruption based on surveys of experts. nongovernmental organization 4. It also publishes books on specific (NGO) founded in Berlin in 1993 to regions and issues Integrity Awards expose corruption and reduce its to individuals who expose corruption harmful effects around the world, in their countries. especially on the poor and  The organization is primarily underprivileged. funded by government  TI consists of a global network of development agencies and approximately 100 national chapters foundations. It also receives devoted to fighting corruption in their project funding from international home countries. Headquarters are in organizations, donations from Berlin. private companies, and lesser income from publication sales and honoraria.

Easy to PICK170 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” ICJ orders Myanmar to protect Rohingya Syllabus subtopic: Important an ongoing threat and Myanmar must act to protect them. International Institutions, agencies and  Rohingya activists, who had come from all over the world to the Hague, fora - their Structure, Mandate. reacted with joy to the unanimous ruling, which also explicitly Prelims and Mains focus: about the recognised their ethnic minority as a court’s ruling and its significance; about protected group under the Genocide the Rohingya issue; about ICJ and its Convention. mandate  The court’s final decision could take News: The International Court of years, and Thursday’s ruling dealt only Justice (ICJ) on Thursday ordered with Gambia’s request for preliminary Myanmar to take urgent measures to measures. protect its Rohingya population from genocide, a ruling cheered by refugees as  ICJ rulings are final and binding, their first major legal victory since being but countries have occasionally forced from their homes. flouted them, and the court has no formal mechanism to enforce them. Background  More than 7,30,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar after a military-led crackdown in 2017, and were forced into squalid camps across the border in Bangladesh. UN investigators concluded that the military campaign had been executed with “genocidal intent”.  Majority Buddhist Myanmar generally refuses to describe the Muslim Rohingya as an ethnic group and refers to them as Bangladeshi migrants.  A lawsuit launched by Gambia in November at the United Nations’ highest body for disputes between states accuses Myanmar of genocide against Rohingya in violation of a 1948 Genocide Convention. What did the court rule and its significance?  In a unanimous ruling by the 17 judge panel, the court said the Rohingya face

Easy to PICK171 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Sagarmatha Dialogue Syllabus subtopic: members of multilateral organisations,  Bilateral, Regional and Global think tank experts, academics, civil society leaders and activists. Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.  The event is expected to focus on the  India and its Neighborhood- Relations. threat of climate change (Theme: \"Climate Change, Mountains, and the Prelims and Mains focus: About the Future of Humanity”) to the modern event and its significance world. Given the large number of News: Nepal has invited the Prime global leaders, the event is expected to Ministers of India and Pakistan, along with emerge as a venue for bilateral several other heads of governments and interaction among leaders. states, for the Sagarmatha Dialogue (Sagarmatha Sambaad).  Discussions will also dwell upon the ‘organic link’ between mountains, Background oceans and many other ecosystems.  India and Pakistan have been caught up Largely, the dialogue will be an opportunity to devise on the actions in a cycle of hostility which has needed to realize the Sustainable prevented Islamabad from hosting the Development Goals and commitment SAARC summit since 2016. made under the Paris Agreement to  The dialogue aims at drawing all the limit the global temperature increase SAARC leaders and providing an to 1.5 °C to avoid the worst impacts opportunity to break the ice. of climate change. About the event Note:  The Sambaad (dialogue) is named  Sagarmatha National Park is a after the world's tallest mountain national park in the Himalayas of Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) which eastern Nepal that is dominated by is also a symbol of friendship and is Mount Everest. meant to promote the notions of common good and collective well-  It encompasses an area of 1,148 km2 being of humanity. Sagarmatha, (443 sq mi) in the Solukhumbu District being the highest natural landmark and ranges in elevation from 2,845 to on the earth, is also the tallest witness 8,848 m (9,334 to 29,029 ft) at the of the unfolding global events. summit of Mount Everest.  The three-day event (first-ever), to be held in Kathmandu, from April 2 will  In the north, it shares the international be the biggest diplomatic dialogue in border with the Qomolangma Nepal’s recent history that will be National Nature Preserve of Tibet. In attended by many global figures apart the east it is adjacent to Makalu from the leaders of the SAARC Barun National Park, and in the countries. south it extends to Dudh Kosi river. It  Invitations have been sent to over 150 is part of the Sacred Himalayan foreign guests including heads of Landscape. government and heads of states, Ministers, business leaders, media,

Easy to PICK172 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Republic Day 2020 Syllabus subtopic: Indian Constitution- Republic Day parade 2020 historical underpinnings, evolution,  A major attraction at the parade will be features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. the anti-satellite missile tested under Prelims and Mains focus: about the Mission Shakti by the Defence national war memorial; significance of the Research and Development republic day Organisation (DRDO). News: In a first, homage will be paid to  The Army will showcase the recently the fallen soldiers during the Republic inducted 155- mm Dhanush towed Day parade this year at the National War howitzer. Memorial. The ceremony had so far  There are 16 marching contingents this been conducted at India Gate. year, including six from the Army and 22 tableaux from various States and About the National War Memorial departments.  The Army would be represented by a  The National War Memorial is located mounted column of 61 cavalry, eight at the ‘C’ Hexagon near India Gate. It mechanised columns, six marching was built in memory of 22,500 contingents and a fly-past by the Indian soldiers who had laid down Rudra and Dhruv Advanced Light their lives for the country after Helicopters of Army Aviation. Independence.  The traditional Christian hymn “Abide with me”, believed to have been a  A new Amar Jawan Jyoti was also favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, is back established there. on the list of tunes for this year’s Beating Retreat ceremony.  Since its inauguration in February last  Additionally, the national song Vande year, the National War Memorial has Mataram will be played for the first been the venue for the guard of honour time at the Beating Retreat this year. at all national events. The Amar Jawan Jyoti will be used for regimental Why is 26th January celebrated as the events. Republic Day of India?  The Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, a date specially chosen to coincide with the anniversary of ‘Purna Swaraj Diwas’. January 26, 1930 was marked as ‘Purna Swaraj Diwas’, or the day the nation would attain complete freedom from its colonisers by the Congress.  The members of the drafting committee felt that the birth of the constitution should be observed on a day that held some significance in their fight for independence. When India

Easy to PICK173 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”  was ultimately granted freedom by the  This was the day the Indian British in 1947, but on August 15 and Independence Act was consequently not January 26, the date was instead repealed and India was established as a assigned to celebrating India’s democratic republic, no longer a Republic Day. dominion of the British Crown. About Mission Shakti  As part of the mission, an anti-satellite  Mission Shakti is a joint programme (A-SAT) weapon was launched and targeted an Indian satellite which had of the Defence Research and been decommissioned. Mission Shakti Development Organisation (DRDO) was carried out from DRDO’s testing and the Indian Space Research range in Odisha’s Balasore. Organisation (ISRO).

Easy to PICK174 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Legislative Councils Syllabus subtopic: Parliament and State Arguments against LCs Legislatures—Structure, Functioning,  Rather than fulfilling the lofty Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges objective of getting intellectuals and Issues Arising out of these. into the legislature, the forum is likely to be used to accommodate Prelims and Mains focus: about LCs: party functionaries who fail to get strength, selection of members, objectives elected.  They can be used to delay News: The Andhra Pradesh government progressive legislation. seems to be contemplating abolishing the  It is also an unnecessary drain on Legislative Council going by Chief the exchequer. Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s  Unlike Rajya Sabha which has assertion that the “Upper House” did not substantial powers to shape non- deserve to exist if it rejects important Bills financial legislation, Legislative by violating rules. Councils lack the constitutional mandate to do so. Legislative About Legislative Councils (LC) Assemblies have the power to India has a bicameral system i.e., two override suggestions/amendments Houses of Parliament. At the state level, made to a legislation by the the equivalent of the Lok Sabha is the Council. Vidhan Sabha or Legislative Assembly;  While Rajya Sabha MPs can vote that of the Rajya Sabha is the Vidhan in the election of the President and Parishad or Legislative Council. Vice-President, members of A second House of legislature is Legislative Councils can’t. MLCs also can’t vote in the elections of considered important for two reasons: Rajya Sabha members. 1. to act as a check on hasty actions by  As regards Money bills, only fourteen days’ delay can be caused the popularly elected House and, by the Council, which is more or 2. to ensure that individuals who might less a formality rather than a barrier in the way of Money Bill passed by not be cut out for the rough-and-tumble the Assembly. of direct elections too are able to contribute to the legislative process. Creation of a LC:  Under Article 169 of the constitution, Arguments in favour of LCs  Having a second chamber would Parliament may by law create or allow for more debate and sharing abolish the second chamber in a state if of work between the Houses. the Legislative Assembly of that state  A Legislative Council can help passes a resolution to that effect by a check hasty actions by the directly special majority. elected House.  The Legislative Council also  Currently, six states have Legislative enables non-elected individuals to Councils (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, contribute to the legislative Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, process. Telangana).

Easy to PICK175 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”  Jammu and Kashmir too had one, until the state was bifurcated into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. Strength of LCs As per article 171 clause (1) of the Indian Constitution, the total number of members in the legislative council of a state shall not exceed one third of the total number of the members in the legislative Assembly of that state and the total number of members in the legislative council of a state shall in no case be less than 40. Election of members of LCs  1/3rd of members are elected by members of the Assembly.  1/3rd by electorates consisting of members of municipalities, district boards and other local authorities in the state.  1/12th by an electorate consisting of teachers.  1/12th by registered graduates.  The remaining members are nominated by the Governor from among those who have distinguished themselves in literature, science, art, the cooperative movement, and social service.  Legislative Councils are permanent Houses, and like Rajya Sabha, one- third of their members retire every two years. Powers of LCs vis-à-vis Rajya Sabha The constitution gives Councils limited legislative powers. Unlike Rajya Sabha which has substantial powers to shape non-financial legislation, Legislative Councils lack the constitutional mandate to do so. Legislative Assemblies have the power to override suggestions/amendments made to a legislation by the Council.

Easy to PICK176 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Criminalisation Of Politics Syllabus subtopic: Salient features of the News: The Supreme Court on Friday Representation of People’s Act. agreed to examine a proposition made by Prelims and Mains focus: about the SC the Election Commission (EC) to ask remarks on the criminalization of politics; political parties to not give ticket to various judgements of SC; about RPA, those with criminal antecedents. 1951 About the SC judgements on this issue doing so to the chief justice of the high  In 2002, it made it obligatory for all court. candidates to file an affidavit before  The September 2018 judgment of a the returning officer, disclosing Constitution Bench, which had criminal cases pending against them. directed political parties to publish online the pending criminal cases  The famous order to introduce NOTA against their candidates was not was intended to make political parties complied with by the political parties. think before giving tickets to the tainted.  The judgment had urged Parliament to bring a “strong law” to cleanse  In its landmark judgment of March political parties of leaders facing trial 2014, the SC accepted the urgent need for serious crimes. for cleansing politics of criminalisation and directed all subordinate courts to  The ruling by a five-judge Bench led decide on cases involving legislators by then Chief Justice of India Dipak within a year, or give reasons for not Misra concluded that rapid criminalisation of politics cannot be arrested by merely disqualifying

Easy to PICK177 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” tainted legislators but should begin conducted on a day-to-day basis and by “cleansing” the political parties. completed within a year. The election commission in its 2016 note on RPA, 1951 proposed electoral reforms agrees with  Currently, under the Representation the recommendation of the law commission. of Peoples (RP) Act, lawmakers cannot contest elections only after Proposed measures to curb their conviction in a criminal case. criminalization of politics:  Section 8 of the Representation of  Bringing greater transparency in the People (RP) Act, 1951 disqualifies a person convicted with a sentence of campaign financing is going to make two years or more from contesting it less attractive for political parties to elections. But those under trial involve gangsters. continued to be eligible to contest  The Election Commission of India elections. The Lily Thomas case (ECI) should have the power to audit (2013), however, ended this unfair the financial accounts of political advantage. parties, or political parties’ finances should be brought under the right to What does the Law Commission say in information (RTI) law. its report?  Broader governance will have to  The law commission in its report on improve for voters to reduce the reliance on criminal politicians. electoral disqualification in 2014  The Election Commission must take deliberated on whether disqualification adequate measures to break the nexus from contesting election should be between the criminals and the triggered upon conviction as it exists politicians. today, or at the time of framing of  The forms prescribed by the Election charges by the court? It was of the Commission for candidates disclosing opinion that, “disqualification at the their convictions, cases pending in stage of charging, if accompanied by courts and so on in their nomination substantial attendant legal safeguards papers is a step in the right direction if to prevent misuse, has significant it applied properly. potential in curbing the spread of criminalisation of politics.” Conclusion  The commission went on to specify  The Supreme Court’s long string of some of these safeguards. One of them being that only criminal offences judgments against criminalisation of which have a maximum punishment of politics had hardly scratched the five years or more are to be included in surface of the deep rot. this provision. The commission  The Election Commission had tried suggested that charges filed up to one several measures to curb year before the date of scrutiny of criminalisation of politics, but to no nominations would not lead to a avail. disqualification. This safeguard would  Just a move to steer politics away from then minimise politically motivated the denizens of the criminal world cases from being filed against an would definitely serve national and individual before an upcoming public interest. election. It also suggested that in the case charges framed against sitting MPs/MLAs the trial should be

Easy to PICK178 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” National Security Act (NSA) \\  These are law and order issues and Syllabus subtopic: Indian Constitution— therefore the court cannot interfere. SC Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, cannot pass a general direction or a Features, Amendments, Significant blanket order restraining the Provisions and Basic Structure. government from invoking NSA, but it Prelims and Mains focus: about the can definitely do something if National security act and why it needs to individual cases of misuse of NSA by be amended authorities are brought to its attention. News: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to pass a “blanket order” against About the National Security Act, 1980 Lieutenant Governor’s decision to place  National Security Act allows Central Delhi under the National Security Act (NSA), a law which allows the police to or State governments to prevent any place anyone considered a threat to person from acting as a threat to national security, law and order under national security. preventive detention. Background  The Act also allows the government to  The NSA was imposed from January preventively detain any person from disrupting supply or maintenance of 19 to April 18. essential commodities and services to  The notification was issued on January the community or disrupting public order. 10 amidst widespread protests across the Capital by people belonging to all  As per the act, a person can be walks of life against the Citizenship detained for a maximum of 12 Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019, months but can be extended when which grants citizenship on the basis of fresh evidence is produced by the religion. government. What was the petition about? Preventive detention in India  The petitioner had submitted that the  Preventive Detention is the most imposition of NSA was a ruse to scare contentious part of the scheme ordinary people from expressing their fundamental rights in the Indian fundamental right to dissent on issues constitutions Article 22(3) provides like the CAA, the National Population that if the person who has been Register (NPR) and the National arrested or detained under preventive Register Citizens (NRC). detention laws then the protection against arrest and detention provided  The lawyer argued that the January 10 under article22 (1) and22 (2) shall not notification was an affront to free be available to that person. speech and expression and the right to dignity.  Acts that allow preventive detention in India are present since colonial times. Reasons cited by the court  The court cannot pass such general  From the Bengal Resolution III of 1818 to Rowlatt Acts of 1919 and the directions, which would “tie” the hands of the authorities.

Easy to PICK179 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Preventive Detention Act of 1950, all allow preventive detention.  The current NSA is close to the 1950 Act. Concerns  When a person is arrested normally, he or she has certain guarantees to safeguard their basic rights such as being informed of the reason for the arrest, the right to apply for bail, etc. But these rights do not apply for a person arrested under the NSA.  No FIR is filed under the Act. He/she will not be informed on the grounds for their arrest for 5 days and in some cases, it may of up to 10 days.  The arrested person is cannot avail legal assistance before an advisory board constituted by the government to deal with NSA cases.  Also, the exact data on how many people are detained under the NSA is not clear as the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) do not collect data on NSA cases. Arguements against the Act  The NSA Act is being misused by all the governments in the country.  The intended objective to prevent acts that harm our national security is set aside and is being used for self- interests.  It is like the government is using the act as an extra-judicial power. Conclusion In spreading democracy often acts such as this hampers the progress. Already, the act is 40 years old and reconsidering it is the need of the hour. Or else, the scary scenario of arbitrary detention for personal goals becomes the norm which does not augur well for the country.

Easy to PICK180 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies  According to government data from and Interventions for Development in 2018, of the 14 lakh anganwadis across various sectors and Issues arising out of the country there are only 1.38 lakh their Design and Implementation. anganwadis in urban areas. Prelims and Mains focus: about the move  Health and ICDS models that work in and reasons for it; about the ICDS scheme rural areas may not work in urban and its objectives areas because of higher population density, transportation challenges News: Urban areas are likely to receive a and migration. renewed focus under the government’s ICDS programme, which provides for  Because of these issues it may not be anganwadis or day-care centres across possible for a community worker to the country for delivery of nutrition and keep in contact with the beneficiaries, pre-school education. which she is able to achieve in rural settings. About the move  The government’s think tank, the Way ahead  Improving infrastructure in urban areas NITI Aayog, has prepared a draft working paper, which once approved would be key as the government would be circulated to different embarks on improving service delivery ministries for consultations. under the ICDS programme.  These include the Ministry of Health  One thing which will be crucial for and Family Welfare, the Ministry of anganwadi services in urban areas is Women and Child Development, the strengthening safety and infrastructure. Ministry of Urban Housing and Affairs and the Ministry of Drinking Water About the ICDS scheme and Sanitation.  Children in the age group 0-6 years What are the challenges in the urban constitute around 158 million of the areas? population of India (2011 census).  The first-ever pan-India survey on These Children are the future human resource of the country. Ministry of the nutrition status of children, Women and Child Development is highlighted that malnutrition among implementing various schemes for children in urban India is characterised welfare, development and protection of by relatively poor levels of children. breastfeeding as mothers have to travel long distances for work.  Launched on 2nd October, 1975, the Integrated Child Development Services  It also found a higher prevalence of (ICDS) Scheme is one of the flagship obesity because of relative prosperity programmes of the Government of and lifestyle patterns, along with iron India and represents one of the and Vitamin D deficiency. world’s largest and unique programmes for early childhood Why a new model for urban areas? care and development. It is the

Easy to PICK181 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” foremost symbol of country’s  The last three services are related to commitment to its children and nursing health and are provided by mothers, as a response to the challenge Ministry/Department of Health and of providing pre-school non-formal Family Welfare through NRHM & education on one hand and breaking Health system. The perception of the vicious cycle of malnutrition, providing a package of services is morbidity, reduced learning capacity based primarily on the consideration and mortality on the other. that the overall impact will be much larger if the different services  The beneficiaries under the Scheme develop in an integrated manner as are children in the age group of 0-6 the efficacy of a particular service years, pregnant women and lactating depends upon the support it receives mothers. from the related services. Objectives of the Scheme are:  For better governance in the delivery  to improve the nutritional and health of the Scheme, convergence is, therefore, one of the key features of status of children in the age-group 0-6 the ICDS Scheme. This convergence years; is in-built in the Scheme which provides a platform in the form of  to lay the foundation for proper Anganwadi Centres for providing all psychological, physical and social services under the Scheme. development of the child;  to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;  to achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development; and  to enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education. Services under ICDS The ICDS Scheme offers a package of six services, viz.  Supplementary Nutrition  Pre-school non-formal education  Nutrition & health education  Immunization  Health check-up and  Referral services

Easy to PICK182 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” IT Intermediaries Guidelines (Amendment) Rules, 2018 Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies regulations, for social and non-social and Interventions for Development in media. various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.  Non-social media may have relatively lighter regulations given that there Prelims and Mains focus: about the new could be mandatory local legal rules and their implications; the debate incorporation for large social media between security and right to privacy intermediaries. Non-social media intermediaries will still have to appoint Context: Later this month, the government a local office for grievance redressal. will submit to the Supreme Court, The Information Technology Intermediaries  Suggested changes currently need Guidelines (Amendment) Rules, 2018, the production of a court order before a new set of rules on regulation of social messaging intermediary is required to media. break encryption. Background What could be the implications? The issue of messaging apps being  The new rules will push for required to break end-to-end encryption has been a sticky point between “traceability” of content which in governments and messaging apps like effect means breaking end-to-end Facebook-owned WhatsApp, especially encryption, even of messaging after revelations last year on the use of spy intermediaries. software being used by governments to  This will make it difficult for large break into phones and conduct surveillance social media intermediaries, mostly into private conversations of activists, international business conglomerates, journalists and lawyers, including in India. to give in without a battle. On November 21 last year, Minister of  The guidelines, which are not being State for Electronics and Information discussed or debated publicly with Technology, in a written reply to a only a few in the government privy to question in Rajya Sabha, confirmed that the details, are meant to control the Centre was going ahead with new online content deemed “unlawful”. amended rules for social media companies But these will raise fundamental which will have to follow certain due questions on both freedom of speech diligence as laid out in the Information and privacy of ordinary users. Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2011 under Section 79 of the Conclusion Information Technology Act. The need to conduct surveillance for reasons of security versus the right to About the new rules privacy of citizens and users has been a  There could be two levels of online heated debate, and remains unresolved — the government appears to be pushing intermediaries defined in the new set for more and intermediaries are insisting of rules, each with different on greater transparency in the rules- framing process.

Easy to PICK183 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Global Talent Competitiveness Index, 2020 Syllabus subtopic: Important Luxembourg eighth, Norway ninth and Australia 10th. International Institutions, agencies and  China ranked 42nd, Russia at 48th, fora - their Structure, Mandate. Brazil secured 80th while South Africa grabbed the 70th position in the list Prelims and Mains focus: about the index and its findings; India performance in the GTCI 2020: Top 10 Countries index News: Global Talent Competitive Index Rank Country Score (GTCI) 2020 was released at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum 1 Switzerland 81.26 (WEF) on January 22, 2020. 2 USA 79.09 What is this index? 3 Singapore 78.48  The GTCI report was launched by 4 Sweden 75.82 INSEAD, a partner and sponsor of the 5 Denmark 75.18 United Nation’s Sustainable 6 Netherlands 74.99 Development Goals (SDGs) Tent, with 7 Finland 74.47 the help of Google and Adecco Group  This index shows the ability of 8 Luxemburg 73.94 countries to make the world progress, retain and attract talent. They are 9 Norway 72.91 ranked based on their abilities. 10 Australia 72.53  GTCI gives ranking based on six India Specific Findings indicators – attract, retain, enable,  India has secured 72nd place in the list grow, vocational skills and global knowledge skills. while last year India was ranked 80th in Global Talent Competitive Index.  The GTCI is an input-output based ranking system that takes ‘what does  Kazakhstan, India and Sri Lanka have the country produce and acquires’ as occupied the top 3 spots in the Central input and ‘result from the skill’ as and South Asia region. output.  According to the GTCI, India's biggest Global Findings challenge is to attract talent and retain them in the country. India got 92nd  Switzerland secured the first position and 95th place respectively in this while the USA is on second and category. Singapore got third place.  India’s Vocational and Technical Skill  Among the top ten countries, Sweden score is 76 while secured 113th place ranked fourth, Denmark fifth, in the Mid-Level Skills list. Netherlands sixth, Finland seventh,

Easy to PICK184 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”

Easy to PICK185 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Syllabus subtopic: Welfare Schemes for Arogya Yojana) in order to expand its Vulnerable Sections of the population by coverage. the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes; Mechanisms, Laws, Why? Institutions and Bodies constituted for the  The government’s push to get public Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections. hospitals empanelled is due to a lack Prelims and Mains focus: about the move of secondary and tertiary healthcare and its significance; about PMJAY and its facilities in poorer regions. objectives  A number of hospitals in smaller News: India is aiming to plug significant cities— including those run by state- gaps in providing healthcare in smaller run enterprises—are under-utilized, cities and towns under the ambitious even though there is strong demand Ayushman Bharat programme by signing for their services in these regions up hospitals operated by state-run especially because of the insurance companies and Indian Railways. programme. Background AB-PMJAY  The PMJAY, launched in September  Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri 2018, aims to provide health Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a insurance for secondary and tertiary Centrally Sponsored Scheme having hospitalization to over 100 million central sector component under poor and vulnerable families, which Ayushman Bharat Mission anchored in would total around 500 million the Ministry of Health and Family beneficiaries. Welfare (MoHFW).  Since its launch, over 7.8 million  It is an umbrella of two major health patients have availed of insurance initiatives, namely Health and services under the scheme at over wellness Centres (HWCs) and 21,271 hospitals across the country, National Health Protection Scheme information on the PMJAY website (NHPS). showed as of Saturday.  However, a research conducted by 1. Health and Wellness Centres PMJAY for April-July last year (HWCs) showed that there was disparity in where these services were availed of, Under this 1.5 lakh existing sub centres based on the disease burden and socio- will bring health care system closer to the economic status. homes of people in the form of Health and wellness centres. These centres will About the move provide comprehensive health care, It has been decided that all public hospitals including for non-communicable diseases should be empanelled under AB-PMJAY and maternal and child health services. (Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan List of Services to be provided at Health & Wellness Centre

Easy to PICK186 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”  Pregnancy care and maternal health  To control costs, the payments for services treatment will be done on package rate (to be defined by the Government in  Neonatal and infant health services advance) basis. The package rates will  Child health include all the costs associated with  Chronic communicable diseases treatment. For beneficiaries, it will be a  Non-communicable diseases cashless, paper less transaction.  Management of mental illness Keeping in view the State specific  Dental care requirements, States/ UTs will have the  Eye care flexibility to modify these rates within  Geriatric care Emergency medicine a limited bandwidth. 2. National Health Protection Mission Eligibility criteria (PM-JAY)  AB-PMJAY is an entitlement based Benefits scheme with entitlement decided on the basis of deprivation criteria in the  AB-PMJAY provides a defined benefit SECC database. cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year.  The different categories in rural and This cover will take care of almost all urban areas include secondary care and most of tertiary  families having only one room with care procedures. kucha walls and kucha roof;  families having no adult member  To ensure that nobody is left out between age 16 to 59; (especially women, children and  female headed households with no elderly) there will be no cap on family adult male member between age 16 to size and age in the scheme. 59;  disabled member and no able bodied  The benefit cover will also include pre adult member in the family; and post-hospitalisation expenses. All  SC/ST households; pre-existing conditions will be covered  landless households deriving major from day one of the policy. A defined part of their income from manual transport allowance per hospitalization casual labour, will also be paid to the beneficiary.  Families in rural areas having any one of the following: households without  Benefits of the scheme are portable shelter, destitute, living on alms, across the country and a beneficiary manual scavenger families, primitive covered under the scheme will be tribal groups, legally released bonded allowed to take cashless benefits from labour. any public/private empanelled  For urban areas, 11 defined hospitals across the country. occupational categories are entitled under the scheme - Occupational  The beneficiaries can avail benefits in Categories of Workers, Rag picker, both public and empanelled private Beggar, Domestic worker, Street facilities. All public hospitals in the vendor/ Cobbler/hawker / Other States implementing AB-PMJAY, will service provider working on streets, be deemed empanelled for the Scheme. Construction worker/ Plumber/ Mason/ Hospitals belonging to Employee State Labour/ Painter/ Welder/ Security Insurance Corporation (ESIC) may guard/, Coolie and another head-load also be empanelled based on the bed worker, Sweeper/ Sanitation worker / occupancy ratio parameter. As for private hospitals, they will be empanelled online based on defined criteria.

Easy to PICK187 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Mali, Home-based worker/ Artisan/  Household member is a government employee Handicrafts worker / Tailor, Transport  Households with non - agricultural worker/ Driver/ Conductor/ Helper to enterprises registered with government drivers and conductors/ Cart puller/  Any member of household earning more than Rs. 10,000/ - per month Rickshaw puller, Shop worker/  Households paying income tax Assistant/ Peon in small establishment/  Households paying professional tax  House with three or more rooms with Helper/Delivery assistant / Attendant/ pucca walls and roof Waiter, Electrician/ Mechanic/  Owns a refrigerator  Owns a landline phone Assembler/ Repair worker,  Owns more than 2.5 acres of irrigated Washerman/ Chowkidar. land with 1 irrigation equipment  Owns 5 acres or more of irrigated land As per the SECC 2011, the following beneficiaries are automatically for two or more crop season excluded:  Owning at least 7.5 acres of land or  Households having motorized 2/3/4 more with a t least one irrigation wheeler/fishing boat equipment  Households having mechanized 3/4 wheeler agricultural equipment  Households having Kisan Credit Card with credit limit above Rs. 50,000/ -

Easy to PICK188 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Oslo Accords Syllabus subtopic: status of settlements would be  Effect of Policies and Politics of decided by negotiations. But the negotiations process has been all but Developed and Developing Countries dead for several years now. on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.  Israel walked into East Jerusalem in  Bilateral, Regional and Global 1967 (Six-Day War), and Groupings and Agreements involving subsequently annexed it. For Israel, India and/or affecting India’s interests. Jerusalem is non-negotiable. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as Prelims and Mains focus: About the the capital of their future state. Most move to withdraw and its implications, of the world’s nations look at it as About Oslo Accords, West bank occupied territory. settlements; Six-Days war About West Bank It is a landlocked territory near the News: Palestinian officials threatened on Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, Sunday to withdraw from key provisions bordered by Jordan to the east and by of the Oslo Accords, which define the Green Line separating it and Israel relations with Israel, if U.S. President on the south, west and north. The West Donald Trump announces his West Asia Bank also contains a significant section of peace plan next week. the western shore of the Dead Sea. Why? About West Bank settlements  Mr. Trump’s initiative will turn  The West Bank was captured by Israel’s temporary occupation (of Jordan after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Palestinian territory) into a permanent occupation.  The Palestinians, who see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, say Mr. Trump’s plan buries the two-state solution that has been the cornerstone of global West Asia diplomacy. About Oslo Accords  The Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement, signed in Washington in 1995, sought to put into practice the first Oslo peace deal agreed two years earlier. The agreement set out the scope of Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza.  Under the Oslo Accords, both Israel and the Palestinians agreed that the

Easy to PICK189 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”  Israel snatched it back during the Six International Court of Justice have said Day War of 1967, and has occupied it that the West Bank settlements are ever since. violative of the Fourth Geneva Convention.  It has built some 130 formal settlements in the West Bank, and a  Under the Fourth Geneva similar number of smaller, informal Convention (1949), an occupying settlements have mushroomed over the power “shall not deport or transfer last 20-25 years. parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies”.  Over 4 lakh Israeli settlers — many of them religious Zionists who claim a  Under the Rome Statute that set up Biblical birthright over this land — the International Criminal Court in now live here, along with some 26 lakh 1998, such transfers constitute war Palestinians. crimes, as does the “extensive destruction and appropriation of Settlements legal or illegal? property, not justified by military  The United Nations General Assembly, necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly”. the UN Security Council, and the

Easy to PICK190 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Fund crunch hits MGNREGA scheme Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies little agricultural activity, when rural and Interventions for Development in workers desperately need employment. various sectors and Issues arising out of However, the scheme is running out of their Design and Implementation. money, and will enter next year with pending liabilities. Prelims and Mains focus: about the fund crunch in the scheme: reasons and likely  States are fast running out of funds for implications; about MGNREGA and its the crucial Mahatma Gandhi National significance Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme with the Centre News: The Centre is on the verge of yet to release pending dues. In Rajasthan, for example, workers’ running out of funds for the crucial wages have not been paid since October-end. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. Why?  More than 96% of the allocated money has already been spent or is needed to pay pending dues, with less than Rs. 2,500 crore left to sustain the scheme for the next two months. Background About MGNREGA and its significance A number of economists have recommended that putting money into the  The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural hands of rural consumers via MGNREGA is key to kick-starting the economy. Employment Guarantee Act However, this year’s budget allocation was Rs. 60,000 crore, lower than the amount spent in the previous year. Disparity in funds across states (MGNREGA), also known as  Fifteen States are already in the red. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural According to the scheme’s financial statement as on January 26, Rajasthan Employment Guarantee Scheme has the highest negative net balance of Rs. 620 crore, followed by Rs. 323 (MNREGS) is Indian legislation crore in Uttar Pradesh. enacted on August 25, 2005. The MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year  In fact, the situation on the ground may to adult members of any rural be worse as States do not always enter pending payments into the household willing to do public work- information system. January, February and March are months with related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage. The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Govt of India is monitoring

Easy to PICK191 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” the entire implementation of this  MGNREGA provides “Green” and scheme in association with state “Decent” work. governments  Social Audit of MGNREGA works is  This act was introduced with an aim of mandatory, which lends to improving the purchasing power of accountability and transparency. the rural people, primarily semi or un-skilled work to people living  MGNREGA works address the climate below poverty line in rural India. It change vulnerability and protect the attempts to bridge the gap between farmers from such risks and conserve the rich and poor in the country. natural resources. Roughly one-third of the stipulated work force must be women.  Adult members of rural households submit their name, age and address with photo to the Gram Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat registers households after making enquiry and issues a job card. The job card contains the details of adult member enrolled and his /her photo. Registered person can submit an application for work in writing (for at least fourteen days of continuous work) either to Panchayat or to Programme Officer.  The Panchayat/Programme officer will accept the valid application and issue dated receipt of application, letter providing work will be sent to the applicant and also displayed at Panchayat office. The employment will be provided within a radius of 5 km: if it is above 5 km extra wage will be paid.  The Gram Sabha is the principal forum for wage seekers to raise their voices and make demands. It is the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat which approves the shelf of works under MGNREGA and fix their priority.  MGNREGA focuses on the economic and social empowerment of women.

Easy to PICK192 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Cases of diabetes and cancer rise in rural areas of M.P. Syllabus subtopic: Issues Relating to Communicable Disease Control Development and Management of Social Programme, what surprised officials Sector/Services relating to Health, was the low incidence in the 89 tribal Education, Human Resources. blocks in the State, which has largest Prelims and Mains focus: about the tribal population in the country, findings and their causes; about IHCI and despite the low awareness levels. its achievements; about non-  The programme, which was launched communicable diseases and steps for their recently and under which 86% of prevention; about National Health Mission those screened have been put under (NHM) treatment, focusses on identifying News: Non-communicable diseases like non-communicable diseases at the hypertension, diabetes and cancer are primary health-centre (PHC) level posing a bigger challenge in the itself, and ensuring treatment up to non-tribal rural areas of Madhya the district-level and follow-ups with Pradesh than in the urban areas owing to patients to continue medication. a rapidly growing rate of incidence and the lack of awareness, according to the  In the first phase, 1,200 PHCs were National Health Mission (NHM). roped in. In contrast to patients visiting a health centre, ASHA workers now go Background door-to-door to draft family profiles  Screening of 30 lakh persons above the and screen them for the non-communicable diseases, added Dr. age of 30 across the State in December Sidana. has revealed that Raisen, Hoshangabad and Seoni districts face the highest Case of hypertension in rural areas burden of the diseases.  Trans fatty acids when consumed in  The State unit of the National Health hydrogenated forms is a major cause Mission anticipates urban districts like of hypertension or high blood pressure Bhopal, Gwalior or Indore to fare the levels. Cooking oil is still reused for worst. the purpose in several rural areas. Why more cases in non-tribal rural  The India Hypertension Control areas? Initiative, supported by the World More awareness, as in the case of urban Health Organisation, is catering to areas, translates into patients undergoing patients above 18 suffering from the treatment despite a high incidence. As a diseases in Bhopal, Sehore, result, the burden is moderate in urban Chhindwara, Seoni, Ujjain and Ratlam areas, but due to low awareness in rural districts. areas, it is increasing there.  Of the screened persons, 2,55,420 were Non Communicable Disease Control diagnosed for hypertension. Programme  During the screening drive, taken up under the Centre’s Non

Easy to PICK193 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”  Of the country’s 100 districts with the  The results from Kerala had been highest prevalence of hypertension, 15 the most impressive so far because were in Madhya Pradesh. of the infrastructure strength of non-communicable disease clinics About India Hypertension Control across the State. Initiative (IHCI)  Each patient was given a treatment  The IHCI was launched in Kerala book and the health card was kept in April 2018 as a multi-partner at the hospital. five-year initiative with the Union Ministry of Health and Family  Every month there was a follow-up Welfare, Indian Council of on the patient by the hospital over Medical Research, State the phone or by visit of an government, and WHO India. Accredited Social Work Activist.  The IHCI was also launched in  With the success of the initiative, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, the government is considering Maharashtra, and Punjab. replicating it in other districts too. About Non-communicable diseases  NCDs are one of the major (NCDs) challenges for public health in the 21st century, not only in terms of  NCDs are medical conditions or human suffering they cause but also diseases that are not caused by the harm they inflict on the infectious agents. These are chronic socioeconomic development of the diseases of long duration, and country. NCDs kill approximately 41 generally slow progression and are the million people (71% of global deaths) result of a combination of genetic, worldwide each year, including 14 physiological, environmental and million people who die too young behaviours factors. between the ages of 30 and 70. The majority of premature NCD deaths are preventable.

Easy to PICK194 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”  According to World Health blood lipids (dyslipidaemia); and Organization (WHO) projections, the obesity. Air pollution is also leading total annual number of deaths from risk factor for NCDs in terms of both NCDs will increase to 55 million by outdoor air pollution and household air 2030, if timely interventions are not pollution that mainly results from done for prevention and control of burning solid fuels in the home for NCDs. cooking and heat.  In India, nearly 5.8 million people  Although morbidity and mortality from (WHO report, 2015) die from NCDs NCDs mainly occur in adulthood, (heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer exposure to risk factors begins in early and diabetes) every year or in other life. Therefore, NCDs and its risk words 1 in 4 Indians has a risk of dying factors have great importance to young from an NCD before they reach the age people as well. of 70.  NCDs are rapidly increasing globally  In a report “India: Health of the and reached epidemic proportions in Nation’s States” by Ministry of Health many countries, largely due to and Family Welfare (MOHFW), globalization, industrialization, and Government of India (GOI), it is found rapid urbanization with demographic that there is increase in the contribution and lifestyle changes. of NCDs from 30% of the total disease burden- ‘disability-adjusted life Actions to beat non-communicable years’ (DALYs) in 1990 to 55% in diseases 2016 and also an increase in proportion  The epidemic of NCDs cannot be of deaths due to NCDs (among all deaths) from 37% in 1990 to 61% in halted simply by treating the sick, 2016. This shows a rapid healthy persons have to be protected by epidemiological transition with a addressing the root causes. Reducing shift in disease burden to NCDs. the major risk factors for NCDs is the key focus of MOHFW to prevent Major NCDs and their risk factors deaths from NCDs. Tackling the risk factors will therefore not only save  The major NCDs are cardiovascular lives; it will also provide a huge boost for the economic development of the diseases, cancers, chronic country. respiratory diseases and diabetes.  MOHFW, GOI is already implementing “National Programme  Physical inactivity, unhealthy diets for Prevention and Control of Cancer, (diets low in fruit, vegetables, and Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease and whole grains, but high in salt and fat), Stroke” (NPCDCS) with the objective tobacco use (smoking, second-hand to increase awareness on risk factors, smoke, and smokeless tobacco), and to set up infrastructure (like NCD the harmful use of alcohol are the main clinics, cardiac care units) and to carry behavioural risk factors for NCDs. out opportunistic screening at primary health care levels.  They contribute to raised blood pressure (hypertension); raised blood sugar (diabetes); raised and abnormal

Easy to PICK195 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine”  In response to the “WHO Global mobile technology in applications Action Plan for the Prevention and called mDiabetes for diabetes control, Control of NCDs 2013-2020”, India is mCessation to help for quit tobacco, the first country to adopt the National and no more tension as a support for Action Plan with specific national mental stress management. targets and indicators aimed at reducing the number of global  All people should join together to premature deaths from NCDs by 25% reduce premature deaths from NCDs by 2025. The global action plan has by one third by 2030, the commitment suggested 9 targets for countries to set. made in 2015, as a part of Sustainable But India has taken the unprecedented Development Goals. Young people can step of setting a tenth target to address contribute in different ways to prevent household air pollution. India’s NCDs such as sharing information/ National Monitoring Framework for targeted messages on key risk factors Prevention and Control of NCDs has about NCDs on social media; committed for a 50% relative reduction organizing and supporting in household use of solid fuel and a interventions to ensure healthy lives 30% relative reduction in prevalence of and promote wellbeing for all people, current tobacco use by 2025. at all ages.  Integration of NPCDCS with the Unite in the fight against NCDs by: National Health Mission (NHM)  being physical active, resulted into augmented infrastructure  choosing healthy diets, and human resources particularly in the  saying no to tobacco, form of frontline workers- the ANM  reducing harmful use of alcohol, and the ASHA. With the active  promoting cleaner cities, participation of these frontline workers  through universal health coverage. the population-based periodic screening of hypertension, diabetes, and common cancers (oral, breast, cervical cancers) is initiated to facilitate the early detection of common NCDs.  Prevention and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic Kidney disease (CKD); and better management of co- morbidities such as diabetes and tuberculosis are also considered under the programme.  Integration of AYUSH with NPCDCS is a further step for promoting healthy life style changes among the population. Health promotion through social media is also being used to generate awareness about prevention and control of NCDs, such as use of

Easy to PICK196 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) Syllabus subtopic:  The alleged corruption undermines the  Issues Relating to Development and Centre’s efforts to streamline functioning of higher educational Management of Social Sector/Services institutions in states. RUSA aims to relating to Health, Education, Human improve the quality of such institutions Resources. by ensuring conformity to prescribed  Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics norms and standards. in Public Administration About Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Prelims and Mains focus: about RUSA: Abhiyan (RUSA) objectives and corruption  RUSA, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme News: The HRD Ministry has approached (CSS), launched in October 2013, is the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to aimed at improving higher education flag alleged corruption in the in states. implementation of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).  The scheme is being operated in mission mode for funding state Background universities and colleges to achieve the In a meeting held in July, 2019 between aims of equity, access and excellence. the Ministry and TISS, the institute’s Since 2016-17, the government has director pointed out some “serious spent an average of Rs 1,500 crore irregularities” in utilisation of funds. every year on RUSA. Following the meeting, TISS was asked by the Ministry to conduct a complete audit of  TISS has been the implementing funds released under RUSA. agency of the scheme since November 2013 and, as per the government’s How was the corruption unravelled? MoU with the institute, will incur  An audit by Tata Institute of Social expenditure and submit claims to the HRD Ministry for reimbursement. Sciences (TISS) last year uncovered that Rs 23 lakh was allegedly spent out  The central funding (in the ratio of of RUSA funds on the personal trips of 60:40 for general category States, an IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, who 90:10 for special category states and was RUSA’s national mission director 100% for union territories) would be during her stint as joint secretary at the norm based and outcome dependent. HRD Ministry. She left the Ministry The funding would flow from the seven months ago and is currently central ministry through the state posted as Principal Secretary, governments/union territories to the Fisheries, in Kerala. State Higher Education Councils before reaching the identified  The audit also discovered that RUSA’s institutions. The funding to states national coordinator allegedly would be made on the basis of critical misappropriated Rs 2.02 crore of the appraisal of State Higher Education funds. He had submitted handwritten Plans, which would describe each taxi bills of Rs 1.26 crore to justify state’s strategy to address issues of some of the expenditure.

Easy to PICK197 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” equity, access and excellence in higher of colleges in a cluster. It would create education. new model degree colleges, new professional colleges and provide Objectives infrastructural support to universities The salient objectives of RUSA are to; and colleges.  Improve the overall quality of state  Faculty recruitment support, faculty institutions by ensuring conformity to improvements programmes and prescribed norms and standards and leadership development of educational adopt accreditation as a mandatory administrators are also an important quality assurance framework. part of the scheme. In order to enhance  Usher transformative reforms in the skill development the existing central state higher education system by scheme of Polytechnics has been creating a facilitating institutional subsumed within RUSA. A separate structure for planning and monitoring component to synergise vocational at the state level, promoting autonomy education with higher education has in State Universities and improving also been included in RUSA. Besides governance in institutions. these, RUSA also supports  Ensure reforms in the affiliation, reforming, restructuring and academic and examination systems. building capacity of institutions in  Ensure adequate availability of quality participating state. faculty in all higher educational institutions and ensure capacity The following are the primary building at all levels of employment. components of RUSA that capture the  Create an enabling atmosphere in the key action and funding areas that must higher educational institutions to be pursued for the fulfilment of the devote themselves to research and targets: innovations.  Expand the institutional base by  Up gradation of existing autonomous creating additional capacity in existing institutions and establishing new colleges to Universities institutions, in order to achieve enrolment targets.  Conversion of colleges to Cluster  Correct regional imbalances in access to higher education by setting up Universities institutions in unserved & underserved areas.  Infrastructure grants to Universities  Improve equity in higher education by providing adequate opportunities of  New Model Colleges (General) higher education to SC/STs and socially and educationally backward  Upgradation of existing degree classes; promote inclusion of women, minorities, and differently abled colleges to model colleges persons.  New Colleges (Professional) Components  RUSA would create new universities  Infrastructure grants to colleges through upgradation of existing  Research, innovation and quality autonomous colleges and conversion improvement  Equity initiatives  Faculty Recruitment Support  Faculty improvements  Vocationalisation of Higher Education  Leadership Development of Educational Administrators  Institutional restructuring & reforms  Capacity building & preparation, data collection & planning

Easy to PICK198 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Tribal protest in Odisha Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation. Prelims and Mains focus: about the tribal protest and its reasons; about FRA, 2006 News: Alleging arbitrary cancellation of applications for land rights under the Forest Rights Act by the administration, over 2,000 tribals began an indefinite dharna in front of the Collector’s office at Chhatrapur in Odisha’s Ganjam district. About the issue  The tribals alleged that of the total rejected applications, the highest number was from Ganjam, around 50% of total rejections in the State. The administration has not given any reason for cancellation.  The protesters were united by four organisations — All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha, Adivasi Bharat Mahasabha, Ganjam Zilla Adivasi Manch and Ganjam Zilla Gramsabha Samukhya.  The protesters have a list of nine demands which are mostly related to land rights of forest dwellers.  Tribals demand: All cancelled applications be returned for scrutiny and verification by the gram sabhas. Administration should accept the applications which will be approved by the gram sabhas.

Easy to PICK199 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” EMI option for states to repay their dues to discoms Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies monitoring (RPM) meeting of the power ministry with states earlier this and Interventions for Development in month. various sectors and Issues arising out of  It comes in the backdrop of the Rs. 2.86 trillion plan for India’s most their Design and Implementation. ambitious power distribution reform scheme, tentatively named Atal Prelims and Mains focus: about the move Distribution System Improvement Yojana after former prime minister and its significance, the debt troubke faced late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. by discoms and govt.’s efforts in this What led to the move? direction; about UDAY scheme  Government department dues getting delayed lead to cash losses of discoms, News: The Union government is even though these get accrued as booked income. However, this causes considering a unique initiative to let problem in cash flow management in discoms, increases the requirements defaulting state government of working capital and leads to delay in payment of gencos (power departments clear their outstanding generation companies). dues to power distribution companies  Therefore, such delays on part of one state have repercussions on the (discoms) through a dozen monthly complete power sector value chain and in entities beyond the boundaries instalments. of their own states. Background  The move comes in the backdrop of worsening financial health of discoms, who in turn have delayed payments to generation utilities. State government departments have the lion’s share of the total dues totalling Rs.82,073 crore.  The issue of repaying dues through 12 equated monthly instalments (EMI) was discussed at a review planning and

Easy to PICK200 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Discoms debt trouble and efforts made towards alleviation  Discoms are the weakest link in the electricity value chain, plagued by 1. low collection, 2. higher power purchase cost, 3. inadequate tariff hikes and subsidy disbursement, and 4. mounting dues from government departments.  In an attempt to ensure timely payments by states to generation utilities, the government has already made it mandatory for state discoms to offer letters of credit (LC) as part of the payment security mechanisms in power purchase agreements. However, while the states have offered LCs, their old arrears are still pending.  In poor financial health, discoms have delayed payments to gencos even as the Centre steps up efforts to supply round-the-clock power to all. The inability of discoms to make payments has also added to the pain in the banking sector as power developers are facing difficulties to service their debt. The backlog of dues owed by discoms to gencos are as high as 913 days.  The push for state government departments to clear their dues comes in tandem with the finance ministry’ proposed plans to withhold permission to defaulting states to borrow to the extent of electricity losses not funded by their respective governments.  Plans to trim debt of discoms and pare their losses may feature in the forthcoming Union budget slated for 1 February.